Now that he was finally released, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
Although he still couldn’t understand why he had been suddenly set free.
Could it be that Princess Chaoyang had changed her mind?
Having not eaten for days, Zhou Mingchong’s mind was in a daze. When he suddenly saw his younger sister Zhou Mingyi and Emperor Qianwu appear together in his home, he couldn’t even react.
Zhou Mingyi couldn’t help but throw herself into her elder brother’s arms.
Zhou Mingchong staggered, nearly falling.
Fortunately, Emperor Qianwu steadied him in time.
Inwardly, the emperor felt some disdain for Zhou Mingchong’s frail appearance.
Emperor Qianwu had practiced martial arts since childhood. In his early, less successful years, he had trained in the military camps for several years.
Although he had lived a life of luxury in recent years, he had never stopped practicing martial arts.
Thus, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a vigorous, heroic bearing.
But for the sake of the beauty, he did not criticize further.
However, upon reflecting on Zhou Mingchong’s experience, Emperor Qianwu fell silent.
What kind of temper did Chaoyang have? As her father, Emperor Qianwu knew best.
She had taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, and since this young man refused her, he must have suffered greatly these past few days in the palace.
Being somewhat weak was understandable; at least he was still alive.
In his early years, Emperor Qianwu had been a fairly wise ruler.
But ever since accepting the fact that he would have no heirs, he had always been exceptionally lenient with his only daughter, Princess Chaoyang.
He had worked hard to attain the throne, yet because he had no sons, it would eventually fall to outsiders. What was the point of being a wise ruler then?
After his death, who knew what would become of his only daughter?
It was better to give her more favor and privileges while he was still alive.
She was the most noble princess in this world, his only daughter—why shouldn’t she live freely and as she pleased?
Even if she caused the greatest trouble, he, as her father, would stand by her.
Since Chaoyang had taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, it was his good fortune.
If he refused, he was simply being ungrateful.
What was a mere Tanhua Lang compared to his precious, royal princess?
But who would have thought that Zhou Mingchong had such a stunningly beautiful sister, and he had even slept with her…
Emperor Qianwu sheepishly rubbed his nose.
“Minister Zhou, I will send someone to bring A Chang into the palace in three days.”
“For today, you siblings should catch up properly.”
With that, Emperor Qianwu left.
Leaving Zhou Mingchong dumbfounded.
Only after Emperor Qianwu had left did Zhou Mingchong snap out of it.
His eyes widened, his handsome features nearly contorted.
Pointing toward the door, he turned to look at his sister. “A Chang, what… what is going on? What nonsense was His Majesty saying? When did I ever say I would send you into the palace?”
“Was that… really His Majesty just now?”
“Don’t tell me someone is impersonating the emperor…”
Zhou Mingyi laughed through her tears, her sorrow swept away.
Her brother, her only brother, the brother she depended on for survival, her living brother—he had truly returned!
She threw herself into her brother’s arms once more.
Holding tightly to his slender waist.
“Brother!”
Zhou Mingchong was taken aback for a moment, then his expression gradually softened. Just like when they were children, he gently patted his sister’s back to comfort her.
Zhou Mingyi knew that although her brother had returned, the crisis was not yet over.
She had to enter the palace.
Princess Chaoyang was willful and domineering, backed by the Empress Dowager and the emperor, and always did as she pleased.
Only by giving birth to a prince, shaking her position, and stripping her of her support would she be forced to restrain herself.
By that time, she would no longer be Emperor Qianwu’s only child—just an insignificant princess. If she dared to act recklessly, how could the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu indulge and protect her without any limits?
Yet, Princess Chaoyang’s retaliation would be inevitable then.
If she sought revenge, she would not fear her counterattack.
She wanted her to fall hard from her lofty position, to plunge into the mud!
Zhou Mingchong gently steadied his sister’s shoulders. “I’ve worried A Chang these past few days I’ve been away.”
He had many doubts in his heart.
Given Princess Chaoyang’s determined stance toward him, how could he have been released?
How did his sister end up with His Majesty?
And why did His Majesty say he would send someone to fetch his sister into the palace in three days?
Zhou Mingchong had a vague suspicion, but he wanted to hear it from his sister herself.
Before he could speak, however, Zhou Mingyi said, “I already belong to His Majesty.”
