The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Chapter 231: Return Of An Old Friend (Part 7)

Empress Xian De found herself wandering in the stillness of the night. The residual warmth from the wine she had consumed seemed to dissipate with the breeze, leaving her with a sharp, unwelcome clarity.

Leaning against the pond's railing, a sigh of weariness escaped her.

She acknowledged that her words earlier were born of fleeting anger. Yet, the lingering question of Emperor Yong Le's remaining lifespan gnawed at her. This impending end filled her with dread, and she desperately wished to shut out the reality, to block her ears. But every time, Emperor Yong Le would deliberately bring it up, forcing her to confront the very things she longed to ignore.

The ground held not just soil, but countless lives; and a person was no different.

"Your Ladyship, the air is quite cold. It would be best to return," Tao GuGu advised gently.

Empress Xian De merely shook her head. A string of Buddhist beads adorned her wrist, a gift requested for Emperor Yong Le from the temple. Daily, she recited scriptures, imploring Heaven for mercy upon the world and yearning for a miracle.

Each bead, polished to a luminous sheen from years of wear, spoke of Empress Xian De's unwavering devotion. Gazing at the perfectly round moon above, she reflected that the ongoing war was nearing its first anniversary. After a full cycle of moons, this outcome, though close, was still considered a success. It was she, however, who couldn't maintain composure and had made a hasty move.

A wave of self-disgust washed over her. Turning to leave, she heard a cascade of tiny sounds. Looking down, she realized the string of Buddhist beads had snapped, scattering their remnants onto the ground with a series of sharp clicks.

They had been perfectly intact; how could they possibly break?

"Tao GuGu..." Empress Xian De whispered, a sudden tremor of unease gripping her heart. It felt as if her chest had tightened, stealing her breath in an instant.

"Your Ladyship!" Tao GuGu exclaimed, startled, rushing to her side. But Empress Xian De waved her away, her hands trembling as she knelt in a panic, "Quickly. Please help me gather them..."

As Tao GuGu joined her on the ground, Deng GongGong hurried over, accompanied by a young eunuch, his face etched with shock. "Your Ladyship, His Majesty has taken a turn for the worse. Please, go and see him at once!"

Empress Xian De had only managed to pick up a single bead when she heard the news. Her hand faltered, and the bead slipped, falling into the pond. It vanished without a ripple, leaving no trace.

*****

Within Yang Xin Hall, all the eunuchs and palace maids were assembled, kneeling in silent vigil.

Deng GongGong stood in a corner, head bowed, his expression etched with sorrow.

As Empress Xian De entered, Gao Zhang emerged, offering her a somber shake of his head.

Empress Xian De faltered, nearly collapsing had Tao GuGu not been there to steady her.

After a long moment, she managed to speak, "All of you, withdraw."

Emperor Yong Le, from his bed, also gestured for them to leave.

The room gradually emptied, leaving only the two of them.

Empress Xian De stepped forward.

Her pace was slow, as if resisting an inevitable truth she couldn't yet accept. Yet, she pressed on. Reaching the bedside, she knelt and gazed at the figure lying there.

Emperor Yong Le met her eyes and, after a pause, a faint smile touched his lips. "It is alright. At least, before I depart, I can savor the Snow Wine you brewed."

"Xing Zhi..." Empress Xian De choked out his name, tears welling in her eyes.

She used his given name, Xing Zhi, not his imperial title. Empress Xiao, in her youth, had shared Xie Chi's styled name with Empress Xian De, who found it reflected a noble character.

Despite the deep, indelible wounds he had inflicted over the years, Empress Xian De could not bear to witness his departure.

Was life not a tapestry woven with predetermined threads? This particular fate felt inescapable, a tragic destiny. Yet, as this doomed path neared its end, she clung to it stubbornly, like a moth drawn inexorably to a flame, refusing to let go until the very last moment.

"Qing Zhen, I cannot remain by your side any longer," Emperor Yong Le apologized, his voice weak. "When you married me, I believed I could offer you protection, but in truth, you have gained nothing all these years." He spoke haltingly, pausing to draw breath after each sentence, the effort evident.

