xymnovel Chapter 96 The Prince's Death
Chapter 96 The Prince's Death
Chapter 96 The Prince's Death
Mid-December of the second year of Yuanfu.
The news that the imperial court least wanted to see still happened.
Prince Zhao Mao, who had been in this world for less than a hundred days, ultimately succumbed to this sudden and severe illness, despite the help of the imperial physicians...
Despite the entire palace's best efforts to save him, he ultimately passed away.
Upon hearing the news, Empress Liu's heart-wrenching cries immediately filled the Rouyi Palace.
The cries were piercing and desperate, piercing through the palace and breaking the hearts of all who heard them.
The palace servants knelt down, sobbing softly, while the imperial physicians, their faces ashen, knelt dejectedly.
Almost simultaneously, the news was reported to the Funing Palace at top speed.
Zhao Xu, lying on his sickbed, has been barely breathing for the past few days, relying solely on ginseng soup to keep him afloat. His only thought is his young son's condition.
When the eunuch Hao Sui scrambled to the bedside, he spoke in a trembling voice.
"His Majesty—the prince—has passed away."
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Xu's cloudy eyes suddenly widened, and a strange "hoarse" sound came from his throat. He abruptly sat up halfway on the bed.
"I—my Maoge'er—"
Before Zhao Xu could finish speaking, he exclaimed "Wow!"
A large mouthful of dark red blood gushed out, splattering the front of his dragon robe and the bedding. Then, as if all his bones had been removed, he fell heavily backward.
Zhao Xu's eyes were tightly closed, his face as pale as paper, and he had fainted.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The Funing Palace erupted into chaos, filled with screams, cries, and the sound of people running.
The chief imperial physician scrambled forward to take his pulse, and his face turned deathly pale the moment his fingers touched his wrist.
The Emperor is clearly overcome with anger and his blood is boiling; he is on the verge of death!
The news spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the palace.
The prince has died young, the emperor is in a coma, and his fate is unknown!
The supreme ruler and the sole legitimate heir of the Great Song Empire were both plunged into dire straits on the same day!
This would be devastating news for anyone.
Throughout the inner court, from concubines and palace maids to officials of the Imperial Household Department, everyone was in a panic, completely bewildered, and a tremendous, apocalyptic panic began to spread.
Amidst this chaos and despair, the only one who could still maintain a sliver of clarity and decisiveness was Empress Dowager Xiang.
Upon hearing the news, Empress Dowager Xiang sat motionless for a full quarter of an hour, her hand holding the sandalwood beads almost too loose to grip.
"My poor, wretched child—"
At this moment, tears streamed down her face, for her grandson who had died young, for Zhao Xu whose life hung by a thread, and for the country that had suddenly collapsed and whose future was uncertain.
The Empress Dowager wiped away her tears; she knew this was not the time for sorrow.
The emperor's coma and the death of the prince are earth-shattering events that threaten the very foundation of the nation.
If we continue to conceal the truth and allow rumors to fester and panic to spread, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Someone had to step forward to stabilize the situation and provide a temporary "backbone" for the anxious court and the people who might soon find out.
This person can only be her, the Empress of Emperor Shenzong, the legal mother of the current emperor, and currently the only person in the palace with legitimate authority and sufficient prestige.
Empress Dowager Xiang suppressed the turmoil and immense grief in her heart and immediately summoned the head of the Inner Palace Service, the head of the Palace Service, and several respected old maids in the palace. With an unprecedentedly stern and decisive tone, she issued an order: "Issue my imperial decree: The Rouyi Palace and Funing Palace shall be sealed off from this moment on. No one shall be allowed to enter or leave at will except for the imperial physicians and designated palace servants. Those who violate this order shall be severely punished! However—the matter of the prince's death need not be completely concealed any longer. A clear decree will be issued later."
Reliable palace personnel are to be deployed to strengthen patrols at all palace gates and key roads to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation and to ensure the safety of the palace! All departments within the inner court shall continue to operate as usual and must not be negligent or disorderly! Those who disobey orders will be punished for disrupting the palace!
