Chapter 64 Chapter 64 A Wu, My Good Queen
The three sisters-in-law hurried back to the capital, where white banners had already been hoisted.
The emperor's death was a national mourning. The bustle of the entire capital was gone, and the huge city was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere.
The carriage stopped at the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and only Madam Xie and Aunt Cui came to greet them.
Lord Xie and others have already entered the palace.
"Why so sudden?" Meng Qingtong asked in a low voice.
Mrs. Xie whispered, "I've said it's not good for a long time, so it's not sudden."
Yun Wu said softly: "Who is that..."
The three sisters-in-law all looked at Madam Xie.
Although the question was incoherent, everyone completed the sentence in their minds.
Who inherited the throne?
"It's Prince An."
Mrs. Xie replied.
She glanced in Yun Wu's direction from the corner of her eye, and Yun Wu's heart, which had been hanging in the air for a long time, finally settled down.
"Prince An?!"
Meng Qingtong and Chen Qiutang were completely oblivious to the turbulent mood swings of the people around them. They could only sigh, "What a twist of fate..."
Isn't it just fate?
The late emperor still had several healthy sons, and the throne should have been chosen from among them. Unexpectedly, after many twists and turns, it fell to Prince An. Prince An was the orphan of the previous crown prince, who had died in a palace coup...
I heard that before the late emperor's death, the palace was sealed off for an entire day and night, with only entry and no exit allowed. No one knew what happened in the palace, and even Lord Xie was very secretive after his return.
The throne changed, the new emperor ascended the throne, the court was reshuffled, and many things had to be handed over. Lord Xie and the eldest son soon became busy.
For women like Yu Yunwu who lived deep in the inner house, it made no difference who sat on the throne.
However, the late emperor passed away, and during the period of national mourning, no weddings, banquets, or entertainment were allowed. Everyone was required to wear plain mourning clothes. With the end of the year approaching, even the New Year celebrations were impossible.
Sanlang of the Xie family passed away at the beginning of the year. There had been no happy events in the Duke's Mansion the entire year. They had made plans for the New Year in advance, hoping to have some fun and excitement, but now all the plans were cancelled.
"We're nothing."
When the three sisters-in-law gathered together, Chen Qiutang gossiped, "The old lady of the Xu family was supposed to celebrate her birthday at the beginning of next month. The invitations had all been sent out, but now they're going door to door to collect them."
"That's easy to say. I also heard that Miss Yang was originally engaged and the wedding was scheduled for after the New Year, but she had to cancel the engagement."
"Cancel the engagement? Is it really necessary to do this? Wouldn't it be better to postpone the wedding?"
Yun Wu was sewing. Upon hearing this, she looked up in confusion. "Originally it was scheduled for the beginning of next spring, so it doesn't seem to have any impact."
Although marriage is not allowed during the national mourning period, there is a time limit. By the beginning of next spring, the mourning period will have long been over, and it will not affect Miss Yang's marriage.
Meng Qingtong shook her head: "Awu, the Yang family broke off the engagement because they wanted to marry someone else."
As she spoke, she turned her head and glanced in the direction of the imperial city. Although she didn't say it explicitly, everyone present understood what she meant.
When the new emperor ascended the throne, the harem was empty. When the newly crowned emperor was the Prince of An, the backyard of the palace was empty, without a single woman.
The ladies in the inner palace were also feeling uneasy.
The harem is vacant now, but it can't stay empty forever. Isn't this a great opportunity for them?
Of course, you have to seize the opportunity, maybe you can soar into the sky!
Yun Wu pursed her lips.
The needle in her hand poked into the fabric, and the direction of the needle and thread suddenly changed.
She lowered her eyelashes and whispered in a voice so low it sounded like the wind: "When he was still Prince An, no one..."
Without Meng Qingtong's reply, Chen Qiutang laughed and said, "How can it be the same? Things are completely different now!"
Although the prince's status is noble, how can a prince who seems to have no chance of becoming an emperor compare to the most noble position in the world?
In the eyes of women, the young and handsome new emperor who had just ascended the throne, had no harem, had become a hot commodity. Anyone who had the chance wanted to take a bite, and those who didn't had the chance were also trying to create one.
Yun Wu: “…”
Yun Wu added, "Miss Yang is engaged. It's common sense that even if she doesn't enter the palace, people will still be prejudiced against her."
