Chapter 2006: Chapter 1944: At Death’s Door

The pristine white snow adorned the entire world. The Hot Spring Pavilion in another palace housed a white jade hot spring pool, enveloped in steam, resembling mist and clouds.

Beside the pool stood the Hexagonal Pavilion, adorned with copper bells. As a gentle breeze blew by, a crisp ringing resonated, and the black-painted white silk hanging in the pavilion swayed gracefully.

Empress Dowager Mo had been waiting in the pavilion for a while. Ah Jiu carried Emperor Yan onto the beautifully prepared couch in the pavilion, draping a blanket over him.

Bai Xiaobai followed closely behind, hesitating a little.

Emperor Yan smiled faintly: "No worries, just give me a little more time."

Everyone present couldn’t help but choke with emotion. Bai Xiaobai looked toward Empress Dowager Mo, handing over the medicine in his hand, and ran out of the pavilion without looking back.

Whether or not to take it, that was for them to decide, not him.

This medicine could invigorate Emperor Yan a little more, extend the lingering time a bit, but once its effect faded, he would be beyond rescue.

"Royal Mother." Emperor Yan gazed at Empress Dowager Mo with a pleading look and a smile on his lips.

Empress Dowager Mo looked at Ah Jiu: "You may leave. I’ll stay with your Imperial Brother."

Ah Jiu cast a steady glance at Emperor Yan, turned around, and stepped off the pavilion, standing not too far, nor too close, watching the pavilion amidst the snow.

Suddenly, he felt warmth in his hand. He turned his head, and Wufu nodded at him, gripping his hand tightly.

Their hands interlocked firmly, and Ah Jiu pressed his lips together.

Inside the pavilion, Empress Dowager Mo fed Emperor Yan the medicine and then gave him water herself.

The gauze curtain was raised, revealing the entire view of another palace. Emperor Yan leaned against the welcoming pillow, feeling warmth rising within him, and couldn’t help but smile.

"I didn’t expect to enjoy the snow with Royal Mother one last time before dying." Emperor Yan turned his head to look at Empress Dowager Mo sitting beside him.

Empress Dowager Mo turned to look at him and said, "Watch as long as you wish."

"Alright." Emperor Yan smiled: "I remember Royal Mother’s nickname was Ah Ke?"

Empress Dowager Mo’s body trembled slightly, and she nodded.

"Ah Ke." Emperor Yan murmured softly, saying: "The first time I heard it was when you were strolling with Father, and he called you that. At that time, it was my first time seeing you up close."

Empress Dowager Mo was a Successive Empress, nearly thirty years younger than the former emperor, but he was a remarkably wise and gentle man, showering sweetness on his young wife.

"I thought then, Ah Ke is such a beautiful name. I also remember you looking up and smiling at Father. You were truly beautiful, more splendid than the cherry blossoms." Emperor Yan reminisced about the past, and that stunning smile dragged him into hell.

Empress Dowager Mo was drawn back into memories by him. How old was he then? Twelve? Or fourteen?

A tiny boy, full of adoration and fear, caught like a frightened little bird flapping its wings, wanting to fly away. Back then, she found him utterly amusing.

"... Later, I saw you more often. You smiled at me, reached out to me, and taught me. I remember it all," Emperor Yan said. "I always wondered, how could there be someone so wonderful, so gentle to someone like me whom everyone could easily disregard? What did I do to deserve that?"

"Do not belittle yourself. You are a very clever child. Your birth does not determine your future. The fortune that belongs to you will not run away; it will only explode at a turning point." Empress Dowager Mo said.

"My turning point was that time in the garden when I met you." Emperor Yan suddenly grabbed Empress Dowager Mo’s hand next to him, staring unblinkingly at her: "Meeting you was the turning point of my life."

Meeting her shaped him, but because of it, it also broke him.

It’s as the saying goes, success and failure lie with Xiao He.

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