On the ninth day of May, Yunxi arrived near the Fengyang Ancestral Tomb. It was already afternoon when they arrived, and Yunxi and the others were already very tired, so they spent the rest of the day resting.
On the second day, ancestor worship officially begins. On the tenth day of the lunar month, there is a day of bathing and changing clothes, then three days of fasting from the eleventh to the thirteenth day, and the ancestor worship officially begins on the fourteenth day.
The day of ancestor worship is also a very cumbersome process. Yunxi led the officials of the Zhongdu Remaining Department, the guardian officials of the imperial tombs, the eunuchs and the soldiers of the imperial tomb guards, walked through the first city wall, walked through the long sacred road, and walked
Pass the second city wall, walk past the many burial facilities of the emperor who served the underworld, and enter the final imperial city.
As soon as you enter the imperial city, you will see the Shinto. There are 32 pairs of statues on both sides of the Shinto, which is more than the Xiaoling statues that Lao Zhu built for himself. In later generations, Yunxi also visited the Ming Tombs in Peiping and knew that there were only two statues in the Ming Tombs.
18 pairs.
After crossing the Shinto Road and walking across the Jinshui Bridge, there are two stone monuments, one without characters and one with characters. There is also a well on the east and west sides, which was named Longquan Well by Lao Zhu. Going forward, there is the Xiangdian Hall.
Yunxi took a rest in the side hall of Xiangdian, and the people accompanying him immediately went to place all the sacrifices used for the sacrifice.
Yunxi took a short rest, then got up and continued walking. After a while, he arrived at the altar. Yunxi put some sacrifices on the altar with his own hands, and then began to worship according to the ceremony.
While lying on the ground, Yunxi thought silently in his heart: 'If you really have spirits in heaven, please bless the emperor's grandfather to live a long life.'
After the process was completed, Yunxi took all the worshipers back to his residence. Then Yunxi wolfed down a lot of food. He was really hungry after fasting for the past few days, and he didn't dare to eat secretly.
I was so hungry that my chest pressed against my back, so I felt better after eating a big meal.
Those who accompanied him to offer sacrifices also had to fast, and the officials and guards of the two thousand households who accompanied Yunxi to show his favor also all participated in the sacrifice, so they also fasted, and at this time they were all devouring food.
.
The next day, Yunxi stayed in Fengyang for another day. After all, it was not easy to come here. He had to meet with the local people's representatives, that is, village elders. No matter how impatient Yunxi was, he had to follow the rules.
So on the morning of the 16th, Yunxi set out for the Sizhou Ancestral Tomb. Four days later, Yunxi arrived near the Sizhou Ancestral Tomb.
That day, Yunxi stayed at Zuling Guard's place. He originally planned to take a rest after talking to the Zuling Guard's commander, Tongzhi and others, but just as the greetings were finished, there was a noise outside.
Voice.
Yun He frowned, and a fellow commander hurried out. After a while, he came back and said, "Your Majesty, it was our soldiers who captured some common people who were logging wood."
Yunhe said doubtfully: "What's going on?"
The commander interjected and said: "Your Highness, since the construction of the ancestral mausoleum was selected at another site two years ago, the soldiers of the ancestral mausoleum guard have to take care of the original ancestral mausoleum. After all, the tomb has not been moved, and they also have to take care of the ancestral mausoleum that is under construction.
, so it is difficult to fully monitor the area around the mausoleum, so sometimes people come in to cut down trees."
Of course Yunxi was angry in his heart. This was his contempt for the Ming Dynasty royal family. He said calmly: "Then how do you usually deal with it?"
Commander Chen Jiulin said: "Usually, if we are caught, we will shackle him for three days and confiscate his property; if he is caught multiple times, we will ask the Sizhou government to exile the person."
Yunxi said: "From now on, first-time offenders will be dealt with according to your methods, and second-time offenders will be beheaded in public!"
The Zuling Guard officials present did not dare to object and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
Yunxi also warned: "We must strictly inspect the area around the ancestral mausoleum. The construction of the ancestral mausoleum must also be accelerated. If there is anything missing, you can write a report to the capital at any time. The Guhui will order that the imperial mausoleum guards and ancestral mausoleum guards
The fold will be delivered directly to the General Administration Department without going through the Fifth Army Commander's Office."
Chen Jiulin and others said: "Yes, Your Highness."
Yunxi had nothing else to do, so he let them go down.
Then the complete process started again from the next day, and Yunxi began to prepare for the ancestor worship mausoleum again.
Lao Zhu was a very diligent emperor. In the past, Yun Xi took care of some political affairs on his behalf, so he seemed to be more leisurely. These days Yun Xi was away, and Lao Zhu did not trust others to handle the memorials, so he took care of the memorials himself.
The subordinate officials in the East Palace did not dare to do anything at all, and they did not dare to "share the burden for Lao Zhu" when Yunxi was not around, so the documents sent to the General Affairs Department were continuously sent to Qianqing Palace.
It was late that day, and Lao Zhu finally finished correcting today's papers. He pointed at the pile of papers and said to Su Huai'en, "Send them to the General Affairs Department." Su Huai'en agreed, came up to collect the papers and sent them to the General Affairs Department.
Lao Zhu supported Yun Wen, stood up slowly, and said, "Help me go to the Royal Garden."
Yunwen said: "Grandpa, the wind is a bit strong today, so let's rest in Qianqing Palace. Before leaving, Yunwen ordered to pick the blooming flowers in the imperial garden and transplant them into flower pots, and placed them all in the atrium of Qianqing Palace. Grandpa
Just enjoy the flowers in the courtyard."
