Empress Dowager Xue's funeral was simple, without fanfare or outsiders. In the early hours of the morning, a team of men in black quietly carried Empress Dowager Xue's coffin to the imperial mausoleum. The entire process was remarkably low-key and mysterious.
The prince, dressed in a plain white mourning robe, with a haggard and serious look on his face, went to the imperial study to pay a visit to Emperor Wen.
When he saw Emperor Wen, he bowed deeply and respectfully, then said in a heavy voice, "Father, I have something important to discuss with you."
Emperor Wen looked at the Crown Prince before him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. The Crown Prince now looked completely different from before, no longer the cowardly, incompetent puppet oppressed by his relatives. Emperor Wen wondered, was his previous cowardice intentional?
Emperor Wen replied calmly, "Prince, please stand up and speak."
The crown prince stood up and took a step toward Emperor Wen with a solemn expression. His eyes were firm and resolute, as if he was ready to face any challenge. Emperor Wen could not help but feel new expectations for his son and was also curious about his plans.
The Crown Prince stood up, straightened his clothes, and respectfully saluted Emperor Wen before saying, "I think your Majesty should issue an order to execute Xiao Jingyi and his entire family! Then, explain to the people of the world that Xiao Jingyi had falsely accused the Empress Dowager of this, attempting to confuse the public and disrupt the government! And that the Empress Dowager was forced to commit suicide because of this wicked villain, Xiao Jingyi. This way, the people of the world will know of Xiao Jingyi's crimes, while also preserving the dignity and respect of the imperial family."
Emperor Wen remained silent, looking at the Crown Prince with a complicated expression, as if he was thinking about something. He noticed that the Crown Prince's expression was very sincere, not like he was pretending.
He looked at Eunuch Gao beside him, signaling him to prepare to record his decree. Emperor Wen ordered, "Eunuch Gao, draft this decree. I will execute Xiao Jingyi's entire family, and Xiao Jingyi himself will be torn into pieces by five horses! At the same time, Xiao Jingyi's trusted disciples will also be executed! This will serve as a warning to others!"
Eunuch Gao accepted the order and began drafting the imperial edict. Emperor Wen looked at the scene before him with a heavy heart. He hoped that this incident would completely resolve the problem and restore a clean court. At the same time, he also hoped that the crown prince would truly understand his responsibilities and no longer be easily exploited by others.
The prince stood there, his eyes flickering, as if he wanted to say something but was hesitant. Seeing this, Emperor Wen waved his hand, signaling Eunuch Gao to leave first. After the door closed, Emperor Wen turned to look at the prince and asked calmly, "What's wrong? Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
The prince took a deep breath and replied in a low voice: "Father! This time, Xiao Jinghan's memorial has not yet arrived in the capital, but the whole world knows about it. This must be someone deliberately leaked the news to create public pressure. These people have sinister intentions and deserve to be killed!" His voice was filled with a hint of anger and dissatisfaction.
Emperor Wen remained silent. He had also thought about this. He narrowed his eyes and said to the Crown Prince, "I will investigate this matter myself. I am going to the imperial mausoleum now. Please pay more attention to the affairs of the court!"
The Crown Prince bowed respectfully to Emperor Wen and said, "Your Highness, I will obey your command!"
Emperor Wen nodded with satisfaction and turned to walk out of the imperial study.
When he arrived at the door, he saw Concubine An waiting for him on the roadside. She was dressed in white mourning clothes, with only a white chrysanthemum on her head. She looked very plain. But her eyes were very red and swollen, and it was obvious that she had been crying for a long time.
Emperor Wen's eyes darkened. He knew very well that in the harem, the only one who was truly sad and upset about the passing of the Empress Dowager was probably Concubine An.
As for the Empress... She might have been hoping that the Empress Dowager would die sooner! Thinking of this, Emperor Wen couldn't help but feel a strong sense of disgust.
What made Emperor Wen even more upset was that when he thought of the empress, he used to have some affection for the prince, but now this feeling had disappeared.
At this moment, he was only thinking about how to legitimately abolish the crown prince and replace him with Cheng Jin. However, achieving this goal was not easy, which really troubled and annoyed Emperor Wen. He frowned and sighed deeply in his heart: Alas! This is really a headache!
Emperor Wen walked up to Concubine An, held her up with his hand, and asked softly, "Why don't you rest in the palace?"
Concubine An looked up at Emperor Wen, tears in her eyes, and choked up, saying, "I want to see the Queen Mother off for the last time..."
Emperor Wen sighed, patted Concubine An's hand gently, and comforted her, "Okay, I'll take you with me." After that, he took Concubine An's hand and set off for the imperial mausoleum together.
The atmosphere in the residence of the imperial mausoleum's keepers was particularly solemn and dignified. Concubine An was sitting in front of the Buddhist shrine, devoutly reciting scriptures to bid farewell to the late Empress Dowager Xue.
Emperor Wen slowly emerged from the imperial mausoleum, while Kong Boda stood quietly beside him, dressed in pure white mourning clothes. Emperor Wen's face was gloomy, and he asked in a cold voice, "Have you investigated thoroughly?"
Kong Boda lowered his head and replied in a heavy voice, "The Cining Palace has been burned to ruins. The Empress Dowager was the only one there at the time. I am truly powerless to help!"
After hearing this answer, Emperor Wen closed his eyes in sorrow. After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Where did those rumors come from?"
Kong Boda couldn't help but hesitate, his heart filled with uneasiness. Emperor Wen opened his eyes in dissatisfaction and glared at Kong Boda angrily: "Speak! Are you still trying to hide something from me?"
Kong Boda gritted his teeth, his lips trembling slightly as he spoke, "The news from all over the country was spread by Yue Wu's secret agents, and the rumors in the capital were spread by Yue Wu's eldest princess Hu Yanzhuozhuo's men!"
Emperor Wen's face was gloomy, and it seemed as if a flame was burning in his heart, but he still tried to control his emotions and asked in a low and stern voice: "Is the Third Prince involved?"
Kong Boda lowered his head even more and answered cautiously, "This...I haven't found out!"
Emperor Wen's eyes grew colder. He snorted coldly and said firmly, "Pass on my decree. The Queen Mother will observe a three-year mourning period. The wedding of the Third Prince Chu Chengyan and the Grand Princess Yuewu, Hu Yanzhuozhuo, will be postponed for three years!"
Kong Boda was slightly stunned, and asked hesitantly, "Should the Fourth Prince's wedding be postponed?"
Emperor Wen's eyes were as cold as ice. He said coldly: "Only one of the emperor's grandsons can observe the mourning period!"
Kong Boda dared not say anything more and immediately and respectfully accepted the order and left. Emperor Wen stood quietly before the imperial mausoleum, taking in the solemn and awe-inspiring scene before him. An indescribable sense of loneliness welled up in his heart. He stared silently into the distance, his figure appearing incomparably lonely.
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