Chapter 199 - 197. Disaster

Third-person POV

One month later* (Early in the morning)

Hong er became more and more restless each day because of the bad premonition. Among all of the premonition that she ever had, this was the worst. Even after they came through a few bad occasions in a few months, none of them were the premonition that she was feeling.

Hong er: "Something is not right."

Hong er stood up and decided to go find Weisheng to talk about it. She also found it strange that Weisheng woke up extremely early. When she spotted him in his study room, she saw him frowning like there was no tomorrow. Hong er approached him and sat beside him.

Hong er: "What's wrong?"

Weisheng: "Everything seems suspicious."

Hong er: "What?"

Hong er became more anxious seeing that even Weisheng was having a hard time.

Weisheng: "Tsunami."

Hong er: "What?! How? This is winter."

Hong er frowned deeply.

Weisheng: "That is what I am suspicious of. I found a book around a hundred ago that says about a tsunami that happen in winter, it's called 'ice tsunami'."

(A/N: I do some research on the internet and 'ice tsunami indeed exist. But I added a few things in the story so it is a mix of fact and fantasy.)

Hong er: "What caused it to happen?"

Weisheng: "In the book, it said that the cause was a strong gust of wind. But they reported that the ground was shaking and the water under the thick ice layer got sucked in like how usually tsunami is."

The thick layer of ice cracked because of the water pressure and to add it more, the wind caused the ice and water to move faster than usual. Hong er knitted her brows and tried to calm herself down.

Hong er: "Where was it?"

Weisheng: "Near Dong Fang's border."

Hong er: "Meiyun?"

Weisheng: "She is fine. They were the ones who were investigating this case."

Hong er: "En. Casualty?"

Weisheng: "Over half a million people."

Hong er widened her eyes in shock.

Hong er: "D-don't tell me…"

Weisheng: "En. The military base and also father-in-law's secret base. The accident occurred at 2.37 AM."

Hong er's face immediately paled. Just by that little information, she could grasp everything. To happen at the most populated place and at the worst timing, it is too bad to believe.

Most people would be asleep at that time. Therefore, even if the guards managed to ring the bells to alert the citizens and the other soldiers that were staying in the base, they wouldn't have enough time to escape. Especially in the state of just waking up.

At first, Hong er didn't know where Xu Tingfeng trained the Xu's soldiers. However, after she got married to Weisheng, he told her everything and it actually helped him a lot. Hong er would help him out with the state affair or doing negotiation with the nobles as she has a better communication skill than him.

Just from this accident, they had lost so many things such as their military power and citizens' life. And the one who suffer the most was Xu Tingfeng. More than half of his soldiers died.

Hong er: "Huayun, any news from father's side?"

Huayun: "No, Your Majesty Empress!"

Hong er gritted her teeth in frustration.

Hong er: "Uncle Jian?" (Senior Jian)

Huayun: "The elite forces in Xi An suddenly lost connection with Senior Jian 3 days ago."

Weisheng also frowned from the new information that Huayun told.

Hong er: "This is not a coincidence. I am sure there is someone behind this."

Weisheng: "En."

Hong er: "If there is any news no matter who, where, and when, immediately report."

Huayun: "Yes, Your Majesty Empress."

Hong er: "You can retreat."

Huayun bowed to Weisheng and Hong er then left the room. Hong er caressed her bulging belly and sighed. Weisheng took her hand and worriedly asked her.

Weisheng: "What's the matter?"

Hong er: "Maybe this is the premonition."

Weisheng: "It wasn't over yet?"

Hong er: "En. Sheng ge."

Hong er turned her head towards him and spoke with a firm tone. Weisheng could see that Hong er was going to say something very serious and important.

Hong er: "Promise me! If there is anything happen to me, get a hold of yourself. Don't you ever forget your responsibility as an emperor."

Weisheng stared at Hong er's bright golden eyes and felt something was wrong. Usually, Hong er is very optimist, but this time, she talked like she was about to go.

Weisheng: "Hong er, why are talking like that?"

Hong er: "Promise me!"

Hong er gripped Weisheng's hand tighter.

Weisheng: "En. I promise you."

A gentle smile appeared on Hong er's lips as she pressed her forehand on his hand.

Hong er: "Thank you."

Then Hong er rose from her seat. Weisheng confusedly stared at her.

Weisheng: "Where are you going?"

Hong er: "Pray."

Hong er left the room after she replied to Weisheng. She commanded the soldiers to spread words to the commoners that Hong er would personally held a praying session.

The words spread like a wildfire. Each person brought a stem of white chrysanthemum with a white ribbon tied on the stem. Just in two hours, nearly all of the citizens of Chang An came to the Royal Palace's main gate.

Even the citizens from other cities also gathered around their city border with a white chrysanthemum in their hands.

On top of the wall, Hong er and Xue Lang walked to the middle whilst holding hand. They were wearing white clothes and little accessories. The people stared at her like she was a deity descended from the sky.

Hong er: "My dear subjects, today I am here, not as an empress but as Liu Feihong who grieved for our family in Jiang Nan who had departed this life."

(A/N: her surname changed as she married to Weisheng. But I like Xu Feihong more.)

Although they couldn't see her face, they could hear her sadness from her voice.

Hong er: "I, Liu Feihong, represents the Liu family-"

Hong er stopped when Lu Cixi, Princess Yue, and Weisheng appeared beside her in white attire. She looked behind her and saw all of the servants in the palace wore a plain white clothing standing behind the main gate. She smiled and faced forward.

Hong er: "We as a family, let's pray for them who had passed away."

Everyone clasped their hands and closed their eyes.

Hong er: "May the deceased be free from animosity, free from oppression, and free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow. May all never separated from the sacred happiness and rest in peace beside The Goddess of Light, Sheng Jie."

They tapped their forehead with their clasped hands as the end of the prayer. They neatly walked towards the city's border and placed the white chrysanthemum on the side of the wall.