Chapter 1: The Emperor’s Demise

Chapter 1: The Emperor's Demise

The 31st year of Qian Ning.

In the pre-dawn hours, the sky remained a dark, heavy mass, but the scurrying of the palace maids in the Eastern Palace grew increasingly urgent.

It was the deep winter of November. Water froze in the courtyard, and the eunuchs clearing the snow turned blue with cold. Their brooms, tipped with stiff pine branches, scraped over the wet, snow-covered bluestone tiles, producing a dull sound.

Consort Jiang Hui, swaddled in thick cotton robes and cloaks, cradled her belly as she slowly seated herself in the soft chair behind the screen of the warm pavilion.

The Crown Princess had sent Madam Qing, who now sat on a low stool, her face wearing a forced smile, but her eyes stern.

The curtain at the door fluttered briefly as Lan Song, carrying a bowl of hot porridge, quickly entered. Qiu Kui stepped forward to take it, carefully placing it on the square Huanghuali table with scroll grass patterns in front of Jiang Hui, ignoring the glare from Madam Qing behind her.

"Consort Jiang," Madam Qing spoke, her voice formal, "please hurry."

As she spoke, she involuntarily glanced in the direction of the Jianzhang Palace, then silently lowered her head.

Jiang Hui had no intention of delaying. If not for her current condition, even this simple bowl of white porridge would be unnecessary.

Although there was no definite news yet, the summoning of the Crown Prince and the senior ministers in the middle of the night, and the martial law at the nine gates, conveyed an unmistakable message.

By the time she arrived at the main hall, the Crown Princess had already composed herself. The room was filled with a faint, slightly spicy scent of calming incense. The young princess, still a child, dozed in her mother's arms, struggling to keep her eyes open.

Jiang Hui glanced at the Crown Princess's dark crow-colored robe, then lowered her eyes, leaning on Qiu Kui as she laboriously paid her respects.

"Consort Jiang, please rise." The Crown Princess, graceful and beautiful, with a hint of a smile, signaled her maids to help Jiang Hui up, her eyes circling Jiang Hui's noticeably protruding belly with concern, "It's almost eight months, isn't it? Any discomfort?"

"None at all," Jiang Hui replied briefly, sitting down on the cushioned redwood chair with Ruyi cloud headrests.

In the room, such chairs were few. Besides Jiang Hui, three plainly dressed women sat: Xu Liangdi, Hu Chenghui, and Shi Ruzi. All the women of the Crown Prince were here.

No one spoke much. Hu Chenghui glanced occasionally towards the door, her brows faintly furrowed with worry.

Jiang Hui knew what she was worried about. Her daughter, the Crown Prince's second child, was barely three months old, and in this cold winter season, any moment away from her sight naturally unsettled a mother.

"Yan'er is well cared for by her wet nurse. Sister Hu, please be at ease," Jiang Hui said softly, perhaps moved by her impending motherhood, offering comfort in her gentle voice.

Hu Chenghui gave a slight smile, her post-pregnancy cheeks dimpling, and replied in a low voice, "Thank you, Sister, for your reassurance. I'm just worried... Yan'er is so young, she might not endure well."

Her unspoken implication was clear: if the Emperor indeed passed away, Yan'er, as a grandchild, would naturally need to observe mourning. Although the wet nurses and palace maids would mainly bear the burden, the child was still in her infancy...

Jiang Hui, shifting her thoughts, merely smiled reassuringly, unable to respond directly.

The Crown Princess, seated at the head, and Xu Liangdi opposite seemed indifferent to their conversation. Shi Ruzi, always reticent, kept quiet, and the room fell silent again.

Shortly after, a palace maid hurried in. Jiang Hui looked up; it was Chunyan, brought from the Crown Princess's maternal home. After whispering to her, Wang shi, the Crown Princess, turned serious, stood up, and ordered everyone to remove their hairpins and jewelry, change into mourning clothes, and follow her to Jianzhang Palace.

Jiang Hui inhaled softly, knowing the inevitable day had arrived.

By blood, this Emperor of the Qian Ning era was Jiang Hui's maternal uncle—her mother, the Princess of Chengping, was the Emperor's half-sister.

