Jinyi Spring

Chapter 205 Mourning

Emperor Jianzhang's heart sank suddenly, as if he had been hit hard by something.

He stood at the entrance of the palace, the candlelight casting interplay of light and shadow on his face.

After a long silence, he finally asked, "Mother, why didn't you tell me the truth back then?"

Empress Dowager Xue said, "I didn't think that much about it. That Xia was only an eleven-year-old child at the time, how could I have imagined that she would lie?"

Emperor Jianzhang said in a deep voice, "I will make sure this matter is thoroughly investigated."

He paused, his tone hardening, "As for the rest of the Xue family, let them stay in the capital. They can occasionally visit the Empress Dowager and help her relieve her worries. Also—I firmly believe that Princess Changning would not lie to me. Even if Xia's words are unreliable, it was she who arbitrarily altered them."

Only he himself knew how insincere those last two sentences were.

Master Yuhui is at the Jokhang Temple; just ask him and you'll find out.

Perfect timing! He also wanted to see if Princess Changning and the old Duke Ming were truly as loyal to the emperor as they thought.

Otherwise, the trust that the Emperor's grandfather, grandmother, father, and he himself had placed in them over the years would have been misplaced.

He glanced at his mother again; she had aged considerably. He had once trusted her wholeheartedly, but in the end, wasn't she still outwardly complying with his father's will but inwardly defying it for the sake of the Xue family?

However, he was still a bit too hasty in appointing Shui Heng as crown prince.

Emperor Jianzhang withdrew his gaze, turned and stepped over the threshold, disappearing into the deep night with long strides.

Winter nights are exceptionally long; it's past dawn, and it's still pitch black outside the window.

Shui Chuchen woke up after sleeping for less than two hours.

I opened my eyes, feeling a moment of disorientation. The canopy was made of unfamiliar mauve silk, the air was filled with a faint scent of agarwood, and the bed was large and soft.

She only remembered a moment later that this was the imperial palace, and that she was now Princess Yong'an.

She sat up and called out, "Peony."

Peony entered in response, followed by Granny Li and the palace maid named Caiju.

Granny Li held a plain white mourning robe in her hands, her face solemn. "Your Highness, the mourning hall in Kunning Palace has been set up, and His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess have been keeping vigil there since last night."

Shui Chuchen nodded, put on the hemp mourning clothes, wore the hemp crown, and tied a thick hemp rope around her waist.

She ate two mouthfuls of porridge and then left the princess's residence.

It was still dark, the sky was filled with twinkling stars, and the night wind howled, causing the lanterns under the eaves to sway. Several eunuchs led the way, carrying lanterns, and the group walked for more than a quarter of an hour on the cold stone bricks before arriving at the Kunning Palace.

The Kunning Palace was draped in white mourning. White banners hung from the eaves, fluttering in the night wind. The palace doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating the mourning hall as if it were daytime.

Shui Chuchen stepped inside and immediately saw a black lacquered coffin in the center of the hall. In front of the coffin stood a black lacquered memorial tablet with the words "The Spirit of Empress Xiaoxian, née Xiao" written in gold on it.

There were no complete remains inside, only two broken bones, a monk's hat, and a set of old clothes worn by Empress Xiaoxian.

Shui Chuchen kowtowed to the coffin, offered incense, and, guided by the eunuch, knelt to the right of the coffin, below the Crown Princess Xie, and opposite the Crown Prince on the left.

The Crown Prince and his wife had been kneeling for half the night, their eyes red and swollen, their faces haggard. The Crown Princess, in particular, was frighteningly pale, as she was newly pregnant.

The crown prince glanced at his sister, said nothing, and only nodded slightly.

Shui Chuchen didn't say anything, but knelt down silently with her back straight.

The mourning hall was so quiet that only the occasional crackling of the candlelight and the howling of the night wind could be heard in the distance.

Before long, footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

King Zhao Shuiyun and Queen Zhao arrived first. King Zhao was dressed in mourning clothes, his face calm, revealing neither sorrow nor joy. Queen Zhao's belly was already very large, and her face was haggard.

They knelt on the prayer mats, respectfully kowtowed three times, and offered incense.

Princess Zhao had difficulty getting up, so King Zhao helped her up.

After rising, they greeted the Crown Prince and his wife, and then addressed Shui Chuchen as "Eldest Princess".

The Crown Prince nodded slightly.

Shui Chuchen rose and curtsied, "Second Imperial Brother, Second Imperial Sister-in-law."

The King of Zhao said softly, "My eldest sister has suffered."

Then one person retreated to the left and knelt below the Crown Prince. Another person retreated to the right and knelt below the Crown Princess, with Shui Chuchen above him. Next was the Third Prince, Shui Xing, who was fifteen years old this year and had a handsome and refined appearance. He kowtowed, offered incense, and then bowed to the Crown Prince and his wife and Shui Chuchen in greeting.

