Chapter 719

Chapter 726: Replacement (Part 1)

Xu Lingyi did not return that day. At noon, he sent a message to Eleven Miss through his personal attendant: "I am safe and well; you need not worry."

By mid-morning the next day, all the bells in the temples and Taoist monasteries of Yanjing were ringing in unison.

The Emperor had passed away.

Eleven Miss did not know how other households were reacting, but the Elder Madam let out a long sigh before her eyes began to moisten.

"What does the Ministry of Rites say?"

"The funeral rites will follow established precedent," Eleven Miss replied softly. "They are currently deliberating on the posthumous title."

"Have everyone in the household dress plainly and remove their ornaments," the Elder Madam said, leaning against the large crimson brocade pillow with an ice-crack pattern, her voice sounding weary. "Restrain the servants from drinking, merrymaking, or playful laughter. We must observe the mourning period properly for the next hundred days before discussing anything else."

The Second Mistress sat silently nearby, her expression somewhat melancholic.

Eleven Miss softly acknowledged the instructions and went out to direct the stewards. The Third Mistress, dressed in plain mourning clothes with two dark medicinal patches on her temples, hurried over.

"Is the Emperor truly gone?" she asked, pulling Eleven Miss aside to speak in the warm anteroom next to the flower hall. "Is there any news from the palace?"

"I haven’t heard any news," Eleven Miss replied. "Lord Xu has not yet returned from the palace."

A hint of a smile appeared in the Third Mistress’s eyes. "With the new Emperor ascending the throne, he will surely bestow generous rewards upon the court officials, won’t he?"

This way, both Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian might receive hereditary titles.

"The posthumous title hasn’t even been decided yet," Eleven Miss said tactfully. "Other matters will likely have to wait until after the funeral."

"True," the Third Mistress said lightly. "It’s still too early to discuss these things."

With that, she perked up and said loudly, "How is Mother? Is she doing well?" She stood up as she spoke. "I’ll go see her now." She added, "When the day of mourning comes, you must remember to call us, Fourth Sister-in-law. After all, we are family. If we go together harmoniously, it will reflect well on the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince."

Eleven Miss responded vaguely and asked Han Xiao to accompany the Third Mistress to see the Elder Madam. She then summoned Song Mama and Amber to discuss matters related to the national mourning.

On the second day of the mourning period, the Crown Prince wore mourning clothes for twenty-seven days, after which he switched to plain garments. Princes and princesses observed three years of mourning, ending after twenty-seven months. Officials wore plain clothes and gathered outside the Sishan Gate morning and evening for three days to wail in grief, changing into mourning attire for three evenings of weeping, followed by ten more mornings of mourning, with the full period ending after twenty-seven days. Women of rank outside the palace wore plain clothes on the fourth day and gathered at the West Glory Gate to wail for three days, ending their mourning after twenty-seven days. Official households were prohibited from music, ancestral rites, and marriage for one hundred days. Military and civilian households wore plain clothes for thirteen days and were prohibited from music, ancestral rites, and marriage for one month.

After this came the new Emperor’s accession ceremony, the investiture of the Empress Dowager, the investiture of the Empress, the conclusion of the mourning period, and the burial rites for the previous emperor... It was not until mid-September that Eleven Miss and Lord Xu finally had a moment to sit down and talk properly.

Lord Xu had grown much thinner.

"When the Emperor briefly regained consciousness, his first decree was to summon me to the palace..." He stared blankly at the canopy above the bed, as if he had much to say but could not find the words.

Eleven Miss had no choice but to change the subject to something more cheerful. "I was worried that the national mourning might cancel or postpone the provincial examinations, but they proceeded as scheduled. Jie Geer lived up to Mr. Chang’s expectations and passed the imperial examination to become a *xiucai*. It’s just a pity we couldn’t celebrate for him."

Lord Xu knew that what Eleven Miss called a celebration was likely just gathering the family for a meal.

He said nothing but put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "If you have time, visit the palace more often to keep the Empress Dowager company. Just after the seventh seventh day, she insisted on moving to Cining Palace and invited Abbess Jining to the palace to lecture on Buddhism. The Emperor is very concerned."

There were rumors that the Emperor had died of "overexertion." It was said that the one who shared his bed that night was the birth mother of the Eighth Prince, Consort Song.

Eleven Miss felt that since the Emperor had already passed, there was no point in discussing such matters, so she had never verified the rumor with Lord Xu.

The next day, she submitted her nameplate, and by that afternoon, the Inner Palace had responded, instructing her to enter the palace the following day. Cining Palace was solemn and dignified, and the Empress, now Empress Dowager, seemed to have aged ten years overnight.

She gently comforted Eleven Miss, "I’ve already spoken to the Emperor. Once things settle down, we will transfer Jin Geer back. If you feel there are no suitable positions, I will speak to the Emperor again." She added, "I recall that the third son of the fourth brother was raised by you. What is he doing now? If he’s not occupied with anything, have him come serve in the Imperial Guards." Eleven Miss hurriedly expressed her gratitude to the Empress Dowager and said gently, "Although Guizhou is remote, knowing that you are always concerned about him, he doesn’t find it dreary there. On the contrary, he feels it’s quite interesting. In every letter, he shares new experiences with me. Not only has he grown from it, but I’ve also learned much. Jie Geer just passed the imperial examination in August to become a *xiucai*. Fifth Uncle serves in the Imperial Guards, and the third brother’s son, Xu Sijian, also started there. All these decisions were made by Lord Xu. As for Jie Geer’s future, I’m afraid it will have to be decided by Lord Xu."

The Empress Dowager most appreciated Eleven Miss’s reluctance to make decisions on her own.

She gave a slight nod.

