“Your Highness, we can’t get through.” Tianyuan carefully protected Xiao Huayong in the crowd as they tried to approach the Northwestern Prince’s mansion, but they simply couldn’t squeeze through.
Xiao Huayong had to retreat, finding a secluded spot from which to gaze at the brightly lit mansion. “Let’s wait a moment.”
Though the commoners were crowded together, they seemed to naturally form a barrier line, not stepping beyond a certain point. The guards of the Northwestern Prince’s mansion merely stood at the stone steps, not coming down.
After about a quarter-hour, the mansion gates opened. Geng Liangcheng emerged, now wearing a white sash at his waist, his eyes red and filled with deep grief. “Everyone, the Prince fell victim to assassins and has just left us…”
As Geng Liangcheng’s words fell, even though the people had heard the horn and understood in their hearts, their faces instantly became wooden and their eyes glazed over. They didn’t hear much of what Geng Liangcheng said afterward, as a single thought echoed in their minds: the Northwestern Prince was dead – the sky had fallen for the Northwest, their sky had fallen.
“Everyone, please return home. The sun rises and sets and our lives must go on – this is what the Prince would have wanted for us. If you remain here, we won’t be able to properly arrange the Prince’s funeral matters.”
“General Geng, who assassinated the Prince? We must seek justice for him!”
“Yes, we must seek justice for the Prince!”
“Justice!”
…
Waves of righteous anger erupted from the crowd, causing everyone to join in agreement. Gradually these voices became unified, their volume no less powerful than an army’s battle cry.
“Everyone, everyone, EVERYONE—” After several calls, Geng Liangcheng raised his voice enough to suppress the crowd’s clamor. “We have no evidence yet of who harmed the Prince, so we dare not make hasty judgments. But we will investigate this to the end and bring the criminals to justice. Please disperse for now.”
“When… when will the Prince be buried…” an elderly man at the front choked out. “We… we want to send the Prince off on his final journey…”
Before the old man could finish, he burst into tears. Others followed, unable to contain their emotions – some wailing openly, some gritting their teeth without sound though tears streamed down their faces, impossible to hold back even when looking up.
“The Prince will be buried in seven days…” Geng Liangcheng spoke with difficulty. “If you wish to pay respects, simply light a lamp at home. The Prince always loved the people as his children and wouldn’t want you to go to great trouble for his sake.”
The commoners looked at each other, all with tears in their eyes, nodding silently before turning to leave, none knowing what they would do next.
Only after the crowd had dispersed from the mansion gates did Xiao Huayong slowly approach. Geng Liangcheng, who was about to turn back into the mansion, stopped when he saw a young man of extraordinary bearing and unmatched handsomeness striding forward. “May I ask how to address you?”
Geng Liangcheng had never met Xiao Huayong – in fact, many officials posted outside the capital had never met this Crown Prince who had lived in a Taoist temple for twelve years.
“The Crown Prince is here – will you not open the gates to receive him?” Tianyuan said sternly.
Geng Liangcheng’s brow twitched, but he quickly bowed: “This humble official pays respects to—”
Before he could finish, Xiao Huayong had already ascended the steps, sweeping past him like the wind with flowing robes, striding directly into the mansion toward the main hall.
After Shen Yueshan had been declared dead, Xiao Changfeng, who was also present, brought a medical official to confirm Shen Yueshan’s death. Unable to leave, he could only offer what help he could in his capacity. Shen Xihe stood silently at the entrance to the main hall, staring blankly at some point in space.
Shen Yunan was accompanying the servants as they bathed Shen Yueshan and dressed him in clean burial clothes…
Xiao Changfeng was the first to see Xiao Huayong striding in. He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed: “Paying respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
With his bow, everyone else promptly knelt in greeting.
Xiao Huayong ignored all this, hurrying toward Shen Xihe: “Youyou…”
Shen Xihe slowly turned to look at him, and as she gazed at him, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
This wasn’t acting anymore. Standing there earlier, she had thought about how her father was approaching his twilight years, how this day would inevitably come, how fragile human life was – if that day truly came, how difficult it would be to accept.
Some things one doesn’t think much about ordinarily, but once confronted with them, one can’t help but dwell on them. Think too much, and one becomes lost in those thoughts.
Xiao Huayong opened his arms, and Shen Xihe naturally leaned into his embrace, burying her face in his shoulder. Two hot tears soaked through his clothes, scalding Xiao Huayong’s shoulders. “You still have me, you still have me…”
Not knowing why Shen Xihe was so heartbroken – this grief seemed genuine – he didn’t know how to comfort her, only able to softly say that he was there.
Shen Xihe didn’t say anything either, though she quickly got her emotions under control. Although she had been thinking far ahead earlier and felt pained by those thoughts, she hadn’t felt the urge to weep bitterly.
It was precisely when Xiao Huayong appeared, his soft call causing her to feel utterly vulnerable in that instant, that she unconsciously shed tears.
Xiao Huayong encircled Shen Xihe with both arms, one hand gripping her arm, holding her tightly. The couple’s appearance made others feel sympathetic just looking at them.
“Your Highness…” Tianyuan had to quietly remind him, seeing Xiao Changfeng and others still kneeling or bowing.
Only then did Xiao Huayong look over and say flatly: “Rise.”
Having said this, he had no desire to deal with them further. He supported Shen Xihe into the inner hall, found a place to sit, and let her lean on his shoulder. Half an hour later, the coffin was carried into the main hall, with Shen Yunan already dressed in mourning clothes.
Shen Xihe rose, and with Zhenzhu’s help, also donned mourning garments. Shen Yueshan lay colorless in the coffin as the generals came forward one by one to bid farewell. Finally, the coffin was closed, though it would not be sealed yet as the vigil was to follow.
“The Prince was as close as brothers to us. We should accompany the Young Master and Princess Consort in keeping vigil for these seven days,” Geng Liangcheng spoke first.
None of the generals objected, but Shen Yunan said: “That won’t do. The army cannot be left unattended, and the Northwest cannot be left without leadership. With Father’s passing, various forces will surely stir, especially the Turks – we must maintain strict vigilance. Many young commanders in the army still need guidance. Uncles, I appreciate your sentiment, but Father would not want the Northwest to fall into chaos and be taken advantage of because of him…”
Shen Yunan’s voice was hoarse. He seemed to have matured instantly – though kneeling, his back was straight and his gaze determined as he spoke with clear logic: “My sister and I will keep the vigil. These next few days in the Northwest, we must trouble you uncles to maintain order.”