LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 95 - 095 Collapse and Demise
Chapter 95: Chapter 095 Collapse and Demise
Sang Yan was already annoyed, “Can the Emperor not be so obstinate? You know the ministers oppose it, yet you still proceed, where does that leave me? Wasn’t my recent brush with danger warning enough? Yes, you are the Emperor, a high and mighty emperor, but even emperors are not omnipotent. Do not underestimate those ministers. Power suppression has never been a solution to problems.”
He Ying was left speechless by her words.
He ate a few bites of food, then set down his chopsticks and left.
He needed to think things over.
Watching him leave, Sang Yan lost her appetite for dining as well, hastily ate a little, then asked for the meal to be cleared away.
Washing up, then to bed.
A dreamless night.
The next day,
she did not see He Ying come over.
The third day,
was the same.
He Ying was avoiding her.
Realizing this, Sang Yan did not go to look for him.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲ0νǤο.сο
Their relationship had suddenly turned cold.
She felt somewhat sad, somewhat desolate, somewhat uneasy, and somewhat masochistically resigned: See. The warmth of their love had finally cooled down.
The fourth day,
The Empress Dowager had someone summon her.
When Sang Yan went, she inquired, “How is the Empress Dowager’s health now? Do you know why she has summoned me?”
The palace maid looked terrified, but told her truthfully, “Lady Puzhu of Yongshou Palace has died. The Empress Dowager is very sad, hasn’t touched food for days. It looks bad.”
Puzhu had been protecting the Empress Dowager when He Ying chopped off half of her arm.
With the current weather being the hot summer, the wound was prone to infection, coupled with the primitive medical conditions, it was really hard to save a life.
What a pity.
But that was just a pity.
She still remembered how she had arrogantly forced herself to take her medicine, not fond of her in her heart.
She soon arrived at Yongshou Palace.
Before she even entered, she heard a burst of sobbing cries.
When she reached the bedside, she learned the Empress Dowager had passed away.
But the Empress Dowager’s eyes were open, seemingly staring towards the palace gate, clearly having died with her eyes unshut.
“Lord Sang, the Empress Dowager’s last words were that you must go to Long Chan Temple and pray for forty-nine days,” relayed the old eunuch Yu Xingxian.
Sang Yan said nothing, deeply bowed towards the direction of the Empress Dowager.
Then she heard the voice of a eunuch from outside, “The Emperor has arrived—”
That was quick.
She had just arrived, and he followed right after.
There must have been someone constantly watching the movement around the side hall.
She thought he had given up on this relationship.
“Sang Yan! Sang Yan—”
He Ying rushed over, saw her, and held onto her shoulders, looking her up and down to see if she was hurt.
Seeing how worried he was about her, Sang Yan was touched, and her attitude softened, “Your Majesty, I am alright.”
“Waiting until something happens would be too late! What are you doing coming here? It’s so ominous!”
He did not want Sang Yan to come to the Empress Dowager’s side.
The Empress Dowager had been seriously ill, with intense miasma of sickness.
Her health was poor; it was really not suitable for her to come.
“Enough, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager—”
Had the Empress Dowager still been alive to hear his disdainful words, she might have died from anger right there.
He Ying also saw the Empress Dowager with open eyes, her body stiff, no rise and fall in her chest.
“The Empress Dowager has expired?”
He was shocked.
Sang Yan looked at him and slowly nodded.
He Ying’s face changed, he walked over, and even checked her breathing.
She was indeed dead.
This woman, who had commanded the wind and rain for most of her life, was dead.
Once someone dies, it seems all their malice departs with them.
What remains is all their goodness.
He remembered how, before the late Emperor’s demise, she had cried torrentially and fell ill for several days.
He even remembered earlier times, someone had spoken ill of his mother, and she had them executed.
Even when he was four years old and had a high fever, it was she who had commanded the Imperial Physician to treat him meticulously, staying by his side throughout…
A delayed pang in his heart.
Brief.
“Did the Empress Dowager say anything before she passed?”
He clenched his fist and asked a question.
The answer came from Yu Xingxian: “He only said to send Lord Sang to Long Chan Temple—”
He Ying interrupted in time, “Besides that?”
