Chapter 1118: Grand Finale: Return of an Old Friend (26)

She took out a pen and paper from the drawer and began to write a letter. Then she put the letter into an envelope.

Finally, Empress Xian De pulled out an exquisite jade box from the bottom of the cabinet. The box was covered with a light dust.

She knew about the Yongle Emperor's illness from the moment she married him. It takes a lot of courage to marry a man who you don't know when he will die.

But she was the bravest young lady in the Chief Clerk's house and she admired heroes the most. Emperor Yongle was probably not a hero. He played power games and won people's hearts, and was not upright. But Empress Xian De still felt that he was probably her hero.

At the beginning and at the end.

There was a slender little bottle in the jade box. She took it out and held it in her palm.

On the day she married Emperor Yongle, Empress Xian De prepared this medicine bottle for herself. She said to herself in the mirror, adorned with a phoenix crown and a bridal robe: "Qing Zhen, the people of the Jianghu are brave and decisive, righteousness is the most important thing, and you dare to love and hate. Although you are in an official family, you yearn for the Jianghu."

If he were to pass away one day, you would follow him to the afterlife. This is your decision.

Over the years, every year, Empress Xian De would take out the medicine bottle to look at it, and she was very glad that it was not used in the end. Every year was a special time of joy that she stole from heaven.

Now, it's finally time to take it out.

She was very timid, so timid that after Xie Chi left, she didn't have the courage to live the rest of her life.

She was also very brave, so brave that even though she knew from the beginning that this might be the outcome for her, she still went ahead resolutely.

"Xingzhi, I'm here to see you." She said softly and drank the contents of the medicine bottle in one gulp.

The moon gradually rose out from the clouds and hung high on the willow branches, as if watching the joys and sorrows of the world with a smile.

It's so perfect that it makes you want to cry.

…

Shen Miao slept very uncomfortably that night. Her dreams were always extremely noisy. She wanted to hear clearly what was making the noise, but she could never understand.

It was not until Jingzhe woke her up that Shen Miao looked at the bright light outside and stood up. She touched her forehead and found it was covered with cold sweat. A trace of uneasiness suddenly crossed her heart.

Luo Tan ran in from outside, her eyes were red, she looked at Shen Miao and whispered: "The Queen is dead!"

Shen Miao took the handkerchief from Jingzhe’s hand and dropped it to the ground with a “pop”.

…

In less than a month, Emperor Yongle and Empress Xiande passed away one after another, and the whole country was in great grief.

The Yongle Emperor passed away, and Empress Xian De sacrificed her life to accompany him, a touching scene. Upon hearing the news, the concubines who had previously fought fiercely for power within the palace rushed to the palace. Empress Xian De had been known for her kindness and generosity during her reign, and since Emperor Yongle had not treated her particularly well, these favored concubines had little regard for her. Upon learning of this, some even sighed in regret.

Empress Xian De's father appeared calm from beginning to end. Perhaps he had already expected Empress Xian De to make this decision. Although he was sad, he did not find it unacceptable.

Shen Miao followed the burial rituals for empresses and buried Empress Xian De and Emperor Yong Le together in the imperial mausoleum. Thus, the story of this wise ruler and virtuous empress could only remain forever in the history books of Daliang.

What followed were many things.

Emperor Yongle died, and there was still Empress Xian De. With Empress Xian De's death, who should be the one who calls the shots in the court now? Although Emperor Yongle left behind an edict to pass on the throne, Xie Jingxing had not yet ascended the throne. Speaking of which, calling Shen Miao the Empress now was not an option. However, Emperor Yongle had no other siblings, so the only blood relative was Xie Jingxing.