The connection between Emperor Yin Wenyan and his sword weakens due to the failure of passing enough spiritual energy. Through the incantation that the emperor cast, his blade was occupying the deceased eunuch while he's dealing with the empress dowager. Now that the connection is slowly dying, his holy weapon falls onto the roof tiles. Anyone who'll come and see it will say that it only looks like a common sword now that it doesn't possess the majestic aura.
"Your majesty...?" Xu Zhengming could only whisper in the thin air.
Even though the surroundings are quite dark, the gentle moonlight that is reflected on his majesty's face enables him to recognize him. But as far as he knows, his majesty the emperor is right in front of him. He even talked to him just now.
"Who's that..." The silly beau is too confused that he doesn't even know what exactly he has to ask. Although he doesn't know what's happening anymore, he felt his heart is getting unsettled.
He turns his head to the princess and Yin Renshu only to see a horrified expression on their faces. This made him feel nervous. Just who is that person on the top of the roof that looks exactly like the emperor?!
Eunuch Ye, having his hands free, is quick to approach its opponent. Since he does not have his own consciousness, his body only moves based on its beastly instincts. Even though the Emperor couldn't fight anymore, he still scratched him in his chest, causing five deep wounds.
Emperor Yin Wenyan isn't so sure if the poison made his body numb or it's just the fact that he's going to die sooner than he expected hurts more. His majesty lost his balance causing him to fall from the roof. Before he landed on the cold ground, he saw the terrified expression that Xu Zhengming makes. Even so, he looks so damn gorgeous. Can this beau even make an ugly face?
This man... he wants this man so much that he wants to cry knowing that they'll never be together... not in this lifetime. He never asked for anything much except for him but it seems the heavens won't allow this pathetic emperor to be truly happy.
"Wenyan!" Princess Yin Xiulan's voice is so loud that it could be heard in the entire imperial palace.
It took her so much time before she could even process what's happening. Emperor Yin Wenyan, her own brother, got pierced by that poisonous weapon! Her highness runs as fast as she can towards her brother that's lying flat on the ground. Her fierceness completely disappeared only to get replaced by an anxious expression.
"Wenyan? His name is Wenyan?" If he remembers it correctly, Xu Zhengming thinks that it's the name of his old friend back when he's still studying in the imperial academy. "Yin Wenyan?"
Meanwhile, the empress dowager seems to be enjoying this scene. The sinister smile remained on her lips as she looks down on the funny faces they're making. Eunuch Ye, on the other hand, remained on his post, waiting for its master's orders.
Xu Zhengming waited for Yin Renshu to answer him but he failed to get the latter's attention.
"Wenyan... this can't be true. Impossible." Yin Renshu whispered in the thin air.
The former emperor looks so shocked that he can't seem to hear anything. His phoenix eyes are fixed at the motionless body. Without breaking his eyes in his brother's direction, Yin Renshu hurried to his other siblings. His heart beats so fast and loud that he can't seem to hear Princess Yin Xiulan's painful screams and cries.
Xu Zhengming, although confused and clueless, goes to see the fallen emperor.
"Wenyan!" It's obvious that Yin Renshu doesn't know what to do.
He kneels beside his brother. The trembling of his hands becomes even worse when he saw how terrible his injury is. His bright red robes got stained by a crimson color. The stain spreads even wider as time passes.
Then Yin Renshu finally snapped out of it. Right, first and foremost, they need to stop the bleeding. He quickly untied the ribbon on his arm that Xu Zhengming used to bandage his injury.
He's about to tend his brother's puncture wound but Emperor Yin Wenyan took a hold of his wrist. He barely exerted force on it; an indication that he's losing his strength.
Although it's hard and painful for him to talk, he still forced himself to speak. "It's no use. The poison has already entered my veins. I am bound to die soon."
"What are you talking about?!" Yin Renshu scolded his majesty. "If that weapon is poisoned, there must be an antidote for it! Hang in there."
He put Emperor Yin Wenyan's hand away from his arm and still stubbornly tried to stop the bleeding on his brother's chest. He refuses to believe that this poison is beyond remedy.
Emperor Yin Wenyan tried to put his usual gentle smile on his lips but ended up only making a weak one. In a low and soft voice, his majesty speaks to him, "I thought you hated me..."
