Chapter 127 Three-day Couple

“Oh, you fool. You are such a fool.” Shui Yinzhu felt moved and sad. The two opposite emotions lingered at the bottom of her heart. The mixture was kinda sweet. As she lied down in Xuan Zhi’s arms, the girl understood that she was selfish and couldn’t accept any betrayal of Xuan Zhi. Tears dropped from her eyes. Xuan Zhi loved her so much. What should be done to repay that? As he saw her tears, Xuan Zhi immediately wiped her face clean. “Come on, easy, Yinzhu. It’s my fault. Feel free to blame it on me. Just stop crying, or I will feel hurt. I’ll always be by your side and keep you happy.” Their love moved Uncle Zhi and Li Yi. But Zuo Xin was still there. Uncle Zhi had to interrupt as he said, “Your Majesty, how are we supposed to deal with Zuo Xin?” “Zhi, let go of her and marry her to Xiaojing.” No one expected to hear that from Shui Yinzhu. She wasn’t born a Bodhisatva, but she wanted to accumulate merit for him as Xuan Zhi had just ascended the throne. “All right. It’s all up to you.” Even though Xuan Zhi would rather get Zuo Xin quartered, he still agreed to Shui Yinzhu’s suggestion. But he made a rare requirement, “I need you to promise me one thing.” “What?” “Never keep any distance from me.” “All right.” The woman that tried to alienate Xuan Zhi found it impossible for her to live without him. She would get relaxed to enjoy the last half month of her life. It wasn’t just love that Xuan Zhi brought to Shui Yinzhu. Rather, he agreed to almost anything she said, making himself look like a henpecked man. From then on, Shui Yinzhu never avoided meeting Xuan Zhi. They started to sleep together again. Xuan Zhi and Shui Yinzhu would find any possible time to stay together. But at the same time, the new emperor was caught in all kinds of affairs since the empire was just founded. There was a lot on Shui Yinzhu’s schedule, too. She planned that after everything was done, she and Xuan Zhi would enjoy a few days of life as a normal couple. Wei Ruxuan and Chi Mu then became the ministers in the Empire of Xuan. They kept working for the new emperor. Compared to the scheming Wei Ruxuan, Chi Mu was kinder and more loyal. He never participated in any opposition against Shui Yinzhu. Madam Li went back to Chi Mu’s place. It’s said that she could finally marry her cousin. Even though their relationship could never be exposed, they got to enjoy a happy life. Shui Yinzhu held a wedding ceremony for Xiaoxin and Anian. Xiaoxin married Anian under the title of Princess Xin after she was adopted as Xuan Zhi’s sister. It was a decent wedding. After they got married, Xiaoxin wasn’t willing to leave Shui Yinzhu and chose to stay with her. Anian kept on being a guard. Shui Yinzhu urged Paner several times before she went back to Li Yi. Xiaoba wasn’t willing to leave and insisted on being the confidential guard of Shui Yinzhu. Everyone seemed to have a perfect ending. In the evening, Shui Yinzhu stayed below the phoenix tree and waited for Xuan Zhi to come back. It had been a busy day for him. Shui Yinzhu was reluctant to leave this world, but she knew there wasn’t much time left for her. She dressed up that night, hoping that Xuan Zhi would recall her as a beautiful lady after she passed away. Shui Yinzhu started to spit blood in that morning. She knew that her condition would only get worse, and she couldn’t hold it a secret soon. The woman secretly went to Uncle Zhi to ask for some more medicine. The spring breeze blew on the white floral dress. The woman with a simple two-pearl hairpin who seldom wore makeups put on some blusher, for her face had gradually lost the color of vitality and turned pale. Xuan Zhi opened the gate of Xiyan Palace and went in alone. They didn’t want too many servants in this palace, for it belonged to Xuan Zhi, Shui Yinzhu, and Kong Yue only. He saw the pretty fairy under the tree and held her from behind. He rested his head on her neck, breathing in the special scent of hers. The empire affairs no longer appeared to be a bother for him once he stayed beside her. “Zhi, welcome back,” Shui Yinzhu started the conversation naturally like a wife speaking to her husband. “I’m back.” “Zhi, shall we get out of the palace the day after tomorrow?” “Why, Yinzhu?” “Nothing. I just want to leave everything behind and spend three days with you only.” “Sure. I’ll get everything arranged tomorrow.” “Okay, let’s find a place and enjoy life, just you and me.” “All right, it’s all up to you.” The spring breeze was warm. But how long would those sweet days last? Before they set off, Shui Yinzhu went to Uncle Zhi to ask for more medicine. Looking at the woman in poor health condition, Uncle Zhi understood that she was taking liberty with the last few days of hers but still couldn’t help asking the question, “Your Highness, don’t you regret it?” “I don’t.” “Take this medicine, and you’ll have only five days left even though you’ll look normal.” “I know, Uncle Zhi.” “Your Highness, there is no need to hurry. If you trust me, I will try my best to prolong your life.” “No. I’d rather die if I lose my hair and look disfigured.” “Your Highness, any extra day will matter.” “I want to leave him the most beautiful memory of me.” “Your Highness.” “Uncle Zhi, thank you. Please take care of His Majesty. Get him married to the real princess of the Kingdom of Yun after I die.” “I’ll make sure that happens.” Uncle Zhi pitied Shui Yinzhu, but he knew that her death would be a relief. Not only to her appearance but to the political environment. Xuan Zhi would be able to manage the empire without being questioned. He would become a wise emperor. Shui Yinzhu told Li Yi to treat Paner well. The little girl was treating her like family. In the end, she summoned Xiaoba, the man in love with her, due to her seduction. She owed so much love to others during her revenge. But there was no way for her to repay it. All she wished was that they could never meet with her in their afterlife. “Xiaoba, I’m leaving.” “Where to? I will stay with you in the dark. I won’t bother you.” “It’s not like that, Xiaoba. I would like to spend the last few days with Xuan Zhi. I’m so sorry, but I can’t take