Chapter 185: The Birth of a Daughter.

Chapter 185: The Birth of a Daughter.

The bloodshed during the eighteenth year of the Celestial Reign far surpassed that of the twenty-sixth year of Jingyuan, when the late emperor passed away and Prince Duan staged his rebellion.

The blood of the imperial clan and nobility painted the streets red in the capital.

When the news reached the residence of the grand princess, Grand Princess Ningxin, who was already gravely ill, could no longer endure.

Clutching Xu Shidu’s hand, she whispered weakly, "Take me to the palace. I must see the Empress Dowager one last time."

"Mother, but your health—"

"I know my own body. I’m merely lingering. A few days sooner or later make no difference. Would you deny me peace in death?"

Her words were heavy, but Xu Shidu could not bear to see Grand Princess Ningxin enter the palace in such a state.

Clenching her jaw, Xu Shidu turned to her elder brother. "Stay here with Mother. I will go to the palace and plead with the Empress Dowager."

Huo Ling had initially planned to refuse all visitors at this time, but upon learning that Grand Princess Ningxin was nearing her end, she fell silent for a moment before saying to Wu Mo, "Invite Princess Jiale in."

As soon as Xu Shidu entered, she knelt before Huo Ling. "I know my request is presumptuous and places Your Majesty in a difficult position, but I beg you, for the sake of our years of friendship, to grant my mother her final wish."

Huo Ling turned to Wu Mo. "Send for the Empress and have her accompany me to the grand princess’s residence."

Grand Princess Ningxin’s strength faded further. She had only just awakened from unconsciousness before drifting off again. It was not until she was roused by those around her that she realized the Empress Dowager and the Empress had arrived.

Ning Xin allowed Xu Shidu to help her sit up. "...Bring me the ginseng soup prepared in the kitchen."

Then she addressed Huo Ling. "Forgive the delay."

Huo Ling gently nudged Lu Zuo. "Go and speak with your grandmother." She then moved away.

"Your Majesty," a palace attendant approached Huo Ling quietly, without disturbing anyone. "We have thoroughly investigated. There are no issues at the grand princess’s residence. Our people have assumed full control of the estate."

Huo Ling raised her hand slightly, and the attendant withdrew as silently as she had come.

Shortly after, the kitchen delivered a bowl of lukewarm ginseng soup.

The decoction, brewed from a whole hundred-year-old ginseng root, was remarkably potent. As soon as Ning Xin drank it, color returned to her cheeks, and she perked up.

She coughed twice, allowing Lu Zuo to wipe her lips with a handkerchief, before speaking. "All of you, leave me. I have matters to discuss privately with the Empress Dowager."

The household of Grand Princess Ningxin obeyed and withdrew, but the palace attendants and guards who had accompanied Huo Ling remained unmoving.

Huo Ling said, "These are my closest aides. There is no need for them to leave."

Ning Xin was taken aback, then smiled faintly, realizing the Empress Dowager did not trust her.

Regarding the incident at the ancestral temple, she could not claim complete ignorance. It was only because she was at death’s door and her relatives were uninvolved that the Empress Dowager had not yet punished her.

Huo Ling then said to Lu Zuo, "A Zuo, go with your mother and step outside."

Only after all others had left and the room was quiet again did Ning Xin let out a soft sigh. "In this life, I have known glory like this, so I have no regrets. My only worry is for those who come after me."

Huo Ling understood Ning Xin sought a promise from her.

Setting aside her bond with Xu Shidu, in the years following the late emperor’s death, when she and the young emperor struggled to establish themselves at court, Grand Princess Ningxin had lent her considerable support as a representative of the imperial clan.

"Rest assured, my sister. Your lineage, as well as that of Leping, shall remain in prosperity and honor."

Whether it was to put up a virtuous front, to honor past affections, or to deem them utterly unthreatening, Ning Xin could see that the Empress Dowager truly had no intention of wiping out the bloodline of the deceased emperor.

But as for the other imperial clansmen...

