Chapter 320 The Funeral
The welcome banquet held for Wu Qingzhou and Afu was attended by everyone at Lengxiangju, and the two tables were filled with lively conversation.
Afu remained mostly silent, like a trapped little animal, always on high alert.
Until Fangzhou handed over a bowl of crispy mountain cheese and cherry.
"Afu, have a taste."
Afu looked down.
In a white porcelain bowl, shaved ice and butter are piled up like a small mountain, with cherry sauce and honey poured over the top, and a few red cherries dotting the surface.
On such a hot day, a bowl of iced dessert like this would be irresistible, not only to a child like Afu, but even to Wu Qingzhou.
The Prince's Mansion was certainly more magnificent and luxurious than the Earl's Mansion, but the guards he was in were mostly enduring hardship and training; they didn't get much pure enjoyment.
No one urged him. Afu hesitated for a moment, took the bowl, hesitated again, and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Fangzhou."
When Wu Qingzhou heard Afu express his gratitude, he couldn't help but smile.
"You're welcome, eat up, the shaved ice will melt soon." Fangzhou patted Afu's head and said with a smile, "Everyone, eat up too."
A group of people were engrossed in eating ice cream when an old woman from the second gate came over carrying a food box.
"Sixth Miss, the gatekeeper said that Young Master Xue sent this to you."
Qiu Heng nodded politely, "Thank you for your help."
Qingluo took the food box from the old woman's hand, while Fangzhou deftly wrapped up a few pastries and handed them to the old woman.
The old woman thanked her repeatedly, returned to her duty room at the second gate, quickly opened her handkerchief and ate a piece of lotus seed paste cake. After eating the pastry, she couldn't help but sigh.
What a tragedy! I'll feel terrible whenever I see people from Lengxiangju from now on. They're all from the same time, yet she eats bland, communal meals while they enjoy such delicious food.
And that Granny Yu, she's not even from Lengxiangju, yet she gets to eat every meal without fail. She's supposed to be a governess, but I haven't seen her properly educate the Sixth Miss at all. She could easily do that job herself.
Leaving aside the gatekeeper's envy and jealousy, several maids from Lengxiang Residence surrounded Qingluo with excited expressions.
"Sister Qingluo, quickly open it and see what delicious food Young Master Xue sent to the young lady."
"No manners whatsoever," Qingluo said with a laugh, glancing at Qiuheng.
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Open it."
Qingluo opened the food box and recognized it at a glance: "Miss, it's Bingxue Leng Yuanzi."
Iced dumplings are probably the most common frozen treats on the streets during the summer.
This icy cold rice ball, in terms of both appearance and price, cannot compare to the crispy mountain cheese and cherry drink that everyone at Lengxiangju is currently enjoying.
Qiu Heng took the ice-cold dumplings handed to her by Qing Luo and picked up a spoon to eat them.
I got to eat the chilled glutinous rice balls that I missed last night, but I did today.
"Miss, is it even tastier than the cherry and yogurt dessert made by Sister Fangzhou?" a maid asked with a smile, covering her mouth.
Qingluo smiled and said, "We like to eat the crispy mountain cheese and cherry made by Sister Fangzhou, but Miss will definitely like to eat the iced cold dumplings given by Young Master Xue even more."
Fangzhou joined in the fun: "Girl, which do you prefer, Crispy Mountain Cheese Cherry or Iced Snow Dumplings?"
Qiu Heng wiped her mouth with a handkerchief: "I like them all."
"No, no, we have to choose one."
“I have to choose one—” Qiu Heng smiled, “Then it’s Fangzhou’s Crispy Mountain Cheese Cherry.”
Fangzhou was somewhat surprised by this answer and blinked: "Girl, you're not answering like usual."
Amidst laughter and chatter, Afu tugged at Wu Qingzhou's sleeve: "Uncle, who is Young Master Xue?"
Seeing that Afu had become curious about the outside world, Wu Qingzhou picked up his nephew and said with a smile, "Young Master Xue is the sixth young lady's sweetheart."
