Chapter 1549 - 1547: Don’t Miss It

"Then... what about my mother? She won’t also..." Zhao Qichen hesitated.

Lin Siyin couldn’t bear to strike him again, so she simply said.

"Don’t think too much, have a good rest tonight, tomorrow we can..."

Before she could finish, Zhao Qichen gave a bitter smile.

"Rest well? Do you think I can still rest well?"

His father and mother, the ones who gave him life and raised him, were already lying unconscious on the sickbed, nearing the end of their lives.

How could he rest well?

Lin Siyin felt even more worried and held his hand with her own.

"I know you’re feeling terrible, but at times like this, you mustn’t show it!"

"I heard from Aunt Zi Yue that... Mother never dared to shed tears in front of the Taishang Huang, not even show a hint of depression!"

"They... now they still don’t dare to face this directly, both knowing in their hearts yet..."

"I know, I know everything!"

The young emperor looked pained but couldn’t control his emotions.

"Alright, I’ll go have another look, you get some rest first!"

With that, he couldn’t wait any longer and strode out.

"Wait!"

Lin Siyin called out to him and brought over a cloak to wrap around him.

"Come back early!"

Zhao Qichen couldn’t bear to turn back, he only nodded behind his retreating figure, then disappeared into the night.

Lin Siyin’s expression was full of heartache; she turned and lay on the bed, unable to sleep as she tossed and turned.

She had been orphaned since childhood and only had her grandfather as company.

Though she couldn’t quite feel the same, it was close enough.

When her grandfather passed away, she felt as if the sky had collapsed.

At one point, she even thought about following her grandfather, thinking death would be easier, as there was nothing in this world worth lingering over.

But her grandfather had unfulfilled wishes on his deathbed; she dared not join him in death and had to grit her teeth and continue on with the little inheritance he left her.

And as she held on... unexpectedly, she found the light at the end of the tunnel.

She waited for her beloved, waited for him, and awaited the future.

Thinking of this, she clenched her fists tightly, her gaze firm.

’Rest assured, I will be with you!’

...

Zhao Qichen wandered around the courtyard three times, inspecting every inch of it.

The abandoned study in the front yard, the neglected vegetable garden at the back, pills piled up like mountains in the east wing, and numerous untouched valuable supplements still stored in the west wing.

Seeing this, he felt as if his heart was being sliced open.

His father loved to read so much; if not for his failing health, how could the study be abandoned?

His mother was never one to sit idle, she loved tending to flowers and plants; if not for the insurmountable situations, how could she allow the garden to waste away?

Memories from his childhood gushed forth like spring water.

At that time, he often read in the study or practiced martial arts in the training yard, with everyone around prioritizing rules and continually instilling various etiquettes in him.

Only with his mother could he truly relax a little.

No rules to follow, nothing to learn, and he could taste all kinds of fresh things.

Things that those around him would never dare to let him try.

So... since childhood till now, he always loved to stay by his mother’s side.

No matter that his Tai Fu told him that men raised by women usually come to nothing, he never cared.

As for his father.

For so many years, his father personally guided him.

He remembers his first winter training in martial arts, at the time he was still young, scared of the dark and hardship, and dared not go; his father would carve out time to accompany him.

It was his father who helped him grow on dark nights, supporting him with his rough hands, helping him grow stronger little by little.

But now.

This harbor, this tree he always relied on, worshipped, and trusted, was now about to leave him behind altogether.

Drawing out of his memories, Zhao Qichen’s face was already streaked with tears.

The clouds obscured the moon, the cold wind howled.

Even with the beginning of spring, the weather in January was not any warmer this year, rather it was even colder.

It seemed like tonight would bring more snowfall.

He leaned against the large locust tree in the back courtyard, feeling lost.

After a while, when his body was about to become entirely frozen, he stood up, deciding to go to the main house to have another look.

As long as they were still around, he wanted to see them more, and again some more!

...

At the main house,

When Zhao Qichen went over late at night, there were hardly any people inside.

The Imperial Physician had also temporarily left, and the candle in the small kitchen next door had been extinguished, suggesting that the medicine had been brewed.

In the vast courtyard, there was only one maid and one Little Eunuch at night duty.

Seeing someone coming, they quickly got up in alert, hesitating at first, then silently paid their respects.

Zhao Qichen waved them off nonchalantly and went straight inside.

Inside, someone was still stationed for the night; upon hearing about him, they silently opened the door to let him in.

Zhao Qichen smoothly entered his parents’ bedroom.

Unfortunately... he didn’t see the two familiar sleeping figures.

Those two people he was longing for were not only not asleep, but they were also huddled together, whispering about something by the window.

The room’s lighting was dim, and his footsteps were light.

Even though he had approached very closely, they still detected nothing.

Zhao Qichen’s eyes grew even redder, feeling as if his heart were being cut.

’In the past, Father was so vigilant, no sound escaped his eyes and ears, but now, even standing right behind him, he’s utterly unaware!’

That’s alright, might as well listen to what they’re talking about.

Zhao Qichen stopped going forward, standing still to listen carefully.

He only heard...

"Husband, I think it’ll definitely snow tonight, we mustn’t miss it!" she said.

"Alright!" he replied.

"Wear more, don’t start coughing again!" she tugged at his thick cloak.

"I know, don’t worry about me, your body’s even frailer, don’t catch a chill!" he repressed a cough, managing to say a lengthy sentence.

Perhaps exhausted, he was gasping for breath, even his shadow slightly trembling.

She didn’t mind, still contentedly nestled in his embrace, coquettishly gave him a ’hush’.

"Keep your voice down, if Zi Yue outside hears, she’ll come in to nag!"

"Got it, now stop chattering; look, it’s about to snow outside, we shouldn’t miss it!" he said sternly.

"Hehe, got it!"

She continued leaning against the window, resting on his shoulder, both of them staring outside together.

Everywhere away from the window was warm with the Ground Dragon and coal brazier in place, while the window corner was bitingly cold.

They seemed to pay no mind, continuing to lean against the window, unmoving.

Occasionally the cold wind disheveled their gray hair, and they laughed at each other as they tidied it, ridiculing each other in passing.

Seeing them so blissful.

For some reason, Zhao Qichen suddenly felt relieved.

He quietly retreated out, leaving the room’s world to just the two of them.