Chapter 28 Memorial

  As he watched Li Ran walk up to him, Crown Prince Zhu Youxiao's heart felt a slight warmth, and he smiled wryly at the woman, saying weakly: "Ran, you're here."

  She gently nodded, took the prince's rough hands from doing carpentry work, and stood together with him. "Your Highness has a heartache?" The woman leaned her head on the man's shoulder and whispered.

  "Yes! I feel so tired, I thought I could change everything, but it turns out that I'm not as outstanding as I thought, and I can't even change a single reality. Zhu Yubing's heart felt somewhat despondent, after coming to this world, he was once so confident and ambitious, but now he couldn't even decide on the timing of his ascension to the throne."

  "Your Highness, Lian'er lost both parents at a very young age. Although she was later adopted by her uncle, she also wandered the streets. That kind of drifting life, Lian'er will never forget for this lifetime. Every day, after eating one meal, there's no guarantee of the next. The first thing to do every morning when opening her eyes is to find food, thinking about how to survive. Those children who were with me either got taken away or stole things and got beaten to death. There was no other way to live except for those two paths. At that time, Lian'er knew that in this world, nothing is deserved, you have to take it by any means necessary, only then can you survive." Feeling the man's grip on her hand tighten, Li Lian raised her head and smiled slightly.

  "The empire you have inherited from your ancestors, it can be said that the great emperor had gone through countless hardships to establish this foundation for you. Just like Lian'er said, nothing comes easily, now you must defend what's yours and not let others take it away. No matter what happens, Lian'er will always stand by your side, in life and death, I am yours." The woman's words were resolute, as if the man in front of her was her lifelong reliance and hope.

  As the sun sets, the moon hangs in the sky again, a gentle breeze blows, and insects chirp, the entire Forbidden City seems to be no different from before.

  Qianqing Palace, Chongde Hall. This used to be the bedroom of Emperor Taichang, and it was still brightly lit at this time. A huge white paper flower hung in front of the plaque, and rows of eunuchs and palace maids dressed in mourning clothes knelt inside the grand hall, with flames constantly jumping out of the large bronze basin.

  The Crown Prince Zhu Youjian did not want to come back here, because Li Xuan was here, that sinister woman. But he had no choice but to return here, for his father, the coffin of Emperor Taichang who died on a woman's belly, was here.

  Pulling Li Lan's hand, they walked slowly into the grand hall, came to the front of the coffin, took over the incense handed over by the eunuch, and respectfully inserted it into the incense burner.

  "The palace will be staying here tonight, you can go back!" The crown prince said softly, looking at Li Lan with a sympathetic gaze.

  Gently shaking her head, Li Lan smiled and said: "No matter what Your Highness wants to do! Wherever Your Highness is, I will be there!"

  "Alright then!" He gently stroked the woman's hair, and the prince smiled slightly. Turning his head to the eunuch behind him, he said, "This palace will stay here to mourn for the emperor, and for these three days, this palace will not see anyone. Pass on the order." Since he couldn't change anything anyway, he might as well do nothing, perhaps that was also a good solution.

  At this time, the outside of the grand hall was still gently blowing with a clear breeze and bright moonlight. However, suddenly, a black cloud drifted in from somewhere, blocking out the originally bright moon. The sky and earth seemed to be shrouded in a thick layer of dark clouds.

  From that day on, everything in the palace seemed to have returned to its former state, without any disputes or struggles, and all was peaceful. Outside the palace, it seemed as if nothing had happened, with civil officials keeping a low profile and military generals restraining their subordinates. The Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Eastern Depot's men would occasionally swagger through the streets, but they didn't cause any trouble or stir up any unrest. They even smiled kindly at the merchants who were often bullied by them, although only they themselves thought it was a kind smile. The entire city of Beijing seemed to have entered an era of peace and prosperity, with all the thieves and hooligans disappearing without a trace, truly achieving the state where "the streets are clean and the doors are not closed at night".

  The Crown Prince Zhu Youxiao closed the pass to mourn for the former emperor, and such news quickly spread out. Everyone's mind flashed a thought, that is, the storm is coming and the wind is full of towers.

  On the morning of September 3, everything seemed to be no different from yesterday, and everything was normal. However, someone finally couldn't bear it anymore. The first two people who stood out were Zhou Jiamou, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Zuo Guangdou, the touring censor of the Ducha Yuan.

  On this day, the two memorials were placed on the cabinet's desk at the same time. However, these two memorials did not stay here and were directly sent to the desk of Wang An, the eunuch who held the pen in the Imperial Household Department. What was astonishing was that these two memorials did not stay here either, but instantly arrived on Li Xuan's desk.

  Looking at the wrinkled thing in front of him, Li Xuan's servant slightly furrowed his brow, gently picked it up, slowly opened it, and lowered his head to read it carefully.

  "In the inner court, there is the Qianqing Palace, just as in the outer court, there is the Huangji Temple. Only the Son of Heaven can reside here, and only the Empress can share his residence. Other consorts, although they may be summoned to serve him in turn, are not allowed to permanently reside here, not only to avoid suspicion but also to distinguish between superior and inferior ranks. The selection of attendants is neither a legitimate mother nor a birth mother, yet she resides in the main palace with dignity, while the Empress retires to the Ciqing Palace, unable to preside over ceremonies or perform grand rituals - what does this mean? The attendant has no virtue towards the late Emperor, and no kindness towards the Empress; how can she be entrusted with the sacred person? Moreover, the Empress is already sixteen years old, with inner support from loyal and honest elderly officials, and outer support from public and noble officials - why worry about lacking people, still needing to be nursed and carried? Furthermore, at the beginning of a wise reign, it is only proper not to show desire; why must it be entrusted to the hands of women? If this is not decided early on, it will be used as an excuse for nurturing, but in reality, it will be autocratic. The disaster of Wu Zetian will reappear today, and there will be unbearable consequences in the future."

  After finishing, Li Xuan's servant suddenly stood up, throwing the memorial in his hand fiercely, and his whole body was trembling constantly, with a pale face that was terrible to look at. He wanted to pick up the tea on the table, but before he could bring it to his mouth, there was hardly any tea left.

  Li Xuan Shi really did not expect that these so-called literati and refined scholars, who had read the classics and were high-ranking officials, would actually write such things. At this time, she felt a deep sense of helplessness, a kind of despair that came from the heart. These people would stop at nothing to frame her, and Li Xuan Shi believed that they must have even more despicable tricks up their sleeves, waiting for her. She had to think of a way out, or else she would truly be doomed.

  He walked slowly down the steps and picked up the memorial again. Li Xuan servant bowed his head once more to take a look.

  Please recommend, please collect, please beg!