Reborn to marry the emperor, I just want to confuse the emperor and seize the throne

Three days later, it was the day of the late emperor's funeral, and also the first funeral after his death.

The East Palace was also silent. Early in the morning, the servants dressed Jiang Fenghua in mourning clothes. Her hair was neatly combed and her face was plain without any makeup.

The Empress Dowager will lead the concubines of the six palaces, and Jiang Fenghua will lead the ladies of the Eastern Palace to participate in the grand sacrificial ceremony.

When the emperor passed away, the whole country mourned, the funeral bells kept ringing in the palace, everyone was alert and in awe, and no one in the entire palace dared to make a loud noise.

However, at this moment, there was a commotion in the harem. Nanny Wang and the ladies were waiting outside the gate of Chenxi Palace. Lian Ye and Hong Xiu helped Jiang Fenghua out of the bedroom, and they just heard the noisy noise of the guards outside.

Jiang Fenghua asked, "What happened outside?"

Nanny Wang shook her head. "I don't know either."

The ladies looked at each other, attracted by the noise outside. Concubine Song said, "I don't know what happened in the harem? Who dares to make a noise during the national mourning period?"

"It sounds like the voice of the guards." Concubine Tang said.

Jiang Fenghua was also afraid that something had happened. The first snow of the year fell last night, and the ground outside was a bit slippery. The deep red glazed tiles were also covered in snow-white.

Nanny Wang said, "It's freezing cold, Madam, don't rush out. I'll have someone find out what's going on before we make any plans."

Soon, the person who inquired came back to report, "The Imperial Guards are arresting people. Concubine Zhao and Concubine Yan will be sent to be buried with them. Their servants in the palace have also been arrested. Several concubines in the harem have also been arrested. I have learned that they will be sent out of the palace soon."

Jiang Fenghua naturally knew the reason. They were committing adultery in the palace, so Xie Shang ordered them to be executed in this way.

"What's the situation with the Empress Dowager?" Jiang Fenghua asked.

"The Queen Mother has also rushed over."

This kind of scandal should not be publicized, but it made the other concubines and the ladies of the Eastern Palace tremble with fear and become uneasy. No one knew what had happened. People of the status of Concubine Zhao and Concubine Yan should be honored as concubines dowagers, so how could they be sent to be buried with the emperor?

There was also the sudden death of Zhao Fengyi in the Eastern Palace. In fact, the ladies in the Eastern Palace all knew that she did not die suddenly, but seduced the prince and was punished by the prince.

As soon as this incident happened, the ladies in the Eastern Palace who were ready to make some moves stopped and dared not act rashly. Now that the country was in mourning, they didn't know how long they would have to wait to gain the favor of the new emperor.

Zhu Zhenzhen stood obediently among the ladies. She looked at Jiang Fenghua and recalled the secrets told by Zhao Yuntong's maid that day. She heard them clearly and was afraid that Concubine Zhao was having an affair and the new emperor wanted to punish her!

Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "You don't have to panic. This has nothing to do with you. Shut your mouths, cover your ears, and ignore everything. Follow me to pay respects in front of the late emperor's memorial hall."

"Yes." Everyone said in unison.

Just wait for Jiang Fenghua to bring the ladies to the mourning hall.

Xie Shang's face was solemn. Because he hadn't slept for several days, there were red bloodshot in his eyes. He seemed too tired and too sad.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Jiang Fenghua led the ladies to pay their respects.

Xie Shang's eyes were full of coldness, but when he saw Jiang Fenghua, they showed some warmth, "If Ruan Ruan is not feeling well, please stay in the palace and rest."

"No matter what, I will come to see my father off for the last time." She did not mention the concubines in the harem who were sent to be buried with him. Whether his methods were too extreme or not, it had nothing to do with her. Concubine Zhao and Concubine Yan were not good people either.

Xie Shang nodded, "If you find that you are not feeling well, don't force yourself to stay strong."

"Yes, I understand."

He then said to Nanny Wang, "Nanny Wang, please take good care of the Queen."

"Yes."

The little grandchildren of the Eastern Palace were also held by their respective wet nurses. Xie Zixuan and Xie Hongyou were also dressed in mourning clothes, with confusion in their eyes. They saw Xie Shang shouting, "Father, hug me."

They also did not understand the change in status. They had changed from little grandsons of the emperor to princes and princesses, so when they saw Xie Shang, they would only call him "Father" and Jiang Fenghua "Mother".

Xie Shang said, "After the sacrificial ceremony, Ruan Ruan will take the children back to Dawn Palace. I will be guarding here."

"Your Majesty, please also take care of your health." She also instructed Wuxin to take good care of the emperor.

Soon the sacrificial ceremony began, with the Empress Dowager leading the harem's female members in kneeling and worshipping.

Empress Dowager Cheng looked at the emperor who had already been coffined. Her face was full of respect and remembrance for the late emperor. Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying for several days and nights.

Only she herself knows how much affection she has for the emperor, and perhaps she no longer has any feelings for him.

Jiang Fenghua stood below her and was supported by the servants to pay her respects. Fortunately, her belly was not big, so as long as she was careful, nothing would happen. She was not a squeamish person at all.

After the sacrificial ceremony was over, Xie Shang stood up straight, his temperament was majestic and cold, and his eyes were so deep that people dared not look directly at him. There would be other ceremonies in the next few days.

Jiang Fenghua always felt that someone in the crowd was looking at her, but when she turned around she only saw a sea of ​​heads. She also only saw the ministers' mournful and worried faces.

Jiang Jinyan has been very busy these days. Jiang Fenghua found an opportunity to meet him. He had to assist the new emperor in handling the funeral of the previous emperor, so he had not returned to the Jiang Mansion for several days and had been living in the palace.

She asked about Zhang Yumo's condition again, "Sister-in-law still hasn't woken up?"

Jiang Jinyan smiled bitterly, "Not yet. Doctor Mei said it might take a year, maybe two years, or five years, or even longer for him to wake up."

Jiang Fenghua said, "She will get better."

Jiang Jinyan added, "In fact, there is another possibility that she will never wake up. She will be a living dead. But I believe she will not be willing to abandon me and the child."

Their daughter is now being raised by Jiang's mother.

Jiang Fenghua chatted with him for a while and then returned to Chenxi Palace. She was pregnant, and Empress Dowager Cheng did not make things difficult for her and forced her to stay to keep vigil. After all, there were many people keeping vigil and she was not needed.

It snowed heavily in the palace that night. Xie Shang came back from the mourning hall and began to review memorials. The entire Taihua Hall was silent. After a moment, Censor Zhu suddenly asked for a meeting outside.

Xie Shang asked Wuxin to invite the person in, and saw a girl dressed as a maid following Censor Zhu.

Xie Shang continued to review the pile of memorials without even raising his head. Fortunately, he had already learned how to handle state affairs, so he was quite adept at it.

Censor Zhu said, "It's so late, and your Majesty is still working hard."

"Has Censor Zhu not returned home yet?" he asked indifferently.

"My wife brought me some midnight snacks, all of which were vegetarian cakes. When I saw the lights on in Taihua Palace, I thought Your Highness was still busy, so I came to take a look." Censor Zhu added, "Your Majesty, please try my wife's cooking. You must be tired of the meals prepared by the imperial kitchen these days."

Xie Shang raised his head and said in a deep voice, "What kind of cakes did Madam Zhu make?"

Censor Zhu said to the maid next to him, "Put down the cakes and get out!"

"Yes." The maid said gently.

Xie Shang glanced at the maid and paused his movements. He saw that the skin on the maid's hands was delicate, not like a maid. Then he looked at her cheek, which seemed familiar.