Chapter 1543: So lonely...
Nan Yan said, "But fortunately, the emperor is now in the imperial study, not far from the imperial temple. Duke, please go over and kowtow to the emperor before returning."
When they heard her say this, Wu Yingqiu and Wu Wan's faces turned pale.
The Imperial Study and the Imperial Ancestral Temple are indeed not far away.
But after going back and forth, the time for the spirit to be raised had already passed.
However, the other party is the imperial concubine after all, and Wu Wan cannot openly oppose her. After all, she has suffered losses several times, and Wu Yingqiu can only put on a smile.
He said, "Actually, Your Majesty, I'll just go in and burn a stick of incense. It won't take up too much time."
Nan Yan smiled and said, "I agree with what the Duke said."
"That--"
"Time can be wasted,"
Nan Yan's face darkened as she spoke, and she said word by word, "But, etiquette cannot be abolished!"
Hearing this, Wu Yingqiu's heart sank slightly. He knew that the imperial concubine was using the royal style to pressure him. Etiquette cannot be abolished. If he entered the capital without first paying his respects to the emperor and performing formalities, at the very least, it would be a violation of etiquette. At the most, it would be an act of usurpation and an act of deceiving the emperor!
At this time, several officials standing behind Heyi came forward one after another.
Gu Tingqiu spoke first, "The Duke should indeed go to the palace first and pay his respects to the Emperor."
"Yes, Duke, state etiquette is the most important."
"You must not be suspected of deceiving the emperor."
…
Hearing everyone talking so much, Wu Yingqiu could only give up and said, "Okay, this old minister will obey the Imperial Concubine's order."
After saying that, he bowed to her and left.
When he turned around and walked out of the Taimiao, the smiling expression on his wrinkled face slowly faded, and he glanced at the imperial concubine Si Nanyan behind him out of the corner of his eye.
A cold light flashed in his eyes.
After watching his back disappear in front of her, Nan Yan smiled faintly. She turned around and looked at Concubine Hui Wu Wan, who was standing beside her with a very unhappy expression. She said calmly, "Concubine Hui came early today."
Wu Wan snorted coldly: "Yeah."
"It seems that Concubine Hui still has a deep relationship with Feng Qianyan. Even when she was in trouble, you still cared about her child."
"My Lady, what do you mean by this?"
Seeing Wu Wan's ugly face, Nan Yan smiled and said, "Nothing."
“…”
"I'm just reminding you that it's getting late and you should return to the palace."
“…”
Hearing her say this, Wu Wan became even more furious, but there was nothing she could do. She could only reluctantly bow to her and then turned around and walked out.
After they all left, Nan Yan turned around and looked at He Yi.
Smiling, she said, "This palace, can you please go in and light a stick of incense for the little princess?"
He Yi smiled and said, "Of course."
As they spoke, everyone moved aside.
Nan Yan walked in slowly.
Although the little princess's funeral should not be held in a grand manner, the mourning hall in the side hall was still neatly set up, with soul-calling banners erected on both sides and a shrine and altar placed in the front, on which the little princess's spirit tablet was enshrined.
Although she didn't even have time to be named after she was born, people from the Ministry of Rites still thought of a posthumous title for her.
Princess Xinyuan.
Her coming into this world is neither the beginning nor the end. Good fortune or misfortune has nothing to do with her. This "circle" is quite perfect. I just hope she can ascend to heaven soon and be reborn in a warm home in her next life.
At least, not like this life.
Thinking of this, Nan Yan couldn't help but sigh and went to light a stick of incense for her.
There was still some time left, and Nan Yan slowly walked to the back of the shrine. The princess's coffin was placed on two thick agarwood logs. She walked over and reached out to gently stroke the cold coffin.
After a while, Eunuch Yu came in.
"My Lady, it's time to raise the spirit."
After hearing this, Nan Yan nodded and stepped aside.
Several young eunuchs ran in and carried the coffin out. Because it was a child's coffin, it was much smaller than an ordinary coffin. In addition, the emperor was in charge, and the little princess could not use a too expensive coffin, so the weight of this small coffin was not too heavy.
When a few young eunuchs lifted it up, it shook a little because it was a little light.
Nan Yan hurriedly reached out to support him: "Be careful!"
And when she was helped, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Eunuch Yu immediately scolded from the side: "Be careful, if you bump into anything, watch your heads."
Several young eunuchs said timidly, "Yes."
Carrying the coffin, they went out carefully.
Even after those people escorted the coffin away, Nan Yan still stood at the door of the side hall and watched quietly. Ran Xiaoyu stepped forward and said softly, "My Lady, what's wrong?"
“…”
Nan Yan was quiet for a while before she said, "No wonder the emperor is not anxious at all."
"Um?"
"The coffin is empty."
"ah?"
Ran Xiaoyu was stunned and whispered, "How could it be——?"
Nan Yan just shook her head lightly, indicating that she didn't need to ask any more questions. After all, Ran Xiaoyu had been with her for so long, so she immediately understood and stopped talking.
Nan Yan just watched the team escorting the coffin slowly disappear in front.
The coffin is empty.
No wonder Zhu Feng hasn't come to the Taimiao once these days. The little princess's body must have been sent to the imperial mausoleum long ago, and the coffin here is just a decoy.
To block the eyes of those who want to stir up trouble.
No wonder he didn't want to come here by himself. It seems that I was the one who was meddling.
Nan Yan thought about it and sighed softly. At this moment, Gu Tingqiu and Liu Yueze came over and bowed to her, "Your Highness."
Nan Yan looked at him with a smile: "Uncle, how are you these days?"
"fine."
"I hope I didn't scare anyone when I visited my parents that night."
"What are you talking about, Madam?"
"Uncle, when you have time, please persuade my mother to not be too sad."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. After seeing the little princess off today, I will take my family back to my hometown in Henan and return after the Lantern Festival. If she is willing, she can stay in her hometown to rest."
Nan Yan smiled and said, "That's fine. But, isn't there no one left at home?"
Gu Tingqiu smiled and said, "Only my little daughter Qiqing is at home."
"Qiqing, isn't she going back home for the New Year?"
"She had been staying in her hometown before, and was originally going to go back this time, but she accidentally sprained her ankle today, so we asked her to stay in Beijing."
"I see."
Nan Yan nodded: "Uncle, be careful on your journey."
"Thank you, my lady."
The two talked for a few words, and when it was almost time, Gu Tingqiu left the Taimiao.
Nan Yan also got on the carriage and returned to the palace.
After what just happened, she of course wanted to go directly to the imperial study to tell Zhu Feng. However, as soon as she approached, she heard a familiar, coquettish voice coming from inside -
"I'm so lonely..."
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