"As for the prince's funeral arrangements—"
Empress Dowager Xiang paused, still unable to control her emotions when the matter was brought up.
"This is a matter of national importance and must be handled in accordance with regulations. Immediately inform the Ministry of Rites of the news of the prince's passing and the Emperor's poor health, which necessitates rest and prevents him from attending to official duties, in a proper manner."
The Ministry of Rites was ordered to immediately begin drafting regulations for the prince's funeral rites, ensuring they were solemn, proper, and in accordance with established procedures. All necessary provisions would be provided by the Imperial Treasury in collaboration with relevant officials.
She looked at a mature and composed official from the Imperial Household Department.
"Go personally to the Secretariat and the Privy Council, and privately inform Prime Ministers Zhang and Zeng of the general outline of the changes in the palace. Ask them to remain calm and assist in stabilizing the court. Externally, for now, report it as the Emperor's serious illness, the early death of a prince, and the Empress Dowager's temporary control of the palace. Specific details can be discussed later. Be sure to warn the court officials that in this critical period, national affairs must be prioritized, and they must be cautious in their words and actions, working together to overcome these difficult times!"
Clear and precise instructions were issued, injecting a strong boost into the chaotic court, which began to barely restore order, with everyone performing their duties.
Although grief and panic remain, the inner court at least has a leader and knows which direction to take.
The Empress Dowager's decree was quickly relayed to the Ministry of Rites.
It was already late at night, but the Ministry of Rites was still brightly lit.
All officials of the Ministry of Rites, including Vice Minister Zhao Tingzhi and Assistant Minister Li Gefei, were urgently summoned.
When they heard the horrifying news whispered by the eunuchs—that a prince had died young, the emperor was in a coma, and the Empress Dowager had ordered the Ministry of Rites to immediately prepare for the prince's funeral and assist in stabilizing the court—the officials of the Ministry of Rites stood there dumbfounded, as if doused with ice water, speechless for a long time.
"Your subject—will obey Your Majesty's decree." Zhao Tingzhi was the first to react, bowing deeply, his voice hoarse.
Li Gefei also hurriedly bowed, his face pale.
After seeing the eunuch off, the two returned to their duty room, looking at each other in silence, both seeing immense shock and heavy pressure in each other's eyes.
The death of a prince is already a great tragedy; the emperor's coma and inability to attend to state affairs is an even greater catastrophe.
Now, the heavy responsibility of preparing for the funeral and assisting with the announcements has fallen on the Ministry of Rites, and the pressure and risks involved are unimaginable.
"Uncle Wen (Li Gefei's courtesy name), things have come to this point. We must work together with one heart and one mind, and we must not make the slightest mistake." Zhao Tingzhi took a deep breath, breaking the silence, his tone solemn.
Li Gefei nodded heavily.
"Brother Zhengfu (Zhao Tingzhi's courtesy name) is absolutely right. This is a national mourning, and even more so a national crisis. It is the Ministry of Rites' duty, and they cannot shirk it."
"But—there are so many things to deal with, and the Emperor is—alas!" Li Gefei sighed, his face full of worry.
"First, draft the funeral rites according to the established system. Although the early death of a prince is an unusual case, the ancestral system still applies, so the funeral rites can be reduced accordingly."
The key is that the documents issued to the various government departments, princely residences, and outer vassal states must be carefully worded, stating the facts without causing excessive panic. Since the Empress Dowager has assumed full control of the palace, our official documents must be in accordance with her decrees.
Zhao Tingzhi quickly got into the swing of things and began assigning tasks. He had a long career in officialdom and had served as an imperial censor and a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat. He was calm and capable.
Li Gefei was also a learned scholar, well-versed in laws and regulations, and immediately cooperated.
The two immediately summoned relevant officials and clerks from the Ministry of Rites and began work overnight.
Drafting the funeral arrangements, carefully considering the wording of the official edicts, coordinating with relevant institutions such as the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and arranging funeral personnel, venues, and expenses—each and every task was extremely tedious and extremely sensitive.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites worked almost non-stop, spending two or three days straight in the government office, unable to eat or sleep properly, their eyes sunken and their faces covered in stubble.
