Chapter 73 He seemed on the verge of collapse.
"Suspend court?" Xiao Shenjing was clearly taken aback for a moment.
He slowly came to his senses and gently sat back down in the dragon-patterned chair.
At this moment, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
The thin rays of sunlight could not penetrate the diamond-shaped window, but only fell weakly on the high threshold outside the palace, vaguely illuminating the emperor's face.
He sat there all night without closing his eyes, and now a thin layer of shadow had settled over his eyes.
This gave him an air of coldness that even the sun couldn't melt away.
Thinking back to yesterday, his emotions went through extreme highs and lows, and he didn't drink a drop of water all night.
Fu Shun couldn't help but worry. "Your Majesty, why don't you go and rest for a while? I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."
"No need," Xiao Shenjing said calmly, staring at the rising mist in the distance.
"Then this servant will have the imperial kitchen prepare some of your favorite breakfast and send it over." Even though it was only the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), not yet the usual time for breakfast.
This time, Xiao Shenjing did not refuse.
When Fu Shun served breakfast, Xiao Shenjing only drank a few spoonfuls of chicken porridge before having it removed.
Fu Shun frowned as he looked on, but dared not offer any further advice.
Xiao Shenjing sat in the chair and waited for a long time.
By the time the sun rose above the mountains, the sky was already bright.
The summer heat slowly rises from the ground.
He seemed to finally lose his patience and called Dao Yi in.
Xiao Shenjing stared at him and rebuked him, "What are you Imperial Guards doing here? A whole night has passed and you can't even find a single person?"
Dao Yi wanted to say something, but seeing Fu Shun's frequent winking and gesturing, he forced himself to suppress it.
Only after he reluctantly made a guarantee did Xiao Shenjing let him leave.
As soon as he left, Fu Shun also made an excuse to leave the main hall.
The two walked a long way until they were sure Xiao Shenjing could no longer hear them. Dao Yi sighed and said, "His Majesty refuses to admit that the one in Yongxiang is Miss Yunxi." He paused, unable to suppress his sadness, "Although I don't want to admit it either, with her limbs bound, how could even Miss Yunxi possibly escape?"
Fu Shun nodded, and after a long while said, "That Miss Yunxi probably even sought death on her own initiative."
Dao frowned and said, "I can't believe it either. Miss Yunxi is so resilient and brave; she shouldn't be that kind of person!"
Fu Shun glanced at him: "Commander Dao probably doesn't know that none of the concubines who entered the Cold Palace ever came out alive, and even if they did, most of them were either insane or mentally impaired."
"I'm still a little skeptical. How about we get a coroner to perform an autopsy?" Dao Yi suggested.
Upon hearing this, Fu Shun's face changed. "You really are our family's living ancestor. Please don't do such a stupid thing."
"Why?" Dao Yi asked, puzzled. "After the coroner examines the body, he can identify it and we can finish our job, right?"
Fu Shun shook his head. "It's impossible to examine. The body was burned too badly. The bones would crumble into pieces at the slightest touch. Even putting it into the coffin was done by having the eunuchs carry it in hand by hand, using cloth as a cushion."
Dao Yi remained silent.
Fu Shun continued, "Furthermore, with Consort Yun's limbs bound by iron chains and guarded by the Imperial Guards day and night, how could she possibly escape when she was physically exhausted?" Fu Shun also sighed, "In truth, His Majesty knows perfectly well that it was Consort Yun who was burned to death, but he simply refuses to accept it."
Dao Yi had to admit that Eunuch Fu was right.
Before he could speak, Fu Shun sighed deeply again, "As long as Miss Yunxi is not found, the palace gates will not open. All the arrangements within the palace will have to go through my hands."
At 1:15 AM, Xiao Shenjing called Fu Shun in. "Still haven't found him?"
Fu Shun knelt down quickly. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards, palace maids, and eunuchs have not dared to close their eyes all night, and have been searching with all their might."
