The following day, during the morning court session, the ministers and Emperor Hongli discussed matters concerning Empress Dowager Ulanara's funeral. After all, it was an important matter to discuss the funeral arrangements. Although Emperor Hongli had already discussed it with the seventeenth prince the day before and had sent a letter to Huizhou, he still needed to discuss and arrange some specific details in court.
"Your Highness, how should we conduct the funeral rites for the deposed Empress who has suddenly passed away?"
"Although the deposed empress has been banished to the cold palace, I believe that she should still be treated according to the etiquette and standards of empresses throughout history," the Minister of Rites stepped forward and said.
Although he said this, Hongli knew the Fourth Prince's thoughts. The Fourth Prince had deposed Ulanara and banished her to the Cold Palace, which showed that he had long been heartbroken and even disgusted with her. He certainly didn't want Ulanara's remains to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. If he were to hold a funeral for Ulanara according to the rites for an empress, the Fourth Prince would definitely be unhappy.
Thinking of this, Hongli could not agree, so he waved his hand and said, "It is not appropriate. Since Ulanara has been deposed, she cannot be buried in the imperial mausoleum. This is against the rules."
Upon hearing Hongli's words, everyone felt that it was indeed inappropriate to hold a funeral for the deposed empress with the rites due to an empress. "How about holding a funeral with the rites due to a concubine?"
Upon hearing the Minister of Rites' words, Hongli pondered for a moment and said, "That's very good. The funeral arrangements for Ulanara will be handled by the Funeral Administration Department of the Ministry of Rites, and Ulanara will be given a funeral with the rites due to a concubine."
"We have no objection."
Seeing that Hongli had not mentioned the Fourth Prince, the ministers had some questions in their minds. After exchanging glances several times, one of them stepped forward and asked, "Has His Majesty returned?"
Hongli was prepared and remained calm. He said calmly, "I informed Father Emperor yesterday, but Father Emperor is unwell and will not attend the funeral of the deposed empress. Father Emperor instructed me to take his place."
"Yes." No one in the imperial court or the harem dared to object. Originally, the Fourth Prince and the Empress had long been estranged, so it was acceptable that he did not come out to preside over the funeral.
"Instruct the embroidery workshop in the palace to prepare mourning clothes, and the entire palace will observe a mourning period."
Everyone in the harem had to wear mourning clothes for the Empress. There weren't enough mourning clothes available, so a Vice Minister of Rites stepped forward and reported, "Your Highness, the passing of Empress Ulanara was too sudden, and the Embroidery Workshop doesn't have enough mourning clothes."
Upon hearing this, Hongli frowned, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "Order the people in each palace to take out the plain silk from the palace and make mourning clothes for temporary use to solve the immediate problem."
Seeing that the ministers had nothing else to report, Hongli adjourned the court and told them to go and prepare for the funeral of the deposed empress.
However, after Hongli's order was sent to the palace, no one moved. Everyone was looking around to see what was happening in the palace. After all, Ulanara had never been popular. Now that Ulanara had passed away, it seemed that only Xueying was truly saddened. Although the others did not show it on their faces, they were actually very happy inside. Therefore, they were not very willing to dress Ulanara in mourning clothes.
Mingyu then took the lead and brought out her own plain satin, which she had the palace's embroidery department take to cut paper mourning clothes. The others did not dare to say anything and all brought out their own white plain satin. Some who could not get help from the embroidery department had to make their own.
Meanwhile, Xueying in the East Side Hall did not have the embroidery workshop cut mourning clothes; instead, she made them herself overnight.
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