No one expected that Empress Dowager Li would suddenly return to the west.
Fortunately, the palace has all the necessary things for funeral ceremonies all the year round.
Xie Mingxi gave the order and the mourning hall was set up in two hours.
All the red palace lanterns hanging everywhere in the palace were taken down and replaced with white palace lanterns. Mourning cloths were also hung up, and everyone in the palace changed into plain clothes.
Even Queen Mother Yu, who was lying on the bed, changed into plain clothes under Zhilan Yuqiao's service.
Queen Mother Yu's complexion was gloomy, and her sickly face became increasingly pale and ugly against the backdrop of her plain clothes. However, her eyes were filled with joy.
This old pious woman!
He actually choked to death after eating lotus seeds!
Have a good death!
What a great death!
Queen Mother Yu felt extremely happy, and the joy almost overflowed from the corners of her mouth.
Zhilan, Yu and Qiao both saw the raised corners of Queen Mother Yu's lips. They looked at each other silently and lowered their heads together. No one dared to remind Queen Mother Yu that she shouldn't show such an expression.
Since she fell ill, Queen Mother Yu's temperament has become increasingly paranoid, erratic, and moody. One moment she will be fine, and the next moment she will suddenly become angry.
Most of the old people who originally served Empress Dowager Yu were "released" from the palace. Now, only a few people remain with Empress Dowager Yu.
Zhilan and Yuqiao both entered the palace at a young age and were loyal to Queen Mother Yu. They were unwilling to leave the palace... even if they wanted to, Xie Mingxi might not be willing to let them go.
As a result, the two of them continued to stick to Empress Dowager Yu's side, lamenting and feeling sorry for themselves. When serving Empress Dowager Yu, they became more and more cautious, never saying more than a word that they shouldn't have said.
Queen Mother Yu laughed silently and happily for a moment, then suppressed her lips and said, "Help the Ai family to Cining Palace."
Zhilan Yuqiao was startled and blurted out in unison: "The Queen Mother must never do this!"
Yu Qiao was the first to continue: "Since the winter last year, the Queen Mother's body has become increasingly weak. Zhao Yuan envoy has warned that the Queen Mother must calm down and recuperate, and should not be overjoyed or sad. It is freezing outside, and the Queen Mother's body is
Wherever you can afford it, just don’t go there!”
"That's what Yu Qiao said." Zhilan took over the conversation: "When the Queen Mother is ill, even if she doesn't go to the mourning hall, no one will talk too much."
Empress Dowager Yu couldn't listen to the two people's consolation at all, and said coldly: "The Empress Dowager is the mother-in-law of the Ai family. She has returned to the west. How can the Ai family not go to the mourning hall to see her off in person? You two are not allowed to say any more!
"
The two of them had no choice but to agree. They found a plain thick cloak, put it on Empress Dowager Yu, and helped Empress Dowager Yu to the Cining Palace with one hand on the left and the other on the right.
…
Queen Mother Yu has not left the palace for several months.
In fact, she has not even left her dormitory since she fell ill.
The room was warm as spring, but the cold wind was biting outside. No matter how thick the cloak was, it could not block all the cold wind. Wisps of it penetrated into the body through the gaps.
Queen Mother Yu, who has been ill for a long time, cannot withstand such a cold wind.
But the joy in my heart has overcome all the discomfort.
She must take one last look at Empress Dowager Li tonight.
As she walked out of the palace, Queen Mother Yu couldn't help but look up at the plaque. The words Fulin Palace suddenly came into view. Queen Mother Yu felt a tearing pain in her heart.
She took a deep breath and turned her head: "Help Ai's family go to Cining Palace."
Zhilan Yuqiao responded in unison.
Empress Dowager Yu was followed by more than a dozen palace maids.
In the middle of the night, the interior and exterior of Cining Palace were completely deserted. All the royal ladies changed into plain clothes and rushed into the palace as quickly as possible to kneel down and mourn. A burst of crying could be heard in the distance.
