Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 699: Funeral
Zhu Hong's original intention was certainly not to complain. He was just following Zhu Ying's orders to go to Zhang Garden to deliver snacks to Zhang Shou, but he happened to see Zhang Shou getting off the car. As a result, he did not realize that when Zhu Ying came back from the palace, she told him about the fourth prince who was chased away to Zhang Shou by the emperor. After asking, he found out that the person was actually left in the public school dormitory by Zhang Shou.
He was already extremely uneasy, and Zhang Shou happened to ask him to tell Zhu Tingfang about this matter. He did not bother to go back to report to Zhu Ying, but hurried to the Bingmasi to inquire before coming here.
As for this unexpected news, Zhu Tingfang and Zhang Chuan looked at each other, and Zhu Tingfang said nonchalantly: "Okay, I know, you can go back without worry, I know what's going on."
As for the number, he did not tell Zhu Hongming. When he finally went back worriedly, he was about to speak, but Zhang Chuan smiled and said, "Even the emperor doesn't take it seriously, and Master Zhang also looks as if nothing happened , let alone us? Well, after a busy day and night, we should go back and have a good sleep, recuperate, and combine work and rest!"
Seeing Zhang Chuan yawning as he spoke, Zhu Tingfang couldn't help but laugh and agreed immediately. The two of them mounted their horses together in front of the Xinglong Teahouse, but Zhang Chuan brought the 20 soldiers of the Ruiqi Battalion assigned by the emperor as guards, while Zhu Tingfang used only his own family members, even confiscating the personal soldiers presented by the Wucheng Bingma Division, and then they parted ways and whistled away.
Finally, the two groups of people entered the Qin and Zhao mansions respectively under the witness of many interested people. As a result, the case of yesterday was over, and the news spread quickly, including Grand Secretary Kong. Many important cabinet officials such as Grand Secretary Wu and Grand Secretary Zhang breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, with the stubborn character of Hong Shanzhang, it was impossible to guess what he would do after learning about the death of the Second Prince. Otherwise, why did Zhang Shou use such a kidnapping-like method to take him out for a drink and a chat? Wasn't it just to make him shut up... or to control the hand that couldn't help but write something?
As for the fact that the fourth prince was punished by the emperor to kneel last night and was sent to Zhang Shou to listen to a lecture today, this news also failed to hide from those who were interested. However, Zhang Shou actually left him in the public school dormitory to live with others, and this news was known to only a few people. Of course, when the people who often watched Zhang Garden found that Zhang Shou came back but got off the car alone, whether they would make associations and investigate, only God knows.
All in all, the night started off very quietly compared to the night before. People really had nothing more to worry about. The emperor was still in his prime, the crown prince was healthy, the officials were still strong, and the world was prosperous and peaceful.
In Qingning Palace, when the Empress Dowager was going to bed, the shrill howls were heard again in the night. Yuquan, who was personally serving the Empress Dowager, finally couldn't bear it anymore.
She came out in a hurry and asked angrily, "What's going on in this Xian'an Palace? Wasn't it peaceful before? Why is it suddenly howling like crazy every night?"
If he really wanted to commit suicide because of what the Queen Mother said, then he should just commit suicide. He howled like crazy every night. Could it be that the palace servants who served him could not think of any solution?
Under Yuquan's glare, a low-ranking female official hurriedly ran out. However, when she came back about an incense stick of time later, she delivered an unexpected message - it was not the shouting of the deposed empress, Concubine Jing, in Xian'an Palace, including the shrill screams a few days ago. The deposed empress had been fed with tranquilizing soup and fell asleep before nightfall these days.
Yuquan had never expected such a result. She was immediately shocked and angry: "If it wasn't the deposed queen who was yelling, then who else in the palace would be howling like crazy?"
Wasn't it because they believed that the person howling at night was Concubine Jing that the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the other concubines didn't investigate too deeply? Moreover, judging from the direction of the sound, it was indeed coming from Xian'an Palace in the northeast!
Several palace maids looked at each other in bewilderment. Although there were too many deaths in the palace, it was inevitable that there would be many eerie and terrifying legends left behind. However, since Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, the palace had been much more peaceful. Even when the deposed empress was in power, many things did not dare to be excessive because of the pressure from the empress dowager, so they almost forgot those rumors.
