The next morning, before daybreak, a secret order from the Queen Regent was sent out of Shangjing and headed to Hexi without stopping.
Mu Fulan asked Liang Tuan to do two things. First, arrange for the prince to return to the capital immediately. Second, on the premise of ensuring that the news would not spread, mobilize all forces to continue searching for the whereabouts of the emperor.
Liang Tuan received the secret order and summoned his confidants to make arrangements.
Three months later, he returned to Beijing secretly, and Mu Fulan met him in the living hall of Ziwei Palace.
During these three months, he had searched every possible place around him.
"I have sent people to search the water many times, but the undercurrents are treacherous and the lake is deep. I am incompetent and have failed your Majesty's trust..."
His voice was choked with sobs, so he couldn't finish the sentence, and he fell to his knees on the ground.
Mu Fulan remained motionless and lost in thought for a long time. She said, "General Liang, you have worked hard these days. You still have important tasks to accomplish. Go and rest first."
It was dark, and then it was day. Mu Fulan was alone, sitting like this from dusk to late night, and from late night to dawn.
"Empress, Lord Liu and his men are here, waiting outside the palace, and requesting to see the Empress."
As the dim dawn light gradually stained the south window of the living hall, the cautious voice of the palace servants' reports faintly reached her ears through the hall door.
As if she was pulled out of a huge dark mouth that had completely swallowed her, she shuddered, slowly opened her eyes, and supported herself with her hands on the table, and finally stood up.
She would not give up. She always felt that it was impossible for a man like him to disappear like this. She recalled Liang Tuan, but she would continue to send people to look for him. She would not stop looking until she saw his body.
However, deep down in her heart, there was another voice that kept reminding her that the man was just a mortal. He was gone, really gone.
During the months when the emperor was unable to show up, she secretly and strictly controlled the emperor's going to the capital, and told the anxious ministers that his majesty's old injury had relapsed when he led the army in person, and it was inconvenient for him to travel by horse and carriage, so he had been staying in Hexi to recuperate.
Such an excuse can only appease people temporarily, but it cannot last long. If the truth is concealed forcibly, it will only lead to more speculation and doubts. Once it cannot be suppressed, turmoil will follow, which will do more harm than good.
As Mu Fulan, she could tell herself that he was still alive.
But as the regent, she has to face this reality.
Her steps were unsteady at first, as if she was walking on a pile of cotton, but soon they became firm.
When she walked out of the living hall, opened the door, and appeared in front of the palace servants in the dawn light, she looked no different from usual except that her eyes were bloodshot and her face was a little pale.
She slowly announced the names of several ministers and said, "Tell them to go to the Imperial Study."
The minister was led into the imperial study by the palace servants and saw that the queen was already inside. She lowered her brows and eyes, sitting upright on a seat behind the imperial desk.
After the greeting, Liu Guan asked about the emperor's recent situation. He said: "The whole court, both civil and military, both in and outside the capital, are eagerly waiting for your majesty to return. Your majesty's injury is even more worrying. I dare to ask for permission to go to Hexi to visit your majesty. Please allow the queen."
Mu Fulan raised her eyes and slowly pushed the letter she had received several months ago to the corner of the desk.
Several people looked at each other, bent forward, took it, and were stunned after just one look. After a moment, accompanied by several "Your Majesty" and the sound of "plop" of knees falling to the ground, several people knelt down one after another, some kowtowed continuously, and some prostrated themselves on the ground and cried.
"Queen...is this...confirmed?" Liu Guan asked in a trembling voice.
Mu Fulan said: "Liang Tuan returned to Beijing last night. You can ask him for details."
Liang Tuan entered. She stood up, walked past the ministers who surrounded Liang Tuan, walked out, and stood on the steps outside the palace. After a moment, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned around slowly, her eyes sweeping across the sad faces of the civil and military officials who ran out and knelt behind her.
She said: "Your Majesty has passed away unfortunately, the Crown Prince is not yet an adult, I am just a woman, and the dynasty has just been established, so the foundation is shallow. You guys have helped Your Majesty build this country, and you have worked hard and made great contributions. You can recommend the wise and capable among you, and I will not refuse if the Crown Prince gives up the throne to the wise one."
