Capítulo 829: Grand Finale (Part 6)

The mocking words had reached a vile extreme, and Lin Roujia suddenly reached for her face. Her nails had grown long and sharp, as no one had trimmed them these days. With a single scratch, numerous bloody marks appeared, yet she seemed oblivious, as if she didn’t know pain, quickly becoming a bloody mess.

Emperor Hongxiao turned and, as if unwilling to look at her any longer, commanded with disgust, “Keep a close watch on her, make sure she doesn’t die.” He then left the room.

Eunuch Su closely followed, the door was closed, and from within came muffled sounds of a woman’s crazed screams and laughter.

It wasn’t until they had walked far away, reaching the Imperial Garden, that the noises behind them faded completely. Emperor Hongxiao looked into the distance and let out a gentle sigh.

His heart was finally at ease. Even though what an emperor did might not seem magnanimous, the troubles that had plagued him from his youth had to be addressed or they would haunt him for life. Only then could he be at peace as the master of Northern Yan. The timid boy who once sought to appease and please, now vanished from memory, never to surface again.

Eunuch Su handed the emperor a brazier, the warmth transferred to his palms. Emperor Hongxiao thought of Jiang Li’s words brought by Ye Shijie, and couldn’t help but feel amused. The world said Miss Jiang the Second was tender and kind, yet when facing her enemy, she showed no mercy. She clearly understood Lin Roujia’s weakness, striking precisely where it hurt the most. That mirror had become the last straw that broke the camel’s back, and Lin Roujia would never be free from her suffering again.

Thinking of Jiang Li, Emperor Hongxiao’s thoughts turned to Jih Heng. He sighed, his gaze filled with deep regret.

The war, though arduous, was brilliantly won. Jih Heng’s first time leading troops resulted in such triumph, truly living up to his father’s reputation. Northern Yan had been through much unrest, first with Prince Cheng, then the affair with Yin Zhan; the court and the public were in disarray. He could consolidate power by manipulative means, but it would have been better with Jih Heng’s presence. The one he trusted the most was still Jih Heng.

But Jih Heng could not return.

The garden wind was bitingly cold, and the flowers were nothing like their vibrant spring. The principle of ‘what flourishes must fade’ is understood by all, but facing it proves so difficult, doesn’t it?

Eunuch Su draped a cloak over Emperor Hongxiao and said softly, “It’s windy outside, Your Majesty should take care of your health.”

Life has its ups and downs. For Jih Heng, his rise was too difficult, and his fall, tragically beautiful, felt like profound waste. A hint of sadness appeared in the emperor’s eyes. But the way of the emperor has always been lonely. If not now, it would be later. He had to face the coming storms alone to maintain control, otherwise, all the past sacrifices would have been in vain.

He turned and said, “Let’s go back.”

Their figures gradually disappeared into the Imperial Garden.

…

The entire world knew that Jih Heng had died in battle, but no grave was left, because there was no body to be found, and now, without a ceremonial burial mound, Jiang Li refused — as if that would crush the last bit of hope in her heart.

Jinwu General Jih Minghan, missing for years, had actually died three years prior at the Duke Residence. Jih Heng seemed to have followed his father’s footsteps, sharing a similar fate. But it was unclear if he could still be alive. Jiang Li knew the odds of Jih Heng’s survival were incredibly slim, as everyone hinted that she should accept the truth.

Lu Jiu and Wen Renyao hoped Jih Heng was alive; they had searched Qimin numerous times, but apart from a broken butterfly fan pendant, nothing was found.

He was like a sprite that had stepped out from the dark of night, never belonging to the mortal realm, now to return to the void. He only left those who had seen him a stunning silhouette, causing doubt whether they had only dreamed a vividly colored, beautiful dream.

In the dead of winter, as the Jinwu Army returned to the capital triumphant and Emperor Hongxiao began his thorough cleanup of the court, the Jiang Family decided to leave Yanjing City.

Since both Jiang brothers had resigned their offices, staying in Yanjing City had little meaning and might even arouse suspicion in the young emperor. Jiang Yuanbai was hearty and carefree as always, having had a house purchased in Yongzhou early on, he planned to relocate his family there. Yongzhou also boasted experienced physicians who might be able to cure Jiang Youyao.

Jiang Jingyou naturally had no objections, and Jiang Jingrui, hearing of the many attractions in Yongzhou, was eagerly looking forward to it. But among the Jiang Family, there was one person reluctant to go to Yongzhou — Jiang Li.