Chapter 98: Mountain Fire

Chapter 98: Mountain Fire

After leaving Yao Hua Palace, An Jing reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, besides the memorandum from the Jinzhou Prefect, the Jin-Xu Transport Commissioner also submitted a confidential report."

Emperor Xiaosheng hummed in response and hurried back to the Liangyi Hall in his imperial carriage, immediately opening two urgent memorials.

After a brief glance, he paused and instructed Sheng An, "Summon Yang Rong'en here."

Yang Rong'en, the General of the Jinwu Guard, caused Sheng An to feel apprehensive as he quickly complied.

Having carefully read both memorials, Yang Rong'en was already standing before the imperial desk.

"This humble official, Yang Rong'en, greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Xiaosheng handed the confidential memorial to Sheng An to pass to Yang Rong'en, his voice grave, "Yang Rong'en, proceed swiftly to Jinzhou and Wutai Mountain to search for the Dowager Empress."

On hearing this, Yang Rong'en's hand faltered as he accepted the memorial, his heart surging with shock but maintaining a composed expression, "As commanded by Your Majesty!"

He then quickly read through the content of the confidential memorial.

After Yang Rong'en finished, Emperor Xiaosheng personally handed him his waist sword, adding, "Pay special attention to whether this mountain fire had any human manipulation. In urgent situations, you may act as necessary."

"Yes!" Yang Rong'en raised the Emperor's sword respectfully with both hands, his voice solemn, "I shall not fail Your Majesty's expectations."

Despite the end of midsummer, the Imperial City was still scorchingly hot. Exiting the Liangyi Hall without the coolness of indoor ice basins, the heat outside was stifling, causing Yang Rong'en to sweat instantly.

He marched briskly along the palace pathways, his crimson cape fluttering behind his armor. After inspecting the accompanying Jinwu Guards, a sudden gust of wind arose, and thunder rumbled in the distant sky.

Rain was coming.

Summer storms usually arrive and depart quickly, ceasing after a brief wait.

Yet Yang Rong'en couldn't wait for the rain to stop. He and his guards mounted their horses, galloping along the Chang'an Avenue of the Imperial City. Just as they passed the Guang'an Gate, heavy raindrops began to pour.

The continuous heat finally eased a bit, but the swift-moving Jinwu Guards remained silent.

Yang Rong'en's mind replayed the words he saw in the confidential report: pre-dawn thunder, lightning strike, wildfire, heavy casualties among monks, the Dowager Empress... missing.

Another thunderous boom resounded, but the battle-hardened horses weren't frightened. Their vigorous hooves struck the official road, echoing with the thunder, as if war drums were sounding again.

Yang Rong'en fiercely whipped his horse, ignoring the rain filling his mouth, and commanded loudly, "Full speed ahead!"

*

The passing of Princess Chengping caused a stir in the palace, especially with Consort Jiang fainting from grief.

On this day, Noble Consort Xue Bilin visited Consort Jiang in Yaohua Palace. Unable to leave her bed, Consort Jiang received her guest in the inner chamber.

After offering her condolences, Noble Consort Xue spoke softly, "Consort Jiang, I've heard there's been trouble in Jinzhou."

Consort Jiang's brows showed a hint of melancholy. Hearing this, she asked with surprise, "Jinzhou?"

"Yes," Noble Consort Xue replied softly, "My father and General Yang recently went there on a mission."

Noble Consort Xue's father held a post in the Jinwu Guard, and the mentioned General Yang was obviously the Grand General of the Jinwu Guard, Yang Rong'en.

"It must be related to court affairs, and since your father is involved, it doesn't concern us," Consort Jiang said calmly.

Noble Consort Xue, reassured by this logic, soon left to not disturb Consort Jiang's rest.

"Jinzhou... Wutai Mountain..." Consort Jiang watched Noble Consort Xue's departing figure, murmuring to herself, "...Mother."

Unable to gather concrete news discreetly, Qingfeng reported back to Consort Jiang. However, it soon became unnecessary as the Dowager Empress's death at Wutai Mountain was officially announced in the Imperial City.

The Dowager Empress perished in a summer wildfire at Wutai Mountain. The fire started at midnight, ignited by lightning that struck a centuries-old cypress tree near a pagoda. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the pagoda and eventually half of Wutai Mountain before a downpour extinguished it the next day.

Fortunately, the rain prevented the entire mountain from burning.

The Dowager Empress's body, severely burnt, was brought back to the palace for both small and grand funerary rites. The mourning period lasted only three days before her body was moved to the mausoleum, awaiting an auspicious day for burial alongside Emperor Qianning.

Bedridden, Consort Jiang was spared from attending the mourning rites at Cining Palace.

The Dowager Empress's demise sparked wild rumors among the populace, as it was the first time a reigning Dowager Empress died in a wildfire.

The Emperor issued a self-blaming edict to silence public speculation.

With the entire Imperial City in mourning, Consort Jiang could observe filial piety for her mother, though she could only follow the Emperor's shortened mourning period of twenty-seven days instead of the usual lengthier one.

In July, remnants of summer heat lingered. In Qionghua Hall, where ice basins were sparingly placed due to concerns for Consort Jiang's health, Shan Zha knelt by her side, fanning her gently.

Dressed in mourning attire, Consort Jiang lay on a soft couch, her gaze shifting from the midwife speaking with Pomegranate outside the window, to her son Yearn who clutched her arm.

"Mommy, Yearn wants daddy." Yearn's speech had grown more articulate, expressing his longing for the Emperor, who had not visited the harem for many days.

"Good boy, daddy is busy. He'll come in a few days," Consort Jiang softly consoled Yearn, trying to gather her spirits.

With the Dowager Empress's death, despite past grievances due to witchcraft suspicions, the Emperor was undoubtedly heartbroken - his biological mother had passed away. Especially since the Emperor hadn't seen the Dowager Empress in nearly a year, their last farewell in July of the first year turned out to be their final encounter.

These days, the Emperor stayed in Jianzhang Palace, visiting Yaohua Palace only occasionally and briefly.

Consort Jiang and the Emperor had lost their mothers almost simultaneously, sharing a strangely sympathetic bond.

However, the Dowager Empress's demise was orchestrated by Princess Chengping herself.

Summer was prone to wildfires, and Wutai Mountain was densely forested. Especially that five-hundred-year-old cypress tree near the pagoda, tall and large, only needed a precise lightning storm to aid the fire and fulfill her purpose.

Princess Chengping, not trusting the Dowager Empress who harbored ill will towards her daughter and could suppress the Emperor with filial piety, decided to remove this obstacle before her death. Success would be ideal, even if it meant risking innocent monks’ lives.

Princess Chengping's words to Consort Jiang were never shared with anyone, not even trusted maids like Qiuyu and Wanmen. It was a secret best buried within her, even from herself, to face any potential probes from the Emperor.

The Dowager Empress indeed perished in a wildfire, but Consort Jiang dared not underestimate the Emperor. She wondered if he had uncovered any clues or suspected her and Princess Chengping, who harbored deep enmity towards the Dowager Empress.

Coincidentally, both passed away almost on the same day.

"Mommy, Yearn is good," Yearn obediently responds to Consort Jiang's words, curiously gazing at her swollen belly. Imaginatively, he says, "Mommy is good too. Little brother, come out."

Consort Jiang is momentarily taken aback, realizing it must be the Emperor who often spoke to Yearn about having a little brother. Her eyes mist over as she gently tells Yearn, "It's a little sister, Yearn."

Yearn looks up at her, "Sister?"

Consort Jiang smiles, replying, "Either brother or sister is fine, but Mommy hopes for a sister."