Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 174 Epilogue
The Lantern Festival in the first month of the first year of Jinglong was an extraordinary day, a significant event in history. The bustling streets of Chang'an were filled with the sounds of horses' hooves and the cheers of the people. Someone took out the Crown Prince's decree and summoned countless soldiers outside the city, shouting slogans such as "Eliminate the treacherous officials, punish the evil spirits, welcome back the Anxi military governor, and welcome back Princess Jiahe."

This massive force even included many martial arts figures. Led by Xie Zie, Li Yi, and Lu Shiyilang, they stormed the palace gates and killed all the leaders of the rebel army that Wu Sansi had transferred from Bingzhou in front of the palace. After learning that the emperor had died suddenly at the victory banquet, the emperor's 10,000 cavalry also quickly switched sides to the victors of this palace coup.

The news that the emperor had died and that the perpetrators were the empress and Princess Anle spread throughout Chang'an, once again causing scholars and poets to sigh with emotion and the common people to be filled with righteous indignation.

Fortunately, the palace coup happened suddenly and ended very quickly, and the people of Chang'an were not greatly affected or harmed.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the Zhuque Bridge was still brightly lit, with a constant stream of pedestrians, all of which demonstrated the prosperity and tranquility of Chang'an.

The change of dynasties and rulers does not affect this ancient capital that has weathered countless storms, but it is etched with the history of thousands of years of vicissitudes.

……

"Have you found them?" Murong Xian'er asked.

Xuan Yu replied, "We found him, Madam... no, it was after Princess Jiahe threw that dagger that the person was stabbed and injured. We followed the trail of blood and didn't go far before we found him!"

"who is it?"

“Gao Xianzhi!” Xuan Yu replied, “However, this is just his current name; his original name was Hei Chi Jun!”

"Hei Chi Jun? Why would he assassinate A Huan?" A Shu asked angrily. "Back then, it was A Huan who investigated the Cui Ying case and exposed his father's treasonous accusation. Although the Empress did not exonerate his father, A Huan and Lord Xiao did not arrest him and send him to the Dali Temple for killing Cui Ying. They even let him go. Is he heartless and ungrateful?"

Xuan Yu said, "Because he is now Li Longji's right-hand man, and it was Li Longji who placed him in the Emperor's 10,000-cavalry camp."

"However, this man still had some conscience and backbone. After I arrested him, he quickly confessed and clearly explained the whole story."

Originally, Li Longji planned to kill the military governor and our lord after Princess Anle and Empress Wei killed them, and then, under the pretext of defending the emperor, he would kill Empress Wei and Princess Anle, thus legitimizing his father, Prince Xiang, to the throne. However, Heichi Jun had always admired and felt a deep respect for the soldiers fighting on the frontier, so he did not use his position to gather troops against our lord and his wife, but instead carried out this assassination!

"He's about to repay kindness with enmity and kill my Ah Huan. Does he still have any conscience? If it weren't for Lord Xiao taking an arrow for Ah Huan, Ah Huan might be... Oh, by the way, how is Lord Xiao now?"

Xuan Yu replied, "Hei Chi Jun's arrow missed by an inch, but fortunately it pierced the Lord's right chest, so the Lord managed to escape a disaster."

"That's good, that's good. Otherwise, if Ah Huan woke up and saw that Master Xiao was gone, I don't know how heartbroken he would be..." Ah Shu breathed a sigh of relief, then said angrily, "No matter what, that Hei Chi Jun is too infuriating, and that... Wang Li Longji, my Ah Huan has not offended him, why did he send Hei Chi Jun to assassinate him..."

Murong Xian'er then sighed and said, "It's all for power and status, personal grudges and affections don't matter!"

"Another one who wants to be emperor!" A-Shu realized, then asked, "And what about A-Huan now..."

"She went to see Hei Chi Jun and promised to exonerate his father. Hei Chi Jun wanted to commit suicide to atone for his sins, but she stopped him. Her reason was that the four towns of Anxi still needed people to guard them. So, the lady sent Hei Chi Jun... no, now she should call Gao Xianzhi to Anxi!"

"What about Li Longji, the Prince of Linzi? If he doesn't die, will he send assassins to kill A Huan again? Will he rebel again?"

“Yes!” Xuan Yu replied, “So, I sent an assassin from the Legendary World to assassinate Li Longji! That way, it won’t put Madam in a difficult position!”

“That’s fine, but this legendary assassin doesn’t seem to be a good person either. I wonder how Ah Huan will deal with him…” Ah Shu pondered for a moment and said, “Never mind, I don’t want to think about it anymore! I’m going to go see Ah Huan!”

……

Murong Huan felt herself floating on a snowy field, walking aimlessly forward, but she could never reach the end of the glacier. It was only when the sound of a flute came that she seemed to be guided in the right direction. Finally, she saw a person, a man dressed in black with a full head of white hair.

This person was her master, but he no longer wore a mask. Instead, he looked at her calmly with a smile and said, "Ah Huan, you should go back now!"

“It’s your master’s fault. Your master shouldn’t have taken over your life. You also have people you can’t give up and dreams you can’t give up.”

"But Master, have you let go of your resentment?" Murong Huan asked with tears in his eyes.

"A teacher for a day is a father for life." She thought that even if her master wanted her to disappear forever, she should accept it. After all, in her life, besides her father and mother, the first person who had been kind to her and cared for her in every way was her master.

The master wasn't wrong either; he just had a very hard and unfortunate life, and he carried a lot on his shoulders.

The man smiled and said, "I'm relieved. Now that the 40,000 Tang soldiers have returned in triumph, her knot in her heart has been untied, and her wish has been fulfilled. I have no more requests."

"Go back! He's still waiting for you!"

