Even Emperor Xinlong was deeply moved by Zhu Changsheng’s words, yet he still did not allow her to rise.
He took a step forward, descending one stair, and looked down at her: “Now, I can revoke the imperial decree of marriage, grant you your freedom, and allow you to seek another suitable match in the future. As for Siheng and his family’s funeral arrangements, I will assign others to handle them. I will also grant you a sum of consolation money, bestow upon you the title of County Princess, grant you a fief, and ensure you have no worries for the rest of your life.”
These words were both a grand imperial favor and a test.
No matter what choice Zhu Changsheng made, it would be understandable.
However, if after the marriage decree was revoked, Zhu Changsheng still chose to remain in the Wei Mansion, Emperor Xinlong would be pleased for Wei Yuan. Conversely, if she chose the latter, Emperor Xinlong would compensate Zhu Changsheng on Wei Yuan’s behalf, but she would then be confined to her fief, never allowed to return to Shengjing again.
Such a simple truth—how could Zhu Changsheng not understand it?
She bowed slightly and replied without hesitation: “Your humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor, but I beseech Your Majesty to revoke the imperial decree.”
Emperor Xinlong was taken aback and continued: “You are still at an age of youthful beauty. With the rewards I grant you, you can go to your fief and still find a suitable match to remarry. If you insist on staying in the Wei Mansion, you will only be guarding a spirit tablet, growing old and dying in the inner chambers. I believe Siheng would not wish to see you trapped in the Wei Mansion’s inner chambers for the rest of your life, unable to move on.”
Emperor Xinlong grew more impassioned as he spoke. By the time he reached the last two sentences, he actually hoped Zhu Changsheng would choose the latter—to leave the Wei Mansion and seek another haven. Only then would he not betray the promise he had made to Siheng while he was alive.
At this moment, Zhu Changsheng raised her head and gazed firmly at Wei Yuan’s coffin.
“Your Majesty, have you ever loved someone so deeply that you loved them more than yourself?”
Emperor Xinlong’s expression stiffened.
He…
In his youth, he had loved someone so deeply that he loved them more than himself.
“In your humble subject’s forest, there is only one towering tree. The vines cling to the tree, allowing them to see a broader sky and sea. Though the tree has died, it remains in place, accompanying the vines. If you forcibly move the vines to another tree, they may survive, but they may also perish. In the process, how long must they wait to see the sky again? Your Majesty…”
Her gaze shifted from the coffin to Emperor Xinlong, meeting the emperor’s eyes: “Wei Yuan still lives in your humble subject’s heart. As long as I remember him, he will continue to live in this world. When I pass away a hundred years from now, to be buried in the same coffin as Wei Yuan—that would be no regret.”
After speaking, Zhu Changsheng spread her arms, bent her elbows before her forehead, and bowed deeply, her voice ringing clear: “Your humble subject… in life, is a member of the Wei family. I am willing to guard the souls of the Wei family, uphold the ancestral aspirations of the Wei family, and never abandon them in this lifetime!”
Emperor Xinlong shed tears once more, but this time, it was not for Wei Yuan—it was out of emotion for Wei Yuan having gained such a virtuous wife.
He quickly stepped forward and personally helped Zhu Changsheng to her feet: “Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After Zhu Changsheng stood up, Emperor Xinlong, with tear-filled eyes, turned to the eunuch Li Deshun behind him and said: “Proclaim the imperial decree.”
“Lady Wei Zhu need not kneel to hear the imperial decree. From now on, she may remain standing for all imperial decrees.” He wiped away his tears and returned to the spot where he had been standing earlier.
Zhu Changsheng bowed respectfully and said once more: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”Li Deshun then walked up to her, unrolled the imperial edict, and began to read aloud: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Wei Shaoting, Guardian of the Nation, sacrificed himself to save the people of Linshui Pass, leading all the men of his household to exit the pass and repel foreign invaders. He served the nation with loyalty and valor, achieving illustrious military feats in his lifetime, defending the homeland and protecting the people. He is now posthumously honored as the Prince of Zhennan…”
“His eldest son, Wei Yuan, campaigned alongside his father for eleven years, slaying countless enemies, reclaiming eight provinces, seven prefectures, and five towns, ensuring the territorial integrity of the Great Jin Kingdom. He repeatedly drove back enemy forces, safeguarding the countless commoners along the border. A divine warrior reborn, he unfortunately fell in battle outside Linshui Pass, holding the last line of defense at the nation’s gates and ensuring the safety of the people of Linshui Pass. We mourn the loss of a great general. Posthumously, Wei Yuan is honored as the Divine Martial General, and his spirit tablet shall be enshrined in the royal ancestral hall. Upon Our passing a century from now, his tablet shall rest beside Ours.”