Empress Xian De pleaded, "Please, don't speak anymore."

Empress Xian De wept silently, her quiet sorrow filling the room.

Suddenly, her hand was grasped, and she found Emperor Yong Le staring intently at her. Gritting his teeth, he declared, "But I cannot accept this. I do not wish it... I am profoundly selfish. You are my woman, and I am unwilling for you to belong to another."

Empress Xian De was taken aback by his words.

"This entire year, I have strived merely to survive, hoping to hold on for a few more days. It was not to witness Xie Yuan usurp the throne. The empire is secure, and there is truly nothing left for me to cling to. It is only... that I cannot bear to part with you..." He gathered his strength to breathe, "I cannot bear to leave you... To share even a moment more as husband and wife with you is all I yearn for."

"When I first saw you, and later when you were summoned to the Palace, it was not the Empress Dowager's desire. It was my own from the very beginning. I was the one who told Imperial Mother that I found you remarkable. For all these years, you believed I was content with merely being 'Empress Xian De,' but that was not the truth. I said that anyone could be this Empress if they performed their duties well, but that is also untrue. From the outset, it was always you. Those words... were all to deceive you..."

Empress Xian De covered her mouth, her voice choked with emotion, "Why did you not speak of this sooner?"

Emperor Yong Le's face grew even paler, his voice fading to a whisper. "Alas, my life has been unfortunate, and it has cast a shadow over your entire existence..." He reached out a hand, as if to wipe away the tears on Empress Xian De’s face, but the gesture faltered, hanging limply in the air.

His eyes closed.

Empress Xian De muffled her cries into the blanket, burying her face in the thick bedding, weeping her heart out. Yet, no sound escaped to the outside world. She wished she could disappear entirely into the soft fabric, to cease hearing, seeing, blaming, or thinking ever again.

Incense smoke curled languidly from the copper burner, filling the room with a heavy, restrained atmosphere. Suppressed sobs mingled with the profound silence as the moonlight outside cast an impossibly bright and serene glow.

After what felt like an eternity, Empress Xian De rose. She gently adjusted Emperor Yong Le’s blanket, her lips set in a determined line. Composing herself before the mirror, she brushed away the lingering tears and slowly opened the door.

The assembled eunuchs and palace maids knelt in the corridor. As Deng Gong Gong stepped forward, Empress Xian De announced with remarkable calm, "His Majesty has departed."

Deng Gong Gong froze for a moment before instantly falling to his knees. Setting aside his horsetail whisk, he bowed his head deeply to the floor, the sound echoing in the stillness.

Witnessing this, the other eunuchs and palace maids immediately followed suit, their mournful cries rising to the heavens.

"His Majesty -- has left us --"

*****

Shen Miao observed Empress Xian De. The Empress, clad in simple white mourning attire, maintained an outward appearance of gentle composure, as if utterly unshaken by the day's events.

Following a brief period of unrest within the court, a semblance of order was restored.

Emperor Yong Le had meticulously planned every contingency before his passing, including the issuance of the Imperial Edict and anticipating potential courtly discord. Although certain individuals harbored ambitions, the officials appointed by Emperor Yong Le were far from mere figureheads. Furthermore, frequent positive reports from Xie Jing Xing kept morale high, and it was widely understood that Emperor Yong Le had no sons, making the succession of his only brother a foregone conclusion.

While some voices of dissent were inevitable, they were ultimately suppressed. Xie Jing Xing demonstrated unwavering resolve, and with Emperor Yong Le's thorough preparations, the imperial court remained remarkably stable, experiencing minimal chaos. Perhaps the officials recognized that upon Prince Rui's return, he would bring not only victory but also claim the territories of Ming Qi and Qin. The consolidation of these lands made the throne's position a secondary concern.

It was wiser to remain compliant, secure in their current positions, and await the new Emperor's ascension, potentially sharing in the glory. The court thrived on benefit and advantage, but what of the Inner Palace?

