"I'm fine, don't worry."
Bai You'an said to Song Qingchao with a smile.
Song Qingchao looked up at his obviously red-rimmed eyes, unsure of what to say.
"It's alright, it's all over."
But Bai You'an shook his head.
"Chaochao, there's still the matter of the prince, it's not over yet, and your father..."
Before he could finish, he swayed and fell onto Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao held him, terrified.
She had never been so scared before.
"You'an, You'an, you can't die!"
"Guards! Guards!"
When the guards arrived, she watched them stop Bai You'an's bleeding and bandage him, her heart still in her throat.
The various palaces had already begun to be patrolled and searched.
Many ministers were also imprisoned within the palace.
After being rescued by Song Qingchao, they were all escorted to the Xuanzheng Hall.
She was not afraid that these people would cause any trouble.
With Zhuang Shi Wu in charge, she was at ease.
"Master! Your subordinate has found the prince and the emperor."
The officials instantly erupted into chatter upon hearing the report.
It was Song Qingchao who angrily silenced them.
The officials then said no more.
Among them, Feng Shaocheng stepped forward, his eyes revealing tenderness, "Chaochao, don't get agitated."
Song Qingchao directly threw the sword in her hand at his feet.
"Don't call me Chaochao, and don't come over. If you come any closer, I'll kill you!"
Feng Shaocheng's face instantly turned pale.
"Chao..."
"Swish."
His shoulder was struck by a dart.
"I told you, don't call me Chaochao. You are not worthy."
Song Qingchao's eyes were filled with indifference.
This time, Feng Shaocheng dared not.
Because he knew Song Qingchao was not joking.
"Tell me, what happened to the prince?"
The person reporting loudly said, "The prince and the emperor were cornered in Yuchun Palace, and then they self-immolated."
"Self-immolated?"
Song Qingchao's eyelids flickered slightly.
She hadn't expected the prince to go so far, not only to die himself but also to take the Emperor with him.
"Because it was raining outside, only the interior of the palace was burned, the houses were unharmed."
Song Qingchao knew this was the case.
The next step was the aftermath.
With the heavy rain, no matter how much blood was spilled in the palace, it could be washed away.
It was just that Song Qingchao hadn't expected the prince to be so ruthless.
Da Yuan, there was not a single prince left.
No prince meant no successor.
Even the ministers shook their heads.
Only then did Song Qingchao realize how decisive the prince had been.
Even the imperial family members were gone.
This meant that Da Yuan now only had one Grand Princess.
It wasn't impossible for the Grand Princess to ascend the throne.
Thus, Song Qingchao's decision was made.
However, she hadn't expected Li Yanzhu, accompanied by Song Qingmu, to come and say she was ill and not suitable to be the ruler of a nation.
An even better candidate was Song Qingchao.
The ministers quickly defected to Song Qingchao's side.
In the face of absolute power, all words were superfluous.
Thus, before Bai You'an had even woken up, Song Qingchao was pushed onto the throne and became the new Emperor of Da Yuan.
Every day during court, she dealt with the mess left behind. After court, she would go to Leng Tan to see her mother, and when she had time, she would look for her father.
The various ministers also found that this female emperor had insightful views on political affairs.
Thus, more people defected.
Da Yuan had an open folk custom, and the people had no biased opinions about a female emperor. Otherwise, they wouldn't have initially proposed Grand Princess Li Yanzhu.
It was just that Song Qingchao hadn't expected that when Bai You'an woke up, he found Song Qingchao had become the Empress, which was not surprising at all. Instead, he was quite pleased with his identity as the Emperor's husband.
Song Qingchao even suspected if Bai You'an had deliberately taken the stab wound and pretended to be asleep!
Finally, on the fourth day after Bai You'an woke up, she found her father, whom she hadn't seen.
Her father had indeed lost a lot of weight.
Song Qingchao thought she would have many things to say, many grievances to share with her father.
But upon seeing her father, all those words turned into another embrace.
They accompanied her father to visit her mother.
Finally, her father said that her mother had been cold for so long, and he wanted to warm her up.
Thus, her mother, frozen for five years, turned into ashes in a blaze of fire.
Her father carefully collected Song Qingchao's ashes.
He said he wanted to take her mother to see various places.
Song Qingchao agreed.
However, Bai You'an disagreed and insisted on pulling Song Qingchao's father to witness their wedding.
Song Qingchao's father, with his toothless mouth, only said, "Good, good, good."
He was clearly a spirited man, but now he was so tormented that he had lost his teeth.
Song Qingchao felt heartache, as did Bai You'an.
On the wedding day.
The entire nation celebrated.
Everyone's points of joy were different.
However, tonight, the two of them did not stay in their bridal chamber.
Bai You'an, as he had wished, led Song Qingchao's hand onto the highest tower.
"Chaochao, I've dreamt of this scene countless times."
"Then your ambition is quite grand."
Song Qingchao teased.
They stood side by side, looking at the bustling world below.
"Miss Song, my ambition is not great, it is you and the world."
Song Qingchao smiled and looked at him, "Mr. Bai, you speak the truth. This humble girl is also the same."
They smiled together, and then their shadows merged, entwining.
However, Bai You'an had not forgotten his important business.
"Mumu took Yanzhu to Jiangnan, and they ran away tonight."
Song Qingchao sighed, "What can be done? I, as the elder sister, have to handle it."
"Oh, then can the two of us also handle what I've done?"
"What have you done?"
"I issued an imperial decree on behalf of Your Majesty, ordering Feng Canjun to go to the northwest for a political marriage. He departs tonight, no delays."
Song Qingchao looked at Bai You'an and couldn't help but laugh.
"I really don't know which vinegar jar is so potent?"
Bai You'an raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps it's the Bai family's."
He directly picked up Song Qingchao and walked back.
"Alright, Your Majesty, it's late. How about letting your husband serve you?"
"Mmm...朕 feels it is very good..."
(End of text)