RWNEFE -Chapter 146 The Empress Dowager Passes Away, Troops Are Recruited

“Brother Zhang, I see a lot of people outside. What are they all doing?”

Zhang Liao explained Old Liu’s position as a county official and the situation with the exiled prisoners.

Liu Yanhui’s eyes widened. “Couldn’t the new county magistrate have waited until the snow melted to send them? Old Liu must have had a tough time along the way!”

Old Liu, attracted by the aroma of the big bones, tore off a piece and stuffed it in his mouth without waiting for it to heat fully.

“The county magistrate can’t help it. It’s an order from above: a general amnesty!”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes brightened.

“Old Liu, a general amnesty?”

…

“Master, the Empress Dowager has passed away. The court has issued a general amnesty,” Liu Yanhui said carefully, glancing at Shen Lanxi’s reaction.

Everyone in the capital knew the Empress Dowager treated Shen Lanxi like a treasured daughter. Shen Lanxi had been raised in the Empress Dowager’s palace since childhood, so her favor was such that even princes and princesses had to tread carefully around her.

The Empress Dowager held a unique place in Shen Lanxi’s heart.

Shen Lanxi opened the window, letting the cold wind and snow hit her face.

After a long moment, she finally spoke: “Prepare the offerings.”

“Yes!”

“Inform the Shen family as well!”

“Yes!” Liu Yanhui replied.

Shen Lanxi stayed in her room for two days. On the third day, when she emerged, Liu Yanhui and the others looked at her worriedly.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Wei Dongzhu had also arrived and removed the mask from his face.

Shen Lanxi glanced at him, then asked Liu Yanhui, “Have the offerings been prepared?”

Liu Yanhui: “They’re prepared every day, and replaced daily!”

Shen Lanxi: “When elders in a family pass away, what’s the usual procedure?”

Liu Yanhui, confused by the question, still answered, “Notify relatives, then arrange the funeral.”

Shen Lanxi: “Then prepare it.”

Liu Yanhui: ?

What exactly?

He didn’t understand.

“Master, if I understand correctly, you want to hold a funeral for the Empress Dowager?”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him. “Is that not allowed?”

Liu Yanhui: Damn… this is really happening!

“The Empress Dowager is in the capital!”

Shen Lanxi: “I never said I was going to bury her.”

Liu Yanhui twitched at the corner of his mouth: this isn’t something an ordinary person could do!

Wei Dongzhu: “You mean a ceremonial tomb?”

Shen Lanxi: “No need for a ceremonial tomb—can’t we just set up a mourning hall?”

Wei Dongzhu: “…Fine, that works!”

“Everyone, go prepare!”

Liu Yanhui’s scalp tingled as he hurried after Wei Dongzhu, who had left first.

“What exactly is Master thinking?”

Wei Dongzhu began to understand Shen Lanxi’s actions. She wanted to hold a funeral for the Wei family army too!

“Master is filial. Since she cannot attend the Empress Dowager’s funeral in person, setting up a mourning hall here to show her grief is completely reasonable.”

After speaking, Wei Dongzhu quickened his pace.

Liu Yanhui thought, if he dealt with it alone, it wouldn’t work—he needed to find Cheng Zheng and the others too.

Turning on his heel, he ran toward Cheng Zheng and his group’s courtyard.

…

“What did you say?” Old Madam Shen asked in shock.

Shen Yuanjing gritted his teeth. “Big sister said she wants to hold a funeral for the family elder and asked me to inform the family.”

Old Madam Shen was so furious it felt like old blood stuck in her chest. She shouted, “Who is her family elder? Does she want to make trouble for our Shen family?”

Shen Yuanjing quickly explained, “Grandmother, the Empress Dowager has passed away!”

Old Madam Shen froze, her expression dazed. “What did you say?”

“The Empress Dowager has passed away!”

Old Madam Shen’s face turned grim. She glanced at Old Master Shen and waved him away. “You go downstairs first. Yuanjing, go inform your mother!”

“Yes!”

Half an hour later, the entire Shen family was gathered.

~

The mourning hall was prepared quickly, ready by the next day.

The night before, Liu Yanhui had brought a jar of sorghum wine to Zhang Liao’s house for a visit. The next day, word spread that elders from the Shen family were passing away on the way to Dongchuan, and today the funeral was to be held.

Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen did not come. Their four sons and daughters-in-law, along with the grandchildren, were present.

Shen Lanxi knelt in the place of the grandchildren. The mourning hall had only the Shen family—no guests—and some formalities were skipped where possible.

“Lanxi, no outsiders are here. The ground is cold—don’t ruin your knees!”

“Yes, young lady, take care of your health!”

The women of the Shen family each gave her advice.

The door creaked open, and the Wei family army carried in several fire pits. Chunxue also brought in the prepared cushions.

The room gradually warmed, quickly becoming even warmer than their own home.

The Shen family’s expressions softened, eyes reflecting nostalgia.

In the capital, their rooms had always been this warm in winter.

Soon, Zhang Liao arrived with his family. The Shen family was stunned—they hadn’t expected anyone to actually come!

Liu Yanhui temporarily took the role of announcing to the guests.

“Show gratitude to the guests!”

The Shen family quickly bowed.

Shortly after, the women from Liu-Zhao Village and the students from Qinglan Academy arrived.

“Show gratitude to the guests!”

Then the other exiled prisoners trickled in, some in groups, some alone.

The funeral became lively immediately!

Nanny Li had thought she only needed to prepare meals for a few people, but with so many arriving, she hurried to organize help—led by Liu Yanhui.

“Master, what should the meal standards be?”

Shen Lanxi: “Guests are always welcome!”

“Understood!”

Liu Yanhui immediately mobilized the women of Liu-Zhao Village to help in the kitchen.

In no time, the aroma of food filled the kitchen.

The people of Hongliu Village—some scolding, some with growling stomachs, and some with ideas—gathered.

“Do you think if we help, they’ll serve us food?”

“You dare?”

“Let’s just go check.”

“Since we’ll be neighbors, let’s lend a hand in the kitchen, maybe bring a cabbage or two.”

“Exactly what I was thinking!”

Soon, more people from Hongliu Village joined in.

The Shen family began expressing thanks repeatedly.

At lunch, with limited bowls, plates, and seats, Liu Yanhui instructed everyone to bring their own utensils from home and eat from the big pot together.

The prepared dishes were divided evenly into everyone’s bowls.

Despite the simplicity, everyone laughed and enjoyed themselves.

There was meat in the bowls—hearty pieces, not a few slices. Chicken, duck, pork, cured meats—all flavorful!

And there were steamed buns. Even when the buns ran out, the pancakes lasted, and everyone was happy.

For many, it had been years since they had eaten this well. They almost forgot the taste of buns and meat!

“Are you coming tonight?”

“Of course, someone has to watch over the spirit!”

“Pah, there’s no coffin—what spirit are we watching? But a funeral can’t be unattended, so we’ll at least make up the numbers!”

“I think that’s fine. This family really spares no expense on firewood—I’m sweating just watching!”

After lunch, the guests left together, happy as if they had attended a wedding banquet rather than a funeral.

For three consecutive days, Liu Yanhui watched the warehouse stock diminish rapidly, almost pulling his hair out.

Fortunately, after three days, it was finally time for the burial.

Just as Liu Yanhui was thinking of going to the county to buy supplies, Zhang Liao suddenly received a military order.

“Recruit troops!”