Leaving the Changmen Palace - LTCP 08: Death

It was amusing that Chen Jiao first saw Han Yan during the emperor’s critical condition.

Even though it was acceptable for men and women to interact, Liu Che frequently allowed him to spend the night in the imperial palace.

He was ultimately just the crown prince’s favorite.

He was also well-versed in the regulations and avoided the Yongxiang, where the women resided.

On weekdays, Chen Jiao hardly ever went out. Despite having known Han Yan since childhood, this is the first time she saw the crown prince’s favorite, in the emperor’s residence, Qingping Palace.

To tend to the emperor’s illness, Zhou Wenren had already arrived a few days prior. But he was not the sort of person who could be publicly exposed. Before, he avoided the times when the women were coming and going, this middle-aged man with delicate eyebrows and a jade-like face had only run into her a few times.

Han Yan, however, was even less restrained.

Even though he knew the empress was giving the emperor his medication at that moment, he went straight into the inner hall, crawled to Liu Che’s side on his knees, and whispered to him.

Chen Jiao was compelled to look at him.

Liu Che was a well-known beauty, so it wasn’t as though she had never seen a man before. In fact, he might be regarded as attractive even if he didn’t hold the title of crown prince.

Furthermore, he was closely related to her by blood, and the two shared a slight physical resemblance. People always find it hard to hate themselves, and she can easily feel close to someone with such a face.

Han Yan, however, was unique.

He was so brilliant that he appeared to have his own little sun even indoors. In the gloom, his face was three points brighter, and he exuded heroism in every action. Despite his cautious kneeling behind Liu Che, he was unable to conceal his elegance.

The look she gave nearly became a stare.

“Uncle, drink at least a mouthful,” she whispered to the emperor as she eventually averted her eyes and focused on holding the bowl of medicine.

The emperor’s stubbornness this time was unusual, “All of these things are pointless. Death, illness, aging, and birth are all predetermined. I will not make it this time. In my heart, I know it.”

The empress was overcome with a sense of sadness. She returned the spoon to the bowl, and gave Chen Jiao a nod, who retreated from the room, giving the palace servant the medicine bowl.

It always takes endless patience to serve the sick. In private, she invariably experienced back pain, even though she hardly ever displayed signs of exhaustion in public.

Unconsciously, she glanced up at the clear blue sky as she turned her head in front of the Qingping Palace. She couldn’t help but get sidetracked for an instant.

In her mind, like a silk ribbon wrinkling in water, the voice spoke softly, “He is really handsome!”

It was a mixture of frank submission and unwillingness. Chen Jiao believed that this voice was actually proud, and its pride prevented it from being dishonest.

In a soft, regretful tone, it repeated, “It’s a pity that beautiful people often don’t live long,” as though it was gazing back at a peach blossom after many years.

Regardless of how well it bloomed, its redness had diminished.

She smiled and sighed slowly as she lowered her eyes.

What difference did it make if there was another Han Yan around Liu Che when there were so many beautiful people?

“Let’s go to the Changle Palace,” she said quietly. “Grandmother must be missing uncle once more.”

She turned around just in time to see him emerge from the hallway.

As Chen Jiao entered through the side door, Han Yan, possibly displaying humility, concluded a few sentences with Liu Che, retreated from the side door as well, and the two collided.

After a brief moment of shock, Han Yan hurried to kneel down, “Your subject greets Your Highness.”

Chen Jiao said courteously, “Han Sheren, please get up. Why are you so courteous?”

“Yes, you are all sleeping with the same man,” it echoed in her heart, suddenly laughing for no apparent reason. “Why are you acting so reticently when the two of you should be very close?”

Its uncommon sense of humor delighted Chen Jiao, who couldn’t resist a laugh, melting her cold mask away.

Liu Che couldn’t even handle such beauty, let alone Han Yan.

She managed to capture the young man’s expression, which showed a hint of amazement. Han Yan quickly lowered his head to conceal the emotion that shouldn’t have been visible as they both felt a little stunned.

Although Chen Jiao had always been aware of her good looks, it was unusual to have a man like this compliment her appearance in silence.

After chuckling once more, she turned around and slowly walked away, surrounded by palace servants.

Instead of staying in Qingping Palace to care for the sick that evening, Liu Che went back to the Crown Prince’s Palace and slept with her.

He was especially adamant in his demands, and she could barely resist his assaults. The pleasure had become torture because it had accumulated too much. Even though she was crying and wailing for mercy, he continued to move fiercely, as though he was letting out some pent-up emotions.

After everything was over, he had to keep holding her in his arms and repeatedly stroking her back because he seemed a little guilty.

Regardless, he did show her consideration. Not everyone was able to appreciate this consideration.

“You have something on your mind.” Climbing slightly, Chen Jiao whispered in his ear.

The two of them were nude, her skin pressed close to his. The weather was gradually cooling down, and the first month of the year was almost here. They appeared to be even more intimate and gap-free as they melted together… Their deepest secret seemed to have nowhere to hide in this environment.

“Father is probably not going to make it,” Liu Che said slowly after pausing for a moment. “Shortly after your departure today, he summoned the Grand Ceremonialists and gave them instructions to get the funeral ceremonies ready, along with the horses for my coronation.”

Every little issue becomes a major issue when it comes to dynastic transitions. Liu Che, the crown prince, was far more familiar with the situation than her.

He had only reached the age of sixteen even after the first month of the year. In fact, he was too young. The fact that this young crown prince, who had not even participated in the coming-of-age ceremony, would soon ascend to the position of sovereign was unthinkable.

It is likely that he was more frightened than anyone else, but he was also more excited than anyone else.

At the age of sixteen, he dreamed of riding horses and trampling fields in his daily life. The weight of the world was not something he was eager to take on.

Who could he confide his worries to, though, given his temperament?

