Chapter 1014 – #99. The Story of the Three Thousand Concubines and the Emperor (72)
The emperor returned from the war, but the empire was unable to hold a banquet to celebrate victory.
This is because the news that the emperor, who was seriously injured on the battlefield, collapsed quickly spread among the nobles.
The Empress took care of state affairs as usual, and the Crown Prince worked by the Emperor’s side to find ways to restore his health.
It was true that the excessive movement put a great strain on the emperor’s body, so the crown prince did his best.
“Will this be effective?”
“This is an elixir of rejuvenation that will revive even old people who have died of old age. It will definitely be effective!”
However, the emperor could not just take anything because it was good for his body, so the therapists had to work day and night to verify it.
After the therapists completed the stability test despite not being able to sleep, they ordered the emperor to take the drug and anxiously watched the situation.
“It seems… Of no use.”
“Damn it!”
How big of a hole is there in your body that even if you put this much energy into it, there won’t be any change?
The crown prince suddenly became irritated.
It is impossible not to feel resentment towards the incompetence of the therapists.
What they said was still the same.
‘It doesn’t work.’ ‘There is no way.’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘I’ll do my best.’ ‘I apologize.’
It’s all just stuff I don’t want to hear.
Even though the crown prince searched everywhere and collected various elixirs, the emperor’s body continued to deteriorate.
The emperor’s body was aging at a rapid rate.
Then one day.
The Empress received an unexpected visit late at night.
“Your Majesty?”
To her surprise, her emperor, who must have been unable to move, came to visit her late at night.
“How did you get here?”
“I came secretly because I had something important to say.”
“Please come this way.”
The empress supported the emperor and laid him down.
All the emperor’s healthy and strong muscles were lost, and he was so skinny that his ribs were visible.
I didn’t understand how a person could change their appearance so quickly.
The empress, who had vivid memories of spending a hot night with the emperor, gently patted the emperor’s thin body.
“Be sure to call me next time. Your complexion is pale.”
“I had no idea my physical condition was this serious. Haha. I never thought the walk from my room to the Empress’s room would be this long. When I had the strength, I think I ran in one step.”
“You will soon be like that again.”
Because she was in charge of national affairs on behalf of the emperor, she could not stay by his side.
However, that did not mean that there were no worries about the emperor.
The empress was convinced that if the emperor died, she would be the one who would mourn the most.
Even though we couldn’t fall in love as passionately and passionately as others, I had many good memories with this person.
Although I was upset with her about her girl problems, I never let her down in any other way.
“How can I not know the condition of my body? I have already adapted.”
“The prince hasn’t given up on you yet.”
“They say they will be filial, but I have no choice but to accept it. It seems like a waste of the elixir. I will only give it to the empress who has a bright future ahead of her.”
“Even if I don’t eat those things, I will live a long time. I won’t do anything like your Majesty and waste my precious life by doing unreasonable things.”
“Haha. As expected, I chose a good mate. Please live long and stay by the crown prince’s side. Since he left without being able to properly serve as a father, I have no interest in seeing you.”
The Empress is a person who values reason over emotions.
I will not be shaken even in the face of the emperor’s death.
… No matter what it is on the inside, at least on the outside.
“Why on earth? Was taking down the Geos Empire more important than your lifeline?”
“…”
“I know there were no enemies there, but was there something you couldn’t tell me? If you had taken more time, you wouldn’t have had to make this sacrifice.”
The empress was resentful of the emperor, saying he had taken a too difficult path.
Even if the lives of thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers were lost, it would have been said that it was the right thing to do as long as the emperor and crown prince were safe.
Although they succeeded in destroying the enormous object of the Geos Empire, if the emperor lost his life as a result, it would be a huge loss for the empire.
“If I could give back everything I gained from the Kingdom of Geos and get your life back, I would do so.”
“Don’t regret things that have already happened. Now you have to think about the future. If the Empress is shaken, the Prince won’t be able to hold on.”
“Prince…”
The Empress sighed deeply upon hearing the word crown prince.
The kid was out of his mind these days.
I wanted to save my father, but I was so distracted that I didn’t even eat her properly.
“Yes. The prince is important. But how can you stop that kid? A kid who goes around like that trying to save you.”
“I taught you well. Even if you are shaken now, if you keep your balance, you will quickly recover.”
“I guess I depended on you that much. If I lost someone to rely on, I would be shaken.”
The emperor held the empress’ hand with difficulty.
Although it was a weak touch, it was also a touch of great comfort to the Empress.
“You will do well. The prince grew up really well. You raised him.”
“… I’m sure you can hold out.”
“Of course. He’s a good and wonderful kid. The only thing I’m worried about is that he’s getting to this position too early.”
