But before burial, there is one extremely important matter that needs to be dealt with.
That is, the issue of burial.
Lao Zhu left a legacy that not only established Zhu Biao as emperor and prohibited everyone from entering the capital, but also decreed that all his concubines who had no children should be buried with him.
At first, Zhu Biao was busy dealing with his father's future and did not have time to pay attention to the matter of burial. Now when the Qintian Supervisor fixes the auspicious day, Zhu Biao has time to look back on the matter of burial.
But he didn't know unless he asked. Zhu Biao was shocked when he asked. Originally, he thought that those who needed to be buried were just a few of his father's young concubines.
But the number reported to him by the palace was a full sixty or seventy people.
When Zhu Biao held the list, his hands began to shake involuntarily. Looking at Wang Yue, he asked in a stern tone: "Are you sure you're not mistaken? Why are there so many?"
Wang Yue has not yet become the general manager of the palace, and his temperament has not caught up with him. Facing the royal family's question, he knelt down with a plop and replied with tears in his eyes: "I will never make a mistake. I always do my best to fulfill the emperor's instructions. The people on this list are indeed slaves. They were found strictly in accordance with Emperor Daxing’s orders.”
Zhu Biao lowered his head and carefully read the people on the list with a serious expression. Although he didn't recognize most of them, seeing that they were all masters of various palaces, he knew that the list provided by Wang Yue was correct.
However, Zhu Biao felt uncomfortable at the thought of having to bury so many people, and was unwilling to give the order for a long time.
Wang Yue waited beside him for a long time, but did not receive a response from the emperor.
"emperor?"
Zhu Biao came to his senses immediately, folded the list and put it inside his sleeve robe. Sighing: "I have to think about this carefully, please step back first."
"Yes." Wang Yue, as if he had been pardoned, quickly got up from the ground, turned around and walked out of the palace.
Wang Yue always only obeyed Zhu Biao's orders. Anyway, he would do whatever the emperor asked him to do. He doesn't want to think about anything now, he doesn't ask for anything, he just wants to meet all the emperor's requirements so that he can please the emperor and let him sit on the position of chief steward.
...
The next day, Han Du was resting at home. As Lao Zhu's consort, Han Du has been accompanying Anqing these days, participating in all etiquette procedures such as the small and large burials from beginning to end. These etiquettes all have common characteristics. First, they are strict. There are strict requirements for standing, kneeling, and worshiping, and there can be no mistakes even in the slightest. In the past, Han Du had a friendly attitude towards the Ministry of Etiquette, but after this ceremony, Han Du almost hated them in his heart.
The second is complexity. Han Du originally thought that Queen Ma's time was complicated enough, but this time the national mourning refreshed Han Du's understanding of complexity. Every detail is taken to the extreme. When should you do something, there can be no more or less actions. Every time was clearly arranged. It was even clear when Zhu Biao should kneel down and when he should read the eulogy. Moreover, no one is allowed to change these, not even Zhu Biao.
In short, Han Du had only one feeling after passing by. Are these officials from the Ministry of Rites usually staying in Qingshui Yamen, jealous of everyone in the court, and now if they catch the opportunity, they will torture people to death?
I don’t know how others feel, but Han Du himself feels that he was tortured enough by the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
After finally having a chance to go home and take a rest, Han Du naturally wanted to get back all the sleep he had missed these days.
But before Han Du had enough sleep, An Qing woke Han Du up with his hair.
"Ah... sneeze!" With a violent sneeze, Han Du instantly felt pain in his internal organs.
Very annoyed, he opened his eyes and saw An Qing playing with his hair and looking at him. There’s no need to look for the culprit, it’s the one in front of you.
Han Du couldn't get angry at An Qing, so he could only ask with great dissatisfaction, "What are you doing! Are you going to let people sleep?"
An Qing immediately apologized with a smile, "Okay, it was my fault. I shouldn't have disturbed your sleep. But I can't help but disturb you. The emperor has sent someone to ask you to enter the palace immediately."
After Han Du heard clearly, he immediately forgave An Qing. Since it was Zhu Biao who was looking for him, it was impossible for him to continue sleeping.
While doing it in a daze, Han Du asked with some doubts: "Everything is stable now. There should be nothing major. Why is the emperor summoning me in such a hurry?"
An Qing spread his hands, shook his head and said, "How do I know? You'd better get up quickly and enter the palace as soon as possible. There are eunuchs waiting outside."
Han Du had no choice but to lift the quilt and turn over to the edge of the bed.
Hongyi and several maids on the side immediately helped the Marquis change his clothes.
Han Du came to the East Palace and immediately bowed down as soon as he entered the door, "Your Majesty, Han Du, pays homage to the Emperor."
