Chapter 736 The Emperor's Death
The news of the emperor's death spread quickly.
When Zhao Jingxuan first heard the news, he found it hard to believe.
"Impossible. When I saw father this morning, he was still fine. It's impossible that he has passed away. I want to go see him..." Zhao Jingxuan said as he was about to get out of bed.
His leg was already injured, and when it went weak, he lost his balance and fell directly to the ground.
"Axuan!" Concubine Liang hurried in and came to support him.
Concubine Liang's face was devoid of sadness. She had never felt any affection for the emperor. Since entering the palace, she had experienced favor, neglect, and then favor again. After all this, she had seen it all. The emperor's favor only came from his need to rely on the Liang family, and the Liang family posed no threat to him. If he had considered the Liang family a threat, she might have suffered the same fate as the previous empress.
Since ancient times, the royal family has been the most heartless, and the only one she can rely on is her only son. In fact, she and her son are the winners of this battle for the throne.
The emperor is dead, she should be happy, why should she be sad?
So she wasn't sad at all.
Concubine Liang and several palace maids helped Zhao Jingxuan onto the bed.
"Mother, father is okay, right? Are they lying to me?" Zhao Jingxuan grabbed Concubine Liang's sleeve and asked with red eyes.
Concubine Liang felt very distressed when she saw her son's appearance, but she could not say anything to comfort him. She only said, "Ah Xuan, birth, old age, sickness and death will come when the time comes."
When his mother said this, Zhao Jingxuan knew that his father had really passed away.
His father, who had been talking to him in the morning, could no longer open his eyes.
He still remembered the warmth his father felt when he touched his head, a feeling he would never feel again.
Zhao Jingxuan's eyes became even redder: "Mother, I want to go see Father..."
Just as Zhao Jingxuan was about to get up, an imperial edict arrived. Concubine Liang helped Zhao Jingxuan get out of bed to receive the edict.
The contents of this imperial edict were as expected: it appointed the sixth prince, Zhao Jingxuan, as crown prince. Now that the emperor had passed away, the crown prince could directly succeed to the throne.
Zhao Jingxuan held the imperial edict in his hands, his mind clearer than ever. At this moment, he clearly understood that the entire vast Zhou dynasty rested on his shoulders, a burden particularly heavy. His every move, every word, and deed affected the people of the world; he could no longer act arbitrarily.
Zhao Jingxuan's eyes were red, but he tried hard to hold back his tears.
"Father, don't worry. I will work hard to be a good emperor and will not let you down." Zhao Jingxuan held the imperial edict, his young face full of seriousness.
At the same time, the Wu Mansion also received the imperial edict.
The eunuch read out the contents of the imperial edict.
Wei Qing knelt down to listen to the imperial edict, and his brows raised as he listened to the content of the imperial edict.
The imperial edict actually pointed out his identity, the eldest prince Zhao Qing.
When he went to see the emperor, the emperor had told him that this imperial edict appointed him as regent, so he was not surprised by the content. What surprised him was that after he left, the emperor had obviously modified the imperial edict.
Wei Qing felt that the emperor had two intentions in doing this.
First, since ancient times, regents have often been relatives of the emperor. By pointing out his status as a prince, claiming he was of imperial blood, he could make his position as regent more legitimate. If his ambitions extended beyond regent and he desired to become emperor and replace him, that was not out of the question.
Secondly, the emperor's move was also a disguised surrender to him. It was he who had labeled the Xiao family traitors and ordered the empress and crown prince to be deposed, with the intention of exterminating them all. His admission of his identity now was an act of atonement, a gesture of remorse. It also opened the way for the Xiao family's vindication. The emperor would never betray himself, but he didn't care about what happened after his death, so he let it go.
Wei Qing received the imperial edict. An ordinary person would have been ecstatic to be named regent, but Wei Qing's face showed no sadness or joy.
He entered the room with the imperial edict, closed the door, threw it aside casually, and put on a mocking expression.
"Does he think I can forgive him for doing this? He killed so many people in a moment of thought. The dead will not forgive him, and the living will not forgive him even more." Wei Qing said coldly.
Wei Qing was filled with rage. The emperor had killed so many people, and he died like this. It was too easy. He still couldn't get rid of the anger in his heart. He really wanted to go to the palace and beat him up.
The man had a gloomy face and was full of hostility. The others were frightened when they saw him and wanted to retreat away from him.
Tang Li felt sorry for her husband and felt distressed when she saw him. She walked over, hugged his waist, and rubbed her face in his arms.
Wei Qing looked at the person in his arms, and the anger in his heart gradually dissipated. He stretched out his hand and hugged the person tighter.
"Wife, I'm so angry." Wei Qing said in a muffled voice.
"Don't get angry with people you don't care about," Tang Li said. "Now that he's dead, you're the regent and can redress the Xiao family. Grandpa and my uncles can also clear their grievances, and those soldiers who carried a stigma can also be vindicated. They are heroes of the Great Zhou, not traitors. The living will no longer have to bear the infamy, and the resentful souls of the dead can rest in peace. This is a good thing, and we shouldn't be unhappy."
Tang Li's voice was extremely gentle, and the anger in Wei Qing's heart completely dissipated.
Yes, he was taking every step carefully, treading on thin ice, taking one step at a time, wasn't it just for this day?
This day has finally arrived, he should be happy.
After rehabilitating the Xiao family, he was closer to retiring to the countryside with his wife and living together in joy and sorrow.
A smile appeared on Wei Qing's lips.
…
The third imperial edict was sent to the holy doctor.
When the Holy Doctor received the imperial edict, his face turned pale.
In fact, the last time the emperor summoned him, his face was filled with murderous intent, and he had guessed this day would come. He was only keeping him alive because he couldn't live without his medicine.
The moment the emperor died was the moment he died.
Perhaps even earlier, when Zhao Shu escaped and left him behind, he also knew that this day would come.
However, when the time of death comes, it is still hard to accept.
After the imperial edict was announced, the holy doctor heard the way he would die - slow slicing.
A total of 3,600 cuts were made, and only the last cut ended his life. What a cruel torture! His body softened and he collapsed to the ground.
…
When Princess Jingshu learned that the emperor had passed away, she burst into tears and was held tightly in Gu Huaijin's arms.
"Gu Huaijin, my father has passed away. I don't have a father anymore." Princess Jingshu said in a crying voice, and her tears directly soaked Gu Huaijin's clothes.
"Azhi, you still have me, and my father and mother. My parents are your parents." Gu Huaijin's voice was extremely gentle.
For Princess Jingshu, these days were filled with pain and despair. In her dreams, she felt as if her father was still alive, but upon waking, she had to accept the reality of her loved one's death.
Fortunately, she had Gu Huaijin by her side. If it weren't for Gu Huaijin, she didn't know how she would have gotten through that difficult time.
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