Chapter 6, Revealing Subtle Intentions

People often say that the Director of the Court of Rites is inhumane, and that the Eastern Depot under his leadership commits all sorts of atrocities. Those who fall into their hands face skinning and disembowelment, making them regret ever coming into this world. Yin Lou always thought that Xiao Duo was a fierce-looking person; however, when she first met him in the Zhongzheng Hall, she felt no fear, only a sense of distance. Perhaps true villains wear the masks of hypocrisy! But if one were to say he is wicked, the Cabinet intended to execute her, yet he instead exonerated her and even bestowed a badge upon her. This is hardly the malevolent spirit of legend; he is simply the Avalokiteshvara who saves the suffering!

The words of the Empress Dowager have been heard by everyone, and I believe they are quite reasonable. Since one has already died once, one should not be made to die a second time. If heaven does not take them, forcing them in is merely making things difficult for the King of Hell. He stroked his chin and said, "Just remove the person from the quota."

She had not been in the palace for long, and many of the eunuchs she encountered had hunched shoulders and stooped waists. This was due to having endured the knife below; at the time, fearing the pain, they did not stretch their legs, which later resulted in lasting effects, leaving them with a lifelong hunch and unable to stand straight again. This particular powerful eunuch, however, was different; he stood tall, not much different from those ministers. If one were to point out a distinction, it would probably be that his complexion was somewhat pale, he was more handsome, and his demeanor was more assertive.

Before the sound tower was hung from the beam, her mind was dull and unable to turn around. It was said that she would only become clearer if she died once more. Sitting in the coffin, she listened to their back-and-forth exchanges, realizing that the person before her was the renowned seal master, Xiao Duo, which brought her a sense of unexpectedness

The meaning of Yin Lou is unclear. Since she was sent to guard the tomb, why is it said that she is to return to the palace? Historically, palace concubines who entered the tomb grounds could not come out. Who exactly is the person that saved her, capable of appointing the chief eunuch and freely deciding her fate? Surely, this must be a person of great significance!

He appeared somewhat impatient and furrowed his brows, saying: "Your Excellency is being rather inflexible. How can one still call the Empress by her title? It would suffice to refer to her as the Grand Consort alongside the Emperor's family, and simply proceed to the Tai Ling to guard the tomb."

She followed Xiao Duo out of the Qin'an Hall, touched her neck, and felt the weight of her entire body concentrated in that small area when she was hanging. Now her throat felt as if it were stuffed with a ball of cotton, both painful and constricted. She wanted to thank him but could not voice it, so she tugged at the corner of his clothing and performed a slight bow with her hands.

Xiao Duo looked at her knowing expression with some curiosity, "Does the imperial concubine know who that person is?"

She cast a sidelong glance, sensing that his meaning seemed to suggest otherwise. So who could it be? She had few friends in the inner court and her relationships with others were not deep; who would bestow such a favor upon her

The cabinet seems to have no way to deal with this living person, merely standing by and watching as he enters, cupping his hands in salute and addressing him as Lord Xiao

What should we do... He pondered for a while and said, "How about sealing the coffin? It will cut off the outside world, and it won't be long before it is over."

The officials are no longer willing to serve, "The number of sacrificial attendants should be even, but now fifty-eight has become fifty-seven, what should be done?"

Yin Lou knows what it means to guard the tomb. Inside Tai Ling, there are palaces, and below, there are eunuchs and palace maids serving. The concubines guarding the tomb offer incense to the emperor three times a day, and for the rest of the time, they recite Buddhist scriptures and copy texts, spending their entire lives there. In fact, there is not much difference compared to the years spent in the palace; it is merely a change of place for imprisonment. The difference is that in the palace, there is still the opportunity to serve the emperor, and if favored, one can bring glory to their family and provide benefits to their relatives. In the tomb, one also serves the emperor, but the living and the dead are vastly different. From then on, that would be her fate, slowly transforming from a young widow into an old widow with white hair.

He did not respond, but turned to the members of the cabinet and asked, "What do you gentlemen think?"