The emperor was breathing heavily as if speaking was difficult, but he did not stop speaking.
“When you get to this position, you inevitably feel lonely. And that worries me.”
The position of an emperor cannot help but be lonely.
Only those who can withstand that weight are qualified to become emperor.
“I am here. Don’t worry. I will never leave you lonely.”
“Don’t fight politically with the prince. I have confidence that he will lead this country well. Furthermore, I hope he will stay by his side and watch what he does.”
“I guess you’re worried that I might interfere in the prince’s politics. He’s also being harsh. Is that what you’re going to say to your wife now?”
Even though the relationship was not formed out of love, the Empress respected and liked the Emperor as her lifelong companion.
“Haha, cough! Are you crazy?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I don’t think I will be disappointed at all even if Your Majesty goes first.”
“You can also secretly date her. I don’t care. I’m not that narrow-minded. It’s unpleasant for a man other than me to know that the Empress is the prettiest at night, but what can I do? I couldn’t take responsibility and left first.”
“You’re not dead yet, are you? Don’t you want to try to live even a little bit?”
Why do you accept your own death so calmly?
The Empress was also dissatisfied with him.
At least if it’s a person, and if it’s an emperor who has reached the peak of power.
Shouldn’t we at least struggle to survive?
“I don’t want to go as far as giving orders to retrieve the elixir of immortality like Emperor Geos did in the past. Any human being should have at least struggled to survive. Why aren’t they doing anything?”
“Why go through the trouble when the prince is already treating you well?”
“Who is criticizing you for being such a hassle? If there is a guy like that, I will tear you limb from limb.”
The emperor laughed at the empress’s bloody growl.
“I feel good. I’ve been worried about a lot of things, but thinking about you being there makes me feel relieved.”
“You are the worst husband.”
“That’s right. He’s the worst kind of husband. If we meet again in the future, I’ll apologize sincerely.”
“Are you going to end this by apologizing?”
“… Really?”
“I propose to you again. Just like now, if you are royalty or a noble, I will accept you even if you are an insignificant noble. Since I lived as an emperor and empress once, I want to become an ordinary noble couple and live a decent life in my own way.”
“Haha. What if you’re a commoner?”
“You were born as a commoner? Ha, I can’t imagine such a thing, but if you were really born as a commoner… I will propose to you after I become a nobleman through my abilities. I know myself well, and I would never be able to accept a commoner husband.”
In the end, it was the bold and sassy empress’s words to conquer herself with her abilities.
The emperor smiled cheerfully and said, as if he had no choice.
“Okay, let’s do that. If there is a next life… I will propose to you again. Then, I will be a good husband and be by your side, not like this.”
“It’s disgusting. I don’t think families do this among themselves.”
The Empress stroked her forearm with her hand as if she was feeling dizzy.
Naturally, the hand that was touching the emperor relaxed.
“…”
“… Your Majesty?”
The empress placed the hand she had unknowingly pulled out on top of the emperor’s hand.
It was a gesture to hold his hand again.
But the emperor closed her eyes and did not hold her hand.
No, she couldn’t catch it.
The first emperor of the empire passed away.
It was dawn on the 18th day after returning from victory in the war against Geos.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
After the death of the first emperor.
The crown prince was crowned as the second imperial emperor.
Because he was still young, he should have received the Empress Dowager’s request for convergence, but the emperor refused.
Empress Dowager Tai did not strongly oppose this and supported her emperor’s opinion.
All the previous emperor’s three thousand concubines left the palace, and the previous emperor’s royal relatives gave up their right to succeed to the throne, but instead showed off their outstanding talents in various fields.
The Kingdom of Geos gradually declined after the war.
The nobles who had fled the empire returned and shamelessly took over the government, stealing the assets of the royal family, which was already struggling to meet the empire’s requirements.
As expected, the people could not bear the murderous taxes and sold themselves into slavery.
At least if you became a slave, you didn’t have to pay taxes.
King Geos was addicted to drugs and continued his life without taking care of state affairs, but 20 years after the war, he was murdered by a mysterious assassin.
The nobles who took control of the government declared that this was the time to establish a new king, and offered numerous princesses to the empire to get recognition for the new king.
The people of Geos did not hesitate to cross the border to the empire, saying that there was no future for this country anymore.
This is because it was much more stable to make a living by becoming a citizen of the empire than by becoming a slave while holding on to the Kingdom of Geos.
The empire continued to expand its influence, receiving large amounts of grain, wealth, and princesses from Geos every year.
The tragic fall of the Kingdom of Geos, which had been praised as a powerful nation for hundreds of years.
And the majesty of the empire, which had become a new power, spread to neighboring countries.
