Chapter 696: Supporting Spirit (3)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Behind him were more than ten men in white clothes, protecting a carriage covered in white cloth. On the carriage was a coffin.
Anyone could guess that this coffin was definitely Gu Ce’s coffin.
The convoy escorting the coffin was getting closer and closer.
The teams on both sides who welcomed Gu Ce back to the capital all spontaneously followed behind the convoy. As this team kept growing, the white banners surged like clouds, and paper money rained down continuously. The entire official road was tragically white…
Suddenly, Gu Yuan, who was carrying a white banner, pulled the reins, and the horse stopped in front of the tea shop.
Then, the carriage carrying the coffin behind Gu Yuan also stopped. After that, the spirit support team behind the carriage also stopped one after another… Time seemed to have stopped.
The citizens on both sides were at a loss and looked at each other.
Everyone fell silent. Before long, the originally noisy official road became silent.
Two women and a man in white walked out of the crowd by the official road unhurriedly. They walked to the front of the spirit support team and blocked the path of Gu Yuan and the others.
The commoners by the roadside frowned. Someone shouted unhappily, “Hey…”
In the next moment, the white-robed girl standing at the front bent her knees and bowed to the coffin. Her eyes were red as she said, “I’m here to welcome Daddy home.”
Gu Yunzhen, who was on Gu Yanfei’s right, also bent her knees and bowed. Chu Yi, who was on the other side, bowed deeply.
“Welcome home, Uncle!”
“Chu Yi welcomes Marquis Gu back to the capital on behalf of my father!”
On the horse, Gu Yuan’s eyes were also red, and it was difficult to hide the haggard expression on his face. He looked at Gu Yanfei in a daze and choked with a hoa.r.s.e voice. “Sister, Daddy is back!”
Their voices weren’t especially loud, but in this quiet environment, many surrounding citizens could hear them clearly.
The middle-aged merchant naturally recognized that Gu Yanfei and the other two were the tea guests who had just shared a table with him. He was stunned again and was momentarily speechless.
The owner of the tea shop shouted in shock, “Second Lady Gu!”
Everyone in the capital knew Second Lady Gu’s ability. Since the exoneration of Gu Ce, people were even more amazed, saying that the daughter had inherited the talents of her father!
Looking at the brother and sister, Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei, someone sighed and said, “Sigh, it’s really pitiful. When Marquis Gu died in battle, Young Master Gu and Second Lady Gu were only a few years old. They lost their parents at such a young age…”
“Yes, yes. Like father like son, like mother like daughter. Fortunately, Marquis Gu has these two children to clear his name. He should rest in peace.”
Under everyone’s discussion, the spirit support team continued on their way.
The huge team continued to walk north along the official road. After an incense’s time, they finally pa.s.sed through the South City Gate.
Behind the city gate, the commoners who welcomed them were even more spectacular. Most of them were here to mourn Gu Ce. Those commoners spontaneously threw paper money and burned ingots. Some even threw handfuls of white chrysanthemums at the coffin…
Along the way, there were sorrowful citizens. There was no need for the imperial guards to clear the way. Those people stood on both sides of the road in an orderly manner, and the team that supported the spirits was unimpeded.
Gu Yuan, Gu Yanfei, and the others didn’t directly bring the coffin back to the Gu Manor. Instead, they went to the Chengtian Gate first.
The commoners who sent them off were stopped outside the Chengtian Gate by the royal guards guarding the palace door. Only the team that supported the spirits pa.s.sed through the Chengtian Gate and reached Wumen Square.
The Emperor appeared on the city tower of the Meridian Gate. Below him, the civil and military officials stood in two rows.
Gu Yuan, Gu Yanfei, and the others bowed to the Emperor first. The Emperor expressed his grief for Gu Ce’s death before changing the topic to business.
“First, the Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Ce, swore to protect Yangzhou with his life. His battle merits were prominent, and his merits were in the country. Every time 1 remember him sacrificing his life for the country, 1 feel very sad. I decree to posthumously bestow the t.i.tle of Duke of Xinguo upon Gu Ce and grant him the honor of being remembered in the ancestral temple.”
“The t.i.tle shall be inherited by his son, Gu Yuan.”
After the Emperor’s last word fell, the ministers couldn’t help but be in an uproar.
Not only because the Emperor had conferred on Gu Ce the fifth duke other than the four great dukes, but also because he was granted “the honor of being remembered in the ancestral temple”.
To be honored in the ancestral temple was the highest form of recognition for a non-imperial subject after their death. To achieve this honor, one must have made significant contributions to the state and the well-being of the nation. Even the current four grand dukes might not necessarily qualify for this distinction.
“On behalf of my late father, 1 thank Your Majesty for your kindness. Long live Your Majesty!
Gu Yuan bowed respectfully to the Emperor on the city tower. Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunzhen stood with him and also bowed in unison to thank him.
The Emperor instructed again to let Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei bury Gu Ce well before leaving under the respectful escort of the ministers.
After the Emperor left, the surrounding atmosphere relaxed.
Some of the civil and military officials left directly, while others went forward to exchange pleasantries with Gu Yuan to let him feel sorry for his loss. They also asked about stopping and paying their respects before leaving.
Soon, Wumen Square was much more empty. The strong autumn wind fluttered the white banner.
At this moment, Gu Yuan’s emotions had already stabilized a lot. He turned around and smiled at Gu Yanfei. “Yanfei, Father and Mother can finally be buried together.”
His mother had been waiting for his father in the Gu family’s ancestral grave for a long, long time. They could finally be reunited and guard each other underground.
“Yes.” Gu Yanfei nodded and looked deeply at her brother, whom she had not seen for two months.
Gu Yunzhen tugged at Gu Yanfei’s sleeve and said in a low voice, “Yanfei, Big Brother, look.”
She signaled Gu Yanfei and Gu Yuan to look behind with her eyes.
In the direction of the Chengtian Gate, the Gu clansmen led by the patriarch stood outside, looking at them with a fawning expression.
Gu Yuan was expressionless, not even moving the corners of his eyes.
In the past, they said that Gu Ce had betrayed the country and was a disgrace to the Gu family. They didn’t allow Gu Ce to enter the ancestral grave.
And now, they had to beg.
Gu Ce was now the greatest honor of the Gu family.
“Big Brother, let’s go,” Gu Yanfei said calmly.
Gu Yuan nodded, his eyes bright and sharp. The brother and sister ignored the Gu family.
Gu Ce’s business was outstanding, his battle merits were dazzling, and he was glorious.
And now, he would continue his father’s glory!!