Chapter 24: Merit

Chapter 24: Merit

After a short rest, the group from Du Village drove the mule cart to the foot of the mountain near Shangliang Village where the graves were located. Six strong young men unloaded the new coffin from the cart and placed it on a wooden frame. Three men on each side lifted the frame onto their shoulders.

A thick hemp rope, as thick as a child's arm, was tied to the center front of the frame. The others walked ahead in a line, pulling the rope up the mountain to transport the new coffin to Mei Xueer's grave.

Due to the long absence of anyone to tend to the grave, the mound had partially collapsed from the rain and was overgrown with weeds.

The geomancer, who had also arrived, emphasized the tradition that the bones must not be exposed to sunlight. Qiu Huanian took out half a bolt of black hemp cloth that had been prepared in advance and had several people hold it up to block the sunlight from the grave mound.

When the auspicious time arrived, the geomancer took out a plow, recited the earth-breaking incantation, and made a mark on the grave mound with the plow, signifying that it was time to start digging. Those who were free took out their shovels and began to dig away the crumbling grave soil.

Mei Xueer's burial had been hasty and careless. The group dug less than a meter before they reached the thin, poorly made coffin with walls only as thick as a finger.

The coffin was already corroded and on the verge of collapse. Experienced hands tied ropes around it and carefully lifted it onto flat ground. Those holding the black hemp cloth adjusted their positions and angles throughout the process to ensure that no sunlight disturbed the remains.

Du Yunse knelt down beside Qiu Huanian. As a son-in-law, he was like a son to her. Mei Xueer's origins were unknown, and Qiu Huanian was her only descendant. At this moment, only the two of them could handle Mei Xueer's remains.

Without the protection of a good coffin, the skeletal remains and tattered clothes inside the thin coffin were a chaotic, pitiful sight.

Who had she been a daughter to? A sister to? Where had she been? What books had she read? Now, all that remained were scattered bones in the dark soil.

The geomancer rang a bell and chanted ancient, sorrowful chants that echoed through the mountains, startling a few birds into flight.

Qiu Huanian took out a bolt of white silk that he had specially purchased and, together with Du Yunse, carefully and sorrowfully wrapped the bones in the silk before placing them into the sturdy, newly painted coffin.

The coffin was sealed with nails, and the black hemp cloth was stored, but the process wasn't over.

Having disturbed the earth, it was necessary to appease the earth spirits. After the people from Du Village filled in the grave pit and the empty coffin, the geomancer burned spirit money at the four corners of the grave and at the back, reciting the earth spirit pacification incantation. Only then were the steps in Shangliang Village fully completed.

Beneath the radiant sunlight, the mule cart pulled the new coffin containing the remains away from Shangliang Village. Qiu Huanian instinctively turned back, watching as the village, deeply etched in the original owner's memory, gradually disappeared at the end of the road.

This departure might mean he would never return in this lifetime.

After more than half an hour, the mule cart arrived at the foot of the mountain near Du Village where the new grave was to be located. The geomancer had chosen the spot two days prior, broken the ground, and dug the grave pit. Following Qiu Huanian's wishes, it was in a scenic, quiet, and secluded spot, but one where Li the Widow's grave could still be seen.

Others didn't understand why Qiu Huanian insisted on this, but only he knew it was because the original owner's memorial in this world was also there.

When the next auspicious time arrived, the geomancer went through the process again. The thick, painted coffin, covered with black hemp cloth, was buried in the grave pit that had been dug more than two meters deep. The mound was built up, watered, and pressed into a new grave. A wooden tombstone was inscribed with "Tomb of the Late Mother Mei Xueer," and everything was finally settled. (Note 1)

Because it was still unclear why she had hidden her identity, the name Mei Zhengchun could not yet be used.

After burning the spirit money and joss paper, the group walked back along the mountain path. Halfway there, a fine, misty rain began to fall, so light that it didn't even wet their clothes, but it moistened Qiu Huanian's fluttering lashes.

By the time they returned to the village, the sudden rain had stopped, as fleeting as a whisper on the wind.

Hu Qiuyan had taken full responsibility for preparing the banquet while Qiu Huanian was away. She had Yun Kang and Chun Sheng wait at the village entrance, instructing them to run and tell her as soon as they saw the grave-digging party returning.

