The Black Emperor's Runaway Bride

A Joyful Reunion, The Painful Loss

Summary:

It's strange how his life turned out. He has a mate and found his family. If he told his past self, Zhou Zi Shu, who stayed in White Deer Mountain a year ago, he would mock him. He had lost all hope then, losing his master and direction in life. A bright future for him seems bleak at that time. Everything changed now. He should be happy, right?

"You deserved this. Fate was never cruel for those who hope," Zhou Zi Shu mumbled.

Notes:

As I promised, here it is. I know this chapter took a long time, but I already explained it in the last announcement. Without further ado...Enjoy your read!

I write this chapter while listening to this sad instrumental all non-stop. The music set the mood and inspired me to write more.

For some mental image, my visual aid about the chapter in my IMGUR

https://imgur.com/gallery/Sid6qEJ

A refresher, all characters age in this chapter-oldest to the youngest.

Li Cheng Yu- 50
Qin Jiu Xiao-33
Wen Kexing-29
Zhou Zi Shu-28
Cao Wei Ning-19
Gu Xiang-18

No beta, we die like Uncle Li

(See the end of the chapter for .)

"Jiu Xiao told me you died. Xiao-Shu" Li Cheng Yu caressed Zhou Zi Shu's face, mapping his eyes, touching his nose and lips, convincing herself that the person in front of her was real. It wasn't her illusion or the ghost who always haunted her dreams in a bloody wedding dress, blaming her for his death. Sometimes she dreamt of Zhou Zi Shu getting choked by the Black Emperor in the mating ceremony. Frequent nightmares caused her seldom has a peaceful night.

Truthfully Zhou Zi Shu was speechless. They never have a real mother and son relationship. Zhou Zi Shu gets used to calling the Empress by her titles, as him calling her mother will only make her cry. "Your Highness, I-" he breaks the silence. Hearing his voice, the elder Kunze proceeds to hug her son, tears wetting her cheek. She was glad that he survived.

"I am not an Empress anymore. I want you to call me Mother, Xiao-Shu," Zhou Zi Shu was frozen, but after a few seconds, softly, he said, "Mother.." he embraced her, eyes closed. "Mother...I miss you so much" The words roll naturally from his tongue. It feels warm in his heart, his mother's love. The one he yearned for years.

All his life as Empress Li's adopted son, his mother never showed him affection, let alone hugged him. The years apart indeed changed a person, or did regret making the one longing wishing that act of kindness would change everything. It was a teary reunion. The long-lost family met again after enduring hardship and hurdles just to be alive.

Wen Ke Xing and Jiu Xiao, watching the heartbreaking reunion, just glance at each other, nodding, acknowledging each other's existence. Both were protective of Zhou Zi Shu for different reasons, one a family, another a lover, and similar but different forms of love.

"Shi Yi died protecting you, but I am the one harming you. I've wronged both of you," Li Cheng Yu continued sobbing. "Forgive me, Xiao Shu. Everything is my fault," the elder Kunze knelt and tried to beg for Zhou Zi Shu's forgiveness. Unwilling to let his mother kneel on the hard ground, Zhou Zi Shu stopped her before she could entirely bow and injure herself.

"Mother, please...I never blame you" He helped her stand and held both hands. She was still crying out of relief, desperation, and guilt. Zhou Zi Shu wiped his mother's tears with his sleeves and kissed her forehead. He is glad that she is alive rather than keeping any resentment toward her. For him, everything that happened was his destiny. Or else he would not gain his freedom in life. He could still be trapped in the lonely Four Season Manor or be an unhappy Empress beside their enemies.