Chapter 504: Chapter 40: The Death of Gu Quan

He is no longer young now, his figure no longer as robust as before, having lost quite a bit of weight.

As soon as the words were spoken.

Li Shimin almost immediately stood up and rushed straight out of the Taiji Hall.

"Prepare the sedan! Quickly!"

Li Shimin’s urgent voice resounded instantly. Although the officials reacted extremely quickly, he could no longer wait and ran directly towards the palace gates.

This was the first time he had lost his composure like this.

Even during the past Xuanwu Gate incident, he had not panicked like this, but now he was truly somewhat flustered.

The cold wind howled.

Flakes of snow fell with the wind, each one pure white, each one cold, landing on the emperor’s hastily moving dragon robe, as well as his gradually whitening temples.

Li Shimin cared not for decorum, nor for the bitter cold, nor even for the symbol of supreme power, the crown and tassel, wildly fluttering in the wind and snow, he only kept stepping over the palace path piled with jade, dragon-patterned brocade boots shattering the jade with each alarming step.

This was an astonishing scene.

Fortunately, there were no other ministers in the palace at this moment, only some serving officials and guards.

Yet even they were extremely shocked.

Your Majesty... What has happened?

The Champion Marquis Mansion was not far from the Imperial Palace. When Li Yuan used to appoint the Gu Clan, he intended to emulate the Great Han, and since Li Shimin took over, coupled with Gu Quan’s illness, he made a few more adjustments.

He placed the entire Champion Marquis Mansion next to the royal city as a sign of favor.

But he still ran for a long time, never stopping his pace from start to finish.

He dared not stop.

Officials and guards hurriedly chased him from behind but were sternly rebuked and sent away, leaving only Xue San and his companion, plunging headfirst into the swirling wind and snow, dashing towards the Champion Marquis Mansion.

The world was a chaotic white.

Whether it was the snow that blurred his vision or the state of mind he was in, the usually grand and magnificent Champion Marquis Mansion seemed to exude a desolate bleakness amidst the boundless snow curtain.

The courtyard was empty and deserted, even the guards on duty were nowhere to be seen, let alone any guests coming and going.

It was supposed to be the core of the Gu Clan, adjoining the royal city, who would ordinarily come here to disturb them?

This abnormal dead silence weighed heavily on his heart, more suffocating than the howling cold wind.

Li Shimin could even hear the sound of sobbing coming continuously from within the Champion Marquis Mansion.

In an instant.

He abruptly stopped his steps, standing before the main gate, as if somewhat fearful, his body involuntarily trembling, almost stumbling and unable to stand.

Xue San quickly supported his slightly tilted arm.

But Li Shimin suddenly shook him off, took a deep breath, and directly stepped into the mansion.

He needed no guidance, he was already familiar with the way.

Along the way, the guards and descendants of the Gu Clan were densely kneeling on the ground, facing the tightly closed door.

Li Shimin’s expression grew increasingly troubled.

Ignoring everyone, he headed straight for that room, hastily entering and instructing to close the door immediately to prevent the cold air from blowing in.

The air inside the room felt like solidified lead, more suffocating than the howling wind and snow outside.

Only the direct descendants of the Gu Clan, including Gu Zi, a similarly aged brother, were in the room.

Gu Quan’s breath was like a candle in the wind, so weak it was almost imperceptible, unaware of Li Shimin’s intrusion.

All his strength seemed concentrated on his tongue, slowly and intermittently telling his final wishes to the family gathered around the bedside.

--It was more pleading, exhausting the last spark of life, than merely telling.

"After I die..." he labored to breathe, each word seemed squeezed from deep within his chest, "remember... do not let His Majesty... bury me in Julu..."

"The name of the Gu Clan..."

"Must not be... ruined because of me... failing... the prestige of our ancestors..."

The voice was as thin as a gossamer thread, yet every word was like a knife.

Which descendant of the Gu Clan did not wish to be buried in Julu?

Only Gu Quan.

Not unwilling, but unable, he didn’t want the family to bear any risk because of him.

This was Gu Quan’s obstinacy.

"...If... if His Majesty shows mercy... perhaps... perhaps request to be buried under Jiuzong Mountain... below the imperial mausoleum... to... to guard the imperial tomb for His Majesty..."

The weak voice sounded again, piercing Li Shimin like a thorn instantly.

In a moment, Li Shimin’s eyes turned bright red.

He rushed to the bedside in a few steps, almost kneeling down, grasping Gu Quan’s withered icy hand, his voice trembling with urgency and fear, which he himself hadn’t realized, interrupting Gu Quan’s last words:

"Ziyuan!"

"Why... why do you have to do this? Do even you want to leave me?"

Droplets of tears kept falling down.

Li Shimin at this moment had completely lost the demeanor of an emperor, just like he had when faced with Empress Changsun’s impending death.

Even more out of control than at that time.

"Your Ma... Majesty?" Gu Quan finally recognized Li Shimin, his voice suddenly raised much higher, a smile even appeared on his face, "To see Your Majesty... before my death, I am content."

"Ziyuan, stop saying nonsense!" Li Shimin shook his head in tears, wanting to call for a physician to extend Gu Quan’s life.

But Gu Quan suddenly gripped Li Shimin’s hand in return, breathing more heavily: "Your Ma... Majesty, it is unnecessary, please listen to me."

His voice gradually became clearer, but no one felt any joy because of it, all knowing it was just a momentary return to life before dying.

Li Shimin’s expression stiffened, holding back tears looked at Gu Quan and nodded.

"About the Crown Prince’s matter... Your Majesty must remember!"