eurekapd Chapter 861 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 51 End]
Chapter 861 [Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 51 End]
"What should we do with Eunuch Li?" The two young eunuchs looked at Li Yu with fear and asked.
Li Yu waved his hand expressionlessly and said indifferently: "Throw her into the mass grave! Humph, she is no longer the high and mighty Consort Xian, but just a shameless palace maid who lives a life of shamelessness."
Hearing this, the two young eunuchs hurriedly bowed and responded, "Yes, we understand." After that, they lifted up the lifeless woman on the ground and walked out of the palace.
However, everyone thought that Ruyi had been buried in the mausoleum with great ceremony, but in fact, she was ruthlessly abandoned in the stinking, gloomy and terrifying mass grave. And how could the arrogant Hongli forgive such a woman who betrayed him so easily? Thus, there was such a tragic ending.
Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, many unexpected things happened. The most eye-catching thing is that Youyou has transformed into the Queen of the Qing Dynasty!
Hongli knew that Youyou's position in his heart was irreplaceable, so he naturally didn't want her to suffer any grievances. So, he specially issued an imperial decree, ordering Youyou to marry into the palace from Chen Jia's mansion in a grand manner. You know, even the previous queen had never had such an honor!
Since Youyou ascended the throne of the empress, the entire harem seemed to have lost its luster because of her arrival. Those concubines who were once favored have now become dispensable decorations. Because Hongli's heart has long been occupied by Youyou, he no longer has time to care about other women in the palace. On weekdays, he is either busy dealing with the piles of memorials in the Yangxin Palace, or staying in Youyou's palace to accompany her and share warm time.
In this way, the days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye it was the 18th year of Qianlong's reign. Perhaps because he felt that he had completed his mission, or perhaps because he wanted to live a free and easy life with his beloved Youyou, Hongli resolutely chose to abdicate.
The new emperor Yongxin inherited the throne and changed the reign title to Zhengwu. According to convention, the new emperor would confer titles on his birth mother after ascending the throne. As expected, Yongxin honored his birth mother Youyou as the Empress Dowager to highlight her incomparably noble status.
However, what was unexpected was that on the morning of the second day after Yongxin ascended the throne, before the sky was fully light, Hongli could not wait to take Youyou's hand, and the two quietly left the palace. They did not even say goodbye to the new emperor Yongxin in person, but only left a letter...
After Yongxin finished the long and busy court meeting, he hurried to Chengqian Palace, expecting to see his beloved Youyou. However, when he entered the palace, he was stunned by the scene before him - the entire Chengqian Palace was deserted and empty.
At this moment, the maid Ning Dong who had been serving beside him came forward. She handed a letter to Yong Xin with a solemn expression and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Retired and the Empress Retired left the palace quietly before dawn. This is the letter that the Empress left for you. Please take a look."
Yong Xin took the letter and slowly unfolded it with mixed feelings. The beautiful handwriting caught his eyes: My son, when you read this letter, I believe that mother and your father have already gone far away. Your father insisted on taking mother away from the palace to appreciate the vast and beautiful mountains and rivers. Mother has been trapped in this deep palace for too long in her life. Now that there is not much left for her, she really does not want to continue wasting her time here. So, my son, don't worry, you must take good care of yourself. Don't send people to look for mother and your father. You have grown up and can make many decisions on your own.
After reading the letter, Yongxin couldn't help but feel a little amused. He didn't expect his mother to be so free and resolute, not worrying about her son at all. He secretly regretted in his heart. If he had known this, he shouldn't have agreed so easily to the emperor's request to let him succeed to the throne as soon as possible. This emperor is simply a villain! He only knows how to squeeze himself and put all the heavy tasks on his shoulders. Humph, in this case, I have to quickly start training a suitable heir to the throne. Thinking of this, Yongxin decided to discuss this matter with the queen as soon as he returned. The two must go all out and plan carefully for the future heir of the country together to avoid repeating their mistakes today.
Youyou and Hongli have walked through a long time together. They first went to Jiangnan to stay for a while, enjoying the poetic scenery of misty rain, small bridges and flowing water; then they went to Saibei to experience the vast desert scenery and the heroic folk customs; then they came to the endless prairie, galloping on horseback under the blue sky and white clouds, enjoying the freedom and unrestrainedness. In the end, the two chose to return to Jiangnan to settle down and spend the rest of their lives.
