(Thanks to Dameng, Chubby, Pig who loves cabbage, bywfw, xathena, song5787090)

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At night, the main hall of the Fuping Marquis Mansion, the lonely lamp in the miserable rain, the mourning hall is lonely, the mansion is mournful, and it is lifeless. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

Princess Jingwu was dressed in filial piety clothes, kneeling in front of the coffin in the hall, and under the stairs of the hall ten steps behind her were a group of Zhang's side branches, some old and young, and there were also young faces. According to the etiquette system, when the head of the family dies, all the tribes of the Zhang clan are on guard, and the upper and lower levels of the family are not allowed to raise fires for three days - that is, they can only eat cold.

It's freezing on this day, cold food and raw drink, and the poor health is afraid that I can't bear it, and it will be difficult to fall into the root of the disease. On the first day of the wake alone, there were already a few elderly members of the Zhang clan who were coughing incessantly and were placed in the ear chamber to rest. What is even more worrying is the body of Princess Jingwu.

The death of her husband and the absence of her only son are enough to make Princess Jingwu sad and sad, and now there is another big problem, which is pressed like a mountain, and she is really going to be crushed.

In fact, with Princess Jingwu's background and the circle she is in, it is impossible for her not to think of this problem. It's really been too sad in the past few days, my mind doesn't belong, and I firmly believe that my son will return safely, so I basically didn't think in this direction...... Now I was awakened by Jin's words and realized the seriousness of the problem.

If the Marquis of Fuping is expelled from the country at the hands of her generation, then at the time of family worship, she will become a family sinner and be criticized by future generations. Such a shame is difficult for her to accept.

In the Han Dynasty, if the prince had no heirs and did not want to get rid of the country, there was only one compromise - to succeed a nephew as a son. However, the concubines and stepsons and other lords have a special purpose, called "Zhaofeng Continuation", and the knighthood is halved. To put it bluntly, if you accept a righteous son, all he can inherit is half of the fiefdom. Even if it is half a fiefdom, it is difficult for a courtier who is not extremely favored to get the special decree of the Son of Heaven. Just like Jin Riyan, although he was an important minister of Emperor Wu and Emperor Zhao, when he arrived at Emperor Yuan, all his kindness faded, so that he died and the country was eliminated.

And the situation of the Marquis of Fuping is much better, not only is it rightly favored, but Princess Jingwu is also the imperial sister of the Son of Heaven, and she can enter the palace to close the door and talk about the lord of family affairs, and it is still possible to ask for a special letter. It's just that Princess Jingwu is now in a dilemma - whether to keep a complete family business for her son, or to sacrifice for the sake of preserving the title?

During the interval, Princess Jingwu entered the side room and drank a little cold soup, shook her head and refused the maid's persuasion, and said, "Go, let Prince Chengyan come in." ”

After a while, a young man about twenty-five or sixteen years old, with a long body, wearing a scarf, a handsome face, and wearing linen and filial piety, stepped in and bowed and saluted: "I don't know what Uncle Zhao Chengyan commanded?" ”

Princess Jingwu glanced at this right-hand nephew with appreciation, and muttered: "During the day, the Marquis of the city mentioned to me that there will be a funeral tomorrow and who will help the coffin out of the funeral three days later...... Well, you thought of it too? ”

Zhang Chengyan bowed deeply: "My nephew has indeed thought of it for a long time, but it's just ...... I didn't dare to mention it to my uncle. ”

"Why is this......" As soon as Princess Jingwu's words came out, she immediately stopped, she already understood, and couldn't help but sigh, "Chengyan, it's really hard for you." ”

Zhang Chengyan didn't dare to say it, presumably to avoid suspicion, with his prestige under Zhang's house, it was easy for people to think that he had other intentions.

"So, what do you think should be done about this?"

Zhang Chengyan rubbed his hands and hesitated: "Why don't you let Father Ji support the coffin?" His old man is the longest ...... in the second room."

Princess Jingwu shook her head: "Ziyong can't do it, he is not in good health, and he just fell ill." In the room, it is like this, if you travel dozens of miles, brave the wind and snow, and hold the coffin, I am afraid that the people will not reach the ground...... Cannot. ”

"So...... How is Meng Xiu? He is the head of the second room. ”

"As you said, Meng Xiu is the chief." Princess Jingwu pronounced the accent when she read "Shu".

