Chapter 152: Grand Finale 1

Amidst cheerful banter, the winter of the thirtieth year of Yongchang arrived with heavy snow, freezing all creation under a blanket of white.

Lin Miaomiao was pregnant, and Li Yanhe had stayed by her side continuously for the past few days.

For some inexplicable reason, Lin Miaomiao felt a sudden lowness of spirit today. Glancing at Li Yanhe guarding her, she slowly said, "This winter is truly too cold—so cold that it makes me feel as though something ill-fated is about to happen."

When Lin Miaomiao finished these words, Li Yanhe gave her a look and gently replied, "Word has come from the capital."

"His Majesty the Emperor may not survive this winter. This winter is a threshold we must cross."

Hearing Li Yanhe's words, the two of them fell into a momentary silence. Li Yanhe held Lin Miaomiao, turning slightly to gaze at the snowy scenery outside.

What Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe did not know was that the reigning Emperor Yongchang had already passed away. That ruler of the ages ultimately failed to survive the winter of the twenty-eighth year of Yongchang.

Upon witnessing the death of Emperor Yongchang, Crown Prince Li Hanwen kept the demise a secret without announcing it. Instead, he swiftly mobilized several armies to take control of the capital and the roads across all prefectures and counties.

In November of the twenty-eighth year of Yongchang, news of Emperor Yongchang's passing from illness spread throughout the imperial court.

Following the mandate of heaven, Crown Prince Li Hanwen ascended the throne. In the twenty-ninth year of Yongchang, the Fourth Prince, Li Deren, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Deren, becoming the second Prince of the First Rank in the Great Yong Dynasty.

Upon receiving word of Emperor Yongchang's critical illness, the Imperial Household Department had already begun preparing the ceremonial robes of a Prince of the First Rank for Li Deren.

Crown Prince Li Hanwen clasped the hand of the Fourth Prince, Li Deren. Li Deren heaved a heavy sigh and said from the bottom of his heart, "Imperial Elder Brother, we have finally won."

As Li Deren addressed Li Hanwen, a look of deep reverence appeared on his face.

With the ascension of the new emperor, Li Hanwen changed the era name to Jianxing.

Upon the ascension of the Emperor Jianxing, Li Zheng handed all affairs over to Li Hanwen and departed the imperial palace.

Gazing at the ledger of Da'ankou, Li Hanwen glanced briefly at Li Deren, then sighed after a long moment and slowly addressed him, "Business in Da'ankou is thriving. Nowadays, most merchants in the capital either source their goods from Da'ankou or travel to Mobei."

Hearing this, Li Deren raised his eyes to meet Li Hanwen's gaze. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, "This winter is too severe; the northern frontier is destined to be unsettled."

At these words, Li Hanwen instantly knitted his brows. Unrest in the north meant war was inevitable.

Li Hanwen looked at Li Deren, who, after a long silence, knelt upon the ground. "This subject takes his leave."

Because of the matter concerning Li Yanhe, Li Hanwen and Li Deren had reached a momentary stalemate.

In the first year of Jianxing, Lin Miaomiao was startled by the sight of tall, spirited horses standing before her doorway. Opening the door, she beheld two men locked in a standoff.

A charming smile curved the corners of Lin Miaomiao's lips. In the second year of Jianxing, Lin Miaomiao gave birth to a baby boy.

The capital, too, was far from peaceful. Upon his ascension, Emperor Jianxing ordered the expansion of the late Empress's mausoleum, an undertaking that stirred turbulence throughout the court.

In the third year of Jianxing, battle reports arrived from the borderlands. The small frontier state of Han had invaded the borders. Given the formidable national strength of the Great Yong Dynasty, officials in the court overwhelmingly advocated for war.

Emperor Jianxing concurred, appointing Yan Song as the Grand General to meet the Han invasion.

Yet, the moment Yan Song arrived at the battlefield, he began to harbor thoughts of retreat. Yan Song had previously served as Li Yanhe's deputy general, known for his slick and slippery ways.

Upon seeing that the monarch of the Han state was Batu, an old acquaintance from his past, and realizing that Batu clearly recognized him as well, Yan Song offered no resistance. Batu drove straight through, pushing his forces all the way to the gates of the capital.

