Chapter 345: Chapter 313: You Don’t Like Me
Under the same brilliant fireworks, outside the palace gate, Wang Shaoji wore a gloomy expression. As he looked up at the blazing fireworks in the sky, he couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
At the same time, a sigh rang out.
He was taken aback and turned to look at the person beside him. Under the dazzling colors of the fireworks, Wang Shaoqiu’s already pale face appeared even more translucent, like glass. Coupled with the trace of compassion in his eyes as he sighed, he seemed as fragile as a glass lamp.
Wang Shaoji frowned slightly: "What’s the matter?"
Wang Shaoqiu watched the fireworks bloom in competition and said, "Some people live like fireworks, die like fireworks. At least they don’t live in vain."
"Live like fireworks, die like fireworks?"
Wang Shaoji repeated the words, then sneered: "It sounds nice. But if this fire keeps burning, forget Jiangdu, the whole world will be burned up by him!"
The place they were at was a passageway outside Wenhua Gate. Once past Wenhua Gate, one could reach the square under the Bright Hall. At the moment, he and Wang Shaoqiu, along with several deputy generals and the Hu Ben Lang Jiang, stood closest to the gate, with hundreds of Imperial Guard soldiers behind them. A similar arrangement was at Wugong Gate on the other side.
Everyone was waiting for his command to charge into the Bright Hall.
He did not lower his voice when he said this, and the few confidants around him heard it clearly. However, although their gazes flickered, they said nothing.
It was Wang Shaoqiu who slowly lowered his head, and the compassion in his eyes vanished, leaving only calmness and indifference.
He said coldly, "Brother, be cautious with your words."
"..."
"Some words can only be known once we enter the palace and reach a certain point."
Wang Shaoji replied lazily, "I know."
Previously, they had incited rebellious sentiments within the army, using Shang Ruyi as an excuse. It was because this woman slandered beside the Emperor, leading the Emperor to mistakenly trust the Old Palace Guards and execute the Imperial Guard, causing their innocent brothers to suffer, be exiled, and have their families seized. So, the operation tonight, known by most of the Imperial Guard, was merely to ’rectify the Emperor’s side and eliminate the sycophants.’
However, the Wang Brothers and the Hu Ben Lang Jiang knew that their target was not just the sycophants beside the Emperor.
But the Emperor himself.
Yet this truth could not be revealed to ordinary soldiers. After all, rebellion was a crime punishable by the execution of their entire clan, and they weren’t that bold. Only upon entering the palace, forcing the Emperor, and walking this path of no return would these people have no retreat but to continue according to their plan.
But beforehand, no word could be leaked.
Wang Shaoqiu glanced at the fireworks in the sky again and said, "Shall we act now?"
When it came to actual action, everything depended on Wang Shaoji’s command. He said, "Wait for a stick of incense’s time. The Jiangdu Palace Guards should be preparing to withdraw by now, and we’ll enter the Bright Hall from the east and west gates."
Wang Shaoqiu frowned slightly: "What about the Bright Gate?"
Wang Shaoji said, "He refused to open the Bright Gate, so tonight it’s closed, and we won’t bother with it."
Saying this, he sneered again: "All the doors are open except the Bright Gate; what use is that?"
"..."
"In any case, he won’t be seeing any light tonight."
Wang Shaoqiu paid no heed to his brother’s arrogance and confidence, just pondered for a moment and said, "There won’t be any problem with the Bright Gate, right?"
Wang Shaoji impatiently said, "What could go wrong? That place hardly has anyone passing by, and with the gate closed, even the Old Palace Guards have withdrawn, no one will go there."
Wang Shaoqiu said, "That’s good then."
Wang Shaoji laughed again, then looked up at the endless blooming fireworks in the sky and said, "Let’s keep watching. Accompany him to see this beautiful scenery, which he probably won’t be able to see in the future..."
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At the instant those words were heard, there was a ringing in Shang Ruyi’s ears.
She was a bit unsure what Chu Yang was asking.
Was he asking if she liked these brilliant fireworks, or if she liked this Jiangdu Palace he had adorned to resemble the Crystal Palace, or was he asking if she liked something else?
But no matter what, she had only one answer——
"I like..."
No matter the inner pain, no matter the struggle, she still uttered those two words. She didn’t like these things, but the happiness in her heart at this moment was undeniable.
She never imagined that someone could do this for her.
The man she wished would be good and gentle to her was now doing who knows what a thousand miles away, but whatever he was doing or thinking, her fondness, even her life and death, evidently had nothing to do with him and wouldn’t affect him in any way.
But, it didn’t matter.
In truth, no matter the life choice, there are always gains and losses.
Shang Ruyi thought, even if the life she chose ended with this scene, it wouldn’t seem too lonely a closure.
At this thought, she turned her head again to look at the dazzling fireworks in the sky.
As she lost herself in the beauty, Chu Yang beside her was lost in looking at her.
Even though the continuous fireworks overhead were almost lighting up the entire night, Shang Ruyi, while smiling at such brilliant fireworks, carried a hint of bone-chilling cold in her smile. Her eyes were clear and bright, as if the fireworks merged into her eyes, rendering her delicate face even more mesmerizing and eye-catching.
Perhaps sensing his focused gaze, Shang Ruyi turned to look at him.
"Your Majesty——"
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.
Chu Yang suddenly lowered his head and kissed her!
Shang Ruyi was stunned!
She lost her senses, forgetting to react, just stood dumbly atop the hall, illuminated by the spectacular fireworks, allowing Chu Yang to lower his head and gently kiss her lips.
He wasn’t forceful, nor did he deepen the kiss. He just lightly caressed her lips, even his breath and movements so gentle, as if afraid to scare her.
But Shang Ruyi was still startled.
As another firework bloomed directly above the hall, a dull roar like a bolt from the blue shook the entire Jiangdu Palace, as if the ground shuddered along with it. She suddenly awoke and hastily pushed Chu Yang away with both hands, simultaneously stepping back.
Chu Yang lowered his head, still looking at her softly.
Seeing the pallor of her face and the panic in her eyes, after a moment, he gently asked, "You don’t like it?"
"..."
"Do you dislike this? Or do you dislike me?"
Shang Ruyi looked up at him, then hurriedly turned her face away. At this moment, no matter how many fireworks were blooming, they couldn’t illuminate the deepest shadow in her eyes.
And Chu Yang seemed to understand.
"You don’t like me."