Chapter 232: Chapter 231: SuffocationNo wonder people of the world don’t value the birth of daughters over sons.
The Sang Family, truly, has brought forth an excellent daughter!
In the following two days, Quanzhou continued to experience rain.
On the third day, when the rain had passed, and the sun shone brilliantly, with a gentle and warm breeze, the inner city of Quanzhou had returned to its bustling and lively state of former days.
Two figures stealthily slipped out of the back gate of the State Mansion.
The shorter person in front was pulling the taller, lanky one behind, hurrying along.
It wasn’t until the State Mansion was out of sight
that the person in front let go of the hand.
Lifting the veil of the hood, a charming and exquisite face was revealed.
It was Sang Yan, disguised.
She took a deep breath and said with a smile to He Ying, "What do you think? Isn’t it thrilling?"
He Ying could only smile helplessly, "I shouldn’t have let you leave the mansion." Sёar?h the N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Even as he said so, he still thoughtfully adjusted Sang Yan’s veil, "You’ve already been seen before, and though your illness has passed, there may still be people in the city with ill intent."
He didn’t like the thrill of sneaking out like this.
But since she liked it, he indulged her.
With him around, he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.
Especially since these past few days, she had been all mysterious, seemingly meeting with someone behind his back.
Sang Yan believed in his martial prowess and didn’t seem concerned. She giggled, "Aren’t you here with me? Let’s go take a look at the waterfront."
She pulled He Ying’s hand, heading towards the waterfront.
It had been five days since Imperial Physician Liu had concocted the antidote.
Most of the sick people in the city had recovered.
Only some, who had pre-existing conditions or who were originally frail, had not yet healed.
Therefore, even though He Ying’s appearance was exceptionally striking, which would usually attract a lot of attention under normal circumstances, the people were currently immersed in the joy of putting the gloom behind them and regaining their freedom, and no one paid them too much heed.
The two walked hand in hand through the bustling streets.
"I’ve heard some news in the mansion, and I feel like I need to take you to see it," said Sang Yan with a smile, still playing coy.
He Ying smiled indulgently, "Alright."
They were gradually nearing the waterfront.
The restrictions had been lifted, and the soldiers had all left.
The lively sound of talking could be heard.
It was fishermen and workers seated by the waterfront, chatting and boasting raucously.
They were dressed in tattered clothes and straw shoes, appearing poor and destitute, yet there were smiles on their faces.
The atmosphere was exceedingly harmonious.
A few bold ones stood on the deck of the fishing boats, gesturing dramatically as if they were actors in a play.
The air was filled with the salty smell of seawater.
Mixed with the stench of sweat, decaying fish, and shrimp, it was suffocating.
He Ying was nearly suffocating.
He furrowed his brow, instinctively held his breath, and glanced at Sang Yan.
Sang Yan, as if oblivious to the assortment of foul smells, excitedly pointed towards the deck while holding He Ying’s hand, "Do you hear what they are saying?"
He Ying then calmed himself and focused on the noise ahead. Gradually, he made out what the fishermen were saying.
"This epidemic came suspiciously, exactly after the He Family’s incident. As everyone knows, He Hongzhao was skilled with poisons, so it’s likely that this matter is related to her."
"Didn’t the proclamation before say so? That He Hongzhao colluded with the Beiqi!"
"Such a poisonous woman, she not only poisoned us Quanzhou people, but also spread rumors, trying to make us misunderstand the Emperor and the Empress. Her heart truly deserves to be condemned!"
...
They thought of the deep hatred and pain they had previously harbored toward the Emperor and the Empress, and one by one, their faces showed shame.
"He Hongzhao’s methods are despicable, and those Beiqi people who follow her are no better!"
A dark-skinned man sat on the deck, laughing heartily, "Let it be, let it be. When Beiqi people hear of what happened in Quanzhou, they must be envious! Just thinking about this, the fire in my heart has completely disappeared."
"That’s natural. Which country’s emperor would stay in Quanzhou like ours, advancing and retreating with us?"
"Exactly!"
"Our Emperor and Empress are a wise ruler and a virtuous consort of the generation!"
...
Under the lead of the man, the rest also laughed loudly.
They didn’t notice Sang Yan and He Ying standing under the willow tree.
After listening quietly, He Ying asked with a smile, "Was this your arrangement?"
Sang Yan’s smile faded slightly, and she nodded, "Yes. It was my arrangement. If we didn’t retaliate against He Hongzhao’s actions that enraged both humans and gods, they would probably think we are easy to bully."
He Ying liked hearing her say these words, feeling that she was protecting him.
He didn’t speak, just watched her tender and affectionate smile.
"He Hongzhao spread rumors, trying to alienate the people of Da He from the Emperor. Now that you stand united with the people, the rumors naturally fall apart on their own."
Sang Yan looked towards the dark-skinned man and continued, "His name is Qin Huai’an, a member of the Qin Family, in charge of the import and export of the Qin Family Cloth Workshop. I had Qin Huai’an casually talk about the happenings in Quanzhou during his journeys by boat. Xinyuan, what do you think Beiqi people would feel when they hear that Emperor Da He values his people this much?"
She said, smiling gently, her beautiful eyes shining brightly, "One is an emperor who patricided and fratricided, dark and brutal, the other leads with diligence and loves his people, sharing the hardships with them. The feelings of the Beiqi people will naturally become clear."
Even if Qi Wuya truly controlled Beiqi politics, upon hearing the people comparing him unfavorably to He Ying, he would probably be furiously cross.
He Ying was at a loss for words for a long time.
He looked at the people on the deck, laughing openly.
Those words of praise, he had never heard before.
For over a decade of his reign, most of the time, he faced only cautious courtiers.
"Ah Yan—" He Ying gripped her hand tightly, murmuring anxiously, "In the past, I was also like Qi Wuya..."
His voice was muffled, filled with some guilt that was hard to bear.
Previously, he viewed the people as beasts to be driven, not truly caring about their lives or thoughts.
Sang Yan knew he was a feudal monarch who lacked respect for the people, she wasn’t angry but instead held his hand back, her gaze filled with gentle encouragement, trust, "Times are different now. You ascended the throne as a child, naturally, you had to be more decisive in killing."
She was aware of the necessity of his actions: He took the throne at ten years old, and had he not used iron-handed tactics, those treacherous courtiers would have likely killed him much sooner, treating him as a mere puppet Emperor.
Listening to her understanding and support, He Ying’s heart softened.
In this world, only she fit his soul perfectly.
He dared not imagine life without her.
He held her tightly, tightening his embrace again and again.
Sometimes, even when she was by his side, he still felt a terrifying fear of losing her.
Just like now.
She was in his arms, yet he was still intensely afraid.
"Ah Yan, promise me, never leave me, always love me."
"Ah Yan, we must always be together."
He thought of the ancestral teachings of Da He: from the moment the Emperor ascends the throne, he must begin building his own mausoleum.
He began construction on his mausoleum after gaining power.
Counting it up, it had been ten years already.
Now that he had Sang Yan, to live and share a quilt, to die and share a tomb, perhaps it was time to expand and rebuild his mausoleum.