Then Xu Yun paused for a moment and continued:

"Next, let's talk about 'Lying on Ice to Seek Carp' and discuss whether it... based on the thermal energy formulas that we learned before."

Old Su heard this, and a few black lines appeared on his forehead.

He strode into the courtyard, gave a light cough, and interrupted Xu Yun:

"Ahem... Xiaowang, you're in class."

Xu Yun was enthusiastically speaking, and when he heard this, he turned around instinctively and was momentarily stunned at seeing Old Su:

"Master, why are you here?"

Old Su thought to himself that it's fortunate he came, otherwise one day he might see Old Li coming with a kitchen knife to seek justice.....

However, despite his inner grumbling, he said aloud:

"Well, having just seen off a guest, I thought I'd take a detour and check on you, and incidentally, tell you something."

Xu Yun blinked and asked:

"What's it about?"

Old Su pointed his chin at the waist badge that marked Xu Yun as a Guest and said:

"Xiaowang, you are now on the guest list of the mansion, receiving the offerings given to a guest."

"According to the custom, a month from now, when the Empress Dowager's Zi Palace is entombed, you will have to accompany the mansion servants outside the Vermilion Bird Gate to bid farewell. You need to prepare for this."

Xu Yun was slightly stunned and asked in confusion:

"A month? The Empress Dowager... entering the mausoleum so soon?"

Old Su nodded, glanced around, and uttered a few words:

"The former Emperor will also be buried together."

Xu Yun opened his mouth, wanting to ask some things, but then he reacted on his own.

Indeed.

According to the timeline.

It's about time for the burial of Emperor Zhezong's coffin, estimated to be about a week or two away.

Emperor Zhezong's mausoleum is the Yongtai Mausoleum, whereas Empress Dowager Xiang is to be buried with Emperor Shen Zong at the Yongyu Mausoleum.

Both are among the Song Mausoleums and are located in what is now known as Gongyi, approximately 300 meters apart in a direct line.

The locations are close, and the funeral standards are similar.

Thus, Emperor Huizong decided to postpone the burial of Emperor Zhezong by half a month and bring forward the burial of Empress Dowager Xiang by half a month.

This way, the two events could coincide at a single point in time.

Anyway, the flexibility of burial dates within the imperial family nowadays is quite considerable, unlike during the Zhou Dynasty where a wait of seven months was mandatory.

Longer or shorter durations are neither here nor there.

For example, Emperor Wen of Han Liu Heng delayed burial for a full eleven months.

Whereas Emperor Jing of Han only delayed burial by forty days before entering the mausoleum.

In fact.

The evolution of coffin delay now isn't even connected to preventing revival.

This practice is purely to reassure the entire court about one thing:

There's nothing suspicious about the former Emperor's cause of death, feel free to verify it yourselves.

Of course.

Old Su's words carried another meaning:

Since Empress Dowager Xiang has already passed, Xu Yun, as a former male actor, should see her off emotionally and logically.

After all, as the saying goes.

The debts of the deceased are absolved.

Unfortunately, Xu Yun wasn't aware of Old Su's imaginative interpretations; he innocently thought it was merely a matter of customary practice, so he immediately agreed:

"Rest assured, I'll definitely join the servants in attendance, just have Mr. Xie call me before departure."

Only then did Old Su nod in satisfaction, turning towards Xiaoli and asking:

"Qingzhao, how is Prince Jian today?"

Xiaoli first offered a salute, then a trace of worry appeared on her face, and she shook her head, saying:

"Uncle Su, His Highness has rarely left the palace recently, as though being restrained. If it weren't for the regular exchange of letters, I'd believe something had happened to him."

Xu Yun was startled by the mention and keenly picked up on a word:

"Wait,... letters?"

Xiaoli was taken aback and then nervously explained:

"..... It's just that the atmosphere in the capital has been strange recently, not convenient for His Highness to leave the palace, so they're merely exchanging communications."

Xu Yun glanced at Little Doudou thoughtfully and dragged out his voice:

"Oh——...."

"Alright, alright."

Seeing this, Old Su interjected to ease the situation for Xiaoli and said:

"Xiaowang, don't tease her. Tomorrow I'll have Yuan call a tailor, and we'll have a suitable outfit made for you; everything else can remain as is."

Seeing Old Su bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand, Xu Yun promptly abandoned his playful thoughts and replied earnestly:

"Understood."

.....

Zhao Ji, although not Empress Dowager Xiang's biological son, had always treated her as his birth mother.

Thus, after Empress Dowager Xiang's passing.

Zhao Ji voluntarily abstained from political matters, keeping vigil day and night before the Empress Dowager's Zi Palace.

Even the Emperor did this, so naturally, no one would dare to disrupt openly.

Therefore, within the month after Old Su and Xu Yun's conversation.

Everything seemed calm, just awaiting the coffin's burial so Bianjing could return to normal.

But those truly understanding the capital's dynamics could see.

Beneath this semblance of calm, there was a hidden current ready to break the surface at any moment.

For instance, according to Old Su.

In those days.

Many individuals originally aligned with Empress Dowager Xiang's faction were hastily changing allegiance, pledging loyalty to Zhao Ji.

Some of Xiaozhao's subordinates were subtly probing the situation concerning Xiaozhao's biological mother, Noble Consort Zhu, seemingly wavering between loyalty and betrayal.

One official, descended from frontier Frankish ancestors and responsible for white fabric production in the Weaving Bureau, went straight to align with Zhao Ji.

Especially on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when an earthquake struck Lu Dong.

Though the quake was minor, causing little death or injury, various rumors began circulating among the people.

Just like that.

A month passed quickly.

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