This sound was indescribably sweet to the ears of Queen Mother Yu.
Queen Mother Yu raised her lips again, then quickly suppressed them again, forcing herself to look slightly sad.
The maid standing outside the palace glanced sharply at the Queen Mother Yu and her entourage, and was startled. She quickly ran into the mourning hall and reported: "To the Queen, the Queen Mother is here."
Xie Mingxi, dressed in plain clothes, raised her eyebrows slightly and exchanged a look with Xiao Yuhan.
Empress Dowager Yu really hated Empress Dowager Li deeply. After hearing the news of Empress Dowager Li's death, she went to the mourning hall in person despite her illness.
"I'll go out with you to greet you." Xiao Yuhan whispered.
Xie Mingxi nodded.
Yin Xiaoxiao suddenly said: "Seventh younger brother and sister, I will go with you."
A daughter-in-law is inherently at a disadvantage when it comes to her mother-in-law. Once Empress Dowager Li dies, Empress Dowager Yu becomes the highest-ranking and most respected person in the harem. If Empress Dowager Yu deliberately provokes provocations in the arrangements for funeral ceremonies, Xie Mingxi will have no trouble dealing with it.
Although she has no abilities, she can always stand by Xie Mingxi's side, which may come in handy at critical moments.
Xie Mingxi felt warm in her heart and whispered: "Thank you, Fifth Sister."
In fact, having more people and fewer people does not determine the outcome of the battle. However, there is always more comfort in the heart when there are more people. It is quite satisfying that the enlightened person will get more help.
Zhao Changqing knelt a little further away and did not hear what the three people said. When the three people got up and went out, he was shocked to notice something strange. He immediately got up and chased after them quickly.
…
The four sisters-in-law came out of the mourning hall together.
Xiao Yuhan, Yin Xiaoxiao, and Zhao Changqing intentionally or unintentionally surrounded Xie Mingxi, like stars holding the moon.
Empress Dowager Yu was also surrounded by people, but the people surrounding her were all palace maids, all of them with low eyebrows and timid eyes.
Queen Mother Yu was furious when she saw Xie Mingxi's posture. She glanced coldly at all the daughters-in-law. Xiao Yuhan still looked gentle and docile, while Yin Xiaoxiao was forthright and bold, and did not avoid Queen Mother Yu's gaze.
Only Zhao Changqing lowered his head slightly at this time.
She is the direct disciple of Empress Dowager Yu, and she and Empress Dowager Yu once had a close relationship as mother and daughter.
After marrying Queen Lu, Zhao Changqing had always been close to Queen Mother Yu. Even in the past two years, Zhao Changqing had been fawning on both sides, without clearly showing which side he was on.
Until these few months.
Zhao Changqing, who was wavering, finally decided on his stance.
Standing on Xie Mingxi's side.
Queen Mother Yu felt a familiar surge of blood in her heart.
Xie Mingxi had already bowed and took the initiative to come forward and support Queen Mother Yu: "The weather is very cold and the Queen Mother is still ill. She should be giving birth and raising herself well. Why did she end up in the mourning hall?"
As the daughter-in-law, Xie Mingxi's face was full of concern.
Empress Dowager Yu had been recuperating for several months and was extremely depressed. Her acting skills were as superb as ever, and she lamented: "The Ai family was shocked to hear the bad news about the Empress Dowager, and their hearts ached. Even if she only had one breath left, she still had to come to the mourning hall to see her.
The last appearance of the Queen Mother."
Xie Mingxi's face was also full of sorrow: "Everything in the world is unpredictable. My daughter-in-law never thought that the imperial grandmother would suffer such a disaster."
After doing all the pretense, Xie Mingxi helped Queen Mother Yu enter the mourning hall.
Mrs. Gaoming, who had already entered the palace and knelt down, quickly stood up to salute.
Empress Dowager Yu, who was "overly grieved", had no time to take care of everyone and walked slowly to the coffin.