When Qiu Huanian returned to his courtyard, ten tables and a pile of stools had already been set up inside and outside the yard, most of which had been borrowed from other households.

The two stoves in Qiu Huanian's house were not enough, so Hu Qiuyan borrowed a few more from the neighbors. Hearing that they had returned, several stoves were fired up to cook and heat the food, and soon the banquet was ready.

Qiu Huanian invited everyone to sit down and thanked all those who had helped with the grave-digging. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse had personally invited the clan leader the day before, and the clan leader also spoke a few words at the banquet, announcing that the rift between the two families caused by Zhao had been temporarily resolved.

Some of the dishes at the banquet were common in rural Zhang County, while others were adaptations by Qiu Huanian himself. The dishes were hearty and flavorful, delighting the villagers.

The glutinous rice sweet balls, packed with sugar and dates, were a hit with the children, while the rich, milky corn and pork bone soup had everyone asking Qiu Huanian for the recipe.

Corn was abundant in the countryside, and bones were much cheaper than meat. While other good dishes were out of reach, this soup was something they could make at home once they knew how.

After this feast, the final step of the tomb relocation was officially completed. In ancient rural society, this meant that Qiu Huanian's separation from his mother and the relocation of her tomb had been publicly acknowledged and formally recognized in terms of reason and sentiment.

By sunset, Qiu Huanian and the helpers finally finished washing and returning all the borrowed dishes, tables, and stools.

He tidied up the stove, distributed the leftover food that was still edible to those who had cooked and washed the dishes, and then wearily closed the courtyard gate.

Du Yunse fetched clean water and heated it. The two took turns bathing in a large tub and rested under the big pear tree to dry their hair.

As the moon rose and its light filled the ground, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng had already fallen asleep. Qiu Huanian played with his long, black hair, speaking softly, "This tomb relocation cost a total of two taels and five qian of silver. We'll have to be more frugal for the next month, or else we won't have enough money for your academy exam in the prefectural city."

The coffin cost one tael, and the white silk for collecting the bones cost seven qian of silver—these were the two biggest expenses. The rest, including hiring a yin-yang master (a specialist in geomancy and rituals), purchasing ingredients for the feast, and buying black hemp cloth, added up to eight qian of silver.

Now, the family's savings were just over one tael of silver. If it weren't for Meng Wudong recently opening up many sales channels for Sorghum Candy, stabilizing Qiu Huanian's daily income at over 150 wen, Qiu Huanian wouldn't have dared to spend so much.

Qiu Huanian calculated item by item, "Saving 120 wen a day, with a little over a month left before your exam, we can save up to over three taels of silver. Combined with travel expenses and accommodation in the prefectural city, it should barely be enough."

"I just don't know how much the socializing expenses will be. The scholars who pass the academy exam with you will be your future connections, so you'll have to host meals and socialize."

As Qiu Huanian spoke, he absentmindedly twirled his hair with his fingers. When he came to, his hair had tangled into a knot that wouldn't come loose no matter how much he pulled.

Du Yunse couldn't bear to watch and gently took hold of Qiu Huanian's smooth, black hair, patiently untangling it bit by bit.

"You don't have to work so hard. Do what you can with the resources you have. It's better to have a few good friends than many superficial ones."

Qiu Huanian nodded along with his actions. He wasn't the type to skimp on himself to save money. The reason he planned to save only 120 wen a day was to leave 30 wen for daily expenses, improving their meals and quality of life.

Working hard is for the sake of living well—it must never be the other way around.

Among the four people in the household, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were growing children. Du Yunse had to both work and study, engaging in both physical and mental labor. Qiu Huanian was also busy every day, barely touching the ground. Therefore, food and nutrition had to keep up.

The two half-grown hens Qiu Huanian had bought when he first arrived were now laying eggs. The family wasn't short on food, and Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng diligently gathered wild vegetables. With ample chicken feed in the coop, the hens laid more eggs—four hens produced at least four eggs a day, sometimes even five or six.

Now, the family's living standard was one egg per person per day, tofu with every meal, and half of their staple food was white rice and flour. They had a proper meat meal every five days.