After a long pause, Xiao Shenjing nodded. Just as Fu Shun was about to leave, he suddenly said, "Even if court is suspended, I must approve the memorials." He paused, then said, "Go and summon the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works to me. I want to discuss the autumn harvest tax collection with them."
Soon, the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works entered the palace for an audience.
In the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, a long table carved from rosewood was piled with reports of autumn grain harvests from various provinces. Sandalwood incense burned in a gilded bronze censer, its wisps of smoke mingling with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms outside the window. Xiao Shenjing leaned against a bright yellow embroidered dragon-patterned cushion, his fingertips unconsciously caressing a jade paperweight.
The Minister of Revenue bowed and said, “Your Majesty, if we follow the autumn grain quotas of previous years, the Huai River region will have a bumper harvest, and the people will have surplus grain to get through the winter. The imperial granary can also cover the expenses. However, reducing or exempting taxes in Beizhili may affect the military provisions of the border garrisons.”
The Minister of Works suddenly knelt down, lifting his robes, and said, "Your Majesty, I risk my life to offer this advice! Last year, Shanxi suffered a severe drought. If we forcibly requisition the autumn grain now, I fear it will cause a popular uprising. I beg Your Majesty to follow the old system established during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong and use public works as a form of relief to repair the granaries in Tongzhou!"
Then the two ministers waited for a long time without receiving a reply from the emperor on the throne.
The young emperor was gazing out the window, his eyes flickering slightly, as if lost in memories.
The two exchanged a glance, and the Minister of Revenue was the first to call out, "Your Majesty?"
Xiao Shenjing suddenly came to his senses.
Meeting the gazes of his two ministers, he paused for a few moments before asking, "What are you saying?"
Suppressing the strange feeling in their hearts, the two repeated what they had just said.
This time, the emperor fell silent for a long time again.
Finally, Xiao Shenjing only said one sentence: "We'll discuss this again next time."
The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works were thus asked to leave.
"What's wrong with Your Majesty?" The Minister of Works frowned. "I have never seen Your Majesty like this before."
In the past, whenever there was discussion about state affairs, Xiao Shenjing would always listen attentively, consult in a timely manner, and finally issue orders. In the face of matters of national importance, this young emperor would never be ambiguous.
I vividly recall the last time an official met with the Emperor, he was fined a year's salary simply for giving the wrong number.
Therefore, officials would prepare in advance for each meeting with the emperor, fearing that the slightest oversight might offend him.
But what major event has occurred today that has caused this shrewd and powerful emperor to become so distraught and absent-minded?
The door to the East Warm Pavilion slowly closed.
Xiao Shenjing suddenly buried himself in his hands, his bent back taut like a drawn bowstring.
He seemed on the verge of collapse, yet he was doing his utmost to control himself.
He discovered that he couldn't do anything at all, and he couldn't even think.
The charred corpse from last night keeps replaying in my mind's eye.
How painful must it be to be burned alive?
Does Yunxi hate him that much?
Xiao Shenjing's dark pupils trembled, and he slowly closed his eyes.
He let the burning pain in his throat pierce through his internal organs.
Yunxi truly hated him and would rather die with him and her child.
child
She and his child.
The air entering my throat felt like it had turned into scalding hot charcoal.
This cannot continue.
He was the emperor, the ruler of the land. So many important matters concerning people's livelihoods awaited his decision. He had to ensure that more of his people could have enough to eat and live a stable life, instead of being swayed by personal feelings.
He suppressed the surging taste of blood in his throat, paused for a moment, and then told Fu Shun to stop searching for Yun Xi.
Fu Shun was overjoyed and cautiously looked at Xiao Shenjing, asking, "Your Majesty has not rested all night. Would Your Majesty like to rest?"
"Very well." Xiao Shenjing stood up and walked towards the bedroom.
He thought he would fall asleep quickly, after all, he was so tired.
But despite being extremely tired and exhausted, he couldn't fall asleep no matter what he did.
Even though the bed no longer carried Yunxi's scent, a familiar fragrance always seemed to seep into his body and his mind.
Scenes from the past flooded back to my mind uncontrollably.
