Chapter 1048: Secretly Withholding the News of the Death

"Emperor!"

"Emperor!"

"Emperor..."

Inside the entire imperial carriage, everyone was sobbing in a huddle.

Fortunately, the soundproofing of the imperial horse carriage was relatively good, and although these people were weeping bitterly, they still tried their best to suppress their voices. Even so, this feeling of sorrow and oppression still rushed in violently.

Liu Zheng himself was even more stunned.

Dead?

Xie Tianyao, just like that, dead?

He was still gripping his own hand very tightly; Liu Zheng's hand was being gripped quite painfully.

Xie Tianyao's hand began to turn cold.

"The Emperor... the Emperor has passed away..."

The imperial physician came over and confirmed Xie Tianyao's death.

Looking at Xie Tianyao, who had tried his best to close his eyes at the very last moment. At this moment, Xie Tianyao looked more peaceful than Liu Zheng had ever seen him.

Yes.

He could depart in peace. The current Longyan possessed the might of a great nation and the potential of a powerful state. The expansion of its territory had reached a historical peak; Xie Tianyao could indeed depart in peace.

But...

They were still on the way to the Crown Prince's grand funeral...

While feeling sorrowful, Liu Zheng was also somewhat depressed.

What next...

How should this matter be handled? Before he passed, Xie Tianyao had summoned him, which was actually quite a gesture of entrusting him with an orphan. It could also be seen that he trusted him. After all, this group of people currently included almost everyone in Longyan with power and influence; Zhu Zhen, whose students were everywhere, was still walking while leaning on his cane, and those Feudatory Kings who each held their own troops were also behaving themselves, not even daring to ride their horses. And at this moment, the ones who could almost decide their life or death were the Duqi, the Duwei, and the tens of thousands of troops of the Imperial Guard.

"Vice Minister Liu... this is the Tiger Tally of the Imperial Guard..."

Grand Eunuch Zhou's sorrow was something no one could compare to. To him, the passing of Xie Tianyao was as if the entire sky had collapsed. Because looking at Grand Eunuch Zhou's whole life, he had lived for Xie Tianyao; he had always been conscientious and diligent, staying by Xie Tianyao's side... If it were someone else who had reached his position, they would certainly have cultivated a faction of eunuchs, yet he had not... This was his loyalty to Xie Tianyao.

At this moment.

With Xie Tianyao gone, he naturally felt as if everything had turned to dust, as if the heavens were crumbling and the earth splitting...

Only.

He also knew that at this time, his responsibility remained heavy. While holding back his tears—though the unstoppable tears still flowed down his pale cheeks—he took out a Tiger Tally and handed it to Liu Zheng.

"Grand Eunuch Zhou, you must restrain your grief..."

Liu Zheng sighed. It took him quite an effort to pull his hand free from Xie Tianyao's grasp, and then he sat there in a daze.

He was indeed a bit frightened; he truly did not know what to do.

Only at this moment did he realize how important the previous Xie Tianyao had been to an empire like Longyan. He was a pillar, a spiritual belief, and the very source of the entire nation's cohesion. But now, he was gone; he was truly gone... Even if Liu Zheng had the most advanced painkillers in his hands, Xie Tianyao's bodily functions and internal organs had basically already failed... This was something beyond human power.

He was dead...

Liu Zheng suddenly felt that the burden on his shoulders had suddenly grown heavier.

And in an instant, it was so heavy it almost made him unable to breathe.

"Vice Minister Liu..."

"This..."

The others were, in fact, already panicked at this moment.

Because they were still several hours away from Lishan. Next would be the official grand funeral for the Crown Prince. Outside, there was such a large group of people... and each one of them held a high position in Longyan. Once any disturbance occurred, the energy these people could unleash was absolutely unimaginable.

Grand Eunuch Zhou, Yuan Qingming, the Secret Guard—these people were all panicked.

They all looked at Liu Zheng at the same time.

Liu Zheng waved his hand, trying to calm his breathing. Beside him lay the deceased Xie Tianyao... and it was now the height of summer; it would be somewhat difficult to preserve such a corpse for several days. Liu Zheng felt that this was the first problem to consider.

Liu Zheng waved his hand, struggling to calm his breathing. Beside him lay the deceased Xie Tianyao... and now that it was the height of summer, preserving such a corpse for several days was still somewhat difficult. Liu Zheng felt that this was the first problem to consider.

