Zijing clasped his hands together and said."I thought it was something big deal, it's just a pendant! Since Mu Mianmian likes it, consider it as a gift you bought for her. You don't need to return it...When Mrs. Meng heard that the black cat was a fake, she became even more displeased. She picked up a plate of snacks and threw it at Feng!

The whirlwind swept up its paws, sending the treat flying. It then glared disdainfully at Lady Meng for a moment before turning and leaping from the window ledge, vanishing in an instant.

"My lady, please rest here for a while. If you need anything, feel free to summon the maids at the door."

"Okay."

Mrs. Meng didn't want to kneel there and cry, but tears wouldn't come. She could only use a handkerchief soaked in ginger juice to wipe her eyes, which made them sting.

When Grand Empress Dowager Sun returned to the Fengqi Palace for a report, she saw Ripples holding Cyclone in her arms. Her steps faltered, and after composing herself, she stepped forward and bowed:

"Your Majesty, Lady Meng has been settled."

"Well, before the emperor's burial, all mothers have to enter the palace. Mourning is also a hard task. You should take good care of some elderly imperial consorts. If their bodies are really not well, they can be excused from entering the palace to mourn."

Yes, my lady.

Grandmother Sun respectfully bowed in response.

Then the ripples said:

"This palace is a bit tired, I'll take a nap for a while."

Grandma Sun and Lan Zhi served Ripple to lie down before quietly retreating from the inner room.

"Master, Lady Meng harbors a deep resentment towards you."

"She's just resentful that I benefited from her deceased daughter and rose to a position of power. That's all."

Ripples understands Mrs. Meng's feelings, but she doesn't accept her attitude towards her. After all, it was the Meng family who found a replacement bride to escape trouble, and because time was short, they chose Xia's daughter, who stepped forward.

If Liàn Yī, the substitute bride, had died in the palace's power struggles, she probably would have shed a few tears. But Liàn Yī thrived. Leveraging the Meng family's influence, she secured her position as empress and, having given birth to three children, became the only one in the harem.

The better she did, the more she couldn't tolerate it, until she learned that Lian Yi was dying, and then her heart felt a little bit lighter.

It's a pity that Ripple isn't really going to die.

"Duo Duo, Mrs. Meng has traveled far and wide to enter the imperial city, and has been entering the palace day after day to mourn for the emperor. Her body must be worn down."

"The master said that all the women in this deep courtyard were quite frail, let alone Madam Meng, who was no longer young."

Dodo trembled her flower plate, and cleverly replied.

Three days later, Madam Meng fell ill. In the end, Hongji spared her from entering the palace to mourn out of respect for their familial connection as his grandmother.

She was spared the ordeal of entering the palace to mourn, but Meng's wife's body was completely ruined by this and she fell seriously ill, an illness from which she could not recover.

This kind of thing is not just a case of Lady Meng. Every time the emperor passes away, several elderly ministers will be taken with him. This is something everyone knows tacitly.

This is mainly because these elderly officials and their families were advanced in years. Moreover, with the saying "one emperor, one set of ministers," the numerous procedures before burial in the imperial mausoleum were too arduous for them to bear. Those who couldn't withstand it simply died on the way.

General Meng stood beside his elderly wife's bed, frowning as he watched her face, which had grown gaunt in just a few days. Her fevered ramblings worried him deeply.

"Father, your daughter-in-law is here taking care of your wife. You should rest first. Tomorrow the Emperor will be buried and you'll need to enter the palace early."

The second daughter-in-law respectfully said.

"Fengying, you've worked hard."

An Ding Hou could only helplessly nod.

On the second day, Hou of Anning entered the palace early and, following the funeral procession, escorted Emperor Qixing into the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of the city. Afterwards, under the gaze of the crown prince, he sealed the tomb.

Emperor Qixian could finally rest in peace. Now, it was time for Hongji's ascension to the throne. The Ministry of Rites had prepared everything for his enthronement long ago. Hongji's imperial robes were also finished, and the three regents had all submitted memorials urging the prince to ascend the throne as soon as possible.

The current Crown Prince Chiang Hongji had rejected the request to ascend the throne three times, but eventually agreed.

This side also received the message sent by Dodo:

"Master, the Third Prince has indeed come near the capital and has been lying in wait. He is waiting for the day when Honghui ascends to the throne, and then he will lead his troops to attack the palace."

How many people are there

He brought over five hundred people, mostly those he had planted beforehand inside the Imperial City. There were also some of his men in the palace.

"I understand. I'll leave this to Hongji. This is his first test as emperor."

"Master, aren't you going to do anything"

"Now it's my son's time to show his abilities, I won't interfere. Interfering too much would backfire."

Liàn'yī said calmly.

In the middle of the night, a squad of Imperial Forest Guards surrounded Fengqi Palace. The captain of the guards respectfully said to Lianyi:

"Your Majesty, I am here at the Phoenix Roost Palace under the Emperor's orders to guard it. After the ceremony of his ascension, the Imperial Guard will withdraw."

"This palace understands. Just do your assigned duties."

Ripple covered her lips with a handkerchief and coughed softly before replying.

"Yes!"

After the head guard and the others left, Lianyi instructed Granny Sun:

"Go and summon Yunsan and Hongye to Fengchi Palace. Tell them this palace misses them."

Yes, my lady.

When Yun Shan and Hong Ye arrived at Feng Qi Palace, they saw their own mother coughing. Although she had applied powder to her face, it was still possible to see her haggard appearance.

"Mother, how did you start coughing again Didn't your condition improve a few days ago"

Yunsan immediately stepped forward, sat down beside the bed, and held Ripples' hand, saying:

Hongye then frowned and asked Lanzhi,

"Aunt Lan, how come your mother's condition has worsened"

"They are all slaves, they didn't take good care of the Empress."

Lan Zhi immediately knelt down.

"Hongye, don't make things difficult for Lanzhi. She takes good care of you. It was just Mother who got a bit chilled standing by the window for a while."

After Lian'i finished speaking, she waved her hand to dismiss Lanzhi.

"Mother, did my elder brother deploy the Imperial Guards outside the Fengchi Palace Did something happen"

Your third uncle is back.

The ripples on her face subsided, and she spoke calmly.

"Uncle Three"

"That third prince who killed his father, the emperor's younger brother"

The two people immediately said.

"Yes."

"Our mother brought us to the Phoenix Nest Palace so she could protect us better."

HONGYE said with conviction.

"Well, don't give your big brother any trouble, this is his first battle."

"Son (Daughter) knows."

After they lay down, they silently accompanied Ripples.

Actually, that day, Hongji's enthronement ceremony, the ripples of his mother were supposed to attend. It was only because rumors spread outside that she was about to pass away and would be waiting for her son to ascend the throne to fulfill her wish before following the late emperor, which gave Ripples a reason not to show up.

The thick scent of medicinal broth in Fenqi Palace never dissipated. The maids and eunuchs inside the palace would tiptoe around, and with the Second Princess and Third Prince both attending to the sick, this matter was no longer brought up by court officials.

After the ceremonial gun salutes marking the coronation ceremony began, Duo started providing live coverage. Halfway through the ceremony, Duo suddenly said:

"Master, someone is attacking the west gate. The Imperial Guards are already engaged with them."

"He came for Hung Chi."

"It should be!"

"Where is the Third Prince"

He wasn't among them.

"If you find him, let me know."

"Huh"

What's wrong

"The Third Prince is actually in your palace!"d window, and I believe I have some talent for the civil service examinations. I will definitely not disappoint the expectations of my family and parents."Ripples stated firmly."You know what to do....