Chapter 209

The Queen's mourning hall is located in Yamato Palace.

The royal family came in front, followed by those kneeling in order of rank, filling the entire hall. Even the area outside the palace was filled with ministers kneeling.

When Yu Ying entered the palace, she spotted the King of England.

She was an official's wife and usually went between the medical school and the clinic. She seldom went into the palace. Therefore, apart from the time when she met the King of England on the way from Pengcheng to the imperial city, she had never seen him again.

The King of England knelt beside the coffin, his face looking much more haggard than before, expressionless, even numb.

He felt numb, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Some people cry their hearts out when they are sad, but some people are the complete opposite, like the King of England, who is numb.

The King of England's face was numb, but his eyes were dark and extremely deep, which inexplicably made Yu Ying sense the danger.

Yu Ying quickly withdrew her gaze without observing it any further.

He knelt for more than two hours, his knees ached and his calves were numb.

After it was over, almost everyone needed someone to support them.

Fortunately, my sister-in-law didn't have to come over, otherwise I wouldn't be able to bear this kneeling.

After walking for a while, he walked out of the palace with Princess Jing.

Both of them were supported by servants.

Yu Ying instructed, "When Princess returns, soak the herbs in water and have someone massage her several times, otherwise she will definitely get out of bed tomorrow."

Because at Empress Gu's funeral, even though Princess Jing didn't feel sad at all, she still had to put on a good show.

In the mourning hall, countless officials, concubines, and even princes and princesses used other methods to induce tears.

Princess Jing also used some tear-inducing stuff. Not only were her eyes red, but the area around her eye sockets was also red and swollen. She looked really heartbroken.

Princess Jing wiped her eyes with a wet handkerchief and replied, "We are younger, so it's fine. But that official lady in her forties or fifties, who has been kneeling for so long, I wonder how long she will need to recuperate."

In the mourning hall, many officials' wives were on the verge of collapse, but they all gritted their teeth and persevered.

After leaving the palace, when the female relatives got into the carriage one by one, their bodies were stiff and their facial features showed pain. Even Yu Ying was no exception.

After saying goodbye to Princess Jing, Yu Ying got on the carriage and returned home.

After returning home, I must soak my feet well and press them to prevent blood circulation from being blocked, otherwise I will definitely feel uncomfortable afterwards.

Princess Jing had someone deliver a memorial yesterday detailing the Queen's funeral process. Seeing that the memorial stated one had to kneel for such a long time, Yu Ying grabbed a dozen packets of foot-soaking medicine and sent them to Princess Jing and a few of her good friends, including the wives of officials.

I went to the palace before dawn today. I had already arranged everything last night, so I had hot food and soaked my feet as soon as I came back.

Fu Wei had not left the palace yet and no one knew when he would be back, so he asked someone to keep the food and medicine warm.

Wen Xing knew that Yu Ying had been kneeling for a long time, so she came over to massage her feet after she soaked her feet.

Probably because she is used to doing hard labor, Wen Xing's hands are strong.

As soon as she pressed it, she couldn't help but gasp.

Wen Xing quickly softened her pressure: "Does it hurt?"

My sister-in-law’s knees were bruised from kneeling, and even her calves were swollen. It hurt just looking at her.

Yu Ying shook her head: "It's okay, continue."

Wen Xing continued, but she softened her stance and said, "Sister-in-law, you've already knelt like this. It seems quite a few wives of officials will come to the clinic tomorrow to ask for female doctors. We might not have enough female doctors to use. Why don't I go back tomorrow?"

Those injured from kneeling were all female family members, and Yongxitang was the only clinic with female doctors and medical staff. Most of the wives of officials would definitely come to the clinic to ask female doctors to come to their homes.

Yu Ying's calves ached from being massaged, but she still managed to hold back her pain and shook her head, "If there's a female doctor, go over there. If not, just wait. There's no need to neglect your own health for someone else right now. Don't bother running around. My sister-in-law can be at the clinic."

Wen Xing listened to the advice. Since her sister-in-law said so, she didn't force it.

"We've already entered the palace today. Is there anything else to do next?" Wen Xing asked while pressing.

Yu Ying: "Not yet. We still have to continue to fast this month. When the coffin is sent to the imperial mausoleum, the wives of all civil and military officials must go to the city gate to see the funeral procession. Some even need to accompany the funeral procession."

Wen Xing frowned: "I've only been kneeling for so long today, and I have to get up early again tomorrow?"

Yu Ying was also helpless: "We won't leave until four days later, so we can have a good rest now."

There were other wives of officials who would accompany the funeral procession to the imperial mausoleum. Although Yu Ying agreed in terms of her position, her name was not included.

I guess someone helped and removed her name from the Ministry of Rites responsible for preparing the emperor and empress's funeral.

The one who has such ability is undoubtedly Princess Jing.

If the emperor does not attend the funeral procession, his legitimate son, the Prince of England, will escort him. All the princes, princesses, and even the emperor's grandsons will also go together.

The trip back and forth, plus choosing a date for burial, would take seven or eight days.

During these seven or eight days, if King Ying had any grievances against King Jing, he might have taken his anger out on Yu Ying. Perhaps Princess Jing also thought of this and helped.

It is also possible that Fu Wei was involved.

Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief when she knew she didn’t have to go.

Wait until Fu Wei comes back and ask him carefully.

But my leg hurts so much.

Yu Ying didn't want to think about anything else. She grabbed the quilt and asked her sister-in-law to use more force.

