Chapter 27: Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
Chapter 27:
Shock
Pei Qing couldn’t believe that the person in the coffin was Xiao Jing. Though he was gravely ill, he wouldn’t have...
Even if the rebels had attacked the palace, they would still need to coerce, threaten, or persuade to obtain the imperial edict; they wouldn’t dare to immediately kill the emperor. Xiao Yuan followed her gaze and, after a moment of silence, took Pei Qing’s hand.
He looked over at the sobbing and smiling Chu Li. “Where is the prince? If the edict is being declared, he must be present as well.”
Chu Li, relieved that Xiao Yuan was finally speaking to him, though the tone was still disdainful, didn’t mind: “In response to the Prince’s question, I have already signaled. The prince is on his way back to the palace!”
Having just discovered that Xiao Yuan was alive, Chu Li had wanted to rush over and embrace him in tears but was met with Xiao Yuan’s fierce glare and had been sent back.
Chu Li had to wipe his own tears, rub his aching knees from kneeling, and then went out to fire the signal, instructing the South River Army stationed outside the palace to escort the prince back.
Xiao Yuan didn’t even bother to address him. If Chu Li hadn’t been crying indiscriminately on the ground, Pei Qing wouldn’t have mistaken the person in the coffin for Xiao Yuan.
But it wasn’t entirely Chu Li’s fault; he had been so distraught that, upon returning and seeing only the coffin, he was blank-minded and didn’t think to question further before collapsing in front of it and crying.
“How did His Majesty... pass away?” Pei Qing asked in a daze.
“Poisoning,” Xu Da replied. “According to the Emperor's head eunuch, His Majesty said the empress had gone to the Xuyang Palace through the back gate to look after the prince, and then issued the edict to open the palace gates.”
“His Majesty closed the doors to avoid disturbances. It was only when the Imperial Guard came to report the victory that the eunuch discovered His Majesty had already... The imperial physician confirmed that poison had been placed in the wine cups.”
“What?” Pei Qing took a step back, and Xiao Yuan supported her.
She had only turned away for a moment to adjust the charcoal fire after bringing the wine, and poison was already slipped into it. One cup was drugged with a sleeping potion, and the other with poison. She couldn’t understand how Xiao Jing could be so resolute. What he had calmly spoken as a farewell in this life turned out to be such an ending.
“Mother!”
A child's voice snapped Pei Qing back to reality.
Xiao Ji’an had been swiftly escorted back by the South River Army. The military officers outside lamented at the sight of such a young child daring to cross the muddy, blood-strewn ground, ignoring the corpses on the ground, and directly entering the Mingwu Hall.
He threw himself into Pei Qing’s arms and finally cried out loud. He understood what the coffin represented and what he had lost. Pei Qing, holding the child, was also crying sorrowfully. Xiao Yuan frowned, watching her body tremble with sobs, worried she might faint from crying.
Xiao Yuan glanced again at Xiao Ji’an, fully understanding the pain of losing a father. He patted the little head and said, “With the new emperor ascending the throne, our Southern River will pledge to follow to the death, with unwavering loyalty.”
This short statement carried immense weight. It meant he would support the young emperor’s reign, ensure Pei Qing ascended to the position of Empress Dowager, and eliminate the remaining threats to restore stability. With this step, he would be unable to return to South River for decades.
Xu Da watched Xiao Yuan in silence. The old Prince’s last wish had been to prevent Xiao Yuan from leaving Southern River and from involving himself in politics and the struggles for imperial power. Their line only had Xiao Yuan left; he could not follow in the old Prince’s footsteps.
Yet, despite everything, Xiao Yuan ended up in the imperial palace, even nearly dying here. Was this a defiance of fate or simply what was destined to be?
Outside the hall, the guards announced loudly, “Greeting the Prime Minister!”
The aged Prime Minister Xiang Zhi Yi, with his hair and beard turned gray, entered with a solemn expression. Despite his advanced age, he showed no sign of frailty. Ignoring the courtiers’ salutes, he walked straight to the coffin, knelt heavily, and performed three kowtows.
He had witnessed Emperor Xiao Jing’s rise to the throne, understood his concerns over state affairs, and knew he had not yet fulfilled his grand ambitions. The regrets he felt were beyond words, and his only hope was to faithfully assist the new ruler to repay his sovereign.
Xiang Zhi Yi stood up and produced the imperial edict with a totem pattern, declaring loudly, “The late emperor’s last will is here; all ministers, heed the decree!”
From inside the hall, the proclamation was heard outside. All the military generals and newly arrived nobles knelt outside the main hall, watching the Prime Minister, who held the edict aloft, unfold it at the entrance.
The crimson imperial seal was imposing. Yet, as he read the contents, the Prime Minister’s expression froze.
Until today, he had never opened it on his own. That night, when the late emperor secretly summoned him and entrusted the edict to him, Xiang Zhi Yi had been deeply honored, but his shock now was even greater.
With everyone holding their breath, he had no choice but to read the edict—
“Xiao Yuan, the legitimate son of the heir to the Southern River, Xiao Ren Yu, and my brother, who has repeatedly quelled rebellions and protected the throne, is most deserving of continuing the great rule. He shall ascend to the throne as Emperor.”
“The Emperor’s legitimate son, Xiao Ji’an, of exceptional talent and greatly favored by me. Considering his youth, he shall be adopted and renamed, with Xiao Yuan as his father.”
“The late Empress, Lord Pei’s eldest daughter, Pei Wan, who contributed to raising the emperor’s son, is posthumously honored with the title of Wise and Gentle, and shall be buried with me in the imperial tomb. The second daughter of the Pei family, Pei Qing, who is gentle and virtuous, and has safeguarded my heart during crises, shall remain as Empress. The Pei family’s merits are indelible, and thus, Pei Qing shall never be deposed as Empress.”
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