Chapter 1623: Chapter 1623: Accused of Standing By and Doing Nothing
After the Emperor gave his orders, it was Lü who personally took action. Fortunately, all the noblewon attending the banquet had already left; otherwise, they would surely have been terrified by the scene.
Yu Minmin didn’t bleed at all, but the pain from having her joints dislocated made her scream miserably. In the end, her voice turned hoarse, and she couldn’t move, lying on the ground twitching like a dying fish, unable to move.
Even Bai Ruozhu, who was used to storms, felt uneasy at this mont, yet she did not sympathize with Yu Minmin. She had killed innocents under the guise of revenge, and now she suffered the consequences she deserved.
How many people had she injured before? She even directly assassinated the Empress. Although Bai Ruozhu was not close to the Empress, she did not want to see the Empress die like this; after all, it was a living life.
Yu Minmin was in so much pain that she was convulsing all over, yet she struggled to say: “Father, Mother, I am useless, unable to avenge you. Wait for ; I will join you soon.”
Considering that the Forr Emperor had passed away six years ago, how could revenge be taken when the person was dead? Why fixate on his descendants? Yu Minmin was truly morbid.
The Emperor glanced at her indifferently, “Take her away and keep a good watch on her; don’t let her die like that.”
“Yes.” Lü complied and gestured, and soone imdiately dragged Yu Minmin away. She was already limp like mud, and being dragged caused her even more pain, and she continued to scream miserably.
The Emperor looked at the Empress’s corpse with a very grave face; regardless of love, she was still his wife, and all these years, she hadn’t done anything to wrong him. Even today’s assassination was partly his fault for dragging her into it.
If the Empress hadn’t stood between him and Yu Minmin, if Yu Minmin hadn’t stabbed the Empress first, he might have been severely injured if not dead.
His life was, in so ways, saved by her.
“Order a proper burial for the Empress.” When saying this, Tang Yin’s voice was sowhat hoarse.
In the following two days, Bai Ruozhu and all who attended the banquet stayed in the Palace, but her treatnt was relatively special, staying in a guest room arranged by the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace.
Jiang Yichun was extrely busy these two days, cooperating with the Shadow Guard to capture several spies who had previously impersonated the Chengshui mission in the City. But these were just small fishes who knew even less than Yu Minmin did. Ultimately, the Emperor decreed that they be beheaded publicly at the Vegetable Market to intimidate those lurking in the shadows.
On the day of the execution, it was said many civilians gathered to watch. Because these spies killed the Empress of Danliang Country, the people were extrely furious, and before the beheading, they were already disfigured by stones and rotten vegetable cores thrown by the crowd.
Bai Ruozhu learned about this later, while she stayed in the Palace, preparing to mourn the Empress.
The Empress’s death made the Palace exceptionally oppressive; the Harem couldn’t be left unmanaged, so for the ti being, Concubine Song Yijun was appointed to handle various matters.
Bai Ruozhu rarely saw this Concubine Song; she was brought into the Palace as a Lady when the Emperor was still a Crown Prince, chosen by the Forr Emperor, making her quite senior in the Harem.
However, Song Concubine’s family had declined over the years, and she wasn’t fond of managing affairs, staying very low-key in the Palace.
The Emperor probably didn’t want guesses about who might be the next Empress nor wanted conflicts between the Harem and the court at this ti, so choosing Concubine Song was perfect.
With the Empress’s grand funeral, fifth-rank officials and noblewon had to enter the Palace for the ceremony. Coincidentally, those who attended the palace banquet were already in the Palace, making it convenient. After all the ceremonies, Bai Ruozhu was sore all over, having to kneel too many tis.
After the ceremony, the Empress was buried in the Imperial Mausoleum; according to custom, everyone had to cry loudly. Listening to the wailing around her, Bai Ruozhu had to pretend to cry a few tis, though deep down she was genuinely unsettled over the Empress’s sudden death.
It was a sha she couldn’t save the Empress.
While she lanted this, suddenly a sharp voice rang out, “Why are you pretending to cry? If it weren’t for you not saving the Empress, she wouldn’t have died! You claim to be a Divine Doctor, yet you couldn’t save the Empress—just seeking fa, or why couldn’t you save her? You can save others but just watched as the Empress died; what’s your true intent?”
Bai Ruozhu looked toward the sound and saw it was a woman crying out, probably in her twenties, with an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows, looking quite dignified, not the type who seed particularly harsh.
“Or perhaps you are in cahoots with others, trying to help them ascend, so you let her die?” The woman cried again.
Previously, the Empress Dowager was worried Bai Ruozhu wasn’t familiar with funeral customs, specially instructing Hao Mu to follow her and remind her when necessary, which was revealed to be useful now.
“Lady Bai, this woman is the Empress’s sister-in-law from her family, always having a good relationship with the Empress.” Hao Mu reminded softly.
If it were soone else trying to find fault, Bai Ruozhu would have retorted directly. However, mbers of the Empress’s family were most heartbroken now, and she couldn’t clash with them; after all, the deceased had just been buried, and it wouldn’t look good to cause a scene.
She bowed slightly, “Madam, you’ve misunderstood; when I rushed to treat her, the Empress already had no pulse.”
“Stop making excuses; you deliberately wasted ti. If you had saved the Empress earlier, she wouldn’t be gone now. She was so young, clearly having many years yet to enjoy,” Lady Han said, sobbing, “She clearly disliked learning the rules, but to marry the Emperor, she painstakingly learned so many things. Yet she is gone now; were all those years of hardship in vain? Why did heaven treat her so unfairly?”
Bai Ruozhu didn’t know what to say; perhaps Lady Han wasn’t targeting her specifically, just too sad and finding soone to vent.
The people beside silently avoided as well; no one wanted to cause trouble for themselves now.
At this mont, a graceful figure ca over quickly, wearing a hemp coat indicating she was from the Empress’s family.
“It’s the Empress’s sister, Han Weiwei,” Hao Mu whispered.
Han Weiwei’s face still had tear tracks, and her almond eyes were swollen from crying. She quickly went over and hugged Lady Han, saying in a choked voice, “Sister-in-law, I know you’re heartbroken; it’s hard for too, now that sister is gone. But don’t bla anyone for this matter; I believe sister wouldn’t want to see you like this. Let her leave quietly.”
Lady Han started to cry again but said no more, nor did she give Bai Ruozhu another glance.
Han Weiwei gently patted Lady Han’s back, comforting her, as if she were the sister-in-law instead. Her facial lines were soft, and though there was sorrow in her eyes, her expression was very gentle, making others feel at ease just seeing her.
Soon, Lady Han was supported as she left, and she looked at Bai Ruozhu before she went, nodding towards her apologetically.
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