Thanks to Qiu Huanian's careful planning, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were healthier, with black hair and fair skin. Du Yunse's careful guidance had gradually shaped their demeanor, and their movements began to show poise. Hu Qiuyan often joked that even a wealthy family might not raise such well-mannered children.

A few days ago, someone even came to Qiu Huanian to discuss Jiu Jiu's marriage prospects, which startled Qiu Huanian. He quickly declined, stating that he wouldn't consider such matters for the next few years.

Jiu Jiu was still a little girl under ten years old—this was way too early!

Du Yunse gently untangled Qiu Huanian's messy hair, and the smooth strands slipped through his fingers, tickling his heart.

He looked up at Qiu Huanian and noticed that the other had already dozed off against the chair. A few white pear petals had fallen onto his forehead, covering the red mole between his eyebrows.

Du Yunse couldn't help but raise his hand, wanting to brush away the fallen petals. Just as his fingers were about to touch the beauty under the tree, Qiu Huanian suddenly opened his eyes groggily.

Du Yunse curled his fingers and withdrew his arm.

"If you're tired, go to sleep. You've been busy all day today. Sleep in a bit tomorrow morning."

Qiu Huanian yawned, unaware of Du Yunse's actions, nodded, and stumbled back to the left side room.

A few more days passed, and the cotton seedlings in the breeding trays had grown enough to be transplanted. Any longer, and the trays wouldn't be able to hold them.

Qiu Huanian was busy tilling and fertilizing the three mu (about half an acre) of irrigated land. The single-person hand-pushed plow still hadn't been successfully made, but with the help of the mule and the reinforced curved-shaft plow he had modified, the overall labor had been reduced by at least several times.

Qiu Huanian first spread farmyard manure mixed with plant ash as base fertilizer across the field. Then, he had the mule pull the curved-shaft plow to till the three mu of land several times, turning the weeds into fertilizer within the soil. Finally, he divided the land into ridges and furrows, completing the preparation of the field.

Du Yunse spent half the day studying and the other half working in the fields. The clan leader's family had many hands, and after finishing their own one mu of cotton field, they came to help. Soon, the three mu of land were fully prepared.

Qiu Huanian wanted to pay the workers, but no one accepted, since learning the skill of cotton planting from Qiu Huanian was already invaluable.

That day, after checking the condition of the cotton seedlings in the breeding tray, Qiu Huanian was about to choose a day to transplant them into the fields when he suddenly received a message sent by Magistrate Wang.

"Magistrate Wang wants us to go to the county yamen tomorrow?" Qiu Huanian put the breeding tray back in place. "Did the messenger specify what it's about?"

"Magistrate Wang said he would explain in detail when we get to the county yamen," Du Yunse helped him wash his hands. "It must be that the traffickers' case has finally been concluded."

Qiu Huanian's eyes sparkled with interest. Qiu Chuanzong and Zhou Shi were released and then taken away by the officials again a few days later. Qiu Fu and Qiu Gui also didn't know the specifics. Qiu Huanian couldn't help but worry about complications when he heard the news. Now, everything has finally come to a conclusion.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse set aside a day and drove the mule cart to the Zhang County yamen.

After completing his duties, Magistrate Wang met them at noon in the yamen's back hall.

Compared to the last meeting, Magistrate Wang had slimmed down a bit, but his face was radiant, a smile playing on his lips, clearly in high spirits.

"Yun Se, your return has enabled me to accomplish a great feat!"

Seeing their confusion, Magistrate Wang stroked his beard and smiled. "Since Yun Se is the one who earned the merit, I'll share the inside story with you, but remember, it's confidential."

"You may not know, but a noble from the palace hails from our neighboring county. More than ten years ago, when she was still in the countryside, her younger brother was kidnapped by traffickers. After she became prosperous, she always wanted to find her brother and even specially requested the officials of Xiangping Prefecture to pay attention to this matter. Unfortunately, it has been too long, and no trace could be found."

"As time passed, everyone believed there was no hope left for this matter. Who would have thought that when I interrogated the traffickers caught more than half a month ago, I found some clues!"

Magistrate Wang clapped his hands and explained, "This matter is of great significance and must be urgently reported up through the ranks to the palace for a response. That's why it took so long. Recently, the palace issued an edict to take all the criminals to the capital for interrogation, and only then did I dare to tell you the whole story."

