Chapter 88 A New Identity: The Empress Dowager of Daqi is Dead
When Chu Yueyuan saw Lin Sizhou outside the tent, she quickly walked over, her brows furrowed with anxiety: "Is what you said just now true?"
She worried that Lin Sizhou had fabricated the lie to make Erhe wary.
Lin Sizhou's gaze swept warily over the Canglang generals around him, his voice low: "Your Highness, Lord Shen did indeed bring the Emperor and the others back. His Majesty is unharmed, only somewhat frightened. As for the Regent... Your Highness is kindly requested to go and see him personally."
Chu Yueyuan could hardly believe the good news, and immediately walked towards the golden tent with Lin Sizhou.
Outside the golden tent, civil and military officials, having heard the news, gathered together. They were whispering amongst themselves when they saw the young Empress Dowager and Commander Lin return. Forgetting all formalities, the officials rushed forward, urgently inquiring:
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Regent was injured while protecting Your Majesty. I wonder how serious his injury is?"
"Your Majesty, we have been waiting anxiously for a long time, wondering when we will be able to meet His Majesty?"
"His Majesty and the Regent have returned safely to their camp. I wonder if the hunting ceremony will proceed as planned? I would appreciate Your Majesty's clarification?"
Chu Yueyuan kept her eyes straight ahead and strode through the chattering crowd, leaving Lin Sizhou to deal with the officials.
She entered the golden tent, and just as she rounded the floor-to-ceiling screen, a small figure leaped into her arms.
"Mother, sob sob... Your son thought he would never see you again..."
Xiao Yun, wrapped in a smelly cotton-padded coat, had spent three thrilling days in the hunting grounds, and his round face had become thin with a pointed chin.
Chu Yueyuan squatted down, cupped his face and examined it carefully. She found that apart from a few mosquito bites, he was completely unharmed.
She asked urgently, "Where is the Regent?"
Xiao Yun's face was streaked with tears. She sobbed as she raised her hand, her fingers trembling as she pointed to the screen: "Mother, the Regent... he was struck several times by a brown bear and vomited a lot of blood..."
Chu Yueyuan then noticed the strong stench of blood permeating the tent. Her heart tightened, and her face turned deathly pale. She abruptly stood up, quickly walked around the landscape screen, and froze.
On the bed lay a mangled body, its crimson brocade robe soaked in blood, which had congealed into patches of black. The face was covered in bloodstains, and a hideous claw mark stretched from the forehead to the chin, with the white bone faintly visible through the torn flesh.
Her gaze was unfocused, and she walked listlessly toward the edge of the bed with uneven steps.
Blood blurred the man's face, leaving only his distorted features, which looked particularly horrifying in the dim tent.
But Chu Yueyuan was still unwilling to give up and wanted to find out whether it was him or not.
Zhao Qiming and Imperial Physician Xu stood by the bed. When they saw the young Empress Dowager stumbling over, the two immediately bowed in greeting.
Imperial Physician Xu spoke first: "Your Majesty, please forgive us. We have done everything in our power, but the Regent is too badly injured. His broken ribs are piercing his heart and spleen, and he has lost too much blood. We... are truly powerless to save him..."
Chu Yueyuan stared intently at Zhao Qiming, her red lips trembling slightly, still unwilling to give up, she asked, "Imperial Physician Zhao, is this... really true?"
Zhao Qiming lowered his head, his face hidden in the shadow of his hat, and spoke with unusual calm: "Lord Xu's words are all true. The Regent has suffered a heart injury, and I fear... he may not survive tonight..."
Chu Yueyuan felt a roar in her head, and the world spun before her eyes. She could barely control the dizziness and her body swayed precariously.
"Your Highness, be careful!"
Zhao Qiming strode forward and helped the little empress who was about to fall. His hand, which was always measured, rested on her forearm and pinched her arm imperceptibly with his fingertips.
Chu Yueyuan's gaze narrowed slightly as she stared blankly at the man on the bed for a moment. Then, tears streamed down her reddened eyes. She covered her mouth with her trembling hand, but she couldn't stop the heart-wrenching sob from escaping her lips.
