Love In The Palace

Empress Dowager

Chapter 14.

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Jade's POV:

The snow is gently fluttering down from the sky and piling up on the grounds. The wind is blowing so silently and whispering chills into everyone's body, as if it is serenading the solemn atmosphere of the palace that seems to prevail. I do not know, whether the solemness is due to the coldness of winter, or the condition of Empress Dowager. She has been bedridden for weeks, while Empress, Consort Shine and Consort Lana take turns to accompany her. Other concubines, who according to other servants in the palace, have almost no position in the palace could not pay a visit to Her Highness without her permission or summon. They could only pray for her health in their small palaces, but I doubt they would do so, for their pathetic lives in the palace are partly due to Empress Dowager. I do not know much, as these are all what Cherry told me, when I asked if the Emperor has anymore concubines.

"Cherry, where is Crown Prince?" In between our work together, I ask Cherry to break the silence that seems to have infected even Crown Prince's palace as well.

"He has gone to visit Empress Dowager. She is critically ill right now. Everyone, including Emperor himself, is waiting at her palace. All we can do is just to wait for the news." Then, we just pretend as if nothing has happened, and continue to doing our respective work, all while waiting for news.

For several days, Crown Prince returns late and heads for Empress Dowager's palace early. The cycle repeats almost endlessly, and he seems to be no longer existent in his own palace. The tension in the atmosphere appears to be increasing day by day, all until one day it drops. The silence of the palace is broken into pieces by the announcement from a group of eunuchs.

"Empress Dowager has passed away!"

Immediately I fall onto my knees, so do Cherry and Mal. Our foreheads touch the grounds, as we pay our last respects to Empress Dowager, by kneeling in the direction of her palace. There are supposedly people crying, for it is the death of the Mother of the Emperor. However, the actual truth is, no one would sincerely cry, and will just fake their sobs. In Crown Prince's palace, weirdly, only silence can be heard. Perhaps, it is because only three servants are here. However, I have a feeling that, the only palace that shows the genuine feelings, is Crown Prince's.

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Author's POV:

Sound of gongs is heard in a rhythm, though it is not a joyful occasion. Only silence accompanies the crying gongs. Whiteness of the snow is only amplified by the white clothing that everyone wears. White cloths, curtains and decorations are hung in place of other colourful ones. White is the colour that represents sorrow. The fragrant smell of joss sticks fills the air, the smoke rises and frees into the sky, as though it represents that the Empress Dowager can finally be freed of her life in the palace. Ava, who loyally stands by the bronze coffin which lid was opened half, sobs with tears sliding down her cheeks like rain. Inside the coffin, lies Empress Dowager whose eyes have closed forever. Gold accessories and pearls are worn on her, all so that she can look beautiful for the very last time.

Emperor is standing on the stairs located before the coffin, his eyes are directed towards his mother but unfocused. He does not cry, does not speak and does not move, not even an inch. He just stares at the coffin, his eyes turn glassy for a moment but he blinks it away. An Emperor should not cry so easily, because Emperor is the Son of Heaven. This saying has been passed down for generations. However, he wants to argue, that although he is the Emperor, he is still a human, a son of a mother. He is tired of the facade he has to put on all the time.

"Your Majesty." Her voice wakes him up from his thoughts. His Empress nods at him and her eyes are directed towards the joss stick urn. He steps down the stairs, slowly, weakly. His hands are stretched to receive three joss sticks from the Empress. As he holds them with both his arms, he positions himself before the burner. Then, he lifts the them up to his chest, then bows three times slowly. Finally, he plants them firmly onto he urn with trembling hands.