Chapter 390 Royal Cemetery
The entire imperial capital is hung with black half-moon flags symbolizing the death of the royal bloodline. If you stand on a high place and look from a distance, the city has been dyed in a thick black like ink, which is daunting.
Bai Zhan’s body was sealed in a pure gold coffin. Originally, according to imperial customs, a crystal-carved window should be left near the face for viewing. However, Bai Zhan’s face and body were It was torn in half, and even the best undertaker could not repair it completely.
In the end, I had no choice but to put Bai Zhan's body together as complete as possible, leaving as much traces of him as possible. Of course, the window on his face could not be left behind.
On the day of the burial, before dawn, the whole city woke up to the low tones of bells. Residents hurriedly got up to wash up, put on black and white mourning clothes and walked to the streets.
By the way, mourning clothes are not uniformly distributed by the empire, but are made by the residents themselves. Therefore, on the streets of some slums, you can see carbon-blackened curtains covering adults, and children wearing curtains. Things like pillowcases.
It just so happens that I haven’t washed it for a long time. After I finish, I will take off my mourning clothes and wash them together when the time comes.
The residents waited on the street for a long time until the rituals in the palace were completed. It was almost noon.
With eight and a half bells ringing, the burial ceremony officially began.
The old emperor also changed into mourning clothes, but even though he was so close, no one could see clearly what he looked like now.
Only when that withered, strange right hand touches the coffin, it seems certain that there is a real human being in the mourning clothes.
"My son is fighting in vain..." The old emperor sighed.
Everyone lowered their heads.
The remaining three princes each held a corner of the coffin. The old emperor was at the last corner. As the high priest of the Golden Dawn uttered a compassionate prayer, the four of them worked together to lift the coffin.
The ministers and nobles knelt aside, each lamenting.
After walking out of Bai Zhan's manor, the three princes and the emperor handed the coffin to the general who carried the coffin from the military department.
Because Bai Zhan didn’t have any heirs to carry the coffin to the burial site, he could only put a miniature version of Bai Zhan’s clothes on the corner of the coffin as a gift for his descendants.
In addition to having no heirs, Bai Zhan was not officially married. Concubine Lan, who had been slated to be punished before, accompanied the coffin as the person in charge. Originally, the prince's concubine was supposed to support the person in charge all the way. , but because there was no such thing, it had to be replaced by the daughter of a nobleman in the end.
It is said that all the people in the palace were searched, but only one of Bai Zhan's mistresses was found. She was an ordinary woman of no status, with no other merits except her face.
Finally, the woman was called over and followed directly behind the coffin wearing strange boxy clothes.
If someone could see it, they would be able to find that there is no sadness in that woman now, only despair and powerlessness on her face.
As the honor guard held up a smaller version of the sacred car and placed the imperial prince emblem representing Bai Zhan's soul, the funeral procession moved forward to the dull sound of bells.
Along the way, every time the procession passed by, the residents mourning the funeral on the roadside would kneel down. The adults wiped their tears and said that this shitty world would not leave the pillars of the empire. The children cried loudly. Cursing and asking why this happened.
This is also the tradition of the empire. If you are not convinced after death, the moon is in the sky. Therefore, if you want to land on the moon, you must curse the sky. To curse the sky is to curse the world.
Fortunately, most people usually complain about this bad world, so now, basically everyone has experience. If outsiders come, they should be able to learn the unique insults of the imperial capital.
On both sides of the street, the more fierce the scolding, the more things will be harvested. When the coffin passes, the funeral procession will throw moon-shaped dough cakes to both sides of the street.
This pancake has no flavor and is hard. The only feature is that it is large and filling.
Those who scold well can harvest seven or eight noodles or even more. They just need to take them back and hang them on the highest corner of the roof for a day, so that they can feel the "moon's gaze". This tribute is Even after the function is completed, the residents who picked up the bread can deal with it in their own way - what better way than to have a delicious meal?
Although everyone was heartbroken when the eldest prince died, many people who lived miserable lives couldn't stop smiling after wiping away their tears.
The gifts for supporting the army on the Military Day, and the free bread for the prince's burial... Hey, this adds up to more than ten days of rations.
Unexpectedly, after the death of the eldest prince, we still lived a good life for a few days!
