Chapter 177: Changed (2)
His words were like a clap of thunder, causing Gong Sheng to start. He frowned and waved his hand, ordering everyone else at the scene to stand down. He looked at the Crown Prince deeply.
“Why? You must know that the reason why you can stay here is because of her…” Gong Sheng wanted to say that she used her life to exchange for his!
“Exactly because of this!” Gong Che suddenly lifted his head, his eyes filled with tears as he stared at the Emperor.
“Exactly because of this… This position that was obtained from Imperial Sister’s blood, it doesn’t matter whether I have it or not!”
His words caused Gong Sheng’s heart to hurt!
He always refused to admit that Gong Yi Mo had already died since they didn’t find her body. However, some others had told him that perhaps the gunpowder’s power was so great that her body exploded and sank in the Longteng River.
Gong Sheng blinked his eyes, speaking only after a long while, “You are so… she will not rest well in heaven.”
“I don’t care anymore…”
Gong Che said this extremely heartbrokenly. He smiled palely, “Whether I am the Crown Prince or not, Little Imperial Sister wouldn’t return to life. Except, I have one thing to ask of Imperial Father.”
Gong Sheng sighed, “Speak.”
A hint of eagerness appeared on Gong Che’s face…
“The canal was Little Imperial Sister’s idea and also created by her hand from the planning to the construction. I hope that Imperial Father can send me to continue building the canal! The biggest wish of Little Imperial Sister was to push the canal inland into the middle of the Great Empire. If the North and South are connected and trade flourishes, the people would reap great benefits! But now… now… she has passed away…”
His last few words were almost too quiet to hear. That slight tremble in his voice caused Gong Sheng’s heart to swell as he shut his eyes.
Gong Che raised his spirits and calmly and determinedly spoke.
“Now that she has passed away, her wishes will be finished by me!”
Gong Che once again kowtowed and begged, “I beseech Imperial Father!”
The Emperor stood there, waiting a long time before opening his eyes.
“Your body… I’m afraid I can’t…”
“There’s no problem!” Gong Che directly lifted his head and interrupted the Emperor’s words. His eyes were filled with hope, suddenly springing alive! “No one understands what she wants more than me; no one would understand her heart better than me. She said that once the Grand Canal is completed, she wanted to secretly name it and get Imperial Father’s approval through me. Now that she is gone, the wishes and name she left behind will be succeeded by me!”
Gong Sheng couldn’t help but ask, “What name did she come up with?”
Gong Che enunciated each word, “Heaven Defying Grand Canal! Connecting everyone, creating a big family under the heavens!”
“Good!”
Gong Sheng suddenly applauded, his two eyes looking at Gong Che deeply, “Good name! It shall be named as such then! Heaven Defying, heaven defying, good meaning!”
He smiled and tiredly waved his hand, “I understand your meaning. This Emperor will continue to send you to repair the canal. No need to say more about Crown Prince’s position. You deserve it. Take care of yourself and quickly return in triumph.”
Gong Che cheered inside! Yet, his face remained bleak.
“This son… thanks his heavenly lord!”
When Gong Che returned to the East Palace, Empress Liu was pacing back and forth, muttering something to herself. As soon as she saw Gong Che, her eyes lit up!
“Che’er, just what are you trying to do? Your Imperial Father he…
Gong Che waved his hand, signaling for her to calm down, “Imperial Father has already allowed for it. I’m still in charge of everything regarding the canal henceforth.”
The Empress was overjoyed, “Really?” He obviously only met the Emperor once, so why did it have such a great effect?
Gong Che gently smiled, “Truly.”
But for some reason, looking at Gong Che’s familiar gentle smile, the Empress felt strangely alien to him. Her son… seemed to have changed.
At this time, Gong Che drank the porridge he received as he smiled.
However, his body was too thin at the moment, making his smile rather scary.
Mo’er went to Xi Zhou, but he couldn’t go with her. This feeling of being controlled by others… he had enough of it! He was going to become stronger! Strong to the point of being able to do anything he wanted! He swore that by the time Gong Yi Mo returned, he would be a different person.