Yu Xingxian shook his head and said, “That’s all. After Lady Puzhu’s death, the Empress Dowager was heartbroken, and her passing was sudden.”
He Ying pinched the temple of his forehead and after a long time, he sighed, “Let it be, give her a grand funeral.”
The news of the Empress Dowager’s demise soon spread to the former court.
The ministers all came to mourn.
He Ying also observed seven days of mourning before the Empress Dowager was buried in the Imperial Mausoleum.
The country mourned for a month, prohibiting festivities.
Sang Yan, as she wished, went to Long Chan Temple to worship Buddha.
He Ying sent many guards and Hidden Guards to protect her.
“Such a grand show of force might attract criticism.”
Sang Yan was still not used to being so high-profile.
He Ying didn’t want her to leave the palace, and he was in a very bad mood. Hearing her say that, he immediately became displeased and retorted, “You always think like this, afraid of this and that. Isn’t it tiring to live like this? Is everything I give you just a shackle? I am the Emperor, and you are my woman, the future Empress Da He. What are you afraid of others saying? Do you think you’re not worthy?”
His voice grew louder with each sentence.
He had always been gentle in front of her, rarely speaking so sharply.
He even hinted at her petty bourgeoisie mentality.
Sang Yan had never expected He Ying to speak to her like this and was momentarily stunned.
After he finished, He Ying regretted his words.
He tapped his forehead and apologized, “I’m sorry, the thought of not seeing you for several days just makes me restless.”
Sang Yan pondered his words.
People often reveal their true nature unintentionally.
She felt that he didn’t love her as much as before.
Indeed, she always went against him, naturally wearing out his patience and sincerity.
“It’s okay. Your Majesty, please go back. I will take good care of myself.”
She turned and entered Long Chan Temple.
Master Yixuan, having received news from the palace early on, had prepared a chamber for her with a nanmu desk, silk quilts, and a glass lamp embedded with Luminous Pearls, decorated exceptionally luxuriously.
Sang Yan entered and was shocked, “This, this?”
What happened to worshiping Buddha?
It looked more like a vacation spot?
Master Yixuan brought his palms together and smiled, “Amitabha Buddha, ‘meat and wine pass through the intestines, but Buddha stays in the heart. If there is nothing inside, there is nothing outside.'”
Sang Yan: “…”
Fine.
If such a revered monk had no objections, neither did she.
And so, her daily Buddhist rituals began.
During the day, she followed the monks for morning prayers, reciting various Buddhist Scriptures.
At night, she joined the monks for evening prayers, involving confession and self-reflection apart from reciting scriptures.
For some reason, Sang Yan thought back to He Ying’s words before she left.
At this moment, seeing things from his perspective, it seemed she had always been a spoil-sport, always guarded, keeping him at bay.
He was right; she was timid.
The encounter at the Yongshou Palace had indeed frightened her considerably.
She captured these reflections in a letter and sent it to the Emperor.
After receiving the letter, He Ying came to see her.
“It was my fault. I put you in danger, scared you, and then blamed you for being timid. Your fear is because I didn’t provide you with enough security. Even as the Emperor, I am helpless.”
He held her tight, feeling utterly useless.
Sang Yan shook her head, consoling him, “Your Majesty, don’t say that. You have done very well. Every person’s ability is limited, and I would like Your Majesty to be more cautious. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Since ancient times, being an Emperor has always been a perilous job.”
He Ying had the most authority to speak on this.
The late Emperor was a living testament.
“You are right. ‘A cautious mind will lead to a long life.'”
He still indulged her.
He didn’t say that precisely because he was cautious, he had arranged so many people to protect her, yet she had called it a grand show of force.
Let it be.
Loving her meant tolerating her.
No matter what she thought.
“How have you felt these past few days? If you are not used to it, we can go back.”
“I’m accustomed to it. It’s very peaceful. My perspective on things has also changed. I feel I’ve gained a lot.”
“If you’ve gained a lot, don’t forget about me.”
“I won’t forget. You are the greatest gain of my life.”
She had begun to speak sweetly too.
He Ying was so charmed he couldn’t help but kiss her.