Chapter 42: Ancient Palace BL (XV)

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Chapter 42: Ancient Palace BL (XV)

No one knew where Miao Lichen had taken Xuanyuan Zihao. When they left, only Miao Lichen returned.

As Xuanyuan Zihao’s Consort, Nangong Qingyue was the most qualified to ask about his whereabouts. Even if he himself wasn’t willing to ask, the soldiers who belonged to Xuanyuan Zihao would not let him off the hook.

But no matter how he was questioned, Miao Lichen’s answer was always the same: Prince Ming would never appear on the battlefield again. Following the Emperor’s decree, Miao Lichen assumed the position of Marshal. Compared to the ruckus caused by Xuanyuan Zihao’s disappearance, his appointment didn’t elicit much of a reaction from the soldiers. Miao Lichen’s formidable martial arts also played a significant role here.

Xuanyuan Zihao’s plot to revolt was a scandal within the Xuanyuan Royal family, but instead of being suppressed, it was spread far and wide. Almost everyone in the country knew of his actions, and aside from his die-hard loyalists, most had already pledged allegiance to Xuanyuan Ziying. From that moment on, Xuanyuan Ziying was the only true ruler of Xuanyuan Empire.

The fact that their revered War God had become a traitor was indeed a devastating blow to the people. But Miao Lichen had already won battle after battle after taking up the position. Unlike Xuanyuan Zihao, who had been burdened by his own schemes, Miao Lichen fought purely for victory and had already captured several cities in just half a month. If it weren’t for the soldiers needing rest, he probably would have won even more.

Under these circumstances, Miao Lichen’s prestige soared to unimaginable heights, even surpassing Xuanyuan Zihao in his heyday. Promotions and titles were practically guaranteed, but he suddenly vanished without a trace during a battle, and never reappeared. Some said he was dead, but more believed he had no desire for court politics.

In the XXXth year of the Xuanyuan Empire calendar, the Xuanyuan Empire and Vermillion Bird Empire signed a non-aggression treaty for one century. Nangong Qingyue, the former Consort of the criminal Prince Ming and now Prince Yue of the Vermilion Bird Empire, returned to his ancestral homeland.

On Month X, Year XXX, the Xuanyuan Empire suddenly launched an attack on Azure Dragon Empire, causing chaos within their royal family. They ultimately achieved victory under the leadership of Prince Lan. The former Crown Prince of the Azure Dragon Empire disappeared, and a month later, the Azure Dragon Emperor appointed Prince Lan as Crown Prince. A few days later, the Azure Dragon Emperor died, and the Crown Prince Luo Qinglan ascended the throne.

After a period of turmoil, the world returned to calm…

“What day is it today?” Xuanyuan Ziying sat in his imperial study, holding a piece of paper covered in horizontal lines. His hand trembled slightly, yet his expression retained the dignity of an emperor.

“Your Majesty, it is the tenth day.” Another person’s reply came from the empty imperial study, their voice carrying a hint of worry.

“Yes, he has been missing for ten days.” Xuanyuan Ziying seemed to be talking to himself. The marks on the paper had already exceeded three months. That person had been gone from his side for a long time. A pang of pain shot through his heart, as if he too had learned the Heartbreak Sword. But that was impossible, he cherished himself so much, how could he learn it?

He opened his palm and the sword mark had vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there. No matter how many times he washed his hand, the mark could never reappear. Only when the puppet ceased to exist would the mark left by the Heartbreak Sword disappear. Miao Lichen… he was already…

He had already erected a monument in the imperial mausoleum, yet he still harbored delusions?

“Your Majesty…”

“Just say whatever you want to say.” Xuanyuan Ziying frowned and spoke impatiently.

“Someone found a letter on the throne. It is intended for Your Majesty, but the handwriting doesn’t look familiar…”

“Why didn’t you give it to me?” Xuanyuan Ziying pressed a hand to his aching forehead as he stared at the letter in front of him. The handwriting on the envelope was gentle and smooth, and not the gentle yet sharp handwriting he had almost memorized. After getting used to Miao Lichen’s handwriting, everyone else’s handwriting lacked a certain spirit, including his own.

He opened the letter and found a painting inside. The painting was of a man in red and remarkably lifelike. The red robes and sword created an image of unmatched elegance. His fingers brushed across the man’s face, but didn’t touch it. He could feel the dryness in his throat as he slowly took out the pages he had ignored in favor of the painting. After a long moment, he finally started reading.

The name signed at the end of the letter was Nan Xin, the man who had shared a close relationship with Miao Lichen. Nangong Qingyue, now the Prince Yue of the Vermillion Bird Empire, had changed his name to Nan Xin shortly after returning to his homeland. He took on the Vermillion Bird imperial surname and was granted the title of Prince Yue, a testament to how highly his uncle, the current Emperor of the Vermillion Bird Empire, valued him.

The lengthy letter inside contained mostly accusations that he had broken his promises, which only made the corners of his lips curve upward. His integrity had already been exhausted in his previous life; the Xuanyuan Ziying who existed in this life was nothing more than a selfish and self-serving emperor. Therefore, those accusations could not leave even the slightest mark on his heart. His expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, until the very last part of the letter, when the news that Nan Xin had married Miao Lichen caused his expression to shift abruptly, and his fingers tightened around the paper.

Even though that person was already dead, he still could not openly reveal his feelings for him to the world. But at least he could console himself that no one could openly stand by Miao Lichen’s side. Now Nan Xin had shattered that small, cherished hope. Would Miao Lichen become Prince Yue’s consort?

“Has Prince Yue recently gotten married?” Xuanyuan Ziying hesitantly asked, his voice slightly hoarse.

