The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 871 - 871 401 End (first update)_2

Chapter 871: 401 End (first update)_2 Chapter 871: 401 End (first update)_2 Following that, the old marquis went to the emperor to report back, repeating Gu Chengfeng’s statement. He was probably worried that the emperor might become suspicious as to why their family’s child would hide his talents, whether there was some secret scheme at play.

After the incident with the Quiet Empress Dowager, the old marquis clearly felt that the emperor no longer trusted him as much as before.

The emperor was still immersed in the immense joy of possibly being the birth son of the empress dowager and had no time to doubt this or that. He commended Gu Chengfeng and praised the old marquis for his exemplary instruction.

The matter with the Quiet Empress Dowager being the remnants of the previous dynasty did not require any further evidence. Her guilt was established, especially because she had stolen the late emperor’s decree and plotted against the dowager empress of the nation. Her sins were grievous, unforgivable.

If the Quiet Empress Dowager really had taken Dowager Empress Zhuang to the border pass, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The dowager empress’s life would be in danger, the royal family’s dignity would be swept away, the morale of the military officers would weaken… The lands of Zhan Country would fall into unprecedented turmoil.

This time, the emperor had no mercy typical of a woman.

He went to the room where the Quiet Empress Dowager was held.

The Quiet Empress Dowager had stopped struggling; she sat lifelessly in her chair, like an empty shell with a dull expression.

The emperor glanced over her wrists, rubbed raw and bloody from the ropes due to her struggle, said nothing, and asked Eunuch Wei to bring the items in.

It seemed the Quiet Empress Dowager finally snapped back to reality. She turned her face, still wet with tears yet to dry, and said with a hoarse voice, “Honghong…”

The emperor said with disgust, “Don’t call me Honghong. You are not worthy.”

The Quiet Empress Dowager laughed self-mockingly and looked at the emperor, “Honghong, you are only disgusted with mother concubine because you’ve been drugged. Once the drug wears off, you’ll realize that in your heart, your mother concubine is a hundred, a thousand times more important than that woman Zhuang Jinse!”

The emperor’s gaze was as cold as the winter wind, “You’re wrong! Drug or no drug, I will never trust you again, nor will I ever regard you as my real mother again!”

“Is that so?” The Quiet Empress Dowager laughed twice, revealing an innocent yet crazed look, “Then what are you here for? Do you wish to interrogate me? I’m afraid you will be disappointed; I will not say anything.”

The emperor knew she would react this way. The descendants of the previous dynasty’s loyal servants would naturally have their resolve. He did not expect to get any information from her, “I am here to see you on your last journey.”

The Quiet Empress Dowager’s body stiffened slightly.

Eunuch Wei stepped forward holding a tray, upon which rested a bottle of poison and a strip of white silk.

Unable to laugh anymore, the Quiet Empress Dowager said, “Are you really… so heartless… You and your father… both so heartless… you… you…”

She did not cry, but large tears fell.

The emperor was unmoved: “As mother and son, this is the last bit of dignity I offer you.”

“Dignity? You killed your mother… and you still talk of dignity!” The Quiet Empress Dowager spat vehemently, bursting into a hysterical laugh, “You truly are your father’s own son… You will have retribution… You will have retribution!”

The emperor was unaffected by the curses, “I am the emperor, I was born to follow the mandate of heaven…”

The Quiet Empress Dowager interrupted him: “Emperor? Hahaha, you seem to have forgotten how you came by your throne!”

The emperor pondered deeply for a moment, then nodded, “That’s right, it was the dowager empress who helped me plan for it, so I should be grateful. From now on, I will no longer displease the dowager empress.”

With that, he turned and left the room, not sparing another glance at the Quiet Empress Dowager.

…

In August, a major event occurred in the capital— the Quiet Empress Dowager passed away. Given her current status was still that of Nun Quiet An, it’s more accurate to say that Nun Quiet An had found peace in death.

Externally, Nun Quiet An had always presented herself as frail, to which end the Rui Prince Consort brought physicians from the Miraculous Hall for two consultations, and the emperor even moved her back to the Imperial Palace for recuperation.

It must be said, this feigned sickly appearance was a great help; almost no one suspected there was foul play in her death. Upon hearing the news, everyone thought, “Alas, with such a weak body, it’s no surprise she couldn’t make it through the year…”

However, there were things that puzzled people, like how everyone assumed the emperor would restore Nun Quiet An’s identity as empress dowager, posthumously honor her as Empress Dowager, and bury her with the rites due to an empress dowager.

Yet the emperor did not do so.

She remained Nun Quiet An until she was encoffined and buried.

When the news reached Bishui Alley, Gu Jiao, Xiao Liulang, and Gu Chengfeng were all present.

“The emperor really…” Gu Chengfeng was shocked. As one of the informed persons that night, he was naturally aware that the Quiet Empress Dowager’s death had other reasons, yet he had not anticipated that the emperor could really go through with it.

Sympathy?

The answer is no.

That old witch had done so much evil, plagued the Imperial Harem for years, causing the dowager empress and the emperor to turn against each other, nearly dying at each other’s hands, not to mention the innocent Princess Ning An.

As long as she existed, she would always be a significant threat to the court.

The funeral of the Quiet Empress Dowager was fully handled by Empress Xiao, with the emperor not even showing his face.

The emperor decided to send someone to the border pass. He had originally intended to send Gu Changqing, as Gu Changqing was on official military duty and was an openly deployable person.

Yet Gu Changqing had not returned from leaving the capital, and the matter was urgent. After some thought, the emperor called Tang Yueshan and the old marquis to the Imperial Palace.

He handed over the Token that could mobilize the Dragon Shadow Guard to the old marquis, and solemnly said, “I entrust this token to you, hoping you will accomplish three tasks for me—first, to reclaim the Dragon Shadow Guard; second, to thoroughly investigate the movements at the border pass; third… to bring Princess Ning An back safely!”

The old marquis had not expected the emperor to entrust such an important task to him. He was stunned for a moment, then bowed with his hands clasped, “Your servant… acknowledges the decree!”

The emperor then looked at Tang Yueshan, “I needn’t say more about your task, right?”

Tang Yueshan bowed, “I hereby make a military vow: I will not return to the court until I have slain all the remnants of the previous dynasty!”