Chapter 337: Condolences
The five people hurriedly got up and returned to the city. Only when they entered the city did they find out that the queen mother had passed away.

Everyone was shocked. This was too sudden. Didn't they say his condition had improved? How could he just leave like that?
Su Su said decisively: "Let's go back to our respective houses first. I think the palace has already issued an order."

Everyone agreed and went back home.

As soon as Ye Jiayao arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, she saw Steward Zhong directing the servants to take down the red lanterns and replace them with white lanterns. Everyone had white cloth strips tied around their waists and heads.

Seeing Ye Jiayao coming back, Steward Zhong hurried over to greet her, looking anxious: "Second Young Madam, Xiang Tao has brought people to look for you. An imperial decree has been sent from the palace, requiring us to come to the palace to pay our respects."

Ye Jiayao said, "Send someone to tell the Marquis and his wife immediately that the Queen Mother is in mourning. What else should our mansion do and what rituals should we follow? If you are not clear, go to the Helian Palace and ask for clarification. Don't make any mistakes."

Ye Jiayao had never experienced such a big scene before and had no idea what to do. However, she couldn't give anyone a chance to talk about her at this time, so she could only ask for help from Prince Helian's Mansion.

Steward Zhong said, "When the late emperor passed away, I was already serving in the palace. I know the ceremonials very well."

Ye Jiayao was quite relieved: "That's good, I'll leave the house to you first."

The Marquis and Mrs. You were not at home, Chunyu was not at home either, and the eldest sister-in-law was pregnant. She was the head of the Marquis's mansion, so she was the only one who had to go to the palace to pay her respects.

The sewing room delivered the mourning clothes in time, and Ye Jiayao changed into them and went straight to the palace.

Many carriages were parked outside the palace gate, and servants from various mansions were waiting. Unexpectedly, Ye Jiayao saw a familiar face among the maids.

It's Xiaoya.

Uh... Didn't Xiaoya get sold? She also looked for Xiaoya, but unfortunately she couldn't find her.

Xiaoya also saw her, walked towards her and knelt down to bow.

"Second Young Madam."

"Xiaoya, what are you doing..." Ye Jiayao suspected that Xiaoya had returned to Liuli.

Xiaoya said: "I am still serving the Third Young Madam."

Oh, Ye Jiayao nodded in understanding. No wonder she couldn't find anyone. It turned out that Liuli found her first. However, there has been no news of Xiaoya in the Seventh Prince's Mansion in the past few months. I'm afraid she just came back recently.

Qiao Xi was also left behind. With a eunuch leading the way at the palace gate, Ye Jiayao walked towards Ninghe Palace among a group of ladies who came to pay their respects.

When they arrived at the place, it was already full of people, a sea of ​​​​people. Ye Jiayao saw Zhu in the crowd and walked up to her.

"Why so sudden?" Ye Jiayao asked in a low voice.

Zhu shook her head and said, "I don't know either. It will be our turn to go in later."

Ye Jiayao had no choice but to stand and wait with Zhou.

After a while, their names were called, and Ye Jiayao and Zhu entered the mourning hall together.

Looking around, the Crown Prince, Prince Yu and other princes were kneeling in front of the coffin, as were the old ancestor, Princess Yide, the wife of Marquis Yongning, the Crown Princess, Aruan, Liuli and others, all with red and swollen eyes and sad expressions. Ye Jiayao didn't have a good impression of the Queen Mother, and she really couldn't feel sad, but she could only pretend to be sad and went forward to pay her respects.

After groups of people came in to pay their respects, those of lower status were taken out, and the rest, following the eunuchs' orders, knelt... bowed... cried...

Then, there was a burst of crying in the hall, and the sound was so loud that it almost blew the roof off.

Ye Jiayao looked at the people around her in horror. Each and every one of them was a master of acting. Their tears were like a faucet. They started crying as soon as they started crying, and they howled loudly as soon as they started crying.

Thinking that she could not fall behind others, Ye Jiayao also howled a few times, thinking that crying for a while would be enough. However, she howled for half an hour. Some of them cried so hard that they fainted and were helped away by the eunuchs.

Ye Jiayao felt that if she continued to howl, her brain would be deprived of oxygen. She had never thought that mourning was also a strenuous job. She had no choice but to cut corners and howl from time to time. A few times, she almost scared Zhu who was beside her, which made Ye Jiayao feel embarrassed.

Finally, the round was over and the eunuch took everyone to a side hall to rest.

Ye Jiayao saw that everyone's faces were pale and they walked unsteadily. They were exhausted from the whole process. Once they arrived at the side hall, everyone collapsed on their chairs and didn't even want to talk.

Zhu was worried about her mother-in-law, so she went to serve her.

Ye Jiayao was also worried that the old ancestor couldn't handle it, so she went to see him.

The old ancestor was in a low mood. When he saw Ye Jiayao, he just nodded and sighed from time to time.

Ye Jiayao could understand the old ancestor's feelings. Seeing her peers pass away, even if she had become more indifferent to life and death, she could not help feeling melancholy. What's more, the empress dowager was the biggest support for everyone in this interest group. Now that this mountain was gone to protect them from the wind and rain, who knew what would happen in the future.

But the person is already dead, so there is no need to worry. There will always be a way when the car reaches the mountain, and the boat will naturally go straight when it reaches the bridge. Just take it one step at a time!

Ye Jiayao went to ask the eunuch for two cups of tea. When she passed by A Ruan and the Crown Princess, everyone could only nod as a greeting. Liuli sat there blankly, not knowing what she was thinking. It seemed that she didn't see her, and Ye Jiayao didn't bother to pay attention to her.

