The Passing Of The Queen - I

Shallow snow fell slowly across the low and lifeless grass, showing a sad scene along with the sound of the mountain monk's melodic song south of Naki, which had been specially brought to the funeral of the great Queen Tai'Ner of Naran. It was a bleak morning.

Naran's palace was covered in white robes that hid the vibrant and cheerful colors of the details of each piece, a way to show the extreme mourning to the departed spirit and guide him to life in peace. Those present at the site wore White, and many removed the extravagant ornaments to offer final condolences to the spirit of the queen who was struggling to leave the world.

The king was near the wooden coffin with details of gold so pure that it gleamed even on a day when the clouds were gray and the sky seemed lifeless. The poor man's tears could be seen by the lower servants of the palace, from the workers carrying the fertilizer and manure carts, to the dyeing servants reaching the high echelon of the major servants belonging to the army, who were hidden by the corners of the pilasters watching the last goodbye.

The kings of other states present were together with the family, the king of Naki and his consort, the king of Honga with his two sons, the king of Sunri and the General with his son, now engaged to Princess Mei Yang.

The last note sung by the zither echoed faintly and the wooden coffin had been slightly suspended for the passage ritual. Naran's royal family gathered near the coffin and knelt in a sign of respect. The monk placed the lotus flowers around the queen's body and started the funeral.

- The soul does not die, it is eternal, to be born is not to begin, to die is not to end. She wanders through the immortal world in search of peace. San Wan finally leaves and seeks his destiny to accompany his ancestors. I invite the family to the final procession. Tai'Ner Zhi's spirit struggles to cross the great river of oblivion.

The king rose from the dust where he found his remains of soul, and took his offering to his late wife. A plate of cooked fungi and rice to give it lightness in its pure state. All family members had to make their offerings.

Mei Yang, in the midst of strong, uncontrolled tears and sobs, was unable to get up. The procession was stopped just when everyone was waiting for her offering, however the heir could not control herself.

- Mei Yang, everyone is waiting for you! - Amon spoke impatient of being in that uncomfortable position.

- I can't, it's my mother! - She opened her mouth in an exaggerated way and cried so loudly that it scared everyone present. Her fiancé, on the other side of the entrance courtyard, felt intimate compassion for her decadent state, standing up, walking over to her, and kneeling beside her in a subtle and sweet way.

- Don't cry your mother is here watching the royal procession. Do you think she would be happy to see you in that scandalous way? - Yan Feng sounded a little more fun than he usually does, causing Mei Yang to stop crying and wipe away the tears that had blurred her beautiful face. - Go deliver your offering to your mother, she needs it to make the ticket. You know how hard and painful the path to the place of peace is.

The princess promptly rose from her state of pain and took her offering from the handmaiden by her side. In slow, shaky steps, she approached the open coffin where she saw her mother lying there in her robes so majestic and with an expression so serene, that Mei Yang, for a brief moment, thought she was just sleeping. On his chest was a jade stone and around his body several lotus flowers made the aroma softer, which drew the princess's attention.

- Your turn, princess of Naran. – The monk remained away for a few moments to leave her alone with her mother.

Mei Yang held out the cooked rice in front of him and placed them on the table next to the coffin. The incense that burned beside the queen's body soothed the weight of the place and impregnated every corner of the courtyard.

The rest of the family followed with great regret. Yoshio, son of consort Ayame, went to the coffin in tears and deposited his offering, the king's concubines, Amon and finally the consort with his pedantic eyes. Ayame took her offering, and in a very delicate and clumsy way, pulling her clothes so she wouldn't get dirty on the floor where the army and all the servants walked day and night, she bowed to the coffin and offered her share.

When everyone gave their offerings, the guards approached and closed the coffin with ropes and took it from the sticks they suspended and took it to the palanquin * and placed the object firmly there.

The nobles of the four states present took the lead, the king of Naran with his family, King Tao Jun, the general and his son Yan Feng of Sunri, but the latter, concerned for the well-being of Mei Yang, approached her and held his hands.

The palace gates were opened and all the people of Naran were near the sides waiting for the queen's body to leave for the final procession.

The palanquin * with the coffin traveled through the main streets of Naran, where only the nobles lived, the lower classes watched the whole scene from behind the houses, on top of the roof, some even climbed trees to see the most disastrous event in recent years . Mei Yang scanned every turning and corner as if he wanted to record every bit of his people. After all, she rarely left the palace.

Finally, the coffin, which was surrounded by guards and army men led by Qiang Mao, was guiding the nobles back to the palace. The return was worse, as it seemed that each step they took, the more distant it seemed to the queen of her earthly life.

As soon as the palanquin returned to the palace, the monks lit incense to guide the queen's spirit back home.

- Mi Gu - Mei Yang called her tutor who was at her side facing everything with great regret. Mi Gu's eyes were heavy, but his mind had been working fast since the night before, when the queen had fallen dead in the ballroom, surprising all the guests. The king's cry of pain when he saw his beloved collapsed on the floor had been so strong and affecting that there was not a single being within the environment who did not cry. The screams mixed with the tears of the man summoning the guards and servants to help him move the queen from the place touching the hearts of all, but it was too late. The young princess's mother no longer lived in that world. In addition, he knew that when that procession ended, the king would want the master dead, and if Mei Yang did not open his eyes, she could be the prime suspect.

- Speak, Dianxia. - Everyone stopped at the entrance to the temple where the queen's funeral stele was ready to receive her spirit. But, the princess didn't speak, her tears prevented her from saying anything

It was about Sí Chen Wu (11:00 to 13:00) when the procession ended and everyone returned to their palaces. The king locked himself in the room with his pain, the noble guest kings were directed to land in the summer palace and Mei Yang followed his tutor to his tree. Amon, on the other hand, knew his destiny.