Gu Linchao, far away in the capital, suddenly felt a pang of fear.
Xiao Yan noticed and reached out to steady him. "What's wrong?"
Gu Linchao placed his hand on his chest. He had just experienced a sudden, sharp, and intense pain there, which was almost unbearable, but it disappeared quickly.
He frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "It's nothing."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan released his grip.
The city gates of the capital are now wide open, and the people and court officials are lined up on both sides, waiting to welcome them into the city.
Gu Linchao only brought a few men into the city; the rest of the soldiers remained outside.
Upon entering the palace, Gu Heng was nowhere to be seen. He had fled when the army besieged the capital and his whereabouts were unknown.
Even though he escaped, Gu Linchao still had his crimes read aloud.
He persecuted meritorious officials, deliberately provoked war, and destroyed the hard-won stability of the Great Cause. He released traitors and colluded with the enemy without cause and even gave them important positions. During his reign, he never made any useful achievements for the country and the people. This time, in order to deal with King Xiang, who had contributed to the Great Cause, he forcibly conscripted men into the army, causing widespread resentment among the people.
The main hall was quiet, except for the sound of Xiao Yan reading out Gu Heng's charges.
The courtiers lowered their heads and listened quietly.
After Xiao Yan finished reading Gu Heng's charges, he suddenly took out an imperial edict and handed it to Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites, saying, "This is the late emperor's edict. Please read it aloud on my behalf, Minister Wang."
The four words of the late emperor's last will and testament stunned everyone present.
Lord Wang was also taken aback. After unfolding the will and reading its contents, he calmed down.
He cleared his throat and began to read aloud.
"The late emperor decreed: If Gu Heng commits any act detrimental to the great cause and the country, or persecutes my son during his reign, he shall be immediately deposed and demoted to a commoner, and my son shall assume the throne..."
Almost as soon as Lord Wang finished speaking, the court officials reacted, immediately knelt down, and respectfully said, "We respectfully request the new emperor to ascend the throne!"
...
At this moment, the Prince of Xiang's mansion was covered in white mourning clothes, and the atmosphere was solemn. In front of the mourning hall, Wen Nongnong, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt there and handed paper money into the brazier.
Her eyes were already red and swollen from crying, and A Tuo, Jiang Hua, and the others stayed silently by her side.
Just then, Butler Wang led someone in hurriedly.
"Your Highness, the Prince has returned," the steward said softly as they approached.
Everyone turned around and saw Gu Linchao following behind him.
Wen Nongnong, who was kneeling in front of the mourning hall, suddenly got up and ran towards him.
"Your Highness." She threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Gu Linchao reached out and embraced her. After a moment, he walked toward the mourning hall with a sorrowful expression, then lifted his robe and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I am late. May Your Majesty rest in peace." He bowed deeply.
Seeing that he showed no sign of getting up, Wen Nongnong, kneeling beside him, could only wipe away her tears and softly comfort her, "Mother passed away peacefully. Don't be too sad. Mother wouldn't want to see you like this..."
Gu Linchao then straightened up, and after a long while, asked, "Have you chosen a date?"
His voice was unusually hoarse, quite different from his usual voice, but Wen Nongnong assumed he was just tired from rushing back and didn't think much of it.
"I've made my choice. Considering that this place is quite far from the capital, and I'm worried about being delayed on the road, I've decided to set off tomorrow."
After the Empress Dowager passed away, she was to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Fearing that the journey was long and the delay on the road would damage the Empress Dowager's remains, she decided to personally escort the Empress Dowager back to the capital for burial the next day.
Although the Empress Dowager said not to tell Gu Linchao, not wanting him to be distracted by this, how could she not tell Gu Linchao about such a big matter?
Moreover, he didn't even get to see the Empress Dowager one last time. How much guilt must he have felt?
So after the Empress Dowager passed away that day, she sent Wang Houde to the capital to deliver a message.
Unexpectedly, Gu Linchao returned just then.
"By the way, did you run into Eunuch Wang on your way back? I sent him to deliver a message to you, and he's been gone for two days now."
Gu Linchao paused, then shook his head. "No, he might have taken a shortcut."
Upon hearing this, Wen Nongnong did not think much of it and held his hand, saying, "It's good that you're back. Tomorrow, you will personally escort the coffin back to the capital for the Empress Dowager's burial."
She didn't know he was back so soon, so she planned to personally escort the Empress Dowager back to the capital the next day. But since he's back, and considering that there are still two children who need her nursing, she decided to stay.
Gu Linchao seemed surprised by her arrangement, paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
Since the Empress Dowager passed away, Wen Nongnong had not slept for two nights. When she saw him return, she wanted to go back and feed the children, so she stood up and said, "You stay here and watch over them. I'll go back for a bit and come back to keep you company in a little while."
Gu Linchao's slightly lowered eyes flickered for a moment, then he nodded, "Okay."
In an instant, everyone in the mourning hall dispersed, wanting to leave space for Gu Linchao.
Wen Nongnong returned to the main courtyard and fed the two children one after the other.
When it was time to feed Gu Huaijin, she was so tired from not closing her eyes for two days that she fell asleep without realizing it.
Until a figure walked in, she vaguely thought she saw Gu Linchao.
Just as she was about to open her eyes, she suddenly collapsed limply to the ground.
The person who came caught her just in time, preventing her from falling to the ground.
Seeing Gu Huaijin in her arms, he pursed his lips and looked at him for a while before carrying the child to the couch.
Then he picked up a blanket, wrapped Wen Nongnong completely in it, picked her up horizontally, and carried her out.
The servants in the courtyard saw him carrying Wen Nong Nong out, but they didn't think much of it and continued with their own tasks.
Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager's remains will be sent back to the capital, and there are still many things for them to prepare.
The person carrying Wen Nong Nong walked unimpeded out of the main courtyard, through the garden, and into the front yard.
Just as he was about to carry Wen Nong Nong out of the mansion, Lü Qiao hurriedly caught up from behind.
"Your Highness, where are you taking the Princess?"
The person turned around and glanced at her, saying, "The princess is tired, I'll take her out for a walk."
Lü Qiao found it strange. The Empress Dowager's body was still in the mourning hall. Even if the prince wanted to take the princess out for a walk, it shouldn't be at this time.
But how could she possibly guess what the prince was planning to do? So she said tactfully, "Your Highness, since the princess is tired, why don't you let her rest in the room?"
"It's alright, I'll bring her back in a bit," the man said unhurriedly.
Lü Qiao frowned; now, her doubts deepened.
"But……"
The newcomer frowned, already showing impatience, and said in a deep voice, "Get out."
Seeing this, Lü Qiao dared not say anything more and was about to retreat when a nimble figure leaped over her head and lunged to grab the person's face.
Upon recognizing Bai Li, Lü Qiao was startled and immediately cried out, "Bai Li, stop!" That's a prince! Has this girl gone mad?
Bai Li didn't stop what she was doing. "Lü Qiao, this person isn't a prince at all. Go and call Prince Wen."
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