Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 148 Death Anniversary
Seeing that she couldn't speak and was still sulking, Jiang Lanye took the empty bowl, placed it on the table, and then sat down on the bed. He held Song Yi in his arms and asked patiently, "Where does it hurt? I'll rub it for you. I didn't ride too fast last night, so you might feel pain."

It was indeed much better than the previous time when they rushed over overnight, but even though her groin area didn't hurt, other parts of her body started to hurt.

"Hey, give me a back massage."

Jiang Lanye smiled slightly and deliberately said, "Yes, my beloved concubine."

He massaged Song Yi for a while, and seeing that she was about to fall asleep again in comfort, he stopped and said, "Get up?"

Song Yi responded and stood up by herself after lifting the blanket.

Even though she had rested overnight and wasn't so tired, the discomfort between her legs still made her stiffen for a moment when she stood up. Then, she straightened her back as if nothing had happened and slowly walked over.

She ate something casually, and Jiang Lanye, holding her hand, suddenly leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers, saying in a hoarse voice, "Song Yi, do you know, if you hadn't been with me last night, I really don't know how I would have gotten through it."

Song Yi felt conflicted as she gazed into Jiang Lanye's broken eyes. She knew that for him, the pain had faded somewhat with time, but she still felt heartache.

Jiang Lanye felt heartbroken for the years he missed, and on the anniversary of his death, he always spent it alone.

"Let's go."

"it is good."

Jiang Lanye didn't ride a horse today. He didn't say a word the whole way. When the soldiers who were doing their morning drills saw him, they stopped and saluted, but Jiang Lanye seemed not to see them. He just gripped Song Yi's hand so tightly that her bones ached.

Song Yi silently followed him up the steps and all the way to the top of the city wall.

This was Song Yi's first time going up there.

Looking down from such a height is quite awe-inspiring.

It was so high that her knees felt weak.

I have never seen such a vast land. You can easily see the hills in the distance. The soldiers standing outside the city gate look as small as ants. Looking up at the sky, the dark clouds seem within reach.

Jiang Lanye pulled her to sit down to one side, and Song Yi noticed that there were two jugs of wine placed next to them.

He looked down at the vast land below and asked:

"Are you afraid?"

Song Yi was taken aback, and honestly said, "I'm afraid. With such a high city wall, if I fall down, I'll be smashed to pieces."

Jiang Lanye said in a low voice, "Sometimes, I feel like I am in such a high position that even when I am lying on the dragon bed with my back pressed against the mattress, I can never feel grounded. I feel like I am floating in mid-air and could fall at any moment."

"When I first ascended the throne, I felt as if I were sitting on such a high city wall. I couldn't see the expressions of any of the ministers below. I had no idea whether they disliked me, hated me, admired me, or revered me."

Jiang Lanye never brought these things up with Song Yi.

The wind was strong at a high altitude, and the ends of Jiang Lanye's hair were blown up.

Song Yi knew that being in a high position was not easy, but Jiang Lanye was always exceptionally calm and composed in front of him. He was better than anyone else at scheming and manipulating people's hearts.

He wielded power and was decisive in his actions; even such a person had once felt fear and confusion.

“Sometimes I often think that if my mother were still here, at least after I finish the morning court session and take off my heavy court robes, I would have someone to rely on.”

Song Yi held Jiang Lanye's hand tightly, thought for a moment, and said, "Jiang Lanye, I'm here with you now, although I probably can't be your support." Her hand slowly caressed Jiang Lanye's fingers, and she squeezed his fingertips.

Feeling the gentle touch on his hand, Jiang Lanye looked at Song Yi and said, "Song Yi, from the moment you appeared before me, you have been my support."

As long as Song Yi is around, he is not Jiang Lanye who is unloved.

"My mother passed away in front of me, almost bleeding out of her body. After my father sobered up, he realized what he had done and seemed to be very remorseful. His expression seemed to be in great pain."

"After that, he drank heavily every day, but this pain did not last long. At most, half a month later, he became that cold and aloof person again, no different from usual. But for me, the passing of my mother is something that has never been a bad thing in all these years."

"To this day, I still can't understand why my father was able to get over it so quickly. It's just that there are so many people in the harem. If one is gone, there's always another. But since then, he hasn't been willing to see me much."

Song Yi felt a lump in her throat and couldn't help but think that she should have been by Jiang Lanye's side back then.

Knowing it was impossible, she still wanted to travel through time and space back to the time when Jiang Lanye was most lonely and helpless, to hold him tightly, and to tell him that none of it was his fault.

If that were the case, perhaps Jiang Lanye wouldn't be the way he is now.

Jiang Lanye lowered his eyes, picked up the wine, and murmured, "My mother loved plum wine the most when she was alive. Although I am not in the capital now, I am sure she will receive it."

After saying that, he slowly poured a pot of wine down.

The plum wine was very dark in color, and a few drops were blown back by the wind, splashing onto Jiang Lanye and Song Yi.

After pouring, Jiang Lanye looked at Song Yi and said:

"If the Empress Dowager were to see you, she would surely be very fond of you."

In many ways, the Empress Dowager's personality was similar to Song Yi's—innocent and carefree. However, later, under the suppression of her father's power, she rarely smiled.

Being the Empress of my father is really, really tiring.

Song Yi took off the jade pendant from his waist and said, "This jade pendant..."

Jiang Lanye said, "My mother suddenly summoned me to her bedchamber and mysteriously gave me the jade pendant, telling me to hold it tightly, hold it securely, and hide it well. From then on, I understood my mother's intentions. After her death, in order to fulfill my mother's wish and also to take revenge on my father, I resolutely ascended the dragon throne."

After saying that, he took the jade pendant, gently stroked it, and murmured, "I can't really remember the expression on my mother's face at that time. I only know that she also held this jade pendant tightly."

Immediately afterwards, he hung the jade pendant around Song Yi's waist.

"The Empress Dowager will agree to let me give you this jade pendant."

Song Yi responded, then suddenly raised her hand to cup Jiang Lanye's face and murmured softly, "Jiang Lanye, if I had met you when I was a child, I would never have let you suffer so much."

Jiang Lanye held Song Yi in his arms, his voice trembling.

"If only you were here."

"However, it's not too late now."

Song Yi responded and haphazardly touched his back.

It was so cold on the city wall, with the wind blowing incessantly. Song Yi's ears turned red from the cold, but she was oblivious to it. All she felt was that she should give Jiang Lanye a good hug.

(End of this chapter)