Chapter 324 Leaving
Perhaps because he was exhausted, or perhaps because he was completely relaxed, Xiao Heng slept exceptionally soundly that night.
When I woke up again, it was already bright outside. The sunlight coming through the window lattice fell on the quilt, so warm that it was a little dazzling.
Xiao Heng raised his hand and subconsciously reached to his side, but his fingertips brushed against only a slightly cool quilt, empty.
His pupils suddenly dilated, his heart trembled, and he almost staggered out of bed.
I searched the entire house but couldn't find Liu Yuetang.
Instead, he saw an imperial edict quietly placed on the vermilion table.
He walked to the table step by step, heavily.
That imperial edict was the one he gave her personally.
The burn hole was shocking, like a torn wound, glowing coldly in the morning light.
He stretched out his hand tremblingly, but he didn't dare to put it down or look at the words on it.
He probably guessed it.
Guessed what was written above.
He also guessed that her purpose of leaving the palace was to leave him.
After a long while, he finally fixed his gaze on the imperial edict, and saw the familiar words:
Xiao Heng, when you see this letter, I have already left.
I have been in the palace for four years and have had the opportunity to get to know the emperor and be favored by him. This is truly the blessing of my life.
Yet, fate itself must end. Your Majesty has vast territories to protect, and I, your concubine, have a heart of freedom to pursue. From now on, there is no more vastness in the world. Your Majesty need not search, need not grieve. The land is vast, and there are more virtuous women by your side to protect this beautiful world together.
Finally, I wish the emperor peace in spring, prosperity in summer, tranquility in autumn and peace in winter, no worries in all four seasons, and good health every year.
Liu Yuetang's last work.
When he read the last word, Xiao Heng's vision had already blurred and tears fell on the brocade.
"Long live the good health..."
He sighed in grief and burst into tears: "Long... Long... Healthy..."
"Liu Yuetang, don't you understand? Without you, how can I live in good health every year?"
"Of all the women in the world... the only one I want is you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he finally couldn't hold on and slid down the chair to the ground.
*****
The 16th day of the first lunar month, the 9th year of Jingyuan.
Just after the Lantern Festival, the joy within the palace walls was wrapped in a layer of frost.
An imperial edict that shocked the six palaces was issued as the emperor returned to the palace:
"Noble Consort Jing, Zong Zheng, was a virtuous and prudent woman, well-behaved and well-mannered. Last night, while personally protecting the Emperor, she perished. I mourn deeply and am deeply saddened."
In recognition of her loyalty and bravery, and moved by her virtue, we now specially promote Lady Zong Zheng to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, and grant her the posthumous title of "Zhaoxian" - to show her loyalty and bravery, and to honor her virtue and prudence.
When the concubines heard this decree, they did not react for a long time.
Is this Concubine Jing who threatened the six palaces gone?
Just gone like that?
And she was posthumously named Imperial Noble Consort?
The position of Imperial Noble Consort was abolished during the reign of Emperor Gaozu.
The Imperial Noble Consort is superior to the Noble Consort and is equivalent to the Vice Queen. No one in the harem has received this honor in the past hundred years.
The emperor actually broke a century-old rule for a concubine who had only been in the palace for a few months?
However, thinking that this was ultimately just an honor for a dead person, the fear in the concubines' hearts gradually faded, and turned into a complicated and indescribable feeling.
After all, no matter how noble the dead are, they can't compete for favor or get in anyone's way.
When Rong Yue heard the news, the embroidery needle in her hand suddenly pierced her fingertips, and a drop of bright red instantly seeped out and dripped onto the plain white satin.
She immediately staggered to the Weiyang Palace.
Her intuition told her that Liu Yuetang was not dead.
After going to Weiyang Palace, Rong Yue heard that Liu Yuetang was not dead, but had just left the palace. The tears that she had been holding back for a long time finally rolled down her cheeks.
Those tears contained lightness, melancholy and blessings.
The queen gently lifted the tea lid and her eyes fell on the plum blossoms on the table that Liu Yuetang had arranged with her own hands yesterday.
