In the front courtyard of the Song Mansion, the guests were still exchanging toasts.
Yun Huai also attended Song Yuanbao’s wedding and shared a table with Song Wei.
As the funeral bell tolled, the two were engaged in conversation.
Upon discerning the direction from which the bell sounded, Song Wei gradually fell silent, his expression becoming solemn.
Yun Huai realized it too. After finishing the last half glass of wine in his hand, he said, "It’s the funeral bell, presumably..."
What could be presud, he didn’t need to finish. Everyone could guess; surely, the Emperor had passed away.
Song Wei stood up and addressed the guests, "My apologies, everyone. A new mourning in the palace ans it is inappropriate for us ministers to hold a grand banquet. I must ask you all to leave the mansion promptly."
This was a national mourning. Who would dare utter a word of complaint? Moreover, Song Wei hadn’t said anything excessive, so everyone expressed understanding.
Afterward, the housekeepers arranged for the gradual departure from the Song Mansion.
The maids and servants were clearing the cups and plates from the banquet.
Song Wei headed straight to the inner courtyard.
Wen Wan and Zhao Xunyin had also heard the funeral bell and had already stopped the banquet.
The Second Lang’s wife was bidding farewell to the female guests.
Wen Wan had Linglong find two sets of plain clothes, and at this mont, they were changing with Zhao Xunyin inside.
When Song Wei arrived, Zhao Xunyin was standing in the courtyard, entrusting Lu Yanli to Jinbao, telling him to take good care of his uncle and assuring him they would be back shortly.
Jinbao didn’t understand what the incessant bell tolling signified, but seeing the grave expressions on his mother’s and grandmother’s faces, he knew sothing bad had happened. Thus, he behaved very well and didn’t fuss.
"Wanwan, Mother-in-law." Song Wei approached them, shifting his gaze to Jinbao and gently said, "Take your uncle to grandmother’s, father, and mother will be back shortly."
Jinbao nodded and took Lu Yanli by the hand, leading him away.
"I’ve already arranged for a carriage," said Song Wei. "As soon as the bell tolls, all officials enter the court. The palace gates should now be wide open, we can head straight there."
Zhao Xunyin said nothing, rely nodded.
Song Wei paused and added, "Mother-in-law, please accept my condolences."
Zhao Xunyin forced a slight smile, "Having just this one brother, and now he’s gone, it’s truly hard on the heart."
When they reached the outside of the main gate, Wen Wan assisted her mother into the carriage, then she and Song Wei boarded, sitting one after the other.
The carriage sped toward the Imperial City.
Upon arrival, a number of vehicles had already gathered at the gate of the Imperial City, all of whom had hurried upon hearing the funeral bell. However, these were the few; most officials were still at the palace attending the new Emperor’s wedding banquet. Like the Song family, once the bell tolled, the banquet was promptly stopped, and everyone now headed towards Qianqing Palace.
So colleagues spotted Song Wei and wanted to approach and greet him.
But Song Wei was in a great hurry, barely acknowledging them with a brief reply as he continued onward.
Due to the sudden occurrence, the palace hadn’t prepared enough sedan chairs, so many officials had to walk to Qianqing Palace.
Zhao Xunyin, as the Eldest Princess with a unique status, was allotted a soft sedan chair.
The soft sedan chair could only seat one person.
Wen Wan noticed her hesitation and said, "I can see you’re anxious, mother, you go ahead. Third Son and I can walk a bit, it won’t take long."
Zhao Xunyin at this point could not worry about much else, "If that’s the case, then you two take your ti, I’ll go ahead."
When Zhao Xunyin arrived at Qianqing Palace, there was already a crowd of ministers kneeling outside.
She bypassed them and moved to the Emperor’s bedroom door, where Mr. Cui saw her and quickly went inside to inform the Emperor. Shortly thereafter, he ca out to report, "His Majesty invites the Eldest Princess to enter."
The Crown Prince had ascended the throne, and the current Emperor was Zhao Xi. Zhao Xunyin, being his aunt, was to be called the "Eldest Princess."
Zhao Xunyin took a deep breath, suppressing her earlier impatience, and walked inside step by step.
Zhao Xi and Dong Han knelt before the Dragon Couch, and on the Dragon Couch lay the now breathless Emperor.
He passed peacefully, though emaciated in appearance, he showed not a trace of regret before death.
"Elder brother—"
Tears welled up in Zhao Xunyin’s eyes as she knelt not far from the Emperor and Empress, then asked Zhao Xi, "When did he pass?"
Zhao Xi replied calmly, "Half an hour ago."
Zhao Xunyin had intended to ask if the Emperor had said anything before passing, but upon reflection, as the Emperor had been unable to speak for a long ti before his death, she swallowed her words and fell silent, gazing at the lifeless figure on the Dragon Couch.
During the late Empress Dowager’s ti, in order to reclaim the 300,000 troops in Lu Xingzhou’s hands, she forcibly arranged her marriage.
Whether or not Lu Xingzhou was her intended one, the Empress Dowager’s actions were clearly to sacrifice her daughter for her son. If she had remained unmarried it might have been tolerable, but alas... thus, for more than a decade, she harbored resentnt towards the Empress Dowager and this brother.
