One

The funeral rites of the empress have been established throughout the ages. From the day of the great mourning, temples and monasteries strike their bells thirty thousand times. Riding on that endless and ceaseless sound of the bells, the horse-drawn carriage arrives at the front of the Shenwu Gate

The noble consort and the secondary consort exchanged a glance, "Olive pit? What is the meaning of this? When others are engaged, they exchange valuable gifts, yet he saves on expenses and uses a fruit pit to deceive people?"

She propped herself up and sat up, feeling a bit dizzy. Initially still in a daze, she suddenly heard the bells of the temples and Taoist monasteries in the city ringing together. The immense resonance felt like a fist striking her brain, instantly bringing her to clarity.

Lu Ge was taken aback, unable to understand why the master was so angry. He stammered, "We are in our own courtyard, and I would only dare to say this as a servant; these are truly words from the bottom of my heart..."

Do you say ... ... is there still awareness after a person dies? When leaving, if the footsteps are slower, perhaps one can see what is behind them

Sighing, he put the olive boat back into the box. Lu Ge took down the silver hook from the tent and turned to say: "Miss, we are going to the palace again tomorrow. If you don't sleep now, you won't be able to open your eyes at the hour of the rabbit."

So, does this mean there is completely no chance left? Everyone seems quite satisfied, after all, there are young ladies from various families available for selection here. With the empress gone, a significant vacancy has opened up in the palace, and there is one less strong contender, which is at least not a bad thing. The emperor does not favor the empress from the Xue family, but that does not mean he will not favor those from other families. Although the imperial power is currently constrained, it is unlikely that Xue Shangzhang has the courage to usurp the throne; in the future, the world will still belong to the emperor. If the empress dowager were to have a child, her maternal family would certainly benefit, and it would not be a small matter. Although the imperial power is currently constrained, it is unlikely that Xue Shangzhang has the courage to usurp the throne; in the future, the world will still belong to the emperor. If the empress dowager were to have a child, her maternal family would certainly benefit, and it would not be a small matter.

The Concubine had always been worried about the difficulties posed by her mother-in-law. Upon hearing the Concubine's words, the heavy burden in her heart was lifted. Immediately, she approached the Concubine to help her stretch and relax, affectionately calling her "sister," and said, "You have worked hard. Look at this family; it all depends on you. Take the marriage of the second daughter, with you managing it, everything will be sufficient. Once she enters her new family, the mother-in-law will not dare to show her displeasure or impose rules. As for the three younger ones, Runhe has said that they will become sisters-in-law in the future, so we need not worry about them. Regarding the two sons, they will have their elder brother to support them, gaining experience in the military, and when they return, they will serve the court, which will surely turn out well."

Those who get things done, while also engaging in scholarly pursuits and romantic affairs, what else could they possibly desire? Yingming has successfully avoided the palace selection and can now openly promise herself to someone, just waiting for an auspicious day to finalize the arrangement. However, at this moment, the Empress has passed away

She set down her cup and said softly, "Like all of you, I am a person from the official residence, relying on my father's title to have the qualification to enter the Shunzheng Gate. Without an imperial decree, I do not dare to enter the Six Palaces; I should be here to pay my respects, and it is indeed highly inappropriate to rashly enter the Zhongcui Palace"

They each had their own hidden agendas, which saved them the trouble of having to deal with unnecessary pleasantries. Just as she was about to ask Song Ge whether she had kept the hand warmer given by the noble consort earlier, a eunuch entered from outside the door, bowing from a distance and saying: "I come to pay my respects to the second young lady. I am here on the orders of the Empress Dowager, requesting the young lady to come to the Cining Palace for a discussion. Please, young lady, allow me to lead the way."

The mouth of Runhe is that of a deceiving ghost, with a new story every day that can never be relied upon. Moreover, she is only thirteen, and no one takes her seriously. The side concubine merely asked Yingming: "Is the Third Master well? Have you spoken to him?"

Yingming rose and said she would be right there, tidying up before taking off her clothes and getting onto the bed. Lying on the pillow, she recalled Shen Zhi, realizing that since her entry into the palace, their relationship had not been as casual as before. With the change in status, she no longer dared to act recklessly in front of her, and every word had to be carefully considered. Now that she was gone, it felt as if the affliction known as "Empress" had been stripped away from her. Yingming felt that she had returned to the former Shen Zhi, without any title, just a clean and pure twenty-year-old girl. Now that she was gone, it felt as if the affliction known as "Empress" had been stripped away from her. Yingming felt that she had returned to the former Shen Zhi, without any title, just a clean and pure twenty-year-old girl.

