frightfiction Chapter 1208: Empress Dowager Xiao Zhao Ci Rui An Hui Kang Gong Qin Mu
Chapter 1208: Empress Dowager Xiao Zhao Ci Rui An Hui Kang Gong Qin Mu
Xuanpin's voice was soft, with a hint of just the right amount of surprise, like the strings of a zither whose thoughts had been disturbed: "Alas... I was thinking that when I go to attend to the Empress Dowager in a couple of days, I can play a soothing song for her..."
She sighed softly, lowering her eyes to gaze at the pipa in her embrace. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, obscuring the faint light deep within them that could see through the world.
How could a woman who could give birth to a prince in the deep palace really be ignorant of the ways of the world?
The perfect timing of the Empress Dowager's death, and the undercurrents behind it... Concubine Xuan knew it all, but she would never point it out.
Being wise but appearing foolish is her best amulet.
Shen Zhinian's gaze lingered on Xuanpin's regretful face for a moment, and the corners of his lips curved slightly.
There are many smart people in the palace, but not many of them know how to protect themselves by pretending to be stupid.
Xuanpin is the latter.
"Change your clothes."
Shen Zhinian said this to Fuqiu and Handan, and also to remind Xuanpin: "The Empress Dowager has passed away, and the whole palace should wear mourning clothes."
"Yes."
No matter how confused people are, we must always put in enough effort to appear positive.
No one can escape the banner of filial piety.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs had already sent mourning clothes to each palace as soon as possible.
The bright colors were quickly put away, replaced by dazzling white and oppressive black.
Handan unfolded a plain white linen garment with fine texture and dark patterns embroidered on it. She dressed Shen Zhinian neatly and tied the belt around his waist with unhurried movements.
Dressed in plain white, Shen Zhinian's calm demeanor became even more awe-inspiring.
Xuanpin also returned to Chengqian Palace and was helped by Zhuer to change into plain clothes.
At the same time, the decree regarding the funeral ceremony for Empress Dowager Liu was also issued by the Ministry of Rites.
There was no nationwide grief as imagined, nor were there any complicated and grand national funeral ceremonies.
The decree was written in a high-sounding manner, yet it was also cold and direct—
"The country is at war, the Xiongnu remain unconquered; the rebels have just been pacified, and the government and the people need to regain their vitality. To show sympathy for the people and to demonstrate the emperor's virtue, the funeral rites for the empress dowager will be kept simple."
The word "simplicity" completely wiped out the last bit of honor that Empress Dowager Liu deserved as the mother of the country.
The mourning hall was set up in the Cining Palace, and its regulations were far less dignified than what the mother of the nation should have.
There were very few relatives and ministers who came to pay their respects, and their expressions were indifferent.
The monks and Taoist priests who chanted sutras for the deceased were only invited according to the minimum regulations. The only difference was Master Xingchen.
The Buddhist chants drifted in the empty temple, adding a sense of desolation and sadness.
Nanny Yuan was wearing plain clothes and kneeling beside the cold coffin, with an expression of unspeakable sadness on her face.
She looked at the shabby and hasty scene and the indifferent and perfunctory mourners, and her heart was filled with pain.
The Empress Dowager had been scheming her entire life, but in the end, even her death... was so sudden and so silent...
Liu Shuying, the once-powerful daughter of the Liu family, was the empress dowager with great power in the harem.
Her death ultimately failed to create the huge wave she had expected.
It was even unable to become the blade that stabbed Shen Zhinian.
Instead, it was like a stone thrown into a deep pond, causing only a few insignificant ripples before sinking completely to the bottom...
All her calculations, resentment and unwillingness were silently buried by the coldness of the deep palace and the fickleness of the world.
The passing of Empress Dowager Liu became a hasty, ironic joke...
Soon, all the concubines in the palace changed into plain clothes and came to the Cining Palace in mourning.
Xue Fei had a cold expression, and no emotion could be seen.
