116: Chapter 116 Farewell

"The Imperial Secretariat doesn't advise against it? The Privy Councilor doesn't stop it? The Censor-in-Chief doesn't even make a peep?"

"These three are Your Majesty's most trusted confidants..."

The sounds of tearful remonstrance in the great hall gradually faded.

You spoke, your tone indifferent: "What, do my words no longer carry weight?"

Silence fell.

You stood up, the hem of your Dragon robe dragging across the jade steps; your voice was not loud, but every word fell clearly into everyone's ears.

"Crown Prince Lin Chengan has been in the Imperial Secretariat for two years and has been reviewing memorials independently for one year and three months. During last year's autumn floods, the three southern provinces were in crisis. I did not intervene in a single word; it was he who coordinated the disaster relief grain, organized the local garrisons, and resettled 120,000 refugees. In twenty-three days, not a single person starved to death in those three provinces."

You paused.

"This spring, when the North Yan delegation provoked us at the border, he made the decision alone, ordering the border troops to retreat thirty miles to feign weakness, then encircling the enemy after luring them deep into our territory, beheading eight hundred of them. I only learned of this after the fact."

The officials looked at each other in dismay.

He Chongwen's lips moved, but in the end, he remained silent.

Zhou Jingzhi finally raised his head and bowed slightly to you: "Your servant obeys the decree."

"Obey the decree." Privy Councilor Zhao Yuanlang followed.

"...Obey the decree." Chen Wangshu spoke last.

The same two words echoed one after another throughout the hall.

"Dismissed."

You turned and walked toward the back of the hall.

Footsteps sounded from behind, following you unhurriedly.

You did not look back.

"Come out."

From behind a pillar at the back of the hall, a young man walked out. Crown Prince Lin Chengan was nineteen this year, with clear, upright features and a tall, straight figure.

There was a light in his eyes—the irrepressible excitement and curiosity of a youth—but there was also a more complex emotion.

"Aunt," he said, catching up to your pace. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Is that... the Dao of Immortality really so attractive?"

You raised an eyebrow.

He hurriedly added, "I mean, you are even willing to let go of this vast empire, so what exactly is it like to Cultivate immortality?"

You turned your head to look at him.

"What? You don't want to be Emperor anymore? Do you want to Cultivate immortality too?"

"No!" Crown Prince Lin Chengan waved his hands hurriedly. "That's not what I meant. It's just... things I only heard about in storybooks have suddenly become real, and it feels a bit... unreal."

You looked at him and smiled slightly.

Your gaze drifted unconsciously toward the northwest.

"Storybooks, huh..."

You withdrew your gaze, your tone light.

"Perhaps."

Three months later.

The seventh year of Great Li, winter, the new Emperor's coronation ceremony.

All thirteen provinces celebrated together, and the people bowed in homage, but unlike previous years, the cheers of this celebration were mixed with a strange sense of unease.

Memorials from all over the country flew into the Imperial Secretariat like snowflakes.

The commoners of Qingzhou submitted a joint petition, requesting the former Emperor to revoke the decree.

Thirty-six counties in Yuzhou Province collectively submitted a letter, begging the former Emperor to continue ruling from behind the curtain.

Most absurd of all was the Southern Frontier, where a county magistrate led the entire population of the county to kneel on the official road, holding up a banner that read: "Your Majesty, do not abandon us."

When you saw these memorials, you were packing your luggage and couldn't help but shake your head.

The commoners are still so simple and honest.

You closed the memorial.

Your tone was calm: "Tell the local officials to comfort the people; the new Emperor is benevolent and will not treat them poorly."

Female Official Liu Hanyan did not move, her lips trembling slightly.

"Retired Emperor... are you truly leaving?"

You glanced at her.

"Pack up the things in the palace for me; archive what should be archived, and burn what should be burned."

Female Official Liu Hanyan lowered her head, bowed, and retreated.

You heard her sniff hard after she left the room.

Three days later.

In the Imperial Palace, you were dressed in black martial attire, your long hair tied up neatly, a long sword tucked at your waist.

You stood before the bronze mirror in your bedchamber and looked at yourself.

The person in the mirror had not changed in appearance.

At thirty-two, you still looked like you were in your early twenties; your skin was like snow, your features like a painting, and your Phoenix eyes were cold and deep.

You did not know if it was because of your Peerless Elegance or the nourishment of your Physical Body by your internal energy.

Or perhaps it was both.

You turned and left the bedchamber, dismissing all the accompanying female officials.

You took one last look at the towering palace behind you.

Golden tiles, red walls, flying eaves, and bracket sets.

Over a dozen years, from a mere prisoner to the supreme ruler, from penniless to possessing the world.

You withdrew your gaze and strode toward the Empress Dowager's bedchamber.

Sandalwood incense burned in the bedchamber. Mother Lin sat on a soft couch by the window, holding a string of prayer beads in her hand; she raised her head upon hearing footsteps.

She had aged a lot; there were more gray hairs at her temples than two years ago, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were deeper, but her gaze was gentle.

"You're here." She put down the prayer beads and looked you up and down. "This outfit... it looks just like when you were a child and went up the mountain to chop firewood with your father."

You sat down opposite her, not knowing what to say for a moment.

After a few moments of silence, Mother Lin spoke first, her voice calm: "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight."

"Mm." She nodded, neither holding you back nor reproaching you.

They were silent for a while longer.

Then she suddenly stood up, turned, rummaged through a cabinet by the couch, and pulled out a cloth bundle, thrusting it into your hands.

"Eat this on the road," she said. "I had the small kitchen make osmanthus cakes, the kind you loved most when you were a child. Although you are some kind of Earthly Immortal now and probably don't need to eat... but what if you get hungry?"

You looked down at the still-warm cloth bundle in your hands, your throat suddenly tightening.

"Mother."

"Don't call me that; I'll want to cry if you do." Mother Lin turned her face away, rubbed the corners of her eyes hard, and turned back. "Let's talk business. When you leave this time, when will you return?"

"I'm not sure," you answered honestly.

"Then it will be a very long time." Mother Lin took a deep breath, her eyes still red, but her voice steadied with effort. "Wan, Mother doesn't understand this Dao of Immortality or whatever it is. Mother only knows one thing: you are my daughter."

She reached out, her rough fingertips pressing against your cheek, and stroked it gently, just like when you were a child.

"If you encounter something you can't beat, run away. Don't force yourself."

"Mm."

"Eat on time, and don't forget to eat as soon as you start to Cultivate."

"Mm."

"And..." Mother Lin's voice finally trembled. "Live. You must come back alive."

You stood up and bowed deeply to her.

"Your daughter will remember."

You turned and walked out of the great hall.

A very, very soft sob came from behind you.

Your footsteps paused for an instant, then returned to normal as you stepped out of the hall door.

After the door closed, Mother Lin sat dazed for a long time.

The palace maid outside peeked in cautiously.

Mother Lin wiped away her tears, her voice returning to calm: "Pack up the things; in a few days, we are moving to Lingyin Temple."

"Empress Dowager, why?" the palace maid asked, stunned.