Chapter 339 The Crown Prince Dies
In the spring of the thirty-third year of Zhaoming, after the Crown Prince returned from inspecting Yangzhou, he caught a cold, which worsened his condition. He remained bedridden for three months and unfortunately passed away at the age of twenty-six.
When the devastating news spread, the entire court was shocked and the world was stunned.
The emperor was deeply grieved and sat in the Xihe Palace, the former residence of the crown prince, for three consecutive days without eating or drinking.
The palace doors were tightly shut, with only occasional, extremely suppressed sobs that were almost inaudible.
On the fourth day, Su Qingci led the officials to kneel outside the palace, weeping blood, and repeatedly pleading with them, before the tightly closed palace doors finally opened slowly.
Subsequently, Li Yuanzhao issued an edict to bury the crown prince on the east side of the imperial mausoleum, posthumously granting him the title of Emperor Jingyi and the temple name Zhongzong.
On the day of the funeral, the sky was overcast and a light rain was falling, as if heaven and earth were weeping for the untimely death of this wise crown prince.
Inside and outside the capital, all the alleys were deserted. People spontaneously dressed in mourning clothes, prostrated themselves by the roadside, and their cries of grief shook the heavens and lingered for a long time.
During the funeral procession, civil and military officials knelt and wept on the ground, unable to contain their grief.
Only the Crown Prince, Ru Bai, dressed in mourning, followed behind the coffin, supported by others. His eyes were vacant, and he did not shed a single tear.
Until the coffin was solemnly moved into the underground palace and placed on the majestic white marble coffin bed, in preparation for the final burial ceremony.
No one expected that this usually silent emperor would break free from his support and, as if possessed, crash into the dragon-shaped stone pillar in front of the crown prince's coffin, intending to commit suicide for love.
Fortunately, the guards on either side reacted quickly and pulled him back in time. Although he was not seriously injured, he was still bleeding from his head and fell into a coma.
After being revived by the imperial physicians, he insisted on following the crown prince in death, no matter how much everyone tried to persuade him.
Finally, Li Yuanzhao came to persuade him personally, and he finally gave up the idea of dying for love and went to Ganye Temple to become a monk.
Less than half a month after the crown prince's burial, another blow followed.
Empress Pei, who had been quietly managing the inner palace for many years and whose health was not very good, fell ill due to grief over the early death of her beloved daughter.
He too fell ill and never recovered, passing away alongside his daughter.
Having lost the crown prince whom he had carefully nurtured and on whom he had placed high hopes, and the empress with whom he had shared many years of deep affection, even Li Yuanzhao, with his iron will and who had weathered countless storms, could no longer bear these successive blows.
The courtiers were horrified to discover that in just a few dozen days, His Majesty's temples had suddenly turned much whiter, and he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.
However, just as His Majesty was exhausted and the whole country was in mourning, the Third Prince, together with some members of the imperial clan, launched a palace coup, intending to seize the throne while the Empress Dowager was distracted by grief and the court was in turmoil.
But they forgot that although the emperor was old, he was still the emperor.
Moreover, Li Yuanzhao was an emperor who had fought his way out of a bloody war.
This impromptu and aggressive rebellion was suppressed in just two days.
All those involved in the rebellion were captured.
An investigation revealed that those involved in the palace coup included not only the Third Prince, but also His Majesty's Fourth Princess, Prince Xuan, as well as many other members of the imperial clan.
In a fit of rage, Li Yuanzhao killed the Third Prince and everyone else in the inner palace, including Prince Xuan.
Even the third prince's adoptive father, Minister Cui, who had always devoted himself to Taoist cultivation and avoided conflict with others, was ordered to commit suicide.
So when Li Ganxu rushed back to the capital day and night, he was met with a scene of national mourning that had not yet ended and remnants of the rebellion that had just been eliminated.
She left Beijing at the age of fifteen and is now twenty-four.
This marks her return to the capital after nine years.
She originally thought that when she saw her mother again, the resentment she felt towards her mother for "favoritism" and "exploitation" when she left the capital, and her dissatisfaction with Li Qianyuan for obtaining everything so easily, would resurface.
But when she stepped into the palace gates, walked through the familiar halls and corridors, and saw her mother, who was clearly getting old, she was shocked.
All the intense emotions I had anticipated suddenly cooled, turning into an unexpected sadness that weighed heavily on my heart.
She suddenly felt it was somewhat absurd, somewhat...unworthy.
Why should I stay in that bitter and cold place for nine years out of spite, just because I can't swallow my pride?
If she had known earlier that Li Qianyuan was just a man of ill fortune and short life, why would she have bothered arguing with her?
Perhaps she will still happily return to Beijing every year to wish her a "Happy Birthday".
At this moment, Li Gan'an was attending to Li Yuanzhao.
Upon catching sight of the person entering from outside the hall, she was first taken aback, then her face filled with shock, and for a moment she dared not recognize them.
In my memory, my second sister left Beijing with a sense of dejection, but she still retained a touch of childishness, the air of nobility cultivated in the capital, and a stubborn streak.
Now, nine years later, she has grown much taller and more robust.
His skin, tanned from the wind and sand, was a deep bronze color, which, combined with his already sharp and piercing phoenix eyes, gave him an even more battle-hardened look.
Beneath that sharp glint lay a calm composure born of experience, which inexplicably made people dare not underestimate him.
Li Gan'an stood up, bowed respectfully, and called out softly, "Royal Sister."
Li Ganxu nodded slightly.
Only then did Li Yuanzhao see her.
She waved her hand at Li Gan'an, "You may leave now. I want to speak with your elder sister."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave." Li Gan'an responded, then glanced at Li Ganxu discreetly before turning and leaving the hall.
Everyone inside the room left, but Li Ganxu remained standing in his original spot, without moving.
It wasn't until Li Yuanzhao spoke up, saying, "Sit closer, let me take a good look at you."
Li Ganxu then pulled over a stool and sat down next to Li Yuanzhao.
The distance was so close that I could clearly see the fine lines at the corners of the Empress's eyes and the frost on her temples.
This time, Li Ganxu spoke first, "How is the Empress Dowager's health?"
Li Yuanzhao said calmly, "It was just a moment of anger that caused a temporary imbalance of qi and blood. I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest. It's nothing serious."
She paused, her gaze lingering on her daughter's face. "How have you been in Tongzhou all these years?"
"Your Majesty...I am well." Li Ganxu paused, and finally said only this.
Li Yuanzhao stared at her intently and asked directly, "Are you still resentful towards the Empress?"
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