Chapter 124: Still Crying

Lan Wu sat down in a side room not far from the Elegant Hall. Dan Shan helped her tidy the damp stains on her sleeves. Seeing that Lan Wu still seemed lost in thought, she served her a cup of hot tea and gently called out to her.

Lan Wu looked over.

“Your Majesty, have some hot tea to warm yourself.”

Lan Wu lowered her head, holding the teacup silently.

Master Huifan’s words had struck her like a thunderbolt. Before this, or even in her two lifetimes, she had never imagined that Chu Mingheng could face a life-threatening crisis. He was the lofty emperor, holding supreme imperial power, ruling the court with an iron grip, leaving no room for dissent.

But now, she had heard that Chu Mingheng might be in mortal danger.

Only then did she realize that Chu Mingheng was also an ordinary person—he took medicine when he fell ill, and there were things even he could not handle.

She had always believed Chu Mingheng was omnipotent, but no one truly was.

“Your Majesty…?” Dan Shan suddenly called out to her, a flicker of panic in her eyes as she stared at Lan Wu in surprise.

Lan Wu remained unaware until Dan Shan hurriedly pressed a handkerchief to her face, wiping away the tears that had fallen from her eyes. Only then did she vaguely realize she had been crying.

Was it panic? Or sorrow?

Perhaps both.

Lan Wu took out her own handkerchief to wipe away the fresh tears rolling down her cheeks, shaking her head as she insisted she was fine.

“Auntie, having served in the palace for so many years, do you know of Master Huifan?” Lan Wu asked after calming her tears slightly.

Dan Shan did not know what Lan Wu was thinking, but since Lan Wu was curious, she began to speak.

“When the Empress went to Changyong Mountain, this servant accompanied her. All the monks of Wuji Temple came out to pay their respects to Her Majesty, and Master Huifan was among them.”

Recalling this, Dan Shan could not help but think of the late Empress. She had followed the late Empress since childhood, watching her grow up, marry, and share unwavering affection with the late Emperor. She had witnessed her pregnancy and childbirth. The late Empress should have had the happiest life, beloved by the people, and should now be enjoying her later years as the Empress Dowager. Yet, a great fire had taken her life.

Dan Shan lowered her gaze, pushing away the thoughts in her mind, and continued, “What this servant knows of Master Huifan comes from what the late Empress told me. Master Huifan is an enlightened monk. Whenever a new emperor ascends the throne and goes to Changyong Mountain to offer sacrifices to heaven, Master Huifan appears. It is said he knows the past and the future, understands ancient and modern times, and is a profound and unfathomable person.”

“In today’s world, the people live in peace and prosperity, regarding Your Majesty as a wise ruler. Setting aside other matters, when Your Majesty was born on Changyong Mountain, it coincided with the skies opening with radiant clouds. Master Huifan once divined Your Majesty’s fate. Though the specifics of the divination are unknown, it is likely that prophecy has now been fulfilled.”

Lan Wu listened in a daze. If Master Huifan possessed such abilities, then his warning that Your Majesty might be in mortal danger could not be mere nonsense.

Inside the Elegant Hall, the two men sitting opposite each other were unusually silent.

Huifan could not help but shake his head. Without delving into other matters, he said to Chu Mingheng, “This humble monk knows no more than Your Majesty. Now that Your Majesty has someone important, if you are to make any decisions, think carefully.”

“Perhaps Her Majesty will be saddened and heartbroken because of it.”

Chu Mingheng knew he might be right. Regarding Lan Wu, he would naturally be cautious and careful, unwilling to cause her sorrow.

Lan Wu had a connection with him spanning two lifetimes, but in her previous life, she died alone and in misery. Among the truths she had once spoken to him, there was more or less hidden resentment toward his former self and accusations of his heartlessness. Although he had regained Lan Wu in his arms in this life, the blank and chaotic memories, along with the suffering endured by her alone, left him bewildered and at a loss.

Before meeting Lan Wu, he often saw her in his dreams, but gradually, the dreams grew fewer. Even when he did dream again, Lan Wu’s figure was nowhere to be found.

Looking back now, those later illusory dreams might have been the very hardships his former self had personally endured.

The dreams were incomplete—ultimately, it was both a stroke of luck and a source of unwillingness. Lan Wu had suffered those hardships, and there was no reason for him to remain detached from them now.

“Since the Master is unwilling to speak, I will not press further.”

“But there is one matter on which I hope you will speak plainly.” Chu Mingheng’s gaze fixed directly on him, his imposing aura faintly oppressive, as if a single false word would lead to a fate worse than death.

Master Huifan’s expression remained unchanged as he slowly replied, “Your Majesty, please speak.”

“She is ultimately different from others. Will the extra lifetime have any detrimental effect on her fate?”

Master Huifan nodded slightly and said softly, “As this humble monk has said, Her Ladyship is blessed by heaven and will live a life free from worry.”

“Good. I will remember your words.”

With that, Chu Mingheng stood up, lightly straightened his robe, and said calmly, “There is no need for the Master to see me off. The weather in the imperial city has been pleasant lately, and the scenery is beautiful. Since the Master has gone to great lengths to come here, it would not be too late to rest for a few days before leaving.”

Master Huifan also rose, showing no surprise at his words. He even smiled slightly and responded with an acknowledgment.

As Chu Mingheng stepped out of the hall, he happened to see Lan Wu walking along a small path from the other side. Her hood was already pulled over her head, and when he spotted her, she was pacing back and forth on the path with her head lowered.

“Your Ladyship, His Majesty has come out,” Dan Shan reminded Lan Wu from the side.

Lan Wu looked up and saw Chu Mingheng approaching her.

As he drew closer, she instinctively lowered her gaze, took a step forward, and gently threw herself into his arms.

“Why didn’t you wait in the side chamber?” Chu Mingheng held her, reaching out to feel the temperature of her hands. Only when they were not cold did he stop. “Don’t come out to catch the wind next time.”

“I’m not made of clay, to crack at the slightest breeze,” Lan Wu retorted, then added, “The side chamber was stuffy, so I wanted to take a walk outside.”

“Your Majesty, are we going back now?”

“Yes, let’s return to the palace.” Chu Mingheng nodded slightly and ordered preparations for their departure.

It wasn’t until they left Nanli Temple and boarded the carriage that Chu Mingheng noticed Lan Wu had been unusually quiet, keeping her head down and speaking little, as if deliberately avoiding attention.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset because I didn’t let you come with me?” As he spoke, Chu Mingheng took Lan Wu’s hands again, warming them in his palms. His voice was gentle and low. “I came looking for you as soon as I stepped out. What I discussed with Huifan wasn’t anything important—I was just worried about your sleeves and afraid you’d catch a chill.”

After speaking a few words, he noticed that Lan Wu’s hood was large and wide, almost covering half her face.

He reached out to lower it, but Lan Wu suddenly dodged.

“A’Wu?” Sensing something amiss, Chu Mingheng gently hooked the edge of Lan Wu’s hood, lifting it slightly as he tilted his head to meet her gaze.

Sure enough, he saw her reddened eyes.

Still cried.