Chapter 813: Investigating the Past
The death of Xiao Juesong would no longer be concealed. Shen Xihe and Xiao Changqing didn't mind delaying a few more days, as it gave Xiao Changqing time to lay out his plans. Regarding Xiao Juesong's affairs, no one knew better than his own followers. The remaining followers were all handed over to Xiao Changqing by Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe was actually quite curious about how Xiao Juesong trained his people. They seemed to live solely to inherit his obsession. Upon hearing that their target was His Majesty, they showed no hesitation even if it meant sacrificing their lives.
His Majesty continued to claim illness. Over the years, he had been diligent in governance, and the Three Departments and Six Ministries of the court were orderly, capable of handling most matters promptly. The main concerns were the anxiety over His Majesty's health and the unease about future political changes.
"Is this all?"
In the Eastern Palace, Shen Xihe closed the last book and looked up at Difang, who stood bowing at her side.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has never ceased investigating the events of that year. This is all I could find," Difang replied respectfully.
Shen Xihe rested her hand lightly on the closed book, her gaze fixed on the Eucommia Leaf bonsai on the desk as she fell into deep thought.
The room was silent, with incense smoke curling slowly.
Tianyuan could see that his younger brother was somewhat nervous. Having just been assigned to the Crown Princess by the Crown Prince and unfamiliar with her temperament, he spoke up: "Your Highness, why are you investigating the events of that year?"
Tianyuan was Xiao Huayong's most trusted confidant. Whether before or after Shen Xihe married into the Eastern Palace, Tianyuan was the person Xiao Huayong interacted with most. After Xiao Huayong's departure, Shen Xihe similarly regarded Tianyuan as a trusted aide, valuing him as much as Zhenzhu and others.
"That year, the Empress and Qian Wang's consort were both pregnant. Qian Wang's consort gave birth to Beichen. What about the Empress?" Shen Xihe had been pondering this question since Xiao Huayong mentioned his origins.
However, as it touched upon Xiao Huayong's emotional scars and wasn't an urgent matter, she had never brought it up.
"Based on the circumstances at that time, His Majesty did not carry out large-scale executions. From this, it can be inferred that the Empress did indeed give birth successfully, and it was a male infant." Otherwise, His Majesty would have certainly eliminated all witnesses.
However, Difang's investigation revealed that the midwife who delivered the Empress was still alive and only passed away due to illness the year before last. His Majesty allowed her to live precisely to make people believe the Empress had truly given birth, preventing suspicions that the Crown Prince was Qian Wang's son, which would lead to associations of fratricide and usurpation.
At that time, the conspiracy targeted Qian Wang and his consort. Since the Empress participated in it to deceive Qian Wang's consort, it showed His Majesty trusted the Empress and initially had no intention of making her a sacrificial pawn.
The Empress became a sacrificial pawn because the Empress Dowager, upon learning the truth, was furious. The political situation forced her to reluctantly support her younger son. However, both were her flesh and blood. Qian Wang had fought battles all his life and only had Xiao Huayong as his sole heir.
The Empress Dowager didn't want Xiao Huayong to become Qian Wang's orphaned descendant. Otherwise, those who followed Qian Wang would become restless, not remaining loyal to His Majesty, and would place Xiao Huayong in a precarious position. This compelled His Majesty to swap the children, making Xiao Huayong the Crown Prince.
How could the Empress possibly accept this?
Therefore, the Empress had to die.
The Empress and His Majesty conspired against Qian Wang and his consort. The Empress Dowager's disgust, combined with her anger toward His Majesty, became the death warrant for the Empress.However, the child is innocent and is her own grandson, her own son. The Empress Dowager and His Majesty would not kill this child for Xiao Huayong's sake.
Naturally, they would not allow this child to remain in the imperial family under the identity of Qian Wang's posthumous child, as that would also cause instability in the court and among the people.
Thus, the whereabouts of this child became a mystery.
What Shen Xihe now wanted to investigate was the whereabouts of His Majesty's biological son.
Since learning of his own origins, Xiao Huayong had also been investigating, likely intending to capture this child for his own purposes.
Despite over a decade of investigation, even with Xiao Huayong's capabilities, he had not managed to uncover this person.
Unless...
Shen Xihe's gaze sharpened: "Tianyuan, make preparations. We depart tomorrow for the imperial mausoleum."
"Your Highness wishes to go to the imperial mausoleum?" Tianyuan was startled.
A slight curve appearing at her lips, Shen Xihe closed her eyes and nodded: "Yes, to the imperial mausoleum. His Majesty lies gravely ill, unconscious. My heart is troubled, and I've lost my bearings. I wish to see the Crown Prince."
The reason was readily available.
Though uncertain why Shen Xihe wanted to go to the imperial mausoleum, and with Shen Xihe already over seven months pregnant, Tianyuan looked at her prominently rounded abdomen with concern but did not voice any objection: "As you command."
After Tianyuan withdrew, Shen Xihe picked up a brush and wrote a letter, sealing it before handing it over: "Send this to the northwest via Haidongqing."
She then instructed Zhenzhu: "Go find Gu Zexiang and see if you can locate any individuals who might have knowledge of the events from back then. Be cautious, and do not let any information leak."
"As you command." Zhenzhu also withdrew after receiving her orders.
Biyu stepped forward to support Shen Xihe: "Your Highness, why have you suddenly become so concerned about this matter?"
There was even a sense of urgency in her actions.
"I wish to test certain matters and people, and also deal His Majesty a more fatal blow." Shen Xihe did not conceal her intentions, but her explanation was vague, and Biyu couldn't grasp the deeper meaning.
Biyu wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but since the Crown Prince's departure, she often sensed a shadow of the Crown Prince in the Crown Princess.
As her pregnancy advanced, Shen Xihe's energy waned, and she was no longer as patient in explaining things to them as she used to be.
Back when she first arrived in the capital, her patience was partly to help them develop more insight, but the depth of this matter exceeded what they needed to understand.
Shen Xihe's plan to visit the imperial mausoleum alarmed the Empress Dowager, who personally came to the Eastern Palace.
"Your pregnancy is so advanced. How can you endure the hardship of travel?" The Empress Dowager disapproved of Shen Xihe's journey.
Shen Xihe smiled gently, her voice soft: "Grandmother, these past few days I've been dreaming of Beichen frequently. My heart is unsettled, and the imperial physicians say I'm burdened with excessive worry. If this continues, it could harm both me and the child in my womb.
When Beichen was laid to rest, I was unable to bid him a final farewell due to the instability of my pregnancy. Perhaps this is why it weighs on my mind.
If I don't go personally, I fear I won't find peace.
While I can still move about, I should go and resolve this burden, lest complications arise during childbirth."
The Empress Dowager frowned: "Very well, if your heart remains unsettled, you should go and offer incense to Qilang. I will accompany you."
"Empress Dowager, with His Majesty unconscious, both the court and the Imperial Harem require your steadfast presence. There's no need to worry about me. I will take good care of myself." Shen Xihe did not agree.
The Empress Dowager thought for a moment: "I will assign two people to accompany you. Otherwise, I too will be uneasy."
Shen Xihe did not refuse.The Empress Dowager left Shen Xihe two mature and steady female officials. Shen Xihe placed them at her side, accompanied by Biyu and Hongyu, keeping them close to demonstrate her reliance on them. The grand procession set off for the imperial mausoleum.
It was the transition between autumn and winter, and the capital was already bitterly cold. The imperial mausoleum, nestled deep within towering mountains, felt even more desolate and piercing.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel