The enemy is at the city gates.
No one expected it to be so fast; the 50,000 elite troops of Xishan should be able to hold out for at least ten days to half a month.
Who knew—
Upon seeing the imperial edict and the jade seal, General Fan led the soldiers of Xishan to surrender to Prince Chen. They marched all the way to the city gates. Before Prince Jing could even stand on the city wall, Jiang Chengtian led the Imperial Guards to open the city gates and welcome Prince Chen into the palace.
The Imperial Study in the Imperial Palace.
Prince Jing smashed the bowl of porridge, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and pointed at... Consort De, his eyes bloodshot, "Why...why?"
Consort De looked at the drops of blood at the corner of Prince Jing's mouth, reached out, hugged him, and pulled him into her arms. Tears mingled with the blood at the corner of her mouth and slid down her cheeks. "You always say I don't love you... but you are the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to. We are one, mother and child. It is my fault for not teaching you well, which led you to make such a big mistake."
"I...I'll go with you, even in the underworld...I'll only love you."
"It's just you..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Consort De lowered her hands and closed her eyes.
Prince Jing struggled, blood gushing from his mouth. His mother was truly ruthless! She didn't even spare herself!
Is this a sign of affection?
No--
No—
She knew that with the enemy at the gates and the imperial guards surrounding the palace, he had no chance of winning. Even if he were lucky enough to survive, he would be imprisoned for life, so she might as well commit suicide out of fear of punishment.
He took all his sins with him... and committed suicide.
When a person dies, their debts are settled, thus avoiding implicating others, such as his own younger brother, the thirteenth prince.
"Hehehe..."
"Hahaha--"
Prince Jing laughed loudly, tears mingling with blood as they streamed down his face. He wanted to push away the embrace he had been yearning for but could never have, but... in the end, he couldn't bear to let go.
His hand, falling down, gripped her clothes tightly... his gaze gradually becoming unfocused.
"Mother...it hurts, it hurts so much..."
He slumped in his mother's cold embrace. In his last moments before dying, he saw himself finally sitting on the throne, but... he felt so lonely and cold.
At least for now, he has his mother...
Fortunately, he did not kill his thirteenth brother. In the underworld, his mother was all his. When he was in pain, when he was punished by his teacher, when it got dark... he could finally bury himself in his mother's arms, in her arms that were all his.
When Prince Chen led the Imperial Guards into the palace and entered the Imperial Study, what he saw... was the corpses of Consort De and Prince Jing.
Inside the Zichen Hall.
With her belly swollen high, Chen Jin'er fed the emperor his medicine, "Fourth Prince, it's time to drink your medicine."
The emperor slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
He finally... got what he'd been waiting for.
...
One month later.
The crown prince's ascension to the throne and Jiang Jiaojiao's appointment as empress filled the entire capital with joy.
On the occasion of the Emperor and Empress's wedding, the palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. The streets were crowded with people from all directions who came to pay their respects. Their faces were filled with happy and excited smiles, and they cheered and jumped for joy, celebrating the Emperor and Empress's wedding and the three-year tax exemption.
Opening up trade routes between northern Inner Mongolia and southern Xinjiang...
They captured three cities in the Western Rong region and reaped countless cattle and sheep, enough to ensure a bountiful New Year for the Northwest!
The entire city was covered with a bright red carpet, and the magnificent phoenix carriage carrying the new empress slowly circled the capital. Wherever it went, people knelt down to pay their respects and shouted "Long live the Empress!" The palace maids on the phoenix carriage kept throwing out lucky money, which attracted a lot of people to scramble for it, creating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Children chased after the falling lucky money with laughter, while adults congratulated each other, and laughter filled the streets and alleys.
Street corner.
A man dressed in thin clothes, carrying several packets of medicine, watched with a complicated expression as he passed by the magnificent Phoenix Carriage Street. Jiang Jingtian and Jiang Lingtian rode tall horses at the very front.
Seemingly sensing a strange gaze, Jiang Lingtian turned around and saw the man—Jiang Qingyun.
Just one glance.
Jiang Qingyun immediately hid behind a nearby stall.
Jiang Lingtian's eyes flashed, he turned his head, looked straight ahead, head held high, his family—his mother, maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, uncles…
And his sunshine... is all ahead.
