NCCnovel Chapter 642: Xiao Taohong and Miss are the best in the world
Chapter 642: Xiao Taohong and Miss are the best in the world
On the eve of New Year's Day, the wind was cold and the Chang'an Railway Station was crowded and bustling.
After a long journey, Li Jingyou finally set foot on the land he had longed for day and night.
The train slowly stopped, and the moment the doors opened, a wave of excitement washed over us. The officials' children traveling with us were like birds freed, filled with joy, shouting loudly, their voices echoing across the platform, expressing their joy at the journey's end.
Their parents were already waiting at the train station entrance.
Normally, this should have been a reunion full of laughter and joy, with children running into their parents' arms and parents welcoming their children with smiles on their faces.
However, strangely, when these children of officials walked out of the platform, they found that their parents were all silent, standing there quietly, their eyes all focused on Li Jingyou.
Li Jingyou's face was still dusty from the journey. He saw Grand Tutor Qi and Li Sikong standing at the front of the crowd, with a group of officials behind them.
Their expressions were solemn and their eyes were filled with tears. Li Wei didn't even look at his own son Li Qi, but just looked straight at Li Jingyou.
"Your Highness, please return to the palace quickly, please return to the palace quickly!"
Grand Tutor Qi spoke first.
At first, when Li Jingyou saw that Master Qi and Prime Minister Li came to greet him in person, he felt a little complacent. After all, this was a very high courtesy and demonstrated his status.
But when he glanced around and saw that everyone was silent, and then caught sight of Li Wei's sad expression, a strong sense of uneasiness instantly surged in his heart.
His smile gradually disappeared, his brows furrowed, countless questions arose in his mind, and an ominous premonition quickly enveloped him.
"What's wrong, Grand Tutor Qi, Li Sikong? What's the big deal?"
Li Jingyou's voice rose unconsciously, and his heart was beating wildly in his chest, as if it was about to jump out of his throat.
His eyes moved back and forth across everyone's faces, trying to find the answer from their expressions.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty, Your Majesty may not be able to make it."
Li Wei trembled and uttered these words with difficulty, his voice hoarse.
His hands trembled slightly and his body swayed gently in the cold wind.
Hearing Li Wei's words, Li Jingyou was stunned for a moment. He rubbed his ears in disbelief, widened his eyes, and stared at Li Wei, as if hoping that he had just heard it wrong.
"Li Sikong, what did you say? Who is not well? I didn't hear clearly."
His voice was trembling, even with a hint of pleading, hoping that what Li Wei had just said was not what he understood.
Li Wei took a step forward, cupped his hands, and shouted with all his might, "Your Highness! The Queen is dying! Please return to the palace quickly!"
"Maybe I can see the Queen one last time!"
His voice echoed in the empty platform, and the mournful cry made the air around him freeze.
Li Jingyou was completely stunned and stood there, his mind was blank.
The Queen Mother is dying?
how come?
The scene of leaving Chang'an involuntarily emerged in his mind. At that time, his mother was still in good health and in high spirits. She saw him off with a smile on her face and told him to have a safe journey.
But how come everything has changed so drastically in just one year?
How could the Queen Mother suddenly die?
How can this be?
His heart was filled with pain, and countless whys were swirling in his mind.
No wonder, the officials who greeted them along the way all had strange expressions on their faces. Each of them looked hurried and kept urging them to return to Chang'an quickly and not stay there for a moment.
So this was the reason, but why didn’t anyone tell him?
Why didn’t the emperor inform him in advance?
Let him be mentally prepared so that he can return to Chang'an earlier.
He was filled with anger and confusion at the moment, but now, all his emotions were not as important as returning to the palace to see his mother.
"Come on, quick, prepare the horses!"
Li Jingyou was extremely anxious and roared loudly, with an unprecedented panic in his voice.
He wished he could grow wings immediately and fly back to the palace and be with his mother.
At the same time, in Lizheng Hall, Li Chengqian sat by the bed, gently touching Su Zhi's wig. He carefully held Su Zhi in his arms and hugged her tightly, as if he wanted to use his arms to keep the last warmth for her.
Li Chengqian tried hard to hold back his tears. His eyes were red, but he tried hard not to let the tears fall.
He knew that what Su Zhi needed at the moment was his comfort, and he couldn't let his emotions affect Su Zhi.
His hand gently patted Su Zhi's back, trying to convey his own warmth and strength.
Su Zhi leaned quietly in Li Chengqian's arms. Although her eyes were dim, they still revealed a tenacity.
She felt that her life was coming to an end and she might not be able to survive the day.
She raised her head slightly, looked at Li Chengqian, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. That smile was filled with attachment to Li Chengqian and calmness about her fate.
"Brother Qian, I am your Lingxier, and I am also the Queen of the Tang Dynasty. No matter what, I will leave in a dignified manner."
Su Zhi's voice was weak, but every word was clear.
"Brother Qian, can you comb my hair for me?"
There was a hint of coquettishness in her tone, as if they had returned to the loving days of their youth.
Li Chengqian's eyes were red as he nodded silently. His throat seemed to be choked by something and he couldn't make a sound.
He picked up the comb with trembling hands and combed Su Zhi's hair gently.
He was very careful with every stroke of his brush.
When his fingers touched Su Zhi's bony back, his heart ached as if it was cut by a sharp knife.
The once bright and plump wife has now become so thin that she is just a skeleton.
Li Chengqian couldn't hold it in any longer, he covered his face with his hands, tears quietly slipped through his fingers.
His body trembled slightly, and he asked himself over and over again in his heart, why didn't he take good care of Su Zhi?
Why let her suffer such pain?
After a long time, he took a deep breath and tried to adjust his emotions, not wanting Su Zhi to see his vulnerability.
He wiped away her tears and continued to comb Su Zhi's hair gently, his movements even more gentle.
"Brother Qian, if I'm gone, don't make a big fuss about it. Keep it simple. I don't want any burial objects either."
Su Zhi continued speaking, her voice growing weaker and weaker, but every word was filled with her wish.
"If you must put something in there for me, put the clay figurines that Xiao Taohong and I made."
When talking about clay figurines, a gentle light flashed in Su Zhi's eyes.
Xiao Taohong was standing next to Su Zhi, already crying uncontrollably.
Her shoulders trembled violently, and tears kept dripping onto Su Zhi's shoulders.
She sobbed as she helped Li Chengqian. Her hands were shaking so much that she could barely hold the things in her hands.
She looked at Su Zhi, her heart filled with grief. She couldn't imagine how she would live without Su Zhi.
Li Chengqian looked at the small clay figurines on the table. They were of different shapes. Although the workmanship was not delicate, each one carried Su Zhi's memories and emotions.
He picked up a small clay figurine and looked at it. The base was engraved with "Xiao Taohong and Miss are the best in the world". Looking at these words, Li Chengqian seemed to see the happy times when Su Zhi and Xiao Taohong were together, they were laughing and playing, carefree.
He picked up another clay figure, this one very much like him.