BLHO Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Call Him Back

Chapter 49: Call Him Back

When Xiao Ping rushed from the Grand Court of Revision to the Imperial Prison, He Yuncheng had already been released by Shen Tan.

The prison cell was empty. Xiao Ping searched inside and out but couldn’t find him. He was so anxious that he paced back and forth several times. In a fluster, he went to Shen Tan to demand the person.

Shen Tan had anticipated this trouble from him, which was why she had urged He Yuncheng to leave so quickly earlier. She told him everything she needed to say and didn’t want him to waste any more time there.

She invited Xiao Ping to meet her in the main hall. The other party was full of anger and didn’t even touch the tea she had prepared. As soon as he entered, he questioned Shen Tan: “He Yuncheng plotted against the princess, the evidence is irrefutable. Who allowed you to release him?”

Without a word, Shen Tan directly showed him the Empress Dowager’s token. “I am acting on the Empress Dowager’s decree. If Master Xiao has any questions, you can seek verification from the Empress Dowager.”

Everyone knew that the Empress Dowager was unwell and in seclusion, refusing to see anyone. How could Xiao Ping seek verification?

In his anxiety, Master Xiao started pacing again, slapping his forehead and lamenting repeatedly, “Master Shen, this is a major case for the joint trial of the Three Departments! You acted so arbitrarily, releasing the person without even informing me. How am I supposed to explain this to those above?”

“Who does Master Xiao need to explain to?” Shen Tan calmly sipped her tea. “The Bei Sheng court has always been dominated by the Empress Dowager’s word. Now that the Empress Dowager has given the order, can the Emperor possibly blame you?”

Xiao Ping opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he only sighed. Looking as if he couldn’t explain it to her, he waved his hand, gave up, and turned to leave.

Shen Tan stared at the untouched tea. While contemplating, her calm expression gradually turned gloomy, and she distastefully poured the tea away.

As the New Year approached, Fengdu City was adorned with lanterns and decorations. The common people were unaware of the undercurrents surging within the imperial city, joyfully preparing to welcome a prosperous year.

Compared to the lively atmosphere among the people, the towering palace appeared desolate.

As evening approached, snow began to fall again. The remaining light faded, and the world was shrouded in a grayish-blue shadow.

Gu Huan walked quickly, and the eunuch behind him, holding an umbrella, couldn’t keep up.

“Your Majesty, please slow down, be careful of falling…”

Even the servants still treated him like a child.

The snow in the palace hadn’t been cleared yet, and Gu Huan’s footprints stretched all the way to the Cining Palace.

“Mother Empress!” he shouted as he rushed into the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber.

The palace maids and eunuchs couldn’t stop him.

The Empress Dowager’s illness seemed to have worsened in recent days. Lying in bed, she had no strength to get up. Her breathing became rapid, and she would cough, often coughing up black blood.

When Gu Huan saw her, a palace maid was helping her wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. The pure white silk handkerchief was almost completely stained with blood, a shocking sight.

“Mother Empress…” Gu Huan composed himself and lowered his voice.

The palace maid bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the Empress Dowager needs to rest quietly now and cannot be disturbed by outsiders…”

The Empress Dowager weakly waved her hand, gesturing to the palace maid, “You may leave.”

“Yes.”

The palace maid left, and Gu Huan hurriedly stepped forward, supporting the Empress Dowager’s body. “Mother Empress, be careful.”

The Empress Dowager breathed laboriously and asked him, “So agitated, what happened?”

“I wanted to ask Mother Empress… about Imperial Sister’s matter.” Gu Huan said, “Was it really Mother Empress who ordered He Yuncheng to be released?”

The Empress Dowager covered her mouth and coughed twice, not denying it.

Gu Huan understood that Shen Tan hadn’t acted on her own accord, and it was indeed an order to release the person.

He asked, puzzled, “Why did Mother Empress do this? I have already reported the results of the joint trial of the Three Departments to you. It was He Yuncheng who killed Imperial Sister, why did Mother Empress release him?”

“I have my considerations.”

“What considerations?”

“Border wars still depend on the He family.”

“Couldn’t someone else be sent? There are so many military generals in the court, he’s not the only one who knows how to fight.”

“Huan’er, you don’t understand. Mother Empress is doing this for your own good.”

Gu Huan deflated. “I know, Mother Empress is thinking of me in every way, but I would rather not be this emperor and seek justice for Imperial Sister.”

“Don’t speak nonsense, Huan’er. Listen to me, no matter what happens, Mother Empress will make sure you sit securely on this throne. You are the ruler of the world, and no one can shake your position. You must never say such things again.”

After speaking, the Empress Dowager started coughing again.

