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At this point, even if Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing suddenly became a martial master, the Emperor would not be surprised in the slightest.
The death of a person's heart was just a matter of moments.
Or perhaps his heart had been slowly withering away a long time ago, but he refused to believe it, always waiting for the so-called evidence, always waiting for them to return to the old days.
But the truth proved that the past was nothing but an illusion.
With the Dragon Shadow Guard present, no matter how powerful a martial arts practitioner was, they wouldn’t be able to break through.
Behind him, there came the shouts and roars of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, mixed with a hint of hoarseness, as well as her low sobbing and loud crying.
The Emperor never turned back once.
The heavens seemed uncooperative with his current mood, as there was no sudden storm or pouring rain, just a silent night.
He headed back to Huaqing Palace.
The night was late, and apart from the eunuchs on duty, all the palace servants had retired to their quarters to rest.
Eunuch Wei walked in front of the Emperor, carrying a lantern.
Sensing the Emperor's bad mood, he dared not speak a word along the way. But when it came to whether the Emperor wanted water prepared, he mustered up the courage to ask, "Shall this servant prepare water?"
The Emperor, with a numb expression, replied, "Zhen will go to the study and read some memorandums."
He couldn't sleep.
"Yes." Eunuch Wei didn't offer further persuasion. After escorting the Emperor to the imperial study, he stepped out and instructed a young eunuch to go to the imperial kitchen and prepare some light porridge and snacks.
Lately, the Emperor had been spending a lot of time in the imperial study.
Eunuch Wei stared at the Emperor’s black face that looked as if it had been struck by lightning. He didn't even dare to approach and offer tea.
Sighing, Eunuch Wei stood guard at the door, wondering what on earth had happened. How could his relationship with Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing break apart in just a day?
Something felt off, but he couldn‘t quite put his finger on it.
The Emperor was truly pitiable.
The Emperor was truly suffering.
Your Majesty...
‘Your Majesty’ what, eh? What right does a eunuch like me have to pity someone who had become an Emperor? Am I just bored out of my mind or something?
Clinging to his horsetail whisk, Eunuch Wei quietly stood guard outside the door.
The Emperor was immersed in the tremendous impact brought by a series of revelations, whether it was the true nature of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, the late Emperor's decree, or the grievances of the Empress Dowager. His emotions remained unsettled for a long time.
What should have saddened him the most was the disillusionment of the bond between Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing and himself as mother and son. However, for some reason, this matter didn't seem as heartbreaking as expected.
Instead, he felt more infuriated by being deceived, and ashamed by being manipulated.
Compared to the disillusionment with his imperial concubine mother's image in his heart, it was the late Emperor's imperial decree that troubled him the most.
He couldn't understand what state of mind the late Emperor was in when he left a decree for both Empress Xiande and Imperial Concubine Jing to be buried together with him. He had examined the contents of the imperial decree carefully.
Although they were both to be buried with the late Emperor, only Empress Xiande was to be interred in the imperial mausoleum alongside the late Emperor, sharing the same coffin and burial chamber, signifying that the two of them were united in life and in death.
Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine Jing was to be buried in the imperial concubine's mausoleum.
As Imperial Concubine Jing, she must have felt more than just discontent. She must have been unwilling to die outside the company of the two, like a forever excluded third person.
He could somewhat guess the jealousy and discontent of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing.
But the late Emperor's intentions were beyond his comprehension.
Could it be that the late Emperor had already sensed that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing was up to something and anticipated her efforts to sow discord between him and the Empress Dowager? In order to maintain stability in the court, did he decide to take drastic measures and lead both women to their graves?
Or perhaps the late Emperor truly desired for Empress Dowager and himself to journey together to the afterlife, to drink a bowl of Meng Po's soup on the bridge of the Naihe River, and to still be husband and wife in their next lives?
The Emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead.
He suddenly realized that he didn't understand the late Emperor at all.
This imperial decree must not be kept at all. To avoid any potential troubles in the future, he directly threw it into the fire brazier and burned it.
In the flickering flames, an image of Empress Dowager Zhuang flashed inexplicably in his mind.
Not the weary face she wore now, but the youthful beauty that once captivated the entire harem.
As the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family, her smile could enchant a city, and her second smile could captivate a nation. The three thousand beauties of the harem combined couldn't match her in terms of beauty.
He still remembered the first time he stood in front of her, feeling his face flush instantly.
After returning, he told his imperial concubine mother, "Imperial concubine mother, Empress Xiande is truly beautiful!"
Was it from that moment... that the seed of jealousy took root within his imperial concubine mother’s heart?
The Emperor closed his eyes in self-reproach.
"Why did you harm imperial concubine mother? Why didn't you save imperial father? What kind of intentions do you harbor?"
"For the sake of seizing absolute power, you spare no one, not even those closest to you. You are nothing but a vicious and venomous woman!"
"The Liu Family plotted against you, and it was Imperial Concubine Mother Jing who took a sword for you at the risk of her life. She almost lost her life!"
"The late Emperor wanted you to be buried together, and it was Imperial Concubine Mother Jing who risked everything to steal the decree. Imperial Concubine Mother Jing gave her all for you, but in the end, you couldn't even spare a single Tianshan snow lotus herb for her!"
He forgot that the Tianshan snow lotus herb had long been used to make medicine for him.
It wasn't that the Empress Dowager didn't give it to him; she simply couldn't.
But she didn't explain a word. She just looked at him deeply and walked away.
How did she feel when she left with such grievance and sadness?
He didn't know... He didn't know at all...
The night was dark and the wind was high.
Bishui Alley was shrouded in silence.
However, the lamp in Gu Jiao's room suddenly lit up.
Yes, Gu Jiao had been pretending to sleep all along, waiting for everyone to enter dreamland before quietly getting up from her bed.
The daytime was still somewhat hot, but the night was cool.
Gu Jiao wore thin bedclothes as she sneaked out stealthily. She made her way to the backyard's doghouse and, taking advantage of Little Eight's inattention, swiftly grabbed him and brought him out!
Little Eight looked utterly confused!
Gu Jiao held Little Eight and headed back. She thought she was furtive enough, but who knew that as soon as she entered the main room, Xiao Liulang would block her path.
Gu Jiao blinked her eyes, "You're still awake at this hour?"
Xiao Liulang was also in his bedclothes.
She continued, "Did the call of nature wake you up so late?"
Xiao Liulang: "..."
Xiao Liulang: My kidneys are totally fine.
Xiao Liulang glanced at the bewildered Little Eight in her arms and asked, "Why are you not sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you trying to do with a dog in your arms?"
"Just... playing?" Gu Jiao answered.
Xiao Liulang: "Heh."
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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