All members of the Ji clan involved in the armed protest at the Ancestral Temple were swiftly and severely punished, with the lightest sentence being execution and the harshest being the execution of entire households.

Even those clansmen not residing in the capital were implicated—some stripped of their official posts, others summoned to the capital to plead their cases.

Imperial power has always been forged in blood and cruelty.

The path to the Empress Dowager's throne was paved with the bones of the Ji clan's imperial kin.

"There is still one doubt in my heart. I refrained from asking Your Majesty before, not wishing to cause you distress. But now, I do not wish to depart this world with these unanswered questions. I beg Your Majesty to grant me clarity."

Grand Princess Ningxin said, "How did my imperial brother truly die?"

"The poison was prepared by the Duke of Liu's household, the scheme was offered by the Princess Consort of Duan, and the palace insiders were provided by Prince Duan."

"And what of Prince Duan?" Grand Princess Ningxin lifted her gaze, a flash of her old sharpness returning. "How did Prince Duan die?"

Huo Ling lowered her eyes slightly, looking at Ning Xin, who had wasted away from years of illness to a mere shadow. "Have you forgotten, Imperial Sister?

When Prince Duan escorted the children through the secret passage to flee the capital, the imperial guards discovered their trail. In the end, he died cut down in a hail of swords."

Ning Xin did not know whether to believe it or not. She merely said, "Enough. I never had much affection for this younger brother. Shortly after his birth, I left the palace and moved to my princess estate. Moreover, he took part in the murder of our imperial brother—his crime is unforgivable."

After a moment of silence, Ning Xin spoke again. "Dare I ask, Your Majesty, how will you face the late emperor in the afterlife?"

"On his deathbed, the late emperor entrusted me with his final wishes. I have not failed him. When we meet in the afterlife, it will be with joy."

"What a fine joyous reunion indeed." Ning Xin closed her eyes and sighed softly. "When I reach the afterlife and see my imperial brother, I shall relay Your Majesty's words to him."

Huo Ling waited briefly. Seeing that Ning Xin had nothing more to say, she left with her entourage of palace maids and guards.

Xu Shidu, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately rushed into the room. Moments later, the sound of uncontrolled sobbing echoed from within.

Huo Ling listened to the weeping behind her but did not pause her steps as she left the Grand Princess's estate.

Before her death, Grand Princess Ningxin issued final instructions: all descendants of her line, whether of her sons' or grandsons' generation—except those already married—were to mourn for three full years for her, not a single day less.

***

This was the last thing Grand Princess Ningxin could do for her descendants.

Even though the Empress Dowager had given her assurances, she couldn't take that chance—wouldn't risk it.

News from the capital spread with astonishing speed. Even Song Xu, who had only recently arrived in Qiangzhou, got word right away.

He dropped his official work at once and submitted six petitions in succession, requesting permission to return to the capital to attend to personal matters.

Huo Ling rejected the first five, but seeing his persistence, she finally gave in to his request.

"You shouldn't have come back."

When Song Xu, dusty and exhausted from travel, returned to the capital, he was met with Ding Jinghuan's icy expression and a torrent of cutting remarks.

Song Xu replied, "His Majesty is a child I watched grow up, one who calls me his teacher. How could I play dumb and look the other way?"

Ding Jinghuan retorted, "He is also a child I watched grow up, one who calls me his teacher. What—are you trying to shame me?"

Song Xu sighed, "I didn't mean that, nor did I have such thoughts. I’ve been away from the capital for less than three months—how did things escalate to this irreparable point?"

Not just Song Xu, even Ding Jinghuan couldn’t fathom why the Empress Dowager had chosen to launch the crackdown on the Ji clan ahead of schedule.

But in the face of an inevitable outcome, the reasons no longer mattered.

Without even taking time to rest, Song Xu immediately sought an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Huo Ling refused to see him, sent him instead to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to meet Ji Xianshan.

When teacher and student met again, his heart ached seeing how much thinner and more haggard Ji Xianshan looked compared to their last encounter.

And the first words Ji Xianshan spoke upon seeing Song Xu were the same as Ding Jinghuan had said.

