Longevity, starting from traveling and telling stories

Chapter 221 Nothing More Than a Handful of Yellow Earth

Hanmei led the palace maids to the Empress's palace in a great hurry, only to find the Empress's face as pale as paper, as if she had aged decades in an instant.

"Your Majesty!" Hanmei rushed to the Empress's side, supporting her shoulders, her voice trembling with tears.

The Empress smiled slightly and asked in a nonchalant tone, "How are your studies going lately, Pingfan?"

Even as her life drew to a close, her child remained the most important person in her heart, and she was always worried about him.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, Pingfan is doing well. I will take good care of him." Hanmei looked sad and gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will raise him to adulthood."

at the same time.

The list of conferments suddenly became blank. Unlike before, it did not show the past and present lives of the conferred persons, but only one name—Ao Qin.

“Ao Qin”.

When Ye Beixuan uttered this name, the seas surged and the entire Tiankui Mountain Range began to tremble violently.

This time was completely different from before; Ao Qin transformed into a golden dragon along with her physical body, soaring and tumbling around the Conferred God Platform.

"Now I hereby appoint Ao Qin as the Dragon King of the Four Seas, in charge of the clouds and rain, as well as the rivers, lakes and seas in the human world."

As soon as she finished speaking, the imperial edict list burst forth with dazzling golden light, and streams of imperial edict power surged into her body.

at this time.

With a dragon's roar, a huge divine dragon pearl appeared in the sky. The golden dragon raised its head, opened its mouth and swallowed the dragon pearl, transforming into a golden light that shot straight towards the four seas.

Such a shocking scene left everyone present stunned and pale.

This is the only person to date to have achieved deification through physical means.

Everyone couldn't help but wonder, was it because they were to stay in the mortal realm to guard it?

Immediately afterwards, the imperial edict shone brightly once more, revealing a giant willow tree with an ordinary oyster mushroom growing on it.

After a long period of growth, the oyster mushroom gradually grew larger and eventually transformed into a girl.

"Li Mozhan." The imperial edict began to be read, and golden light appeared around him, gradually converging into a phantom image, which was none other than Li Mozhan, who had been pierced to death by Li Jiuxiao.

"By imperial decree, Li Mo Ran is hereby appointed as Meng Po, to guard the path of reincarnation."

Li Mo Ran's illusory image appeared on the Conferred God Platform. She respectfully bowed and nodded to Ye Bei Xuan.

Suddenly, a path to the abyss opened up beneath the three thousand six hundred steps to heaven.

It turns out that this stairway to heaven not only leads to the heavens, but also connects to the underworld. There are also 3,600 steps underground, which lead to the eighteen levels of hell and the road to the Yellow Springs.

She glanced one last time at the human world, then looked up at the sky, a willow branch appearing in her hand, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she resolutely and slowly walked towards the endless darkness.

"Zhang San and Li Si are appointed as Ox-Head and Horse-Face guardians."

The calls for deification continued.

the other side.

Inside the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, an eight-year-old child is reciting the poem: "Guan Guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river."

His eyes held an unusual determination.

at this time.

The beautiful maid named Qinqin stepped forward respectfully.

"Your Highness, it's time to practice swordsmanship."

The young prince calmly put down his book. He was no longer the mischievous child he once was; the past three years had truly made him grow up a lot.

"Take my sword with you, for I have already figured out a way to counter my senior brother's moves." Jiang Pingfan said calmly, rising to straighten his slightly wrinkled clothes before slowly walking towards the backyard.

Qinqin was taken aback. His Highness the Crown Prince had really changed; he now had the demeanor of a grown man.

In the backyard.

Ye Xiaobei stood with his sword in his arms, his head slightly lowered, like a cold, gleaming sword yet to be drawn from its sheath.

Though it stands still and motionless, once it moves, it will be like a peerless divine sword being drawn from its sheath, its light chilling the entire land with a single strike.

He was gathering his strength and waiting for his junior brother to arrive.

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly rose in the backyard, and a small tornado began to spin around the yard, swirling up dead leaves and creating a dead leaf tornado.

Just then, a cold light flashed, but Ye Xiaobei remained calm and composed, secretly admiring the sight.

This child truly deserves praise for launching an attack when his attention is slightly diverted.

The sword's edge grazed past him, shaving off a strand of Ye Xiaobei's hair, which reminded him of the time he practiced swordsmanship with his master.

My master's feelings back then were probably just like mine right now! No, perhaps the gap between me and my master was much, much bigger than the gap between me and my junior brother.

