Chapter 900: The Young Empress (37)

 "They will."

Jing Cheng answered without hesitation.

After placing a chess piece on the board, he reached over and took Tang Guo's hand.

"One day, they'll remember Your Majesty's kindness."

"They'll realize exactly what they lost."

"Jing Cheng," Tang Guo asked softly, "if they knew what they would lose in the future, do you think they would still make the same choice?"

That question left Jing Cheng momentarily speechless.

After a pause, he shook his head.

"I don't know."

Then he smiled faintly.

"Because I wouldn't make the wrong choice."

"I like Your Majesty."

"And Your Majesty likes me."

"I can see how well Your Majesty treats me, and I want to stay by Your Majesty's side."

"You're quite good with words."

Tang Guo's mood instantly improved.

"Forget about them. If they don't want the opportunity I've given them, then they can't blame me."

She had given every one of them a chance.

It wasn't that things couldn't be salvaged.

They simply didn't want to turn back.

And when it came to people who wanted her dead, she would never show mercy.

A few days later, Nan Yunchuan indeed fell ill.

No one knew what tricks he and Su Qing had employed, but the imperial physicians actually diagnosed him with a contagious disease.

According to their assessment, he required isolation and treatment.

To avoid endangering the palace and the Empress's health, the physicians recommended that he be sent outside the palace to recuperate.

Naturally, Tang Guo initially refused.

Though she was only putting on a show, appearances still had to be maintained.

Only after the entire court repeatedly petitioned her did she finally relent.

As a result, everyone became even more convinced of how deeply the Empress cared for Nan Yunchuan.

For his sake, she had nearly placed herself in danger.

In the end, Nan Yunchuan was sent out of the palace to recover.

As for when he might return, the physicians offered no definite answer.

Over the next several days, Tang Guo naturally had to continue acting the part.

She appeared unhappy.

Depressed.

Every now and then, she would wander through the Imperial Garden.

And inevitably, Su Qing's qin music became something that helped ease her melancholy.

Watching the silent Empress seated before him, Su Qing occasionally noticed her gaze drifting toward him.

He sneered inwardly.

Look, Nan Yunchuan.

This is the Empress.

Even if you're gone, there will always be countless others ready to take your place.

Even if you died, she might only grieve briefly before moving on.

So what was the value of affection?

Power was the only thing that truly mattered.

"Su Qing's qin playing is excellent."

Su Qing lowered his eyes.

"As long as Your Majesty enjoys it."

"However..."

Tang Guo's gaze fell upon his hand.

"It seems you've injured yourself. You shouldn't continue playing."

Only then did Su Qing notice that his hand had been cut while he was distracted by his thoughts.

"Summon the imperial physician."

"It's only a small wound, Your Majesty. There's no need to trouble the physicians."

"That won't do."

Tang Guo insisted.

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

"What if Su Qing ends up like Yunchuan and contracts some illness?"

"I would be very distressed."

Su Qing froze.

So the Empress hadn't forgotten Nan Yunchuan after all?

"You and Yunchuan have always been close."

Tang Guo's voice softened.

"Only when I'm here with you can I vaguely feel his presence."

A trace of longing surfaced in her eyes.

"I wonder how he's doing now."

Watching the Empress sink into remembrance, Su Qing suddenly felt uncomfortable.

He knew the feeling was unreasonable.

Yet being treated as Nan Yunchuan's substitute felt even worse.

The two of them had always considered themselves equals.

Never had he imagined that the Empress had spent half a month listening to his qin simply because of Nan Yunchuan.

Tang Guo sensed the shift in his emotions and secretly smiled.

She understood men like this all too well.

"Su Qing."

Her tone became especially gentle.

"You must take good care of your health."

"Don't make me worry."

To anyone else, those words would have sounded warm and caring.

But to Su Qing, they carried an entirely different meaning.

The Empress wasn't worried about him.

She was worried he might end up like Nan Yunchuan.

If he also fell ill, she would lose the only place where she could continue remembering Nan Yunchuan.
:::