"The Regent!"
The officials outside the tent, who were questioning Lin Sizhou, immediately changed their expressions upon hearing the young Empress Dowager's mournful cry:
"The Empress Dowager is crying so bitterly, could it be that something has happened to the Regent?"
"I knew it! When the Regent was carried in, he was covered in blood. I'm afraid...sigh..."
The expressions on everyone's faces were blank and panicked. They had thought that this autumn hunt would be a grand event for both the Great Qi and the Canglang tribe, and the accompanying officials had almost all brought their families, hoping to participate in the grand event. Unexpectedly, the situation suddenly changed, and a storm was brewing.
With the regent gone, who will hold the power to assist the young emperor? If these people make the slightest mistake, it will be a catastrophe!
Each person was preoccupied with their own thoughts, their steps heavy, and they dispersed in silence.
As night fell, the number of Imperial Guards patrolling the camp noticeably increased, their armor clattering as they moved, creating an unsettling atmosphere. Though faint candlelight shone from the rows of tents, all was utterly silent.
A man dressed in a dark robe and carrying a medicine chest quietly walked out of the golden tent. He first looked around cautiously, then sneaked away from the night patrol guards and slipped into a regular tent.
Tonight, the Khan's tent was very quiet. Neither the dancing girls could be seen swaying to the beat of the drums, nor could the noisy shouts of the Canglang people drinking and making a ruckus be heard.
Erkh sat alone at his desk, carefully polishing a scimitar inlaid with agate by candlelight.
A moment later, a general from the Canglang tribe entered the tent and reported: "Khan, news has come from over there that Pei Muwei is dead. We should take advantage of the fact that the group is leaderless and accomplish something great tonight."
Erhe calmly wiped the blade, then scoffed, "If he were so easy to kill, why would I, the Khan, have personally come to the Great Qi to devise this plan? How foolish!"
The general of Canglang hesitated and said, "But... a royal physician saw Pei Muwei's body with his own eyes. Although it was unrecognizable, Empress Dowager Chu recognized it at a glance. She was so grief-stricken that she fainted several times from crying."
Erhe paused slightly, his hand wrapped in white gauze. He looked down at the bloodstains seeping through the layers of white gauze, a knowing smile appearing on his lips: "She... is quite good at acting."
However sincere the woman may be, she may be able to deceive Prince Anxian, but she cannot deceive him.
He said calmly, "Tell our men not to make a move; just watch the show tonight."
Erhe misjudged the situation in Daqi. His biggest mistake in this plan was forming an alliance with King Anxian.
Originally, it was thought that Prince Anxian, with his status as a member of the royal family and his marriage ties to the Duke of Fengguo's family, and his control of the military, would be able to rival Pei Muwei.
Erhe intended to emulate Pei Muwei, just as the man had stirred up the Canglang tribe years ago, by using King Anxian to plunge the Great Qi into internal strife, while he himself would raise an army from the border and seize the opportunity to reclaim the city and horse farm.
Unexpectedly, Prince Anxian turned out to be a terrible teammate. He couldn't wait to make his move on the first day of the autumn hunt, which even alerted the sharp-witted Empress Dowager, who then failed to use the Tiger Tally to mobilize troops from the northern border.
Erhe had no choice but to change his plans and sever ties with that fool, King Anxian, first. There would be plenty of time and opportunities in the future.
In the dead of night, the sound of horses' hooves thundered in, and the entire earth began to tremble violently.
The officials' wives were jolted awake from their dreams and peered out. They saw flames soaring into the sky in the camp, with countless figures moving crisscrossing on the tents. Amidst the flashing swords, a sudden "splatter" was heard, and scalding blood splattered onto the tent, leaving a horrifying trail of blood.
"Murder!"
Someone shouted first, and the entire camp seemed to boil over. The children who were awakened cried loudly, the women hurriedly wrapped their outer garments around themselves, and the officials grabbed their swords in panic, but they had no idea what was going on.
