Chapter 301: Prelude to Departure

The officials knelt on the ground, and eerie silence engulfed the vast Ningkun Palace.

Falling to his knees in a daze, Baili Junyi felt as if he was trapped in an igloo. A while ago, he was still immersed in the joy of the reunion with his mother, but in just a few months, his mother died in front of him.

Shen Ninghua held his hand to offer some comfort and support.

Baili Junyi held her hand back tightly, and his heart started to thump again as he felt the warmth pass from her hand to his. Yes, he still had Ninghua and their children. As a husband and a father, he could be emotionally fragile, but he definitely could not fall.

Shocked at first, Baili Qingcang regained his composure and ordered loudly,

“Take Old Lady Feng away and bury her. Junyi, take your mother back to Zhichun Palace. She will have the royal ceremonial funeral as a Noble Consort. We’ll grant her wish and bury her in my mausoleum so that she can settle accounts with me when I die.”

“Okay, Father Emperor.”

Baili Junyi stood up, bent down to carry Bu Yunqing up, and walked out of Ningkun Palace slowly.

Then, Baili Qingcang looked around, and he suddenly flared up as he glanced at the officials who were kneeling on the ground indignantly.

“Why aren’t you crying? Didn’t you come here today to mourn? Shouldn’t you cry since Madam Zhao was buried as Empress? Shouldn’t you cry since Noble Consort Xian passed away? Is it because you can’t cry? Do you want me to help you?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the shrill cries suddenly echoed across the vast hall. The officials began to shed tears, and the ladies of rank drenched their handkerchiefs with tears. Sorrow deluged the hall.

Upon seeing the sight, Baili Qingcang abruptly sneered, his expression full of unspeakable ridicule and sadness. Then, he turned around and strode out of Ningkun Palace.

The Crown Prince, Baili Jinyi, knelt on the ground with tears on his face, but his eyes were particularly cold and ruthless.

This was a dangerous move. If something had gone wrong, his reputation would have been tarnished, and his status as the Crown Prince would have been stripped. Fortunately, everything went on smoothly. Mother Empress died; the Zhao family was eradicated; Noble Consort Xian was poisoned, and Baili Junyi’s identity was exposed. He was already halfway toward his goal, and the remaining half would be much easier.

In Zhichun Palace, seeing Baili Junyi come back with Bu Yunqing, the servants stood rooted on the spot in shock, speculating what was going on.

Glancing at them, Shen Ninghua instructed, “Go to Internal Affairs Department to get Noble Concubine’s palace dress and jewelry. Prepare hot water. I will personally bathe Mother.”

The servants were dumbfounded when they heard the instruction. As Royal Prince Yi’s expression flashed across their mind, they gasped in utter bewilderment, “Noble Consort Xian died!”

Without needing Shen Ninghua to repeat herself twice, the servants scrambled away, doing as they were told.

Baili Junyi laid Bu Yunqing on the bed and carefully tidied up her skirt and hair accessories. “Ninghua, do you think it was worth it for Mother to do this for a list of names?”

Thinking of the conversation in Ningkun Palace earlier, Shen Ninghua was silent for a long while before replying, “She did not do this just for the list.”

“What was it then? Everything was fine, wasn’t it? She even told me a while ago that she wanted to watch Yongchen and Luoyao grow up. But why…” Baili Junyi gritted his teeth. The confusion and doubt in his heart almost made his chest explode.

“I don’t know why, and I don’t think Mother herself knew the reason too in the end. But it’s useless to pursue this now. Junyi, Mother was too tired. Now, Zhao Huiying is dead, the Zhao family has fallen, the Shen family is gone, and the Xiao family will soon perish too. She was tired, so it’s time for her to rest.”

She understood the pain of a person whose sole purpose of living was to get revenge. When these targets fell one by one, she lost the driven force to stay alive. Her heart and mind were void and empty.

Bu Yunqing lived such an exhaustive and bitter life. The hatred in her heart was too deep and too strong. Perhaps leaving in this way was the best choice for her…

Hearing this, Baili Junyi hugged Shen Ninghua. He hugged her so tightly as if he wanted to trap her inside him. “Ninghua, don’t leave me. Never leave me.”

Shen Ninghua patted his back with tears in her eyes. “I won’t. Yongchen and Luoyao won’t leave either. We’ll stay together forever. You have us!”

Just as Zhao Huiying’s funeral ended, Bu Yunqing’s funeral began.

The former was buried as an Empress, and the latter was buried as a Noble Consort. The officials and ladies of rank, who had just finished crying at Empress’s funeral, came to Zhichun Palace.

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua were kneeling in the hall in mourning clothes. The officials were kneeling on both sides, still crying, but their cries were much lower than the volume in Ningkun Palace. Their eyes were as swollen as walnuts, and some of their voices were hoarse.

It had only been two days, but Baili Qingcang looked a lot older. Standing at the door of Zhichun Palace, he was a little timid. Bu Yunqing’s voice from the other day inexplicably flashed across his mind.

“Tell me, do you have a heart?”

Did he have a heart?

Of course, he had! Baili Qingcang closed his eyes in sorrow.

Initially, he thought that his heart had already been tempered to the point of being indestructible, and nothing would injure it in the slightest. However, never did he expect that his heart would have moments of vulnerability and cowardice.

