A few days later, Huo Wuji and Jiang Suizhou set out for the north. By now, whether it was north or south of the Yangtze River, the region was unified, and the journey went quite smoothly.

When they arrived in Ye City, it was already July. Located to the north, Ye City was much cooler than Lin'an, allowing them to escape the summer heat.

Compared to Lin'an, Ye City seemed much more imposing. Since the previous dynasty, nearly three or four hundred years ago, Ye City had been the capital of the country.

Upon entering the city, through the silk curtains of the carriage he was lifting, Jiang Suizhou saw the city's walls, deep black, stretching silently beneath the azure sky.

Unlike Lin'an, Ye City was not shaded by willows, but had drought-resistant cypresses planted outside the city walls. Their branches were darker, blending with the city's walls.

The carriage moved forward, glimmering through the city, revealing grand buildings and wide, straight roads. When Ye City was built, it had been designed according to the principles of yin and yang, and the roads were wide and straight.

Compared to Lin'an, Ye City appeared much more majestic. On the sides of the road, there were pedestrians dressed in clothes different from those seen in Lin'an.

Noticing that Jiang Suizhou was observing the surroundings, Huo Wuji approached him. "What are you looking at?" he asked.

Jiang Suizhou looked out the window. "It's very different from Lin'an," he said.

Huo Wuji followed his gaze. Although he had not lived in Ye for long, he didn’t see anything particularly new. After looking for a moment, he turned his eyes away and asked, "Do you like this place?"

Jiang Suizhou nodded, then shook his head. "It’s not so much because of Ye's scenery," he said. "It’s just that I’m fascinated by the differences between the north and the south, the east and the west. It’s really interesting."

Huo Wuji's gaze fell on his face. He remembered that Jiang Suizhou really enjoyed reading travelogues, but back then, he didn’t understand what he found interesting in them. But now, it seemed that Jiang Suizhou didn't care as much for the writers themselves as for the landscapes they described.

Thinking about this, he suddenly raised his hand and drew the curtains of the carriage.

Jiang Suizhou turned around to ask, "What are you doing?" but found himself facing a kiss from Huo Wuji.

"We have so much to see in the future," said Huo Wuji. "If you like traveling, we don’t need that throne. I’ll take you on a journey."

He spoke seriously, his expression leaving no room for laugh, clearly showing that he was sincere.

Jiang Suizhou burst out laughing. "Don’t joke," he said. "If you're not here to support the throne, the imperial court will eventually descend into chaos."

Huo Wuji frowned. Although he didn’t reply that chaos was of no concern to him, the idea that Jiang Suizhou’s hobbies would be delayed by such material things didn’t please him.

Jiang Suizhou understood his thoughts. "I like seeing these landscapes," he said softly. "But what I really enjoy is seeing them peaceful and stable."

Huo Wuji looked at him. Jiang Suizhou smiled and bowed to ask him a question. "If one day it were possible, would General Huo be willing to accompany me on a tour and see our prosperous and peaceful era together?"

Huo Wuji swallowed. "I would be very happy to," he replied softly.

*

When they arrived in Ye City, they were informed that Emperor Zhaoyuan’s health had been deteriorating increasingly in recent days. Huo Wujiu settled Jiang Suizhou in his own residence in Ye City, then hurried to the imperial palace.

Emperor Zhaoyuan’s physical condition was truly bad. His health had already been fragile, and he had begun falling ill ever since he heard the news of Huo Yuyan’s assassination attempt on Huo Wujiu.

When Huo Wujiu entered the palace, Emperor Zhaoyuan had just taken his medicine. The imperial doctor, who was exiting, shook his head and told Huo Shu, who was standing at the door, that the Emperor had only taken half of his medicine that day and could not ingest anything more.

Upon seeing Huo Wujiu arrive, Huo Shu looked up at him and nodded slightly. Huo Shu was only two years younger than Huo Yuyan and was nearly the same age as Huo Wujiu. Since childhood, she had had a calm and composed nature. At that moment, looking at Huo Wujiu, her eyes were slightly red.

Huo Wujiu knew why. He stepped forward, stood before her, bowed, and said, "Second Sister."

Huo Shu nodded in response, then stepped aside and said, "Go see him. The Father Emperor has been desperately waiting for your return these past few days."

Huo Wujiu nodded and made his way toward Emperor Zhaoyuan's bedroom.

Just as he took a step forward, he heard Huo Shu call out to him again. "Wujiu."

Huo Wujiu turned around and saw Huo Shu looking at him, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Where is Eldest Brother now?"

Huo Wujiu replied, "He came back with me. I didn't take his life."

Huo Shu sniffled softly and murmured, "Thank you."

Huo Wujiu nodded.

As he was about to leave, he heard Huo Shu say, "This matter... This sister feels sorry for you."

Huo Wujiu said nothing and entered Emperor Zhaoyuan's bedroom.

As soon as he entered the room, Huo Wujiu was hit by the strong smell of medicine. It was dense, heavy, and suffocating, giving off a sense of death that hung in the air. Huo Wujiu frowned and quickened his pace. Just before reaching the bedside, he heard a few weak, raspy coughs.

When he had left, Emperor Zhaoyuan had not been this sick.

Huo Wujiu hurried forward, and as soon as he stopped at the bedside, he heard the person on the bed cough and hoarsely ask, "Is it Wujiu who's come?"