A chilling voice echoed in the night: "Assassins have appeared in the camp. Lord Fengguo has been ordered to investigate them. Anyone who dares to leave the tent will be killed without mercy!"
assassin?
Are there assassins in the camp?
The crowd was filled with unease. Some of the bolder ones quietly lifted a crack in the tent flap and saw torches flashing like fireflies across the night. A vast army stormed into the camp and charged straight toward the high ground. In the blink of an eye, the two golden tents embroidered with dragon patterns on the mountaintop were surrounded by the army.
Prince Anxian strode out, his armor gleaming coldly in the torchlight. He stopped three zhang away from the golden tent, cupped his hands, and proclaimed loudly:
"Your Majesty, an assassin has infiltrated the camp. To ensure Your Majesty's safety, I humbly request Your Highness's mercy and permission to lead my personal guards into the tent to search!"
The officials' wives frowned upon seeing this.
There was no assassin at all. It was clearly Prince Anxian who, upon hearing the news of the Regent's death, used the pretext of searching for an assassin to force the young Empress Dowager to relinquish her power to assist the young emperor.
Inside the Shen family tent,
Madam Shen gripped Shen Zizhan's sleeve tightly. She knew her son too well. When there was a commotion outside, she noticed that her son was dressed neatly, probably because he was worried about the safety of the young Empress Dowager and hadn't slept at all.
Moreover, Prince Anxian had long been wary of the Shen family and had specially dispatched a troop of soldiers to block outside the Shen family's tent.
Shen Zizhan grasped his mother's trembling hand: "Mother, rest assured, your son will not go anywhere." He raised his hand to tidy Madam Shen's disheveled hair, his gaze resolute, his voice calm: "With a formidable enemy at hand, I will protect the Shen family."
"Alright..." Madam Shen burst into tears, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
King Anxian stood outside the golden tent and called out three times, but the young empress dowager did not respond. His face gradually darkened, and he suddenly waved his hand. Several generals behind him strode forward.
Just as the group lifted the tent flap, a whooshing sound rang out, and dozens of arrows shot out from the tent flap, riddling the men who were trying to break in with bullets, causing them to fall to the ground with a thud.
Seeing that the young empress dowager was already prepared, Prince Anxian's lips curled into a cold smile:
"It is fine if the Empress Dowager does not wish to come out. I have already captured the mastermind behind these assassins." He waved his hand and gave the order, and two guards dragged a tightly bound person to the ground.
Those hiding in the tent could clearly see that the thin man, bound hand and foot, was none other than Privy Councilor Lin.
With a large wad of cloth stuffed in his mouth, Lin Sizhou couldn't utter a sound of cursing. He could only glare angrily at Prince Anxian with a flushed face.
King Anxian stood with his hands behind his back, his tone somber: "With the Regent Prince dead, the position of Minister of State is vacant. To protect the Emperor, I ordered the camp to be sealed off. However, this man secretly slipped out of the camp, carrying a troop mobilization order. Clearly, he has ulterior motives. Guards, execute him immediately outside the tent as a warning to others!"
"Wait a minute!"
A woman's clear, crisp voice came from inside the tent.
The bright yellow embroidered curtains slowly parted to the sides, and the young empress dowager stepped out gracefully. The flickering candlelight illuminated the woman's bright and beautiful face. Her dark eyes were slightly red and swollen, with the corners of her eyes looking as if they had been tinted with peach-colored rouge. She stood there quietly, like a pear blossom with raindrops, delicate yet exuding an unyielding resilience.
Chu Yueyuan glanced at the dark mass of people in front of the tent, a shallow dimple appearing at the corner of her lips:
"Upon hearing the news of the Regent's death, Prince Anxian was so overjoyed that his leg injury miraculously healed, and he rushed over with lightning speed to capture the assassin. The prince is truly loyal and devoted to His Majesty."
Prince Anxian's eyes twitched slightly, and he said with a forced smile, "I know well that the Empress Dowager and the Regent were deeply in love. Now that the Regent has passed away, Your Highness must be heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief... I'm afraid you won't be able to care about anything else..."
