Chapter 118 The Queen Mother Passes Away
That night, the Queen Mother passed away.
Nine loud funeral bells left a long echo in the streets of the capital.
There was a rustling sound, and then a noise...
After a while, the streets became noisy.
They are the officials and people of the capital.
When a queen mother passes away, the entire capital city will fall into mourning, and the court will hold a series of mourning and funeral ceremonies.
The officials of the imperial court, the nobles and the wealthy families in the capital all wore mourning clothes to express their condolences to the empress dowager.
But the Empress Dowager was in good health and the Emperor was in his prime, so why would everyone prepare mourning clothes?
Can only prepare now.
All the cloth shops and tailors in the capital got out of bed and worked overtime.
At three or four in the morning, officials in mourning clothes began to gather outside the palace.
Their mourning clothes were all bought at the last minute and did not fit them at all. They were either held up by the hems or tied around the waist.
"What's going on?" Liu Yuanshan was also among them, and he asked the people around him in a low voice.
Because of his complicated emotions, he didn't even see who was next to him.
Zong Hongyun lowered his head, "Who knows what's going on?"
Liu Yuanshan turned his head and looked, "Master Zong."
"Lord Liu."
Zong Hongyun muttered, "Is the Queen Mother doing this to preserve the Rong family's reputation?"
Liu Yuanshan thought about it and felt that it made sense. He had thought about it before going to bed tonight and decided to continue making suggestions tomorrow.
But now... the Queen Mother has passed away, so there is no need for him to make any suggestions.
In addition, the Empress Dowager passed away. According to the custom of Daqi, the common people mourned for twenty-seven months, and the royal family mourned for twenty-seven days.
During this month, all officials had to stay in front of the empress dowager's spirit every day and were not allowed to go home or take a bath.
At this time, Ling Chan was also woken up. Hongdougong, Lan Gongyu and the others had not returned yet. Now the two servants of the Ling Mansion were responsible for serving her.
"Where is Prince Rui?" Ling Chan asked with narrowed eyes.
It was Xiao Jin who sent someone to Ling Mansion to call her, probably because he was afraid that she didn't know what to do.
"Someone said that the prince has entered the palace and asked the princess to come in as soon as possible."
The two maids hurriedly combed Ling Chan's hair into a simple style, and then dressed her in the mourning clothes sent by Prince Rui.
"Princess, the doorman has prepared the carriage, and it is covered with mourning cloth." Accompanied by a maid, Ling Chan walked out of the courtyard.
Before leaving the yard, two cooking sisters from Qingyi Building rushed over.
They handed Ling Chan a cloth bag, and when Ling Chan took it, she knew what was inside.
The warm food is the dry food that has just come out of the pot.
"Miss, I heard... that if you bring it with you, it can fill your stomach."
After Ling Chan entered the carriage, she ate a few cakes and put the rest into the space.
The carriage had only been going for a few minutes when it was stuck in traffic. The driver said, "Princess, we can't go any further."
All the officials in the capital were rushing to the palace. Even those of low rank had to kneel in front of the palace gate.
So of course the road to the palace was jam-packed with traffic.
Ling Chan was already awake while sitting in the carriage. She lifted the curtain and looked outside. Wow, the traffic was even worse than in modern times.
She couldn't stay here forever. She was a princess with a title and should have entered the palace by now.
Ling Chan lifted the car curtain and got out decisively.
"Go back and tell my grandfather to take good care of the seniors until I come back."
She was dressed in mourning and passed by in a carriage...
Soon, someone got out of the carriage and walked behind her.
"Sister Wanyue." Someone caught up.
Ling Chan turned her head and saw that it was Xiao Lingqiu, the daughter of Prince Duan Xiao Yan, and behind her was Xiao Wan, the daughter of Xiao Ping.
Their parents are all in their fiefdoms, and the only reliable people left in the capital are them and the people their parents left behind.
"Anping, Anhe, why are you so late?" Ling Chan asked.
She was late because she was sleeping soundly, so Xiao Jin sent someone to call her immediately, but it took the servants a long time to wake her up.
"We..." The two smiled awkwardly, "We were preparing mourning clothes, which delayed us.
Ling Chan noticed that the mourning clothes of the two people were very loose, while her own... fit her very well.
Thinking that the mourning clothes were sent by Xiao Jin, I didn't expect that he was so familiar with my body shape.
"Don't worry." Seeing the sweat on the foreheads of the two twelve or thirteen-year-old princesses, Ling Chan kindly comforted them, "Just get to the palace before sunrise."
The palace must be in chaos at this time, so there is no time to take care of them.
At this moment in Ningshou Palace, Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi were kneeling in front of the Empress Dowager's window, and they both changed into mourning clothes.
The palace maids are changing the Queen Mother's clothes and dressing her...
"Mother..." Xiao Yi cried miserably, and his true feelings infected the palace maids present, and they all lowered their heads and sobbed softly.