As for how the criminals will be interrogated after they are taken to the capital, and whether the noble from the palace can finally find her brother, is not something they can concern themselves with.

"Since the outcome is still undecided, the palace has not yet sent any rewards. But I have already written your and Wu Shen's merits in full in the memorial and submitted it. Once the news and rewards from the capital arrive, I will inform you immediately!"

If Du Yunse were just an ordinary commoner, Magistrate Wang might not have written his merit in the memorial. But since Du Yunse's future looks promising, Magistrate Wang certainly wouldn't be short-sighted enough to hog the benefits.

Magistrate Wang called them today mainly to tell them this matter in person. He also asked Du Yunse some questions related to the exams and then went back to handling official duties.

Before leaving, he said, "By the way, the family of the young boy you saved has always wanted to thank you. Previously, because the case details couldn't be disclosed, I didn't tell them who the benefactors were. Taking advantage of today's opportunity, why not meet them."

Magistrate Wang had already arranged for the yamen's servants to notify the family in advance. As soon as Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse left the yamen, they were welcomed into their home.

The family's surname was Wei, and they ran a spice shop in the south of the city. They also had a small workshop making vinegar and sauce, making them a wealthy household in the county.

The kidnapped boy was the youngest child of the male head, Wei Dexing. At that time, he had gone alone to the street to buy a hairpin and was drugged by traffickers and stuffed into a box.

"Since Li Ge'er disappeared, my old mother has been unable to eat or drink. Fortunately, the benefactors saved him, otherwise we really wouldn't know what to do!"

Li Ge'er had been frightened since being kidnapped once and kept his head down without speaking. Wei Dexing had him pay his respects to the benefactors and then waved him away.

Qiu Huanian observed coldly, feeling that Wei Dexing didn't care much about Li Ge'er. Hearing his words, which were all about Du Yunse, he immediately understood.

Probably, Magistrate Wang's attitude made Wei Dexing think that the person who saved Li Ge'er was extraordinary, so he insisted on thanking them in person. Rather than thanking them for saving his child, his main purpose was to opportunistically make connections.

Du Yunse also saw this and responded coldly and perfunctorily.

After chatting for a while, Wei Dexing secretly glanced at Qiu Huanian a few times and asked with a smile, "I wonder where the other benefactor lives now? I would like to know so I can send the thank-you gifts."

Qiu Huanian smiled back at him, "Mr. Wu hasn't sent any news back, so we don't know either. Mr. Wei, why not give the thank-you gifts to us, and we'll find someone to deliver them to him when we have news."

Actually, Wu Shen had already sent a letter to Du Yunse through a passing merchant caravan, telling him his address and current situation, but there was no need to tell Wei Dexing, who had ulterior motives.

Wei Dexing also subtly inquired whether Wu Shen was married, but Du Yunse didn't answer, leaving Wei Dexing disappointed.

The atmosphere was tense, and after staying for more than ten minutes, Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian got up to leave. Seeing that his plan had failed, Wei Dexing did not insist on keeping them and had his family present the gifts of gratitude.

The gifts included a string of copper coins wrapped in red paper, a bolt of cotton cloth, half a catty each of vinegar, soy sauce, and salt, and a small jar of trendy red fermented tofu. Wu Shen also received an identical set.

These items seemed plentiful, but in reality, the total market value of one set of gifts was less than two taels of silver. Many of the items were sold by Wei's own seasoning shop, making the cost even lower, far from what Wei Dexing had initially prepared to give.

If it weren't for the excuse of thanking the benefactors and fearing that Magistrate Wang might find out and hold him accountable, Wei Dexing wouldn't have even wanted to give these gifts.

"My son, Brother Hua, is still an unmarried young man. I kindly ask you not to spread the word about his abduction, as it might affect his future marriage prospects."

"City people are more particular, unlike in the villages where young men can roam freely without any issues."

This remark carried a subtle jab at Qiu Huanian's lack of decorum. Du Yunse frowned slightly, but Qiu Huanian was quick to laugh and retort, "True, city people have a lot of rules, unlike us villagers who simply chase away stray dogs with sticks when they bark."

Wei Dexing's face immediately turned ashen. Du Yunse glanced gently at Qiu Huanian and nodded to Wei Dexing, saying, "We've accepted the gifts, and our debt is settled. There's no need for further interaction in the future. Why assume that we are gossipers, Mr. Wei?"

