Chapter 381 The Queen Passes Away
Xiao Baozhu and Sun Muzhi knelt down before Empress Sun's bed.
Xiao Baozhu spoke slowly, "Mother, I'm already married, and my husband treats me very well. You don't need to worry about me anymore."
Sun Muzhi also spoke, "I am so lucky to have married the princess. For the rest of my life, I will take good care of her and will never let her suffer even the slightest injustice. Please... rest assured, mother."
Empress Sun lying on the bed was quiet, as if she didn't hear anything.
Only her fingers moved and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Xiao Baozhu talked a lot with Empress Sun before leaving.
She was still feeling a little depressed, and Sun Muzhi noticed it. He reached out and interlocked his fingers with hers.
"When the Queen Mother knows that you have married such a wonderful husband, she will surely be happy and everything will get better soon."
Xiao Baozhu glared at him and said, "I've never seen anyone flatter themselves like this."
Sun Muzhi said seriously, "I am telling the truth. I will definitely be a good husband."
The corners of Xiao Baozhu's lips curled up, but she quickly straightened them to prevent the man from getting too proud.
The two of them walked hand in hand like this until they reached the palace gate and met Prince Rui. They immediately saluted.
Prince Rui had a hint of sadness on his face, and he looked a little more haggard than when he first returned to Beijing.
His eyes swept across Xiao Baozhu's face with a gentle expression.
"The emperor's uncle hasn't congratulated you on your wedding in person yet."
Xiao Baozhu had a good impression of this imperial uncle.
Every year on her birthday, she would receive a gift from Shu, which was given by this imperial uncle.
She smiled and said, "The emperor's uncle also came to the princess's residence yesterday to drink in the wedding and gave a gift. I have received the emperor's uncle's kindness."
Prince Rui asked again, "Is the Queen feeling better?"
Xiao Baozhu's expression darkened. "It's still the same."
Prince Rui felt a little bitter in his heart, and a hint of pain appeared in his eyes.
When Xiao Baozhu saw the genuine pain in his eyes, her heart was also touched.
This imperial uncle truly cares about his mother.
Finally, his mother's care for him was not in vain.
Prince Rui pulled the corners of his lips together, revealing a forced smile, "At least, she's still alive. As long as she's alive, there's hope for everything."
Xiao Baozhu also seemed to be encouraged. A crack was torn in her heart, which was originally full of gloom, and the light of hope shone down.
However, at this moment, a palace maid came hurriedly, ran up to him and knelt down with a sad voice.
"The Queen has passed away."
These words were like a thunderclap, instantly shattering their newly risen hopes.
Almost at the same time, heavy funeral knell rang out from the depths of the Forbidden City, one after another, like a blunt knife cutting through the stagnant air, and hitting people's hearts hard, causing them to feel a dull pain and panic.
Xiao Baozhu staggered violently and almost lost her balance. Fortunately, Sun Muzhi helped her.
The blood color on Prince Rui's face also faded away, leaving only gray and pale.
Xiao Baozhu staggered to Kunning Palace and ran to Empress Sun's bed.
Nanny Wu knelt on the ground, her face covered in tears.
"Princess, the Queen has fulfilled her wish and has passed away. You see, she has a smile on her face, which shows that she is happy. Please accept my condolences."
Empress Sun's cheeks were thin and sunken, with only a thin layer of skin remaining.
The corners of her lips were raised, with an obvious smile.
But this smile on her overly thin face added a bit of weirdness.
Xiao Baozhu looked at the smile on her face and finally couldn't help crying out loud.
It turned out that she had heard everything he had said to his mother during this period of time.
She knew that she had a good marriage and had no regrets, so she left without any worries.
Seeing her crying, Sun Muzhi's heart couldn't help but tighten.
He reached out and held her in his arms, letting her tears wet his clothes.
"The Queen Mother has nothing to worry about anymore, so let her go. She is suffering now."
Xiao Baozhu knew that for more than a month, every day her mother was alive was extremely painful.
She just had something on her mind, so she didn't want to leave.
Leaving now is actually a relief for her.
However, for those who are still alive, this is a farewell that is hard to bear.
From now on, she really has no mother.
Prince Rui rushed into Kunning Palace without regard for the so-called rules and etiquette.
He met the person he had been thinking about.
At this time, she was already tortured by illness and was no longer recognizable.
Thinking of the suffering she had endured recently, Prince Rui felt a sharp pain in his heart.
Sadness welled up in my heart and tears rolled down my cheeks.
When the funeral bells sounded outside the palace, the people immediately changed out of their festive clothes and put on plain clothes, for fear of breaking taboos.
Xiao Yanci and Lu Zhiran both had a heavy look on their faces. They entered the palace as soon as possible and didn't talk much on the way.
In the palace, they met Xiao Yanheng and Xing Chuxue, as well as the fourth princess Xiao Wanzhen and the eighth prince Xiao Yanlin. Everyone's face was filled with grief.
The queen's funeral lasted for three days, and all the court officials and princes and princesses kept vigil in front of the palace.
The body was kept for three days before being buried in the imperial mausoleum.
The emperor suspended court for 27 days, all officials wore plain clothes for 100 days, the people were prohibited from getting married or holding funerals for 100 days, and the military and civilians took off their hats and tassels for one month.
Not long after the queen's funeral, it was time for the Spring Examination.
The court officials speculated whether this year's spring examination would be postponed.
Emperor Defeng issued an edict and the Spring Examination was held as scheduled.
The Queen passed away, and the whole court was in mourning. However, the dead were gone, and the Spring Examination was a major event for selecting talents, and it must not be delayed.
I believe the Queen would not want to affect the Spring Examination because of me.
After receiving the emperor's clear order, officials from all departments arranged the spring examination as usual as if they had received a golden order.
After Empress Sun's funeral, Xiao Baozhu was depressed for a while and became visibly thinner.
Sun Muzhi stayed by her side every day, and Zhen also brought Xuetuan to the princess's mansion to keep her company.
Xiao Baozhu could feel everyone's concern for her and quickly cheered herself up.
She swept away her previous dejection and a smile appeared on her face again.
"My Queen Mother certainly wants me to be happy and live a joyful life. I cannot let her down, nor can I make all of you worry about me."
Zhen was relieved to see that she had finally figured it out.
"It's great that the princess can figure it out. You are fine, that's better than anything else."
Xiao Baozhu looked at Zhen and said, "Mother, I have already changed my tone. You should change your tone too. Stop calling me Princess all the time. It's really alienating."
Zhen's eyes flashed with a hint of laughter, "Baozhu."
“Hey!”
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with warmth.
Zhen thought that although she had never had her own biological children in her life, God had been kind to her, giving her a son who was better than her own son and such a good daughter-in-law. The regret in her heart had long been filled.
Xiao Baozhu was thinking that she originally thought she did not have her mother's love, but later found out that this was not the case and her mother also loved her.
Now, although she has lost her mother, she has someone new who loves her, so she should feel content.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
