In the courtyard.

Looking at the solemn-faced Old Su, Wang Bing couldn't help but step forward and ask:

"Uncle, is everything alright in the palace?"

Among the people Old Su had left, except for Xu Yun, all were officials within the Great Song system.

This included persons like Zong Ze, who had ties with Old Su, but the relationship was not particularly close.

Therefore, it was not unexpected that something happened in the palace—it was likely not a high-level secret, and within several hours or one or two days, it would gradually spread.

Old Su evidently didn't plan to be secretive; after being silent for a moment, he slowly uttered a few words:

"The Empress Dowager... has passed away."

"?!"

Upon hearing Old Su's words.

The courtyard was silent at first, then it erupted into a commotion.

Old Zhong's eyes flickered a few times, and he asked with a frown:

"Mr. Su, when did the Empress Dowager pass away?"

Old Su glanced around, ensuring there were no idle people nearby, then said:

"This is news just passed on by the palace guards, at most no more than an hour and a half ago—yesterday, Prince Jian even went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

Hearing this, Old Zhong sighed slightly.

Empress Dowager Xiang was five years older than him, being a great-granddaughter of Prime Minister Xiang Minzhong from Emperor Zhenzong's era, while he was the grandson of Zhong Shiheng.

Xiang Minzhong, being the head of the civil servants in court, never got along well with Zhong Shiheng.

The animosity between the two was passed down to the next generation; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a generational feud.

During Old Zhong's childhood, he frequently had childish disputes with Empress Dowager Xiang. (See "Song History·Volume 335·Biography Ninety-Four")

After both had grown up.

Empress Dowager Xiang married Emperor Shen Zong Zhao Xu, while Old Zhong studied under Zhang Zai and became a Third Class Officer.

Later, Old Zhong offended Cai Jing by discussing labor laws, and Cai Jing's faction accused him of "slandering the martyrs," resulting in his dismissal and party registration.

Old Zhong was thus sidelined for a full ten years.

In contrast, Empress Dowager Xiang was very close to Cai Jing and could even be considered one of Cai Jing's confidantes.

For example, after Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, Cai Jing was initially demoted, but it was Empress Dowager Xiang who ordered Huizong to retain Cai Jing for the completion of historical work.

Although Cai Jing was dismissed again months later due to memorials by Gong Fu, Chen Shixi, and others, he managed to connect with Han Zhongyan during his stay in the capital, leading to his later resurgence.

Of course.

At that time, Cai Jing was still engaged in historical work in the capital, and many subsequent events hadn't yet occurred.

But this did not change Old Zhong's negative perception of Cai Jing—after all, ten years of resentment couldn't be dispelled by a single dismissal of Cai Jing.

Because of this.

The conflict between Old Zhong and the Empress Dowager gradually reached an irreconcilable stage.

However, as neither were overly tyrannical as 'sovereign and minister', there was always a prerequisite for their contention:

The stability of the state.

For instance, the Empress Dowager knew the Western Army couldn't do without Old Zhong, so she suppressed him but never went to extremes, like Zhao Gou—or Wanyan Gou—executing Yue Fei, severing their own arm.

Empress Dowager Xiang's method was to support Wang Hou, Old Zhe, and even Tong Guan, allowing them to gradually replace Old Zhong's position in the Western Army.

Old Zhong acted similarly, never letting personal relations affect border military affairs.

But now that the Empress Dowager has passed...

The situation has become somewhat subtle.

After all, everyone knows the character of the current Prince Duan...

Nothing else needs to be said.

Just the fact that he fathered thirty-one sons and thirty-four daughters before being captured is indicative of what kind of Emperor he was.

Then Old Zhong suddenly thought of something and said to Old Su:

"Mr. Su, what about Wang Zezhi? Where is he now?"

Old Su lifted his eyelids to look at him, quickly realizing what Old Zhong was worried about, and said:

"Don't worry, as reported in the First Year, there's only precaution in the guard, with no signs of mobilization."