"Teacher Song, you shouldn’t have come back."

Song Xu was close to tears. He sighed repeatedly; though usually eloquent, he found himself completely speechless—unsure of what to say or what could even be said.

"Your Majesty should take better care of your health," Song Xu said, patting Ji Xianshan’s frail shoulder. "No matter what, your own well-being is what matters most."

Ji Xianshan smiled faintly. "Actually, it’s not so bad. I’ve been struggling with this summer's heat lately and have little appetite. Once the weather cools, my appetite should return."

Song Xu didn’t want to dwell on dark thoughts. He had rushed back to the capital precisely because he feared Ji Xianshan might despair. The descent from ruler to prisoner, confined in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, was far too great.

"Since I came in such a hurry, I haven’t eaten yet. May I join you for a meal?"

"Of course," Ji Xianshan replied readily. "It's nearly lunchtime. Let me have someone assist you first for washing up."

Song Xu went to a side chamber to wash up briefly. By the time he returned to the main hall, the meal had already been served.

He noted that the dishes were just like those he had eaten in the Hall of Supreme Harmony before, indicating that Ji Xianshan’s daily necessities remained unchanged.

After the meal, Ji Xianshan even showed Song Xu some of his recent paintings.

"Staying in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and focusing on practicing my painting, I’ve actually improved over these past days."

As Song Xu admired the artwork, Ji Xianshan asked about his experiences in Qiangzhou. Song Xu selected some of the more amusing stories to tell him.

The two talked until it was nearly time for the palace gates to close. Ji Xianshan said, "Teacher Song, you should leave the palace now."

"Alright," Song Xu replied. "Then I’ll return tomorrow."

Ji Xianshan smiled slightly and asked how long he planned to stay in the capital.

Song Xu said, "Ten days."

Ji Xianshan remarked, "There’s much work awaiting you in Qiangzhou. Ten days is too long—three should be enough."

Song Xu replied, "Since the trip back was difficult, I’d like to stay a little longer."

Ji Xianshan conceded, "Very well. Let me see you off."

He escorted Song Xu all the way to the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony before stopping, watching from the doorway as Song Xu departed.

By year’s end, Lu Zuo, after nine months of pregnancy, safely delivered a daughter.

She gave the child a nickname: Yuanyuan.

Living up to her name, Yuanyuan had a round little face, looking both adorable and fortunate.

The arrival of this child brought a lively and joyous atmosphere to the long-silent palace.

Even Ji Xianshan, when he saw the child, his face would soften into a smile.

Lu Zuo, noticing his fondness for the baby, often brought the child to keep him company.

However, after a few visits, Ji Xianshan advised her against it: "The child is still too young to be out in the cold for long periods. There's no need to carry her here so often."

Lu Zuo replied, "We always take a sedan chair when coming here—there's no risk of drafts. I bundle her up tightly."

Ji Xianshan stroked Yuanyuan's round little face and asked Lu Zuo, "Has the Empress Dowager given Yuanyuan a proper name yet?"

"Not yet," Lu Zuo answered tentatively. "Do you have any thoughts?"

Ji Xianshan smiled. "While the elders are here, it's best for them to name Yuanyuan—it’s more auspicious."

After a pause, he chose to speak more plainly: "A mother’s bond with her child comes naturally. You should stay close to her, but there's no need for her to get close to me. If you have free time, take her to the Empress Dowager more often. She will dote on her."

In truth, if Lu Zuo could stand it, raising the child under the Empress Dowager's care would be ideal.

But in the end, Ji Xianshan said nothing more. He already owed her too much and couldn't bring himself to suggest such a thing so soon after her childbirth.

Lu Zuo also had no intention of taking the child from her.

The child was still young—even if she needed guidance later, there was no rush.

She had too much on her plate and lacked the energy to care for such a small child.

Moreover—

She no longer had the heart to invest all her love into raising a child from infancy again, attending to every little detail.

As things were now, with Lu Zuo bringing the child daily to pay respects and gradually fostering affection—without requiring her to oversee every minor concern—suited her just fine.