The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 568 The dying moment
When Yinzhen hurried to Yonghe Palace, the palace servants there were already in a panic.

Zhuxi and Zhile stayed by Queen Dowager De's side, and Queen Dowager De had fallen into a coma.

Yinzhen sat beside Empress Dowager De's bed, watching this once beautiful woman dying, and a feeling of sadness rose in his heart.

Empress Dowager De's lips moved and made a slight sound.

Yinzhen didn't hear clearly, so he moved closer to listen, only to hear Empress Dowager De repeating herself.

"Zhujun, take me away. Zhujun, take me away."

Yinzhen's face suddenly changed. Zhuxi was a little far away and couldn't hear clearly what Empress Dowager De said, but he knew from Yinzhen's expression that it was not a good thing.

Zhuxi pounced on Empress Dowager De and called her.

Yinzhen stood up with a grim expression and stared at the unconscious Empress Dowager De on the bed.

His biological mother was still calling that man's name until her death.

Zhujun is Longkodo's courtesy name.

Even though he has been dead for so many years, his mother still misses him!

All those bad memories suddenly flooded into Yinzhen's mind. As he stepped back, he stumbled and was caught by Su Peisheng.

Just at this moment, Empress Dowager De woke up slowly. With her cloudy eyes, she finally saw the figure standing in front of the bed. She tried her best to open her mouth and speak.

"Emperor, I thought you wouldn't come."

Su Peisheng carefully helped Yinzhen sit down again and quietly stepped away, taking Zhuxi and Zhile with him. Only Empress Dowager De and Yinzhen were left in the bedroom.

As early as when Yinzhen came, Wen Xianqing said that Empress Dowager De's illness was beyond recovery and she was on her deathbed.

Now I'm just holding on with one breath.

With Yinzhen's arrival, he was able to hold out a little longer.

When Yinzhen thought of the Empress Dowager De's mumblings when she was unconscious just now, his face turned very ugly.

But he remembered what Wen Xianqing said, and nodded patiently.

"If you have any instructions, please tell me."

Queen Mother De let out a long sigh. She was really exhausted, but she had something to say.

After finally gathering some strength, Empress Dowager De looked around as if she was looking for someone.

Yinzhen didn't say anything, just watched coldly and let her search.

After Empress Dowager De had searched enough, she spoke with disappointment.

"Is Concubine Hua still unwilling to forgive me? Even now, you still refuse to come to see me."

Yinzhen said.

"Mother has never liked Shilan, so why bother meeting her at this time? If you have anything to say, you can tell your son the same thing."

Queen Mother De shook her head slightly, opened her dry lips and spoke.

"This is a matter between us women. I know that I have done wrong in the past.
But I have already received the punishment I deserve. Over the years, the emperor has avoided me.
Concubine Hua also refused to forgive me. I also knew that drugs had been put into my food and drink over the years.

But I thought this was all punishment for me, so I just accepted it.

I am old, useless, and dying soon. I just want to hear Concubine Hua say,
She no longer hates me, so I can die with peace of mind."

Yinzhen was shocked. Was there medicine in Empress Dowager De's food? How come he didn't know about it? Why didn't the imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital diagnose it?
No wonder Empress Dowager De has been bedridden for so many years and aged so early.

The Empress Dowager, who was older than her, had a rosy complexion except for a few inevitable wrinkles on her face.

Yinzhen said.

"Mother must be confused because of her illness. Shilan has a stronger temper, but she won't do those mean things.

As far as his son knew, Shilan had always been willing to help with the expenses of Yonghe Palace. And in recent years, his mother had hardly used the meals from the imperial kitchen, but had provided them in her own small kitchen.

I guess it's just that mother is overthinking. When mother is better, I will ask Shilan to come and pay her respects to you."

Empress Dowager De showed a wry smile on her face and she spoke with all her might.

"It doesn't matter if the emperor doesn't believe me. I just want to say one thing: the emperor favors Nian.

You should also be careful of Nian. I am ill, but my heart is as clear as a mirror."

Suddenly, Queen Mother De straightened her neck, stretched her hand towards the void, and smiled.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed~"

Yinzhen looked in the direction she pointed, and saw only the wrinkles of the bed curtains blown by the wind.

Looking at Empress Dowager De again, her hands had dropped limply and her eyes were open lifeless.

But this time, the person she was calling was no longer the late emperor, but Yinzhen.

He was the Fourteenth Prince who had already died of illness and was Yinzhen’s younger brother.

Empress Dowager De must have been confused. Since Yinzhen ascended the throne, she had changed the character Yin in the names of all the brothers to Yun. They should have been called Yunzhi.

Yinzhen watched quietly as Empress Dowager De's life faded away bit by bit, and the person she was talking about became Zhujun again.

"You said you would take me away after the draft, but you failed me."

"You made me give birth to Yinzhen, but he died before you and me."

"Yinzhen, go to sleep quickly so you can grow up"

The Queen Mother De's voice gradually became lower and lower until it disappeared.

Yinzhen took over.

"Go to sleep quickly, so that you can grow up, and when you grow up you can draw the bow. Mother, this song to comfort the child,
You never sang to me once. I am also your biological son, but I have been like a stranger since I was a child.

I have always been away from you and the fourteenth child. I never expected you to love me with all your heart.
I just hope that you can see me in the corner occasionally, even just occasionally."

Yinzhen talked to himself and finally shed a tear.

After an unknown amount of time, Yinzhen reached out his hand and gently stroked Empress Dowager De's eyes, which refused to close.

He stood up and walked slowly out of Empress Dowager De's bedroom, his body staggering. Su Peisheng, who had been waiting outside, stepped forward and carefully held Yinzhen's arm.

Yinzhen looked at the concubines kneeling on the ground outside the palace. In late spring, he watched his mother pass away with his own eyes, and his heart was filled with confusion.

Nian Shilan was kneeling in the front. She stood straight with her eyes downcast, not wanting to look at Yinzhen's sad figure.

Yinzhen held on for a long time, but finally he had no more strength and slowly fell down.

The funeral of Empress Dowager De was very grand, and Yinzhen was ill for quite some time.

Nian Shilan only sent people to inquire about the news every day, but never went to visit Yinzhen in person.

In mid-summer, Yinzhen finally recovered and was helped out by Su Peisheng.

Nian Shilan just watched Yinzhen go to the Imperial Garden from afar and did not go forward.

Su Peisheng said cautiously.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Hua has been worried about you and has sent people to inquire about your health every day."

Yinzhen walked slowly. He did not see Nian Shilan in the distance. He looked at the flourishing flowers in the imperial garden and said.

"I don't know what happened, I used to like bright flowers the most.

But now, these bright things are a bit annoying and make my eyes hurt. "