The Ming Dynasty started with caution

The pen in his hand fell to the ground, and Emperor Hongzhi's eyes were empty as if he had lost his mind.

Xiao Jing hurriedly reached out to support him, and when he came to his senses, Emperor Hongzhi rushed to Renshou Palace.

At this time, there was a sobbing in Renshou Palace, and the sobbing of the ladies rose and fell.

Empress Dowager Zhou lay flat on the bed, and the blush on her face was slowly turning pale.

Zhu Houzhao still held her hand and did not let go.

Yan Chengjin lowered his head and thought, and Zhu Houzhao became serious and very rational, so it was better not to disturb him.

In an instant, all the palace maids and companions in the hall knelt down, and Yan Chengjin turned his head and said: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Emperor Hongzhi was at a loss, walked to the phoenix bed, and looked at it for a long time without saying a word.

After a while, he issued an order: "Pass on my order, the capital city will fast for three days."

Empress Dowager Zhou liked to chant Buddha, if the people fasted for her, they would surely be able to ascend to heaven, right?

Zhu Houzhao said, "Father, you can't do that. How can the affairs of the royal family affect the people? The Empress Dowager's heart is not here."

The Empress Dowager should be most happy to be buried with the Emperor's grandfather.

For this reason, she had a dispute with Empress Dowager Qian.

Emperor Hongzhi took a deep breath and didn't want to trouble the people. He immediately changed his mind: "The palace fasted for three days and ordered the Ministry of Rites to take care of the funeral. When the Empress Dowager passed away, the Yan family will send her off here. Let the Yan family write the elegy."

Elegy is the eulogy of later generations.

Not only must you be very familiar with the life of the person, but you must also pay attention to the style and format.

Reading in front of all the officials, you must be able to write eloquently and be talented?

Yan Chengjin was confused. He really couldn't write an elegy.

The most important thing is that it will be tomorrow. In just one night, it is not enough to look up the dictionary.

"I...I really don't..."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and said seriously: "I trust you, so I appointed you. Are you going to refuse?"

"I obey your order..."

Yan Chengjin's heart trembled. He wondered if Zhu Houzhao would write a eulogy?

After coming out of Renshou Palace, the eunuch reported to the palace.

Although all officials knew that the empress dowager was ill and had not much time left.

But they were still shocked to hear that the empress dowager had passed away.

Worried about Emperor Hongzhi, they all came to Fengtian Hall to see him.

"I have nothing to do. The empress dowager's funeral will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and Guanglu Temple. The expenses will be paid from my treasury. It cannot be extravagant, but it cannot be saved either."

The empress dowager was very kind to him. If he had not been protected by the empress dowager in his childhood, perhaps he would have been abolished by all officials and made Prince Xing the emperor.

When Emperor Hongzhi thought of this, he felt a pang of pain and regret in his heart.

Zhang Sheng bowed to receive the order. His Majesty's meaning was very clear, no extravagance and no saving.

Then strictly follow the expenses of the previous emperor and his successors.

…

After finishing his duty, Yan Chengjin went straight to Li's house.

Li Dongyang had just changed into his Confucian robes and was drinking tea in the middle hall with a teacup in his hand. Next to him was Zhu, whose eyes were slightly red from crying.

The housekeeper ran in and reported: "Master, the son-in-law is here."

The marriage between the young lady and Lord Yan had been decided, so the servants all changed their words.

Li Dongyang snorted: "Qing'e hasn't come yet, don't shout! Let him in."

The housekeeper ran out and brought Yan Chengjin in soon.

Yan Chengjin got straight to the point: "Your Majesty asked me to write a elegy, but I really don't know where to start."

You are a top three scholar, but you can't write. Who are you trying to fool?

Seeing this boy shirking his responsibilities, Li Dongyang was furious: "Do you still want me to write?"

"Yes..." Yan Chengjin said from the heart.

Li Dongyang's angry face was frozen. He really wanted me to write. Do you have any shame?

Seeing this, Zhu was busy trying to smooth things over. Yan Chengjin was a second-rank official. Although he didn't like Qing'e, he could enhance the reputation of the Li family: "Master, in a few days, Lord Yan will be the son-in-law of the Li family. Besides, His Majesty asked Lord Yan to write the elegy out of trust. This is a matter of honor for the Li family."