She used to sleep on this bed every day. If he wanted more at night, she would be sleepy and stay in bed. Every day after he finished his morning court session, she would still be asleep.
She is completely different when she is asleep and when she is awake. She is well-behaved and quiet, and sometimes when she sleeps on her side, her chin will press out a chubby ridge, and he can't help but wake her up.
When she was woken up, she would angrily curse him as a dog emperor, staring at him with eyes that seemed to want to tear him to pieces.
She was always full of vitality, and he couldn't help but want to kiss her, but he usually restrained himself. After all, he was the emperor, the Son of Heaven, and he couldn't let a woman lead him by the nose.
But there were times when he couldn't bear it any longer, so he would carry Yunxi, who had just finished washing up and whose eyes were still half-closed, to the table and feed her breakfast.
When she refused to open her mouth with a look of disgust, he couldn't resist the urge to tease her and threaten to do it to her right there.
What will Yunxi do then?
She would scold him again, angrily stuffing the food into her mouth.
The memories are so vivid, it's as if they're being relived.
The next moment, he blinked and saw Yunxi sitting right next to him.
"Xiao Shenjing, why are you looking at me like that?" She frowned, looking disgusted. "Eat your food, don't even think about messing with me."
The sunlight today was so bright, it danced clearly in her eyes and brows, and even her thick eyelashes looked vividly distinct.
"Yunxi!" In that instant, a tremendous surprise struck Xiao Shenjing, making his pupils tremble.
"What are you going to do now?" Yunxi stared at him warily.
She wasn't dead; she wasn't a charred, curled-up corpse. She was alive and well right in front of him.
He said, "How could Yunxi die so easily?"
The immense happiness came so suddenly that the emperor could no longer contain his emotions.
"Yunxi, I had a dream!" He reached out to Yunxi with trembling eyes, wanting to pull her into a tight embrace.
But the moment his fingers touched her, everything bright and vibrant faded rapidly before his eyes.
"Yunxi, Yunxi," Xiao Shenjing's eyes reddened, and he desperately reached out to grab her in the air, as if he were going crazy trying to keep her.
But what they managed to grab was a patch of charred, blackened earth.
"No, no!" His eyes blazed with anguish as he screamed, "No, Yunxi, Yunxi, come back!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Hearing the commotion inside the bedchamber, Fu Shun, who was guarding the door, rushed in with a drastic change in expression. He ran to the bedside, lifted the dragon-patterned curtain, and his hurried movements caused the sachet hanging from the gilded curtain hooks to rustle. "Your Majesty..."
Down.
It's stuck in my throat.
When Fu Shun met Xiao Shenjing's trembling eyes, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair rush to his head, causing his body to shudder violently.
It took him a while to recover his senses. He immediately knelt down and earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, the dead cannot be brought back to life. You must take good care of your health. The people of this world cannot live without you."
Xiao Shenjing suddenly closed his eyes, struggled to raise his hand, and swung Fu Shun away.
In his haste, Fu Shun realized he had overstepped his bounds, so he dared not utter another word and respectfully backed away.
As the heavy, carved door slammed shut, Xiao Shenjing's eyes slowly moved, finally landing almost sluggishly on the golden dragon-patterned pillow beside him.
That was the pillow Yunxi had slept on.
The black hair that had once been wrapped around the gold thread had been removed by the palace maid, but he could still seem to smell the familiar fragrance on his nose.
That was his favorite smell.
The memories were so tender and sweet that he couldn't resist reaching out to touch the golden dragon-patterned pillow.
But just as he was about to touch the pillow, he recoiled as if he had been electrocuted.
The emperor, who was in a daze, suddenly buried his face in the soft pillow. The cassia seeds under the brocade made his cheekbones ache. He hugged it tighter and tighter as if he were being fierce, and the golden dragon-patterned pillow was deformed by his grip.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Shenjing remained asleep, still embracing the soft pillow.
He slept for a long time, but no one dared to disturb him.
He slowly opened his eyes as darkness fell and the next day's sunlight streamed through the window.
