The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

With the Emperor's deliberate connivance, all power in the palace returned to the Empress. Led by the Emperor and Empress, they returned to the Forbidden City with the Empress Dowager's coffin.

Within the palace walls, a thick, white veil of sorrow seemed to shroud the place. Earlier, we had received news that the mourning hall had been constructed, draped with pristine white silks and satins. White banners swayed gently in the breeze, whispering of endless sorrow. Candlelight flickered, illuminating the altar where the empress dowager's coffin lay. Droplets of candlelight fell, and the sound of wailing continued.

All the concubines were dressed in plain clothes, with their sleeves fluttering in the wind, and they looked solemn.

The queen held herself up and directed all matters of the funeral in an orderly manner. From time to time, she wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and tears welled up in her red eyes.

Shen Meizhuang no longer had her usual calm demeanor. Her eyes were filled with genuine sorrow. Ignoring Caiyue's dissuasion, she knelt quietly before the coffin, insisting on seeing the Queen Mother off. Recalling the care and admonitions the Queen Mother had shown her, she felt a mixture of emotions and silently shed tears.

Concubine Duan lowered her head with a look of sorrow and fear on her face, her eyes fixed on Hongli, who was not very noticeable among the other princes.

The other concubines also had sad faces. Some of them sobbed quietly, while others bowed their heads silently. Their sadness was truly moving.

Jiang Ruyin and Hongxuan both stood in the first row of their respective teams, very close to each other.

While Jiang Ruyin was crying silently, Hongxuan was turning his head to look at her from time to time, his eyes flashing with an inexplicable look.

Although the younger princes and princesses did not quite understand matters of life and death, they could not help crying when they saw the sorrowful faces of their elders and the all-white scene around them. Their cries echoed in the mourning hall, adding a bit of sadness.

Hongshi knelt in the front row, his back straight. Beside him, Dong E, a woman with a tired expression, occasionally wiped the corners of her eyes. Shuhe and Wen Yi, already sensible, were deeply saddened by their grandmother's passing, even though they were unfamiliar with the Empress Dowager, sobbing constantly.

The Queen had been standing for the entire morning and was already shaky. Concubine Yu stepped forward at the right moment to support her, saying with concern, "Your Majesty, no matter how much you care about the Empress Dowager, you must also take care of your own health. You haven't eaten or drunk anything all day. If you, the backbone of the family, fall, how can we, your concubines, be helped?"

The Queen held her forehead and said weakly, "I have to stay here and take charge of the situation."

After hearing this, Jiang Ruyin still had something she didn't understand, so she spoke softly, "Your Majesty, you've been tired. Sister Duanfei has always been weak. I'll just stay here. If there's anything I don't understand, I'll send someone to ask Your Majesty."

The queen seemed to be hesitant to speak, and after much hesitation, she finally agreed.

Yubin left beside the Queen, and Tara frowned as she watched.

"The emperor will come over in the evening. You have to stay alert and take care of Hongxuan for me." Jiang Ruyin blinked. At her insistence, An Lingrong and Tara had to go back to the palace to rest first.

In the morning, noble family members and princes and ministers took turns to pay their respects. In comparison, there were far fewer people in the afternoon.

As soon as the queen left, some concubines started to have ulterior motives, and Jiang Ruyin agreed to them all.

In the end, only Concubine Qi, Concubine Xin, Concubine Wen, Shen Meizhuang and Lou Yonger were left.

From the scorching sun to the setting sun, when Shu Dong helped Jiang Ruyin up, he was shocked to find that Jiang Ruyin had no strength left and the weight of her entire body was on him.

Holding her breath, Jiang Ruyin said, "Everyone has worked hard. Although we need to eat a light diet recently, it's not good to have no energy. I have asked the imperial kitchen to make bird's nest duck soup for everyone. I hope everyone takes care of themselves."

"We are in for a treat today. Let me thank Your Majesty on behalf of Shuhe." Xinpin said with a smile.

She leaned on Shu Dong and sent them off, but Shen Meizhuang had not left yet.

Jiang Ruyin frowned, "Noble Lady Hui, if you really want to remember the Empress Dowager, you should keep her teachings in mind and don't let her worry about you."

"...I understand." Shen Meizhuang's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her body was shaking.

Jiang Ruyin sighed and said, "Forget it. You must never take your body lightly from now on. I will report this to the Emperor and Empress and order you to stay in Xianfu Palace for the time being and take good care of Princess Shuhe."

Shen Meizhuang nodded silently.

She really needed to rest well, think carefully about her relationship with Wen Shichu, and analyze the man who accepted her and took leave to go to Lingyun Peak for Huan'er.

Doesn’t he know how difficult it was to give birth and how weak Shuhe was?

When they returned to Yongshou Palace, Hongxuan came to the door to greet them, holding Jiang Ruyin's hand and leading her inside.

The food on the rosewood table in the main hall remained untouched.

He stroked Hongxuan's little head lovingly, "You didn't eat much this morning, are you still waiting for me in the evening? Silly Hongxuan."

Hongxuan took his hand off his head and led her to sit at the table, "Son wants to have dinner with mother."

"Okay, but you can't just sit there and wait like this. At least have a bowl of soup or some snacks to fill your stomach first, then mother will feel at ease." Jiang Ruyin personally served a bowl of duck meat and bird's nest for Hongxuan.

Hongxuan followed suit and took a clean small bowl to serve soup to Jiang Ruyin. "Hongxuan has been waiting because he is worried about mother. Mother needs to make Hongxuan feel at ease first."

"... Brat."

After drinking three bowls in a row, I finally felt some strength in my empty stomach. I had to rest early, because tomorrow would be another day of kneeling and crying.

......

......

Because the emperor's health had delayed him for a long time, his body stayed in the Forbidden City for only three days before heading to the imperial mausoleum.

Outside the palace, paper money fluttered like snow, its swirling veil obscuring all vision. The funeral bells tolled heavily, again and again, their crescendos echoing across the Forbidden City and into the distance. The funeral procession stretched immensely long, eunuchs bearing the heavy coffin, slowly advancing step by step, each step weighed down by a weight of sorrow. The ceremonial procession was majestic and orderly, yet devoid of the usual festivities, it instead radiated a profound sense of sorrow. The procession slowly moved along the designated route toward the imperial mausoleum. Along the way, everyone remained silent, the only sound filling the oppressive silence.

Suddenly, she heard a soft sniffling sound beside her. Jiang Ruyin clenched her hands and asked, "What's wrong, Hongxuan?"

Hongxuan just shook his head.

On the way back, Hongxuan said hesitantly, "My son no longer has a royal grandmother."

Patting Hongxuan's back gently, Jiang Ruyin comforted him in a gentle voice, "Grandmother Huang is not gone. She has become the brightest star in the sky. She will always watch over and protect her descendants. Mother, can you take Hongxuan to watch the stars tonight?"

That night was like a huge piece of inky silk, stretched heavy between heaven and earth. Only a hint of moonlight filtered through the thick clouds, bringing a touch of brightness.

Jiang Ruyin laughed awkwardly, "Hongxuan, can we go to bed early tonight?"

"......it is good."