Chapter 609: Burial in the Imperial Mausoleum as the Crown Princess Consort
"Mr. Li, you may announce the decree." Dean Chen stood at the forefront.
Mr. Li’s gaze fell on the coffin in the hall. He hesitated for a moment before unfurling the imperial edict in his hands and announcing in a loud voice, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: We are deeply grieved by the attack on Ye Qianning of the General’s manor at Four-direction Mountain. In consideration of her intelligence, wit, and noble character, We grant a special dispensation: in the name of the Crown Princess Consort, she is to be interred in the imperial mausoleum..."
"What did you say?" Qian Fanji shot to his feet.
Mr. Li was cut off and didn’t dare to announce the rest of the decree.
Dean Chen, Qian Fu, Zhan Yi, Lady Zhan, and everyone else from the General’s manor reacted, all rising to their feet before the edict was even finished.
"Read that again, if you have the guts." Gu Shuo stepped forward, his eyes chillingly dark.
Mr. Li instinctively took a step back.
"Interred in the imperial mausoleum? That place is no..."
"Zhan Chi." Zhan Yi glanced back at him.
"Hmph." Zhan Chi snorted coldly. ’What a joke. Imperial mausoleum? Crown Princess Consort?’
Gu Shuo was so furious he could have ground his teeth to dust. ’Interred in the imperial mausoleum? He would never let his daughter be buried in that blood-soaked place!’
The concubines were also utterly astonished. ’She’s already dead, yet they insist on branding her with a royal title. Won’t that prevent the poor girl from ever resting in peace?’
’So cruel!’
’The imperial family doesn’t just kill; they seek to crush the soul. So utterly cruel.’
"Mr. Li, go back and tell the Emperor that I cannot accept this decree." Dean Chen’s expression was grim as well.
Mr. Li looked troubled. "Dean Chen, I know you are all grieving Miss Xiang’s passing, but I must say this: the Emperor’s decree to bury her in the imperial mausoleum with the rites of a Crown Princess Consort is an immense honor. Please, do not pursue this any further. Nothing good will come of it."
"Thank you for the advice, Mr. Li. I know my limits, but I still cannot accept this decree. Please return."
"Dean Chen, this is an imperial decree." ’Returning an imperial decree... it’s unheard of in all of history.’
’To return the decree would be to openly defy imperial authority.’
"So what if it’s an imperial decree? Take it and get the hell out of here!" Zhan Yi’s temper finally flared.
Lady Zhan clutched her handkerchief, her gaze fixed on the decree. She twisted the fabric into a tight knot, wishing she could march right up and tear it to shreds.
Mr. Li stood his ground, still trying to persuade them. "Dean Chen, Old Master Zhan, don’t be rash. If I take this decree back, the consequences will be extremely severe. Please, just accept it."
"Get out! Get out now!" Zhan Yi began to shove him.
"Dean Chen!"
Mr. Li stumbled back a few steps, his mind racing. ’He knew better than anyone that causing a scene would only lead to more deaths. It would never bring about any so-called justice.’
’This world was never fair to begin with.’
"Mr. Li, does the Emperor truly hold the Eighth Prince in high regard?" Dean Chen asked. He knew Li Quande’s character. ’For him to be this insistent,’ he thought, ’this matter must be far from simple.’
Mr. Li couldn’t elaborate, so he simply gave a firm nod.
Dean Chen’s suspicion only deepened. ’When has the Emperor ever shown any concern for the Eighth Prince? Four-direction Mountain, the military command, Consort Yuan, Yuan Yintang, East Shu... All of these threads, woven together, feel profoundly strange.’
’And all signs pointed toward the Eighth Prince.’
"He doesn’t actually value me." Sang Zhi stood up from within the coffin.
Hearing the voice, Mr. Li looked up. When he saw a figure rising from the coffin, he nearly fainted from shock.
Dean Chen and the others whipped around.
"Who told you you could stand in my granddaughter’s coffin? Get out!" Zhan Yi roared, shocked and enraged.
Lady Zhan was also badly startled. ’She was already dead, and he still dared to disturb her rest.’
Sang Zhi leaped out of the coffin.
’Ye Qianning was also shocked when she heard the imperial decree. While she wasn’t clear on every detail, she understood the gist of it—they wanted to cover up the truth by bestowing this title upon her and burying her in the imperial mausoleum.’