A fortnight had passed since Jingrui woke up, and that morning, Zhanying was due to be crowned. He gave a heavy sigh as he stood in the middle of the inner courtyard, watching the peach blossoms tree blooming with the most vibrant colours.
While his world was filled with colours, Jingrui had become blind.
He tilted his head towards the sky, his heavy crown dangling from atop his head. He wasn't sure himself if he would do good as the Heavenly Emperor. In his life, he had never thought of having the throne. He never thought of an uprising. But those who were brimmed with greed had played with a storm, and now this was the outcome of fate.
Zhanying knew he was never one with a good moral standing. He had slaughtered the innocence just as much as Yihuai did. The most poisonous hate that ran deep within his veins had turned him into a rigid person in the deepest pit of the abyss.
But at least, he had his flame; one that burnt with the most will, and one light up his world. With her, he was turned from someone without love to someone who could love with his whole heart.
Glancing at the sun, it was time he made way towards the throne hall to be crowned. He knew that during the coronation, he must also settle all the punishments from the old reign. For that, his heart was heavy.
For Jingrui, the game may be over; she had forgiven. But for him, he must move the last piece and call a checkmate.
Jingrui ran from the compound. Her red dress embroidered with refined golden silk fit over her and flowed along the wind. A crown adorned her head, glittering in the sun.
Running fast, she tripped over the stairs and he had to catch her. A sigh parted his lips. "How many times must I tell you not to run around when you can't see?"
"That's because you refused to teach me how to use my other senses," she grumbled.
"I didn't refuse you. But training your senses can't be done in one day." He held her upright as he guided her out of the Floating Abyss Palace and towards the throne hall. "Why are you wearing the wedding gown? Today is my coronation, not our wedding."
Jingrui grinned. "I can't see what I wear. Madam Fu must be really excited for our wedding, and she fit me in this."
Zhanying tilted his head to the side. "Then, next time, I'll make sure to be the one who dresses you. Then, you would wear more appropriately, don't you think?"
Her face flushed red and turned away from him, pretending not to hear. He chuckled as they walked through the path towards the throne hall.
The alleyway was familiar to him, and as they walked on, he found that he no longer had to lower his head. The palace was no longer a Hell that was burning him alive. It was filled with freedom and life. It was the victory he had seen when he first regained his eyesight.
They entered the throne hall. The blood was cleaned off the marble floor, and the broken pillars and glass plane were repaired. Although he could still smell a stench of blood, he shook it off as his hand on hers squeezed.
The golden carpet led them straight to the golden throne he had never wanted. The burden the throne posed weighed his steps, and he took a deep breath before taking a seat. Jingrui sat down beside him, sweat dripping off her forehead at the eyes of the deities.
Zhanying lay back on the throne, his forehead resting against his fist. "Bring in the convicts," he demanded, and at his divine words, the guards dragged the beaten figures into the hall; his father, brother, and Lingyue.
Both Yihuai and Yunyin were sullen, while Lingyue's voice was heard even from a distance. She screeched and writhed within the guards' grips. Her clothes were robbed of luxury. The ornaments that previously camouflaged her hair, were stripped off. They threw her onto the floor, and she gritted her teeth, glaring up at Zhanying. "Bastard prince!" She fumed, bubbles foaming in her mouth. "Get off the throne now, get down now! That throne is my son's. It is meant to be my son's!"
Zhanying held his chin high, casting down his disdainful glare. "Empress Dowager. Do you still think this throne is your son's?"
"It is my son's!" she shrieked, her voice echoed through the hall. "If you are so great, why didn't you just kill me off? Why didn't you kill Yihuai off? The truth is you don't even want the throne. So, if you don't, then give it back!"
Zhanying massaged his temple, her voice jabbing against his eardrum. He waved a hand, and lit the incense burner in the middle of the hall. His eyes darkened. "Empress Dowager, do you know why I didn't kill you off?" He pushed his large crown to fix it on his head, and a smile crept over him. "I really should, shouldn't I? You killed my mother and you nearly killed my queen. You made me live in an abyss, and now you made the one I love most live in an abyss. Of course, I want you to die."
He paused as he penetrated his cold gaze at her. "I had initially wanted to kill you off, but then I thought to myself, what was the fun in letting you die? Wouldn't it be far more entertaining to see you burn in a living hell?" He taunted her with a smile. "This whole time, your sins were all committed because you wanted this throne for your son. Of course, I won't kill you until you see me crowned as the Heavenly Emperor. Only this way, will you receive the biggest retribution the world can bestow upon you."
Lingyue's eyes popped with red veins, and she clutched her hands into her hair. A scream tore from her, and she writhed against the floor, roaring in agony.