Concubine Zhuang twirled her Buddhist beads, walking steadily. Her gentle face was solemn and dignified in accordance with etiquette, but deep in her eyes was a calmness.
Concubine Kang was wrapped in a thick plain cloak, her face pale. She was carefully supported by Caiju, and every step she took was weak and cautious.
She lowered her eyes, still trying her best to reduce her presence.
Even though Concubine Wang was feeling unwell, she still had to force herself to come and keep vigil, and her face became paler and paler.
Inside the mourning hall, white banners hung low.
A few pale, eternally burning lamps flickered in the draft, illuminating the plain nanmu coffin in the center and casting ghostly shadows in the huge hall.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of burning incense, candles and paper money.
Several monks invited by the Ministry of Rites, wearing half-worn robes, sat cross-legged on a cushion in the corner, occasionally beating a wooden fish and chanting scriptures for the salvation of the soul.
There was no trace of compassion in the voice, but instead it added a touch of desolation and sadness.
As the leader of all the concubines, Shen Zhinian has an upright posture and her beauty cannot be concealed even under her plain clothes.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed on the faint candlelight in front of the coffin, and no emotion could be seen on her calm face.
Concubine Xuan knelt quietly behind Shen Zhinian, a little further away.
She lowered her head slightly, her eyes seemed to fall on the embroidery on her plain white skirt, but also seemed to be blank.
The coffin of Empress Dowager Liu was kept in the mourning hall deep in the palace for only a few days before it was hastily escorted out of the palace.
The ceremonial procession was halved and the drumming was silent.
The funeral procession passed silently and swiftly through the deserted streets of the capital, as if carrying out an unpleasant errand.
The emperor proposed the posthumous title "Gongsu" for Empress Dowager Liu, which was dry and rigid, but it was for the sake of royal dignity.
When people leave, the tea is cool.
It's cold to the bone.
If the Duke Dingguo Mansion was still there, and Liu Chongshan was still powerful, how could the affairs after Empress Dowager Gongsu's death be so sloppy and hasty?
The whole country must be in mourning, mourning with great honors, and enjoying the highest respect in life!
But now, the Liu family has become a traitor and the entire family has been killed, with no trace left.
Empress Dowager Gongsu herself had already lost the support of the people due to the double blow of power struggle and the destruction of Duke Dingguo's Mansion.
Her funeral was just the final exit ceremony after the power transition.
Before the funeral of Empress Dowager Gongsu was over, the emperor issued a new decree, which caused quite a stir!
Nangong Xuanyu issued an edict to posthumously confer the title of Duke of Mount Deer upon his biological mother—
The humble maid who was once unknown in the deep palace is now the Empress Dowager!
And she was given the extremely honorable and glorious posthumous title of "Empress Dowager Xiao Zhao Ci Rui An Hui Kang Gong Qin Mu"!
"Filial piety" is the core of the posthumous titles of empresses and concubines, reflecting their obedience to the royal family.
"Zhao" means bright and wise.
"Ci" shows kindness and generosity.
"Rui" means intelligent and knowledgeable.
"An" means peace and tranquility for the country.
"Hui" means benefiting all people.
"Kang" means a peaceful and healthy world.
"Gong" means being respectful and polite.
"Qin" shows dignity and majesty.
"Mu" has a sense of dignity and solemnity, and takes into account virtue, status and auspicious meaning as a whole.
This shows how much the emperor values his biological mother!
At the same time, Nangong Xuanyu ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works to start work immediately to move her remains from the remote and desolate corner of the imperial mausoleum to the most central and honorable auspicious tomb in the imperial mausoleum area!
When this decree was issued, the court and the public were shocked!
In the past, the emperor would suddenly elevate the status of the biological mother with the decree of the inferior to the superior, and would even go so far as to disturb the tomb of the previous emperor.
It will surely attract criticism from royal nobles and censors, causing a huge uproar!