Chapter 283: Mourning the City
The novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
“Mother Empress, please restrain your grief.”
“Jing Xi’s heir is still just a child; everything still requires your guidance!” The Eldest Princess, seeing the Empress Dowager’s pale complexion, feared she might collapse and quickly mentioned Xie Yu Zhou to divert her attention.
“Yes, yes, there’s still Yu Zhou.”
“Poor Yu Zhou, not even ten years old, and now fatherless. What will become of him?” The Empress Dowager hastily wiped her tears.
“Where is Yu Zhou?”
Lu Chao Chao poked out her tiny head. “Dunno, maybe hiding somewhere and crying.”
“Mother Empress, Father Emperor passed early. Everything still relies on you. You must not fall now.” The Emperor held the Empress Dowager’s hand, eyes reddened but not daring to let his tears fall.
“To Prince Jing Xi’s Manor.”
The Empress Dowager’s heart ached fiercely, but she dared not collapse. Forcing herself upright, she struggled to her feet.
“Your Majesty, this is improper,” a court minister advised.
Eyes reddened, the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth and rebuked, “Improper? That is my son. Who dares to say it is improper?”
The ministers lowered their heads and stepped back.
“First, to Prince Jing Xi’s Manor. He and I share the same mother. I must personally send him off.”
“And Yu Zhou—how can a mere child manage this alone?” The Emperor waved away any objections.
“Have you no conscience?” His reprimand left the ministers silent.
The imperial family hurriedly departed the palace, and the civil and military officials rushed outside in haste.
“Quick, quick! Have mourning clothes prepared!”
“Hurry home and inform the madam to accompany me to Prince Jing Xi’s Manor!”
The officials did not dare to delay, fearing falling behind the Emperor. Carriages dashed, sparks flying from wheels.
The Empress Dowager leaned against the carriage, her mind clouded, even breathing a laborious task.
“This morning, Jing Xi greeted me, showing no sign of illness. How could he be gone so suddenly?” She felt utterly drained—she had already sent off her husband, and now her dearest son was gone too.
It was like having her heart cruelly torn apart.
“Perhaps, a sudden illness.”
“Yu Zhou is too young to explain properly,” the Emperor sighed deeply, sorrow clouding his brow.
“Yu Zhou lost his father at such a young age. What will become of him? And you! Just for letting Chao Chao have a drop of wine, you had Yu Zhou beaten until he couldn’t get out of bed for three days. Do you regret it now?”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze was filled with blame.
The Emperor felt a pang of guilt.
“From now on, no one is to treat Yu Zhou like that again. A child without a father is bound to be more sensitive. Poor Jing Xi, poor Yu Zhou… and his mother as well.” The Empress Dowager wiped her tears.
“If anyone dares to lay a finger on Yu Zhou again, I will not forgive them!”
“I have already lost Jing Xi. Yu Zhou is his only heir; no one is to touch him!” Her decree left everyone nodding in agreement.
“Everything shall be as Mother Empress wishes.”
“If you cannot bear to part with him, let Yu Zhou stay by your side and receive your personal guidance,” the Emperor suggested, and the Empress Dowager nodded lightly.
The Eldest Princess also felt immense regret.
A few days ago, when Xie Yu Zhou had been so unruly as to feed Chao Chao wine, she had instructed Jing Xi to punish him severely.
It resulted in Yu Zhou being bedridden for three days.
Now, all that remained in her heart was guilt.
Soft sobs filled the carriage as the Eldest Princess and the Empress Dowager wept.
A grand procession of carriages arrived at Prince Jing Xi’s Manor.
The mansion’s exterior was eerily desolate—not a single mourner in sight.
Wang Yuan Lu assisted the Emperor out of the carriage.
The Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess followed closely, while Yu Shu carried down Lu Chao Chao.