The tea was brought over, and the old man took it, holding it in his hands but not drinking it. Yide drank two sips to moisten his throat, but because he cried so hard, his voice was still hoarse: "Have you sent a message to your mother-in-law?"

"It has been sent, but Hangzhou is a long way away, so it may take several days." Ye Jiayao said.

"Maybe the government reports it faster." Yi De sighed.

Ye Jiayao understood this. The death of the empress dowager was a national mourning and the whole country had to observe mourning. This New Year would probably be a lonely one.

Yi De paused and said, "Your mother-in-law is not here, so you are the only one who can do the funeral. If you have any questions, please ask me. Don't make any mistakes."

Ye Jiayao nodded in agreement. She couldn't ask for more. Now her every move represented the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion. There were dozens of eyes watching her. If anything went wrong, she would be accused of being disrespectful and unfilial. She couldn't afford to suffer that.

After everyone had rested enough, the eunuch came and asked everyone to go and mourn.

After going back and forth three times, Ye Jiayao was almost exhausted. When she heard that such a funeral would last for three days, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

By the time they left the palace, it was almost dark. Ye Jiayao sent the old ancestor back first, while Princess Yi De stayed in the palace to keep vigil. She met Xiao Jing, Su Yi and others at the palace gate.

The old ancestor said: "You are tired too, go back first, you have to go to the palace at Mao time tomorrow!"

Thinking of the difficult tasks ahead, Ye Jiayao did not insist and told Xiaojing to take good care of the ancestor.

Xiao Jing said: "Don't worry, take care of yourself and get more rest."

As Xiao Jing spoke, his gaze drifted away. Ye Jiayao followed his gaze and saw that it was A'ruan and the Crown Princess walking towards them together.

Seeing Xiao Jing looking a little dazed, Ye Jiayao hurriedly urged Xiao Jing: "The ancestor has already got on the car, you should leave quickly!"

It's not that she is unkind and doesn't let Xiaojing watch for a while longer. It's just that since Aruan got married, she seldom goes out, and Xiaojing has no chance to see Aruan at all. It's really that there are so many people here and they all have their own opinions. It would be bad if someone finds out something fishy.

Xiao Jing withdrew his gaze hastily, lowered his head, turned and left.

When the Crown Princess and A'ruan saw Ye Jiayao, they walked over together tacitly.

Ye Jiayao greeted the two of them, and the Crown Princess said, "I have to go back as well, let's go together!"

Ye Jiayao was stunned for a moment. The Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis Jing’an Mansion are not in the same direction!

But since the Crown Princess said so, Ye Jiayao couldn't refuse. She looked at A Ruan, who nodded at her almost imperceptibly.

A Ruan watched the two of them leave, her gaze not withdrawing for a long time, because in that direction there was not only Sister Yaoyao, but also a person who made her dream about her.

She had seen Xiao Jing a long time ago, and she had also seen Xiao Jing looking at her, but now, even looking at each other was a luxury. She could only look at the back from afar in the name of seeing Sister Yaoyao off.

"Princess, it's time for us to go back." Ah Man advised in a low voice.

A Ruan sighed silently and got on his own carriage.

Ye Jiayao and the Crown Princess were sitting in the same carriage, with their own carriage following slowly behind them.

She had mixed feelings, trying to figure out the Crown Princess's intention in inviting her to ride with her. Wasn't she trying to avoid suspicion? Why did she make such an intimate move in front of so many people?
The Crown Princess seemed to see through Ye Jiayao's thoughts and smiled, "It's okay. Are you going to stop seeing each other forever just to avoid suspicion?"

Ye Jiayao said awkwardly: "Crown Princess is joking."

The Crown Princess smiled and said, "It doesn't matter whether you avoid me or not. Why bother yourself? We haven't had a good chat for quite some time. I haven't been to your dessert shop yet. I've used up a gold card for nothing."

"It's not for nothing. The Crown Princess is willing to grant me admission, which has brought me many benefits." Ye Jiayao said politely.

"I would like to give you more benefits, but the current situation does not allow it. Let's wait until the future!" said the Crown Princess.

Ye Jiayao wondered, was the Crown Princess making a promise? As long as she, no, the entire Jing'an Marquisate stood on her side, then when the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future and she became the Queen, she would naturally not treat the Jing'an Marquisate unfairly. Was that what she meant?

In fact, the Crown Princess should know that Chunyu has already stood on the side of the Crown Prince, and the future owner of the Jing'an Marquis Mansion has already chosen a camp. There is really no need for the Crown Princess to say this.

Or maybe the Crown Princess was worried about her relationship with A-Ruan! Her relationship with A-Ruan was well known! So, she deliberately invited her to go with A-Ruan in front of him, just for A-Ruan to see!

"During the time when the Crown Prince was under house arrest, the Crown Prince's Mansion was as deserted as an ice cellar. You were the only one who cared about me and the Crown Prince, and sent me delicious food every now and then. As the saying goes, a friend's true feelings come out in times of adversity. Jinxuan, you are still the same Jinxuan as before. I will remember this kindness." The Crown Princess said again.

To be honest, Ye Jiayao had a good impression of the Crown Princess. She thought she was kind and friendly. Of course, she didn't dare to treat the Crown Princess as a friend. Of course, her purpose in showing kindness to the Crown Princess was not pure, so she felt ashamed when the Crown Princess said that.

She had thought about it more than once. If A Ruan came to her and asked her to help Prince Yu, what should she do? This question gave her a headache, but she knew very well what choice she should make. She was from the Marquis of Jing'an Mansion, and her position must be consistent with Chunyu.

(End of this chapter)