The Empress passed away, shaking the entire capital.
The Son of Heaven led the hundred officials to Weiyang Palace, and the consorts of the inner palace all rushed over as well.
Gu Jiu sat quietly in a side chamber, not stepping out through the main door. All she could hear were various noises coming from outside.
Qing Mei had finally stopped crying.
She wiped away her tears and said: “After hearing that the Empress niangniang had passed, but not seeing you return, nubi was frightened to death. Nubi was terrified something terrible had happened to you.”
Gu Jiu smiled, wiping Qing Mei’s tears for her. “Don’t be afraid. Didn’t I come back just fine? Look at me, safe and sound, nothing’s wrong.”
Qing Mei looked at Gu Jiu anxiously. “Did guniang suffer any grievances? Did the Empress niangniang or that Fang shaojian make things difficult for you?”
Gu Jiu hid the finger marks on her wrist inside her sleeve. “No, don’t overthink it.”
Some things were hers alone to bear. And besides, what had happened in the bedchamber was not suitable to tell Qing Mei.
But regarding Ping mama, she could say a few words.
“Qing Mei, do you still remember Ping mama who used to serve taitai?”
“Nubi remembers. Why does guniang suddenly mention her?”
Gu Jiu pretended to ask casually: “Do you know where she’s serving now?”
Qing Mei thought carefully. “Nubi heard people say Ping mama was driven away by taitai, though I don’t know if it’s true. Nubi only overheard it in passing.”
Gu Jiu suddenly understood.
So, Ping mama had already been expelled by Xie shi.
No wonder. She had wondered how Xie shi could be so reckless, not caring for her life, daring to send Ping mama to expose her scandals openly.
Did she not know those matters could never see the light of day?
It seemed that after leaving the Gu family, Ping mama must have gone over to the Xie family. Only then could the Xie family act so brazenly.
Xie Xian climbing up to Tianmen Temple with sinister intentions, what did it matter if it was exposed? At worst, they could sacrifice Xie Xian.
In the Xie family’s way of doing things, as long as the benefits were great enough, a life or two meant nothing.
But there was still something Gu Jiu couldn’t figure out: why hadn’t Fang shaojian summoned Xie Xian to confront her?
Xie Xian, being directly involved, would be far more credible than Ping mama.
Or… had something happened to Xie Xian, preventing him from reaching the palace?
With so little information, Gu Jiu couldn’t make an accurate guess.
Someone knocked at the door.
Qing Mei opened it.
A palace maid stood outside: “All the guniang are requested to proceed to the mourning hall and wail for niangniang.”
Qing Mei quickly slipped her a pouch of money and whispered, “Has the mourning hall been arranged so soon?”
The palace maid accepted it, still keeping her meek, submissive expression. “The mourning hall is ready. The titled furen are already entering the palace one after another. Please hurry, Gu guniang, don’t delay.”
Gu Jiu rose. “I will go at once.”
She brought Qing Mei with her out of the side hall, where they saw Wei san guniang and several other young ladies.
They had all been summoned to the mourning hall.
Gu Jiu walked up beside Wei san guniang. “Wei san jiejie.”
“Xiao Jiu meimei, you’re all right? Your maid was crying herself nearly sick earlier, and I was so worried as well. Seeing you safe and sound now, I feel relieved.”
“Thank you for your concern, Wei san jiejie. I am fine. Since we are going to the mourning hall now, will we be able to leave the palace today?”
Wei san guniang whispered: “We are not titled furen, only here in the palace coincidentally. After crying at the mourning hall today, we should be able to leave. But those titled furen will suffer. They must remain in the palace at least fourteen days, and every day they must come to the mourning hall to cry. The healthy ones can endure, but those who are frail may not survive it.”
Gu Jiu nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. But immediately she began worrying about the Wei lao furen.
Wei lao furen was a furen of exalted rank; she would surely have to enter the palace to mourn. But at her age, could she endure it? She must not have any mishap.
Following the group, Gu Jiu arrived at the Liangyi Hall.
The mourning hall had been set up inside.
Some of the imperial in-laws were already kneeling within.
