Chapter 28 — The Price of a Promise
The Emperor was sitting, alone, in his apartments.
Between his fingers, a letter.
The fine, neat writing bore the mark of Xuèhuā, the spy in charge of monitoring Liyan for ten years (chapter 22).
"Liyan and Yuèyao have been living in hiding in a northern village for more than three weeks. "
The Emperor closed the letter, slowly.
"History repeats itself..." he thought, his gaze frozen on the rain beating against the windows.
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Flashback — Two years after Cài Xu
"If one day I ascend the throne... I promise you, Cài Xu.
You will become my Prime Minister. "
Two years have passed.
The Emperor is nineteen years old. He regularly confides in Meilin, his childhood friend - the one who later became his wife and Liyan's mother (chapter 19). He often talks to her about his dreams, his promises. From Cài Xu, this genius of numbers, who has become his most valuable ally.
That evening, they attended a great noble party together.
The alcohol is flowing, the lanterns are shining. And the Emperor notices something: Cài Xu does not let go of a young blonde woman - Linna, beautiful, bright, confident. At his side, his cousin Elina, of a more discreet elegance, but almost identical physically.
He leans into Cài Xu's ear, mocking:
- Go test your luck. We came to have fun, didn't we?
Cài Xu, embarrassed, ends up approaching Linna, not knowing that she had already noticed it as soon as she arrived.
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The Emperor remains alone for a moment, a glass in hand. He lets his gaze drift... and stops on a young woman by his side.
Meilin
She also attracts attention tonight. Beautiful in her coral-coloured dress, she seems to shine brightly.
"If I don't ask him for his hand now... someone else will."
- Meilin... do you want to marry me?
She turns to him, stunned:
- What...?
- Forget it, I drank too much.
But she looks at him, seriously. Then simply say:
- Yes. I will marry you.
He trembles, surprised:
- You... do you agree?
She nods her head.
And that's how they got engaged.
A few months later, they are married. Everything seems to be going well. The Emperor is now expected to succeed his father. He thinks he won the game.
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Until the day the news falls.
The former emperor had a new child with his favourite - Yù Zhēn (chapter 27). A boy. And he loves her madly.
He then decided, against all odds, to appoint him official heir.
All the former contenders, all the princes who fought for this crown are dismissed. The decree is without appeal:
— I'm the emperor. And I'm the one who decides.
Your efforts... will now be his.
The Emperor says nothing.
But inside, everything screams.
All the promises made to Cài Xu, to Meilin, to himself...
His dream of a clean throne, a new justice, a reformed empire - everything collapses in an instant.
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It was then that Meilin announced another news: she was pregnant.
The Emperor is dreaming of abandoning everything. Run away. Live a simple life, away from the Court, with his wife and their future child.
But he can't.
He promised.
And in his mouth, a promise is a pact.
So he's looking for a plan.
An immoral plan.
But necessary.
(The continuation of the flashback in a future chapter...)
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End of Chapter 28