Chapter 68 Nian Shilan Leaves the Palace

"His Majesty has passed away—"

Knowing this moment would come, Yixiu, who was guarding the door, still couldn't stop her tears. She didn't know if it was for Yongzheng or for the time she had wasted in the past.

Looking up again at the clear blue sky and the high city walls on all sides, Yixiu suddenly felt a sense of weariness.

In the main hall of Prince Bao's residence, a group of women sat chatting absentmindedly, some with unease and others with excitement. Given the Emperor's past favor towards the prince, and with the Emperor gravely ill, Prince Bao was undoubtedly the one destined to ascend the throne.

However, because of the Emperor's inexplicable actions some time ago, everyone couldn't help but worry that something unexpected might happen.

Whether she becomes a prince's wife or a concubine, or a royal consort, will be decided in the next day or two.

"Fujin (wife)".

Wang Qin walked in with a sorrowful expression and announced in grief, "The Emperor has passed away."

Fucha Langhua was both excited and nervous. Before she could speak, Qingying suddenly stood up and asked, "Where is the Prince?"

Everyone looked at Qingying with a subtle yet disdainful gaze. Here we go again. Why does Qingying never learn? She always wants to prove herself different.

Wang Qin seemed not to have heard her words at all, and only looked at Fucha Langhua, waiting for the Fujin's instructions.

Fucha Langhua took a deep breath and instructed everyone in the hall: "Go back and change your clothes. Those with children, take good care of them. Zhilan, I'm entrusting everything in the Prince's Mansion to you for now."

Tong Jia Zhilan nodded, "Don't worry, Madam, I will take good care of it and there will be no mistakes."

After giving all the instructions, Fucha Langhua immediately went back to her room, changed into mourning clothes, and followed Wang Qin to the palace.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, all the women in the Prince's mansion wore expressions of grief, yet their hearts were filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow. Judging from Wang Qin's words, wasn't he implying that the Prince's position remained unshaken, that he was a hidden dragon about to ascend to power?

"I suppose my sisters don't need me to say much. Go back and pack up. Put away all the red and green things that can't be hung. At this time, we absolutely cannot cause trouble for the Prince."

Tong Jia Zhilan said she wouldn't say much, but she couldn't help but say a few more words. Everyone understood who she was talking to, and they looked at Consort Qing, hoping that she wouldn't do anything "inappropriate" at this time.

Qingying was completely oblivious. After the initial panic, she couldn't help but feel even more joy. The Emperor was gone, so her aunt would be the Empress Dowager, which would change her rank after entering the palace...

The sound of clappers continued incessantly, and cries rose from all sides, creating a sorrowful and solemn atmosphere.

The temples in the capital city were to strike their bells 30,000 times, announcing a great national mourning, which would soon become known throughout the land.

Empress Yixiu led the many female relatives in kowtowing. At this moment, apart from Nian Shilan, who was "seriously ill" and unable to attend, all the other concubines in the harem were present.

As the female relatives of the soon-to-be-ascended emperor, Empress Fucha Langhua and others were not ranked too low. Especially Langhua, as the soon-to-be empress, was under the watchful eyes of countless people, and could not afford to make the slightest mistake.

Therefore, during the daily mourning ceremonies, Langhua followed the proper etiquette completely, daring not to do anything out of line or appear disrespectful. She was just worried about Yonglian, who, despite being young, had knees that ached from kneeling. Fortunately, not long after, Hongli ordered kneeling cushions to be sent to the younger children and the older ministers and members of the imperial family.

Although Hongli had not yet held a formal enthronement ceremony, he had already completed the enthronement process before the spirit tablet, thus definitively establishing his status.

During a break in the mourning, Hongli arrived at Yikun Palace.

"Your Highness, do you wish to leave the palace?"

"What?" Nian Shilan's eyes were red, her heart was pounding, and she could hardly believe what Hongli meant.

"Lord Nian once said that Her Majesty was once a remarkable woman, riding swiftly and unrestrainedly. Now she has been confined to the palace for decades. Doesn't she want to go out and see the world again?"

Nian Shilan never expected her brother to say these things to Hongli. After hearing his words, she couldn't help but fall into memories. She had almost forgotten how to ride a horse, but she could never forget the exhilarating feeling of riding a horse.

The impulse in her heart grew stronger and stronger. She wanted to chase the wind and leave this place that had trapped and ruined most of her life.

"I think so." At this moment, Nian Shilan no longer used honorifics; etiquette and rules could no longer bind her free spirit.

“Let Consort Hua die in this deep palace, and let Nian Shilan return to where she belongs,” Nian Shilan said, unable to hold back her tears. “There is no need for posthumous honors, nor is there any need for Consort Hua to be buried with the late Emperor. Even if it is just a cenotaph, I do not want to have anything to do with him again.”

“I understand,” Hongli nodded. “I will arrange for someone to send Her Highness back to the Nian residence. Nian Xiyao has made all the arrangements. You can then reappear as a cousin of the Nian family.”

"Thank you." Nian Shilan wiped away her tears and looked at Hongli gratefully. "The only right thing I've ever done in my life is to be good to you. Although my intentions weren't pure at first, I was sincere in the end."

"I know, Consort Hua treats Hongli no differently than my mother." Hongli nodded with a smile. Nian Shilan's feelings were passionate and sincere. She truly did everything she could to be good to him, like a real loving mother, no, just a loving mother.

Nian Shilan smiled through her tears. Over the past few years, because of her concern for Hongli, she had learned a lot. She couldn't help but say, "Hongli, you are no one, and you don't need to be like anyone else. You are the best version of yourself, and you deserve the best."

"Thank you, Mother Hua."

...

On the third day of mourning, news came from the palace that Consort Hua, overwhelmed with grief, had also passed away, following the late emperor.

Yixiu was momentarily dazed upon receiving the news, but she quickly realized that Nian Shilan could not possibly have followed the Emperor in death. If the news had reached her ears, even if she were dead, she would have risen from the dead by now.

She looked at Hongli, who was at the front of the group, dressed in white mourning clothes and meticulous in his manner, and sighed softly, "This time, Nian Shilan's sincerity was not misplaced. Hongli... is a good boy."

Knowing that Nian Shilan had faked her death to leave the palace, Yixiu felt inexplicably restless. Therefore, after the mourning ended, she had no appetite for food.

Just then, Empress Fucha Langhua, along with a group of female relatives, came to persuade her to have a meal in order to show their filial piety.

Fucha Langhua offered a few words of advice, but seeing that Yixiu had no appetite, she gave Qingying a look. After all, Qingying was the Empress Dowager's niece, so hopefully she could be of some use.

Qingying, aware of her different status, stepped forward in a gentle and affectionate tone, picked up a soup bowl, and introduced it to Yixiu: "Aunt, this ham and bamboo shoot soup has snow-white bamboo shoot slices paired with bright red ham, and the soup is golden. It looks quite appetizing, so I served some to you and also added some bamboo shoot slices. Please try it."

Yi Xiu glanced at the soup in Qing Ying's hand, then looked coldly at Qing Ying who was trying to persuade her to drink it. She sighed softly and said in a deep voice, "Qing Ying, do you still acknowledge me as your aunt?"

“Aunt…” Qingying was confused and looked bewildered.

"I believe I have treated you well, yet during the late emperor's funeral, you served me meat..."