"..." This statement of his majesty made Yin Renshu speechless and frozen. In times like this, Emperor Yin Wenyan is actually still thinking of their dispute. Well, Yin Renshu would be lying if he'll say he didn't have even a little bit of bitterness in his heart. He even tried to put the blame on their stars for falling for his brother's favorite person. He hates his brother but he hates himself even more.
Yin Renshu gritted his teeth. "I do! I hate you! So stay alive and apologize to me when you get better."
"Sorry." His majesty only uttered one word yet it's enough to bring pain for Yin Renshu.
Yes, Emperor Yin Wenyan apologized even after hearing his brother's words. He doesn't think he'll have another chance to do so. He wouldn't be able to get better. And so, he just grabbed the chance before it's too late.
"No! I won't forgive you now! You hear me, Wenyan?"
Still refusing to give up. Yin Renshu still tried to stop the bleeding, which is actually useless. Actually, not that useless. If he tries his best to stop the bleeding he can prolong a little remaining time of his brother from blood loss. However, the poison will circulate faster this way, only making the suffering long.
"You need to get better first!"
"Renshu..." Princess Yin Xiulan's voice cracks when she calls for Yin Renshu.
She's sobbing so much. And her voice sounds hoarse too. She then slowly shakes her head, telling them there's no way to save his majesty now.
"Xu Zhengming..." Emperor Yin Wenyan turns his head to meet the gaze of his beloved. His majesty even tried so hard to put on his usual smile but this only caused more pain to anyone who has sympathy for him. He parted his lips to utter his thoughts at the moment. It was low and barely audible. "Thank you. It was nice meeting you."
"Wenyan... Yin Wenyan..." Xu Zhengming looks straight at him with a pair of sincere eyes. Knowing how he is, this is quite rare for Xu Zhengming to have a solemn expression on his face. His heart is beating so fast that he can barely hear the commotion around him. His attention is all on the weakened emperor. "Is that your name? Are you the person I met seven years ago? Yin Wenyan?"
How could he ever forget this name? The emperor himself personally told Xu Zhengming the identity of his mysterious friend that he met more or less seven years ago. He goes by the same surname as the present emperor of the dynasty... And his given name is Wenyan.
For the first time, Emperor Yin Wenyan finally heard Xu Zhengming call for him using his real name. This somehow flattered his chest and put his mind into a calmer state. He couldn't be happier. He wished for this moment for so long. "That's right. That's me. I'm glad to hear you say my name."
After finally knowing that they actually got reunited... and for quite some time now on top of that, instead of feeling happiness, the mixed emotions that Xu Zhengming has in his heart confused him even more. He doesn't know how did this happen. He can't figure out why is this Yin Wenyan the emperor? If his old acquaintance is the emperor, then why is he more known as Yin Renshu? And why are there two emperors just now? Is his majesty's two completely different personas got separated into two bodies again?
Or is it, there are actually two different persons that act as the emperor?
Even as simple as breathing becomes a difficult thing to do for his majesty. He took a deep inhale and slowly exhales. This is no good. He could barely get enough oxygen. Sooner or later, he wouldn't be able to sustain his lungs with air.
The hand that got pale for a while now slowly reaches for Xu Zhengming's alluring face. This beau... he looks as good-looking as ever. Emperor Yin Wenyan couldn't possibly get enough of him. Unfortunately, they're already at the point of saying their farewells to each other.
His majesty's hand barely has any blood on it and his fingertips have to turn blue-violet in color. Everything he touches seems to be warmer than his own hand. The warmth that he felt as he touched Xu Zhengming's face feels soothing. For all the pain he's been through and all suffering he's currently experiencing, this touch pays all.
The princess couldn't bear to watch his dying brother anymore. With streams of tears flowing across her cheeks, she rises to her feet and fiercely charges to the empress dowager. She wants to make her pay for her wrongdoings and kill her right here and now. Her strong waves of emotion dominated her once again. She goes against the empress dowager without thinking much. The only thing that she has in mind is to kill.
"Xiulan!" Yin Renshu calls out to her sister but she never bothered to listen.
Her moves are very predictable, making it easy for the empress dowager. What's worse is that she forgot that she still has a vicious monster as a puppet. He looks up to her sister, then to his dying brother, then back to the princess' way.
Yin Renshu clicks his time. "Wenyan, hang in there. Don't give in!" He said sternly before he unwillingly leaves Emperor Yin Wenyan.
