bookcurios Chapter 1609 Hearing of Death
Chapter 1609 Hearing of Death
The news of the emperor's death was devastating for some and a cause for celebration for others.
Sun Shan was stunned for a moment, and without bothering to look at anything else, he immediately went through the procedures and began to observe the mourning period.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, officials were required to change into plain clothes, black gauze hats, and black belts, and perform four bows.
The messenger who was supposed to announce the ceremony was still at the post station. He had informed someone in advance so that Sun Shan would have time to prepare.
Sun Shan immediately ordered, "Everyone, hurry home, put on your plain clothes and come to the yamen to hear the imperial edict. Go now, don't delay any longer."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Wang and others hurriedly ran home.
Sun Shan did the same, striding to the backyard.
He called out from afar, "Sister Yun, quickly prepare plain clothes for me."
Yun Jie'er, who was teaching the chubby and dark-skinned girls music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, was stunned.
He asked, "Xiaoxiao, did you hear your father calling?"
The chubby girl nodded seriously: "Mom, I heard it. Dad is calling you."
These words only angered Sister Yun, who glared at the chubby girl and said, "Aren't you taking your calligraphy seriously again? I think you're multitasking. How can you learn to draw well like that?"
The chubby girl looked at Yun Jie with a pitiful expression: "Mother, Xiaoxiao finished drawing it a long time ago."
He paused, then added, "I just didn't want to tell you."
These words infuriated Sister Yun. If it weren't for Sun Shan's urgent shouts outside, she would have definitely given Little Fatty a good beating with a rattan cane.
At home now, the people Little Fatty hates the most are Sister Yun and Madam Su.
The two of them had fed her plain porridge for ten days straight, leaving her starving. The little girl, despite her young age, was very vengeful and seized every opportunity to talk back to Yun Jie'er and Madam Su.
Sister Yun was easy to deal with; she just pointed at the feather duster and gave her a good beating, which instantly made her feel better.
Su couldn't bear to hit her, so she could only mutter curses. But who was Little Fatty?
Since birth, he has been used to Su's incessant chatter, letting Su's murmurs go in one ear and out the other, appearing completely indifferent.
This angered Su so much that she vomited blood and repeatedly complained to Sun Shan.
He recounted all the hardships he had endured over the years, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk to cook porridge for his little chubby girl, carrying her across Meiling Mountain without ever abandoning her, and devoting himself wholeheartedly to her.
As a result, being spoiled has created resentment; she held a grudge just because she was given plain porridge.
Su became more and more upset as she spoke, before Sun Shan could even offer her any comfort.
Little Fatty and Mrs. Su chatted for a while, and the grandmother and granddaughter made up again.
At this moment, Sister Yun gave Little Fatty a warning look and slowly walked out.
He asked softly, "Brother Shan, did you call for me? What's up?"
Sun Shan ordered, "The Emperor has passed away. Quickly, the whole family must change into mourning clothes. Hurry..."
Although the messengers at the post station would wait, they couldn't wait too long.
It's one thing to be far from the emperor's reach, but petty people are always worried and secretly report on others. Isn't that a great injustice?
Yun Jie'er's eyes widened in surprise as she asked, "Brother Shan, what did you say? The emperor is dead...?"
He was about to say the word "death" when he immediately shut up.
You absolutely mustn't say such unlucky and outrageous things. Ordinary people can say it, but officials can't.
Sun Shan nodded firmly: "Yes, change your clothes."
Sister Yun asked, "Brother Shan, the tiger's roar..."
Before he could finish speaking, Sun Shan said, "I've already sent Gui Ge'er to fetch Hu Ming back."
Although Hu Ming was a "fake young master," he was still supported by Sun Shan, and his whole family had to accept the imperial edict together.
Yun Jie'er understood the urgency of the matter and nodded eagerly, saying, "Okay, Brother Shan, I'll go prepare right now."
Yun called He Mama in and gave her a series of instructions, telling her to keep a close eye on the servants.
Then he summoned Steward Wang and instructed the guards to quickly change their clothes and assemble in the front yard.
He personally dressed Sun Shan in plain clothes, and of course, he didn't spare the little fat girl either.
Then she rushed to the Su family's courtyard and dressed her up in various ways.
Whoever has finished should gather in the front yard.
Sun Bomin, Uncle Sun, and Dege'er, dressed in plain clothes, hurriedly gathered in the front yard. Upon seeing Sun Shan, they rushed over to him.
Sun Bomin asked anxiously, "Shanzi, um, um...."
I really want to ask, does the emperor's death affect you?
Having been a patriarch for some time, Sun Bomin knew which things he should avoid saying.
Uncle Sun was also very anxious, as this concerned Sun Shan's official career. Their Sun family had finally achieved a promotion, and now, with this sudden turn of events, what would they do if they were demoted?
He asked anxiously, "Shanzi, what should we do about such a big problem?"
Dege was equally anxious and lamented, "How could such a thing happen? Oh, what a pity."
Sun Shan: ......
The calmest person present was Sun Shan, who asked in a low voice, "Father, Third Uncle, what are you doing? Don't be so nervous."
Uncle Sun screamed, and everyone turned to look, immediately covering their mouths.
He asked in a low voice, "Shanzi, why aren't you nervous? The emperor is dead! Oh dear, this is a huge deal. You were a scholar appointed by the emperor himself, and also the county magistrate appointed by the emperor himself. Now that he's dead, won't you be implicated?"
Dege blinked nervously and whispered, "A new emperor brings a new court. Shanzi, now that the emperor is dead, you're a former minister, a useless pawn. What...what...what should we do?"
Sun Shan: .....
He stared at the Sun family trio with a look of utter exasperation.
Have you been watching too many dramas? He's just a minor county magistrate in a remote, obscure mountain area. What does the death of the emperor have to do with him?
Once the mourning period is over, we'll dance and sing as usual and continue to be happy.
He, Sun Shan, was not a favorite of the emperor.
Sun Shan waved his hand and said decisively, "Don't speak. The messenger will be here soon to announce the imperial edict. Quiet, all of you, be quiet."
As soon as Sun Shan finished speaking, Sun Bomin, Uncle Sun, and Brother De dared not ask any more questions.
After helping Hu Ming, who was the last to return, change into a set of plain clothes, Sister Yun breathed a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Sun Shan had received information that the current emperor was unwell, so he had already made plain clothes and had even rehearsed the situation of receiving the imperial edict of death.
It seems that mock exams are very useful. Following the steps carefully, there were no major mistakes.
Even if there are mistakes, they are minor and insignificant.
Su instinctively grabbed the little fat girl's hand and asked nervously, "Daughter-in-law, what else do we need to do?"
Su Shi was completely different from Sun Bomin, Sun Sanshu, and Dege'er. She thought that the emperor's death was none of her business.
Why is everyone so tense? It's making me tense too.
Emperors have died before, and Sun Family Village doesn't care at all.
Today, after being bothered by Sister Yun so much, I'm more nervous than if a loved one had died.
Oh dear, could this be the difference between being an official and not?
What price did she, Madam Su, have to pay to become the old lady?
Little Fatty, Little Blackie, and Tiger Cry, three tiny mosquitoes, huddled together, looking at everyone with fear.
The three bewildered children didn't really understand what was going on; they only became nervous because the adults were.