Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 104

The sunset descended into Mi River, casting a dark hue upon the sky. The landscape instantly lost its color, resembling the end of a harsh winter.

Xiao Yu mounted his horse, tightened the reins, and plunged down the mountainside toward the capital, the sprawling peaks and ceaseless river swiftly retreating in his periphery.

Sunsets, sunrises, dawns, and dusks blurred by. Without pause, Xiao Yu covered nearly three thousand miles from Mi River to the capital in less than six days.

Empress Chunyi passed away on the fifteenth of the eighth month. The entire city was draped in mourning attire, yet silent cheers echoed as if no one truly mourned the Su family.

Entering the palace, Xiao Yu headed straight for Qianqing Palace. Following the mourning rituals for the late empress, the cypress coffin was to remain in the Qianqing Palace for half a month. Banners of mourning were hung, high officials stood in grief at the steps, and solemn ceremonies unfolded.

Eunuchs clad in white knelt on the ground. Xiao Yu strode in; the three palace consorts bowed, respectfully welcoming, “We humbly welcome Your Majesty’s return to the court.”

Xiao Yu gazed at the cypress coffin draped in yellow cloth and calmly ordered, “Leave.”

The consorts exchanged glances and withdrew while the chief eunuch noticed the emperor’s parched lips and hurriedly offered tea, saying, “Your Majesty, please have some water first.”

“Open the coffin.”

The chief eunuch hesitated, then said, “Your Majesty, the coffin of the late empress has been sealed. Opening it might…”

Xiao Yu’s voice held restrained hostility, “I said, open it.”

The chief eunuch closed his eyes briefly, then bowed, “I will immediately go and summon the attendants.”

The thick coffin lid was eventually moved aside, and a profound silence enveloped the hall. Xiao Yu walked slowly, almost obstinately, longing to see her one last time.

He understood the true torment of a broken heart in this world with just one glance.

She lay atop shimmering jewels, eyes closed in serene silence. There was neither attachment nor joy between her brows.

Trembling, he reached in and gently touched her icy fingertips. He held them lightly. His blood still ran hot, but it could no longer warm her.

Xiao Yu staggered, and the chief eunuch supported him from behind, then said, “Your Majesty, the empress dowager requests your presence, stating there are urgent matters to discuss…”

Xiao Yu turned back, “I am aware.”

The chief eunuch whispered, “Your Majesty, should the coffin be closed?”

Xiao Yu didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on her.

Again, the chief eunuch asked, “Your Majesty, should the coffin be sealed before burial so that the empress can rest in peace?”

Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze, gritting his teeth, “Seal it.”

Cining Palace.

The empress dowager, dressed in white mourning garments with reddened eyes, softly said upon his arrival, “Third lang, please, have a seat.”

Xiao Yu’s long lashes drooped slightly as he spoke coldly, “Greetings to Mother.”

The empress dowager handed him a report from the Ministry of Rites, “At first, we thought the empress’ passing was due to excessive strain during a difficult childbirth. But the head maid of Kunning Palace, Fu Ying, pointed out suspicions against Xu Hualan of the Shangyi Bureau. Following her lead, aijia investigated and found that Xu Hualan’s brother is a soldier under Su Jingbei’s command. Kunning Palace is heavily guarded, yet this Xu Hualan brought a blood-stained handkerchief on the day of the empress’ childbirth, invoking blood debts to agitate the empress, leading to…”

The empress dowager continued, “Shangyi Xu’s attempt on the empress’ life is unforgivable and warrants a sentence of death by a thousand knives. However, I thought Your Majesty might want to inquire personally, so I have spared her for now.”

The empress dowager’s words implied she was leaving the investigation to him.

Looking into Xiao Yu’s steely gaze, the empress dowager sighed, “Third lang, at the end of it all, it was my neglect that led to this.”

Xiao Yu’s throat tightened, and he inquired, “Where are Fu Ying and Eunuch Shenggui from Kunning Palace?”

“The people at Kunning Palace are loyal. After Shangyi Xu confessed, everyone followed their master.”

A prolonged silence engulfed the hall.

“Is there anything else, Your Ladyship?” Xiao Yu looked into the empress dowager’s eyes, closed the report, and placed it on the table. Eunuch Zhang promptly approached with tea.

Acknowledging his address, the empress dowager’s expression softened slightly. “There is one more matter, concerning the funeral arrangements for the empress.”

Xiao Yu was aware of the court’s discussions and stated directly, “She is my lawful wife and should be laid to rest in the Imperial Mausoleum.”

The empress dowager silently produced a note and handed it to Xiao Yu, saying, “This is written by Ah Ling when she felt the child move. Your Majesty, please take a look.”

On the beautifully written note was written:

“The guilty member of the Su family requests burial in the forest, not in the Imperial Mausoleum.”

Xiao Yu held the note, his knuckles turning pale. His gaze grew darker, “Since she is recorded in the imperial records, she is mine. The sins of the Su family cannot be attributed to her.”

“Then we shall proceed according to Your Majesty’s wishes.” The empress dowager looked at the bloodied trails caused by his grip on the reins, saying, “Mother knows your inner turmoil, but as an emperor, you must care for your own well-being, even while caring for the people.”