So much had happened since then, she could hardly recall how the relationship between the siblings thawed, only knowing that at this mont, seeing her brother lying there lifeless, her heart ached faintly.
Zhao Xi didn’t turn back, his voice low, "Aunt, please restrain your grief."
Upon hearing this comfort, Zhao Xunyin’s mood grew more complicated.
The words "restrain your grief" were supposed to be said by her to the young Emperor, yet now he was comforting her instead.
Standing up, Zhao Xunyin walked to Zhao Xi’s side, "The forr Emperor went peacefully, Your Majesty must also take care of your health. The matter has co to this point, let’s rise first and go out to give an explanation to the officials, directing people to prepare the funeral arrangents."
Saying this, she reached out to assist Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi did not resist, rising with the help of his aunt’s hand.
Zhao Xunyin then went to assist the Empress.
Empress Dong softly expressed her gratitude.
Zhao Xunyin carefully looked at the two of them, her eyes focusing on Zhao Xi’s face, noticing he hadn’t shed tears, nor were his eyes red, only silent. She sighed softly in her heart.
Then Zhao Xi walked outside the hall, looking at the ministers, both civil and military, who were kneeling on the ground, "The forr Emperor has passed away. From now on, the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Industry, and the Ritual Departnt will fully assist the Ministry of Rites in arranging the national mourning. The Five Cities Military Departnt will impose martial law across the city. Private events involving music, marriages, and banquets are forbidden, and violators will be punished."
Upon hearing this, the officials prostrated themselves, soon followed by a unified chorus of "Your Majesty, please restrain your grief."
Song Wei and Wen Wan arrived just in ti to catch Zhao Xi instructing the Ministry of Rites to invite soone from Shangqing Temple to conduct the morial service.
The couple greeted him with a bow.
Zhao Xi said indifferently, "It will soon be ti for the burial. If you wish to see him one last ti, you should enter now."
Wen Wan exchanged a glance with Song Wei, and after another courtesy, they stepped into the Emperor’s bedroom.
Zhao Xi stood by the white marble railing, his refined features hidden in the deep, thick night.
Not far away were the busy figures of the eunuchs and palace maids.
Vaguely, Zhao Xi saw a figure weaving through the eunuchs and palace maids, running quickly and arriving before long.
Upon seeing it clearly as Song Yuanbao, Zhao Xi said, "You shouldn’t be here."
Song Yuanbao appeared indifferent, "We’re the sa."
Both had their wedding night interrupted by the unexpected national mourning, before reaching the bridal chamber.
Zhao Xi said no more.
Song Yuanbao stepped back two paces to bow, "Your Majesty, may I go inside to take a look?"
Though strictly speaking, the forr Emperor wasn’t his granduncle, he had once received the forr Emperor’s favor and was granted the title of Young Master Xiao Yao. Moreover, he and Zhao Xi were friends, and with so many connections, it should’nt be too much to ask to view the forr Emperor’s remains.
Zhao Xi didn’t stop him.
Song Yuanbao turned and entered the hall.
Wen Wan, surprised upon seeing him, dared not speak loudly before the forr Emperor’s body, only using her eyes to question how he left the bride alone and ran to the Imperial Palace.
Song Yuanbao approached Wen Wan, whispered three words, "I should co."
Then he turned his gaze toward the Dragon Couch.
Mr. Cui had already brought people to change the forr Emperor’s clothes, and the ti for the burial was near.
Zhao Xunyin saw Song Yuanbao and frowned slightly, using her eyes to signal Wen Wan to lead him out.
Though it was national mourning, it nevertheless remained a funeral, and his original joy from the wedding would be washed away.
Song Yuanbao’s purpose in coming was to see the forr Emperor’s remains, and having seen them, he did not persist when ordered out by Wen Wan’s gaze.
Only when he walked out of the hall, Zhao Xi was no longer there.
With great events occurring in the palace tonight, Song Yuanbao dared not wander around, choosing instead to wait outside.
The grand and ornate coffin was soon delivered, and Empress Dong watched the burial before leading the people out.
Not seeing Zhao Xi, she didn’t plan to stay long. Speaking briefly with Zhao Xunyin, essentially saying that she was young and had just entered the palace today, unfamiliar with many rules and rituals, so if there was anything she should do, she hoped the Eldest Princess would guide her.
Zhao Xunyin said, "By tradition, you and the Emperor are the dutiful son and daughter-in-law, and tonight you should remain by the spirit. Coincidentally, today’s your wedding, it’s the first ti in my life encountering such a situation. The officials might still be discussing, so return to the palace first and send soone later to ask the Emperor for his decision."
Empress Dong nodded, leading the palace maids back to Yikun Palace.
Upon sending off Empress Dong, Zhao Xunyin again looked at Song Yuanbao, "We must stay here tonight, but you cannot. Since you’ve seen what you needed to, return early, so the bride isn’t left to an empty room."
Song Yuanbao knew he had no choice, nodding his head.
Song Wei pulled him aside, advising, "There are taboos during national mourning, you must be careful."
"I understand." Song Yuanbao nodded.
During national mourning, not only are music and marriages prohibited, but intimacy is also forbidden. Although this is difficult to monitor for every household, if a woman conceives and is later discovered to have beco pregnant during the period of national mourning, they would surely be charged with the cri of great disrespect.
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