"The mistress left with a smile on her face." The maid of Xianfu Palace wiped away her tears and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "The mistress said she went to find two princesses. She... she had been waiting for many years, and she was really happy."
Qian Shengyan silently lit an incense stick for Madam Song, and after a moment of silence, said, "His Majesty posthumously conferred the title of Consort Mao upon her, and she will be buried in the Imperial Concubine Mausoleum according to the rites for a Noble Consort."
"This servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort." The palace maid kowtowed to Qian Shengyan while crying. She knew that the Empress had just passed away that morning. Compared to her, their mistress, an unfavored concubine, had not attracted much attention. If no one reminded the Emperor, he might not have remembered so quickly.
Qian Shengyan sighed again and stood there for a while before leaving.
On the way out, they ran into Fuerguochun, Hehui, and Duanrou. The girls had already changed into mourning clothes and probably had just come from Changchun Palace, as they were still covered in ashes.
"Mother," Ferguchun called out first, and He Hui and Duanrou bowed to Qian Shengyan: "Greetings, Imperial Noble Consort."
"Are you going to Xianfu Palace?" Qian Shengyan said gently. "No need for formalities, let's go quickly."
"yes."
He Hui and Duan Rou left first, and Fu Erguochun came over and tugged at Qian Shengyan's sleeve: "Mother."
Qian Shengyan patted her head without saying anything.
Back at Yongshou Palace, Yinzhen was already sitting in his bedchamber, flipping through several memorials.
Qian Shengyan washed her hands and face, and changed her clothes, so the fragrance on her body wasn't so strong anymore. She sat down next to Yinzhen, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and felt her throat feel a little better.
"The Minister of Rites suggested to me that, as is customary, the funeral rites for the Empress should be conducted according to the Ming Dynasty's official rites, and Your Majesty need not personally attend the memorial service for the Empress. Instead, the princes should perform the morning and evening memorial services. However, Hongli and Hongzhou are only Beile (princes of the second rank), so I intend to appoint two Princes of the First Rank to perform the memorial services for the Empress," Yinzhen said calmly. "What do you think of appointing Prince Li of the First Rank, Hongxi, and Prince Yu of the First Rank, Guanglu?"
Qian Shengyan paused, then smiled and said, "His Majesty has considered everything. It is most appropriate for Prince Heshuo to offer sacrifices on his behalf. It is also suitable for these two to pay their respects to the Empress in terms of seniority."
“Then it is settled.” Yinzhen put away the memorial. “Hongxi has always been respectful and filial, and I think he will be happy to see the Empress off.”
Qian Shengyan didn't say anything, but she could guess that Yinzhen was still somewhat angry with Hongxi. Even Shushen, a concubine's daughter of the former crown prince, felt this way about him; as the legitimate son, didn't Hongxi have any expectations in his heart?
It's called a funeral procession, but whether they'll be able to come back afterward is another matter entirely.
The Empress's funeral proceeded in an orderly manner. As it was a national mourning period, the Lunar New Year's Eve of that year was bound to be simple. However, Yinzhen had never liked the sounds of music, so he drank indifferently and didn't think much of it.
After New Year's Eve, it will be the seventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.
Qian Shengyan felt a sudden sense of urgency. She inquired about the Emperor's health almost every other day. Each time, Imperial Physician Liu replied that he was fine and had no problems. However, after being asked this question for a month, Imperial Physician Liu was speechless: "Your Majesty and the Emperor are really... The Emperor is fine, but Your Majesty keeps asking about it every time; the Thirteenth Prince's leg is also fully healed, but the Emperor still makes him continue to take his medicine."
Qian Shengyan: ...
Oh right, she almost forgot the date Thirteen died.
Wait a minute!
The information contained in Judge Liu's statement is enormous!
Qian Shengyan asked subconsciously, "Judge Liu, have you said this to the Emperor?"
“…No.” Imperial Physician Liu sighed helplessly. The Imperial Noble Consort was approachable and never stood on ceremony, and she had helped the Imperial Hospital greatly, which was why he dared to make a few jokes in front of her. But in front of the Emperor…
Well, even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to say anything out of line.
It's estimated that among all the concubines in the palace, only the Imperial Noble Consort could joke with the Emperor so freely.
Qian Shengyan was relieved and let Judge Liu leave first. She herself couldn't calm down and kept pacing back and forth by the window, thinking about it but not daring to be sure.
It seems that Yinzhen was aware of the Thirteenth Prince's health and even the date of his death, which is why he was so anxious.
Then...who is he/she?
No, he hasn't changed; he's still the same Yinzhen, but he seems to know a lot more now...
Yes, rebirth?
Qian Shengyan twisted her handkerchief, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She carefully recalled all the strange things she had noticed about Yinzhen, from investigating the opium to his sudden preemptive strike against Zeng Jing, and his actions regarding the Thirteenth Prince…
Those strange feelings were all true; Yinzhen was indeed... different from before.
Perhaps one day he will wake up and no longer be the person he was in the past, but the person he will be in the future...
Qian Shengyan bit her lip. Although she had suspected it before, the sudden confirmation still left her at a loss for what to do.
So, Yinzhen knew that he... did not have the fourteenth year of Yongzheng's reign, right?
She suddenly became curious about Yinzhen's "previous life" and wanted to ask what she was like in that life? And what about the children?
Was that life the same as it is now, or something that actually happened in history?
Perhaps... maybe it wasn't because of her. If she had been there, she definitely wouldn't have let him take those pills, and he wouldn't have died so young. Perhaps Thirteen wouldn't have died so early either.
However, it was only when she mentioned the thirteenth prince's leg ailment at the Yuanmingyuan that Yinzhen remembered to call the imperial physician to take a look. He probably hadn't been reborn yet at that time.
When was that...? It seems he wasn't seriously ill at the time...
Qian Shengyan was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice Yinzhen entering until someone suddenly grabbed her hand, startling her so much that she almost jumped off the stool.
Yinzhen looked at her amusedly: "What are you thinking about? Why are you so serious?"
“Your Majesty…” Qian Shengyan stared at him blankly. After a moment, she suddenly raised her hand and touched his face. She felt the warm and soft skin under her hand. It was a living person. She suddenly smiled brightly, paused for a moment, and then stood on tiptoe and hugged him.
It's him. He may have changed, but he's always been him.
"What's wrong with you today?" Yinzhen patted her shoulder with amusement. "Do you want to live in the Yuanmingyuan Garden?"
"Hmm...I want to go," Qian Shengyan said softly.
"This year, I had them renovate Changchun Garden as well. The two gardens are not far apart, so they might be connected, which would give us more places to visit in the future," Yinzhen said with a smile.
Qian Shengyan just stared at him blankly, and after a moment she hugged him tightly and murmured, "Yes, the Emperor is right."
Yinzhen: ...
That's weird.
So cute!
He touched Qian Shengyan's hair, wondering why she was being so clingy today, but... it was alright.
After the second day of the second lunar month, the group moved to the Old Summer Palace. However, they had just settled in when they received devastating news from Inner Mongolia.
The Dzungar Khanate has launched an attack.
"It was just a small-scale probing, but..." The Minister of War pointed to several locations on the map, his face full of worry, "because they were completely unprepared, these two places have already been captured by the Dzungars, and now..."
He couldn't bear to continue, but everyone already knew the outcome.
Both of these places were massacred.
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