A pure heart in a jade pot - Chapter 208
Yelü Hongji politely declined, especially at times like these, to show his sincerity.
Seeing this, Ning Jin was furious. If this continued, it would take almost an incense stick to burn, but he couldn't be forceful with him. He frowned, his body swayed slightly, and he quickly reached out to hold onto the screen, looking as if he was about to collapse.
"What's wrong?" Yelü Hongji quickly helped him up and asked with concern.
"It's nothing..." Ning Jin said, his head drooping low, but he couldn't stand steadily and was about to fall.
Yelü Hongji quickly supported him and led him outside, wanting to get him some fresh air. He also knew that Ning Jin and Zhao Yu had been close since childhood, so he naturally assumed that Ning Jin was overwhelmed with grief.
"Prince Ning, you should also take care of yourself and try to find some peace in your grief," Yelü Hongji advised him.
Upon exiting the tent, Ning Jin immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up and forced a smile: "It was my rudeness; please forgive my impoliteness, Your Highness."
Seeing them emerge from the tent, Wu Zichu, who was not far away, released the small pebble he had been holding in his hand, ready to be thrown, and then tucked it back into his sleeve. If they had come out even a moment later, he planned to flick the pebble at the horses beside him. Startled horses would surely cause a commotion, and he would then use the opportunity to shout and lure the people inside the tent out.
Yelü Hongji followed Ning Jin to the tent to rest. Before they even entered, someone approached from afar. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be someone sent by Yelü Zongzhen. Ning Jin had no choice but to hurriedly go forward to greet them…
The visitor was sent by Yelü Zongzhen. He first offered some polite words of comfort to Ning Jin, then praised Zhao Yu highly, and finally got to the point, discussing the funeral arrangements.
"His Majesty's meaning is that although Princess Yu and His Highness did not perform the grand ceremony, the funeral will still be conducted according to the standards of the Liao royal family. If you have any other requests, you may raise them."
Ning Jin took a sip of tea and smiled bitterly: "I dare not make any demands, but after all, Xiao Yu'er and Your Highness have not yet performed the formal ceremony, so they cannot be considered husband and wife. It is not good for me to leave her here all alone."
"What does Prince Ning mean?" the visitor asked hastily.
Ning Jin did not answer, but frowned in embarrassment, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
“I understand your thoughts,” Yelü Hongji guessed somewhat. “You Song people are different from us Liao people. You value returning to your roots, don’t you?”
"Your Highness is truly knowledgeable about Han culture," the visitor flattered Yelü Hongji before turning to Ning Jin. "Does Prince Ning mean that the funeral should be held in the Song Dynasty?"
"No, no, no... The funeral will still be held here, but I would like to send Xiao Yu'er's coffin back to the Great Song Dynasty. I wonder if your emperor would allow it."
"This..." The newcomer naturally couldn't make the decision, and Yelü Hongji said in a deep voice, "This is their Song custom, and we should naturally respect it. How could we disobey?" He turned to Ning Jin, then changed the subject, saying, "I'm just worried that after the Song emperor sees the princess's coffin, he might misunderstand our Great Liao..."
It turned out that he was afraid that Emperor Renzong would mistakenly think that the Liao Kingdom had mistreated Zhao Yu and would not allow Zhao Yu to be buried in the Liao imperial tomb. Ning Jin immediately understood his meaning and said repeatedly, "No, no, I will naturally tell my brother that you have been very good to Xiao Yu'er. It is just that she is not blessed. Besides, it was my idea to escort the coffin back to Song. There will be no misunderstanding. You can rest assured."
“Then I will trouble Prince Ning.” Yelü Hongji stood up and said to him, “I will inform my father about the matter of escorting the coffin back to Song. Prince Ning, rest assured, my father is always kind and benevolent, and there is no reason for him not to allow it.”
"That's wonderful, thank you, Your Highness."
"As for the funeral arrangements, I will send someone to handle them, so you don't need to worry too much."
Thank you.
After this, Ning Jin finally saw Yelü Hongji off. Not long after he left, as expected, many people were sent to handle matters such as arranging the mourning hall. Incense, candles, white silk, and the mourning clothes that the servants should wear were all sent over, along with a fine coffin.
Volume 3, Chapter 44
That day, Mo Yan went hungry for a whole day. It wasn't until nightfall that Ning Jin dismissed everyone else and stuffed two steamed buns into her mouth.
"Eat quietly, and be careful not to drop any crumbs," he reminded her.
Mo Yan was starving, so she wolfed down the steamed bun in just a few bites: "Water, water."
Ning Jin had no choice but to pour her water himself.
Mo Yan drank it all in one gulp, looking at him expectantly: "Is there any more steamed buns?"
“That’s all.” Ning Jin shrugged.
"This won't do. I need at least two meals a day," Mo Yan said with a worried expression. She hadn't expected that the hardest part would be hunger. "I'm so hungry..."
"Just bear with it."
"But what if my stomach starts growling with hunger?"
Ning Jin could only say, "I will do my best. ... By the way, the coffin has been delivered, and we will be taking your body for burial first thing tomorrow morning. When someone changes your clothes, please do not move."
"What if I'm itchy? I'm afraid I won't be able to resist." Mo Yan frowned, feeling uncomfortable at the thought of someone changing her clothes. She rolled her eyes and smiled, "You can just call the princess over."
"She looks sickly, how can I change her clothes for you?"
Mo Yan looked at him like he was an idiot: "Send everyone else out, she can rest, I can change myself."
Ning Jin smiled wryly after hearing this and muttered to himself, "I really was a bit foolish."
Just then, a commotion came from outside. Mo Yan hurriedly lay back down and heard someone outside announcing something.
"Your Highness, it was Deputy Envoy Yelü who sent two white camels on the orders of the Southern King."
Mo Yan's eyes lit up: "It's Big Brother!"
Since that night, she hadn't had a chance to meet Zhan Zhao. Although she guessed that Su Zui must have told him the plan, she still didn't know how her elder brother would react. Zhan Zhao must have realized that she had gone to Ning Jin for help, and she wondered if he would be angry that she had disregarded the bigger picture.
"Since I've already done it, as long as everything goes smoothly, he'll probably only be angry for a while. I can coax him back later, and then everything will be fine." That's what she thought to herself.
Ning Jin glared at her and hissed, "Lie down properly and behave yourself."
Mo Yan watched him leave dejectedly, knowing that Zhan Zhao had come as Yelü Pusa's servant and would not enter. Feeling disappointed and hungry, she could only close her eyes and try to fall asleep to forget her hunger.
The next morning, Ning Jin indeed summoned Zhao Yu, who was disguised as Mo Yan, saying that Mo Yan and Zhao Yu were close, and that it was most appropriate for her to cleanse and change Zhao Yu's clothes.
After the maids brought in hot water and exquisitely made funerary clothes, they all left. Ning Jin, not wanting to stay in the tent, also went out and lingered not far from the tent.
At this moment, Zhao Yu smiled at Mo Yan and said, "There's no one here, get up."
Mo Yan then dared to open her eyes, stretched, and sat up. Her first words were, "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving!"