Due to the Empress Dowager's passing, not only the Chongwen Pavilion, but also the Imperial Academy temporarily closed. The Emperor subsequently issued a decree for the common people to observe mourning for three months, during which they mustn't hold banquets or celebrate joyous events;
Officials must observe mourning for six months, within which they cannot marry or hold banquets;
The royal family, like the officials, but royal children must observe twenty-seven months like the Emperor.
Originally, married women were supposed to be excluded, but due to the Empress Dowager's last words, the Emperor knew she wanted Commandery Princess Yunfeng to take the opportunity to nurture her health, so he didn't add this rule.
Since it wasn't added, married women not needing to observe full mourning became more of a customary practice, whether to observe it depended on personal relationships.
