Chapter 331 - TugBoat to the Dark Side (2/2)
”So am I to go along to visit your master now...to be ”saved”?” The Emperor asked with a dry laugh, clearly being sarcastic. It seemed Lei Xing had rubbed on a bit too much on him. The Empress dowager had told Eunuch Li about her recurring nightmares of being swallowed in dark mass, this she believed to be the dark energy Monk Du had mentioned was surrounding her.
And Eunuch Li, in a bid to make the Emperor more understanding of the Empress dowager's condition, had told the Emperor about it. While the Emperor thought this ”dark possession” excuse explained his mother's peculiarities, such as her memory lapses. He was still not wholly convinced that she had no fault in her actions. After all, it was not as if she held no ill will to those she attacked.
”That is not necessary...” Monk Du responded, he then looked up at the Emperor and explained, ”As I said, yours is to a lesser degree, subtle. It seems to be more or less under control, for now...But you should understand that its existence means there is a potential for danger in the future.”
The Emperor slightly narrowed his eyes and Monk Du could sense his skepticism growing deeper but before the Emperor could shut him down again, Monk Du swiftly added, ”Your mother was not born the person that you see today, as I'm sure your eunuch here can corroborate... And neither was your father born as the person you came to know, I am sure there are also ways for you to verify that as well. I cannot say for certain, but it seems to be a sort of hereditary curse... As unlikely as you may find it, is it worth the risk?” Monk Du asked, looking at the Emperor with Sage's confident expression.
The Emperor knit his brows, not sure how to respond to this. Of course, he had heard of stories of what his parents were like before the decimation of Xia country. Eunuch Li had told him a few stories about his mother's childhood and his grandfather's annals consisted of conversations of his father advocating for peace and other humane practices in court. But just because someone suddenly did something out of character or because a change was too drastic did not mean that it had to do with some otherworldly possession.
People and their views change and most importantly, people are also great at hiding their true colors. His mother's change had an easy explanation, grief and anger changed her. As for his father, perhaps he had simply been lulling everyone around him into a false sense of security, which gave him the advantage he needed for his plans.
Monk Du could tell that the Emperor was seriously considering his words. But he also got the sense that the Emperor was still not leaning in his favor and was simply explaining away his words in his mind. So he tried for one more push, ”Although it's nothing like what you have with your Empress, your parents also shared a similar extraordinary connection…”
”I do have a great gift of insight, I see much beyond the capabilities of ordinary people…” Monk Du reminded, seeing the question in the Emperor's gaze, ”I could tell that you and your Empress were both extraordinary from one glance back when I visited your mother. I had seen you both exiting the palace that day...but that is neither here nor there.”
”...My point is your parents' lives together were once happy, probably as happy yours seems today. But yet their blissful relationship still soured and your mother succ.u.mbed to her rage which fed and awoke the dark energy which slept within her as it does for you. It not only pulled her towards the dark but due to the peculiar connection they shared, it pulled your father as well. Your connection with your Empress is much stronger, what do you think will happen to her once you become unstable?”
”... But of course, you have no need to worry about that if you are always happy together - which of course, you are now. But even now when things should be going very well here you are...seething on the inside. Why is that?” Monk Du thoughtfully asked and then instantly regretted it when he was suddenly faced with a cold piercing glare from above.
Monk Du lightly gulped, it seemed he had gotten carried away in his assessment and poked a sore spot. He immediately thought to recant but before he could speak, the Emperor quietly and menacingly went, ”The fact that I cannot keep you here, does not mean that you can do as you like. Will you rise and leave on your own or do you require assistance?”
Monk Du blinked at him, gulped again, and then lightly sighed. He bowed his head and then rose to his feet, finally giving up. It seemed he had said a bit too much and failed. The Emperor looked ready to launch at him and toss him out on his own if he said one more word. So Monk Du decided that it was best to leave for now and return another day with an apology to take the Empress dowager on their journey.
As for the Chun siblings, he tried his best. He would help them as long as he lived... and after he was gone, they would have to fend for themselves. At the very least, they were not completely helpless. They would have to fight whatever enemy came their way.
It was a pity, but it seemed that he would have to end his long life filled with worry for his two charges, he wondered if he would even be able to rest in the afterlife leaving them like this.
Monk Du inwardly sighed, deeply bowed to the Emperor and was about to turn to leave, when Eunuch Li suddenly walked over to him in quick steps and under the Emperor's still piercing glare, he quietly said, ”Please wait outside.”
Monk Du blinked at him in surprise, seeing a ray of hope, he slightly smiled and bowed his head to Eunuch Li. Then he turned and left the hall as Eunuch Li turned to look up at the Emperor with a disapproving frown of his own.