ZHAO JUREN'S LAST LOVE
Chapters. 21 Mourning in the Early Season

In the blink of an eye, or perhaps due to Zhao Juren's consciousness being lost for almost a season, the end of the year had arrived felt so fast. Nanxing's large suburban atmosphere, looks beautiful and carefree. The spring banquet is still going to take place this month.

Niangxi was having a good time because this year, their country had managed to capture the old city of Yuchen which was a long-standing dispute with the large and cold northern state of Yanzhie.  That was why His Eminence Nan Chen celebrated it by ordering the governors of the capital to abolish the curfew in their city, reducing taxes for special merchants in this lively spring. The news was so encouraging for traders to encourage economic writhing and prosper trade in the big city which was always warm throughout the year.

Not only that, the scholars, officials and young students whose achievements are extraordinary this year will be given praise and appreciation directly from the magnificent Nan Palace.

Praise cape and roar muddled the young king was of course buoyant even almost to all corners of the country.

In this way, within a week Nanxing became so lively and fun. Under the watchful eye of a local official who deliberately pretended not to know, this year's new year was extraordinarily luxurious, wealthy families from all corners of the country flocked to the capital. Within the city, crowds snaked for ten li away, colorful satin cloths wrapped around the trees, symbolizing peace and prosperity, no matter how chaotic the situation outside was, and how dire the situation of the battle at the border gate was, the people in the capital were still immersed in a dream in broad daylight about the high position in the palace.

The cold wind strongly pierced the city, bringing a southern wind that made people seem drunk or dreamy, and then blew far north to Yanzhie who was drowning in gloom.

However, in fact the war was not over at the border, King Yan Yue never accepted the city of Yuchen being taken for granted. The war situation with Yanzhi at the border is getting more fierce and heated.

Yan Yue was preparing a plan to retake the great old city, His Highness Yue was almost sleepless all night, melting candles in the reading room were pouring out, she said, it made up layers of red-wave ripples on the candle holder, shining on its increasingly unsightly face and its still-upright back like a strong javelin.

His Highness Yan Yue was never as good and as sad as this, as he had not only lost the old City of Yuchen but also lost his brother.

The day of happiness in Nanxing but on the same day that Yanzhie, still in mourning due to the death of the great commander Zhao Juren there. For up to 12 weeks, His Majesty Yan Yue was still waiting for the search for his sister's body but there was no word from Yuchen's old town or clarification from Nan's troops who were now there, they confirmed that they had taken control of the city.

Murkanya is very unbearable because of the loss of a brother who has only three years known to himself as the son of Old King Houcun, father of Yan Yue.

“Your Highness, I came.” That warm voice sounded soft as if it did not want to surprise Your Highness Yan Yue. The king always seems to put on a gloomy look, no matter what is now in his mind. Taka da who actually dared to approach him in this situation, of course except for the two people in this palace, namely Eunuch Chen and empress Xiao Yi.

“Hhhh...” The arrival of Empress Yi was only welcomed with a heavy breath, her eyes only glanced at her wife who was wearing the pale blue soft satin silk dress.

The bottom of her dress seemed to be dragged on the floor, her voice trembling gently teasing the listening ears. Normally Yan Yue would immediately frown and welcome her beautiful wife with a hug. But not for tonight. He barely looked at the queen. His heart was really riled up not the reeds of the braids.

“What are you doing here, empress? shouldn't you be at the Harem palace?” ask His Majesty without turning his head again.

Again only a heavy sigh sounded to break the silence.

“Can I come in, Your Majesty?” Empress Yi asked later, perhaps only as a formality, because even though

the king forbade him to enter so he would insist on standing at the door, until His Majesty allowed him. Such was Xiao Yi, he would become stubborn at times if necessary.

“Of course you can enter if you want, queen.”

With a smile on the lips of Empress Yi, she knew that if Her Majesty Yan Yue called her name with Chenxing, the king was in need of a friend instead of her status as queen.

It was still raining heavily that day, although in Niangxi it was already spring but in Yubei, the capital of Yanzhie it snowed for three consecutive days, the snow piled up as high as half a chi more, if walking in between, almost reached half the calf of an adult.

Empress Yi stepped in, her pale blue robe completely unadorned with embroidery or other decorations, inconspicuous and calm. On his shoulders a darker blue coat wrapped his slender body, while in his hands a thick coat of warm wool was neatly folded.

“Your Majesty hasn't wanted to rest? It's almost early morning.” The voice was reprimanded, though it was softly conveyed.

“I'm not sleepy.” His Majesty Yan Yue replied as he turned the book in his hand, an obsolete war strategy book. He is seen sitting restlessly facing the table in front of him.

“Your Highness, I noticed lately His Majesty almost never breaks.” Empress Yi's fingers touched the soft shoulder of the man wearing the plain black robe, he looked even more gloomy in the dark clothes.

He slowly draped the coat in his hand to His Majesty's shoulder then tidied it lovingly. In her gentle gaze the face of His Highness Yan Yue who looked slightly thinner, yet her face had not changed at all, however, his pair of eyes had not shone as haughtily and violently as they had years ago, but had turned into a calm like a deep pond or lake, even though he was smiling.

"Chenxing, I miss Juren a lot..." His Majesty's voice was similar desau, sounding hoarse.

"While he has fallen on the battlefield, I can at least give him my last respects and a proper funeral. He has long endured loneliness, now even death he must be in solitude."