Not only did she think so, but the members of the cabinet also found Lord Xiao to be somewhat strange today, and it is possible that this talented individual is a distant relative of his family. In this case, there is no need to fuss over it. The scholars of the Hanlin Academy repeatedly agreed, saying: "Yes, yes, moving the palace to guard the tomb is in accordance with the regulations; everything will be handled according to Lord Xiao's wishes"

Wei Cheng hurriedly said: "In response to your Excellency's words, everything was carefully inspected according to your instructions before being transported to the Qinan Hall, and it was only after confirming with certainty that it was sent. There are cases of living people hanging themselves, and some may appear to be dead. Alternatively, they might be in a state of convulsion, and if the throat is loosened, they could regain their breath halfway. Such situations cannot be detected at the time, but they are not uncommon."

The Eastern Depot's actions are inhumane, sealing the living in coffins is appalling, and the scholars are horrified, saying, "Such methods are rather extreme; it would not be unreasonable to consider alternative approaches."

Xiao Duo said: "This is not a big deal. I just came from the Chengqian Palace. The noble consort and the great emperor were deeply in love, and earlier, taking advantage of a moment of carelessness, she hanged herself. At this moment, she has already been dressed in a phoenix crown and a霞帔 for a small funeral, and after the grand funeral tomorrow, her coffin will be moved to the Jingshen Hall. In this way, the number of people will remain unchanged; if another one were to die, it would instead become an odd number."

Everyone exchanged glances, as the emperor had passed away, leaving the throne vacant. Logically, the favored concubine should have fully supported Prince Rong, yet at this critical moment, she had died unexpectedly. Everyone was aware of the underlying intricacies, but it was best not to speak of them openly. This also served as a deterrent; the Eastern Depot was not something that could be easily contradicted. This superintendent appeared amiable, yet the deeds he undertook were far from honorable. Ultimately, whatever he said was deemed as truth; even if the throne were to be occupied by someone else, as long as the imperial edicts still passed through his hands, no one could challenge him. This superintendent appeared amiable, yet the deeds he undertook were far from honorable. Ultimately, whatever he said was deemed as truth; even if the throne were to be occupied by someone else, as long as the imperial edicts still passed through his hands, no one could challenge him.

Xiao Duo continued to lead her into Qianxi Wusuo, walking while saying: "According to protocol, now that you have been promoted, you should not return here. However, due to the sudden passing of the late emperor, the situation is rather urgent, so the details are not being scrutinized too closely. When you return to the palace in the future, I will naturally arrange everything for you."

To seek credit, eunuchs are the best at such dealings, and indeed, one should express gratitude properly. However, she is currently destitute and has no means to show her appreciation! She feels quite embarrassed, having given away her last few taels of silver before her 'death'; what can she do with empty hands! She looks at Xiao Duo with longing, pointing to her heart to indicate that she will never forget his kindness.

Within the imperial palace, every area serves its purpose. For instance, the Qinan Hall is specifically dedicated to the worship of the Supreme Emperor Zhenwu. On significant Daoist festival days, the Daoist officials and followers in the palace set up sacrificial altars as per tradition, and the emperor, empress, and concubines also come to offer incense and pay their respects, functioning similarly to a family temple. Given its familial temple nature, it is common for the deceased to be laid to rest here. In the spacious main hall, fifty-eight coffins are arranged in order, all made of black lacquered cypress wood. However, after inspection, fifty-seven of the coffins have been sealed, leaving only one partially open, within which sits a confused individual. In the spacious main hall, fifty-eight coffins are arranged in order, all made of black lacquered cypress wood. However, after inspection, fifty-seven of the coffins have been sealed, leaving only one partially open, within which sits a confused individual.

Yin Lou nodded slightly, struggling to open his mouth, "Is it Yan Shaojian?"

She was indeed curious and wanted to understand who this person was. Xiao Duo, being so intelligent, did not need her to speak. With his hands behind his back, he gazed at the distant palace rooftops and said softly, "Your Highness, please remain calm. The noble person will naturally come to see you later." He instructed Cao Chunang, "Go to the Palace of the Imperial Concubines and bring back the person who attends to the Empress Dowager closely. Then, find some medicine for soothing the throat and reducing swelling from the Imperial Hospital. After resting for half a day, when night falls, the Empress Dowager will be able to speak."

Xiao Duo frowned and said, "Fortunately, I haven't sent it forward yet. If something went wrong there, I don't know how many people would be laughing at me!"

