minions live

Chapter 769 Supporting the Spirit
the next day.

Xingji City, South Gate.

Life is not easy.

Despite the approaching end of the year, the enormous morning star still hung in the sky, and a large number of people had already gathered at the city gate, preparing to enter and leave Xingji City.

The crowd was bustling, but there was a huge gap at the front, and no one dared to approach.

It was a procession carrying white banners, tightly protecting the huge ice coffin in the center.

To encounter a funeral procession as soon as you step out the door is undoubtedly a bad thing.

But no one spoke up, and no one even dared to question it.

In addition to the usual white banners, the procession also displayed large characters for "Zhenguo" and "Yiguang".

The Prince's Mansion of Zhenguo, the Princess Yiguang's Mansion!

Each one of them is a pillar of the empire, and no one dares to act recklessly.

Even the soldiers guarding the city gate dared not.

Upon receiving the news, the city's defenders will rush to the scene.

Perhaps because he was running so fast, he was covered in sweat despite the freezing weather.

"This humble servant, Lan Guangcheng, the city guard of the South Gate, greets Your Highness."

After saying that, Lan Guang glanced anxiously at the ice coffin behind Huo Ling, then quickly turned his head to look at the hourglasses hanging on both sides of the city gate.

"Your Highness, please forgive us, but there's still two incense sticks' worth of time before the city gates open. Perhaps..."

Huo Ling, dressed in mourning clothes, was not angry.

"You bastard!" He stared coldly at Lan Guangcheng and raised his hand to stop him. "The opening and closing of the city gates is a matter of safety for the capital. No one is allowed to change it at will."

"I can wait!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Lan Guangcheng's legs went weak, and he was so frightened that he almost knelt down. "This humble servant knows his crime and begs Your Highness for punishment."

Humph.

Huo Ling snorted and ignored the city guard. He simply looked up and stared silently at the hourglass not far away, calculating the time it would take for the city gate to open.

I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly there was a burst of excitement behind us.

A guard rushed over.

"General, His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Empress have come to escort the Grand Princess back to her hometown."

Huo Ling was startled.

It's normal for a grandson to see his maternal grandmother off.

But Ren Ning also has another identity: an emperor, a monarch.

According to both tradition and the regulations of the Ministry of Rites, apart from the Empress Dowager, it was generally not required to attend the funerals of any officials.

For example, a few years ago, the old Duke Huo Zheng, who was guarding the fortress, died of an epidemic.

Emperor Changxing didn't even send his personal eunuch, Changlu, let alone show his face...

Overwhelmed with emotion, Huo Ling hurriedly went to greet him.

Seeing that Ren Ning, Ying Pan, and the others were wearing mourning bands on their heads, he was slightly taken aback.

Without thinking twice, he quickly bowed and paid his respects.

"This humble subject, Huo Ling, greets Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Majesty the Empress..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Ren Ning shook her head and reached out to help him up.

"What crime has my uncle committed?"

“My maternal grandmother loved her country and its people and devoted her life to the empire. In addition, she always cherished and cared for her grandson’s family. Xiu Ning is extremely grateful.”

"Now that my grandmother has passed away, I feel deeply saddened and brought my wife out to see her off. I hope she rests in peace."

Yingpan, standing beside her, had red eyes.

Over the years, Ren Ning has been away fighting wars for a long time, and her family is thousands of miles away. When she encounters problems, she can basically only discuss them with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. She has the closest relationship with Princess Yiguang, and the two of them have even reached the point of being able to talk about anything.

She was the one who was most saddened when she received the news of Princess Yiguang's passing in the morning.

“Uncle, my sister Hezhu originally insisted on leaving the palace to escort my maternal grandmother back to her hometown of Xingluo, but unfortunately she is from the south and is not used to the cold of the north. In addition, she has just given birth to a little princess and is still weak, so she was unable to leave the palace. I hope you will understand.”

Huo Ling understood.