He first subtly mocked the woman's lack of chastity, then abruptly changed the subject, his tone carrying a hidden threat: "However... Your Majesty has not yet come of age, and matters of state cannot be left unresolved for long. I urge the Empress Dowager to prioritize the well-being of the nation and quickly appoint a regent."
Chu Yueyuan sighed resignedly, her dark eyes gleaming in the candlelight: "I am ignorant and only hope that the Emperor can grow up safely. If Prince Anxian can ensure the safety of my son and me, I have a way to solve this problem once and for all, which can help you to rightfully inherit the throne."
King Anxian was overjoyed, thinking that the young empress dowager was disheartened after Pei’s death and could not withstand this intimidation, so she was preparing to make the young emperor abdicate in his favor.
He immediately adopted a humble and fearful demeanor, bowing and scraping, and said, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Chu Yueyuan smiled and said, "If Prince Anxian is willing to honor the Emperor as his father and me as his grandmother, and to be as filial to His Majesty and me as his own son, I think the entire court will have no objections."
Despite having burlap stuffed in his mouth, Lin Sizhou still laughed so hard his whole body trembled, making muffled noises.
Even if it were for the sake of the throne, recognizing a mere child as one's father would be an utter disgrace.
The smile on Prince Anxian's face froze instantly. He slowly straightened up, a sinister smile curving his lips: "The Empress Dowager was right just now. This humble woman was ignorant and her failure to use the Tiger Tally was her biggest mistake. Now the camp is completely under my control. If the Empress Dowager and His Majesty were to meet with misfortune at the same time, then this dragon throne will still be mine to sit on."
He feigned compassion and threatened, "I will give the Empress Dowager the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to think it over: whether she wants to perish in a fire with the Emperor or live out her remaining years in the harem."
Chu Yueyuan paused for a moment, then looked up at the surrounding hillsides, before focusing on the brightly lit tents. She slightly raised her chin, her clear voice piercing the night:
"My lords, hear my decree. I have safely escorted the Emperor out of the camp. Tonight, I would rather die than kneel before the traitors. After I die, I hope you will prioritize the country and its people, set aside factional disputes, and wholeheartedly assist the young Emperor."
The ministers who witnessed this scene were moved to tears. Suddenly, someone shouted, "The traitor Xiao You is utterly shameless and unworthy to be called emperor!"
This roar, like a spark, ignited the passion in everyone's hearts with the force of a wildfire.
"The traitor Xiao You is utterly shameless and unworthy of the title of emperor!"
......
Erhe's brows furrowed with a complex expression, his gaze piercing through the chaotic crowd and settling on the proud, elegant figure standing before the golden tent.
The woman's bright and beautiful face floated in the firelight, her peach blossom eyes shimmering with an amber glow, and her gold-sprinkled phoenix-tail skirt billowed in the wind like flames, as beautiful as the eternal sacred fire in the legends of the grasslands.
Seeing her resolutely turn and walk into the golden tent, Erhe's heart sank, and he immediately ordered, "Go and stop Prince Anxian."
Unfortunately, it was too late.
King Anxian was driven mad by the incessant cursing. He roared in a fit of rage, "Fire arrows! Burn this wretched woman to death!"
In an instant, dozens of arrows carrying flames shot out of the air, the burning arrows landing on the golden tent. The fire spread rapidly at an alarming speed, and in the blink of an eye, the entire golden tent turned into a huge fireball, staining the dark night sky blood red.
People in the camp spontaneously emerged from their tents. Gazing at the crackling golden nanmu skeleton in the flames, they were deeply moved, saddened, and filled with regret for the young empress dowager's resolute decision to face death...
The regent is dead, the empress dowager is dead, who will be next?
If the cruel and ruthless Prince Anxian were to ascend the throne, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for the Great Qi!
Just then, a deep horn sounded in the night sky.
King Anxian's expression changed. He looked around at the surrounding hillsides in the direction of the sound and was horrified to find that countless torches had lit up in the dense forest at some point, like a herd of lurking beasts opening their eyes at him.
