No. 1 Girl in the Imperial City

Chapter 307 Bereavement + Farewell
The hall quickly fell silent, and when everyone had retreated, Xie Yan turned his head to look at the exit at the back of the hall, and said, "Ah Cheng, come out." After a while, Xie Cheng walked out from behind cautiously .His eyes were still red and swollen from crying too much.He also tried his best to open his eyes wide and looked at Xie Yan, looking a little pitiful.

"Uncle Royal."

Xie Yan waved to him, and Xie Cheng walked up to him.

Looking down, Xie Yan tried his best to slow down his voice and said, "Are you hungry? But what's wrong?"

Xie Cheng shook his head, and asked in a low voice: "Uncle Huang, Ah Cheng wants to visit the Queen Mother."

Xie Yan sighed lightly, stood up and said, "Imperial Uncle will take you to see the Imperial Grandmother first, and then to see your Empress Dowager?"

Xie Cheng nodded obediently, "Yes."

"Let's go." Xie Yan looked at the little child standing in front of him, and finally reached out to hold him, and walked out.

Empress Dowager Zhu died, and the Zhu family was also involved in the affairs of King Ning and Yisi Luan. At this time, they were too busy to take care of themselves and naturally had no time to care about Xie Cheng.

The Empress Dowager looked at Xie Cheng standing in front of the bed with red and swollen eyes, and could only sigh inwardly.Stretching out her hand to rub the top of his head, the Empress Dowager said softly, "Ah Cheng, I will listen to your uncle from now on."

Xie Cheng's tears began to roll in his eyes again, but he still nodded obediently and said, "Grandmother, Ah Cheng knows."

He had known for a long time that the imperial grandmother was seriously ill, and might leave him soon.And now the queen mother is gone, if the imperial grandmother doesn't want Ah Cheng anymore...

Xie Cheng lay on the side of the bed and looked at the Empress Dowager, big tears fell on the empress dowager's brocade quilt one by one.

The empress dowager couldn't see the child like this, but she was really helpless.

Looking at this sad grandson, the Empress Dowager still felt very guilty. It was she who made her grandson lose his mother at a young age.

"Acheng...be good, don't be afraid...the imperial grandmother is here..."

Princess Changling secretly shed tears, walked over and hugged Xie Cheng, and said softly: "Ah Cheng, the imperial grandmother is tired and needs to rest, aunt will take you out to play, okay?"

Xie Cheng whispered: "A Cheng wants to visit the queen mother."

Princess Changling quickly raised her head to look at Xie Yan, who nodded slightly towards her.

Princess Changling said: "My aunt will accompany you."

The coffin of Empress Dowager Zhu was parked in a palace not far from the empress dowager's bedroom, which was only a temporary parking place.Her coffin will not be moved to the place where the coffin is officially parked until normal order is restored in the palace, and then civil and military officials and wives of the Manchu Dynasty will enter the palace to worship every day for several consecutive days.

At this time, white banners had been hung inside and outside the deserted palace, and the coffin of Empress Dowager Zhu was parked in the main hall.There are special officials and maids in the hall to guard the spirit, and the whole hall is filled with a strong smell of sandalwood and burnt paper.

Xie Cheng held Princess Changling's hand, stood outside the hall, staring at the black and red gold-painted coffin parked in the hall, stunned.When his father died, he was too young to have any memory, and since he had memory, there has never been a funeral in the palace.Staring blankly at the huge coffin, Xie Cheng suddenly felt afraid.

He knew that the queen mother was lying in it.

Princess Changling naturally sensed his fear, glanced at Xie Yan who was following beside her, leaned over and hugged Xie Cheng into her arms and said softly, "Ah Cheng, don't be afraid, let's go in and kowtow to the queen mother, okay?"

Xie Cheng nodded obediently, and followed Princess Changling and Xie Yan into the hall.

Xie Cheng knelt on the futon in front of the mourning hall, and respectfully kowtowed a few times towards Empress Dowager Zhu's spiritual seat.

"Mother's queen..." Xie Cheng looked eagerly at the coffin that frightened him. Is the mother's queen really there?

Of course, children cannot really be allowed to see the remains of Empress Dowager Zhu. Although Xie Cheng is young, he has learned a lot of etiquette and rules, and knows that he should not disturb the empress dowager again.

He just couldn't help thinking, could it be that the mother wasn't inside at all, and the queen was just playing hide-and-seek with him?

But soon he pouted sadly. The queen mother knew that he was back, so she would definitely come to see him immediately so she wouldn't hide for so long.

The emperor's grandmother, emperor's uncle, and Aunt Changling would not lie to him either.

The queen mother is really dead.

Thinking of this, the tears began to fall uncontrollably again.