Under the direction of the palace maids, Gu Jiu knelt in the side chamber of the hall.
Wei san guniang quietly told Gu Jiu: “I heard the Empress niangniang has not yet been encoffined. At this moment, His Majesty, the Crown Prince, the consorts of the harem, and all the officials are still in Weiyang Palace.”
Gu Jiu noticed that, indeed, on the main altar of the mourning hall, there was no coffin.
“When will niangniang be encoffined?” she asked.
Wei san guniang shook her head. “Unclear. It depends on the situation in Weiyang Palace. If anyone seizes the chance to stir up trouble, I fear we won’t be able to leave the palace today.”
Gu Jiu’s heart skipped a beat.
At this moment, all she wished for was to leave the palace quickly, to escape this man-eating place, never to return.
If they could not leave today, who knew what might happen overnight?
With the Empress’s death, ambitious people from all sides would make their moves. Any accident was possible now.
Gu Jiu was not afraid of other things, only of being implicated.
Whether or not the Emperor had affection for the Empress, with her death, he would surely seize the opportunity to strike down a few people to vent his fury.
The taiyi, most likely, were in grave danger.
While Gu Jiu’s thoughts wandered, a storm was already brewing in Weiyang Palace.
In the bedchamber of Weiyang Palace, the palace staff had already changed the Empress into her burial garments, adorned her, and awaited the encoffining.
Kaiyao Emperor sat on a chair, his face like frost.
The Crown Prince was heartbroken and softly requested that a grand funeral be held for the Empress.
“Muhou has toiled her entire life, and in her final days, she suffered terribly. Many times, erchen personally witnessed her writhing in such pain that she cried out. Fuhuang, erchen wishes to hold a grand funeral for muhou. I beg fuhuang’s permission.”
The Kaiyao Emperor gave no reply. Everyone else remained silent.
The Minister of Revenue hesitated, then stepped forward. “Your Majesty, weichen dares to ask, how much silver will be required to conduct the Empress’s funeral rites?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened as he rebuked him: “Chen daren, what do you mean by this? To arrange muhou’s funeral, do we still need to worry about money? Absurd!”
Minister Chen merely lifted his eyelids. “Your Highness, those who do not manage a household cannot know how dear firewood and rice truly are. This year’s tax revenues were already allocated at the end of last year. The treasury has no surplus. Unless Your Highness and the several wangye are willing to forgo this year’s stipends, or delay them until next year, there are no funds. At that time, the Ministry will find a way to make up for it.”
“Absurd!” Zhao wang scolded the Minister. “If you cut off our stipends, are we to drink the northwest wind to survive? Do you not know that our households number in the hundreds, all relying on stipends for livelihood? Without them, I shall simply go to Minister Chen’s home to demand provisions!”
Minister Chen’s expression did not so much as flicker. “Even if Zhao wang were to come to benguan’s humble home for provisions, there would be nothing to eat. The court still owes benguan two months of salary, which was not paid even during the New Year.”
“You…” Zhao wang jabbed a finger at him, outraged beyond words.
The Crown Prince was a little bewildered. “Is it truly so, that not a single coin can be spared from the treasury?”
The Minister of Revenue answered: “The treasury holds but two hundred thousand taels as surplus, which must first go to the salaries of the capital officials, and even that may fall short. All other funds have already been allocated and cannot be diverted.”
The Crown Prince looked helplessly toward the Emperor. If the treasury was empty, the only hope lay in the Shaofu. The Shaofu overflowed with wealth, but it was the emperor’s private coffer. Without his consent, nothing could be taken from it.
“Fuhuang, muhou laboured her whole life. Her funeral cannot be handled carelessly. All under heaven are watching. If the funeral of the Mother of the Nation is so perfunctory, how could that be acceptable?”
The Crown Prince pleaded with the Son of Heaven, almost in tears. If not for the reminder in his heart that he must not show too much weakness before the emperor, he would surely have wept bitterly, grieving for his mother.
The Kaiyao Emperor said sternly, “The Empress’s funeral must not be handled carelessly. Since the treasury is depleted, all expenses shall be borne by the Shaofu. Where is Shaofu Ling?”
