Chapter 1159: Empress Xiaomingren

Inside and outside the imperial city, all was draped in white, and the entire capital was immersed in an atmosphere of grief. The autumn wind rustled, causing the white banners and streamers hanging high to flap noisily, mourning the departure of a generation's virtuous empress.

Within Ciming Hall, sobs and low weeping continued without cease. Imperial clansmen, members of the imperial house, and relatives by marriage gathered here, all kneeling before the mourning hall with sorrowful expressions. Emperor Liu knelt at the head upon a prayer mat, his expression already quite calm.

"Mother, your unfilial son has returned! How could you leave just like this—you haven't even seen your new grandson..." Before the coffin, Prince Yong, Liu Chenghsun, knelt prostrate, his face filled with grief.

He too had learned of his mother's death and hurried back day and night. If Emperor Liu's feelings for the Empress Dowager ran deep, Liu Chenghsun's were no less so. After all, he was the youngest son—when it came to the affection one received, who could compare to him?

Glancing sidelong at Liu Chenghsun out of the corner of his eye, Emperor Liu sighed softly and signaled to the elder Lady Fu and Prince Xu, Liu Chengyun. The two stepped forward and offered words of consolation, and only then did Liu Chenghsun's wailing subside somewhat. After all, he was merely releasing his grief, not intending to make a scene at the mourning hall and disturb his mother's peace.

However, Liu Chenghsun's display of sorrow stirred the mournful emotions of all present, and the sound of sobbing grew louder.

Within the hall, besides the funeral music, there were also many monks and Daoists. Emperor Liu had ordered all the eminent monks of the Eastern Capital brought here specifically to conduct rites for the Empress Dowager's deliverance. At this moment, Emperor Liu could not afford to concern himself with such matters—in truth, he had never held much prejudice against Buddhism; it was all simply a matter of interest.

In fact, in the years since the suppression of Buddhism, the court had not deliberately oppressed it further. Under the court's religious administration system, both Buddhism and Daoism had actually experienced a relatively healthy development. The most recent major action had been after the acquisition of Jiangnan, when the Buddhist temples, Daoist abbeys, and those "persons beyond the mundane" in the south were rectified.

Amid the low chanting, a sudden commotion arose among those kneeling in the front rows. Emperor Liu did not turn his head, merely kneeling quietly. Yan Tuo leaned forward and carefully reported to Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, Duke Qin has fainted from excessive grief!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu sighed inwardly. After a moment of silence, he instructed: "Take him to the side hall to rest, and have an imperial physician examine him!"

"Yes!"

As the ritual official gave voice, the atmosphere in the hall became solemn once more. Including Emperor Liu, all followed the ritual official's direction and performed the great ceremonial bows.

The cold night deepened. Within Ciming Hall, only a few mourners remained. Emperor Liu still knelt in the same posture with the same expression, accompanied only by Liu Chenghsun and the four elder imperial princes.

Yan Tuo entered quietly and reminded him in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the meal has been prepared. Please eat a little and take care of your sacred person!"

"Withdraw!" The only response was Emperor Liu's two cold words.

The forceful imperial majesty made Yan Tuo shudder involuntarily. Somewhat helpless, he could only withdraw. Finally, Emperor Liu turned his head and looked—his imperial brothers and princes were clearly exhausted. He said to Liu Chenghsun: "Sanlang, you have traveled far to return to the capital and are weary in body and mind. Go down and rest, and take some food!"

"You have been here long as well—withdraw too!" Emperor Liu then said to the four brothers Liu Yang, Liu Xu, Liu Xi, and Liu Fang.

"How can one eat while wearing mourning garments?" Liu Chenghsun refused directly: "I too am my mother's flesh and blood. That I could not serve at her knees is already a lifelong regret. I only wish to fulfill this filial duty!"

Liu Xu also expressed: "We should keep vigil for Grandmother!"

Seeing this, Emperor Liu directly rebuked them, his tone turning much harsher: "I am here. All of you, withdraw!"

Seeing Emperor Liu lose his temper, the uncle and nephews exchanged glances and could only respond helplessly: "Yes!"

As they withdrew, although some eunuchs and palace maids still attended the hall, Emperor Liu's long-kneeling figure suddenly seemed much more solitary. Gazing at Lady Li's spirit tablet, he could not help but feel somewhat dazed.

In the side hall, several members of the imperial bloodline ate in silence. All the dishes were simple vegetarian fare, and even the sounds of chewing were extremely faint. The atmosphere remained heavy.

"Your Highness!" The eunuch's lowered voice of greeting sounded.

The elder Lady Fu walked in. The several men immediately rose and bowed. Her phoenix eyes swept over them, then her gaze fell upon Yan Tuo: "Has His Majesty not yet eaten?"

"Not yet!" Yan Tuo said hurriedly: "He still keeps vigil before the spirit. This humble one could not persuade him. I can see His Majesty growing thinner—Your Highness, please do urge His Majesty!"

