Chapter 436 Feeling Lost
Chang Hao hurriedly tried to summon back the Empress Dowager's spirit, hoping to bring her back to life, but he couldn't find her anywhere. She looked so much like his father had at that time...
Even when Hongjun descended to the body of Emperor Yi in the present day, he could not withstand Chang Hao's three kneelings and was sent back to Zixiao Palace. How could the Empress Dowager, who was Chang Hao's adoptive mother during his tribulation, possibly accept a single respectful bow?
This scene instantly brought Chang Hao back to the court years ago, to an ordinary day when he suddenly lost his beloved father.
Chang Hao had been restraining himself from thinking too deeply, and dared not think too deeply. He devoted himself to the war between humans and gods, planning day and night, fearing that one wrong move would lead to total defeat. But now, the scene was suddenly replayed in his mind.
The similarities were striking, so how could Chang Hao not think of himself? The divination he had received from Jiang Ziya back then came back to mind.
Harmful to relatives and friends...
Father, is it I, this unlucky person, who caused your untimely death? And the Empress Dowager, although mother and son were estranged, she was his mother, yet he caused his death...
The truth dealt him a heavy blow. Chang Hao felt dizzy and the excruciating pain left him powerless, and everything before him seemed like an illusion...
“Your Majesty…Your Majesty…” Quan Chang quickly helped Chang Hao up and immediately felt the emperor’s hand trembling slightly. Quan Chang thought of the fortune teller’s divination from back then, blinked, and tears welled up in his eyes. He whispered, “Your Majesty, please accept my condolences and let the Empress Dowager have a good journey.”
"Someone, quickly summon the physician." Although Quan Chang had confirmed that the Empress Dowager was beyond saving, the necessary procedures still had to be followed, and the necessary records had to be made clearly to prevent future generations from making far-fetched interpretations and tarnishing the King's reputation.
Chang Hao took a deep breath. He was already unfamiliar with the Empress Dowager. Their relationship had been strained in their early years, and the Empress Dowager was also politically opposed to him. She had made several moves against him, trying to seize his position for his two elder brothers. Furthermore, he had once turned against the Marquis of Dongbo, which made him feel somewhat heartbroken.
He had already repaid the Empress Dowager's debt of gratitude many times over. The current palpitations were merely the revelation of something he had never dared to think about deeply. The bloody truth caused Chang Hao unbearable pain.
The young physician rushed to the Wanshou Palace, examined the Empress Dowager, and then broke out in a cold sweat. "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The Empress Dowager has passed away..."
They were in deep trouble! The ladies of the court were terrified and knelt down, their clothes soaked with cold sweat, fearing that they would be suspected of plotting against the Empress Dowager.
When and how did the Empress Dowager leave? If the King were to investigate, none of them could have safely left the palace; it's impossible to say, completely impossible.
Chang Hao turned his back, his eyelashes trembling slightly, and he dreamt once again of the time when he was lost and helpless, with no one to rely on, of his father who listened to him without question, though muddle-headed, incompetent, and often tricked him, but whose heart and eyes were full of him...
"It seems the Empress Dowager was also worried, which is why she rushed back from the palace to see the King. With her mind at ease, she passed away peacefully. Your Majesty must not let the Empress Dowager leave in peace." Quan Chang first made the polite remarks, setting the tone so that Xiqi could not use this opportunity to criticize the King.
When the late king suddenly passed away, the people of Xiqi who rose up said some very unpleasant things. Quan Chang was just taking precautions.
"Quansheng, arrange for the ladies of the court and their families to leave the palace. Quanchang, since there is no empress in the palace, I will handle all the funeral arrangements for the Empress Dowager. You will assist me. Notify the court officials and ladies of the court to enter the palace to mourn and observe the mourning. At this time, the country is in crisis and the finances are tight, so keep everything simple and accumulate blessings for the Empress Dowager." Chang Hao roused himself and gave instructions one by one.
"Yes, Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed." Quanchang and Quansheng immediately began to move.
Chang Hao stood firmly before the Empress Dowager's bedside, gazing at her seemingly sleeping face. Then, another serene and otherworldly face appeared before him. Father, is it truly your son...?
