novelraw Chapter 2062 - 2064: Paying Respects
Chapter 2062 - 2064: Paying Respects
"Mother is right too, we don’t know them well, and they’re not our close relatives. It’s really hard to arrange anything when they come."
Yang Chuxia continued, "In the future, when selecting a teacher, Father should really be more discerning."
"Father said the same thing. The new batch of teachers was all found by Brother An."
Having listened to so much, Yang Chuxia noticed that Yang Xiayun was getting a bit tired and said, "It’s getting late; you all should go rest first. Tomorrow morning, I need to go outside the city."
"What’s outside the city?"
"I’m taking Fourth Aunt to see Dongxue."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiayun said nothing and returned to the courtyard with Luo Linyu.
The next day, Yang Chuxia took Ms. Luo and Yang Xiaochuan to the royal temple. Prince Le was buried in the imperial mausoleum of the Great Zhou, following the tradition that a prince’s and a prince’s consort and secondary consort were permitted to be buried therein; naturally, Yang Dongxue would be buried there too.
But the imperial mausoleum was guarded, and ordinary people couldn’t enter, so Yang Chuxia could only take them to the royal temple.
The tablets of past emperors, empresses, princes, and princess consorts of the imperial family are enshrined in the royal temple. If one wishes to pay respects, one can only do so here, but coming here also requires the Emperor’s permission.
Before dawn, Yang Chuxia set out with her entourage. If she could obtain the first morning incense at the imperial temple, it would be the best to honor the departed.
It was Yang Xiaochuan and Ms. Luo’s first time at the royal temple.
The majestic temple, bathed in the first rays of sunlight, appeared ethereal, like the abode of immortals. The faint smell of incense drifted with the breeze into one’s heart, grounding the original turmoil into a sense of peace.
They originally thought that the distant golden hue was a clever play of morning light, but upon approach, they realized it was indeed sculpted gold. After walking up the ninety-nine steps, in sight was a Nine-Dragon Wall. Yang Chuxia had seen Nine-Dragon Walls, Three-Dragon Walls, and Five-Dragon Walls, with the dragons painted or made of glazed tiles, but the Nine-Dragon Wall of the Great Zhou was ornamented with gold on the outside.
This, indeed, was the source of the golden glow.
Yang Xiaochuan and Ms. Luo were awestruck by the grandeur, following Yang Chuxia into a large hall termed the Prince’s Hall. To the left of the Prince’s Hall was the Princess Consort’s Hall.
In the Princess Consort’s Hall, the tablets of the princess consorts and secondary consorts of past princes of the Great Zhou were enshrined for worship.
Behind was the Prince’s Hall, and the tallest in the middle was the Emperor’s Hall. Beside the Emperor’s Hall and Prince’s Hall were each an Empress’s Hall.
Upon entering the Princess Consort’s Hall, by the corner arranged according to their seniority, they found the tablet of Yang Dongxue.
A young monk handed over the lit incense, which Ms. Luo and Yang Xiaochuan took and followed Yang Chuxia in bowing, then inserted the incense into the burner.
The path was tranquil, with few people visible until they reached the foremost hall.
"Xiaxia, isn’t this a temple? Why is it so quiet?"
"This is a royal temple, and ordinary people cannot come here. Only officials and high-ranking nobles can enter. The Emperor’s Hall and the Prince’s Hall are only accessible on special occasions and only by the imperial family. The front hall is for officials and high-ranking nobles to pray for blessings, but this is permitted only two days a month."
Yang Xiaochuan wanted to ask how they got in since they weren’t of the imperial family.
"Brother An petitioned the new Emperor. Besides, the Princess Consort’s Hall is less strictly guarded than the Prince’s Hall."
Yang Xiaochuan understood now.
Upon hearing this, Ms. Luo felt a rise of pride in her previously saddened heart.
It is often said that one vies for incense in life and is buried with honor in death. For Dongxue, a girl from a farming family, to be respected and enshrined in such a place after death—such honor is not easily bestowed upon everyone. Ms. Luo suddenly felt that being laid to rest in such an esteemed place made death worthwhile, and her resentment suddenly lifted.