Without a word, the elder Lady Fu simply proceeded toward the mourning hall. Along the way, even the light cast by the white candles seemed eerily cold. Gazing at Emperor Liu's solitary yet upright back, the elder Lady Fu stepped forward, knelt beside him, and said softly: "Erlang, do go rest for a while. I am your daughter-in-law—I can take your place. If you carry on like this, who within or without the palace can find peace? You must not collapse!"

Looking up at the Empress and noting her concerned gaze, Liu Chengyou said: "I am not so fragile, nor am I so easily felled!"

"You yourself once said—oppose anyone you like, but never oppose your own stomach!" the elder Lady Fu urged: "Your filial piety toward the Empress Dowager is known to all above and below. But if you continue like this, you will only invite worry from within and without."

"Enough!" Liu Chengyou let out a light sigh.

He was about to rise, but having knelt for so long, his legs were both painful and numb, and he could not stand in one attempt. It was only with the elder Lady Fu's help that he rose.

Slowly walking to before the spirit, he lit three sticks of incense, bowed respectfully, and only then turned around. Before leaving, he exchanged a glance with the elder Lady Fu. After Emperor Liu departed, the elder Lady Fu's expression grew increasingly solemn. She too performed a rite of worship, smoothed her robes, and knelt down to keep vigil.

In the side hall, Liu Chenghsun and the others had still not left. When Emperor Liu appeared, they greeted him with bows once more. Raising his hand, he looked at them and said directly: "All of you, go home!"

He would brook no objection. However, he kept the Crown Prince, Liu Yang, behind alone. To say Liu Yang was dull would be absolutely wrong. He personally ladled out clear porridge for Emperor Liu, arranged the dishes, and asked respectfully: "What instructions do you have?"

"The state is in great mourning, but military and governmental affairs must not be neglected because of it. For the coming period, you will continue to oversee the state, handling national affairs with the gentlemen of the Hall of State Affairs, ensuring stability within and without the court and the normal operation of all ministries and bureaus!" Emperor Liu instructed while drinking his porridge.

Liu Yang was somewhat surprised—after all, since Emperor Liu had returned, being kept on as regent made him wonder a little. However, noting Emperor Liu's calm face and flat tone, he bowed his head in obedience: "Yes!"

According to ritual protocol, upon the death of a parent, one should observe three years of mourning. Of course, this could never be truly and practically fulfilled. Especially for common folk—they needed to make a living, to eat and drink. Even in filial piety, one could not abandon such a long stretch of time.

To express his filial devotion, Emperor Liu intended to follow the ritual protocol. However, as Emperor, bearing the weight of the rivers and mountains of the state and the myriad people of the world, he was compelled to set aside personal mourning—thus, days were counted as months.

During this period, Emperor Liu completely set aside state affairs, focusing solely on fulfilling filial duties. For the Empress Dowager's funeral, the entire court was kept busy. Emperor Liu specially approved one million strings of cash for funeral expenses—this was the most wasteful and unrestrained expenditure he had made out of personal sentiment in all these years.

For this, a censor even cited the Empress Dowager's final instructions to dissuade Emperor Liu, saying that such extravagance would actually harm the Empress Dowager's reputation for virtue. Emperor Liu had always been quite tolerant of remonstrating ministers, but this time he was angered. He felt the man's motives were impure—that he was putting on a show to curry favor through feigned directness.

He not only ordered that censor given twenty strokes of the court cane but also had him thrown into prison to be executed together with the autumn-assize criminals. It was only the elder Lady Fu's intercession that saved his life. Even so, he was ultimately exiled to a border prefecture.

After this, no one in the court dared to speak out against the lavish funeral arrangements for the Empress Dowager. Of course, after this incident, Emperor Liu's maternal uncles were angered and directly submitted a joint memorial, offering to share the funeral expenses together, willing to bankrupt their families to show filial devotion to their elder sister. Later, Prince Yong Liu Chenghsun and Prince Xu Liu Chengyun made the same offer.

Emperor Liu naturally did not agree to their requests, nor could he possibly agree. However, he did issue an edict that all funeral expenses be paid from the imperial privy purse, kept separate from the state treasury. With the Emperor making such a statement, how could the ministers not respond? After court deliberation, the state treasury also contributed three hundred thousand strings of cash.

Because of the Empress Dowager's funeral, the Eastern Capital was immersed in white mourning throughout nearly the entire autumn. The whole city had no other colors, and even the Mid-Autumn Festival passed without flavor, with almost no celebration.

The imperial maternal uncle Li Ye served as the director of the imperial mausoleum works, specially renovating and expanding the tomb of Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan. On the day of the funeral procession, several hundred thousand commoners of the Eastern Capital spontaneously came to see the cortege off. The spirit carriage headed south to Xuzhou, with Emperor Liu personally escorting it. Along the way, commoners knelt in homage without end along the road.

Following the Empress Dowager's final instructions, she was buried together with Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan in Rui Mausoleum. As for the posthumous title, Emperor Liu had originally intended to settle on a long one, using all the finest honorifics. But later he felt it unnecessary, and in the end, she was posthumously titled Empress Xiaomingren.