in2ebook Chapter 221 The past need not be mentioned again.
Chapter 221 The past need not be mentioned again.
Lady Changting immediately understood Qin Yizhen's meaning, instructing her to ask discreetly in private and not to make a fuss.
If the young lady is willing, then she and the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion each get what they need, and it's none of anyone else's business. But if the young lady is unwilling, then naturally no one can stand idly by.
They are descendants of heroes; how can we sit idly by and let her be bullied?
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will certainly ask carefully." Lady Changting readily agreed, for both personal and public reasons, it was indeed necessary to ask.
Lady Changting had lunch at the Marquis of Pingxi's residence and stayed for another half an hour before leaving. When she left, Qin Yizhen had some crabs and lychees sent to her to take back with her family so they could enjoy them.
The next morning, the Pingxi Marquis's residence packed up the prepared offerings and went to the cemetery to pay their respects.
The Cheng family had no roots in Qin capital, so naturally they didn't have any ancestral graves. Even the Marquis of Chengen and the Zhang family were simply sold off by Empress Dowager Cheng at some random place.
When Lady Mingguo died, Empress Dowager Cheng was still a powerless young girl. She was buried somewhere the Cheng family found casually. Many years later, after Empress Dowager Cheng entered the palace and had Princess Huizhen, they finally chose a more auspicious burial site for her.
A few years later, Empress Dowager Cheng became the most favored concubine in the palace. She gave birth to Emperor Jing'an and was made a Noble Consort. A new stele was erected for her, and she was posthumously honored as Lady of Mingguo.
When the Pingxi Marquis's family and others arrived at the cemetery, Empress Dowager Cheng and the others had not yet arrived. Cheng Yan ordered people to seal off the surrounding hills, and he and Qin Yizhen sat under a lush tree for shade.
The guards and maids placed the prepared offerings one by one.
Third Aunt Cheng, Second Aunt Cheng, and their son Sun Yongshi were also brought over by the Pingxi Marquis's residence. Qin Yizhen asked Third Aunt Cheng and Second Aunt Cheng to sit down together, and the two could not refuse, so they sat down awkwardly.
However, he simply sat there, extremely quiet, not daring to say a word, completely unlike the fearless demeanor he had shown when he first visited.
It seems that the confiscation of the Zhang family's property and the execution of the imperial decree, as well as the sudden deaths of Zhang Shi and the Marquis of Chengen, truly terrified them.
Qin Yizhen asked them, "How have you been these past few days?"
"Very good, very good." Aunt Cheng looked at the man and woman sitting together and felt uneasy.
Cheng Yan was dressed in a light blue round-necked robe and wore a bronze crown on his head. Qin Yizhen was also dressed in a cross-collar, wide-sleeved, waist-length ruqun and wore only a white jade hairpin on her head.
Even though he was dressed simply and plainly, his imposing presence was undeniable, inspiring awe in people.
Aunt Cheng felt that she had been incredibly bold before, daring to go to the Pingxi Marquis's residence to beg for money. She was simply courting death. It was only by sheer luck that she was still alive!
Cheng Ergu's smile was forced: "Qin Du is prosperous and has everything. We have also broadened our horizons. No wonder everyone wants to stay in Qin Du."
Qin Yizhen said, "Qindu is a good place, but it may not be easy to live there for a long time."
"Yes, in just half a month, we have already spent a lot of money. After we finish paying our respects to the Lady of Ming, we will be heading back."
“It’s good to go back.” Qin Yizhen nodded. “If you two teach your children well in the future, whether they pursue literature or martial arts, they may still have a chance to succeed. If you come back then, please don’t forget me and my husband.”
"I will never forget, I will definitely pay you a visit when the time comes."
After only a few words of small talk, Empress Dowager Cheng arrived.
When Empress Dowager Cheng arrived, she brought Emperor Jing'an and Princess Huizhen with her. The Imperial Guards led the way, and the procession was grand and imposing.
The crowd knelt to welcome the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
"No need for formalities, please rise." With the help of Eunuch De, Empress Dowager Cheng, Emperor Jing'an, and Princess Huizhen alighted from the carriage and came over to speak with Cheng Yan and Qin Yizhen.
"How are the offerings for the sacrifices prepared?"
Qin Yizhen replied, "Your Majesty, I have consulted some people and prepared everything that can be prepared. However, this is the first time I have prepared such things. If there are any oversights, please point them out to Your Majesty, and I will definitely correct them next time."
In previous years, Cheng Yan was not necessarily in Qin Capital, and the Empress Dowager Cheng would have the preparations made. But this year, Qin Yizhen took over the task herself.
According to custom, this worship ceremony is originally prepared by the family. Cheng Yan and Qin Yizhen are the son and daughter-in-law, and since Empress Dowager Cheng is already married, it is indeed inappropriate to trouble her. Her presence is the greatest respect one can show to one's mother.
Therefore, as soon as Qin Yizhen brought up the matter, Empress Dowager Cheng naturally handed it over to her.
Empress Dowager Cheng smiled upon hearing this: "It's good that you take it to heart. Even if there are any mistakes or omissions, your mother in heaven will not blame you. Just take it slowly."
Empress Dowager Cheng was quite tolerant of her own children. Even if they had put in their best efforts and not done it perfectly, they could try again next time.
Empress Dowager Cheng's gaze swept over them and she saw Third Aunt Cheng and Second Aunt Cheng. Her smile remained unchanged: "Third Aunt, Second Aunt, it's been many years. How have you both been?"
When old friends meet again, they are still relatives from the past. They should be embracing and crying. However, when Aunt Cheng and Second Aunt Cheng look at the familiar yet unfamiliar face of Empress Dowager Cheng, they are intimidated by her imposing presence and feel somewhat apprehensive.
Compared to facing Cheng Yan and Qin Yizhen, this Empress Dowager, who held power, was truly awe-inspiring and dared not act rashly.
Even the quick-witted and shameless Aunt Cheng dared not speak again, for fear of saying something wrong and being dragged away and beheaded.
At this point, it was Aunt Cheng who stepped forward and replied, "Thank you for your concern. We are all well, except that my husband has passed away."
"I've heard about this from Ayan as well. Please accept my condolences, Third Aunt." When Cheng He's death was mentioned, Empress Dowager Cheng lowered her eyes.
Her two third uncles and aunts were always kind people who treated her and her mother well. Even after the Marquis of Chengen divorced his wife and remarried, he still took care of her and her mother.
They had struggled to conceive for many years, and when they finally had a child, his health was poor, so he could only take care of himself.
Empress Dowager Cheng resented Cheng He for telling Marquis Chengen and Lady Zhang about Ming's pregnancy, which triggered the subsequent events. However, now that Cheng He is dead, the grudges should be resolved, and Empress Dowager Cheng did not want to think about it anymore.
Aunt Cheng nodded repeatedly: "I will. The old man is gone, but there are still children and grandchildren in the family. This old woman will live as long as possible to keep an eye on these younger generations so that they don't do anything wrong."
As Aunt Cheng opened her mouth, her heart was filled with sorrow and pain, and tears streamed down her face. She wiped away her tears, opened her mouth again, and suddenly said, "Fuyao, your third uncle and I wronged you back then, you..."
Empress Dowager Cheng shook her head, indicating that there was no need to say anything more: "There's no need to bring up the past."
She did harbor resentment while she was alive, but once she died, she no longer wanted to hold onto those resentments.
"Let it be like a lamp going out when a person dies, and let the past return to dust."