In the spring of the 212th year of the Ruen Dynasty, the fifth Emperor of the Ruen Dynasty, Chen Kaiming, passed away at the age of sixty-four.
Chen Kaiming’s sudden death came to the shock of everyone. It was so abrupt that no one had time to react. The person affected the most by the Emperor's passing was undoubtedly the Crown Prince, Chen Xun.
Su Yi had no way of knowing how Chen Xun was really coping, as they hadn't met for several days.
On the second day after Chen Kaiming’s passing, an announcement was issued from the palace, instructing all ministers and officials of various governmental departments to observe a seven-day period of fasting, a hundred days of abstinence from festivities, and a prohibition on marriages.
Military personnel and civilians in the capital were forbidden from wearing their ceremonial hats and must wear mourning garments for twenty-seven days. Marriages were banned for one month, festivities were banned for one hundred days, the slaughter of animals was banned for forty-nine days, and prayers and offerings could only resume after twenty-seven days. From the day of mourning until the day normal services resumed, all temples and shrines in the capital were to toll their bells a total of thirty thousand times.
On the third day, all officials proceeded to the palace to enter the Qingan Hall in an orderly prearranged manner for the condolence ceremony. The sequence was arranged according to official rank, so Su Yi was among the first to enter. He entered the silent hall with his head lowered, holding his breath so as not to make a sound.
Su Yi cautiously raised his eyes to survey the surroundings. Long-burning lamps were lit on all sides of the hall, quietly burning, while a peculiar fragrance lingered in the air. He was alone.
In the center of the hall, not far ahead, lay a golden-threaded Chinese cedar coffin. Su Yi’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily when he thought about the person lying inside. Just the day before yesterday, they had exchanged glances. The situation felt inexplicably surreal.
Following the ritual, he performed the three kneels and nine kowtows, and completed various ceremonial offerings before leaving Qingan Hall. He then stood with the officials outside the hall in silent condolence.
After all these formalities, the day was over. On his way home, Su Yi understood one thing. The Emperor truly differed from ordinary people. Even in death, everything had to be grand.
On the fourth day, Chen Kaiming’s coffin was moved to the mausoleum, with officials following on both sides, all wailing aloud, their sorrowful cries filling the air. Su Yi did not cry; he did not know how many of these wailing ministers were truly sincere.
Su Yi’s gaze remained fixed on the two people at the very front who were walking beside the coffin. Chen Xun was on the left, and Eunuch Yue was on the right. Chen Xun wore a black mourning garment lined with a white trim and kept his head lowered. He was expressionless and lifeless, like a marionette.
Su Yi tilted his head slightly to look at Eunuch Yue on the right, but as soon as his gaze fell on him, Eunuch Yue seemed to sense it, turning back to meet Su Yi’s eyes. Su Yi froze momentarily and instinctively wanted to avoid his gaze, feeling like he had been caught doing something wrong. However, Eunuch Yue only nodded slightly at him and turned back around.
The mausoleum was located behind the imperial city, on a mountain where the previous Emperors of the Ruen Dynasty lay in eternal rest.
After another round of intricate sacrificial rituals, the time finally arrived, and Chen Kaiming’s coffin was formally laid to rest. The officials seemed to receive some signal, and they all looked to the sky and began wailing aloud.
Su Yi did not cry; he stood among the crowd, somewhat bewildered as he looked around. Then he saw someone else like himself. Internal Prime Minister Fan Shaolin was also someone who did not join in on the crying.
Fan Shaolin also looked over, meeting Su Yi’s eyes, and then walked toward him.
Su Yi cupped his hands in greeting. "Senior Fan."
Fan Shaolin nodded and asked, "Grand Tutor Su, you seem to have something on your mind?"
Su Yi opened his mouth slightly, unsure of how to respond.
Seeing that Su Yi didn’t respond, Fan Shaolin turned to look at the crowd ahead and said in a low voice, "In truth, those who are genuinely grieving are often the ones who are unable to cry... It’s ironic, isn’t it?"
Following Fan Shaolin’s gaze, Su Yi saw people who cried pitifully without shedding a tear, while others stayed silent, their grief palpable. Su Yi saw the Crown Prince Chen Xun kneeling before the tomb, his forehead pressed firmly to the ground, his fingernails dug into the soil. He also saw Eunuch Yue kneeling before the tomb. The mourning eunuch held his upper body upright and his eyes revealed a steely resolve.
Fan Shaolin, noticing that Su Yi was silent, nodded and said, "When this is over, I would like to have a brief chat with you, Grand Tutor Su." With that, Fan Shaolin returned to his prearranged position, lowering his head in contemplation.
Su Yi watched Fan Shaolin walk back and felt an increasingly pronounced sense of confusion within himself, though he didn’t know what he was truly confused about.
On the fifth day, Su Yi received an invitation early in the morning. Senior Fan had invited him for a chat.
When Su Yi hurried to Senior Fan’s residence, he found that Senior Fan was already waiting for him in the study.
A servant brought tea, and the two chatted casually for a while, only discussing literary allusions and anecdotes. This left Su Yi somewhat puzzled, as he knew that Senior Fan hadn’t invited him just to discuss such topics.
After a short while, it was time for lunch, and Senior Fan smiled and invited Su Yi to stay for the meal. Since they were still in the fasting period, there were only a few simple dishes. The delicious dishes tasted quite remarkable nevertheless.
During the meal, Senior Fan occasionally brought up some literary references, and asked Su Yi questions from time to time. Su Yi answered each one respectfully, not daring to be lax. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder, Could it be that Senior Fan merely intends to test me today?
After they finished eating, Senior Fan mentioned that he would like to take a walk, so Su Yi assisted him as they strolled through the garden.
"Your literary talents are indeed outstanding, it's no wonder you were able to become the top scholar," Senior Fan praised the younger man. The elderly man’s eyes always shone with an unmistakable wisdom and he bore a gentle smile.
Su Yi smiled modestly. "Senior Fan, you flatter me. I have merely read a few more books than most, I am hardly deserving of your praise."
Senior Fan patted Su Yi’s hand, which was supporting his arm, and said, "If you simply read a few more books, you would certainly not deserve this praise. In fact, you possess a rare quality."
Su Yi was taken aback and looked at Fan Shaolin in confusion. "What would that be?"
Senior Fan’s gaze drifted to the outer gate, where a figure was faintly visible. He said, "It won’t be long before I see you again, and will need to address you as the Imperial Teacher."
Su Yi’s eyes widened, and he bowed in respectful alarm, cupping his hands. "Senior Fan... I wouldn’t dare ask that of you."
Senior Fan waved his hand. "There’s no need for this. I am merely stating the truth. Besides... you should be able to do better than I did."
Su Yi was at a loss for words.
Senior Fan continued, "As for why... perhaps it’s because I understood things too late.
"You are different. You’re already on the verge of understanding. I saw your distracted look yesterday and knew you’d already begun to question things. Once you begin questioning, naturally, you will look for answers. You’re a smart person; even if I hadn’t said anything today, you would eventually find clarity on your own."
Su Yi felt a jolt in his heart, as though he was grasping something, yet it remained unclear.
"If it had to be put to words... it is very difficult." Fan Shaolin suddenly turned to look Su Yi in the eyes. "What is the true duty of an Imperial Teacher?"