Zhang Chengyan didn't dare to say any more, and fell into hard thought.

Princess Jingwu sighed slightly: "Chengyan, why don't you say ......?"

There was a rush of footsteps outside the house, followed by a panting voice: "Mastermother, Yang Shoude asks to see." ”

"Steward Yang? Quick, come in. Princess Jingwu Huo Ran got up, full of excitement. There is a reason why she is so out of shape, when Steward Yang is still the Marquis of Fuping, he arranged to go to Beidi County to control the horse and squat and wait for the watchman to return from the young marquis. When he was traveling, he was given a death order by the prince, and he was not allowed to return to his house if he did not see anyone return.

What his appearance means, don't ask, you know.

However, when Yang Shoude appeared in front of him, his pale face, stumbling steps, and trembling body ...... Everything shows ominous signs.

"Master Mother ......" When Steward Yang saw Princess Jingwu, his knees were weak, and he knelt down, his trembling hands were raised above the top, holding a small cloth bag in his hand.

Princess Jingwu stared at the small cloth bag, her hands trembled, and she wanted to stretch out, but she was so stiff that she couldn't move.

Seeing this, Zhang Chengyan took a few steps forward, took it with both hands, held it in one hand, and held the cloth horn in the other, opening it layer by layer. When the last layer was lifted, his face suddenly changed drastically, and he quickly closed it.

"Don't cover it, take it!" Princess Jingwu's voice suddenly became hoarse and low, and every word was spitted out with difficulty, as if squeezed out of her lungs.

Zhang Chengyan sighed deeply, opened the last layer, and offered it with both hands.

When Princess Jingwu saw it, her pale face suddenly swelled with a strange flush, her body trembled like a dead leaf on a branch in the cold wind, she pressed her hand to her heart, and screamed: "My son ......"

A mouthful of blood spurted out and fell softly......

What is the meaning of "the house leak happened to rain overnight, but the boat encountered a head wind", this is it.

Fuping Marquis Mansion, sleepless all night.

In the early morning of the next day, when groups of officials came to pay their respects, they were told to wait outside the hall, and a major event was announced in the house.

After another moment, the footsteps were mixed, and a group of people turned around, all of whom were important figures of the Zhang clan: Zhang Ping, the head of the second room, Zhang Jingchen, the family commander of the Hou Mansion (the big housekeeper), and Zhang Chengyan, the show of the descendants of the Zhang family, etc., but the main mother, Princess Jingwu, was missing.

Zhang Jingchen, the commander of the Hou Mansion, is an old man who is about fifty years old, but compared to Zhang Ping, who is only forty years old and weak, this Hou Mansion family commander is sturdy, old and strong, and his voice is also deep and powerful, so that even the officials waiting outside the hall can hear it clearly.

"Last night, the family was unfortunate, and the housewife was sick when she heard the bad news, and it was difficult to preside over the funeral, so she summoned me and the other three to see me and ask for condolences."

Zhang Jingchen's words were like a boulder thrown into the water, which immediately set off a huge wave in the hearts of the Zhang clan and officials, but in front of the solemn mourning hall, no one dared to be rude.

Zhang Jingchen's voice continued to echo in the air above the hall: "The master's mother instructed that the son should be upright, respectful and courteous, and filial to his relatives." For half a year, everyone in Chang'an knows about filial piety and serving decoction in front of the bed. The things before and after the prince also rely on his strength. It is intended that Zhang nephew Chengyan will be the funeral officiant, and the funeral will be held tomorrow and the coffin will be held three days later. ”

As soon as this remark came out, it immediately caused an uproar, the Zhang clan was in an uproar, and the condolence officials were also amazed.

This is to take the nephew as the son, and replace him! Where will this leave the young Marquis of Fuping, whose whereabouts are unknown? The princess can't be sick and confused, right?

In the midst of the chaos, a slightly hoarse and magnetic voice, overwhelming all the noise, came clearly from the direction of the gate: "It is the duty of the Son of Man to carry the funeral and support the coffin, how dare you fake others?" The gentlemen are gracious, and Zhang is relieved to lead. (To be continued.) )