This year's Spring Festival was unusually quiet. My grandmother and father-in-law returned home, and Jiang Zhixu went to war.
Only males can participate in family sacrifices.
Jiang Shuyan and Jiang Yiyun brought sacrificial livestock, paper money and paper items, and went to the wild solemnly. They recited sacrificial texts, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, burned paper money, expressed gratitude for the blessings, and passed on the virtue of filial piety.
There were only female family members left in the house. The sisters-in-law Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao sat in the main hall, waiting for everyone to come back for dinner.
Jin Linlin instructed the servant outside, "Make sure the fireworks are ready and set off as soon as the Third and Fourth Masters return."
Cao Jiao smiled slightly: "Well, let's go out and watch the fireworks."
Suddenly, they heard a commotion outside the house. They went out to see that it was Jiang Shuyan and Jiang Yiyun returning from the sacrifice.
Seeing these two people, Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao immediately stood up. Jiang Shiwei also followed her two sisters-in-law to watch the fireworks in the courtyard. The sky above the capital was colorful and dazzling.
At this moment, a servant came running over and whispered a few words in Jiang Shuyan's ear. Jiang Shuyan's face changed slightly, and he said to everyone:
"There's an emergency in the palace. I need to go in immediately." After saying that, he hurried away. Jiang Yiyun looked at his brother's retreating figure, his brows furrowed.
Jin Linlin's heart tightened and she looked at Cao Jiao worriedly. Cao Jiao tried to remain calm and said, "Maybe it's just a small matter. The Third Master will be able to handle it properly." However, her hands involuntarily clenched the corner of her clothes.
Fireworks still bloomed in the night sky, but everyone's attention was no longer on the beautiful scenery. Jiang Yiyun comforted the women and told them to go back to their rooms to rest. Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao returned to the main hall, facing each other in silence.
Not long after Jiang Shuyan left, the sound of funeral bells was heard in the palace. Several people in the house hurried out, and Butler Liu hurried over:
"Second Madam, Third Madam, the Queen in the palace has passed away."
Jin Linlin frowned:
"Quickly change the decorations in the mansion, and have all servants and maids wear white scarves and linen clothes. During the Queen's funeral, you must keep a close eye on the mansion. No mistakes can be made, lest anyone catch you."
Upon hearing this, Butler Liu immediately went to deal with the affairs of the mansion.
Second room Zhiyuanju
When the queen passed away, one had to wear plain clothes for a hundred days, no music or banquets could be played, no wedding banquets could be held, and no meat could be eaten for a month.
Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao changed into plain clothes in the room. Cao Jiao looked terrified: "The Queen finally couldn't survive this disaster."
Jin Linlin said thoughtfully, "That's right. Starting tomorrow we must go into the palace to observe the casket and mourn. Can you handle it? It will take three days."
"The Queen passed away on New Year's Eve, ruining the entire Spring Festival. Tell the servants to be careful. Su Cifu is assisting the country in governing the country. Don't let him cause us any trouble."
Cao Jiao gently stroked her bulging belly, feeling very worried. The baby was almost eight months old.
"Go find Aunt Zi quickly and ask her to take your pulse. I'll look for some special medicine to help you maintain your pregnancy." Jin Linlin was very worried about her.
Cao Jiao was also afraid that something might happen to the child during the funeral, so she hurriedly took Hong Guo's hand and went to find Aunt Zi.
Jin Linlin looked at Cao Jiao's departing back, feeling worried.
Jin Linlin called the maidservant beside her and instructed her, "Go and find out the details of the palace, especially the attitude of the regent, Prince Jin. Report back as soon as you have any news."
After everything was arranged, Jin Linlin sat alone in the main room, but her consciousness was already in space, constantly browsing the medicines in the electronic pharmacy.
Just when Jin Linlin was concentrating on looking for pregnancy-maintaining medicine in the space pharmacy, another medicine with a price of zero appeared, called "Bone Dissolving Liquid". The zero-yuan medicines in this pharmacy are all displayed according to demand.
The key point is that she doesn't need bone-dissolving liquid right now? Could it be that something big is going to happen soon and she'll need bone-dissolving liquid?
Let's put it aside for now and discuss it when it's needed. She also bought some pregnancy-maintaining medicine.
At this time, Chunxue hurried over to report, "Madam, there's news from the palace. Prince Jin has ordered all the ladies from outside the palace to come to the palace a day in advance to keep vigil."
Jin Linlin's heart trembled. This early vigil might have a deeper meaning. Without time to ponder, she quickly stopped searching in space and released her spiritual consciousness.
Cao Jiao had just returned from Aunt Zi's place and turned pale upon hearing the news. Jin Linlin feigned composure and soothed her, saying, "Don't panic, we'll just follow the rules." She then gave Cao Jiao some pregnancy-preserving medicine.
While she was arranging people to prepare the carriage to enter the palace, she was thinking about the purpose behind Prince Jin's move.
Jiang Shuyan's servant, Ah Ming, hurried back to the mansion and anxiously reported shocking news to Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao:
"Master Dong Jinguo and the Crown Prince were captured by the Governor of Binzhou and are now being escorted back to the capital!"
Upon hearing the news, Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao looked at each other in surprise, thinking to themselves: Could it be that someone is deliberately using the arrest of Dong Jinguo's national teacher and the crown prince to create trouble?
It was the coldest time of the year, and the weather was extremely cold. Nanny Bai was worried that Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao would get cold, so she threw all kinds of thick clothes on them.
By the time they got on the carriage, they were wrapped up like two round dumplings, and it was difficult for them to even bend their knees.
The carriage moved slowly forward, its wheels making a "crunching" sound on the snow. Although Jin Linlin and Cao Jiao were wearing thick cotton clothes, they still felt the chill that seemed to penetrate their bones.
Cao Jiao unconsciously stroked her slightly bulging belly with both hands, her eyes showing deep worry. She was worried that this sudden change would have a negative impact on the fetus in her belly.
Jin Linlin frowned, pondering the complicated situation behind the arrest of Dong Jinguo's national teacher and the prince.
She knew very well that this matter was not as simple as it seemed, and it must involve open and covert struggles among various forces.
Finally, the carriage arrived at the palace. The palace was filled with solemnity. The atmosphere of the wake was solemn and dignified, yet also suffocating and oppressive.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
