The winter festival takes three days. Although the trip is simple, the necessary rituals still need to be performed.
Those who accompanied him were all important officials of the court, and the carriages went and returned quickly.
It’s more like a small meeting than a winter festival.
They were all important figures around the prince, but there were also two important officials in the court who did not go, one of whom was the Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall among the six Grand Secretaries.
The other one is Zhang Guojiu.
The two were arranged in the palace under the pretext of temporarily handling official duties, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that they were the Second Prince and Concubine Chu's men, needless to say they were the Grand Secretary of Jianji Palace, and their identities were really embarrassing.
Uncle Zhang was a distant relative of the Ding family with a different surname. The sage forced him to be given the title of Uncle Zhang, which sounded impressive, but his identity was always awkward.
So when the two of them were left behind this time, Uncle Zhang felt more at ease, since his situation was not very good on normal days.
The Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall had never suffered such injustice.
All the important officials in the court went to the winter sacrifice, except him. He was the only one who didn't go!
But he didn't dare to ask for leave now, as he had to go to the palace every day to arrange the ceremonies.
An old man in his seventies or eighties would probably retire voluntarily after this incident. After all, it was his own fault for choosing the wrong team.
However, this branch of his family will inevitably remain silent for a period of time. I just hope that the prince will not delve too deeply into it, otherwise the whole family and even relatives and friends will be implicated.
However, this is already the smallest sacrifice in the fight for the throne.
The previous generation was miserable.
This time it was not so tragic because the prince took control of the situation early on, and he had an unknown person named Kong Zhang by his side who was very powerful.
The Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall was diligently doing his job, and so was Uncle Zhang as usual. It was said that when the Crown Prince went to the Taimiao, he also went to meet the eldest and second princes.
The eldest prince was fine, he only asked about his mother, but the second prince was a little crazy.
There's no point in going crazy, everyone knows the outcome has been decided.
Su Wan watched what was happening in the mourning hall and continued to change the tea. The tea had to be fresh.
But as they were changing, Su Wan discovered that someone in the mourning hall was really crying.
Listen carefully, you can hear the cries of women.
Su Wan looked back and saw three women dressed like concubines and two young girls with their hair in buns like unmarried girls. One was fifteen or sixteen years old, and the other was seven or eight years old.
The six people's eyes were red and swollen from crying. Su Wan saw the clerks from the Guanglu Temple and asked them to bring some ice cubes and eggs to apply to their eyes.
Among the deceased in the harem were the former queen, a noble concubine, a royal concubine, and four beauties. Huyan Qiang was not counted as she came later.
One of these four had passed away earlier, and they had been pregnant several times, but each time they only gave birth to a daughter.
The daughters of two of them are already married, and the prince consort and the princess come to pay their respects every evening, but they don't need to come at other times.
There are two more princesses in the palace waiting to be married, so these are the two, right?
Now, all the imperial concubines and imperial concubines in the harem are under house arrest and are only allowed to come out during the funeral.
Three beauties and two princesses were guarding in front of the coffin.
It’s just that the saint didn’t value them when he was alive, and he lost their protection after his death. They are crying so sadly now, probably because of their future fate.
The saint was still their husband and father, but the prince was their half-brother, and he was the one who imprisoned both of his brothers in the Taimiao.
In fact, if you think about it, you will know why they are sad.
When Su Wan was replaced, they were still sobbing quietly. It was probably the five of them who cried the most during the entire funeral.
If a saint could see this in heaven, he probably would never be able to imagine it.
When they returned to the imperial kitchen, Cuizhu looked at her and said, "It's been several hours. You should go back and rest first. The imperial kitchen is not too busy."
In the imperial kitchen, the work was indeed much easier as officials had only one meal, instead of two in the morning and evening.
Moreover, more than one thousand of the two to three thousand imperial chefs have been sent away. It is estimated that after the new year, there will be five to six hundred people left. Although it is still a lot, compared with the previous figures, it is already a cause for celebration.
Su Wan nodded and did not refuse.
It is indeed uncomfortable to stand in front of the coffin. You should pay attention to your manners at all times. It is okay to go back and have a rest.
I don’t know why those officials cried twice that day and only cried once now. They must be exhausted.
Three days passed in a flash. When Xie Pei came back with the officials, he was obviously closer. The officials around him could not even suppress their joy. Even the Grand Secretary of Zhongji Palace looked at Xie Pei with eyes full of love.
I guess the talks went pretty well during these three days.
Only the Grand Secretary of Jianji Hall had a dull look on his face, obviously suffering the consequences of standing on the wrong side. Uncle Zhang was used to being in an awkward position, and instead reported recent events to Xie Pei as usual.
In a dozen days, it would be the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. The day chosen by the Sitianjian was the ninth day for the funeral. The body would be sent to the imperial tomb and buried on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
According to the prince's request, the emperor and empress were not buried together.
He was finally caught, but before he could say a few words, he was suppressed by the prince's faction, without him even having to say a word.
When the saint was alive, he controlled most of the court. After the three-day talks during the winter festival, he won over important officials in the court. Although he had not yet ascended the throne, he had already firmly grasped power.
Funeral is what needs to be done after the body is put into the coffin. As mentioned before, the small funeral procession puts clothes on the body, and the big funeral procession puts the body into the coffin.
Xie Pei didn't need to prepare these things. The saint had already prepared them all, and they were all the best. It didn't matter to Xie Pei just to see them. He was already dead anyway, so he could wear whatever he wanted and lie down wherever he wanted.
Not to mention clothes and coffins, even the mausoleum is prepared. Many emperors would prepare all these when they ascended the throne. It was not to curse themselves, but the more complete the preparations, the higher his status.