Chief eunuch stepped forward and reminded softly, “Your Majesty, please come in to offer incense to Noble Consort Xian.”

“Okay.” Baili Qingcang nodded and walked into Zhichun Palace.

The cries in the hall suddenly became much louder and clearer. Many of the ladies had already fainted either from crying or exhaustion.

Baili Junyi stood up, personally lit incense, and respectfully handed it to Baili Qingcang. “Father Emperor, please offer incense for Mother.”

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Baili Qingcang looked at him and patted his shoulder. “Junyi, take care of yourself.”

“I will, Father Emperor. Thank you for your concern,” Baili Junyi replied respectfully with a mixture of alienation.

Feeling a lump in his throat and a sharp pain in his heart, Baili Qingcang whispered, “You…”

Baili Junyi bent down and retreated, leaving the space for his father.

There was a flash of anger in Baili Qingcang’s eyes. In the end, he sighed softly. Baili Junyi must be blaming him for not stopping Bu Yunqing at that time…

After offering his incense, Baili Qingcang turned to Shen Ninghua. “There are many people here. You don’t have to stay up all night. Go back to the manor. You still have to look after your children.”

“I will. Thank you,” Shen Ninghua looked up and replied.

Baili Qingcang closed his eyes and walked out with his hands behind his back.

The burial would be on tomorrow. At night, after the officials and ladies left, there were only Baili Junyi, Shen Ninghua, and a group of servants in the huge Zhichun Palace.

Baili Junyi waved his hand to dismiss the servants. Then, he knelt on the floor and placed the folded paper ingots in the golden basin in front of the coffin. The red flames burned vigorously, and occasionally there was flying ash.

Traces of contradictions and struggles flashed across Baili Junyi’s face as he stared ahead with his profound eyes. “Ninghua, what do you think about leaving the capital?”

“Leave?” Shen Ninghua looked up with her bright eyes despite her tired face. “You don’t want to fight anymore?”

“No, I just take a step back.”

“You do know that sometimes, taking a step back will bring you to calamity.”

“It can also take me to a brighter future!” Baili Junyi turned his head to her. His eyes were especially serious, and flames were flickering in his eyes.

Shen Ninghua’s eyes glimmered. “Where do you want to retreat to?”

“It will depend on Father Emperor’s arrangements. Mother’s identity had been exposed at Madam Zhao’s funeral, so those officials who despised me should start to stir up trouble. At that time, the capital will definitely be turbulent. My current power is still too weak. If I can be stronger, if I have the confidence to eliminate the people in Qingtian Pavilion and Biyun Pavilion in one fell swoop, Mother…”

Baili Junyi spoke quickly and urgently, his words filled with deep regret and bitterness.

“Ninghua, I’m not afraid of these upcoming turbulence. Had I been on my own, I would have gone up against them head-on, but I can’t do it now. I don’t mind whatever happens to me, but I have you and our children. I can’t let you take risks. So, I choose to step back.”

Shen Ninghua looked at him seriously and suddenly laughed. “Alright! we’ve stirred up too much trouble in the capital. It’s time to give this arena to someone else to fight for a while.”

Touched, Baili Junyi held her hand and carefully wrapped it with his large palm. “But I feel sorry for you and our children to have to go through this.”

Shen Ninghua chuckled.

“I have lived a hard-knocked life for a long time, and our children are not as delicate and pampered as you think. Also, even if we leave the capital, we’ll be going to the land where you are assigned as a prince. When we’re there, we’ll naturally be the head of the land. We can enjoy the breathtaking scenery and secretly develop plots. It’s a win-win.”

Hearing this, Baili Junyi also laughed and secretly rejoiced in his heart. He was glad that he had pestered her relentlessly and had married her. If it weren’t for her, his life would have been completely different.

“Ninghua, thank you.”

Shen Ninghua raised her eyes, and her long and thick eyelashes fluttered. Like the most beautiful and delicate flower, she looked weak and fragile, but no matter how heavy the wind and rain were, she could still bloom.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

Baili Junyi pulled her into his arms, and the two of them pressed their foreheads against each other, their gazes intertwining and feeling each other’s breathing. “Ninghua, I love you.”

He had so much to say, but ultimately, he could only sum up all the joy and excitement in his heart into these three words. He was so lucky to have her as his wife, and he loved her dearly.

Shen Ninghua leaned against his shoulder, the smile on her face warm and satisfied.

In addition to Baili Junyi’s gratitude for marrying her, she thanked him for his persistence in pursuing her.

If she hadn’t fallen in love with him, she would have been like Bu Yunqing, treating revenge as the only motivation to live. Once she got her revenge and had her wish fulfilled, there would be no meaning for her to live. How sad would that kind of life be, the life that was filled with only hatred…

Now that she had a doting husband and two clever and adorable children, she was always thanking the heavens for their generosity.

The entire capital was immersed in a solemn atmosphere due to the back-to-back royal ceremonial funerals. Even the most lively streets were much quieter. However, under this calmness, the turbulent dark tide was already brewing. When it erupted, it would send another shockwave.

Nine days later, Baili Qingcang began his morning court session.

With a faint smile on her lips, Shen Ninghua personally helped Baili Junyi put on his court uniform. “Be careful.”

Baili Junyi chuckled, but his eyes were particularly deep. “Don’t worry. Before we leave, we have to leave a deep impression on the officials, right?”

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