Upon hearing the contents of the edict, the assembled ministers all looked up at the scroll in Li Deshun’s hands.
Some moved their lips as if to speak, but upon seeing the hundred coffins laid out in the courtyard, they silently closed their mouths, swallowing any words of opposition.
The reading of the edict continued.
All the sons of the Wei Mansion were posthumously honored one by one, granted grand titles and lavish burials.
After the sons were honored, the elderly matriarch, the wives of each branch, and the concubines were also posthumously recognized.
Finally…
“Lady Zhu of the Wei family, virtuous and kind, graceful and pure, remained steadfastly loyal to Wei Yuan. She is hereby granted the title of First-Rank Lady, with the honorific ‘Yi,’ symbolizing gentleness, kindness, and inner radiance. She is awarded ten thousand taels of gold, one jade ruyi scepter, an eight-treasure jade chrysanthemum hairpin, a gold begonia pearl hairpin with dangling tassels, a woven gold beauty ivory-handled palace fan… and one Pardon Token.”
As the list of rewards grew longer and more extravagant, the expressions of the ministers gradually lost composure. When they heard “one Pardon Token,” some even wore twisted, almost ferocious expressions.
“Your Majesty…” the Censor-in-Chief spoke up first.
Emperor Xinlong abruptly turned, his gaze sweeping over the ministers below with imposing authority. “This is a place of mourning for the Wei family. If any ministers have urgent matters, submit your memorials at tomorrow’s morning court. Today, We have come only to offer incense to the deceased of the Wei family and do not wish to dampen the occasion.”
With that, Emperor Xinlong swept his sleeves and strode out of the spirit hall, quickly exiting the Wei Mansion.
Seeing this, the ministers followed in a dense crowd. In a short while, the once-crowded spirit hall became noticeably emptier.
Li Deshun wiped a bead of sweat for Emperor Xinlong, deftly rolling up the edict and handing it to Zhu Changsheng. “Lady Yi, please receive the edict.”
Zhu Changsheng raised both hands. “I thank His Majesty for his grace.”
Li Deshun carefully placed the edict into Zhu Changsheng’s hands and reminded her, “Lady Yi, hold it securely.”
Recalling the last time he had gone to the Zhu Mansion to read an edict, when he had nearly dropped it and was saved by Zhu Changsheng’s timely intervention—sparing him a hundred lashes—and considering the words she had spoken to Emperor Xinlong, the eunuch now held considerable respect for Zhu Changsheng.
Zhu Changsheng accepted the edict, glanced at the accompanying rewards, and ordered Su Ji to store them safely. She then took out a pouch of silver to tip Li Deshun.
Li Deshun was startled, not daring to accept the reward from Zhu Changsheng. He had enough sense to know that profiting from the dead was a grave offense. After some polite refusal, he hurriedly left the Wei Mansion.
At the same time, Zhu Yuanshu emerged from another gate.
Her gaze was filled with hatred as she stared at the rewards held by the servants, her expression twisted and ugly with jealousy.Just moments ago, she had been boasting to Zhu Changsheng about the gold pine-and-crane hairpin bestowed by Princess Consort Jing, but in the blink of an eye, the Emperor had rewarded her with many precious items, including a Pardon Token.
Why, in her previous life when she married into the Wei Mansion, had she not received such rewards but instead been punished by the Emperor? Meanwhile, Zhu Changsheng not only had the chance to meet the Emperor, gained the status of a titled lady, but was also specially granted the title “Yi” (懿).
Even the highest-ranking Noble Consort in the palace had not been granted the title “Yi.” What right did Zhu Changsheng have to it?
The more Zhu Yuanshu thought about it, the more resentful she became. She felt that everyone was unfair to her, favoring Zhu Changsheng instead.
As Zhu Yuanshu gradually lost her composure, Prince Jing’s voice came from behind her: “Ayou.”