Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Death News, Vomiting Blood

Though young, the Crown Prince was no longer a child. Over the past two years, his father's temperament had changed dramatically, his appearance had deteriorated, and he had watched silently. He still remembered the day during court when an old minister simply advised against the harmful effects of elixirs. His father had him dragged out and beheaded on the spot, accusing him of "plotting to murder the emperor."

The ministers in the hall were silent as a mouse, the emperor's ferocious expression deeply engraved in his mind. If the Grand Tutor hadn't intervened in time, he would have rushed out to plead for mercy.

Later, the Grand Tutor's single words, "The Emperor's majesty cannot be challenged, not even by the Crown Prince," chilled him to the bone like a drenching cold water. From then on, he suppressed all his fear deep within his heart, never revealing a single word to even his mother or cousin.

Seeing his mother actually disobeying the rules and mobilizing the imperial guards, he suddenly realized that his mother had already known about the undercurrent in the palace, but had also remained silent because of the fear of his father's power.

Since there are no external enemies, why do we need imperial guards?

Lu Canzhi was my cousin's right-hand man, and after he assumed the responsibility of the inspection, many government affairs were entrusted to him. Another person who was named was the General of the Imperial Guards, and he was also a loyal and good person that my cousin had personally recognized before leaving the capital.

At this moment, the Queen Mother urgently summoned them into the palace--

Yuan Zhaoming's thoughts raced as he suddenly understood. He looked up in surprise and met his mother's tearful gaze.

Mother and son stared at each other in the chariot. Empress Guo had suppressed her grief and regained her composure. She pressed the crown prince's forehead against hers and spoke in a deep, clear voice, "My son, your father has died suddenly from taking the elixir. This information is known only to you, me, and Chief Steward Liu."

She gently wiped the tears from the prince's cheek with her fingertips. "You are the crown prince of Dasheng, the future emperor. Even if your heart is broken, you must uphold the demeanor of a crown prince. Although your father did not achieve great things, he should not tarnish his reputation with such shameful acts."

Yuan Zhaoming had a suspicion in his mind. Though grief was unbearable, he also understood the principle that "a crown prince should prioritize the country." He bit his lip hard and nodded emphatically.

Empress Guo was both relieved and distressed, but she had no time to dwell on her grief. Wiping away her son's tears, she explained the harsh reality: "Your cousin is a thousand miles away, and it will take him two months to return to the capital, even if he travels day and night. During this time, I rely on you to maintain stability at court."

"Remember, you are the one and only crown prince of Dasheng. No one can shake your position!"

She gazed at the Crown Prince's tender yet resolute face and said word by word, "My son, you only need to do one thing now: remain calm as usual, as if nothing has happened. Everything just waits for your cousin to return. Do you understand?"

"The Queen Mother wants to--"

Yuan Zhaoming understood what was meant and swallowed the words "keep the death a secret" back into his throat, but he only felt a chill on his back.

If his father were still around to personally pass on the throne, or if his cousin was still in charge of the court, he would have been at ease. But now that his father had passed away suddenly and his cousin had not yet returned, with the young ruler and the country in turmoil, if the news leaked out, even if they, an orphan and a widow, had a noble reputation, there was no guarantee that powerful ministers and members of the royal family would take advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos.

If I am forced to appoint important officials at this time, causing power to fall into the hands of others, even if my cousin returns, I am afraid it will be too late to save the situation.

Despite their noble status, the Crown Prince and Empress must exercise caution during this period of drastic change. Rebellions by ministers during successive periods of power are common throughout dynasties, so it's crucial to exercise caution at this moment.

He suddenly thought of something, startled, and whispered: "Mother, that cousin--"

Empress Guo was equally filled with worry, but at this moment, she had to calm herself. "As long as the news is kept strictly secret, it will be fine. Your cousin is surrounded by elite guards. With his keen sense, even if the news leaks out, he will surely discern the truth and return to the capital quickly."

She held the prince's hand tightly, and said in a soft but firm voice, "Right now, the most dangerous ones are us, mother and son..."

