197: Chapter 197 Let's be ordinary couples in the next life

"Even if Your Majesty could only extend your lifespan by another three or five years, it would be more than enough for Your humble servant..."

"Furthermore, if we could find some method of dual cultivation, and you and I could embark on the immortal path together, we might even be able to extend our days further."

"After all..."

"Your humble servant has not yet consummated our marriage with Your Majesty."

She spoke faster and faster, her phoenix eyes revealing an increasing, morbid yearning.

From Su Chen's perspective, her eyes even seemed to be emitting a red glow.

As if she had truly seen that illusory future that belonged solely to the two of them.

She suddenly leaned down.

The fullness beneath her queen's attire, which was thinner than gold leaf, pressed firmly against Su Chen.

Queen Jiang seemed very satisfied with Su Chen's reaction; she extended a jade finger painted with bright red polish to press against the corner of Su Chen's mouth, her red lips leaning close to his ear.

Whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Your Majesty, tell me..."

"Is my idea not better than yours?"

"Hmm?"

Su Chen looked at her quietly, watching this Queen, who had always been known for being calm, wise, and graceful.

For his sake, she was now baring her fangs like a wounded trapped beast, speaking the most rebellious and desperate words.

He couldn't help but feel a bit of secret pleasure in his heart.

He inwardly sighed at how immense his own charm really was.

Even though Queen Jiang was not his target for conquest.

He had still managed to raise her into a yandere through his masterful maneuvering.

"Lier."

He called her softly and reached out his hand.

His cold fingers, extremely lightly and slowly, wiped away the torrential tears on her face.

"This is the King's order."

He emphasized it once again.

"It is my, the King's, one and final request to you, my Queen, in this life."

"Moreover, I believe in you."

Su Chen couldn't help but look up, wearing a reminiscent expression.

"Just as in those years in the Cold Palace, I trusted that you would block the cold arrows from behind for me."

"Just as when I woke up and saw you guarding here, I knew you must have a way to temporarily stabilize my injuries."

"My Lier seems weak on the outside."

"But in reality, she is tougher than anyone in her bones."

"More than anyone... she understands the big picture and cares for the greater good."

"I know you are just throwing a tantrum."

"You won't do it."

These last four words were like a scorching seal.

Branded fiercely onto Jiang Li's heart.

Quietly defining everything she had tried to struggle against.

The dam in Jiang Li's heart, barely constructed with madness and delusion, in the face of this light "I believe in you"...

Collapsed with a roar.

She suddenly took a step back, as if all her strength had been drained away.

Staggering to hold onto the back of the chair beside her, she barely managed not to collapse.

"Su Chen... my husband."

She no longer called him "Your Majesty," but just repeated his name over and over.

"You are so cruel..."

"You are so cruel to both of us..."

"You have arranged everything, pushed us all away."

"What about yourself?"

"Have you never thought about what I will do without you? What will Demon Concubine Su Daji do?"

"In this empty world, through countless nights."

"I will lose my only support."

"Waking up suddenly in the middle of the night, dreaming of the years spent with you, dreaming of how you once burned yourself out for all of this."

"But the pillow beside me... is empty, with nothing left but this cold history book of future generations."

"It will be filled with infamy against you."

"How can you expect us to live?"

Su Chen knew he had indeed not acted very honorably in this matter; he watched her cry quietly without offering comfort.

The guilt in his eyes was too thick to disperse.

He knew that any words at this moment would be pale.

In order to achieve the perfect ending for the investment, and for those who believed in and protected him.

He could not give her the future she wanted.

He could only give her a heavy burden and an eternal regret.

I don't know how long she cried, but Jiang Li's sobbing gradually faded, leaving only the slight trembling of her shoulders.

She lifted her red, swollen eyes, gazing at Su Chen's handsome profile under the candlelight.

This man, whom she had determined was the only one for her the moment she saw him at eighteen.

Finally, bit by bit, she accepted her fate.

She slowly walked back to the table and sat down again.

Picking up the long-cooled tea, not caring whose cup it was, she tilted her head and took a big gulp.

Then, she looked up.

"Fine."

"Your humble servant accepts the Queen's duty."

"The craftsmen, the classics, the families of loyal officials—I will arrange them."

"I will properly preserve your posthumous works and send them to the library in the capital of Jiang State; I will never let them be lost."

"I will also secretly coordinate the escape routes for Sister Su and the military and civilians of Zhaoge."

"Ensuring that the great fire burns just right."

She paused, looking at Su Chen.

As if wanting to brand his appearance at this moment deep into the depths of her soul.

"But, husband."

She said softly.

"Promise me one thing."

"Speak."

"If there is a next life..."

She closed her eyes, and before she could finish, two lines of clear tears slid down her pale cheeks.

"Do not be born into an imperial family again."

"You shouldn't be a King, and I won't be a princess or a Queen."

"I will be born into a merchant family, and you will be born into an ordinary family."

"Let's be childhood sweethearts."

"We will study together and go to school together."

"In spring, we will look at peach blossoms together; in summer, we will catch fireflies together; in autumn, we will look at rapeseed flowers together."

"In winter... gathered around a small fire stove, you will read to me, and I will sew clothes for you."

"No burden of the empire, no schemes of immortals or gods, no being forced by circumstances."

"And no... destruction of the country or death of family, no separation of life and death."

"Just be the most ordinary, most plain husband and wife."

"Would that be okay?"

Su Chen looked at her pleading appearance and said nothing more.

In fact, he wanted to say something, but no matter what, he could not get the words out.

In the end, he just nodded, extremely lightly and slowly.

"Okay."

He replied hoarsely.

"If there is a next life... then it shall be as you wish."

Jiang Li smiled.

She reached out, her fingertips trembling, and lightly touched the back of Su Chen's cold hand.

Then, she decisively withdrew it.

Turning around.

Without looking back.

She walked towards the impenetrable night outside the hall.

As the current interim commander-in-chief of Zhaoge City.

She was already very busy.

Being able to spare an entire night to listen to what Su Chen had to say was already a luxury.

Su Chen sat alone in the empty hall, gazing at the direction she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

Outside the window, the beacon fires and thick smoke on the distant horizon were reflected on the window paper, flickering on and off.

Like the last glimmer of struggle of this dynasty.

"Ordinary husband and wife, huh..."

Su Chen closed his eyes.

In his mind, there seemed to be memories of relying on and accompanying someone.

They had been through a lot.

That person was indeed completely obedient to him, Su Chen, and was someone Su Chen was extremely familiar with.

A stunningly beautiful woman.

And, just as Su Chen had felt when he first saw Jiang Li.

That stunning woman looked very much like Jiang Li; he had met her in the real world and had interacted with her deeply.

Logically speaking, he should have been able to think of who that person who looked so much like Queen Jiang was with just a thought.

However.

It was as if something was blocking it; no matter what, he could not remember who that person was.