Chapter 847 Beforehand
The mourning hall is set up in Xinde Hall, which is extremely spacious. White banners are hung high inside and outside, and the whole place is filled with white.
The smell of burning incense and candles in the hall was intoxicating. People from outside the palace kept rushing in. Under the guidance of the eunuchs and palace maids, they paid their respects to the queen and then knelt where they should kneel. It didn't take long before the hall was full of people. Even the front of the hall was filled with court officials and female relatives kneeling to keep vigil.
Everyone moved very lightly, not daring to break any taboos at this time.
The sky outside gradually brightened and then darkened. People in the hall went out one after another, ate vegetarian meals and came back again, but the queen stayed in front of the coffin without moving.
It was not until the sky was completely dark that the queen stood up to add incense and candles to the altar. As soon as she stood up, her body swayed.
"Empress!"
Yue Jian hurriedly supported the person, and the other people in the hall were also alarmed. When King Hui and the others looked up, they found that the queen's face was paler than when they saw her earlier.
Yue Jian supported her and said anxiously, "Empress, you have been guarding here since last night, and you haven't had a drop of water all day. You haven't been in good health lately. If you continue like this, you will hurt yourself..."
"Need not."
Tang Ning supported her and stood for a moment. After she recovered from the dizziness, she pushed her away and said, "I want to guard the Grand Empress Dowager myself."
Her eyes were red from staying up late, and one could even see bloodshot in them. Even though she hadn't cried in front of anyone the whole day, anyone could see how sad and heartbroken Tang Ning was about the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager.
Because he hadn't had water for a long time, Tang Ning's voice was hoarse when he spoke, and his expression was full of low fatigue.
"Before His Majesty left the capital, he entrusted me with the care of the Grand Empress Dowager, but I failed to protect her properly. Now that His Majesty is far away in Southern Qi and unable to return to the capital, I cannot rest easy if I don't stay by her side..."
"Empress!"
Hua Wu is one year older. The soft flesh on her chubby cheeks has faded a little, and she looks more beautiful.
She stood beside Tang Ning and said, "The Empress Dowager has been seriously ill for a long time. Even Madam Qin said that she is powerless to recover. You have done your best during this period."
"Before she passed away last night, she never blamed you. She only hoped that you and His Majesty would be happy and at peace. Furthermore, while His Majesty cares about the Grand Empress Dowager, he also cares about Your Majesty. If His Majesty knew that you had injured yourself out of guilt and sadness, His Majesty would surely feel even more distressed."
Tang Ning's eyes were red and she said nothing.
Prince Ji pursed his lips as he looked at the young woman who had suddenly become much weaker. The queen had been very strong in the court during this period. Even when facing pressure from the aristocratic families, she had never shown any weakness, although she had given in. He still remembered the day when the royal family forced the palace and the queen asked him to talk alone.
That gesture almost made him forget that the woman in front of him, who was superior to everyone else, was not even in her twenties.
She suddenly lost her loved ones and elders, her husband was trapped in Southern Qi, and she was under pressure in the court. She had to support everything alone. Prince Ji asked himself that even if he were in their shoes, he might not be able to do as good as the queen. Now seeing her red eyes and shaky face, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, we know you are saddened by the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager, but we cannot harm your own health. Now that His Majesty is away from the capital, all matters at court depend on you. If you become ill from keeping vigil for the Grand Empress Dowager, what will become of the affairs of the court?"
"Why don't you go and rest for a while? Everything here is in the care of me, Uncle Hui, and Duke Cheng."
Tang Ning pursed her lips and was silent for a moment: "But..."
"Nothing to worry about."
Suddenly, a voice came from the back of the crowd. Everyone in the hall turned around and saw Concubine Zhao Gui, dressed in white mourning clothes, walking towards the front of the hall. Everyone in the hall hurriedly greeted her, and even Prince Ji and others bowed their heads and called her "Concubine Zhao Gui".
Concubine Zhao Gui walked straight to Tang Ning, looked at her pale face and frowned and said:
"If the Empress is worried about the other princes, then I should be included. Although I should stay in the Western Garden and not set foot elsewhere, the Empress Dowager was kind to me when she was alive, and I also want to show my filial piety to her."
"Your Majesty, please rest first. I will keep a close eye on Xinde Palace. Please come back when you have rested."
She paused and said:
"Or does Her Majesty the Queen not trust me?"
"Of course not."
Tang Ning finished speaking without hesitation, then glanced at Prince Ji and the others. After a moment of silence, she said, "How could I not trust you? Since your noble concubine is willing to help, I'll leave this place to you. I'll be right back."
Concubine Zhao Gui nodded and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will take good care of this place."
Since Tang Ning had made up her mind, she didn't hesitate any longer. She seemed to be really unwell. She turned her head and gave Hua Wu a few instructions, asking her to stay here and help Concubine Zhao Gui. She also said something to Prince Ji and the others, and then was helped by Yue Jian to leave through the corridor beside.
Seeing the queen leave, King Hui, who had been guarding here, changed his expression.
After entering the palace last night, he has been in the mourning hall. He did not even leave Xinde Hall for meals. The queen also stayed in the mourning hall and did not leave for a moment.
He and Liang Guangyi and the others had agreed last night that they would take action tonight as the Empress Dowager had passed away. However, if they wanted to "use the emperor to command the princes", it would be best not to alarm too many people. Just now, he was worried that taking action directly in this mourning hall would attract too much attention and make too much noise.
But now the queen is gone...
If he could avoid these court officials and capture the empress directly, he could then simply say that the empress was sad that the Grand Empress Dowager had passed away and was unable to succeed her. He could then naturally give up the power to rule, and then control Cao Dejiang and others. Even if other people in the court had objections, they would not dare to cause trouble.
King Hui clenched his fists, pretended to be in a hurry, stood up and quietly retreated.
Concubine Zhao Gui held three incense sticks in her hand and pretended not to see him leave. She just walked forward with a respectful look and bowed to the coffin of the Empress Dowager.
After she had lit the incense and straightened the candle wicks that had burned too brightly and were a little dim, she slowly walked back to the front of the hall. As she knelt, she suddenly whispered, "Strange! I saw Liang Xiang and the others when I came here just now. Why didn't they come to Xinde Hall?"
Prince Cheng was surprised when he heard this, and suddenly remembered, yes, Liang Guangyi and the others didn’t come?
He looked back at the front of the hall. Cao Dejiang and others had already arrived, but the people from the aristocratic families were nowhere to be seen.
Prince Cheng was immediately dissatisfied. "What do these people from the aristocratic families mean? The Empress Dowager passed away, and not a single one of them came to the wake?"
Concubine Zhao Gui frowned and said, "That's not right. I saw them before, and also the Prince of Huiwangfu."
Prince Ji had been listening nonchalantly, but suddenly sensed something was wrong and spoke out, "Did the noble concubine see them together?"
Concubine Zhao Gui nodded, her expression filled with displeasure. "Prince Hui, Liang Guangyi, and the people from the Shi and Min families were in such a hurry that I thought they were coming to Xinde Palace."
"These people are so unruly! When the Queen returns, she will definitely punish them severely!"
Upon hearing this, King Ji glanced at the empty seat beside King Hui, feeling something was amiss. He suddenly stood up and said:
"My Lady Dowager, I feel a little unwell and need to leave for a moment."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
