PDLP Chapter 327 The Queen Mother's Death 1
Chapter 327 The Queen Mother's Death 1
Yongzheng, the empress, and Wei Lin hurried back to the Forbidden City, and then went straight to the Cining Palace.
The Cining Palace usually exudes a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, but today, it seems to be shrouded in a heavy haze, so depressing that it makes people feel breathless.
As he entered the gate, the courtyard was already filled with imperial physicians, all with furrowed brows and helpless expressions. Upon seeing the Emperor and Empress, they all knelt on the ground in a huge crowd, "Greetings to the Emperor, Greetings to the Empress!"
Yongzheng and the empress ignored them and walked quickly into the bedroom.
Wei Lin stayed outside the palace, and the imperial physician immediately brought the empress dowager's pulse record. He flipped through it while his mind raced.
He could try to save the patient, but if he could save him, it would be his duty as the Imperial Hospital Director; if he couldn't, it would be his incompetence. It was too unprofitable!
Besides... although his master didn't say it explicitly, he knew something about the harem.
After a moment, he made up his mind and said, "Thank you for your hard work, I believe you have done your best!"
Inside the bedroom, the empress dowager lay quietly on the bed, her eyes tightly closed, her face pale and showing a look of decadence.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression, before Yongzheng could ask, the Empress asked, "How is the Empress Dowager?"
Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of worry. She no longer cared about her usual dignified and reserved demeanor, and her only concern was the safety of the empress dowager.
Zhu Xi, who was standing by, had already reddened eyes and was about to burst into tears. He choked back, "The Queen Mother is so angry that she can't even take the medicine!"
Upon hearing this, Yongzheng frowned even deeper. He slowly stepped forward and sat down beside the bed. He leaned forward, held the Empress Dowager's hand, and called out, "My Lady, My Lady, your son is here to see you. Please open your eyes and look at your son!"
Although the call was soft, it was filled with concern and anxiety. The majesty of the emperor in the past faded a little at this moment, leaving only a son's concern for his mother.
Perhaps it was because she heard this familiar voice that the Queen Mother slowly opened her tightly closed eyes. Tears quickly gathered in her eye sockets and slid down her wrinkled cheeks. She subconsciously held the hand of the person in front of her tightly, as if she was afraid that if she let go, she would never see him again.
Feeling the strength coming from the Empress Dowager's hands, Yongzheng felt a long-lost warmth in his heart. Looking at her weak appearance, he felt a little regretful, wondering if he was too cold to his mother.
However, the Queen Mother seemed to be lost in her own memories, her eyes were a little blurry, and she murmured, "Old Fourteen, Old Fourteen, you're back. Mother missed you so much!"
This call instantly extinguished the little warmth that had just emerged in Yongzheng's heart.
Without even turning his head, he ordered, "All of you get out."
The queen glanced at the person on the bed and walked out of the bedroom with the servants.
When they arrived outside the palace, the Queen called Wei Lin and asked, "How is the Queen Mother's condition?"
Wei Lin knelt on the ground with a plop, leaned forward with his forehead pressed tightly to the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, we are useless. Please forgive us!"
When the queen heard this, she staggered and almost fell, and Jianqiu behind her hurriedly supported her.
In the bedroom.
When Yongzheng spoke again, his tone had become three degrees colder: "Empress Dowager, please see clearly, it is me."
The Queen Mother's eyes gradually focused, and her mind became clearer. Seeing the face of the person in front of her, a trace of disappointment flashed across her face. After a moment, she said anxiously, "Emperor, I am afraid that my body will soon fail. Now I have only this one wish left. Can you ask the Fourteenth Prince to come back to see me?"
Her voice trembled weakly and her eyes were full of pleading.
Yongzheng felt as if his heart was blocked by something, and he felt suffocated and uncomfortable. Even at this time, the Empress Dowager was still thinking about the Fourteenth Prince. Didn't she have anything to say to him?
He took a deep breath, suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart and said, "Empress Dowager, I was raised by Empress Xiaoyiren since I was a child. Unlike the Fourteenth Prince, who was raised by you personally, I am usually busy with court affairs and have little time to accompany you. Now that you are in such poor health, let me stay here with you!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned and pressed Yongzheng's hand firmly, slowly sitting up. Every movement seemed extremely laborious, but the pleading in her eyes grew stronger. It was filled with a mother's desperation for her son: "You still won't let Fourteenth Brother go? I beg you, please let your brother go!"
"Fourteenth brother has broken the law. This is a matter of state. Empress Dowager Empress, please stop worrying about it and just take care of yourself!"
Looking at Yongzheng's indifferent face, the Empress Dowager's tears kept flowing. "Emperor, I know you resent my usual favoritism towards the Fourteenth Prince, but you are all my own flesh and blood. Now I only ask to see him at this last moment. Isn't that enough? Are you so unfilial?"
This remark seemed to have touched Yongzheng's sore spot: "Is your son unfilial? Empress Dowager, if your son were truly unfilial, would the Fourteenth Prince be alive today? When the nine princes fought for the throne, it was so dangerous. I spared his life out of consideration for our brotherly love, which was the utmost kindness. Your son also helped Longkodo achieve high status, allowing your family to enjoy wealth and glory. He also truly loved Chunyuan and treated Yixiu well. Your son is the ultimate filial son."
The more Yongzheng spoke, the more excited he became. The veins on his forehead throbbed slightly, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists. The majesty emanating from him made it a little breathless. "I have been raised by Empress Xiaoyiren since I was a child. Although I am a prince, who knows the hardships I have endured? In those lonely and cold days, I desperately hope to receive a little care from you, Empress Dowager, even if it is just a warm greeting.
But your thoughts are all on Old Fourteen, so where should I be? Now that you are seriously ill, I am extremely worried and have put aside my affairs of state to rush here as soon as possible, but you are still obsessed with Old Fourteen who is plotting rebellion. How can I bear this?"
Yongzheng's voice was resounding, pouring out all the grievances he had suffered over the years. Afterward, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength and slowly turned away, no longer looking at the empress dowager's tear-stained and indignant face.
The Empress Dowager seemed not to have heard Yongzheng's accusation. She only heard the words "Old Fourteenth, who intended to rebel." A bad premonition instantly rose in her heart. When she spoke again, her tone had changed: "You refused to let Fourteenth come to see me. Have you killed him already?"
Yongzheng's heart completely turned cold at this moment. He stood up and walked to the window with heavy steps. With his back to the empress dowager, he raised his slightly trembling hand and gently wiped away the tears that had just welled up in the corner of his eyes.
The Empress Dowager sat on the bed, staring straight at Yongzheng's back. Seeing him so determined, the last glimmer of hope in her heart was completely shattered, and her eyes were full of grief and despair: The Fourteenth Prince was probably in great danger!