Chapter 416: Paying Homage to the Late Queen
The next morning, Yun Ran was woken up by the cold.
She opened her eyes and saw that she had kicked the quilt onto the ground in the middle of the night. She was only wearing a thin inner garment, with most of her body exposed.
No wonder she had such a dream, making her think that something else was going to happen.
It was already bright outside. She pulled up the quilt and wrapped herself in it to warm herself for a while before getting up, getting dressed and washing up.
Going downstairs to the lobby on the first floor, Uncle Chang was already sitting behind the counter counting the bills. There were also many customers coming to the lobby to eat, and several waiters were busy shuttling between these customers.
Yun Ran yawned, walked to the counter and greeted Chang Li: "Good morning, Uncle Chang."
Chang Li looked up at her and said with a smile, "It's getting late, little boss. Chef Kacha has already gone with Jiuyue and the others to cook for the guests."
Miao Yi and Kabei are now familiar with everyone in Shanhai Tower. Chang Li is old and feels that Kabei's name is difficult to pronounce, so he gave him a nickname, Kacha.
"Where's Sister Miao Yi?"
"It seems he hasn't woken up yet." Chang Li said.
As he was speaking, a eunuch wearing a purple robe, holding a whisk in his hand, and with a white face and no beard walked in from outside.
Yun Ran frowned and recognized An Ji, the eunuch An, who was beside the emperor.
She remembered that the last time Anji came to announce the decree, it was to enthrone her as a princess, and she didn't know why this time.
"Wow, Princess Jing'an's floor is so grand!"
Anji raised his hand, and the whisk drew an arc in the air and fell back into his arm.
Yun Ran didn't like hearing his sarcastic words, so he ignored it and asked directly, "Eunuch An, are you here to announce the imperial decree again this time?"
Anji smiled, seemingly unfazed by her cold attitude: "This time, I'm delivering His Majesty's instructions."
"Then please go ahead."
Anji said, "His Majesty admires the princess's excellent cooking skills. After the last banquet, he has been thinking about it for a long time. Today, His Majesty is holding a ceremony with the Crown Prince, the princes and princesses, and has specially invited you, the princess."
"The carriage that's coming to pick up the princess is parked outside. Please pack up quickly so we can be on our way."
Yun Ran frowned as she looked at his smile that didn't reach his eyes. She hadn't figured out what the connection was between liking her cooking and asking her to accompany him to worship the ancestors.
Could it be that he wanted to recommend her to the royal ancestors?
Alas……
I suddenly felt very cold.
"Princess Jing'an, we have to hurry. The ceremony will begin in less than an hour." Anji urged with a smile on his face.
Yun Ran came back to his senses and asked, "Xiao Jing... Is Little Prince Jing'an going too?"
"Prince Jing'an is also Your Majesty's son, so naturally he must go," Anji replied. "Although you haven't married yet, Your Majesty granted your marriage, so we are family. This worship service shows that Your Majesty looks upon you with a special regard."
Anji's words sounded nice, but Yun Ran didn't feel honored at all.
Although she didn't know what method Brother Xiaojing used to make the emperor change his mind last time, she was sure that the emperor must be fed up with her now.
"Well, please wait a moment, sir. I'll go up and clean it up."
After saying that, Yun Ran turned around and went upstairs.
Yun Ran didn't linger upstairs for a long time. He had to go there anyway, and if he delayed any longer, he would probably gain nothing.
The emperor's temper is so unpredictable, so she'd better be cautious.
After changing her clothes and coming down from upstairs, Angie, who was waiting on the first floor, was stunned when she saw her.
"Princess, are you sure... you want to go this way?"
Yun Ran, who was walking down the stairs slowly, holding the handrail, had changed into her thickest jacket and skirt.
She was wearing a jacket and skirt, a long gown with a double-breasted front, and a thick rabbit fur cloak, wrapping herself up like a ball.
Angie looked at her several times, then turned to look at the weather outside.
Although it is the end of the year, the weather is nice and sunny today, so there is no need to wrap up like this.
"Ahem..." Yun Ran covered his mouth and coughed twice, "I caught a cold a few days ago and feel a little unwell. Please bear with me, Eunuch An."
"Your Highness, your health is the most important thing. Now that Your Highness is ready, let's set off." An Ji thought Yun Ran was not very willing to go, so she was acting weird on purpose, so he didn't take it too seriously.
I just thought Yun Ran was young, so he was a little naughty.
Yun Ran followed An Ji out and got into the carriage parked at the entrance of Shanhai Tower.
It was sunny outside, but she didn't feel hot even though she was wearing so many clothes.
Perhaps it was because the dream last night was too real and left such a deep impression on her that she felt cold just as she was about to change clothes and go out, so she dressed warmly and wrapped herself in a thick rabbit fur cloak.
Yun Ran got on the carriage, and it started to rumble, leaving Kuizhou City and heading towards the capital.
It was not until the evening that the carriage carrying Yun Ran stopped a few hundred meters away from the foot of Mangshan Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing.
The sky was gradually getting dark. At the foot of Mangshan Mountain, there were many gorgeously decorated carriages and neatly arranged soldiers and guards.
Yun Ran got off the carriage and followed Anji through the ranks, following a winding path towards the foot of Mangshan Mountain.
The closer they got to the foot of the mountain, the colder Yun Ran felt. She tightened her cloak around herself and followed Angie's footsteps.
After walking for about an incense stick of time, Yun Ran saw that not far ahead, the princes and princesses in gorgeous clothes were kneeling on the ground, leaving a small path in the middle that was wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
At the end of this path, was the current emperor Ye Cangling, who was the first to kneel on the ground.
At this moment, he was holding three incense sticks in his hands and bowing towards the incense table in front of him.
Yun Ran looked at Ye Cangling's kneeling back and felt a layer of cold sweat suddenly appear on his back.
She finally knew what was wrong.
On the eve of the New Year, ancestor worship should be done by burning incense and offering sacrifices in the Taimiao, but the emperor brought a group of princes and princesses to kneel in front of the imperial mausoleum, burning incense and offering sacrifices. What were they worshipping?
"cough……"
Just as I was lost in thought, Angie next to me coughed lightly.
Yun Ran was startled and came back to his senses instantly.
Anji didn't say anything, but stretched out his hand and pointed at the back of a person kneeling straight in front of him, motioning Yun Ran to come over.
Yun Ran understood, nodded, walked directly to the empty cushion next to the man, and knelt down.
However, as soon as she knelt down, a big, warm hand held hers.
She turned her head and saw the familiar handsome profile that she hadn't seen for a long time.
"Brother Xiaojing..."
Yun Ran called out in a low voice.
Ye Jingzhen nodded without saying anything. Instead, he put his index finger on his lips and made a gesture to her to keep quiet.
Yun Ran quickly closed his mouth and lowered his head slightly.
At this moment, Angie's shrill voice suddenly sounded in front, which seemed particularly strange and abrupt in such a situation.
"As the year draws to a close, I express my gratitude to the virtuous Empress Jiang, who is gentle, virtuous, dignified, and kind, and who has brought great prosperity to the country! I pay my respects!"
"Bye again!"
Yun Ran suddenly opened his eyes wide. The emperor was leading his sons, daughters and daughters-in-law to pay homage to the late queen!
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