Chapter 402

Chapter 402 On the way there, his mother had instructed him to cry at the Empress's wake—crying was a sign of respect, and not crying would be considered rude. He had tried for a long time but couldn't force himself to cry. But when he looked up and saw his mother weeping with her big belly, Taotao suddenly felt a pang of grievance and couldn't help but wail at the top of his lungs. Everyone around the funeral hall was startled by his outburst. Xie Run, who had been in the midst of grief, was jolted back to her senses by Taotao's cry. She awkwardly tugged at him, signaling him to stop. She had indeed told the boy to cry, but she hadn't told him to cry like this! Once Taotao started crying, he became completely absorbed in it, tears the size of beans streaming down his face. Because he was so young, no one was overly harsh with him. On the contrary, because Taotao cried so sorrowfully, everyone assumed he was a filial and sensible child. Even the bewildered Second Princess and Third Princess were led by Taotao into wailing along with him. The funeral hall, which had been heavy with solemn grief, suddenly became incredibly noisy. Xie Run hastily pulled Taotao away, not daring to linger. She was afraid that if she stayed in Fengyi Palace any longer, the boy would cry the roof right off the place. Just as they stepped out of Fengyi Palace, a voice sounded from behind. "Noble Consort Zhao, please wait a moment!" Xie Run turned around and saw Zhaorong Huizhao approaching gracefully with a calm, composed expression. She had always carried an air of cool elegance, full of scholarly refinement, and dressed in white mourning clothes, she seemed even more ethereal and otherworldly. Zhaorong Huizhao bowed to Xie Run: "This concubine pays respects to Noble Consort Zhao." Xie Run knew that despite Zhaorong Huizhao's clear-eyed appearance, she was actually somewhat stubborn and tactless. Whatever she had chased after them to say was unlikely to be pleasant. She said coldly, "Does Zhaorong Huizhao have business with me?" Zhaorong Huizhao slowly straightened up, her eyes fixed on Xie Run, her voice clear and crisp like jade striking jade: "This concubine has a question for Noble Consort Zhao." Xie Run glanced at her sideways. "Speak." Zhaorong Huizhao: "Why did Imperial Physician Xie's youngest son suddenly fall ill?!" "Today she was supposed to come take the Empress's pulse and pay her respects. If not for Imperial Physician Xie's illness, which gave those with hidden malice an opportunity, how could the Empress have come to this..." When Xiaoshu and Dantao beside her heard this, anger immediately rose on their faces. Xie Run also felt a surge of fury rush from her chest to her head. She stepped forward and raised her hand, slapping Zhaorong Huizhao across the face. A sharp crack rang out, and a faint red mark appeared on Zhaorong Huizhao's fair cheek. The palace attendants around them were all stunned. Even Zhaorong Huizhao was dazed for a long moment before coming back to her senses. Xie Run scolded angrily: "How dare you!" "Zhaorong Huizhao, are you insinuating that I deliberately kept Imperial Physician Xie from coming to treat the Empress?!" "Everyone knows the Empress's rage-induced collapse was the work of schemers. His Majesty has already sent Lord Jing to investigate, and we await the truth." "Even His Majesty believes in my innocence, and Consort Wen has not spoken out of turn. By what authority do you question me?" "If you want to play the role of the noble one, then keep your selfish motives well hidden. Don't disgust people with them here!" Xie Run rarely grew this angry, and her full imposing presence did indeed intimidate the attendants on both sides. But Zhaorong Huizhao was single-minded. She raised her hand to touch her slapped face, her expression still cold: "This concubine's words were offensive, and I accept the lesson from Your Ladyship." "But the Empress showed me great kindness, and I will never let those who harmed her go unpunished!" Xie Run glared coldly at Zhaorong Huizhao: "So only you care about the Empress in this world, and everyone else is just heartless?" "If you truly want to avenge the Empress, the first ones you should kill are the Xia Dynasty emperor, and then those palace consorts of Xia who bullied the Empress's mother. Don't just throw your weight around in His Majesty's harem." "If