The sedan chair arrived at the Wanshou Palace in a whisper. In just a few words, mother and son decided on a strategy for dealing with this catastrophic upheaval, which could overturn the government and the nation.

-

The imperial guards only obeyed the emperor's orders, and only listened to the orders of the empress and the crown prince.

Since Fu Zhirong was a trusted minister of Gu Yan, Empress Guo immediately ordered as soon as he got off the sedan chair: "General Fu, guard the palace gate strictly. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my written order."

Fu Zhirong's expression froze, and he bowed solemnly: "I obey your command!" He then raised his arm and gave orders, quickly taking over the responsibility of guarding the Wanshou Palace.

The mother and son, along with their trusted guards, entered the inner hall, and the palace gates closed heavily behind them.

Chief Steward Liu had already prepared the Emperor's appearance, and now he lay peacefully asleep on the dragon couch. Empress Guo and the Crown Prince lay prostrate before the couch, their cries of grief uncontrollable. It was not until Chief Steward Liu approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please prioritize the state" that the two men suppressed their cries, wiped their tears, and rose to consult the kneeling imperial physician.

After hearing the imperial physician's trembling report, Empress Guo wiped her tears and straightened her clothes. Her phoenix eyes slowly swept over the people in the palace. Although her voice was choked with sobs, her dignity remained undiminished. "Your Majesty has been in poor health since this harsh summer. I do not wish to hear any unwarranted rumors."

She paused slightly, her eyes sharp as a blade, and said word by word, "Do you understand?"

Everyone in the hall felt their lives were in danger, but upon hearing this, they felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They kowtowed repeatedly and swore, "Your servants and I will obey the Imperial Order. If we leak even a single word, we will be willing to accept the ultimate punishment!"

After everyone had left, Empress Guo turned to the Imperial Chamberlain, who had served her for many years, and said, "Until the Minister of the Chancellery returns to the capital, the news of His Majesty's passing must not be leaked. All daily activities must continue as usual. Anyone with knowledge of this matter is confined to the palace today."

She suddenly leaned forward, her voice soft but every word weighted, "Chief Steward Liu has served Your Majesty for many years and is deeply trusted. You should know that those who betray you never have a good end."

Chief Steward Liu, a longtime Imperial servant, possessed a discerning eye comparable to that of a courtier. He understood the stakes of life and death, and discerned the hidden meaning behind the Empress's words. The court cycled like the seasons, and for someone of his stature to preserve his position, he had no choice but to seize the moment.

Now that Lord Ling has not returned and the Crown Prince is young, he needs help. If he shows his loyalty at this time, he may become the confidant of the new emperor.

Thinking of this, he immediately knelt and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highness have trusted me so much that I will serve you wholeheartedly! I will obey your orders and will not hesitate to die!"

Empress Guo breathed a sigh of relief. A power vacuum is the worst danger. If the emperor's death were revealed at this moment, chaos would ensue. While the palace maids could be replaced, the imperial steward could not be tampered with without authorization.

Even though he has always been cautious in his words and actions, matters of imperial power do not allow for any chance of success.

Despite the oath, Empress Guo still did not fully believe it.

On that day, the "Emperor's Oral Order" was conveyed through the mouth of the chief steward, ordering the empress to accompany the emperor and the prince to attend to government affairs.

Empress Guo personally guarded the Emperor's chambers, the Grand Councilor maintained a firm hold on the previous court, and Fu Zhirong strictly enforced the palace restrictions. Fortunately, the Emperor's long-standing adjournment to court was well established, and the court, both civil and military, did not notice anything unusual. Thus, the turmoil was temporarily suppressed within the vermilion palace walls.

---

In the 34th year of Chengping, at the end of October, the Shangshu Ling, who was supposed to be inspecting the canal workers outside, quietly returned to the capital and went straight into the palace.

While the dignitaries in the capital were still speculating about possible problems with the canal construction, at five o'clock that night, the palace urgently summoned the cabinet ministers and important officials from the six ministries. Soon, news spread throughout the court and the country that the emperor had passed away, the throne had been passed to the crown prince, and the Shangshu Ling had been promoted to prime minister.