The Wang Zezhi in Old Zhong's mouth, whose real name is Wang En, is currently the Commander of the Palace Guard, one of the standard 'Nine Grand Commandants', and he also oversees the guard, trusted deeply by Huizong.

In modern terms, Wang En is like the commander of the security regiment, the confidant among confidants.

Hearing that Wang En wasn't making any big moves, Old Zhong took a deep breath:

It seems that the Empress Dowager's passing wasn't kept a secret, it indeed was a natural death...

Then he thought for a moment, turned to Wang Hou, and said:

"Chu Dao, the Empress Dowager has passed, our identities are somewhat sensitive, let's first return to the Wuxin Army."

Wang Hou nodded, agreeing:

"Good."

Seeing this, Old Zhong once again cupped his hands towards Old Su and Xu Yun, saying:

"Mr. Su, Brother Wang, with the sudden change, as a Border Commander, I am constrained by circumstances and must take my leave."

"Brother Wang, once the funeral for the Empress Dowager is handled, I will visit you again to discuss matters of skill."

Xu Yun, still in shock, instinctively returned the courtesy upon hearing this:

"Imperial Envoy, please go without concern. If needed, just send someone to notify me."

Old Su looked around at the few people, pondered for a moment, then said:

"Brother Wang, Ru Lin, Zheng Chen, Zheng Ru, since you are either civilians or low-ranking officials, you should first return to your rooms. I will see off Envoy Zhong and General Wang."

Wang Bing and the others exchanged glances, then simultaneously obeyed:

"Yes!"

Then they all took their leave, and Xu Yun calmly returned to his room.

After closing the door.

He leaned his back against the door, resting his head on the door panel, and sighed with complexity.

If it was just speculation before.

Now he was confident that Empress Dowager Xiang indeed took that fall for Old Su.

Otherwise, under normal circumstances.

Though her health wasn't good, Empress Dowager Xiang could have at least lived another four months, passing away only in the spring next year.

Which means he, as a small butterfly, indeed affected some of the historical trajectory within this dungeon.

Thinking of this.

He couldn't help but turn around to face a direction, slightly bowing as a sign of respect.

Although he never met Empress Dowager Xiang.

In some sense, her passing four months earlier had a causally linked relationship with his arrival, though not factual.

Therefore, Xu Yun's gesture wasn't significant, nor was it pretentious, but rather a courtesy from principle.

He then walked to the desk, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote a letter using Morse code:

"Heimai Erguotou Initiate....."

".....the Empress Dowager has passed away, the plan codenamed 'Listeners Unheard' can officially begin implementation..."

"Such and such... like this and like that..."

An hour passed.

Xu Yun sealed the written letter with oil wax and tucked it into his sleeve.

He went out to find Mr. Xie, the Old Chief Steward, and asked:

"Old Chief Steward, is Third Brother at the residence right now?"

Mr. Xie, who was busy preparing an eulogy for Old Su, wiped the sweat off his forehead and said:

"Yes, he is here. I just saw him in the South Wing, should I send someone to fetch him now?"

"I would appreciate it, Old Chief Steward."

"It's a small matter, just wait a moment."

Mr. Xie cupped his hands towards Xu Yun, stopped a servant, and entrusted him with the task of finding Zhang San.

The servant acknowledged the order and promptly set off.

Xu Yun parted ways with Mr. Xie and returned to the small courtyard.

After about a quarter of an hour.

Zhang San appeared outside Xu Yun's courtyard:

"Brother Wang, I heard you were looking for me?"

Xu Yun nodded and handed him the envelope, instructing:

"Third Brother, please take this letter to the household in River King Lane where we went before, and say it's handed over to them by Niao Jiulianye."

Zhang San nodded, thumping his chest:

"Understood, leave this to me!"

After Zhang San left.

Xu Yun stood with hands behind his back, sighing softly.

.......

In the following half day.

With free time on his hands, Xu Yun gradually witnessed the dissemination of information:

During the first few hours after the Empress Dowager Xiang's passing, only officials like Old Su were aware of the situation.