you, Xiaoba.” “Your Highness, I...” “Xiaoba, there is one last wish of mine. I hope you can fulfill it.” Shui Yinzhu knew that she had to give Xiaoba a mission so that he could live for a reason. She owed so much to Xiaoba and couldn’t pay it back. “What is it, Your Highness?” “Stay with Paner. She is my sister. Keep her safe.” Shui Yinzhu knew that Paner had been in love with Xiaoba but married Li Yi because of her. Maybe it was a useless afterthought, but she wished Xiaoba and Paner could live a happy life. “Okay. As long as you need me to do so.” Shui Yinzhu didn’t know that she had made the right decision then. Paner became a Buddhist nun after Shui Yinzhu’s death, while Xiaoba stayed with her for the rest of her life. There wasn’t love between them, but they stayed together for their entire life as a family. After all these arrangements, Shui Yinzhu would leave the palace with Xuan Zhi the following morning. She gazed at the phoenix tree, touched it, and said “Goodbye” as if she was bidding farewell to her family. She wouldn’t come back in the future. Three days later, she would finish the final thing in her life. Shui Yinzhu didn’t sleep for that night in Xuan Zhi’s arms. She felt peaceful when held by her beloved man. The only blemish was that there was a time limit. When the sun rose in the morning, a beam of sunlight filled the room. Shui Yinzhu woke up earlier than Xuan Zhi. She got off from bed silently, got changed, turned her back to Xuan Zhi, and swallowed the medicine from Uncle Zhi with water. Then she walked back to Xuan Zhi and leaned in his arms as she said, “Zhi, it’s time to wake up. Let’s go!” “Okay.” Xuan Zhi had been awake for some time. He simply didn’t get up. The two of them left the palace right after daybreak and started their three-day journey as an ordinary couple. Xuan Zhi was leading the way while Shui Yinzhu was making the decision. She asked him to rent an ordinary house. They would be living here for three days. Since neither of them was fastidious, they just found a clean one. “Zhi.” “Yes, Yinzhu, what is it?” “Shall we get married tonight?” “For real? Well, are you really willing to be my wife?” Xuan Zhi held Shui Yinzhu happily in his arms. He could finally marry her. But as a man, he was embarrassed to be proposed by his woman as he rubbed his head and said, “Feels like I should be the one making the proposal.” Shui Yinzhu bent the neck of her silly Xuan Zhi and kissed his lips. This man had always been a sweet fool in front of her. After that kiss, Shui Yinzhu let go of Xuan Zhi, not allowing him to go any further. “Zhi, shall we go buy the wedding gowns and the house decorations?” “Sure.” The two of them started to go shopping again after so many years. Today was their wedding day. They took each other’s hand, and everything appeared to be blessed. Shui Yinzhu was no longer the same lively girl. She turned quiet and simply watched all the things around her without getting curious. But she smiled much more that day, with the lingering sweetness. The busy streets appeared the same after the switch of the ruler. Thanks to the work of Xuan Zhi and the intel of Shui Yinzhu, there wasn’t much bloodshed. Shui Yinzhu herself didn’t care about that as she did it just for revenge back then. The two of them enjoyed snacks and went shopping during the day. At night, the ordinary house was decorated with red cloth. The small space in that house was the eternal frame lasting in their memory. It wasn’t the first time for Shui Yinzhu to wear the wedding dress. The simple hairpin with two pearls was still on her bun. But this time, she was marrying the one she loved. The blush on her face was the best makeup. She stood together with the handsome, righteous, and dashing bridegroom in his suit. The couple paid respect to heaven and earth. The ceremony belonged to them only. Even though there were no family or friends, the two in love still felt happy and blessed. Xuan Zhi stared at Shui Yinzhu with a silly look as if he wouldn’t stop. Shui Yinzhu felt herself blushing and said, “How long are you going to keep looking at me?” “Forever.” “Stop it.” She covered his eyes with her small hands. Xuan Zhi took them down and kissed them. His eyes were then filled with lust that he had been hiding for so many years. Finally, Shui Yinzhu became his wife. The first time when they met with each other, Shui Yinzhu was a nine-year-old jade doll. But she had to suffer the destruction of her empire and the death of her parents. The next time they met with each other, she became a real jade doll who had been emotionless and stayed silent. When she finally became emotional, it was for another man whom he sent to her by himself. The two rivals in love had to make peace for this girl and protect her together. Still, she had to suffer. She watched the first one that she loved killed by arrows as she got imprisoned. He could do nothing at all. After saving the girl, he had to watch her learn dancing and singing just for her revenge. She put herself around all kinds of men, which almost cost her life, while he had to stand aside watching it and digest the pain. When she was brought back to the imperial palace, he was hunted down and fainted. She started to seduce the former emperor. While he had to launch the rebellion as the former prince of the Kingdom of Xuan in order to meet her and protect her again. They had gone through a lot. It was so precious for them to get back together. Xuan Zhi put down her hands and kissed her lips. She hesitated for a moment, for she cared about her lost virginity. But he didn’t. He slowly kissed her lips until she got relaxed. Then, the kiss went wild, filled with yearning and love. The two of them almost went out of breath. But his kiss was far from coming to an end. He held the back of her head with his right hand and lifted her waist with the left hand, then slowly pressed her down to the bed. He gently took off her clothes until the white bellyband was revealed. He was so careful as if he was dealing with a piece of fragile porcelain. The emperor touched her, his eyes filled with love. The two of them made eye contact, and he asked, “Can I?” “Yes.”