Death is inevitable, but the manner of dying can vary. Xiao Duo scoffed coldly in his heart; despite the fact that death is the same, the methods differ, yet the outcome remains unchanged! These literati love to put on airs, which is truly nauseating to behold

As I carefully scrutinized the face before me, it could not be deemed stunning, yet it seemed much more pleasing than the first time I saw it. Some individuals are peculiar; at first glance, they do not appear remarkable, but upon a second look, they can leave you in awe. This is the case with Yin Lou. Her delicate face, with eyes wide in shock after being startled, possesses a somewhat pitiful charm, which explains why Prince Fu has been preoccupied with her for so long

The lips moved soundlessly, and Xiao Duo found it quite difficult to see, yet he was still able to discern, "Yan Sunlang? He has mentioned that before."

There is no need to draw lots. Since the Empress has acted with righteousness, it can be considered as fulfilling her filial duty to the great Emperor. She should not lie in the coffin for no reason. He paused slightly, turned to look at the emblem on the ticket, and said, "Zhenshun Duanfei, I think it looks good, let it be like this!"

Xiao Duo sneered and said, "These pedantic scholars only know how to write formal articles; when it comes to being ruthless and merciless, they are not much inferior to the Eastern Depot."

He returned the courtesy, turned to look at the person in the coffin, averted his face and asked Wei Cheng, "How did such a thing happen? It was already examined in the Zhongzheng Hall earlier; what is the explanation now? Is it that you have not done your job properly and did not see clearly?"

Only when both feet touch the ground can one dare to confirm that they are still alive. It is just that there is no strength in the legs, and walking feels a bit unsteady. Looking back at the rows of coffins in the hall, there are many sisters who have faced each other day and night; they do not share her good fortune, and perhaps they have already crossed the River of Forgetfulness. She stifles her sobs, mourning those who have died young, while secretly feeling fortunate for her survival after the calamity. At this moment, this is already a tremendous stroke of luck; guarding the tomb is better than being dead. She stifles her sobs, mourning those who have died young, while secretly feeling fortunate for her survival after the calamity. At this moment, this is already a tremendous stroke of luck; guarding the tomb is better than being dead. Having tasted the suffocating feeling, she suddenly realizes how blissful it is to be alive.

Since it is so, then let us strike through the name! The Hanlin scholar was about to put pen to paper after dipping it in ink when he was stopped by Xiao Duo, who raised his hand

Her ten fingers were slender, as if they could break with just a little force when touching the white cotton cloth. There was a look of satisfaction in his eyes, yet he said, "It is of no value, Your Highness should not take it to heart. The late Emperor will stay in the Hall of Caution for twenty-seven days, and Your Highness should return to rest first, waiting until the grand funeral to come forward and mourn. When the late Emperor's coffin is placed in the mausoleum, Your Highness will accompany and guard the tomb to pray for blessings, and that will be the end of it."

Everyone said it was settled, yet there was no sign of movement from the person in the coffin. Cao Chun'ang hurried forward, bending at the waist and saying: "Ancestral venerable, please move a bit; your servant is here to assist you in getting up."

Cao Chun'ang interjected, "The ancestor guessed wrong; it is not Yan Shaojian. He is merely the scribe of the Grand Council. Our governor is a person of the highest regard for rules and regulations, determining who lives and who dies without favoritism. This time, saving you was indeed at the behest of that noble person, and he himself took a great risk. If the Cabinet were to find out, he would undoubtedly face the charge of contempt for the law." He chuckled, "The ancestor knows who that noble person is, but must not forget the benefits our governor has provided!"

He transformed into the most just and selfless person under heaven. The cabinet scholar was taken aback for a moment and hesitantly said: "Lord Xiao, throughout history, no living person has been posthumously honored. You see..."

Upon hearing this, her expression on her face was utterly devastated, and she barely managed to struggle to voice, "My lord, being executed on the guillotine is a matter of one swift stroke; there is no reason for a second blow."

It turns out that it was not only to spare her from dying a second time; preparations had already been made back in the Central Hall. Yin Lou speculated that it must have been Lady Li who interceded on her behalf. Yan Sunlang was the second-in-command of the Court of Rites, and since Lady Li was with him, it made sense that he would show her some favor and seek a favor from Xiao Duo, allowing her to escape death. If that were the case, then why was she still sent into the noose? Was it merely to obtain a posthumous title?

Xiao Duo glanced at her and said casually: "It is merely a small effort on my part, and I do not dare to take credit in front of the Empress Dowager. However, you should indeed thank that noble person properly; if it were not for their request to let you down early, you would likely be in the same situation as those women in the court right now."

The sound tower has become a noble consort, automatically elevated to the status of ancestor in the mouths of the eunuchs, truly a resounding title