On that day after, Zhao Hua and Xiao Jingheng no longer discussed the matter concerning Xiao Jingyan.
During the noon hours, the two had their midday meal together. Zhao Hua assisted Xiao Jingheng in taking his medicine.
"After you have taken your medicine, my dear Xiao Lang, please rest well. For now, set aside the affairs of state. Do not exhaust your mind reviewing memorials anymore."
Xiao Jingheng nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow, I shall take a day of respite and bathing. Zhao'er, you should return to the palace and make proper preparations with Cheng Yu. The day after tomorrow, you shall take my place and attend the court session."
Zhao Hua timidly pursed her lips and remained silent for a good while before giving a slight nod and saying:
"Your humble servant can only muster the courage to walk into the court because of you, my dear Xiao Lang. If there is anything I do improperly, please do not blame me."
"No matter," Xiao Jingheng waved his sleeve with a brilliant smile on his face and said assuringly:
"My Zhao'er is no longer the frail woman she once was when she first entered the palace. I have faith in you."
Zhao Hua gracefully nodded, and in the gaze they exchanged, there was a profound tenderness.
Yet within this tenderness, there was also a tinge of slight disdain towards Xiao Jingheng.
In Zhao Hua's eyes,
frailty should never be an innate shackle on a woman.
It stems from the disdain men hold in their hearts towards women, from the contemptuous preconceptions of the strong towards the weak.
What she aimed to do was to break free of these shackles before Xiao Jingheng's eyes,
to let him understand that in this world, be it man or woman, all are living beings.
No one should be subordinate to another, reduced to mere ornaments or playthings.
After Zhao Hua departed, Xiao Jingheng, who had initially settled to rest, suddenly sat up and summoned the little eunuch guarding outside into his chambers.
"Go and have the Tianji Office handle a matter for me."
*
The following day.
Early in the morning, after Zhao Hua had finished her grooming, she headed to the main hall to receive the greetings from the concubines of the six palaces.
However, it seemed that they had heard some sensational news, as they were clustered in small groups, whispering and discussing something intently.
As Yunshan assisted Zhao Hua in taking her seat on the phoenix throne, she deliberately cleared her throat to remind the concubines.
Below the hall, the concubines hurriedly greeted Zhao Hua upon her arrival.
"This humble servant/consort respectfully greets the Empress, wishing Her Majesty peace and blessings."
"Rise and be seated," Zhao Hua gestured for them to sit, then asked, "What are you all discussing so early in the morning?"
The talkative Consort Ru, as expected, was the first to speak.
"Your Majesty is unaware? The Prince of An is a notorious philanderer. Even before fully recovering, he has already gone out to pursue flowers and chase after beauties. This time, he has caused an uproar!"
She lowered her voice, pretending to be mysterious, "Last night, while he was intimate with a courtesan, he suddenly suffered a stroke and perished right on top of that prostitute!"
Such indecent talk was only something a Mongolian woman like Consort Ru would dare to utter.
As she spoke, she even chuckled:
"Can you imagine? He truly deserved it, didn't he? This scandal has spread throughout the capital, and it has brought shame to the imperial family."
After Consort Ru set the topic, the other concubines also joined in idly gossiping about the matter.
Amidst the chaos, the usually quiet Ru Ge suddenly shouted sternly:
"Enough of your chatter! The Prince of An is still a member of the imperial family. Furthermore, we women of the rear palace are discussing an outsider man - is this not shameful?"
Her sudden outburst startled Consort Ru, who jumped.
"Why the fuss? Hah, what kind of imperial family member is the Prince of An? Once this matter reaches the Emperor's ears, let's see if he will still grant the Prince of An any posthumous honors!"
As the two exchanged barbs,
Zhao Hua and Rongyue exchanged a meaningful glance,
and everything was understood without words.
Later, the news from the imperial court stated that Xiao Jingheng felt that Xiao Jingyan's death was undignified and had brought shame to the imperial family. Thus, he did not permit Xiao Jingyan to be buried in the Tombs of Prince, but instead had his men find an auspicious burial ground to lay him to rest properly.
So-called auspicious burial ground - they merely wrapped the body and cremated it in an open field.
When the men from the Tianji Office came to report to Xiao Jingheng that everything had been arranged, Zhao Hua was attending to him, stirring the medicine bowl to cool it down.
Just as the medicine reached a drinkable temperature and Zhao Hua had scooped up a spoonful, ready to bring it to Xiao Jingheng's lips, the little eunuch hurriedly rushed in, stammering as he delivered the news:
"Your humble servant reports to Your Majesty... Princess Dowager Jinggui, upon learning of the Prince of An's matter... she could not bear it and has committed suicide!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng merely replied lightly,
"Matters of the rear palace shall be handled by the Empress."
Zhao Hua brought the medicine to Xiao Jingheng's mouth and, without turning her head, calmly said:
"For a consort to commit suicide is a grave offense. Princess Dowager Jinggui was foolish to resort to such actions, thus she is unworthy of being buried in the Former Emperor's Imperial Tombs. Since she is dead and her maternal family has no one, we shall handle her in secret without any funerary rites. Wrap her in a straw mat and bury her outside the palace."
Hearing Zhao Hua's cold imperial decree, the little eunuch grew apprehensive.
He gasped and responded with a trembling voice,
"This... this servant shall follow the decree."
He then quickly fled the scene.
After he left, Xiao Jingheng smiled and gently caressed Zhao Hua's face, expressing his approval:
"Zhao'er's manner of handling matters is becoming more and more befitting of an Empress Dowager."
Zhao Hua smiled shyly. "Your humble servant can only reach this point thanks to your guidance and nurturing, my dear Xiao Lang. I am overjoyed."
She then scooped up another spoonful of medicine and brought it to Xiao Jingheng's lips.
"Come, my dear Xiao Lang, drink your medicine."
