Fortunately, the Imperial Household Department had made preparations in advance, so there shouldn't be too many mistakes during the funeral. With the upright and outspoken Prince Baotai overseeing things, and the Third and Fourth Princes assisting, there shouldn't be any major problems for the time being.
That evening, the Fourth Prince returned to his residence. He hadn't been home for several days. Yesterday, while at the Ministry of Revenue, he had taken a quick shower, but he still felt unwell. He endured it for two days, but today he simply couldn't bear it any longer.
The Fourth Prince went straight back to the front courtyard. After taking a bath and washing up, he finally felt refreshed and had time to inquire about how things were going at the manor these past few days.
Everything was normal in the East Courtyard. Li Chenjiao instructed that someone should go to Granny Zhong in the front courtyard to ask for leave the next day. So, at this moment, the Fourth Prince did not know that the Second Princess had contracted "summer heat". However, since the weather was hot now, the Fourth Prince himself did not plan to let the children of the mansion go to Prince Yu's mansion to pay their respects.
The children were all young, and even with many servants following them, the Fourth Prince was still not entirely at ease.
After the Fujin returned to her residence, Li Chenjiao received a message instructing her to go to Prince Yu's residence to pay her respects the next morning. She got up even earlier than the Second Princess the next day. When she dressed and left the East Courtyard, the two children were still asleep.
It was incredibly hot in July. When Li Chenjiao got off the carriage, she had a small piece of ice in her mouth. Once she entered the Prince Yu's residence, she only needed to nod and occasionally bow. Before she even saw Lady Zhaojia or Lady Cao, the ice in her mouth had already melted.
Fortunately, the side rooms in Prince Yu's mansion were all equipped with ice basins. As Li Chenjiao walked from the corridor into the side room, she felt much cooler.
The funeral arrangements for Prince Yu were naturally none of Li Chenjiao's concern. Nothing went wrong during the two days of mourning, but strangely, there was still no news from His Majesty.
After returning to the manor on the first day, Li Chenjiao knew that she and the Fourth Prince had the same idea. However, all Li Chenjiao could do was ask for leave on behalf of the Second Princess, but the Fourth Prince directly exempted the children in the manor from going to the Prince Yu's manor.
On the third day after Prince Yu's death, the Emperor unexpectedly returned to the capital.
They arrived at Prince Yu's residence at noon without anyone noticing.
It turned out that when His Majesty received the news that Prince Yu had fallen ill again and was bedridden, he immediately ordered a return to the capital, and the prince traveled day and night for several days by both water and land...
However, he still couldn't make it to see Prince Yu one last time.
Li Chenjiao and the others naturally couldn't see His Majesty in the backyard. They only heard the servants return after inquiring about the news and report that His Majesty had burst into tears before even reaching Prince Yu's gate. It was only after being personally persuaded by the chief eunuch Liang Jiugong that he returned to Jingren Palace through Cangzhen Gate.
Yes, His Majesty did not return to the Qianqing Palace.
Li Chenjiao didn't understand the difference between Jingren Palace and Qianqing Palace, but she guessed that the Emperor and Prince Yu had some kind of brotherly bond in Jingren Palace.
Later, I heard that the ministers were urging His Majesty to return to the Qianqing Palace.
However, it was already quite late by then, and upon hearing the news, Li Chenjiao prepared to part ways with Zhao Jia and Cao Shi.
The three of them gave each other some instructions, the gist of which was to let each other know if there was any news.
After returning to the manor, the Fujin (principal wife) didn't pay much attention to Li Chenjiao, only waving her hand to signal Li Chenjiao to return to her own courtyard.
Li Chenjiao obediently returned to the East Courtyard. The Fourth Prince did not return to the mansion; it was said that he went to the palace with the other princes.
The Fourth Prince returned to the mansion that night, but it was already late, and he ended up spending the night in the East Courtyard.
When Fourth Master arrived at the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao had already made preparations. In the summer, she was wearing a thin nightgown. Although it was time to get ready, she still tied her hair up with a hairpin because she felt hot.
When Fourth Master entered from the outer room, Li Chenjiao was already lying on the bed. A large pillow was placed in front of her, and she was holding a book crookedly in her hand, which was probably another travelogue.
When the Fourth Master approached silently, he realized that Li Chenjiao was actually reading Mencius.
Hearing the sound, Li Chenjiao shifted the book she was holding, and her eyes met those of the Fourth Master who was leaning over. She chuckled, but then realized that laughing at this moment seemed inappropriate, so she pursed her lips and suppressed her laughter.
Fourth Master didn't seem to think anything of it. He sat down by the bed and asked, "Why are you looking at this now?"
Li Chenjiao folded a page and put the book aside: "Aman and Wanwan are both of school age, and I, as their mother, can't be completely clueless when they ask me questions."
As she spoke, she straightened up and sat cross-legged, her hair, which had been tied up with a jade hairpin, now slightly loose.
Before Fourth Master could speak, Li Chenjiao suddenly leaned closer and asked, "Has Master taken a bath? Has he had dinner? Qiu Hu, is there any hot water left in the kitchen?"
Upon hearing this, Fourth Master could only lean back helplessly against the soft pillow behind him and say, "Hmm."
I'll leave it to Li Chenjiao's arrangements.
After trying to persuade the Emperor with the ministers in the palace to no avail, the Emperor's final meaning was very clear: he would stay in Jingren Palace for five days before returning to Qianqing Palace.
As for Prince Yu's funeral, it was arranged for Prince Zhi to lead the princes in wearing mourning clothes, and an order was issued for the censors to build a tomb and erect a monument. Prince Yu's posthumous title was also determined to be "Xian".
Baotai, the son of Prince Yu, also rightfully inherited Prince Yu's title.
The remaining days were spent handling and arranging Prince Yu's funeral.
His Majesty stayed at Jingren Palace for five days. When he came out of Jingren Palace, His Majesty looked much thinner.
On that day, all the princes had arrived, and on his way back to the Qianqing Palace, His Majesty suddenly asked about the Crown Prince.
Liang Jiugong cautiously said that the Crown Prince was still recuperating in Yuqing Palace.
His Majesty remained silent for a while. After a long while, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly sneered, "Disrespectful and servile! Let the Crown Prince come to the Qianqing Palace!"
When people are overly sad, they tend to take their anger out on others, just like when Consort Min, of the Zhangjia clan, passed away and the Emperor scolded the Third Prince.
The Crown Prince did nothing at all, but he still incurred the Emperor's displeasure.
At this moment, Liang Jiugong dared not utter a word more and hurriedly went to Yuqing Palace to invite the Crown Prince.
He was also a little puzzled. Last time Prince Gong passed away, the Crown Prince did not even show his face. Although it was inconvenient for the Crown Prince to leave the palace, he did not send even the slightest bit of condolence to Prince Gong.
This time, when Prince Yu passed away, the Crown Prince didn't even show up...
No wonder His Majesty was unhappy.
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