She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 289 - 288: Storm Brewing, Xiao Hongshen Commits Suicide

Chapter 289: Chapter 288: Storm Brewing, Xiao Hongshen Commits Suicide

The cicadas’ shrill cries filled the summer day, and the air was thick with a sticky feeling. The dark clouds piling up on the horizon were a sure sign that a heavy rain was destined to fall today.

But it didn’t.

Such overcast weather had lingered for a full three days.

The poor weather directly caused the spirits of everyone in the Capital City to wilt. Amid such conditions, the incessant chorus of cicadas and frogs seemed to be desperately screaming, as if seizing their last moments to wildly announce their presence.

Yet, the Emperor’s health had gradually begun to improve amidst this weather.

He had started to have the strength to attend to some of the state affairs.

Empress Zhang Lanyi was constantly by his side. Everyone knew that the Emperor’s final days were approaching, and it seemed more like a... flickering resurgence of vitality.

"Did today’s meal suit your taste?" The Emperor ladled out a bowl of soup for Zhang Lanyi: "Have one last sip of soup, you’re too thin."

Zhang Lanyi had been busy with government affairs during this time, rising early and retiring late, strung tight with tension, and she had grown noticeably thinner.

It was difficult to refuse the divine benevolence, and even though she was already full and the very scent of the soup made her nauseous, Zhang Lanyi gently picked it up and started to drink.

The Emperor watched her slowly finish the entire bowl, his tone conveying a calm indifference.

"These past days, thanks to the Empress’s care, I feel much better, and the State Preceptor is also due to return tomorrow. I’ve heard you summoned the Crown Prince back to the Capital City, he should be arriving soon, too, I suppose."

The Emperor spoke very slowly, like a temperate old man.

Zhang Lanyi couldn’t quite grasp what he meant at the moment.

What she heard was only one thing: the news that the State Preceptor would enter the Capital City the next day.

She set the soup bowl down, lowered her head and wiped her lips with a napkin, inadvertently overlooking the profound meaning in the Emperor’s eyes.

Indeed, a storm was approaching fiercely.

Everyone had their own calculations.

It seemed the Emperor had mustered all his last strength.

Everyone was intelligent, each with their own schemes.

As the Emperor watched her finish the entire bowl of soup, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, his gaze - somewhat clouded - scanned her inch by inch as if appraising an item waiting to be bargained for.

"Isn’t it time for the Concubines to pay their respects?" the Emperor suddenly asked.

Zhang Lanyi nodded: "Normally, it should be so. However, Your Majesty is here today, and you’ve just started to recover. I was worried that too many visitors would disturb you, so I sent them back to their respective palaces, telling them not to come today."

"Ah!" the Emperor shifted his chair back a bit, breathing heavily from the small exertion: "I have been sick for a while and do miss them a little. Why not take this opportunity and have them all come here to the Empress, for a bit of lively gathering?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lanyi’s grip on her napkin tightened.

She opened her mouth but in the end looked toward Lai Fu: "Did you hear the Emperor’s wish? Go quickly."

The Emperor then suddenly remembered: "Imperial Consort Sun gave birth, didn’t she?"

"Your Majesty, she indeed delivered a beautiful little prince," Zhang Lanyi said softly, her heart full of disquiet and impatience.

"Call her over too. She’s worked so hard; I should properly reward both mother and child."

Zhang Lanyi, with her eyes downcast, spoke: "Imperial Consort Sun is still in her confinement, and the little prince is not suited to be exposed to the wind. It would be better to wait some days until they’ve completed the confinement before meeting."

The Emperor thought for a moment and then seemed to find the idea sensible: "Then don’t summon Imperial Consort Sun."

Zhang Lanyi secretly sighed with relief upon seeing this.

Lai Fu glanced at the Empress and then bowed his head: "Understood."

The Concubines, upon hearing that the Emperor wished to see them all, fainted with fright right there in their chambers.

"This isn’t a wish to see us; it’s clearly about choosing who will be buried with him—" one of the braver Concubines blurted out, and Lai Fu immediately stepped forward and slapped her: "Do not speak nonsense!"

