Chapter 38: Reasonableness
As soon as Empress Dowager Zhang issued her decree, Empress Dowager Sun became restless and first sent her attendant, Ruilan, to the emperor. Zhu Qizhen used the excuse of being busy with government affairs, and even his visits were a formality before he left. He certainly wouldn't rush in when Empress Dowager Sun was about to attack.
Zhu Qizhen dragged on for days, and Empress Dowager Sun understood what was happening. She had no choice but to go to the Grand Empress Dowager Zhang. She had been busy with her daughter's marriage, and although she hadn't personally attended to him, she did take time out to visit him and had the palace maids around her often bring him gifts. Not to mention that she had been with the Grand Empress Dowager Zhang since she was a child, but the Grand Empress Dowager was unwilling to even give her a decent treatment...
However, Empress Dowager Zhang was in poor health. She spent more time in coma than awake. It was already extremely difficult for her to hold on until the wedding of Princess Changde. After that, she had to endure one day at a time and had no extra energy to deal with Empress Dowager Sun.
When Zhu Qizhen learned about this, he also ordered the female officials to stop Empress Dowager Sun and not let her go to Renshou Palace to disturb Empress Dowager Zhang's peace.
He was already overwhelmed by the petitions from these censors and was overwhelmed with lawsuits. He really didn't want to devote too much energy to worrying about the affairs in the palace at this time.
Empress Dowager Sun was stopped outside by the ladies-in-waiting. She was so angry that she almost exploded. She couldn't help but ask, "Do you still have respect for others? How dare you stop me from visiting the Grand Empress Dowager?"
"Old Empress Sun, this is also what the Emperor meant. Old Empress Zhang is enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet right now, and cannot be disturbed..." The young female official beside Empress Dowager Zhang said tactfully, "Old Empress Zhang has worked tirelessly for the country and society, and it has been very difficult. How could Old Empress Sun bear to disturb her while she recuperates?"
Empress Dowager Sun was met with a setback, but Empress Dowager Zhang's personal attendants were also there. One of them had watched her grow up in the palace. She was speechless for a moment and could only say in a trembling voice, "You..."
As soon as Wu Miaosu and Zhu Youtong's carriage arrived outside the gate of Renshou Palace, they saw the Empress Dowager Sun's carriage. If it was not their turn to replace Concubine Cao and Concubine Jiao to attend to the sick, they would have turned around and left.
Wu Miaosu could only go in with Zhu Youtong, greet Empress Dowager Sun, and say, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Zhu Youtong was somewhat reluctant, but still followed the greeting: "Greetings, Madam Sun."
Just by looking at her look around, you can tell how reluctant she is.
Empress Dowager Sun was turned away and was already very angry. Seeing Concubine Xian and Princess Yongqing were both here, she felt even more ashamed. If the people in front of her were not Wu Miaosu and Zhu Youtong, she would have probably lost control and exploded.
It was Wu Miaosu who gave Empress Dowager Sun a way out, saying, "Your Majesty, why don't you sit in Renshou Palace for a while? Perhaps she will wake up soon."
She said this, but her eyes were looking at the female officials beside her, obviously reminding them not to confront Empress Dowager Sun head-on.
The ladies-in-waiting also knew that they couldn't get caught between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, so they followed Wu Miaosu's lead and said, "Tea and snacks have been prepared in the side hall. The weather is still a bit chilly, so I hope the Empress can go to the side hall to rest for a while."
Empress Dowager Sun looked at her, and she didn't want to offend Wu Miaosu, so she took the opportunity to say, "Alright."
Zhu Youtong and Wu Miaosu looked at each other and said, "Then Tongtong will go to the palace to see the concubine and the beauty first." After saying that, he bowed and turned to leave.
Wu Miaosu saw Empress Dowager Sun staring at Zhu Youtong's back with displeasure in her eyes. She smiled and said, "The two princesses have always been inseparable, but Princess Changde is now hastily marrying off. Tongtong is in a bad mood right now. The Empress Dowager shouldn't mind, right?"
In just two or three sentences, Empress Dowager Sun was already on a high pedestal. Naturally, she couldn't say anything else. She just said, "Tongtong is young, not married yet, and her personality is not settled yet. What's there to worry about?"
The two of them sat together in the side hall. Empress Dowager Sun sat at the table. She finally calmed down and just stared at a certain spot in silence.
She could never have imagined that the Grand Empress Dowager would not even give her the appearance of respect. Not only that, this time the Emperor was also determined to do so...
Seeing her like this, Wu Miaosu put down the teacup in her hand and said, "Is the Empress Dowager still thinking about what happened just now?"
Empress Dowager Sun just smiled when she heard her say this and said, "You will understand after Princess Yongqing gets married. All women in this world have such experiences..."
As she spoke, she suddenly realized that she had not arranged Zhu Youtong's marriage, but Empress Dowager Zhang had no reaction at all. Given the Empress Dowager's personality, if she was dissatisfied with her actions, she would never condone them.
