Chapter 1242 - 36: The Pearl Collector and the Princess
Chapter 1242: Chapter 36: The Pearl Collector and the Princess
Li Qinghe’s tears kept streaming down. Because she had been unable to speak since childhood, she knew better than anyone how much effort her parents had poured into her. She had often seen her mother’s silent tears, and her father’s long sighs late at night. Now, all that suffering was finally over.
Tang Zhishi looked at the tear-streaked Li Qinghe, feeling both happy and heartbroken. He pulled her into his arms and gently comforted her, "Don’t cry, don’t cry, things will only get better from now on. You can talk now—this is wonderful."
Li Qinghe nodded, nestled in Tang Zhishi’s embrace, crying and laughing at the same time.
Tang Zhishi wanted to thank the Emperor and planned to bring Li Qinghe into the palace to offer their gratitude, but Li Qinghe stopped him.
"The Emperor must have known this would be the effect. She probably wants me to share it with my family first. Let’s enter the palace tomorrow." Li Qinghe said with a smile. After spending those years with Tianmiao, she understood Tianmiao’s temperament better than Tang Zhishi did.
Back at the Li Mansion next to the Prince Mansion, Tang Zhishi took Li Qinghe by the hand and hurried off to share the good news with Li Anqing and Wang Linglan.
In the Imperial Palace, Tianmiao watched through the Heavenly Mechanism Mirror as the Li Qinghe family embraced each other, crying tears of joy, while holding a piece of fresh durian in her hand.
"Master, this thing... the smell really is... hard to describe." Kong Hou was eating durian. "But it actually tastes pretty good."
"Next time, have Dong Xiao make durian bread. Once it’s heated, the smell will be even more indescribable..." Tianmiao smiled mysteriously. "Bring some durian buns back for the little buddies at the Heavenly Dao Office. Dong Xiao, once you’ve made them, send them over, and remember to tell them to heat it up before eating."
Dong Xiao: "..." After I deliver it, will I still be able to come back safely to the Everything Has a Shop?
Tianmiao reigned for more than ten years. Li Qinghe and Tang Zhishi had three children, and the second child was the cleverest. Tianmiao was very fond of this child and often summoned him to the palace as soon as he started his studies, personally teaching him the way of a ruler.
When this child turned sixteen, Tianmiao passed the throne to him.
Then she bid farewell to Li Qinghe and Tang Zhishi, said she was going to travel the world, and vanished without a trace.
"The Emperor has gone back to the heavens, to continue being an immortal." Tang Zhishi held Li Qinghe’s hand as they stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance.
"Tianmiao just went to enjoy the scenery in different places, what are you talking about?" Li Qinghe frowned.
"You don’t know... My imperial father once told me that Tianmiao was an immortal from the heavens who reincarnated into our royal family." Tang Zhishi laughed. "At first, I thought he said that only because he doted on my imperial sister. But later I realized Father was probably telling the truth. My sister’s extraordinary talent for governance really is unprecedented, and I dare say, there will be no one like her after either. The country is now in an era of unparalleled prosperity, and I’m fortunate enough to witness it. Father also said that being able to see this in his lifetime is more than enough for him."
Tang Zhishi’s imperial father was still alive, living a quiet, ordinary life with the Empress Dowager and Consorts in the Palace. However, now that Tang Zhishi’s son had ascended the throne, he would probably return.
After listening to Tang Zhishi, Li Qinghe was stunned. She raised her head to look at the sky, and stayed silent for a long time.
"Hey, wife, why are you crying? Don’t cry, I was just speaking off the cuff. Tianmiao is definitely still around. Who knows, maybe she’ll get tired of wandering in a few years and come back to us." Tang Zhishi hurriedly wiped Li Qinghe’s tears, trying to comfort her.
"No, she won’t come back. I understand now, I finally understand..." Li Qinghe cried as she spoke, then suddenly started laughing, but as she laughed she began to cry again. Tang Zhishi was so frightened he thought Li Qinghe had been hit too hard by the truth and was having a breakdown.