Led by the Zhou family, six people directly from the Duke's Palace knelt in front of the memorial tablet, each of them silently grieving.
Shen Tiannan's coffin arrived in Yangjing two days after Shen Yuchun's funeral.
On that day, outside Xuanren Gate, hundreds of thousands of people, wearing sackcloth and mourning, knelt for thirty miles.
Emperor Yongtai, who had never been seen outside the palace, personally greeted him at the city gate with hundreds of officials.
In fact, at that time, many people still did not believe that Shen Tiannan was dead.
Especially Emperor Yongtai.
However, when they saw the mighty and tall man in the coffin, everyone had to believe it.
The military god of Daqing is really dead.
Emperor Yongtai was in great mourning and ordered the world to bury Duke Ding with the rites of a national funeral. He was given the posthumous title of "Zhongwu" and was entitled to enjoy the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Today is the third day of vigil at the Guo Gong Mansion, and tomorrow is the day of the funeral of Ding Guo Gong.
The three daughters-in-law, Zhou, Zhao, and Zhang, and the three grandchildren, Shen Yuchun, Shen Yushu, and Shen Xinlan, have been kneeling in front of the coffin for three days and two nights without eating a grain of rice.
Everyone's faces showed varying degrees of exhaustion.
Especially the Crown Prince's wife, Mrs. Zhou, who was kneeling at the front, already looked a little shaky.
"Mom... you should go back to your room and take a rest first."
Shen Xinlan burst into tears and spoke distressedly.
"Yes, sister-in-law, why don't you go back and have a rest first."
Mrs. Zhang also spoke to persuade.
Mrs. Zhao moved her posture, glanced at her son Shen Yuchun, and wondered why this idiot didn't know how to ask her to go back and rest.
"No, I'm not in the way."
Mrs. Zhou turned her head, her pale face without a trace of blood, "The old man is gone. As the eldest daughter-in-law, this is all I can do."
"aunt……"
Shen Yuchun's eyes were red and swollen, and his expression was unbearable.
"If you two siblings can't stand it anymore, just go back first. My sister-in-law is here."
Zhou added.
Mrs. Zhao was about to nod, but she heard Ms. Zhang say: "My sister-in-law is unwilling to take a break, and my younger siblings are even more shameless."
Zhao: "...That's true."
"That's fine."
Zhou nodded and was about to turn around when he suddenly swayed like a drunkard, then rolled his eyes and fell to the ground.
"Mother!"
"Sister-in-law!"
"aunt!"
Everyone was shocked.
Mrs. Zhang said anxiously: "Xinlan, send your mother back to her room to rest quickly."
"this……"
"Go quickly, the old man is gone, and the living people must cherish it."
Mrs. Zhang advised again.
At that moment, Shen Xinlan no longer hesitated, and in exchange for two strong maids, they carried Zhou away.
Then Zhao rolled her eyes, stood up and said, "Sister-in-law is weak and hasn't eaten a grain of rice for three days. I'll ask the cook to make some warm vegetarian porridge and send it to her."
After saying that, he hurried out without waiting for anyone's reaction, looking extremely worried.
Mrs. Zhang shook her head, didn't care, and continued to keep vigil with Shen Yushu and Shen Yuchun.
Then in the house, the two maids had just helped Ms. Zhou lie down on the bed when they were kicked out by Shen Xinlan.
"Mother, there is no one else."
After closing the door, Shen Xinlan said softly.
After hearing this, Ms. Zhou, who had passed out, opened her eyes and sat up from the bed.
"Mother, do you want to say something to your daughter?"
Shen Xinlan asked.
"Immediately, immediately, send someone to find Su Ping and come back!"
Zhou narrowed his eyes and made a decisive decision.
Shen Xinlan was shocked and asked: "Why? Didn't it already be planned before?"
"Plans cannot keep up with changes."
Zhou glanced at her daughter and said: "If the old man is still alive, no matter whose child you are pregnant with, it can be said to be Su Ping's, and we also have a lot of time to slowly push your child to be the heir of the country." s position."
Yes, from the beginning, it was decided to recruit Su Ping as his wife for the sake of the title of Duke!
The prince's son died in the battle, and the theoretical grandson of the prince also died in the battle.
After the death of the eldest son, if the Zhou family wanted to ensure their status in the Duke's palace, they had to capture a man of Shen's bloodline.
Recruiting a wife was the only way she could think of.
To be honest, this is far-fetched and difficult.
Even from the beginning, she didn't have much hope at all.
However, what a coincidence, after the old man had been looking for his benefactor for many years, he found it at this time!
Everyone in the world knows that Duke Dingguo is unparalleled in his kindness and righteousness. With Su Ping as the 'benefactor queen', the children born by Shen Xinlan have an extra chance of inheriting the title.
Thus, a plan was launched against Su Ping, against Duke Ding, and against everyone in Duke Guo's Mansion.
But at that time, Zhou never expected that Su Ping could cause so many troubles.
"Now, the old man is leaving suddenly. When the forty-nine days of mourning are over, His Majesty will definitely send someone to confirm the succession of the title."
Zhou glanced at Shen Xinlan coldly, "In such a short period of time, let alone you are not pregnant yet, even if you are pregnant, it will not have any effect at all!"
"……this."
Shen Xinlan's face turned pale little by little, "But what if we come back to Su Ping?"
"How can it be done?"
Zhou laughed endlessly, "At the very least, we can use Su Ping's influence to delay the selection of the successor."
"..."
Shen Xinlan was silent for a moment, but still said unwillingly: "But, will Su Ping be obedient and be used by us?"
"Have you forgotten His Majesty's oral instructions?"
Zhou was confident, "No matter what your Majesty's original intention is, I am afraid that those officials and dignitaries will not dare to blatantly win over Su Ping at this time, and this is our opportunity."
Shen Xinlan wanted to say more, but Zhou's eyes suddenly glazed over and her tone became stern.
"I know you are not willing to give in, but you must endure it."
Zhou glanced at Shen Xinlan's belly and said, "If my guess is correct and nothing has happened between you and Han Shuang, is this just wishful thinking on your part?"
"..."
Shen Xinlan's face turned ugly and she was speechless.
"Okay, go quickly, you know who to ask to do this."
Mrs. Zhou waved her hand and lay down again.
Gritting her teeth, Shen Xinlan retreated.
After a while.
A corner of the back garden of the Duke's Mansion.
The servant who was good at tracking knelt on one knee in front of Shen Xinlan.
"Whatever the young lady orders, I will do my best."
The servant said in a deep voice.
Since Su Ping was let go, he was not having an easy time in the Duke's Mansion these days.
That was the only thing, but it was the second best, but at his gambling brother's house, people suddenly started coming to collect debts.
This made him extremely anxious, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Until today, when the eldest lady secretly summoned him, he knew that his chance had come.
"You set out immediately to find Su Ping, the sooner the better!"
Shen Xinlan handed the servant a stack of banknotes, "You can find the manpower and other things yourself. You must not have anything to do with the Duke's government. Do you understand?"
"My subordinates will definitely bring Su Ping back!"
The servant took the banknote, stood up and prepared to climb over the wall.
"etc."
Shen Xinlan suddenly stopped him.
"Miss, do you have any other instructions?"
"After finding Su Ping..."
Shen Xinlan's eyes flashed with danger, and she immediately made a bold decision.
"Kill him!"
"What if it's not found?"
The servant asked again.
Many days have passed since Su Ping disappeared, and even he was not sure enough to find Su Ping at this time.