“Weichen is here.”
Shaofu Ling stepped out from among the officials.
The Emperor spoke heavily: “Having lost the Empress, zhen is in utmost grief. Her funeral must be grand. Whatever is required, the Shaofu shall not shirk. If anyone dares show disrespect toward the Empress, report directly to zhen.”
“Weichen obeys.”
“Is there anything else?” The Emperor fixed his gaze on the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, terrified, lowered his head at once. “Erchen thanks fuhuang on behalf of muhou.”
“Hmph!” The Emperor gave a cold snort. “Zhen holds a funeral for the Empress, what need have I for your thanks? Mourn her properly, as a son should.”
“Erchen obeys.”
The Emperor rose and walked to the bed, gazing upon the Empress’s body.
Hatred, anger, sorrow, longing, one emotion after another passed through his heart, so tangled that even he himself no longer knew what he truly wanted.
The Empress had left a final instruction: the Crown Prince was to mourn her for three years. The Emperor knew well that she was buying time for the Crown Prince.
He was furious. This woman had opposed him all her life, and even at death’s door, she had calculated against him once more. Such insolence!
Did she truly think that by making the Crown Prince mourn for three years, he would be untouchable?
Never in history had a Crown Prince mourned for three years without attending court. If she could demand that he mourn for three years, then he, the Emperor, could just as easily decree that after twenty-seven days, the Crown Prince would resume court duties.
The Emperor clenched his fists and suddenly laughed.
Since the Empress had played this move, he would see whether the Crown Prince could truly rise.
Three years pass in the blink of an eye.
If the Crown Prince truly endured for three years, he would not begrudge him the throne. But if the Crown Prince failed, then let the Empress not blame him for disregarding father-son affection.
The Emperor said no more, but flung his sleeves and departed. Anyone could see the fire smouldering in his eyes.
Whether that anger was directed at the Empress or at the Crown Prince did not matter. What mattered was that all officials now knew: the Crown Prince was in grave peril.
The court officials departed, the palace concubines departed, and the imperial clan also withdrew. Only the Crown Prince and the people of the Eastern Palace remained in the chamber.
The Crown Prince knelt at the bedside, blankly staring at the Empress’s body.
Fang shaojian stepped forward and said softly: “Your Highness, it is time to encoffin the Empress. The titled furen have already gone to the mourning hall to wail. This chamber should also be put in order.”
The Crown Prince suddenly broke into sobs. “You saw it, didn’t you?”
Fang shaojian said nothing.
The Crown Prince said again, “You saw it, didn’t you? The way fuhuang looked at muhou in the end… gu can’t help but feel wronged for her.”
[T/N: Gu: self-appellation of a crown prince.]
Fang shaojian spoke gently in persuasion: “Your Highness, now is not the time for wild thoughts. Niangniang fought so hard to win you three years of peace, you must not let her down.”
The Crown Prince looked blank. “Three years… What is gu supposed to do? Truly not attend court or take part in government?”
Fang shaojian nodded. “If you don’t attend court, you won’t make mistakes. As long as you make no mistakes, no one can touch the Eastern Palace. Endure these three years, and the capital will be a different place. By then, Your Highness will soar like a dragon and laugh last.”
“Is it really that simple?” The Crown Prince gave a self-mocking smile.
Not attend court, and you won’t err? Such words could only fool a child.
Yet Fang shaojian still spoke to him this way. Did he really take him for a child?
He was the Crown Prince, had been so for twenty years, not some ignorant youth.
He was softhearted, yes, but that did not mean he was ignorant of power and intrigue.
The Crown Prince laughed loudly, tears spilling as he did. He laughed at his own stupidity. Now that his mother was gone, who could he rely on in the future?
Sorrow welled up like a flood in his chest, and he wept like a child.
Fang shaojian waved his hand, ordering attendants to pull the Crown Prince away.
Then he instructed the palace staff to begin the empress’s encoffining.
Afterwards, her body was placed in the mourning hall.
Court officials and noble ladies alike were required to come and weep for her spirit.
