Chapter 74 Xiao Shenjing felt a sudden pain in his heart.
On the sixth day of the suspension of court, the young emperor seemed to have completely emerged from his slump.
At this time, when summer grain was being stored and autumn planting preparations were underway, the Ministry of Revenue reviewed the "Rain and Snow Grain Price List" and assessed the national harvest.
Even though the flood season for the Yellow River and Huai River was coming to an end, there was still a risk of dike breaches. He summoned the Minister of Works and the Vice Minister of Revenue to discuss the matter and ordered the Ministry of Works to reinforce the dikes.
The Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue found that they were completely different people from yesterday.
It has completely regained its former glory.
Xiao Shenjing and his court officials discussed state affairs until 3:45 PM. He made an exception and invited all the ministers to stay for dinner. The emperor and his ministers enjoyed themselves together during the meal.
As the water clock dripped to three quarters past 7 PM, chilled plum juice was removed from the sandalwood table inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Xiao Shenjing had just taken a sip of tea when he saw a palace maid bring over fresh chilled lychees.
The hand holding the teacup paused abruptly.
Looking at the fresh, red-shelled fruit, he couldn't help but think of the figure hiding behind the imperial desk to steal lychees last Mid-Autumn Festival.
At that time, her cheeks were stuffed full of lychee pits. What did he say then?
He wanted to punish her by making her hold the lychee pit in her mouth until the end of the banquet.
Upon hearing his words, Yunxi immediately spat out the lychee pits, displaying extreme arrogance.
He could almost see those clear, almond-shaped eyes again, staring at him with disdain, as if saying, "Xiao Shenjing, do you think I'm afraid of you?"
At this moment, the young emperor's eyes trembled; he seemed to be transported to a vivid and bright memory, with Yunxi sitting beside him.
Yunxi.
He couldn't help but raise his hand, wanting to touch her, wanting to confirm that that night in the Yongxiang Palace was just a nightmare, that she was still alive and well, full of energy, cursing him, instead of her skin being charred like a withered leaf.
"As expected of the lychees from southern Fujian, they are indeed sweet."
The voice of Wang Ruzhen, the Minister of Revenue, seemed to drift from an extremely distant place.
But it was like a heavy punch, shattering the scene before Xiao Shenjing's eyes.
When he came to his senses again, all the vivid memories had faded, and he was thrown heavily into the old reality.
The sudden drop drew away the air, causing him to suffocate for a moment.
As the sticky juice of the lychee seeped into his fingernails, Xiao Shenjing heard his own voice, tinged with laughter: "Wang Qing just said how much pig iron the dam needs?"
The officials below the stage, unaware of the emperor's unusual behavior, quickly answered.
The young emperor listened attentively.
But his jawline was already taut and sharp.
The imperial desk obscured his pale knuckles as he held the lychee, the crimson juice meandering down the mountain-shaped pattern of the twelve imperial robes, forming a blood-like stream on the plain jade belt at his waist.
As the emperor, Xiao Shenjing never indulged in drinking, but today he drank several cups in a row.
Fu Shun was extremely anxious. Seeing Xiao Shenjing bring the pot again, he risked his life to advise, "Your Majesty, you need to perform the Zhongyuan Festival ritual at midnight."
Xiao Shenjing glanced at him indifferently.
The frivolous drunkenness in his eyes seemed to transform into a sharp sword.
Fu Shun immediately bowed and retreated.
After the banquet, Xiao Shenjing appeared somewhat drunk.
Despite feeling lightheaded and dizzy, I forced myself to walk properly.
He knew he had recovered and that no one in the world could affect him.
She's dead, so be it.
As he staggered to his feet on the bed, he still managed to finish the hangover soup. After washing up and changing his clothes, he didn't forget to tell Fu Shun, "Call me early tomorrow morning."
Only then did he let himself fall asleep.
The next day, the court session ended.
At 1:15 AM, Xiao Shenjing sat upright on the dragon throne without showing any sign of distress.
Everything seemed so normal.
Fu Shun was finally relieved.
However, Xiao Shenjing spent the entire night in the East Warm Pavilion reviewing memorials.
