Chapter 291: Here

The imperial city was draped in a golden layer under the autumn evening sunset.

Bai Li stood in front of Hanyuan Hall, looking back at the palace path she had just walked. The white jade railings shimmered with phosphorescence, as if they were undulating.

“This is called Dragon Tail Path,” a voice said beside her ear.

Looking down at the ground, a human shadow emerged from Bai Li’s elongated shadow.

“How dare you come out today?” Bai Li said.

Since entering the imperial palace, perhaps due to the suppression of the Imperial Bell, Empress Jiang had vanished as if she had never existed.

The shadow swayed and floated in front of her, looking at her: “That’s because you and I are becoming one. I don’t need to appear anymore.”

Is that so? Was she about to lose herself? Bai Li looked at the blurry face in front of her. Instead of answering her, she said, “It’s just a palace path, yet it’s made to resemble a dragon’s tail. You were truly extravagant.”

After saying that, she withdrew her gaze and walked forward.

The shadow laughed and swayed to follow her.

“People always have to have some flaws. I just like extravagant, gorgeous, and beautiful things.”

“Have you chosen which palace you want to live in?”

Bai Li said, “It’s all the same wherever I live.”

The shadow flickered in front of her, full of excitement: “But no matter which palace you live in, after so many years of neglect, it needs to be renovated.”

Bai Li looked at the blurry shadow in front of her: “Have you forgotten what you came here for?”

The shadow let out an “ah” sound: “To be the Empress, of course! Li Yu has already held his enthronement ceremony. He can’t not officially declare you as Empress, can he? Are those court officials chattering again? Saying your status is not suitable for being the Empress and asking His Majesty to reconsider carefully?”

Li Yu had already ascended the throne, and the next step was to officially declare the Empress.

The court officials did have objections.

Her status as a maid didn’t matter; the key point was that Bai Ying had pointed out that day that this was her younger sister, Bai Li.

Although they already knew that the Bai family was innocent and not part of Empress Jiang’s faction, she was still Bai Ying’s younger sister. In terms of status, it was somewhat strange.

“What’s strange about it? You are the Emperor’s sister-in-law, marrying the Emperor’s nephew. Is it messing up the seniority?”

“Before the Emperor, there is no seniority, all are subjects.”

“Because Bai Ying’s attempt to murder the Emperor was a heinous crime, they are apprehensive of you? Have they forgotten? It was you who stopped Bai Ying from murdering the Emperor. You saved the Emperor!”

The shadow said indignantly, then waved her hand.

“Don’t waste your breath on them. Whoever dares to object, demote them, behead them.”

Bai Li scoffed: “The Empress is truly majestic.” She said, raising her hand to pat the shadow’s head, “Wake up! Have you forgotten why you chopped off so many heads and still couldn’t secure the Empress’s position?”

The shadow swayed as her hand patted it, and its voice swayed along with it.

“Why?” she said, “No, that’s not right. I could actually secure the Empress’s position. What I couldn’t secure was…”

The shadow turned. As she spoke, Bai Li had already passed through Hanyuan Hall. Ahead, Xuanzheng Hall, where government offices were located, was visible. This was also the place where the Emperor held grand court meetings to listen to government affairs.

It was already dusk, and court affairs had ended. The busy court officials had dispersed. Apart from the guards on duty and the eunuchs, there was no one else, making it seem somewhat solemn.

“It’s very lively during court sessions.”

The shadow said beside Bai Li’s ear.

“Especially during the grand court assembly, all officials of the ninth rank and above in the capital, as well as officials summoned from other places, come here and kowtow together, spreading your decrees throughout the land.”

As she spoke, the shadow spun, suddenly rising and elongating, shimmering in the twilight.

“Compared to this, those palaces in the inner court are nothing special. It’s truly the same wherever you live.”

Bai Li looked up at the soaring shadow: “But, you can’t secure your position.” She pointed behind the shadow, “The Imperial Bell on Zichen Palace is still there.”

The shadow looked behind. In the afterglow of the setting sun, they seemed to be able to see a corner of Zichen Palace where an inconspicuous bronze bell hung.

