Chapter 390 Funeral
The ministers originally thought that the Minister of Rites was dithering, but when they saw Lu Xueyin standing at the front of the hall, they suddenly realized what was going on.
Lu Xueyin would probably not be willing to hold a grand funeral for the late emperor, nor would she be willing to spend extra money on his funeral.
But even with this budget, Lu Xueyin still felt it was a bit too expensive.
She couldn't understand why so much money was spent on a deceased person? Why were all those burial objects buried with him? Could things from the human world really be taken to the afterlife? She figured that if she burned a few more things, perhaps the late emperor would be happy to receive them.
In comparison, paper is much cheaper.
Lu Xueyin pondered and said, "There's a lot of work to be done now, and many civilians are displaced. The military officers and soldiers also need a lot of money for their pensions..."
The Minister of Rites understood what Lu Xueyin said. She thought the money she spent was too much.
He couldn't help but glance at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, hoping he would come out and say something.
What could the prince say? The whole world would soon belong to him. Besides, his relationship with Emperor Qianyuan wasn't that close. Was there any need to stand up for him? That would only cost him and Lu Xueyin their favor.
I have to say that Emperor Qianyuan has come to this point today, and his popularity is really a bit... ahem, hard to put into words.
After reading the memorial from the Minister of Rites, Lu Xueyin chopped the burial objects in half without hesitation.
In Lu Xueyin's opinion, paper, ink, brush, inkstone, silk and satin are completely unnecessary.
In the imperial study, Yan Xing couldn't help but remind her: "If you do this, I'm afraid outsiders will question you, which will be detrimental to your reputation."
People are always particularly tolerant of the dead. Lu Xueyin's treatment of the late emperor would probably make people think she is cold-blooded and heartless.
Lu Xueyin said, "The living have yet to eat, so there's no point in prioritizing the dead." She didn't care: "If this means I have to face criticism, then I accept it."
Lu Xueyin defended herself, "And I didn't treat him badly. Does he have to have a complete set of paper, ink, brush, and inkstone? Does he have to use a Hui inkstone? And it has to be the best... Can't he use an ordinary one? Our late emperor still needs to write and review memorials in the underworld? And what about silk and satin? Do you know how much silk and satin he needed? Over thirty bolts of silk alone! There are people freezing to death on the road, and the living are barely clothed. What's the point of burying so many with him?" The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. "I think we should just take his old clothes and bury them with him. They're all his old clothes, and His Majesty probably doesn't like wearing new clothes."
Yan Xing laughed helplessly. She was so righteous and confident, what else could he say?
But they are all small things.
Yan Xing asked, "When do you plan to ascend the throne?"
Lu Xueyin said nonchalantly, "Let's wait until after the late emperor's funeral. It's all tacitly agreed anyway. Although I haven't moved into the palace yet, I've been occupying the imperial study to do my work, and no one in the court, civil or military, objects. This is a very good sign."
At least everyone had some understanding of her thoughts and reacted calmly.
Lu Xueyin also didn't want to start a massacre when she ascended the throne.
What Lu Xueyin didn't say was that the entire Upper Kyoto had been under martial law by the Lu family army during this period, especially inside and outside the imperial palace.
The palace was too vast, and the royal secrets were too numerous. It was inevitable that there would be secret passages and the like. Lu Xueyin was not a legitimate heir to the throne, so she didn't know much about this palace.
So Lu Xueyin also needed time. She didn't move here because she didn't want to put her life in an unstable situation.
During the time when Emperor Qianyuan's funeral was being held, Lu Xueyin also took over the capital.
Yan Xing looked at her with bright eyes, unable to hide the pride and joy in his heart.
This road is not easy, but he must help her.
Yan Xing returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and went straight to the backyard.
Zhenguo Gong was practicing boxing in the backyard, and Yan Xing stood aside obediently waiting for him to finish his set.
The Duke of Zhenguo stopped, and Yan Xing, very respectfully, called out, "Father, you are still strong despite your age. This set of punches is even more powerful."
The Duke of Zhenguo looked at him intently and said, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
Yan Xing's expression froze, and he knew that it was not suitable for him to take such a tender approach with the Duke of Zhenguo.
Yan Xing coughed lightly: "It can't be that a son admires his father..."
"Come on, you haven't spoken like that since you were three years old." The Duke of Zhenguo wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. "Is it about that Lu Xueyin again? She's about to ascend the throne. Is there anything else I can do?"
Yan Xing said in a deep voice, "I remember the Yan family has a floor plan of the palace..."
The Duke of Zhenguo looked at him sharply, it turned out that this was what he was planning.
Yan Xing did not avoid his gaze and looked at his father calmly. After a long time, the Duke of Zhenguo sighed.
Yan Xing got the floor plan and left the mansion contentedly. When the Duke of Zhenguo heard that he was leaving again, he waved goodbye.
"My son has grown up and I can't keep him here. I can't do anything about it." The Duke of Zhenguo muttered, "Our Yan family is about to produce a royal consort. This is an honor. I can't just not contribute anything."
The servant beside him couldn't help but ask, "Duke, you don't object to Lu... Lord Lu becoming the emperor? After all, she is a woman."
"A woman?" The Duke of Zhenguo sneered. "She's a woman, yet she was able to defeat the enemy so severely that they could retreat step by step, force the Tartars to send envoys to negotiate peace, and even make them pay for their war horses. Just looking at all these things, which man could do it? I'm not as good as a woman. I admit it. What else can I be dissatisfied with?"
On the day when the Lu family army entered the capital, the Duke of Zhenguo also went out to see it. He saw the majestic Lu family army and the war horses sent by the Tatars.
He had nothing but admiration for a woman who had brought the army to this level.
Does gender matter? Compared to the feats Lu Xueyin has done, it doesn't matter at all.
He only hoped that Lu Xueyin would give him a few war horses to play with because of his cooperation. Those were Tatar war horses, and they had given them willingly. Just thinking about it made him feel excited.
Yan Xing gave Lu Xueyin the floor plan of the palace, which saved her a lot of trouble. With this thing, she could finally clean the palace thoroughly.
It turned out that the palace was under the control of the prince. This time, he acquiesced to Lu Xueyin's actions, which was also a declaration of his retreat and compromise.
After the first month of the year, Emperor Qianyuan was finally buried.
Under the supervision of the stingy Lu Xueyin, this funeral was held in a frugal style. This is still a nice way of putting it; according to the Minister of Rites, it was called a poor and austere style.
A few years ago, a high-ranking official in Beijing raised a dog that supposedly saved his life. He loved it dearly and cared for it meticulously. It's no exaggeration to say he didn't raise his own son with such meticulous care. Later, the dog died of old age. Heartbroken, the official secretly buried the dog. It's said the funeral was even more elaborate than...
Ahem, treason, treason. That's not how you compare it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
