In the depth of winter, as you can see from the outskirts of the city, the snow cover extends to the end of the wilderness.
Liu Ruhai recently asked a senior official in the palace to get a job as a low-ranking official in the Imperial Medical Office, and he got the title of Medical Officer of the Imperial Hospital. He was unlucky enough to work together with his cousin Gu Gongzi, a real imperial doctor.
, actually got the worst job.
He and Mr. Gu were walking by the official road in the snow-covered suburbs in winter, carrying medicine boxes and eating wind and frost.
Fortunately, he could actually see Cao Xiwan, the female official of the East Palace who was also working in the snow.
After entering the palace, who didn't start by running errands? He thought to himself to comfort himself.
The third day of November.
The princess died.
At this time, it had been more than 30 years since the founding of the country, and all rituals had not been prepared. The Ministry of Rites discussed the regulations and sent funeral reports to all the vassal princes' palaces in the world.
His Majesty issued a decree, instructing the Qin Tiansi to choose an auspicious day for the funeral, and officials of the sixth rank and above in Beijing were ordered to accompany him and send the spirit to the countryside for burial.
The clan members were in mourning for three years.
The whole country is in mourning for three months, and marriage is prohibited.
December 12th, auspicious day.
Each prince's palace sent envoys to pay homage to the spirit of the emperor. Now, Zongzheng, King of Qin, is not in the capital. King Qin's descendants are hosting the funeral and holding funerals on their father's behalf.
"cry--"
Amid the deafening wails of the palace people, the princess's coffin was carried out of the East Palace and out of Chengtian Gate by twenty-four eunuchs.
Afterwards came the clan members, hundreds of officials, and imperial edicts, all dressed in funeral attire, walking to see the deceased in the cold wind and snow.
After leaving the palace gate, the memorial sheds of various Xun Mansion are connected along the way, and the memorial shed of Nankanghou Mansion on Kangning Street is no exception.
Song Liangdi held her grandson in her arms and sat in a plain car. She said softly: "My grandson, we will be walking soon."
"Is the mother-in-law in front?"
"...Hmm. I want to see off your mother and concubine. A filial son should walk. The Crown Princess is of high rank, so I also want to walk. His Majesty specially issued an order. Grandson, you are too young, so you are not allowed to walk outside the city."
The grandson seemed to understand, but nodded vigorously.
Empress Song was anxious in her heart.
Such a young child would definitely not be able to bear the cold weather when he had to walk more than ten miles.
Although there were eunuchs in the palace who had already left the city half a month in advance, they had arranged resting places along the way and had already prepared them.
But in addition to the East Palace, there are countless palace attendants and female officials. Your Majesty has decreed that the concubines of the third rank and below should send their spirits to the crown princess. The concubines of the third rank and above have sent their confidants eunuchs to send their spirits.
Not to mention the royal relatives and Xunfu in the capital.
I'm just afraid that there will be too many people and busy things, there will be a lack of this and that, the food will be unclean, the utensils will be pickled dirty, and I won't be careful enough.
It's just her own fault. If her great-grandson were to suffer from any illness, she would be heartbroken. Secondly, she would be afraid that His Majesty and the East Palace would blame her for not taking good care of her great-grandson.
Lu Xiuyun knew the empress' worries and quietly reported to the car: "Don't worry, empress. In addition to the place chosen in the palace, Xiaowan also chose a few elegant and clean resting rooms. The Zhuangzi in Zijin Temple in front is right next to the official road.
All the utensils are arranged by the Marquis's family. In the past, they were only used by old ladies."
"Tell Lou Deshun to go and follow her. I know there are too many people here, and there are too many noble people. No one can survive more than ten miles. It is inevitable that there will be people who want to grab the place. Xiaowan can arrange the place, but he may not be able to keep it.
Dezhu. You tell Deshun that anything that goes wrong is entirely his fault!"
Lu Xiuyun quickly agreed, and went out to whisper to a big eunuch in green clothes in front of her. When she saw Eunuch Lou hurriedly mounted his horse and left, she came back: "Don't worry, Xiaowan, she has the female official badge I gave her."
"Although it is, but look, who is out of the city at this moment and is not above the sixth rank? There are hundreds of royal palaces and noble princes in the super rank, as well as several noble concubines in the palace, the fourth concubine, Zhaoyi's mother's family.
