Chapter 438: Chapter 438: Those Who Are Meant to Go Cannot Be Kept

"My lord..."

When the Shadow Guard stepped forward, this was the scene that greeted him.

He quickly turned away. "My lord, it’s time to go."

’He just didn’t get it. The Princess Consort wasn’t going anywhere; she was being watched by Xuan Mei and the men! Everything outside was a complete disaster, yet his lord insisted on making this trip. No amount of persuasion could stop him!’

Song Lianhe swatted his hand away and rubbed her chin, which he had squeezed until it hurt. "You should just go."

Zhou Cangyan gazed at her. She was standing right in front of him, yet she always seemed so unreal.

As if... she could vanish at any moment.

He hated this feeling. With a cold, stern expression, he took another step forward. Forced by the height difference, Song Lianhe had to tilt her head up to look at him.

"Don’t overthink things," he said suddenly.

She froze.

Then she quickly averted her gaze.

"Once I’ve taken care of everything out there, I’ll come back for you."

"Oh."

She merely acknowledged him without looking up.

Zhou Cangyan was persistent. He turned her face, forcing her to look at him.

Song Lianhe pressed her lips together. "I know, I know!"

"You’ll wait for me?"

"Yes! I’ll wait!"

Only after getting her answer did he release her, satisfied.

The Shadow Guard, his back to the couple, was rolling his eyes so hard they nearly popped out of his head.

’Did they have to be so clingy? It’s not like they’ll never see each other again!’

Zhou Cangyan followed the Shadow Guard downstairs.

Song Lianhe stood on the upper floor, her eyes fixed on his departing figure.

As if sensing her gaze, Zhou Cangyan looked up.

Song Lianhe watched him quietly, a slow smile spreading across her face.

Seeing her smile, Zhou Cangyan finally seemed to relax, giving her a wave.

The Shadow Guard: "..."

’If all married people became this sappy, he’d rather never take a wife.’

’It’s so bad for one’s image!’

Song Lianhe didn’t look away until his figure had completely vanished from sight.

"Don’t worry. My lord will be fine."

Xuan Mei had been by her side, though for how long, she didn’t know.

"Mm," she hummed, pressing her lips into a smile.

Xuan Mei glanced at her. "What are you really worried about?"

"Nothing. What could I possibly have to worry about?" She gave a sheepish laugh and walked past Xuan Mei into the room.

Shuang Ye had just finished helping Zhou Yang drink his medicinal soup when Song Lianhe walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat down without ceremony.

Zhou Yang frowned.

’Even if she had saved his life, she was being far too discourteous to him, the Emperor.’

But to his surprise, Song Lianhe opened her mouth and asked, "You knew he was your son. Why did you still try to hunt him down and kill him?"

"You... You... How audacious!"

Ignoring Zhou Yang’s sputtering rage, Song Lianhe continued, "Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. First, you wronged his mother. Then, you acted like a coward, hiding in your shell when he needed you. When you finally inherited the throne and held ultimate power, the first thing you thought of wasn’t to make up for your failings, but to strip him of his military authority! Then you set up all sorts of obstacles, forcing him to face them all alone, one after another! What then? If he couldn’t overcome them, would it have just served him right to die?"

Zhou Yang pointed at her, his face dark with anger and his chest heaving. "Don’t you dare spout such nonsense! You’re spreading malicious rumors!"

Song Lianhe scoffed. "I’m saying these things on his behalf. He doesn’t want anything to do with you, but I can’t stand by and watch you play dumb. What happened, happened. Someone has to remember it. Someone has to speak for the victim. Everything has its cause and effect; all things are part of a cycle. Not even an emperor is an exception."

With that, her eyes swept over him from head to toe. "See? Isn’t this karmic retribution? You tried to kill your own son, only to be nearly killed by a son in return. The irony is, the one who saved you was the very son you’d been trying to kill all along..."

Song Lianhe shook her head and let out a dry laugh. "And that’s why people should never do things that weigh on their conscience."

