Work overtime

Chapter 771

Jiang Yuebai just shook Li Beichen gently at first, and then shook him violently.

I was thinking about the prophecy in my heart, but I didn't dare to believe it was true.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty???" Jiang Yuebai shook Li Beichen, but he never opened his eyes again.

Jiang Yuebai said urgently, "Go and call the imperial physician!"

His voice was urgent and his face looked panicked, but he was calm inside.

This calmness may be because she knows that Li Beichen is not dead, but has just gone to another world.

She looked up at the moon, which was like a disk and very bright, like a high-wattage ceiling lamp. Could the moon be a time-travel portal?

Jiuru, where are you now? Have you been reincarnated as a butterfly? Or a baby? Or have you traveled through time and space and become someone else?
Will you remember this life? Or will we just be strangers from now on?
Will you recognize me if we meet again?
Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but look at the man who had his eyes closed as if he was sleeping.

He has handsome features, a tall figure and a noble temperament.

Everything is fine.

It feels so unreal to have been together day and night for six years.

Are you really leaving, Jiuru?
Jiang Yuebai's fingers gently stroked Li Beichen's cheek.

"emperor?"

When the imperial doctors arrived, Jiang Yuebai was half-kneeling on the ground, holding Li Beichen's hand, with an anxious look on his face.

There were concubines around him. Some of the pregnant concubines had asked for leave early and returned to the palace.

She stood up quickly and returned to her usual reserved demeanor. "Look at the emperor, what's wrong with him?"

After a while, the three big men of the Imperial Hospital knelt down together and said in a mournful voice, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The Emperor has passed away."

Jiang Yuebai's eyes went dark, he staggered, and was about to faint, but was supported by Concubine Nian Xian and Concubine Ye Shu who were beside him.

At this moment, she felt a heart-wrenching pain, and the world was spinning around her. Only then did she realize that Li Beichen was gone, gone forever.

The calmness just now was just self-deception.

Just because I couldn't bear the pain of losing him, I deceived myself that he went to a better world and was completely free from the pain of the body.

From now on, he will no longer exist!
He would never hug her again, hold her hand, talk to her with gentle eyes, and the two of them would smile at each other...

Never again.

he's gone.

From then on she was alone.

"Please accept my condolences, Queen."

A group of people knelt on the ground and shouted.

But who can truly understand Jiang Yuebai's sadness?

The palace maid rang the Jingyang Bell twelve times, and then the sound of crying like waves of the sea began to be heard.

The people from the Palace Administration immediately began the burial ceremony according to the rituals.

Li Beichen was moved back to Kunning Palace.

Jiang Yuebai looked up at the plaque on the palace gate and then realized the weight of these three words.

Only his legal wife is qualified to accompany him on his last journey, and only his legal wife can be buried beside him after her death according to ritual system.

Now these have become concrete.

The court officials all rushed over from their homes. Many of them were still drunk and disheveled. After all, tonight was the Mid-Autumn Festival and tomorrow was a day off. It was normal to drink too much on a family reunion day.

After arriving, they filed in, tied white cloth around their heads and waists, and cried loudly.

Jiang Yuebai thought that Li Beichen had drunk too much tonight. He drank a lot of wine, and drank a glass with each concubine. Most of the concubines drank tea instead of wine, but he drank one glass at a time.

The Mongolian and Jurchen girls all have good alcohol tolerance and cheerful personalities. They drank happily and everyone was very happy.

Jiang Yuebai could see that Li Beichen was really happy about the current situation of national unification between the north and the south and peace throughout the country.

I don't know if his sudden death was related to drinking too much alcohol, but it doesn't matter.

He passed away peacefully and calmly, without any pain, and no longer had to endure maddening headaches.

It's good. Just leave like this. At the happiest moment.

She remembers the last words he said to her were "love you".

"I love you too." She murmured in her heart.

perhaps……

too late.

