Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Meng Wanjun was sitting idly in the palace when she suddenly heard footsteps outside and the voice of a young eunuch: "Your Highness, the Emperor is coming soon. Please pack up and prepare to welcome him." When Meng Wanjun heard this, she was suddenly filled with joy. She quickly stood up, adjusted her makeup and clothes in front of the mirror, and then said to the palace maid beside her: "Hurry up and dress me up, don't waste time!" The palace maids immediately got busy, combing Meng Wanjun's hair, putting on makeup, and changing into gorgeous palace clothes. Everything seemed in order.

At this time, a young eunuch came in. He saluted Meng Wanjun respectfully and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived at the door. Please go and greet him." Meng Wanjun smiled and nodded, motioning the young eunuch to leave. She turned and walked towards the door, her steps light and graceful. When she reached the door, she saw Emperor Qian standing there, wearing a dragon robe, handsome and majestic. Meng Wanjun was delighted and walked forward quickly. She knelt on the ground and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Emperor Qian. Long live the Emperor." The Emperor Qian smiled and helped Meng Wanjun up, saying, "My beloved concubine, there is no need to be polite. I came to visit you today to see how you are doing." Meng Wanjun smiled and replied, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern. Everything is fine with me."

Afterward, Meng Wanjun invited the Emperor to sit down inside the palace. The maids brought tea and snacks, and Meng Wanjun personally poured tea for the Emperor and chatted with him about family matters. The two enjoyed a pleasant conversation, and the atmosphere was harmonious. During their conversation, Meng Wanjun noticed that the Emperor's gaze frequently fell on her, a look of admiration in his eyes. Meng Wanjun secretly rejoiced, knowing that the Emperor held special feelings for her, and this filled her with immense happiness.

Meng Wanjun's mind was filled with wild thoughts, thinking that Emperor Qian had finally seen her merits. She thought that if she regained his favor, she would have a foothold in the harem. If she conceived another child, her position would definitely be as solid as Mount Tai. While Meng Wanjun's thoughts were racing, Emperor Qian grabbed Meng Wanjun's hand and asked casually, "Wanjun, how are you and Queen Kun getting along?"

When Meng Wanjun heard this, his thoughts quickly returned to his mind. His expression froze for a moment, then he reacted and said, "Returning to Huang Bixiao, I get along well with Queen Kun. I respect her and respect her. She is the mother of a country and a role model for women all over the world. I will definitely learn from Queen Kun."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian retracted his hand from Meng Wanjun. Meng Wanjun wanted to shake it back, but she didn't dare. She only heard Emperor Qian say coldly, "You respect him and love him, but haven't you always been by his side, listening to him?" Meng Wanjun's alarm bells rang immediately when she heard this. She knelt down and said, "Emperor Qian, he is the mother of a country, and I am just a small concubine. I have no one to help me in my family. In this harem, I can only sit by him at dawn. I dare not disobey anyone!"

Emperor Qian sat up straight and said helplessly, "I didn't stop you from listening to him. I just wanted you to know. What I want to ask you now is, did he ask you to harm the concubines? Let me ask you directly, did she harm Qiao Xinran?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Wanjun kowtowed and said, "Emperor Qian, I really didn't know about this! I'm just in the harem, and I don't have much contact with them. You know I like quiet and don't like crowds. I only go to Queen Kun when I wake up at dawn and dusk. After paying my respects, I stay in the palace, reading, painting, or copying Buddhist scriptures. Emperor Qian, you have to believe me, I just like quiet and don't like to join in the fun.

Seeing Meng Wanjun so frightened, Emperor Qian hesitated to ask any further questions. So, he stood up, personally helped Meng Wanjun to her feet, and comforted her, "My beloved, I know you prefer quietness and don't like to get involved in these matters. I just wanted to ask if you had any other news, but since you don't know, there's no need to worry."

Let's forget about this and talk about something else. The emperor's tone was full of tenderness and consideration, as if he had a deep concern for Meng Wanjun. After hearing this, Meng Wanjun's fear gradually dissipated. She looked at the emperor gratefully, with a touch of emotion in her eyes. She understood that although Emperor Qian was in a high position, he still cared about her feelings deep in his heart.

The two gazed at each other for a moment, then Emperor Qian gently took Meng Wanjun's hand and led her to the window to admire the blossoming flowers outside. They began to chat about lighthearted topics, such as court anecdotes and poetry. Meng Wanjun gradually relaxed, sharing her insights and thoughts with Emperor Qian. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating their happy smiles. Though the world outside was still bustling, they simply wanted to savor this rare moment of tranquility.

Meng Wanjun looked at Emperor Qian with such strangeness. She didn't know whether the time they spent together was real or fake, so she could only accompany him to continue acting. Emperor Qian would stop and start again. Let the dream help you relieve your mood, and constantly want him to deeply understand that being with the emperor is like being with a tiger.

