Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 64 Funeral
During this period, Zhu Yunhuan had a very light diet and did not drink alcohol or enjoy singing and dancing.

During these days, he bathed, changed clothes, and cleaned his body and mind every day. He began to fast to show his piety because the coffin of Crown Prince Zhu Biao was about to be sent out.

As Zhu's nephew, Li Jinglong, as the ceremonial officer, reported the date of the burial to the heaven, earth and ancestral society, and Zhu Yunhuan and all the officials followed suit to perform the ceremony.

Wine, fruits and food were also prepared at the Jinshui Bridge, Wumen Gate, Duanmen Gate and all other river bridges or shrines that needed to be passed.

Old Zhu arrived in front of the coffin with a sad expression. It had been a hundred days, but time still had not healed the pain in his heart.

"Big brother, Dad is here to see you." Old Zhu, with a trembling voice, looked at the tablet and said, "Did you see your mother?"

Zhu Chong, Zhu Yunhuan and others knelt obediently, lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Old Zhu couldn't help crying and said, "How can you be so cruel to leave me behind! When you leave, it's all over. How do you want me to live?"

Old Zhu just looked at Zhu Biao's tablet and cried, and no one else dared to speak to comfort him. Whether it was Zhu Chong, the King of Qin, or Zhu Yunhuan, the grandson of the emperor, it was better for them to keep quiet at this time.

"We'll come to see you off today, but we won't come tomorrow." Old Zhu wiped his tears and said, "I'm the emperor now, and I can't even send my son off. Don't blame me, Boss."

Old Zhu looked behind him and said, "Next month, we will make Yunxun the crown prince, and you should rest assured. Your son has a promising future and is capable. You taught him well, and we know what you are thinking. Is that right?"

Old Zhu suddenly couldn't hold it anymore and burst into tears, "Boss, how could you be so cruel to abandon your old father! How could you just ignore Yun Hun!"

Zhu Chong and others could only cry at this time, probably because they were really sad, but also probably because they dared not not cry.

Zhu Yunwen also cried very sadly. Perhaps only he himself knew why.

Zhu Yunhuan sighed silently, and seeing that Old Zhu was having trouble breathing, he quietly stood up and called out to Zhu Chong in a low voice. The two of them held Old Zhu on the left and right, and helped Old Zhu, who was almost crying, out of the mourning hall.

It took Old Zhu a long time to recover from his shock. He just managed to say, "Old Second, Yunxun, we won't go over tomorrow. You two should take care of things and don't make any mistakes at this time."

Zhu Chong replied, "Don't worry, father. I will not make any mistakes at this time."

Zhu Yunhuan met Old Zhu's gaze and said, "Grandfather, don't worry."

Old Zhu waved his hand gently, and his beloved eldest son was about to be sent away and buried.

Although Zhu was sent back, Zhu Yunhuan was not idle. He presided over the farewell ceremony, paid tribute, and carefully inspected the carriage carrying the coffin and various funeral instruments.

At dawn the next day, an official stepped forward and quietly reminded, "Your Highness, it's time to start the memorial ceremony."

Zhu Yunhuan nodded slightly and said, "Let's get started."

Zhu Yunhuan and others began to lay down silk, offer wine, read prayers, and perform the four-bow ceremony. Naturally, white banners were also raised.

An official handed over a piece of silk, and Zhu Yunhuan took it and carefully wiped Zhu Biao's coffin. Suddenly, he heard a subtle sound behind him, and turned around and was stunned. Old Zhu, who shouldn't have come, came over.

The ritual system, sometimes Old Zhu is like this, he breaks the rules he made. If others break the rules he made, he will be furious. But he broke the rules himself, that is, he broke them, and others dare not say anything.

Old Zhu snatched the silk from Zhu Yunhuan's hand and carefully wiped Zhu Biao's coffin.

When Old Zhu was wiping the coffin, the officials from the Ministry of Rites were very anxious but did not dare to remind him.

Zhu Yunhuan noticed this and stepped forward, supported Old Zhu, and said softly, "Grandfather, it's time to set off. Be filial to my father while he is still alive, and don't let him feel uneasy when he leaves."

"He is relieved, why doesn't he think about us, why doesn't he think about you!" Old Zhu wiped his tears and whispered, "He has been filial all his life, how can he be so cruel now!"

Zhu Yunhuan didn't know what to say. He looked at Zhu Chong and the officials from the Ministry of Rites and said, "Move up the coffin."

Old Zhu's body trembled slightly. Zhu Yunhuan just supported the burly Old Zhu and left without following the normal ceremony.

