Chapter 197 Life and Death
Qinzheng Hall.
Xiao Heng was reviewing memorials when Zhou Defu hurried in with a panicked look on his face.
"Your Majesty, this is terrible! News just came from Lingqi Mountain that the Empress Dowager passed away at 12:00 PM last night. Your Majesty..."
He glanced at the expressionless Xiao Heng and said, tongue-tiedly, "The Grand Emperor also went there this morning..."
The thunderous news came one after another, almost making Xiao Heng lose his balance. His knuckles were as white as frost and he tightly grasped the armrests of the dragon throne.
After a long moment, he slowly closed his eyes, his throat trembling slightly as a hoarse voice emanated from his throat: "Grandfather and Grandmother, did you leave any last words?"
Zhou Defu's face was also filled with sorrow. He presented the will with both hands: "This is what the Emperor left behind."
Xiao Heng opened the will with trembling hands:
After a hundred years, there will be no funeral rites for me and the Empress Dowager. I only wish to follow the example of ordinary couples and return to the afterlife in peace.
Your Majesty, please do not let grief harm your body. We both have no regrets in this life, and our lives will be fulfilled. We will die with a smile on our faces.
I and your father have unfinished ambitions, and I firmly believe that Heng'er can carry on the responsibility of the ancestral temple and accomplish great achievements for generations to come.
Xiao Heng's eyes flushed slightly as he stroked the imperial edict with his fingertips.
"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences..."
"Shall I summon the Empress and all the princes and ministers to arrange the funeral ceremony?"
"No need." Xiao Heng wrapped up the will.
"Go out and leave me alone."
Zhou Defu bowed and retreated, gently closing the door of the hall.
When Bu Zian saw Zhou Defu coming out, he quickly asked, "Master, how is the emperor?"
Zhou Defu shook his head, tears welling in his eyes: "The relatives who cared about the emperor have passed away one after another..."
"Your Majesty, I wonder how sad you must be."
After saying that, he let out a long sigh.
In Yaoyue Palace, Liu Zheng was applying medicine for Liu Yuetang.
Wanqiu opened the beaded curtain and came in, "Your Majesty, there's news from the cold palace."
"The madman in the cold palace is becoming increasingly insane and has injured Bai Cainu. I've heard that Bai Cainu is now bedridden. Concubines in the cold palace are not allowed to consult a physician. I believe... Bai Cainu's death is not far away."
Liu Yuetang's eyes were as cold as a pool of water. She looked at the scar on her palm lazily and said, "Good, very well done."
Liu Zheng finally felt relieved after hearing this: "I really wish she would be tortured to death. Your hands are so beautiful, my lady. What if they are left with scars in the future?"
"This bottle of ointment can not only lighten the scars on my back, but it will also lighten the scars on my hands. Take your time."
Although Liu Yuetang spoke calmly, she was still a little worried in her heart. If the scar remained, it would definitely not be beautiful.
Not to mention Xiao Heng, I even feel a little disgusted just looking at him.
"My Lady...it rained yesterday. Do we still need to put medicine in that well?"
There is a well near the cold palace, which is used exclusively for drinking water.
Liu Yuetang asked Wanqiu to add a medicine in it. This medicine is harmless for normal people, but it will make the condition of a crazy person worse. The person will return to normal after stopping the medicine.
In the past, if Liu Yuetang wanted to take medicine, Doctor Shen would definitely ask in detail about the purpose of the medicine.
But this time, he handed the medicine to Liu Yuetang without asking any questions.
Liu Yuetang thought for a moment and said, "Then there's no need to continue administering the medicine."
Doctor Shen once said that this medicine needs to be discontinued for several months before its medicinal properties can be completely eliminated.
I think Bai Cainu won’t last more than a month.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Zhongzi walked in with a solemn expression and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, news just came from the Imperial Court that the Retired Emperor and the Retired Empress Dowager have passed away."
Liu Yuetang's brows suddenly tightened, and her eyes were filled with astonishment: "What?"
"Have both the Retired Emperor and the Retired Empress Dowager passed away? How could it be so sudden?"
Wan Qiu pondered and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were deeply in love. I think..."
Liu Yuetang also guessed some of Wanqiu's next words.
It turns out that people who truly love each other can stay together through life and death.
Also, for the retired emperor, the retired empress dowager was his only true love.
When the love you have passed away, what is the joy of living?
Even if a body is left in the world, it is nothing more than a walking corpse.
"very nice……"
Liu Yuetang smiled sadly, feeling sad for the death of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
But I also envy this kind of love that lasts through life and death.
It is easy to get glory in life, but it is hard to find deep love in old age.
Being able to receive the emperor's lifelong love, the Empress Dowager is the happiest woman in the world.
"Where is the emperor now?" Liu Yuetang withdrew her thoughts and looked at Xiao Zhongzi.
"I heard that the emperor has locked himself in the Qinzheng Palace and won't let anyone in."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuetang quickly stood up.
"Your Majesty, are you going to the Imperial Court?" Wan Qiu hurriedly held her hand.
Seeing Liu Yuetang walking out steadily, Liu Zheng hurriedly followed to protect her.
"Your Majesty... The Emperor has locked himself in the palace. He probably doesn't want anyone to enter. You might not be able to see the Emperor even if you go. And now that you're pregnant, you should take care of yourself."
Liu Yuetang raised her hand and stroked her lower abdomen: "I know my body well."
After a full twenty days of nursing, her dragon fetus was already stable and her body was fine. She announced that she needed to nurse the baby, simply because she didn't want to pay respects or be disturbed.
Now that Xiao Heng has lost two important relatives, he must be extremely sad.
Since she couldn't be the woman who appeared when he was at his lowest point, she had to be the woman who stayed by his side when he was sad.
As soon as Liu Yuetang stepped out of Yaoyue Palace, she heard the familiar sound of rings and pendants. She looked up and saw Xiao Heng getting off the sedan chair and walking towards her.
In the setting sun, the corners of his brocade robe were lifted by the wind.
The loose hair on her temples was blown wildly.
"Your Majesty..." Liu Yuetang stood there in a daze, her face stained with a golden halo by the setting sun.
Xiao Heng looked calm and indifferent, but there was a mist of sadness in his eyes.
He walked up to Liu Yuetang and stared at her thin gauze dress and her hair without any jewelry. "It's so windy, why did you go out like this?"
Liu Yuetang looked at him and said, "I am afraid that you will feel uncomfortable, so I am eager to accompany you..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Heng hugged her tightly in his arms.
Liu Yuetang knew that no matter how many words she said now, they would not be as important as a hug and companionship.
She raised her hands and placed them on Xiao Heng's back, stroking his back again and again as if coaxing a child.
The last ray of sunlight slanted through the palace wall, leaving only the overlapping figures of the two people on the ground.
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