In a hurry, she washed up and quickly put on her mourning clothes, then went to the main hall to wait and serve the noble consort as she prepared to leave for the carriage. Originally, she was the second daughter and did not need to enter the palace to mourn, but since her elder sister had already married out and she was someone the late empress valued, her name was included on the official list permitted by the palace.

The noble lady was flattered by her to the point of feeling at ease, and with a smile, she retorted, "What do you mean by being a sister-in-law? Call Runhe here and let her say it again in front of me."

In fact, Yingming is a rather slow-witted person, lacking a quick perception of emotions. He simply feels somewhat confused but thinks this person is decent, able to communicate well, and shows consideration for others, which is somewhat better than the other gentlemen at the flag.

Take her father, for instance; he is undoubtedly excellent for the family. Whether it is the primary wife or the secondary wife, he knows how to please both sides, ensuring that the dignity of the primary wife is never compromised, while also preventing the secondary wife from suffering significant grievances. He is willing to invest effort in women, which is appreciated by the women at home as well as those outside. Thus, the nobleman has several confidantes, not just one. During festivals, he gifts rare and precious items, and on ordinary days, he offers some small tokens of affection. He may show kindness, but he never leaves any lasting marks, nor does he stay overnight. He moves gracefully between groups of women, the Liuli Factory, and theaters, fulfilling his duties while also seeking amusement. In him, one can see the current demeanor of the gentlemen of Qi.

Indeed, the people nearby began to meddle: "I heard that Lord Na and the Xue family have become in-laws, and the lady of the Xue family has recognized a goddaughter, is it you?"

The person sitting in the west corner covered his mouth and chuckled, "You need not pry into military affairs; it is not news that the Lord has formed a marriage alliance with the Duke of the State. If it were not for the passing of Her Majesty the Empress, we would already be celebrating a joyous occasion."

Someone pretended to mediate again: "Wasn't there a decree summoned yesterday? Being able to offer a cup of sacrificial wine before the spirit is already a tremendous grace.

She spoke with certainty, her voice trembling with emotion, "Have you ever died? How do you know to use a chain to lock it?"

Lu Ge left the bedroom, and only then did she close her eyes with a soft whimper. However, as soon as she shut her eyes, memories of the circumstances in the corridor suddenly flooded back, causing her heart to tremble. Regarding the Emperor, she felt a mix of fear and hatred. She understood that the death could not be entirely blamed on the Emperor, but his neglect had certainly accelerated her decline. In her earlier days as a young girl, she was so robust; after five years in the palace, her body deteriorated year by year. The Forbidden City was a place that consumed people, gradually tormenting their spirits until it drove them to death. In her earlier days as a young girl, she was so robust; after five years in the palace, her body deteriorated year by year. The Forbidden City was a place that consumed people, gradually tormenting their spirits until it drove them to death. The Emperor had never truly acknowledged this Empress from the bottom of his heart, knowing full well that she was at best a living emblem, merely a sacrifice that could be abandoned.

"A piece of craftsmanship, all contained within here," the noble lady said, "is a meticulous person, who will surely not cause others any worry in the future"

Isn't this how it is sung in the plays? Lu Ge sighed while holding his sleeves, "The Empress is indeed a good person. I still remember that whenever she came to our residence, she would always bring us food. There were pastries made in the small kitchen at home, and also lunch boxes from the restaurants outside, filled to the brim, saying that those who worked hard needed to eat more. Now that the Empress is gone, those who relied on climbing the social ladder are overjoyed. Just look at their expressions, the way they smile with furrowed brows truly disgusts me. The food from the imperial family is no longer sweet; such a good Empress, and yet she was treated so poorly..."

The girl was attending to her handwashing, drying her hands with a towel, and said with a silly smile: "We had a conversation, he is quite a nice person, and even gave me an olive pit."

Whether it is a whimper or a laugh, present that palm-sized box. Upon seeing it, the two mothers had nothing more to say.