On August 15, the eighth year of Jingchang, Emperor Li Beichen passed away at the age of twenty-five.

In front of all the civil and military officials, the eunuch chief Liang Xiaobao announced three imperial edicts.

One about the throne.

Crown Prince Li Chengji held a grand ceremony on the same day and ascended the throne. Queen Jiang was promoted to Queen Mother, and she ruled the country from behind the curtain, participated in political decision-making, assisted the young emperor, and returned to the court when the crown prince turned 18. The imperial decree ordered that anyone, including the prince, who plotted rebellion would be executed along with his entire family.

Six ministers of state were appointed, including Duke Anguo, Right Prime Minister Ye Ming, Left Prime Minister Zhou Shipeng, Li Beichen's cousin and Vice Minister of War Li Gongliang, Jiang Yuebai's cousin and Vice Minister of Works Jiang Bingqian, and General Qi Muye of the Capital Camp.

It can be said that various forces check and balance each other.

One about concubines in the harem.

Completely abolished human sacrifice, replaced by human-shaped pottery figurines. Buried together with Empress Xie and Empress Jiang. Other concubines were buried in the Concubine Mausoleum. After the Concubine Mausoleum was built, the concubines above the rank of concubine were relocated from Jinshan.

Concubines with children lived out their lives in Ci'an Palace. Concubines without children and those of lower rank who had given birth to children went to Puning Temple to become nuns and practice Buddhism. Concubines who were pregnant but had not given birth would be arranged by the empress after giving birth.

There is another one about the royal heirs.

Princes and princesses should be friendly and affectionate. Except for the legitimate princes and princesses, all princes should live in the princes' quarters, and princesses should live in the princesses' quarters, and the empress should arrange special people to take care of them. At the age of five, all princes and princesses should enter Chongwenguan to study. Princes and princesses over the age of eight who break the law will be punished the same as common people. Princes and princesses under the age of eight who break the law will be punished according to the law.

Princes can take the imperial examination to hold court positions. Those who fail the imperial examination are not allowed to hold court positions and their salary will be halved. The government will support the princes in overseas exploration activities, opening up new territories, and emigrating overseas, and the State Council will assess and provide funds for related activities.

Princesses can take the imperial examination to hold court positions and are treated as princes. Those who fail the imperial examination will not have their food and salary reduced. Princesses are supported to engage in educational and cultural work and to marry other races. The State Council will assess and provide funds for related activities.

After the three imperial edicts were announced, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory began to follow the procedures to arrange the emperor's funeral.

Li Beichen was originally a prince who was ignored by the previous emperor. He was neither the crown prince nor the sixth prince, who was the favorite concubine of the previous emperor. It was not until the crown prince and the sixth prince died in an internal struggle that he entered the previous emperor's sight. He stood out from Li Beihong, Li Beiwang and himself, and was made the crown prince and inherited the throne before the previous emperor passed away.

He took over a country with an empty treasury, powerful ministers in power, rampant corruption, rebellion by royal relatives, invasion by foreign enemies, and people living in poverty. His health and life were repeatedly threatened and destroyed.

Six years have passed, and although the country still has many problems, everything is getting better and moving towards prosperity:

Corruption was severely punished, the administrative capacity of officials was greatly improved, per capita internal circulation, abundant treasury, and abundant grain harvest. The Tatars and the Oirat were conquered, and the territory returned to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. The invading Japanese pirates were dealt a heavy blow, and the chicken coop was guarded and developed. Frequent foreign exchanges attracted a large number of outstanding foreign friends to work in China, including mechanical engineers, mathematicians, and linguists, who brought advanced scientific knowledge and technology and strengthened the Chinese people's understanding of the world.

The fleet led by Han Ziqian was on its way back. Half a month later, it arrived in Beijing from Tianjin Port, bringing back exotic goods and envoys from many countries, completing the first voyage to the West... It must be said that Li Beichen was a good emperor, with the posthumous title of "Emperor Jingwen" and the temple name "Taizong".