At this time, Fu Shun had not yet realized that something was wrong, thinking that it was just that the Ministry of Justice had too many death penalty cases from all over the country.
After Xiao Shenjing stayed up for another day and night,
On the third night, at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), he went to bed.
Just over an hour later, Xiao Shenjing sat up from the bed.
When Fu Shun was hurriedly summoned by the palace servants, he looked surprised. "Your Majesty, it's just past midnight."
Xiao Shenjing waved his hand at him, "I know. If you are tired, go and rest."
“But Your Majesty, you haven’t had a proper rest these past few days.” Fu Shun stared at the dark circles under Xiao Shenjing’s eyes and said worriedly, “This servant will go and get the imperial physician to examine you.”
Xiao Shenjing put on his boots, stood up from the bed, and said calmly and naturally, "No need, I just have some government affairs to finish."
Fu Shun was worried, so he accompanied the emperor to the East Warm Pavilion, only to find that there were no accumulated memorials on the emperor's desk.
Before he could speak, Xiao Shenjing asked, "Tomorrow we'll be going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for the Ghost Festival. Is everything ready?"
Fu Shun immediately nodded, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites has made all the necessary preparations in accordance with the clan system."
Xiao Shenjing stared at the imperial desk for a long time, then nodded as if he was slow to react, and said to Fu Shun, "You should go and rest."
"Your Majesty, this servant will accompany you."
Xiao Shenjing chuckled, "You're an old man, go and rest early. I'm fine, no need to worry."
Fu Shun wanted to say something, but Xiao Shenjing gave him a dismissive look.
He commands respect without anger.
With a cold, indifferent glance, he, who had served the emperor for so long, knew that this was the emperor's final ultimatum.
He then stopped talking nonsense, bowed, and withdrew.
Upon reaching the door, he quietly gave instructions to the palace maids and eunuchs on duty.
After giving instructions on what time to send what food, Fu Shun turned back and reminded His Majesty, "I advise His Majesty to rest early, as you will have to get up early tomorrow."
At the stroke of dawn, the sound of the night drum pierced through the night fog, and 360 plain silk palace lanterns lit up one after another along the steps of the Forbidden City.
Fu Shun arrived at the East Warm Pavilion amidst the morning dew. The moment the door was pushed open, he was stunned and stood frozen in place.
The room was filled with crumpled Xuan paper, and clumps of it.
Some were torn into pieces and filled the gaps.
Some of the paper scraps showed traces of scarlet cinnabar.
Fu Shun "Your Majesty"
Xiao Shenjing held the wolf howl in his hand, slowly raised his eyes, and looked at Fu Shun with his dark and calm eyes, saying, "You've come."
He smiled and asked, "Tell me, I've been painting all night, how come I can't even paint a plum blossom properly?"
For some reason, Fu Shun felt a chill run down his spine.
It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head.
His limbs were cold, and he suddenly woke up with a start. His Majesty…
Extreme astonishment and disbelief made the seasoned steward tremble all over.
He had already understood something.
However, he had to forcefully suppress his chaotic thoughts and said with a smile, "It must be because Your Majesty did not get a proper rest tonight. After a good night's sleep, Your Majesty can paint any kind of picture with ease."
"You're so good with words." Xiao Shenjing raised the corners of his lips.
It looks completely normal.
Back in his palace, Xiao Shenjing, who hadn't slept a wink, changed into a blue silk robe with twelve embroidered patterns, dressed by palace maids. He wore a black gauze hat, a jade belt, and red shoes, and stepped out of the Qianqing Palace at the sound of the dawn gong.
The Imperial Guards were already standing solemnly on the steps.
At 3:45 AM, the imperial carriage set off.
Xiao Shenjing sat upright on a twelve-bearer jade palanquin, flanked by eunuchs holding umbrellas and fans, with a ceremonial guard carrying imperial insignia and banners following behind him.
The procession slowly moved north along Chengtian Gate. Water was sprinkled on the blue brick ground, and imperial guards stood on both sides with their spears, their iron armor gleaming blue in the moonlight.
When the procession reached the Meridian Gate, the drums and music suddenly stopped.