It seems that Empress Dowager Zhang also hoped that Zhu Youtong would not get married for the time being. Empress Dowager Sun's actions were unconsciously helping her, but she also put herself in a situation where people would talk about her.
Thinking about the fact that Princess Shunde, who never suffered any loss, didn't say a word, Empress Dowager Sun almost immediately concluded that Zhu Yuhuan remained silent because of the Empress Dowager's decree.
In order to gain power, Zhu Yuhuan even used his sister's future as a bargaining chip...
Seeing her unpredictable expression, Wu Miaosu immediately guessed that she was probably thinking of Zhu Yuhuan.
Only Zhu Yuhuan could make Empress Dowager Sun feel like she was facing a formidable enemy.
While the two were silent, they heard the panicked footsteps of palace servants outside, and someone whispered, "Go and call the imperial physician who is waiting, and also invite Empress Hu, the Emperor, and Princess Shunde. Go quickly!"
The two of them immediately understood that Empress Dowager Zhang's health might have collapsed.
As expected, the imperial physician hurriedly took the Empress Dowager's pulse. She was already unconscious, occasionally shouting words like "Save me" and struggling to tear at her clothes. Fortunately, Concubine Cao and Concubine Jiao had left after seeing Zhu Youtong, otherwise they would have been shocked by such a scene.
Fortunately, the servants around were all elderly people, and Hu Shanxiang was giving orders in the hall, so the palace servants naturally did not dare to go out and talk nonsense, and they just pretended to be wooden.
The imperial physician gave Grand Empress Dowager Zhang a simple acupuncture treatment, and she slowly regained consciousness. She asked in a trembling voice, "Where are the Emperor... and Huanhuan?"
Hu Shanxiang had been guarding the bedside. When she heard Grand Empress Dowager Zhang's question, she hurriedly shook Grand Empress Dowager Zhang's hand and comforted her, "It's almost there, it's almost there... Guilan told me they're discussing important matters at court. As soon as you get the news, rush to Renshou Palace."
Hearing Hu Shanxiang's words, Empress Dowager Zhang was relieved. She looked at Hu Shanxiang and said with some difficulty, "Shanxiang... you must take good care of them from now on... You must keep them in harmony and friendship..."
Hu Shanxiang knew that she was worried that she might not be able to wait for Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Yuhuan, so she said, "Don't worry, mother. I'll remember it."
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled with satisfaction and said, "You are an honest and good child... Mother trusts you the most."
Her voice became smaller and smaller, and her eyes gradually dimmed. It was obvious that she had completely lost her mind.
The hall was silent for a long time, and only the faint sound of Empress Dowager Zhang's labored breathing could be heard. Until the heavy sound gradually faded, and the figures of Zhu Yuhuan and Zhu Qizhen did not appear outside the room, instead, Hu Shanxiang was the first to speak, "Imperial Physician, come forward and take the pulse."
"Empress Dowager, the Grand Empress Dowager has..."
Suddenly, sobbing could be heard in the hall, and the palace maids all knelt and sobbed. Hu Shanxiang sighed silently, and then instructed the female officials beside her, "Change the clothes of the Empress Dowager immediately, dress her neatly and properly, and don't lose her dignity."
"yes."
Empress Dowager Sun looked at the dead Empress Dowager Zhang, the elder who had raised her, and felt only joy in her heart.
The Grand Empress Dowager raised the son who should have been hers, yet she was so cruel to her. If it weren't for the Grand Empress Dowager Zhang's interference, how could she have fallen to this point? Only if she disappeared could the hatred in her heart be calmed.
Hu Shanxiang repeatedly instructed the palace maids not to spread the words of Empress Dowager Zhang before her death, and then she took Empress Dowager Sun and Wu Miaosu out of the main hall.
Hu Shanxiang looked at the two of them and said, "You two should also remember to tell the people around you to keep their mouths shut and never reveal anything that shouldn't be said."
Wu Miaosu replied, "I understand."
Hu Shanxiang then looked at Empress Dowager Sun without saying a word, but her gaze never shifted at all, obviously waiting for Empress Dowager Sun's opinion.
Ever since Empress Dowager Sun misbehaved and accused Zhu Yuhuan at the horse racing field, the relationship between the two had completely reached a freezing point. Not to mention that after Zhu Qizhen ascended the throne, Hu Shanxiang's status was even higher than that of Empress Dowager Sun. Empress Dowager Sun secretly competed with Hu Shanxiang, and the relationship between the two became even worse.
Empress Dowager Sun noticed Hu Shanxiang's gaze and stared at her for a long time. Seeing that Hu Shanxiang was still looking at her coldly, she gritted her teeth and said, "I know."
