Breaking a Couple in Every World (QT)

 

When Prince Qi received the news that Su Wan’er had asked to meet him in ten days, he was in a complicated mood. On one hand, his plan was progressing smoothly, and the next step was the most critical part; what he was waiting for would happen today. But on the other hand, he was also a bit frustrated.

 

Su Wan’er—a beautiful, intelligent, and understanding woman—satisfied all of his fantasies of an ideal lover. The time he’d spent with her was also the best and most memorable time in his life. It would be good if he didn’t have to bear the hatred of killing his mother and seizing the throne, and could just walk away with her, staying together for the rest of his life.

 

What a pity—how the god of destiny makes fools of people!

 

Prince Qi’s thousands of emotions and signs of regret were just momentary. To a man’s heart, the affection between man and woman ultimately could not compare to an entire country.

 

Prince Qi sorted up his mood, pretended to be ignorant, and went to his meeting.

 

“Wan’er!” As usual, Prince Qi pretended to be a little eunuch and quietly sneaked into the Cold Palace.

 

This was the most remote corner of the Cold Palace. It was also the place where the Cold Palace’s corpses were kept. Unless necessary, loiterers and other people would never come in.

 

But Su Wan’er didn’t believe in ghosts and gods, and Prince Qi would not be afraid of these in order to achieve his goals. Thus, it became a date spot for the two.

 

“What’s wrong? Why won’t you look at me?” Prince Qi anxiously asked.

 

“The empress dowager ordered someone to give me some tonics today. The day before yesterday, she ordered someone to send me skirts and jewelry.” Su Wan’er turned around and looked directly at Prince Qi. She was not an indecisive person; since she had made a decision, she would not drag it out.

 

Prince Qi winced and looked at Su Wan’er incredulously. “You mean?”

 

“The empress dowager means to allow me to leave the Cold Palace!” Although Su Wan’er was heartbroken, she still said, word by word, “Your Highness, you are amazing. The fact that I cannot stay with you is the biggest loss of my life. But, Your Highness, I still have a deep blood debt to collect. I can’t live while concealing my identity for an entire lifetime. Do you understand?”

 

Prince Qi seemed to be unable to accept this blow, and his body trembled. Su Wan’er endured the urge to support him and only stood there, looking sadly at him.

 

Prince Qi calmed down. “I—I understand. In other words, it’s all because I was useless, I…”

 

Su Wan’er couldn’t help but rush into his arms. “No, Henglang, it’s not your fault. It’s all fate!”

 

Prince Qi hugged Su Wan’er tightly. “Wan’er, these days are the best days of my life, and I will always remember them. Wan’er, the road ahead is dangerous. You—you have to take care!”

 

Hearing that her lover was softly comforting her instead of blaming her, Su Wan’er thought of the fickle emperor and felt sad. Why did the gods play such a trick on me? Why!

 

Su Wan’er suddenly wanted to indulge just once, for once; it was not only a farewell to her love, but also a comfort for herself.

 

The two embraced each other, and in this room covered with straw, quite a few happy things were done.

 

After the end, Prince Qi did not leave immediately, instead holding Su Wan’er tighter. Before he came here, he’d taken a medicine with him, and along with the medicine that Huixin put in Su Wan’er’s tea, the combination of these two medicines could promote pregnancy. This was a recipe he had gotten with great difficulty, and he’d tried it many times to ensure no errors before he used it.

 

After a while, Prince Qi let go of Su Wan’er and arranged her clothes for her. “Wan’er, I was too abrupt.”

 

“No, I was willing.” Su Wan’er said, looking at Prince Qi.

 

“In my imagination, our first time should have been on the day we got married, in the bridal chamber, with the felicity of husband and wife. Unfortunately, there will never be such a day,” Prince Qi said, tears coming down.

 

“Henglang,” Su Wan’er called out softly, feeling that she was too cruel.

 

“Wan’er, after today’s farewell, I shall leave the capital. I can’t do it, I can’t, I can’t watch you and brother emperor together with my own eyes… I’ll also take Wen’er with me—take him to visit a famous teacher. At the same time, I’ll silently bless you in my heart and wish you all the best.” Prince Qi put his clothes back on and looked at Su Wan’er affectionately.

 

Su Wan’er nodded. “Leave; the farther you go, the better. You and Wen’er are the only two things I have left in this world. As long as you two are all right, I won’t have anything to worry about.” I’ll be able to do what I need to do with confidence.

 

Prince Qi nodded affectionately.

 

Huixin’s voice came from outside the door: “My lady, Your Highness, someone is coming.”

 

“Wan’er, I’m leaving! You—take care!” Prince Qi glanced at Su Wan’er again, hardened his heart, and turned away.

 

Su Wan’er stood there, wiped her tears away, put her hood up, and walked out.

 

“My lady!” Huixin exclaimed.

 

“Let’s go back!” Su Wan’er said blankly.

 

Three days later, a momo under the empress dowager came to the Cold Palace again and gave them face-to-face instruction.

 

A few more days later, it was the death anniversary of Empress Xiaoyuan. At this time in previous years, the emperor never called any concubines, instead staying alone in Yilan Palace, where Empress Xiaoyuan had lived, to remember his lover.

 

This night was no different.

 

In front of a portrait of Empress Xiaoyuan, the emperor was drowning his sorrows in wine, when he suddenly heard the sound of a flute. Upon listening carefully, the song turned out to be The Flying Fairy!

 

The emperor was unhappy—who was so bold?! He walked out, following the sound of the flute, and finally came to the vicinity of the Cold Palace.

 

A person suddenly appeared in his mind, and he involuntarily pushed open the door of the Cold Palace.

