Jiaohua

Chapter 1623 Yan Qinglin's Funeral

According to Zeng Yuanzhi, the Zeng family gradually declined, transforming from a prominent clan into ordinary gentry who lived off the rent from their ancestral lands, keeping only a few old houses.

He felt that all of this was related to Han Ruiqian, but it all happened several generations back in his family.

Xia Zhaoyi and Lu Ningjin did not release Zeng Yuanzhi immediately. Lu Ningjin ordered someone to take Zeng Yuanzhi away and keep him under strict guard.

“Ah Li, I think he’s hiding something,” Lu Ningjin said to Xia Zhaoyi. “If it’s really as simple as he says, why would those people be looking for him?”

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Those people can't find him anymore either."

Lu Ningjin smiled: "That's right, we've snatched it away."

Although Zeng Yuanzhi was brought here silently, Qingque Pavilion will make arrangements for his wife and daughters.

Xia Zhaoyi now has an extra bait in her hand, which she can use to lure Liu Renshu into a fight.

However, this small fish and shrimp did not catch her eye.

Before long, Lu Ningjin handed over Liu Renshu's biography.

He was from Anjiang and had followed Song Zhiyi since his early years. He was one of Song Zhiyi's old subordinates who came to the capital with him.

In retrospect, he was later recruited and used by "those people" as a double agent.

In the evening, Wang Yitai sent a message saying that there had been changes at that house.

Xia Zhaoyi sent a message back to Wang Yitai, telling him to stop keeping an eye on the house. The Qingque Pavilion would take over the management of the house. In the coming days, Wang Yitai should focus on protecting himself, as the situation was likely to become very turbulent.

Unexpectedly, the situation changed the very next morning.

Several high-ranking civil officials were suddenly imprisoned by Song Zhiyi, including those from Tian Wu and Sun Ziyi's side, as well as Ding Renzhong and Mu Hengxiong.

The imperial harem was also affected.

For the past few days, Song Zhiyi had been ignoring Consort Cao, and Consort Cao had not bothered him. However, after the morning court session, an imperial edict suddenly arrived before Consort Cao, rebuking her for her lack of virtue and appearance and for failing to demonstrate her virtuous qualities. She was ordered to remain in seclusion and reflect on her actions, and from that day forward, she was not to leave without an imperial decree.

She wasn't banished to the cold palace, but she was placed under house arrest.

Consort Cao, on the contrary, felt pleased.

She had a difficult time these past few days, fearing that the world would find out that she had killed Yan Qinglin with her own hands.

She was happy to have some peace and quiet to herself.

The city remains heavily guarded, and the number of people on the streets has decreased by a full 80%.

The teahouses and taverns had long since closed, and only a few shops remained open.

This environment also posed a problem for Nangong Qiuming and others who needed to temporarily change their residence.

They had previously dismissed the intruders as insignificant, as the courtyard was full of traps and mechanisms.

But now, the other party not only broke in smoothly, but also killed five people silently, which shows that a peerless master has come this time.

However, Nangong Qiuming did not guess that it was Ali.

Like Song Zhiyi, he also did not suspect that Yan Qinglin's death was related to Ali.

They all thought she was still in the Northwest.

On June 21, a man who looked like a vegetable farmer came to the door.

He was led to the Mingtang Hall, and soon after, Nangong Qiuming arrived.

This man, Liao Yi, was not respectful to Nangong Qiuming and coldly said, "I have arranged everything you sent someone to say."

Nangong Qiuming smiled kindly and reassuringly: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Liao Yi said, "If we can succeed in one fell swoop this time, we will immediately withdraw from Yong'an. This situation is not suitable to stay for long."

Nangong Qiuming replied, "Of course."

Liao Yi looked around and asked, "How long until that pregnant woman gives birth?"

"Soon, by the end of the month."

After speaking, seeing Liao Yi's hesitant expression, Nangong Qiuming asked, "Do you have something to say?"

Liao Yi hesitated for a few seconds, then shook his head.

He wanted to ask if the baby could be given to the Liao family first, but he knew Nangong Qiuming wouldn't agree. So why bother asking?

