Chapter 424 The Sacrificial Ceremony
Three days later, it will be the day of the late emperor's funeral, the first funeral ceremony after his passing.
The East Palace was also quiet. Early in the morning, the servants dressed Jiang Fenghua in mourning clothes. Her hair was neatly styled and her face was bare of makeup.
The Empress Dowager would lead the concubines of the six palaces, while Jiang Fenghua would lead the young ladies of the Eastern Palace to participate in the solemn sacrificial ceremony.
When the emperor died, the whole country mourned. The death knell tolled incessantly in the palace, keeping everyone alert and filled with awe. No one in the entire palace dared to make a loud noise.
However, at this moment, a disturbance broke out in the harem. Granny Wang and the ladies were waiting outside the gates of Chenxi Palace when Lianye and Hongxiu helped Jiang Fenghua out of her bedchamber and happened to hear the commotion from the guards outside.
Jiang Fenghua asked, "What happened outside?"
Granny Wang shook her head. "This servant doesn't know either."
The ladies looked at each other, all drawn by the noise outside. Consort Song said, "I wonder what's happening in the palace? Who dares to make a sound during this time of national mourning?"
"It sounds like the guards' voices," said Consort Tang.
Jiang Fenghua was also worried that something might have happened. Last night, the first snow of the year fell, and the ground outside was a bit slippery. The deep red glazed tiles were also covered in a blanket of white snow.
Granny Wang said, "It's freezing cold, Your Highness, please don't rush out. I'll have someone find out what's going on before we make any plans."
Soon, the person who had inquired returned and reported, "It is the Imperial Guards who are arresting people. Consort Zhao and Consort Yan are to be sent to be buried alive with the emperor. Their servants have also been arrested, as well as several other concubines in the harem. I have learned that they will soon be sent out of the palace."
Jiang Fenghua naturally knew the reason: they were committing adultery in the palace, which was why Xie Shang ordered them to be executed in this way.
"What's the situation with the Empress Dowager?" Jiang Fenghua asked.
"The Empress Dowager has also rushed over."
Such a scandalous affair should not have been publicized, yet it made the other concubines and the young ladies of the Eastern Palace tremble with fear and become uneasy. No one knew what had happened. People of Zhao Fei and Yan Fei's status should have been honored as Dowager Consorts, so how could they have been sent to be buried alive with the dead?
There was also the sudden death of Consort Zhao of the Eastern Palace. In fact, all the ladies of the Eastern Palace knew that she did not die suddenly, but that she had seduced the Crown Prince and was punished by him.
After this incident, the concubines in the Eastern Palace who were eager to make a move all fell silent and dared not act rashly. Now that the country was in mourning, they didn't know when they would be able to gain the new emperor's favor.
Zhu Zhenzhen stood respectfully among the concubines. She looked at Jiang Fenghua and recalled the secrets that Zhao Yuntong's maid had revealed that day. She had heard them clearly. It was probably because Consort Zhao had cheated on her husband that the new emperor wanted to punish her!
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "You don't need to panic. This has nothing to do with you. Shut your mouths and cover your ears. Don't worry about anything. Come with me to the late emperor's memorial hall to pay your respects."
"Yes," everyone answered in unison.
They were just waiting for Jiang Fenghua to lead the young ladies to the mourning hall.
Xie Shang's expression was solemn. Because he hadn't slept for several days, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he was too tired and too sad.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Jiang Fenghua led the other concubines in bowing.
Xie Shang's eyes were cold, but they softened slightly when he saw Jiang Fenghua. "Ruan Ruan is not feeling well, so she should stay in the palace to rest."
"No matter what, I must come to see Father Emperor off on his final journey." She did not mention the concubines in the harem being sent to be buried with him. Regardless of whether his methods were too extreme, it was none of her business. Consort Zhao and Consort Yan were not good people either.
Xie Shang nodded. "If you feel unwell, don't force yourself to stay awake."
"Yes, Your Majesty understands."
He then said to Granny Wang, "Granny Wang, please take good care of the Empress."
