We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?-Chapter 398: Our Women’s Tears Are Meant to Be Cried Where the One We Love Will Ache for Us

After Xiao Shi passed away and Xiao Mo took charge of the Northern Wasteland Army, another half a year went by.

Over the course of these six months, aside from occasional friction still breaking out at the borders, most places within Qin were quite peaceful. Some commoners had even forgotten that Qin was currently in a great war with the various states.

As for news about Qin’s Crown Prince, there was still not much progress.

Those ministers continued recommending the heirs of various princes and marquises with royal bloodlines, but the Qin ruler did not accept a single one.

The position of Crown Prince remained vacant the whole time.

Some court officials guessed that perhaps His Majesty wanted to have another imperial son and continue raising and training him.

Some even guessed that His Majesty was waiting for the Frost King and the Third Princess, Qin Siyao, to bear an imperial grandson, and that this imperial grandson could inherit the throne.

But the Frost King and the Third Princess were not even married.

All in all, no one could imagine what His Majesty intended to do.

By comparison, the Qin ruler had Qin Siyao help him handle government affairs every day.

At the beginning, Qin Siyao’s handling of all kinds of court matters was indeed rather immature.

But Qin Siyao was extremely talented.

In truth, the Qin ruler had known long ago that his daughter was very smart—after all, when she was first born, strange signs had appeared in the heavens.

It was only that his daughter had been too carefree and well-provided for, so she did not take many things to heart. She was too lazy, that was all, so her talent did not show.

Yet what the Qin ruler had not expected was that once his daughter truly became serious, her learning speed was genuinely terrifying.

For certain key points, the Qin ruler only needed to give a simple reminder, and she could understand completely, and even draw inferences from one example to solve many.

If only Qin Siyao were not a daughter.

If Qin Siyao were a Third Prince, then perhaps the Crown Prince position would not have had anything to do with her two elder brothers at all.

The one thing that made the Qin ruler feel regret was that his time was still too short.

If he could live a few more years, and lay out the road for his daughter a bit more, perhaps his daughter would have an easier time in the future.

But in this world, there was no “if.”

And it was also within these six months that Empress Shi’s health grew worse day by day.

Xiao Mo also often entered the imperial palace to visit Empress Shi.

Perhaps because Empress Shi truly could not let go of her daughter, that last breath of hers ultimately did not disperse.

In Xiao Mo’s eyes, for Empress Shi to hold on until now was truly not easy.

But all things had their limits.

Xiao Mo knew that this clear-minded empress’s lifespan ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) limit was very likely within these few days.

This morning.

Qin Siyao came to her mother’s sleeping quarters as usual, and as usual she was about to decoct medicine for her mother.

But Empress Shi grabbed her daughter’s wrist and smiled. “Siyao, Mother does not really want to take medicine today. You don’t need to busy yourself. Stay with Mother and go out for a walk, all right?”

Hearing her mother’s words, Qin Siyao seemed to understand something. Her eyes trembled slightly, and a faint layer of mist rose over her beautiful eyes.

Qin Siyao pressed her thin lips together, forcing the tears in her eyes down. She nodded with a smile and said, “All right, Mother. Siyao will help you up right away.”

Empress Shi was supported by her daughter and rose, then sat before the dressing table.

Qin Siyao personally dressed and arranged her mother’s hair and clothing.

Half an hour later, Empress Shi led Qin Siyao out of the sleeping quarters.

Step by step, the two of them walked toward the imperial mausoleum within the palace.

The tomb mounds for First Prince Qin Jingsu and the Second Prince were both here.

“Siyao, in the future, you’ll have to take care of your father all the more. Your father, this person, likes to do everything himself. He overworks. You must persuade him more. Your father will only listen to you.”

Walking along the road, Empress Shi instructed Qin Siyao.

“I understand, Mother.” Qin Siyao lowered her head and nodded.

“And then, your father having you handle government affairs is also a good thing. In the days to come, you must also pay more attention to matters on the court. As for those court officials—other than your husband Xiao Mo, you must not trust anyone. Do you understand?”

“I understand, Mother.”

“And also, we wives must be broad-minded. Mother knows you like Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo likes you too. But things like liking someone are not so easy to speak of. It would be best if Xiao Mo does not marry anyone else, but if one day Xiao Mo wants to take concubines, you must not be angry.”

“Mhm. Mother, rest assured. I won’t be angry.”

“You must take care of the household matters well for Xiao Mo. In the future, if you and Xiao Mo have children, you don’t need too many. Too many is not a good thing either, but you can’t have too few. One son and one daughter is quite good.”

“After Mother dies, tell your father not to hold a grand burial. The nation is strained right now. People are dead—there’s no need to waste that money. Just hold something simple. As for Mother, bury me beside your two elder brothers, so after Mother leaves, I can find them.”

“And also, Mother knows your temperament is soft, but sometimes you can’t be soft-hearted, or you’ll be bullied.”

“Other than in front of Xiao Mo, in front of other people, you must not shed tears. Our women’s tears are not meant to be cried for others to see. They are meant to be cried where the one we love will ache for us.”

“Everything Mother said—have you remembered it clearly?”

“Mhm...” Qin Siyao’s voice carried a hint of choking. “Mother, rest assured. Siyao has remembered it all...”

“Good... as long as you remember...”

Before they knew it, Empress Shi had already arrived before the tombs of her two sons.

Empress Shi stepped forward, lightly brushed her robe hem, and knelt with dignified composure. She reached out and gently touched the white tombstone.

“Jingsu, Jingyuan... Mother came to see you...

But... after this, Siyao will have to suffer...

Jingsu, Jingyuan...

Siyao, she...

Can she really hold on...?”

Empress Shi’s breathing grew thinner and thinner. Her eyelids, as if drowsy, grew heavier and heavier. Her voice was even more like a leaf drifting down—so light it could barely be heard.

As Empress Shi’s final word fell, her eyes slowly closed. She lowered her head as if she had fallen asleep, only she would never wake again...

“Mother...”

“Mother...”

“Mother...”

Kneeling beside her, Qin Siyao clutched her mother’s sleeve tightly. Her eyes could no longer bear the weight of her tears, and they poured down like a spring.

In the silent mausoleum garden, a woman’s cries echoed again and again, yet there was never any response.

*****

In the Imperial Study, the Qin ruler suddenly felt a pain in his chest and pressed hard against it.

“Your Majesty...”

Eunuch Li was so frightened that he hurried forward.

The Qin ruler waved his hand, telling him to withdraw.

The Qin ruler looked at a small jade carving on the desk. It was a gift Empress Shi had personally made for the Qin ruler back when she first entered the palace.

Now, cracks had already appeared on the jade carving.

“It’s all right, Xiner...”

The Qin ruler reached out and gently stroked the jade carving.

“This husband will go to accompany you... very soon...”