In this way, day after day, year after year, when both of them were in their twilight years, they decided to return to Beijing and their hometown. However, fate always seemed to like to play tricks on lovers. In this life, Youyou finally gave up. One day, Youyou had a premonition that her end was approaching. She pulled herself together and whispered to Hongli beside her: "My husband, I suddenly want to eat the sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings you made by yourself. I wonder if you can make them for me again?"
When Hongli heard this, his eyes were full of love and pampering. He nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, since my wife wants to eat it, I will make it." After that, he slowly got up and left, going to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients himself.
Over the years, no matter how big or small the matter was, as long as it was within his power, Hongli did it all by himself without asking others to help him. At this moment, watching Hongli's back gradually going away, Youyou felt warm and comforted in her heart. After Hongli left, Youyou turned her head to look at Ningshuang, her personal maid who had served her for many years, and said slowly: "Shuang'er, all these years, thanks to you always being by my side and never leaving me. After I pass away, you can go to the palace. I believe Yongxin will properly arrange your later years."
When Ningshuang heard this, her heart was shocked. She seemed to have realized something. Her eyes instantly became moist and she asked in a trembling voice: "Master, you... could it be..." She didn't finish her words, but the meaning was self-evident.
"Birth, aging, sickness and death are the most common things in this world." Youyou nodded slightly and sighed softly. There was a hint of sadness on her beautiful face, as if she had a deep understanding of the impermanence of life.
At this time, Hongli came slowly with a smile on his face, holding a bowl of steaming, fragrant sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings in his hands. He walked lightly to Youyou's side and said gently, "Madam, the dumplings have been prepared according to your taste."
Hearing this, Youyou's beautiful eyes turned and she looked at the bowl of exquisite sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings with expectation. She gently stretched out her jade hand, took the spoon from Hongli's hand, scooped up a round and crystal dumpling and put it into her mouth. In an instant, the sweet and soft taste and the rich sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance spread on her tongue, making her unable to help but reveal a satisfied smile.
"My husband's cooking skills are getting better and better, and they are still as praiseworthy as ever!" Youyou chewed the delicious dumplings carefully, looked at Hongli lovingly and praised him.
Hearing his wife's praise, Hongli's smile deepened. He touched Youyou's head lovingly and responded affectionately: "As long as my wife likes it, I am willing to cook these sweet-scented osmanthus dumplings for you every day."
"Okay, then I'll be in for a treat." Youyou nodded happily, her smile as bright and beautiful as a blooming spring flower.
The sun shines softly on the two lounge chairs in the courtyard. Hongli and Youyou recline comfortably, enjoying the warm and quiet afternoon. The breeze gently blows their hair, bringing a touch of comfort.
Youyou turned her head slightly and said to Hongli in a tender voice, "My husband, I'm a little sleepy and want to take a rest." Her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of tiredness, but more of dependence and tenderness.
Hongli responded with a smile, "Okay, madam, just rest assured." He gently stroked Youyou's hand to comfort her.
After getting permission, Youyou slowly closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became steady and gentle. At this moment, Hongli seemed to sense something strange, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He whispered softly: "My Yinyin, you have always loved beauty, and you are especially afraid of being alone. You must wait for your husband." After that, he also gently closed his eyes and immersed himself in this moment of silence.
Time passed quietly, and before they knew it, night had fallen. The maid in charge of serving, Ningshuang, had been waiting outside the door, waiting for the two to call for dinner. However, after a long time, there was still no movement in the house. Confused, Ningshuang finally pushed open the door, but was surprised to find that there was no one on the recliner. Youyou and Hongli, who were supposed to rest here, had left at some point.
Ningshuang's heart tightened, and she hurried to the palace to report the matter to everyone. At this time in the palace, the elderly Yongxin was sitting at the table, dealing with some trivial matters. When he heard the news from Ningshuang, the old man, who had entered his twilight years, instantly widened his eyes, and tears flowed out of his eyes like a flood. In just one day, he lost his beloved father and loving mother, and the grief in his heart was beyond words.
Yongxin buried Youyou and Hongli together, and did not bury anyone else in the same tomb with Hongli, and conferred the title of Empress Xiaochenxian on Youyou.