Chapter 1627: Testament
Two days later.
Yun Zheng and his personal guards marched quickly and had already reached the border between the imperial city and Dengzhou.
At their speed, they will be able to return to the imperial city before dawn tomorrow.
After a long and rapid march, their horses gradually became exhausted.
Although Yun Zheng was eager to return to the imperial city, he had to let the team stop to rest for a while and give the war horses water and feed them fine feed.
Just when they were resting and preparing to set off again, the scouts ahead brought back a group of people dressed in white from head to toe.
Looking at this group of people, Yun Zheng's heart suddenly trembled and he almost lost his balance.
He had known for a long time that Emperor Wen would not have much time left.
He always felt that he interacted with Emperor Wen more as his friend and rarely regarded Emperor Wen as an old father.
But unexpectedly, when this day really came, he still couldn't bear it.
Jia Yao was quick to act and held Yun Zheng in hand.
She said nothing, but just patted Yun Zheng's hand gently.
Yun Zheng also patted his hands lightly and quickly steadied himself, but his eyes were already wet.
At this moment, the influence of blood may exceed that of the soul.
When they were about a hundred feet away from them, a group of people jumped off their horses and slowly knelt on the ground.
Yun Zheng turned his head away, and a line of tears rolled down from his eyes.
Although his soul was not that of Emperor Wen's son, Emperor Wen had been very good to him since he traveled through time, and had repeatedly given in to him on many things.
He knew that Emperor Wen's body would not last much longer.
He marched quickly all the way just to get back to the imperial city to see Emperor Wen for the last time and to bid farewell to him.
But, it was still a step too late!
Looking at the group of white people, the entourage also understood.
"Your Majesty!"
Qin Qihu roared with tears in his eyes, and fell to his knees with a bang.
At Qin Qihu's cry of grief, everyone knelt down.
"Your Majesty!"
There were bursts of sobbing from the crowd from time to time.
Suddenly, a feeling of shared sorrow came over me.
After a long time, Yun Zheng raised his hand to wipe away the tears on his face, and walked towards the person who came to report the death with heavy steps.
When they got closer, they found that the leader was the second prince.
"Second brother..."
Yun Zheng called out with a trembling voice.
"Sixth brother..."
The second prince, who was wearing mourning clothes, slowly raised his head and looked at Yun Zheng with red eyes: "My father passed away at 2:30 yesterday at the hour of Yin. My father's will states: funerals should be kept simple and no one should be buried alive with the dead! The emperor should observe mourning for seven days and then stop mourning. Weddings and funerals among the people should not be interfered with..."
Hearing the words of the Second Prince, Yun Zheng's heart trembled again and he shouted with all his might.
"My son obeys the order!"
……
Before dawn again, Yun Zheng led his men back to the imperial city.
In the night, spirit flags were flying all over the city, and the whistling night wind seemed to be weeping and bidding farewell to Emperor Wen.
Yun Zheng and Jia Yao returned to Bi Bo Courtyard, which was also filled with spiritual banners.
"Husband!"
"Sister Jiayao!"
"My husband, I'm so sad!"
Seeing Yun Zheng and Jia Yao, Ye Zi, Miao Yin and Xin Sheng, who were dressed in mourning clothes, came forward to comfort them.
Ye Zi and Xin Sheng's eyes were red, obviously they had cried a lot.
According to the Daqian etiquette, women who have just given birth, pregnant women and children under the age of seven are not allowed to keep vigil.
However, Yun Cang, who has just ascended the throne, needs to keep vigil as the new emperor.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Yun Zheng forced a smile at the others, "Okay, let's not talk about that for now. Jiayao and I have to quickly shower and change clothes, and then go to the funeral hall to take over the vigil for everyone else. We'll come back to see the child later..."
At this time, all the children in the mansion were asleep, and Yun Zheng did not disturb them.
On the way back, he had heard from the second brother that Miaoyin had given birth to a daughter, who was named Yunxiao by Emperor Wen.
His son with Xin Sheng was named Yunyi by Emperor Wen.
Although he also wanted to see his new son and daughter, he still had to attend the wake now, and there would be plenty of time later.
"Ah."
Ye Zi nodded gently, and then said to Jia Yao: "You'er is fine, you don't have to worry."
"I feel relieved to have you looking after You'er."
Jia Yao nodded and smiled. She didn't have time to chat with them any more. She went to take a shower and change clothes as arranged by Xin Sheng.
When Yun Zheng and Jia Yao, wearing mourning clothes, rushed to the mourning hall, it was already full of people kneeling.
There was no earth-shaking cry, only solemnity.
"Father!"
Seeing Yun Zheng, Yun Cang, who was drowsy, couldn't help but shout out in surprise, and his sleepiness also dissipated a lot.
"No loud noises!"
Shen Luoyan stopped him in a low voice and glared at Yun Cang fiercely.
Yun Cang looked at Yun Zheng pitifully and closed his mouth in grievance.
He was still too young and didn't understand the rules of the wake.
However, when Emperor Wen passed away, he still cried for a long time.
Yun Zheng shook his head gently at Yun Cang, then slowly walked to the front of Emperor Wen’s coffin and knelt down.
Because it was midsummer, large blocks of ice were placed around Emperor Wen's body to prevent it from decaying.
After kneeling three times and kowtowed nine times, Yun Zheng and Jia Yao slowly stood up and walked to the coffin to see Emperor Wen for the last time.
Inside the coffin, Emperor Wen had his eyes closed and looked peaceful.
Perhaps, Emperor Wen left no regrets.
But he left behind some regrets.
The farewell before going to the war turned out to be a farewell forever between father and son.
He could no longer drink the wine he brought back from Yingzhou with Emperor Wen.
Ugh!
Perhaps, everyone has some regrets in this life!
Or maybe, regret is the norm in life?
After a long while, Yun Zheng slowly stepped back from the coffin and softly told everyone, "Go and have a rest! Jia Yao and I will take over from you. Qin Qihu will also be here in a bit."
Yun Zheng said the following words specifically for Qin Liu to hear.
Before he entered the mourning hall, he heard from Mu Shun, who was guarding outside, that Qin Liugan had been keeping vigil for Emperor Wen since the mourning hall was set up.
He didn't leave for a whole day and night, and didn't eat a single grain of rice.
According to etiquette, ministers should not come to keep vigil.
However, Qin Liugan had once been sworn brothers with Emperor Wen.
He was also Emperor Wen's brother and could keep vigil.
At Yun Zheng's command, everyone slowly stood up, saluted towards Emperor Wen's coffin, and then slowly retreated.
Shen Luoyan simply nodded to Yun Zheng, and left with Yun Cang, who was already very sleepy.
Only Qin Liu dared to do so and just knelt there, as if he didn't hear Yun Zheng's words.
"Duke Rong, go back and rest!"
Yun Zheng came to Qin Liugan and whispered to him, "Just let Brother Qin take over! If our father is still alive, he wouldn't want to see you torment yourself like this."
"Let's talk about it when Qihu arrives."
Qin Liuda answered in a hoarse voice and said no more.
Yun Zheng had no choice but to kneel beside Jia Yao and keep vigil.
Almost quarter of an hour later, Qin Qihu arrived at the mourning hall to take over Qin Liugan's vigil.
After Yun Zheng asked Mu Shun to help Qin Liugan go down to rest, he knelt down again, his eyes falling on the eternally burning lamps.
As the candlelight flickered, Yun Zheng seemed to see Emperor Wen staring at him.
The color on Emperor Wen's face kept changing into a dark one.
Sometimes angry, sometimes deep, sometimes cunning, sometimes relieved...
