Chapter 58: The Five Declines of the Heavenly Ones

An hour later, Zhao Ti put away Su Yuan's signed and sealed confession and left with a smile.

The Three-Fraction Hall collapsed overnight, leaving only Su Yuan prostrate on the ground wailing dryly and a squad of bewildered Imperial Guards.

Originally, many idle hangers-on under Zhao Ji had been introduced by Gao Qiu to serve as his personal attendants; learning that the Young Master of the Su Prime Minister's family wanted to play a game of Jianghu theater, they stirred up trouble, contacted the remnants of previously scattered gangs, and built a makeshift troupe, only to be crushed in a single blow.

In the blink of an eye, winter arrived; every few days Zhao Ti entered the palace to visit Gao Taotao and inquire about her condition. Gao Taotao's complexion grew progressively worse, but fortunately she did not pass away at the start of winter, which made Zhao Ti breathe a sigh of relief in his heart.

During this time, he summoned Tong Guan to the Wang Fu, assigning Zheng Fu to handle internal affairs and Tong Guan to manage external matters, the two jointly overseeing all matters large and small within the Wang Fu.

Another two months passed until the end of the year; the eighth year of Yuanyou was about to end, and the ninth year of Yuanyou was about to arrive.

On New Year's Eve, Zhao Ti dined with Gao Taotao in the palace; although firecrackers sounded incessantly outside, the Cining Palace on this late New Year's Eve appeared exceptionally desolate.

Zhao Xu came during the day to pay his respects, stayed for no more than a moment, and then departed; the other Imperial Princes also came one after another and left one after another.

Gao Taotao sat behind the dining table, looking at Zhao Ti: "They all know I have not long to live and fear catching bad luck."

Zhao Ti comforted her: "The Emperor may be busy with affairs; the younger generation outside the palace have all formed families, so it would not be proper to bring a large crowd of family members into the palace; as for those still in the palace, they are merely children."

Gao Taotao sneered: "During the reigns of Emperor Yingzong and Emperor Shenzong, every New Year's Eve we dined in a single hall, surrounding several large tables, lively and bustling; now, how desolate and lonely! Did I, by presiding over court and worrying about state affairs, incur some crime?"

Zhao Ti shook his head, noticing her face had grown even more pale and green, and said: "Great Lady, is this injury truly incurable? If the Imperial Medical Bureau cannot cure it, we can seek help outside; if physicians cannot cure it, we can invite masters of internal energy to try."

Gao Taotao looked at him and said: "I have said this injury was long ago suppressed; what you see is merely a sign that my own vital energy is exhausted. If I die, it is simply because my lifespan has ended, unrelated to the injury."

Zhao Ti frowned: "Seeing the Great Lady in such a state fills one with worry, inevitably prompting thoughts of various methods."

Gao Taotao said: "Even the Heavenly Ones undergo Five Declines; how much more so ordinary mortals. People see white hair and worry; I see white hair and rejoice. How many youths have died before reaching old age?"

Zhao Ti fell silent for a moment: "Where did the Great Lady's old injury come from?"

Gao Taotao drank a cup of wine, set down the cup, and said: "Back then, when accompanying Empress Cao to visit her family, we encountered assassins; I took a palm strike meant for Empress Cao."

Empress Cao was Empress Cisheng Guangxian, the Empress of Emperor Renzong, the granddaughter of Cao Bin, a founding merit of the Great Song, and also Gao Taotao's aunt.

Zhao Ti said: "That assassin..."

Gao Taotao said: "Sent by Western Xia, there were five in total; they were already subdued at that time."

Zhao Ti poured wine; Gao Taotao drank another cup. At this moment, the sound of firecrackers rose outside in waves. Gao Taotao listened quietly for a moment: "Now that New Year's Eve has passed, Eighth Brother, return to the Wang Fu to rest."

Zhao Ti said: "Great Lady..."

Gao Taotao smiled: "Tonight I am very happy; having a grandson to spend the New Year with me, Eighth Brother, you are very filial."

Zhao Ti said: "Great Lady, this is all a grandson ought to do."

Gao Taotao nodded: "Go back."

Zhao Ti rose, performed a bow, and exited the hall. Hearing the footsteps grow farther away, Gao Taotao stood up and walked toward the rear of the hall. Behind the hall stood a row of small bookshelves filled with scrolls; she picked one up, and only the cover bore the four characters: Heavenly Palace Treasures.

Her expression became hesitant; she murmured to herself: "Illusion Yin, one Yin, one Taiyin... Alas, let me try once more..."

