Song Zhao's heart was as if it had been fiercely hit by something,
shattering the mist lingering in her heart. Many things suddenly became clear.
Outside the room, the singing did not abate in the slightest,
Song Zhao moved closer to the Empress Dowager and whispered softly:
"The Fourth Master was originally the Former Emperor's choice for Crown Prince. At that time, the Former Emperor's eldest son had passed away already. Although Prince Qi was the second son, he was the Former Emperor's adopted son, and had no chance to inherit the throne.
As such, The Emperor was the third son, and the Empress Dowager had already become the Former Emperor's second wife. Your Fourth Master was the Former Emperor's rightful son. The Former Emperor valued legitimacy greatly. If not for the Fourth Master contracting a chronic illness later, the one listening to political affairs in court today would have been..."
Song Zhao left her words hanging there,
seeing that the light in the Empress Dowager's eyes was gradually dimming, her expression also turned somewhat sorrowful,
"The Emperor and Jing Xuan were both raised by me since young. When they were fourteen and moved out of the palace into their own mansions, although I could not see them often, they would still frequently visit me together. Like close brothers, they got along very harmoniously.
Later, somehow Jing Xuan contracted smallpox. Groups of imperial physicians constantly went to treat him while I anxiously waited in the palace. Fortunately, The Emperor was very attentive in caring for Jing Xuan while living outside the palace then. He looked after Jing Xuan daily, working tirelessly day and night, doing everything an elder brother should do."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, her tone paused abruptly, her words taking a sharp turn:
"Yet under his attentive care, Jing Xuan... passed away."
Song Zhao was shocked for a moment, "Could the Empress Dowager suspect that the Emperor..."
The Empress Dowager said nothing, just looking at Song Zhao calmly,
Many matters were conveyed without a word.
Song Zhao knew that the Empress Dowager must have discovered ironclad evidence, which was why she said those words.
But since the Empress Dowager did not elaborate, Song Zhao also could not probe further.
After a brief silence in the hall, Song Zhao heard the Empress Dowager sigh again:
"After Jing Xuan died, Prince Rui successively quelled two rebellions, gaining the Former Emperor's high regard. On the contrary, the Emperor caused trouble with the salt administration, earning himself a rebuke from the Former Emperor. Then later when the Former Emperor passed suddenly, all civil and military officials followed his final edict to install the third imperial son as the new emperor. Back then, many veteran officials also directly questioned why the Former Emperor made this arrangement."
The Empress Dowager paused, then suddenly gave a cold laugh, "But now, one emperor and one batch of officials, I'm afraid those veteran officials who once doubted the Former Emperor's final edict have all been thoroughly eliminated by the Emperor."
Her implication was that regarding Xiao Jingheng inheriting the throne, the Empress Dowager had never harbored any doubts from beginning to end,
or at least never revealed any doubts in front of Xiao Jingheng. That was why she could have today's peaceful ending to her life.
Otherwise, she would have likely long met the same fate as Prince Rui's mother, Princess Dowage Yu, and have been secretly disposed of by Xiao Jingheng.
"You must harbor hatred too?" The Empress Dowager asked.
Song Zhao was lost in thought for a moment, "What?"
"Towards the Emperor." The Empress Dowager's voice grew fainter and fainter, "Your Chengyu mysteriously disappeared, I really cannot think of anyone besides the Emperor who would have the towering ability to do this. I guess you must also know something, which is why you've been at odds with the Emperor all this while?"
Song Zhao silently nodded her head, and the Empress Dowager continued: "I don't know what he is trying to do. He's no longer the Jingheng I once knew, who grew up by my side, served me diligently, and called me Mother. He has long gone insane..."
Exhausted, the Empress Dowager's grip on Song Zhao's hand also gradually weakened,
but her tone remained solemn,
"For the rest of your life, you won't be able to leave these palace walls. Let me ask you, do you want to grow old together with a madman, or utilize him to gradually obtain what you desire?"
Without a moment's consideration, Song Zhao grasped the Empress Dowager's hand tightly and declared decisively:
"This servant will not fail to meet the Empress Dowager's expectations."
"Good, good." The Empress Dowager smiled in relief, tears in her eyes, "Take good care of yourself in future. Although I made use of you, the friendship between me and your mother, as well as my fondness for you, were genuine."
The Empress Dowager laid flat on the couch, her penetrating eyes that had seen through the mortal world were fixed tightly on the painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix on the ceiling.
The colorful phoenix spread its wings high, its plumes majestic,
yet having exhausted its entire life, it still could not fly out from within these three-inch red walls that made up its square world.
The Empress Dowager laughed with difficulty, her strength fading,
"Sometimes I truly miss my youth."
"Back then, in the cool April nights of early summer, your mother and I would often climb onto the roof, randomly spread some grass mats, eat some sour apricots and cheese, gaze at the boundless stars in the sky, and chat about our beautiful hopes and wishes for the days to come. Those were wonderfully carefree days."
"How wonderful..."
The Empress Dowager's voice gradually grew softer and softer,
until her last note faded away,
only then did she smile and close her eyes.
On April 9th of the 7th year of Qiyuan's reign, the Empress Dowager, Lady She, fell incurably ill and passed away in Xianshou Palace at the age of 46.
