Chapter 74

Chapter 75: The Memorial Hall is Set Up Here

"Uncle Huang, there's no need!" Zhao Cheng shook his head and refused Huang Jingchen's suggestion.

"Your Highness, why?" Huang Jingchen was taken aback. Could it be that the Prince had changed his mind again?

"Regardless of whether the imperial edict arrives tomorrow, I must return to the capital. I can't delay any longer!" Zhao Cheng stood up and said.

"Your Highness, think carefully. If you return to the capital without an imperial command, it is a grave offense!" Huang Jingchen was stunned. The Prince had always been meticulous in his actions. Even when he was beaten by Yu Zhu, he didn't dare to say a word. Could it be that he was acting rashly this time? He hurriedly advised, "Your Highness, wait one more day. I will set out immediately. Even if I die, I will bring back the imperial edict allowing you to return to the capital!"

"Uncle Huang, I have made up my mind. Don't try to dissuade me. I am returning to mourn for a just cause. Nothing will happen to me. They won't dare to do anything to me!" Zhao Cheng smiled confidently.

"Your Highness, although you are acting for a just cause, there are people who will try to obstruct you. They might take advantage of the situation!" Huang Jingchen nodded, but he was still very worried.

"Hmph, I'm more afraid of a calm return. The more they stir things up, the more advantageous it will be for us!" Zhao Cheng said with a cold smile. "Uncle Huang, while I'm away, you must take extra care of our home. Don't let anyone take advantage of the situation. I will only take a few people, including Jianxi, with me!"

"Your Highness," Huang Jingchen looked at Zhao Cheng's determined expression and knew this was his final decision. He no longer tried to dissuade him and went to arrange the funeral preparations.

The next day was the seventh day of the tenth month, already early winter. The sky was just beginning to brighten when the two guards at the Dai Lou Gate in the south of Bianliang lazily got up. They huddled their shoulders, blew on their hands, and lifted the huge door bar. The city gate had just opened a crack when it was pushed wide open, and several horses rushed in.

"Funeral procession!" One of the guards stumbled and couldn't help but curse, but he stopped mid-sentence. The people who came were all dressed in white, with hemp ropes around their waists, and their hair and beards were covered with white ice particles, looking like ghosts. They were indeed here for a funeral.

"Rascal, how dare you curse the Prince!" The guard who had just woken up was slapped in the face with a whip, causing him to shiver and instinctively grip the knife at his waist.

"Gentlemen, he has poor eyesight. Please bear with him!" The other guard, hearing clearly, knew that the Empress had just passed away and that the royal family was rushing back. These people might include a Prince, so he quickly pulled his companion and smiled apologetically.

"Pan Long, don't waste time!" A child on horseback said with a light hum.

"You're lucky this time. Next time, I'll kill you!" The guards saw that this group was clearly led by the child. Hearing the rebuke, they quickly bowed and stepped back to clear the way.

"Go, go!" The two leading men spurred their horses forward, followed by more than ten horses that rushed through the city gate, around the outer wall, and straight to the Zhuque Gate of the inner city. As they entered the inner city, the streets were already bustling with pedestrians, and shops had already lit their lamps and opened for business. However, the signs and banners were covered in white cloth, and the carts and donkeys carrying goods were flowing continuously. The group had to slow down and ride at a leisurely pace.

They were precisely the group led by Zhao Cheng, who had decided to return to the capital the previous day. Huang Jingchen immediately arranged for Pan Long and Xue Bao to select ten people as guards and for Jianxi to prepare all the necessary supplies to accompany the Prince to the capital.

Since the next day was the day of the funeral, according to local customs, if you received a message and did not come to pay respects on that day, it would mean the end of the relationship, and any future meetings would be like strangers. It was an extremely impolite act. Therefore, Zhao Cheng decided to ride to the capital overnight. After a sleepless night of riding, covering nearly two hundred miles, they finally entered the capital at dawn. Even a strong man like Pan Long was extremely exhausted.

"Guest, our buns are just out of the pot. We have hot soup. Come down and rest a bit!"

"Sir, we have hot water. You must have been traveling all night. Wash your face and refresh yourself!"

"Everyone, please sit down. Our shop has various pastries, and the porridge is free!"

"Second Master, rest a bit. Otherwise, your body won't hold up. The Imperial Street and the Imperial City are just ahead. There's no need to rush at this moment!" Xue Bao, seeing Zhao Cheng swaying on his horse, quickly supported him and said.

"Alright!" Zhao Cheng nodded in agreement but couldn't move. Despite being fully dressed in a fur coat and silk shirt, he was still frozen to the bone, his body stiff. He had only managed to hold on until now by sheer willpower.

