The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me-Chapter 45 - 0 Farewell Grace

Chapter 45: Chapter 045 Farewell Grace

They emerged from Taihe Hall.

The two boarded a carriage, heading to Nanquan Temple.

The temple was built near Nanquan Water, hence its name.

“Our ancestor was forty years old, frail in health,” He Ying began as he gazed at the dilapidated Nanquan Temple, “so he moved to reside in Nanquan Temple, bathing day and night in the Nanquan Water. It was here, amid those waters, that a palace maid was graced and thus the late Emperor was conceived.”

Sang Yan always felt his words had deeper meaning, his thoughts profound and elusive.

“Could it be that the Emperor plans to emulate his ancestor?”

She looked around the long-neglected courtyard and the dried-up Nanquan Water, trying to guess his thoughts.

He Ying turned to look at her, smiling lightly, “If Ah Yan were to cooperate, why not?”

Sang Yan frowned, “Your Majesty, please do not jest.”

“I am not jesting.”

He Ying’s gaze drifted off, his tone grave and commanding, “I intend to rebuild Nanquan Temple, no — from now on, this place will be called Liufang Temple.”

Such things are not for everyone, rare is the soul that leaves a fragrance!

He didn’t believe that.

He was determined to leave his mark!

Sang Yan was speechless.

Was the Emperor undertaking this grand construction for her?

Congratulations to her then.

She was one step closer to becoming a “femme fatale.”

“That won’t do.”

Sang Yan had no interest in staying at the palace, nor did she want him to build a palace for her, so she advised, “A good emperor should be diligent and frugal. By doing this, what position are you putting me in?”

At that, her expression hardened, her voice stern, “Your Majesty, do not use my welfare as a guise for actions that burden the people and drain the treasury.”

Since ancient times, when an emperor behaved foolishly, the blame would fall upon women.

A prosperous era needed beauties to adorn it; a troubled era needed beauties to take the blame.

What a great injustice to be a beauty!

She refused to repeat this tragic fate.

He Ying, oblivious to her thoughts, replied, “It’s only a palace; how could it burden the people and drain the treasury? I rise early and retire late, governing the realm. If even building a palace is not allowed, what’s the joy in being an emperor? Besides, it needs renovation.”

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade him, she said, “Then don’t build it under the pretense of doing it for me. And what kind of name is Liufang Temple? It sounds terrible. Change it, Your Majesty.”

He Ying then suggested, “How about Liuqing Hall?”

Sang Yan rolled her eyes, “Give me a look, and you’ll understand?”

He Ying was speechless.

He wanted to laugh.

He was happy.

Their interactions were becoming more relaxed.

The unease from before had faded without him knowing.

“Then you name it.”

He encouraged with a smile, “I trust in your talent.”

Sang Yan, uninterested, frowned, “Shouldn’t the Emperor think more about national development and improving the people’s living standards?”

To put it bluntly, this Emperor seemed a bit lovesick.

He Ying had just unleashed his anger in court; how could he be in the mood to think about politics?

He retorted, “If I remember correctly, you once said that rest is for better work.”

Sang Yan was speechless.

This Emperor really had a good memory.

She was momentarily unable to refute.

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During her silence, He Ying added, “Actually, it’s only when I’m with you that I can find some peace. Ah Yan, stop saying these discouraging words.”

Upon hearing this, Sang Yan felt rebellious, thinking: I’m so discouraging, yet you keep seeking me out; could it be you have a masochistic streak? If discouragement can make you lose interest in me, it might be worth a try.

So, she tried, “Emperor, governing the world demands more than just one person; shouldn’t the world serve one person as well? You cannot think only of squandering and enjoying yourself all day, you should reflect upon yourself and love the people attentively.”

He Ying listened, looked at her seriously, and asked, “I love the people, but who loves me?”

Sang Yan: “…”

Damn.

Miscalculated.

This Emperor’s mind works exceptionally fast; arguing with him just doesn’t end well.

“You, perhaps?”

He Ying looked at her, his tone gentle yet heavy, “I too am human. I too need to be loved.”

Sang Yan: “…”

She dared not meet his eyes, so she turned her head to look at a rockery nearby, walked over, picked a withered leaf, and while fiddling with it, said, “If you truly love the people as if they were your own children, the people would naturally love you in return. I once heard that when a benevolent official who loved the people like his own children died, tens of thousands wept by his coffin. See, such profound humanity between officials and the people.”

He Ying sighed after listening, “I don’t need them to weep for me. Perhaps I should say, I need you to love me. Even if many people love me, I only need you. Ah Yan, be kinder to me. I can give you anything.”

The Emperor was crafting sweet nothings again!

Hmph!

Sang Yan hardened her heart and said, “Then give me freedom, Your Majesty. I want to leave the palace.”

“Impossible!”

He Ying flatly refused, his face sullen, his tone slightly hurt, “You promised to be with me for a year.”

Sang Yan found herself speechless again.

This damned year!

Seeing her defeated, He Ying felt a bit better and gently smiled, “Don’t be angry with me; I just like you too much.”

What more could Sang Yan say?

Blame herself for attracting him?

The two stayed at Nanquan Temple for a while before getting back into the carriage.

He Ying ordered several officials from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry to come to the Imperial Study.

He was determined to build Liufang Temple, and it was not up for debate.

Sang Yan saw his resolve, suppressed her anger, and upon reaching Qingning Palace, stepped down from the carriage and finally erupted, “Your Majesty claims to like me, is this how you like me? Time after time, you go against my wishes, offering me things I do not want. If this is your ‘liking,’ I wouldn’t want it for a year, two years, or even a lifetime.”

After saying this, she didn’t even look at him and ran to a side hall in Qingning Palace.

He Ying frowned, followed her inside, dismissed the attendants, and asked, “What do you want then? Besides freedom, what do you want?”

“I want…”

Sang Yan sat on the soft couch, lost in thought.

Besides freedom, what did she want?

“Imperial Censor Feng… wishes for the Emperor to favor the concubines and sire an heir…”

She didn’t know why she said that.

He Ying came over, stood next to her, and looked down at her, asking, “What about you?”

Sang Yan’s heart was in turmoil, “Your Majesty… indeed needs an heir.”

But she absolutely could not bear a child for him.

“I certainly do need one. The question is, would you be willing to bear one for me?”

He Ying lowered himself to her eye level, his gaze suddenly sharp, “You are unwilling? Are you even thinking of pushing me towards other women? Sang Yan, are you really—trampling on my sincerity?”

“I—”

Sang Yan wanted to say she hadn’t, but she couldn’t say it.

She did quite like him, but her feelings were genuine, and so was her desire to leave him.

And she never hesitated for a moment.

“I cannot give Your Majesty what you desire.”

In the end, she chose to break his heart.

Some relationships, if destined to end badly, should be cut off early.

“It’s not that you cannot give, it’s that you don’t want to!”

“I think I have been fair to you, respecting you, waiting for you—”

He Ying clenched his fist, bit his lip, did not want to speak, did not want to appear pitiful and miserable, but he really had so much to say, so much to ask, yet all he could do in the end was look at her with bloodshot eyes and demand, “Sang Yan, do you have no heart?”