The queen's close friend, who is also the daughter of Naxin, naturally attracts considerable attention. In an instant, dozens of eyes are fixed on Yingming, who sits upright, well-prepared and unafraid to serve as a target

The sorrow of the recent passing of the Empress had dissipated the day before, and aside from the prohibition on loud laughter and conversation, it was not a concern for everyone to quietly discuss trivial family matters. Someone recognized the sound of weeping, saying, "Isn't this the second young lady from the Na family? The Xue and Qi families have always been close friends, and the second young lady shares a deep bond with Her Majesty the Empress. Why is she here to pay her respects instead of going to the Zhongcui Palace?"

Lu Ge lowered his head and said, "I was foolish, and I will not dare to do so again. If I make the same mistake, please punish me with a rattan stick, my lord." As he spoke, he let down the other half of the curtain and softly said, "It is late at night, my lord, please settle down."

Luge listened, standing there in a daze, "Isn't a person's lifespan predetermined? The last breath hasn't even been exhaled yet, and the Ox-Head and Horse-Face are already waiting nearby. They do not care about your status in the mortal world; once you go down, it is all the same. They will lock you up with a big chain and drag you away, not allowing you to linger for even a moment longer"

It was still early, and the vendors at the morning market had just begun to set up their stalls; even the city gates had not yet opened, leaving the streets empty. The light rain had stopped at dawn, but it brought about a different kind of chill. The lady leaned over to feel her hand; being a young woman, her vitality was mostly weak, so she placed her own hand warmer into her embrace.

That being said..." A person with a long face glanced at the person beside him, "After all, you have grown up alongside Her Majesty the Empress, and you often receive imperial edicts to enter the palace. Why is it that at this moment you are instead constrained here

"Relying solely on this relationship, one should also go to the mourning hall..."

The more I listened to the chirping, the more alarmed I became. I snapped, "You speak without restraint. If you talk like this at home, what will happen when you go to the palace? That is unacceptable! You need not accompany me tomorrow; we will have someone else take your place."

At this time, the family members of each mansion had all arrived, and they entered the Qinan Hall in the same order as the previous day, lighting incense, kneeling to offer wine, and mourning. Initially, it was no different from the day before; after the mourning session at the hour of Chen concluded, everyone retreated to the canopy seats to rest. The eunuchs serving the funeral rites began to bring in tea and snacks from outside in an orderly manner, inviting the ladies from various noble families to moisten their throats and fill their stomachs. Everyone found a seat and began the process of recognizing each other and engaging in conversation.

Upon leaving the Hai family, the noble lady did not ask any questions. As she entered the mansion, she saw the secondary noble lady waiting at the second gate. Approaching her, she inquired about the situation. The noble lady smiled and said, "Ask her yourself. I can tell that the lady from their family is quite agreeable; after all, she is a daughter of the Hanlin family, well-educated and cultured. When looking for a match, one should seek someone like this, not someone formidable, lest the maternal family cannot manage, and the children suffer daily indignities." While speaking, she pinched her own shoulder and sighed, "Alas, I am truly worried sick for these children. When looking for a match, one should seek someone like this, not someone formidable, lest the maternal family cannot manage, and the children suffer daily indignities." While speaking, she pinched her own shoulder and sighed, "Alas, I am truly worried sick for these children. The second daughter has gone out, and next is the third daughter. The young ladies need not worry about marriage; the key is that under one family, there are still two formidable figures, and in the future, it is uncertain which family's daughter would be willing to enter our household.

This is a matter of hidden implications; the empress of the Xue family has fallen from grace, and the palace has learned from past experiences. It is certain that they will not welcome the daughter of the Xue faction into the palace again

But she has come again! It is truly difficult to deal with her, such a straightforward girl is indeed rare. Since you admire the Empress, you must also understand the consequences. Such words cannot be spoken even in your own courtyard; if they were to spread, it would be a grave offense, do you understand

Suddenly, there was a sound like "ding," akin to leaves falling onto the water's surface, creating a series of ripples. In the palace, every half hour, a bell would chime. The soft cries lingered in these ripples, tossing and turning until the fourth watch before finally falling asleep. Even in sleep, it was not deep; in a hazy state, I heard the intricate footsteps in the corridor, and with great effort, I opened my eyes. A deep blue hue filtered through the window paper, indicating that preparations were beginning at home for entering the palace.