Outside the main hall, Fu Shun paced back and forth, almost crushing the floor tiles outside the sleeping quarters.
His Majesty had been sleeping for almost a day and a night without eating or drinking. Fu Shun was so anxious that he wanted to rush in and wake him up countless times, but he didn't dare.
Thinking of His Majesty's appearance last night, Fu Shun became even more agitated and couldn't help pacing back and forth outside the bedchamber with his hands behind his back.
Until a voice called out from inside the house, "Someone come here."
Fu Shun felt as if he had been granted a pardon and rushed inside.
Upon entering, he quickly glanced at Xiao Shenjing on the dragon bed, then quickly lowered his head and asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to change your clothes and have your meal served?"
"pass."
Fu Shun really put a lot of thought into this breakfast.
The imperial kitchen was instructed to prepare only Xiao Shenjing's favorite dishes, since he hadn't eaten for a day and a night, and even an iron body couldn't withstand such a situation.
Just as Fu Shun was filled with fear and anxiety, he never expected that Xiao Shenjing would use quite a lot this time.
Fu Shun was so excited that he wanted to kneel down and thank his ancestors.
Just as he was feeling happy, Xiao Shenjing casually asked, "Have you buried her yet?"
Grandpa Fu felt as if he had fallen from the sky to the ground in an instant.
Thinking about His Majesty's abnormal behavior these past two days—vomiting blood and not sleeping or eating all night—if this happens a few more times, even a healthy body will be worn down.
He doesn't want to go through that again.
With his heart pounding, he even dared to glance at Xiao Shenjing.
Even though he quickly realized what was happening and immediately lowered his head, he was still startled.
His Majesty appeared remarkably calm at this moment, as if he had seen through countless trials and tribulations and had forgotten all the past events.
Consort Yun has also let go of her obsession.
But recalling His Majesty's out-of-control and frenzied behavior that day, Fu Shun simply couldn't believe it.
He thought for a moment and replied carefully, "Your Majesty, I sent people yesterday to prepare the body for burial, and it is buried here."
"Alright, that's enough." Xiao Shenjing put down his chopsticks and interrupted him.
Fu Shun nodded, not daring to say anything more.
Xiao Shenjing wiped his mouth, smoothed out any wrinkles that weren't there, and stood up.
"Burn that golden dragon-patterned pillow for me." He walked to the door, stepped over the threshold, and stopped, saying, "My bedchamber should not have any other traces."
The jawline was sculpted coldly and thin by the sunlight.
“This servant understands,” Fu Shun quickly replied.
At the same time, he was also overjoyed. The golden dragon-patterned pillow was something that Consort Yun had used before. Now that it had been burned, it meant that His Majesty had completely emerged from his grief.
Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the ruler of all people, and should indeed not indulge in personal feelings.
It's good that you've come out so quickly. There are so many beauties in the harem. If there are any you don't like, you can recruit more women. What kind of woman can't His Majesty find if he wants one?
Seeing Xiao Shenjing stride towards the East Warm Pavilion, Fu Shun quickly found a capable eunuch to collect all of Yun Xi's personal belongings left behind in the bedroom.
Before long, there was no trace of Yunxi in the bedchamber.
Xiao Shenjing knew that Yunxi was dead.
"Then let her die," he thought, "so she won't always cause trouble for me, disrupt the peace of the harem and the world, and make me worry and get angry about her all the time."
He doesn't have that much time. He is the emperor of a country, how can he indulge in personal feelings?
The emperor guards the nation's gates; the monarch dies for the state.
As an emperor ruling over all directions, he should govern the country and bring peace to the world.
This was a responsibility he had to shoulder, weighing on his spine day and night, like iron chains binding him, from which he could not escape and had no respite for even a moment.
He had to withstand any upheaval; he had to stabilize the country and its people.
If he wavers even slightly, his people will be plunged into a famine hell, the borders will be trampled and ravaged by foreign tribes, and important coastal towns will be bloodily slaughtered by Japanese pirates.
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