Only then did everyone realize that the Shangshu Ling had hurried back to the capital because he had entrusted his son to the care of others before his death.

That night, all the ministers were summoned to the palace. The imperial edict of succession was personally checked by three important ministers to confirm its correctness, so no one suspected anything was wrong.

The following day, all officials, dressed in mourning, entered the palace to mourn. Ceremonial officials recited the late emperor's achievements, while ministers prostrated themselves, respectfully bidding the emperor farewell. As soon as the funeral was complete, the Imperial Clothing Bureau, following the ancient precept that "a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day," worked overnight to create the imperial crown and robes.

After twenty-seven days of rest, the late emperor's coffin was brought to a temporary resting place in the funeral palace. That same day, the Crown Prince offered sacrifices before the deceased emperor's coffin, ascended the throne in the Golden Throne Hall, and was attended by officials. Once the mausoleum was secure, the grand enshrinement ceremony would take place.

On December 3, winter of the 36th year of Chengping, Crown Prince Yuan Zhaoming succeeded to the throne in accordance with the emperor's will and issued an edict to change the reign title to "Xu Zhang".

Because the new emperor was young, Prime Minister Tan Jingyao was temporarily appointed as regent, and power would be returned to the emperor when he reached the age of majority.

After ascending the throne, the new emperor first followed the Ministry of Rites' request and posthumously conferred the title of Emperor Renxuan on the deceased emperor and the title of Empress Dowager Ren. Second, he issued a general amnesty after the funeral rites were completed. Third, he promoted the former members of the Crown Prince's staff. Fu Zhirong and others were among those honored, which didn't seem out of place.

---

Born in the first month of the lunar calendar, Qin Jingyao's destiny was marked by misfortune. As a child in the Qin residence, rumors spread that he was destined to bring disaster upon his mother. Upon hearing this, Guo Wanyi, then Empress Dowager, immediately suppressed the rumors, selling off all the servants who had made false accusations. The masters involved were also severely punished. She then personally brought her nephew to the palace to raise him.

Over the years, everyone in the Qin family watched helplessly as the once neglected child rose step by step until he was promoted to the rank of first-rank prime minister at the age of thirty, and the regret in their hearts grew day by day.

Qin's father and his parents had tried to make amends, but the other party might have been precocious and held a grudge, or resented the family for mistreating his biological mother, or was simply cold-hearted by nature, and no matter how they tried to persuade him with soft words or put pressure on him with filial piety, he remained unmoved.

He would even retaliate when threatened, causing the Qin family to suffer the consequences.

Therefore, even though he was still young at the time, he was already not to be underestimated. As his power grew, the Qin family no longer dared to even think of attaching themselves to him.

Furthermore, Empress Guo deeply resented the Qin family, resenting their husband's remarriage after only a year of mourning for his wife and even more angered by their harsh treatment of her nephew. This led her to suspect that her sister had suffered greatly in the Qin family during her lifetime, and she resented herself for being a mere unknown princess, even less powerful than a court lady's wife. Instead of being able to support her sister, she had to rely on her for care.

Now that her status has changed dramatically, she naturally has to return the money with interest.

Tan Muyuan was originally a third-rank official in the court, but since then he was transferred to an idle position, gradually moving away from the center of power. Finally, he was demoted on the grounds of "receiving rewards without merit", and now he is just a minor official of the sixth rank.

The Qin family, a family of officials with three generations of illustriousness, could have been among the most aristocratic families. However, there is no such thing as regret. Although the family was once wealthy and not financially strapped, they could not withstand the pain of going from extravagance to frugality.

Despite repeated demotions, the government's expenses remained unabated. As their wealth ran out, their stately homes were reduced to shabby rooms in narrow alleys, and their servants dispersed, revealing their current predicament. Now, they resent one another daily, their faces bitter and aging.

Although Qin Jingyao hadn't openly severed his relationship, Empress Guo had already established a separate residence for him. The gifts given during the New Year holidays were all imperial gifts, seemingly lavish, but in reality, they couldn't be sold for emergencies and had to be carefully maintained to avoid incrimination. The rest were merely flashy decorations.