Zhou Mingchong was stunned.
He had considered countless possibilities, but this was the one he had never imagined.
His sister had been exceptionally beautiful since childhood, and as she grew older, her beauty became even more breathtaking.
Zhou Mingchong often worried: how could he protect such an outstanding sister?
Thus, he threw himself into his studies with a mad determination, vowing to rise above others.
Only then could he protect his sister.
He specially made a veiled hat for her, urging her not to go out unless necessary, and to always wear the hat if she did.
Yet, despite protecting her for over a decade, he had ultimately failed to keep her safe.
But he never imagined that his sister would trade her own body for his freedom.
His eyes reddened as he grabbed his sister’s wrist. “Come, I’ll take you away!”
Zhou Mingyi’s eyes also reddened, but she gently pushed her brother away.
“Under heaven, all land belongs to the king. Where could we possibly hide?”
Zhou Mingchong froze, his voice trembling. “But… but His Majesty is over ten years older than you, and… and he is infertile!”
“If you enter the palace and have no children… what will become of you in the future when His Majesty…”
Zhou Mingchong knew that His Majesty had already seen his sister, and the two had… The matter of entering the palace was now inevitable.
If His Majesty were a normal man, and his sister could bear a child in the future, she would at least have something to rely on.
But His Majesty was infertile. While his sister was young and could rely on her beauty for favor, what would happen when she grew old, with no children? She would surely live a life of misery.
As the eldest brother, Zhou Mingchong treasured this sister like a precious gem and naturally did not want her to enter the palace.
He raised his hand and struck his chest fiercely, letting out a muffled groan as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zhou Mingyi was horrified.
“Brother!”
“Brother, what’s wrong?”
Zhou Mingyi wept bitterly. “It’s all my fault. I was willful and harmed my brother.”
Zhou Mingchong looked at his obedient and sensible sister, his heart aching as if cut by a knife.
He was not a foolish man. Now that the deed was done, he had considered countless possibilities, including taking his sister away and hiding her, no matter the consequences.
But that would inevitably provoke the emperor’s wrath.
No matter what, the paths of the two siblings were fraught with difficulty.
Now, the best course of action was to send his sister into the palace.
Seeing that her brother had calmed down, Zhou Mingyi recounted everything that had happened at Hanshan Temple in detail, omitting the part where she deliberately schemed to replace that woman, treating it as an accident.
Zhou Mingchong suddenly deflated.
“It’s all my fault! I’m to blame!”
“If I hadn’t pursued studies or sought an official career, if we siblings had found a quiet place to live, working from sunrise to sunset, we wouldn’t have been dragged into these troubles…”
Zhou Mingyi desperately covered his lips, refusing to let him continue.
“Brother, I won’t allow you to say such things!”
“My elder brother, with your extraordinary talent and brilliance, is no ordinary person. How could you be buried as a mere farmer?”
“I entered the palace willingly.”
Zhou Mingyi turned her head away, not letting her brother see the tears welling in her eyes.
“If I had been born ordinary, perhaps I would have accepted my fate.”
“But with this appearance of mine, marrying into a common family and settling for a mediocre man—wouldn’t that be like casting a bright pearl into the darkness?”
“Although His Majesty is older, he is dignified and outstanding in demeanor. This unexpected turn of events has, in a way, fulfilled my wishes!”
Her voice was calm, tinged with determination.
“It is said that the late emperor built Shenming Terrace, with jade as its steps and gold as its lamps.”
“Now that His Majesty has been on the throne for decades, with the nation prosperous and wealthy, the palace must be even more magnificent than before.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“Gilded bronze tiles, layered eaves and towering peaks, Jade Towers and Gem Pavilions, Langyuan Yaotai.”
“In such a world, the very fabric of heaven and earth must be embroidered with threads of gold and silver.”
“With every step, the scenery shifts—carved beams and painted rafters everywhere, winding paths leading to secluded spots, surrounded by pearls and emeralds at every turn.”
“If I could stand for a moment amidst the Qihua Yaocao, or listen to a melody amid the Pearl Songs and Emerald Dances, then this life would not have been in vain!”
“I, Zhou Mingyi, crave wealth and honor. In this lifetime, I will never marry a mediocre man!”