Chapter 243 The Queen Mother Passes Away
Inside the pilgrimage hall, everyone had already left, leaving only Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan.
The lights in the hall flickered, shining on the emperor's already old face.
That face was full of fatigue and vicissitudes, but his eyes still flashed with unparalleled majesty.
"She, isn't my mother your biological sister? She won't rebel against you... Why do you want her to die?" Gu Junze stood in the center of the hall, his voice gloomy and suppressed.
The emperor's expression was uncertain, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment, and finally said: "I had no choice."
"You have no choice?" Gu Junze sneered, "What could possibly make you do such a cruel thing to your own sister?"
The Emperor turned his back to the crowd and spoke in a low voice, "During the Five Kings Rebellion, I was able to sit on this throne thanks to my elder sister's unwavering support. However, she commands a large military force and holds such prestige that many court officials are dissatisfied."
"So what?" Gu Junze's emotions grew increasingly agitated, his eyes bloodshot. "She's your biological sister. She's taken such good care of you since you were little. She's bravely braved life and death on the battlefield. How could she possibly harm you? The friendship you grew up with is so fragile?"
His voice echoed in the hall, carrying with it endless resentment and heartache.
The emperor turned around abruptly, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes: "Do you think I don't know? But the struggle for power never takes family affection into account!"
"Ministers in the court report to me daily, saying she has the intention of rebellion. If I don't do something, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on to this position!"
"So you're going to sacrifice her? Use her life to consolidate your throne?" Gu Junze's voice was icy cold, like a sharp blade in the cold winter.
"You keep saying you're doing this for the country, but doesn't that include your own sister? She killed all her royal brothers for you, and helped you to the throne, yet you repay her with hatred!"
There was a flame of anger burning in his eyes, and he wished he could burn the hypocritical villain in front of him to ashes.
The emperor remained silent, and this silence was the best answer.
Chu Ruohan looked at Gu Junze and felt distressed.
She knew how cruel this truth was to him.
She could feel the burning anger and endless pain in his chest.
Even though he had guessed it long ago, the truth was revealed: the murderer was actually his own uncle, the current emperor.
No matter what you say, it's all about trust.
Gu Junze looked directly at the emperor, "You've never trusted her..."
At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace, followed by panicked shouts: "The Queen Mother! The Queen Mother has fainted!"
The emperor's face changed drastically. He ignored his manners and rushed out of the pilgrimage hall. Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan followed closely behind him.
The empress dowager was supported by several palace maids. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were closed, and she looked lifeless.
Everyone hurriedly placed the empress dowager on the bed in the inner hall. The imperial doctors also hurried over and gathered around the bed, nervously diagnosing her.
"Mother!" The emperor knelt in front of the bed, his voice filled with unprecedented panic.
The imperial physician turned, bowed deeply to the emperor, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager...is extremely weak, her pulse is disordered, and her breathing is tenuous. I'm afraid...her time is near."
These words were like a bolt from the blue, striking the emperor's heart.
He looked in disbelief at the haggard old man lying on the bed, his throat rolling and unable to make a sound.
The Empress Dowager's personal nurse stepped forward, her voice choking with sobs, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has been in poor health, and the imperial physician has said her end is near. She's been keeping this a secret, fearing that Your Majesty would worry."
The emperor held the empress dowager's hand, his fingers trembling: "Mother, your son is here, please open your eyes and look at your son!"
The empress dowager opened her eyes weakly, looked at the emperor with a distracted gaze, and then slowly moved her eyes to Gu Junze who was standing beside her.
"Junze, come here." The Queen Mother's voice was weak, but filled with irresistible majesty.
Gu Junze took a few steps forward and knelt before the empress dowager's bed.
The Queen Mother raised her skinny hand and gently stroked Gu Junze's face: "You look so much like your mother."
Tears welled up in Gu Junze's eyes and he didn't know how to answer.
The Queen Mother suddenly became excited and grabbed the Emperor's arm: "Taizong, you actually killed Anyang? She is your own sister!"
The emperor turned pale and was speechless.
The Queen Mother's tears welled up in her eyes: "My Anyang, my daughter!" She suddenly started coughing violently.
The Emperor quickly helped the Queen Mother up and said, "Mother, please calm down. I know I was wrong."
"Do you admit your mistake?" The Queen Mother sneered, "It's too late now!"
The Queen Mother coughed a few times and looked at Gu Junze: "Junze, I'm sorry for your mother. I knew that Taizong had a grudge against her, but I failed to protect her."
Gu Junze lowered his head, tears dripping onto the ground: "Grandmother..."
The Queen Mother turned her gaze to the Emperor again, and although her voice was weak, every word was as sharp as a needle: "Taizong, you must promise me that you will not harm Junze."
The emperor looked embarrassed.
"Promise!" The Queen Mother shouted with all her might, followed by another violent coughing fit.
The emperor gritted his teeth and nodded: "Don't worry, mother. I promise I won't hurt Junze."
The Queen Mother finally felt relieved and leaned back on the pillow, her eyes gradually softening: "Jun Ze, leave, leave the capital, take your Ruohan and fly far away."
Chu Ruohan stepped forward and gently held the Queen Mother's hand: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, I will take good care of Jun Ze."
The Queen Mother finally felt relieved. She slowly let go of the Emperor's hand and turned her gaze to the bed curtains, as if she was looking into the distant past.
"Late Emperor, I blamed you back then for not caring about Anyang and taking away her military power. You said then that it was a sin for a woman to be in power..."
The Queen Mother's voice gradually grew louder, as if she wanted to roar out the frustration that had been pent up in her heart for years. "Late Emperor, so you saw the ending back then, Anyang..."
The Queen Mother's voice suddenly stopped, her hands fell limply on the side of the bed, her eyes slowly closed, and she took her last breath in pain and regret.
The emperor threw himself on the empress dowager and burst into tears, "Mother! Mother!"
Chu Ruohan couldn't help it, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
She was saddened by the passing of the empress dowager and felt sorry for what Gu Junze had suffered.
No one is immune to this tragedy of power.
The tears in Gu Junze's eyes had long since dried up, replaced by a chill.
He grabbed the emperor's collar and said in a bone-chilling voice, "Are you satisfied with this ending? The Empress Dowager died with hatred..."
The emperor let Gu Junze drag him without resistance. His face was full of tears. At this moment, he was no longer the almighty emperor.
The last person who loved him also left him.
He really became a lonely man...
He whispered to himself, "Mother, I really didn't mean it. But in this imperial family, even family affection has to give way before power."
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