Chapter 84: Finale · For a Lifetime
It was another dim and hazy early morning. When Wen Ning’an opened his eyes, he saw that the space beside his pillow was empty and cold.
He was no longer panicked by this, just wondering where Feng Qi had gone. According to common sense, there was no morning court today.
He looked around. Fu Che was not there either. The hall was empty except for two maids. Even Xingxing and Liangliang, who had fallen asleep in his arms last night, were gone.
“Where is His Majesty?”
One of the maids replied respectfully, “Replying to General Wen, His Majesty said he will be back in a little while and asked the General to wait here.”
Wen Ning’an decided to wash up and change first.
After a while, Feng Qi still had not returned. So he asked again, “Did His Majesty say why he went out and when he would be back?”
The maid still replied, “Replying to General Wen, His Majesty said he will be back in a little while.”
Wen Ning’an thought to himself, I’d better go and find him. He was thinking of going out for some fresh air. However, when he reached the hall door, he was stopped.
“General Wen, His Majesty said he will be back in a little while and asked you to wait in the hall.” Wen Ning’an recognized that the guard who stopped him was the same one who had passed on the message last night.
“I’ll just be out for a little while and will be back.”
“Please forgive me, General.” The a dozen or so guards outside the hall were unwilling to give way in the slightest, not moving even when Wen Ning’an’s face fell.
Wen Ning’an sensed that something was wrong. These guards had been so scared of him last night just from his silence. Why were they so against him today?
He just wanted to go out of the hall. Why was he not allowed?
But these guards were Feng Qi’s confidants. Not only were they trustworthy, but to protect him, their martial arts were also the best, personally selected by Feng Qi. And if Feng Qi said they were trustworthy, then they must be. So, Wen Ning’an was unwilling to act rashly.
Seeing him leave with a look of dissatisfaction and confusion, the guards all let out a sigh of relief.
One of them poked his companion and smiled. “Look at you, your face is all pale.”
The one who was poked immediately said, “You’re one to talk! I saw it clearly just now. Your hands behind your back were trembling!”
“I was just afraid of clashing with or injuring General Wen! No… actually, I was most afraid that he would cut me down…”
A wave of laughter spread around.
In the hall, Wen Ning’an sat by the desk, feeling an inexplicable frustration.
Something is wrong, something is wrong.
The words “house arrest” flashed in his mind. He shook his head to stop his imagination from running wild.
“Wuying.”
A man in black appeared in the room and knelt before him. “What are your orders, master?”
Feng Qi’s shadow guard was still by his side, so nothing major had happened. He asked, “Where is Huaitian?”
“Replying to General Wen, His Majesty said he will be back in a little while and asked you to wait here.”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
He didn’t want to hear that sentence again today.
The shadow guard was still by his side, and he looked at ease, which proved that nothing had happened. But why… why was what happened today so strange…
After waiting for half an hour, he sighed and stepped out of the hall again. However, strangely, this time the guards did not stop him at all. Not only did they not stop him, but they also said enthusiastically, “General! His Majesty is at the sacrificial altar!”
Although he was puzzled, he still got into the palanquin.
The palanquin carried him steadily to the sacrificial altar.
Wen Ning’an’s eyes widened.
Before him, the place was decorated with lanterns and colored silk, and there was a sea of people.
The civil and military officials and the common people were kneeling below the altar, while Feng Qi stood at the very top, staring at him.
He was a little unable to react.
“Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand, ten thousand years—”
A loud cheer suddenly exploded in his ear. Fu Che helped him out of the palanquin and supported him as he walked up to the high altar. Stepping on the steps of the altar, he was a little dazed.
“Eunuch Fu, what is going on…”
Fu Che just smiled without speaking.
General Wen knows in his heart, but he just doesn’t believe it.
The altar was towering. He climbed up slowly and cautiously. With each step, he got closer to Feng Qi.
He looked at the man who was getting more and more within reach, and finally, standing side by side with him, he felt something in his heart was about to pour out uncontrollably.
Feng Qi draped the dragon robe over his shoulders.
Wen Ning’an was stunned, his expression wooden. “Huaitian, what is the meaning of this?”
Feng Qi smiled. “Put it on.”
Looking at his gentle, water-like eyes, Wen Ning’an, as if possessed, put on the bright yellow, supreme robe.
“Surprised?” Feng Qi’s lips curved into a triumphant, somewhat childish smile. “I specifically instructed everyone to keep it a secret, just to give you a surprise.”
Wen Ning’an stammered, “You-you just love to play these little tricks.”
“But you like these little tricks.” Feng Qi blinked, then turned his head. “Today, with the heavens as my witness, and the earth as my proof, I hereby enfeoff Wen Ning’an as the emperor, and I will never go back on my word for all eternity.”
“I swear from now on to respect and love Wen Ning’an. Wen Ning’an is the king, his title and honorifics are the same as mine, and what he enjoys and obtains is no different from mine. He will sit on the Dragon Throne with me, own Bei Miao with me, own the people with me, and own all my imperial seals, tiger tallies, and command orders. From now on, Bei Miao will have two emperors.”
Wen Ning’an stared blankly at him as he finished speaking. His already-not-large heart was immediately filled to the brim, but his mind was a blank slate, with only this man before him.
His eyes stung, and he held back his emotions.
He still remembered a long, long time ago, when Feng Qi was the noble crown prince, and he was the young master of a declining family.
“Be my study companion!”
And then he had been with him, until he had grown from a boy to a young man, and then from a young man to a man. The two of them had shared the hardship of fighting for the throne on the edge of a knife, and the sweetness of sharing victory. There had been a period of separation where they had been on bad terms, and there had been arguments, but their two hearts had never been separated.
This man had first treated him as the most special existence, and then had fiercely rejected his feelings. He had originally thought their fate had ended there, but who knew that this person would suddenly have a change of heart, changing for him again and again. Originally a person who was the only one in his own world, he now also knew how to compromise and act spoiled.
Just as he also knew how to rely on him.
Pride, or anything else, had long ceased to exist between the two of them.
“Huaitian…”
Feng Qi smiled. “Today is just an oath. The coronation ceremony still needs to be planned and prepared for a long time.”
Wen Ning’an had never thought that one day he would be able to stand with him on an equal footing, to receive all this man’s respect and deep love.
“How am I worthy…” Wen Ning’an held his hand, his tone a little trembling.
“No.” Feng Qi broke free from his hand and, in his somewhat dazed gaze, pulled him into his embrace.
“To have Yixin’s true heart and unwavering loyalty, how am I worthy?”
On the high altar, two people in bright yellow dragon robes held each other tightly. At the first light of dawn, the two of them, backlit, seemed to be favored by the gods, their figures covered and blurred by the light and shadow in a scene of spring, no longer distinguishable from each other.
Feng Qi looked at the person before him, and his eyes couldn’t help but turn red.
It is said that, The country is in my embrace, and the beauty is in my heart…
Feng Qi thought to himself, In this life, no one will ever love Wen Ning’an more than him, and no one will ever love me more than Wen Ning’an.
The coronation ceremony was held a month later, and from then on, the two emperors of Bei Miao also became a beautiful story.
A prosperous age with two emperors, the twin jades of Bei Miao. This country is so beautiful, only because you are here.
-End of main story-