Lao Zhu smiled and said: "Then let's enjoy the flowers in the courtyard. You help me to the courtyard." Yunwen then helped Lao Zhu to the courtyard.
Lao Zhu sat down, bathed in the evening sunshine and the breeze mixed with the fragrance of flowers, and said to Yunwen: "Is your eldest son Wenkui okay?"
Yun Wen said: "It's quite healthy and you can eat it."
Lao Zhu smiled and said: "It's a blessing to be able to eat. You go and ask someone to bring him over, and I will meet my eldest great-grandson." Yun Wen asked the accompanying eunuch to go out of the palace to bring Wen Kui.
Lao Zhu said to Yunwen again: "Grandpa is old and can no longer survive. When Yunxi comes back this time, I will tell him that I will make you a king in a good place in the future."
"You are a tolerant person. Grandpa knows that you will not bully the people like Gu'er in the future. But most of the people are people who fear power and are not moral. Blind indulgence is not enough. Those who violate the law must be severely punished.
of."
Of course Yun Wen did not agree with the "Da Ming Code" that Lao Zhu and Yun Xi had revised in recent years, but although he was pedantic, he was more filial. He knew that Lao Zhu would probably not survive this year, and he was unwilling to say something that Lao Zhu didn't like.
He listened, so he didn't speak.
At this time, two little girls, Baoqing and Miner, came to Qianqing Palace. Baoqing threw himself on Lao Zhu and said, "Dad, Baoqing is here to see you." Miner also grabbed Lao Zhu's legs,
He seemed to want to go up, but Bao Qing beat him to it. He stood and said, "Grandpa Zeng, Min'er is here to see you too."
Lao Zhu picked up Bao Qing and put it on his right leg, then put Min'er on his left leg, and said with a smile: "Why are you here?"
Min'er said: "Let's see Grandpa Zeng."
Lao Zhu smiled and said: "Why come back to visit Grandpa Zeng?"
Before Min'er could answer, Bao Qing said: "Nephew Yunxi asked us to stay with dad more. So we came over after smashing the glass of Wenhua Hall."
Lao Zhu laughed first, and then said: "Why do you always smash the glass? What's the fun in that?"
Bao Qing said: "It's just fun! It's fun to throw the pebbles out and hear the sound of the glass breaking. These days Yunxi is not here, so we can break the glass anytime and anywhere."
Lao Zhu laughed again. After teasing for a while, Wen Kui came. Lao Zhu talked to Wen Kui again. After sitting like this for a while, it was already dark and Lao Zhu was tired.
Seeing this, Yunwen said: "Grandpa, it's already dark, let's have a meal."
Lao Zhu said: "Okay," turned to Bao Qing, Min'er, and Wen Kui and said, "You will also accompany me to eat." Several people replied unevenly: "Okay!"
Lao Zhu stood up and wanted to walk to the dining hall, but as soon as he stood up, he felt dizzy and fell to the ground. In an instant, he passed out again and was about to fall to the ground. It was Su Huai'en who had quick eyesight and quick hands, and suddenly supported Lao Zhu.
Li Jinzhong also supported the upper body that fell to the ground, and then said to Yunwen: "Your Highness, please call the imperial doctor!"
Yun Wen suddenly saw such a change and was a little confused. Hearing Li Jinzhong's words, he quickly ordered to call the imperial doctor. Li Jinzhong also called on several eunuchs to carry Lao Zhu to the Buchu and then into the house.
Min'er was also panicking, and then suddenly remembered what her father Yunxi said to her before leaving: "If anything happens to Grandpa Zeng, you must tell your mother and concubine immediately." Min'er immediately said to a palace maid next to her: "You
Return to the Wenhua Hall immediately and tell your mother, Concubine Zeng, that Grandpa Zeng has fainted." This palace maid had been asked before, and she set off immediately after hearing the words. At this time, the Qianqing Palace was in chaos, and no one noticed her going out.
The palace maid quickly ran back to the Wenhua Palace. At this time, Xiyao was talking to Xiyi. When she heard what the palace maid said, she immediately stood up and said: "Servant Secretary, you immediately go to the West Sixth Palace to invite Concubine Guo Ning.
Qianqing Palace. Wait for the poem. Go and call Wang Jin. Wang Bu comes in." These two were the maids she brought into the palace. They were the most loyal to her. After hearing this, they immediately took a few eunuchs and set off.
Without a moment to burn the incense, Wang Jin and Wang Bu walked in. Xiyao asked the young eunuchs and ordinary palace maids to go out, and then said to them: "Your Majesty just passed out in Qianqing Palace, you should immediately follow what you prepared before.
Inform the Founding Duke's office and Commander Xue's home."
The two of them were shocked when they heard the news that Lao Zhu had fainted, but after all, they had gained experience over the years, so they immediately resigned and went out without even a courtesy.
Xiyao didn't care whether they were polite or not, and said to Shi, "Help me go to Qianqing Palace."
Xiyi said: "Sister! You are already more than nine months pregnant. The imperial doctor estimates that the date of childbirth is these days! In case you are in Qianqing Palace." She did not say the next words, but everyone knew what it meant.
She continued: "It's better to let me go. Although I am not as good as my sister, I have experienced it in the past few years."
Xiyao shook her head and said, "No, you can't. I am the Concubine Taisun. They won't listen to you even when you get to Qianqing Palace. Only if I go can I take control of the situation."