He still felt that this matter had come truly too quickly, without giving him any time for mental preparation.

"Grand Eunuch Zhou, the Emperor must have arranged some matters with you while he was alive..."

After trying his best to calm down, Liu Zheng looked at Grand Eunuch Zhou.

Grand Eunuch Zhou then lowered his head and said, "This..."

Liu Zheng waved his hand; at this moment, these things were not important. Xie Tianyao's arrangements were surely for Grand Eunuch Zhou and the Secret Guard to watch how he would act after his death. If he followed Xie Tianyao's arrangements and let Xie Ming inherit the throne, then he would certainly be fine. If he had ulterior motives, he would surely be eliminated on the spot by the Secret Guard. One could figure this out with their toes. As for Xie Tianyao's last edict, it was certainly in Grand Eunuch Zhou's hands as well.

Liu Zheng waved his hand; at this moment, these things were no longer important. Xie Tianyao's arrangements were surely meant to let the Grand Eunuch and the Secret Guard see what he would do after his death. If he followed Xie Tianyao's arrangements and let Xie Ming inherit the throne, then he would certainly have no major issues. If he had ulterior motives, he would surely be eliminated on the spot by these Secret Guards. One could figure this out with their toes. As for Xie Tianyao's imperial edict, it was certainly also in the hands of the Grand Eunuch.

"Everyone, do not be nervous. Since things have come to this, we must think of a method together to overcome the current difficulty."

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile.

The crowd nodded.

The Emperor was dead.

This was no small matter... If not handled well, the entire country would fall into chaos, or even war.

This was no small matter... if it were not handled well, the entire country would fall into chaos, or even war.

Liu Zheng continued, "Since the Emperor has already given instructions to keep the death secret, we must keep it confidential! Grand Eunuch Zhou, this matter must be arranged immediately..."

Grand Eunuch Zhou lowered his head and listened.

In ancient times, after an emperor died, there were certainly many methods for preserving the corpse. After all, in history, no emperor was buried immediately after death; usually, the body would be kept for about three months, because an emperor's funeral was different from that of a crown prince—it was far more grand, and naturally, there were too many things that needed preparation. Especially for an emperor who passed away in the summer, preserving the body for three months indeed required a lot of work.

In ancient times, after an emperor died, people surely had many methods for preserving the corpse. After all, throughout history, no emperor was buried immediately after death; usually, the body would lie in state for about three months. Because an emperor's funeral was different from that of a Viscount, it would be far more grand, and naturally, there were too many things that needed to be prepared. Especially for an emperor who passed away in the summer, preserving the corpse for three months indeed required a great deal of work.

This was not an ordinary bath, so it was not just a matter of using water to bathe the corpse; it had to be done with Spice! A medicinal decoction brewed from various spices was used to bathe the body, which could inhibit the growth of many bacteria. After the bath, Alcohol would also be used to wipe every part of the body clean.

In the *Book of Rites: Record of Mourning*, there were detailed records of how the corpses of emperors and high officials were preserved after death.

In the "Book of Rites: Record of Great Mourning," there is a detailed record of how the corpses of emperors, kings, generals, and ministers were preserved after their deaths.

"When the ruler dies, the body is moved to a bed and covered with a shroud; the death clothes are removed, a minor official uses a horn spatula to wedge the teeth open, and a small table is used to bind the feet; this is the same for the ruler, the grand masters, and the scholars... The water-drawer draws water and hands it to the attendant, and the attendant performs the ritual washing in the main hall. The ruler is washed with millet water, the grand masters with panicled millet water... The ruler uses a large basin to hold ice, and the grand masters use an Yi-basin to hold ice..."

This means that after a thorough cleaning, a thick layer of Spice must be applied to the entire body.

Liu Zheng thought for a moment.

Given their current conditions on the road, if they still do not want people to discover their actions here...

Using Mercury would require collecting Mercury, and using Lime would also require collecting it... Using ice? The temperature inside this imperial carriage would suddenly drop, which would definitely attract the attention of others.

Then...

Only one Method remains.

Alcohol preservation.

He immediately had Grand Eunuch Zhou go and collect the high-proof liquor from the ranks, as well as the liquor prepared for the Crown Prince's grand funeral... Pop-ups are frequent recently, you can click to download to avoid pop-ups.