But before burial, there is one extremely important thing that needs to be dealt with.
That is, the issue of burial.
Lao Zhu left an imperial edict, in addition to establishing Zhu Biao as emperor and forbidding everyone from entering the capital, he also decreed that all his concubines who had no children should be buried with him.
At first, Zhu Biao was busy with his father's funeral affairs and did not have time to pay attention to the matter of burial. Now when the Qintian Supervisor fixed the auspicious date, Zhu Biao had time to go back and talk about the matter of burial.
But he didn't know if he didn't ask. Zhu Biao was shocked when he asked. Originally, he thought that those who needed to be buried were just a few young concubines of his father.
But the number reported to him by the palace was a full sixty or seventy people.
When Zhu Biao took the list, his hands began to tremble involuntarily. He looked at Wang Yue and asked in a stern tone: "Are you sure you're not mistaken? Why are there so many?"
Wang Yue had not yet become the chief steward in the palace, and his temperament had not yet caught up. Faced with the royal family's questioning, he knelt down with a plop and replied with tears in his eyes: "I will never make a mistake, this slave's instructions to the emperor."
It has always been done conscientiously. The people on this list were indeed found by my servant in strict accordance with the orders of Emperor Daxing."
Zhu Biao lowered his head and carefully read the people on the list with a solemn expression. Although he didn't recognize most of them, seeing that they were all heads of palaces, he knew that the list provided by Wang Yue
That's right.
However, Zhu Biao felt uncomfortable at the thought of having to bury so many people, and was unwilling to give the order for a long time.
Wang Yue waited for a long time, but did not receive a response from the emperor.
"emperor?"
Zhu Biao came to his senses immediately, folded the list and put it into his sleeve robe. He sighed: "I have to think about this matter carefully. Please step aside first."
"Yes." Wang Yue, as if he had been pardoned, quickly got up from the ground, turned around and walked out of the palace.
Wang Yue always only obeyed Zhu Biao's orders. Anyway, he would do whatever the emperor asked him to do. Now he doesn't think about anything or ask for anything. He just wants to meet all the emperor's requirements so that he can please the emperor and let him be the general manager.
seat.
The next day, Han Du was resting at home. As Lao Zhu's consort, Han Du had been accompanying Anqing these days, participating in all etiquette procedures such as small and large burials from beginning to end. These etiquettes all have the same characteristics.
It is strict, there are strict requirements for standing, kneeling, and worshiping, and there can be no mistakes even in the slightest. In the past, Han Du had a friendly attitude towards the Ministry of Etiquette, but after this ritual, Han Du almost hated it in his heart.
They are.
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br> The second is complexity. Originally Han Du thought that Queen Ma’s time was complicated enough, but this time the national mourning refreshed Han Du’s understanding of complexity. Every detail has been reduced to the point of being impossible to add, what?
What should be done at the time, there can be no more or less actions. Every time is clearly arranged, even when Zhu Biao should kneel down and when he should read the eulogy, it is all clear.
Chu. Moreover, no one is allowed to change these, not even Zhu Biao.
In short, Han Du only had one feeling after passing by. Are these officials from the Ministry of Rites usually staying in Qingshui Yamen, jealous of everyone in the court, and now if they catch the opportunity, they will torture people to death?
I don’t know how other people feel, but Han Du himself felt that he was tortured enough by the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
After finally having the opportunity to go home and take a rest, Han Du naturally wanted to make up for all the sleep he had missed these days.
But before Han Du could get enough sleep, An Qing woke Han Du up with his hair.
"Ah, sneeze!" There was a violent sneeze, and Han Du instantly felt pain in his internal organs.
Very annoyed, he opened his eyes and saw An Qing playing with his hair and looking at him. There was no need to look for the culprit, it was the person in front of him.
Han Du couldn't get angry at An Qing, so he could only ask with great dissatisfaction, "What are you doing! Are you going to let people sleep?"
An Qing immediately apologized with a smile, "Okay, I was wrong. I shouldn't have disturbed your sleep. But I can't help but disturb you. The emperor has sent someone to ask you to enter the palace immediately."
After Han Du heard clearly, he immediately forgave An Qing. Since it was Zhu Biao who was looking for him, he could not continue to sleep.
While sitting up in a daze, Han Du asked with some doubts: "Everything is stable now. There should be nothing major. Why is the emperor summoning me in such a hurry?"
An Qing spread his hands, shook his head and said, "How do I know? You'd better get up quickly and enter the palace as soon as possible. There are eunuchs waiting outside."
Han Du had no choice but to lift the quilt, turn over and sit on the edge of the bed.
Hongyi and several maids on the side immediately helped the Marquis change his clothes.
Han Du came to the East Palace and immediately bowed down as soon as he entered the door, "Your Majesty, Han Du, pays homage to the Emperor."
