sbdcsierra Chapter 1393 New Draft Rules
Chapter 1393 New Draft Rules
Concubine Kang had just taken care of the Fifth Prince and given him medicine. She had a hard time feeding him half a bowl of brown soup, and she ended up spilling some of it onto his apricot-yellow brocade coat, leaving a dark stain.
She was wiping it carefully with a warm, damp cloth when Chu'er came in, her face solemn, and said, "Your Majesty, tomorrow... is the anniversary of Concubine Hao's death, one year ago."
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs just sent someone to ask where the small altar in Chuxiu Palace is located."
Concubine Kang paused slightly in her wiping movements.
Concubine Hao.
This name has long been silent in the deep palace.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, as the highest-ranking concubine in the harem, the concubine's death anniversary ceremony was not as grand as those of the higher-ranking concubines, but it still followed strict palace rules.
Not only would a formal sacrifice be held at the Eastern Tomb, but a temporary altar would also be set up within the palace. Everyone in the palace would observe a vegetarian diet for a day as a sign of mourning.
If the concubine has no children and has fallen out of favor, or is guilty, this rule will most likely become a formality, and no one will even mention it.
But Concubine Hao is different.
Although she died early due to bad luck, she left behind the bloodline of the Fifth Prince.
A mother's status is determined by her son. Even if she is no longer with us, the servants in the Imperial Household Department dare not deprive her of the dignity she deserves.
Concubine Kang handed the soft cloth to Caiju beside her and slowly sat down on the embroidered cushion beside the couch. A deep sadness filled her eyes. She picked up a silk handkerchief and pressed the corners of her eyes, choking with sobs, "Time flies so fast. It's been a whole year since Sister Haopin passed away..."
She looked out the window at the courtyard, her tone growing sadder. "I remember this time last year when Concubine Hao took my hand and entrusted Sui'an to me, giving me countless instructions, hoping only that he would be safe and healthy."
"But now... Sui'an's illness keeps recurring and shows no sign of improvement. How can I... how can I have the face to offer sacrifices to my sister, Concubine Hao?"
"It is my fault that I failed to take good care of Sui'an and failed to live up to the trust placed in me by Concubine Hao..."
Seeing this, Chu Er quickly stepped forward and said in a gentle voice, "My Lady, please stop saying that!"
"Everyone in the palace knows how you treat the Fifth Prince. You personally care for him day and night, and you've lost a lot of weight."
"The Fifth Prince has a congenital deficiency. The imperial physician has said that he needs to be nursed back to health over time. How can this be achieved overnight?"
"If Concubine Hao is still alive, knowing how dedicated you are, she will be grateful and will never blame you."
Concubine Kang listened, still covering half of her face with a silk handkerchief, her shoulders twitching slightly, as if she was trying hard to suppress her grief.
It was a long time before she put down the handkerchief, and her eye circles were indeed a little red from rubbing them.
Concubine Kang took a deep breath and forced herself to cheer up. "Give orders that the altar of Chuxiu Palace tomorrow be set up in the warm room on the west side, where it's quiet."
"All offerings, incense, and candles must be of the finest quality, and the ceremony must be conducted with utmost care and dignity, without the slightest slight."
Chu Er quickly agreed: "Yes, I will go and watch them make the arrangements right away."
Concubine Kang added, "Tell the kitchen that everyone in the palace will be vegetarian tomorrow, and we in Chuxiu Palace must strictly follow this."
Chu'er wrote down everything one by one. Seeing that Concubine Kang was still depressed, he said a few words to comfort her. Then he bowed and went back to arrange matters.
Silence returned to the palace, with only the occasional, quiet and uneasy mumbling from the Fifth Prince in his sleep.
Concubine Kang walked to the side of the couch, lowered her eyes to look at his flushed face, and gently brushed her fingers across his slightly furrowed brows.
She pursed her lips, looking guilty.
She swore that this was the first and last time.
……
Yongshou Palace.
The afternoon light and shadows shine in through the fine bamboo curtains.
Shen Zhinian sat behind a rosewood desk with a budget booklet on ice usage for this summer, recently submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, spread out in front of him.
On the other side, there were several palace affairs files waiting for approval.
There was also a booklet wrapped in apricot-yellow silk, which was a draft of the new round of selection rules prepared by the Ministry of Rites.
Shen Zhinian entered the palace on September 9th of the first year of Jingtai's reign. In a blink of an eye, it would have been three years in about three months.
Fuqiu approached and reported, "...Your Majesty, at Chuxiu Palace, His Majesty has approved Concubine Kang's request and allowed Master Huichen of Fatu Temple to enter the palace to pray for the Fifth Prince. The date has been set for the day after tomorrow."
Shen Zhinian's hand holding the red pen did not stop, but he just made a mark somewhere in the budget book, where an unreasonable expense was, and replied casually, "Oh? Your Majesty has approved it?"
Without looking up, she spoke calmly, "Concubine Kang has worked so hard for the Fifth Prince that she's become emaciated. Since she believes in this, praying to the Buddha for protection might actually bring peace to the Fifth Prince and help his condition."
"Let her be."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Zhinian put down Yongbing's booklet, reached out to take the apricot-yellow-covered selection rules, and opened it to take a closer look.
Seeing this, Fuqiu knew that the queen did not take the matter to heart, so she said no more.
She quietly stepped aside and sorted and categorized the approved books for Shen Zhinian.
Shen Zhinian's eyes swept across the complicated regulations in the charter, but his mind had drifted away.
The triennial selection is like an undercurrent that is about to emerge, foreshadowing that the forces of the former dynasty and the harem will usher in a new arrangement and combination.
How many eyes are watching, how many families are ready to take action.
She, the imperial concubine who holds power in the palace and enjoys the emperor's favor, is at the center of the storm.
We must instruct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure that there are no mistakes in the selection process.
Pay attention to which families sent their daughters to run for election, what positions their fathers and brothers hold in the court, and what connections they have with various forces.
You also need to subtly pass on a few words to the emperor at the right time to those who may disrupt the situation...
Compared with these major events that concern her own foundation and future pattern, Concubine Kang inviting a monk into the palace to pray for blessings is really nothing.
Shen Zhinian quickly scanned the regulations, picked up a pen and marked a few places in them, and instructed: "Take this to Consort Xian and Consort Xuan, and let them review it. I will discuss it with them later."
Fuqiu took the charter and said, "Yes."
Shen Zhinian reached out again and picked up the next palace affairs booklet waiting to be processed.
……
On the third day of June, the sky was clear but the sunlight was not too strong.
A temporary incense table was set up in the open space in the courtyard of Chuxiu Palace.
The table was covered with apricot-yellow silk, and offered with fresh fruits, tea and vegetarian snacks.
Three thick sandalwood incense sticks have been lit, and the blue-gray smoke rises straight up, spreading a calm and peaceful fragrance.
Master Huichen was wearing a cassock, holding a string of ebony prayer beads, and standing solemnly in front of the incense table.
Although he was Master Xingchen's junior fellow apprentice, he was much older than the master, about thirty years old. His face was gaunt, his eyes were calm and deep, and he truly had the bearing of a highly accomplished monk.
Behind Master Huichen were two young monks with their heads bowed, one holding a bell and the other holding a scripture.
Concubine Kang was dressed particularly simply today, in a moon-white palace dress. She wore no hairpins or jewelry, only a small white velvet flower on her temples.
She knelt on the cushion in front of the incense table, her back straight, her hands clasped together, her eyes downcast. Her face was blurred by the lingering smoke, making her look even more fragile and pious.