Chapter 367 – A Smile Through Tears

Chapter 367 - A Smile Through Tears

"I will confer posthumous titles, but there's no need for an adopted heir. No matter how heinous your crimes, you did give birth to him. Thus, after your death, I will restore your title as Concubine Jin De. Your funeral will be conducted according to the rank of a Jin De Concubine. As you mentioned, you've been by my side for many years, so I'll grant you this chance."

Zhang ZhaoYuan was momentarily stunned. "This concubine... humbly thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

"Since that's settled, choose your own way to go. There's no need for me to order your execution. Let's just say it was due to illness. It would minimize the bloodshed. Fewer people in your Zhao Hua Palace will have to die," said He Jin Li, and with that, he left.

Zhang ZhaoYuan remained kneeling behind, her face a mix of tears and laughter.

After a long while, Lan Zhi helped her up.

She smiled at Lan Zhi. "I've implicated all of you."

Lan Zhi smiled back. "This servant... had also thought of this day. Following you means either fame or death. I've made arrangements for the servants at home. Now that it has come to this, there's nothing more to be said. I'll follow you wherever you go."

Zhang ZhaoYuan held her hand, unable to speak.

If she were to die, those closest to her would inevitably meet the same fate.

Still, it was better than being granted death; if that were the case, many more lives would be lost in this very palace.

"Did you hear that? He said that the Concubine Xian tells him everything. Did you hear that? He actually said such words. He claims that Concubine Xian never lies to him, that she only has affection for him. Hahaha, did you hear that?" Princess Zhang laughed until tears streamed down her face.

"Yes, Your Majesty... he is, after all, a man." Lan Zhi smiled, but her smile was tinged with bitterness.

Concubine Xian was indeed incredibly cunning; perhaps she had immersed herself in this role for far too long over the years.

She was so patient, willing to spend over a decade convincing the Emperor of just one thing.

And that one thing surpassed a thousand others.

Be it the loyalty that had been cultivated since the days in the Eastern Palace or the newly arrived beauties in the harem, who could compete against a deeply loving and devoted Concubine Xian?

She was beautiful, bold, and dared to strike or kill in front of the Emperor while declaring, "I never lie to you. I have only genuine feelings for you."

She even bore the Ninth Prince...

Lan Zhi also laughed through her tears. "Empress, we... we still lost."

"Oh dear..." Zhang Zhaojun wiped away her tears. "Yes, we've lost. Now, no one can match her. Even if there are more beautiful women in the harem in the future, His Majesty is no longer young. But I never expected that so many people would be fond of His Majesty, yet he himself could be deceived so easily."

"Oh... well, not exactly easy, either. It's been so many years. One can only say that Concubine Xian is too cunning, and we couldn't see through her." Zhang Zhaojun shook her head. "Back then, I thought she was reckless and lacked intelligence, relying solely on her looks to cause trouble. Now, however..."

She let out a long sigh. "Forget it. Trapped here, what can you or I do? What does anything that comes next have to do with me?"

By now, she understood that she had lost the moment her son passed away.

-----

News of Zhang Zhaojun's passing reached them the following day.

It was said publicly that she had succumbed to a sudden illness.

But only those who prepared her body for burial knew the truth: she had hanged herself.

A concubine taking her own life was a grave offense, but if the emperor had tacitly approved it, then it mattered little.

The Zhang family had already suffered enough that they had nothing left to fear. The Marquis of Maochang was now on his last breath; he had always been frail, and after a series of blows, he could barely cling on for a few more days.

Upon his passing without an heir, the title was left unclaimed.

The Zhang family's glory, barely blossomed, was now on the brink of decline.

His Majesty posthumously bestowed the title of Concubine Jinde to Lady Zhang, honoring her with a funeral equivalent to that of a First Rank Concubine.

The late Crown Prince was also retroactively named as Prince Cheng Qin.

True to expectations, on the very night when Concubine Jinde's coffin was laid in the imperial concubine mausoleum, Marquis Maochang passed away.

Come the next morning, people could only utter a sigh upon hearing the news.

This Marquis Maochang, perhaps due to his frail health, had remained untainted, not involved in any intrigues.

It was unfortunate, but as a member of the Zhang family, he elicited little sympathy.

In the Zhao Hua Palace, Orchid Pearl and Orchid Blossom, who had served Concubine Jinde, both hanged themselves, choosing to attend to her even in death.

Xiang Ming, on the other hand, met his end by strangulation.

By now, those who were privy to the situation were dispatched to menial tasks, while the ignorant ones were kept for reassignment.

In this grand palace, with the tree fallen, the monkeys scattered, each pursuing their own paths.

Where there is death, there is also birth.

In October, it was revealed that Concubine Jiang was three months pregnant.

She was one of those who had accompanied the Emperor on his journey, so her pregnancy was not entirely unexpected.

The Empress, upon checking the list of consorts assigned for the night, found it consistent.

Concubine Jiang and Concubine Feng resided in the Pavilion of Hundred Flowers, a rather pleasant location.

Situated right behind the Empress's Phoenix Palace, it was adjacent to the Imperial Garden.

At this time, due to her pregnancy-induced nausea, Concubine Jiang was unable to rise. The Empress still made an effort to visit her personally.

However, the Empress's visit was merely a formality. Despite her longing to raise another healthy prince, she knew that the Emperor would not grant her that chance.

With Empress Jingde recently deceased, it's unlikely that anyone in the harem would dare to plot against her.

It's quite opportune for Lady Jiang to be pregnant at this moment.

There have been fewer births in recent years, so if she can deliver safely, her rank in the future will not be low.

In Jade Channel Palace, Zhuanghuai reported the situation of the past few days: "Many in the palace are speculating about Empress Jingde's passing. But no one dares to say anything overly bold. Most are just guessing at her offenses."

Some matters, when spoken aloud, would sound unpleasant, hence He Jinli didn't disclose too much.

Perhaps it was also for the sake of the two princes' reputations – the late Crown Prince and the current Second Prince.

But with this incident, the Second Prince's prospects have been utterly severed.

Now, it's likely that He Jinli finds the Third Prince more favorable than him.

The Third Prince was still young when he acted out, but the Second Prince is now married – it's an entirely different situation.

"Yesterday, the Marquis of Chang'an held a wedding ceremony. Zhang Zizhi got married. It's said that he submitted a memorial early on, requesting the Emperor's permission for Zhang Yung and Zhang Tong to remain at home. However, I've heard that the Marquis of Chang'an's lady is currently seeking a match for Zhang Tong."

"Oh? I'm afraid no one in the capital would dare to marry her," Yun Li said.

"Indeed. That's why she mentioned places far away, preferably as distant as possible. Although Zhang Tong is still young, sending her away for a couple of years could be an option. But with all the trouble she's caused and her fate, it will be years before anyone in the capital dares to marry her," Zhuhuan commented.

Yun Li nodded, not saying anything further.

After the matter was settled, Zhuhuan took her leave first.

Assuming that was the end of it, no one expected that a few days later, the Empress Dowager summoned the Fifth Prince.

However, unbeknownst to others, their meeting was about to turn sour.

Let's rewind a bit.

In the Cining Palace, after the Empress Dowager had expressed her concern for the Fifth Prince's exhaustion from his journey, the conversation shifted to Mingzhu.

"The child must have been foolish to get involved in such matters. Now that things have escalated like this, it worries me greatly. You two have always been close, and I am aware of your actions in the past. However, considering your young age, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to be too close. It might lead to mistakes."