The end of the fourteenth year of Zhenning.
Emperor Zhenning’s body was prepared for burial, and Crown Prince Zhu Yilang, as heir apparent, performed the pre-burial wine offering ritual and personally oversaw the preparation of the late emperor’s body.
Before the burial preparation, the Cabinet redrafted the late emperor’s edict according to law, using his name to simplify the mourning ceremonies as per old customs. Days were substituted for months, with mourning to end after twenty-seven days. No animals would be slaughtered for sacrificial ceremonies, only vegetarian offerings would be used, and there would be no ban on public entertainment or marriages. Princes of the imperial clan need not leave their fiefs to attend the mourning, and local officials were not to abandon their posts but should mourn in their localities upon hearing the news. Officials such as prefects, subprefects, and county magistrates would not need to burn incense.
With this edict issued, the financial pressure on local governments immediately eased. Many government offices that had already reached out to collect taxes withdrew their hands after hearing the edict.
That day, Chen Hua returned from outside and went to Yang Palace to find Yang Wan.
Yilang had moved palaces. Yang Palace was different from Chengqian Palace, being guarded by the Imperial Guards and Ming Armor Army. Yang Wan was also not as easy to find as before. Chen Hua waited under the corridor for quite a while before seeing Yang Wan walk out from the palace wrapped in a thick fur coat.
“Aunt Wan.”
He waved to Yang Wan.
Seeing it was Chen Hua, Yang Wan smiled and walked over, saying, “You’re back.”
“Yes, just returned.”
Yang Wan nodded, “Did you see Yunqing?”
Hearing this, Chen Hua knelt and kowtowed to Yang Wan. Yang Wan hurried to help him up, “Supervisor Chen, don’t do this. Others will think something’s wrong if they see.”
“Yes, yes…”
Chen Hua quickly stood up, “Seeing Yunqing doing so well outside, I wanted to come back and kowtow to you. I forgot you have your rules. I was foolish.”
Yang Wan shook her head with a smile, “I feel I’ve wronged you, only letting you see her now.”
Chen Hua waved his hand:
“You can’t say that. Yunqing and I both understand you did it for our good.”
“Mm.”
Yang Wan nodded: “Is she eating and living well at Clear Wave Publishing House?”
“All good, all good.”
Chen Hua wiped his face as he spoke, “Yunqing reads a lot, and your place is full of books. It’s made her scholarly air even stronger. I saw her helping organize things behind the printing house. She hasn’t lost weight and looks even better than when she was in the palace. Though she’s still sad when Li Yu is mentioned, she’s not dwelling on it, which puts my mind at ease quite a bit.”
Yang Wan smiled in response: “That’s good then. Next time you go see her, tell her not to always stay cooped up behind the printing house. Most of the Ceremonial Office people have been imprisoned, and no one will come looking for her anymore. If she wants, she can go out for walks. Spring is coming, she should buy some fabric and make herself some new clothes.”
“Ah, I’ll tell her.”
After speaking, he suddenly remembered the main matter and hurriedly took out a package of silver from his sleeve, presenting it to Yang Wan, “This is what Yunqing asked me to bring to you, Aunt.”
Yang Wan said: “It can’t be used in the palace, you keep it.”
“But it’s not for use in the palace. This is from the students of Chu Mountain Academy.”
Yang Wan started, quickly reaching out to take the silver package while asking, “When did they send it?”
Chen Hua said: “Mid-last month, a jinshi scholar named Zhou Muyi personally brought it to Clear Wave Publishing House. He said it was our Supervisor’s salary from before his imprisonment. After the land clearing, the academy lands were returned, and the late emperor left an edict prohibiting the establishment of mourning silver funds. The academy’s finances have visibly improved, and they really couldn’t keep holding onto the Supervisor’s money anymore, so they gathered this much and entrusted Zhou Muyi to give it to the Supervisor. Zhou Muyi had no way to see the Supervisor, so he took this money to Clear Wave Publishing House. Yunqing said it wasn’t right for her to keep it, so she had me bring it in to give to you.”
Yang Wan held the silver bag, lowering her head, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Chen Hua said: “I secretly took a look, it’s not much. You don’t need to be so happy about it.”
Yang Wan said: “You don’t understand how precious this is.”
After saying this, she didn’t explain further to Chen Hua, “Go attend to your business.”
“Alright, Aunt, get some rest. I’m heading back to the Fuel Conservation Office.”
Yang Wan watched Chen Hua walk away through the snow, holding the silver bag as she walked toward the inner palace.
After just a few steps, Qingmeng caught up from below the steps saying: “The Cabinet Ministers have arrived in front, they wish to report matters.”
Yang Wan stopped, looked at the time of day, and said to Qingmeng standing on the steps: “I just saw the meal being set out, ask them to wait a while.”
Qingmeng nodded, “Indeed, His Majesty didn’t eat well this morning.”
“No need.”
This voice came from behind the door. Qingmeng and others hurriedly prostrated themselves. Yang Wan turned her head to see Yilang walking out, “I’ll hear what the Cabinet Ministers have to report, then eat.”
Yang Wan also bowed to him, “Yes, this servant will pass on the message.”
Yilang reached out to take Yang Wan’s hand, leading her toward the inner palace, “You don’t need to go. You’ve been coughing these past few days. I’ve summoned the Imperial Physician to examine you. You sit in the side chamber for a while.”
Yang Wan looked at Yilang’s back. Still in the mourning period before its end, wearing heavy mourning clothes that wrapped around his not-yet-fully-grown body, making him look somewhat bulky. But when he walked, his back was very straight. If not for his stature, he hardly looked like a youth at all.
Yang Wan stared at his gait and blurted out:
“Since becoming emperor, your way of walking has changed, and you’re more domineering than before.”
Yilang stopped in his tracks and turned around, “Aunt, you mustn’t be impudent.”
“Yes.”
Yang Wan curtsied, “This servant won’t be impudent.”
Yilang looked up and said: “I’m doing this for your good.”
“This servant knows. This servant will see the doctor and take medicine shortly.”
“Won’t you stop being a servant?”