"Han Du is here, get up quickly." Zhu Biao was looking down at the memorial. Hearing Han Du's voice, he immediately raised his head and laughed. He put the memorial on the long table and walked over to hand over Han Du.
Help him up.
Because of the national mourning, although the court's operations were suspended for three days, it did not mean that the affairs of these three days were gone. Instead, the remaining time must be used to deal with the affairs accumulated during these three days.
Therefore, in addition to participating in various rituals, Zhu Biao also needs to deal with memorials from all over the world non-stop. Therefore, he is busier now than before.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Du couldn't let Zhu Biao really help him. When Zhu Biao made a move, he got up.
Zhu Biao happily shouted to Wang Yue, "Come here, please sit down."
Wang Yue looked at Han Du with a smile on his face, and waved to the two young eunuchs to move a brocade pier to Han Du.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Du bowed respectfully to Zhu Biao before sitting on the golden pier.
After Han Du sat down, he looked at Zhu Biao calmly without speaking, waiting for Zhu Biao's next words.
Zhu Biao smiled and then waved his hand towards Wang Yue.
Wang Yue immediately winked at the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs, and sent everyone away. Finally, he walked out with a smile on his face, not forgetting to guard outside the palace door to prevent anyone from disturbing the emperor and the emperor at this time.
The private conversation of the Marquis of Zhenhai.
When Han Du saw Zhu Biao sending everyone away, his expression became solemn. He asked softly: "Your Majesty, what happened to make Your Majesty so solemn?"
Zhu Biao sighed, then took out a folded white paper from his sleeve robe, handed it to Han Du, and said, "You can read it yourself."
Han Du took it doubtfully and opened it. On it were the names of various palaces in the palace and the corresponding concubines.
"Your Majesty, what is this?"
"This is the burial list drawn up by the internal officials in accordance with the imperial edict of my father." Zhu Biao couldn't help but close his eyes as he spoke, as if he couldn't bear to see the densely packed names on the paper.
Burial!
Han Du's expression couldn't help but change three times, and he looked back at the palace on the paper. Are so many people going to be buried one by one?
"You want to kill so many?"
Zhu Biao felt a little happy when he saw Han Du's face full of dissatisfaction, and immediately sighed and nodded.
Han Du's face became more and more ugly, and he raised his head tightly
He stared at Zhu Biao and asked: "What does the emperor mean?"
Zhu Biao immediately put on a look that showed that although he couldn't bear it, he had to obey the edict. He sighed: "I also know that it is wrong to unjustly kill so many people. But this is the edict of my father. I
I have to follow it.”
Han Du looked at Zhu Biao and couldn't help but curl his lips and thought: Why do you have to follow the edict? I saw you violated Lao Zhu's edict before, and it was quite enjoyable to do so. How can you pretend to be an obedient baby now?
Already?
Is it possible that you would not hesitate to violate the edicts that are harmful to you, but you should abide by the edicts that have nothing to do with you? I saw that you violated one and two before, and they were all good. There is no reason to continue to violate them. What will happen?
psychological disorders.
"Your Majesty, I think it is extremely inappropriate to be buried!" Han Du immediately bowed his hands.
Not only for these dozens of lives, but Handu was extremely dissatisfied with the system of burial. He believed that only uncivilized barbarians in slave society would do such bloody and barbaric things as burial. For those who have entered feudal society
Thousands of years of Chinese civilization will naturally not allow such barbaric things to happen again.
"Oh? You think it's inappropriate too?" Zhu Biao said happily.
Huh? Han Du raised his eyes and looked at him, "Don't you want the emperor to be buried as well?"
Zhu Biao sighed and said: "If I want to be buried, I can just give the order directly. Why do I have to call you into the palace to discuss it? Although I don't want to be buried, this is my father's last edict after all. If there is not enough reason,
I’m afraid the officials won’t agree.”
"So, the emperor summoned me just because he wanted me to find a solution?" Han Du asked helplessly, when did Zhu Biao's bad habit of finding a solution by himself start to form? Is there any way to stop him?
Lose?
Zhu Biao did not hide anything, and said with a smile: "Who told you to always be resourceful? I really couldn't think of a way, so I had to take this step."
Okay, I'll forgive you this time.
Han Du saw that people's lives were at stake, and Zhu Biao also patiently explained to himself, the little anger that had just emerged in his heart immediately dissipated.
On the other hand, what would happen even if Han Du didn't forgive Zhu Biao? He was the emperor, and if he directly issued an order, could Han Du still resist the order and be disrespectful? Fortunately, both of them had the same idea, both to save these people who were about to be destroyed.
It is also a good thing for those who are buried to be able to work together.
Han Du lowered his head and thought carefully. After a moment, he replied: "Your Majesty, I think that all officials are not worthy of concern. The only one who can be concerned is the clan."