When the ladies within the Inner Palace lost the very Monarch they relied upon, naturally, they too found themselves adrift. While some sought the solace of death, a greater number focused on securing their futures. Among Emperor Yong Le’s consorts, most hailed from official families, and he had never personally selected any of them. Emperor Yong Le possessed a naturally cold disposition, and aside from the former favorite, Lu Jing, he showed little interest in women, thus there were no deep emotional entanglements with these consorts. Following Emperor Yong Le’s passing, these women actively reached out to their clans, hoping for a more secure path forward in their remaining years.

Empress Xian De managed all affairs with remarkable composure, from the national mourning to the final journey to the Imperial Tombs. No one was requested to be buried with the late Emperor, as Emperor Yong Le himself had already instructed Deng GongGong regarding the arrangements after his death, and everything proceeded according to his plans.

Shen Miao paid a visit to Empress Xian De under the cover of night. Since Emperor Yong Le’s interment within the Imperial Tombs, Empress Xian De had maintained an unusual level of calm. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, yet she was in Wei Yang Palace, listening to the melancholic strains of a Qin.

Shen Miao signaled to the palace maid playing the Qin to depart. Empress Xian De then noticed her, a weary smile gracing her lips as she spoke, "You have come."

"The air grows colder. Your Ladyship must wear more attire. If one wishes to listen to the Qin, it is best to have a small brazier to warm oneself, lest a chill sets in," Shen Miao advised.

Empress Xian De smiled, not refuting the advice, and gestured towards the mooncakes on a nearby table. "These were prepared by the Imperial Kitchens. BenGong intended to have them sent to you but then recalled they had already been dispatched, so the thought no longer occurred."

Shen Miao offered a gentle smile, "Your Ladyship should partake as well."

Empress Xian De faintly waved her hand. "BenGong cannot consume them."

The Imperial Edict of Succession had been proclaimed. Upon Xie Jing Xing’s return to Long Ye, he would ascend the throne, and at that juncture, Shen Miao would unquestionably become the Empress. Strictly speaking, it was now improper for Empress Xian De to hold her current title. Nevertheless, both women tacitly acknowledged the situation.

"These past few days, BenGong has found herself constantly reminiscing. BenGong feels that His Majesty’s departure should be a reality BenGong long anticipated and was prepared for. Yet, as time passes, I find myself increasingly unaccustomed to it. My heart feels hollow throughout the day, as though something vital is missing. WangFei, when Jing Xing departed, did you experience the same?"

Shen Miao paused, taken aback.

Was something missing? Undoubtedly. It was a presence one barely noticed when it was near, but only upon its true absence did one comprehend the magnitude of the loss. During separation, one most likely understood their own complex emotions. But... Shen Miao unconsciously touched her abdomen. Perhaps it was due to the little one within, that these long and arduous days did not feel quite so desolate.

"You are likely not the same as BenGong." Empress Xian De, without awaiting Shen Miao’s response, mused aloud, "Previously, His Majesty, unaware of your true nature, investigated all your affairs. As BenGong listened, I understood you to be a person of independent thought. You faced the Imperial family of Ming Qi and protected the Shen family, indicating from the outset that you possessed your own distinct plans. As for Jing Xing, marrying him was an unexpected turn of events that simply fell into place. Had you not met Jing Xing, you would still have found a way to live your life, for your primary objective was never to be merely someone's wife."

"It is different for BenGong." She gazed at the ruby adorning her fingernail protector and articulated, "My family was affluent and stable, with no standing disputes within the Imperial court, thus I was born without significant worries. Upon meeting His Majesty, I believed the most crucial aspect of life was to be his wife and share a lifetime with him." She cupped her head, speaking softly, as if on the verge of sleep, yet she continued.

"Perhaps it is because the first half of BenGong’s life was excessively carefree, that I never realized being a wife could be such an arduous undertaking."

Shen Miao remained silent.

It was exceedingly difficult for Empress Xian De. In recent days, she had spoken very little, yet Shen Miao understood the depth of such an experience. While articulating such pain might not alter the circumstances, sometimes, speaking it aloud offered a form of release. For Empress Xian De, voicing these sentiments was far preferable to burying them within her heart.