Zhang Jingshu's whole body was cold and she was shivering constantly. Just looking at the body of the Queen Mother on the bed, she suddenly felt inexplicable fear.
Zhang Jingshu stepped back step by step, wanting to leave here immediately.
"Your Majesty," the female officer knelt in front of her, "what to do with the Queen Mother's funeral affairs, I want you to take charge of it."
As the female officer spoke, she held the badge and key in her hand and presented them to Zhang Jingshu.
Zhang Jingshu looked over and saw that these things were what she had dreamed of. She helped her second uncle do these things, hoping that one day she would enter the Cining Palace and hold the Empress Dowager's private treasury in her hands.
Now she finally got it, it was all hers.
Zhang Jingshu stretched out her hand, but was slow to pick up the key. The key weighed as much as a thousand pounds, and looking at it made her breathless.
"Your Majesty," the female officer urged again, "the Queen Mother can't wait for the weather to be like this. We have to pick out the items now to bury the Queen Mother."
Zhang Jingshu looked at the female officer blankly: "Where are all the things?"
The female officer stood up and respectfully led Zhang Jingshu to the private warehouse. The door opened, and the scent of sandalwood hit her face. Red sandalwood boxes were piled there.
Zhang Jingshu had been to this private treasury before. At that time, she accompanied the female officer to collect the reward. She lowered her head and did not dare to look around. She only felt that the treasures here were piled up, and every item was extremely gorgeous. Every time she mentioned it,
The Queen Mother, she will think of this.
"Your Majesty, you decide what to bring!"
The cages and cabinets were opened, and everything immediately came into view, including gold and silverware, wine sets, phoenix crowns, and various silk fabrics and treasures.
All she likes.
In the past, she would have fallen in love with every item.
But now she couldn't bring up her interest. She reached out to touch the phoenix crown. The gems on the phoenix crown were bone-chilling, and the hairs on her body suddenly stood up. Zhang Jingshu withdrew her hand.
The Queen Mother died, and the man who had it all killed himself with poison.
Why?
The Queen Mother is so smart and holds great power, yet she takes this path. Is this the best choice?
Is death the best option?
The wind from outside blew in, and the pearls hanging from the phoenix crown swayed gently. Under the light of the lamp, those exquisite things glowed strangely.
Zhang Jingshu couldn't help but trembled: "What did the Queen Mother say before she left?"
The female official was quiet for a long time before she spoke: "The empress said that it was thanks to the great Zhou Dynasty that it was not destroyed in the hands of the Zhang family."
The lights flickered, casting strange shadows on the wall, like ghosts seeking life.
Zhang Jingshu then asked: "What else?"
The female officer pursed her lips: "The Queen Mother asked me to live a good life, saying... we are blessed. We will live out of the palace in peace. In the next few decades, the world will be peaceful, and the Great Zhou Hui... will usher in a wise master.
"
The Ming Dynasty the Empress Dowager mentioned was Song Chengxuan.
Zhang Jingshu finally understood that the Queen Mother had anticipated the outcome, so she gave up her struggle.
No matter what you do, it's useless, it's better to die now.
Before Song Chengxuan attacked the capital, the Queen Mother passed away in the Zhang family's imprisonment. After her death, she could enjoy the honor of the Queen Mother. No one would compete with a dead person, and the whole palace had to prepare funeral ceremonies for the Queen Mother.
In the end, the Queen Mother was still scheming and included them all.
Zhang Jingshu kept shaking her head: "No, I don't..." She no longer wanted to be the Queen Mother's pawn, and she no longer wanted to be manipulated at will.
But if she didn't do it, there would be a crime on her head. The pearl on the phoenix crown shook again and made a crisp sound, as if it was mocking her.
Zhang Jingshu raised her feet and was about to walk outside. After taking two steps, her legs were hugged by the female officer.
"My Lady, you can't do this. The funeral ceremony of the Queen Mother is related to the state!"
"Let go," Zhang Jingshu struggled, "let me go." She seemed to have been imprisoned here, waiting for Song Chengxuan to invade the capital one day and take her life.
If your life is not guaranteed, what's the use of having these things? Do you have to be like the Queen Mother, lying there upright, waiting for others to come and bury you?
No, she will be even worse than the Queen Mother. No one will pretend to bury her. She will be beheaded as a traitor.
"I don't want it." Zhang Jingshu shook her head. She didn't want anything. She didn't want to die, she wanted to live well.
"Let Concubine Hui and Concubine Li come," Zhang Jingshu's voice trembled, "I still have to take care of the eldest son of the emperor, so I can't take care of these things."
Zhang Jingshu kicked the palace attendant away and walked out in a panic.
"The Imperial Concubine, the Imperial Concubine..."
The shouts of the palace people came from behind, like a reminder, Zhang Jingshu returned to the palace all the way and sat on the soft couch in the inner room.
"Where is the emperor's eldest son? Where is the emperor's eldest son?"
Hearing Zhang Jingshu's voice, the wet nurse immediately stepped forward and said, "The eldest son of the emperor has fallen asleep. Your Majesty, please feel at ease."
"Bring the eldest son of the emperor over here."
The wet nurse did not dare to neglect and immediately brought the child to Zhang Jingshu.
Zhang Jingshu reached out and hugged the eldest son of the emperor tightly in her arms. Because she used too much force, the child in her arms was awakened and immediately let out a cry.
Zhang Jingshu, however, seemed to have not heard anything and still hugged the child tightly, as if the child was a life-saving straw.
…
The Queen Mother committed suicide.
Everyone in the palace wore mourning tributes. Zhang Jingshu was frightened and refused to leave the palace. Finally, the Ministry of Rites asked a female family member to preside over the funeral ceremony.
Zhang Yuchi's face was dark.
The Queen Mother would rather die than help him.
After returning home from the palace, Zhang Yuchi ordered people to bring wine and drank pots and bottles of strong liquor, and then he felt more comfortable.
The Tatars have been expelled from Xuanfu, and Song Chengxuan may attack the city at any time.
Zhang Yuchi ordered the steward: "Tomorrow, after the Queen Mother's golden coffin leaves the palace, let all the generals in the capital come to see me." He wanted to arrange matters in the capital, defend the capital, and never give up the throne.
The steward responded: "Master, please drink less. You have to go to the palace tomorrow morning. It might not be good if someone smells alcohol."
Zhang Yuchi sneered: "Let's see who dares." He raised his head and downed half a bottle of wine.
The steward couldn't help but shook his head and closed the door softly. After the death of the Queen Mother, the situation in the capital became even more chaotic. Everyone knew that Song Chengxuan was coming soon, and now he was able to live in peace day by day.
The steward walked out, and as soon as he walked out of the yard, he heard the boy report: "The two deputy generals are meeting the master."
The steward shook his head: "Master is asleep. Let's talk about anything tomorrow."
The boy responded and turned around to reply.
The steward continued to walk forward while holding the lamp, but he heard an exclamation. He couldn't help but trembled. He followed the sound and saw two figures walking towards this side quickly.
The two men were coming menacingly, carrying a murderous aura.
The steward's heart sank and he immediately shouted loudly: "Someone, come quickly..."
Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure had already taken a few steps to the steward's side, and with a long knife in his hand, he moved forward and pierced the steward's chest.