But as the first half of the day passed.

Yue Lian and several senior servants in the household vaguely got the news, whispering among themselves.

Later, Xu Yun wandered on the street and found many people greeting each other with cryptic remarks, akin to riddle tellers from later generations, starting with "Hey, have you heard?"

The other person, seeing this, would mysteriously point to the sky, sharing a smile that spoke volumes without words.

By nightfall that day.

Zhang San returned from delivering the letter, akin to petty traders selling electronic watches in the 1990s, furtively tugging at Xu Yun's sleeve, first thing saying "Brother Wang, the Empress Dowager is gone....".

Another night passed.

Early the next morning.

Clang——

On Vermilion Bird Street, a servant from Jingzhao Prefecture struck the mourning bell, officially announcing the death of the Empress Dowager to the world.

According to the regulations in "Ritual Records·King's Regulations".

When the Emperor passes away, it requires seven days until the funeral and seven months until burial.

For the feudal lords, it is five days until the funeral and five months until burial; for ministers, knights, and commoners, it is three days until the funeral and three months until burial.

Among them, the treatment of the Empress Dowager is somewhat similar to that of the Emperor, with seven days until the funeral and five months until burial.

However, this requirement in the Zhou rites mainly arises for selecting a burial site and divining an auspicious date for the burial.

Plus, it allows time for various feudal lords to rush to attend the funeral, hence the relatively lengthy period.

Of course.

There was also a rumor that the ancients wanted to see if the deceased would resurrect, a saying open to interpretive perspectives.

By the time of the Song Dynasty.

The burial period for Emperors was shortened to 3-5 months.

The customs for the Empress Dowager's burial were changed to a minor funeral on the third day, the major funeral on the fifth day to enter the coffin, and burial could occur within one to two months later.

What?

You ask why in the sweltering summer, the body does not smell or decay?

The reason is quite simple.

Before the major funeral, ice blocks would be placed under the deceased Empress Dowager or Emperor's body and replenished continually.

Additionally, before the Zi Palace is consecrated, whether the funeral hall or the mausoleum, it would be wrapped with layers of ash, charcoal, bamboo mats, etc.

These materials play a role in isolating air and moisture, to some extent.

Meanwhile.

The Palace's Mummification Officials, responsible for funerals, would also soak the body in special essential oils for a period, applying some wax.

After the official burial, the coffin exterior would also be coated with 49 layers of lacquer — of course, the 49 layers are the Emperor's treatment, the Empress Dowager's treatment, due to reasons the foolish author couldn't find, is just roughly overseen.

If encountering some extremely extreme cases, the inside of the coffin might be filled with mercury, looking quite 'relaxing.'

Although Old Su, being retired, only needed to attend on the day of the major funeral and present the eulogy.

Nonetheless, this was a sensitive matter, so Old Su dared not take any negligence.

Thus, the second day's three-person small class, for the first time, saw only Xiaoli present.

In the class.

Seeing Xiaoli diligently attending the lecture, Xu Yun wrote a few words on the blackboard:

"Miss Li, today we will learn about a geographical concept called orographic rain."

Xiaoli blinked her eyes:

"Orographic rain?"

Xu Yun nodded and said:

"Correct, orographic rain is one of the four major forms of rainfall in the world, with the other three being frontal rain, convective rain, and typhoon rain."

"The name orographic rain comes from its occurrence due to the obstruction effect of the terrain."

"When moist air currents are forced to rise by mountain ranges or other highlands, the temperature drops, eventually causing precipitation."

"The slope where precipitation forms happens to be the windward side, hence this mountain face is the windward slope."

"The visual spectacle before the formation of this type of rain is often overwhelming, as if the heavens and earth are collapsing. For instance, in the Tang Dynasty, Xu Hun wrote a poem in 'East Tower of Xianyang City' depicting orographic rain."

"'Clouds rise over streams as the sun sets at the pavilion.....'"

"'Before mountain rain... fills the wind in the tower.'"

........

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