It's always a little awkward to just sit facing each other like this, staring at each other.
Concubine Mei was thinking about her son and asked in a low voice: "How is Hong now?"
Xie Mingxi responded in a gentle voice: "With no leader in the court, and having to be busy organizing funeral ceremonies, His Highness is too busy to touch the ground. I'm afraid he won't have time to come to Hanxiang Palace these days."
Concubine Mei immediately said: "I'm busy with serious business, it doesn't matter if I come here or not."
Xie Mingxi's voice was still gentle: "Visiting and accompanying my mother and concubine is a serious matter. Your Highness has no time to do it, so I will do it."
Concubine Mei's nose felt sore when she heard this, and her eyes were quietly red: "Mingxi, I am useless as a mother-in-law. Not only can I not help you, but I always make you worry..."
She is a burden! She has become her son’s weakness!
In order to contain Sheng Hong, Queen Mother Yu would never let her go easily. And Sheng Hong, in order to protect her, would have to spend more energy and time dealing with Queen Mother Yu!
Perhaps because of his disgust with his biological mother, Aunt Ding, who used tears as a weapon, Xie Mingxi had no good impression of any woman who shed tears easily.
With Mrs. Mei's eyes so red and tears streaming down her face, Xie Mingxi didn't feel too soft-hearted. However, for Sheng Hong's sake, she, as her daughter-in-law, had to feel relieved.
"Concubine mother is safe and sound, which is the greatest comfort and support for His Highness. Even if it is for His Highness, please take care of yourself." Xie Mingxi coaxed patiently.
Concubine Mei cried for a while and then wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Before she could open her mouth to speak, Zhilan came again.
Having gained the upper hand last time, Concubine Mei was no longer so uneasy. However, she still whispered: "Zhilan must be here to pass on the Queen Mother's instructions. You should be a little more polite to Zhilan."
Xie Mingxi nodded slightly.
Zhilan was more respectful than the last time she came. After bowing, she said softly: "The Queen Mother has an oral message, please go to the mourning hall and kneel in the mourning hall. The Queen Mother can rest peacefully in Hanxiang Palace. The slaves no longer dare to make arbitrary claims and spread random messages."
.”
Xie Mingxi's eyes flashed and she said calmly: "That's fine. I'll go to the mourning hall right now. As long as everything is safe and sound as usual in Hanxiang Palace, if there's anything wrong at all, I'll ask questions for you."
Mrs. Mei: "..."
What about being a little more polite?
Concubine Mei twitched the corner of her mouth and hurriedly opened her mouth and said: "I am so sick and disabled that I can't go anywhere. I will stay here in Hanxiang Palace to recuperate, so there is nothing wrong with me. Just go to the mourning hall and kneel in mourning.
, don’t worry about me.”
He smiled at Zhi Lan again and said, "Princess Shu's words were a bit harsh, don't take it to heart."
In front of Xie Mingxi, how dare Zhi Lan accept Concubine Mei's apologetic explanation? She hurriedly bowed and said: "How dare you be a slave like the Concubine?"
Concubine Mei was weak by nature and would only hold back and give in when things happened. Such caution and timidity had long been integrated into Concubine Mei's blood. She could not act like a master even to the confidants and maids around Empress Dowager Yu.
Xie Mingxi was too lazy to support Concubine Mei who could not stand up anymore. She resigned and left Hanxiang Palace.
…
According to the rules, the mourning hall is divided into the inner and outer halls. The outer mourning hall is located in the Yiqing Hall, and hundreds of officials enter the palace to kneel in mourning. The inner mourning hall is located in the harem, and all noble ladies of the sixth rank and above must enter the palace to kneel in mourning.
Empress Dowager Yu lived alone in Jiaofang Palace, so this mourning hall could only be located in the East Palace where Empress Xiao lived.
It is a pity that a majestic emperor should be treated like this after his death.
Xie Mingxi was in a gloomy mood and had no intention of mourning the death of Emperor Jian'an. She was even a little angry. It was all because Emperor Jian'an was so cowardly and useless that he was murdered by the vassal kings so easily. As a result, this mess would fall on their husband and wife.
Xie Mingxi stepped into the mourning hall.
The ladies who were kneeling stood up one after another and greeted each other respectfully. Even Xiao Yuhan's mother, Mrs. Xiao, was no exception.
This is to welcome the future Queen of the Middle Palace.
No matter how depressed Xie Mingxi was, she would not show it. She stepped forward to support Mrs. Xiao, who was several years old and pale, and warned her gently: "Mrs. Xiao, please take care of yourself."
Mrs. Xiao cheered up and thanked her, feeling sad and lamenting in her heart.
Before Xiao Yuhan's position as empress in the middle palace became popular, Emperor Jian'an died and returned to the west.
Now I just regret that Emperor Jian'an is useless. He has been in his filial piety period for more than half a year. Xiao Yuhan's belly is not moving. Not even one of the beauties in the harem is pregnant.
Otherwise, as long as Emperor Jian'an has an heir, he can succeed to the throne openly. No matter how young he is, young Xiao Yuhan can be the regent queen! The Xiao family will spare no effort to assist and get some glory...
Well, it's useless to think about it now. A country cannot live without a king for a day. Emperor Jian'an's body has long been cold, and as soon as the funeral is over, the matter of establishing a new emperor will be decided.
The King of Ningxia, King Lu and King Min joined forces to rebel, and no good end awaited them. There was also a young King An in the palace, who was kept by Princess Jing all year round, and became a cowardly and useless young man.
King Shu became the only choice.
The mother clan of the wife clan has little power, so what does it matter? The king of Shu is young, powerful, talented and ambitious, and he can be worthy of a big job!
A wife is more valuable than her husband.
Seeing that the King of Shu is about to become the ninth-five-year-old king, Xie Mingxi, the Princess of Shu, has suddenly become more and more enthusiastic. This can be seen from the faces of the ladies who are welcoming her.
It's a pity that this is a mourning hall, so it's not convenient for people to flatter and flatter. After all the ladies bowed, they knelt down and returned to their original positions with regret.
…
When Xiao Yuhan saw the ice coffin of Emperor Jian'an, he vomited out a mouthful of his heart's blood and immediately fainted. Until then, he was still awake and could not come to the mourning hall.
Xie Mingxi knelt down next to Yin Xiaoxiao.
Zhao Changqing and Li Xiangru were both kneeling in front.
Although the three feudal princes were imprisoned, they had not yet been convicted. The several princes and princesses, each feeling miserable, had to go into the palace to kneel in mourning. Fortunately, the inner mourning hall contained a clothing coffin, so there was no need to face the huge, cold ice coffin.
.
Zhao Changqing's face was skinny and his eyes were dull, Yin Xiaoxiao's face was dull and lifeless, and Li Xiangru's eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Of course, their panic and grief were definitely not just for the dead Emperor Jian'an.
As soon as Xie Mingxi knelt down, three pairs of eyes looked over.
Yin Xiaoxiao and Xie Mingxi had the best friendship and asked in a low voice: "Where have you been?"
Xie Mingxi whispered three words: "Hanxiang Palace."
Yin Xiaoxiao's mind was much slower than before. He didn't react for a moment and looked at Xie Mingxi blankly for a moment: "What are you doing in Hanxiang Palace?"
Zhao Changqing said softly: "I'm going to visit Princess Mei!"
Xie Mingxi nodded slightly: "Yes."
Only now did Yin Xiaoxiao realize.
Li Xiangru bit her lower lip hard, and soon blood dropped from her lower lip. The hesitation, grief, anger, jealousy and hatred in her heart were intertwined, and she was speechless for a moment.
