Langhua: The Codependence of a Prince and His General

Mourning

No one saw the Seventh Prince for the next two days.

Every time they stopped by Benevolence Palace and knocked on the tightly-shut doors, the maids would just shake their heads, their eyes rimmed with red.

On the evening of the second day, the Emperor himself stopped by.

"The consort will be interred in the imperial mausoleum tomorrow. He's already absent for the wake, but he can't miss the funeral!"

The maids trembled, falling to their knees. "Please forgive us, Your Majesty—!"

"Your Majesty." A soft voice called out from the direction of the inner chambers. All eyes turned to him in a moment of hope, but that spark soon faded. The Emperor frowned slightly.

"You're... Lin Junli's student, aren't you? The Seventh Prince's reader-companion."

Hua Yuheng approached the Emperor and bowed low. "Your humble peasant Hua Yuheng greets you, Your Majesty."

"As you were." The Emperor cast a critical eye over him. "How's the Seventh Prince? He can't stay cooped up forever."

"Of course. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince will attend the funeral tomorrow." Hua Yuheng's voice was low but clear. "He just needs a bit more time."

"Hmph." The Emperor sounded unimpressed, but when he next spoke, his voice had ever so slightly softened. "Very well, tomorrow it is. We understand that this is difficult, but we cannot put everything on hold forever."

He seemed to be talking about more than just the funeral. Hua Yuheng decided to take the cue and risk it. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"The matter of Consort Xian's punishment."

The mention of her name made the maids gasp, their eyes reddening further—but this time with hatred. The Emperor did not overlook their subtle reactions, but he quickly turned his focus back to Hua Yuheng. The young man was taken aback at first, yet he regained his composure remarkably fast.

"Have you yet to decide on her punishment, Your Majesty?"

"She deserves death, of course!" Xiaju cried out, while Dongmei hurriedly hushed her. This was no place for a maid to speak, and on any other day she would never dare to raise her voice in the presence of the Emperor. But grief was a disorientating drug. Both the Emperor and Hua Yuheng graciously pretended not to hear a thing.

"The disgraced Consort Xian is currently being held in the Cold Palace. She is... quite evidently mentally unfit for a trial." The Emperor paused. "For now, we have decided to leave the matter of her fate to the Seventh Prince."

This time, Hua Yuheng's eyes widened visibly. "Why?"

"It was the Sixth Prince's request."

"Xuanyuan Rui?" Hua Yuheng mumbled under his breath. He held his fist in his palm, saluting with a bow. "I understand. I will convey this information and your wishes to the Seventh Prince, Your Majesty."

"Good."

A brief silence hung in the air. His business here should be done, so Hua Yuheng was waiting for the Emperor to leave before he rose from his bow. But the Emperor's bright yellow robes did not budge.

"...Is he alright?"

Ah. Hua Yuheng lowered his gaze once more.

"No. But he will get better."

He had no choice. None of them did.

"Tell him..." to take his time? But he had just given the boy an ultimatum. The Emperor struggled to find the words, eventually coming to a sigh. "Tell him to take care of himself. His mother is no longer here to do it for him."