 

As a result, he saw a scene that he would never forget for the rest of his life. Under the white moonlight, a woman veiled in white was playing the flute and dancing. There were a few people watching and laughing.

 

The woman turned around. In a daze, the emperor thought he saw Empress Xiaoyuan!

 

At the end of the song, the woman stood in the wind, fluttering and ecstatic.

 

The emperor couldn’t help himself. He walked over, just about to speak.

 

The woman knelt down and said, “Lady Su pays homage to the emperor. Greetings to the emperor.”

 

The emperor came back to his senses and extended his hand to help her up. “Wan’er, I didn’t expect it to be you.”

 

Su Wan’er didn’t say a word, simply looking at the emperor. Upon seeing this, the emperor’s heart softened. “Wan’er, come with me.” Then he pulled her away.

 

Except for Huixin, the crazy women in the Cold Palace were stopped by the guards.

 

The emperor had drunk too much wine tonight, and he couldn’t help himself—he actually favored Su Wan’er in Yilan Palace. Su Wan’er never rejected it, accepting it with unprecedented cooperation and tolerance.

 

After that one night, the emperor was a little embarrassed. He didn’t know how to place Su Wan’er. Su Wan’er empathetically hugged him from behind. “This concubine shall return to the Cold Palace.”

 

“How could I allow such a thing! That would be an injustice to you.” The emperor took Su Wan’er’s hand back. “You shall live in Yilan Palace’s side hall first. After zhen asks the empress dowager, we will make arrangements.”

 

Su Wan’er was rather docile as she nodded her head. “The concubine will listen to the emperor.”

 

The emperor looked at such a meek Su Wan’er, and his heart was even more joyful. In the past, he felt that Wan’er’s temperament was too unruly—unlike Xiaoyuan’s meekness—but now, she was more like it.

 

After morning court, the emperor went to the empress dowager’s palace and hesitated for a long time before telling her about Su Wan’er. “What are mother empress’s thoughts on how Lady Su should be placed?”

 

“Lady Su is the daughter of criminal officials. How could she serve the emperor again? The emperor is being too muddle-headed.” The empress dowager frowned.

 

“I know what happened to Lady Su’s father, but at that time, I was in a rage and didn’t think clearly. Moreover, there were many doubts about the matter, and I wanted to check it over again.” In fact, the emperor had calmed down after the incident. Knowing that he was wrong at the beginning, he was determined to make up for it, but who knows how Wan’er had learned about Xiaoyuan.

 

“That’s fine. It is inappropriate for the emperor to not have any caring people by his side now; it’s just that Lady Su’s position cannot be restored. Let’s consider her performance in the future!” the empress dowager said after thinking for a while.

 

“Then give her the position of Beautiful Lady!” the emperor hurriedly suggested.

 

Slowly, the empress dowager nodded.

 

The emperor left contentedly.

 

The empress dowager said, “Have Beautiful Lady Su come here!” Su Wan’er had been kneeling on the cold tiles, her back straight and her head slightly lowered. Huixin also frankly knelt behind her.

 

“How long has she been kneeling?” the empress dowager asked.

 

“It’s been thirty minutes,” the momo replied.

 

“Let her in!” the empress dowager softly said.

 

In fact, in looking for Su Wan’er, the empress dowager didn’t mean anything by it except for a deterrence and a warning. Let her serve the emperor well, respect the empress, and keep her concubines’ virtues.

 

As for the enmity stirred by Su family’s destruction, the empress dowager did not take it to heart. She believed that Lady Su, who had been in the Cold Palace, had had her self-esteem completely crushed and knew what was best. What’s more, the extermination of the Su family had been done by the noble consort herself. She believed that Lady Su would make the right choice!

 

Coming out of the empress dowager’s palace, Su Wan’er welcomed Luo Fu as he said, “I have witnessed Beautiful Lady Su. The emperor has made a decree letting Beautiful Lady Su live in Yilan Palace.”

 

Su Wan’er said, smiling, “Thanking the emperor.”

 

They arrived at Yilan Palace. The emperor meant for her to live in the main hall of Yilan Palace, but Su Wan’er hurriedly declined. “Yilan Palace is the former residence of Empress Xiaoyuan; how can I dare to live in the main hall? It’s so disrespectful. The side hall is already very good!”

 

Su Wan’er repeatedly rejected, so Luo Fu had no choice but to get the side hall clean.

 

When the emperor learned about it, he was very satisfied. When he saw Su Wan’er, he smiled and said, “Wan’er is so knowledgeable. I am so relieved.”

 

Su Wan’er leaned on the emperor’s chest. “This concubine loves the emperor deeply and puts her heart into it. She knows the emperor has deep affection for Empress Xiaoyuan. This concubine dares not to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Empress Xiaoyuan; I just hope that this concubine may have a place in the emperor’s heart.”

 

“Wan’er, you are in my heart. Only then…” The emperor sighed.

 

“Emperor, this concubine was wrongly accused. The emperor is wise and powerful—how can he be compared with an imperial physician? And this concubine is not blind. How could I abandon the emperor and choose him!” Su Wan’er’s tears clung to her eyelashes as she showed an expression of misery.

 

“I know, I believe you, it’s just that I was dazzled by jealousy at the time. Also, you… Forget it, don’t mention the previous matter. How about we start over?” the emperor said softly.

 

Su Wan’er nodded docilely. She knew that she had a lot to do, but she couldn’t rush it for a while.

 

Su Wan’er’s return to favor shocked everyone in the harem.

 

This was especially so for the noble consort. She was busy battling the empress these days; she hadn’t expected Su Wan’er to regain favor right under her nose. She really hadn’t expected that after all that, Su Wan’er could actually get out of the Cold Palace! She even lived in Yilan Hall.

 

It was truly incredible.

 

Yingyue was as worried as the noble consort.