After a long while, an older female official said uncertainly, "Could that be the cry of a cat? Before I entered the palace, I once heard the shrill cry of a cat at night, and it sounded like a person crying."
After hearing this, Yuquan suddenly realized: "Yes, this may not be the voice of a human, but a cat. Cats can be kept in the palace... No, even if it is a cat howling, shouldn't it mostly meow non-stop after spring comes?"
When the word "spring" came out, the older female officials thought of a word and blushed, but then they acted as if nothing had happened. Yuquan suppressed her embarrassment and said word by word, "Call Qian Ren, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, early tomorrow morning and have him order someone to investigate thoroughly. If there really is a palace that can't even control cats and disturbs people late at night, then don't keep them as soon as possible!"
Having said that, Yuquan always felt that this statement was a bit far-fetched. You know, for several nights in a row, it stopped after one sound. If it was a human, it must be intentionally controlled, but if it was a cat, how easy would it be to force it to stop?
But the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were both people who didn't like to bother, and she couldn't really continue to investigate the matter in the middle of the night, so she gave the order and left it alone. However, when she got up two quarters of an hour early the next morning as usual, washed and changed her clothes, and hurriedly prepared to help the Empress Dowager get up, she saw an elderly palace servant running in from Qingning Gate as soon as she left the door.
Fortunately, although the man walked in a hurry, he did not shout or scream. When he arrived in front of her, he stopped in a panic and said breathlessly: "Aunt Yuquan, Xian'an Palace... Xian'an Palace reported that... it was said that the deposed queen died suddenly!"
On the night when the Queen Mother went to see the deposed Queen, Concubine Jing, Yuquan had worried that she would really commit suicide, but although she made a fuss at that time, she was safe in the end, and the same was true for the next two nights. Now that the news came suddenly, her first feeling was not surprise, but a strange sense of relief, and then regret.
She was once the queen mother of the country, the mistress of the six palaces, and once lived happily with the emperor, with two sons. But now, the deposed queen has died, and one of her two sons is in the imperial farm, while the other is still alive...
If she could do it again, would she choose not to enter the palace, instead of being cold and hostile all day, turning herself into a resentful woman? And if she entered the palace, after giving birth to two sons, would she not keep them under her wings like a hen protecting her chicks, so that neither the emperor, the father, nor other famous scholars, could really contact and teach them?
She took a deep breath and then asked, "What was the cause of death? Since it was said to be a sudden death, it can't be that he died suddenly without any clear reason, right?"
If a young palace maid heard Yuquan use the word "death", she might still be ignorant, but the older palace maid didn't think so. She immediately put away her original intention to criticize the deposed queen, lowered her head and said respectfully: "Xian'an Palace just found out that Concubine Jing had passed away early in the morning. The specific cause of death is still unknown, but it is very likely... swallowing gold."
After confirming that the person was indeed dead and had committed suicide by swallowing gold, Yuquan couldn't help but sigh deeply again.
When she went to help the Queen Mother get up and wash, she told her the news. As she expected, the Queen Mother's reaction was quite calm, she just said "I know", but when it was time for breakfast, the Queen Mother seemed to have no appetite, she only drank half a bowl of porridge and ordered it to be taken away, and then sat there in a trance.
The emperor also received this shocking news after getting up early. After the initial surprise, he instinctively became furious and even pushed down the clothes hanger at the head of the bed. But when the bang sounded, he realized that he had made the same old habit of impatience and anger again, so he immediately tried to suppress his anger, and his initial rapid breathing gradually stabilized.
Last night, when he learned that Zhang Shou had left the Fourth Prince to live with others in the public school dormitory, he was not as surprised as outsiders thought. Instead, he was very pleased and was in a good mood. He slept well at first, but was awakened by a nightmare in the middle of the night. Although he fell asleep again after drinking some water, he was not very restful, so he only felt his throat dry and hoarse at this time.
After a long while, he tiredly said, "Let Chu Kuan take care of the funeral. In terms of being proficient in etiquette, no other eunuch in the palace can compare to him."
Chen Yongshou was not like Liu Feng, the previous manager of the Qianqing Palace. He knew the relationship between Chu Kuan and the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Therefore, even though he had been demoted to the lowest position before, he was actually sent to the Ciqing Palace to serve the prince's writing. This was somewhat meaningful. Therefore, he did not say anything about the fact that Eunuch Chu had no rank now and would be criticized for handling the funeral, but directly agreed.