I had treacherous intentions, why would I have done so much back then?" Zhaorong Huizhao lowered her eyes. "I hope that is so." Her attitude was infuriating—not just to Xie Run, but even to Dantao and Xiaoshu and the other attendants. Today was the Empress's funeral, and Xie Run didn't want to cause trouble. But Zhaorong Huizhao's attitude was truly revolting. Unable to contain herself any longer, Xie Run suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Zhaorong Huizhao's hand, and pulled her back toward Fengyi Palace. Zhaorong Huizhao was startled: "What are you doing?!" "Let's go see the Empress!" Xie Run, with her belly out front, walked with steady, brisk steps, dragging Zhaorong Huizhao straight inside. The attendants around them all hovered nearby, not daring to get close, watching nervously as Xie Run pulled Zhaorong Huizhao into Fengyi Palace. The palace attendants standing guard outside could hardly hide their shock. In all their years in the palace, they had rarely seen a pregnant woman move as swiftly as Noble Consort Zhao. Zhaorong Huizhao didn't even dare struggle, afraid of bumping into Xie Run's belly and being wrongfully blamed for it. Consort Wen, who had been kneeling and burning paper money, heard the commotion and looked up sharply, staring in bewilderment as Noble Consort Zhao dragged Zhaorong Huizhao into the hall. At first glance, she nearly thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. It took Consort Wen a moment to react before she hurriedly rose: "What's going on?" "Noble Consort Zhao, Zhaorong Huizhao, you two..." Before she could finish, she saw Noble Consort Zhao press Zhaorong Huizhao down to kneel before the Empress's funeral altar. Xie Run held Zhaorong Huizhao down to her knees, while she herself stood with her belly out, towering over her. Her expression was cold and stern, her demeanor composed: "Zhaorong Huizhao, I tell you in the presence of the Empress that I have never harbored any treacherous intentions, nor have I ever committed any treacherous acts!" "If I utter a single lie, may I die a miserable death!" She lowered her head, meeting Zhaorong Huizhao's slightly startled gaze. Xie Run curled her lips. "Are Zhaorong Huizhao and you satisfied now?" "Since the Empress is here today, you might as well make a vow to me as well." "From this day forward, if you have no evidence in hand and dare to mention another word concerning the Empress, may the bloodline of your Li family be severed!" Zhaorong Huizhao instinctively widened her eyes, shock and anger flickering within them. The Li family had long been stripped of their property and status, leaving only her as the sole survivor. Her only bloodline was the Third Princess. For Noble Consort Zhao to make her swear such an oath was clearly forcing her to curse her own daughter! Zhaorong Huizhao instinctively wanted to refuse, but gazing at the Empress's memorial tablet, she suddenly steeled her resolve. That she and the Third Princess had managed to survive this long was entirely thanks to the Empress's protection. If she could find the one who had harmed the Empress, what did it matter if she made a vow? Zhaorong Huizhao raised her hand, her brows firm and resolute: "From this day forward, if I wrong Noble Consort Zhao without evidence, may my Li family's... bloodline be severed." "But if I find even the slightest shred of evidence, even if I become a vengeful ghost, I will never let this rest." The moment she finished speaking, Xie Run released her grip. Consort Wen belatedly understood the conflict between the two. Zhaorong Huizhao believed that her elder sister's death was connected to Noble Consort Zhao, and Noble Consort Zhao, enraged, had brought the matter to her sister's spirit tablet. The moment this thought struck Consort Wen, she felt only astonishment. Her elder sister's death—first, her illness had been too severe; second, the shock and grief upon learning of her mother's death had overwhelmed her. By all logic, how could it possibly have anything to do with Noble Consort Zhao? Consort Wen wanted to say something to mediate, but felt that the two had already finished their quarrel, and perhaps there was no need for her to speak. After Noble Consort Zhao left, Consort Wen slowly rose and walked over to the dazed Zhaorong Huizhao. "Zhaorong Huizhao, I'm afraid you've misunderstood Sister Noble Consort Zhao."