He raised his voice unconsciously because he was happy, which drew many condemning glances.
How can you be so direct? What if the girl gets shy and runs away?
Qiu Heng wasn't shy at all; she even scooped up a large spoonful of the chilled glutinous rice balls and ate them.
Wu Qingzhou was right, Xue Han was the man she loved.
Peaceful and easy days always pass quickly, and before they knew it, the day of Emperor Jingping's burial was approaching.
The imperial tombs are some distance from the capital, so you need to set off three days in advance.
Before dawn, the long procession left the city, like a winding dragon, slowly heading towards the imperial mausoleum.
Qiu Heng, who held the title of county princess, was also in the funeral procession, just like other women of the imperial clan.
The concubines and women of the imperial family who attended the funeral all rode in carriages. Qiu Heng rode in the same carriage as Princess Rongning.
Looking out the car window through the curtains, I saw a long procession stretching as far as the eye could see, with everyone dressed in mourning clothes, as if I had returned to the time of national mourning.
Qiu Heng looked down at her plain clothes, her feelings somewhat complicated.
At the banquet for immortals, she was determined to kill the tyrannical emperor, but now she has infiltrated the funeral procession for him. Life is always so interesting.
"Aheng," Princess Rongning called softly.
Qiu Heng lowered the carriage curtain and looked at Princess Rong Ning.
It hadn't been long since Princess Rongning had come to visit, but the person in front of her was terribly thin and looked unwell.
“Yang Zhen and I have already exchanged betrothal gifts, and we are just waiting for the betrothal ceremony to take place after that…” Princess Rongning gripped her handkerchief tightly, a bitter smile on her face. “As I coldly watched the serious expressions on both sides, I couldn’t help but wonder if the conversation I overheard that day was just my imagination. I even thought that if my father and brothers could stop, I would be content to just marry Yang Zhen like this. Isn’t that pathetic?”
Qiu Heng patted Princess Rongning's arm: "Princess, the arrow is on the bowstring. Whether you've taken the right or wrong path, there's no turning back."
Princess Rongning closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Nothing could be more desperate than this. She knew perfectly well that there was nothing she could do but watch helplessly as the out-of-control carriage of the Prince of Fu's mansion hurtled toward the end of the cliff.
"Aheng, I feel terrible." Princess Rongning hugged Qiuheng, tears falling onto her shoulder.
Losing at Cuju (ancient Chinese football) used to be her biggest worry. Her life was split in two from the moment she went to marry a foreign ruler, regardless of whether she could bear it.
Qiu Heng embraced Princess Rongning's thin body and said nothing more.
The massive funeral procession moved slowly, heading to a temporary palace before nightfall. Emperor Jingping's coffin was respectfully placed in a specially constructed thatched hall, after which the new emperor led his officials in a memorial ceremony, with members of the imperial family, nobles, and high-ranking civil and military officials taking turns keeping vigil for Emperor Jingping.
This journey continued until the third day when they finally arrived at the temporary palace near the imperial tombs.
By this time, those who had carriages or horses were still in good condition, but most of the officials who walked were visibly tired and listless. A few even fell ill or felt unwell, keeping the accompanying imperial physicians extremely busy.
Qiu Heng then thought of what Xue Han had said.
Prince Fu's choice to act at the time of Emperor Jingping's burial was clearly a well-thought-out strategy.
The protection of the temporary palace was far inferior to that of the imperial palace, and the burial ceremony of the emperor was exceptionally complicated. The long journey and the exhaustion of the people and horses provided a rare opportunity for those who wanted to cause trouble.
We'll stay here tonight, the burial ceremony will begin early tomorrow morning, and we'll set off the day after. In other words, it'll either be tonight or tomorrow.
Qiu Heng slept fully clothed and passed the night peacefully.
As soon as it was light, the people who had settled in the palace and various official residences gathered together and walked to the imperial mausoleum.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