It is inevitable that there will be some who are rude and ill-disposed." She looked at her great-grandson in her arms, but she still had something to say. The Queen was probably watching with cold eyes, wondering if the Crown Princess had changed her face after she passed away.
Take care of your grandson.
If something goes wrong, the grandson will most likely be taken away from her and taken to the middle palace to be raised.
"Your Highness has entrusted my great-grandson to my care, so naturally I have to take good care of him."
"Your Majesty is right." Lu Xiuyun was slightly startled, but she was also happy.
The empress is now in charge of the affairs of the East Palace, and she has gradually become stronger and more independent-minded.
This is a good thing.
Song Niangniang burst into tears: "My parents... At that time, there was a funeral, and it was just a family funeral. I knew what kind of chaos it would be. Thanks to Father Cao, he always followed me carefully. Xiao Wan was also like that
I got lost in time."
"Empress..."
Song Liangdi hugged her grandson tightly, feeling sad in her heart: "Poor this child, his life is as miserable as mine."
Among the crowd of people along the street, there was Xi Zuo who watched quietly and whispered: "That car must be the eldest lady of the Song Hou Mansion, right?"
"That's right. Over there are the carriages and horses from the East Palace."
"Our Crown Prince asked me to deliver a message to Miss Song. How should I deliver the message?"
"...Looking for Manager Liu?"
"... He will ask the matter thoroughly before he is willing to help spread the word. Can you tell him about this matter? The prince will know it when you turn around." The two craftsmen looked at each other. The eldest son of Prince Zhao and Miss Song were childhood sweethearts. Although they were still alive,
They were separated by the Marquis of Nankang and each of them got married, but the prince still wanted to send the news to Song Jiahui.
[Especially because of our alliance, we will never forget our past feelings.]
Cao Xiwan stood at the corner of the alley holding a small hand stove, also waiting for Lady Song's car.
Since they are the leaders of His Majesty's Twelve Personal Guards, the royal guards, all dressed in filial piety and linen clothes, opened the way for the hearse to leave the city from the Chengtian Gate.
Snow fell all over the long street in front of the palace, and the streets were deserted.
Cao Xiwan gathered her plain-colored cloak and watched Xiao Qiao riding high on the back of a handsome horse, leading the way with two hundred brocade-clad fans riding past. He also looked at the overwhelming crowd of palace people in mourning clothes, and the wailing hearse carried by eunuchs.
And go.
Finally, with the East Palace leading the way, the procession of clan members, officials, and imperial edicts slowly walked through the long street.
Gradually go away.
The convoy of the East Palace quietly followed behind. A young palace man crossed the street and came to her and whispered a few words: "Eunuch Deshun is waiting for you at the city gate."
"Okay, I understand. You tell Xiuyun to reassure her." She smiled and quietly gave two pieces of cake to the little palace lady, "to eat on the way."
After Song Liangdi's car passed by, she still stood at the entrance to the back alley of the Hou Mansion. Soon Song Weiren came over on horseback, escorting a green carriage.
She opened the curtain of the cart and got in.
The cart started moving.
She leaned against the side of the car and breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, she did not officially enter the palace after discussing with Xiuyun. She has been outside the palace, busy preparing for Song Liangdi's funeral. The old lady and the Marquis felt that if their wife had been mourned for a year, no newcomers could be allowed in the East Palace Pavilion.
It doesn't matter if it comes later. The old lady told her recently about the time when Taizu was killed, as well as about the queen and prince in the palace of the last emperor of the previous dynasty. She understood what the old lady meant:
The position of the concubine in the East Palace is vacant.
Let’s not talk about other Xungui mansions, but only the concubines in the palace and the mother’s family of the fourth concubine. Which family wouldn’t want to send a daughter into the palace to occupy this position?
"Queen, you used to protect your son, but this time you may not take action until the last moment." The old lady sighed, "If I were the queen, it would be right for me to send my mother's family or my in-laws' daughters to the East Palace.
thing."
"Don't worry, old lady, I understand. I've been asking carefully. I'm not in a hurry to enter the palace."
Cao Cao was outside the palace late at night just to meet someone - Gu Yongxiu, the censor of the city patrol.