The bronze bell didn’t make a sound, but the moment they looked at it, the soaring shadow swayed and shattered.

Bai Li reached out her hand to catch it.

“So, coming here is not about choosing a palace to be the Empress. It’s about taking it down.”

“Ah Li!”

A voice came.

The layers of palaces in front of her and the shattered shadow instantly dissipated. Bai Li sat on the steps north of Zichen Palace, turning her head to look behind. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Li Yu stood on the steps, looking at her.

Bai Li smiled and waved at him: “Li Yu.” Then she laughed again, “No, I should say, Your Majesty.”

Li Yu smiled, his steps light and quick as he ran over.

“You’re back?” he asked, “When did you come back?”

Just like on the pleasure boat before, Bai Li could come and go freely in the imperial palace, and she could naturally do so without anyone noticing.

But she would tell Li Yu before going out each time, so he wouldn’t worry.

Bai Li said, “I’ve been back for a while. I went to see Nannan. They said she was with the Retired Emperor. You were busy, so I just wandered around on my own.”

Li Yu didn’t care that he was wearing a dragon robe and sat down directly on the ground beside her, letting out a breath: “There are too many things to do. But, things don’t have to be done all in one day. I’ve dismissed them all.”

Bai Li looked around. It was much quieter, not as noisy as before, and there were no officials or eunuchs coming and going.

She smiled and nodded: “That’s right. Even the Emperor is human. As a human, one should balance work and rest. Life is long.”

Life is long. Li Yu looked at the palaces in front of him, then lowered his head to look at the dragon robe he was wearing.

He reached out and touched it.

In the vague and distant memories of his childhood, his father had once touched his grandfather’s dragon robe, his eyes full of longing and urgency.

“This is the best garment in the world. I really wish I could wear it sooner.”

Because he wanted it so much, his father secretly made a dragon robe and hid it in his study.

Later, it was discovered.

His grandfather was furious with his father, shouting that he would kill him. From then on, father and son were estranged. Not long after, his father really died. At that time, as a child, he really didn’t understand why a garment would cause such animosity between father and son.

Of course, he understood when he grew up. This was not just a garment, and that father and son were not just father and son.

Now, he was wearing this garment.

Indeed, it felt different.

✿✿✿

But.

It was also no different. For example, what was lost was still lost, and the people who were gone would not come back.

Sitting on the dragon throne, he didn’t feel too happy, perhaps because there were too few people he could share this happiness with.

Fortunately, Ah Li was still here.

Li Yu raised his head, looked at Bai Li, and smiled: “Yes, just like how people are always different, the Emperor I am will be different from the Emperor my grandfather and uncle were. I will let the court officials understand this sooner, so they won’t be uncomfortable.”

Bai Li laughed heartily, leaned closer to him, and whispered: “Then it won’t be just Mama Cai who has a headache in the future.”

Before, Li Yu’s actions had caused Cai Songnian a lot of distress.

Li Yu laughed heartily: “That’s their own fault.” He then said energetically, “Ah Li, I’ve already had them set an auspicious date for the Empress’s official declaration, three days from now.”

Bai Li nodded: “Let them worry if they want to. They are paid by the Emperor and should be loyal to him, which means solving problems for the Emperor.”

Li Yu’s smile deepened: “What’s there to worry about? You saved the Emperor, and you are also the wife I declared to the world I would marry. How can I become the Emperor and abandon my wife? Do they want me to be an ungrateful and heartless Emperor? The Retired Emperor would be the first to disagree.”

Bai Li said with a smile: “I wouldn’t say I saved the Emperor. I did what I did because I had a request, so this is what I deserve.”

She only responded to the first part of his statement, not the second. A flicker of sadness flashed across Li Yu’s eyes, but he quickly became enthusiastic again: “Right, the Retired Emperor has chosen a name for Nannan.”

Bai Li scoffed: “He finally decided? The discarded papers were about to bury the Retired Emperor. What earth-shattering good name did he come up with?”

Li Yu said with a smile: “Hua, Li Hua. Her title will be Princess Yongning.”

Li Hua, Princess Yongning.

Bai Li repeated it a few times: “Quite ordinary.”

