19 Aftermath (1/2)

”Your majesty, the source of the explosion came from former head imperial physician Shen, Shen Congan's manor.” Eunuch Hong reported to the Emperor of Jin.

”Oh? Bring him to see Zhen.” The emperor ordered.

Eunuch Hong bowed to the emperor and passed down his order.

The imperial guards made their way to the prisons where Shen Congan was being held.

When they got there, they found that the old man was sitting peacefully in a cross-legged position. He had slit his wrist with a shard from a broken bowl that delivered his meal the night before.

Upon his face was undoubtedly a smile.

It felt as if he had left the world, mocking everyone that was still in the world.

They only had one purpose and that was to make sure Shen Congan would be delivered to his majesty for questioning.

But they had failed.

When the emperor got news of this, he was unfazed. He ordered for Shen Congan to be buried properly.

Afterall, head imperial physician Shen had served two generations of emperors in the Great Jin Dynasty, saving countless people.

Deep within his heart, he knew that what Shen Congan said was true. His father and consort Ning could have been saved if he had been more open-minded.

The fire continued to burn on for another two days in the imperial city because it had not been taken care of in a timely manner.

The flames had only burnt down an entire street into ashes, due to Shen manor being in an isolated part of the city, and the winds had died down that day, the fire did not spread to other parts of the city.

During that time, the emperor announced that consort Ning's funeral would proceed with its planned time.

No one objected or tried to persuade the emperor to postpone the grand funeral, in fear they may incur the emperor's wrath.

After all, he had lost a lover and his child.

Any man would go mad.

Not to mention the ruler of a kingdom.

Consort Ning's funeral was carried out on its planned date, on the day the fire stopped burning and an entire street was lay wasted to ashes. Her body went into the imperial mausoleum without a hitch.

No one was willing to anger the emperor at a time when his mind was at such a fragile state.

It could be said that at this point, the emperor was unpredictable.

Or that he was capable of doing anything.