Chapter 311 – Mada Kong Leaves the Capital
The Crown Prince’s funeral procession and rites were held in a manner befitting of his previous title, even though he was stripped of it before his death. Kong Yu’s funeral was likewise carried out grandly. The two of them shared a tomb – this was specially ordered by Qi Zhen Emperor, who ordered that since they could not be together in life, they would accompany each other in death.
As the funeral ended, Jing Rong left the imperial mausoleum. As he exited, soone handed him a beautifully wrapped box along with a scroll, “Your Highness, it is all done.”
Jing Rong nodded curtly. He held both the box and scroll in his hands, boarded his sedan and left not in the direction of the Rong Estate, but towards the Kong Mansion.
In the Kong Mansion.
Mada Kong had locked up the altar, cleared out all the incense and had her Buddha statue moved to the temple. The entire compound no longer slled like joss sticks. Instead, a delicate fragrance wafted through it.
When Jing Rong arrived, Mada Kong was packing up her belongings, intending to leave the capital. Juan’er was by her side, helping her pack as she had been brought out of the palace by Mada Kong after Ji Yunshu’s prior visit.
Mada Kong imdiately put down her baggage and bowed as soon as she saw Jing Rong arrive. “This one pays her respects to Prince Rong.”
“Mada Kong needs not bother with these formalities,” he raised his hand to help support her.
“Why would Your Highness visit at this hour?” Jing Rong should still be in the imperial mausoleum, or the palace. Why is he here?
Jing Rong directed a aningful stare at Juan’er who quickly took the hint and exited the chambers, leaving only Jing Rong and Mada Kong. Jing Rong began, “Mada Kong, this Prince is here today to gift you sothing.”
Sothing? Jing Rong handed over the scroll he had received, explaining as he handed it to Mada Kong, “I have brought a painting here, have a look.”
Mada Kong carefully received it and opened the painting. It depicted a female figure dressed in a long pale blue dress flowing in the wind. She was standing beneath a peach blossom tree, daintily picking out a blossom and slling it. The peach blossom petals fell onto her dress, creating an ethereal picture. Her exquisite face was pink, eyes smiling – she was beautiful, extrely beautiful!
“This is Yu’er!” Mada Kong’s voice trembled as she held the painting shakily in disbelief.
Jing Rong continued, “This painting is Teacher Ji’s work – keep it as a nto.”
“Yu’er...” Madam Kong’s eyes began to redden as she caressed the painting. It took a long ti before she regained her composure as she sniffled and carefully put the painting away. She looked at Jing Rong, “This one would like to trouble Your Highness to thank Teacher Ji on my behalf. This is a favour I would never forget forever.”
“Mm.”
“The one I had let down the most is Yu’er. I should have opposed His Majesty’s decision to crown her as princess with all I could; these things would have never happened then.”
“Mada Kong needs not bla yourself. This Prince is also at fault – if I had given her the answer she was searching for a long ti ago, she need not have waited this long.” He was full of regret.
Mada Kong disagreed, “I think, Yu’er never regretted waiting for Your Highness.” She was sure of it.
Jing Rong frowned and sighed, not wanting to continue the conversation any further. He then handed over the box to Mada Kong, “This Prince made a selfish decision this ti and had Kong Yu’s body cremated. This box contains her ashes – you’d better take her out of the capital; whether it’s the palace, or the imperial mausoleum – neither of these places were where she wanted to be.”
“This ...” Mada Kong was surprised, her tears flowing non-stop as she set down the painting and held the box in her hands. She carefully removed the cloth wrapping the box, gently touching the ornate engravings on the box, as if she were caressing her own daughter’s face. Her kind face bore a pained expression. She asked Jing Rong worriedly, “If Your Highness cremated Yu’er’s body, then the body in the mausoleum ...”
“Only the Crown Prince lies there; the other coffin is empty. Do not fear – this Prince handled the entire Crown Prince’s funeral rites, no one will know. They have already been buried and there would be no reason for them to open their coffins. You can bring Kong Yu’s ashes and bury her in the Kong Family’s tombs, or scatter them in a peach blossom forest.” Jing Rong spoke gently, softly. He knew that Kong Yu loved peach blossoms, and his own Peach Blossom Spring was indeed planted for Kong Yu. It’s just that he had never told anyone else about this.
Mada Kong hugged that box and nodded, collapsing in a heap. Jing Rong left as he had to enter the palace. Juan’er only entered when she saw him leave, but saw her own master sobbing while hugging a box and scroll. She asked, “Madam, are you alright?”
“I’m alright!” Mada Kong wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
Juan’er’s eyes reddened as well as she sniffled, looking at the painting and box. She probed, “Mada, are these two items related to the Young Miss?”
Madam Kong nodded and she gently patted Juan’er’s hand, “From today onwards, we will never ever set foot in the capital. Let’s return and head for Erald Retreat – there’s a peach blossom forest there, we will take Yu’er there together.”
“Mm!” Juan’er nodded.
...........
Jing Rong entered the palace after leaving the Kong Mansion. Before he could disembark his sedan, he heard the Capital Governor’s voice, “Just as the First Prince’s funeral ended, here’s another troubleso matter.” He sighed, full of resentnt.
The lord standing beside him asked, “Lord Yi, what could be more worrying than the First Prince’s funeral?”
“These few days, there was a woman who has repeatedly served up a statent to the yan – there’s no evidence nor witness, and the case happened so many years ago. She has now co to the capital to submit a case. This case is difficult to process, and it was closed ages ago – wouldn’t you call this difficult?”
“Doesn’t this fall under the domain of the Supre Court?”
The Capital Governor seed to get set off by his statent. He huffed, “The position of Disciplinary Officer had been abolished by His Majesty several years ago. By all rights, provincial cases should be handled by the Supre Court, but since this woman didn’t follow protocol and ca straight to the capital, the Supre Court would naturally decline it. She could then only co to my yan, isn’t this tragic? If the Disciplinary Officer was around, none of these protocols would matter, and I wouldn’t be this troubled!” He sighed again.
All these were overheard by Jing Rong, who sat in his sedan.
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