“Prince Yue seems to have been married for a couple days already. He did not take a consort; rather, he married into another family. Is it said that Prince Yue has not appeared in the palace since the marriage ceremony… Since Your Majesty has been in a bad mood these days, I took it upon myself to send him a congratulatory gift.”

“I understand, you may all leave.” Only after the presence beside him completely vanished did Xuanyuan Ziying’s eyes welled up with tears. His mood these past few days wasn’t just bad, he had practically taken his anger out on everyone he saw. Every minister in court trembled in fear because of it. But because of this, he had lost the chance to see Miao Lichen for the last time.

He still hasn’t asked him, “Miao Lichen, do you hate me?” But how could he not hate him? He was the one who caused his death wasn’t he? The Heartbreak Sword was practiced by one person, but it severed the love of more than one person. He carefully handled the portrait and hung it where he rested. The figure in red against the golden chamber seemed almost otherworldly, as though he might ride the wind away at any moment.

‘Miao Lichen, I owe you one last thing in this life: I love you. And… I am sorry.’

∇ Capture Target Xuanyuan Ziying Favorability: 100.

∇ Side Mission: Capture the Supporting Male Lead, Xuanyuan Ziying (Complete).

∇ Reward: 3,000 points. Please continue working hard on the main mission.

∇ Warning: Your body has been weakened by a negative status by 50%. You have five days, please complete the main mission as soon as possible.

Within the imperial mausoleum of the Xuanyuan Empire lay a burial ground reserved only for emperors. Its feng shui surpasses that of other places, and legend has it that it’s a place where one can witness the rise of the Ziwei Star. This place, which should have been tranquil, had a handsome man meticulously cleaning a tombstone. Compared to the extravagance of the other tombstones, this tombstone was very simple, and almost crude. Yet his gaze was fixated on it.

The wiping motion of his hand seemed to have become a habit, with each movement exceptionally gently, as if the stone beneath his hand wasn’t an inanimate object, but a living person. Xuanyuan Zihao murmured something, but perhaps only he could understand what he was saying. Occasionally, one could make out a few familiar mouth movements that seemed to spell out only one word: “Why?”

The sound of very rhythmic footsteps echoed within the imperial mausoleum, yet Xuanyuan Zihao paid them no heed. Luo Qinglan ignored him and bowed deeply to the tombstone, a fleeting look of confusion crossing his face. When he raised his head, he wore his usual smile, a slight curve of his thin lips like a refined and elegant gentleman. His golden imperial robe accentuated his tall and slender frame.

Luo Qinglan took out two jade pendants and buried them near the tomb. One was a bluish-green jade pendant and engraved with the outline of Heartbreak Sword and its ultimate consequence. The other, a blood-red pendant bore another cultivation technique. If martial artists were to discover it, they would fight violently over it.

‘Miao Lichen, if there is an afterlife, I hope you will not choose Heartbreak Sword again. That skill is not suitable for you. You should be living with joy, and maybe even use joy as your weapon.’ With one last glance at the small tombstone, Luo Qinglan turned and left without hesitation. He was now the Emperor of Azure Dragon and could not stay long in Xuanyuan. An empire cannot be without a ruler for a day.

After he left, Xuanyuan Zihao moved aside and dug out the two jade pendants. His hands trembled as he read the inscriptions on the pendants, but he eventually smiled. He coiled a long whip around the tombstone and pulled.

The tomb belonging to Miao Lichen was thus opened, but inside was not a body, but an exquisite guqin. Xuanyuan Zihao was unsurprised by the sight. He placed the two jade pendants beside the guqin, brushed the strings and reluctantly closed the tomb again.

He leaned against the tombstone for a long while before finally leaving. He lifted his head slightly and gazed at the sunset, which had softened into a gentle warmth. Xuanyuan Zihao wore a faint smile. Was it that Miao Lichen had loved him, but that his hatred had ultimately outweighed that love? In the end, was everything truly his own doing?

∇ Capture Target Xuanyuan Zihao Favorability: 100.

∇ Main Mission: Capture the Male Protagonist, Xuanyuan Zihao (Complete).

∇ Cleanup for this world has begun. Cleanup completed. Challenger will be returned to Lovely’s System Space.

The world has ended for Miao Lichen, but the lives of everyone else continues…

Xuanyuan Zihao would appear in the imperial mausoleum everyday, and it was rumored that some have also seen him at night.

Nan Xin lived atop a snow-covered mountain with Miao Lichen’s body. By then, he had become a physician renowned throughout the world, yet there was one affliction he could never cure. Miao Lichen, whom he sustained with medicine by a thread of life, never once showed signs of awakening. His body grew increasingly cold, no different from a corpse. Thus, every day, Nan Xin held him in his arms for more than twelve hours, hoping to bring even a trace of warmth back to him. The rest of his time was spent painting and studying medicine.

The portraits he painted he never kept to himself, but sent them all to the Emperor of the distant Xuanyuan Empire. From portraits capturing his original unparalleled beauty to those showing him now on the verge of death. He poured in the feelings the body beside him evoked and wanted another person to witness it together. However, it was said that the Emperor had recently become somewhat deranged and was preparing to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince.

‘So be it, the Xuanyuan Empire cannot perish, for it was something Miao Lichen had once protected.’

Luo Qinglan was an excellent Emperor. He believed that only things he had seized for himself were truly precious, which was why he valued the throne above all else. His every word and action became a model for future generations. However, this Emperor would vanish without a trace on every full moon night, becoming a mystery in history. Under his rule, the Azure Dragon Empire’s national strength surpassed that of all other empires. Yet he never once raised an army for war, and even after his death, he left behind a final decree to maintain the balance of the three powers.

TL Note: Xuanyuan is the Yellow Emperor in history. So I didn’t translate it. The other Empires are based off the Four Mythical Beasts.

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