Elegies have always been written by people of high moral character and prestige.

His Majesty gave it to Yan Chengjin, which shows his favor.

Li Dongyang took a deep breath and said reluctantly: "Your Majesty asked you to write, and I am deceiving the emperor if I write for you. Take the pen, I will write one, you can learn from it and read it yourself, but you can't copy it."

As far as he knows, Yan Chengjin's imitation ability is unmatched.

Except... the prince.

Yan Chengjin nodded. Even if he was asked to write, he would have to look up old words for reference.

Now, Li Dongyang wrote one for him to learn from. As long as it is not exactly the same, His Majesty will not blame him.

Soon, Li Dongyang wrote a elegy, just like eating, it came naturally.

Yan Chengjin took a closer look and said: Use cool and gorgeous words to summarize the life of Queen Mother Zhou.

An hour later, he also wrote a piece and gave it to Li Dongyang to read.

Li Dongyang's eyebrows trembled slightly. This boy also wrote...

"Isn't this Cheng Minzheng's style?"

"What do you think, Lord Li?"

Cheng Minzheng's lecture notes are often used to talk about the imperial lectures. The writing style that Yan Chengjin is most familiar with is Cheng Minzheng's.

But Cheng Minzheng is far away in Korea and it is impossible for him to write a eulogy. Therefore, even if Your Majesty sees it, he will think it is a ghostwriter.

Moreover, Cheng Minzheng is a famous scholar and can write a eulogy.

Li Dongyang saw a few flaws and was not experienced enough, so he reluctantly said: "This official will help you polish it."

...

On February 15, the 18th year of Hongzhi, the palace was immersed in silence.

The eunuchs and palace maids did not dare to speak loudly. Emperor Hongzhi did not attend the court and ordered all officials to enter the palace to mourn.

Outside the Fengci Palace, all the officials stood in the courtyard, their faces solemn.

Chai Sheng raised his head slightly and heard that the elegy was written by Yan Chengjin.

Liu Jian held the elegy tightly in his hand and read aloud: "Why does Yi start with Qiankun, why does Shi start with Guanju? Only at the beginning of human relations, it is the natural match of heaven..."

Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly and looked at the officials around him. It was good that no one heard the clue.

Suddenly, Chai Sheng turned his head and looked at Yan Chengjin deeply.

"Lord Yan has a good literary talent."

Except for the first sentence, the rest of the part has a calm and sophisticated feeling, as if it was written by someone who has written elegy thousands of times.

Liu Jian didn't read a few sentences and immediately concluded: Was it written by Binzhi? This guy is really hateful. He actually asked Binzhi to write for him.

Until the elegy was finished, even Emperor Hongzhi and Xie Qian didn't hear it.

Emperor Hongzhi ordered: "The Empress Dowager had told me before her death that she wanted to be buried with Emperor Rui, so I fulfilled her wish and arranged it for Empress Dowager Zhou."

Liu Jian bowed: "I obey your order!"

Yan Chengjin remembered that Emperor Hongzhi was trapped in the sad news of Empress Dowager Zhou and died not long after. I hope Your Majesty can bear it.

The next day, as expected by all officials, His Majesty ordered to rest and not to attend court.

But some officials were happy in their hearts, finally they could rest for a few days.

In such a cold winter, who doesn't want to stay in the quilt and keep warm with the beauty.

At this time, Jidao outside the capital.

He kept sighing along the way, and the closer he got to the capital, the more excited Yan Kesong was.

"My son Chengjin is finally getting married."

The housekeeper also burst into tears: "Yes, when I entered the mansion, he was not weaned, and now he is getting married."

Walking on the streets of the capital, Yan Kesong suddenly felt that the atmosphere in the capital was wrong.

The vendors were like dumb people, just displaying their goods but not shouting.

Pedestrians did not dare to make loud noises, and even the bustling teahouses were as silent as if they had been poured with cold water.

Yan Kesong led a dozen guards to the Meridian Gate, waiting to see the emperor.

However, Xiao Jing came from the palace and said, "His Majesty does not want to see you, Marquis Anding, please go back home."