As the two figures disappeared outside the door, Wei Dexing finally couldn't hold back a heavy snort. Wei Li, who had been hiding in the back, silently came out to serve him tea.

Wei Dexing looked at his youngest son's face and felt a surge of anger. Both he and his wife were of average appearance, but they had been blessed with a strikingly beautiful son. As Wei Li grew older, Wei Dexing's ambitions grew as well.

He didn't want to waste Wei Li by marrying him into an ordinary family. He was determined to climb higher, even if it meant offering Wei Li as a concubine to a powerful family.

Unfortunately, Magistrate Wang was too old and had no interest in beauty, leaving Wei Dexing with no opportunity to arrange anything. Other influential figures were even further out of his reach.

After Wei Li was abducted, Wei Dexing was initially furious, thinking it would ruin his plans. However, upon hearing from the magistrate and other county officials that the people who rescued Wei Li were not ordinary—one of them being a young seventh-rank military officer—Wei Dexing saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A hero saving a beauty, and the beauty offering himself in return—what a perfect scenario!

Compared to Du Yunse, who was merely a scholar and already engaged, Wu Shen fit Wei Dexing's target perfectly. Unfortunately, Wu Shen had already left for the northeastern border, and his exact whereabouts were unknown. Wei Dexing had hoped to extract information from Du Yunse, but neither Du Yunse nor his husband would reveal a single word.

What business does a young man have interrupting when men are talking!

Wei Dexing slammed the teacup on the ground, and the scalding tea spilled onto Wei Li's hand, instantly reddening his fair skin. Tears welled up in Wei Li's eyes, but he dared not utter a word. Wei Dexing's anger still hadn't subsided.

"It's all your fault, you useless thing! If you had woken up and clung to that military officer, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble!"

...

After leaving the Wei household, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse went to the city's Wanshi Escort Agency to arrange for the delivery of items to Wu Shen. This agency had many branches in the northeast, and Wu Shen's last letter was delivered by them. The agency's head seemed to have a good relationship with Wu Shen.

Since transporting seasonings was inconvenient, Qiu Huanian only sent copper coins and cotton cloth to Wu Shen, adding an extra two hundred coins. Du Yunse borrowed paper and a brush to write a short letter explaining the situation.

When the agency staff heard they were sending items to Wu Shen, they refused to accept any payment. "Our boss specifically instructed us last time that any deliveries to or from Wu Shen at Wanshi Escort Agency are free of charge. Please don't be polite about it."

"From here to Wu Shen's garrison at Jingshan Guard, it only takes five days by fast horse. We know the route well, and we guarantee that the items and letter will be delivered safely. You can rest assured!"

As they left the agency, Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "Wu Shen has made good friends so quickly at the border. He's really impressive."

Du Yunse nodded, "He's always been good at making loyal friends. The northeastern border also has many connections from his father's time, so it's natural for him to thrive there."

If it weren't for this, the Emperor wouldn't have placed Wu Shen in this position.

"That Mr. Wei clearly had his eyes on Wu Shen, wanting a wealthy son-in-law, yet he looked down on us villagers, his words dripping with arrogance."

Du Yunse never cared if others looked down on him, but such disdain directed at Brother Hua made him extremely uncomfortable. "I'm sorry you had to endure that."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "It's not exactly suffering, but... I've realized some things."

Having spent most of his time in the village and town, he hadn't noticed it so clearly before. But after meeting a wealthy city dweller today, Qiu Huanian finally understood the many restrictions and frustrations that "young men" faced in this era.

Although the Yu Dynasty had a relatively open atmosphere, the unreasonable oppression against women and "ge'er" (a term referring to young men in a specific cultural context) still existed. Qiu Huanian could only do his best to bolster his confidence, protect those he cared about, and always remember who he was.

...

Thousands of miles away, within the nine-layered palace walls, the current emperor, Yuanhua Emperor, nearing fifty but still full of vigor, put down the memorial in his hand.

Wen Xing, the long-serving chief eunuch, stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, would you like to rest for a while and have a bowl of Baiwei Yunge Soup?"

The Yuanhua Emperor closed his eyes and hummed in agreement, "Baiwei Yunge Soup? Who sent it?"

