The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 130 | A Message of Longing | Novela.app

A-Su stared blankly at Liu Che. "Where is Chen Ajiao? Tell her to come out." Liu Che paced around the Hanyi Pavilion, confirming there was no one else present. He remembered the last time Ajiao had appeared in his dream; it had been just like this. It was said to be the so-called "Return of the Soul" on the seventh day after death. He also knew that any ghost returning to the mortal realm was strictly monitored by the Underworld’s soul-reapers to prevent them from harming anyone, so he felt no fear in his heart. "Your Majesty, she is not here." A-Su sighed inwardly. Only after reaching the Underworld did she realize that the woman who had subdued her was actually a soul-reaper of the Underworld, not a mere mortal. Because she had previously wandered outside instead of being collected, she had been granted a new opportunity for a "First Seven" return, allowing her to visit the mortal realm for twelve watches. However, looking at the Emperor’s expression, why did it seem as though he had fallen for that soul-reaper? Liu Che’s brow furrowed, and his mood instantly soured. Chen Ajiao’s temper was growing by the day; it had been seven days, yet she still hadn't come to find him! Hmph! "Your Majesty, I know your heart dwells upon that Lady Soul-Reaper. But as far as I know, there is no concept of concubines in the Underworld. When Your Majesty eventually passes away, you must choose a companion for the afterlife from among your Empresses." !!! Liu Che’s heart suddenly began to flutter. He considered this for a moment and asked, "Does the... Deposed Empress count among them?" A-Su nodded and replied, "Anyone who has performed the rites of Heaven and Earth with Your Majesty is a candidate you may choose." And that Lady Soul-Reaper was not the Emperor’s Empress, so she could not stay by his side. "If... if Your Majesty likes that Lady Soul-Reaper, you must invest her as Empress for it to be possible!" Liu Che was stunned for a moment before realizing that A-Su did not know Ajiao’s true identity. He had no desire to explain it to her, so he simply waved his hand. "I understand. You may leave." A-Su opened her mouth to speak but then closed her eyes, her heart filled with desolation. She called out to the soul-reaper responsible for her return: "Sir, it is enough. Let us go back." "You have twelve watches. Not even one has passed yet; you can stay a while longer." "There is no need. I have no family left. Let us return!" "Very well." Liu Che felt his consciousness slowly drifting away again as the world before him plunged into darkness. *** Yang Deyi watched the Emperor drafting a decree inside the hall, feeling quite perplexed. Lady Chen had vanished, and the Emperor had been irritable for days. Yet today, for some reason, he had woken up looking quite pleased. He had even solemnly announced that he was going to draft a decree. Yang Deyi had no idea what kind of decree it could be. "Come in," the Emperor’s voice drifted out. "At your command." Yang Deyi hurried to the Emperor’s side and bowed his head to listen. The Emperor tapped a wooden box on the desk and instructed, "Personally deliver this decree back to Chang'an. Make the instructions clear before you return." "Your servant obeys." Yang Deyi stepped forward and took the box with both hands. After a moment of hesitation, he ventured, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, might I ask what this decree entails? It would help me handle matters more discreetly once I reach Chang'an." Liu Che leaned back against his armrest with narrowed eyes and smiled. "It is a decree posthumously honoring Chen Ajiao as Empress." Yang Deyi: "???" Wasn't Empress Wei still perfectly fine? Yang Deyi: "!!!" Oh! Posthumous! That meant it referred to Lady Chen’s former status. That gave him quite a fright. Yang Deyi shuddered and silently withdrew. Liu Che picked up a cup of warm water and took a sip, feeling quite happy. He felt that no matter how bad Ajiao’s temper was, she was already in his grasp. In the end, Ajiao would still have to be his choice. Since A-Su had revealed that he could choose a companion from his former Empresses—Empress Wei had given birth to the Crown Prince, and when the Prince ascended the throne, he would have to choose her if only for the Prince’s dignity—but Ajiao was the one truly devoted to him, so he would certainly choose her as well. Though the Underworld had no concubines, choosing two Empresses should be sufficient. The Emperor, believing he had figured everything out, felt the anger of the past few days mostly dissipate. He summoned Huan Jiujun once more. "Huan Jun, go to Changmen Palace again." Huan Jiujun’s ears perked up. He asked with great interest, "Your Majesty, for what purpose?" Liu Che said, "Deliver this to Ajiao." He pulled a piece of jade from his robes, carved into the shape of a begonia flower. The delicate stamens seemed to hold dew, looking remarkably lifelike. This was a piece of jade he had selected in Lantian County, originally intended for Ajiao, but she had run off, and one thing after another had delayed the gift. Huan Jiujun stepped forward to take it, but the Emperor suddenly pulled back. He stood up, rummaged through a shelf for a while, and produced a square box made of cassia wood. He wrapped the jade in a silk handkerchief before placing it inside. Only then did he hand it to Huan Jiujun again. "Tell Lady Chen... tell her to come back soon." Huan Jiujun felt a bit disappointed. He thought the Emperor would have something profound to say, but it was just this dry sentence. After a pause, he reminded the Emperor, "Your Majesty, is there no other message you wish for me to convey? For instance, something like 'One day without seeing you is like three autumns'?" The old Emperor felt such words were a bit too cloying. Had he said such things when he was young? He couldn't remember. But now that he was older... would Ajiao find him repulsive because of his age? Ajiao hadn't been intimate with him for a long time! Liu Che’s mood soured again. He sat down, took out brush and ink, spread out a piece of silk, and wrote: *"There she gathers the dolichos; a day without seeing her is like three months. There she gathers the mugwort; a day without seeing her is like three autumns. There she gathers the wormwood; a day without seeing her is like three years."