On the way back from the temple fair, Qi Yuning saw that Lu Baozhu was always depressed, and didn't know how to make her happy.
It would be great if Lingling were here. Lingling has a lot of words to comfort people.
At this moment, he would stick to Lu Baozhu's arms, speak sweet words in a baby voice, and comfort Lu Baozhu to be happy.
As soon as they arrived at the princess's mansion, a eunuch came outside to invite Lu Ze to enter the palace. He came in a hurry, so Qi Yuning followed Lu Ze to the palace.
All the princes are in the Taiji Hall.
Even Prince Ning, who was demoted to a commoner, and Prince Liao came. They must have known that Your Majesty's time would not last long. Princess Pingrou knelt and sat as close to Your Majesty as possible.
Qi Yuning hadn't seen Emperor Shiyuan for a long time. Now she couldn't bear to look at the emaciated Emperor Shiyuan lying on the sickbed, only skin and bones left.
When Emperor Shi Yuan saw Lu Ze and Qi Yuning, he said, "Yuning, your mother told me that you are pregnant?"
Qi Yuning nodded and said, "Yes, I am pregnant."
She was only 80% sure about her pregnancy, but in front of the dying Emperor Shi Yuan, she did not want him to have any regrets.
Emperor Shiyuan said, "It's a pity that I couldn't see her come out."
Qi Yuning knelt before Emperor Shiyuan and said, "You will surely live a long life."
Emperor Shi Yuan chuckled and said, "I almost gave up my throne to someone else in the hope of living longer. Now, just being able to live one more year is more than enough."
Emperor Shi Yuan forced himself to stand up and said, "Ze'er, come and help me get dressed. Summon all the civil and military officials to court immediately."
After Emperor Shi Yuan put on the dragon robe, he looked more radiant and his complexion looked much better.
Empress Qin's hair had turned completely white in the past few days. Looking at Emperor Shiyuan, who was wearing a fine dragon robe, she said with tears in her eyes, "You are even more handsome than the first day you ascended the throne!"
Emperor Shi Yuan took Empress Qin's hand and said, "How can you compare to when you were young? Have you ever hated me? I ordered the extermination of all nine generations of the Qin family..."
Queen Qin shook her head calmly and said, "The Qin family was at fault first, so how could I blame you?"
Emperor Shiyuan said, "Send me to court."
The white-haired emperor and empress supported each other as they walked up to the hall.
Half an hour later, all the civil and military officials rushed over and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
Emperor Shi Yuan said to Qi Yuning, "Yuning, read the imperial edict of succession."
Qi Yuning respectfully took the bright yellow imperial edict embroidered with a golden dragon from the eunuch beside him with both hands and said, "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees that Zhao Jie, the son of the Emperor's third son, Prince Duan, is benevolent, loving, and filial. He closely resembles me and is capable of inheriting the orthodox tradition of the Great Sheng Empire. He is hereby decreed to succeed me as Emperor! This is announced to the whole world, and everyone shall know!"
When this will was released, all the court officials were shocked. They couldn't believe that His Majesty would actually pass the throne directly to his grandson.
Just as some court officials were considering whether to take advantage of this opportunity to gain wealth and power and help Prince Shou and Prince Xu ascend the throne, Emperor Shi Yuan coughed.
"I have appointed Lu Ze as Prince Chen, a hereditary title. After I am gone, Prince Chen will serve as regent to assist Zhao Jie until Zhao Jie's wedding and the start of his reign!"
Lu Ze knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Shi Yuan looked at the ministers in the court and vomited a mouthful of blood. Everyone understood that the improvement in His Majesty's complexion might be a last gasp of vitality.
Several princes and Princess Pingrou Lu Ze stepped forward one after another.
Emperor Shi Yuan looked at his sons and said, "I have left letters for each of you. It has not been easy for the Zhao family to establish the Great Sheng Empire to this day. I cannot let the empire that Brother Qi Yang has conquered fall into your hands. Ahem!"
Emperor Shi Yuan looked at Qi Yu'an again and said, "Take good care of Shu'er. I owe her a lot."
Qi Yu'an responded repeatedly: "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Ze'er, Jiangshan and Zhao Jie are both handed over to you..."
Lu Ze clenched his hands and said, "Grandfather, don't worry, I will definitely live up to your expectations."
The Emperor Shiyuan slowly closed his eyes. Everyone called the imperial physician forward. The physician felt his pulse, knelt down, and said, "The Emperor Shiyuan has passed away!"
Throughout the hall, court officials knelt one after another.
Qi Yuning couldn't help but let the tears fall from her eyes. Over the past year, she knew that this day was very near. Ever since Lingling came, she knew that Emperor Shi Yuan would not live long, but she didn't expect that it would still feel so sudden.
Qi Yuning saw the palace maids from the Shanggong Bureau coming in one after another, carrying the white clothes that had been prepared long ago.
Princess Pingrou suppressed her sadness and said to Qi Yuning, "You are most likely pregnant. Just go back home first. There is no need to stay here."
Qi Yuning said, "Mother, please let me see His Majesty off. I believe Lingling in my arms must also want to see Grandpa off. She was thinking about seeing Grandpa before she left."
Princess Pingrou sighed, "My father is gone, and my mother is very sad. I have to go spend more time with her, and I can't take care of you. Ze'er is busy with the new emperor's coronation and the late emperor's funeral, so I'm afraid he won't be able to spare any time. You have to take good care of yourself."
Qi Yuning nodded lightly and said, "Don't worry, I won't be stubborn. If I feel uncomfortable, I will go back and rest. Nothing is more important than Lingling."
Qi Yuning took off all the hair accessories on her head, put on a white flower, and changed into white clothes. Only then did she see Princess Duan, dressed in white, leading little Zhao Jie towards her.
Little Zhao Jie, who was five or six years old, had a vague knowledge that his royal grandfather had passed away. When he saw Zhu Shanggong kneeling in front of him with a dragon robe in her hand, he raised his eyes and looked at Princess Duan.
Princess Duan is still in a fog. She never thought that her son would ascend the throne, and she never thought that she would become the empress dowager.
Qi Yuning walked to Xiao Zhaojie's side. Xiao Zhaojie looked up at Qi Yuning and said, "Princess sister-in-law, where is Lingling?"
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