Chapter 343: The Last Night

By the time Hong Nian Niang received a surprise message written in Mingshen’s blood, she had less than an hour to prepare. Noble Consort Liu had even less time to rally the army, and both women worked overtime to prevent the worst.

"Your Majesties," Noble Consort Liu greeted, dressed in armour from head to toe. "Please remain in the ancestral hall until the sun rises. It’s the safest place there is now. The little prophet, my unofficial niece, will be arriving with reinforcements. Please take care of her, or I would be unable to explain to her parents why all three children sent to our care have gone missing."

Yihao’s sudden departure just the day before was puzzling enough. However, the reappearance of the rowdy cultivator and his siblings told them everything they needed to know.

"We understand," the Empress nodded, grabbing Liu Guiya’s hands in hers. "Please, be safe."

Pulling back professionally, none of the imperial grace could be seen as Liu Guiya bowed smoothly. Resuming her warrior identity had erased any softness and redundancy in how she carried herself.

"Noble Consort Liu will now take her leave. Thank you, your Majesties, for the kindness you’ve shown all these years. The Heavenly Phoenix Sect will not forget this debt."

It should have been nearly two decades ago when the mysterious cultivator showed up requesting an audience. She had slipped past all the secret guards and introduced herself as a cultivator, offering them protection services in disguise as a consort to investigate some murim mysteries. Although Noble Consort Liu was a mysterious woman, they had always been grateful for her services.

Once again, seeing her regain her fiery glory made them recall their first meeting. Like a guardian angel, she left the gates and rallied the imperial troops. Their army had never been this skilled, and today, watching her leave the tall stone walls to save their citizens made the royal couple realise just how different their worlds were.

A phoenix could never be caged. It was not a canary, no matter how pretty it sang and looked. Noble Consort Liu looked most alive when she was on the battlefield, and tonight could be the last night they would be able to treat her as a member of the imperial family.

Bowing towards her direction, the royal couple held that pose for a few minutes until the entire army had passed the gates. Then, the gates were closed and barricaded. Once more, they only had each other in this vast palace.

"Shall we?" the Emperor offered his arm to his partner of many years.

Taking the arm offered to her, the Empress cuddled close. Although they were a royal couple who worked very closely with each other like siblings and friends, it was the rare occasion like this that reminded them of how much they truly care for each other.

"To spend the last possible moments of my life with you as my husband, it is my greatest honour."

Choking back on tears, the Emperor had his gaze straight as they strolled to the ancestral hall.

"With a woman like you watching my back and remaining by my side in good and bad times, it is my greatest fortune to have you as my wife. Pity, I was not the Emperor the people needed of me."

Shaking her head, the Empress sighed. "You need not say more, Emperor. Only you and I know the truth. At least I can share half that hatred aimed at you."

Hearing that, the tears barely held back fell. One drop at a time at first, then a steady, small stream that cascaded.

Under the cover of night, with just them as two tired souls, they took their time and admired the stars under the vast skies. For a moment, they forgot all about the forbidden city’s high walls trapping them. If they had a next life, they would like to become free as the cultivators whom they had come to know in the short span of their lives.

Enjoying their last possible night together as a couple without titles and etiquette, they took the scenic route and detoured to the imperial garden. Ever since things had become busy with unrest throughout the capital, they had never paid attention to the carefully cared-for flowers.

"Do you remember just how beautiful they are?" the Emperor reminisced. "I used to get you a vase of peonies every two weeks because I loved seeing you complain about frugality."

That had been ages ago, while the Empress was only a consort in his harem. Back then, the Emperor was only a crown prince and had no power to choose his crown princess. Yet, in their youth, their hearts were pure for each other, untainted by political interests.

"Compared to then, you have matured a lot and become a fine gentleman. I wonder why I fell for you back then. You have no idea what moderation meant at all!"

Laughing like the teenager he had once been, the Emperor shrugged.

"My wife is just too frugal. She complains when I send flowers and beats me when I gift jewels. All she ever does is work and doesn’t spare a single glance at me unless it is related to the people. Only on rare occasions, like birthdays, do I ever get to hold her hand in public. Woe is me. Even dogs have a better love life than I do."

Red from embarrassment, the arm that was not cuddling her husband reached up to pinch his ear.

"In that case, why don’t you become a dog in your next life? I’ll be sure to treat you better."

Without servants to follow behind them, the royal couple threw all conduct and manners out the window. And if anyone could see them, they would only see a pair of lovebirds flirting and bantering instead of two rulers.

Eventually, they reached the ancestral hall and stopped at the entrance.

Taking a moment to lace their hands and intertwine fingers, the royal couple finally entered the place where they might join the rest of their ancestors after tonight.