Zhao Ti exited the hall and walked toward the palace exit. Passing Funing Palace, the residence of Zhao Xu, he heard continuous laughter and joy from within, causing his steps to pause for a moment; a few breaths later, he left with a blank expression.

In the first lunar month, he entered the palace several more times, yet saw Gao Taotao's expression actually improve day by day. Upon inquiry, Gao Taotao only said she had consumed more ginseng and lingzhi nourishing medicines, appearing more spirited.

In mid-second month, Gao Taotao seemed even more robust; when presiding over court, she handled affairs clearly and judged memorials distinctly.

On the last day of the end of the second month, Zhao Ti had just completed a Great Zhou Tian Cultivation Technique in the Wang Fu and was about to rest when suddenly Tong Guan stumbled urgently to the outside of the sleeping chamber and pounded the door forcefully.

Seeing his expression was wrong, before Zhao Ti could speak, he heard Tong Guan cry out: "Wang Jia, news has just arrived from the palace; the Empress Dowager has passed away..."

"What?" Zhao Ti was stunned, grabbed Tong Guan's collar, and asked: "Could this be a dream?"

Tong Guan knelt on the ground: "Wang Jia, the palace attendants have not yet gone far; the Emperor's handwritten edict is still in the front hall."

Zhao Ti's face darkened: "Prepare a carriage... no, quickly prepare a horse for me to enter the palace!"

Tong Guan scrambled up and ran toward the stables; Zhao Ti changed into official robes, exited the Wang Fu gate, mounted his horse, and headed straight for the Imperial City.

In his heart, he was puzzled and confused: this grandmother had clearly appeared to be getting better and better; how could she suddenly pass away? Was the earlier ruddy complexion and vibrant spirit merely a last gleam before death?

Although it was midnight, Imperial Guards from all parts of Dongjing City were rushing toward the Imperial City, and every intersection was under strict martial law.

Tong Guan, dressed in eunuch attire, repeatedly shouted loudly: "Yan Wang enters the palace! Yan Wang enters the palace! Everyone move aside!"

Arriving at the Left Gate, Zhao Ti dismounted, entered the palace city, and rushed straight to Cining Hall.

At this time, the Imperial City Bureau, Kuan Yi Tianwu, and Yu Long Zhi and other close guards had already surrounded Cining Hall so tightly that not even water could pass through. Seeing Zhao Ti, they bowed and said: "Yan Wang, please wait; a body check is required."

Zhao Ti took a deep breath; a moment later he entered Cining Hall and heard a chorus of weeping. Walking inside, he saw Empress Dowager Xiang, looking like a tear-stained person, being supported out by female officials.

Arriving at the sleeping chamber, all Imperial Princes who had not yet left the palace had gathered and stood on both sides. Zhao Xu stood with his hands clasped behind his back not far from the bed, his expression somewhat sorrowful and complex, yet also somewhat desolate and lonely.

"Emperor!" Zhao Ti said.

Zhao Xu looked at him, a faint trace of detachment subtly flowing in his eyes: "Yan Wang has arrived."

Zhao Ti said: "Yes, Emperor, the Empress Dowager..."

"At the hour of Chou, the voice grew cold; female officials were summoned to add charcoal fire, but before the charcoal could ignite, she passed away." Zhao Xu's voice was ethereal: "Yan Wang, take a look."

Zhao Ti walked to the bedside and saw only that Gao Taotao's face was pale and green, clearly resembling the appearance of an injury flare-up from before the New Year.

"I asked the female officials if there had been any abnormalities in recent days. They said that yesterday many things were burned, mostly scrolls and letters. Just now, people were sent to search for a last will, but none was left; not even a single sheet of paper written in her own hand remains."

Zhao Ti said nothing; his eyes fell on one of Gao Taotao's hands. That hand formed a finger seal, precisely one of the secret techniques of the Illusion Yin Finger.

"What is Yan Wang staring at?" Zhao Xu asked in a calm tone.

"My heart is filled with grief, unable to control myself." Zhao Ti said, slightly closing his eyes.

"The Empress Dowager treated Yan Wang with great favor and closeness. For the funeral rites, the Five Mountain Tomb Officials shall serve as the ceremonial escort to guard the spirit procession." Zhao Xu said slowly.

"Yes, Emperor." Zhao Ti nodded.

Zhao Xu glanced at him once, then walked toward the hall exit; his steps seemed somewhat light, yet also somewhat heavy.