Chapter 605: Without a Cheat (1)

If the Emperor were younger, he might really have drawn the imperial sword by his side and executed Count Jingan with a single, mad blow.

However, for the current fifty-year-old ruler, he had already experienced multitudes more compared to his younger days. Having sat on the golden throne for decades, he had been transformed into a true regent. Most trivial matters would hardly shake him now.

Thus, at the mention of the incident he regretted the most during his youth, he was able to keep his emotions under control and retain his rationality.

The Emperors cold gaze pierced down from above. If looks could kill, then Count Jingans body would likely have become riddled with holes like a sieve.

Although the look in the Emperors eyes was terrifying, Count Jingan knew he couldnt back down at this moment. He had already stayed resolute for so many years. There was no other choice but to keep that secret to his grave!

Very well, He Yanwen! What a gooddogyou are! Youre still their dog, even after all these years! Like a dog, you cant change your nature of eatingshit!

Such crude words had fallen from the lips of the Emperor. It was easy to imagine how furious he was.

Count Jingan bore with the Emperors fury and knelt down silently. He bowed his head slightly and knelt with both knees on the mirror-like floor of Qinzheng Hall. Even in this pose of obeisance, his back remained ramrod straight as a sign of his silent rebellion.

The Emperor could no longer sit still behind the imperial desk. He stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his eyes blood-red from the force of his anger.

He suddenly stopped and asked, He Yanwen. Are you still unwilling to speak even now?

Count Jingan made a cupped fist salute towards the Emperor with his eyes cast downwards, Your Majesty, this humble official has nothing to say.

Nothing to say?! He Yanwen! You were Ah-xuns senior brother! The two of you studied under the same teacher. She treated you like a real brother!

Count Jingan pressed his dry lips together, Your Majesty, its precisely because I am Ah-xuns senior brother that I have to keep this secret.

Good, good How very good of you! Youre living up to your name, myloyalDefender General of the South! Youre still loyal even till death!

Count Jingan sighed inwardly, Your Majesty, so many years have passed. Why continue troubling yourself over this matter? Ah-xun already passed away more than ten years ago. She only wished the best for you.

The impact of Count Jingans words made the Emperor tremble. His wavering body threatened to collapse, scaring Eunuch Wei into stepping forward and holding him up.

The Emperors lips pulled into a bitter smile. Even though he had already guessed years ago that Ye Xun was no longer in this world, when he received confirmation of his guess, his first reaction was still disbelief.

He mumbled to himself, So shes really gone

Then can you tell us where her grave is? The sharp ice in the Emperors gaze had retreated into disappointment and defeat. However, when he asked his question, a spark of hope lit up in his eyes as he looked at the kneeling Count Jingan.

A pang of heartache rose in the counts heart. He thought briefly of coming clean and revealing the location to the Emperor, but he quickly recovered his cool and shook his head in silent determination.

Now immersed in pain and suffering, the Emperor abruptly started coughing viciously. He swept everything off the imperial deskofficial reports, ink stone, papers, and brushes all crashed to the ground. Ink splattered all over the golden floors of the hall, making a huge mess that reflected the inner state of the Emperors heart.

The Emperor was bent over from the effort of coughing, bracing himself on his knees. Tears started rolling from his eyes, perhaps due to the coughs, or perhaps due to his heartache.

Eunuch Wei was close to panicking. He quickly patted his masters back to help soothe him, all the while glaring angrily at the kneeling Count Jingan.

It took a long moment before the Emperor finally stopped coughing.

With the help of Eunuch Wei, he took his seat behind his desk once again. Following that, he leveled a cool and indifferent gaze at the kneeling count and spat out an emotionless command, Scram!

Count Jingan slowly cast his eyes upwards to look at the man on the dragon throne before standing up and performing a precise salute to the Emperor, not an inch more, not an inch less. He then left Qinzheng Hall without a whisper to mark his passing.

After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, the Emperor suddenly asked, Wei Chenghai. Do you think that Ive been too greedy?

He had thought that he would be able to forget easily. However, with the passing of time, his memories of Ah-xun had only become clearer and clearer. He wanted to know if she was doing well, what she looked like when she aged. He wanted to know if she missed him. But now, there was nothing left.

Ah-xun was gone. She had left him forever.

Eunuch Wei had been serving the Emperor ever since he was a prince, so he knew clearly the events that the Emperor and Count Jingan had been talking about.

Back then, they had each had their own difficulties. They had all done what they had to do.

It wasnt the Emperors fault alone, nor was Count Jingan completely to blame.

However, with the Emperors current mood, he couldnt speak his mind now and could only try to comfort his master as best he could.

Your Majesty, every living person has their own desires. Its natural that Your Majesty misses Miss Ye Xun, but as the ruler of the country, as important as Miss Yexun was, she is no longer your only priority.

The Emperor understood that Eunuch Wei was right, but he was still heartbroken.

He was never going to see Ah-xun again

How could he not despair!

But its still difficult to bear the truth Im losing control

Eunuch Wei had no words for that. He simply stayed by the Emperors side in a show of silent support.

Who could have thought that the esteemed Emperor would also have painful moments like this?