ATPnovel Chapter 1611: 9: Grief Beyond Measure (Part 2)
Chapter 1611: 9: Grief Beyond Measure (Part 2)
Chapter 1611: Chapter 9: Grief Beyond Measure (Part 2)The love of the Son of Heaven is as weighty as the mountains, right before one’s eyes.
Therefore, the Son of Heaven, in his noble status, apologizes to Jiang Wang. Therefore, the weight of the world harms Jiang Wuqi alone.
Inside the hall, silence reigned, only the voice of Emperor Qi echoed.
“Among the Jiang family, none other than Wuqi is my beloved son. Born in the frost of winter, cut from his mother’s womb. I thought my beloved consort Lei would not abandon my son, but in the end, the Heavens were jealous!
Cold poison entered his fate, born to a dead-end. Yet his intention never faded, his will never waned, contending with Heaven for seventeen years. With one step, God Arrives, and he carved out the rotten flesh of my Daqi.
I love and sorrow for him, a grief unmatched in my life!”
Emperor Qi stood before the coffin, looking down to see Jiang Wuqi’s serene face.
His gaze swept over Jiang Wuhua, then Jiang Wuyong, moved past Jiang Wuyou’s face, and also scanned Jiang Wuji.
In that moment, his authority was as mighty as mountains and seas: “The death of Wuqi is my great misfortune, but your great fortune!”
Jiang Wuhua, Jiang Wuyong, Jiang Wuyou, Jiang Wuji, all knelt down, unable to lift their heads!
The Crown Princess Consort also knelt with Jiang Wuhua.
The Queen lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Looking deep into the years, the Emperor of Daqi has witnessed countless grand events, yet says this grief is unmatched.
She, the one beside him on the pillow, the head of the harem, ultimately could not speak.
Emperor Qi looked down at Jiang Wuqi, gazing at his handsome, frost-laden face.
After a long silence, he gently parted his lips, took a piece of white jade from his sleeve, and placed it in his mouth.
“Your jade, Imperial Father returns it to you.”
The placing of precious jade in the mouth, a funeral rite.
The Son of Heaven personally completed this step.
It also proclaimed that in the legal sense, Jiang Wuqi was truly dead.
Certainly, when he left, he was pure, flawless as jade.
This purity was validated by the Son of Heaven.
Feng Gu pressed his forehead to the ground, unable to control his sobs, tears streaming down his old face.
Jiang Wang had earlier said in Jiang Wuqi’s study that he hoped Jiang Wuqi had achieved what he wanted when he left.
Feng Gu understood, Jiang Wuqi had indeed achieved it…
The simple act of returning Jiang Wuqi’s jade proved his innocence, seeming to restore the tranquility of Emperor Qi.
The immense pressure felt by everyone in the mourning hall dissipated in an instant.
“Return to the palace,” the Son of Heaven said, no longer looking at Jiang Wuqi, nor casting a glance at the mourning hall, he simply walked out.
Han Ling followed silently behind.
The Son of Heaven passed the spot where the Queen had previously stood, with the coffin on his right and the kneeling Crown Princess Consort and Jiang Wuji on his left.
He walked past.
Past Xiu Yuan standing, Jiang Wuyou kneeling, Jiang Wang standing upright, and finally past Feng Gu prostrate on the ground, leaving this mourning hall set up in the main hall of the Long Life Palace.
Thus, he left without looking back.
According to the rituals, the entire funeral was not yet over, not everyone had arrived, the final condolences still needed Wen Yanyu to preside.
But the Son of Heaven had already left.
Jiang Wuhua, Jiang Wuyong, Jiang Wuyou, Jiang Wuji, all were speechless for a moment.
Jiang Wang remained silent, experiencing the emotions of the Son of Heaven for the first time.
Beneath the deep sea, there are indeed raging waves.
The Queen looked at these princes and princesses and said plainly, “Rise, why are you still kneeling?”
The princes and princesses each stood up.
The Queen seemed tired, turned around, and sat freely on the first chair. Facing the coffin, she gently raised her left hand and waved it outward: “Those who should leave, leave, I will accompany Wuqi on his final journey.”
Her hand moved in the air, evoking a sense of powerlessness.
Though the Queen said so, the princes and princesses certainly could not leave now.
The Son of Heaven had just asked, coming so early, who were they trying to impress. If they left right after the Son of Heaven, it would be truly walking into the knife’s edge.
The Queen’s words had fallen for a moment.
Cao Jie stood up and said, “Your servant still has unfinished military affairs, I shall take my leave first.”
Immediately after, Chen Fu and Xiu Yuan also rose and left.
