vstars Chapter 84 The Funeral of Prince Dan of Yan
Chapter 84 The Funeral of Prince Dan of Yan
With the arrival of envoys from various countries, preparations were made for the funeral of Prince Dan of Yan.
On the day of the funeral, the sky was overcast, and the entire city of Xianyang was immersed in grief. The King of Qin personally led his ministers, dressed in mourning clothes, to attend the funeral of Prince Dan of Yan.
The funeral procession stretched for miles. People along the way stopped to pay their respects in silence. The coffin, pulled by eight fine horses, moved slowly forward. It was covered with magnificent brocade and surrounded by flowers and offerings.
The funeral ceremony was held on a high mountain outside Xianyang. The King of Qin personally read the eulogy, expressing his deep sorrow and respect for Prince Dan of Yan. Afterwards, the court officials stepped forward in turn, offering sacrifices and paying their respects to the coffin of Prince Dan of Yan. Xiang Yan, the Prime Minister of Chu, Tian Lu, the envoy of Qi, and Wei Ziyuan, the Prime Minister of Wei, among others, also stepped forward to offer sacrifices and pay their respects to the coffin of Prince Dan of Yan.
At the end of the funeral, King Ying Zheng of Qin personally issued an edict, ordering his subordinates to transport the body of Prince Dan of Yan directly from Xianyang to Ji, and demanding that he be buried in Ji.
As Prince Dan of Yan's coffin slowly departed Xianyang, the entire city seemed to be enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. Countless people flocked to the streets to bid him farewell.
They gazed intently at the hearse carrying the body of Prince Dan of Yan, silently bidding him farewell. These people may not have known Prince Dan, but they knew their king possessed a broad mind and a compassionate heart. Therefore, they were willing to follow in his footsteps, forgiving with forgiveness the enemy who had sent assassins to try and kill their king. They sincerely hoped that Prince Dan would be reborn as a kind and upright person.
As the coffin of Prince Dan of Yan departed, the envoys from various states took their leave. Although they couldn't understand why the King of Qin had chosen such a grand funeral for Prince Dan, they heard praise for him from the people of Xianyang. They lauded the King for his benevolence, magnanimity, and forgiving nature. From the people's accolades, the envoys felt the pressure from Qin. They longed to return to their own countries, where they could find peace of mind.
As the coffin of Prince Dan of Yan slowly arrived at Ji City, the ancient city was immersed in solemnity. General Wang Jian personally led an elite force out of the city to greet it. They were dressed in black battle robes, their expressions solemn and serious. The procession was neatly arranged in two rows, forming a passage leading to the city gate.
The coffin was carried to a magnificent carriage, its body adorned with gold and black patterns, giving it an exceptionally solemn appearance. The carriage was pulled by eight fine horses, the sound of their hooves echoing throughout the street, as if announcing to the world the return of Prince Dan of Yan.
General Wang Jian rode a tall warhorse, closely following behind the coffin. His gaze was firm and steady. He wore heavy armor, gleaming coldly, exuding majesty and power. Behind the procession followed tens of thousands of people, all from Ji City, who wanted to personally bid farewell to their former crown prince. Wang Jian did not drive them away, but allowed this vast crowd to follow.
When the coffin arrived at the city gate, General Wang Jian dismounted, walked to the coffin, and bowed deeply. His movements were slow and solemn, expressing his respect and sorrow for Prince Dan of Yan. Then, he turned to the soldiers behind him and gave the order: "Bury Prince Dan of Yan's remains in the Yan Royal Mausoleum!"
The soldiers responded in unison and began their task. They carefully lifted the coffin and placed it into a huge stone coffin, which was intricately carved. Then, they used ropes to hoist the coffin and slowly lowered it into the burial pit.
As the earth covered the coffin, Prince Dan of Yan could no longer be seen. Someone among the people cried out first, and then more and more cries followed, until soon the sound of weeping shook the heavens.
General Wang Jian watched all this silently, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes. He knew that this funeral was not only a sign of respect for Prince Dan of Yan, but also a commemoration of the history of the Yan Kingdom.
After the funeral, General Wang Jian led his soldiers away from the cemetery. However, the people lingered, reluctant to leave. They knelt silently on the ground, tears streaming down their faces like a burst dam. They grieved for the passing of their crown prince and the fall of the Yan state, but their tears also contained deep gratitude—gratitude for the King of Qin's benevolence in allowing Prince Dan's coffin to return to Ji City and find peace in the royal tombs of Yan.
As darkness gradually fell, as if a thick black veil had draped the earth, the group slowly rose, dragging their heavy steps and turning back again and again as they departed. They knew that from this day forward, they were Qin people, and could no longer mourn their beloved Crown Prince Dan. This time, they wept bitterly, as if releasing all the sorrow in their hearts. When they were exhausted from crying, they let go, letting go not only of Crown Prince Dan of Yan, but also of their once proud identity as Yan people, as if letting go of a heavy past.
When Xu Fu and Zhao Gao returned to Xianyang, they heard the news of Prince Dan of Yan's death and learned that the King of Qin had arranged his funeral. Xu Fu looked suspicious and said to Zhao Gao, "Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, could it be that the King of Qin and Prince Dan of Yan had a very good relationship?"
Zhao Gao shook his head repeatedly and replied, "The King of Qin and Crown Prince Dan were both hostages in Zhao when they were young, and it is said that they had a close relationship. However, they parted ways afterward. Moreover, before I came to find you, Crown Prince Dan of Yan even sent the assassin Jing Ke to try to assassinate the King of Qin."
Xu Fu became increasingly puzzled and pressed for an answer: "What exactly is the meaning behind the King of Qin's actions?"
Zhao Gao was also completely bewildered. He shook his head and sighed, "I don't know either. Based on my understanding of the King of Qin, he should hate Prince Dan of Yan to the bone. He should have hung Prince Dan's head on the city wall for three days to show the King of Qin's character. But the way he is now is really puzzling to me."
Xu Fu asked in confusion, "What exactly happened during the six months you were gone?"
Zhao Gao was also racking his brains but could not figure it out. He said, "I don't know. The King of Qin has changed quite a bit. It's hard to predict whether we will be lucky or unlucky if we go back this time."
Upon hearing Zhao Gao's words, Xu Fu laughed instead. He said loudly, "No matter how the King of Qin changes, he still desires immortality. Isn't the reason he sent you all the way here to invite me to refine the elixir of immortality?"
Zhao Gao nodded in agreement, saying, "What Xu Fangshi said is absolutely right." Then the two looked at each other and smiled, everything understood without a word.