Rebirth: Pampered by the Lord

The leader knew he could not escape the calamity, knelt on the ground, and remained silent.

"Someone, take this dog slave out and execute him."

At the Emperor’s command, two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the leader away.

The Emperor came to his senses and gritted his teeth with hatred, knowing that the Empress Dowager’s death by hanging inside the Imperial Palace would become a laughingstock if it spread. Thus, he immediately ordered the news to be sealed off; anyone who dared to spread it would be executed without mercy, and the crime would implicate their entire family or even clan.

The Empress Mother having been deliberately hung in front of his door, the Emperor was naturally furious, but not knowing who the murderer was, he decided to first properly conduct the Great Empress Dowager’s funeral.

When the Rising Sun began to rise, the Imperial Palace was filled with the deafening sound of funeral bells...

"Dong... Dong... Dong!"

The people on the streets stopped what they were doing, looked towards the Imperial Palace, and started whispering...

"What’s going on? What happened?"

"Indeed, who died? Why are the funeral bells ringing? Could it be the Emperor has passed away?"

"It’s likely; someone important in the palace must have died."

The funeral bells in the Imperial Palace are only tolled when the current Emperor, Empress, or Empress Dowager has died. No one else qualifies.

So the people were certain that something had happened to one of the three important figures.

At this moment, the palace doors opened, and a squad of Imperial Guards rushed out, the leader holding a pile of Imperial Edicts.

As they passed through each street, they posted an Imperial Edict, and the curious townspeople flocked over to read. The edict wrote...

By the decree of heaven, the Emperor proclaims: The Empress Dowager succumbed to a sudden illness last night and ascended to the heavens. The Emperor, heartbroken, issues this announcement: Moli Country will observe five days of mourning. This is the imperial command.

Beneath it was the Jade Seal.

Only then did everyone understand why the funeral bells rang from the Imperial Palace—it turned out the Empress Dowager had died of illness.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the Capital.

War Prince’s Mansion.

As Xuexue and Long Rui were having breakfast, the steward came in to relay the news. Xuexue was secretly shocked; the Empress Dowager was in robust health, how could she suddenly die? Could there be some hidden scheme?

Long Rui remained indifferent, leisurely eating his food.

Xuexue picked up a piece of Osmanthus Cake, eating while saying, "Prince, the Empress Dowager was so healthy, suddenly dying, don’t you find it suspicious?"

Long Rui mumbled indistinctly, "The Imperial Palace is a den of filth; the Empress Dowager lived so long, she was not spotless. Everything has cause and effect; why bother, it’s better to care for my wife."

Xuexue was a bit muddled, "Prince, what do you mean by that?"

Long Rui beckoned her, "Wife, come closer."

Xuexue leaned in, "What is it?"

Long Rui whispered softly in her ear, "The Empress Dowager was murdered."

"What? Who did it?"

"That, I don’t know, surely an enemy."

"Isn’t that obvious? Who else would kill?"

"Wife, do you know where the Empress Dowager died?"

"In the palace, of course!"

"That’s a given, she lived there. Of course, she died in the palace."

"Then why ask?"

"I mean, guess which palace hall the Empress Dowager died in?"

Xuexue pouted, "Not guessing."

Long Rui chuckled, "She died at the doorstep of the Emperor’s sleeping quarters. Wife, do you know that when the Emperor woke up and opened his door, he found the Great Empress Dowager hanging there, scaring him half to death."

His voice filled with delight, "Whoever did it, it was remarkably satisfying."

With that, he added more dim sum to Xuexue’s bowl, "Wife, eat more."