Chapter 123: The Queen's Death [First Update]

"What?" Wen Wanyu and Xie Junyao exclaimed in surprise at the same time. After the Empress was imprisoned, Wen Wanyu hadn't seen her since. Shuyi had visited the Empress several times, saying that with the Empress Dowager's care, the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Household Department wouldn't dare neglect her. Even so, the Empress's expression grew increasingly grim.

Shuyi said that the queen did not regret what she had done. Her obsession was too deep, and she could no longer live the rest of her life in peace.

Wen Wanyu felt a strange feeling in her heart. She and the Queen had known each other for a few days, but she had never expected that they would be separated by heaven and earth in just a few months.

Xie Junyao lowered his eyes and looked at the dragon pattern on his body, wondering what he was thinking. After a moment, he asked, "The Queen is ill? Why didn't anyone come to report it?"

Li Dexian said, "In reply to the emperor, the empress committed suicide. When her personal maid found her, she was already dead."

Wen Wanyu: "Suicide?"

Later we learned that the queen had chosen the most painful way to die.

"Yes. This is the last letter that the Empress's personal maid found on the dressing table." Xie Junyao handed the letter to Xie Junyao.

There were four words written on the letter: From the Emperor himself.

Xie Junyao stared at the four words for a long time before opening the letter.

The letter reads:

"For the past few years, I have been consumed by the grief of losing my child, my obsession swirling, leading me to a grave error. I acknowledge my mistake, yet I have no regrets. I only regret my weakness, unable to protect Lin'er. Now that I have exacted my revenge, there is no chance of a resurgence for the Zheng family."

Let go of one thought and you will be free.

I am fully aware of the gravity of my sins and dare not ask for anything from Huang Ling. I only ask that I be allowed to be with Lin'er.

Your humble servant, Shen, wishes His Majesty good luck in spring, peace in summer, and prosperity in autumn and winter. May His Majesty and his beloved live in harmony. Furthermore, I hope we will never meet again in our next life.

Xie Junyao put away this "last letter." He lowered his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "There's no need to hold a grand funeral for Shen. Bury her with the rites of a consort and place her in the imperial mausoleum. Pass the order down now."

Li Dexian bowed and said, "Yes. I'll do it right away."

Wen Wanyu knew that he was feeling bad at the moment. She held his hand, and his fingertips felt slightly cold. He immediately held her hand back and turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

Wen Wanyu shook her head.

Xie Junyao looked at the slender white fingers and neatly trimmed nails, "Concubine Zheng always says that I owe her, but if we talk about grievances, the Queen has suffered no less than her."

Afraid she would overthink it, he added belatedly, "I'm not..."

Wen Wanyu's eyes were like a pool of clear water, and she smiled at him, "I know. I understand."

Xie Junyao pulled her into his arms and held her quietly: "Wanwan, it's great to have you."

Wen Wanyu asked, "Then won't you go see the Queen for the last time?"

"I won't go. The Queen probably doesn't want me to go either."

…

On April 12, the fifth year of the Yongyan reign, the Empress passed away. The Emperor suspended court for three days. The Empress was buried with the rites accorded to a Concubine, and placed in the Concubine Garden.

Even though Shen was imprisoned on the charge of plotting to murder the heir to the throne, she had managed the affairs of the harem for so many years and had given birth to the second prince with great effort. However, despite all her merits and demerits, she was only buried as a concubine and finally in the concubine's mausoleum. The Shen family was somewhat dissatisfied.

Xie Junyao submitted memorials many times, but they were all rejected one by one. However, he guessed that the throne would remain vacant for many years.

Xie Junyao had always been wary of Concubine An and Concubine De, so the important task of presiding over Queen Shen's funeral naturally fell on Concubine Hui, Cheng Shuyi, and Concubine Jin.

On the 27th, the mourning period for Empress Shen ended.

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[I'll update chapter by chapter as I'm still writing. The main text will be finished today, and there will be two more chapters today.]