imperial psychologist

Chapter 412 Delayed Death Knell

When Zhang Shouzhong and Sun Beiji also left the Sanxi hall, about seven or eight palace people who were not familiar with each other passed them by, led by Emperor Qitai's personal eunuch.

Zhang Shouzhong looked at these people a little strangely, until Sun Beiji called him, and the two descended the stairs.

In general, everything went well, until the last moment of his life, Emperor Qitai also maintained his usual style, and he was not sloppy in the matter of doing good things like others.

Emperor Qitai left an imperial decree to the two of them, asking the Ministry of Rites to start preparing for Chen Yicong's ascension to the throne immediately, without leaving any gaps. After his death, all funerals should be simplified, and no more life and money will be wasted.The ministries of Pingjing and the state capitals of the Great Zhou Dynasty are not allowed to do any extravagant and extravagant things in the name of the death of the new emperor.

All financial and material resources should be tilted towards the north at this moment.

After the imperial decree was read out in public, the courtiers in front of Sanxi Hall also dispersed—this is the meaning of Emperor Qitai. In the last moments of his life, he only wanted his yard to be quiet and free from any distractions people wait.

The courtiers followed Sun Beiji and Zhang Shouzhong out of the courtyard and went to the Zuoye Gate to wait.

If the emperor died tonight, then they mourned tonight.

If the emperor is not dead tonight, then they will come back tomorrow night.

Not long ago, people were crying and mourning for Emperor Jianxi. It was less than a month ago, and Emperor Qitai couldn't hold on anymore.

I'm afraid that there are still many places in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the news of Emperor Jianxi's death has not yet been conveyed...

This change of power is so violent and radical, it is really unpredictable.

In the blink of an eye, it was midnight.

Both Zhen Shi and Chen Yicong returned to Emperor Qitai's bed again, but Emperor Qitai could no longer open his eyes, his face became as white as paper, and his lips slowly turned purple.

Mrs. Zhen was holding clear water, did she use a clean handkerchief to moisten her husband's lips to prevent them from peeling and cracking due to dryness.

Apart from these, she couldn't do anything else.

When the time of Chou was approaching, Emperor Qitai began to have nightmares again, waking up and falling asleep, waking up and falling asleep again. According to his instructions, Mrs. Zhen lit candles in Sanxi Hall, illuminating the plain room. Bright as day.

It wasn't until this moment that Zhen suddenly noticed that Chen Yicong's face looked a little different from before - I don't know when it started, but there were some fine hairs on his upper lip and chin.

These days, the Zhen family and the prince can only see each other briefly in the early morning or at night, and they have never noticed this detail.

"Why is the queen mother staring at me?" Chen Yicong felt Zhen's gaze, and touched his face unconsciously.

"...You've started to grow a beard." Zhen said softly, "It's really... grown up."

Chen Yicong touched his mouth with both hands. He had indeed discovered this recently, but these beards have just grown out, they are still very soft and light in color, and it is far from the time to start trimming.

Furthermore, he was not in the mood and had no time to take care of these things.

According to the etiquette of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the body, hair and skin of the parents, hair and beard, could not be easily shaved, but this rule gave way to another bigger rule-if the father is still alive, then the son You are not allowed to grow a beard, and you must shave frequently to show respect for your elders.

That's why some people have beautiful beards in their early twenties, while others have smooth lips at the age of 50 or [-].

"...but I feel that I'm still far behind." Chen Yicong said with his head down, "I'm still... know nothing."

"Think about your grandpa." Zhen rubbed her son's head lightly, "When he came to the throne, he was in the same difficult situation as you...he will watch you and guard you from the sky."

"What if I make a big mistake in the future...?"

"It is impossible for a person not to make mistakes, and it is even more impossible for the emperor not to make mistakes. Once you make a mistake, remember it once, and don't let the dead bleed in vain. It is enough to do this."

Chen Yicong nodded.

He understands these truths—but what really makes him care is the feeling of personal experience in his mother's words.

Zhen Shi sighed, it's a pity that Emperor Qitai on the bed has no chance to see Chen Yicong's grown-up appearance in the future.

Thinking of this, she closed her eyes sadly again.

Chen Yicong sat next to his mother, allowing Zhen to rest against him for a while.

At this moment, Zhen Shi suddenly felt that there were no monarchs and ministers in Sanxi Hall, only a dying husband, and his sad wife and son.

Zhen Shi held her husband's hand and heard his breathing getting lighter and lighter. After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly heard footsteps nearby.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch at the side stepped forward, "Please move to the side hall with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhen Shi thought she heard it wrong, "What did you say?"

"The emperor ordered that after tonight's ugly hour, you can no longer be kept vigil. Please go to the side hall and wait. The prince should go back to the East Palace."

Saying so, the eunuch took out a handbook, and Zhen frowned and read the whole thing.

"Please." The eunuch said, "We have also prepared the soft sedan chair, and we will take His Royal Highness back—"

"I won't go." Chen Yicong said immediately, "I want to stay by Father's side."

"Your Highness, the empress is here to take care of you..." the eunuch said helplessly, "Besides, this is also His Majesty's will."

"Then I won't leave either," Chen Yicong's voice revealed anger, "I'll stay in the side hall with my mother too!"

The eunuch turned his head, looked at each other with the palace people behind him, and finally looked at Zhen Shi in a compromised way, "The empress, look..."

"I won't go to the side hall." Mrs. Zhen gently twisted the corner of the quilt for Emperor Qitai, "I will stay here."

"This……"

"The emperor left such a letter because he was worried about the health of this palace and the crown prince." Zhen said with red eyes, "I won't leave..."

The eunuchs didn't try to persuade them any more, they just retreated to the side again and closed a few windows that let in the cool breeze.

During this period, Emperor Qitai woke up a few times with a weak breath, but he seemed unable to recognize the person in front of him, but when he woke up for the last time, he grabbed Zhen Shi's hand again, and he has been holding it since then, not letting go .

The moon moved westward slowly, and when it was almost approaching Yinshi, sobs came from Sanxi Hall again.

Emperor Qitai still left tonight.

Although Zhen Shi has been looking forward to some kind of miracle, even a return to the light - she just now feels that she has too many things to say to her husband who is on the sick bed.

She held Emperor Qitai's hand tightly, only to feel that the tears on both sides of her cheeks were sore, and her eyes were a little dizzy...

Suddenly, she felt that Chen Yicong beside her seemed to stand up.

The young man looked at the seven or eight palace men standing nearby motionless, and the alarm bells rang in his heart.

"What are you still doing standing here..." Chen Yicong lowered his voice a little with red eyes, "Why didn't you ring the death knell?"

Emperor Qitai's personal eunuch stepped forward again.

"There is a purpose."

(End of this chapter)