A chill ran down his spine, and beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. His lips trembled as he murmured, "Impossible, he's clearly...dead..."
The man's cold voice completely shattered his last hope.
"The wicked minister Xiao You coveted the throne and plotted to murder the Empress Dowager. His crime deserves to be punished."
Pei Muwei led his men out, his black armor as immovable as a jade mountain. The cold moonlight flowed over every silver scale on his armor, like a silver dragon coiled on the full moon.
Beneath his phoenix-winged helmet, the man's phoenix eyes gleamed with a sharp, cold light as he stared intently at the golden tent reduced to ashes. His voice carried a heavy, authoritative tone: "All soldiers, listen to my command! Anyone who captures the traitor Xiao You alive will be promoted three ranks and granted a noble title. Anyone who beheads more than a hundred enemy soldiers will be granted the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households."
"Yes!" The shouts of thousands of soldiers were like thunder.
In an instant, the Buddhist cavalry charged down the mountain with lightning speed. The thunderous sound of their hooves shook the earth. The rebels in the camp lost their morale and frantically tried to draw their bows and shoot arrows, but the Buddhist army, which was right in front of them, killed them and scattered them in all directions.
Seeing the situation reversed, the men in the camp came to their senses, raised their longswords, and shouted, "Avenge the Empress Dowager and capture the traitor Xiao You!" as they charged into the battle.
These fleeing rebels are a hundred times more valuable than the prey in the hunting grounds; each one of them is a living example of military merit and titles!
In the chaos, Prince Anxian hastily removed his armor, put on a coarse cloth robe, and smeared some charcoal ash on his face. Under the desperate cover of his guards, he quietly blended into the ranks of officials and their families to escape. As the camp gate was within reach, his guards fell one after another.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped his shoulder like an iron clamp.
King Anxian turned around and looked back. His expression of fear turned to joy. He said urgently, "Khan, if you help me escape safely, I will give you ten more cities. No, I will give you the entire northern border!"
Erkh remained expressionless, his other hand resting on the scimitar at his waist, his tone icy: "I, the Khan, do not take in stray dogs. Besides, you broke your promise; that fire destroyed the spoils I was supposed to take back."
Only then did Prince Anxian see the chilling murderous intent in the man's eyes. Before he could react, he felt a searing pain explode in his abdomen. He lowered his head in disbelief, and then he had no strength left to lift it up.
Erkh coldly released his grip, letting the limp body fall to the ground. He quickly wiped the blood off his scimitar, and in a flash, disappeared into the chaotic crowd.
———
The Empress Dowager of the Great Qi Dynasty died.
During the autumn hunting ceremony, Prince Anxian colluded with Duke Fengguo to usurp the throne. In order to buy time for the regent to mobilize troops, the empress dowager resolutely stayed behind to deal with Prince Anxian, and ultimately perished in the fire.
The entire nation is filled with grief.
The common people sighed with sorrow. The Empress Dowager died tragically. She was a beauty of unparalleled grace in life, but after her death, not even a skeleton was left behind. Her body was burned to ashes by the raging fire. The Ministry of Rites had no choice but to prepare an empty coffin, put a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe inside, and bury her with the rites due to the Empress Dowager.
On the day of the funeral, heavy snow fell from the sky, as if even the heavens were lamenting the passing of the beautiful woman.
The residence of Prince Chun.
Standing in the main hall, Zhu Niang solemnly instructed the servants in the mansion:
"It's getting cold. Remember to keep the charcoal fire at Qiyun Courtyard burning brightly. Also, check if there's enough bird's nest in the storeroom. If not, send someone to buy more immediately. And send two people to Fuxiang Pavilion to buy all the 'Plum Blossom Snow' in the shop..."
She spoke at length, took the tea offered by the maid to moisten her throat, and then lowered her voice to reprimand, "My cousin here is always quiet. You all stay in the outer courtyard and do your jobs properly. If you dare to enter and disturb her, you will be immediately thrown out of the mansion without any leniency!"
“We will keep this in mind.”
