Chapter 97: Funeral

Chapter 97: Funeral

Life returned to a tranquil routine. The Emperor stayed with Jiang Hui in the Summer Resort until the end of June, even spending a low-key Wanshou Festival. One day, he suddenly came to take Jiang Hui and Nian'er back to the capital.

Despite the carriage's leisurely pace, Jiang Hui was uneasy, her mind filled with dread. They were supposed to return in mid-July, and this sudden change filled her with unwelcome possibilities.

The official road was smoothly pressed with yellow earth, dampened beforehand to prevent dust from rising.

The oppressive heat brought little breeze, and the wilted wheat fields along the road stood still, with scarecrows perched on the ridges. Their eyes, painted with gray water, stared lifelessly at the most prestigious convoy as it passed, silently watching them disappear into the distance.

Entering the city through the Cheng'an Gate, the bustle of the marketplace gradually faded, and Jiang Hui's heart sank with it.

This wasn't the route back to the palace. This was Chengxian Street, where she grew up, home to only two families. On the left was the residence of the Grand Princess Chengping, and on the right, the Marquis of Ningyuan's mansion.

White banners hung at the Ningyuan Marquis' mansion, and the guards wore plain white arm bands. Supported by Qiukui and Wansong, Jiang Hui alighted from the carriage, her gaze shifting from the white banners to the Grand Princess Chengping's residence.

The plaque bestowed by Emperor Gaozong still hung high, flanked by red-painted palace lanterns inscribed with "Chengping."

Seeing the red, Jiang Hui's foggy consciousness cleared. She noticed the Emperor standing before her, his face etched with concern.

"Hui'er, come inside with me," Emperor Xiaosheng gently took Jiang Hui's hand, leading her into the princess's residence and towards the main courtyard.

Marquis Ningyuan hurried out with Jiang Yun and Lin Qingshu to greet them, but Grand Princess Chengping, who should have been waiting at the courtyard entrance, was nowhere to be seen.

Led by the Emperor into the main courtyard, Jiang Hui finally relaxed her tense grip. She composed herself, smiling as she crossed the high threshold to approach the Grand Princess, lying on a nanmu bed, and softly called out, "Mother."

The Grand Princess's complexion was not as rosy as usual but rather slightly pale. Hearing her daughter's voice, she smiled weakly, reaching out to hold Jiang Hui's hand, "Hui'er is here."

Sitting beside the bed, Jiang Hui answered in a choked voice, "Mother, can't you stay with your daughter a little longer?"

After a moment of silence, the Grand Princess blinked at Jiang Hui, gesturing her to come closer.

Leaning into her mother's embrace, Jiang Hui heard the Grand Princess's voice tinged with a smile, "Hui'er, I'm going to be reborn in your womb. In our next life, let's be mother and daughter again, and I'll still be a noble princess."

"Alright," Jiang Hui's tears rolled down onto Grand Princess Chengping's neck. She too smiled and said, "I'll let Mother be the most carefree little princess in the world."

Hearing this, the Grand Princess slowly stroked Jiang Hui's hair. She glanced at Year Ni, held in Jiang Yun's arms, then turned to the Emperor standing by the bed and raised her voice slightly, "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Xiaosheng stepped forward, his voice deep, "Aunt."

"Your Majesty... please take care of Hui'er," the Grand Princess looked directly into the Emperor's eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Aunt, rest assured, I will take good care of Hui'er and her children," Emperor Xiaosheng responded earnestly.

"Good," the Grand Princess murmured softly, then turned to look at Marquis Ningyuan and Jiang Yun.

Marquis Ningyuan stepped forward to hold his wife's hand, watching as she closed her once sharp and piercing beautiful eyes.

"Wanjun..." he called softly, receiving no response.

Seemingly frightened by the solemn atmosphere, Year Ni, who usually didn't cry, started wailing in his uncle's arms. Jiang Yun, with tearful eyes, gently patted Year Ni's back, unable to console him. Lin Qingshu hurriedly came forward to take Year Ni from her husband, humming a gentle, unknown tune to him.

Jiang Hui's attention was brought back by Year Ni's cries, and the smell of medicine in the room finally registered. She slowly lifted her head from her mother's embrace, looking at her mother's pale face with a faint smile, trying to stand up.

Emperor Xiaosheng supported her, but before Jiang Hui could stand up straight, she suddenly felt an added weight in his arms.

"Hui'er?!" Emperor Xiaosheng lifted Jiang Hui into his arms, urgently sending Sheng An to find the royal physician.

Marquis Ningyuan respectfully said, "Your Majesty, please take my daughter back to the palace. For the upcoming funeral, please don't let her attend."

*

When Jiang Hui woke up on the familiar nanmu bed in Yao Hua Palace, the taste of medicine still lingered in her mouth.

The Emperor, who had been watching by the bed, handed the medicine bowl to Sheng An as she woke up, asking softly, "Hui'er, how do you feel? Are you hungry?"

"Your Majesty..." Jiang Hui, lacking the strength to deal with the Emperor, called out softly and fell silent, staring at the magnolia embroidery on the brocade quilt.

"Hui'er, Grand Princess Chengping would also want you to take good care of yourself..."

Before Emperor Xiaosheng could finish, Jiang Hui embraced him, burying her face in his chest, softly saying, "I understand. Your Majesty, just for a moment, as I can't mourn Mother properly, let me grieve for a moment."

The slight pain in her lower abdomen constantly reminded her that she wasn't alone; she had Year Ni and another child within her, and she couldn't fall.

Feeling the wetness on his robe, Emperor Xiaosheng silently embraced Jiang Hui, offering silent comfort.

After a while, Jiang Hui lifted her head from his embrace, wiping her face in disarray. Her long, curled lashes still had fine tears as she forced a faint smile, "Your Majesty, please give me the medicine, I'll drink it myself."

The more she behaved like this, the more Emperor Xiaosheng cherished her. He stroked her hair and handed her the medicine bowl brought back by Sheng An.

Before finishing the bowl, An Jing quietly entered, addressing the Emperor, "Your Majesty, there's an urgent report from Jinzhou."

Emperor Xiaosheng's brow furrowed slightly, instructing Jiang Hui, "Hui'er, don't move these next few days. Rest in bed and let the palace maids serve you. I'll be back soon."

After seeing Jiang Hui nod, he stood up, leaving Yao Hua Palace swiftly with Sheng An and An Jing.

Wan Peng approached, propping a bolster behind Jiang Hui, and softly inquired, "Would you like something to eat, Mistress? The kitchen has prepared yam porridge."

Jiang Hui exhaled softly, handing the empty medicine bowl to Wan Peng. Suppressing the pain in her chest, she gently touched her belly and nodded, "Bring it."

Wan Peng's eyes lit up with joy, crisply acknowledging.

"Mistress, Liu Taiyi said you were too grief-stricken. When His Majesty brought you back to the palace, there were signs of bleeding. You must rest in bed quietly these days," Qiu Kui informed as she wiped Jiang Hui's face with a warm, wet cloth, relaying the physician's words.

"I'm fine," Jiang Hui murmured, then instructed Qiu Kui, "Ask Qing Feng to discreetly inquire about what happened in Jinzhou. Be subtle about it; better to remain uninformed than to expose ourselves."