Chapter 534 - 525: Prince He
Four days later, upon receiving the news, Mrs. Jiang, accompanied by Chen Yuqing and her three siblings, returned to Capital City. Knowing that they might reside permanently in the Capital City in the future, they moved many of their belongings there.
After having a meal with her child, Chen Afu did not go to see Chen Yuhui. In her view, Chen Yuhui was beyond redemption, and she did not want to intersect with her anymore.
On the sixteenth, The Xies officially proposed a marriage alliance through a matchmaker. The Chens accepted, finally securing Chen Yuqing’s engagement with Xie Feng.
Mrs. Jiang was overjoyed. Xie Feng’s family background, personal character and intelligence, undoubtedly, made him the best suitor that Chen Yuqing had ever had over the years, even better than all previous ones. She was deeply grateful to Chen Afu and Chu Hua because the marriage was covertly engineered by these two people.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, as everyone was immersed in the joy of the Lunar New Year, the emperor suddenly died.
The new emperor declared that he would hold a grand funeral for the former emperor. The civil and military officials of Capital City mourned and wept for the former emperor, and the officials of a certain rank were required to concentrate on mourning for three days without returning to their homes. The court ladies of third grade or above in Capital City were asked to mourn for the emperor for 3 days, going inside the palace in the morning and leaving in the evening.
This dismal news deeply saddened the Grand Empress Dowager; her health which was recovering, worsened once again and she passed away on the second day of the first lunar month. Before the mourning for the former emperor was over, the royal family welcomed their second funeral.
The death of the Grand Empress Dowager shattered the Third Madam who fell unconscious repeatedly from the immense grief. Chen Afu took care of her closely, comforted her, and even stayed with her in the palace for three days.