If not for the Emperor's decree, Jiang Hui would have been the primary wife in another household, living a life of mutual respect with her husband. But Jiang Hui, even her parents, could not harbor any dissent against the Emperor; they understood his wishes.

Originally, when the Crown Prince Yuan Hui and Jiang Hui's betrothed, the Heir of An Guo, died unexpectedly during a hunting expedition, the court was thrown into chaos, with princes fiercely competing for power.

Subsequently, Emperor Qian Ning decisively settled the dispute, decreeing that Xiao Sheng, the already prominent third prince, be the Crown Prince. Along with this edict came the command to bestow Jiang Hui as the Crown Prince's consort.

The copper hand-warmer in her lap radiated waves of warmth. The newly added silver charcoal inside was sent by the Crown Prince a few days ago. Jiang Hui widened the slight gap in the carriage curtain, gently stroking her belly, soothing the little life within.

Upon reaching Jianzhang Palace, it was already crowded with people. Those from the Eastern Palace were led to a side hall to wait.

Faint cries, mostly from women, drifted from ahead. Jiang Hui, staring blankly at the palace lanterns under the eaves, understood that these imperial consorts' lives had vanished along with the departed Emperor. From now on, their final refuge would be the Ci'an Palace in the northwest corner of the imperial city, the imperial mausoleum in distant Ning Shou Mountain, or some temple or Taoist monastery beyond the palace walls.

With the Emperor's demise and the Crown Prince's ascension, would this be her eventual fate as well?

Jiang Hui's eyes hardened. She refused to accept such an end.

As dawn broke, the solemnity in Jianzhang Palace deepened. A young eunuch silently conveyed a message, and the Crown Princess nodded, leading everyone to the main hall to pay respects to the late Emperor.

The hall was crowded with people kneeling: the Crown Prince, ministers, imperial consorts, princes, and royal relatives. Jiang Hui caught the worried glances of her mother and younger brother in the crowd. She managed a nod in response before carefully kneeling down, cradling her belly. Hu Chenghui supported her, and Jiang Hui whispered her thanks as the rustling of garments faded, replaced by the somber voice of the Prime Minister announcing the decree—

"By the mandate of Heaven, I have reigned for thirty-one years, quelling chaos and pacifying the land... The Crown Prince, son of Consort Zhao, embodies benevolence and filial piety, wisdom and foresight. He shall end his mourning after twenty-seven days and ascend to the throne... Let this be known throughout the realm."

Jiang Hui bowed deeply, sensing Wang shi's momentary breath-holding beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wang shi tightening her grip on the little princess's hand, then came the Crown Prince Xiao Sheng's voice, laden with sorrow: "My father has just passed, and I feel inadequate and bereft. How can I ascend to the throne?"

This was his first refusal. Jiang Hui bowed even lower, following the ancient custom of thrice refusing and thrice urging.

As expected, upon hearing Xiao Sheng's words, the Prime Minister prostrated himself, pleading, "Your Highness, your virtues are exemplary. Do not belittle yourself. Please ascend to the throne," his voice tinged with grief.

After several rounds of urging and refusing in the hall, Xiao Sheng finally accepted the imperial edict in yellow silk.

The kneeling crowd, as if they had eyes atop their heads, chose the perfect moment to shout in unison, "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"

*

When Jiang Hui returned to the Yichun Palace in the Eastern Palace around the hour of Shen, she had only consumed a bowl of white porridge the entire day. She had spent the day in Jianzhang Palace mourning the late Emperor, and even though she was given special care due to her pregnancy, she was now exhausted, both physically and mentally, with aching in her lower abdomen.

Qiu Kui and Lan Song hurriedly helped her lie down, and as the chief eunuch Qing Feng prepared to fetch a physician, Jiang Hui stopped him.

Pale-faced, with beads of sweat at her temples, she firmly said, "Do not summon the imperial physician, at least not today."

After catching her breath, she turned to the tearful Lan Song, "Go get the pregnancy-preserving pills that Doctor Liu gave last time."