* Having finished, he handed it to Huan Jiujun. Huan Jiujun: "..." *Your Majesty, are you really being this lazy? You literally just wrote out the poem 'Cai Ge'!* "Go!" The Emperor turned his back. Huan Jiujun sighed, resigned to his fate as a messenger for this couple. When he arrived at Changmen Palace, he heard the lively sound of laughter coming from Luoshuang Pavilion. Upon entering, he saw Chen Ajiao, Yan Zheng, Wen Song, and Ren Qiao sitting around a brazier, playing a game of Leaf Cards. Wen Song and Ren Qiao were startled by his entrance, and Huan Jiujun was equally surprised. Yan Zheng quickly stopped the two servants before they could call out. Ajiao had been staying at Changmen Palace for several days. Following Ajiao’s instructions, Yan Zheng had secretly pulled Wen Song and Ren Qiao aside to reveal their identities. Wen Song knew of the female scribe named Guan Yan who used to be by Ajiao’s side. Upon learning that her real name was Shen Xu’er and that she was Yan Zheng’s biological mother, she couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrowful nostalgia. Though Ren Qiao was younger and hadn't known her, she thought of her former mistress passing away alone in Changmen Palace and felt equally mournful. Once they had finished their good cry, Yan Zheng solemnly introduced Ajiao’s identity. Wen Song and Ren Qiao had fainted from shock. Ajiao had to wake them up and spent a good deal of time convincing them that she was the real Ajiao. The three of them, mistress and servants, had embraced and wept together. Ajiao stood up, patting Wen Song and Ren Qiao’s hands, and smiled at Huan Jiujun. "What brings Lord Huan to Changmen Palace? Did His Majesty send you?" Huan Jiujun: "...His Majesty sent me to check on Lady Yan." He knew Ajiao’s true identity was a secret, so he helped cover for her in front of others to avoid exposure. Ajiao was silent for a moment before replying, "...I see!" Yan Zheng: "..." *He's totally lying to her!* She turned to look at Ajiao’s face but could read nothing from it. "Lord Huan, are you sure you haven't misremembered?" Yan Zheng’s small face puckered as she repeatedly winked at Huan Jiujun. Huan Jiujun gave her a reassuring look and said, "Ahem... His Majesty also entrusted me with a few words. My lady, might we speak in private?" Ajiao: "..." She burst out laughing. "Enough, Lord Huan. There are no outsiders here. Speak—what is Liu Che up to now?" Huan Jiujun looked in astonishment at Wen Song and Ren Qiao, who showed no change in expression, before speaking. "His Majesty asked me to bring you something." He grinningly placed the wooden box and the silk letter before Ajiao. Ajiao felt no emotion whatsoever and didn't even want to open them. Seeing her lack of reaction, Huan Jiujun took the initiative to open the letter. "Look, this is a love letter His Majesty wrote specifically for you." Ajiao glanced at it. "Are you sure Liu Che hasn't been possessed?" "How can you say that about His Majesty? Look at this—the jade His Majesty chose for you, specially carved into a begonia. There are four begonia trees in His Majesty’s Shanglin Park that are exceptionally precious; he clearly thinks you are just as precious." For some reason, Ajiao suddenly thought of the cottonrose hibiscus in the courtyard when she had reunited with Liu Che at the Chen family villa... "Ahem, I don't want it!" Ajiao refused. Despite Huan Jiujun’s best efforts at persuasion, Ajiao remained firm. He had no choice but to let Yan Zheng keep the items on her behalf. Yan Zheng sighed. "Since His Majesty knows that 'a day without seeing her is like three autumns,' why does he not know 'though I do not go to you, why do you not come'?" Later, when reporting back to the Emperor, Liu Che asked what Lady Chen had said. The phrase suddenly popped into Huan Jiujun’s head: "Though I do not go to you, why do you not come?" As soon as he said it, he regretted it. Those weren't Lady Chen’s words! A hint of a smile touched the corners of the Emperor’s eyes. So, Ajiao was still throwing a tantrum because he hadn't personally come to fetch her! But as the Emperor on a southern tour, how could he simply change his route to go to Changmen Palace? Liu Che felt a headache coming on. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 头七 | First Seven | The seventh day after a person's death, when the soul is believed to return home. 山陵崩 | Mountain Collapse | A traditional euphemism for the death of an Emperor. 追封 | Posthumously Honor/Invest | To grant a title or rank to someone after their death. 叶子戏 | Leaf Cards | An ancient Chinese card game, a precursor to modern playing cards/mahjong. 采葛 | Cai Ge (Gathering Dolichos) | A poem from the Classic of Poetry (Shijing) expressing longing. 纵我不往，子宁不来 | Though I do not go to you, why do you not come? | A famous line from the Shijing poem "Zijin," expressing a lover's reproach. 海棠 | Begonia | A type of flowering plant often associated with beauty and longing in Chinese literature. 落霜阁 | Luoshuang Pavilion | "Falling Frost Pavilion," a location within Changmen Palace.