"yes."
The young princes of the Eastern Palace were also being held by their respective wet nurses. Xie Ziyan and Xie Hongyou were also dressed in mourning clothes, their eyes full of confusion. When they saw Xie Shang, they called out, "Father, hug me."
They didn't understand the change in their status, that they had gone from being little grandsons of the emperor to princes and princesses, so when they saw Xie Shang they would only call him "Father King" and Jiang Fenghua "Mother Consort".
Xie Shang said, "After the sacrificial ceremony, Ruan Ruan will take the children back to Chenxi Palace, where I will be guarding them."
"Your Majesty should also take care of your health." She then instructed Wuxin to take good care of the Emperor.
Soon the sacrificial ceremony began, with the Empress Dowager leading the women of the harem in a kneeling and bowing ceremony.
Empress Dowager Cheng looked at the emperor who had already been placed in his coffin. Her face was full of respect and remembrance for the late emperor, and her eyes were red, as if she had been crying for days and nights.
Only she herself knows how much she felt for the emperor; perhaps she had long since lost all affection for him.
Jiang Fenghua stood to the left of hers, being helped by servants to bow. Fortunately, her belly wasn't big, and as long as she was careful, nothing would happen. She wasn't delicate at all.
After the sacrificial ceremony concluded, Xie Shang stood upright, exuding a dignified and aloof aura, his deep eyes so intense that one dared not look directly at him. There would be other ceremonies in the coming days.
Jiang Fenghua felt that someone in the crowd was looking at her, but when she turned around, she only saw a sea of heads and the ministers' sorrowful and worried faces.
Jiang Jinyan has been extremely busy these days. Jiang Fenghua managed to meet with him, but he was assisting the new emperor with the funeral arrangements for the late emperor, so he hadn't returned to the Jiang residence for several days and had been staying in the palace.
She then inquired about Zhang Yumo's condition, "Has my sister-in-law still not woken up?"
Jiang Jinyan smiled bitterly, "Not yet. Doctor Mei said it might take a year, maybe two years, or five years, or even longer, before he wakes up."
Jiang Fenghua said, "She will get better."
Jiang Jinyan added, "Actually, there's another possibility: she might never wake up, she'd be a living dead. But I believe she wouldn't be willing to abandon me and the child."
Their daughter is now being cared for by Jiang's mother.
Jiang Fenghua chatted with him for a while before returning to Chenxi Palace. She was pregnant, and Empress Dowager Cheng did not make things difficult for her by forcing her to stay and keep vigil. After all, there were many people keeping vigil, and they did not need her.
That night, a heavy snow fell in the palace. Xie Shang returned from the mourning hall and began reviewing memorials again. The entire Taihua Hall was quiet. A moment later, Imperial Censor Zhu suddenly came to see him outside.
Xie Shang then asked Wuxin to invite the person in. Next to Imperial Censor Zhu was a woman dressed as a maid, who was also wearing a plain white mourning dress.
Xie Shang didn't even look up as he continued reviewing the mountain of memorials. Fortunately, he had already been learning how to handle state affairs and was quite adept at it.
Imperial Censor Zhu said, "It's so late, Your Majesty is still working hard."
"Has Imperial Censor Zhu not returned to his residence yet?" he asked casually.
“My wife brought me a late-night snack, mostly vegetarian pastries. Seeing the lights on in Taihua Palace, she thought Your Highness must still be busy, so she came to check on you,” said Imperial Censor Zhu. “Your Majesty, please try my wife’s cooking. You must be tired of the dishes prepared by the Imperial Kitchen these past few days.”
Xie Shang raised his head and said in a deep voice, "What pastries did Madam Zhu make?"
Imperial Censor Zhu said to the maid beside him, "Put down the pastries and then leave!"
"Yes," the maid replied gently.
Xie Shang glanced at the maid, his hand paused for a moment. He noticed that the maid's skin was delicate and didn't look like that of a maid. Looking at her face, he felt that she looked familiar.
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