The grand Liangyi Hall, its main hall, side halls, and annexes, was packed with a sea of black-clad mourners.
At the appointed hour, everyone cried out in grief at once; the sound alone could terrify the soul.
The Crown Prince, in mourning robes, led his wife and children to kneel in the front and keep vigil for the empress.
Half an hour later, the ritual ended, and the mourners were allowed a brief rest.
Gu Jiu rose from the floor, her knees numb and unfeeling.
Wei san guniang fared even worse; she could not stand at all.
Gu Jiu hurried to support her. “Wei san jiejie, are you all right?”
Clutching her knees, Wei san guniang grimaced. “They hurt! I’ll be fine after a rest.”
Gu Jiu helped her walk outside.
Wei san guniang muttered under her breath, “In all my life, I haven’t knelt this long, even put together. This time, I fear I’ve lost half my life here.”
“Hush, Wei san jiejie, be careful what you say. For now, let’s just hope we can leave the palace soon.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Wei san guniang scanned the crowd for her family. Spotting them, her face lit up.
“Thank you, Xiao Jiu meimei. I’ll go over and talk with them. You should find your people too, surely the hou fu has come to the palace.”
“Go ahead, Wei san jiejie.”
Wei san guniang left happily.
Gu Jiu looked around and finally found the members of the hou fu in a side chamber: Wei lao furen, the three furen along with Zhang shi and Xie shi.
Xie shi’s face was ghostly pale, clearly worn out from the long kneeling. The others looked a little better, every face full of sorrow.
“Xiao Jiu is here! We were just wondering if you were also present.”
Gu Jiu stepped forward to bow. “Greetings, lao furen, taitai, da bomu, three tang bomu.”
Wei lao furen said, “No need for so much courtesy. These days you’ve been living in the palace, have you fared well? Have you met with any danger?”
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly. At this moment in the palace, she dared not smile, lest anyone accuse her of showing disrespect to the empress.
She replied, “Thank you for your concern, lao furen. Your grandniece is well.”
Wei lao furen studied her carefully. Seeing that she seemed unharmed, she relaxed. “Good, good. These past days, I have fretted, fearing something might befall you in the palace.”
“Your grandniece has made you worry. It is unfilial of me.”
“Say no more of that.” Lao furen waved her hand. “Will you be able to leave the palace today?”
Gu Jiu answered, “I should be able to.”
“That’s good. A young girl like you shouldn’t have to suffer such hardships.”
Lao furen was truly worried. Palace rules were strict, and if anything were to happen to a young girl, it would be disastrous.
Wei shi sighed softly and spoke: “Your tangsao is gone.”
Gu Jiu did not register it at first. “What?”
Xie shi cut in, “Er yatou, didn’t you hear? The young madam of the hou fu has passed away.”
Gu Jiu’s face changed. “But wasn’t she saved? How could she be gone?”
Wei shi frowned slightly. “It was that she no longer wished to live.”
Gu Jiu’s face went pale. She could imagine how devastated Jia shi must have been upon losing her child.
But she was still young; there would be more children in the future. Why would she not want to go on? Was it postpartum despair?
Gu Jiu asked cautiously, “How did tangsao pass?”
Xie shi snapped, displeased: “Gone is gone, what’s the use of asking so much?”
Wei shi frowned and cast Xie shi a warning glance.
Zhang shi also glared. Couldn’t she hold her tongue?
Wei shi said to Gu Jiu, “We only learned later that she refused all the medicine Hu taiyi prescribed. She… no longer wished to live. Even if the gods had descended, they couldn’t have saved her. The night before last, at midnight, a maid checked on her and found her body already cold.
“Ai… your tang ge is beside himself with grief. And now, on top of that, niangniang has passed. We are all stuck here in the palace, with no one left to oversee the fu. Your tangsao’s funeral can only be handled simply.
“Xiao Jiu, once you come out of the palace, please go to the hou fu and accompany Mei’er. With the children taking charge of the funeral, I can’t rest easy. Help keep an eye on things for me, will you?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Tang bomu, don’t worry. I’ll support Mei jiejie and help manage tangsao’s funeral.”
“Good child!”
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