His preference for Chen Jiao over the empress was the biggest testament to her diligence during the previous twelve months.

Lifting her head, she gazed intently into his eyes.

“Are you afraid?” She said quietly.

Liu Che buried his head in her hair as his arms grew tighter around her. Eventually, he hummed softly from the back of his throat.

“You should be afraid…” Softly, she remarked, “I would also be afraid if I were you.”

Indeed, she spoke from the bottom of her heart.

The fate of millions of families was on his shoulders, regardless of how much the women in the imperial palace plotted. They were only planning for the rise and fall of one family.

“Is this how you comfort me?” asked Liu Che, who was a little unhappy.

Chen Jiao couldn’t contain her laughter as his hand fell to her waist.

The heavy atmosphere in the chamber suddenly lightened as the silvery laughter reverberated throughout the room.

“You never pretend to be nice to outsiders. What were you laughing at when you saw Han Yan today?” He said in a whisper after supporting half of his body and glancing at her in the nude.

He also caught a glimpse of her smile, which was still rippling like a pool of spring water.

Chen Jiao’s laughter came to a sudden halt. She turned her face to her and arched one eyebrow.

Only the strength in his hands more or less conveyed his mood, and his eyes continued to smile as though he was merely making jokes with her.

Despite being a playboy, he was always kind and understanding to her and everyone else close to him. He always looked out for her more than anyone else, despite his occasional negligence.

“Are you jealous?” With the end of her voice lifted a little, she asked with a smile that wasn’t really a smile, “These words should actually be said by me. It would be more reasonable, right?”

Everyone was aware of Han Yan and Liu Che’s relationship.

But the reason he was more interested in her two laughs was because he was aware of Han Yan’s charm. Occasionally, when other people’s eyes paused, he would be suspicious of someone attempting to seize them away.

The words Liu Che said were instantly stifled.

Even though Chen Jiao was elegant and kind, she had some sharp edges. At times, her words were so piercing that he did not even have time to parry them.

Eventually, his affection for her was inexorably tinged with a hint of fear.

He turned to face her once more, but she had already lowered her head and concealed her face with her flowing black hair.

In response to his question, she did not say yes or no.

She didn’t seem to mind him speculating about whether she was impressed by Han Yan and if she had fallen in love with him right away.

He was still unable to see through her, as usual. The person in his arms appeared to be docile by nature, but it also appeared to be a disguise.

Liu Che unconsciously tightened his grip on Chen Jiao.

…

Early in the morning on the third day, the emperor summoned the grand princess to the imperial palace. He then asked the empress dowager to relocate to the Qingping Palace.

He was leaving a will.

The three dukes and nine ministers had already met the emperor in the palace yesterday. The stables had also been prepared to lead the four horses that were ready for the enthronement ceremony. In anticipation of the emperor’s death and the coronation of the successor, the empire was already functioning in a systematic fashion.

Chen Jiao occasionally looked at the elders as she waited outside the Qingping Palace with the grand princess and the empress.

An emperor’s desire to assign his will to someone prior to his passing is a natural human instinct.

This time, however, none of the Wang brothers were there, and the emperor only called upon the irate and long-deprecated Marquess of Wei Qi, Dou Ying to hear his final remarks alongside his family.

In the hall, the empress dowager had already yelled at someone to come in and assist her. Despite the fact that the elderly woman was already blind, nobody was eligible to listen in on this discussion.

The emperor himself dismissed his attendants and spent thirty minutes in private conversation with his mother.

One by one, the grand princess and the empress walked into the hall and emerged, each wiping away their tears.

The crown prince was invited into the hall by the eunuch.

Chen Jiao sensed his shuddering at this precise moment. As steady as Mount Tai, he had been kneeling there, but now he felt compelled to have a little cold war.

Reaching under the sleeves and wide robe, she found his hand, gave it a firm pinch, and inhaled deeply. Along with her, he inhaled deeply before getting up and going into the inner hall.

It took a while before the eunuch reappeared, “Please, the crown princess, enter the hall.”

She could still hear the emperor’s voice when she entered.

He kept saying, “Ask your grandmother if you’re having trouble deciding. The family of your mother, your grandmother, and your wife are trustworthy, but the Liu family is not.”

Since he was the Son of Heaven, his perspective was far more lucid than the average person’s.

He halted his speech as he saw Chen Jiao enter. He was able to lean against the screen and speak with Liu Che.

He was surprisingly upbeat.

Chen Jiao raised her voice softly and called out “Uncle”, without even pretending, tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, silly child. Come to your uncle,” the emperor said kindly.

With that he simply took her hand, then Liu Che’s, and finally clasped the two hands together.

“From Emperor Gaozu, the four emperors before me did not live to old age with their original empresses.” He spoke in a steady, clear voice, “One of my few life regrets was deposing Empress Bo. Before I passed away, I considered it, but I wasn’t sure how to confront my grandmother or explain it to her. Crown prince, don’t take my lesson. A’ Jiao behaves herself perfectly. To inherit the Han Dynasty’s blood, you must take good care of her and have a legitimate son as soon as possible.”

Even though her uncle had always treated her well, she didn’t realize he loved her until today.

Her eyes widened, and without realizing it, she started crying.

Like a melancholy zither, the soft sobbing reverberated in ears, revealing an endless amount of grief, indignation, and desolation.

The succinct but impactful reply from Liu Che was heard by her, “I will definitely treat A’ Jiao well, father. Don’t worry, I will definitely have children with her and grow old together.”

The emperor gave a small smile and let go of his hand, but Liu Che held on tight, and Chen Jiao could feel the heat rising in his body.

Blazing.

The emperor passed away the following day.

…
T/N
“Wenren”— scholar, also a famous person.
“Sheren”— official title, also a rich and important person.