Tears streaking her face, the Empress Dowager choked, “The Princess Consort is still young and inexperienced. Even with Jing Xi gone, the household hasn’t changed the lanterns. The white banners haven’t even been prepared…”
“I buy coffin!” Lu Chao Chao pointed at the grand rosewood coffin placed by the entrance.
She had spent a fortune, scouring the entire city to find it.
“Chao Chao has been thoughtful,” the Empress Dowager patted her little head gently.
“Quickly, have someone knock on the door. The manor must be in chaos, with no one to take charge.” The Empress Dowager steeled herself, her face devoid of color.
Wang Yuan Lu personally knocked.
After several loud knocks, a sleepy voice called out.
“Coming, coming!”
As the gatekeeper opened the door, his legs immediately gave way.
With a thud, he dropped to his knees.
He had just witnessed the imperial procession.
“Foolish wretch! Move aside!” Wang Yuan Lu ordered, and the gatekeeper was swiftly dragged away as the Emperor was led inside.
The civil and military officials, already clad in mourning attire, followed solemnly.
A grand, somber procession entered the mansion.
Prince Jing Xi’s Manor was eerily silent. The moment the Empress Dowager stepped in, she frowned.
“Utter chaos! Nothing has been arranged!” She was heartbroken that her son had passed without proper respect, both grieving and feeling deeply aggrieved.
“Bring the coffin inside. We must lay Jing Xi to rest properly,” she ordered, wiping her tears.
The mansion’s servants were dumbfounded.
“Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Empress, Eldest Princess…” The Chief Steward of Prince Jing Xi’s Manor knelt, utterly bewildered.
“Wait, why the coffin?”
Why was everyone crying? Why were the officials all in mourning attire?!
“Where is Jing Xi? Has he been properly settled?” the Empress Dowager sobbed.
“Settled?!” The Chief Steward’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. What kind of talk was this? Prince Jing Xi and his consort had just finished lunch and were taking an afternoon nap!
The Emperor’s eyelids twitched violently.
A terrible premonition struck him.
“Take me to Jing Xi!” He had no time for explanations, his voice dark and heavy.
The Chief Steward hesitated but, seeing the grave expressions, dared not refuse and led them to the rear courtyard.
The Emperor kicked the door open.
Xie Jing Xi bolted upright in shock.
“Who dares cause such a ruckus?! Nearly scared me to death!” His words faltered as he saw his beloved brother, the Empress Dowager, the Eldest Princess, and a swarm of people flooding into his chamber.
As he glanced behind them, an entire mass of civil and military officials had gathered.
“W-what’s going on? Did I commit some crime by taking a nap?!” Xie Jing Xi leapt from the bed and knelt in confusion.
His consort hid beneath the blankets, too embarrassed to show her face.
The Empress Dowager’s sobs caught in her throat as she stared in shock at her very much alive son.
The Eldest Princess, her eyes swollen from weeping, barely managed to glare at her exasperating younger brother.
Wang Yuan Lu swallowed hard.
Damn. This was one colossal misunderstanding.
“Why are you here?” The Eldest Princess, voice hoarse, gritted her teeth at him.
“Where else should I be?” Xie Jing Xi was utterly baffled. “I was just napping—what in the world is happening?!”
“You shouldn’t be here. You should be in the coffin.” Lu Chao Chao pointed at the dark, gleaming rosewood coffin outside.
“Pah! Pah! Pah! Bad luck! Nonsense! I’m alive and well, why would I be in a coffin?!” Xie Jing Xi spat repeatedly to ward off ill fortune.
The Emperor ground his teeth in rage.
“Xie Yu Zhou has been spreading rumors all over the capital that you are dead!!”
“The entire city is outside, mourning you!!” His voice was cold as ice, making Xie Jing Xi see stars.
Bang bang bang!
The mansion gates rattled violently.
“Open up! I’m home!” Xie Yu Zhou grinned, squinting with satisfaction.
He had avoided an exam and dodged a beating. Marvelous!
[I’m so clever!]
Oh no…