Chapter 2007 - 1945: Fall of the Emperor

Xiao He both builds and ruins.

It was upon meeting Empress Dowager Mo that Emperor Yan ascended to greatness, yet it was also because of her that he failed to preserve himself, sunk into oblivion, and thus led to the issues with Empress Song, resulting in his premature departure in the prime of life.

Emperor Yan spoke in fragments about the past, tears welled in Empress Dowager Mo’s eyes, shimmering and about to fall.

"Stop talking." Empress Dowager Mo turned her face away, using a handkerchief to wipe her eye corners.

Emperor Yan smiled: "Doesn’t Ah Ke want to listen?"

"Emperor..."

Emperor Yan clenched her hand with exertion: "Call me by my name, don’t call me Emperor."

Empress Dowager Mo looked at him, and after a long while, finally said: "Sixth Son."

With Emperor Yan being the sixth in line, calling him Sixth Son was the utmost limit.

"Alright." Emperor Yan softly smiled and said, "That name I heard only in my youth, in a blink, over twenty years have passed."

"Stop talking, rest..."

"If I don’t speak now, I’ll never have the chance again after. Rest... I have all the time to rest." Emperor Yan looked towards the snow-covered roof and said, "After today, I will no longer see this scenery, nor see you."

Tears rolled down Empress Dowager Mo’s cheeks.

"No need to cry, everyone must face death, I merely go first. Besides, emperors are historically short-lived, at least I’ve sat in this position for over twenty years, that’s enough, I’m exhausted too." Emperor Yan smiled gently.

"Do you blame me?"

Empress Dowager Mo held his hand in return, shook her head: "Blame you for what? I do not blame."

"How could you not blame, you’re coaxing me again." Emperor Yan chuckled: "I committed such beastly acts even heaven couldn’t bear to see and thus punished me like this. How could you not blame me? It’s me who wronged you, Ah Ke, I couldn’t hold back."

"From the moment I met you, I was swept away, at that time I resented intensely, resented my youth, resented our statuses, resented that I am not my father, if I were him, how wonderful it would be, to rightfully possess you, yet..."

He coughed fiercely, a mouthful of blood stained the white handkerchief.

Empress Dowager Mo startled, instinctively grasped the handkerchief.

"This sin, I must repay you in the next life." Emperor Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"What repayment? I forgive you, in the next life..." Empress Dowager Mo choked.

"In the next life, Ah Ke, don’t grow up so fast, wait for me together, alright? I’ll repay you with my entire life." Emperor Yan looked at her with full anticipation.

"Alright."

Emperor Yan showed a smile, taking in the entire another palace in his view, this territory, this person, he looked one last time, he must remember well.

His vision blurred, his body felt cold, Emperor Yan shivered, leaned slightly towards Empress Dowager Mo: "It’s so cold."

Empress Dowager Mo felt a sudden tremor, looked at the several fire basins inside the pavilion, held him close in her arms, gently patted his arm: "Don’t be afraid."

Emperor Yan paused, the smile on his lips grew sincere, said: "I’m not afraid."

Snow, fell.

Inside the pavilion, the silence was such that the sound of snow falling seemed audible.

"Royal Mother, the snow is beautiful." Emperor Yan’s eyes half-closed, said: "Yet, I can no longer accompany you to admire it, I must go."

Tears trickled down Empress Dowager Mo’s cheeks, she tightly bit her lip, said: "Take your time, don’t be afraid."

"Mhmm." Emperor Yan slowly closed his eyes.

Empress Dowager Mo felt the person in her embrace lose all warmth, trembled as she checked under his nose, held the now cold person in her arms, and cried out in grief.

Ah Jiu hearing the cries, fell to her knees, tears streaming.

In the cold winter snow, the mountains and mausoleum collapsed.