Going from "Fanservice" to Reality with My Goddess - Chapter 20

The filming progress pushed toward the final climax, and the story of Lovesickness reached its conclusion.

Wen Yan and Feng Ji had just returned from their lantern stroll during the Lantern Festival when, unexpectedly, news arrived the following day that the old Emperor was bedridden.

The Emperor’s health had previously been relatively stable; his sudden collapse without warning sent a wave of shock through the inner and outer reaches of the palace.

According to the diagnosis of the imperial physicians, the Emperor’s physical foundation had never been strong. Over the years, he had been consumed by state affairs, and this chronic overwork had finally resulted in his current condition.

Initially, the court expected the Emperor to recover quickly. However, the sudden onset that day was like opening a floodgate; from then on, the Emperor’s health declined day by day. He attended court less and less, remaining confined to his bedchamber under constant care and a never-ending cycle of medicinal decoctions.

Consequently, the burden of administrative affairs gradually shifted onto the Crown Prince’s shoulders.

In such times, the old Emperor’s mindset was largely contradictory. On one hand, feeling he was still of this world, he wished to keep the reins of power firmly in his own grasp. On the other hand, he was highly satisfied with his chosen successor, making the gradual delegation of power to the Crown Prince an inevitable necessity.

The Crown Prince was also exceptionally filial. During the Emperor’s illness, he provided meticulous care—performing morning and evening salutations and personally delivering medicine and meals with unwavering devotion.

This state of affairs continued for several months.

However, the old Emperor was advanced in years and ultimately could not withstand the heartless march of time. He eventually passed away on a night of wind and rain. In his final moments, he left behind an imperial decree naming the Crown Prince, Feng Ji, as his successor to ensure the eternal stability of the Feng clan’s empire.

The burial rites of the imperial family were arduous and complex. For a period following the death, Feng Ji was occupied with the arrangements for the late Emperor. Once everything was prepared, he led a grand procession to the imperial tombs to lay the former sovereign to rest.

The scene to be filmed today was Feng Ji leading the funeral procession for the old Emperor.

Accordingly, the actors on set were all dressed in plain, somber colors. Shen Yan, wearing white robes and a white mourning headband, walked at the very front of the line. A long procession followed behind; everyone remained silent, with only the rising and falling wail of the suona horns circling in the air.

The crowd advanced slowly through the mournful music.

The old Emperor had reigned for over twenty years. While he might not have been described as working so hard he forgot to eat or sleep, nor as having achieved legendary feats for the Southern Liao, he had been diligent and could be considered a wise ruler.

Shen Yan looked up at the imperial tombs appearing before her eyes, her mind swirling with memories of the old Emperor from over the years.

From the time she was very young, the Emperor’s attention toward her had not been particularly abundant. Being born into the imperial family meant that while ordinary fathers and sons might share warmth and harmony, her father was always far more stern and distant than he was affectionate.

She still remembered the phrase she had heard most often from his lips as a child: “Come to the Imperial Study; We shall examine your lessons from yesterday.”

That was truly a long time ago; pulling the memory from her mind now, it had become blurred and indistinct.

She could not claim to have a profound emotional bond with her royal father, but as his child, it would be a lie to say she felt no grief in the face of his passing.

But it ended there.

The coffin, crafted from Phoebe zhennan wood, was lowered into the underground palace, and the sharp notes of the suona reached their end.

Regardless of what had happened in the past, everything was now settled.

Imperial etiquette was always intricate and grand. Shen Yan had been busy with various matters for days, and as she walked the path back, she felt utterly exhausted.

By the time she returned to the Crown Prince’s Manor, it was already dusk.

The sky grew late, and the fiery red of the sunset splashed across half the horizon like it was soaked in blood a startling sight to behold at first glance.

Shen Yan reached the manor gates and looked up at the three familiar characters on the plaque: “Crown Prince’s Manor.” She gently pushed open the doors, and the thought of someone waiting inside to have dinner with her seemed to sweep away all her fatigue.

A smile involuntarily curved Shen Yan’s lips.

However, before she could reach the inner courtyard, she saw Luo Qin running toward her in a panic. Her expression was one of extreme terror, and tear tracks still stained her face. “Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Consort has been seized by Wen Jian’s men!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yan’s expression instantly froze. She stepped forward and asked sharply, “What did you say? Did I not tell you all to look after the Crown Princess and ensure she did not leave the manor? How does Wen Jian dare to be so bold?!”

Luo Qin could no longer contain her emotions, her voice breaking with sobs. “Your Highness, it is all this servant’s fault. I failed to look after Her Ladyship. I…” Luo Qin could not finish her sentence and began to sob quietly once more.

Shen Yan’s expression was colder and more severe than it had ever been. She sharply cut off the crying. “Stop weeping. First, explain exactly what happened.”

Luo Qin was startled; it was the first time she had seen the usually gentle Crown Prince reveal such an expression.

She didn’t dare delay, quickly wiping her eyes and explaining in a low, trembling voice, “Previously, you ordered us to look after Her Ladyship, so I stayed by her side and never left the manor. But today, after you left for the funeral, a small eunuch ran to the manor to deliver a message. He said that after your days of busy toil, you had collapsed on the road. In the sudden chaos, Wen Jian took the opportunity to seize you. He claimed that the Crown Princess had to bring the Imperial Decree of Succession and go to the palace alone before he would release you. Naturally, the decree cannot be compared to your safety. Her Ladyship was worried for you and had no other choice in her desperation. She went to the palace immediately, thinking she could save you, but she fell into that old villain Wen Jian’s trap. She hasn’t returned. Another message just arrived—Her Ladyship is being held under house arrest by Wen Jian. He demands that you go to the palace alone immediately and bring no troops. Otherwise…”

At this point, Luo Qin could no longer endure it. She fell to her knees with a thud and wailed, “Crown Prince, it is all this servant’s fault! I should not have let Her Ladyship leave the manor! Luo Qin is willing to trade her life for Her Ladyship’s safety!”

Shen Yan stood rooted to the spot, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned a ghastly white.

“Wen Jian…” Shen Yan ground out the name through gritted teeth, wishing she could cut him into a thousand pieces.

She had been careless; she hadn’t expected Wen Jian to move so quickly.

Shen Yan let out a slow breath, her voice raspy. “Get up. It is not your fault.” Then, she commanded loudly, “Someone, prepare a horse! To the palace, immediately!”