Huo Wujiu paused, then replied in a deep voice, "Uncle."

He rushed to the bed and saw Emperor Zhaoyuan, who had become emaciated and almost skeletal, struggling to sit up. The eunuchs and maids hurried to support him, and after a brief flurry of confusion, they managed to stabilize Emperor Zhaoyuan on the bed.

"Wujiu," Emperor Zhaoyuan lifted his trembling head and looked at Huo Wujiu.

Huo Wujiu said nothing.

Then, Emperor Zhaoyuan raised his hand and dismissed all the eunuchs and court ladies in the room. A few moments later, the door was closed, leaving Huo Wujiu and Emperor Zhaoyuan alone in the chamber.

"That boy Yuyan... it's our fault for not educating him properly," Emperor Zhaoyuan struggled to speak, his voice choked.

Huo Wujiu silently knelt by his bed.

"It is your nephew's fault," Huo Wujiu said gravely. "He has caused so much trouble, making you worry like this, Uncle."

Emperor Zhaoyuan waved his hand, indicating that it was not Huo Wujiu's fault.

"It’s not your fault," he insisted.

Huo Wujiu remained silent.

After a moment, Emperor Zhaoyuan asked, "And you got involved in the South because of Yuyan as well?"

Huo Wujiu raised his eyes to look at him, paused, but said nothing.

Emperor Zhaoyuan sighed.

"You don’t have to feel guilty, nor fear that we will be angry," he said. "We know my physical condition better than anyone. Even without all this trouble, we wouldn’t last long." (NT: the Emperor uses the imperial ‘zhen’ to speak of himself)

Huo Wujiu pressed his lips together.

Emperor Zhaoyuan looked at him.

"We just want to understand," he said.

Huo Wujiu remained silent for a moment, then took out a few blood-stained letters from his chest and placed them on Emperor Zhaoyuan's bedside table.

Emperor Zhaoyuan reached out with his bony, trembling hand to take the letter. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the rustling of the paper being turned.

After a long time, a dry sound could be heard. Huo Wujiu looked up and saw Emperor Zhaoyuan, holding the letter, crying bitterly.

"Uncle," Huo Wujiu frowned and stood up to retrieve the letters. "This is a matter between my brother and me. You should only worry about your health."

Emperor Zhaoyuan raised his head.

"We didn’t educate Yuyan properly," he said, trembling and sobbing, the words coming out in fragments, even forgetting to refer to himself as the Emperor.

"We thought he was calm, deep, but we didn’t expect him to get bogged down like this. We know he is filial; since we were seriously injured, he has been tormented, but we didn’t expect him to resent our elder brother and you. He... How could we face your father after our death?"

At that moment, Emperor Zhaoyuan choked and could no longer speak.

Huo Wujiu stood there, holding a letter, watching the Emperor in silence for a while, his hands crumpling the letters.

Then, without a word, he knelt and, awkwardly, wiped the tears from Emperor Zhaoyuan’s face.

"Don't blame yourself," Huo Wujiu said softly.

As he withdrew his hand, Emperor Zhaoyuan suddenly grasped Huo Wujiu’s hand.

That hand, wrinkled and dry, had little strength left. But Huo Wujiu couldn’t pull it away, standing still, letting the Emperor hold his hand tightly.

"Uncle, you shouldn’t say that."

Emperor Zhaoyuan exhaled shakily, a certain pleading in his voice. "Wujiu, we won’t let Yuyan take the throne. His health is already fragile, his mind is burdened, and we can’t bear to let him rule, not for him, nor for you."

He squeezed Huo Wujiu’s hand even tighter.

"We know you don’t desire this throne, but we have no choice but to give it to you. We trust you, and we want to prepare you for it. IWe don’t have much time left, and after our death, this entire kingdom will be yours."

Huo Wujiu remained silent, stiff.

"These things should have been yours from the beginning," Emperor Zhaoyuan continued.

Huo Wujiu suddenly replied, "They should never have been."

Emperor Zhaoyuan looked at him. His sickly eyes still seemed clouded, but now they were filled with a mist of tears, giving him a somewhat pitiable look.

"This war was not for the world, nor for glory, but to offer a place for our brothers of the Huo Army, to give them peace and security," Huo Wujiu said slowly. "This is what my father said when he started the rebellion."

Tears flowed again from Emperor Zhaoyuan's eyes.

"Our brother..."

"My father's wish has now been fulfilled," Huo Wujiu explained. "Uncle, I understand what you mean. The things that worry you, I will take care of for you, but these things, I never desired them."

Emperor Zhaoyuan nodded, his eyes filled with tears.

"Then, just accept your uncle's compensation, alright?" said Emperor Zhaoyuan. "And then... there is one more difficult request from your uncle."

Huo Wujiu knew what he was about to say.

Indeed, Emperor Zhaoyuan continued, "Your uncle simply wishes that, after his death, you spare Huo Yuyan's life. Even if he is demoted to a commoner and placed under house arrest for the rest of his life, that will be enough. Just give him a chance, along with a punishment, so that he can seriously reflect, alright?"

Huo Wujiu remained silent, then, after a moment, spoke slowly. "Well, in exchange, I would also like to make a request of my uncle," he said.

"Tell us," said Emperor Zhaoyuan.

"This imperial position, since it is a gift that my uncle has offered me as compensation, I would like to consider it as a gift and give it to someone else. Is that possible?"

 

Translator : DarNan