Behind them knelt the Queen.
Xiao Jin knelt behind them, expressionless and looking very sad, but only he himself knew what he was thinking.
Behind him were Xiao Heng's concubines.
Xi Lingyue had just arrived, but Xiao Heng, considering her age, asked her to go to the side hall to rest first.
Xiao Heng knelt in the front in a daze, holding the edge of the bed with his hands, trembling slightly.
Ling Chan and the two little princesses arrived at the palace gate. The eunuch in charge of checking the door gave them a quick check and then let them in.
The three of them trotted all the way to Ningshou Palace.
The Queen Mother had changed her clothes, done her makeup, and was lying quietly on the bed.
The palace maid led the three of them directly to kneel behind Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin looked back at Ling Chan, and Ling Chan nodded at him.
Soon, the empress dowager's body was moved into the coffin, and the next step was to set up the mourning hall and hold sacrifices.
Everyone left and retreated to the outside of Ningshou Palace, and could only go in after everything inside was settled.
She still had to kneel outside, and this time Ling Chan knelt next to Xiao Jin.
"How did the Queen Mother die?" Ling Chan asked.
She went to bed early and came here as soon as she was woken up, and had no time to check the surveillance.
"Hang himself." Xiao Jin told her simply and clearly.
Hanging himself?
Ling Chan really couldn't believe it. She thought she had been poisoned and couldn't bear it.
"The Queen Mother left a suicide note." Xiao Jin moved closer to Ling Chan and lowered his voice, "Because Rong An was a traitor, she felt sorry for the royal family and felt guilty, so..."
Although the Queen Mother was unlikely to live until autumn, it was a miracle that she died at this time.
If she died at this time, during the mourning period, Rong An would behead her again. After the mourning period was over, no one would mention the Rong family's affairs again.
Ling Chan straightened her body and looked at the figure in front...
I didn't expect the Queen Mother would go this far for the Emperor.
Ling Chan was prepared to kneel on the ground for a long time before entering the palace, but she didn't expect that she would really have to kneel from morning to night.
Moreover, there was no food at all! Not even tea!
Today is just a wake, no need for many rituals.
Ling Chan learned from Xiao Jin that the wake alone would last seven days. After that, they would have to say goodbye, send the empress dowager's body to the imperial mausoleum, and then offer sacrifices and pray for blessings... a total of twenty-seven days...
During this period, there were no music, dancing, banquets or other activities in the entire palace, and the people were not allowed to have any celebrating activities for three years, just to express respect and mourning for the Queen Mother.
Ling Chan was so hungry that she regretted not eating more pastries in the morning, but she could still bear it.
But the two little princesses, Xiao Lingqiu and Xiao Wan, could not hold on any longer.
At nightfall, the two little princesses were so hungry that they were sweating profusely. They covered their stomachs and dared not make a sound.
On the other hand, Xiao Heng was leaning against Rong Ruxiang's coffin and crying, and Xiao Yi was the same.
How hypocritical! Ling Chan was talking about Xiao Yi.
She had heard that ever since Ling Xueyao's death, rumors had been circulating that it was the Queen Mother's doing, and Xiao Yi had not entered the palace to see the Queen Mother, nor had he attended court.
Ling Chan looked at the eunuch kneeling not far away and waved him over.
The young eunuch moved over on his knees.
Ling Chan told him about the two little princesses and asked him to take them downstairs to eat something.
The young eunuch didn't dare to make the decision himself, so he left and asked Fu Lu.
Fu Lu lowered his head and asked Xiao Heng.
Ling Chan saw Xiao Heng nodded, and soon the eunuch came and took the two little princesses away.
About half an hour later, the two little princesses came back.
Xiao Lingqiu, who was leaning against Ling Chan, suddenly pulled Ling Chan's hand with his hand.
Ling Chan was puzzled and reached out to take it. Xiao Lingqiu stuffed something in her hand and smiled at her.
It was a piece of pastry, cold and broken.
Ling Chan smiled at Xiao Lingqiu and whispered, "Thank you."
She stuffed the pastry into her mouth. The pastries in the palace melted in her mouth and were barely enough to fill her mouth.
Another night passed, and the two little princesses were already drowsy...
The ministers could no longer bear it, and Xiao Heng, Xiao Yi and others also began to feel unwell.
Finally, Xiao Heng instructed Fu Lu to let everyone rest for a while, eat something and drink some water.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ling Chan stood up, her legs and feet were so numb that she could hardly stand.
Xiao Jin held her and asked, "Are you okay?"
Ling Chan shook her head.
She looked down at the two little princesses who were struggling to stand up.
Ling Chan led them out to the side room, and Xiao Jin followed behind.
"Who is it?" Nanny Wei was resting with Xi Lingyue in the side room.
"Madam Wei, it's me." Xiao Jin spoke.
"Your Highness." Nanny Wei came out to greet him. "Princess Wanyue?"
