In the blink of an eye, the forty-nine days of mourning for Empress Dowager Cao came to an end.
Mrs. Feng came back from the palace, changed out of her plain clothes, soaked in hot water for half an hour, changed into homely clothes, and drank a large bowl of chicken soup. She breathed a long sigh of relief.
This funeral was finally over.
Empress Dowager Cao's coffin was to be sent to the imperial mausoleum for burial. Following the example of the King of Qin and the King of Han, the number of royal guards accompanying the funeral was doubled.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cried so sadly in front of the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cao that he fainted for a while. The accompanying physician hurriedly helped the Crown Prince down to perform acupuncture, and poured a bowl of ginseng soup down.
Half an hour later, His Royal Highness the Prince woke up leisurely and asked the people around him in a low voice: "Yang Jinghe, has the coffin of the Imperial Grandmother been put into the mausoleum?"
Eunuch Yang responded respectfully: "It has been placed in the mausoleum."
After a pause, he said in a low voice: "Concubine Cao, wait for His Highness's instructions, and I will personally send her on her way."
When the words "Concubine Cao" came into his ears, the prince's face suddenly turned gloomy, and a cold murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
Eunuch Yang asked in a low voice: "Wine or Bai Ling?"
The prince said coldly: "Bai Ling."
The poisoned wine entered the throat, and he lost his life in a few breaths. The death was too direct and simple, and it was too cheap for Concubine Cao. It would be much more painful to "commit suicide" with white silk.
Eunuch Yang received the order in a low voice and was about to retreat when he heard another cold order from the prince: "Carry the King of Han over and see Concubine Cao off."
This oral instruction is really cruel.
Not only did he want Concubine Cao to die, but he also wanted the King of Han to watch his mother "go on the road" with his own eyes.
Eunuch Yang received the oral instructions without changing his expression.
For the sake of reputation, the prince should not be known as a murderer. If the King of Han himself succumbed to his injuries, or if he witnessed Cao Guifei's death and was so excited that he vomited blood and died, it would be bad luck for the King of Han himself.
The King of Han conspired to cause chaos, and it is his own fault for what happened today. No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince is so ruthless!
…
Concubine Cao was locked in a secluded room.
Killing Queen Mother Cao was a heinous crime. The prince wanted to cut her into pieces. For more than a month, even though the prince did not give a direct order, Concubine Cao's life was also very difficult.
Previously, she was imprisoned in a palace dungeon and was given a bowl of cold water and a steamed bun every day, as long as she didn't starve to death or die of thirst. There was no hot water for Concubine Cao to wash herself, and no clean clothes to change into.
At this time, Concubine Cao was disheveled and her whole body exuded a pungent and unpleasant smell. Her eyes were dull, like a pool of stagnant water.
When Eunuch Yang pushed the door in, Concubine Cao slowly raised her head, twitched the corners of her mouth, and made a stiff expression: "Is it Bai Ling or poisonous wine?"
Eunuch Yang narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "We are here to see off the imperial concubine on your Highness's order. Bai Ling is already prepared."
Concubine Cao had long been determined to die, but she was not afraid. She even sneered: "What a gentle, respectful and thrifty filial prince! Not long after the death of the late emperor, he was about to kill me, a concubine!"
How could she have the nerve to say that!
Eunuch Yang also sneered: "The noble concubine killed the Queen Mother with her own hands. I don't know how she can face the emperor when she goes underground!"
Resentment and hatred flashed in Cao Guifei's eyes, and her expression became excited: "Why do I have no shame to see the emperor? Not only do I want to go, but I also want to tell him that he is the good son he values most, and he gave his concubine to death with white silk."
"The Queen Mother is already old and should have died long ago. Everyone thought that the Queen Mother was partial to me and the King of Han, mother and son, but when the ministers asked the Emperor to appoint a queen, the Queen Mother remained silent. When the Emperor appointed a crown prince, she also refused to support it.
The King of Han. The King of Han was ordered to guard the imperial mausoleum, but she still said nothing."
"Bah! Neither mother nor son appreciate this hypocritical protection! I just have to send her on my way to relieve the hatred in my heart!"
"I only regret that the sky has no eyes. The King of Han failed to kill the prince. Otherwise, the one who will sit on the dragon throne now is the King of Han. How can it be your turn to show off your power in front of me as a rootless dog slave!"
Concubine Cao's face flushed with excitement, and her eyes were filled with hatred.
Even the cold-hearted Eunuch Yang felt that Concubine Cao was in need of treatment. Empress Dowager Cao was Concubine Cao's biological aunt. Without Empress Dowager Cao, how could Concubine Cao have been so prosperous and wealthy for so many years? Concubine Cao even hated Empress Cao.
It’s greed and shamelessness!
A cold light flashed in Eunuch Yang's eyes, and he turned around and ordered: "Go and invite His Highness the King of Han to come over."
Concubine Cao, who was shouting angrily, felt as if she had been pricked by a slender needle, and her pupils shrank violently: "What are you going to do? The King of Han is the sibling of the Emperor, you dare to kill the King of Han!"
Eunuch Yang's eyes flashed and he said coldly: "The Imperial Concubine and His Highness the King of Han have a deep love for each other as mother and son. His Highness the Crown Prince is considerate of the Queen and specially asked the King of Han to see the Queen off on her last journey."
Concubine Cao: "..."
Concubine Cao took a breath and quickly figured out the viciousness of this plan. Her heart was filled with fear and she suddenly shouted: "Don't let the King of Han come over! How dare you do this, a despicable dog slave! Hurry up!
Bring Bai Ling, I will kill myself without you taking action!"
Eunuch Yang looked at Concubine Cao's hysterical shouting with cold eyes.
Concubine Cao didn't have the strength to get up, so she crawled over using her hands and feet and grabbed Eunuch Yang's trouser leg.
Eunuch Yang took two steps back in disgust. Two palace servants on the side stepped forward and dragged Concubine Cao back to where she was. Concubine Cao struggled violently, yelling and cursing the prince angrily.
Soon, the King of Han was ‘invited’ in.
The King of Han was seriously injured that day and was left with only one breath left. The imperial physician barely saved his life. For more than a month, he was in a coma for most of the time.
His whole body was wrapped in layers, and his hands and feet could not move. Even his face was wrapped in some white gauze, only his eyes, ears, mouth and nose were exposed. He looked like a monster.
The King of Han was lying on the wooden board and was carried in. Looking at his son, Cao Guifei let out a scream in her chest. She didn't know where she got the strength to get rid of the two strong palace men and rushed over.
"Son! Why are you so injured!" Concubine Cao, whose face remained unchanged after hearing Bai Ling's poison and drunkenness, was filled with tears and grief.
The King of Han's eyes showed sadness, he reluctantly moved his fingers, and struggled to squeeze out the word "mother concubine" from his mouth.
Concubine Cao's whole body was shaking and her tears were falling like rain.
Eunuch Yang sneered silently and brought the white silk over in person: "Your Highness, the King of Han, this servant was ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince to send the Imperial Concubine on her way. Your Highness knows that His Highness the King of Han is the most filial person, so he specially showed mercy and asked His Highness the King of Han to come over and see the Queen off on her last journey.
.”
After saying that, he moved his hands, put Bai Ling around Concubine Cao's neck, and twisted Bai Ling hard.
Concubine Cao felt severe pain in her neck, her breathing became weaker and weaker, her eyes turned into whites, and she grabbed Bai Ling with both hands and struggled hard.
The king of Han, who was lying on the wooden board, witnessed this scene with his own eyes and his whole body trembled violently.