As high-ranking officials in the Military Affairs Hall and Political Affairs Hall, aside from serious crimes like treason, there are few matters that can shake their position, requiring little performance.
And holding such positions, they are indeed entangled in various affairs. Being able to come and offer incense today was already substantial respect for Jiang Wuqi.
Having offered incense, the Son of Heaven departed, leaving them no reason to stay.
With the three great figures gone, Jiang Wang surely wouldn’t stay. Although he intended to fully participate in Jiang Wuqi’s funeral today, it wasn’t truly to show off before Zhongxuan Sheng, but to honor Jiang Wuqi’s friendship, with a heartfelt cherishing of the hero.
But after the Son of Heaven’s question today, staying longer would inevitably carry an element of performance. Moreover, he didn’t want to continue feeling the pressure within the royal family here.
So he exchanged a glance with Jiang Wuyou, then bid farewell to the Queen and left.
Just as he stepped out the hall door, Feng Gu rose and said, “This old servant will see Your Lordship off.”
Jiang Wang instinctively prepared to decline, but upon reconsideration, he softly said, “Thank you, Eunuch.”
The others thought nothing of it, since Feng Gu had already spoken in front of the Son of Heaven, showing the bond between Jiang Wuqi and Jiang Wang.
Seeing him off was only logical.
Probably only Jiang Wang knew that he had little interaction with Jiang Wuqi, their friendship far from entrusting posthumous fame.
Feng Gu likely had something to say to him…
On the way out, he kept waiting for Feng Gu to speak.
But perhaps due to the many ears in the Long Life Palace, Feng Gu remained silent.
Until they reached the screen wall, he finally asked abruptly, “Do you trust the Eleventh Prince, Your Lordship?”
Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then said, “I think he has proven what kind of person he is with his life. I have no reason to doubt him.”
“Not being able to befriend Your Lordship earlier was indeed His Highness’s regret.” Feng Gu suddenly bowed and said, “I thank you on his behalf.”
Jiang Wang quickly supported him: “Eunuch, what are you doing?”
Feng Gu took out a handkerchief, dabbed the tears from his eyes, and then said, “His Highness has achieved what he wanted, but what this old dog wants hasn’t yet come to pass.”
Jiang Wang looked at him in surprise.
What did he mean?
But Feng Gu had already stopped: “This old servant will see you no further… May Your Lordship soar high in the future.”
With so many eyes and ears around, Jiang Wang couldn’t ask in detail, so he circumambulated the screen wall, full of questions, and left first.
Planning to find an opportunity to inquire further after the funeral ended.
As he was leaving the palace gates, he happened to see Wen Yanyu calmly directing clerks from the Ministry of Rites, managing every aspect of the funeral, with meticulous attention to detail.
These great figures, omission of skill aside, truly were superb at cultivating composure.
For Wen Yanyu, an Imperial Court Adviser, to preside over the Eleventh Prince’s funeral, was indeed a mark of honor.
But with Emperor Qi’s early departure, morale nearly halved immediately. Figures like Cao Jie and Chen Fu, who were significant enough, left after offering incense.
One could say it was a thankless task upon outset.
Yet, despite the Emperor’s departure, his work could not simply cease. For someone of his rank to oversee a funeral, it required a complete beginning and end.
Initial appointment seemed excessive, yet the detailed, tedious work lightly overlooked, left frustration unsaid.
But Wen Yanyu’s face showed no discontent, not a trace of impatience. As if he didn’t regard this duty as a waste at all.
Jiang Wang stepped forward of his own accord this time, bid farewell, and left Long Life Palace.
Originally, he left in style before Zhongxuan Sheng, but before Zhongxuan Sheng even arrived, he had finished his condolences and left. Truly, the affairs of the world are hard to predict.
Jiang Lord’s trip this time was not on foot; it was naturally arranged with a carriage by the housekeeper Xie Ping of Jiang Mansion.
But when he reached his carriage, an unexpected person appeared——
The Rain-slicing Army’s Commander Xiu Yuan.
This person was seated inside a tall carriage and waved to him: “Come in.”
The Jiang Mansion’s carriage was dwarfed by the Nine Soldier Commander’s carriage, resembling a child’s toy, truly a bit shabby.
Housekeeper Xie Ping and the newly hired carriage driver from Jiang Mansion stood silently, not daring to speak.
Facing a quiet long street, with the palace gate deeply behind.
The autumn wind was biting cold.
The bustling, bustling Linyi City, mourned Jiang Wuqi in silence.
“You all should return first.”
Jiang Wang instructed briefly, then entered Xiu Yuan’s carriage.