"Your Majesty..." Quan Sheng brought over the mourning clothes.
Chang Hao's face was somber as he opened his arms for Quan Chang and Quan Sheng to help him change into mourning clothes.
"Your Majesty, what should we do with that Jiang woman?" Quan Chang had just been reviewing the roster of palace maids in Wanshou Palace when he discovered that a Jiang woman should not be on the list.
Chang Hao stared intently at Quan Chang, "Do I really need to teach you how to do it?"
Quan Chang's palms were sweating. "The Empress Dowager has put Lady Jiang's name on the roster of Wanshou Palace."
Chang Hao turned around abruptly, his head throbbing with anger. "Utterly absurd."
Although the Marquis of Dongbo was stripped of his title, his life was spared because of the Empress Dowager's unreasonable demands and her efforts to lure the other three major lords to Chaoge. With the Empress Dowager around, the former Marquis of Dongbo lived a comfortable but not extravagant life in Chaoge.
"Where is she?" Chang Hao was furious. How could he possibly save face if the people found out that his own cousin was a maid in the palace?
Quan Sheng quickly brought Jiang Shi up.
"Jiang Ni greets Your Majesty." Jiang Ni was uneasy, his eyes were red, and his face was full of confusion and uncertainty about the future.
She knew she was kneeling before her cousin, the master of the land, but she also knew that her family's rebellion and survival was entirely due to her aunt's machinations.
Jiang Ni was not blinded by the future promised by her aunt, the Empress Dowager. She entered the palace only because she could not defy the arrangements made by her father and aunt.
Chang Hao looked at the young girl below him and his anger subsided somewhat. The Empress Dowager had been unwittingly killed by his obeisance...
"Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away, what are your plans for the future?"
The Jiang family now only has this little girl left. If Jiang Ni is of sound mind, Chang Hao, out of consideration for their thin blood ties, wouldn't mind arranging a way out for her.
Jiang Ni understood the king's implication and mustered his courage to say, "Please allow Jiang Ni to return home, Your Majesty."
Jiang Ni is a very sensible girl with a strong sense of justice. She understands her aunt's delusions and knows they are impossible, but she is powerless to resist and can only go with the flow.
Now that she has asked to return home, if the king, out of consideration for their kinship, is willing to take care of her, then Jiang Ni is confident that she can manage her life well.
Chang Hao was well aware of Jiang Ni's little schemes. Jiang Hengchu was ambitious, and if Jiang Ni returned home, she would surely meet a bad end. He was also willing to help a young girl who was living a serious life.
After glancing at the animal cage that the palace officials had carelessly tossed aside in the corner, Chang Hao had an idea and whispered a few instructions to Quan Sheng.
"Yes, Your Majesty, leave this matter to me." Quan Sheng picked up the animal cage and gestured for Jiang Ni to follow him.
Jiang Ni followed Quan Sheng's footsteps, and only when they were far away from Wanshou Palace did she jog closer to Quan Sheng and quietly slip a gold bead into his hand. "Steward, this is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
Quan Sheng glanced at Jiang Ni, knowing that if he didn't accept the gold beads, Jiang Ni would feel uneasy. Therefore, he generously put them away. "Miss Jiang, what do you want to ask while I'm still here?"
"I want to know how His Majesty plans to treat me?" Jiang Ni asked expectantly. Although this was the first time she had met her cousin, she had lived in Chaoge since childhood and had grown up listening to stories about him. She firmly believed that her cousin was wise and intelligent, and that if he was willing to take care of her, she could finally escape her suffering.
"My lady, His Majesty has promoted you from a palace maid to a female official and sent you to Shanglin Garden to manage the Imperial Animal Garden for him. This way, the King and the Empress Dowager can both save face. After a few years, the King will find you a suitable husband, and you can leave the palace to wait for marriage with the rank of female official."
Quan Sheng sighed inwardly. This young lady was indeed virtuous and kind, and had a clear mind. Unfortunately, the king was so infatuated with the sorcerer that he couldn't see anyone else.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com