Hu Shanxiang then continued, "You've been by the Grand Empress Dowager's side since entering the palace. You have a bond with her. Don't do unnecessary things just because your mother is gone. Not only will it make her uneasy, it will also damage the reputation of the royal family and bring shame to the emperor. You are the emperor's mother and love him even more than I do. You should understand this."
No matter what the reason was, Empress Dowager Zhang had taught and protected her after all. Hu Shanxiang knew that she could only repay her with these few small things.
Although Hu Shanxiang's identities after entering the palace were the Crown Prince's Consort, the Crown Princess' Consort, and even the Queen, she never acted like a wife, let alone "scolding" the Empress Dowager Sun in front of Wu Miaosu like she did now.
After hearing her words, Empress Dowager Sun blushed almost immediately and didn't say a word for a long time.
Did she still want Hu Shanxiang to teach her how to be a mother? If she didn't rely on the fact that she was chosen by Emperor Taizong, what qualifications did she have to scold her?
Wu Miaosu immediately understood that Hu Shanxiang had noticed that Empress Dowager Sun hated the deceased Grand Empress Dowager, and was worried that Empress Dowager Sun would spread rumors for her own selfish reasons and ruin the Grand Empress Dowager's reputation.
Such behavior is not a good thing for either individuals or the royal family.
Just as Wu Miaosu was about to break the somewhat stalemate between the two, the palace maid beside Hu Shanxiang quickly stepped forward and said, "Old Lady, His Majesty and the Princess are almost here."
Hu Shanxiang then turned around and said, "Send someone to the front to welcome the emperor, and inform the emperor and princess that the Empress Dowager has passed away."
"yes."
Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Yuhuan rushed to Renshou Palace one after another. On the way, they heard the palace servants report that Empress Dowager Zhang had passed away.
As expected, Empress Dowager Zhang had already calmed down, and everything had been arranged properly by Hu Shanxiang and everyone else.
Zhu Qizhen immediately instructed Wang Zhen, who was accompanying him, to announce the news of the Empress Dowager's death to the whole country and the outside world, and to ask the cabinet to draft an edict as soon as possible.
Prince Xiang Zhu Zhanji was far away in Xiangyang. Although he had already received the news that his mother was in poor health and might die at any time, he was ordered to go to the capital, but the journey was long and he was unable to return in time. As the only living son of the Empress Dowager, he had to send someone to notify her as soon as possible.
As for the matter of welcoming Prince Xiang into the capital, it was handed over to Prince Wei Zhu Zhan'an, the only vassal prince still in the capital who had not yet been enfeoffed.
By the time the entire funeral ceremony was over, a month had passed. From Crown Princess to Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Zhang finally came to a halt. She was posthumously named "Cherish, Filial Piety, Respectful, Bright Virtue, Great Benevolence, Shuntian, Qisheng, and Zhao Empress," and was buried in Emperor Renzong's Xian Mausoleum.
Both Zhu Yuhuan and Zhu Qizhen were personally raised by the Grand Empress Dowager Zhang. However, as the Emperor, Zhu Qizhen was unable to personally escort the Grand Empress Dowager's coffin. Instead, the Grand Empress Dowager, who had instructed her to assist in the administration in her will, arranged for Princess Shunde to accompany officials to the burial. In addition to Zhu Yuhuan, Prince Xiang also accompanied his mother on her final journey.
The uncle and nephew had not seen each other for ten years. Due to the death of his mother, Zhu Zhanji, who was now nearly forty years old, inevitably looked a little tired and haggard, but when he saw Zhu Yuhuan, his face was more relaxed and happy.
"Princess Shunde is so dignified that even Uncle Wu doesn't dare to recognize her."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled slightly and said, "I don't recognize my fifth uncle either. Does the prince like the gift I sent along with the reward from His Majesty?"
"Alas, what's the big deal about calling him Crown Prince or not? He's still your cousin, just call him by his name." Zhu Zhanji smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You're so thoughtful that you even remembered to send him something."
Before her sister, Princess Jiaxing, passed away, she asked someone to send him a letter, asking Zhu Zhanji to be filial to her. She also mentioned that Zhu Yuhuan had been taking care of several princesses for many years and had never lacked any dividends or money. This shows the sincerity of Princess Shunde. Princess Jiaxing asked Zhu Zhanji to maintain a relationship with Zhu Yuhuan.
Over the years, Zhu Yuhuan had given Zhu Zhanji many gifts. Even though they were not as precious as the royal gifts, they were still a token of his thoughtfulness. Moreover, Zhu Zhanji knew very well that the "Princess Shunde assisting in the administration" must have been the work of his own mother, who simply wanted Zhu Yuhuan to help Prince Xiang resist the wrath of the thunder.
Of course, if Zhu Yuhuan was not a princess, she would have been shattered to pieces by this thunder.
Zhu Yuhuan just smiled and said, "Back then, the shops in Beijing were all gifted by my fifth uncle. How could I forget my cousins?"
The two looked at each other, and they had not lost the tacit understanding they had before between uncle and nephew.
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