"Mother, I know you disapprove of my involvement in court affairs, but I never imagined you would be so displeased with me over this matter, even at a time like this..."
She choked up as she spoke, then covered her face and wept as Xiao Ji knelt down and pulled her into his arms, her voice hoarse as she said:
"Fine, since you really don't want to see your daughter leave, then I won't stay here and bother you."
After saying this, he turned and left the outer hall, but he didn't actually leave. Instead, he knelt at the entrance of the outer hall, pursed his lips, and remained silent.
No matter who tries to persuade or help her up, she won't get up. She perfectly portrays a daughter who is misunderstood by her mother but still wants to fulfill her filial duty to the end.
Does Shang Changge want to kneel? Of course not.
It's not that she can't go back to her residence to sleep now, but it's inappropriate to do so. If her stepmother passes away, she'll be scolded to death.
Criticism is one thing, but if she actually did it, ministers and officials would inevitably use it against her.
This is another problem for her, and she will be more constrained in her future actions in the court.
Since we're already here, kneeling down and putting on an act can save us this trouble and annoy my mother, so why not?
"All of you, come in here! Don't you dare try to persuade her to kneel! Cough cough cough..."
After the Empress Dowager gave a stern shout, she coughed again, sounding quite angry.
Shang Changge didn't make things difficult for Shang Changze, and gave him a wink to let him in.
Shang Changze has been arrested, and the Empress Dowager's condition is far from optimistic.
As soon as Shang Changze left, everyone else followed, except for Xiao Ji, who stayed behind to accompany Shang Changge, kneeling down.
Shang Changge: ...
There's no need for that, but whatever.
Xiao Ji quietly reached out and squeezed the man's large hand, then grasped Shang Changge's hand in return. Soon after, their hands separated.
Between husband and wife, some things don't need to be said.
The two knelt for quite a while, until dawn. Xiao Ji's face was grim, for no other reason than that he felt sorry for his little rascal.
Suddenly, a mournful cry came from the inner hall from Shang Changze and his entourage:
"Mother Empress—!"
"Daughter—!" "Elder sister—!" "Empress Dowager!"
The Cining Palace was filled with mourning; the Empress Dowager had passed away.
Shang Changge's eyes reddened again, and her tall, slender figure swayed slightly at just the right moment.
Finally, supported by Xiao Ji, she staggered and hurriedly ran into the inner hall to the Empress Dowager's bedside.
"Mother!"
After Shang Changge's sorrowful cries, she took the Empress Dowager's hand and then burst into tears, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Not only Shang Changge cried, but everyone else cried too.
Especially the scene of Murong Yu, a white-haired man burying his black-haired son, brought tears streaming down the old man's face.
His descendants behind him were also wiping away tears, as were many palace servants in the hall.
Shang Changge didn't plan to cry for too long. She seized the opportunity, cried, and then, as planned, rolled her eyes back and fainted.
Xiao Ji reacted quickly and caught Shang Changge. After greeting Shang Changze, he...
He carried Shang Changge away to rest in the adjacent palace, and of course, he also had the female physician come over to take Shang Changge's pulse.
The female physician couldn't say anything, only that the princess had fainted because she had been in a state of grief for too long.
The plan to feign unconsciousness was devised by the couple together. Xiao Ji knew Shang Changge's situation very well, and he had other purposes in sending the female doctor.
Ask the female doctor for some ointment, and after she leaves, have her apply the ointment to Shang Changge's knees, which are red from kneeling for too long.
While amused by Shang Changge's feigned unconsciousness with her eyes closed, she was also moved. Knowing full well that she could heal herself after being injured, she still went to all this trouble. Tsk!
However, feeling sorry for General Xiao was nice, so she took the opportunity to act coy and temporarily become a spoiled wife, stopping him and making a request in a coquettish manner:
"Ouch~ It hurts so much! The ointment is useless for me. Only my husband's kiss will work."
It was both a coquettish remark and the truth.
Xiao Ji kissed her, being very obedient, indulgent, and doting. He lowered his head and kissed Shang Changge's knees, which were red from kneeling, tenderly.
Shang Changge opened her eyes, a smile on her beautiful face. Hearing the cries of sorrow outside, her phoenix eyes held a detached indifference.
She pointed at Xiao Ji's knee, keeping an eye out for anyone coming from outside, and continued to speak flirtatiously in a coquettish tone:
"We are husband and wife as one, your pain is my pain, sweetie, rub it on yourself."
Xiao Ji liked hearing this and smiled. The resentment he felt from kneeling for too long because of Shang Changge dissipated, and his deep, mellow voice, though low, was still pleasant to the ear. He agreed, "Okay."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com