Not long ago, a cousin of the Princess Consort came to the capital to visit relatives. The Princess Consort was extremely fond of this cousin. She not only vacated the largest courtyard in her mansion, but also hired bricklayers to renovate the courtyard and moved all kinds of expensive furniture inside, making it even more magnificent than the palaces of the imperial concubines.
Since the Princess Consort valued her distant cousin so much, the servants in the mansion naturally dared not neglect her, while also harboring curiosity.
The two maids walking under the eaves whispered among themselves:
The green-clad maid with her hair styled in double buns said, "It's quite a coincidence that this young lady's nickname is the same as our young lady's, both containing the character 'Nian' and her surname is Chu."
Another maid in a pink dress, with her hair styled in a single bun, blinked curiously: "How did you know?"
The maid with her hair in double buns smiled smugly: "I overheard this the other day when I accompanied Madam to deliver the brocade to Qiyun Courtyard, and I even saw Miss Chu!"
The maid with the single bun pressed on, "Between Miss Chu and our young lady, who is more beautiful?"
The maid with her hair in double buns thought carefully for a moment before replying, "In terms of appearance, both Miss Chu and Miss are as beautiful as fairies in a painting, but... Miss Chu looks more vibrant, as if the fairy in the painting has come to life and stepped out of the screen..."
She paused, then suddenly lowered her voice: "Haven't you noticed that ever since Miss Chu moved into the manor, the Regent has been visiting our residence more often than before..."
The maid with the single bun widened her eyes: "You mean... no wonder the madam treats Miss Chu like a precious jewel, even more attentively than she would serve the empresses in the palace."
The two maids quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
In the snow-covered courtyard, there were several plum trees. A woman wearing a silver-threaded cloak stood under the trees. She slowly turned around, her features clear and refined, her pale face almost hidden in the snow scene. Her gaze was fixed on the empty corridor.
A maid carrying a bamboo basket raised her eyebrows, her tone displeased: "Ever since this Miss Chu, whose origins are unknown, arrived, the servants in the manor have become increasingly unruly..."
She glanced cautiously at the woman's expression and quickly reassured her, "The Regent is so noble; how dare they speak ill of him? Miss, you needn't pay attention to these idle gossips. I'll go and slap those two lowly maids right now..."
Xie Nianzhi lowered her eyes, holding a freshly plucked cinnabar plum blossom between her fingers. She gently shook off the fine snow from the crimson petals and placed it in the bamboo basket. Her tone was calm: "Miss Chu is my guest. If you punish the two of them, you will be slapping my face."
Xia Lian's expression changed, and she said awkwardly, "This servant knows her limits."
Xie Nianzhi turned around, the bright red plum blossoms reflecting in her clear and cool eyes. Her slender fingers lightly picked up the silver scissors, and with a soft "snip," a plum blossom still covered with snowflakes fell into her palm.
Xia Lian still felt indignant. Why was it that as soon as Miss Chu arrived, all the good things in the mansion had to be sent to her, and she kept herself mysteriously indoors, keeping everyone else in suspense?
She muttered softly, "I've been with you, Miss, all these years, and I've never heard you mention this distant niece of yours before. It's as if she appeared out of nowhere..."
With a soft "snap," the woman's palm was cleaned of bright red petals, along with specks of crimson blood.
Xia Lian was taken aback and quickly took out a handkerchief to wrap her injured hand: "Miss, you...you didn't mean to hurt yourself..."
Xie Nianzhi stared at the bloodstains that were gradually spreading on the white handkerchief, her eyes flickering slightly.
She knew who the woman in Qiyun Courtyard was.
Once upon a time, she and she were the same.
But things are different now.
He gave her a new identity, so that he could openly and legitimately stay with her forever.
And what about her?
Why do people with the same word "read" have such different fates?
Just like this plum tree, some blossoms on the branches, offering beauty for people to admire and compose poems, while others fall to the snow and eventually rot with the mud.
A dark glint flashed in Xie Nianzhi's eyes, and a glint of silver scissors appeared between her fingers. With a soft "snip," the most beautiful plum blossom on the branch was severed in her palm.
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