Azure Heaven Saber
Chapter 1186 - 1186 57 Return_2

Chapter 1186: Chapter 57 Return_2 Chapter 1186: Chapter 57 Return_2 Various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, a variety of rare spiritual medicines, and many revered physician experts, were continuously brought over.

Qin Emperor had even fed Meng Fang two pills that were left by Doctor Feng back then.

Those were the medicines that Doctor Feng had reserved for the Qin Emperor, immensely treasured by him to such an extent that not even the empress had a chance to partake in one.

Such favoritism caused boundless envy among countless civil and military officials.

It was known that among the Emperor’s subjects, from beginning to end, there was only one who received such treatment: only Meng Fang.

And this person had already retired from his official position for more than forty years!

But nobody could voice any objections.

You all hold high ranks and rich benefits, yet you envy an old soldier who retired to his fields forty years ago? Where is the reason in that?

Where is your dignity?

Do you not want any face left at all?

Therefore it was…

“General!”

The courtyard was filled with a dense crowd of military personnel who suddenly yet orderly knelt to the ground, crying out loudly.

The sorrow that had been suppressed for days finally erupted unrestrained at this moment.

Tears streamed down like a river in an instant.

Qin Emperor’s hand loosened, and a brocaded box in his hand fell to the ground.

Inside the brocaded box was a jade bottle containing three pills.

Those were the last three spiritual pills left by Doctor Feng.

The Qin Emperor had intended for Meng Fang to consume them before his death, wishing for a final exchange of words.

The Emperor also sought to explain why he had sent a palace eunuch to the military all those years ago.

After all, that time, he had broken his promise.

“The Emperor’s decree shall not enter the military”—this had not been upheld in the end, not carried out consistently.

But Meng Fang did not give him the chance, having breathed his last before stepping through the door.

“Meng Minister…”

The anguish in Qin Emperor’s heart is inexplicable.

“Your passing today is like cutting out my own heart!”

…

On the fifteenth day of the ninth month, in the forty-first year of Qin Emperor’s reign.

The autumn wind was bleak, and the entirety of the Capital City was covered in golden leaves, raining down like scattered gold.

The Duke of the Qin country, previously the number one general, Meng Fang, had passed away at the age of sixty-nine.

As soon as this news was disseminated, it shook the entire world.

The legend behind this title, despite not being heard in the world for a long time, was not unknown or unproclaimed.

On the contrary, following General Meng’s demise, his past achievements were revisited and talked about more than ever.

It shocked the world.

The Qin Emperor personally handled Meng Fang’s funeral, with the rites of a national funeral.

In regards to Meng Fang’s last words, all of the Duke of the Kingdom’s wealth reverted to the state, and the family estate was sold off—this was strictly opposed by the Qin Emperor.

As long as Great Qin existed, the Duke’s residence would remain intact. All the descendants of the Ying family, from the Emperor on down, who dared to disturb it would be punished severely!

After the inventory of posthumous wealth was taken, Qin Emperor could not hold back his tears.

What remained in the entire household was less than the sum of three thousand in gold and silver.

Most other possessions were gifts from the throne, items that could never be put up for sale.

Qin Emperor was filled with emotion and ordered the Household Office to take out one hundred thousand in gold and twenty million in silver as though it were the proceeds from the Duke’s estate sale.

The state would pay!

With this money, Meng Fang’s last wishes would be fulfilled.

When the Qin Emperor was prepared to resettle Meng Fang’s two hundred personal guards according to the last wishes, he was met with their collective refusal.

“We have long been away from the military and the royal court. Even if we returned, we wouldn’t be of much use; we earnestly request of Your Majesty to allow us to continue guarding the Duke’s residence and the Duke’s tomb!”

“This is our only wish, and we hope Your Majesty will grant it.”

The two hundred personal guards petitioned together.

“Very well!”

The Qin Emperor readily agreed.

The entire Capital City fell into a state of grief, especially within the military.

A while later, the esteemed Qing Ming, who had not been involved in worldly affairs for some time, came personally to present his condolences.

And just as Qing Ming, accompanied by Green Wolf, arrived, a peculiar incident took place.

During the burial of the Duke and his wife, the procession was escorted by heavy guards all the way to the tomb.

However, at the moment when the coffin was placed and the earth was to cover it, the soldiers who had been carrying the coffin sensed that something was amiss.

The coffin that was significantly heavy before now felt strangely light.

But they dared not make a decision to open the coffin on their own, yet they could not reconcile this unexplained feeling, so they reported it up the chain of command.

Eventually, all the senior generals of Qin country arrived, and the Qin Emperor sent the grand steward Shi Hongzhen over.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they opened the coffin to see the truth.

All who were present were stunned.

The bodies of the Duke and his wife that should have been inside the coffin had mysteriously vanished.

Their clothing and personal belongings, jade hairpins, and jade pendants, were still there.

But where were the bodies?

All the military officials were furious, and the Qin Emperor was beside himself with rage!

This matter, naturally, required accountability.

Yet countless witnesses had seen the Duke and his wife being placed in the coffin, the procession was like two human walls, and nothing unusual had occurred the whole way.

Up until the gravesite, the security measures were extremely stringent.

The only ones nearby, who had the opportunity to tamper, were the coffin bearers themselves, but the mystery was discovered by them; if they had done it, wouldn’t it be better to keep quiet?

But how exactly did the bodies disappear?

When the Imperial Son of Heaven became furious, the heavens turned and the earth revolved!

He harbored some guilt towards Meng Fang, and now with this incident, he was incensed and ready to unleash a bloody purge!

Fortunately, Qing Ming, having heard of the incident, promptly came to investigate, first halting the Qin Emperor’s anger, then personally inspected the tomb.

After seeing the empty coffin and the items within, he came to an understanding.

Qing Ming couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh on the spot, followed by a long sigh toward the sky.

“Indeed, just as expected…”