Since they were all on the same side, Duanmu Junyu didn't hide anything from her: "Ning'er and An'er's father might not be dead yet. I came back this time to see if there are any clues left in Dongchu. We need to find them, whether they are alive or dead. Since they are still alive, we still have to find them."
Bai understood upon hearing this.
It was all for General Su's sake; no wonder His Majesty returned to Eastern Chu.
She's right. It's one thing for someone to die, but it's another for someone to be alive and then disappear without a trace.
His Majesty has had a life full of twists and turns, experiencing so many things. Now that things have finally gotten back on track, he has to worry about General Su.
Bai comforted her, saying, "As long as the person is still alive, we can always find them. Once these matters in Dongchu are settled, let Zhan'er and Ning'er go look for them together."
With the combined strength of both countries, she refuses to believe she won't be able to find it!
Duanmu Junyu nodded and didn't say anything more.
Xuanyuan Peng's funeral lasted for seven days, and it wasn't until the seventh day that his body was sent to the imperial mausoleum.
Bai Shi, Xuan Yuanzhan, Su Xuening, and the couple Xuan Yuanduo and Xuan Yuanzhi all went to the imperial mausoleum for the funeral.
Xuanyuan Peng's dying wish was to share a bed in life and a grave in death with Bai Shi.
Therefore, when the monument was being carved, the people from the Ministry of Rites suggested that Bai's name be included as well, since the emperor loved the empress so much, and it was a customary practice for the emperor and empress to be buried together throughout history. However, Bai did not agree.
Now, Lady Bai is already the Empress of Eastern Chu, and will soon become the Empress Dowager of Eastern Chu.
Since she was unwilling, the subordinates naturally dared not overstep their bounds, so Xuanyuan Peng's tombstone was engraved with only his name.
Of course, as the person who erected the monument, Bai Shi, Xuan Yuanzhan, Xuan Yuanzhi, and Xuan Yuanduo's names were all engraved on the monument. When Xuan Yuanpeng was alive, he always said that he wanted her name to be on his tombstone, so this can be considered as fulfilling half of Xuan Yuanpeng's wish.
After Xuanyuan Peng was buried, everyone else was dismissed, leaving only Bai Shi and Xuanyuan Zhan in front of the tombstone.
Bai squatted in front of the tombstone, gently stroking the name Xuanyuan Peng on it.
Xuanyuan Zhan frowned as he looked at Bai Shi, as if he had been struggling with this question for a long time, before finally asking, "Who exactly is my father?"
Is he really Xuanyuan Peng's biological son?
Xuan Yuanzhan's words made Bai Shi's fingers stiffen slightly, but she did not turn around: "It's already come to this point, is there any point in asking these questions anymore?"
Bai's ambiguous answer finally made Xuan Yuanzhan understand something: "So I really am not Xuan Yuanpeng's biological son?"
Bai Shi still did not answer. She gently stroked Xuan Yuanpeng's name, as if saying a final goodbye to him.
After a long while, Bai Shi stood up, faced Xuan Yuanzhan, and said slowly and deliberately, "No matter whose son you are, you changed the family genealogy. The moment you saw him off as his son, you were already his biological son."
Xuanyuan Zhan frowned: "But why didn't you tell him the truth?"
If she had been deceiving him when she was unable to protect herself, he could understand.
But now they already have a large army at their disposal, and no one can shake their position anymore, so why would she still hide the truth?
Bai sighed helplessly, "Isn't this better? He can leave in peace and entrust the kingdom of Eastern Chu to you with confidence. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"
Since there is such a bloodless method, why use a method that involves a large number of people and makes everyone sad?
Xuanyuan Zhan had to admit that his mother was right, but...
Don't you feel wronged?
Bai shrugged: "What is there to feel aggrieved about? It's true that I love your father, and it's also true that I love Xuanyuan Peng. He's been completely devoted to me. What else is there for me to feel aggrieved about?"
Bai Shi didn't want to say these things in front of Xuan Yuanpeng's tombstone. Before Xuan Yuanzhan could say anything more, Bai Shi said, "You can go out now. I want to go see your father."
Xuanyuan Zhan didn't press the matter any further. He nodded to Bai Shi and then left.
After Xuan Yuanzhan left, Bai Shi went to Xuan Yuankun's tombstone.
She remained squatting on the ground, taking out a handkerchief and carefully wiping the tombstone: "Xuanyuan Kun, Zhan'er is already Xuanyuan Peng's son, will you blame me?"
Then Madam Bai gave another bitter laugh: "You're actually benefiting from this. No matter whose name Zhan'er is registered under, he's still your bloodline. You must bless Zhan'er's family from the other side so that they can live in peace and good health."
Bai stayed with Xuanyuan Kun for a while before getting up. She took one last look at Xuanyuan Kun and Xuanyuan Peng's tombstones and said bitterly, "Now you have company, and I have to start my new life."
They're all gone, and she can finally be herself again.
From this moment on, she is no longer Bai Shi, she is simply Bai Fuya!
Bai Fuya turned around, her face no longer showing sadness, only resilience and magnanimity.
The people waiting outside, upon seeing Bai Fuya come out, originally intended to offer some words of comfort and reassure her, since she had cried so much in the palace that her eyes were swollen.
But when people saw her, they noticed that something seemed different, though they couldn't quite put their finger on what it was.
Su Xuening was also somewhat surprised to see Bai Fuya's change.
After the Empress Consort entered the imperial mausoleum for a short while, she seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
How should I put it? It's as if my entire mental state has been elevated.
To be honest, my mother was already quite free-spirited and unrestrained before, but now she seems even more so.
"Little Bao, let Grandma give you a hug." As soon as Bai Fuya came out, she took Little Bao from Su Xuening's arms and gave him a loving kiss.
Xiao Bao really looks exactly like Zhan'er. Looking at Xiao Bao is like seeing Zhan'er when she was a child.
When Zhan'er was very young, her husband had just died, and she was also being targeted by Xuan Yuanpeng. She was inevitably flustered, so she always kept Zhan'er by her side.
Rather than saying she took care of Zhan'er, it would be more accurate to say that having Zhan'er gave her a sense of security.
Now, whenever she sees Xiaobao, she always thinks of Zhan'er from that time.
Fortunately, it's all over now, and the clouds have finally parted, the sun is shining after the rain.
There will never be such difficult days again.
Xuan Yuanzhan also noticed Bai Fuya's unusual behavior, and he didn't know whether she was truly not sad or pretending not to be.
But having Xiaobao with her probably helped to ease some of her sadness.
Xuanyuan Zhan looked at Bai Fuya and said, "Let's go back to the palace first."
"Okay." Bai Fuya replied, then picked up the baby and went out.
Upon arriving outside the imperial mausoleum, Bai Fuya was about to carry Xiao Bao onto the imperial carriage when Prince Kang arrived.
"Your Majesty." Prince Kang stepped forward and bowed, then looked at the baby in Bai Fuya's arms.
Everyone says that the eldest grandson of the emperor looks exactly like the crown prince, and now it seems that they really do look exactly alike.
However, the eldest grandson's eyes...
Looking into Xiao Bao's big, dark eyes, Prince Kang frowned and lowered his voice, saying, "Is the eldest grandson of the emperor a descendant of the former crown prince?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