We'll talk about it after the baby is born. We must find a way to take the baby away first.

Liao Yi had always disliked Nangong Qiuming, so he didn't chat much, not even bothering with small talk. After checking the operation time with them, Liao Yi left.

Before long, the day of Yan Qinglin's funeral arrived.

The Jingzhao Prefecture issued a proclamation one day in advance, requiring every household to come out and deliver it. People were also required to supervise and report on each other, and those who successfully reported others would be rewarded.

At Lu Ningjin's Qingque Pavilion, the shopkeeper and staff had all gone out.

The two shops on the left and right, including the pharmacy across the street, were all run by their people.

Yan Qinglin's funeral procession was extremely grand and solemn, with mournful sounds heard from afar. Four hundred and ninety Xuanjia Imperial Guards, carrying axes, led the way, their steps perfectly synchronized and resounding.

All the people along the way knelt and bowed their heads as they waited for the coffin to be carried over.

Lu Ningjin looked down from upstairs.

Finally, she saw Yan Qinglin's coffin.

Lu Ningjin was very nervous.

Just last night, the minor official of the Imperial Observatory observed unusual celestial phenomena again. He immediately sought out the Grand Astrologer and, in full view of everyone, successfully deduced the celestial chart.

The Grand Astrologer was greatly alarmed and immediately went to find Song Zhiyi, who was sitting in Yan Qinglin's mourning hall. He knelt down and urgently reported to the Grand Astrologer that he should leave the palace immediately, saying that the red aura penetrating the Purple Palace was an ominous sign, and that the Emperor Star might be in danger of being attacked. He should go to the southeast Xun direction as soon as possible to avoid this calamity.

Therefore, Song Zhiyi moved overnight to the former Emperor's eldest princess's residence on Tianqi Street.

After Song Zhiyi left, things changed at Yan Qinglin's mourning hall.

The person lying in the coffin now is not Yan Qinglin.

Instead, it was a female soldier in her forties standing next to Xia Zhaoyi.

The procession moved slowly, and after the musicians had passed, the sandalwood palanquin followed, carried on the shoulders of eighty-one strongmen in white robes.

Behind the coffin were civil and military officials, dressed in plain clothes, walking on foot.

The procession continued on its way and disappeared at the end of the main street.

Lu Ningjin sighed softly, "I hope everything goes smoothly today."

Yan Qinglin's tomb still needs repair, so her coffin will be temporarily placed in the funeral palace outside the city.

This funeral palace was previously used to house the empress dowagers, empresses, and imperial concubines of Li Qian.

Around noon, the chief official of the sacrificial office presided over the ceremony of laying silk, and the priests recited the eulogies. Finally, amidst the chants of the officials, the coffin was officially placed in the main hall of the funeral palace.

According to custom, the grand ceremony of moving the mausoleum will be held on an auspicious day after the mausoleum is completed.

The officials left first.

Tian Wu, dressed in plain clothes, walked slowly alone, his mind heavy with worries.

On the day Yan Qinglin died, she intimidated Song Zhiyi in the imperial court, making Tian Wu realize that Yan Qinglin was not someone worth following for a long time.

Later, she went even further, barging into the inner palace and forcibly abducting Consort Cao, whom Song Zhiyi favored.

Song Zhiyi was furious at the time, but Tian Wu felt that this was a good handle, a handle that he could use to counter Yan Qinglin's arrogance in the future.

So what's the point?

Yan Qinglin was murdered.

Tian Wu only hoped that Song Zhiyi wouldn't remember that he had stopped him that day—

Thinking about it this way, Tian Wu suddenly realized how absurd it was.

He had hoped that Yan Qinglin could leave behind some leverage, but now, his act of stopping him has instead given Yan Qinglin a handle to use against him, trapping him in a web of intrigue.

In the past few days, Song Zhiyi has taken his anger out on many people, but for the time being, he has not taken it out on several key ministers.

But what about the future?
The future is always an unknown.

Suddenly, Tian Wu caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.

He stopped and turned to look.