Xie Yan and Princess Changling offered incense to Empress Dowager Zhu, and seeing Xie Cheng kneeling in front of the mourning hall and weeping silently was very distressing.

However, life and death is a matter of life, they can't deceive Ah Cheng like ordinary children.Whether it is his identity or the environment he is in, he is destined to face these as soon as possible.

When the sky darkened, Xie Yan carried the sleeping Xie Cheng out of the palace.

As soon as he walked out of the palace gate, he saw a very familiar carriage parked not far away.

Xie Yan walked over, and the person inside lifted the curtain of the carriage gently, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.

"How long have you been waiting?" Xie Yan asked softly.

Luo Junyao lowered his voice and said, "Just arrived for a while, how is Ah Cheng doing?"

Xie Yan shook his head, "It's okay, I fell asleep after crying."

Luo Junyao sighed softly, reaching out to pick up Xie Cheng.Xie Yan signaled her not to use it. Even though he was holding a child in his arms, he got into the car as if walking on flat ground.

The two got into the carriage, and the driver outside quickly urged the horse to turn around and head towards the Prince Regent's Palace.

The sound of the carriage vibrating still woke Xie Cheng up. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked in a daze. Although the carriage was lit, it was still a little dark. Xie Cheng raised his hand and rubbed his eyes before he saw the person sitting beside Luo Junyao said, "Little Aunt Huang."

Luo Junyao smiled at him, touched his little head and said, "Ah Cheng woke up?"

Xie Cheng nodded, looked up at the uncle who was holding him, and stretched out his hand to want Luo Jun to hug him.

Luo Junyao reached out to take him over. She was already petite, and it was not easy for her to hold a six or seven-year-old child.

Xie Yan frowned, Luo Jun shook his head at him to signal him not to speak.Xie Yan looked down at Xie Cheng whose eyes were red and swollen, but he still didn't speak.

"Little Aunt Huang, Ah Cheng has no mother." In the carriage, Xie Cheng whispered.

Luo Jun said softly: "The queen mother will watch Ah Cheng in the sky."

"Aunt Changling also said that the queen mother will become a star in the sky." Xie Cheng said, "Then which one is the queen mother?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "Ah Cheng sees the brightest one."

"Oh." Xie Cheng nodded and said: "Then Ah Cheng will often visit the queen mother in the future. There are so many stars in the sky, will the queen mother not be lonely?"

"Yes, there are so many stars in the sky, how lively it is. And Ah Cheng's father, they will all watch Ah Cheng. So Ah Cheng must grow up well, be healthy and happy, otherwise they will I'll be worried."

Xie Cheng buried his small face in Luo Junyao's arms, nodded and said in a muffled voice: "Well, Ah Cheng will work hard to grow up."

Back at the Prince Regent's Mansion, Xie Cheng held Luo Junyao tightly and refused to sleep alone, so Luo Junyao had no choice but to carry Xie Cheng back to their room under Xie Yan's heavy eyes.

In the past, Xie Cheng, who behaved like a kitten as long as the emperor's uncle lowered his face a little, was a bit difficult today. Even though he was afraid of the emperor's uncle, he insisted on refusing to sleep alone, but hid behind Luo Junyao and dragged him to death. Little Aunt Huang refused to let go of her clothes.

Luo Junyao looked amused and distressed, knowing that he lost his mother suddenly and felt insecure.

Luo Junyao recruited Feng Jian to ask her to bring someone to help Xie Cheng wash up. After watching Xie Cheng leave in three steps, he turned back and said to Xie Yan: "He is afraid in his heart. The Empress Dowager can't take care of him now, so it is inevitable that he will be clingy."

"I know." Xie Yan said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid he will live in the palace for a period of time in the future, so we can't let him develop bad habits."

Xie Yan didn't think there was anything wrong with letting a child live alone.Not to mention that Xie Cheng lived alone in a room since he was a child, even children from ordinary wealthy families lived by themselves before the age of three, and of course they were taken care of by wet nurses or maids at night.The royal family will not even live in the same room with their parents, and the child will have his own room when he is born.

Luo Junyao was somewhat disapproving, "What kind of bad habit is this? He has no father since he was a child, and he just lost his mother. It is normal for him to feel afraid, and he will be fine in a few days."

Xie Yan said: "Up to three days, I discussed it with Grand Tutor Su today, and he will follow me into the palace to listen to the government as soon as possible. Usually, he will go to the palace to attend studies at Chenshi and come back at Shenshi."

"..." Luo Junyao was silent for a while, before he slowly said: "You guys really know how to torture children." It's all right to enter the palace at Chenshi, but when you meet Xie Yan in the early morning, get up and go out before dawn, okay?

