Chongfei Manual [Completed]

epilogue

It was slightly hot during noon. A cool breeze passed through the window's muslin curtains and entered the hot and stuffy room. Zhao Jie was sleeping on an arhat bed that was decoratively carved with dragons for his afternoon nap. One hand was placed over the other and they were both resting on his stomach. Perhaps, he was having an unpleasant dream. His expression was very ugly. His sword-like eyebrows furrowed more and more. In the end, both of his hands clenched into fists and pounded the bed. "Ah Luo!"

The bed made a loud sound and woke Zhao Jie up from his dream.

His forehead was soaked in sweat and his eyes were pitch-black. He slowly sat up from the bed. As he rubbed the area between his eyebrows, he called for a servant.

Hearing Zhao Jie's voice, a young eunuch wearing a light green uniform hurriedly came into the room and respectfully saluted before saying, "Your Majesty."

Zhao Jie said, "Where's the empress?"

The young eunuch said, "To respond to Your Majesty, the empress is currently in the back garden with the crown prince and little princess."

Zhao Jie lowered his eyes and seemed as if he was heavily sighing in relief. A while later, he finally waved his hand and said, "You can withdraw."

The young eunuch bowed and left the room. Zhao Jie's fists clenched tighter before loosening. His black eyes stared at a certain place. He couldn't help remembering his recent dream.

That dream had undoubtedly been Zhao Jie's most terrifying nightmare.

In the dream, neither Zhao Xi nor his younger sister existed. Zhao Jie also hadn't appeared in the dream. Zhao Jie had watched as little Ah Luo was sold to slavers by Du-shi, as she desperately fled from the slavers, and finally ended in a place called Long Shou Village. He watched as she was forced by her foster parents to marry a ghost, as she staggered to the capital to find her family... And later on... Zhao Jie clenched his fists so tightly that there was a cracking sound. He wasn't willing to remember the things that happened after she arrived in the capital. In the dream, he hadn't been able to will himself into appearing or say any words. He could only watch as Li Song appeared and did the things that he wanted to do. He helped that pitiful and helpless Wei Luo return to her home. He gave her a life of luxury, high rank, and great wealth. In the end, he even married her.

Zhao Jie closed his eyes. That dream had felt too realistic. He couldn't move past the feeling of rage that he had experienced in the dream.

The helplessness and anger that he had felt in the dream remained fresh in his memory. Watching as his precious treasure fall into someone else's hand had felt too real. Zhao Jie walked down from the dragon bed, put on a golden robe that was embroidered with dragons and clouds, and called Zhu Geng and Yang Hao over. Standing by the bed, he said, "Find out Li Song's location. This emperor wants to know where he is right now."

Zhu Geng and Yang Hao were Zhao Jie's imperial bodyguards with high ranks. They would normally stayed close to Zhao Jie. Whenever there was a matter that required confidentiality, Zhao Jie would arrange for the two of them to handle it. When the two of them heard Zhao Jie's order, their first reaction was surprise. After all, Li Song's name hadn't been mentioned by anyone for a long time. Perhaps, most people had already forgotten him. If Zhao Jie hadn't just brought up his name, they would have almost forgotten his existence too.

Zhu Geng and Yang Hao were diligent and conscientious hidden guards. They quickly overcame that moment of surprise and said, "Understood."

After Zhao Jie stipulated a deadline, he waved his hand to indicate for them to withdraw. He stood by the window for a long time by himself. He remembered the young eunuch's words. Wei Luo and their children were all in the back garden. He didn't think any further before striding over there. Right now, he urgently wanted to see and hug Wei Luo. He wouldn't be able to let go of his worries until he confirmed that she was with him and not Li Song.