Chapter 542: Deathbed
All the other people in the Pei Mansion went to Beijing before the New Year, except Madam Pei and Pei Shu.
Pei Shu's grandfather's birthday was on the Lantern Festival, and they had agreed earlier to go and celebrate his birthday. However, they were too late to go to Beijing before the New Year, so Mrs. Pei and her daughter and son simply postponed their trip to Beijing.
Once you go to Beijing, it will not be easy to go back. Spending more time with your grandfather is a way to show your filial piety.
After celebrating my grandfather's birthday, I stayed for a while and was about to set off for Beijing. Unfortunately, I caught a cold and was delayed for half a month. After all this, I finally arrived in Beijing yesterday.
Today, Old Master Pei and Old Madam Pei talked about her marriage. She has been a 15-year-old for half a year and it is time for her to be promised to someone.
She overheard her grandmother asking her grandfather if he had a favorite candidate. Her grandfather said that the eldest son of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion was a good choice, and Old Tutor Lin also thought that the two were a good match. The Right Prime Minister praised Old Tutor Pei and also believed in Old Tutor Lin's vision.
But he promised his son to let him choose the person to accompany his life. He could not go back on his word and had to ask his son's opinion before agreeing. The grandmother felt that this was tantamount to a rejection.
She thinks so too.
As a result, at the Lantern Festival, she tried to catch her second brother but mistakenly caught Young Master Ling.
Pei Shu was so embarrassed that he wanted to crawl into the ground.
Xiao Huaijin didn't know anything and asked curiously, "Why is your face so red?"
Pei Shu shook his head repeatedly, enduring his burning cheeks and said, "Fourth brother, I have something else to do. I won't disturb you from visiting the Lantern Festival. I'll be leaving first."
Without waiting for Xiao Huaijin's consent, Pei Shufu bowed and ran away.
Xiao Huaijin was a little confused.
There were many people at the Lantern Festival, and Xiao Huaijin was worried, so he asked his servant to chase Pei Shu to prevent her from getting lost.
Xiao Huaijin and Shen Wan are twins, a boy and a girl, from the same mother. Blood is thicker than water, and they are naturally close. However, since he grew up in the Pei family, he has always treated Pei Shu as his own sister.
Prince Yuzhang patted Young Master Ling on the shoulder and asked, "Aren't you going?"
Young Master Ling wants to sew Prince Yuzhang's mouth shut.
Don't you think he's embarrassed to death?
Ling Xue finally realized something was wrong. She looked at Zhao Ang, who whispered, "It was Miss Pei San who kidnapped your eldest brother..."
Ling Xue was surprised at first, then a bright smile bloomed on her face.
Tomorrow she will ask her parents to propose marriage to her eldest brother.
After a short interruption, everyone continued to visit the lanterns. Chen Wan and Ling Xue wandered from here to there. Wherever they went, Xie Jingyu and the others followed, a dozen steps behind them, but within their sight.
Today's lantern festival was held at the request of the Emperor by Chen Wan, to pray for the Empress Chen in her afterlife. The Yun family set up a competition of civil and martial arts with generous prizes, attracting many young masters and ladies from prominent families to compete.
Shen Wan and the others went over to watch the fun, and then ran into Prince Yong and Zhao Yunkuo.
But before it even started, a servant came over and said, "We finally found you, Young Master..."
He is a servant in Zhao Yuanzheng's house.
Zhao Yunkuo said, "What do you want from me?"
The servant gasped, "Just now, the palace sent someone to the mansion to tell us that the Queen Mother wants to see you, Young Master..."
What did the Queen Mother do to him?
Thinking of Princess Yaoguang, Zhao Yunkuo wanted to enter the palace immediately.
The Zhao family servant looked at Chen Wan and Xie Jingyu. Chen Wan asked, "Why are you looking at us?"
Just as the Zhao family servant was about to speak, the Jingbei Palace servant came over and said, "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are here. The Queen Mother won't make it through the night, and she sent a message to see you..."
The servant of the Zhao Mansion knew that the Queen Mother wanted to see Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu, but they were still watching them on the street.
Shen Wan wondered why the Queen Mother wanted to see her and Xie Jingyu, but she no longer held a grudge against the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother had already learned a lesson, and it was even much more painful than she wanted to teach her.
The Empress Dowager asked them to enter the palace before her death. The Lantern Festival was almost over, so Chen Wan and Xie Jingyu entered the palace.
