Chapter 2 That guy is really arrogant
Out of curiosity and caution, Tao Tao stopped an older man and asked him who the group of people from earlier were.
“Those people just now were all guards from the Privy Council. They’re not to be trifled with! That’s the same as the Secretariat, which is above the Six Ministries. It’s the place that holds the highest military power in the country, and it’s not something that ordinary officials can compare to. They can raid anyone’s house without any evidence.”
As the man spoke, a clear look of fear appeared on his face.
Such great power?
"Then who exactly is this Duan Gan?"
"Hey young lady, keep your voice down! How dare you address that official by his name! If those people find out, we'll all be in jail for years."
He frowned, his eyes filled with fear, his expression panicked, and his low voice sounded muffled.
Tao Tao's pupils dilated in astonishment. Even mentioning a name would lead to someone being arrested?!
Suddenly, as she passed the noodle stall, she heard three people whispering at a nearby table, which made her unconsciously slow down.
"Did you see what just happened?! That guy was so arrogant!"
"Shh...keep your voice down, are you out of your mind..."
One of the men, dressed in a blue cloth shirt, winked at his companion and whispered:
"Now everyone knows that the Grand Envoy is just a figurehead, and the real power is held by the Deputy Grand Envoy. The Grand Envoy is just a pawn placed in that position by the Left Prime Minister to facilitate control of the Privy Council. But who knew that the Emperor would promote Duan Gan from the Duan family, a powerful clan, shortly afterward?"
"They were born into nobility, and were considered the cream of the crop among the aristocratic families. Their grandfather was the Grand Tutor who had been teaching the Emperor since he was still the Crown Prince. What is a mere envoy? He just has an Empress sister."
The thin man sitting opposite him picked up the conversation: "To say that the Duan family, which is supposed to be so aloof and has the spirit of scholars, could produce such a ruthless person..." He sighed and shook his head.
"With such a reckless and arrogant leader, the Privy Council is so domineering that no one can control them. Whether they are imperial relatives or noble families, anyone who enters the Privy Council should be grateful to be alive!"
These words sent a storm of emotions through Tao Tao's heart.
Good heavens, that's terrifying! What if she doesn't do something right tomorrow? Will she even make it back alive? She was too optimistic; money isn't so easy to earn…
When Tao Tao returned home to find it filled with funeral supplies, she patiently reassured her mother about her concerns about the debts, explaining that she had already taken on a job. Although her mother had some doubts, she let her do it.
[Dear host, the funeral system has officially opened its shop for you, which includes a range of items to keep corpses fresh, etc.]
[There are also illustrated manuals on burial techniques to help you complete tasks. When you complete a task, the system will randomly drop an item for you or grant you 2% of your health.]
[Since this is your first time using the system, you will receive a newbie gift pack containing 1 makeup bag, 1 sewing needle and thread, and 1 piece of formaldehyde. These items have been added to your inventory.]
Upon hearing this, Tao Tao happily opened the warehouse, and sure enough, everything was inside. Then she looked at the shop, where the items were displayed in black and white.
Early the next morning.
Holding the token, Tao Tao arrived at the Privy Council with a heavy heart. She looked up at the solemn and imposing black building, where long white ribbons and white lanterns hung and moved without wind. The soldiers standing in front of the gate had cold faces and never smiled.
But she did not immediately step forward. Instead, she stood still and waited quietly for something. After a short while, two men dressed in coarse linen clothes hurried up behind her.
"I'm so sorry! We're...we're late," one of them said, panting. His temples were soaked with sweat from running all the way.
The two are brothers; the older brother is named Yu Shan, and the younger brother is named Yu He. They were the people she had been waiting for a long time on Huinan Street before finally recruiting them.
Huinan Street was much like a place where migrant workers lived in a modern metropolis. It was a gathering place for all sorts of people, as well as some people who had migrated from other places. On weekdays, people who bought and sold slaves and did odd jobs would gather on the street.
Perhaps it was too late, and since it involved dealing with the dead, many people considered it unlucky and left after asking once. As the night deepened, just as she was about to go back, a boy of about seventeen or eighteen years old, along with his younger brother, hesitantly approached her and asked about the price. She readily agreed to pay one tael per person, with payment to be settled after the job was done.
"It's alright, it's almost time, let's go."
Tao Tao smiled, thinking that she needed help to be considered professional. Otherwise, how could she do it all by herself? She didn't seem very reliable, and she wouldn't even be able to raise the fees.
A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger; hopefully, he won't be frightened when they carry the body.
The two brothers nodded and followed behind her.
She took a deep breath, walked up to him, and respectfully handed over the jade pendant, saying, "Sir, we are here to handle the funeral arrangements. This is the token of the Deputy Privy Councilor; he sent us."
The man looked her up and down suspiciously, but upon hearing that it was a token from the Deputy Privy Councilor, he quickly and respectfully accepted it with both hands. "Wait a moment, I'll go and inform him right away."
Before long, a young man wearing a dark blue robe with a cross-collar and a white ribbon around his waist strode out from inside.
He stood on the steps, looking Tao Tao up and down suspiciously, his face showing shock and disbelief: "You?! A mere young lady?"
Tao Tao seemed used to it and smiled, "It's me and my two attendants, three people in total."
Led by him, the three entered the Privy Council. As soon as they entered, they were startled by the blinding white silks covering the entire mansion and the guards with expressions as if they were dead!
Tao Tao thought she had mentally prepared herself, but reality proved harsh. She couldn't help but swallow, her ears filled with the pounding of her heart.