Xie Yan was also very helpless, "After all, he has a different status, so he can't stay in the Prince Regent's Mansion all the time, and it's even more inconvenient for us to live in the palace." Fortunately, the Prince Regent's Mansion is really not far from the palace, and it's not troublesome to come and go every day. Can live in the palace.After another two years, when he is older, he can live alone in the palace.

Luo Junyao felt that he couldn't get involved in educating the emperor, so he just nodded and said: "It's good that you and the Taifu have thought about it, but Ah Cheng is still young after all, so don't get tired."

This is the only seedling of Gao Zu's direct lineage. If something happened to Xie Cheng, she doubted that those old scholars who were loyal to the royal family would hit the wall.

Xie Yan said softly: "Don't worry, you have worked hard these two days, take a good rest in the next few days."

Luo Jun said: "Where am I working so hard? You go about your own business, I won't make myself tired." She really didn't get involved in anything, that is, she didn't sleep all night.At this age, a good night's sleep will make up for it.

Xie Yan instantly thought of his own mess, and was rarely silent.

Sudden loss of mother is still a great blow to a child, and Xie Cheng is still a little listless when he wakes up in the morning.These few days he didn't have to go to school to do homework, so he followed Luo Junsha step by step, like a little tail.

Luo Junyao looked at the pitiful look of the child, and after thinking about it, he ordered someone to invite a few companions to come over. Children would be happier only if they were accompanied by children.

Now the imperial city is still a little unstable, and the Prince Regent's Mansion is undoubtedly the safest place. Naturally, the elders had no objection and immediately sent the children here.

Seeing the friends, Xie Cheng really became more energetic.

These children were obviously told by their families about the Queen Mother's death, and they didn't mention much about the Queen Mother just playing with Xie Cheng.If Xie Cheng took the initiative to talk about it, he would not avoid it, but comforted him carefully.In any case, it is indeed much better to have a little friend with you than to have a child alone.

Luo Junyao watched several children sitting together talking to each other, and Xie Cheng was not so dull, so he secretly heaved a sigh of relief and turned to go out.

"Take good care of Ah Cheng and the young masters," Luo Junyao ordered.

The manager of Jingyuan nodded respectfully and said: "Princess, don't worry, my subordinates have sent people to watch Your Majesty and the young masters all the time, and the people who waited on His Majesty in the palace also came. This Jingyuan is absolutely safe, there will be no Something happened."

"That's good."

"Reporting to Princess Qi, Mrs. Rong from the Qi clan is here." Feng Jian walked in quickly and reported.

Luo Jun shook his feet when he heard the words, and said: "Go and tell Mrs. Rong that the prince has entered the palace." Xie Yan entered the palace early in the morning. Although the matter of King Ning's rebellion ended quickly, the follow-up was very slow. Sorry, I'm afraid I'll be busy for a while.

Feng Jian said: "That Mrs. Rong said that she came to bid farewell to the princess."

"Farewell?" Luo Junyao was also a little surprised, "She's leaving?"

Feng Jian nodded, she naturally didn't know what was going on.The Qi people said so, so she told the princess truthfully.

Luo Junyao thought for a while and said, "Since you're here to say goodbye, let's go see you." Although she didn't know, what kind of friendship did she have with Bai Jingrong, and it was worth her making a special trip to say goodbye to him?
"By the way, is Duoying in the mansion?" Luo Junyao asked.

Feng Jiandao: "Lord Duoying and Master Xiying have both gone out, what does the princess want them to do?"

Luo Jun shook her head, she just wanted to ask how Qu Fang and Yu Chen were doing.

Qu Fang was arrested and he didn't know how to deal with it, but Yu Chen should go with Bai Jingrong, right?Xie Yan said earlier that he wanted to keep Yu Chen in Shangyong.

Bai Jingrong was sitting alone in the flower hall of the Prince Regent's Mansion drinking tea, and seemed to be less ostentatious than before.She was only followed by a young man in black with a knife, not to mention a master like Qu Fangyu Chen, even Musa didn't know where he went.

Seeing Luo Jun swaying in, Bai Jingrong put down his teacup and smiled sweetly: "Princess Regent, excuse me."

Luo Junyao went to the main seat and sat down. After looking at Bai Jingrong for a while, he said, "I heard that Mrs. Rong is leaving?"

Bai Jingrong said with a smile: "After staying in Shangyong for so long, it's time to go back. Today I came to bid farewell to the princess."

"When is Madam planning to leave?" Luo Junyao asked.

Bai Jingrong said: "Leave the Prince Regent's Mansion and set off.?"

Luo Jun shook his eyebrows and raised his eyebrows slightly, "It's just to trouble Mrs. Rong, and even come here to say goodbye to me."

Bai Jingrong said: "It should be. I am very grateful for taking care of you at Shangyong Duomeng Prince Regent's Mansion these days."