Everyone in the Qin Mansion was like a dumb person eating bitter herbs, suffering terribly but not daring to speak out.

-

At this moment, Qin Jingyao, who should have been feeling very proud, was in a stalemate with the empress dowager and the new emperor in the palace.

Over two months ago, he rushed back to the capital day and night, barely resting before entering the palace to make decisions. He drafted imperial edicts, controlled the imperial city, and stabilized the government. He also spent days negotiating with important officials, managing the funeral rites for the previous emperor, and assisting the new emperor in ascending the throne.

He rested for less than two hours every day, and the long-term hard work made him thinner, but his eyes became more profound and compelling, and his aura made people dare not look at him directly.

The Empress Dowager and the new Emperor, having weathered this ordeal, were both dependent on and grateful to him. The rapid stabilization of the court was entirely due to his strong leadership. In the minds of both mother and son, even the position of Prime Minister would not be enough to reward his achievements. However, having just been promoted, it was inconvenient to offer further honors, so they could only express their gratitude through a stream of rewards.

Seeing him so haggard, how could they bear to let him go on another long journey? Although the new emperor had ascended the throne, he still respected his cousin and could not utter a word of command.

Empress Dowager Guo could only gently advise, "...Besides, he is accompanied by a hundred guards. Now that the political situation has been settled, his safety is assured. If you are truly concerned, you can send orders to the various prefectures along the way to provide assistance."

She paused briefly, then added, "The court officials are already advising you to appoint a queen. This is a matter of vital importance to the balance of power. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and before the queen is appointed, how can you leave the capital at this moment?"

The new emperor then responded, "Your Majesty, what you say is absolutely true. Even if you're worried about your cousin's wife, you should also consider yourself. The journey is long, and even a body of steel can't withstand such an ordeal. If you go to pick her up in person, you'll have to worry about state affairs while traveling. I'm afraid both of you will fall ill. Why not let the First Rank Lady return to the capital at a later time, depending on her health?"

Qin Jingyao hadn't slept in a long time, his internal organs ablaze with anger. If it weren't for his years of self-cultivation, he would have exploded at this moment, repeatedly stopped. He lowered his head and pinched his forehead. This inappropriate behavior did not cause dissatisfaction among the mother and son on the throne, but instead filled them with worry.

Although the political situation had been settled and the new emperor had been installed, the journey would still take at least a month and a half, even by land and sea. As the emperor had said, he would be reluctant to let Nong Nong suffer the rough ride on the return trip, so the journey would inevitably be slowed down, and it might not be until the beginning of next spring before they could return to the capital.

It had been half a year since we last met, and now, with so many officials eyeing the Empress's position, people's hearts were volatile and prone to change. If I left the court at this time, even with the presence of officials in the capital, it would be difficult to stop the undercurrent.

But he had promised her in the letter that he would come to meet her in person when the matter was settled. He had broken his promise three years ago, and he would not let her down again this time.

Leaving her alone in Wangquan was already a debt, and now she was probably angry. Aside from that initial reply, all subsequent news came from Tongze. Although I had every detail under control, I hadn't seen her for over a hundred days, and I had already been consumed by longing.

He would never let her spend the New Year's Eve alone in a foreign land.

Qin Jingyao slowly lowered his hand and opened his eyes, his gaze as firm as a rock. He abruptly stood and bowed deeply to the throne. "Your Majesty, Queen Dowager, please allow me to report. Since I have been entrusted by the late Emperor to assist in the administration, I must prioritize the country. I will ensure that court affairs are properly arranged. However, I request that Your Majesty issue a decree to postpone the selection of a new empress until next year."

He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot like spiderwebs, but his voice was resounding: "When I return, I will apologize to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother. But at this moment—" His Adam's apple rolled, and each word carried a thousand words of great weight, "A man without trust cannot stand. Your wife is waiting for me."

Perhaps frightened by his determination, or perhaps out of pity for his hard work and great achievements, the mother and son on the throne finally nodded in agreement.