Elevenniang asked what scriptures Jining had been expounding lately and recounted her first meeting with Jining, who had advised her to rearrange her house, to the Empress Dowager... The atmosphere was relaxed yet dignified, and a faint smile gradually appeared on the Empress Dowager's face.

A palace maid entered: "Her Majesty, the abbot of Dajue Temple has arrived!"

Elevenniang rose to take her leave.

The Empress Dowager said, "She has been requesting an audience every day since I invited Jining to the palace to discuss Buddhist scriptures. I was annoyed by her persistence and casually agreed to see her today, not realizing it would coincide with your visit. Come with me to meet her, and we can talk more after lunch." She extended her hand, indicating for Elevenniang to support her as they moved to the side hall.

Elevenniang softly acknowledged, "Yes," and assisted the Empress Dowager to the side hall.

The abbot of Dajue Temple was in her fifties, of medium height, with a straight posture, sharp eyes, and an imposing demeanor that suited her status perfectly. The nun following her was in the bloom of youth; though dressed in plain gray robes, her bright eyes and lovely teeth were unmistakable, making one silently regret that such a beautiful woman had chosen monastic life.

Elevenniang smiled wryly at the sight.

The world is truly small.

She had not expected to encounter Yang Shi in the Cining Palace.

Yang Shi, evidently already aware that Elevenniang was accompanying the Empress Dowager, was not surprised by her presence. She smiled and nodded at Elevenniang, conveying a sense of familiarity as if meeting an old acquaintance in a distant land.

The abbot of Dajue Temple was introducing her to the Empress Dowager: "...This is my final disciple, known as Dharma name Jingkong. She is literate and well-versed in the 'Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch.' I have named her as my successor. Thus, I specially brought her today to have an audience with Your Majesty."

Under normal circumstances, this might have seemed rude. However, since the abbot of Dajue Temple was presenting her successor to the Empress Dowager and Dajue Temple was a royal monastery, it could be considered appropriate and fitting. Yang Shi stepped forward to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Her dignified and graceful demeanor immediately won the Empress Dowager's favor: "Where are you from? When did you enter Dajue Temple? When did you shave your head?"

Yang Shi smiled slightly, but the abbot quickly interjected with a smile: "She is from Daxing. Since childhood, she was frail and sickly, so her family dedicated her to the care of Guanyin Bodhisattva. She grew up studying sutras and later entered Dajue Temple. It has been over a decade since she shaved her head!" The explanation was vague, clearly intending to conceal her true background. The Empress Dowager seemed to have forgotten as well and, hearing that she had shaved her head over a decade ago, curiously asked Yang Shi, "How old are you?"

Yang Shi replied respectfully, "This humble nun is thirty-one years old!"

The Empress Dowager looked Yang Shi up and down, then turned to Elevenniang and said, "I hadn't expected Master Jingkong to be so skilled at preserving her youth!"

Yang Shi modestly said, "Your Majesty flatters me. This humble nun merely is content with life and avoids anger and sorrow." As she spoke, she glanced at Elevenniang out of the corner of her eye and added with a hint of respect, "The lady beside Your Majesty must be Lady Yongping? She appears to be only seventeen or eighteen, yet I have heard that the Yongping Marquis' youngest son is already fourteen. If we are to speak of preserving youth, Lady Yongping is truly the one skilled in this art!"

Seventeen or eighteen?

Even in her youth, Elevenniang had been known for her composure, and now her every movement was flawless, carrying an air of ease. She didn't look like a young girl in the bloom of youth.

It was astonishing that Yang Shi could say such a thing.

Elevenniang smiled faintly. "Master Jingkong, you flatter me too much."

The Empress Dowager clearly enjoyed hearing such remarks. She took Elevenniang's hand and said, "Many ladies have told me in person that Lady Yongping is very beautiful." Initially, the Empress Dowager had only agreed to meet the abbot of Dajue Temple and Yang Shi out of courtesy, but now her interest was piqued. She conversed with them for a long time and finally rewarded Dajue Temple with five thousand taels of silver for incense oil and five hundred catties of aloeswood before ending the audience.

After lunch, Jining arrived.

They made small talk for a while. When Elevenniang was leaving, Jining personally escorted her to the gate of Cining Palace.

Elevenniang smilingly told Jining about the Empress Dowager's large donation to Dajue Temple.

Jining smiled faintly and placed her palms together in a gesture of respect toward Elevenniang. "Thank you, benefactor. This humble nun will certainly pray for the Yongping Marquis and the Commander."

Seeing that Jining understood her meaning, Elevenniang returned to the mansion with a smile and told him that the Empress Dowager wanted to recall Xu Sijin and reward Xu Sijie. Lord Xu laughed upon hearing this. "I will handle this matter." Yet, as he spoke, he seemed hesitant.

Since the previous emperor's passing, although the new emperor had not assigned Lord Xu any specific official position, Lord Xu, bearing the title of Junior Mentor to the Crown Prince, began attending court daily.

"What did the Marquis wish to say?" Elevenniang asked with a smile.

"Mo Yan," Lord Xu held her hand, "the Emperor wants me to lead the Five Military Commissions and serve concurrently as Vice Minister of War. I declined..." He looked at her with a trace of guilt. Whether serving as an official or earning money, it ultimately comes down to realizing personal value or improving quality of life. Lord Xu had long since achieved his goals. In the years he had been without an official post, their quality of life had not diminished. For him, holding office likely held little significance.

He was probably worried about her losing face.

Moreover, she felt that Lord Xu must have thought it through carefully before making this decision. "Since you declined, then it's settled! Master Jian just said she wants to expand the embroidery shop's business further—she intends to venture into the embroidery thread trade. The majority of the world's embroidery threads come from Huzhou. If the Marquis has time, he can help us brainstorm and figure out how to contact the Huzhou prefect..." Elevenniang said with a slight smile.