Chapter 5: Longest 24 hours I

"Niang niang! Niang niang! Urgent news! Urgent news!" Lady-in-waiting Yang cried as she kneeled outside the empress' room.

The panicked cry roused Empress Ruyi from her slumber. Recognizing the voice as Lady Yang's, she quickly invited her to come in.

Lady Yang scrambled to enter the room, "Niang niang, huang shang… huang shang has passed…."

Empress Ruyi thought that her ears have heard wrong. Although it has been more than 3 years since she gave birth to Wan Li, she was still holding up hopes that the day she and emperor Gongxu reconcile would come soon. Besides, how could a healthy man die just like that? "How could that be?" she asked bewildered.

"Niang niang, they said that it was because of an illness. However, eunuch Wu… eunuch Wu's body was found hanging on a beam in his room! Niang niang, nubi believes that…"

"Have you seen Huang Shang's body yourself?" Empress Ruyi clarified. She does not believe it. If that were the case, with her love for him, there should be some form of connection telling her that her other half was gone!

"No… but nubi has…" Lady Yang who was about to continue narrating had to pause because of the loud footsteps coming from outside.

Then, Lady-in-waiting Zhu knocked on the door.

"What is it?" Empress Ruyi asked.

"Niang niang, Head eunuch Lui arrived with urgent orders from the empress dowager… Lao Foye asks for niang niang to prepare and head to the palace of heavenly purity immediately… Head eunuch Lui is waiting outside to escort niang niang there…" Lady Zhu reported.

"Alright." Empress Ruyi, knowing that the call has something to do with Emperor Gongxu, quickly replied. Then, she turned to look at Lady Yang who was assisting her up. "Let's talk about it after I come back." She instructed.

--

*Bang bang bang

The loud banging on the gates woke up everyone in Prince Zaili's mansion.

"Who could be so brave as to dare intrude in benwang's mansion at this hour!?" Prince Zaili complained as he stood up from the bed.

When he went out of his pavilion, palace servants were already in his courtyard.

"Wangye, pardon this nucai's intrusion. However, Empress dowager Cixui has issued an imperial order." Head Eunuch Lui announced.

Prince Zaili frowned. Who wants to receive an order from that old fogey? His brother was the emperor, but that power hungry bitch was just… anyway, she's so old and will die soon. With that thought, he kneeled, along with everyone who was present.

Head Eunuch Lui opened the imperial scroll. "Emperor Gongxu has issued an imperial edict that he will adopt Prince Zaili's first son, Aisin Gioro Li Shan, who is promising and of right age. In this light, for safety reasons, Empress Dowager orders that Li Shan be brought to the palace immediately."

Hearing those words, Prince Zaili started protesting. Besides, he knew that if his brother intended to adopt a child, he would tell him. Most of all, he would not select his 2-year-old son. "What are you saying? Benwang's son is barely 3 years old! Also, Benwang can bring him to the palace tomorrow! Has Huang Shang truly agreed to this!?"

"Sorry Wangye. This is Lao Foye's orders." Head Eunuch Lui apologized, then he ordered the palace guards, "Search for the child."

The people in Prince Zaili's mansion wanted to oppose the orders but they were outnumbered. In the end, there were no other children of Li Shan's age in the mansion, and he was found quickly.

Li Shan, who was just a young boy, did not recognize the men who suddenly came. One of them carried him so he started crying and thrashing. When they reached the courtyard, he saw his father and mother started calling them.

"Ahma!!!! E' niang!!!! Nanny!!!! Wah!!!! Wah!!! Wah!!!!" Li Shan cried.

Prince Zaili fisted his hand in rage but was helpless. On the other hand, the wangfei, and the nanny went to pacify Li Shan.

Head Eunuch Lui seeing this was able to confirm that they have taken the correct child. "Place him inside the palanquin." He ordered.

The child held on the edges of the palanquin not wanting to be taken away. He only calmed down when the nanny held and carried him.

Seeing this and knowing how much the dowager hated crying children, Eunuch Lui ordered to take the nanny with the child.

--

Arriving inside the palace of heavenly purity, empress Ruyi was welcomed by the sight of Empress dowager Cixui dabbing her eyes while looking at emperor Gongxu who was lying on his back. His face was blue and… she staggered as she walked. As she got nearer and nearer, she started to clearly see that he was lifeless. Her heart immediately wrenched, and her teardrops began to fall.

As she stood by his side, the nearest she got to him after she gave birth to Wan Li, she could not stop the whimper that escaped her. She grasped his cold hand with both of hers as she cried in grief.

--

TBC

Glossary:

Niang niang- form of address to the empress or other imperial women by those directly under her.

E'niang- mother (for imperial family members)

Ahma- father (for imperial family members)