The slapped Concubine covered her face and began to cry pitifully.

The clouds on the horizon grew even more ominous.

Until Zhang Lanyi’s palace was filled with concubines, everyone remained silent, heads lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

"Usually you all are quite happy to see Us, why is everyone so gloomy today?" The Emperor asked with a smile that was not quite a smile, his eyes full of mockery.

Upon hearing this, the concubines buried their heads even deeper.

They were all so young, like blooming flowers and exquisite jade, having entered the palace only for the sake of their families. Some hadn’t even been favored once, and the thought of being buried alive with the Emperor was already too much for them to bear.

"What are you talking about, Your Majesty? Everyone is quite happy," she paused and then addressed the little eunuch, "What are you standing there for? Light all the lamps in the room."

The palace maids weaved through the crowd, lighting every candlestick. The room brightened, and the concubines, realizing that the Empress was giving them a cue, forced smiles that looked worse than crying.

No one could remain completely calm when faced with life and death.

Empress Zhang Lanyi was no exception.

Yet, at this moment, she was still smiling, even though her hands and feet were ice-cold.

The Emperor was dying, and she, as the Empress, would certainly be first in line to be buried with him.

She hated the absurd and ridiculous customs of the Dawei Imperial Family, hated how they played with human lives as if they were a joke.

In the middle of this standoff,

a eunuch stumbled in from outside the hall.

His face was pale as he tumbled over the threshold, rolling on the ground several times before crawling to the Emperor’s presence.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, there’s terrible news!"

"What indecency is this flurry and panic!" Zhang Lanyi scolded with a cold eye, "Have you no decorum?"

The Emperor was more patient today than usual. He comforted her by patting the back of Zhang Lanyi’s hand, "Empress, don’t be angry." Then he looked at the eunuch, "Speak, what has you in such a flurry?"

Fear was evident in the eunuch’s eyes as he exclaimed, "To report to Your Majesty, Prince Seven has hanged himself in the Dali Temple dungeon!"

"What?!" Zhang Lanyi stood up abruptly, agitated by the news.

The other concubines began to whisper among themselves, equally at a loss.

Amidst the growing murmur, the Emperor stroked the ring on his thumb. He twisted it off and laid it on the table, "...Hanged himself?"

The little eunuch was trembling with fear, nearly shaking like a sieve as he knelt on the ground.

"...To report to Your Majesty, yes, that’s correct."

The Emperor pondered for a moment, his wrinkled face betraying no emotion.

"We understand." Under everyone’s watch, he nodded, seeming to age even more, hands braced on his knees as he looked up at the darkening sky outside the hall. It was clearly midday, yet it was growing as dark as dusk.

Seeing him like this, the concubines dared not speak further, and their whispers fell into dead silence.

It was a long while before the Emperor withdrew his gaze.

"...The crime of treason is indeed no small matter, but considering his youthful folly, We will allow him to keep his body intact. Grant him the title of Prince Yong’an, and though he shall not enter the Imperial Mausoleum, let him be buried honorably."

At that, some of the concubines could no longer contain themselves and began to sob softly.

Their cries were melodious and sorrowful, truly heart-wrenching.

Zhang Lanyi, holding back the discomfort lodged in her chest, snapped, "In front of His Majesty, what tears are these!"

Just as she was about to have the little eunuch punished, the Emperor raised his hand, "Enough, enough. Today is clearly not a good day. We are tired, all of you may leave."

The young eunuchs beside the Emperor quickly stepped forward to help him up.

He seemed somewhat confused as he looked at one eunuch, "Where is Eunuch Zhang?"

The young eunuch was taken aback for a moment, then replied softly, "Eunuch Zhang has aged, and with Your Majesty’s permission, he has retired and returned home."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor said, "So it is, look at Our memory, truly can’t remember a thing."

The eunuch supported the Emperor as they walked toward the inner chambers. Empress Zhang Lanyi sat motionless in her seat, watching their retreating figures, her eyes filled with a dark light, her thoughts unreadable.

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