Just as Zhu Chong was about to step forward, Old Zhu spoke up, "Watch out, and follow me."

The burly Jinyiwei officers carefully lifted the heavy coffin. Zhu Chong and a group of civil and military officials knelt in the left and right rows in the palace in front of the mourning hall.

As for Zhu Yunhuan, he was supposed to hold the tablet of the spirit, but now he was holding Old Zhu and following Zhu Biao's coffin closely.

The coffin was placed on the carriage, and the funeral ceremony naturally continued. Old Zhu once again broke the rules. He was still unwilling to return to the palace. When the spirit carriage officially set off, Old Zhu insisted on following. Not to mention the civil and military officials, even Zhu Yunhuan did not dare to persuade him, and could only help Old Zhu to follow.

Members of the royal family, nobles, civil and military officials, all cried all the way.

When they arrived at the Meridian Gate, another memorial ceremony was held. Old Zhu cried very sadly at this time, because although he broke the convention, he knew that he could only be sent here.

Wiping away tears, Lao Zhu said, "Boss, we can only send you here, just rest assured. Just take good care of your mother, and don't worry about us and Yunhuan."

Zhu Yunxun hardened his heart and shouted loudly, "Raise the spirit!"

Old Zhu wanted to step forward, but Zhu Yunhuan stopped him, "Grandfather, I'll take care of the rest. We can't delay the time."

Old Zhu also understood this and said dejectedly, "We, we won't send you off."

Zhu Yunhuan let go of Old Zhu and followed the funeral procession out of the Meridian Gate to hold another memorial ceremony. No one dared to express dissatisfaction with the cumbersome ceremony at this time, and everyone was extremely well-behaved.

When the team set out again, they went straight out of the palace and headed straight towards Dongling.

Naturally, along the way, there were kings, officials, military and civilian elders, and women of the fourth rank and above, who offered sacrifices in order along the way.

The team arrived at the Eastern Mausoleum, and under the guidance of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, Zhu Yunhuan came to pay tribute and carefully placed Zhu Biao's tablet. He also offered wine, read the prayers, etc., which were all his duties.

Zhu Chong, Zhu Yunwen and others naturally accompanied the sacrifice.

After the relocation ceremony, Zhu Yunhuan followed closely, and together with Zhu Chong and others, they stared at every step with extreme seriousness until they saw the coffin was placed.

Then, naturally, Zhu Yunhuan placed the imperial edict and some funerary objects, and the work was considered temporarily completed.

After paying their respects, they left the underground palace, still keeping a serious eye on every step.

When the palace gate slammed shut, the funeral of Crown Prince Zhu Biao seemed to be over.

After leaving the underground palace, Zhu Yunxun sighed, "You stay here and watch. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

The underground palace was closed, but the mausoleum still needed to be covered with soil, which would take some time, so Zhu Yunhuan naturally couldn't keep an eye on it.

Li Jinglong naturally understood that this matter was extremely important, even though there were guards of the Xiaoling Mausoleum and many craftsmen, etc. However, only when there was a reliable person with status to watch over it could the emperor and his grandson rest assured.

The busy Zhu Yunhuan arrived at the sacrificial hall again. In fact, Zhu Chong and others were also going to pay homage at this time.

Offering the shrine tablet and enshrining the clothes that Zhu Biao wore during his lifetime are also things that need to be done.

After four bows, the first offering is made, silk and wine are offered, and a prayer is read. Then the second offering and the final offering are made, followed by four bows again.

Zhu Chong and others were all upset because some aspects of their brother's funeral were beyond the standard. Although the funeral rules for princes in the Ming Dynasty were not yet fully established, some aspects of their brother's funeral were comparable to those of an emperor.

But Zhu Chong and others did not dare to say anything, and the civil and military officials did not dare to complain.

Wait until there is a chance to make a formal rule for the prince's funeral. Don't be too smart to worry about it now. Otherwise, not to mention that the emperor will not forgive those people, even the emperor's grandson will definitely not be willing.

After the ceremony, Zhu Yunhuan suddenly said, "You guys leave first."

After everyone else left, Zhu Yunhuan knelt down again.

"Your servant Zhu Yunhuan pays respect to Emperor Xingzong of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Yunhuan spoke softly, "The Crown Prince is now me. Rest in peace!"

According to the rules, the eunuchs would carry the sacred silk box and bury it in front of the palace, and burn the murder weapon in the wild.

But Zhu Yunhuan also planned to do it himself, and the others couldn't say anything. This was a little bit against the rules, but no one could argue.

With the burial of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, some things seemed to be over.

　Thanks to DQD for giving 100 Qidian coins

　　
　
(End of this chapter)