Free Web NovelChapter 1111: Chapter 800: Duke Shenwu Has Passed Away!
At that moment, a little eunuch suddenly ran in from outside the city gate; he had just been sent to gather information. Upon his return, he immediately informed everyone that the Imperial Carriage was about to arrive!
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi and Pei Xingyuan couldn’t continue their conversation. Shang Ruyi hurriedly stood up and moved to the front of the procession, while Pei Xingyuan returned to the group of officials. Everyone stood straight, holding their breath, in front of the vast Mingde Gate, not a cough or a pant could be heard.
Then, a gust of wind blew in from the wide-open city gate.
A sudden gust of wind, distinctly carrying the late summer evening’s heat; yet, for some reason, Shang Ruyi felt a chill to the bone in this warm breeze. Perhaps it was Pei Xingyuan’s words that stirred increasing unease within her. Following this, the rumbling sound reached her ears.
The sound of footsteps, growing closer.
Everyone became even more tense, lowering their heads. Shang Ruyi also bowed her head but strained to look forward. Finally, on the wide avenue outside the city gate, she saw a dark mass slowly approaching.
It was the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage!
This time, even Shang Ruyi held her breath, suppressing the unrest in her heart. As she counted each step, drawing closer, the ground beneath their feet trembled more intensely. Finally, a salty breeze suddenly rushed into the city gate, causing everyone’s hair and beard to fly up, and Shang Ruyi’s garments fluttered. Shortly after, the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage entered Mingde Gate!
Tushere hastily helped Shang Ruyi kneel on the ground, and the surrounding civil and military officials sequentially bowed and paid their respects, shouting long live the Emperor—
"Welcome back to the capital, Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live the Emperor!"
The sound shook the heavens.
Yet, to everyone’s surprise, the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage did not stop.
He did not even spare a word for Shang Ruyi, who was kneeling beside the road, as if he didn’t see anyone around him, or perhaps as if no one here was worth his attention. The Imperial Carriage passed straight through Mingde Gate, heading down Vermilion Bird Avenue, directly towards the Imperial Palace at the end of the long street.
...?
Everyone was stunned. What was going on?
Why did His Majesty the Emperor not stop for even a second but directly left? This—it was no longer a matter of his attitude; everyone could perceive that the Emperor was in a bad mood, a very bad mood!
What had happened?
Shang Ruyi grew increasingly uneasy; the "passing" of that one person was indeed of such critical importance!
Just as she felt bewildered and uneasy, she was surprised to find that the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage did not include Crown Prince Yu Wenqian or King Qin Yu Wenye. Shouldn’t the two be accompanying their father? Why were they not here?
As Shang Ruyi’s heart grew heavier, a figure ran over from the front, addressing the crowd: "His Majesty has decreed that all may rise and return."
Looking up, it was Eunuch Yu.
It was clear that Yu Wenquan had no mood to speak much to the people here, yet it wouldn’t do to leave Princess Qin and the officials kneeling at the city gate; thus, he sent Eunuch Yu back to convey the message. This act alone made it apparent that the Emperor had encountered something significant. After saying this, Eunuch Yu came over to help Shang Ruyi up along with Tushere, and everyone else slowly stood, looking at each other in astonishment, unable to speak for a moment. Only Shang Ruyi, with a solemn expression, gazed at Eunuch Yu, whose face also seemed somber: "Eunuch, has something happened?"
Eunuch Yu looked at her, hesitating to speak, then sighed deeply.
The unease in Shang Ruyi’s heart expanded into foreboding; she urgently asked: "Who exactly has died? Is it the Commandery Prince?"
Eunuch Yu raised his head to glance at her, about to say something when suddenly his expression turned gloomy. His gaze shifted to something behind Shang Ruyi, and she seemed to sense something, especially hearing some people around her exclaiming in shock, while others gasped. She immediately turned around.
To see, behind the Imperial Carriage, was another procession!
This procession, at a glance, was an expanse of white. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that everyone in the procession wore mourning clothes, holding white banners. The person leading the procession held a luxurious official robe high, crying while forcefully shaking it left and right, calling "Soul, return," while those beside them tossed handfuls of paper money into the air. The paper money rose into the sky before scattering and gently falling down, like large snowflakes, dazzling people’s eyes.
