dognovel Chapter 333 Imperial Prime Minister
Chapter 333 Imperial Prime Minister
The sky was beginning to turn pale, and a faint ray of sunlight quietly shone through the gaps in the clouds and slanted into the palace wall.
The dragon and phoenix totems under the eaves of the front door cast a shadow, falling on the empress dowager's coffin.
Inside and outside the Renzhi Hall, palace maids and eunuchs, dressed in plain clothes, stood with their heads bowed. A mourning tent had been erected in the square outside the hall, and a formation of chanting monks sat cross-legged in the center, like a giant white lotus blooming in the center of the man-eating forbidden palace.
Many ministers arrived one after another, their figures stretched into long and thin lines of sorrow.
Jiang Xing brought Lu Xuan closer and took a closer look at everything that did not look like it could be carefully designed in a day. His eyes instantly turned red, ironic and desolate.
He kept nodding.
"Filial piety, what a filial piety!"
Lu Xuan felt a mix of emotions as he and Jiang Xing went to their respective futons and sat down to wait. Not long after, they saw Empress Ji arrive, accompanied by several palace maids and nannies, surrounded by a large crowd.
She looked pale, but much better than yesterday.
At a glance, Lu Xuan knew that she had the health talisman given by Jiang Yuanfeng.
Seeing the Queen coming, the ministers and wives around her all made way and saluted. Therefore, Lu Xuan also quickly stood up.
Walking to the futon beside Lu Xuan and settling down, Empress Ji glanced at her calmly, a bit arrogantly, "I didn't expect the princess to come so early. You are indeed the Queen Mother's favorite daughter-in-law. Your filial piety is truly commendable."
Lu Xuan bowed, his expression a perfect smile, "I can't compare to the Empress' hard work. Even when she was ill, she still came to show her filial piety. If the Empress really knelt here for four hours, I wonder how moved the spirit of the Queen Mother in heaven would be by your filial piety. You are truly a role model for Daliang!"
After she finished speaking, the smile on Queen Ji's face froze, and a hint of hatred flashed in her eyes.
Was this person truly praising her or was he pretending to harm her?
Bitch!
This will block her from leaving early today!
She lazily stroked the white hairpin on her head and was about to take it off. Unexpectedly, the concubines and clan wives behind her heard what Lu Xuan said and began to agree.
"Your Highness has always been extremely filial to the Empress Dowager. Now that she has passed away, she is inconsolable. She has ignored her own illness and prayed solely for her well-being. Who in the palace can match your Highness's unwavering filial piety?"
"Your Majesty is a precious person. You are brave enough to recite sutras for the Empress Dowager despite being seriously ill. Your filial piety is truly an example for us all. The Empress Dowager will surely be delighted! We should all learn from you..."
"Yes, your majesty's filial piety is truly admired by the concubines!"
"..."
Listening to the pleasant compliments from the crowd, Queen Ji coughed lightly twice.
She had originally planned to just come for formality today, and the emperor had agreed to let her stay for only an incense stick before going back to lie down. She had not expected that she would be so accepted by everyone.
Therefore, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and wanted to kneel down with everyone else.
"The Empress Dowager is the Emperor's mother. How can I ever repay her kindness in raising me? How can I care about my little illness? Praying for her today is my filial duty. Sisters, please don't say anything more."
Although her face was haggard, her voice was loud, and at this moment, there was even a determination in her eyes that did not belong to her.
Seeing this, Lu Xuan had a deep smile in his eyes, and he joined everyone in praising Queen Ji.
As long as Ji Jiaru keeps kneeling here today, if something really happens, she can use her body as a temporary diversion. I didn't expect this person to be so cooperative. Not bad.
The square is different from the Renzhi Hall which is covered with ice. Today the sky is clear. Although there is a mourning tent to provide shade, it doesn't take long for the heat to rise under the sun.
Lu Xuan knelt on the mat silently with his eyes closed. After a cup of tea, he heard the familiar call from He Yuanguang.
"The Emperor has arrived——"
The emperor was the last to arrive, followed by many ministers in charge of the empress dowager's funeral.
It seems that the funeral was discussed early in the morning.
Lu Xuan knelt down and bowed along with everyone else, "Long live the emperor."
"Well, let's get flat."
The emperor still had that heartbroken look on his face. He stood at the most honorable bright yellow cushion with dragon pattern in the middle, as if he had something to say.
