Xiu'er, Is That You? (New Book Preview)

One day after Xiu'er celebrated her 88th birthday, she suddenly collapsed.

Tang Zhuyun, trembling slightly, was helped to visit her by her great-granddaughter.

Xiu'er was lying in bed. When she saw her coming, she stretched out her hand to her and smiled, "Your Majesty, this servant must take her leave now."

Tang Zhuyun's eyes welled up with tears.

Having walked through this life together, there should be no regrets.

But when the time for parting came, we realized how cruel fate was, and how heartbreaking the separation of life and death could be.

Do they have another lifetime?

"Don't talk nonsense, it's okay, it'll definitely be okay. We're going to live to be a hundred together!" Tang Zhuyun held her hand tightly, her voice choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty, I am so grateful to have lived to this age," Xiu'er, still smiling.

Even in the final moments of her life, she remained lucid.

She remained clear-headed throughout her life, and she was content.

Song Jingyang stood there blankly to the side, needing a cane to stand steadily.

His lips moved, but he couldn't speak. His cloudy eyes were fixed on Xiu'er, unwilling to look away for even a moment.

Has his short life really passed just like that? He couldn't bear to Xiu'er.

He is not afraid of death.

He only feared that there would be no afterlife.

Xiu'er.

"I have no regrets about being with you," Xiu'er said. "I just don't know if there's another world. If there really is, I won't drink the Meng Po. I'll go and be Meng Po's maid, waiting for you to come together... cough cough cough--"

"Xiu'er, stop talking, take a break," Tang Zhuyun said, trying to calm her down.

"Your Highness, if we don't speak up now, we'll miss our chance," Xiu'er said with a smile after coughing.

She was prepared for her impending death and was very open-minded about it.

However, I still can't bear to part with it.

"Xiu'er, please stop talking." Tang Zhuyun was in tears. "Your children and grandchildren are my children and grandchildren. As long as I'm alive, I will take good care of them."

Xiu'er shook her head, her white hair thinning. "Your Majesty, you and the Emperor Emeritus have given us more than enough. They each have such bright futures ahead of them, I'm not worried at all. I'm only worried about you... You must take better care of yourself."

Tang Zhuyun could no longer control her emotions and burst into tears.

Even at this moment, Xiu'er's only concern was herself.

What merit did she possess to deserve Xiu'er's lifelong companionship?

Xiu'er was the most important person in her life, without exception.

"Your Majesty, don't cry." Xiu'er raised her hand with difficulty and touched Tang Zhuyun's hair, who was lying by the bedside. "You are a person with great fortune. I have followed you all my life and enjoyed all kinds of wealth and glory. I think our fate in this life is not enough, we really haven't had enough time together. We will definitely meet again in the next life."

"Goodbye, but we'll definitely meet again," Tang Zhuyun said. "You have not only me, but also Song Jingyang, and you'll have both. We'll meet again in another time and space!"

Death is not scary, separation is more heartbreaking.

"Okay, okay." Xiu'er grasped Tang Zhuyun's hand tremblingly. "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself and don't cry. I have no regrets, I'm very happy."

"Okay, I won't cry anymore." Tang Zhuyun burst into tears.

Emperor Wen stood behind her and gently patted her shoulder.

How could he not fear such separation by life and death?

He even understood why so many emperors of the previous dynasty had relentlessly pursued the elixir of immortality.

Because we are alive, we still have so many things to cherish.

How I wish there were an afterlife, and countless lifetimes to continue my love story with Tang Zhuzi.

Three days later, Xiu'er left.

She smiled at Tang Zhuyun in Song Jingyang's arms, then closed her eyes and her arms drooped limply.

Song Jingyang dressed Xiu'er himself, but wouldn't let anyone carry Xiu'er away.

He changed into new clothes and lay down next to Xiu'er.

No matter how much everyone tried to persuade him, Song Jingyang remained unmoved.

Even when Emperor Wen spoke, Song Jingyang remained unmoved.

Song Jingyang also went that evening.

He didn't take poison, he didn't hang himself; he was right beside Xiu'er, their fingers intertwined, and he fell into a deep, eternal sleep.

After returning to the palace, Tang Zhuyun was unable to calm down for a long time.

Linlin and Yanran, both over seventy years old, were staying with her in the palace with their children and grandchildren.

Tang Zhuyun looked at them, waved her hand, and said, "Take the children and go downstairs. I'm fine."

Emperor Wen also dismissed them all.

He was also there with Tang Zhuzi.

Tang Zhuyun hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, so Emperor Wen coaxed her, "Let's eat something. After we eat, I'll take you to pay respects to Xiu'er, okay?"

Tang Zhuyun didn't want him to worry, so she forced herself to drink half a bowl of porridge.

It was already night when the two arrived at the Marquis of Liyang's Residence.

Apart from the Song Family's children and grandchildren keeping vigil, there was no one else.

Miemie, along with her younger siblings, children, and grandchildren, stepped forward to pay their respects.

Tang Zhuyun said, "Song Rong, take them all and leave. I want to spend some time alone with your mother."

Miemie led everyone away.

Emperor Wen put his arm around Tang Zhuyun's shoulder, wanting to give her a little warmth.

Tang Zhuyun murmured to him, "Do you remember? When you pretended to be dead, Xiu'er accompanied me to the mourning hall to pay my respects to you, and then used a peach wood sword to stab you out."

Emperor Wen smiled, "Yes, it seems like only yesterday, yet so many years have passed."

"How I wish that Xiu'er's departure was only temporary and that she could come back." Tang Zhuyun squatted down and threw the paper money into the burning brazier, watching the flames slowly devour the paper money.

"We'll meet again," Emperor Wen said. "We will meet again eventually. Tang Zhuzi, shall we agree on a secret code?"

"What code?"

"When we say goodbye, we should exchange a secret code."

After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun said, "How about I just say 'I love you'?"

"Okay, I love you."

Tang Zhuyun laughed through her tears, "Look, you're cheating! We agreed on a secret code for the next life. Xiu'er will definitely laugh at you if she hears it."

Emperor Wen said, "Yes, in my entire life, I've never been afraid of anyone except her! In the next life, she'll definitely be by your side, creating obstacles for me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind blew in, opened the door, and made the flames in the brazier flicker wildly.

Tang Zhuyun stood up excitedly, looking around blankly.

"Xiu'er, is that you?"

(End of article)

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