When he hurried out, he happened to meet the third prince in front of the main hall of the Qianqing Palace. Seeing that the prince's eyes were slightly red and he looked tired, he probably didn't sleep well all night, so he couldn't help but whisper a reminder after paying his respects.
"Concubine Jing has passed away. The Emperor is in a bad mood right now. Your Highness, please be careful with your words and actions."
The Third Prince was worried about the Fourth Prince who lived alone outside all night, especially when he heard that he was not in Zhang Garden, but was left in the dormitory of the public school by Zhang Shou. He was even more nervous and uneasy, tossing and turning until midnight before falling asleep. Therefore, when he suddenly heard such a big news, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then he realized what it meant.
His face was pale and he opened his mouth several times but couldn't utter a word. In the end, he just hummed softly.
When he came before the emperor, he saw his father already standing in front of the desk writing something, but he did not go out to disturb him, but stood quietly waiting.
After a long while, he finally heard the emperor's voice: "I have asked Chu Kuan to take care of the funeral. Si Lang is not here. If you are short of people when you are in Ciqing Palace, please pick someone else to serve you."
"No, no." The Third Prince shook his head like a rattle. As soon as he said this, he realized that he was used to keeping silent most of the time, and only spoke when he asked questions, and Chu Kuan always spoke to the point. It must be said that compared with those eunuchs who were either too dull or too smart, it was easy for him to get along with Chu Kuan.
Therefore, he hesitated for a moment before saying what Chen Yongshou had not dared to say before: "Father, it is indeed very appropriate for Eunuch Chu to go to the funeral. He is very familiar with etiquette and other things, but he was just dismissed from the position of the Chief of the Imperial Household Department..."
The emperor was slightly startled, and then asked with interest: "Then what do you think should be done?"
The Third Prince did not expect the Emperor to throw this question back to him, and he immediately felt it was very difficult. After all, he had not figured out how to deal with Chu Kuan at all, and even not long ago, he personally told Chu Kuan that the Ciqing Palace did not need a management badge. After thinking it over, he could only say with a bitter face: "Father, the Emperor cannot change his orders from one day to the next, so he cannot be allowed to return to the Imperial Household Department."
The emperor smiled noncommittally: "And then?"
Being forced into this situation by the Emperor, the young Crown Prince could only make up his mind and said, "Can Chu Kuan represent the two Imperial Concubines and hold funeral ceremonies for Concubine Jing in their names?"
The ceremony of enthroning the imperial concubine was only in the secret preparation stage, and the emperor was very sure that the third prince could not know about it, but at this moment, he was really surprised by the answer that the third prince came up with after racking his brains. But even so, he still asked with a smile: "He alone cannot represent the two concubines."
The Third Prince's face changed again when he was faced with his father's gaze and question. However, since he couldn't hide, he could only grit his teeth and said, "Can we let Eunuch Chu represent Mother? Eunuch Xie, the manager beside Mother, is too old and unable to handle the funeral. Let Eunuch Chu go on his behalf."
The emperor then smiled faintly. He breathed a sigh of relief, then nodded and said, "Well, let Chu Kuan represent your mother and go to the funeral of Concubine Jing in the name of Wan'an Palace Manager. Then let him serve in Ciqing Palace in the name of Fenghe Concubine. That's all."
The Third Prince was stunned. How could this be possible? Although this would help improve the status of his biological mother and concubine in the palace, it would be inappropriate according to the rules, so he could not help but whispered: "Father, it is understandable that Eunuch Chu came to take care of the funeral for Concubine Jing on behalf of my mother, but he is staying in Ciqing Palace in the name of Wan'an Palace Manager, isn't this a good idea?"
The emperor sneered and said, "Why, are you afraid that people will accuse your mother of interfering in government affairs?"
Seeing that the Third Prince bowed his head and said nothing, which obviously indicated his agreement, he said casually, "This dynasty has only conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort twice , during the reigns of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Sejong. Now, I have had these ceremonies dug out from the old papers. I do not intend to confer the title of Empress again. In this case, I will confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort once more."
"It is only natural that the Imperial Concubine will send someone to Ciqing Palace to accompany you in your studies."