Jiang Yuebai led the concubines and the heirs to kneel down and worship the emperor's coffin again and again. As he listened to the series of great achievements being listed one by one by the Ministry of Rites, tears welled up in his eyes.

Jiuru, you are very good.

As your fellow traveler, I am honored to do so.

She was a participant and witness of everything that happened. She stood side by side with him and walked hand in hand with him.

Inside and outside the palace, everyone was dressed in plain clothes and cries of grief were heard everywhere.

Jiang Yuebai knelt on the ground and kowtowed again and again. It was not only a wife's farewell to her husband, but also a tribute to a diligent and outstanding king.

She was evaluated as outstanding, although her ministers and the people evaluated her as great. Because great second-generation emperors are often given the temple name Taizong and the posthumous name Emperor Wen as the final word on their lifetime achievements, such as King Huiwen of Qin, Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng, and Emperor Taizong of Qing, Huang Taiji.

A total of seven people, including Concubine Nianxian, Concubine Jiang, Noble Lady Sun, Concubine Zhou, two Oirat concubines and one Tatar concubine, committed suicide for love.

Jiang Yuebai didn't expect that even after the abolition of human sacrifice, there were still so many concubines who committed suicide for love.

Apart from Consort Nianxian, the other women had only seen the emperor a few times, and the number of times they had sex was even fewer. This was especially true of the Oirat and Tatar consorts who had only been here for a few months.

Is it really such love? Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but wonder.

Maybe there is really love without knowing where it comes from, and it is deep and lasting. Loyalty is always awe-inspiring. Li Beichen is indeed a very charming man. When he is gentle, it really makes people feel soft and soaked in honey. What's more, he has the blessing of the emperor's status.

All those who committed suicide for love were buried together with the emperor. This is the most basic respect for deep love. If you want to be buried together with the emperor, committing suicide for love is the only way.

Concubine Nianxian died for the emperor, and the Sixth Princess born to Concubine Rui and the Twelfth Princess born to Concubine Nianxian were suddenly without support. Concubine Lu came over and begged Jiang Yuebai, saying that she hoped to raise the Sixth Princess and the Twelfth Princess.

Jiang Yuebai agreed without hesitation to give the sixth princess to Concubine Lu to raise.

The third princess, Princess Yu Guipin, who was originally raised under the name of Concubine Lu, died young. If she had no children, she would have to spend the rest of her life in Puning Temple.

Moreover, Concubine Lu often visited Concubine Nianxian and the Sixth Princess, and ate at Concubine Nianxian's place. The Sixth Princess was very close to her. Concubine Nianxian often took the Sixth Princess to Kunning Palace to play on the slide, and she was also very close to Jiang Yuebai.

From any perspective, it is appropriate to entrust the Sixth Princess to Concubine Lu for upbringing.

Concubine Lu burst into tears and kowtowed three times in front of Jiang Yuebai. Her head was broken and bleeding. It was Jiang Yuebai who stopped the bleeding for her.

Jiang Yuebai told the Sixth Princess that her mother had gone to heaven to find her father, and before leaving, she asked Concubine Lu to accompany her.

The Sixth Princess hugged Concubine Lu's neck tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks, and softly called her "Mother Concubine". Concubine Lu, the steely woman, instantly burst into tears and hugged the Sixth Princess tightly in her arms.

But Jiang Yuebai did not give Concubine Nian's twelfth princess to Concubine Lu to raise. She called Concubine Hua Shu to Kunning Palace.

Concubine Hua Shu originally thought she was here to say goodbye alone. Because she had a miscarriage at six months old, and then she finally got pregnant with the thirteenth princess, but she also lost it. The seventh princess born to Zhou Changzai, who she had raised before, was poisoned to death by the eldest prince, and she believed that she had no fate to have children. She originally planned to become a nun in Puning Temple, and it would be good to pray for the emperor and the queen.