However, if you think so in your heart, you must not show it. If you are caught, you will really have to accompany the eldest prince to enjoy the happiness.
In addition, you have to pay attention to your neighbors.
Hmph, these bitches don’t curse hard and cry insincerely. If they don’t get enough things, they will definitely want to get some from others.
It is not a new thing for someone to steal the offerings hanging on the roof and eat them on the same day.
The eldest prince is no different from other dead people. At most, he just has more offerings - doesn't this make people more jealous? !
The funeral procession slowly advanced through the city. Residents kneeling by the street quickly stood up to protect the offerings after losing sight of the end of the procession. If someone looked at them with ill intentions, they would have to use more force. Swear a few words.
"In this shitty world, the eldest prince is so unlucky! Look at these people, they are all fucking heartless!"
Then he happily went home with the offerings in his arms. Go and watch it first, and then you can fill your stomach.
It’s really good, really good!
The funeral procession moved forward and finally arrived at the west gate of the city.
After exiting the city gate, walk along the road for seven or eight kilometers, then turn right onto the small road and you will arrive at the Royal Cemetery.
I heard that this place was originally a shelter, but something went wrong when it was raised, and only a roof emerged.
The emperor at that time was the grandfather of the current emperor. The former emperor was a pragmatist. He thought that the empire had just started and it was a waste to spend manpower and material resources to build a royal cemetery.
So the emperor had an idea and ordered people to renovate this shelter, which was mostly underground, and it became the current royal cemetery.
The team entered the cemetery and the long ceremony began again.
The people from the military department naturally stayed on the periphery, and no mistakes were allowed in this serious activity.
In addition, according to the rules, the death of a royal bloodline is a major event. In order for them to ascend to the White Moon, the cemetery where they are buried is sacred and inviolable.
Except for the imperial guards who have been guarding here, the military department has also sent a large number of troops. The entire cemetery is surrounded by water. Not to mention the mad beast, not even a small insect can even think of entering to disturb the noble. The eternal sleep of blood.
The ceremony in the cemetery was long and complicated. The imperial capital city was huge. It was already dark when we walked to the cemetery. Then there were another day and night of ceremonies. The residents in the city all ate the offerings of the eldest prince. The white war here hasn't ended yet.
People who dare to break into the cemetery have never heard of it. This day and night is boring enough, so even the soldiers guarding outside the cemetery secretly yawned at this moment.
"Brother, can you eat?"
A guard couldn't help but yawned, and then he saw a hand stretched out, holding a piece of bread in his hand . He turned around and saw a soldier from the military headquarters, his cheeks twitching and chewing something in his mouth.
For the burial ceremony, the Imperial Guards and the military soldiers naturally merged together. This is the boundary between the two parties.
The Imperial Guards didn't know the other party, but they knew from the laziness in the other party that he was probably a lazy man in the army.
As a soldier, he naturally would not complain, but he still seriously extended his hand to refuse: "His Highness's ceremony is in progress, this is not acceptable."
After hearing this, the soldier just He smiled and handed over some more noodles: "We are the ones guarding the gate, but who dares to break in? Moreover, unlike those kings and crimsons, they are a little tired after walking so long without eating or drinking. We These brothers, the ones who are high are like kings and the low are elites, they will not starve to death, but we are all in a time of heavy consumption, what’s wrong with eating a few noodles to fill up?”
This is the truth, they The physical fitness of these little soldiers with average strength is naturally much higher than that of ordinary people. However, the physical consumption is also huge, and they are not able to mobilize the energy in the body like the strong ones.
I have stood there for two days and two nights without moving, and I am definitely tired.
There was a little hesitation on the face of the Imperial Guard.
The military soldier struck while the iron was hot and persuaded: "It's okay, this is an offering from His Highness. Didn't he love his soldiers as much as his own children during his lifetime? He can't bear to see us being wronged."
" But..."
"It's okay, I've seen it. It's just the two of us here. The bushes are blocking it, so others can't see it. Besides, I've eaten several of them," said the soldier. He chewed the dough in his mouth again, indicating that he had already done it.
The Imperial Guard thought the same thing, so he simply took the pancake and looked around. After finding that no one had noticed this corner, he took a few mouthfuls and drank one pancake.