The pressure came not only from the heavy workload, but also from the enormous psychological impact of the event itself and the lingering concerns about the future political situation.
They were all scholars who studied the classics and were loyal to the emperor and the country. How could they remain calm when they saw the country suffer such a great change?
After finally managing to get the most important regulations and documents sorted out, and submitting them to the Empress Dowager and the Council of State for approval, the subsequent implementation was handled by the officials below.
Zhao Tingzhi and Li Gefei were finally able to catch their breath a little after nightfall on the third day.
The charcoal fire in the duty room was dying down and the chill was getting stronger, so Zhao Tingzhi had the servants replace the charcoal and brew a pot of strong tea.
"Uncle Wen, have some tea to warm yourself up and refresh yourself."
Zhao Tingzhi pushed a cup of hot tea in front of Li Gefei, and picked up a cup for himself as well.
Li Gefei thanked him, took a sip of hot tea, and felt his stiff body come back to life as the scalding liquid went down his throat.
Looking at Zhao Tingzhi, who was equally exhausted, he suddenly sighed.
"Zhengfu, thinking back to those days when we were studying together in Lu, we traveled together to Liangshan Marsh in the spring, discussing the world with great enthusiasm. Who would have thought that one day we would be in such a situation, in this imperial city of Bianjing, working together to deal with such a heartbreaking and thorny national matter."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingzhi also sighed deeply, a look of reminiscence on his face.
"Yes, time flies. I remember back then, Uncle Wen, you loved to debate the pros and cons of the new law. Your words were sharp. I supported the new law, and you supported the old system. We often argued until we were red in the face. Looking back now, our youthful spirit, though naive, was also pure."
Li Gefei smiled wryly: "Later, as the political landscape shifted, we inevitably had some disagreements amidst the struggles between the old and new factions. Fortunately, the factional strife has gradually subsided. Although our positions still differ, we are able to set aside our old grudges and work together during this time of national crisis. We have not failed our friendship as classmates, nor have we been unworthy of this official robe."
"Uncle Wen is right." Zhao Tingzhi nodded, his tone sincere. "The political disputes of the past were all for the public good, not for personal grudges."
The nation is currently facing difficult times, and it is precisely at this critical juncture that we must set aside our prejudices and work together to overcome these challenges. Working with Uncle Wen this time, I have witnessed your thorough consideration and fair handling of affairs, and I deeply admire you.
This frank exchange significantly dispelled the subtle barrier between the two elderly men from the same hometown, which had been built up over the years due to their differing political views.
Zhao Tingzhi and Li Gefei were both traditional scholar-officials who valued integrity and friendship. When the country was in peril, their personal differences seemed insignificant.
The two chatted for a while about their hometowns and each other's recent situations, and the atmosphere became harmonious.
Zhao Tingzhi then extended an invitation.
"Uncle Wen, I am exhausted both physically and mentally after this is over. After some time, when things have calmed down, if you have some free time, you might as well come to my residence for a visit. My good-for-nothing son, Mingcheng, recently acquired some wild tea, which has a rather peculiar flavor. It would be nice if we could enjoy some tea and reminisce in peace."
Li Gefei was also feeling physically and mentally exhausted at the moment and needed comfort from his old friend. In addition, his impression of Zhao Tingzhi, his old friend and fellow townsman, had improved a lot, so he readily agreed.
"Brother Zhengfu, how could I refuse your invitation? Once this matter is settled, I will certainly take the opportunity to trouble you."
The two Shandong natives chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late and that there were still many follow-up matters to be dealt with the next day, they parted ways, dragging their exhausted bodies into the cold winter night of Bianjing.
Inside the imperial city, the white curtains of Rouyi Palace were already hung up, and faint cries drifted in the cold wind; Funing Palace was still shrouded in a heavy atmosphere of illness and despair; the lights of Baoci Palace burned eternally, and Empress Dowager Xiang knelt before the Buddha for a long time without rising.
The heart of the Great Song Empire beats laboriously and irregularly in the cold winter.