It stands to reason that after the emperor's death, the empress should be reburied here. Xie Pei and the saint actually thought of the same thing. Xie Pei would not move the empress's tomb, and the saint did not prepare a place for the empress. Instead, he left a tomb for Concubine Jiang, waiting for her to be buried there a hundred years ago.
It seems to be the only thing that can be done.
After hearing this, Imperial Concubine Jiang became even more silent. The construction of the tomb has always been a secret, and only a little information will be revealed after death. She just learned about this.
The funeral procession started on the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month and headed for the imperial mausoleum in the east of the city, a distance of about thirty miles. Because of the grand ceremony, they stopped and went many times, and people from all sides paid tributes. It took almost three days. They arrived at the imperial mausoleum on the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. The body was kept for two days, and the burial took place on the fifteenth.
Although time is rushed, it is still proceeding according to normal etiquette.
Concubine Jiang, who was about to make a scene, did not do so. Concubine Chu wanted to speak, but was suppressed by Concubine Jiang.
When a saint dies, no one is allowed to cause trouble.
Upon seeing this, Xie Pei ordered the eldest prince to be brought out as well, allowing him to see the saint off for the last time. As for the mad second prince, he would let him go mad, and if he disobeyed, Concubine Chu would be thrown over as well.
Anyway, Su Wan saw that these people were very obedient, and the princesses were following behind. Su Wan said a few words to Xie Pei and asked the female relatives to get on the carriage and follow. The weather was very cold, and although the concubines and princesses in the palace were usually neglected, they could not bear it suddenly like this, not to mention that there was an eight-year-old little princess in it.
Xie Pei looked at Su Wan and said, "You're also taking a carriage? I'll have someone arrange for it."
Su Wan almost rolled her eyes: "Didn't you arrange for me to serve snacks by your side?"
"No, I'll serve you." Xie Pei whispered, "I'll learn to make snacks for you later."
Su Wan didn't answer, so Xie Pei continued, "Isn't this to pick you up in advance, so that you don't have to follow."
Su Wan did have this idea originally. It was so far to that place, and although it wouldn't be tiring to walk and stop, it would not be as comfortable as living in the palace.
But Xie Pei transferred her here in advance and asked her to accompany the funeral, or to say, to be the one in white holding the coffin, that is, as the eldest son, she would pull the rope of the hearse, and other close royal relatives were also around.
Naturally, he didn't need to thank Pei for pulling the carriage. He just walked in front of the hearse, holding the reins lightly. This showed the dignity of the eldest son and also indicated his future status.
If it were an ordinary family, they would definitely be pulled along the whole way.
But Xie Pei was the crown prince, the future king, so he only had to walk one mile, wait to get on the carriage, and then get off at the last mile.
Before they even started walking a mile, someone had already seen a palace maid beside the prince. Was she going to follow him?
What a disgrace!
Before the official could say anything, the guards around him had already blocked his view, obviously not wanting them to meddle in other people's business.
When the procession officially started, Su Wan was surrounded by people and walked forward. The funeral procession was large in number, with mounted guards leading the way. At the front of the coffin was definitely Xie Pei, with guards, eunuchs and palace servants on the sides.
Su Wan was right next to Xie Pei. It didn't seem strange at all, but it was also strange at the same time.
But just as he was about to speak, the Minister of Rites came to talk to him about something, and before long, the first mile had been completed.
I saw the prince and the palace maid beside him had already boarded the carriage.
The prince's robe was wide and had big sleeves, and he seemed to be very close to the palace maids?
Just as he was distracted, he saw the prince's guards yelling, "How dare you look directly at the prince?!"
The scolding frightened the man so much that he trembled and quickly looked away, not daring to look any further.
Su Wan was speechless at this moment. She immediately shook off Xie Pei's hand when she got on the carriage and whispered, "Are you crazy?"
It was crazy enough to have her standing next to the coffin, why did she come again?
Xie Pei said seriously: "I have always regretted that you didn't come to the last winter festival, but now I can't miss this opportunity again."
Although it doesn't matter whether he recognizes this father or not, he still wants to take Su Wan with him.
It's just that the means are a bit bad.
But seeing the ambiguity, Su Wan could say anything and he could explain it any way he wanted.
Su Wan was too lazy to pay attention to him and was more casual in the carriage. When she turned around, Xie Pei was still looking at her and even said, "My hands are warm."
Su Wan's hands were indeed a little cold, but she pretended not to hear anything. Seeing that Xie Pei was still looking, she simply said to Guard Song outside: "Guard Song, where is my hand warmer?"
"Don't give it to her." Xie Pei said, "Deduct her salary."
Guard Xiao Song: Is this how you chase people? Did you learn that?
But the prince has said that the hand warmer will definitely not be returned.
Xie Pei held Su Wan's hand and refused to let go.
Su Wan looked at him helplessly.
So many things have happened recently that she thought it would be enough to just forget about what happened around Xie Pei's birthday.
But this man is about to become the emperor, and not only has he not restrained himself, but he has become even more outrageous?
"Your Highness, I'm just a little palace maid, do you know that?" Su Wan said helplessly but seriously.
Xie Pei smiled, and seemed to hold his hand tighter. The warmth in his palm wrapped around Su Wan's entire palm, and he didn't move anymore, as if he was really a hand-warming tool.
After a while, he finally stopped smiling and said, "I'm just a poor little guy."
Su Wan rolled her eyes even more.
Look at this team, look at the respectful civil and military officials behind them, how can you call you a poor little thing with all the power in the court?
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