"You all know where this place is, so do more and talk less, or I can't guarantee you'll get out unscathed!"
Chen Jinghe, who was walking in front, turned his head slightly and gave a cold warning with a blank expression.
The three nodded quickly, indicating that they understood.
Watching his retreating figure, Tao Tao, who was following behind, raised her head and quietly observed her surroundings.
Upon entering, one is greeted by winding corridors and pavilions. Walking along the bluestone path and through the garden with its cobblestone paths, one finds artificial hills and ponds, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. Along the way, one encounters numerous guards patrolling back and forth, making it a heavily guarded area with sentry posts every three steps.
Little did Tao know that this was only the tip of the iceberg regarding the Privy Council.
The Privy Council was divided into the Southern Council and the Northern Council. The Southern Council was in charge of the transfer and promotion of scholars and military officers. All promotions, transfers, or the incorporation of troops in the army required the permission of the Southern Council and the issuance of an approval document to be legal. The Northern Council was in charge of military secrets, border defense, and had exclusive control over troops, which could be deployed and used at will.
The remaining twelve offices are: North Office, West River Office, Military Registration Office, Service Office, Office in the Capital, Inspection Office, Guanzhong Office, Militia Office, Clerk Office, Militia Office, Horse Service Office, and Junior Clerk Office...
Even the Imperial Guards were under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council, but there was one exception: the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which was controlled by the Crown Prince.
The current empress is the elder sister of the Grand Councilor, who is also the crown prince's maternal uncle. The uncle's rise to power was not only orchestrated by the Left Chancellor, but also inseparable from the crown prince's behind-the-scenes support. The Southern Court is controlled by the Grand Councilor.
The Empress came from the humble Qiu family, and the Left Chancellor also came from a humble background, so the Crown Prince was backed by the entire humble family.
However, the emperor deliberately promoted Duan Gan from the aristocratic Duan family to the position of Deputy Privy Councilor, giving him control of the powerful Northern Court. His intention was clear: to create a balance of power and prevent either side from becoming too dominant.
Secondly, it could also connect the aristocratic families with the imperial power, so the Duan family, as one of the top aristocratic families, could not easily stay out of it.
Many things are complicated and cannot be explained in a short time.
But with the death of this Grand Councilor, many in the court will be restless and ready to make their move; the capital may be about to change...
With the emperor and powerful clans behind him, Duan Gan's position as Grand Envoy was practically his for the taking. He paid no heed to the gossip and rumors circulating among the court officials.
At the same time, the group arrived at the house guarded by guards at the door. There, a man in a scarlet eagle-patterned robe stood tall in the center. Chen Jinghe stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Vice Envoy, the man has arrived."
He turned around, stood with his hands behind his back, his incomparably handsome face indifferent and aloof, with sword-like eyebrows and dark eyes, his slightly raised chin revealing a hint of arrogance, his posture upright, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his excessively handsome appearance did not have the slightest femininity on him, but rather was quite appropriate.
What a beauty! She hadn't seen her clearly that night because it was dark, but now that she saw her, she was truly amazed, Tao Tao thought to herself.
He frowned slightly and glanced at her with displeasure.
Tao Tao noticed this and immediately lowered her eyes, mimicking Chen Jinghe's movements by bowing with her hands in a gesture of respect.
"My lord, my daughter needs a carriage to go home with my men to fetch some paper offerings and other items. I didn't bring any because my carriage is broken and can't move, so I'm asking you for one."
They say it's broken, but actually they just want to sell it to make a living.
After she finished speaking, she secretly raised her eyes to see what his expression was, but unexpectedly, she met Duan Gan's cold gaze.
Their eyes met, and Tao Tao hurriedly lowered her head.
Yu Guangzhong caught a glimpse of the man raising his hand and waving. Chen Jinghe, who was standing to the side, nodded and then walked up to her, saying, "Let's go."
Duan Gan then sat down on a grand chair nearby, looking as if he wanted to observe the scene firsthand.
Tao Tao didn't care. She told Yu Shan to go back and get his things, then went into the main room. The deceased was in the bed with the curtains drawn. A gentle breeze blew by, and the stiff corpse inside was faintly visible.
Then he instructed Yu He to take the deceased's clothes outside the door to summon the spirit.
She looked at Yu He, who seemed at a loss, and said, "Do you remember what I said yesterday?"
His face was a little pale, but he nodded, trying to appear calm.
Tao Tao reached out and patted his slightly trembling shoulder: "Don't be nervous! I'll take care of everything, go ahead."
Hearing the drawn-out shouts outside the door, she turned to the guards standing to the side and said, "I would like to trouble you, sir, to dig a pit under the west wall to make a stove, and heat some rice water so that I may cleanse the body of the deceased."
"good."
Just as he was about to step out of the room, Tao Tao hurriedly called out to prepare more.
"Sir, where should the mourning hall be set up later?" she asked as she opened the window.
Unexpectedly, there was no sound from behind for a long time. She turned around and walked to the main hall, and was speechless. She saw that the person was resting his temple with his hand on his hand, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, leisurely resting.
Who would doze off in front of a dead person?
Just then, Chen Jinghe returned. "Sir, you've come at the right time. Where will the mourning hall be set up later?"
"A courtyard has been cleared out; you can go there anytime." He lowered his voice as he spoke, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Tao Tao agreed, reached into the cloth bag she had brought and found some items she needed, put on the sheepskin gloves, exhaled a breath of stale air, and slowly walked forward.
The moment she lifted the curtain, her pupils dilated in shock, and she gasped sharply.
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