In the silence of the night, the lanterns under the eaves of the palace emitted a faint yellow light.
Changle Palace was as cold and cheerless as ever. It seemed to be the same as it was ten years ago, but everything had changed.
The palace maids had already gone to bed. Only the empress dowager's chamber was still lit.
The pillars reflected the light of the candles, and the red curtains swayed gently in the night wind. A figure stood in front of the black-and-white wall, leaving a solitary reflection on the huge peony flower.
After returning from Taiji Palace, the empress dowager stood there, staring at the painting in front of her.
"A real man lives when he should live, and dies when he should die …"
"With the shame of the nation before us, the son of the Xu family, He Xi, should die …"
"… But … there's no other way … Only the empress dowager can save me …"
"… If the empress dowager is unwilling, I won't force you. If the empress dowager is willing, I will repay you with the rest of my life …"
All kinds of words echoed in her mind. Some said by her, some said by Xu Buling. Every word impacted her mind, making her, who thought she was steady, unable to calm down.
Save Xu Buling …
If that was all, she would have agreed without any hesitation.
The Xu family had brought peace to the world. Their descendant was infected with a disease. As the daughter of the first wife of the Xiao family, if she didn't save him, how could she be worthy of the teachings she had received since childhood …
Xu Buling stood up for the nation today, using his life as the price to take back what belonged to Dai Yue. As the empress dowager of Dai Yue, if she stood by and did nothing, how could she be worthy of the phoenix robe she wore …
Moreover, she didn't want Xu Buling to die …
Hong Luan couldn't lose Xu Buling, her only support …
Save, she had to save him. There was no reason not to save him.
But the way to save him …
The empress dowager shook her head with difficulty, her eyes showing deep conflict.
How could it be …
How could there be such a way …
How could she agree to such an unreasonable method of curing the poison …
She was the daughter of the Xiao family and was born in a noble family. Her ancestors were upright and upright. As a descendant, personal integrity and reputation were more important than life. She had never lost her integrity in the palace for ten years, how could she ruin it …
She was the empress dowager of Dai Yue, the mother of the nation, the official mother of the emperor, and the role model of all women in the world. had been in the palace for ten years. If she saved Xu Buling in this way, how could she live in the world? The Song clan's reputation and the Xiao family 'reputation would all be destroyed by her …
She couldn't save him …
Couldn …
Couldn …
Xu Buring had originally been harmed by evil people. Now that he was sacrificing his loyalty to the country and his life was in danger, if she were to stand by and watch coldly, would she be able to face her pride and conscience?
She couldn't save him, but she also couldn't not save him. She was just a woman, how could she choose?
The Empress Dowager clenched her fists tightly. Tears flowed from her eyes, and her breathing quickened. She wanted to go hysterical, but she still maintained her usual demeanor.
The night wind was blowing, and the palace was cold.
As time passed, there was only a breath and the huge peony painting in the hall.
The empress dowager stood in front of the painting. The sun rose and set, and the palace lanterns were lit and extinguished. The palace maids called for her countless times. Qiao E came in and went out several times, but she did not move.
After a long time, the empress dowager saw the little man on the table and the half stick of candied hawthorn in his hand …
The little man was holding the stick of candied hawthorn with a bright smile. It looked funny, but she would never forget it.
She could not forget the image of handing the stick of candied hawthorn to her.
The empress dowager's eyes gradually calmed down, and she was in a trance.
Looking back, the ten years in the palace were not as memorable as the one hour on the street …
She was afraid that the rest of her life would be like this …
Thinking of this, the empress dowager suddenly showed some determination.
Instead of staying in the palace and dying of old age without anyone knowing, maybe she should let the people who should live live …
Xu Buling was Prince Su. He was willing to die for the country, but he should not die at this time …
The world was not at peace, and the three countries could fight at any time. They needed a Xu Lie to shock the rulers of the three countries and the nobles. If Xu Buring were to die, who would be the one to replace him?
Xu Buling was talented, knew the honor and disgrace of the people, and had the support of the twelve prefectures of Xiliang. No one else would be qualified …
Compared to the world, what was her life worth?
A real man should die. Although she was a woman, she was also a daughter of the Xiao Family. She should not be inferior to a man in the first place …
Xu Buling was willing to die for the honor and disgrace of the country. She was a righteous person for the country, and He Xi's life …
She was sorry to the Song clan and the Xiao family.
At least she, Xiao Xiang'er, was worthy of facing the world!
The empress dowager's body trembled slightly, and she groaned sharply. She quickly walked to the table, picked up the brush, and wrote lines of words on the white rice paper.
"I have been in the palace for ten years. I have been in charge of the palace and strict etiquette. I have no children. I have fulfilled my duties as a wife and never slacked off. I have not let down the Song clan.
Our ancestors taught us that the world is righteous. Etiquette, honor and disgrace, life and death are all given up.
Xu Buling was willing to die for the sake of righteousness. I saved him, which is the teaching of our ancestors.
Xu Buling was willing to die for the sake of righteousness. I, Xiao Xiang'er, am He Xi. I will only die.
Our ancestors in heaven, if you think it is inappropriate, I will bear all the consequences in my next life! "
Rustle, rustle, rustle …
She wrote quickly.
After the empress dowager finished writing, she picked up the golden paper-cutting knife, cut her finger, and wrote her name on the rice paper with blood.
After that, she returned to the bedroom and took out a bottle of poison and a wine pot from the dazzling array of strange objects.
The poison was prepared when she was a widow in the palace and was about to go crazy because of loneliness and despair. It had a floral fragrance. Drinking it could free her from her dreams, but she resisted and didn't drink it in the end.
She poured the poison into the wine pot, set up the incense table in the main hall of Changle Palace, and lit three incense sticks.
The empress dowager, dressed in a red phoenix robe, knelt on the rush cushion, lit the blood letter to the ancestors of the Xiao family, and put it in the brazier.
"I will exchange my life for his!
I will pay for the loss of chastity with my life!
The heavens and the earth shall bear witness to this! "
The empress dowager's confused eyes gradually calmed down.
The rice paper turned into ashes in the flames, and green smoke rose in spirals.
The empress dowager raised her beautiful face and watched the faint smoke rise to the dome, pass through the eaves and tiles, and reach the Ninth Heaven.
As if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart, the empress dowager collapsed and sat on the ground. She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
She stared blankly at the dome of the main hall, which was dignified and solemn, but there was no sign of life. The smoke had dissipated between heaven and earth.
Perhaps this way, her death would have some meaning …
It was better than being locked in the palace alone, looking at the endless loneliness until the day she died of old age …
