diymy Chapter 1147 - 983: Abdication
Chapter 1147 - 983: Abdication
"The ’vase’" The Emperor gasped loudly, having spent quite a bit of energy from speaking continuously.Gu Chengyu looked over and saw a blue and white gourd vase placed on the antique shelf, guessing this must be the mechanism.
"Is it that gourd vase? Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I will go and get it."
With that, Gu Chengyu stood up and walked towards the antique shelf. He reached out to touch the blue and white gourd vase, applied a little force, and found the vase remained motionless.
Without much thought, Gu Chengyu knew that this mechanism was meant to be rotated.
He gently twisted the gourd vase and heard a faint sound. He couldn’t help but criticize, ancient mechanisms truly lack creativity, they’re all quite similar.
Instantly, a bronze Pixiu ornament on the right side of the antique shelf rotated backward, revealing a small brocade box from the back.
Turning around to look at the Emperor, Gu Chengyu saw him blink several times, his expression becoming increasingly agitated.
As there seemed to be no other mechanism, Gu Chengyu took out the brocade box. He quickly walked to the Emperor, who looked at the box with a mournful expression.
"Your Majesty, should we open it?" Gu Chengyu asked, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the brocade box.
The Emperor blinked, and Gu Chengyu reached for the lock on the box.
Just as he was about to open it, Gu Chengyu heard crying coming from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty? It’s your concubine!"
Gu Chengyu frowned, unsure which concubine or Empress was coming over. Perhaps they heard something and came to remind the Emperor not to forget their past relationship.
If the Emperor were to pass away, his concubines would have a tough life ahead. Those without children either get sent to the nunnery or locked away in the cold palace until death.
With children, they could live in the Prince’s fiefdom with the Emperor or new Emperor’s permission, staying together and having support in old age.
Therefore, before the Emperor’s demise, if they could see him once and have a secure future granted out of past affection, escaping such a desolate late life would be a blessing.
"Get out of the way! How dare you stop me? I am the Empress, the Emperor’s first wife, and now that the Emperor is about to depart this world, you dare block my last meeting with him."
The Empress flicked her phoenix robe, looking at the guard with eyes full of frost.
The Crown Prince stepped forward and supported the heartbroken Empress.
"Mother! Father wants us to wait outside the hall. He has last words he wants to convey to Junior Minister Gu."
The Crown Prince rested his mother’s body against himself, looking at the silver strip in her hair, his reddened eyes couldn’t help but blur again.
"Dundun, as the Crown Prince, how can you allow the Emperor and Junior Minister Gu to be alone? The Emperor’s condition is critical, and many state affairs remain unsettled. As the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne, how can you not fulfill your filial duty at your father’s bedside?"
Gu Chengyu and the Emperor heard the commotion outside and realized the Empress had arrived.
The Emperor breathed more rapidly, while Gu Chengyu wasted no time and opened the box, revealing a letter lying inside, below which was silk fabric.
"Succession, uh, succession, uh." The Emperor spoke with immense difficulty, with unclear pronunciation, prompting Gu Chengyu to lean in closer.
"Succession..."
Gu Chengyu’s eyes widened in surprise and bewilderment as he looked at the Emperor’s expression.
"Dundun, you foolish child, let’s quickly go see your father one last time." The Empress pulled the Crown Prince, attempting to rush into the hall.
"Your Highness, the Emperor instructed..." The guards hurriedly stepped forward in hopes of stopping the two.
"Move aside for me! Or else I’ll have your head!" The Empress’s eyes flashed with sharpness, her vicious gaze making the guard involuntarily step back two paces.
De’an hurriedly caught up from behind.
Upon seeing the situation, he immediately ordered, "Let the Empress in quickly!"
Ignoring all this, the Empress pulled the Crown Prince and rushed inside.
Gu Chengyu heard footsteps approaching the hall and quickly moved to a spot invisible to the Emperor, slipping the brocade box into his sleeve, effectively hiding it within his space.
By the time he reached the Emperor’s bedside, the Empress and Crown Prince were already within Gu Chengyu’s sight.
He exhaled slightly, the timing was just right.
"Your Majesty!" The Empress entered the inner hall, first glancing at Gu Chengyu standing aside.
Her view circled around Gu Chengyu before focusing on the bed.
Gu Chengyu was about to pay his respects, but the Empress had already ignored him.
"Your Majesty! You can’t leave me alone!" The Empress threw herself at the side of the Emperor’s bed, reaching under the bedding near the Emperor’s elbow.
Looking at his old wife, the Emperor couldn’t help but feel a bit moved. Having been married for decades, he owed much of his ascent to the Dragon Throne to the Empress and her family.
A young couple becoming old companions, weathering many storms together, they had once shared joy and adversity, and enjoyed wealth and prosperity together, now he would be the first to leave.
"Your Majesty? If you leave first, how will I live?" The Empress cried genuinely at this moment, tears streaming down her face, stripping away her usual dignity and pride.
"Uh" The Emperor opened his mouth but eventually closed it helplessly; he was indeed tired.
Seeing the Emperor silent, the Empress felt very strange, and upon noticing the Emperor’s hands unable to move, wondered what was happening?
"Mother, Father currently cannot move, even speaking is extremely difficult." The Crown Prince explained to his mother, also kneeling by the bedside.
"Your Majesty, do you have anything to entrust? The Crown Prince and your concubine are here, we will certainly fulfill your wishes." The Empress held the Emperor’s hand, placing it on her cheek.
Tears soaked the Emperor’s hand, but he was already oblivious.
"Don’t, uh, don’t, uh, kill, uh, the third!" The Emperor laboriously uttered these few words, shocking the Crown Prince and Empress as if falling into an icy abyss.
The Emperor’s gaze looked towards the entrance of the inner hall, as if awaiting someone’s arrival.
Unable to see that face, perhaps never seeing it again, though it wasn’t her, it ultimately still bore some resemblance.
He had kept his promise, daring to face her even in the afterlife.
The Empress’s face stiffened, then began to tremble all over. Her nails dug deep into the Emperor’s hand, her expression became slightly distorted.
Footsteps echoed in the hall, and she immediately turned her head towards the rear, seeing De’an entering.
The Empress cast her hateful gaze at the Emperor; who was he waiting for? Was it that wretch Consort Xian?
Just because Consort Xian bore a remarkable resemblance to that wretch, the Emperor favored her so much, and indulged the Third Prince.
Even in his final moments, he wanted to leave a protection for the Third Prince.
Gu Chengyu sighed deeply; though the Empress cried passionately, her tears mingled with ulterior motives.
In truth, this couple had long been estranged in reality.
In the house of the Emperor, there is no familial affection, and with the Emperor’s passing, to secure the throne and their position, the scheming would not cease.
Recalling the Emperor’s words, Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but look at the Crown Prince.
He too, was a pitiable soul.
However, his mind was somewhat chaotic at the moment. It was too sudden, leaving him at a loss.