I alone am the Honoured One!-Chapter 739: A small talk with Hanyue

The funeral rites continued; the scent of incense was thick in the air as solemn prayers and mourning whispers filled the ceremonial grounds.

Priests clad in dark ceremonial robes stood in a semi-circle, chanting soft incantations meant to guide the departed soul toward the Heavens Path.

Their voices blended with the distant toll of bells.

Zhao Tian remained silent, standing beside Zhou Hanyue.

Though he showed no outward grief, his mind was clouded with thoughts, memories of battles fought and the countless lives that had been lost along the way—including Yao Jing's.

The thought of her absence sent a dull ache through his chest, but he pushed it aside.

There would be time to grieve later.

Zhou Hein stepped forward once more.

Raising a golden censer filled with smoldering incense, he bowed deeply before his father's body.

"As we send our Emperor to the afterlife, let us remember his legacy,"

Zhou Hein declared, and his voice was steady despite the sorrow beneath it "He was a ruler who sacrificed everything for the Jade Dynasty, who led with strength and wisdom. And though he has departed, his will remains with us."

The crowd murmured in agreement and heads bowed in reverence.

Priests began the final rites, guiding the Emperor's spirit toward the afterlife.

A golden flame was lit as its glow illuminated the carved dragon motifs on the coffin's surface.

The fire represented both the end of an era and the birth of a new one, a transition from one ruler to the next.

The Jade Empress, who had remained composed throughout the ceremony, finally allowed herself a moment of vulnerability.

She stepped forward and her hands resting lightly against the side of the Emperor's coffin as she whispered a silent farewell.

A single tear trailed down her cheek, though she quickly wiped it away.

The last rites were performed, and as the final chant echoed through the air, attendants carefully lowered the lid over the Emperor's body, sealing him within his final resting place.

A moment of silence fell over the gathering.

Then, Zhou Hein took a deep breath and turned to face the crowd "From this day forward, I shall uphold my father's will and lead the Jade Dynasty with the same strength he did. I vow to protect our people, to guard our lands, and to ensure our empire does not fall."

The nobles and generals bowed in acknowledgment.

"The late Emperor's spirit will watch over us. The Jade Dynasty shall endure."

With that, the ceremony came to an end.

The gathered mourners slowly began to disperse.

Zhao Tian remained still as his gaze lingered on the closed coffin before he turned away.

As he did, he caught Zhou Hanyue looking at him.

With a nod, she spoke "Let's leave..."

Zhao Tian gave a slight nod and followed Zhou Hanyue as they stepped away from the ceremonial grounds.

The palace grounds, once filled with sorrowful voices, gradually emptied as nobles, ministers, and officials retreated to their respective halls.

Lan Shuqin walked a short distance behind them.

The flickering lanterns along the stone pathways cast long shadows, stretching across the ground as they moved in silence.

After a while, Zhou Hanyue spoke, "You disappeared for two days. I almost thought you wouldn't come back."

Zhao Tian kept his gaze ahead, "I had things to take care of."

Zhou Hanyue stopped walking and turned to face him "Things? Or did you just want to avoid all of this?"

He met her gaze but said nothing.

There was no need to explain himself... she wouldn't understand.

A sigh left her lips "You're different from before. That day at the marriage hall, and even now… something has changed."

Zhao Tian remained silent as his gaze lowered a little.

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Lan Shuqin, who had been watching the exchange, finally spoke "Lady Hanyue, This isn't the place for such a conversation."

Zhou Hanyue hesitated before nodding "You're right. Let's go somewhere quieter."

She led them toward a secluded pavilion within the palace gardens.

As Zhao Tian sat on the pavillion Zhou Hanyue sat beside him and placed her hand on his lap "Tell me.. what happened?"

"Are you distressed about something?"

Zhou Hanyue frowned slightly "Even when I first met you, you always had this air of arrogance, like you never took anything too seriously. But now..." she trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Now, it's like you're carrying something too heavy for even you to bear."

"I know we were never close, and I know you probably don't care about what I think. But as your wife, at least in name, I have the right to ask... what happened to you?"

Zhao Tian looked at her hand on his lap "A lot happened."

"Then tell me," Zhou Hanyue pressed.

Zhao Tian let out a soft sigh before finally speaking "Someone I cared about died."

Zhou Hanyue's eyes widened slightly, and Lan Shuqin's fingers twitched hearing the news.

A heavy silence followed.

Lan Shuqin lowered her gaze "I see..."

Zhou Hanyue swallowed before speaking again "I'm sorry."

She had no other words.

No empty platitudes about how everything would be fine, no meaningless reassurances.

She simply acknowledged the pain, knowing that nothing could truly lessen it.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

The only sound was the distant hum of the morning wind outside.

Zhou Hanyue moved a little closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder "I won't ask you to talk about it if you don't want to. But if you ever do, just know that we're here."

Lan Shuqin hurriedly nodded her head "Yes, Master Tian...."

Zhao Tian gave a nod, but then he remembered something and turned his head to her.

"Hanyue..."

Hm? Zhou Hanyue raised her head to look at him and he spoke "You don't blame yourself... it is not because of your curse that someone close to me lost their life...."

"It was never your fault; it was always my fault because I failed to protect..."

He was just worried that Zhou Hanyue would blame herself for her curse, which kills people close to her.

Hearing this, Zhou Hanyue showed a smile and shook her head "No, I don't believe in my curse anymore..."

Huh? Zhao Tian was surprised to hear this "What happened?"

Letting out a sigh, she began to tell what happened on the night of the invasion of the vampires.

After hearing the story, Zhao Tian's gaze squinted 'As I guessed, it was someone deliberately killing people close to Hanyue...'

"Good thing I came at the right time and stopped the marriage..."

Her eyes softened, and then, to his slight surprise, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace.

The scent of lotus and jasmine lingered in her hair, blending with the crisp air.

"That's why…" she murmured...

"That's why I can be closer to you now… without worrying about my curse."

Zhao Tian did not move at first and he could feel the warmth of her body against his.

After a moment, he raised his hand and lightly placed it against her back, returning the embrace.

Then, without warning, she leaned in.

Before Zhao Tian could react, he felt the soft press of her lips against his cheek.

His eyes widened slightly as she pulled back and a faint flush dusted her cheeks.

But instead of looking away in embarrassment, she met his gaze with a small smile.

"Thank you for saving me that day... and also giving me a chance to kill that bastard."

Lan Shuqin, standing nearby, covered her mouth in surprise as her eyes darted between them.

Zhao Tian blinked, his mind catching up to what had just happened.

He didn't expect it from her...

With a soft exhale, he murmured "That surprised me..."

Lan Shuqin giggled in her heart and slowly backed away, giving them some private space.

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