Furious, Emperor Jianxing demanded a counter-offensive. At that moment, Prince De requested command of the forces, leading the army into battle. In March of that same year, Prince De drove the Han invaders back to the borderlands.

Looking over the battlefield reports from the frontier, Emperor Jianxing could not suppress the smile blooming at the corners of his mouth. In the fourth year of Jianxing, a memorial from the Prince of Shengxuan arrived from Mobei, stating that Mobei had cooperated with Prince De to successfully repel the Han state.

The war ended in a resounding victory. In the fourth year of Jianxing, Emperor Jianxing issued an imperial decree commending the Prince of Shengxuan and Prince De, and in the same year ordered the total annihilation of the Han state.

In the fifth year of Jianxing, Prince Li Deren led a hundred thousand troops to breach the gates of the Han state. Gazing at the war reports on Li Yanhe's desk, Lin Miaomiao let out a long sigh after a lingering silence.

Looking down at the child cradled in her arms, Lin Miaomiao softly asked Li Yanhe, "Must we leave as well?"

Li Yanhe smiled and nodded in agreement. That same year, the only son of the Prince of Shengxuan contracted a chill and passed away. Grief-stricken and heartbroken, the Princess of Shengxuan passed away in deep melancholy. The Prince of Shengxuan chose to drain a cup of poisoned wine, departing this mortal realm.

Reviewing this outcome, Emperor Jianxing nodded with satisfaction. That same year, an imperial decree posthumously honored the Prince of Shengxuan. Upon witnessing these events, the people of the capital understood that Li Yanhe had taken over the authority previously held by Li Zheng, becoming the Shadow Dragon.

Although Prince De achieved complete victory by occupying the Han state, he sustained severe injuries. Upon his return to the capital, the imperial physicians could only offer a helpless sigh after examining him.

In the tenth year of Jianxing, Prince Li Deren passed away from illness at the age of thirty-four. Emperor Jianxing wept bitterly before his coffin.

In the eighteenth year of Jianxing, Emperor Jianxing passed away, and the Emperor Taining ascended the throne. In the second year of Taining, the new emperor promoted benevolent governance, and the common people lived in peace and contentment.

"Your Majesty, what did you see today during your micro-visit among the common folk?"

Turning his head, Emperor Taining glanced at the eunuch attending him, then let out a long sigh. "I saw the path I would never have chosen in this lifetime."

In the twentieth year of Taining, Emperor Taining posthumously honored the Prince of Shengxuan as the Sovereign Protector of the State, granting him the privilege of receiving royal incense and offerings.

Thus concluded the tale of the Prince and Princess of Shengxuan. This very place was the former residence of the Prince of Shengxuan. With a smile, the tour guide finished speaking. Standing nearby, a young woman removed her glasses, a graceful curve playing at the corners of her lips.

"I am glad you found happiness, too." After whispering these words, the woman turned to leave, just in time to hear someone ask the tour guide, "May I ask? Was the mother of this Prince of Shengxuan an Empress?"

The young woman, who had been about to walk away, turned back and replied with utmost earnestness, "No. His Imperial Mother was the Virtuous and Gentle Imperial Noble Consort of the Yuan clan."

Having delivered this, the beautiful woman turned and walked away.

"How strange! That young lady is so fierce!" murmured a girl trailing behind in confusion.

Yuan Chuxia quickened her pace as she walked away. "So this was all just a fleeting dream like Nanke."

As Yuan Chuxia muttered these words, tears streamed down from the corners of her eyes.

Striding hurriedly forward, Yuan Chuxia was suddenly grabbed by the hand from behind. "Be careful."

Turning her head to look, Yuan Chuxia blurted out, "Li Zuo." Instantly, a twinge of regret crossed her mind.

Hearing his name, Li Zuo pointed at himself with a puzzled expression and asked, "Does the young lady know me?"

Tilting her head without a word, Yuan Chuxia watched the young man before her, who found her silence rather amusing.

"Let's exchange numbers so we can keep in touch." Glancing at the man before her, Yuan Chuxia ultimately traded phone numbers with him.