Luo Jun shook his lips and said with a smile: "Ma'am, you are serious. We at the Regent's Palace know a little about hospitality. So, I wish Madam a smooth journey here?"

"Thank you." Bai Jingrong said.

After exchanging pleasantries with each other, there was a moment of silence in the flower hall, as if there was nothing to say.

This is also normal, they are not familiar with each other, so there is nothing to talk about.

But Bai Jingrong had no intention of leaving, and Luo Junyao was not in a hurry, drinking tea leisurely.

Anyway, it wasn't her who was going on the journey.

After a moment of silence, Bai Jingrong asked softly, "I heard that the concubine also went to the Mu Palace yesterday?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "What does Madam Rong want to say? Speaking of which...I don't even know, but Madam Rong and King Mu are also old acquaintances."

Bai Jingrong didn't care, chuckled and said, "What's so strange, how many people in our generation don't know each other?" She turned her eyes and sighed, "Yao Zhong said That letter was addressed to the Prince Regent?"

Luo Junyao nodded casually and said, "I'm a little curious."

"What?" Bai Jingrong was very interested in her curiosity.

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "Did the Bai family not be able to catch up with the bloodbath of the Yao family when they were intercepted by King Ancheng, or did you never think about participating?"

The smile on Bai Jingrong's face gradually faded. She looked at the seemingly innocent and lovely Princess Regent in front of her and was silent for a long time before she sighed and said, "Times have changed, so it's okay to tell you. The person I sent was indeed given by King Ancheng." Stopped it. But... even if King Ancheng doesn't stop us, we won't participate in this matter. Those people went to Xinzhou for other things."

"The Bai family instigated this incident at first." Luo Jun said in a deep voice, "It was you who provoked King Mu to be dissatisfied with Gaozu and the merchants, and it was you who...caused King Mu's greed. When Gaozu received the news, he thought it was the head of the Bai family. So, while sending someone to send a message to the Yao family, he sent Ancheng County King to Lingzhou to intercept the people from the Bai family. Unfortunately, the person sent to Xinzhou to deliver the letter never delivered the letter and died on the way. In fact... This is just a cover you throw out to attract the attention of the imperial court. The real main force is those local wealthy families and Jianghu gangs in Xinzhou. At that time, King Mu went to Xinzhou alone. If it hadn’t been checked afterwards, even Gao Zu would not have thought that there would be his younger brother among them. one serving."

Bai Jingrong sighed softly and said, "It's been so many years, what's the point of the princess asking these questions now? It's like Yao Zhong said that he didn't kill anyone. My Bai family really didn't participate in the Yao family's extermination case. Didn't it?"

Luo Jun shook his head and looked at her, then suddenly smiled and said, "Mrs. Rong don't need to be so nervous, I don't intend to settle the case, I'm just curious."

"What's so curious about this?" Bai Jingrong asked.

Luo Jun shook his head and said: "Why did Madam want to attack the Yao family? After thinking about it...you and the Bai family don't seem to have taken advantage of it."

Bai Jingrong said: "In this way, the Yao family married their daughter to Xie Bian's younger brother, but resigned from the Bai family. At that time, the Bai family was not in the top position. Who knows if they will fully support Xie Bian when the wind blows?" Two, Yao Zhong happened to be out at the time, how could he just let it go when the Yao family was destroyed? Unfortunately, he was not as useful as I thought, and it didn’t have much impact in the end, which is a pity. As for the third, the Yao family casually If I don't teach him a lesson, where will I put my face?"

Luo Jun said: "Actually, he is not as useless as Mrs. Rong imagined. Back then, the Bai family was defeated like a mountain, and Bai Su's death... There is no lack of his handwriting. Right?"

The smile on Bai Jingrong's face faded a little, and he said in a deep voice: "The princess is too curious."

Luo Jun shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay, I don't want to ask, Mrs. Rong has finished her farewell, do you have anything else to say?"

Bai Jingrong naturally understood her intention of seeing off the guests, stood up and said: "Forget it, the dog will live in Shangyong for a long time, please take good care of the princess."

Luo Jun shook his head, seeing that Bai Jingrong was really about to leave, he couldn't help asking, "Did you stop playing the music?"

Bai Jingrong chuckled lightly, said goodbye, then turned and walked out.

Until her back disappeared outside the door, Luo Junyao rested his chin in thought for a while, and then asked: "You really don't want to kill her, so you just let her go?"

After a while, a person turned out from behind.

The man was dressed in a plain monk's robe, with handsome features and a string of rosary beads on his wrist.

It is Master Mingguang.

　Happy July [-], dears~
　　And happy 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong~
　　(* ^ ▽ ^ *)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)