Xiao Yu fell silent for a while before saying, “With the empress’ passing, I trouble the empress dowager to manage the affairs of the inner court. As for the eldest prince…” Xiao Yu glanced at the chief eunuch and said, “Send him to Shou’an Palace.”

A flash of surprise crossed the empress dowager’s eyes. She hadn’t anticipated him sending the heir to the consort dowager’s residence!

Eunuch Zhang hastily spoke, “Your Majesty, the eldest prince lost his mother in his infancy, crying ceaselessly at night. Recently, it’s only under the personal care of the empress dowager that he has managed to sleep a little more soundly. At this time, it’s best not to send him to Shou’an Palace…”

“Not to? Who gave you the audacity to defy me?!” Xiao Yu slammed the table with force, sending cups and saucers crashing. Eunuch Zhang trembled, dropping to his knees, touching his forehead to the ground, “This servant spoke out of turn, this servant deserves…”

The empress dowager grasped her prayer beads, realizing the emperor’s anger was directed at her. She hastily intervened to save Zhang Chuan’s life, “He’s disrespectful. Give him thirty strokes.”

Eunuch Zhang banged his head harder, blood pooling on the ground, “This servant is at fault, this servant is at fault.”

Xiao Yu left in a huff.

Leaving the Cining Palace, he headed straight to the Ministry of Rites.

The emperor, fresh from the battlefield, exuded a fierce aura. The chief eunuch, fearful, promptly interrogated Xu Hualan and reported the details truthfully, not daring to hide anything.

That night, Shangyi Xu endured three thousand cuts until the final one claimed her life.

In a blink, the imperial physician responsible for the empress’ child birth was dismissed from office, and numerous palace maids and eunuchs faced punishment, banished from the palace.

The emperor’s furious wrath echoed throughout the entire harem.

The following evening, Eunuch Zhang, with his battered body, returned to attend the empress dowager.

The empress dowager glanced at him, “Thirty strokes and you’re still standing?”

Eunuch Zhang immediately knelt, “This servant thanks Your Ladyship for sparing my life.”

The empress dowager scoffed lightly, “Rise.”

Eunuch Zhang massaged her shoulders, sighing, “This time, His Majesty might hold resentment toward Your Ladyship…”

“His Majesty is upset with me for not being able to save Empress Su,” stated Empress Dowager Chu. “But if I had intervened and saved her, would she have still faced dethronement? Looking ahead, when Ah Ying enters the palace, she might always live in the shadow of the daughter from the disloyal family. Considering the weight of sixty thousand lives… her passing wasn’t entirely unjust. Besides, I don’t believe she desired to continue living.”

Eunuch Zhang said, “Then, about the eldest prince…”

“The pain of separation in a young age… How could there be no distress?” The empress dowager waved her hand, “With our emperor’s cool nature, he will heal in time. Let him be for now.”

***

On Su Ling’s burial day, the autumn colors were vibrant, and the garden’s lotuses were in full bloom.

At dawn, a pale gray light shone from the horizon as eighty stewards carried the coffin, placing Su Ling’s remains at the outer funeral palace by West Hua Gate. The funeral was exceptionally grand, with all the rites and rituals befitting an empress. Officials of various ranks knelt in succession to offer wine.

Dressed in plain white, the emperor recited the prayers and poured the ceremonial wine, personally escorting Empress Chunyi to her final resting place in the Imperial Mausoleum. For a whole five-hour period, not once did his eyes well up. The officials bowed their heads, murmuring, suddenly realizing the coldness inherent in an emperor’s heart.

Twenty-seven eminent monks chanted scriptures and prayed for her soul.

Xiao Yu silently contemplated, “Ah Ling, forgive my selfishness, unwilling to be left alone. In the end, I chose against your wishes. Since ancient times, husband and wife share the same bed and resting place. You’ve departed ahead, but a hundred years later, on the road of the afterlife, I’ll personally apologize to you.”

As night fell, the emperor returned to the palace. Eunuch Sheng approached, attempting a smile, “Your Highness, the newborn is adorable, resembling Your Majesty and the empress. Would Your Majesty consider visiting Shou’an Palace?”

Xiao Yu replied indifferently, “In three days.”

Eunuch Sheng’s smile faded, his shoulders sagging.

Xiao Yu took the lantern from Eunuch Sheng and headed to Kunning Palace. No one could have foreseen that the man who commanded with authority on the borders, the vigorous and formidable leader, would collapse when he stepped into Kunning Palace and saw the empty hall.

He knelt straight down, as if all his blood had stopped flowing, an intense chill spreading through his limbs.

Slowly straightening his back, every injury on his body seemed to ache, his chest tightening, almost suffocating him.

For three days, he absented himself from the court, sitting in Kunning Palace, holding a golden flower embedded with a red pearl, without eating or speaking a word.

Eunuch Sheng knelt, begging him to cherish his well-being, “Your Majesty, if the empress were here, she wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

The emperor let out a faint sound, tears lingering in his eyes, falling onto his robes, creating a dark stain.

His voice was heavy, almost a whisper to himself, “I have no home… no wife anymore.”