Zhanying grunted as he messaged his temple and waved a hand. The guards scurried over shoved a fabric into her mouth. Lingyue continued to chew on the fabric, hot tears springing from her bloodshot eyes.
Zhanying ignored her and turned to the crowd of deities. "Proceed with the coronation."
Upon his command, several deities came forward as they began reading long edicts. The whole time, the Empress Dowager was frothing, rage popped veins on her head. Yihuai and Yunyin stood in silence, their faces no longer retained life.
"Wansui, wansui, wan wan sui!" The deities before the throne bowed, their voices echoing through all realms and ending the ceremony.
Zhanying waved them to rise. He knew well that from this moment forth, his name would be revered throughout all realm, and soon they would remember him, not as a bastard prince, but as the Heavenly Emperor of the four seas and eight deserts.
He glanced down at the convicts who were once his family. "Now, how shall I deal with them?" He looked up at Jingrui. "What should I do with them, Bao Bao?"
Jingrui gulped, her palms clenching onto the armrest. "Up to Your Highness—I mean, Your Majesty."
He smiled. Perhaps, if Jingrui wasn't here he would have given them the most painful form of punishments. But since she was here, his mood was lightened and he felt the urge to do charity. He turned back to the convicts. "Former Heavenly Emperor Yunyin."
Yunyin peered up at him with solemn eyes, and he bowed down. Tears slid down his chin, regretting the past that could never mend.
"Former Heavenly Yunyin had raised me since young. You have always been genuine to me. To me, you are my father, no matter how things may change. But you had committed treason behind everyone's back. You revolted against First Prince Yunyi who is meant to be my grandfather. . ." He paused as he began getting dizzy from his own words. He cleared his throat. "Since the crime had happened long ago, I sentence you to live in the Cold Paradise Palace for all eternity, never to step foot into the sun."
Yunyin sniffled and bowed down until his forehead hit the marble floor. "Decree accepted."
Guards dragged him from the throne, and he slumped out the throne hall with lines of torment rich on his face.
Zhanying closed his eyes, inhaling in the medication. "As for my brother, Yihuai. He has already received his worst retribution; getting his pride cut off. Just send him to the mortal realm and let him experience the seven sorrows. God of the Mortals, please write his destiny. Let him be an eunuch who goes blind and poisoned by the woman he loved most." He let out an exhausted sigh, wanting this session to be over. "Although my brother had attempted countless assassinations on me, we grew up together after all. Since I'm feeling quite magnanimous, when he returns to Heaven, he may start a new life."
Yihuai bowed down, accepting the decree and sniffling faint cries. Guards by his side seized his arms and dragged him away to be punished. Zhanying sighed as he peered down at Lingyue, the last of the convicts. Lingyue had already seemed to go mad. There was no cognizant left in her as she sat against the floor, licking her own wound and grunting like an animal. Her neck was bobbing and her eyes were rolling back and forth. She laughed and then she cried.
Zhanying nodded slowly. "The Empress Dowager has already gone mad. Throw her down the forbidden terrance and strip her off immortality." He slumped back in his throne, feeling emptiness seeping into his soul. "End of the ceremony."
With that, the guards dragged the crazed Empress Dowager out of the hall. The deities bowed at him as they exited one by one.
Once they all had left, he turned to Jingrui. She held a sad gaze, and her clammy hands were clenching to the armrests. "This is it, right?" She asked.
He cocked his head to the side. "What is?"
"It's over right? My days consumed by hatred and revenge, it's over, right?"
He smiled. "It is, Bao Bao."
"So, can I really rest now? . . . But it feels wrong to rest after being buried beneath resentment for all these long days."
Seeing the solemnity that hollowed her eyes of liveliness, he sighed. "Come here." He beckoned her to him, and she complied. Once she stood before him, he held onto her hand. "It's never wrong to rest. Those who want to explore are the fledglings who seek challenges of life, but those who want to rest are the wise who saw all there is to life. You have been tired for long, Bao Bao, it's time to rest."
There were tears in her eyes. Zhanying pulled her down onto him, and she buried her face onto his shoulder. Her mumbles were faint. "I never knew that there would be a day, the snow that frosted the flowers would melt. But now spring is here again. Even if in the end, the moon is not full, I think it's okay. People meet and part, and the moon is full and wane; life could never be perfect. And, I think it's this little imperfection that brings life to our lives."
His eyes softened. "And it is these little imperfections that brought you to me."
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A/N - Blind and Bereft has been a long, precious, and memorable journey, and to everyone who's reading this, I thank you for being a part of it. The final chapter will be released this Monday; the end is always another beginning. Love you all xx