Chapter 93
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Chapter 93:
Since knowing that the barrier was set up by the Time Beast before, Jian Hou didn’t rush back. Instead, he peacefully lived each day as a cat.
Li Zhexuan used to shrink his head and lean on Li Chunzhou’s shoulder in a vulnerable and affectionate manner when hugging her, no matter how tall he grew. It felt odd for his towering figure to make such a gesture before. Now transformed into a cat, his wish was finally fulfilled.
After a heavy downpour, the summer’s scent was faintly approaching. The wind blowing through the treetops was still cool. Tree shadows cast a hazy light on Li Chunzhou’s face. In the morning, there were faint birdcalls between the branches. The ground under the trees had been soaked soft and muddy by the water.
Li Chunzhou, accompanied by two cats, was considering whether to hide in an uninhabited palace, as she didn’t mind getting wet in the rain, but the two cats did.
Liang Yongyuan had just turned ten, and began to grow taller and a bit chubby, typical of pre-adolescent pudginess. Every time he had archery lessons, Li Chunzhou happily sat on a tree watching. Liang Yongyuan wasn’t the brightest child, but he was diligent.
Gu Chenxin always followed closely behind him, when Liang Yongyuan was about to fall off the horse at a turn, Gu Chenxin quickly caught him, and they both tumbled to the ground.
Liang Yongyuan was well protected by Gu Chenxin and didn’t get hurt much, but there were faint traces of blood seeping into Gu Chenxin’s clothes on his shoulder.
Gu Chenxin politely refused the master’s suggestion to see a doctor, saying firmly, "It’s okay, just a small injury. I’ll have my servant help me take care of it."
Then he left with the young eunuch, Liang Yongyuan looked apologetic and worried, quickly sending a palace servant to get medicine for the injury, then taking it to Gu Chenxin himself.
Li Chunzhou sat on a tree watching from afar, not following, but when Liang Yongyuan returned, he looked distraught.
Li Chunzhou raised an eyebrow, gracefully landed beside Liang Yongyuan and asked, "What’s wrong? Did you get scolded?"
"No… no," Liang Yongyuan’s cheeks turned slightly red, looking embarrassed, he hesitated looking at Li Chunzhou, struggling to speak before finally managing to say, "I didn’t get scolded…"
"Then what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?" Li Chunzhou leaned over, hands on her knees, looking at Liang Yongyuan’s troubled face.
Liang Yongyuan glanced around, brought his hand to his mouth, leaned in close to Li Chunzhou, and whispered in a low voice, "Lady Chun, the attendant seems to be… a… a lady."
Li Chunzhou was momentarily speechless, blurting out, "What?"
Liang Yongyuan hesitantly repeated it, Li Chunzhou fell silent for a moment, staring at him and asked, "Are you sure?"
Liang Yongyuan nodded and looked at Li Chunzhou with a bit of confusion, while Li Chunzhou was also shocked. Suddenly, everything made sense to her – no wonder Gu Chenxin never stayed at Chonghua Palace no matter how late he was at the palace.
It’s no wonder Prime Minister Gu had been married for over twenty years without any children, but ended up raising a house full of cats with his wife.
It’s no wonder Prime Minister Gu had known Miss Tian next door for so many years but decided to propose to her only after rumors spread throughout the capital that she was abandoned by her husband and unable to have children. He proudly married her in a grand ceremony.
All of this was because Gu Chenxin is a woman.
Li Chunzhou’s emotions were complicated and hard to express. She looked at Liang Yongyuan beside her, who looked lost in his shock.
Suddenly, Li Chunzhou gently touched his cheek with her soft hand and said softly, "Ahu, I can’t always be with you, but no matter if I’m here or not, Gu Chenxin will always be by your side. So what should you do…? Do you know in your heart?"
Since Liang Yongyuan had shed his childishness, Li Chunzhou rarely showed such affectionate gestures towards him. Liang Yongyuan gazed at Li Chunzhou’s unbelievably beautiful face, feeling like he was on cloud nine just seeing her smile at him. His eyes gradually became more determined, and he assuredly said, "I know! I will keep the secret safe!"
His serious little expression almost seemed like he was swearing to the heavens.
Li Chunzhou’s smile grew wider, and she lovingly touched Liang Yongyuan’s chubby cheek, whispering, "Good boy…"
Li Chunzhou didn’t have strong feelings about whether Gu Chenxin was a man or a woman. She only knew that the name "Gu Chenxin" was destined to go down in history as Daliang’s first Prime Minister.
Just after taking her medicine and without even changing her clothes, Gu Chenxin came out with a pale face. She stopped slowly when she saw Li Chunzhou and Liang Yongyuan standing together, a rare look of unease in her eyes. She pursed her lips and remained silent.