Li Yu said, “He’s scared. He only wishes for his daughter to be safe and sound, ordinary. Also, he said we don’t need to let the world know Princess Yongning’s true identity. She will still be our daughter.”

After all, with a mother like Bai Ying who attempted to assassinate the Emperor, she would inevitably face some negative comments.

Bai Li smiled: “That’s fine. Her mother doesn’t want her anyway. We saved her life. Being her reborn parents is reasonable.”

Li Yu smiled and nodded: “Then, we will officially declare you as Empress and Li Hua as Princess Yongning.”

Bai Li asked, “Will the ceremony be considered complete then? Will the next step be for the new Emperor to grant a general amnesty?”

Li Yu’s smile faltered slightly, then he replied with a “yes.” Before Bai Li could say anything more, he took out a dagger from his sleeve.

“This was found on Zhou Jingyun before. Was this what he used to stab himself last time?” he said.

Bai Li looked over and exclaimed, reaching out to take it: “Yes, actually, I was going to use it. I didn’t expect it to end up being used on him.”

Li Yu took the dagger out of its sheath and casually handed it to Bai Li: “It does look very sharp.”

Bai Li grasped the hilt of the dagger, her expression filled with emotion: “Yes, it can easily inflict a deep wound—”

Before she could finish her words, as soon as she grasped the dagger, Li Yu, whose hand was still holding the dagger, gripped the thin blade and pulled it towards himself.

Bai Li was caught off guard. They were sitting side by side, very close. She was practically still speaking when she saw herself holding the dagger and stabbing towards Li Yu. The thin, sharp dagger pierced through the magnificent dragon robe almost silently and disappeared into his chest—

Her hand collided with Li Yu’s. Instantly, blood seeped out from between their hands, spreading.

“Li Yu!”

She froze for a moment, hearing herself cry out.

Li Yu’s hand gripped hers, looking down at the blood oozing from his chest.

“It really is sharp.” He said, then raised his head to look at Bai Li. The intense pain caused a layer of sweat to break out on his face, and his voice trembled, “Was this how Zhou Jingyun felt at that time?”

What? What did he mean? Bai Li didn’t dare and couldn’t pull her hand back. She could only grab him with her other hand: “What are you doing! Why are you imitating him!”

“He could save you this way.” Li Yu looked at her, his dark eyes filled with a spreading smile, “So can I.”

These words made Bai Li even more bewildered: “Are you crazy? Save me from what? I’m perfectly fine now.”

Could he really be crazy?

Having experienced too many real and illusory situations.

Bai Li looked at Li Yu.

As the blood oozing from his chest increased, Li Yu’s face became paler and paler. His dark eyes looked at Bai Li, gazing deeply into her eyes.

“Jiang Mian’er.” He said, each word distinct, “You have injured the Emperor of Great Zhou. The Imperial Bell is here. Where else can you hide! Leave Bai Li’s body now!”

Jiang Mian’er.

Imperial Bell.

Emperor.

In an instant, Bai Li understood. At the same time, a clear bell chime rang in her ears. Accompanied by the chime, the afterglow of the setting sun in her vision completely dissipated, and the world turned crimson.

She looked up and saw the four characters that had not appeared for a long time but were deeply etched in her memory.

Tao, Follows, Nature.

As these four crimson characters enveloped her, Bai Li’s form began to distort. A black shadow abruptly peeled away from her body, tumbling out, swaying in the crimson world, and gradually solidifying into a human shape.

It was not the blurry shadow from before.

Her long black hair flew, her tattered clothes fluttered, and her bare feet landed on the ground, the rubies on them burning brightly.

She stood behind Bai Li, looking down at Li Yu with a pair of clear, autumn-water eyes.

“Well, well, you little brat.” She said with a half-smile, “So you were waiting for me here.”

In the crimson world, the blood on Li Yu’s body seemed to have increased, dyeing his entire being red.

He began to cough up blood, the blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, making his face deathly pale.

He looked at the person he had only seen through a mirror before, now appearing before his eyes, without a trace of fear.

He smiled.

“Yes, I became Emperor for you.”

“I want to use the Imperial Bell to rid Ah Li of you, the ghost who steals people’s bodies.”