mesbooks Chapter 200 The Empress Dowager's Death
Chapter 200 The Empress Dowager's Death
Su Nuannuan never expected that her peach blossom wine would not be successfully brewed.
Just as they were happily picking peach blossoms and returning home, before they even had a chance to catch their breath or sit down for a moment, a servant from the Empress's side rushed over with a shocking message: The Empress Dowager is in trouble!
Upon hearing this news, Su Nuannuan's heart tightened. She dared not delay for a moment and hurriedly instructed Granny Jin and Granny Ru to quickly change the children's clothes. She herself also took off her original gorgeous and complicated clothes and changed into a simple yet elegant horse-face skirt suit. She removed the exquisite headdresses from her head and replaced them with a few simple yet unique hairpins.
After everything was settled, Su Nuannuan, with her two children, rode in a sedan chair towards Cining Palace. Along the way, she was extremely anxious, silently praying that the Empress Dowager would be safe and sound.
Finally arriving at Cixi Palace, before even stepping through the palace gates, Su Nuannuan could see a courtyard full of concubines anxiously waiting there. Some were whispering amongst themselves, while others looked solemn and worried, creating an unusually tense and oppressive atmosphere.
Upon seeing Su Nuannuan arrive, Li Desheng quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has instructed that you may enter directly upon your arrival. The Empress Dowager is waiting!"
Upon hearing these words, Su Nuannuan's heart sank as if struck by a boulder, and she instantly panicked. Without a second thought, she hurriedly grabbed her two young children and rushed toward the Empress Dowager's palace.
Seeing this, Granny Jin and Granny Ru also looked anxious and followed closely behind Su Nuannuan. Along the way, their footsteps echoed in the quiet palace corridors, sounding particularly hurried and heavy.
Finally arriving at the Empress Dowager's palace, Su Nuannuan took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door to go inside. Before she could even pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress sitting on the bed, she heard the Emperor's deep voice: "No need for formalities, the Empress Dowager has something to say to you."
Su Nuannuan hurried forward, walked to the Empress Dowager's bedside, leaned slightly forward, and softly called out, "Empress Dowager, I am Consort Zhuang."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager, whose eyes had been tightly closed and face pale, slowly opened them. Her weak gaze fell on Su Nuannuan, her lips trembling as she spoke in an extremely feeble voice, "I have discussed this with the Emperor, and it has been decided that you will take the children to the Imperial Mausoleum to guard it for me for ten years... The Emperor has already agreed to this. During these ten years, you and your children are not allowed to return to the palace. Please do not blame me for being heartless..."
Su Nuannuan naturally understood that the Empress Dowager's words were actually addressed to the Emperor, since she had already discussed the matter of guarding the tomb with the Empress Dowager beforehand. Therefore, Su Nuannuan did not take the Empress Dowager's so-called ruthless words to heart.
She raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and choked out, "Your Majesty, it is my and my two children's greatest blessing that I can guard your tomb. How could I possibly blame you?" As she spoke, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but burst into tears, the crystal tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the brocade quilt.
As for how the Empress Dowager successfully persuaded the Emperor, Su Nuannuan knew nothing about it and had no intention of investigating the reasons.
However, to her utter surprise, the Empress Dowager succumbed to the strain so quickly. Even though the poison had been neutralized, why was there such a strong backlash? This question hung over Su Nuannuan's mind like a dark cloud.
In reality, Su Nuannuan had no idea that it was precisely because the poison was neutralized so thoroughly and cleanly that the Empress Dowager's organs lost the ability to counteract and suppress the toxins, causing them to rapidly fail.
So, three days after the Empress Dowager passed away, Su Nuannuan, along with her two children and close palace servants, joined the grand and impressive funeral procession and slowly made her way towards the imperial mausoleum.
After the Empress Dowager was properly buried in the imperial mausoleum, the Emperor and Empress, along with Su Nuannuan and her entourage, visited the estate that the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon Su Nuannuan before her death. They rested there for the night before the Emperor led his ministers back to the palace.
After the Emperor and Empress left, Su Nuannuan immediately turned to Li Quan beside her and gave the order: "Li Quan, gather everyone in the manor in the courtyard."
Upon hearing this, Li Quan dared not delay in the slightest. He quickly responded and went out of the room to gather everyone on the estate.
Su Nuannuan spoke again, her gaze gentle as she looked at Granny Song beside her, and said softly, "Granny Song, from now on, you will be the head nanny in charge of all affairs on this estate. I hope that Granny Song will be of great assistance to me in the future."
"Your Highness, please rest assured, this old servant will do everything in my power to assist you," said Granny Song respectfully, bowing deeply to Su Nuannuan.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly in agreement, then turned her gaze to Jinse, Yaoqin, Tingxue, and Zhixiang standing to the side, and softly instructed them: "Jinse, Yaoqin, Tingxue, and Zhixiang, if you encounter any difficult matters in the future, you may discuss them with Granny Song. If even Granny Song cannot make a decision, then come to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty's teachings will be followed." The four answered in unison, their voices clear and loud.
Not long after, Li Quan hurriedly walked in and reported to Su Nuannuan, "Your Majesty, all the people I summoned have arrived."
Hearing this, Su Nuannuan softly responded with an "Mmm," then slowly stood up and gracefully walked towards the courtyard. When she reached the center of the courtyard, she immediately saw a group of people neatly lined up there.
Su Nuannuan calmly sat down on the chair that had been prepared for her, her expression cold and stern. Her beautiful eyes, like cold stars, swept over the people before her, and she spoke in a clear, icy voice: "As you all surely know, I have come here on the Emperor's orders to guard the Imperial Mausoleum for the Empress Dowager for a period of ten years. However, this does not mean that I have fallen out of favor with the Emperor, nor am I someone to be bullied."
My rank remains noble, my title has not been stripped, and I have the powerful Zhenguo Duke's Mansion and the Ding'an Marquis's Mansion backing me. Therefore, I advise you to abandon your inappropriate thoughts and not harbor any illusions. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless and making an example of you to deter others!