332 The Fate of the Empress of Ming Kingdom
At the same time as Soujin's conquest towards the Pan Kingdom, the Emperor of Ming Kingdom managed to escape with the Empress. The number of secret soldiers Strategist Wu prepared was not a lot and many of them lost their life due to the clash with Ye Lei. However, they have created the chance needed for the two of them to escape.
After the emperor escape, he went through the forest and reached a nearby village in the north. Most of the people there were fishers, but the Emperor brought enough money for them to live peacefully. Of course, he didn't plan to settle down.
"Emperor, are you alright?" while the Emperor was preparing the soldier secretly, the Empress was the one who was taking care of his daily needed. Despite living in the palace, the Empress could do menial jobs pretty well thus making the emperor extremely satisfied.
The emperor looked towards the woman, "Pan Kingdom has fallen, and my plan is ruined."
He planned to take hold of Ming Kingdom when Soujin and the others were still busy with Pan Kingdom. However, the battle ended in mere months, making his plan unusable. Besides, he hadn't finished gathering the needed soldiers to fight them.
If he were to attack rashly, he would end up miserably. This was the first time he felt the loss of his people terribly hard. Whenever he was feeling troubled, it was they who came forward and lent him their help.
Tapping the table, the Emperor fell into deep thought. Still, he didn't want to give up that early because he was the Emperor of Ming Kingdom and he would not allow that brat to take what belonged to him.
The Empress sighed as she took the basket and went to the near small lake. She couldn't help the Emperor in his planning because of her ability. After all, she didn't really have any interest to help and chose to do what she could to live here. Washing the clothes, she could hear a commotion from the place near them.
She also faintly sensed the smell of blood. Even if she was the empress, she knew the difference between the smell of blood and other distinctive smell. Nevertheless, she didn't bother to check and continue her task of washing the clothes until it was finished. Walking to the near hill, she looked to the south for some time before returning to the hut.
The emperor didn't notice the empress coming because he was still engrossed in his planning. On the other hand, the Empress directly walked to the kitchen and cooked without disturbing the other party. That day seemed the same as any other day, but that was not the truth.
When the night came and the Emperor fell asleep, the Empress woke up and went outside. Taking a few materials, she returned back to the hut and tied the Emperor to the bed without waking him up. Finishing her task, she sat down on the chair in the living room and waited patiently.
When the dawn came, several people came to the house and she opened the door.
"General Soujin, Prince Yan, and Princess Hua," the Empress didn't recognize Ming Hui who was dressed as a man.
"Empress," Jun Hua was dumbfounded to see the previously regal empress was now looking similar to a normal woman. Although her bearing was still that of a refined woman, she didn't seem to differ very much compared with the other people in the village.
"The emperor is in the room if you're searching for him," the empress pointed to the room next door.
Yan stared at this woman with wariness. From his memory, the empress was always caring for the emperor. What made her attitude changed completely in this span of a few months?
"I understand," Soujin and Yan led the soldiers and captured the emperor while Jun Hua sat down in front of the empress along with Ming Hui.
"You didn't have any plan to retaliate?" Ming Hui asked.
The Empress shook her head, "No, I'm not that virtuous to cling on that foolish belief that I stand a chance in front of you. I may be the empress, but I'm not young anymore. Living as the noblest woman for years, I'm already tired of the fa?ade."
Jun Hua genuinely admired the woman in front of her. Even when she met the other party in the past, she knew that the Empress was not an ordinary woman. Upon meeting her personally like this, she knew that the Empress was indeed amazing and smart.
This thought made her think that the Emperor was truly unworthy of this woman. For such a smart and capable woman to get such a lusty and greedy emperor, she felt that the Heaven was not fair. However, the Empress had long accepted her fate and lived with it for years. After all, there was nothing she could do to change the decree.
Before they could talk anymore, they heard shouting from the room beside them. Before long, Lou carried the tied up Emperor outside and put him on the ground. The Emperor stared with wide eyes to the Empress.
"You're a traitor!"
On the other hand, the Empress was still calm, "Emperor, I think you misunderstand something. Do you really think that I do everything for you?"
When the Emperor was still glaring at her with heated eyes full of rage, the Empress continued talking. Her tone was calm as if she didn't talk about herself.
"Before I was decreed to marry you, I already have someone whom I secretly admire. Because of the decree, I abandon him and follow after you. However, not even once did I love you. I only do things that a wife should do, but my heart never belongs to you."
The Empress stated the truth without even blinking her eyes. She only did what she needed to do because she wanted to keep on living in peace. If by serving the Emperor she could at least live in a peaceful life, then she would do it despite her heart didn't want to.
If the man was great, probably more than one woman would willingly come to him. But, the Emperor was only a figurehead while the court was more or less controlled by his people. If it was only for position, many women would come, but if it was for him as a person, they would willingly go away.
The Emperor's eyes were red because of rage, but Lou already shut his mouth before he could say anything. After the Empress had said her thought, Lou brought the Emperor out while Soujin stood on his place, asking the Empress, "What do you plan to do in the future?"
"I will just live here. My maternal family has long gone and living here is not bad," the Empress smiled.
"We wish you a good life," after intruding, the four of them went back leaving the empress alone in the hut. The Empress stared at the huge pack of money on the side. At least, she didn't have to work anymore.
Finally, she could be free. Her lips curled up. It was a long journey to reach this point. She didn't have many good memories over the past two to three decades. Every single day was a battle against those greedy officials and jealous concubines. Everyone couldn't wait to bring her down with their words and action.
The Empress closed her eyes for a moment. She was no longer in the palace and now she was no different than a commoner, yet she didn't feel any regret. Her paternal family was destroyed years ago, and she didn't have any child. Living the rest of her life in this village didn't sound too bad. She smiled and headed towards the bedroom. It was time for her to rest.
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