All votes and comments are much appreciated :)
—————
Imperial Concubine Wei was on tenterhooks as she walked. Seeing the unfamiliar palace walls around her, she could not help but ask in fear, “Gonggong, why aren’t we there yet? Where is the Empress Dowager?”
The eunuch walking ahead ignored her.
Imperial Concubine Wei’s hair stood on end in this quiet and secluded place. She stopped in her tracks, then feigned a stomachache and stirred up a ruckus about wanting to head back.
She had never seen this eunuch leading the way before. He looked unfamiliar and young. The eunuch turned his head back to look at her and said in a gentle voice, “We will be there soon. Support Imperial Concubine Wei as she walks. We mustn’t let Niangniang fall.”
The eunuchs on both sides immediately held on to Imperial Concubine Wei to support her. Imperial Concubine Wei started to struggle. She raised her voice to yell, but was gagged. The eunuchs nimbly hoisted her up and speedily walked on ahead.
There was a well in the deserted courtyard, with some water remaining at the bottom of the well.
The eunuch craned his head to look and said, “Right here. Send Niangniang in.”
Imperial Concubine Wei struggled with all her might, and her well-maintained fingernails scratched the arm of the leading eunuch. Her bun was disheveled as she shook her head and sobbed while clinging to the edge of the well.
The eunuch stroked her pretty hand and told the men in a pitying voice to lift the stone.
Then, a “plop” startled away the birds on the branch over the vermilion wall.
🍀🍀🍀
Emperor Xiande lay inside the horse carriage, while Li Jianheng kneeled by his side holding a medicine bowl in his hands.
Emperor Xiande’s breathing was so weak that he could not even cough. He beckoned to Li Jianheng. The latter quickly put aside the medicine bowl and moved over on his knees. He said, “Imperial Elder Brother, are you feeling better?”
Emperor Xiande placed his hand on the back of Li Jianheng’s hand and said laboriously, “Jianheng.”
“Your younger brother is here.” Li Jianheng started crying again. He said, “Your younger brother is right here.”
“The former emperor, in his later years, was impeded by others. At that time, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was my eldest brother, while I…” Emperor Xiande looked at him, “I was like you, an idle Prince. The ways of the world are unpredictable. In the end, this empire fell into my hands. But ever since I ascended to the throne, I have been under control. Every move I make is just like a puppet before a screen. If Imperial Mother wants me to laugh, then I have to laugh. If she wants me to die, then, I must now die.”
Li Jianheng choked with tears.
Emperor Xiande said, “In the future, you will become that lonely man.”
All at once, Li Jianheng burst into tears. He held Emperor Xiande’s hand and pleaded, “Imperial Elder Brother! How could I be him? I’m just a worm in this Li Clan’s empire. How am I up to sitting at the peak? Imperial Elder Brother, I’m scared, I’m so scared.”
“Don’t be.” With a sudden burst of energy, Emperor Xiande held Li Jianheng’s hand tightly and opened his eyes wide. “You are different from me… the Empress Dowager’s kin have lost! There’s only death left for Hua Siqian. Likewise for Pan Rugui. If you kill them, then the Empress Dowager will have no one left to aid her! From then on, power will fall back to you, and you will be… the ruler of all lands under Heaven! What I couldn’t do… You can… I…”
YOU ARE READING
Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)
Historical Fiction*Re-edited and intended for offline purpose only* The six prefectures of Zhongbo were surrendered to foreign enemies without resistance, and Shen Zechuan found himself apprehended in the capital, reduced to a state of utter disgrace, despised and co...
