Chapter 454: Mother and Child Are Dead

Chapter 454

On that day after, Zhao Hua and Xiao Jingheng no longer discussed the matter concerning Xiao Jingyan.

During the noon hours, the two had their midday meal together. Zhao Hua assisted Xiao Jingheng in taking his medicine.

"After you have taken your medicine, my dear Xiao Lang, please rest well. For now, set aside the affairs of state. Do not exhaust your mind reviewing memorials anymore."

Xiao Jingheng nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow, I shall take a day of respite and bathing. Zhao'er, you should return to the palace and make proper preparations with Cheng Yu. The day after tomorrow, you shall take my place and attend the court session."

Zhao Hua timidly pursed her lips and remained silent for a good while before giving a slight nod and saying:

"Your humble servant can only muster the courage to walk into the court because of you, my dear Xiao Lang. If there is anything I do improperly, please do not blame me."

"No matter," Xiao Jingheng waved his sleeve with a brilliant smile on his face and said assuringly:

"My Zhao'er is no longer the frail woman she once was when she first entered the palace. I have faith in you."

Zhao Hua gracefully nodded, and in the gaze they exchanged, there was a profound tenderness.

Yet within this tenderness, there was also a tinge of slight disdain towards Xiao Jingheng.

In Zhao Hua's eyes,

frailty should never be an innate shackle on a woman.

It stems from the disdain men hold in their hearts towards women, from the contemptuous preconceptions of the strong towards the weak.

What she aimed to do was to break free of these shackles before Xiao Jingheng's eyes,

to let him understand that in this world, be it man or woman, all are living beings.

No one should be subordinate to another, reduced to mere ornaments or playthings.

After Zhao Hua departed, Xiao Jingheng, who had initially settled to rest, suddenly sat up and summoned the little eunuch guarding outside into his chambers.

"Go and have the Tianji Office handle a matter for me."

*

and everything was understood without words.

Later, the news from the imperial court stated that Xiao Jingheng felt that Xiao Jingyan's death was undignified and had brought shame to the imperial family. Thus, he did not permit Xiao Jingyan to be buried in the Tombs of Prince, but instead had his men find an auspicious burial ground to lay him to rest properly.

So-called auspicious burial ground - they merely wrapped the body and cremated it in an open field.

When the men from the Tianji Office came to report to Xiao Jingheng that everything had been arranged, Zhao Hua was attending to him, stirring the medicine bowl to cool it down.

Just as the medicine reached a drinkable temperature and Zhao Hua had scooped up a spoonful, ready to bring it to Xiao Jingheng's lips, the little eunuch hurriedly rushed in, stammering as he delivered the news:

"Your humble servant reports to Your Majesty... Princess Dowager Jinggui, upon learning of the Prince of An's matter... she could not bear it and has committed suicide!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingheng merely replied lightly,

"Matters of the rear palace shall be handled by the Empress."

Zhao Hua brought the medicine to Xiao Jingheng's mouth and, without turning her head, calmly said:

"For a consort to commit suicide is a grave offense. Princess Dowager Jinggui was foolish to resort to such actions, thus she is unworthy of being buried in the Former Emperor's Imperial Tombs. Since she is dead and her maternal family has no one, we shall handle her in secret without any funerary rites. Wrap her in a straw mat and bury her outside the palace."

Hearing Zhao Hua's cold imperial decree, the little eunuch grew apprehensive.

He gasped and responded with a trembling voice,

"This... this servant shall follow the decree."

He then quickly fled the scene.

After he left, Xiao Jingheng smiled and gently caressed Zhao Hua's face, expressing his approval:

"Zhao'er's manner of handling matters is becoming more and more befitting of an Empress Dowager."

Zhao Hua smiled shyly. "Your humble servant can only reach this point thanks to your guidance and nurturing, my dear Xiao Lang. I am overjoyed."

She then scooped up another spoonful of medicine and brought it to Xiao Jingheng's lips.

"Come, my dear Xiao Lang, drink your medicine."