Chapter 954: The Young Empress (87)

Shan Ge froze for a moment before stepping forward and embracing Tang Nuoyue.

"Your Majesty, please don't grieve too much."

"How can I not?" Tang Nuoyue replied hoarsely. "She was my only younger sister."

Even if she wasn't the original Prince Yue, after so many years of working together and relying on each other, feelings had naturally developed.

To ensure that she would have no worries after her death, Tang Guo had arranged everything perfectly for her.

She truly owed that woman.

Empress Xian'an and her Imperial Consort were buried together.

Their devotion to one another moved countless people. No wonder Empress Xian'an had loved that man so deeply while she was alive.

It was because he had loved her just as deeply.

Tang Nuoyue personally oversaw all of their funeral arrangements. From placing them in their coffins to sealing the tomb, she supervised every step herself.

Far away in Qi Kingdom, Su Qing had already ascended the throne.

Not long after becoming emperor, he raised the matter of invading Western Saint Kingdom during court.

Naturally, his proposal met with fierce opposition.

The ministers argued that Western Saint Kingdom was prosperous and powerful. Qi Kingdom held no overwhelming advantage over them. War consumed lives and wealth, and the two countries bore no particular grievances against each other.

Su Qing declared before the entire court, "Who says there are no grievances? I have recently learned that Prince Yue of Western Saint Kingdom has imprisoned Sixth Prince in Ling Temple."

The ministers exchanged glances, but none supported the proposal.

Su Qing was somewhat irritated, but he knew the matter couldn't be rushed. After dismissing court, he began thinking of ways to provoke conflict and drag the two nations into war.

Before he could devise a suitable plan and convince the ministers to support an invasion, news of Empress Xian'an's death finally reached Qi Kingdom.

By then, half a month had already passed since her death. The message had only arrived so quickly because it had been carried by relays of fast horses. By ordinary means, the journey would have taken at least two months.

"Empress Xian'an?" Su Qing asked blankly. "Since when did Western Saint Kingdom have an Empress Xian'an?"

His hands trembled as they pressed against the dragon desk, his gaze fixed firmly upon the two words following "Xian'an"—

Tang Guo.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, before Empress Xian'an's passing, she abdicated in favor of the former Prince Yue. On the second day after Prince Yue's ascension, she passed away. It is said that Empress Xian'an had foreseen that her time was short and therefore arranged for Prince Yue to ascend early, so that no turmoil would arise."

"Impossible… impossible!"

Su Qing burst into laughter and tore the letter apart.

"Impossible!"

His eyes turned bloodshot, his face twisted with madness.

"How could she die? Ah? She's several years younger than I am. She was still in the prime of her life. How could she die? How?"

He had yet to conquer Western Saint Kingdom.

He had yet to take her back.

He had yet to possess her.

How could she simply die?

The palace servant, whose neck had suddenly been seized by Su Qing, turned red in the face and hurriedly stammered, "Perhaps… perhaps old injuries resurfaced. Rumor has it that Empress Xian'an once fell from a cliff in her youth and even lost her memory because of it. Perhaps the aftereffects from that incident shortened her lifespan."

Su Qing froze and loosened his grip.

Old injuries?

Falling from a cliff?

He collapsed heavily into the dragon throne, his eyes vacant, staring at nothing as if his mind had exploded.

Seeing his state, the servant scrambled out of the hall in terror.

His Majesty looked terrifying.

"Falling from a cliff…"

"Hahaha… so that's how it was?"

Su Qing raised his head once more.

His face was already soaked with tears.

Looking at the magnificent palace around him, he suddenly wondered—

What had all those twenty years of scheming amounted to?

He had believed that once he stood at the summit, he could use the power of an entire nation to seize her kingdom and force her to rely on him.

Then she would belong to him alone.

But reality was cruel.

By the time he stood upon the highest throne—

The only thing waiting for him was news of her death.