Emperor Yin Wenyan took another deep breath. "Don't cry. I want to see you smile."
Only by then did Xu Zhengming notice that he's already shedding tears. He may have not noticed it because he was soaking wet in the first place. Or perhaps it's because of the fact that his full attention is on this dying person.
The strong surge of emotions caught him off guard. Xu Zhengming let out a whimper that eventually turns into a wail. He couldn't even remember when was the last time he cried this hard. His tears are now flowing at a faster pace than before.
He grasps his majesty's hand on his cheek and painfully lets out his feelings. He has a lot to say and ask the other but he just can't find the right words to say nor does he know where to start.
Turns out, the person he's looking forward to meeting again is right beside him all along. The person who he once leans his head onto, the one who always comforted him when he's not at his best state, the only person who appreciates his literary works...
Now that he thinks about it, why didn't he notice it? The emperor does the same to him until now. Why hasn't he seen through him? And besides, didn't he tell his majesty about the friend he's looking for? Why didn't he introduce himself to him? Did he not recognize him? Or is it he forgot about him? Maybe what happened before does not matter to him?
It might be possible, however, all these times, Yin Wenyan has always been so kind and gentle towards him. He even goes to such extents for his own sake; a mere servant. Turns out he's the same person as the one Xu Zhengming sees as a real friend. Does it really no matter to his majesty?
And another thing, why is using his brother's name when he's in public? Who exactly asked him for a wedding?
There are a lot of things he wanted to clear but for now, all he knows is that he's glad that he finally meets him again. And at the same time, it pains him to see the emperor suffer such a grave injury. Based on how Princess Yin Xiulan and Yin Renshu reacted. It's obvious that Emperor Yin Wenyan is nearing his last breath.
For a short time they're together, Emperor Yin Wenyan did create a space in Xu Zhengming's heart without the owner getting notified. Xu Zhengming isn't ready for this. He just learned that this emperor is Yin Wenyan he's been waiting for. And now, he's in his final moments. He hates to see him slowly dying.
His majesty's eyes slowly lose their glint. His vision is getting blurry as well but he still tries to focus his eyesight on his beloved. "Don't be sad. I admit you look happier when you're with my brother."
Xu Zhengming didn't see this coming. His brother? The real Yin Renshu? When exactly is he with Yin Wenyan and with Yin Renshu? They switched too often that he can't tell apart. He gave it another thought. He remembered that Sect Leader Zhao mentioned two personas of his majesty the emperor. The first one tends to be gentle and kind while the other one has a bad temper. Yin Wenyan... he must be the first persona that the sect leader mentioned.
But he couldn't understand, how could he say that he's happier when he's with Yin Renshu? Dealing with him is a pain in the neck for him, and often wishes for his majesty's good mood. Of course, he'd prefer to be with Yin Wenyan more!
All Xu Zhengming's doubts were cleared when Emperor Yin Wenyan speaks again in a low voice. "You're more you when you're with him. I know that but I'm so selfish." Regrets and unfulfilled dreams hurt him more than these grave injuries he acquired. A tear escaped from his majesty's eyes as he utters these two words ."I'm sorry."
Xu Zhengming's grip on his majesty's cold hand tightens. Why is he saying all of these? This makes him cry even more!
He shakes his head without breaking his gaze on his majesty's eyes. "Please don't speak anymore. Tell me everything when you got better."
Knowing he won't have the chance to tell him everything, Emperor Yin Wenyan ignored what he just said and told him something else instead. He took a deep breath before he speaks. "Xu Zhengming... We both know that I met you first yet I still patiently fall in line. I really did despite knowing that there are a lot of people who want your attention too... Patiently waiting for you to glance my way, for you to finally recognize my feelings towards you, to slowly gain your affection..." His majesty laughs softly yet it's so painful to hear knowing his heart is in a wrecked state. "But I didn't know it's not first come first serve."
Even until now, Xu Zhengming hasn't really found out that he actually cares so much for him... or rather he refuses to give it much of a thought before. He knows he has a 'strange' feeling towards the emperor but he doesn't want to think deeply about it. He's afraid of what he'll find out.
Truth to be told, he still isn't so sure where this flood of emotions came from. His eyes burst into tears. Why does it hurt so much?
Emperor Yin Wenyan took his last breath. "It's a shame I cannot accompany you from now on."
His cold hand that's given warmth by his beloved slowly slips away from Xu Zhengming.