As officials knelt in worship, they crossed the Jinshui Bridge. Dew still lingered on the vermilion surface. Below the bridge, lotus lanterns released by the people floated downstream, adorning the moat like a cascading silver river.
Xiao Shenjing stared at the river lanterns, his expression momentarily blank.
The lamp floats on the water, reflecting light, and the souls of the dead follow the light to Penglai. On the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, the lamps are lit to illuminate the path to reincarnation for the wandering souls.
The dead.
The dead.
On the jade carriage, the young emperor felt a sudden jolt in his heart and clenched his fist tightly.
Only after the suffocating pain subsided did he suddenly call out, "Fu Shun".
Upon hearing the emperor's voice, the well-trained guard of honor immediately stopped.
"Your Majesty, this servant is here."
Xiao Shenjing said, "Go and fetch me a river lantern."
The river lanterns were quickly brought out.
Xiao Shenjing was helped down from the jade carriage by Fu Shun.
Standing on the bluestone steps by the river, he bent down and placed the river lantern in his hand into the water.
Yunxi is dead. May her soul find its way to reincarnation.
In their next life, may they never meet again.
The river water was cool and warm. Just as the river lantern was about to slip from Xiao Shenjing's hand and fall into the river, he suddenly clenched his fist tightly, squeezing the lotus lantern in his palm until it was deformed.
Fu Shun's eyes widened suddenly.
He caught a glimpse of the storm, but it was quickly covered up again. Xiao Shenjing had already stood up.
As the sun rose, Fu Shun saw the young emperor's taut profile, like a bowstring stretched to its limit.
But the next instant he blinked, he saw that the emperor's expression remained unchanged, as if he had simply imagined it.
Smoke rose from the incense burner in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
The sacrificial offerings were a black pig from Yizhou that had been slaughtered this morning. Blood beads trickled down the white jade plate as Xiao Shenjing performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.
After the three offerings ceremony was completed, the Minister of Rites presented a gilded box containing the congratulatory text and bowed as he walked to the Minister's side.
Xiao Shenjing stared at the wisps of smoke and did not immediately reach for it.
"Your Majesty, it's time to recite the 'Scripture for the Salvation of the Dead'," Fu Shun reminded him in a low voice.
Inside the hall, the flickering candlelight mingled with the humming of the Taoist priests chanting scriptures, weaving a net under the seven-jeweled lamps.
On the prayer mat, Xiao Shenjing chanted, "Throughout the Three Realms and Ten Directions, may all wandering souls be summoned and their grievances cleared, so that they may be reborn as they wish."
Summoning wandering souls, all grievances will be absolved.
All grievances have been absolved.
He suddenly lowered his eyelashes.
Yunxi.
In this life, all the grievances between you and me will be absolved.
There are no more worries or ties.
As dusk settled on the way back to the capital.
The creaking of cart tracks over the blue bricks filled the air as Xiao Shenjing sat in the thirty-six-bearer imperial carriage.
Returning to the north gate of the imperial city, the streets were already filled with kneeling people, a vast, dark mass.
The majestic procession moved slowly forward, the young emperor on the dragon carriage with a solemn and handsome face, and the people on both sides of the street bowed and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this humble subject has a grievance to report. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for my family!" Suddenly, a child shouted hoarsely, his tender voice particularly jarring in the quiet street.
The imperial guards clearing the way, their faces taut, seized the child who dared to block the imperial procession without hesitation. Just as they were about to drag him away, they heard the emperor's voice from afar: "Stop!"
Xiao Shenjing lifted the bright yellow curtain and saw a child dressed in mourning clothes kneeling in the middle of the imperial road. The child was only about ten years old, and the hem of his mourning clothes was covered with mud, but he had a pair of unusually clear eyes.
"Bring him here," Xiao Shenjing said in a deep voice.
The imperial guards dared not delay and immediately brought the child to the front of the imperial carriage, forcing him to kneel down.
Xiao Shenjing asked, "What is the matter you wish to report?"
Feng Mingyuan pressed his forehead against the cold ground, trembling not from fear: "Your Majesty, my father has been diagnosed with the Empress's incurable tuberculosis."
"What did you say?" Xiao Shenjing's expression suddenly changed.
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