She stood firmly, her voice calm.
Several people were in tears and were extremely terrified.
Liu Guandao said: "Your Majesty's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. Even if I die a thousand times, I can't repay your Majesty's kindness. If the Queen has such thoughts again, I can only die to show my determination!"
Another minister cried, "The night before your majesty appointed the crown prince, the lesson you gave me is still ringing in my ears. How dare I have the slightest thought? I am willing to pledge my loyalty to your highness the crown prince with my life. Please, queen, understand!"
The rest of them also kowtowed desperately, their foreheads touching the ground, making a banging sound.
Mu Fulan was silent for a moment, then turned around and looked at the prince who had come out. He stepped forward and personally helped several people up one by one.
"My mother said that as long as everyone in Dacheng is united and works together, we will be able to overcome any difficulties. I believe this. From now on, Dacheng will rely on you gentlemen. Please accept my greetings."
After he finished speaking, he bowed respectfully to Liu Guan and the others to express his gratitude.
The ministers hurriedly knelt down again to express their loyalty to the young man.
That night, the lights in the imperial study were on all night. Liu Guan and others gathered here, and after repeated discussions and considerations, they decided to continue to conceal the bad news on the grounds that the emperor was recovering from illness. After they had a thorough control of the situation, they would announce the news, hold a national mourning, and support the crown prince to ascend the throne.
Mu Fulan sat quietly in the corner of the imperial study, looking at the young man and his ministers discussing matters, and gradually became absent-minded.
When it was almost dawn, the matter was discussed and the ministers left. He walked to Mu Fulan's side, reached out his hand and carefully helped her up.
"Mother, you are tired. Your son will take you back to the palace to rest."
Mu Fulan walked out of this place, accompanied by her son, along the dim palace road, following the guidance of the swaying lanterns in the hands of the palace servants, and returned to the Ziwei Palace.
The boy wanted to take her in.
She stopped and said, "You should go and rest too. You didn't sleep all night last night."
The young boy looked at her and was reluctant to leave.
Mu Fulan smiled at him and said, "Don't worry too much. Mother is fine. Go and take a rest. Don't worry about me."
The young man slowly lowered his eyes, suddenly knelt down in front of her, kowtowed heavily, and walked away looking back every few steps.
Mu Fulan watched his back as he left, her shoulders gradually slumping.
She didn't know how she had gotten through the days and nights of the past few months. Now that she thought about it, it seemed as if she could only remember the dark and the light, the endless alternation of day and night, which was chaotic, boring and exhausting.
She fell asleep immediately, sleeping soundly, not knowing how long she had slept or when she slept. Faintly, she seemed to hear a song. The song was vague, as if it came from a dark corner far away, and it seemed to echo in her ears, subtle and continuous, like a thread.
Finally, she heard it clearly.
"If you don't obey the cold-repelling gold, how can you win the emperor's heart..."
"If you don't obey the cold hairpin, how can you get the emperor's pity..."
Her eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes and woke up. Vaguely, she finally remembered that many years ago, when she was young, she also lived in this palace. On the night of her aunt's death, she seemed to have vaguely heard the ethereal singing floating from the corner of the palace.
She opened her eyes wide and concentrated in the darkness, trying to hear more clearly, but the song that came with her dream suddenly stopped.
There was only dead silence in my ears.
She slowly closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. She began to cry silently, tears streaming down her face.
No longer would she have to worry about the day when her return date was approaching, but she still didn't know how to answer the man's questions and fell into repeated hesitation and torment, almost tearing herself apart.
When she was unable to make a decision, God had already made the decision for her.
It's better to end it like this. The past life, the present life, right or wrong, love or not, are all gone. In the memory, there is only the back of the horse riding away under the moon in Xiguan. Or, even such a back can be completely forgotten as soon as possible, that would be the best.
In her previous life, she hoped that the man would be loyal to her.
In this life, she hopes that he will disappear from her sight and never see her again.
God was so kind to her that her wishes for two lifetimes were fulfilled at the same time in this way.
She could no longer restrain herself, and in this endless night as dark as the sea, she gasped, choked, and her whole body trembled, completely unable to stop crying.