Seeing that everyone raised their bodies, Lu Xuan looked up as well.
Next to her was Concubine Rong, and in front of her was the Queen. She just hoped that her appearance could be slightly blocked to avoid any trouble at this critical moment.
The emperor was dressed in plain clothes. He glanced at the crowd and then spoke, his voice choked with sobs.
"My dear ministers, royal family, my mother has lived a life of pure virtue, her virtue rivaling the whole world..."
The tall and slightly plump figure was making a speech in front of a large group of kneeling officials and relatives. Lu Xuan deliberately let Empress Ji block his view.
Perhaps the heat made Queen Ji feel uncomfortable, and she suddenly started coughing.
Hearing the cough, the emperor paused in reading the memorial and subconsciously looked in the direction of Empress Ji.
Miaoyun and Miaoyue beside her were in a panic. One of them was catching her phlegm, and the other was stroking her back. Her body was hunched over, and Lu Xuan's side view was exposed in an instant.
His gaze was originally directed at the Queen out of concern, but unexpectedly, at this moment, it collided with Lu Xuan.
At this moment, her blood seemed to freeze, her heart was surging, and all the hairs on her body stood up.
This emperor was surrounded by a purple aura, but it was only a pale purple?!
Compared to the strong purple aura on Jiang Xing's body, the color is much lighter!
If that's the case, then the one sitting on the throne today shouldn't be him, but Jiang Xing!
Moreover, not only was this emperor protected by an extremely comprehensive protective array, his facial features had also been altered!
What bad thing did he do to make him feel so guilty and scared?
Lu Xuan's mind was full of thoughts, and he felt that there was something wrong with the person in front of him.
When the emperor met her eyes, he was also shocked.
Lu Siyu!
That was clearly Lu Siyu's face!
Is she resurrected?!
His heart was shaken, and he hurriedly ended his eulogy.
The monks in front of the mourning shed struck the mourning tripod, announcing the official start of today's prayer ceremony.
Empress Ji coughed and glanced at the emperor vaguely.
The emperor had clearly cast a concerned look towards her today, but he did not come over to see her, nor did he ask her to return to the palace to rest.
He wasn't like this this morning.
The emperor was unaware of Empress Ji's dissatisfaction. He and Jiang Xinggen knelt on the chanting platform composed of eminent monks, facing the court officials and mourning devoutly. His eyes could not only take in the actions of everyone in the audience, but also monitor Lu Xuan at any time.
His gaze kept turning towards Empress Ji, but Empress Ji looked up several times without meeting the emperor's gaze.
Queen Ji's heart suddenly sank.
He is looking at... Lu Xuan?!
Was he attracted to her face that looked just like Lu Siyu's?!
Her heart trembled slightly, and Queen Ji was a little panicked.
Could it be that he really still couldn't let go of Lu Siyu, and that's why he was unwilling to make Xu'er the crown prince?!
No wonder he proposed in front of everyone yesterday that Lu Xuan should come to the front of the team today and not be allowed to kneel at the back.
It turns out that he was worried that he wouldn't be able to see her!
The more Queen Ji thought about it, the more she felt that this was the truth.
The sun was high in the sky, it was summer after all, and even though the palace maids kept changing the ice jars, the heat was still overwhelming.
Queen Ji felt unwell and was very upset.
Just after noon, she finally couldn't stand the double pressure of body and mind, and fainted on the ground with a bang.
"The Queen has fainted, someone come quickly..."
"Hurry up and help the Empress back. She won't listen to anything I say. She insists on praying for the Empress Dowager's soul..."
The emperor heard the screams of the maids in Kunning Palace, and his attention was finally drawn back to Empress Ji.
He stood up hurriedly, ordered someone to summon the imperial physician and the sedan chair, and hurriedly instructed people to send Empress Ji back to Kunning Palace.
Worried to the core, he wanted to go to Kunning Palace with them, but he remembered Jiang Yuanfeng's instructions not to leave the chanting and prayer scene. He also knew that at this critical moment, it was the Empress Dowager's funeral that would best establish his reputation as a virtuous and filial son.
He knelt back down in frustration.
He turned his head to look at Jiang Xing, who was reciting a prayer beside him and seemed to be praying intently, and said with a hint of meaning: "Yunce, I heard that Princess Jin knows some profound arts?"