"Greetings, eldest brother; greetings, eldest sister."

There was not a trace of curiosity about Shui Chuchen in his eyes, only politeness and attentiveness.

Shui Chuchen also said softly, "Third Imperial Brother."

Afterwards, the third prince knelt below the King of Zhao.

The Fifth Prince, Shui Ming, was only a little over a year old when he was brought in by his wet nurse. He had been woken up from his sleep and cried for a while. His little mouth was pouting and his eyes were full of tears. He was held by his wet nurse and kowtowed, kneeling below the Third Prince.

The little guy was uncomfortable and kept whimpering.

The fourth prince died of illness a few years ago.

Several princesses also arrived.

The third princess, Shui Raohua, is twelve years old. The fourth princess, Shui Raoyin, is ten years old. The fifth princess, Shui Raotong, is five years old.

The two younger children followed behind the Third Princess, timidly kowtowing, offering incense, and then exchanging greetings with their elder brother, sister-in-law, and elder sister.

"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law, eldest sister."

Then they knelt down in turn at the foot of Shui Chuchen.

They were young and couldn't suppress their curiosity about this elder sister, occasionally stealing a glance at Shui Chuchen before quickly looking down.

A palace attendant reported, "Your Highness, the Second Princess caught a cold last night and is unwell. She cannot come to observe mourning for Empress Xiaoxian."

The crown prince said calmly, "I understand."

Shui Chuchen scoffed inwardly. The Second Princess's birth mother was Consort Xue, and the Xue family was now on the verge of collapse. She felt both hatred and fear, so why would she kowtow to her "enemy"?

The King and Queen Zhao were much more shrewd and wouldn't show their anger, no matter how angry they were.

Before long, the concubines arrived. They entered the hall in order of rank to offer their condolences, some sobbing softly, others covering their faces with handkerchiefs. After the ceremony, the eunuchs led them to a side hall to rest, to return to the main hall to mourn when the appointed time arrived.

They were naturally curious about this suddenly appearing Princess Yong'an, and while bowing, they couldn't help but secretly take another look at her through their handkerchiefs.

Shui Chuchen kept her eyes straight ahead, her back ramrod straight, letting those gazes fall upon her.

Suddenly, the Crown Princess beside her swayed slightly. Shui Chuchen reacted quickly, catching her and placing her fingers on her wrist to check her pulse.

After a moment, she raised her head and said, "Elder brother, elder sister-in-law is weak. If she continues to overwork herself, she may be at risk of miscarriage."

The hall fell silent immediately.

Two imperial physicians and two female physicians who were waiting outside the mourning hall entered upon hearing the commotion; one of them was Cai Yuxiu.

A royal physician stepped forward to take her pulse, and his expression was also grave. "Your Highness, the Crown Princess is indeed unable to withstand such exertion and needs to rest."

The Crown Prince looked at his wife with heartache, his lips moved as if he wanted to say, "Go and rest," but he swallowed the words back. Before his mother's spirit tablet, how could he, as the eldest son, tell his wife to leave first?

Shui Chuchen instructed a eunuch beside her, "Go and inform the Emperor that the Crown Princess is pregnant and unwell, and ask the Emperor for a decision."

Just as the eunuch turned around, a palace attendant from Cining Palace hurriedly entered and announced loudly, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager decrees: The Crown Princess and Princess Zhao are pregnant and should not overexert themselves. They may wait in the side hall and come out together to mourn. The Fifth Prince is still an infant and should also wait in the side hall."

The Crown Princess and Princess Zhao both breathed a sigh of relief, and together with the wet nurse who was holding the Fifth Prince, they bowed in the direction of Cining Palace, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Empress Dowager."

Shui Chuchen knelt down again, a subtle smile playing on her lips. Madam Xue really knew how to put on a show.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), officials offered distant sacrifices in the front hall, bowing to Empress Xiaoxian. Female members of the imperial family and noblewomen were divided into three classes according to their rank, offering sacrifices and weeping at various locations, including the platform west of Kunning Palace and outside Longzong Gate.

Female members of the imperial family and first-rank imperial consorts must first come to the mourning hall to pay their respects, and then go to the platform located on the west side of Kunning Palace to mourn.

The mourning lasted for an hour. After the ceremony, everyone dispersed. They would return at dawn the next day, and this would continue for three days.

The first to arrive were Empress Xiaoxian's maternal relatives: Xiao Henian, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. They wept bitterly, especially Xiao's uncle, who could barely stand and had to be supported by others.

She then came to weep with the Crown Prince and Princess Chang'an.

Next came the members of the imperial family and the first-rank noblewomen. They first comforted the Crown Prince, then Princess Chang'an, their grief tinged with an irresistible curiosity. (End of Chapter)