Jiang Pingfan is no longer the swordsman he once was, but Ye Xiaobei is still the boy who was kicked to the ground while holding a wooden sword.

The two sparred for a long time. Jiang Pingfan collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, and said, "I'm not fighting anymore. I can't beat my senior brother at all. I'm afraid I'll never be as good as him in this lifetime."

"No, you can do it, because you are his child. No one in this world can surpass him except you." Ye Xiaobei put away the blackened wooden sword, patted Pingfan's head, and left in a flash.

"What kind of person is he?" A blurry figure appeared in Jiang Pingfan's mind, and he murmured to himself.

at the same time.

On Tiankui Mountain, below the Fengshen Terrace.

Only one person remained in the audience, a figure in white standing quietly, looking at the weathered figure on the stage.

She has been gazing at him for eight years, without moving an inch, and her eyes have never left his figure.

The list of imperial edicts was once again blank, showing no trace of her past or present life, except for one name—Li Xianglian.

"Li Xianglian." Ye Beixuan's heart trembled slightly, but he still read it aloud.

Li Xianglian's soul was also not pulled out. She flew towards the Conferred God Platform with her physical body, hovering in the air and standing opposite Ye Beixuan.

Their eyes met deeply, and their deep affection was naturally revealed.

"Now I hereby confer..." Ye Beixuan paused, but continued reading, "I hereby confer upon Li Xianglian the title of Immaculate Fairy."

After reading the imperial edict, beams of golden light shot out from the edict's scroll and shone upon her.

Her body gradually faded away, eventually transforming completely into a crystal-clear, round teardrop.

This is another tear from a thousand years ago, carrying a person's longing and hope.

Suddenly, the teardrop burst forth with a seven-colored glow, swirling around Ye Beixuan as if unwilling to leave.

“Go!” Ye Beixuan reached out and gently stroked the rosy clouds, saying, “Wait for me in the sky.”

As if in response, the rosy glow finally transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the Heavenly Ladder until it disappeared into the clouds.

With the final list of deities completed, the imperial edict suddenly shone with golden light, which then gradually dissipated into the world, transforming into the fortune of Pangu, which continues to protect the world.

At this moment, the 3,600-step heavenly ladder slowly rose into the sky, and the underground entrance gradually healed.

Until the sky was completely clear and the earth returned to normal, after a violent earthquake, the Conferred God Platform transformed into a great mountain, and Ye Beixuan stood alone on its peak. The wind made his clothes flutter, and he gazed into the distance. Everything seemed the same, yet everything seemed to have changed.

Meanwhile, inside the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.

The Empress was bedridden, like a frail old woman. Her once stunning beauty had vanished, replaced by a face shrouded in death.

This empress, who reigned for only ten years, was nearing the end of her life.

"Your Majesty, please drink some medicine." Hanmei sat in front of the bed, holding a bowl of medicine in her hand, tears welling in her eyes, and brought a spoonful of amber-colored medicine to her lips.

"I won't drink anymore. I know my days are numbered." The Empress shook her head gently, and asked weakly, "Has he returned?"

Hanmei shook her head gently, tears streaming down her face.

"Alas..." the Empress sighed.

Suddenly, as if her condition had improved, she sat up straight and said to the Crown Prince beside her, who hadn't shed a single tear, "Fan'er, come with me for a walk in a little while."

"I'll go arrange it right away." Hanmei put down the medicine, turned around, and ran out the door.

Only the mother and son remained in the room, and the atmosphere was unusually silent.

Although the Empress was Jiang Pingfan's biological mother, she was too busy with state affairs to take care of him. Instead, Hanmei had a deeper mother-son bond with him. Despite their blood ties, there was always some distance between them.

"At your age, you should be nestled in your parents' arms, enjoying their care and innocence." The Empress gently stroked Jiang Pingfan's hand and sighed, "Do you blame me for being heartless, making you shoulder such a heavy responsibility at such a young age?"

Jiang Pingfan shook his head. If he hadn't understood before why his biological mother would entrust him to someone else to raise, now he seemed to understand his mother's good intentions.

Whether it was Qin Shaoyou, the head of the civil officials, Ye Xiaobei, the head of the military generals, or Consort Mei, the head of the harem, all of them were paved by the Empress.

She had already planned everything. Even if she were to leave, with them around, no one would dare to rebel, ensuring the stability of the court for the next twenty years.

Twenty years later, Jiang Pingfan will have fully grown his power and be able to take control of the situation.

Just as the mother and son were having a heart-to-heart talk, Hanmei arrived at the bedside with several palace maids carrying the imperial carriage.

