Chapter 650, Guarding the Rules
Grandma Gu's spirit rested for seven days before being buried in the Gu family's ancestral tomb. This was something she and Gu Jian had discussed a long time ago.
After Grandma Gu was buried, Old Lady Yan prepared to return to Ningmen Mansion with Yan Zhigao, Madam Li, and Yan Wenxiu.
Now that Sister Gu is gone, it is not possible for her to stay in Taohua An anymore.
However, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang stayed behind, partly because they wanted to observe the mourning period and partly because they were worried about Gu Jian.
"Dad, Mom, why don't I stay here too? It's not good to let my elder sister stay here alone."
On the way to the ferry, Yan Wenxiu, who was kept in the dark, looked worriedly at Daohua and Xiao Yeyang who were walking side by side behind him.
Yan Zhigao glanced at Madam Li, and Madam Li looked at Old Lady Yan.
Old Madam Yan shook her head: "Master Gu has a strange temper. He definitely doesn't want to see outsiders at this time. Wenxiu, come back with us."
Yan Wenxiu didn't expect his grandmother to say this. He didn't believe that she didn't understand what he meant. Letting his elder sister stay alone with Ye Yang would be bad for her reputation.
Seeing that his eldest son wanted to say something, Yan Zhigao said directly: "Alright, listen to your grandmother."
Yan Wenxiu frowned, with more and more questions in his mind.
My father put aside his official duties and stayed here. Together with my mother and grandmother, he personally kept vigil for Grandma Gu's spirit for seven days without taking off his clothes.
This was something he couldn't understand.
Although Master Gu is the eldest sister's master and Granny Gu can be considered a relative, it is enough for their family to come and pay tribute, and there is no need to keep vigil in person.
At this moment, although they knew that letting their elder sister stay with Ye Yang would damage her reputation, their grandmother, father, and mother did not stop them.
This is so abnormal.
Soon, the group arrived at the ferry.
Madam Li pulled Daohua and said, "Take good care of your master. If anything happens, send someone to inform the family."
Daohua nodded: "Mom, I know."
Mrs. Li looked at Xiao Yeyang again, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself. She still couldn't digest the fact that he was already her son-in-law.
When Xiao Yeyang saw her, he took the initiative to ask, "Aunt, do you have any instructions for Yeyang?" His attitude was very respectful.
Mrs. Li: "Take good care of the rice flowers."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, aunt, I will." Then he looked at Yan Zhigao and asked with a smile, "Does uncle have any instructions?"
Yan Zhigao was also unable to adapt to the change of identity for a while. Thinking that he was now Xiao Yeyang's father-in-law, he frowned and shook his head in a dignified manner.
Yan Wenxiu stood aside and watched silently, thinking that they were all very strange.
After Old Lady Yan gave Daohua some instructions, everyone boarded the boat and left.
After watching the boat go away, Xiao Yeyang and Daohua turned around and returned to Taohua An.
On the boat, Yan Wenxiu looked at the closed door and wanted to knock on it to go in, but he gave up after trying hard.
Grandma and his parents had said they didn't want to invite him along, probably because there was something they didn't want him to know. So, he couldn't forcefully ask. With that in mind, he went up to the deck.
In the room, Old Lady Yan handed the dragon-shaped jade pendant given by Gu Jian to Madam Li: "You should keep this token."
Madam Li took the jade pendant and looked at Old Lady Yan and Yan Zhigao, saying uncertainly, "Is the marriage between our daughter and the young prince settled?"
Looking at the jade pendant, Yan Zhigao felt very complicated. He couldn't help but sigh "too good" about his eldest daughter's luck. She just saved someone and ended up saving the emperor's mother.
"We've all been married before Madam Gu, so it's naturally settled." He said, motioning Madam Li to put the jade pendant away.
Mrs. Li felt that the jade pendant was a little hot, and her heart was very complicated. On the one hand, she was happy that her daughter had a good home. The little prince was also raised by her. His character and appearance were impeccable. He was also on good terms with Wen Kai and Wen Tao. In the future, even considering the relationship with the Yan family over the years, he would treat her daughter well.
But on the other hand, she was a little worried. The little prince's status was there, and her daughter's marriage into the royal family was definitely a high-ranking marriage. It was not easy to be a royal daughter-in-law. If her daughter was wronged in the future, they would not be able to intervene.
Old Lady Yan continued, "We only need to know the identities of Sister Gu and Master Gu. Don't tell anyone else. As for Daohua and Yeyang's marriage, it must be announced to the world by the royal family before it can be considered legitimate."
Yan Zhigao and Madam Li nodded seriously.
When she returned to Yan's house that day, Madam Li ordered the housekeeper to remove all the bright things in the house and told the doorman to decline any invitations to banquets.
It would be fine if they didn’t know Grandma Gu’s identity, but now that they know, their family will have to observe the mourning period.
According to the law, when the Empress Dowager or Consort Dowager passed away, officials had to observe a three-month mourning period.
After arranging everything in the mansion, Madam Li took a break to drink a sip of tea. Thinking that her daughter had already married Xiao Yeyang, she felt mixed emotions, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.
She gave birth to two sons and one daughter, but who would have thought that she had no say in their marriages.
At the same time, in the capital, the imperial palace.
After the emperor learned of Grandma Gu's death, he locked himself in the Qianqing Palace and did not attend court for three consecutive days.
In an instant, the court was filled with rumors that the emperor had not recovered from his injuries and was seriously ill.
Several older princes from different palaces became more active and began to make friends with ministers.
Eunuch An looked at the princes who came to inquire about the news with fear and trepidation, and broke out in a cold sweat for them.
On the fourth day, the emperor went to court.
Seeing that the emperor's face was indeed not good, all the officials and the princes who were assigned tasks could not help but change their expressions.
The emperor took in the expressions of the people below, and the coldness in his eyes grew deeper and deeper.
At the subsequent court meeting, the emperor scolded several officials and finally vented some of his anger.
However, after leaving court, the emperor saw the ladies of honor going to the Cining Palace to pay their respects, and his anger flared up again.
When his biological mother passed away, only the Yan family went to pay their respects and keep vigil, while Empress Dowager Jiang received greetings from ladies of honor every month. At this moment, the emperor's hatred for the Jiang family reached its peak.
He was especially annoyed when he thought that as the emperor he could not openly observe mourning for his mother.
For a period of time afterwards, ministers and concubines found that the emperor's temper became more and more irritable. Whenever an official held a wedding banquet at home, or whenever a concubine wore red or green, she would be severely scolded.
The fifth prince, who was planning to get married on February 20th, had his marriage canceled by the emperor. Afterwards, several officials were demoted and several concubines were downgraded.
Although all the officials and concubines were puzzled by this, they were all very perceptive and began to restrain their behavior.
After all, the emperor's preferences are everyone's preferences, and no one wants to offend him.
In late February, the Eighth Prince fled to the northern border and joined forces with the Tatars to capture three border cities. When the news reached the capital, the whole country was shocked.
(End of this chapter)
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