Chapter 15 By the Patient Bed
Yuan Qingling raised her head and met Chu Mingcui''s gentle and caring eyes.
"Do you need to sit down and take a rest?" Chu Mingcui asked.
Yuan Qingling shook her head and drew her hand back. "No, I’m good, thank you."
Prince Yu Wenqing pulled back Chu Mingcui and a displeased nce at Yuan Qingling. He said to Chu
Mingcui, "Don’t bother. Leave her alone."
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Chu Mingcui stood back to Prince Wenqing''s side and nced at Yuan Qingling gently. She seemed a
little surprised. Then she whispered, "We’re family after all."
"You are too kind." Prince Wenqing took her hand. When they stood next to each other, they looked like
a perfect match!
Yuan Qingling suddenly felt a strong rush of chill aura around her. It came from Yu Wenhao.
His lover was standing next to another man. He had every reason to be mad and sad. Yuan Qingling
could understand.
Inside the hall, someone was wailing.
Everyone was surprised and looked at the door.
Curtains rolled up, a white-haired eunuch stumbled out. Eyes red and puffy, he announced in a hoarse
voice, “Order from the Emperor, all the concubines, princes, and princesses to enter the hall now.”
He was Eunuch Li who had served the Retired Emperor for forty-five years.
The crowd fell into silence and followed Eunuch Li into the house. They crossed the hall on tiptoe and
held their breath.
Yuan Qingling followed Yu Wenhao, trying to get over the dizziness.
The ce was already filled with people.
The Queen Mother and the Emperor were sitting by the bed with the Empress standing on the side.
Brothers of the Retired Emperor, meaning the lords, had already returned early on. They entered the
imperial pce yesterday and had been here ever since.
Almost all the imperial doctors came. They were standing in two rows, wearing solemn expressions.
Yuan Qingling had a peek, and saw that the golden curtain was rolled up. On a big sandalwood bed
with a high pillow, there was an old man with a shaggy face and sunken eye sockets. Now and then he
opened his mouth to inhale.
The wail was from the Queen Mother. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing loose pansy
clothes which made her look smaller.
She wiped her tears with a handkerchief. As hard as she tried to get herself under control, people could
still hear her weeping.
Seeing everyoneing in, she raised her head and couldn’t help letting her tears out. Choked with a
sob, she said, "Kneel and say goodbye to you grandfather."
Everyone knelt down, so did Yuan Qingling.
A little dog sneaked in from outside. He hummed and jumped onto the bed. No one stopped him.
Ever since the Retired Emperor kept this dog, he had treated him as his own kid. Only the dog made
him happy. He once ran away and was missing, and the Retired Emperor barely ate for the three days.
The Retired Emperor was panting, but as soon as he saw the dog, his face looked relieved and his
eyes rolled. He raised his hand to stroke him lying next to his bed.
The dog whimpered at him.
The whimper echoed in the empty and quiet ce.
Yuan Qingling, however, was stunned like struck by thunder.
She could read the dog whimpering! He was mourning the Retired Emperor’s death.
She wondered when she learned this? How could she understand dognguage?
The Retired Emperor stroked the dog with trembling hand, then he slowly turned to the Emperor. He
couldn’t utter any words. He might be telling His Majesty to take care of this dog for him.
Emperor Mingyuan knew what his father meant, and said, "Father, don’t worry, I promise I’ll take good
care of Lucky."
The Retired Emperor grinned satisfied smiled and looked at Lucky tenderly. His breathing was even
smoother than just now.
The Queen Mother choked, "All your children and grandchildren are here. Don’t you want to meet
them?"