Chapter 524: Chapter 353: From This Day On, Year After Year (Part 3)

But, he did not.

Rong Jing sat in this Imperial Palace like a calm, cold stone statue, watching Rong Heng and Gu Lan return to the Yan Capital with ease, and even spend a peaceful night at Prince Rui’s Mansion.

And this morning, the army behind Rong Heng only just arrived at the Capital City and was easily welcomed into the Yan Capital without any resistance, which led to the current situation where the Pingnan Army, after a brief rest, began attacking the palace gates.

The imperial guards, who had enjoyed years of luxury and never been to the battlefield, were no match for those battle-hardened soldiers. Perhaps the palace gates were sturdy and could hold for a few more two-hour periods, but ultimately, this Imperial Palace was destined to fall.

"They are rebels! Since Your Majesty asked me to kill Rong Heng yesterday, why are you so soft-hearted today, why?" Song Zhi asked once again.

"Sanliang, you can leave."

Half of Rong Jing’s face emerged from the darkness. It seemed like he was looking at Song Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground, yet also not, merely gazing aimlessly into the nearly frozen air.

Sanliang was a name Rong Jing casually gave Song Zhi because he bought Song Zhi for only three pieces of silver.

At that time... what was it again, perhaps in the heart of the young Crown Prince, he suddenly felt some sympathy and empathy for the most humble beggar kneeling on the ground.

Trapped in this Imperial Palace, there was no real difference between a Crown Prince and a beggar.

After speaking, Rong Jing stood up from the Dragon Throne.

Song Zhi had seen all kinds of expressions on this Emperor’s face—anger, wild joy, tension, grief... but never had he seen his gaze so desolate and calm.

His eyes were more ancient than a deserted palace, like an autumn wilderness after the season has passed, with not even a blade of grass left from the wildfire that scorched the earth.

Rong Jing wore a somewhat loose red Dragon Robe, which made him look even thinner and more withered.

He didn’t wear a Dragon Crown, his ink-black hair spread freely over the wide, luxurious robe. His fiendishly beautiful face was as pale as fragile thin ice, ready to shatter at a touch, overly lean, his jaw stern, even his usually rosy lips had lost their color.

His long eyes held the shape of peach blossoms, yet they more resembled two dimly burning black candle flames, flames that appeared to be on the verge of burning out.

Song Zhi’s nose tingled as if he were about to cry.

His eyes filled with sourness, a feeling he hadn’t experienced for many years since his parents died.

How did the once spirited, dashing man become so desolate?

He wiped his one remaining eye, looking at the moisture on his fingertip, slightly lost in thought.

It turned out, he really had cried.

Song Zhi pressed his lips together, staring deeply at Rong Jing, his voice low and hoarse, filled with supplication and sorrow, each word bleeding:

"I will not leave, my life is given by Your Majesty, I will not leave. And besides... Your Majesty, we haven’t reached the point of no return yet.

The palace gates have not been breached, I still have three thousand elite imperial guards under my command, these people have not moved at all from the start, they can protect Your Majesty’s safety, Yongshou Palace... beneath Yongshou Palace there is a secret passage leading directly out of the Imperial Palace, we can leave the palace and then head to the Northern Territory to join the five thousand imperial guards Lord Fan brought with him.

There are still governors and officials in the province cities who regard you as the ruler of the nation, we can divide the territory with Rong Heng, surely there can be a resurgence—"

"Sanliang, do you know why I allowed Lu Bingxin and the others to welcome Rong Heng and Gu Lan into the Capital?" Rong Jing interrupted Song Zhi’s words, calmly asking.

His voice was very weak, it had only been three days since Gu Lan pierced his chest, the Imperial Physician said he couldn’t really stand up.

Yet, he still chose to stand, the Emperor’s pale lips even curled into a faint weak arc.

Song Zhi shook his head, but still said, as if in agreement with Su Zixiao’s speculation outside the palace gates, "Your Majesty didn’t want the invasion by Prince Xiang to cause chaos among the Capital City’s citizens."

Rong Jing softly said, "How could I be so kind, in my heart, there’s only myself."

Song Zhi’s tightly shut eyes opened abruptly, blood-red all over, uttering three expected words, "I know."

He always knew, the Emperor before him was such a selfish and ruthless man, yet this was the person who mattered most in his life.

Rong Jing said, "I’m just tired."

"Too tired," his voice was weak and low, "Zhong Liang is dead, Zhang Fengcai is also dead, all those people I once met left me without hesitation, Sanliang, the situation is hopeless, you can now order the imperial guards to disperse, and present me to Wu at least... they are not murderers, you can still live on."

"Your Majesty, please don’t say anymore," Song Zhi shook his head, "I’ve said before, no matter what, I will never betray Your Majesty."

"But I don’t want the last people by my side... to also die before my eyes!" Rong Jing roared lowly, his shadowy and cold peach blossom eyes trembled, and the glistening water spread beneath them.

Song Zhi’s heart trembled, he bitterly smiled, his voice still unwavering and gentle, "I’d be willing, satisfied to die before Your Majesty."

"I am not a good Emperor."

"I know."

"I’m not even of royal blood, Sanliang, every inch of the filthy flesh and blood in my body has tormented me day and night, my whole life, you know how much I hate the Su family’s blood in my veins, loathe to strip it away from this blood and flesh..."

"I know."

Song Zhi recalled the young Crown Prince who had wept bitterly upon learning about his heritage many years ago.

At that time, Rong Jing was as desperate as he was, he hated himself for his own powerlessness.

"You need not remain loyal to me, Song Zhi."

"I am reluctant," Song Zhi said sincerely, picked up the bowl of medicinal soup and walked towards him, his tone softer, "Your Majesty, your health is important, after taking the medicine, when your wounds heal a little, I’ll guard you well."

Rong Jing’s eyes were full of helplessness, he was already so weak that he couldn’t conceal his emotions like he used to.

"Very well, I will drink the medicine."

Rong Jing took the bowl of medicine, just as the rim touched his lips, a slender figure suddenly burst into Qianyuan Hall, followed by Miao Ci trying to stop her and Lan Nu protecting her. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Your Highness, you cannot go in—" Miao Ci exclaimed in panic, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

Outside the palace gates were Prince Xiang and Young Master Gu, he, the first eunuch of Dayan, had not even enjoyed three full days of this position before facing this end, Miao Ci’s heart was already utterly desperate.

He even cursed in his heart, wishing that if this fragile Emperor before him were to breathe his last, it might end it all.

"Ning An greets the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, it is the princess who insisted on seeing you, I couldn’t stop her..." Miao Ci knelt on the ground, trembling all over, pleading for forgiveness.

Rong Jing wearily waved his hand, thinking that if it were Zhang Fengcai kneeling here, he would surely add four more words, "Reporting to Your Majesty."

Miao Ci then retreated, Lan Nu also left following the gaze of Rong Miaoyan.

In the vast palace, after one more person entered, a breath of life was added.

"Ning An, you didn’t leave." Rong Jing looked at Rong Miaoyan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.