"Second Master!" The two guards beside him exclaimed and quickly dismounted to carry him into a nearby shop. After drinking a few sips of hot soup and some rubbing, Zhao Cheng's face regained some color. He felt his limbs were still his own. Turning to see Jianxi beside him, he said, "Jianxi, rest a bit. Go ahead to the palace and report that I have arrived in the capital and wish to pay respects to the Empress. We will wait for your news here!"

"Second Master, I'll go right away!" Jianxi washed his face, took his badge, and didn't even drink water before leading a small eunuch and rushing off. Zhao Cheng was also anxious, as this trip to the capital was a gamble. He wasn't sure of the outcome, but for his future, he had to take the risk.

Jianxi was pacing anxiously in the guest room of the Introduction Office. He had entered the palace smoothly with his badge and submitted the Prince's petition, waiting for a response. However, it was already broad daylight and approaching the hour of Shen, yet there was still no news. Thinking of the Prince waiting for his news, he couldn't sit still.

"Zhi En, did you submit the Prince's petition to the Chief Eunuch?" Jianxi asked the small eunuch guarding the door, slipping him two gold leaves.

"Oh, thank you, Sir. How could I delay your matter? I've already delivered it to the Chief Eunuch!" The small eunuch smiled flatteringly and poured Jianxi a cup of tea.

"Why is there still no response? Ask again for me!" Jianxi, not in the mood for tea, handed over another gold leaf.

"Sir, rest assured. I'll find out immediately and let you know as soon as I have news!" Zhi En took the gold leaf and left happily.

Jianxi was anxious, but someone was even more anxious. Yang Jian, holding Zhao Cheng's petition, felt like he was holding a hot sticky cake that he couldn't get rid of. He kept cursing Wang Shufei in his heart. Why did he get involved with her? Zheng Guifei was already taking charge and would soon be wearing the phoenix crown. What was Wang Shufei? How did he end up on her side? The Second Prince was indeed bold, daring to return to the capital without an imperial edict. This showed he was stronger than his brothers, but why didn't he see it?

Yang Jian was both regretful and angry, but there was no place to take the regret. The most important thing now was to extricate himself and not let the Emperor blame him. After much thought, he realized there was only one way out: to betray the Prince of Yen. How to do it was another matter of art!

"Jianxi, was it an imperial edict or an oral command from the Emperor?" Zhao Cheng asked Jianxi, who looked anxious.

"Second Master, neither. It was a message from Chief Eunuch Yang delivered by a small eunuch!" Jianxi quickly replied.

"Trying to send me back with just a few words? Not so easy!" Zhao Cheng slammed the table and said fiercely, "Pack up immediately and follow me. If they don't let me in, I'll set up a memorial hall outside the Imperial City and mourn the Empress!"

"Yes, Second Master!" Pan Long and the others responded loudly, startling the shopkeeper. They wondered what these people were up to and whether they should report it to the authorities. However, the guards, including Pan Long, secretly admired the Prince's boldness. At such a young age, he was willing to defy the imperial command to mourn his mother, which was truly admirable.

Soon, a group of people appeared on the wide Imperial Street. The street was about two hundred steps wide, with market stalls on both sides. The center was marked by red-painted posts, which was the imperial path, reserved for the royal family. Ordinary people were not allowed to walk there and had to stay outside the red posts.

These people seemed to pay no attention, drawing curious onlookers. The leader was a child, wearing a mourning cap, with a white cloth wrapped around his head and tied with a hemp rope. He wore a rough, unhemmed mourning robe, with a long front and a shorter back, and a hemp belt around his waist. He held a mourning stick in one hand and a spirit tablet in the other, walking and crying. Behind him, several men carried a table and offerings, closely following. A few others guarded the group, watching the surroundings vigilantly.

Seeing the crowd gathering, Zhao Cheng cried even more loudly, his soft sobs turning into loud wails. This further piqued the curiosity of the onlookers, who followed them. Soon, a large crowd gathered around them.

As Zhao Cheng walked and cried, he soon arrived at the main gate of the Imperial City, the Xuan De Tower. This was where he first arrived in this world, but now it felt like a different era. He looked around. The Xuan De Tower had five gates, with golden nails and red paint, brick and stone walls carved with dragons and phoenixes, covered with glazed tiles. The eaves and pillars were painted red and decorated with colorful carvings. Two pavilions stood on either side, all painted red.

Inside the Xuan De Tower was the Da Qing Hall, with two pavilions and the Bureau of Astronomy, where the chief astronomer measured the time. The hall was used for major ceremonies, imperial processions, and New Year's meetings. The side gates were the Left and Right Changqing Gates. The inner city's southern wall had three gates, used for major court meetings.

"Let's set up the memorial hall here!" Zhao Cheng stopped thirty steps from the Xuan De Tower, stomped his foot, and said to the group. The onlookers, though hesitant to approach the palace gates, were stunned to see these people setting up a memorial hall in front of the Imperial City.