Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

After the mourning hall was properly arranged, Xiao Muyao led the princes and officials to keep vigil.

The vigil lasted a total of eighty-one days.

They took turns standing guard in front of the mourning hall day and night, with incense and candles burning constantly and smoke swirling around.

The princes and princesses were dressed in mourning clothes, their eyes filled with sorrow and exhaustion.

The officials, dressed in plain clothes and with solemn expressions, would conduct sacrificial ceremonies at specific times, presided over by the rites official.

Following proper etiquette, they performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows, chanting prayers for the deceased emperor's salvation.

At the same time, the imperial court issued an obituary to the whole country, and officials in various places organized the people to mourn after receiving the news.

Local temples and Taoist monasteries also rang their bells, and chanting of sutras rose and fell, praying for the soul of Emperor Jingzhao.

As time went on, the various ceremonies of the funeral proceeded in an orderly manner.

The day of the funeral was especially solemn and dignified.

The long funeral procession departed from the palace.

At the very front was a ceremonial guard carrying a banner for summoning souls, the banners fluttering in the wind.

It seemed to be guiding the soul of the late emperor to another world.

Following them was a guard composed of the Royal Guard.

Dressed in white armor and carrying weapons, they marched in orderly, heavy steps, escorting the hearse as it slowly moved forward.

The hearse was pulled by eight white horses, which were draped in white silk and decorated with silver bells.

It made a crisp sound as it moved, as if it were seeing off the late emperor.

Following the hearse came the royal family members and officials led by Xiao Muyao.

Xiao Muyao, dressed in plain white mourning clothes and wearing a mourning cap, walked in the procession with a stern and resolute expression.

Ling Yan walked beside him, dressed in plain white, her face expressionless.

Behind them were the Empress Dowager and Emperor Jingzhao's concubines.

They were riding in a plain-colored carriage, and their cries came from the windows, which was very touching.

Behind them were the princes and princesses, some with sorrowful expressions and others with vacant eyes.

In the face of this enormous change, everything seems exceptionally small.

The officials followed behind, arranged in order of rank, forming a procession that stretched for miles.

The funeral procession proceeded along the main road of the capital, with people kneeling on both sides of the road.

They bowed their heads, wept silently, and chanted the slogan "Eternal glory to the late Emperor."

The entire capital was shrouded in an atmosphere of grief.

Finally, the funeral procession arrived at the mausoleum of the deceased emperor.

The mausoleum is built against the mountain and is magnificent in scale.

Surrounded by lush greenery and a tranquil environment, it is a perfect place to rest.

The crowd slowly lowered Emperor Jingzhao's coffin into the tomb, and Xiao Muyao personally took a shovel and added the first handful of soil to Emperor Jingzhao's coffin.

Subsequently, Lingyan, along with the princes and officials, stepped forward in turn to cover the deceased emperor with earth.

After the soil was filled in, a tall mound was built on top of the grave, and a tombstone was erected.

The stele is inscribed with Emperor Jingzhao's achievements and life story, for future generations to admire and remember.

Surrounding the mausoleum were palaces and temples for worship.

After that, on specific days each year, members of the royal family and officials would come to offer sacrifices to express their remembrance and longing for Emperor Jingzhao.

Throughout his reign, Emperor Jingzhao experienced many trials and tribulations, but he always kept the country in mind, worked diligently and loved the people, and made achievements in both civil administration and military affairs.

During his reign, he implemented benevolent policies, reduced taxes and levies, and enabled the people to live in peace and prosperity with full granaries.

Furthermore, the government recruited many talented individuals, resulting in a court full of capable people and smooth implementation of government orders.

Externally, it employs both kindness and force to safeguard the peace of the borders and project national prestige to all corners of the world.

He passed away at the age of sixty.

After deliberation by the court officials, he was given the posthumous title "Emperor of Holy Virtue".

"Sacred virtue" signifies his noble character, his benevolence to all people, and his extraordinary and saintly demeanor.

This posthumous title is sufficient to summarize the glorious and illustrious life of Emperor Jingzhao.

His achievements will be forever engraved in history and admired and praised by future generations.

...............

Xiao Muyao's coronation ceremony was scheduled for two months later, and the empress's investiture ceremony was also held on the same day.

Xiao Muyao has been busy for so long, and now he can finally relax.

So, once the last breath he had been holding on for since Emperor Jingzhao's death dissipated, he suddenly fainted.

It was right after the morning court session when Lingyan and Xiao Muyao went to Shou Kang Palace to visit the Empress, who was now the Empress Dowager.

Since Emperor Jingzhao passed away, Consort Li (now Consort Li Dowager) and the Empress Dowager have both fallen ill.

The Empress Dowager was in a slightly better condition; her condition was not as serious.

However, Consort Li's condition was very serious; she couldn't even get out of bed.

Because she was deeply in love with Emperor Jingzhao, she was naturally heartbroken at the loss of her beloved.

Therefore, he has always been troubled by his mental illness.

Despite receiving daily herbal medicine, Consort Li was still unable to recover.

The Empress Dowager was better off because she was more open-minded.

Perhaps it was because she didn't love Emperor Jingzhao as much as Consort Li did.

In addition, she has always put her children first, so her condition is now almost fully recovered.

But to her surprise, her son suddenly fainted, which terrified her.

Fortunately, Lingyan was nearby. After taking his pulse, she immediately told her, "Mother, don't panic. Ayao has been overworked and exhausted by the affairs of state and the funeral arrangements for Father. In addition, the national mourning has kept him in a state of high tension without any relief. Now that many matters have been preliminarily arranged, his body has been unable to cope with the strain of his strong mental state, which is why he fainted. He will be fine after a period of recuperation."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager, though still shaken, calmed down somewhat.

After Xiao Muyao woke up, the two returned to their current sleeping quarters, which is now Qianning Palace.

Lingyan waved her hand gently, and the palace maids and eunuchs quietly withdrew.

The guards turned and left in unison, while the secret guards disappeared into the shadows like ghosts.

After everyone had dispersed, she walked gracefully toward Xiao Muyao.

With eyes full of tenderness and concern, he said, "Ayao, I know you've been deeply grieving these past few days, but you've been stubbornly refusing to show it. As a doctor, I understand that such suppression will eventually erode your health, weaken your energy, and severely damage your vitality. That's why I sent everyone away. Now, it's just the two of us here. You don't need to hold back anymore. Release your sadness and grief to the fullest without any more worries."

She paused slightly, then continued, "But after you've vented, I hope you can move on from the past and embrace a new beginning. After all, you are the ruler of this Great Zhao, with thousands of miles of land to protect and countless people relying on you."

Xiao Muyao gazed at Ling Yan silently, the icy resolve in his eyes seeming to soften slightly.

He slightly raised his hand, grasped Lingyan's soft hand, and gently caressed it, as if drawing strength from her warmth.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse and weary: "Yan'er, you are always so insightful, able to see through my layers of pretense. These days, I have been putting on a brave face in front of everyone, not daring to show any weakness, because I am carrying not only my father's last will, but also the fate of the entire Great Zhao."

His gaze passed over Lingyan and looked into the distance, as if he were lost in memories: "But every time the night is quiet, my father’s voice and smile appear before my eyes. Those scenes of his teachings in the past are etched in my heart like carvings, and the pain is hard to get rid of. I also know that if this continues for a long time, my body and mind will collapse."

At this point, he tightened his grip on Lingyan's hand, his gaze refocusing on her face with a newfound resolve: "Now that you are by my side, I feel at peace, so I can show you this vulnerability."