Wen Xing thought that the wives of officials would send people to the clinic tomorrow, but unexpectedly, they came one after another from the official residence in the afternoon.

There aren't many female doctors who can see patients on their own, but there are a few who can just give leg massages.

Yu Ying had the prescription for removing blood stasis, promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling and relieving fatigue sent to the clinic early.

If the patient is older, they will be turned away and asked to go to other clinics to see a doctor.

With Fu Wei around and King Jing backing him up, it wasn't a reason for him to offend anyone.

It's just that he's old and has other symptoms too. She hasn't seen this patient before, so she can't just accept him rashly.

After relaxing her legs, Yu Ying fell asleep out of exhaustion.

When she woke up, it was already dark. Although her legs were still sore and swollen when she got out of bed, they were much better than when she left the palace, and the symptoms were milder than she had imagined.

I called out to someone outside, and soon a maid opened the door and came in.

Yu Ying asked, "Master, haven't you come back yet?"

Maid: "The master is in the study."

Yu Ying asked again, "Have you soaked your feet, sir?"

The maid shook her head and said, "My lord, as soon as he came back, he went to the study and told people not to disturb him."

Yu Ying thought about it and asked the maid to bring the medicinal soup for foot bathing into the house and prepare some food.

Then she was helped out of the study by another maid and knocked lightly on the door.

Fu Wei seemed to have guessed who was coming at this time, so he opened the door on his own.

"Just woke up?"

Yu Ying nodded, waved away the servants, and then placed her hand in front of Fu Wei.

Fu Wei understood, turned around, closed the study door, and helped her up.

"Going back to the room?"

Yu Ying: "Of course you went back to your room. I asked someone to prepare some medicine for your feet. Who knew you would go straight to the study as soon as you came back?"

Fu Wei helped her back to the room, his steps steady and without any signs of kneeling.

After returning to the house, Yu Ying wondered, "How come nothing happened to you?"

Fu Wei smiled and said, "When I was practicing martial arts before, I could sit in horse stance for most of the day. It was nothing."

Yu Ying: "But you've injured your leg before, so you're not as good as before."

Water and food were brought in soon.

While Fu Wei was soaking his feet, Yu Ying asked, "Why did you go to the study right after you came back? Is there something urgent?"

The gentle look on Fu Wei's face faded, leaving a hint of solemnity.

"After Empress Gu's death and meeting Queen Ying in the Great Hall today, I've been haunted by a lot of things I can't quite fathom."

Yu Ying remembered that the Ministry of Rites didn't have a farewell list for her, so she asked, "Did you arrange the farewell list?"

Fu Wei nodded: "It's me."

Fu Wei had met the King of England yesterday. There was a gloomy atmosphere surrounding him. When he looked at him, there was no change in his eyes, just like a calm pool of stagnant water.

Those whose emotional changes are difficult to detect are the most dangerous.

Fu Wei didn't want her to take the risk of going to the funeral.

In his heart, her safety far outweighs any fame or fortune.

Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I thought it was Princess Jing who helped me, and I thought I owed her a favor."

Seeing that he had almost finished soaking his feet, I asked him to dry them and lie on the bed: "I'll give you a leg massage."

Fu Wei: "No need, I'm not that useless."

Having said that, he still succumbed to Yu Ying's strong attitude.

In this room, as long as Yu Ying thinks something is reasonable, most people will listen to her.

Yu Ying sat on the bed and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

He was talking about what he had just said, the death of Empress Gu.

Fu Wei: "I and His Royal Highness Prince Jing have inquired about Empress Gu's sudden death from an acute illness, but the Imperial Palace, separated by a wall, has kept it a secret. Even the maid who had been serving in Kunning Palace has died, and it is said that she died for her master."

Yu Ying was stunned for a moment: "Really die for the master"

Fu Wei shook his head: "Although that woman has been with Empress Gu for decades, she has children and grandchildren, and has also accumulated a lot of property in Yuzhang. How could she die for her master?"

Yu Ying frowned. "Is there something suspicious about Empress Gu's death, or is it... a fake death?"

Fu Wei: "It's impossible to fake her death. There are so many imperial doctors, eunuchs, and guards in the palace. They are all spies of the emperor. The higher the status, the less likely they are to fake their death. Not to mention Empress Gu. Whether she died truly or not, the emperor will naturally verify it again and again. There is absolutely no possibility of faking it."

"It's an emergency, very strange, like someone has died, and a proper name for death must be given."

"So, I can't figure it out. I can't figure out how he died, and why he died."

What Fu Wei couldn't figure out, it was Yu Ying's turn to be confused too.

Neither of them slept much that night, as they were thinking about various possibilities.

Soon, the day of the funeral arrived.

The city was still full of plain clothes, and no one dared to wear brightly colored clothes.

It happened to be a rainy day, so the soul-guiding banner was hung in front and the coffin followed behind.

The imperial city was covered with road money, and the mournful music echoed all along, gloomy and eerie.

When Yu Ying met King Ying, her face looked even more haggard and pale than in the previous few days.

Also traveling with him were the King's wife and several children.

Members of the royal family, some officials, as well as the wives of high-ranking officials and ordinary officials, formed a regular group.

Yu Ying stopped at the city gate, watching the troops slowly leaving the imperial city, and watching the coffin being submerged in the crowd, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She was also a little depressed.

I have a hunch that the imperial city will be in turmoil soon.