Capítulo 1775: Chapter 1775: Thorny

The empress wanted to smile, but she didn’t have the strength. She wanted to lie down.

The emperor saw and personally helped her. After the empress lay down and collected herself for a moment, she said, “The things I left for the children are in the box.”

The emperor said, “I will give them to them.”

The empress was having trouble breathing but still tried hard to lift her head to glance at her children, her eyes full of reluctance. Finally, her gaze settled on the emperor’s face. Using all her strength, she finally smiled, then slowly closed her eyes.

She quietly felt the approach of death, hearing her children’s cries by her ears. She didn’t say to the emperor that she would marry him again in the next life. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but because the emperor not regretting in this life didn’t mean he would be willing to marry her in the next.

The emperor felt the empress’s hand gradually grow cold, but he didn’t let go. He sat quietly, listening to the cries of the children, his own eyes gradually reddening. His wife had passed away, taking with her all their shared memories, leaving him only with beautiful recollections.

The emperor raised his hand to touch his wife’s hair, feeling the coarse gray strands prickling his fingers, his heart feeling empty. After a while, he said in a deep voice to Eunuch Zhang, “Make the arrangements.”

The sound of weeping from the empress’s sleeping quarters echoed, gradually spreading throughout the palace. Women in the harem were both pleased and filled with hatred that made their teeth itch. Truly, there was no one grieving for the empress.

The bell tolled, and the entire capital knew that the empress was gone.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren hadn’t yet slept. Both had already changed their clothes, and hearing the sound, shared a glance without saying a word.

As time ticked by, Zhulan finally spoke, gesturing for the maid outside to come in, “Send a message to the Princely Heir’s wife, and remove all the arrangements in the courtyard.”

The maid also heard the bell, and upon receiving the order, quickly went to the main residence to deliver the message.

Zhou Shuren said, “With the empress gone, there won’t be peace in the palace.”

“Only fools would be uneasy. The Crown Prince’s position is secure; the emperor won’t appoint a new empress again.”

“Ah, but even if the emperor appears calm, he’s still human. The flame in his heart is directed toward Chuanzhou.”

Zhulan thought of the Retired Emperor’s passing, “He’s going to take drastic measures again.”

Zhou Shuren’s tone was a bit shaky, “Our son occasionally sends evidence back to the capital. He’s really fanning the flames for the emperor!”

Zhulan said, “…”

That’s true indeed!

The residents of the capital, upon hearing the bell, lost their sleep, especially the Wen family. The two major pillars of the Wen family are the empress and the Crown Prince. With the empress constantly unwell, the Wen family wasn’t worried. The emperor valued his principal wife, and even if the empress was resting, no one dared to provoke. As long as the empress lived, the Wen family feared nothing.

Now they are somewhat flustered. The Crown Prince’s actions over the years have already shown that he does not rely on the Wen family. Without the buffer of the empress, the Wen family is concerned and anxious.

While some are panicking, naturally, some are happy, and those happy are more numerous. Without the empress supporting the Crown Prince, with the most revered father and son of the Imperial Family having a rift, there will be no one to mediate. This is a great thing.

The faction of the Second Prince felt both aggrieved and delighted, aggrieved that the empress chose such a time to pass, causing considerable trouble to the Second Prince, and delighted that the Crown Prince no longer has the empress’s protection.

That night, all manner of strange occurrences emerged bustlingly.

The next day, Zhulan got up and changed into mourning clothes, looking out the window; the weather was quite nice today.

Listening quietly, the cries could still be heard. Compared to the sincere lamentations at the Retired Emperor’s death, the empress’s passing was accompanied by false mourning.

Even the common people in the capital didn’t feel much, as people are pragmatic. They know who is good to them, and the empress hadn’t done anything memorable for them.

The empress’s funeral was grand. The emperor and the Crown Prince were genuinely saddened, not to mention the Wen family. Others clutched their handkerchiefs.

No citizens lined the way for the procession, turning what should have been a very grand funeral into something more like a performance.

Even though the emperor had lost his principal wife, no matter how well he masked it, the weight of gloom around him was intense.

Zhou Shuren didn’t go forward. When the Retired Emperor passed, at least he had a conversation. With the empress’s death, the emperor had to bear it alone!

In Chuanzhou, the decree from the capital reached the provinces, announcing who would preside over the Qiu Wei this year. Zhou Changzhi from the Hanlin Academy would be the chief examiner for Chuanzhou, assisted by the Education Commissioner of Chuanzhou.

As the decree reached Chuanzhou, the first priority was to investigate who Zhou Changzhi of the Hanlin Academy was. After investigating thoroughly, everyone was silent.

The Prefect of Chuanzhou frowned, “This person is not only the fourth son of Marquis Zhou but also the real brother of Princess Qin. It’s rather tricky.”

The group exchanged glances, finding it more than just tricky — it’s potentially fatal!

Chang Zhi also returned to the Prefecture City with Ding Jue, back to their rented small courtyard. Chang Zhi gathered plenty of evidence. He stayed in rather than going out; instead, Ding Jue went out from time to time.

Today, Ding Jue came back with a strange expression on his face. A young servant noticed, “What’s wrong with you?”

Ding Jue took a deep breath, “Is our master truly named Zhou Changzhi?”

The young servant realized, smiling knowingly, “You heard the news?”

Ding Jue’s breath caught; this was an acknowledgment. “So our master is the chief examiner for this year’s Qiu Wei?”

The young servant patted Ding Jue on the shoulder, “What’s there to be surprised about? Since the master is in Chuanzhou, he naturally has a title.”

Ding Jue still felt a bit disoriented, cautiously asking, “Is the master’s father the Minister of Revenue, Marquis Zhou?”

The young servant exclaimed, “My, the news travels fast.”

Ding Jue felt complicated inside. No wonder he repeatedly hinted that continuing to investigate the master was dangerous, yet the master didn’t mind; with such a background, indeed, there was nothing to fear. Compared to the officials of Chuanzhou, even tied together, their backgrounds were incomparable.

Ding Jue realized, “Now that the decree has arrived, when will the master reveal his identity?”

The young servant said, “No hurry, no hurry. The Qiu Wei is still some time off.”

Ding Jue remembered he also held the title of Scholar; no wonder the master advised him often to look forward to a long life. Following the master, the master would talk about officialdom and share interesting stories, broadening his perspective, so he didn’t harbor constant resentment and regret.

The young servant muttered, “Fool, with opportunities before you, not knowing to seize them.”

The master met many like Ding Jue during his covert investigations. Only two caught the master’s real attention, one being Lau Mingsheng, and only Ding Jue continued to follow the master.

Ding Jue understood, pursing his lips, “I.”

Chang Zhi walked out, “You’re back?”

The young servant smiled, “Master, he’s already aware of your identity.”

Chang Zhi smiled, “Surprised?”

Ding Jue was a bit restrained, lacking the casualness of before, “Truly surprised.”

Chang Zhi asked, “What were you talking about earlier?”

Ding Jue pursed his lips, pausing for a moment before saying, “Master, I.”

Chang Zhi raised an eyebrow, noticing that the reveal of his identity disturbed Ding Jue’s inner peace, “Do you want to reclaim your title?”

Ding Jue’s face turned red, “Master, you are a good official.”

He was aware of everything the master did daily. The master was teaching him, and he understood, but thinking of his elder brother’s and mother’s deaths, he could only sigh in the end.

Chang Zhi did not force Ding Jue. He only hoped that when the truth was revealed, Ding Jue could withstand it, which was why he continued to console Ding Jue.

Ding Jue let out a breath, “Master, learning at your side is enough for me.”

So the barrier in his heart was still something he could not step over.