Chapter 318: Chapter 319 My Story Chapter 318: Chapter 319 My Story The Emperor is now too frail, and while the Empress intended to bring him back to the palace for rest, Pei Huaian objected, “Father’s condition doesn’t allow for movement right now, it might be better for him to stay here in peace and quiet, away from disturbances.”
“How can this be acceptable? The Emperor is the supreme ruler, leaving him here may be highly inconvenient,” the Empress said with a sharp gaze towards Pei Huaian, deeply regretting in her heart. She should have gotten rid of this scourge when she had the chance.
Pei Huaian wasn’t the least bit intimidated; the situation had already progressed to this point, and he had nothing left to hide.
If Father were to return to the palace, any visit from him would surely be obstructed, but by insisting Father stay at the estate, he could stay abreast of his condition at any moment.
The Emperor discerned her thoughts and said indifferently, “I trust Huaian to take good care of me.”
“Your Majesty…” the Empress wanted to object, but Pei Huaian had already stepped forward to support the Emperor, “Mother, rest assured, I will take good care of Father.”
The Empress wanted to say more, but the Emperor gestured with his hand, “Enough, let’s do as Huaian suggests. You should return to the palace and rest; you’ve been very worried lately.”
“That will be all, you may all withdraw,” said the Emperor, waving his hand wearily.
The princes turned and left, leaving only Pei Huaian, the tired-looking Emperor, and Shao He in the room.
The Emperor’s complexion was paler than before, even turning somewhat cyanotic, his lips yellowed, devoid of any blood color, making him look extremely weary, as if he were an old man in his twilight years.
Pei Huaian took the Emperor’s hand and said with profound seriousness, “Father, be at ease. I believe you can make it through this surgery successfully; no matter what, please hold on.”
Shao He once again applied acupuncture to the Emperor. After the session, she started an IV.
After everything was settled, Shao He saw the person who had fallen into a deep sleep and quietly left the room.
She gently closed the door and, turning around, walked towards the figure sitting on a stone bench nearby with downcast eyes.
Sitting on the bench, Shao He looked at the man with a cold yet handsomely stern face and sighed, “This time, it’s really dangerous.”
Pei Huaian looked up, his eyes shimmering with a dark, unfathomable light, and said with slightly parted lips, “I understand.”
Shao He seldom saw him and patted his shoulder, “The Emperor assuredly doesn’t want to see you this way; he’d rather have you pull yourself together.”
Pei Huaian fell silent for a bit, his voice hoarse with an indescribable pain, “I’m really worried that Father won’t wake up this time.”
“Hmm?” Shao He raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Pei Huaian spoke bitterly, “I fear the surgery might fail, I’m scared I might lose Father.”
Shao He was stunned; she hadn’t expected to see such a vulnerable side of him, feeling an inexplicable emotion inside her.
She cast her eyes downward, hiding the complex emotions within, never having felt such sympathy for anyone before.
“There’s a 60 percent chance, and that’s a conservative estimate. Normally there shouldn’t be any issues; I will do my utmost to heal the Emperor,” Shao He said consolingly.
Pei Huaian embraced her tightly, burying his head in her shoulder and mumbling, “Thank you, Shao He.”
She patted his back softly and reassured in a gentle voice, “Don’t worry, it will be fine.”
Neither spoke further, yet their hearts seemed to draw close together, warm and secure.
Breezes wafted by, causing the leaves to rustle, the air filled with a faint scent of medicine and fragrant blooms, the two embracing quietly, a tranquil and harmonious scene.
After a while, Pei Huaian slowly released Shao He, looking at the delicate girl in front of him with a low, melancholic voice, “Do you want to hear my story?”
Her heart trembled slightly; looking up at Pei Huaian, she saw her own reflection in his earnest, black pupils.
Pei Huaian led her to sit by the stone table, poured her a cup of tea, and after taking a large gulp from his own cup, he began, “The Emperor fell deeply in love with my mother at first sight and took her to the palace where she was greatly favored, which inevitably led to jealousy.”
Pei Huaian spoke with extreme calm, as if narrating an event that couldn’t be more ordinary.
But Shao He understood that it wasn’t just common rivalry among Concubines or Empresses; it involved assassinations, and even conspiracies and frame-ups.
“Father protected my mother well. Her influence was gentle as water, never competing with anyone, until after she gave birth to me. Then those in the harem began to grow restless, fearing the Emperor might leave me as Crown Prince, so…”
Pei Huaian suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed in the distance as if piercing through the layers of leaves, reaching another world.
After a long time, he continued, “My mother passed away suddenly from an illness when I was three. I remember she told me before she left to forget she ever existed, to never long for her, and to live well.”
Shao He’s fingers gripping the tea cup whitened with tension. She didn’t know why she felt this way, but her chest felt constricted as she gazed at his broad back, feeling a pang of heartache.
He could have had a beautiful childhood, with a loving mother and a doting father. He could have grown up carefree and willful, just like Pei Haolan. But now he had nothing left but himself.