Chapter 912: The Young Empress (49)

Aside from the Chief Eunuch, Tang Guo only brought four attendants with her, each one a master among masters.

Disguised as ordinary people, the two of them shared a single carriage.

Su Qing's expression had completely shed the melancholy he wore in the palace, replaced by a trace of genuine joy.

“It seems you've truly been stifled for too long,” Tang Guo said with a smile.

Su Qing hurriedly replied, “Not at all. As long as Your Majesty is in the palace, how could I ever feel confined? It's only because Your Majesty is accompanying me outside today that I'm especially happy.”

“Then whenever I have time in the future, I'll accompany you on outings. How does that sound?”

A gentle smile lingered on Tang Guo's lips, and the softness in her eyes made Su Qing pause.

He could tell with certainty that the Empress wasn't humoring him.

She truly meant it.

If she had time in the future, she would bring him out to have fun.

Remembering the purpose of today's trip, he quickly suppressed the strange and complicated feelings that had arisen in his heart.

“Su Qing could only wish for such a thing. To receive such a promise from Your Majesty is my good fortune.”

“You love the qin and painting. I imagine you also enjoy the scenery outside the palace. In the future, I'll accompany you around the world. We'll admire beautiful landscapes and taste delicacies everywhere. What do you think?”

Su Qing was momentarily stunned.

“With Your Majesty's company, naturally that would be wonderful.”

But how could he ever travel the world with her, enjoy all the scenery, and sample every delicacy?

See?

In merely a few months, the Empress had already forgotten Nan Yunchuan and had become so attentive toward him instead.

This was the heart of an emperor.

To rulers, love was never worth mentioning.

He didn't believe the Empress was unaware of Nan Yunchuan's current miserable state.

She was the Empress of Western Saint Kingdom. If she wanted to know something, it would be easy.

Thinking of this, Su Qing asked almost unconsciously,

“Your Majesty… do you still remember Yunchuan?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

Why was it that every time these thoughts arose, he couldn't stop himself from mentioning someone who should never be brought up?

Without blinking, he carefully observed the Empress's expression.

The smile in her eyes vanished.

Casually straightening her sleeve, she asked,

“Why bring him up?”

“It was wrong of Su Qing to mention him.”

He shouldn't have known the truth behind Nan Yunchuan's death.

Since the Empress had publicly declared that Nan Yunchuan died of illness, then he had died of illness.

Lowering his gaze, Su Qing said,

“When Brother Yunchuan was still here, we were close friends. A few months ago, when he was recuperating outside the palace, Your Majesty often thought of him in front of me. And now, Your Majesty treats Su Qing with the same care. There's no difference between me and Brother Yunchuan back then.”

“So,” Tang Guo said softly, “you're asking because you want to know whether the one I care about is Yunchuan or you, correct?”

Seeing that the Empress wasn't angry, Su Qing admitted it.

“Yes. I don't wish to become Brother Yunchuan's substitute. If Your Majesty treats me this way because of him, then Su Qing would be ashamed.”

“You're overthinking.”

“You are you, and Yunchuan is Yunchuan.”

Su Qing noticed that the Empress's voice had lowered slightly.

“Yunchuan…”

“…belongs to the past now.”

The soft sigh that escaped her lips left Su Qing uncertain whether he should continue the topic.

Because he realized that when she spoke of Nan Yunchuan, there was regret in her eyes—

Not hatred.

At that moment, he found himself unable to distinguish his own thoughts.

Nan Yunchuan had betrayed the Empress, yet she had not executed him.

For an emperor, that level of tolerance was already extraordinary.

So perhaps the question he had asked earlier had indeed been foolish.

“Su Qing.”

“I wish to hear you play.”

Su Qing immediately took out his guqin. Looking out at the scenery passing beyond the carriage window, he began to play a melody suited to the occasion.
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