The news of Empress Dowager Xiang's passing came extremely suddenly.

Except for a few insiders, the vast majority were not psychologically prepared.

This news was like a torrential downpour.

Bringing a touch of coolness to this Great Song metropolis that should have been as hot as summer.

For instance, many shops on the bustling Imperial Street closed their doors.

Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, the number of soldiers inspecting those coming and going increased significantly.

Their expressions were stern, not permitting laughter.

The night market of Bianjing, which should have been lively, suddenly turned cold, replaced by a curfew; painting boats and taverns were not allowed to open.

Zhang San also informed Xu Yun.

The Cuju match originally scheduled to start in five days was postponed indefinitely.

In the entire Bianjing, slaughtering livestock and holding weddings were prohibited.

All temples in the capital had to ring their bells a total of ten thousand times.....

It can basically be said this way.

In these two months before Empress Dowager Xiang's burial, the financial income of the entire Bianjing City was expected to lose more than seventy percent.

And what was more oppressive, even frightening, was another matter:

As of now in early August, the death of Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu occurred...

On February 23, 1100 AD, just five months ago.

Previously mentioned.

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

After the Emperor's death, seven days must pass before the embalming, and seven months before burial.

The burial time for emperors of the Song Dynasty was a bit earlier, usually three to five months.

And according to "Song History," Volume 18 "Chronicles of Emperor Zhezong":

"In the spring of the third year, on the day of Xinwei in the first month, the Emperor fell ill, unable to attend court.... On the day of Jimao, the Emperor perished."

"On the day of Jiwei in April, he was posthumously titled Emperor Qin Wen Ruiwu Zhaoxiao, temple named Emperor Zhezong.... On the day of Renyin in August, buried in Yongtai Mausoleum."

According to the lunar and solar calendar comparison table for August 1100, the day of Renyin in August is the 25th. (Refer to wannianli.tianqi.com/rilibiao/1100/)

That's right!

At this point in time...

Emperor Zhezong hadn't been buried yet.

Less than a month before the late emperor's burial, the Empress Dowager suddenly passed away.

Such an event would not be a good omen in any feudal dynasty and undoubtedly impact royal power.

And besides the "mandate of heaven," there was another "human event" that was quite coincidental:

Due to bluntly calling Prince Duan frivolous in front of Empress Dowager Xiang, Zhang Dun had already submitted his resignation as Prime Minister in May.

Although Zhao Ji did not agree to his request, by the current August, Zhang Dun was already residing in a temple, not participating in political affairs.

The second Prime Minister, Han Zhongyan, would not take office until June of the following year, meaning...

The Great Song Court presently had no Prime Minister in place!

Thus, Old Su's temporary residence, as a former Prime Minister, suddenly became vibrant these days.

This retired four-generations elder once again passively returned to the public sight.

........

Half a month later.

"Alas..."

After seeing off an Assistant Minister from the Ministry of Personnel.

Old Su dragged his slightly weary body back to the living room and said to Zong Ze beside him:

"Ru Lin, how many guests have visited the mansion today?"

Zong Ze had originally been waiting for his appointment document, but with the affair of Empress Dowager Xiang's death, his appointment was of course indefinitely delayed.

Thus, with Xu Yun's connection.

This 'Grandpa Zong,' who had a teacher-student relationship with Old Su, temporarily stayed at Su Mansion, helping Old Su with some official documents.

After several days of cooperation.

Old Su found that Zong Ze's ability was much stronger than he had imagined.

Some of his ideas were sharp and immature yet rather novel and reasonable.

So on some occasions, he brought him along, acting as a secretary, while handling the coming and going of guests.

Upon hearing Old Su's query, Zong Ze quickly replied:

"In response to the teacher, this is the seventh one."

Old Su nodded slightly, reached out to rub his shoulder, suddenly thought of something, and asked again:

"By the way, where is Xiaowang?"

"Seems to be teaching Miss Li at the academy."

"And what about Prince Jian?"

"His Highness still hasn't arrived."

Old Su frowned deeply.

It had been nearly half a month since Empress Dowager Xiang's passing, the Empress Dowager's body had already been placed in a coffin with great ceremony seven days ago.

Xiaozhao was not Empress Dowager Xiang's biological child, so theoretically, he should have been able to leave the palace once or twice at least.

He paused for a moment, sighed, and said:

"Ru Lin, come with me to see Xiaowang."

Zong Ze respectfully said:

"Yes."

It's a pity Xu Yun wasn't present; otherwise, hearing Old Su's words, he would have been glad he hadn't used a false name of Ji.

Then Old Su, accompanied by Zong Ze, walked another stretch, and the two soon arrived at the courtyard of the three-person class.

As soon as they approached the courtyard entrance.

Old Su heard Xu Yun's voice:

"Miss Li, today our myth-busting class is about a pair of animals, mandarin ducks."

"Ancient people considered mandarin ducks as a symbol of love, like Lu Zhao Lin wrote in the 'Ancient Meaning of Chang'an,' 'To become one with another, why reject death? We wish to become mandarin ducks rather than envy immortality,' you must have heard of it?"

"But in reality, mandarin ducks exhibit promiscuity."

"For example, nearly all male mandarin ducks will cheat, abandoning the female mercilessly after mating, searching for the next partner."

"Moreover, female mandarin ducks also mate with different males and can conceive multiple times."

"Thus, in the same nest, although the ducklings have the same mother, they may have different fathers."

Old Su and Zong Ze:

"...."

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