The vermilion palace gates opened one after another to make way for him.

-

After leaving the palace, Qin Jingyao immediately sent a message to Lu Tingwen and Fu Zhirong, and ordered Jiang Ting to organize the palace guards and carriages. Returning home, he instructed Yan Feng and housekeeper Guo to strictly guard the mansion. After a quick bath and change of clothes, he went to the front hall to tell the two who had rushed over that he had left the capital under a secret order, and ordered them to fulfill their duties, look after the capital, and keep the news coming at all times.

After the two men received the order and left, he was about to get on the car to take a rest on the way, but Tongze suddenly appeared quickly from the darkness and knelt in front of the car.

Qin Jingyao's heart had already flown to Wangquan, and although his anger was burning, he was keenly aware of something unusual. He suddenly lowered his gaze to the kneeling figure, his eyes suddenly sharp as a knife, and a chill ran through his heart for no apparent reason.

"...Why are you here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he abruptly turned his eyes away, almost hastily trying to drive around the person in front of him, as if he was fleeing in panic and didn't want to hear any response.

However, Tongze's voice cut off all escape routes.

The short six words came through the air like thousands of arrows piercing the heart.

Qin Jingyao's vision went dark, and he stumbled, holding onto the shaft of the cart to avoid falling. But he felt dizzy, and a fishy-sweet taste welled up in his throat, but he stubbornly believed it was due to excessive fatigue.

A short laugh escaped his throat. He pressed his forehead, his knuckles turning white, but he couldn't hold back the blood. The fire in his internal organs rushed straight to his eyes, forcing them to turn red.

......

Qin Jingyao took a deep breath, tilted his head back slightly and stretched his neck, then asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you just say?"

Tongze knelt deeply on the ground, his ten fingers tightly digging into the cracks of the bluestone slabs. Cold sweat instantly soaked his forehead, and he fell to the ground silently. His throat felt like it was swallowing a knife, but he had to report: "...Sir, the lady is dead."

boom!

It was as if heavenly fire was burning the world and crashing down on him, bringing with it a devastating disaster.

Qin Jingyao stumbled backwards as if struck hard, his blood surging through his lungs. A sweet, fishy taste burst forth, bursting forth violently. His entire body seemed to be ripped from his bones, and he collapsed to his knees.

"grown ups!"

Jiang Ting and the palace guards had never seen the lord in such a state before. They were all horrified and hurried forward to help him.

Qin Jingyao suddenly threw away all support and tried to stand up with one hand, but his arms were shaking so much that he couldn't exert any strength. He raised his face between heavy breaths, his jaw stained with blood, his black hair disheveled, and his phoenix eyes were as sinister as an Asura's, fixed on Tongze, his voice hoarse and cracked.

"Do you know what you are saying?"

Blood seeped between his teeth as he spoke each word with a tone as if icy: "Those who disobey orders and curse the mistress deserve—a thousand, cuts, ten thousand, slices!"

The murderous intent that rushed towards him was almost condensed into substance, like an ice blade piercing his bones. Tongze's throat tightened, as if being strangled by an invisible hand. He could hardly breathe, and his head and face were instantly covered with cold sweat. However, he suddenly crawled a few steps on his knees, boldly raised his head, his eyes full of pain, but he still did not change a word.

"Sir! I dare not speak rashly. Madam did indeed fall ill two months ago and burned herself to death—"

"Shut up! You're looking for death!"

Qin Jingyao shouted to stop him, and with a burst of strength coming from nowhere, he kicked him away fiercely. Then he staggered to his feet, his body swaying as if drunk, and rushed straight towards the horse in front of the carriage!

"grown ups!"

Tongze swallowed his bitter mouthful and rushed forward again, clinging to his legs tightly, screaming with a fearless despair, "Madam passed away two months ago and set herself on fire! This subordinate and Doctor Mo saw it with our own eyes! At that time, you were rushing back to the capital to stabilize the situation. I dared to suppress the news. I have returned to the capital early this time to report the truth to you and accept death! Before leaving, I personally took care of the funeral arrangements and ordered the palace guards to escort Madam's belongings back to the capital within three days!"