Although Emperor Qian stayed overnight at Meng Wanjun's place, they got along quite well with each other. In the morning, Meng Wanjun helped him get dressed and put on his clothes for the morning court. When he was tidying up his clothes, Emperor Qianxin took his hand, pinched his face, and said, "You don't have to be confused about these things. Let them do it for me. You are also tired all night. Go and have a good rest." Meng Wanjun blushed slightly when she heard this. She lowered her head and gently said to Emperor Qianxin,

Emperor Qian looked at his blushing face, smiled cheerfully, and walked out of the bedroom. The maid looked at Meng Wanjun with a blushing face, stepped forward to support Meng Wanjun, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Emperor Qian has left. It's cold outside. I will help you to bed. Rest for a while." Meng Wanjun retracted his gaze from watching Qian Huang go away, turned around and said to the maid beside him, "You all go down. I want to be quiet and rest for a while." The maids all retreated in response.

Meng Wanjun lay in bed, unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, thinking about Emperor Qian's intentions. Should he tell him his secret? Although she had taken refuge with Empress Kun, she had not done anything to let her down. She shouldn't blame herself, but was that really the case?

Given Emperor Qian's attitude towards Qiao Xinran, if he knew that he and Empress Kun were in cahoots, he would definitely suspect himself. Although he had not done anything harmful to the world, Emperor Qian would definitely not think so. He would think that he must have contributed to Qiao Xinran's death and this was related to him. Although he didn't know whether Empress Kun had taken action against Qiao Xinran after marriage, if Emperor Qian knew, he would definitely think that he and Empress Kun had killed him. No one could say that he should be beaten to death or that he could just keep it to himself.

Thinking of this, Meng Wanjun immediately made up her mind that the secret could not be told to others. If it was told out, it would no longer be a secret. Then, she would keep the fact that she and the Empress had once formed an alliance to herself. Then, Meng Wanjun seemed to have figured out a huge thing, and she closed her eyes and went to sleep peacefully.

Before dawn, the first rays of morning light gently brush across the peaks of Huangling, bringing a touch of vitality to this tranquil sacred site. Huangling, a cemetery that has stood tall and proud despite all the hardships, now appears even more solemn and majestic, as if quietly awaiting a grand farewell.

The royal guard arrived first, dressed in uniform black regalia and carrying white banners. Their steps were steady and solemn. Following closely behind were officials, royal relatives, and envoys from various regions. Each one carried a heavy heart and walked with a heavy step. The royal band played a melodious and slightly melancholic melody, the melody seemingly piercing the heavens and reaching the softest corners of everyone's heart.

Escorted by numerous palace maids and eunuchs, the coffin, draped in exquisite brocade, slowly moved, each step pacing the rhythm of a mournful elegy, heavy and slow. Flower petals and incense ashes scattered along the path transformed into colorful ribbons, expressing the living's boundless grief and reluctance for the deceased. At this moment, time seemed to stand still, even the wind held its breath, fearing to disturb this silent mourning.

Arriving at the heart of Huangling, a grand altar stood, surrounded by exquisite stone carvings and bronze statues, vividly depicting Qiao Xinran's life's achievements. Emperor Qian personally presided over the sacrifice, facing the heavens and the earth, offering his most sincere blessings and prayers. Every word and gesture was embodied with deep memory and admiration for Qiao Xinran. Then, Emperor Qian personally lit the sandalwood in the incense burner, and the rising smoke, like a noble soul, slowly merged into the vast universe.

The coffin closed and lowered into the grave, dust returned to dust. The heavy coffin slowly descended, finally landing safely within the pre-dug grave. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the entire world became unusually quiet. The craftsmen, with solemn expressions, carefully performed each step, ensuring the coffin's safe burial. They gently closed the tomb door, as if afraid to disturb the noble deceased. As the tomb door closed, Qiao Xinran's figure disappeared from view forever, sealed forever within this meticulously designed underground palace.

On either side of the tomb passage, exquisite reliefs come alive, delicately depicting vivid stories. These reliefs not only depict Qiao Xinran's life and deeds, but also reflect her contributions to the nation and its people. These scenes epitomize the Empress's life and bear witness to her endless remembrance by future generations. Each relief is a historical record, allowing future generations to better understand this remarkable woman.

The lingering sound of the bells lingered, and the longing for memory lingered. With the funeral ceremony concluded, Huangling returned to its former tranquility. Yet, the melodious chimes of the bells still echoed through the valley, as if expressing the people's deep longing for Qiao Xinran. The crowd gradually dispersed, but the emotions in each heart grew stronger. They left this land, bearing with them both respect and grief for Qiao Xinran. Though she is gone, her spirit and image will live forever in people's hearts.