When Jiang Yuebai told her that he was going to give her the twelfth princess born to Concubine Nian, she couldn't help but hug Jiang Yuebai rudely and burst into tears.

"Thank you for your care, Queen. I will work like a slave to repay you in the future."

Concubine Hua Shu knelt on the ground and kowtowed many times. Jiang Yuebai couldn't pull her up.

"You must take good care of Sister Concubine Nian's child. Otherwise, I will not allow it, and the Emperor in heaven will not allow it either."

"Your Majesty, I swear on my life that I will treat the Twelfth Princess as my own daughter. If..." She was about to swear.

"Sister, I believe you." Jiang Yuebai interrupted her.

The love that Concubine Hua Shu showed to the Seventh Princess, born to Concubine Zhou, was witnessed by everyone in the palace. It can be said that she truly loved her child. She believed in Concubine Hua Shu. At the same time, she was trying to win over Prime Minister Ye for the Crown Prince. Moreover, the Eleventh Princess had lost her mother. According to the order of priority, the foster mother should have given priority to Concubine Hua Shu, who had the highest rank. But Jiang Yuebai took the initiative to bring it up first.

Liang Xiaobao was sent to the prince and appointed by the emperor to serve as the chief eunuch beside the prince.

*
He handed Jiang Yuebai a wooden box, saying that it contained many things that the emperor wanted to leave for her.

There were a lot of random little things in the box, including a big dried flower, her hairpin, and the "Heavenly Certificate" that she had lent him her life.
It's like a treasure chest.

Inside were all the letters she had written to him in the past, as well as many of Li Beichen's unsent letters, diaries, or fragments of writing.

"Jiaojiao, I miss you so much."

"Jiaojiao, my head hurts so much. It hurts so much. But I was afraid you would worry. I lied to you. You won't blame me, will you?"

"Jiaojiao, you look so beautiful when you sleep. I have peeked at you many times. I am very happy thinking about it today."

"Jiaojiao, you kissed me today. I'm so excited."

"Jiaojiao, I love you."

"Another sleepless night. Another day of missing you."

"I saw a beautiful sunset today, and I really want to ask you to watch it with me. It would be great if I had a cell phone. I could take a picture and show it to you."

"Jiaojiao, I can't bear it anymore. I want to die. But I can't bear to leave you."

"All the Baili people, go to hell. I'm going to kill you all."

"too painful."

"I didn't take any action today. I feel so guilty."

"Jiaojiao is pregnant. I'm so happy, but I also blame myself. I shouldn't have kept her pregnant."

"Jiaojiao gave birth to another boy. She is so amazing. She is the most amazing."

"Jiaojiao, I miss you so much. Really."

"Jiaojiao, I've fallen in love with you. What should I do? I can't control myself."

"Jiaojiao, you asked me if I was only interested in this. I was embarrassed to tell you. I am only interested in doing this with you."

"I've been reviewing documents all day, come and praise me."

"When I talked to you today, I wanted to tell you the truth. But I couldn't open my mouth."

"Today I finally made you my queen. I'm so happy. It's a memorable day. I made a specimen of that peony as a souvenir. I hope we can look back on our years together and grow old together with deep affection. I really hope that the prophecy is false. It was meant to test us."

"You're the only one I ever wanted to love."

"You look so cute when you eat. I love you so much."

"How can you be so cute? You're such a fool. You're such a liar."

"I have so much to say to you. But I don't know where to start."

"For the sake of my country, I finally let you down."

"Do you love me? I really want to know."

"I really hope that we can know each other and stay together till we grow old. I feel happy just thinking of you."

"I feel like you don't love me. I know you don't love me. Alas."

"You lied to me today, didn't you? You were just acting. But I don't want to expose you."

Then at the very bottom, she saw a handmade envelope, lavender with gold foil embellishments. It was written, "Dear Jiaojiao."