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Chapter 749 Condolences
When the Zheng family's funeral letter was delivered to the palace, it was already dawn.

While Jiang Shaohua was having breakfast, Chen Sheren quickly reported: "…Mrs. Zheng stabbed her chest with a pair of scissors, but the wound was not deep enough, so she stabbed her a second time, which shows that she was determined to die."

"The Zheng family set up the mourning hall in the early morning, and only a few funeral letters were sent to the family. I guess they didn't intend to hold a grand funeral."

This is only natural. Zheng Chen was a traitor and was exterminated by the imperial court. Theoretically, the Zheng family should wait to be punished. At this time, they would rather shrink their necks and live in fear. There is no reason to hold a funeral in a grand manner.

Being low-key like this also means showing weakness and acting pitiful to gain sympathy from others.

The Zheng family, the first foreign relative of Daliang, has fallen to this state. Please raise your hands and stop pursuing them!

Jiang Shaohua pulled the corner of his mouth, and a sneer flashed in his eyes: "Mrs. Zheng's death has silenced many people."

Chen Jinyu curled her lips and said, "What a bargain the Zheng family has." After a pause, she asked expectantly, "Should I go to Jingyang Palace and tell the Empress Dowager the news of the death?"

"No need." Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "A desperate dog will jump over the wall, and a desperate rabbit will bite. It's not advisable to push too hard."

Chen Jinyu felt a little regretful and nodded in agreement.

Jiang Shaohua added: "Madam Zheng is the niece-in-law of the Grand Empress Dowager. The Grand Empress Dowager will definitely send someone to offer condolences to save face for the Zheng family."

"You can also go to the Zheng family on my behalf, which will give Jingyang Palace some respect."

Chen Jinyu accepted the order with his hands raised.

The news of Madam Zheng's death also spread to Jingyang Palace.

The bad news came one after another. Empress Dowager Zheng had been hit so hard that she was almost numb: "Zhao Chunming, go to the Zheng family to express condolences on my behalf."

Eunuch Zhao had expected that this unfortunate task would fall on him, so he quickly agreed and did not forget to comfort his master: "I dare to say something that I shouldn't say. Madam Zheng committing suicide at this time is not a bad thing for the Zheng family. Death is the greatest thing, and the court officials can't force it any further."

This is the head lady of the Zheng family, the first wife of Duke Anguo, the biological mother of Zheng Chen, and the niece-in-law of the Empress Dowager. In the past ten years, Madam Zheng has been in and out of the palace, and among all the imperial wives, she is also the most glamorous and top one.

Zheng Chen died, and Madam Zheng subsequently committed suicide, which could be considered as an explanation to everyone.

Empress Dowager Zheng was extremely tired. She didn't want to talk and closed her eyes.

Eunuch Zhao changed into plain clothes and left the palace to pay his respects to the Zheng family.

The Zheng family, which was once prosperous and bustling, is now deserted. A bunch of housekeepers and servants in white clothes are standing at the door, but there are few guests who come to pay their respects.

Nowadays, everyone avoids the Zheng family and no one wants to get involved with them.

Eunuch Zhao came to pay his respects on behalf of the Empress Dowager Zheng, and Duke Anguo immediately came out to greet him. All the Zheng family members, young and old, came out to greet him.

Eunuch Zhao hurriedly helped Duke An up and sighed, "Duke, please accept my condolences. The Empress Dowager was shocked to hear the tragic news of Madam's death and was deeply saddened. The Empress Dowager could not come in person, so she asked us to come and offer condolences and comfort Duke Guo."

"As long as the Empress Dowager is here, the Zheng family will be safe."

Duke Anguo experienced the pain of losing his son and wife in just one day. His hair turned white overnight, his waist became hunched, his forehead was full of wrinkles, and his eyes were red: "Thank you, Eunuch Zhao. Please thank the Empress Dowager for me when you return to the palace."

Eunuch Zhao nodded in agreement, helped Duke Anguo into the mourning hall, and bowed in front of Madam Zheng's coffin.

Eunuch Zhao stayed at Zheng's house for about an incense stick of time, then returned to the palace to report.

As soon as Eunuch Zhao left, Sheren Chen arrived.

Duke Anguo greeted him with a look of panic.

Chen Sheren stayed even shorter, and had no intention of comforting Duke Anguo. He left after paying his respects. However, the fact that the emperor was willing to send Chen Sheren to pay his respects was a great comfort to the Zheng family. At least, he would not cause any trouble for the Zheng family in the short term.

Sure enough, after Chen Sheren came, more and more female relatives came to the Zheng family to pay their respects.

The deserted mourning hall finally looked like what a funeral should look like.

Some officials from the Empress Dowager's party also came to pay their respects. When they met the Duke of Anguo, they had to offer their condolences in kind words.

"Master Zheng went astray and took a wrong path. Fortunately, the imperial army arrived in time and Yuzhou has been pacified. It is a blessing in disguise that the disaster did not spread to other places."

"Madam committed suicide out of grief. At this time, you, the Duke, must hold on. With the Empress Dowager and you, the Zheng family will be fine."

In the face of life and death, there is no need to mention fame, wealth, future and power. At least I was not sent to the execution ground and beheaded by the guillotine.

Duke Anguo forced himself to respond.

In the evening, Minister Wang came to express his condolences in person.

Duke Anguo greeted him tremblingly.

Wang Jin had been busy all day and hurried out of the palace to Zheng's house, with a look of fatigue on his face.

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Looking at Wang Jin, Duke Anguo couldn't help but think of his son. His heart suddenly ached.

This funeral is not only for Mrs. Zheng, but also for Zheng Chen.

Zheng Chen was a traitor to the court and was expelled from the Zheng family tree. Even if his head was sent to the capital in the future, the Zheng family could not arrange for Zheng Chen's funeral in order to avoid suspicion.

If you can’t enter your ancestral tomb, you will become a wandering ghost.

He said he hated Zheng Chen to the core, but his heart was broken. He secretly put his son's clothes in his wife's coffin, and buried them in Zheng's mausoleum. At least he could get some incense and offerings.

This matter was neither big nor small, but fortunately no one would open Mrs. Zheng's coffin to take a closer look.

"Uncle Zheng, please accept my condolences." Wang Jin said few words, but every word hit the nail on the head: "The Empress Dowager has fallen ill again due to excessive grief. The Zheng family cannot afford to have any more accidents at this time."

Duke Anguo replied in a low voice: "Thank you, Minister Wang, for your advice. I can hold on."

Wang Jin glanced at the Duke of Anguo and said, "In the court, many officials submitted memorials asking the emperor to punish the Zheng family. The emperor will keep all the memorials and not send them out. We will discuss it again after General Zuo returns to the court."

In other words, the guillotine is still hanging over his head. Whether it will fall or not depends on whether the emperor is willing to show mercy.

Duke Anguo is of course a smart man, so there is no need to explain it too clearly. Just a hint will be enough.

It was far from enough to save Madam Zheng's life. If the Zheng family wanted to ask the emperor for mercy and amnesty, they had to show their sincerity.

Duke Anguo was silent for a moment, then whispered his thanks: "Thank you, Secretary Wang, for reminding me."

……

"Minister Wang is finally back."

When Wang Jin returned home, he was greeted by Prime Minister Wang's sneer and ridicule: "What? Did you go to the Zheng family to pass on the emperor's message?"

"A dignified minister of the imperial court is doing the job of running errands and delivering messages. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Wang Jin said frankly: "As someone who works for the emperor, I should share his worries. Besides, the emperor did not give any instructions. I took the initiative to go there after figuring out his intentions."