Ling Chan nodded, "Wan Yue didn't know the Concubine Dowager was here, sorry to bother you."
After saying that, she prepared to take Xiao Lingqiu and Xiao Wan away.
"It's okay, come in." Xi Lingyue's voice came out.
Ling Chan glanced at Xiao Jin, then walked in with Xiao Lingqiu and Xiao Wan.
"Wanyue greets the Queen Dowager." Ling Chan just bowed.
Xiao Lingqiu and Xiao Wan also bowed, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Dowager."
"Please sit down." Xi Lingyue hadn't slept all night, which made her feel sleepy.
Ling Chan: "My Lady, I want to wipe the legs of the two little princesses."
Xi Lingyue glanced at her, probably a little surprised that she would take such good care of the two little princesses, "Let's go to the inner room."
After entering the inner room, Ling Chan asked the two little princesses to pull up their skirts to expose their knees.
He was young and had tender skin, and his knees were blue after kneeling for a whole day and night.
Ling Chan took out the medicine bottle, applied the medicine on their knees, and rubbed them gently. The blue color on their knees quickly disappeared.
The pain in their knees also disappeared.
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Xiao Lingqiu lowered the hem of her skirt, stood up and took two steps. "Sister Wanyue, you're amazing."
Xiao Wan also took a few steps and said, "It really doesn't hurt anymore."
Just now she was in so much pain that she didn't want to move a step.
"You'll be kneeling later, so use some clothes to cushion yourself." Ling Chan reminded them.
"Yes." The two little princesses nodded obediently.
"Will your father come back?" Ling Chan asked.
The two little princesses were very confused, "They should be back soon, but we don't know when."
Xiao Wan sighed, "Even if I come back, I won't be able to stay for a few days."
"Hey, why do your fathers have fiefs, but Prince Rui still stays in the capital?" Ling Chan was a little curious.
Xiao Jin is already over 20 years old, and it is time for him to move out of the capital and go to his fiefdom.
"Sister Wanyue doesn't know that Concubine Xi has been granted the Emperor's grace to live in Ankang Palace forever. Concubine Xi only has Uncle Rui as her son. If Uncle Rui leaves the capital, Concubine Xi will be very lonely."
"That's why the Emperor allowed Prince Rui to stay in the capital."
Outside, Concubine Xi asked Xiao Jin, "Why do I feel that Princess Wanyue has changed?"
"Before she left Beijing, I saw her. She was very thin..."
Xiao Jin thought about it and realized that it was true. In the past few months... Ling Chan had really changed completely.
"You went to Fuyun Villa with her...did you encounter anything interesting?" Concubine Xi asked again.
Xiao Jin drank tea and said, "Mother, we went to Floating Cloud Villa to do some business. There is nothing interesting there."
"It's all about fighting and killing."
Concubine Xi sighed, "Before we went to Floating Cloud Villa, Mother prepared some portraits and wanted you to pick one out for the main wife..."
"Now that the Queen Mother has collapsed, we can only... postpone it."
She glanced at Xiao Jin helplessly and said, "This delay will make you suffer a lot."
I am twenty-four now.
Although the royal mourning period is only twenty-seven days, in order to avoid gossip, the wedding must be held at least a year later.
First decide on the marriage, then choose a date, which will delay another year.
By then, Jin'er will be twenty-six years old.
"Mother, I'm not in a hurry." Xiao Jin said, and while saying this, he subconsciously glanced at the inner room.
Ling Chan also applied medicine on herself before bringing Xiao Lingqiu and Xiao Wan out of the inner room.
"Come sit down and have a rest, eat something and drink some tea." Xi Lingyue greeted the three of them.
"You've been keeping vigil for the Queen Mother these few days. If you're hungry or thirsty, come to me."
"Thank you, Queen Dowager."
After resting for an hour, I had to go back to the mourning hall to keep watch...
Ling Chan felt much more relaxed this time. The potion she had just applied not only relieved the pain in her knees, but also provided her with a sense of warmth that prevented her from feeling the coldness of the ground.
For seven whole days, I only ate some cakes and drank some tea... I couldn't take a bath...
I was so sleepy that I could only close my eyes and sleep for an hour during my rest time.
Ling Chan felt that her whole body was smelly, and all the fat she had gained with great difficulty had gone back.
She really couldn't stand it, she just felt itchy all over...
When she was scratching her body for who knows how many times, Xiao Jin looked over.
"You can go home after today, take a good shower and rest, because you have to come back early tomorrow morning." Xiao Jin said in a low voice.
Ling Chan wailed silently. It was already seven or eight in the evening. If she went back to wash up, it would be at least eleven or twelve o'clock.
They have to go back to the palace at four or five o'clock tomorrow morning, so they can only sleep for four or five hours at most.
It's too tiring.
Back at the house, Ling Chan quickly washed up and went to bed! !
I didn't even remember to check the surveillance to see what happened on the night the Queen Mother hanged herself...
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