The Demon Lords-Chapter 630 - 110: Funeral Departure_3

In the face of this irresistible tide, they could only offer minor embellishments, unable to stir any significant waves. If even the sight of aging willows at a village entrance could evoke sighs, how much more so the imminent ruin of an enterprise passed down for centuries?

The Eldest Prince dismounted, as did Li Fusheng. The other mounted soldiers arranged themselves neatly outside the palace gate. Wearing black armbands and white mourning clothes, the Eldest Prince and Li Fusheng walked together through the palace gate.

The dead are paramount; this is tradition. Moreover, the deceased was a monarch who, in his final defiant struggle, had won considerable posthumous respect.

Inside the main hall, the officials of Cheng State knelt on the ground as the Eldest Prince and Li Fusheng walked among them.

In front of the coffin, Prime Minister Sun Youdao of Cheng State stood to one side, holding a bell, while the Minister of Rites personally presented incense. Behind the coffin knelt Situ Yu, dressed in white mourning clothes. He looked up at the Eldest Prince, who had already entered, and then glanced at the coffin beside him, which held his father's remains.

Situ Yu was young, as Situ Lei himself had not been old.

Perhaps the late emperor had not yet had time to nurture his successor because he felt there was still ample time, no need to rush.

But this might also be a blessing in disguise. Situ Lei's death left behind a ten-year-old monarch. Given the magnanimity of the Yan people, it was unlikely they would harm such a child. At the very least, this branch, this lineage, could continue. Throughout the Yan State's reign, their wealth and honor could be preserved.

After presenting incense, the Eldest Prince retreated a few steps and knelt on a cushion. Li Fusheng then presented incense and knelt behind the Eldest Prince.

"The Eldest Prince of Yan State, Grand Marshal Ji Wujiang, mourns for the late emperor of Cheng State!"

"Li Fusheng, Commander of the Zhenbei Army, mourns for the late emperor of Cheng State!"

Then, they kowtowed.

The surrounding kneeling officials of Cheng State collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The Eldest Prince and the Yan people had shown ample respect. Everyone could now face the late emperor. This play could proceed smoothly to its conclusion, and then the page could be turned.

Sun Youdao struck the bell once and announced, "The Filial Lord returns courtesies!"

Only then did a somewhat dazed Situ Yu, the young monarch of Cheng State, confusedly rise. He faced the Eldest Prince and knelt once more.

The Eldest Prince immediately rose, walked a few steps closer to the coffin, and said, "The military situation was critical, so Wujiang was delayed, disturbing the late emperor's peaceful rest. For this, Wujiang apologizes to the late emperor."

With that, the Eldest Prince knelt once more.

Sun Youdao struck the bell again and repeated, "The Filial Lord returns courtesies!"

The deceased has passed, and the living come to pay homage. Whatever is said or done is directed at the departed, but the departed's 'response' must be conveyed by the living.

Situ Yu was clearly still somewhat afraid of this Yan prince, who carried the aura of slaughter. Now that the Eldest Prince was much closer than before, Situ Yu grew even more nervous. He stammered in response, "Military matters… are important… important… Father… Father understood… understood…"

Having finally managed to speak, Situ Yu immediately prostrated himself again. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The Eldest Prince stood up and reached out to help Situ Yu to his feet. When his hands touched Situ Yu's shoulders, the Eldest Prince could clearly sense the young monarch's body trembling.

This probably wasn't an act; after all, he was just a ten-year-old child.

Even adults, facing such a cataclysmic situation, would be frightened out of their wits, let alone him. His home and his country had collapsed almost simultaneously. The young monarch had no idea how to bear this burden, or even if he should—or dared—to try.

Sun Youdao struck the bell once more and announced in a drawn-out voice, "The ritual is completed!"

All the civil and military officials and nobles present then stood up. In truth, everyone else had completed the full set of rites much earlier; all that was lacking was Ji Wujiang, representing the will of Yan State, to complete this final missing piece. The late emperor's funeral rites would not be considered complete without Ji Wujiang's attendance.

The Eldest Prince surveyed his surroundings, took a bright yellow imperial edict from his chest, and declared loudly, "An edict from His Majesty!"

It was self-evident whose edict it was.

When the Eldest Prince produced the imperial edict from the Yan Emperor, all the civil and military officials and nobles who had just risen paused briefly before prostrating themselves once more. Then, they chorused, "Your subjects receive the edict!"

Having long prepared themselves mentally, their physical response was quite natural. It was nothing more than following their hearts.

Cheng State still existed. Having lowered its status, according to the precedent set with Emperor Jin, its ruler would likely be enfeoffed as a Duke. Emperor Jin himself had become Duke Jin, living in retirement with the Empress Dowager in Yanjing. Therefore, the monarch of Cheng State would probably be enfeoffed as Duke of Cheng.

Emperor Jin, however, was the descendant of an eight-hundred-year lineage, his ancestors once equals to the progenitors of the Ji Family. Although Emperor Jin Yu Ciming later wavered, he still held the merit of opening the South Gate and guiding the Yan Army. Moreover, the Situ Family had originally been vassals of the Jin imperial house. If concessions were made, it was possible the monarch of Cheng State might be enfeoffed as Marquis of Cheng.

In any case, whatever happened to the monarch was his own fate; these ministers, at least, would now have to pay obeisance to a new master.

The Eldest Prince unfurled the imperial edict and read, "'Situ, my younger brother, upon hearing the grievous news, I have been unable to sleep at night…'"

The kneeling former civil and military officials of Cheng State, now officials of Yan State, were slightly taken aback upon hearing the opening of the edict. They had expected it to be quite formal, not written in such a tone.

But on second thought, this tone was indeed consistent with that of the Yan Emperor.