Li Chunzhou watched her from afar, carefully examining this person known as "Gu Chenxin" as if meeting her for the first time.
One of the main reasons why Daliang could become a great nation of the Celestial Empire was that there were always many people on this land who were willing to sacrifice themselves entirely for the country.
Gu Chenxin’s background and gender destined her path to be more challenging than that of ordinary noble children. The more she longed for greatness, the deeper she had to bury her efforts in the dark underground.
After spending a few years here, Li Chunzhou often felt that Daliang was in deep trouble, but now she believed that as long as there were people looking up at the stars, the future of this country would not be without hope.
The gentle breeze gently blew the flowers from the rowan trees.
"Go on," Li Chunzhou pushed Liang Yongyuan forward and smilingly told him, "Go and tell her your thoughts."
Liang Yongyuan approached Gu Chenxin amidst the scent of rowan flowers. This walk marked the beginning of over thirty years together, facing the challenges of the court and emerging victorious, from insignificance to great power.
It was the day when the dynasty fell, as the Turkic invaders broke in.
***
Six years later, the emperor died in bed due to excessive indulgence and constant consumption of elixirs. The court descended into chaos, with older princes fighting fiercely, leaving both sides wounded.
It was during winter that year when Gu Chenxin, with the support of the Empress Dowager, successfully helped Liang Yongyuan ascend the throne.
The Empress Dowager was honored as the Grand Empress Dowager, and Gu Chenxin gained control over resources, the army, and trade routes. Although Liang Yongyuan appeared to make official decisions, it was clear to the discerning that the real power lay in Gu Chenxin’s hands.
As a young close aide to the young emperor, Gu Chenxin became increasingly popular.
Even though Gu Chenxin, nearing twenty, remained unmarried, the wealthy families in Shengjing City were eager to marry off their daughters to her.
However, Gu Chenxin turned down all the offers from these noble families, leading to rumors in Shengjing City about her disinterest.
Gu Chenxin paid no mind to the gossip, focusing on her alliance with the Empress Dowager to obtain what they both desired.
Li Chunzhou went to see them during their morning meeting. Everyone was satisfied with the current situation, but Liang Yongyuan seemed to feel out of place. While the ministers were discussing, Liang Yongyuan sat in the throne like a child.
Besides studying, now he was busy with state affairs. The remnants of baby fat on his cheeks had disappeared due to exhaustion, and he had become visibly unhappy. Li Chunzhou noticed this, but not being an emperor herself, she didn’t know how to truly make Liang Yongyuan happy. She took the initiative to ask him when he looked downcast again, "Ahu, do you want to fly kites with me this afternoon?"
Liang Yongyuan visibly brightened up and eagerly agreed.
That day, Li Chunzhou started observing the direction of the wind from noon to prepare the kites. But before they could fly the kites, Li Zhexuan hurriedly approached her and said, "Lady Chun, we have to leave."
Li Chunzhou was surprised and asked, "Why?"
The energy for time travel had actually been accumulating, but she didn’t want to leave yet, nor did she want to face the inevitable goodbyes in advance.
Jian Hou also ran over, furrowing his brow that didn’t exist, and said, "The energy formation is urging us to go back… it has already begun."
Li Chunzhou lifted her hand and saw that her fingertips were starting to become transparent. She instinctively looked towards Liang Yongyuan, who was running on the path trying to fly the kite high and far. With a dry throat, Li Chunzhou whispered to no one in particular, "Let me at least fly kites with him one more time…"
Li Zhexuan disappeared even faster than her, managing only to comfortingly lick Li Chunzhou’s cheek before being forced back into her body.
Suddenly, Li Chunzhou felt a strong sense of suffocation, not just simple panic and fear, but more inside her body, it was a strong reluctance.
She watched Ahu flying a kite, seeing the long-lost smile on his face, her eyes suddenly became sour. At first, Li Chunzhou stayed by his side for the purpose of Liang Yongyuan becoming Emperor. When she arrived here not long ago, she clearly told Liang Yongyuan, "You will be Emperor in the future."
Because only he became Emperor, the events of the next forty years could unfold according to Li Chunzhou’s memory.
But this time felt really long, long enough to make her change her mind.
If all of this didn’t make him happy, if all of this…
Li Chunzhou suddenly shouted loudly, "Ahu! You don’t have to be Emperor if you don’t want to!"
Liang Yongyuan, holding the kite, looked at Li Chunzhou puzzledly, as if he hadn’t heard what she was saying clearly.
Tears streamed down Li Chunzhou’s face, she smiled and said, "It’s okay to escape if you’re not happy…"
But it was already too late, her voice also became faint, tears the size of beans fell to the ground, leaving nothing behind.
The last thing Li Chunzhou saw was Liang Yongyuan’s confused and anxious face.