Chapter 93 The Prince Passes Away, I Really Miss Him
I hadn't expected to be back in Yunjing so soon. The newly transplanted flowers and trees in General Lingyun's mansion were already lush and green, with flourishing branches and leaves. Even the little fox had become plumper.
Jiang Cichen was meeting guests in the study, while Luo Wan was sitting in the courtyard, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the stone table.
This incident happened so suddenly that no one expected it.
She didn't know how long she waited before she saw the tightly closed door open and a man walked out.
When he saw Luo Wan, he just nodded slightly and left without stopping.
This was the first time Luo Wan saw other ministers enter General Lingyun's mansion, and even stay in the study for such a long time.
Luo Wan stood up and walked towards the study. Jiang Cichen was about to leave, and the two almost bumped into each other.
"Are you going out?" Luo Wan asked.
"Yeah." Jiang Cichen replied, "What do you want to talk to me about?"
Luo Wan nodded.
"Is it urgent?" Jiang Cichen naturally put his arm around her, kissed her forehead, and looked down at her. "If it's not urgent, wait until I come back."
Luo Wan said: "It won't delay you for too long."
Jiang Cichen took her back into the house.
"Don't you think what happened to Xiao Ce is too sudden and strange?" Luo Wan said bluntly, "There has never been an accident in Jingzhou..."
"If there are signs, it can't be called an accident," Jiang Cichen interrupted her calmly, "Wanwan, it has already happened."
Luo Wan frowned and said, "That's not what I meant. This incident is definitely not accidental. The Northerners must have planned this long ago. We should find out the mastermind behind this and be on guard. Otherwise, there will be endless trouble."
Jiang Cichen was silent for a moment, then wrapped his palm around her slightly cold hand: "Don't worry, I'll make plans early."
Luo Wan stared at him, feeling that he was acting weird today.
"Really, I will be careful about everything." Jiang Cichen smiled at her, "Go to bed early tonight, no need to wait for me."
The sky was a bit darker than before, and a light, dense rain began to fall. Luo Wan pulled a paper umbrella from the door and handed it to him.
Suddenly, a bell rang, echoing throughout the entire Yunjing City.
The second bell rang immediately afterwards, heavy and slow. The successive bells rang through the rain curtain, through the high walls, and struck the eardrums of everyone in Yunjing.
On the long street and under the eaves, all the sounds of running, working, laughing, and cursing came to an abrupt halt.
The dark figures fell silently, prostrating themselves in the direction of the East Palace and kowtowing.
Luo Wan and Jiang Cichen also subconsciously looked towards the East Palace.
A mournful cry came from somewhere: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has passed away!"
The rain was falling steadily in the East Palace. The Crown Princess and the Young Prince were dressed in white and kneeling in front of the coffin.
The little prince didn't understand what was happening. He stretched out his chubby little hand to reach the offerings in front of the coffin, but was slapped back by the Crown Princess.
Not long after, the eunuchs in the palace came to summon him:
"I have received the mandate of Heaven, nurturing the people. I work diligently and cautiously, fearing only the loss of virtue. Crown Prince Xiao Ce is a virtuous and capable heir, wise, virtuous, and brave. I love him, and the people hope for him..."
"...On the ninth day of the second month of the twenty-fourth year of Yongchang, at three quarters past the hour of the twelfth month, he passed away in the Eastern Palace. Upon hearing the tragic news, my heart was torn asunder, and my innermost being was devastated. The Crown Prince's sacrifice for his country is truly a sorrow shared by heaven and earth, and by all the people."
"Crown Prince Xiao Ce, whose loyalty and bravery are unparalleled, his achievements are immortal, and his aspirations live on. I hereby order the suspension of court for seven days, a period of national mourning, the prohibition of weddings and feasts, and the observance of plain clothing by all officials and civilians for twenty-seven days to mourn the soul of our crown prince and loyal hero. I decree this."
The young prince looked up at the tearful eunuch and burst into tears in fear.
The eunuch's gaze fell on the Crown Princess: "Please accept my condolences, Crown Princess, and take care of yourself."
The Crown Princess didn't cry or make a fuss, and she didn't say a word.
The imperial edict was not only sent to the Eastern Palace, but also conveyed to every place in Yunjing City.
On February 19th, the 24th year of Yongchang, it was suitable for funerals.
The bitter wind and rain that had lasted for several days finally stopped today. The sky was still gloomy, and the gray clouds hung low over the city, not allowing a single ray of light to penetrate.
On both sides of the pipeline from the imperial city to the imperial mausoleum, wide paths had long been separated by the silver-white Yulin Army.
At noon, the Donghua Gate burst open and the ceremonial procession slowly came out.
The flag bearer held high a bright yellow and dark black soul-calling flag, followed by an endless stream of people holding various sacrificial utensils, musical instruments, and weapons.
Then came the huge coffin, which was carried by seventy-two pallbearers.
The thousand-year-old sunken wood is extremely thick, and the coffin is covered with a huge bright yellow coffin cover with a dragon pattern.
After that, there was a huge funeral procession, including royal family members, women of noble families... The cries finally broke out uncontrollably, so mournful that they lingered in the ears.
The sounds of bells, horns, crying, and chanting mixed together.
Under the lead-gray sky, paper money fluttered down like snow.
*
After Xiao Ce's death, a fierce dispute broke out in the court of Yun State over the issue of appointing a new crown prince.
One group advised that the crown prince was the foundation of the country and should be established as soon as possible; the other group said that the Emperor was in good health and there was no need to rush to establish a crown prince.
There were endless arguments and noises in the court all day long.
Jiang Cichen finally returned home from court, but he had to deal with urgent military reports from the front line. It was often late at night when he finished dealing with things.
