Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Summons

Chapter 2796 National Funeral, Li Xiang Falls Ill Again

Inside the imperial palace in Luoyang.

Inside the gilded beast-shaped incense burner, the ambergris incense continued to burn quietly, but it seemed unable to suppress the cold, deathly stillness that permeated from all directions.

Li Xiang sat stiffly beside the phoenix couch, his hands, once powerful and commanding, now covered with age spots, helplessly clutching the cold, withered hand of the person on the couch.

On the bed, the empress, who had been with him for nearly fifty years, had a calm face, as if she were just sleeping soundly, but her chest no longer rose and fell, and her lips were no longer bloodless.

She passed away peacefully one afternoon, quietly passing away while listening to the rustling of falling leaves outside her window.

Without disturbing anyone, just as she had always quietly and firmly stood behind him throughout her life, managing everything in the palace for him and soothing his anxiety and anger brought on by the previous dynasty.

Li Xiang sat there, motionless, as if he had been turned into a stone sculpture.

He didn't cry out or shout; his aged, somewhat cloudy eyes stared unblinkingly at his wife's remains, empty as if her soul had departed with her.

There seem to be many concubines in the palace, but Li Xiang has only ever had some real feelings for the very first few.

As for those who came later, after trying it a few times, they lost interest. It's normal that Li Xiang only goes a few times a year, or even a few times every few years.

Some of them were in a rather tragic situation; aside from the time they first entered the palace and Li Xiang might have visited them a few times, they never saw Li Xiang again.

Some of the concubines, Li Xiang might not even remember their names.

In previous years, there were several concubines who, after their deaths, were being arranged for funerals. It was only then that Li Xiang suddenly realized that there was such a person in his palace.

As for those people at Tongquetai, they had even less to say about their status!
Inside the hall, the palace maids and eunuchs knelt below, holding their breath. The imperial physicians also knelt far behind, their heads touching the ground, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Everyone could feel the piercing grief and deathly silence emanating from the old emperor, Li Xiang.

They were terrified that they might inadvertently offend the emperor and have them dragged out to be buried with the empress.

A long time, a long time.

A single, murky tear finally rolled slowly and heavily from the corner of Li Xiang's eye, landing on the bright yellow brocade quilt and leaving a small, dark stain.

Then came the second drop, the third drop...

Li Xiang remained silent, but his shoulders began to tremble slightly uncontrollably, and the knuckles of his hand gripping the Empress turned bluish-white from the excessive force.

"...The Empress."

Li Xiang's voice was extremely hoarse as he called out softly.

"How could you leave me all alone too!"

Li Xiang's voice was broken and out of tune, carrying a childlike bewilderment and helplessness.

"Jinglue is gone, Rengui is gone, and so are Yiwu, Meng Tian, ​​and the others!"

"They're all gone! Everyone's gone!"

"Only I am left, all alone..."

Thinking of all the deceased friends and family over the years, an overwhelming sense of loneliness instantly engulfed the aging emperor.

He was no longer the all-powerful ruler whose words carried the weight of the world; he was merely a pitiful old man who had lost his lifelong companion.

After all these old friends have left, there are fewer and fewer people who are qualified to talk to him! Li Xiang suddenly leaned down and pressed his forehead against the Empress's cold hand, letting out a suppressed and painful whimper, like that of a wounded beast.

"To hold a funeral for...".

Li Xiang squeezed out these two words through gritted teeth, his voice low and hoarse, yet filled with unwavering determination.

"An edict is issued throughout the land, ordering that the highest rites be observed for the Empress Dowager. The entire nation shall... observe mourning for my Empress."

The national mourning bells suddenly rang out from the imperial city of Luoyang, heavy and slow, one after another, penetrating the palace walls and spreading throughout the entire capital.

The bells tolled continuously, striking a full eighty-one times. This was the highest level of ceremony for a state mourning.

Almost simultaneously, the flags at the four gates of the imperial city and all the government offices in Luoyang, the capital, were lowered by half.

Immediately following, another series of imperial edicts, bearing the emperor's jade seal, were sent to every corner of the Great Jin Empire at the fastest possible speed.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Empress Chengtian, virtuous and kind, whose virtue matched the earth, gentle and prudent by nature, assisted me in governing and nurtured the people... Now that she has passed away, my heart is broken, and the whole world mourns... The whole country is in mourning, all subjects wear white mourning clothes, and weddings, banquets, and slaughter are prohibited for twenty-seven days... Altars are set up in all prefectures, counties, and cities to offer sacrifices, the capital is closed for one hundred days, and all officials and their wives enter the palace to mourn..."

The edict spread throughout the land at lightning speed, and in an instant, the entire vast empire seemed to have been wiped clean of all color by an invisible hand.

Luoyang was the first city to fall into a solemn state of mourning. The bustling markets fell silent, and all the taverns, music halls, and theaters were closed.

The brightly colored lanterns and signs were taken down and replaced with plain white curtains.

Whether they were royalty or commoners, everyone dressed in plain clothes, their faces bearing genuine or polite sorrow.

Children were forbidden to laugh and play, the whole city seemed to be muted, and a somber atmosphere was forcibly imposed on the entire world.

Inside the imperial city, white spirit banners replaced all the palace lanterns and brocade curtains.

All the palace servants were dressed in mourning clothes, walking hurriedly with their heads down, not daring to utter a single laugh.

At this time, if one speaks or acts inappropriately, the emperor will indeed kill them, and even bring disaster upon their entire family.

The Empress's coffin was placed in the palace where she had lived, and officials and noblewomen entered the palace day and night in order of rank to mourn her.

Li Xiang himself fell seriously ill.

The series of blows and extreme grief completely destroyed his already aging body.

Li Xiang was unable to personally preside over all the funeral rites. Most of the time, he could only lie weakly on his bed, listening to the cries coming from outside, tears streaming down his face.

He insisted on keeping vigil at the coffin, refusing to listen to anyone's advice.

In the cool, cold night, the elderly emperor, draped in a thick fur cloak, stubbornly sat beside the empress's coffin, dismissing everyone else.

He sat there quietly, facing the cold coffin, murmuring to himself about the past, which spanned more than half a year and was known only to the two of them.

"Do you still remember... that sachet you embroidered for me back in Bingzhou?..."

“Every time I go on a campaign, you stay in the palace, kneeling before the ever-burning lamp all night…”

"You said... you would wait to see the glorious era I would create... how could you... leave first..."

He talked on and on, in fits and starts.

It didn't seem like the emperor was speaking, but rather a husband who had lost his beloved wife, making a final, unanswered farewell.