At the end of the year, Liu Cheng returned to Jiankang. After hurriedly seeing his wife, concubines, and children, he immediately entered the city and then left it again to attend... attend the funeral of Wang Jianji, Princess Consort to Sima Yu, Prince of Kuaiji.
This truly was something that could not wait.
The funeral was exceedingly simple, without the slightest sign of the ceremonial standards due a regent's princess consort. It looked more like a commoner's burial: a simple coffin of thin wood, hauled on a horse-drawn cart and covered with white cloth, with nothing else.
Those attending were essentially just Sima Yu and his children, a few members of the Taiyuan Wang Clan, trusted relatives such as Xun Rui, Gao Song, and Liu Jili, and Liu Cheng.
Liu Langya had a reason to attend as well, since the burial ground had been chosen in the émigré Langya Commandery established outside the city.
Moreover, there were no particular rites throughout. Everyone wore ordinary clothing and traveled normally in carriages under the escort of armored guards. They even deliberately kept some distance from the cart hauling the coffin, as though they had nothing to do with it.
"I discussed it with the General of the Guards. Unless someone asks, we won't announce it publicly." Sima Yu had specifically invited Liu Cheng, who had rendered such immense service, to share his carriage, but he still could not avoid offering an explanation. "Nor will I appoint another principal consort."
The General of the Guards was Yangzhou Governor Wang Shu, Wang Lantian.
Indeed, where others gained promotion, made their fortunes, and lost their wives, Wang Lantian gained promotion, made his fortune, and lost his younger female cousin... Everyone understood perfectly well that the title of General of the Guards granted to Wang Shu