He glanced back at the ice coffin.

"Your Majesty the Empress and the Imperial Concubine are very kind. On behalf of my mother, I thank you both. She will understand..."

People are talking over here.

Ding.

The hourglass behind me had run out of sand.

Lan Guangcheng had been watching this moment closely and quickly waved his hand.

Even without his orders, the soldiers guarding the city, who had never seen the emperor before, were already trembling with fear and ready to fight. At this moment, they quickly turned the switch, and the heavy city gate slowly opened.

"Your Majesty," Huo Ling said, glancing at the city gate and then at the sky, "let's send Mother out of the city first."

If they don't move, the people blocking the city gates can't and dare not move either.

As time goes on, more and more people will gather around, and sooner or later they will be able to block the south gate.

Ren Ning understood perfectly.

“Uncle is right, let’s go. Let’s see Grandma off together.”

Huo Ling quickly returned to the front of the group.

He didn't mount his horse, but instead carried the spirit banner and walked towards the city gate.

As he moved, the entire group began to move slowly forward.

Ren Ning, Ying Pan, and the little prince in Zhang Da Niangzi's arms, along with other members of the Huo clan, held onto the coffin and followed.

Countless people watched this scene and were deeply shocked.

The emperor and empress escorted the coffin to the funeral!

The news spread like wildfire, instantly.

The first to arrive was the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.

Xiao Gang and his group lived in the same alley and saw each other all the time. They were now preparing to see Princess Yiguang off.

Seeing that Ren Ningdu had come out of the palace, they followed him openly.

Next to arrive was Lei Er...

Before long, people from all walks of life received the news.

The early mornings in the dead of winter are the coldest.

The masters, however, instantly came to their senses. Without even washing up, they rushed over and followed behind.

Before long, it grew into a long, impressive line that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Huo Ling originally intended to leave the city as soon as possible to avoid disrupting the livelihoods of the people.

This is just great.

He looked back.

The continuous stream of wealthy and powerful families caused the south gate to be blocked for even longer, leaving people both amused and exasperated.

Regardless of the reason, people braved the bitter cold to come and pay their respects, which is an affirmation and respect for the Zhenguo King's Mansion and Princess Yiguang.

He had to thank them after the funeral.

Of course, Huo Ling wasn't dizzy either.

He glanced gratefully at Ren Ning beside the coffin.

If this emperor had not been present, today would not have been such a grand occasion.

The team's itinerary will most likely be the same as that of the old Duke from a few years ago.

He silently left the city, returned to his hometown of Xingluo without a trace, and then concluded the matter.

It was as if the one who died was not the Duke of Zhenguo who had devoted his life to protecting the western border of the empire, but an insignificant ordinary person...

"On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of the first year of the Taixi reign, the eldest princess died, and the country was in great grief. The emperor and empress carried her coffin for ten miles, and all the officials followed."

—Biographies of Famous Ministers of Yun Chui.

Ten miles is not too far, but it's definitely not close either.

With the roads slippery due to the ice, the sun had already risen by the time we returned to Xingji City.

Ren Ning looked at the road leading to the medical school.

"Madam Zhang, how many students has the academy enrolled so far?"

The prince woke up and was whispering to Madam Zhang.

It's unclear what they were saying, but the old man and the child kept chuckling.

Upon hearing Ren Ning's question, Madam Zhang immediately straightened up.

"Your Majesty, the recruitment of students is going smoothly. So far, we have recruited thirty-two students. Among them, three are literate, and most of the rest are also quick and efficient and are helping out at the academy."

Ren Ning nodded slightly.

Everything is difficult at the beginning. Thirty-two is not a lot, but it is a good start.

Once the college gains a good reputation, it will be easier to recruit new students.

"Let the teachers at the academy have a good New Year celebration, and let school start on the fifteenth of the first lunar month."

As for how the medical school should teach these new students, he completely delegated the authority to Madam Zhang.

"The minister obeys the order."