Zhou Yang gasped for breath, his finger pointing at her for a long moment before it suddenly dropped. He propped himself up with both hands on the quilt, his face ashen. Hunched over, he no longer had a shred of imperial dignity. He was just an old man at death’s door.

Xuan Mei stood behind Song Lianhe, her face as expressionless as ever, but inwardly, she felt a great sense of catharsis.

’It had to be the Princess Consort and her sharp tongue to lay out all the grievances her lord had suffered over the years, loud and clear!’

’How satisfying!’

Zhou Yang’s body gave out, and he collapsed back onto the couch.

Seeing this, Shuang Ye immediately rushed to help him sit up again, propping him against the pillows.

The look of utter defeat on Zhou Yang’s face was plain to see. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "You’re right. Everything is cause and effect."

Song Lianhe remained seated across from him, her eyes perfectly calm.

Zhou Yang lifted his head and gave a bitter laugh. "This is all my retribution!"

Song Lianhe said no more. She took out her needle pouch and prepared to perform acupuncture on him.

"You did many terrible things to Biwu and his mother, but since I promised the Empress I would save you, I will do my best. If you want to hold me accountable later, you’ll have to get better first."

Zhou Yang looked at her again.

Another bitter laugh.

’She really is tough on the outside, but soft on the inside.’

"You’re a lot like... Biwu’s mother."

Song Lianhe was in the middle of pinching a long, thick needle. Hearing his words, she showed no hint of being moved. Instead, she aimed for an acupuncture point and thrust it in—

"Nngh—"

Zhou Yang’s expression changed. He turned his head and clenched his jaw.

’As the sovereign of a nation, he absolutely could not lose face!’

"Holy Emperor, we have a saying back home: ’Belated affection is cheaper than dirt.’ What’s the use of reminiscing now? It will only make you a laughingstock."

After speaking, she inserted another needle.

This time, Zhou Yang was in so much pain that sweat beaded on his forehead.

Xuan Mei glanced at Song Lianhe, then slowly turned away, the corners of her mouth twitching into a slight smile.

Having been by Song Lianhe’s side for so long, she knew that her needle technique had varying levels of intensity; it certainly shouldn’t be this painful.

’Unless... she was doing it on purpose.’

’Xuan Mei knew, but Zhou Yang didn’t!’

’He just assumed that a miracle doctor like Princess Qing had her own unique treatment methods. Besides, after these two needles, he really did feel the tightness in his chest ease, and his mind felt much clearer.’

After the acupuncture, Song Lianhe instructed Shuang Ye to stay and look after him.

She and Xuan Mei went outside. By now, the sky was already bright.

"Sister Mei, do you think... Ugh, never mind."

"He’ll be fine."

She didn’t have to finish; Xuan Mei already knew what she was going to ask.

Song Lianhe just nodded, then turned and went to find her third grand-uncle.

She was listening to her third grand-uncle tell her about the Three Pure Ones of Daoism when Xuan Mei came in and whispered in her ear, "Someone is here to see you."

"Who is it?"

’At a time like this? Who could possibly come to see her?’

’Besides, Dao Yuan Temple isn’t receiving worshippers today, and there are guards posted below. They wouldn’t let any ordinary person in.’

"Song Xilan."

Song Lianhe froze when she heard the name.

Xuan Mei glanced at her and said, "If you don’t want to see her, I’ll send her away."

She turned to leave.

"Let her in."

"Understood."

Xuan Mei withdrew. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Song Lianhe turned her head just in time to see her third grand-uncle stroking his beard, a faint smile on his face as he watched her.

"What is meant to come cannot be avoided, and what is meant to leave cannot be held back."

Song Lianhe’s heart skipped a beat. She leaned forward. "Third Grand-uncle, what do you mean by that?"

Venerable Ling Xi blinked, looking at her with feigned confusion. "Ah? Did this poor Daoist say something?"

Song Lianhe looked at him and smiled. "It was nothing."