Chapter 103: Stripped

“He can’t have both position and kinship. That night the child thought hard, even developing a strand of white hair. The next morning he plucked it out upon the first ray of sunlight, before proceeding to release a few decrees.”

“His orders included the bestowment of more land to the honorable and glorious king in exchange for his military authority. The child had hoped that the king would provide the title conferment and move far away, and that the accumulated grudges would eventually fade.”

“Nevertheless the king declined with the reason that his queen’s health was not in good condition. Upon losing his military authority, he was not willing to retire. He concealed his power, secretly making connections while appearing open and candid, and always loyal toward the court. Everyone was in praise of his righteous attitude while the child observed from afar. He knew he couldn’t just punish a ‘faithful official,’ but at the same time, he hoped for his biological father to turn over a new leaf. As such, he refrained from taking action and continued studying him.”

“Who would have known that the king would have guts greater than most. He had actually combined forces with the empress to hint to the child about his parentage, requesting that he acknowledge his roots and kill his foster father to free the throne.”

“It was indeed an atrocious request, to which the child simply smiled. Angered and desperate, the king took a risk by contacting foreign nations and inciting conflict. Upon finding out about that, the child knew that he had to do something. While it hurt him, he sent 200,000 soldiers to suppress the chaos at the border area.”

“It was a test and the king’s final chance. If he had done the right thing to quell the revolt, the child would not have done anything to make things difficult. But… it happened.”

Zhangsun Wuji continued without a smile, “You know what happened after. This is the story of the Zhangsun imperial family: The king is my father, the empress is my mother, and the child is me.”

Not knowing what to say, Meng Fuyao held his hands tightly. Why was life all about a freak combination of events? In this case, it had given the innocent’s happiness a final send-off. No one was at fault, but the outcome that had awaited them was ultimately a bitter and unexpected one.

“The mess in Gaoluo is real, Fuyao, it’s the truth,” he added. “Since I was able to track down the Gaoluo spy, Tory, I have my way against them. That was why I could easily end the matter upon arrival. This piece of news was not released, however.”

“And I can now explain to you the things that I need to.” He tidied the few strands of hair that were stuck on her tear-filled face gently before continuing, “I did not expect him to plot against me at the expense of Yaocheng. I had everything mapped out but did not foresee that he wanted me dead.”

“My father wanted me dead.”

Tears rolled down Meng Fuyao’s cheeks and fell onto the ground, which was filled with congealed blood, turning its purplish color back into red like flowers blooming by the Yellow Springs.

She sprung forward and wrapped her arms around his motionless shoulders, her tears streaming down and staining his skin. Each drop felt as dense as mercury as it pierced through his skin and bones and then the heart, eventually scorching a hole in it.

Zhangsun Wuji raised his eyes and observed her under the lamp.

At that moment, amid the yellow light, the story of transformation and loneliness flowed by and had the girl who would not bat an eyelid before death cry to her heart’s content.

Lord Yuan Bao joined the duo, sticking himself in the middle and hugging his owner tightly.

“Please, just cry. Just once…” Meng Fuyao grabbed him by his clothes, repeating, “Please, just cry…”

“Please… cry it out…” She buried her head in his chest while crying non-stop.

After some time Zhangsun Wuji finally stopped her. He looked at the beam of moonlight that slipped through the ceiling window.

It was the moonlight that was not bound by time. It was the moonlight that had witnessed all joys and sorrows, and other vicissitudes of life, from a detached point of view. It was always illuminating the world without knowing its sufferings.

His life in the past was no different from the moonlight – distant and detached. He did not belong to the lamps in the thousands of tents nor to the ordinary world of mortals. Schemes, tactics, grudges, and grievances were a part of his life.

He was the master of the courts and a sojourner of the blisses of life.

He had indulged in the extravagance of the mortal world, but certain things were still a luxury to him.

For example, at this point, he had someone to there for him, and to cry for him. Her warmth crept in, and he couldn’t help but hear the melting of ice.

A long, long time later he lifted his head and shut his eyes, as the moonlight drew an outline of his exquisite lower jaw.

Under his long lashes, teardrops could be seen flowing down while reflecting off the moonlight.

When the duo walked out from the prison that reeked from blood, it was already daytime, and the golden sun was shining down without restraint.

