Chapter 2011 - 1949: No One Can Ride Over Her

With Ah Jiu and Wufu often visiting, Prince Dong also frequently pays respects to Empress Dowager Mo, who soon regains her spirits and softens her worried expression.

Seeing her recover, Wufu and the others finally breathe a sigh of relief.

In winter, days are long and nights are short; the 22nd year of Yonghe passes in the blink of an eye. Due to the emperor’s passing, this New Year is quieter than usual, with hardly any firecrackers sounding as the New Year bells toll softly past.

After lying in state for twenty-seven days, the late emperor is moved to his tomb for burial on the mountain.

The sound of gongs and drums, paper money flying, the High Monk chanting scripture at the front, mourning sons and daughters crying behind the coffin, followed by the emperor’s tearful wailing and successive ministers in tow.

With the emperor’s passing, the whole nation grieves, offering sacrifices and rituals past gates and bridges amidst mournful cries.

Wufu follows at the end of the procession, moving forward and looking up. The funeral procession stretches endlessly, impossible to see its head or tail.

Finally reaching the emperor’s tomb on Jingshan Mountain, a lengthy recitation of funeral rites ensues; internal and external cries echo, libations are offered, three bows and nine kowtows are made, mourning is held, incense is burned, and grief continues unabated.

...

Once the coffin is buried and they return to the palace, Wufu collapses into a deep sleep.

This funeral ceremony really was too complicated and exhausting.

No wonder people here say a funeral can take half a person’s life. Indeed, the ancients were not wrong.

Wufu doesn’t know when Ah Jiu returned; she only knows that when she awoke, the palace attendants told her Ah Jiu had already gone to court.

Now Emperor Yan, no, the former emperor has been buried, but there are still a few memorials and the coronation of the new emperor to handle.

However, as Wufu eats breakfast, Ah Jiu returns.

"Finished so quickly?" Wufu goes up to greet him, personally helping him take off his grand court attire.

Ah Jiu shakes his head: "With the national mourning just concluded, followed by a month of mourning, I thought everyone must be exhausted, so I announced a three-day court recess to allow the ministers some rest."

"That’s reasonable." Wufu nods and says, "This national mourning was truly draining."

Ah Jiu takes her hand and sits at the table, smiling. "These three days, we can have a good rest."

"Good."

The two sit down for a meal; Wufu asks when the new emperor will ascend the throne.

"The Imperial Astronomical Observatory calculated that mid-March has a good day, which is still some time away. The preparations for the enthronement ceremony can start now, and should be ready in time. I’ve been regent for over a year now; I’ll have Prince Dong join the court sessions to learn state affairs."

Wufu responds with an ’Oh’, wondering whether the young emperor understands any of it.

"What about the former emperor’s concubines?"

Ah Jiu swallows a mouthful of porridge and says, "According to the former emperor’s wishes, those with children will live with their children, and now, except for the Crown Prince, there are only a few princesses. Their birth mothers will be moving to the Princess Mansion with them. Those without children will reside in the Palace of the Grand Consorts."

"I’m just afraid they won’t be willing to move palaces." Wufu smiles faintly: "Both Consort Lan and Consort Xian are not idle."

The former emperor did not leave a will assigning any concubine to take care of the Crown Prince; instead, he left him under the name of his biological mother, making Wufu, the Regent Consort, his guardian.

"Don’t worry, they won’t be able to stir trouble for long." Ah Jiu sneers.

The former emperor did not let anyone become the Crown Prince’s foster mother, and he definitely wouldn’t let anyone aspire to such favors. It’s not easy for Wufu to be second only to him, and he wouldn’t let anyone overshadow her.

It’s best if they know their place and peacefully accept the role of Grand Consort. If not, he has countless ways to make them follow the former emperor in grief.

They are not mere fools!