Meng Qingtong whispered, "The new emperor was brought back from the common people not long ago, and his foundation was originally unstable. He was able to stand out among the adult princes, which required the support of his family. The Yang family played a significant role in this. Of course, these are just my speculations, but when the new emperor ascends the throne, he will inevitably expand his harem and select concubines."
As long as the emperor nods, what does it matter if you’re engaged to someone?
Even a widow who has been married can be carried into the palace in a sedan chair and become a queen.
Yun Wu was speechless for a moment.
I couldn't even do the needlework.
After the three people dispersed and returned to the yard, she lit incense sticks and stayed in front of her late husband's tablet for a long time. She rummaged through the boxes and cabinets to find a leftover prescription of old medicine, boiled it in the small kitchen, and offered it in front of the tablet.
Winter has arrived in the capital, and it is very cold at night.
Yun Wu felt cold sleeping alone even though there was a charcoal brazier lit in the room. She had to tuck in the corners of the quilt, leaving only her head exposed, to prevent the cold wind from getting in.
When Xie Yi came, he could only see her dark head, with a handful of black hair squeezing out from under the quilt and scattering behind her like a waterfall.
Just as he was about to take a step forward, his nose twitched and he suddenly smelled a strange odor.
Somewhat strange, yet somewhat familiar.
Xie Yi lit the lamp and saw a bowl of dark medicinal juice in front of his tablet.
I don’t know how long it has been there, the walls of the bowl are cold, but the bitterness has not dissipated at all. In winter, when the windows are closed and the air is not circulating, the room is also filled with bitterness.
He suddenly laughed out of anger.
Xie Yi strode towards the bed: "I haven't been here for just a few days, and you treat me like this? I said that I have no appetite these days, and it turns out it's you who's causing all this trouble. Who would offer medicine to the dead? If I hadn't taken the time to come here tonight, I wouldn't have had a chance to complain..."
As he spoke, he had already walked to the bed, reaching out to pull Yun Wu's quilt, wanting to squeeze in. But when he pulled, it didn't budge.
How strange.
Xie Yi tried to pull harder but still couldn't move the person. He also realized that the person in the quilt was not asleep at all and was still struggling with him.
Xie Yi raised his eyebrows, lifted up his skirt, sat down beside the bed, and reached out to touch Yun Wu's face.
Although he came at night, his hands were warm. But before he could touch her, Yun Wu burrowed deeper into the quilt and buried her face in it to prevent him from touching her.
Xie Yi: “……?”
How can you not touch your own wife? How can that be justified?
He went to pull Yun Wu's quilt again.
There was no way Yun Wu could defeat him.
Not only was the blanket ripped open, but a warm body squeezed in from behind. She dodged forward, but just as she took a step, she was grabbed by the waist and pulled back. Yun Wu tried to kick his calf again, but his feet held her in place. The two of them engaged in a silent struggle, sweating and panting in the cold winter night.
Xie Yi buried his face in the back of her neck and took a deep breath of her scent.
"My dear wife, what are you angry about?" Xie Yi hugged her and coaxed her, "Are you blaming me for not visiting you for a long time? You know, I just ascended the throne, and I'm busy with a lot of things. People follow me everywhere I go. Tonight, I finally managed to shake off those people and escape from the palace..."
If you count carefully, they haven't seen each other for two months.
Later, the situation became tense, and Yun Wu couldn't even find a chance to meet him secretly outside. Not to mention that after Xie Yi ascended the throne and moved into the palace, the palace was full of eyes, and Yun Wu couldn't enter the palace, so she could only wait for him outside.
She waited and waited, and finally the new emperor sneaked in tonight.
I don’t know how long ago it was that I was in this bedroom with my husband.
It took so long to finally see someone again. The world changed so much in just a few days, it seemed like it was a lifetime ago.
Xie Yi grabbed a lock of her long black hair and played with it between his fingers. "I wanted to come to you the first time, but I really couldn't get away. I also wrote you a letter and wanted Zhou Qing to deliver it to you, but then I thought about it and realized that some things should be said to you in person."
Xie Yi lowered his head slightly, and gently kissed her snow-white neck. His breath was like a feather brushing against the tip of her ear: "Awu, my good queen, don't be angry, turn around and look at me."
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