"I know I deserve death, but if you want to kill me, I won't complain!"

As soon as the words fell, the whole yard fell into dead silence.

Qin Jingyao stood frozen in place, his ears ringing incessantly. His internal organs seemed to have a will of their own, pounding against his chest like a battering ram. The pain was so intense that he almost wanted to rip his chest open and let them scatter. But they couldn't break free, so they turned around and tore at each other, killing each other, eventually converging into a surging river of blood that rushed outward with devastating force.

But he didn't feel any pain.

The soul has already flown across thousands of mountains, against the flow of time, and returned to the day of separation.

He saw his beloved Nong Nong lying on her side, her back to the bed, her black hair half-covered and half-exposed. Behind her ear, faint marks from his sucking remained, and the sweet peach and pear fragrance she loved permeated her skin and bones, filling the bed with warmth. He leaned in for a kiss as he had done in the past, but the next moment, the soft bed curtains suddenly burst into flames, engulfed in flames!

Her hair, her clothes, her warm fragrance, were instantly engulfed by the flames. He rushed madly in panic, but he could only pierce through the shadow again and again. No matter how he screamed and called for help, no matter how he rushed forward, he could only watch the figure being swallowed up inch by inch by the sea of ​​fire.

In the end, he was unable to see her face.

I don't know how much pain she must have felt at that time.

His neck was as stiff as ice, making a grinding sound when he turned it. Qin Jingyao felt dizzy, his eyes wide open, a bloodshot sight. As soon as he opened his mouth, boiling blood gushed out.

"grown ups!!!"

"grown ups!"

"grown ups!"

"Quickly call the court doctor!"

There was panic all around, but Qin Jingyao turned a deaf ear to it. He shook his head violently, as if to dispel the horrific scene in his mind, then chuckled softly, and then burst into laughter. Although his vision was blurred, he accurately locked onto Tongze's direction. His bloody fingertips tapped a few times, his voice hoarse and unclear with blood in his throat.

"It must be Madam. She taught you to scare me like this. I know she's mad at me. Angry that I insisted on taking her on this long journey, regardless of her discomfort. Angry that I took her out and left her alone. Angry that I didn't go to pick her up for so long."

“Yes and no? Hahaha…”

His laughter trembled, but he didn't know where he got the strength from. He struggled to get up from the ground using his hands and feet, walked towards the horse with a staggering but extremely firm step, and swallowed the blood that was rushing to his throat.

"...She has always been so cunning and unrestrained, even playing with her own life and death. When I bring her back, I will definitely give her a good scolding..."

"...She's so smart, but this time she revealed her flaw. How could she have contracted the disease with Mo Chou by her side? With so many people guarding her, are they all useless, watching her burn to death?"

"...She blames me, and rightly so. I've already broken my promise to her once. I promised her I wouldn't lie to her again."

His voice gradually faded, like a dream. "She's still waiting for me, waiting for me to take her home... She should be angry. When we meet, she should let her beat and scold me and punish me..."

“Thick…”

“Thick…”

"big--!"

Jiang Ting stopped Tongze from advancing again and shouted in a low voice, "The master has gone nearly insane! If we continue to try to stop him now, I'm afraid we'll really drive him to death!"

After saying this, he took a deep breath, hurried forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "Please get in the car and adjust your appearance. I will drive you to pick up your wife immediately."

After being reminded by him, Qin Jingyao looked down and saw that he was covered in blood. He wiped it with his hands like an ignorant child, muttering and nodding, "You're right. Nongnong said that one should dress up to please oneself. She loves me the way I look. If she saw me like this, she would definitely be disgusted..."

"Your Excellency is absolutely right."

Jiang Ting carefully supported him and murmured in agreement. After safely putting him in the car, Fang breathed a sigh of relief, gestured to the housekeeper who was dumbfounded and silently weeping beside him, and asked him to clean up the mess. Then he called Tongze and a team of palace guards and drove out of the palace.