The other party handed it over again, and the two simply sat down and ate the noodles.
When the cedi was almost gone, the Imperial Guard patted his belly: "I feel much more comfortable..."
The military soldier picked his teeth and squinted his eyes: "It just doesn't taste good. He is stubborn and a bit stuck in his teeth. "
"Hey, brother, this is a tribute, there is nothing you can do." It will be the Imperial Guard's turn to persuade the other party.
The soldier stretched and turned around to look, and then wondered: "Brother, I have never seen this scene before. How long will it take?"
The imperial guard guarding the cemetery naturally knew these rules better. He explained in detail: "The royal bloodline will be buried this time by His Highness. The ceremony will not be short. It is estimated that it will take one day. When the artillery fires, His Highness will be buried." The real lower cemetery."
"It's been so long..." The soldier nodded thoughtfully, and then asked, "Brother, when His Highness entered the cemetery, no one followed him, right?"
"Why not?" The Imperial Guard smiled, and then pointed to a group of internal servants at the outermost edge of the funeral procession, "That group of people must follow them in."
"Ah? You're not coming out?" The soldier was shocked.
The Imperial Guard shook his head: "There are not so many people buried with him. The group of servants had to pray for His Highness in the tomb at the outermost edge of the cemetery for a full 297 hours. This is the founding ancestor of our country. Of course, the only things left in the tomb are the remaining offerings. You will never die of hunger, but these days are not easy.”
As he said that, he looked around again and whispered: "His Highness's mistress is really unlucky."
"How do you say?"
"I have been here for five years. Yes, I still know the rules of the cemetery... I'm afraid the mistress is the one who was really buried with her. Have you seen her clothes? A few years ago, a prince died in the womb. Finally, the concubine's wet nurse was wearing it. These clothes went to be buried with me, and they never came up again..."
The Imperial Guard looked secretly again, and after confirming that no one was there, they lowered their voices: "Although our empire does not have the tradition of burial, but The royal family..."
The military soldier took a breath: "I have never heard of this."
The Imperial Guard sneered: "Where are you going to listen? It means that we two have hit it off. I think you are brave and righteous, so I will reveal it to you."
He said this, but he expressed his interest. Hooked up, he continued to break the news:
"In fact, many people have entered the cemetery over the years... I heard my captain say after drinking, in fact, in the palace The death rate of princes and princesses has been extremely high over the years... But you can't just make such a big show when you die, right? You have no choice but to send them here secretly for some ceremony."
"His..."
"Tsk, think about it, how long has His Majesty been bedridden? But he still wants to favor his concubine... How can the quality of the fetus in his belly be good?"
"This, can this be said?"
"It's okay, other people don't know, people with connections in the Guards know it...I even saw a large number of people being sent to be buried with my own eyes. Yes, I heard that it was because a certain prince could have been born smoothly, but the medical team had a problem, and that was it..."
A lot of exciting news came down, and the soldiers of the military department clicked their tongues. Amazing.
The imperial guard also became more interested, and whispered: "In our world, nothing is surprising... To be honest, there have been too many children who died in childhood sent to the cemetery over the years, and those The unlucky ones who were implicated... At night, the whole ground in this place was rustling, and I saw that those innocent souls were trying to crawl out..."
"Then you are not afraid?" the soldier asked curiously? .
The guards chuckled: "What are you afraid of? As long as we don't get close, we won't be affected. And I guess you don't know that the guards guarding the mausoleum have been passed down from generation to generation. After so many years, my ancestors have long concluded I've had some experience."
"I see... By the way, I haven't introduced myself after talking for so long. Brother, what's your name?" the military soldier asked.
The Imperial Guard flashed the badge on his chest.
"My name is Liu Feng, the twelfth generation descendant of the Liu family's mausoleum guarding army. Hey, when I am fifty years old, I will be able to go out. When the time comes, the settlement allowance will be paid. I will treat you to a drink!"
The military soldier smiled: "Then I will wait... However, there are no military relatives named Liu in the imperial capital."
"How is it possible? My dad and grandpa have gone out early and are waiting for me."
"Really? Maybe I didn't find him... By the way, let me introduce myself. My name is Sean. ”
“Sean? That’s a good name!”
(End of this chapter)