Luo Wan hadn't fallen asleep yet, so she got up to greet him. He closed his eyes and took her into his arms, pressing her into the bed. His voice was hoarse, "Let me hold you for a while."
It was really just a quiet hug.
After a long while, Jiang Cichen spoke with a deep sense of weariness: "Grandfather Emperor has issued an order."
Luo Wan let him hold her: "Should we go to war or establish a crown prince?"
Sometimes she would hear Jiang Cichen mention the situation on the front line. The Northern Kingdom had captured a new city, which made the war in Lin'an and Jingzhou more tense.
But in his previous life, Jiang Cichen experienced all of this alone.
"Go," he said. "Grandfather Huang was deeply saddened by my uncle's death. He gave me three months to capture Lin'an, and then turn to attack Jingzhou and take the head of the commander in chief."
Three months is neither long nor short.
In the past, the Yun army would have been full of momentum and had a good chance of victory. But now, with the death of the Yun crown prince, the situation has been reversed, and this battle is extremely dangerous.
"When are we leaving?" Luo Wan asked.
"The decree was just issued this morning. You are to depart in three days." Jiang Cichen suddenly stood up and looked at her gravely. "You must stay in Yunjing."
"Why?"
"The East Palace was attacked by an assassin last night," he said.
"Assassinating the little prince?" Luo Wan frowned, incredulous. "He's less than three years old."
Jiang Cichen turned over and lay on the side, saying in a cold voice, "For some people with ulterior motives, he will eventually grow up. Ten years is just a blink of an eye. By the time he grows up, it will be too late to do anything. Moreover, the emperor's grandfather has been reluctant to agree to appoint a crown prince. In the eyes of some people, this position already belongs to Xiao Ce's son."
Luo Wan looked at him sideways and asked tentatively, "So, you want me to stay and protect the Crown Princess and the young prince?"
Jiang Cichen said calmly, "When I returned to Yun Country, it was Xiao Ce who persistently searched for me. He was the one who sent people to pick me up from Yinan City to Yunjing. And when you were in danger, he also lent me a secret guard. I must repay this kindness."
Luo Wan shifted his gaze and looked towards the tall curtains.
From her perspective, Xiao Ce's death was sudden, but reasonable.
If Xiao Ce had not died, Jiang Cichen would have no reason to ascend the throne.
But now he actually wants her to protect them. Then how did you, Jiang Cichen, sit on the throne?
By overthrowing the imperial power again?
Luo Wan promised him: "Okay, I'll stay."
*
Before the officials and people of Yun State had even changed out of their plain clothes, Jiang Cichen had already left Yunjing.
The sky of Yunjing returned to its boundless azure blue, so clear that it seemed to wash away all the sorrow.
Under the Queen's arrangement, Luo Wan moved directly into the Eastern Palace. The little prince was now able to run and jump, speaking simple sentences in a baby voice. He was lively and clever, and particularly lovable.
It was not until many days after living in the Eastern Palace that Luo Wan learned that Xu Lian'er had committed suicide by taking poison immediately after Xiao Ce's death.
When the Crown Princess told her about this matter, she also mentioned an old incident.
When Xu Lian'er fell into the water, it was the Crown Princess who urged Xiao Ce to rescue her. Otherwise, given his personality, how could he, a crown prince, save a woman of unknown origin?
Luo Wan asked softly: "Why don't you tell her the truth?"
After a long silence, the Crown Princess smiled and said, "I thought he really liked her."
Luo Wan looked at her: "Do you regret letting him save you?"
I once thought that my kindness was rewarded with my lover's infidelity and love for someone else.
"I regret it." The Crown Princess said honestly, "But if it happened again, I would still do it. But I won't forgive him, because he made me very sad these past few years."
But even if Xiao Ce didn't save Xu Lian'er, there would be other women appearing in that position.
Times have changed. Looking back now, the pain that was once unforgettable does not seem so unbearable.
…………
A new opera troupe has arrived at Junzitai and is performing these days. When Luo Wan asked the Crown Princess if she wanted to go, she did go, but she often got distracted while listening.
The crabapple trees in the East Palace were in full bloom, and the moonlight, like water, sprinkled softly, illuminating the courtyard with a clear glow.
Luo Wan and the Crown Princess sat under the eaves and drank together, but she was still very afraid that she would make mistakes after drinking, so she did not drink. The Crown Princess also did not try to persuade her today, which was unusual.
As usual, Jiang Cichen's letter came back from the front line. Luo Wan read it in the light of the lanterns under the eaves. The handwriting on the letter was elegant and free, very similar to his own temperament.
During the two months he was away, Luo Wan had actually developed a state where she would feel at peace whenever she saw his words.
"Wanwan..."
Luo Wan turned around when she heard the voice, only to see the Crown Princess standing behind her. She was tilting her head to read the contents of the letter and suddenly laughed: "Jiang Cichen is too..."
"I can't stand it! I really can't stand it!"
The Crown Princess was laughing so hard that she was staggering from side to side while holding the wine jar. She turned around and staggered away. She was so drunk that she couldn't even walk steadily. Luo Wan quickly took the letter and went to help her.
After this support, the Crown Princess dragged him all the way to the little prince's bedroom. She leaned over and kissed the sleeping child fiercely, kissing the little prince awake and making him cry, and then she stopped with satisfaction.
"My son is adorable, isn't he?" The Crown Princess said to Luo Wan with a proud look on her face.
Luo Wan nodded: "Cute, cute."
"This is Xiao Ce and I's child!" the Crown Princess asked, "When will you give birth to one too?"
"No hurry, no hurry."
The Crown Princess walked around and gradually felt sleepy. She leaned on Luo Wan's shoulder, looked at the starry night sky, and said something she had been holding back for a long time.
"I really miss him," she said, her voice hoarse from drinking. "He was still so young."
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