After several twists and turns, Jiang Qingtian pushed open the door of a dilapidated courtyard. As soon as the door opened, a madwoman rushed out and knocked Jiang Qingtian over.
She screamed and ran outside, "I'm the Empress! I'm the Empress! Hahaha—today is my day of coronation! I want to go to the palace! I'm the Empress—"
It was Jiang Xue who had gone mad.
Jiang Qingtian's expression changed drastically. She grabbed Jiang Xue, expertly covered her mouth, and dragged her into the yard. "Why didn't you keep an eye on things? What if she ran out!"
There was no answer from the courtyard.
Jiang Qingyun locked Jiang Xue in the room.
When Prince Chen's army besieged the city, chaos erupted in the inner court. Aunt Zhao, also known as Miss Zhao the Third, got into a fight with Jiang Xue, and in a fit of anger, she lost her child. When news of Prince Jing's suicide arrived, Jiang Xue went mad on the spot.
The emperor was merciful and did not implicate anyone. All the women in the inner palace were sent back home, and Jiang Xue was also sent back to Jiang Qingyun's small courtyard. However, when she went crazy, she would talk nonsense and run away.
Jiang Jiaojiao had specially found this courtyard. There was a large ancestral hall inside, where the ancestral tablets of the Jiang family were placed, and people would offer incense and offerings every day.
The house where the shrine keeper lived was inhabited by Jiang Qingyun and his wife, the insane Jiang Xue, and Jiang Liu, who was paralyzed in bed.
Jiang Qingyun walked into the couple's room, and just as he reached out his hand...
"Bang--"
The door was pushed open from the inside, and the butcher from next door, wearing a belt, came out.
Upon seeing Jiang Qingyun, he showed no fear whatsoever, pulled out a dozen or so copper coins and threw them on the ground, "Hehe, your wife is quite good in bed, I'll be back next time!"
Jiang Qingyun's body stiffened, and her mind went blank.
Rushing into the room—
A scream and a wail suddenly erupted in the room, along with Wang's angry shouts, "I'm doing this all for the family! A madman, a paralyzed man on medication every day—and you don't earn a single penny!"
"I married you to enjoy a life of luxury, not to starve, while guarding such a large ancestral hall!"
"Slap—you bitch—"
"Ah—you dare hit me—"
"Ahhh—"
Jiang Qingyun let out a heart-wrenching roar.
He regretted it!
I regret it!
...
Phoenix Palace.
The building is resplendent in gold and jade, with countless dazzling gemstones inlaid on its carved beams and painted rafters, shimmering brilliantly. Exquisite silk scrolls hang on the walls, a feast for the eyes, with red ribbons fluttering in the air like lively flames, radiating light and color.
The emperor and empress were dressed in exquisite dragon robes and phoenix robes, looking magnificent and noble.
After a full day of elaborate and solemn ceremonies, the Emperor and Empress looked slightly tired, but their joy was even more undisguised. They finally sat side by side, their eyes meeting, their gazes burning like intense flames.
The palace maids and nannies left, leaving only the two of them.
"Jiaojiao... I've finally married you. My only wish is to grow old with you, for all eternity..."
The new emperor is exceptionally handsome, and his voice is as gentle as water.
Jiang Jiaojiao had beautiful eyebrows, a face like a peach blossom, and eyes like spring water. She said coquettishly, "That's not up to you. I don't know how many people are eyeing your harem."
"Everyone knows that I once suffered from a serious illness and was frail and weak. If the concubines in the harem affected my lifespan, they should bear full responsibility."
Jiang Jiaojiao was stunned. Could it be like this?
The new emperor embraced it, declaring, "I don't want anyone but Jiaojiao."
Red waves surged, filling the room with spring light.
Three months later.
Jiang Jingtian and Jiang Lingtian got married one after another, followed by... Yuan Bao'er and the Thirteenth Prince, Qian Panpan and the Eldest Prince Kou, the Eldest Prince Li who officially took over the Xishan Army and Xiang Ling, and the Northern Mongol King Alina and Jin Shiqi, all of whom held their weddings at the same time.
After the marriage, Alina took Jin Shiqi back to Northern Mongolia.
Jin Shiqi is now not only the consort of Northern Mongolia, but also holds the reins of Northern Mongolia's finances.
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