"She, like me, has spent half her life chasing power and status, yet standing at the pinnacle, her heart is filled with desolation. Only later did she realize that the fresh breeze of freedom is far superior to this cold power."
"The sky is vast and the sea is open for birds to fly freely. Why confine yourself to such a small space? She is Concubine Jing, and even more so, Liu Yuetang. Although she is a mother, she is also herself."
"Loving yourself can withstand the long years. I envy her and wish her well."
"For the rest of her life, she can finally live according to her own wishes. We should be happy for her."
"Yes!" Rong Yue nodded and took up her handkerchief to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
His voice choked with sobs: "I just feel a little regretful that I couldn't meet her before she left."
The Queen looked at Rong Yue's red eyes and said gently, "She wanted to see you, but she was afraid that if we parted, the tears would only increase her sadness."
"But Yuetang is thinking of you."
"Before she left, she asked me to do two things. The first was to ask me to persuade His Majesty to allow Yue'er to go to Lanyue Kingdom when she was older, so that mother and daughter could be reunited."
"The second thing is to ask for your imperial decree to make you my consort and raise the Third Prince under your wing."
"What?" Rong Yue's eyes were full of astonishment.
Raising a prince and being promoted to a concubine, just one of these things is a blessing that many people in the harem have tried their best to obtain.
Before she left the palace, she was still thinking about herself, fearing that it would be difficult for her to survive in the palace in the future, so she paved such a safe path for herself.
Thinking of this, Rong Yue's eyes filled with tears and her throat became more and more sore.
The Queen's gentle voice echoed in her ears again, "In this deep palace, you need a child to feel completely secure. Although the Third Prince is Bai's child, he is still young. Over time, he will become very close to you. In the long years ahead, it won't be like this, with the palace filled with only desolation."
"Yes, what the Empress said is certainly correct, but will the Emperor agree?"
She did not have a distinguished family background. Although her only brother was willing to fight and make a name for himself in the military camp with his brute force and cleverness, he was only a fire captain in charge of a dozen soldiers and could not even reach the edge of the court robes.
Although the third prince is not as favored as other princes and princesses, and is even less likely to inherit the throne, he is still a prince after all. Even if he adopts one himself, the emperor may not agree.
The Queen said, "The Emperor will agree, and for Yuetang's sake, he will treat you well."
After being married for more than ten years, she still understood Xiao Heng well.
Sure enough, after the Queen talked to Xiao Heng, he agreed immediately.
The decree to confer the title of consort and to raise the third prince Xiao Chengye was immediately sent to Liuhua Palace.
Just half a month after the death of Imperial Noble Consort Zhaoxian, news came from the cold palace that Su Nanqing could not survive the torture and died late at night.
It is said that when she died, her body was festered beyond recognition, her flesh was rotten and stuck to the straw mat, pus mixed with blood flowed down, and the stench was extremely foul.
Afterwards, news came from some palace, saying that Concubine Jing Zong Zheng Qianyin was not dead.
The reason for the rumor was also related to Xiao Heng - he sent all the most capable secret guards and confidants around him out of the palace, and quietly investigated something inside and outside the city.
Later, someone who was well-informed got a vague clue: the person those people were looking for was actually a woman.
Those concubines who were quick-witted would inevitably think of Zong Zheng Qianyin.
After hearing the news, Concubine Ming went to the emperor to ask foolishly.
Ever since Liu Yuetang left, Xiao Heng became bad-tempered. Seeing that Ming Jieyu had hidden meaning in her words, he immediately became furious and demoted her to a beauty.
Two months after the "death" of Imperial Noble Consort Zhaoxian, a Baolin was seen playing the pipa in the imperial garden, with makeup and clothes exactly the same as those of Zong Zheng Qianyin.
In a trance, Xiao Heng thought it was Liu Yuetang who came back.
He took two steps forward, and when he saw the woman's face, his expression suddenly turned cold, and he immediately banished the concubine to the cold palace.
Later, the concubines gradually realized that if they didn't want to anger the emperor, they couldn't have anything to do with Consort Zhaoxian, not even mentioning her name.
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