"Your Majesty, let me help you." With that, Hanmei supported the Empress's arm with one hand and her back with the other, helping her up.

"Fan'er, come quickly and help your mother get on the dragon carriage."

Upon hearing the reminder, Jiang Pingfan immediately stood up and helped the Empress onto the dragon carriage.

"Your Majesty, where would you like to go?" Hanmei asked with a smile. His Majesty seemed to be in much better spirits today, but how long could this state last?

"Let's go for a walk outside the palace," the Empress said softly. "Fan'er has grown up so much, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone on a spring outing with him. Let's go to the meadow in the woods outside the palace."

Outside the woods, a group of guards were clearing a path, and several palace maids carried the imperial carriage through the passage.

On the imperial carriage, the empress lifted the gauze curtain with her withered fingers. The distant forest was still as it had always been, and the grassland was still as lush and green as ever.

Today, the warm sun hangs high in the sky, and its rays shine through the trees, creating a beautiful halo.

In a daze, she seemed to see her father holding her hand as a child, playing happily on the grass.

In the blink of an eye, I've become the one bringing my child here for a spring outing. Time really flies!
"Fan'er, come here." The Empress dismissed everyone and, with Hanmei's help, slowly leaned against a crooked old tree.

Jiang Pingfan stood aside, listening to his mother's words.

The Empress took his hand and said lovingly, "Today there is no distinction between ruler and subject, only the affection between mother and son. Come, sit down next to me."

The young prince looked at his mother's loving face, his eyes slightly reddening, and sat obediently beside her.

The Empress stretched out her fingertip and pinched off a thorny weed with her bluish-gray nail. She smiled and said, "You were especially naughty before you were three years old. I brought you here for a spring outing, and you ran around everywhere, ending up covered in thorns from these weeds. I didn't comfort you then. Do you blame me?"

"Your subject... Your subject has never..."

A gust of wind swept by, and the Empress's hair fluttered in the wind, appearing somewhat desolate as if it were covered with white frost.

She said, "He used to be so mischievous, but now he's like a precocious old man."

"Your subject knows he was wrong."

"Silly child, cough cough cough!" The Empress suddenly coughed, and it took her a while to calm down before she continued, "You should treat these thorns as problems. The problems that hurt you should be solved, and once they are solved, they will no longer hurt you."

She forcefully pierced her finger with the sharp spike, and dark red blood trickled down her bluish-gray nail.

"Emperors are also human beings, with flesh and blood, and feelings." Then, the Empress touched the Crown Prince's still chubby cheeks and said with a loving expression, "Remember, a wise ruler is one who understands pain."

The crown prince nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

The Empress nodded and said to Hanmei beside her, "Issue a decree: Crown Prince Jiang Pingfan is virtuous and talented, and I have decided to pass the throne to him."

"Yes," Hanmei replied with tears in her eyes. She had already prepared the imperial edict.

At this moment, the crown prince finally burst into tears like a real child; this was the second time he had cried in his life.

"Go down, let me have some peace and quiet."

The empress leaned against a crooked tree, her breath faint.

Upon receiving this imperial edict, she felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she withered away instantly.

In a daze, she seemed to see that figure.

"Is it you?"

"It's me, I'm late."

"It's not too late, at least I'm not dead yet."

Ye Beixuan looked at the old woman with white hair; where was the once stunningly beautiful woman?
"I can't save you."

"This is my destiny." The Empress knew that this was her mission, and now that her mission was complete, it was time for her to leave, because she would take her place.

"I'm a little cold, can you hug me?"

A pair of warm hands embraced her waist, just like the first time, still delicate and gentle.

Feeling the warmth of her body, the Empress said with a hint of complaint, "Hold me tighter, I'm still a little cold."

Ye Beixuan tightened his grip on his hands again and asked, "Is this alright?"

"Mmm!" The Empress leaned against him, finally no longer having to lean against that uncomfortable, crooked tree.

"Do you still remember the 'Supreme Beauty' you spoke of when we parted in Bashan Town? Are you satisfied with this ending?"

"The Supreme Beauty?" In a daze, my thoughts drifted back to ten years ago, when she said she would write the ending herself.

She had long anticipated this ending, but refused to admit it until her death, vowing to rewrite it, but now she has only changed her fate.

Ye Beixuan kissed her earlobe, which was gradually losing its warmth.

A gust of wind swept by, taking away the last bit of warmth.

On this day, the whole world grieved, and everyone wore mourning clothes.

On this day, the eight-year-old new emperor ascended the throne.

(End of this chapter)