In Qianqing Palace, Shu Liang prostrated himself on the ground and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, just now, Prince Consort Jiao and Uncle Ningyang arranged a guard of honor and arrived at Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion. Then, Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion also started to prepare a guard of honor. Earlier, Uncle Ningyang sent a greeting card to Duke Chengguo's Mansion. From the looks of it, these three people are going to express their condolences to Duke Cheng Guo."
Zhu Qiyu put down the memorial he had just approved, looked up at the sky, and smiled.
"It's getting dark right now. If you go to express your condolences at this time, you might be thinking of letting the host's family have a banquet, right?"
Zhu Qiyu asked: "Have they set off now?"
Shu Liang said: "My servant came to report as soon as I got the news. It only took half a cup of tea before and after. The ceremony in the Marquis Mansion is complicated and it takes some time to prepare. I shouldn't have gone out yet."
So, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said: "It's almost time. Just do what I told you before. The stage is set up, but don't let the singer be late."
Shu Liang nodded and hurriedly followed the order.
…………
The majestic ceremonial carriage stopped in front of the gate of Duke Chengguo's Mansion. Ren Li, Chen Mao and Jiao Jing got off the sedan chair respectively.
After looking up and down, I saw that everything in the Chengguo Duke's mansion is now plain white, and the servants and servants are all wearing plain clothes.
Outside the gate of the mansion, there was a young man with red and swollen eyes, about thirteen or fourteen years old, looking a little thin, wearing mourning clothes and waiting outside.
Seeing this situation, Chen Mao was slightly surprised.
Of course he knew who this young man was. Zhu Yong had many children, but most of them were daughters. He only had two sons, the eldest son Zhu Yi and the youngest son Zhu Ji.
This young man is Zhu Ji.
You know, although Chen Mao's title is not as high as that of Duke Cheng, he is still Zhu Yi's elder. Since he is here to express his condolences, it is only natural that Zhu Yi, the person in charge of Duke Cheng's palace, should come out to greet him.
It would be somewhat rude to let Zhu Ji come out.
On the other side, seeing the ceremonial guards of their families stopped, Zhu Ji also led people to greet them.
After all, he was just a young man and had never really dealt with these things. He seemed a little cautious when facing Chen Mao and others.
After bowing his hands in a salute, Zhu Ji said: "I have seen a few uncles. My father passed away. I have several uncles who came to express their condolences. Please come in quickly."
Following Zhu Ji into the middle gate, Chen Mao asked as he walked: "I think you have been very busy these days. There are many funerals, and you are weak. You must be careful not to bear the burden of the reception."
Zhu Ji did not hear the true meaning of Chen Mao's words. He just thought it was the concern of his elders, smiled shyly and said.
"Shibo, you're welcome. It's my brother who is in charge of these things. I don't know anything. There's not much I can do to help. I just share some of the burden when my brother is too busy."
"oh?"
Chen Mao's face looked a little surprised, he raised his head and glanced at the sky, and said.
"I was just thinking that there were too many people coming during the day, and I was afraid that you would be too busy, so I chose this time specifically, thinking that you would have some free time. I never thought that I would not cause you any trouble."
These words made Zhu Ji feel a little uneasy, so he quickly waved his hand and explained.
"No, it's not troublesome. My brother has already let me rest. He said that he would personally greet the uncles. But just now, Mr. Wang, the Minister of Civil Affairs, came over. My brother has been with me all the time and couldn't get away. It's an ordinary day. , at this time, no one came to worship.
Wang Wen?
What is he here for?
Chen Mao, Ren Li and others looked at each other and saw the surprise on each other's faces.
So, Chen Mao continued to make insinuating remarks: "It is true that I have to accompany you, but I remember that Hu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, Yu Shaobao of the Ministry of War, and Chen Zongxian of the Metropolitan Inspectorate, all of them came over the next day, right? Why, Master Tianguan didn’t come with them to worship?”
Zhu Ji shook his head and said honestly: "No, the other elders who didn't come also paid tribute, but Lord Tianguan didn't come to pay homage until today."
While talking, several people had already walked outside the mourning hall.
It's getting a little dark now, but the lights in Chengguo Duke's Mansion have been lit, so it doesn't affect people's vision at all.
From a distance, Chen Mao saw Zhu Yi in mourning clothes with a rather ugly expression on his face.
Wang Wen was not wearing an official robe, but was wearing a uniform. His back was turned to them, and his face could not be seen clearly.
But the two people obviously had an unpleasant experience.
After taking a few steps closer, intermittent sounds floated out.
"...Zhu Yong lost his master and humiliated the country, and to be buried with the rites of a duke is indeed a sign of the emperor's kindness...Young master, you should keep your peace, be grateful for God's grace, and do not do anything sinister..."
With a harsh tone and a lecturing attitude, he sounded like that old man Wang Wen.
Standing outside the mourning hall, Zhu Ji confessed his crime and hurried into the mourning hall.
After a while, Zhu Yi came out with a slightly unnatural look on his face, but still managed to squeeze out a smile and said.
"I have met a few uncles. My nephew is rude, please come in."
Chen Mao didn't speak, just smiled and nodded.
As Zhu Yi entered the mourning hall, Chen Mao and others saw Wang Wen's familiar and annoying face, still standing aside with an extremely old-fashioned expression.
When he saw a few of them coming in, he bowed his hands in a perfunctory manner.
Before they could speak, Zhu Yi on the side had a serious look on his face and said to the butler beside him: "Uncle Fu, didn't I just tell you to send this gentleman away? Didn't you hear it?"
The butler on the side nodded his head, and quickly walked up to Wang Wen with two young men and said: "Sir, please..."
Looking at this posture, Wang Wen might be kicked out if he didn't leave.
Fortunately, Mr. Wang is not an ignorant person, he sneered and said.
"General Zhu, good medicine tastes bitter, but good words offend the ears. I have good intentions and that's why I say these things to you. If you keep tossing this, I'm afraid you will lose your reputation as Duke Cheng. That's all. You can take care of yourself. I'll take my leave!"
After that, Chen Mao and others left the confused place and left the mourning hall.
The situation became a little awkward.
The old housekeeper sent Wang Wen away. Zhu Ji was hiding aside and was at a loss. Zhu Yi was livid. As for Chen Mao and others, their minds were spinning rapidly, trying hard to judge from the limited information what happened now. What is the situation.
For a moment, no one spoke.
After a while, Zhu Yi was the first to react and said with a wry smile.
"I'm really sorry for making these uncles laugh. Alas, I won't say any more. I would like to thank you all for coming today. If you don't mind, please burn incense for my father."
Seeing Zhu Yi's indignant but reluctant expression, Chen Mao and others exchanged glances without saying much.
After all, they came to express their condolences to Zhu Yong this time. They respectfully lit incense in the mourning hall and paid homage to the deceased.
Chen Maodao: "To be honest with you, I am here today with my consort and Marquis Ren. In addition to paying homage to Duke Cheng, I also have one more thing to ask of you. If I come here during the day, I might disturb the ceremony, so I chose this place." At this moment, I wonder if my young master has time to talk to me?"
When asking for help, the more direct the better, the more secretive you are, the more annoying you will be.
Seeing Chen Mao's sincerity, Zhu Yi was not angry, but felt a little surprised and smiled bitterly.
"Shibo is very polite. If there is anything I can do to help, my nephew should do his best, but his current situation... Alas, now that Shibo has opened his mouth, a banquet has just been prepared in the house. If the uncles don't mind it, they can stay together. How about a meal?"
Naturally, Chen Mao and others wanted to help, so they exchanged pleasantries and walked towards the backyard...