Emperor Qian Ning had initially caught a minor cold, which gradually worsened, leaving him bedridden. Jiang Hui had realized then that if any mishap occurred, she might not last until the birth of her child, hence she had specifically asked Doctor Liu to prepare pregnancy-preserving pills.

"Yes," Lan Song replied, quickly wiping her tears and hurrying to fetch the medicine.

Qiu Kui, holding a handkerchief, dabbed the sweat on Jiang Hui's forehead, while Ping Auntie brought in a black lacquered carved food box, whispering, "My lady, there's still warm egg custard in the small kitchen. Please have some."

During the mourning period, one must eat vegetarian and avoid meat. Although Jiang Hui's condition exempted her from these restrictions, she knew many eyes were upon her. She had to avoid extravagance and had already ordered the removal of nourishing foods like bird's nest and fish maw, opting for simpler egg custard.

Jiang Hui nodded to Ping Auntie. Despite her lack of appetite, she insisted on sitting up slightly and, aided by Qiu Kui, finished a bowl of egg custard.

Today's developments at her end couldn't be kept secret. Aside from Hu Chenghui and Shi Ruzi, the Crown Princess and Xu Liangdi might have other thoughts. However, it was a crucial day for Wang shi to establish her position as the central consort, and she was always cautious. She wouldn't act hastily and would even restrain Xu Liangdi...

Jiang Hui mulled over the various people and affairs in her heart, then, after taking the pregnancy-preserving pill, she lay on her side to rest.

Ping Auntie, not entirely at ease, stayed in the room with Qiu Kui to keep watch through the night.

In the Crown Princess's quarters in the Eastern Palace, the palace maids served the main and minor consorts their evening meal. After the wet nurse took the young princess Xiao Wu back to her room to rest, Chunyan quietly reported to her mistress that things didn't seem well in the Yichun Palace. Their people couldn't get close, but it was evident from Jiang Hui's pale face when she alighted from her palanquin.

The late Emperor's illness had been sudden, and Jiang Hui's pregnancy was unfortunately timed, taking a toll on her health.

Wang shi, used to fiddling with the jade bracelet on her wrist, remembered she had removed all her jewelry before leaving. She picked up a cup of tea from the table, took a sip, and said indifferently, "In that case, there's no need for me to intervene."

Chunyan, hearing her mistress's words, kept her expression unchanged, continuing in a low voice, "If Consort Jiang successfully gives birth, it will be the first child of His Majesty since ascending the throne..."

Her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible.

Wang shi raised an eyebrow and set down her teacup, "She must be fortunate enough to have that fate."

She was the Emperor's primary consort, married to Xiao Sheng when he was still Prince Cheng, and though not as noble or favored as Jiang Hui, destiny had its own plans. Jiang Hui had just lost her betrothed then, and being the ideal candidate, even as the daughter of the Princess of Chengping and the Marquis of Ningyuan, she had to become a consort for Prince Cheng's sake.

Over the years, Wang shi had been a competent and virtuous manager of the Eastern Palace, had given birth to Xiao Sheng's first child, Xiao Wu, and her family had supported Xiao Sheng's ascension. Even if Jiang Hui bore a son, it was improbable that the Emperor would make her the Empress.

No longer concerned about Jiang Hui, she shifted her focus to the affairs of the Changchun Palace.

Changchun Palace was the residence of the late Emperor's Consort Shu and Xiao Sheng's mother, Consort Zhao. Following the death of the former Crown Prince Yuan Hui, the late Empress's grief led to her demise, and the late Emperor had transferred all palace authority to Consort Shu.

Now that Xiao Sheng had ascended the throne, it was proper to honor Consort Zhao as the Empress Dowager and elevate Wang shi, the official Crown Princess, to Empress. But the control of the imperial harem...

Chunyan, of course, couldn't obtain any significant news from Changchun Palace and only shared some trivial details. Wang shi, knowing patience was key, instructed her attendants to rest.

It was then that Xia Chan, who had been silently standing behind Wang shi, spoke: "My lady, just now, His Majesty sent word through Eunuch Sheng An. He wishes to discuss matters in the Liangyi Hall and advised you to take care of everyone in the Eastern Palace. There's no need to wait any longer."

At midnight, a fire suddenly broke out in the Liangyi Hall.