Zhao Yunkuo is here together.
Xiao Huaijin also entered the palace.
He was the crown prince, and when the empress dowager passed away, he should have stayed by her bedside.
The group entered the palace and went straight to the Empress Dowager's Shoukang Palace.
After entering the bedroom and walking around the screen, Shen Wan saw Yaoguang County Master standing by the bed, her eyes swollen from crying.
The eldest son-in-law and the eldest princess of Qiyang are both dead, and the queen mother is the only relative she has left. Now the queen mother is also leaving her. The person who loves her the most in this world is gone.
The Lady of Yaoguang County burst into tears.
The Queen Mother was originally lying down. Knowing that Chen Wan, Xie Jingyu and others had come in, Nanny Gui helped the Queen Mother to lean back on the large welcoming pillow.
The Queen Mother's face was pale and she didn't have the strength to speak.
Shen Wanfu bowed to the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother forced a smile and panted, "I thought you were unwilling to enter the palace..."
Shen Wan explained, "We were out of the house to visit the Lantern Festival. We didn't know that the Queen Mother was looking for us."
The Queen Mother looked at the Lady of Yaoguang County with a look of reluctance in her eyes, and then looked at Chen Wan and Xie Jingyu, "Before I die, I know the murderer of Prince Jin and the real culprit who killed Qi Yang. I have no regrets in this life. The only thing is that I am sorry for you and your brother..."
Shen Wan knew that the Queen Mother could not be blamed entirely. From the Queen Mother's perspective, she would never allow her daughter-in-law to have an affair with the Emperor and give birth to a child. But her mother was so innocent, what had she and Xiao Huaijin done wrong?
But my mother has been dead for sixteen years, and it is not easy for the Queen Mother to apologize.
Shen Wan asked, “What does the Queen Mother want to say?”
The Queen Mother said, "You saved Yaoguang, and I am deeply grateful. I am the one who is sorry for you. The Prince Consort and Princess Qiyang have never done anything evil. I hope you will treat Yaoguang well in the future..."
The Queen Mother knew that her request was excessive.
She sent people to hunt and kill Lin Qingyin, separating the siblings for sixteen years, but she hoped that they would treat Yaoguang County Master well.
But as the empress dowager, the only person she was worried about in this world was Princess Yaoguang.
The Queen Mother did not want her mistakes to implicate Princess Yaoguang. Chen Wan and Xie Jingyu were able to save Princess Yaoguang's life at Princess Shunyang's mansion. The Queen Mother felt that they would not target Princess Yaoguang, but she was still worried.
Yaoguang County Lady's nose felt sore, "Grandmother..."
Shen Wan's heart was moved, "Don't worry, Queen Mother, I have never had any grudges with Yaoguang County Master, and I will not embarrass her."
The Queen Mother said, "In this case, I am relieved."
The Queen Mother looked at Zhao Yunkuo and asked, "Are you Zhao Yuanzheng's son...?"
Zhao Yunkuo saluted the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother breathed weakly, "In the past few days, I have heard Yaoguang praise you a lot. It is true that the disciple is better than the master."
Zhao Yunkuo looked towards the Lady of Yaoguang County.
A blush appeared on Yaoguang County Lady's thin and pale face. "Grandmother, why do you say that..."
The Queen Mother raised her hand with difficulty. The Lady of Yaoguang County sat down beside the bed. The Queen Mother choked up and said, "Your parents and uncle are in the underworld. Grandmother is not afraid of death, but I am worried about leaving you alone in this world..."
The Queen Mother looked at Zhao Yunkuo and said, "You saved Yaoguang's life. I ask you, are you willing to marry Yaoguang?"
Zhao Yunkuo was stunned.
The Queen Mother said, "If you don't want to, I won't force you..."
"I am willing!"
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "I will entrust Yaoguang to you."
The Emperor walked in and said, "I confer the title of Princess on Yaoguang and grant her marriage to the son of Zhao Yuanzheng. We will choose an auspicious date for the wedding."
The Queen Mother looked at the Emperor and panted, "On behalf of Qi Yang and the Prince Consort, I thank you, thank you, Your Majesty..."
Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu didn't stay long.
It would be better to let Lady Yaoguang and Zhao Yunkuo spend more time with the Queen Mother during her final days.
Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu left the palace, and the carriage had just driven out of the palace gate.
The death knell of the palace began to ring.
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