A hint of a satisfied smile gradually appeared on Murong Huan's lips.

"it is good!"

"Take care, Master. Ah Huan will never forget you!"

The man in black before him disappeared, and Murong Huan turned around to see Li Linghuan dressed in black robes and armor.

"Have you finished your work?"

Li Linghuan replied, "It's almost done!"

"Is there anything else you regret?"

"Two days ago, I went to see the Empress, who is also my mother, for the last time. She said that she had finally waited for my triumphant return. In this life, she finally saw that I could decisively break through the last shackle in my heart and ascend to the throne of the Empress."

She also said that sometimes being ruthless does not mean being heartless and emotionless. Some people are not born to be emperors. Even if they are put on the throne, they will end up in a gloomy way and their lives will become a joke. And because of their cowardice and incompetence, the people of the world will suffer.

"She was neither a good mother nor a good grandmother, but she was worthy of the empire that the Li Tang dynasty had worked so hard to build, and worthy of the people of the land. She wanted to find a suitable person to continue to protect the Li Tang dynasty."

After a pause, Li Linghuan said with a hint of melancholy but also a sudden realization, "Before she died, she gave me, as her mother, the last bit of kindness."

"I have no regrets about any of these things. My only regret might be him..."

At this point, Li Linghuan paused for a moment, a bitter smile appearing on his lips, "However, he is doing well in this life, and I have no other desires."

"Murong Huan, I'm sorry, I imposed my will on you. The rest of your life is your life, but it is also my life. You need to walk it for me."

"I will stay with you for another five years and teach you everything within those five years. Once the world is at peace, I will leave. During this time, if you don't need me, I will not wake up and take over your body."

"Finally... I won't say anymore, you can go back now!"

Like a ray of light suddenly tearing through the boundless night, Murong Huan abruptly opened his eyes and saw A-Shu's pair of watery eyes filled with joy.

"Ah Huan, Ah Huan, it's me, it's Ah Shu, do you remember me?"

Murong Huan looked around and saw that the area was almost completely surrounded by people, including Murong Xian'er, Xie Zi'e, and Li Yi, Liu Sheng, Lu Shiyilang, and others who were standing outside the door.

"However, I can't call you A-Huan yet. A-Huan, you are about to ascend the throne as the next empress! It all feels like a dream."

Ashu continued to speak carefree, completely unaware that everyone's gaze towards her had changed. While there was still concern for her friends or comrades, there was now a hint of respect or even awe.

Murong Xian'er and Xie Zi'e bowed to her respectfully.

"Princess Jiahe, no, from now on we shall call her Sage!"

It took Murong Huan a while to adjust before he finally asked, "Where is Xiao Muchen?"

"Uh, Prime Minister Xiao, he..."

Xie Zi'e and Murong Xian'er showed an indescribable expression, which made Murong Huan's heart jump. Just as he was about to get up and go outside, he saw Xiao Muchen walk in wearing a white robe.

"Ah Huan, is that you?"

"Are you back?"

He asked in a hoarse voice, large patches of blood still seeping from his right chest, and his lips were somewhat pale.

Murong Huan nodded.

I heard your flute!

"I heard you calling me, and I saw that arrow!"

That arrow that killed Li Linghuan in his previous life!

"That's why I came back!"

Xiao Muchen choked up, his eyes overflowing with unprecedented joy, and suddenly pulled Murong Huan into his arms.

"It's good to be back!"

"It's good to be back!"

Murong Huan gently hugged him, but worried about hurting his wound, he asked anxiously, "Your injury?"

"It's nothing, you won't die!"

Ah Shu was also overjoyed and burst into tears. Just as she was about to say something, Murong Xian'er covered her mouth and pulled her out. Soon, only the two of them were left in the room.

"Xiao Muchen, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

"However, from now on, I will continue to live as Li Linghuan!"

Xiao Muchen was stunned for a moment, then became extremely nervous again.

Murong Huan laughed again, "I'm going to change my name to Li Linghuan! My original surname was Li!"

"I want the world to remember this name forever, and I want her to live in everyone's hearts as her master wished, instead of disappearing forever without leaving a trace!"

Xiao Muchen's expression softened, and he revealed a slight smile.

"Okay, whatever you say is fine!"

"Then you'll have to name our child; I don't know how!"

Xiao Muchen smiled and said again:
"it is good!"

……

The following day, Murong Huan formally held a ceremony to acknowledge his ancestry and was recorded in the imperial genealogy of the Li family under the name Li Linghuan.

Meanwhile, a coronation ceremony was also being held in full swing.

……

Five years later, Li Linghuan returned to the Spring of Reincarnation. Facing the spring, he uttered only his regret and his only wish: "Can I bring him back?"

The voice replied, "You have already made the exchange. Back then, Xiao Lingchen came here and exchanged his life for your rebirth and the lives of 40,000 soldiers."

"And you, in turn, exchanged yourself for his rebirth."

"But unfortunately, the price you paid was forgetting him, and he no longer loves you in this life."

Li Linghuan gave a bitter smile, then answered frankly, "That's not important. What's important is that he and his wife will live on with my last wishes, protecting the Tang Dynasty and its people. For me, isn't that another kind of gift?"

"I'm content!"

This is truly the end. Thank you again to everyone who has followed and supported me all this time. Because this story doesn't follow a power struggle plot, the female lead's growth storyline is abbreviated. The main focus is on the mutual redemption between the male and female leads in this life and their previous life. With this, it feels like a perfect ending.

This story seems to have been poorly written, and I dug myself a big hole one night. It was difficult to weigh which of the two female protagonists with dual personalities to prioritize or emphasize. But thankfully, it's finally finished, and it gave both of them a relatively good ending.

Finally, thank you all for your encouragement and support.