Chapter 276 Death

From that day on, after breakfast every day, Pei Tingyue would take Xiao Si and Xie Xun to the Cining Palace.

The Third Prince cried too hard on the first day and didn't cry afterwards. However, he was inevitably in a low mood and was unhappy all day.

For the Third Prince, although he was quite disappointed with his mother and disliked her a little, it was not easy for a child of his age to cut off his love for his mother.

Fortunately, there was someone with him who kept his attention diverted, so he didn't feel so uncomfortable.

The matter of Duke Li's Mansion and the Li family has been settled. She has no right to interfere with what happened in the previous dynasty, but Pei Tingyue couldn't help but ask about the Li family in the cold palace.

She personally asked Yun Shu and Yun Zheng to go and see it once, and then asked, "How is Li doing in the cold palace?"

Yun Shu shuddered as she recalled the scene just now. "She doesn't look very well. The Yan and Luo ladies who went in earlier have gone mad, and Li has also started talking nonsense. From what I can see, she's on the verge of going crazy."

Pei Tingyue had anticipated that the cold palace was bitterly cold and without sunlight. Not many people could endure such an extremely depressing environment.

Li's ending was the result of her greed and vanity, so she can't blame others.

Pei Tingyue couldn't help but sigh.

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of April.

According to custom, the concubines in the palace had to come and pay their respects.

Pei Tingyue got up early in the morning to wash and dress. Just as she stood up from her dressing table, a palace maid came hurriedly to report, "Your Highness, Li from the Cold Palace committed suicide last night."

Hearing this, Pei Tingyue frowned slightly, "So sudden?"

The palace maid bowed and said, "Yes, perhaps before he went completely insane, he still had a shred of rationality. Unable to bear the muddle-headed life ahead, he chose to die."

Pei Tingyue sighed, "I understand. Leave now."

She suppressed her heavy thoughts and walked into the main room.

Everyone stood up and saluted, "Greetings to the Imperial Concubine, may the Imperial Concubine be blessed with good health."

After Pei Tingyue sat in the main seat, he raised his hand to let them excuse themselves.

She picked up the cup, took a sip of tea, and announced calmly, "Li from the cold palace passed away last night."

The incident of Duke Li's mansion deceiving the emperor caused a sensation, and even the concubines in the harem knew about it.

However, the concubines did not expect Li's death.

After all, she had only been in the cold palace for a few days, how could she die just like that?

For a moment, the concubines sighed and lamented.

However, apart from those who sighed, several concubines had other ideas.

Huang Jieyu was one of them. She asked directly, "Your Highness, since Lady Li is dead, doesn't the Third Prince need to find a foster mother?"

Even the usually silent Concubine Yu looked over.

Now, the two high-ranking concubines, Wen Zhaoyuan and Xie Xiuyi, both have sons. Below them are the two Jieyus with the highest ranks and are the concubines most qualified to raise the prince.

What's more, it's a good thing to raise the third prince.

Although he stuttered, it was precisely because of this that he had no chance of becoming the emperor.

By raising him, she doesn't have to get involved in the bloody storm, and it can also comfort her miserable and childless days.

Both concubines had a glimmer of hope.

Pei Tingyue explained, "The Emperor's intention is that the Third Prince doesn't need to find a foster mother. He will be raised in the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace so that the Empress Dowager can enjoy the happiness of family life."

After hearing this, Concubine Huang's face showed obvious disappointment, and Concubine Yu also sighed softly.

This time I have completely given up the idea.

Pei Tingyue glanced at the concubines and said in a clear voice, "Third Prince's biological mother is gone, but don't forget that he is the emperor's bloodline and raised by the Empress Dowager. No one in this palace is allowed to look down on him."

The concubines hurriedly said they dared not.

After talking about Li, everyone turned to other topics.

It’s different now. People pay their respects once every two weeks. It’s so hard for everyone in the harem to get together, and they all have a lot to say.

They talked about everything from clothes and jewelry to interesting things in the palace.

Pei Tingyue also listened to the gossip for a while.

Xie Xiuyi, who was sitting below, smiled softly and said, "If I remember correctly, the selection should be held this year, right? The Imperial Concubine will probably be very busy in the next few months."

A concubine echoed: "The newcomer has arrived. The palace is bustling again."

Pei Tingyue lowered his eyes.

The smile on her lips faded a little.

She asked the emperor this question at the beginning of this spring.

The emperor’s answer was to stop holding beauty pageants.

It should be announced in the court in the next few days.

There will undoubtedly be opposition.

Although he told Pei Tingyue not to worry, Pei Tingyue knew that it was not that simple. After all, it involved the interests of so many people from the previous dynasty, which would probably give him a headache for a while.

Pei Tingyue remained silent, and the concubines had no interest in talking about this.

Most of the concubines did not want the new concubine to enter the palace.

After all, the peaceful days had only lasted for two years and there was trouble again. They were tired and didn't want to get involved anymore.

So after a few words, no one mentioned it again.

After the greeting ceremony, Pei Tingyue went to Chengming Palace.

She talked about Li's suicide.

After hearing this, Xie Chen also sighed and began to arrange Li's funeral.

She was a deposed concubine, so naturally she could not enter the imperial mausoleum.

Generally, concubines who were sent to the cold palace were hastily buried outside the palace.

But Li gave birth to Yu Shi, so out of consideration for him, Xie Chen had Li buried in a cemetery outside the capital.

In the future, if Yu Shi wants to worship, there will be a place for him.

After arranging Li's funeral, Pei Tingyue asked again, "Should I tell Yushi about this?"

Xie was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Tell him. It's not good to hide it from him."

Pei Tingyue also felt that it was appropriate to tell Yu Shi that no matter how bad Li was, she was still Yu Shi’s biological mother, and Yu Shi had the right to know.

Xie Chen instructed Liang Yao to bring Yu Shi over.

Soon, the third prince arrived.

Xie Chen spoke to him alone in the study, and Pei Tingyue was not present.

When he came out, the Third Prince's eyes were red, with obvious signs of crying.

After all, he is just a child.

Even though his mother didn't love him, he still had a natural admiration for her.

Now that I'm gone, I naturally can't help but shed tears.

Seeing this, Pei Tingyue whispered a few words to comfort him.

The Third Prince's voice trembled: "Empress Chen, may I go and see my mother off?"

Pei Tingyue agreed.

The funeral of the deposed concubine was simple. In the evening, Li was carried out in a thin coffin.

The third prince was escorted to the palace gate by palace servants.

Pei Tingyue did not go. She didn't like the Li family in the first place, so there was no need for her to go against her will.

However, in the evening, she asked someone to take Xiao Si and Xie Xun to the Cining Palace and let the two little guys comfort Yu Shi.