Chapter 759 - 542: A Kingdom Cannot Be Without a Ruler_2

"There are..." Luo Yue slightly lowered her eyes, hesitating for a moment before she fiercely bit her lip and whispered, "I shouldn’t be saying these things, but if I hide them from you, I would feel uneasy. Sister, just listen to this and judge for yourself, because these are only Wei Zheng’s words, they can’t be fully trusted..."

She repeated this several times, and Feng Yun began to form a guess in her mind.

Then she heard her say, "Before Wei Zheng entered the palace, he was discussing with his confidant... the Emperor’s death, it’s very likely... related to the Prince of Yonghuai."

Feng Yun’s gaze sharpened.

Luo Yue’s eyelids twitched fiercely, and she grasped her hand, reiterating, "Sister, these are words from the Imperial Cavalry Division only, I overheard them from a corner. I’m telling you, it’s not to slander the Prince of Yonghuai, you must not fully believe it..."

Feng Yun stared at her with deep, bottomless eyes.

"What else did they say?"

Luo Yue said, "The Imperial Physician, Puyang Li, in charge of the Emperor’s medical records, is a man of the Prince of Yonghuai, as are the Palace Attendants arranged to serve in the Imperial Presence..."

She lowered her eyes, "They also said, since the Prince of Yonghuai governed Xijing, it has become very difficult for others... to get access to the Emperor."

Feng Yun’s expression turned solemn, and she remained silent.

Luo Yue said, "Before Wei Zheng entered the palace, he received a message from a spy of the Imperial Cavalry Division; a month before the Emperor’s demise, the movements of the Imperial Guards within the Imperial City were frequent, and there were early signs of movements in several major camps in Jingji..."

Feng Yun looked her, noticing her reluctance to speak further, and her lips curled slightly.

"Are they trying to suggest that the Prince of Yonghuai relies on his military power, not content with threatening the feudal lords by holding the Emperor hostage, but even wants to rebel, wear the Emperor’s robe, and sit on the Dragon Throne?"

Luo Yue, alarmed, her complexion changed slightly, and she waved her hands repeatedly.

"I dare not think so. I just wanted to tell you, sister, that the Imperial Cavalry Division has these messages, Wei Zheng might suspect, and the court probably thinks the same... I don’t understand what the situation should be now, it’s for you and the King to decide."

Feng Yun knew she meant well, seeing her nervously fumbling, and smiled.

"I understand, you can be at ease."

-

After Luo Yue left, Feng Yun had some snacks and went to meet with Pei Chong and Pei Yao, and upon returning, without waiting for Zuo Zhong to come back, she dozed off on the Arhat Chair in the eastern room.

This journey was tiring and tough, with poor meals and sleep, she was very exhausted...

Half-asleep and half-awake, the beaded curtain swayed.

A man’s footsteps, deliberately softened, stopped beside the couch.

He bent down, picked up the silk quilt that had slipped to the floor; his warm breath just like that fell on her face...

Ticklish.

Feng Yun opened her eyes and fell into a pair of deeply somber eyes.

Just like the ones she saw in her dream that day.

"Did I disturb you?" Pei Jue’s expression was calm, his tone slightly relaxed, as his palm caressed her face, gently sweeping away the hanging loose hair, tender and slow, just like a husband returning home from court, familiar and without any distance.

Feng Yun responded with a hum, meeting his gaze, her heartbeat quickened a bit.

She thought of Luo Yue’s words.

She thought of Yuan Shangyi’s little face.

Slowly, she gripped Pei Jue’s hand tightly.

"Ayuan... is he really gone?" she asked.

"Lady Yun..." Pei Jue’s eyes were deep, looking into her expectant eyes, he sighed deeply, "I’m sorry, I didn’t take good care of him."

Feng Yun’s breath tightened, waiting for him to continue.

After a long while, he sat down beside the couch, placing his palm on her back, gently patting it in a comforting manner.

"Rest for a little while longer, I’ll take you to see him."

Feng Yun sat up, lifting the thin quilt, "Let’s go."

Ayuan had already waited too long for her.

She had arrived so late, why rest anymore?

This time, following Pei Jue into the palace, no one blocked the path; the tightly closed palace gates were of no effect in front of him. Before he even arrived, they opened up from the middle.

Every person in the imperial garden showed utmost respect and reverence to Pei Jue.

"Ever since the Prince of Yonghuai took charge of Xijing, it has become very difficult for others to meet His Majesty," he said.

Feng Yun glanced sideways.

A fleeting suspicion, precisely captured by him.

Pei Jue spoke indifferently, "The coffin is already prepared, just waiting for an auspicious day for the funeral..."

He paused, then added, "The hall still looks as it did when His Majesty was here, no one has touched anything. They are also waiting for you to come, to take one last look."

Feng Yun found herself unable to articulate the sour conflict in her heart, she just nodded, without a word, her emotions as calm as ever...

Until she stepped into the inner hall and saw that Dragon Throne.

In the empty room, the Emperor was absent, only a string of Wind Chimes hanging on the canopy could be seen.

Pine cones and bells that would jingle with the wind.

They were made by Feng Yun herself.

This was the last place where Ayuan had lived.

Feng Yun slowly approached, her hand touching the Wind Chimes, holding a pine cone in her palm, she paused and pondered...

Dong Bai was nearby, his eyes red, sniffling, "This time His Majesty was severely ill, he didn’t want anything else, just these Wind Chimes... His Majesty remembered nothing else, yet remembered the Wind Chimes, he wanted to look at them every day before sleep, when he opened his eyes, he had to see them... If not given, he would cry and fuss..."

Feng Yun felt a lump in her throat.

The Emperor’s living quarters, with high roof and vast space, a room filled with solitude.

Poor little Yuan Shangyi...

She asked Dong Bai, "Did His Majesty pass away peacefully?"

Dong Bai’s sobbing grew louder, his lips trembling, unable to make a sound, "His Majesty said he... felt discomfort, said he was scared... His Majesty gripped the Wind Chimes tightly... His eyes wide open, unable to say what he wanted... I guess, perhaps he was thinking of the Lady, waiting for the Lady to come... Not seeing the Lady, His Majesty just... couldn’t breathe his last..."

Feng Yun choked up.

Her chest felt as if it was blocked up by a mass of tangled hemp.

"It’s my fault, I arrived too late."

"Ayuan... it’s Lady’s fault, I should have come to see you sooner."

The Emperor’s coffin was placed in the center of the main hall, ministers dressed in mourning clothes, kneeling and keeping vigil, with sounds of weeping echoing back and forth...

Everyone looked very sad.

But what kind of ambition lay hidden behind those cries, no one knew.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"What should we do now..."

"Wuu... Your Majesty, this old minister wishes he could have gone with you..."

Heartbroken.

Overwhelmed with grief and tears.

Feng Yun silently observed the coffin, patiently waiting.

In the crowd, someone soon stepped forward with a deep bow.

"May great King maintain your composure, and gentlemen, may you all maintain your composure."

Feng Yun looked over, it was Ruan Pu.

Wiping away tears from his sleeves, then with reddened eyes, he declared the greater cause.

"The heavy responsibility of the state rests upon the enlightened monarch. The order of heaven and earth, the great governance of the land, cannot be left without a sovereign for a day. The urgent matter at hand, I hope great King and gentlemen don’t drown in grief and neglect the important affairs of the state."