"Han Du is here, get up quickly." Zhu Biao was looking down at the memorial. Hearing Han Du's voice, he immediately raised his head and laughed. He put the memorial on the long table and walked over to hand over the memorial to Han Du. Help him up.
Because of the national mourning, although the operations of the court were suspended for three days. But it doesn't mean that the things of these three days are gone, but that the remaining time will be used to deal with the accumulated affairs of these three days one by one.
Therefore, in addition to participating in various rituals, Zhu Biao also needed to deal with memorials from all over the world non-stop. Therefore, he is busier now than before.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Du couldn't let Zhu Biao really help him. When Zhu Biao made a move, he got up.
Zhu Biao happily shouted to Wang Yue, "Come here, please sit down."
Wang Yue looked at Han Du with a smile on his face, and waved to the two young eunuchs to move a brocade pier to Han Du.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Du bowed respectfully to Zhu Biao before sitting on the golden pier.
After Han Du sat down, he looked at Zhu Biao calmly without speaking, waiting for Zhu Biao's next words.
Zhu Biao smiled and then waved his hand towards Wang Yue.
Wang Yue immediately winked at the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs and sent them all away. Finally, he walked out with a smile on his face, not forgetting to guard outside the palace gate to prevent anyone from disturbing the private conversation between the emperor and the Marquis of Zhenhai at this time.
Han Du's expression became solemn when he saw Zhu Biao sending everyone away. He asked softly: "Your Majesty, what happened to make Your Majesty so solemn?"
Zhu Biao sighed, then took out a folded white paper from his sleeve robe, handed it to Han Du, and said, "Read it yourself."
Han Du took it doubtfully and opened it. It was all filled with the names of various palaces in the palace and the corresponding concubines.
"Your Majesty, what is this?"
"This is the burial list drawn up by the internal officials in accordance with the imperial edict of my father." Zhu Biao couldn't help but close his eyes as he spoke, as if he couldn't bear to see the densely packed names on the paper.
Burial!
Han Du's face couldn't help but change three times, and he looked back at the palace on the paper. Are so many people going to be buried one by one?
"You want to kill so many?"
Zhu Biao felt a little happy when he saw Han Du's face full of dissatisfaction, and immediately sighed and nodded.
Han Du's face became increasingly ugly. He raised his head and stared at Zhu Biao closely, asking, "What does the emperor mean?"
Zhu Biao immediately put on a look that although he couldn't bear it, he had to follow the edict. He sighed: "I also know that it may be inappropriate to unjustly kill so many people. But this is my father's last edict, and I have to follow it."
Han Du looked at Zhu Biao and couldn't help curling his lips, thinking: Why do we have to follow the imperial edict? I saw you disobeying Lao Zhu's last edict before, and you did it quite happily. Why are you pretending to be an obedient baby now?
Is it possible that you would not hesitate to violate the edict that is harmful to you? Do you have to comply with the edict that has nothing to do with you? I saw that you had violated one and then two, and they were all good. There is no reason why you would have any psychological barriers if you continued to violate them.
"Your Majesty, I think it is extremely inappropriate to be buried!" Han Du immediately bowed his hands.
Not only for these dozens of lives, but Han Du was extremely dissatisfied with the system of burial. It is believed that only the uncivilized savages in the slave society would do such bloody and barbaric things as burial. For the Chinese civilization that has entered the feudal society for thousands of years, it is natural that such barbaric things will not be allowed to happen again.
"Oh? You think it's inappropriate too?" Zhu Biao said happily.
Um? Han Du raised his eyes and looked at him, "It's rare that the emperor doesn't want to be buried?"
Zhu Biao sighed and said: "If I want to be buried, I can just give the order directly. Why do I have to call you into the palace to discuss it? Although I don't want to be buried, this is my father's last edict after all. If there is not enough reason, I’m afraid the officials won’t agree.”
"So, the emperor summoned me because he wanted me to find a solution?" Han Du asked helplessly, when did Zhu Biao's bad habit of finding a solution by himself start to form? Is there any way to get him to quit?
Zhu Biao did not hide anything, and said with a smile: "Who told you to always be resourceful? I really couldn't think of a way, so I had to take this step."
Well, I'll forgive you this time.
Han Du saw that people's lives were at stake, and Zhu Biao also patiently explained to himself, the little anger that had just emerged in his heart immediately dissipated.
On the other hand, what if Han Du doesn't forgive Zhu Biao? He is the emperor, can Han Du still resist the order and disrespect it if he directly issues an order? Fortunately, both of them had the same idea. They were both trying to save these people who were about to be buried. It was also a good thing to work together.
Han Du lowered his head and thought carefully. After a moment, he replied: "Your Majesty, I think that all officials are not worthy of concern. The only one who can be concerned is the clan."