"It was sent by Consort Kang. She did not dare to disturb Your Majesty and is waiting outside the hall. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"I was just reviewing a memorial related to her brother. Let her in."

Wen Xing responded and personally went out to invite Consort Kang into the hall. This rural beauty, who had been presented by Prince Pingxian over a decade ago, was nearly forty but still retained her delicate beauty. Years of life in the deep palace had added a dignified and noble temperament to her, like a solitary pink peony blooming on an intricately carved railing.

The Yuanhua Emperor dispensed with formalities and granted her a seat before the throne. "I have already ordered the Dali Temple to strictly investigate this case, and results will be forthcoming soon. Your family is small in number, so after your brother is found, I will confer a marquis title on him to ease your mind."

Consort Kang stood up to express her gratitude, and the Yuanhua Emperor added, "In a few days, it will be the day to leave the palace and worship the Sun God at the Sun Altar. This year, accompany me."

Cailian, Consort Kang's chief maid standing by the hall door, listened in astonishment. A brother being made a marquis and accompanying the emperor to worship the Sun God—these were privileges reserved for the empress!

Since the passing of the late empress, the emperor had never mentioned the matter of appointing a new empress. None of the consorts with princes by their side had ever received such honors.

The emperor was not yet old, and Consort Kang enjoyed unparalleled favor. The Crown Prince, who had lost the emperor's favor due to the Jiangnan faction case, was under house arrest in the Eastern Palace. If Consort Kang could bear a child, it was not impossible for her to secure the position of empress or even empress dowager!

If Prince Pingxian knew about this, he would be overjoyed...

Unlike Cailian's excitement, Consort Kang remained calm and composed, betraying no hint of ambition. After chatting with her for a few moments, the Yuanhua Emperor waved his hand, dismissing her.

After walking several dozen meters away from the Jinshen Hall, Cailian couldn't help but say to Consort Kang, "Congratulations, Your Highness! After worshipping the Sun God and officially conferring the marquis title on your brother, you will undoubtedly be the foremost among the imperial consorts!"

Consort Kang smiled faintly, "Do not speak recklessly."

She looked at this chief maid who had accompanied her for over a decade since leaving Prince Pingxian's residence, keeping all her emotions and thoughts buried deep within.

She cared nothing for titles, worship, or being the foremost among the consorts. She only held deeply in her heart the memory of her true enemy, and for that, she would endure a lifetime without rest.

A young eunuch ran out from the Jinshen Hall and caught up with them. Seeing this, Cailian fell silent. The young eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and conveyed the Yuanhua Emperor's oral decree.

"His Majesty informs Your Highness that the memorial from the magistrate of Zhang County mentions Du Yunse and Wu Shen, who have merited rewards. However, their teacher is still under a cloud of guilt, so excessive rewards are inappropriate. His Majesty suggests that Your Highness reward them with practical items such as books and armor."

After the young eunuch left, Cailian shook her head and chuckled softly, "General Wu and the great scholar Wen must have truly offended His Majesty. Even the rewards for their juniors have to be specifically instructed, lest Your Highness be overly generous and enable them to live in comfort."

Consort Kang said nothing and walked straight back to her palace.

Having served the emperor for over a decade, she knew well the character of this battlefield-hardened emperor who had ascended the throne over his brothers' blood. His specific instruction through the young eunuch was not out of dislike for Wu Dingshan and Wen Huiyang but to put on a show for those with ulterior motives.

Moreover, Du Yunse and Wu Shen, who were insignificant in the eyes of those people, had already become blades in the Yuanhua Emperor's sight.

Thus, he would not allow his plan of sharpening these blades to be disrupted, nor would he allow anyone outside the plan to bestow favors upon these two blades.

As for the true wielder of these blades, Consort Kang could guess but would not speak of it.

The "Kang" in her title was taken from the name of the late empress. Many knew that she enjoyed continuous favor because she resembled the late empress, but they seemed to forget that the Crown Prince, who was under house arrest in the Eastern Palace with his wings clipped, was the only child of the late empress.

Author's Note:

Note 1: The grave-visiting process is adapted from the customs of the author's hometown.

Note 2: The layout of the palace in the text is based on the Ming Palace in Nanjing.