Niu Baijin took the opportunity to clamor in the court, asking Emperor Mingxi to issue an order to bring Concubine Xian back to the palace.

Several pedantic censors also echoed this.

Emperor Mingxi couldn't help but frown slightly.

Xia Miaoyuan glanced at Niu Baijin with disdain. "Do you think you can succeed by using the funeral as an excuse to bring Concubine Xian back to the palace?"

"She's just a concubine. Whatever I want her to do is up to my father, the Emperor. Do I think I'm afraid of you?"

Emperor Mingxi suddenly had an idea. His daughter's words reminded him.

"Master Niu, please be patient. The biological mother should attend the child's funeral. I will send someone to bring the virtuous concubine back to the palace later."

After hearing this, Niu Baijin knelt down to express his gratitude, with a smug smile on his face.

Immediately afterwards, Emperor Mingxi issued another decree, ordering Xiao Licheng, the Minister of the Dali Temple, to personally investigate the case thoroughly, and the Ministry of Rites to handle the funeral of the fourth prince.

In fact, ever since he learned about the Fourth Prince's life experience, Emperor Mingxi has felt very complicated about the Fourth Prince. He was even more furious when he thought that Concubine Xian had deceived him and gave birth to the Fourth Prince with her adulterer.

However, it was difficult to bring this matter up and explain it, so Emperor Mingxi had to endure the disgust and organize the funeral.

That night, Emperor Mingxi secretly summoned Xiao Licheng, the Minister of the Dali Temple.

As soon as he came in, Emperor Mingxi got straight to the point.

"Licheng, there's a lot more to the Fourth Prince's case than meets the eye."

"What's going on here concerns the nation and state, and it's a matter of national secrets."

Xiao Licheng felt a chill on his back and was extremely nervous.

"So, don't worry about this case. Just keep it simple. After seven days, find a death row inmate to close the case."

Hearing this, Xiao Licheng felt relieved instantly.

"Yes, as you command."

…

Early the next morning, a mourning hall had been set up in the palace and the funeral of the fourth prince began.

The virtuous concubine had already been brought back to the palace. She was dressed in white mourning clothes from head to toe and was guarding the Fourth Prince's mourning hall, crying uncontrollably.

Xia Miaoyuan had long known the Fourth Prince's background and had little affection for him, but due to her status, she had to get up early in the morning and was dragged to keep vigil.

The nanny changed Xia Miaoyuan into a white dress and even put a white flower on her hair.

All the concubines and princes in the harem put on mourning clothes and stood guard in the mourning hall.

Three days later, the fourth prince's funeral was held.

The royal family and all the civil and military officials stood together in an orderly manner with solemn expressions.

Emperor Mingxi wore a white robe over his dragon robe and stood in front of everyone.

[The funeral procession was completed today, so the funeral is finally over.]

Xia Miaoyuan stood in the first row of the crowd, holding his waist like a little adult.

These three days have really tormented her.

"Your Majesty, please read the eulogy for the Fourth Prince!" Eunuch Debao shouted.

He then handed the eulogy that had been prepared long ago to Emperor Mingxi with both hands.

Emperor Mingxi unfolded the eulogy and was shocked at first glance.

It’s not because of anything else, it’s just that this eulogy is too short.

The eulogies and congratulatory speeches he read in the past were all densely written on a large sheet of paper. Sometimes, even a large sheet of paper could not hold all the words, so he had to prepare a second sheet.

But today's eulogy only had a few lines of words on a large piece of paper.

Emperor Mingxi winked at Debao, and Debao walked up to Emperor Mingxi quietly and whispered in his ear.

"Is this an obituary? Are you sure?" Emperor Mingxi asked in a low voice.

Debao nodded in confusion and replied softly, "Yes, this is a eulogy. I am not mistaken. I personally took it from Cao Hanlin this morning."

When Emperor Mingxi heard the three words "Cao Hanlin", he instantly felt a headache.

"What's wrong with the Emperor? Why didn't he read the eulogy?"

At this time, some people in the crowd were already whispering.

Emperor Mingxi gritted his teeth and began to read aloud, deliberately adjusting his speaking speed to be extremely slow.

However, the eulogy was too short, only four or five lines. Even with long tones, if one read it slowly, it could be finished in a cup of tea.

The people standing in silence below the stage looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Is this the end of the reading?"

"Is this a eulogy?"

"Oh my god, this eulogy is only a little over a hundred words, right?"

People started talking about it.

Xia Miaoyuan stood in the first row, and was even more confused and puzzled as he watched Emperor Mingxi read the eulogy with a strange expression on his face.

[Is the sun rising from the west? ]

Just as I was wondering, I heard someone behind me complain: "Did the person who wrote the eulogy and congratulatory message change? Was Cao Hanlin replaced?"

When Xia Miaoyuan heard the three words "Cao Hanlin", he suddenly understood.

[Yes, why did you forget? ]

[A while ago, Daddy and Mommy ran into Cao Hanlin. Daddy disliked his long-windedness and, in a fit of rage, had him supervised.]

[It seems that this supervision has worked.]

While Xia Miaoyuan was daydreaming, the people from the Ministry of Rites had already ordered everyone to move the team and prepare to carry the fourth prince's coffin out.

The queen took Xia Miaoyuan's hand and walked back, but Xia Miaoyuan's mind was still on Cao Hanlin.

At this moment, she suddenly glanced over and saw Sun Hanlin and two civil servants standing in a corner not far away, whispering to each other. The three of them had gossiping joy on their faces.

[This is probably about Cao Hanlin. I'll go check it out.]

Thinking of this, Xia Miaoyuan said to the queen in a baby voice: "Mother, Miao'er can't hold it anymore, I want to go pee."

The Queen looked at her daughter's well-pretended expression and felt very amused. She nodded and said, "Okay, let Li Ma go with you. Don't be naughty."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!