Gu Huan quickly stepped forward to pat her back. “I understand, Mother Empress, don’t get angry. I won’t talk nonsense again…”

The Empress Dowager was exhausted, she laid down, and closed her eyes wearily.

Gu Huan knelt obediently by the bed, using a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. He felt slightly relieved when her breathing became steady.

“Mother Empress…” he said in a very soft voice, “Huan’er knows that all of this is because of me. Imperial Sister married into the He family for my sake, and it is also for my sake that Mother Empress cannot pursue the He family’s crimes…”

The Empress Dowager sighed with relief. “Silly child.”

Gu Huan continued: “After Huan’er’s birth mother passed away, you treated Huan’er as your own. Over the years, you have worked tirelessly for Huan’er. Huan’er’s heart is full of gratitude and doesn’t know how to express it. Now, Huan’er has grown up and can’t always hide behind Mother Empress. I want to share some of the burden for Mother Empress.”

As he spoke, he thoughtfully tucked in the corners of the blanket for the Empress Dowager, preventing the cold air from affecting her body.

“But Huan’er’s origins are humble, and his talent is foolish. Compared to Imperial Brother Prince Rui, I am not even half as good. If it weren’t for Mother Empress’s support, I wouldn’t be able to become this emperor at all…”

When the words “Prince Rui” were mentioned, the Empress Dowager’s tightly closed eyelids twitched.

Gu Huan didn’t seem to notice and continued: “Huan’er really doesn’t know what to do to be as powerful as Imperial Brother Prince Rui.”

“You’ve done very well, there’s no need to say these things.”

“Really?” Gu Huan felt somewhat relieved and seemed to remember something, adding: “At that time, I was very young and my memory is really vague. Even now, I still don’t understand why my Imperial Brother rebelled, even though my father doted on him so much and certainly intended to pass the throne to him. And why was my father so cruel to his most beloved child, ordering him to be cut in half at the waist in public?”

Without warning, after he finished speaking, the Empress Dowager vomited a mouthful of blood.

“Mother Empress!” Gu Huan was shocked and quickly used a handkerchief to wipe her. “Mother Empress, what’s wrong? Someone! Someone! Summon the imperial physician!”

“No need…” The Empress Dowager tightly gripped his wrist, her fingertips turning white as she exerted force. “Get out… let this palace have some peace and quiet…”

“But…”

“Get out!”

Gu Huan was startled and didn’t dare to say more. “Yes… Huan’er takes his leave.”

When he came out of the Cining Palace, it was completely dark, the snow had stopped, and the wind was more biting than before sunset.

Gu Huan walked back along the path he had come, his pace no longer hurried, his face hidden in the pitch-black night, unable to see his expression.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the servants had prepared hot water for him to bathe and warm up.

He stood still and asked the unfamiliar young eunuch, “Where is Li Yuliang?”

The young eunuch bowed nervously, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Palace Attendant is still busy at the moment and has no time to serve before the hall.”

“What is he busy with?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Palace Attendant is currently investigating the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion massacre.”

Gu Huan was silent.

After a moment, he ordered again, “Call him back.”

“No-now?”

“Or what?”

The young eunuch was so frightened by Gu Huan’s gaze that he shivered. “Yes! This servant will go and call the Palace Attendant back!”

–

In the dead of night, no one was asleep in the General’s Residence. Military Advisor Guo Yao and several deputy generals were gathered there.

In the main hall, He Yuncheng sat in the chief seat, silent and unmoving, a far cry from his usual unrestrained manner.

His close confidants also wore solemn expressions, each with their own thoughts, but none dared to speak rashly.

Finally, the straightforward deputy general couldn’t bear it any longer and broke the silence.

“I’ll take men tonight and snatch the young master back! What’s the big deal? This damn court can just rebel! I’ve long disliked that cowardly little emperor! It would be better to have our general be the emperor than him!”

“Shut up!” Guo Yao quickly scolded him. “How dare you say such things? Do you want hundreds of thousands of soldiers to lose their heads with you?”

Deputy General Qin sat down awkwardly. He had only been so reckless because he was enraged.

The He family had been loyal for generations. How could they become rebels against the court?

“I think the young master may not be without a backup plan.” Guo Yao said to He Yuncheng, “General, you said that in the Imperial Prison, the young master still had words left unsaid. Perhaps that was his way of leaving himself a chance of survival. Snatching the prisoner is a poor plan. When the court issues an arrest warrant, you and the young master will still not be able to escape. The Empress Dowager has indeed issued an order to execute the young master, but Li Yuliang’s target is the He family army. Taking the young master’s life is meaningless to him. We might as well wait and see what they will do next…”

As he spoke, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Guo Yao listened carefully and exchanged a look with He Yuncheng. “They’re here.”

The next moment, a servant entered.

“Reporting to the General, Minister of War Chen Chang requests an audience!”