Chapter 301: Chapter 301
Suddenly receiving news of her cheap father's critical illness, An Ning was momentarily stunned before quickly calling palace servants to help her change clothes.
Finally, she instructed those beside her to rest early and not wait for her.
After being fully dressed, An Ning then rose and headed toward the direction of Taiji Palace.
Truthfully, An Ning was quite surprised that her cheap father had managed to survive until now.
After all, whether from the original body's memories or historical records, he should have passed away over a decade ago, precisely in the seventh year of An Ning's succession.
Yet over these past ten-plus years, she had witnessed this cheap father's "critical illness" no less than eight if not ten times, yet for some reason, under the treatment of various imperial physicians, he always managed to cling to life and recover from danger each time.
It's just... his will to survive was really quite strong.
Nor did he seem as miserable about not having a son as rumors suggested, to the point of wanting to commit suicide.
But thinking of the several retired elderly officials at Guiyuan Villa who were still full of energy right now...
One could only say, it wasn't too surprising either!
While pondering, Taiji Palace soon came into view...
When An Ning arrived, Zhao Zhen was being supported by someone to lean against a sandalwood soft couch near the window, his complexion appearing somewhat better than usual. Yet anyone with discernment could tell these were signs of a final rally before death.
An Ning stepped forward and called out softly. With the official's arrival, the crowd of palace servants and imperial physicians behind instinctively retreated several steps.
"Fukang, you've come..."
Fukang, An Ning thought to herself, this title was truly unfamiliar. Over the years, aside from this person persistently calling her by this name, no one had addressed her for a long time.
Even Lady Miao nowadays, after An Ning repeatedly refused to grant honors to the Miao family and mercilessly ruined the prospects of several Miao family descendants, gradually realized the daughter before her was no longer the same as before.
Outside the window, the large red palace lanterns stretching for several meters had been extinguished, and the earlier joyful melodies had faded away.
Only the occasional moonlight occasionally spilled through the clear glass window.
For a moment, neither father nor daughter spoke.
Staring blankly at the daughter before him, the official now respected by all, Zhao Zhen's eyes unconsciously flashed with some obscure emotion.
In the first few years of being "recuperated" here, he had still wondered whether someone from the court would come to "rescue the emperor."
Even if with ulterior motives, harboring sinister intentions...
At least it would prove that he, this official, hadn't lost completely and utterly.
Yet in reality, there were none, at least no such person could reach him.
Moreover, the person before him didn't even need to specifically control him, nor did she care in the slightest about his contact with his younger daughters, or even imperial sons-in-law...
"In Fukang's eyes, is Father as an official very incompetent, even a failure?"
After a long while, Zhao Zhen's hoarse voice finally came from the couch.
An Ning did not answer.
Undoubtedly, in the original body's childhood eyes, her father was the most magnificent - a tolerant and benevolent emperor, a good father who almost granted his daughter's every wish.
But unfortunately, all this was completely shattered at age nine, and thoroughly broken bit by bit with each passing day thereafter!
A daughter, no matter how beloved, remained ultimately a chess piece that could be placed on the board.
An official, it turned out, could also be forced into constant retreat by a group of ministers!
Watching the lanterns continuously lighting up outside the window, An Ning thought to herself, regarding this father, the original body's final emotion was probably disappointment far greater than resentment!
As for An Ning herself, relying on so many years of governance experience to judge this era's imperial conduct would somewhat be bullying!
Thus, An Ning remained silent at this moment.
Yet this attitude made Zhao Zhen on the sickbed grow even paler and more despondent.
Under An Ning's official non-interference, news of the former emperor's critical condition spread quickly. Before long, a group of ladies led by Lady Miao arrived together.
Also arriving were several married princesses from outside the palace, sisters of An Ning's current body.
At this moment, everyone wore identical expressions of anxiety and sorrow.
Yet everyone's first reaction upon entering the room was still to first look toward the official at the side!
Witnessing this scene, Zhao Zhen's face added another layer of sorrow.
In his final moments, after dismissing all his children, Zhao Zhen, this previous official who had been benevolent his entire life, still asked:
"Fukang, over these years, these years of being the official, have you found happiness?"
Reforming the bureaucracy, reorganizing military affairs, balancing various factions, recovering the Central Plains - each and every one of these undertakings sounded extremely perilous to Zhao Zhen, none achievable through ordinary effort.
The imperial throne, easy to speak of, difficult to execute - all the above could completely collapse if handled poorly.
Such immense pressure, gradually fading parental bonds - were these truly worth it?
Under the moonlight, Zhao Zhen's pupils were gradually dispersing...
In the darkness, only the soft laughter of the person before him could be heard:
"Whether happy or not, what does it matter? At least the person controlling their own destiny is me. When I speak, no one dares disobey. The person standing at the pinnacle of power, revered by all subjects, is also me, isn't that so?"
"Looking at it this way, I've been truly extremely happy these years!"
When saying this, An Ning's face showed no trace of reluctance.
Just like how so many ancient emperors constantly spoke of the cold loneliness at the top, how hearts easily change and isolation chills. But truthfully, even given a hundred or a thousand more chances, these people's choice would still be the supreme imperial throne.
Not so-called genuine emotions of the mundane world.
If this person were replaced by her cheap father, it would be the same!
How many people would want to place their own fate in others' hands? Even a constrained official is still an official, isn't that so?
Staring fixedly at the daughter before him, Zhao Zhen on the soft couch opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but ultimately could only close his eyes.
Amidst the continuous weeping of the various ladies and princesses, in the twenty-first year of Jiayou, the former emperor who had reigned for over twenty years saw his life completely reach its end.
The old official's death was like a leaf brushing over water's surface, leaving hardly any traces.
In the court, aside from Ouyang Xiu, Han Qi, and other veteran ministers genuinely sighing with regret, some recently promoted officials were learning of this person's existence for the first time. And from the depths of their hearts came the question:
Huh? The Grand Emperor was still around?
Even among the common people, when mentioning him, what came to mind was merely that he was the current official's father. They even couldn't help feeling sorry for their own emperor.
Ah, the official is truly so unlucky - having finally returned victorious after great achievements, creating such magnificent accomplishments, yet soon to experience the pain of losing a father!
Some even felt, more or less, that this old official's passing was rather ill-timed.
"But at the moment of death, being able to personally witness our Great Song recovering lost territories, the old official probably had no regrets!"
In a study, a young scholar unconsciously exclaimed with emotion. His friend beside him couldn't help scratching his head upon hearing this.
Well... something just felt somewhat off. But it was soon cast aside.
With the official being so remarkable, as the biological father, how could the Grand Emperor not feel proud?