Meng Fuyao raised her head but used her hand to cover the glare. As the warmth shot deep into her body, she heard the sound of joints cracking. She turned around, hoping to see the usual expression on Zhangsun Wuji’s face whenever he basked in the sunlight.

His heartless father had dealt his undefeatable son with a final blow, but Meng Fuyao wished that he would be able to let it go and be reborn.

The dead ultimately brought their sins to the grave, and all the dirt transformed into a wisp of bitter scars. The living had a farther path to take, and she believed that Zhangsun Wuji was forever a victor. The moment his narrow-minded father had chosen to use death to imprison him eternally, the outcome had been set.

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Sensing her gaze Zhangsun Wuji smiled and held her hand.

His palm had regained its usual temperature, and it put Meng Fuyao at ease.

Through tears, Meng Fuyao’s smiling eyes glistened like the most valuable gems.

Zhangsun Wuji looked at her before brushing his gaze over her shoulder and toward a lady standing farther away.

Over there, before a cherry blossom tree, stood a luxuriously dressed lady, embellished with brilliant jewelry. Behind the shiny pearls was a pair of anxious eyes, and under her golden phoenix embroidered sleeves were fingers that intertwined tightly. She was evidently nervous.

It was none other than Empress Yuan.

Zhangsun Wuji studied her for a moment before diverting his gaze and leading Meng Fuyao over. He approached the empress steadily, and when the distance closed, he brushed past her shoulder, completely overlooking her shocked expression and widely opened mouth.

The Empress looked at her son in absolute shock. Her body started to tremble, and she had to hold on to the tree bark for support. She dug her nails deep into the bark, causing sap to ooze out as if crying.

Meng Fuyao lowered her lids. Along with Zhangsun Wuji, she hoped for the empress to let the matter rest. The wise would not question or say anything, and instead let time heal all wounds.

Unfortunately, not everyone could be Zhangsun Wuji. After crossing no more than 10 meters, the empress yelled abruptly.

“He – what happened to him?”

Not even turning around Zhangsun Wuji stated, “Dead.”

The empress staggered and fell a step back, colliding into the tree behind and causing it to shake. Light pink petals rained down.

The Empress’ body was half slanted, and she simply allowed her clothes to be covered in petals. The nation’s mother, always steady and elegant, had now lost all grace and completely forgotten about her noble identity. She stood, blank-faced, amid a sea of pink.

Zhangsun Wuji did not turn around. He walked off and heard, shortly after, a voice booming from behind. “Take me there!”

At the same time she lifted her skirt and stumbled toward the house they had exited from. “Grab her!” Zhangsun Wuji ordered.

Like ghosts, a few figures in grey clothes jumped from a roof behind the bushes and proceeded without hesitation to hold her down.

“How dare you stop me, you despicable men.”

“You must not contaminate your royal body,” Zhangsun Wuji stated, “Furthermore, the body is still there, and it’s inappropriate.”

The Empress stood astonished as the morning breeze blew onto her pale face, temporarily reviving the blush in her cheeks. Some time later, she let out a cold laugh and cast her son a side glance. “Empress, is that right?”

She reached a hand out to remove her golden hairpin and then her phoenix crown before moving on to her jade earrings and pearl necklace. Everything associated with her status was thrown to the ground before she stepped forward in light steps.

She proceeded to trample on these symbolic objects, causing them to shatter.

The sound of the jewelry breaking was fine yet heart-wrenching. Zhangsun Wuji pricked his brows as the empress broke out in yet another cold laughter before stripping her gold-embroidered phoenix royal robe.

Unable to handle her any longer, the guards bowed and turned around. Without the slightest care, the empress dropped the robe to her feet and onto the mud, leaving only a yellow halter inner wear on her. She carried on to undo her phoenix-printed, gold silk belt that represented her royal identity.

At last, she retrieved the phoenix pendant from her waist pocket. The exquisiteness of the jade had been well preserved by her. Placing it in her palm, she showed it at Zhangsun Wuji.

Zhangsun Wuji’s eyes turned cold instantly as the empress let out a provocative laugh before flinging the jade onto the ground.

Crack!

The jade shattered.

The supreme jade, symbolizing the 26 years she had been crowned Wuji Empress, was irreversibly shattered beyond repair.

Crystal-like pieces filled the ground and scattered everywhere like beads of tears.

“I have crippled myself,” the empress smirked. “It’s no longer inappropriate for me to see my lover, is that right? No longer disrupting Wuji family affairs, is that right?”