Chapter 143 Southern Tour

In the winter of the sixth year of Cheng'an, the empress dowager left the palace and went to Changliu Mountain.

Changliu Mountain was a long way off, so the carriage stopped in front of the palace gate early in the morning.

The east was already bright, the distant mountains were dark blue, the stretches of palaces were wrapped in the silver-red morning mist, and the armored imperial guards stood on both sides. Nanny Yang watched the empress dowager lift the carriage curtain and look at the palace road in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Empress Dowager, it's getting late. We should set off."

The Queen Mother lowered the curtains and a low voice came from inside the carriage: "Let's go."

Just as the carriage was about to leave, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly rang out from not far away:

"Your Majesty has arrived—"

The Queen Mother was startled and quickly drew aside the curtain, only to see a bright yellow palanquin approaching the palace gate not far away.

She hurriedly helped herself out of the carriage with the help of Nanny Yang. When she stood still, He Yanchen also came to her.

The Queen Mother opened her mouth, but thousands of words were stuck in her throat and she didn't know what to say.

He Yanchen's face was calm, and he said calmly: "My Queen Mother has left the palace, and I, your son, should come and see her off."

The Queen Mother looked at him. When she heard the long-lost call of "Mother", her eyes showed a complex emotion. She didn't know whether she was glad that he was still willing to call her "Mother" or she regretted that it was too late to call her "Mother".

There was silence between the two for a moment, neither of them spoke.

The expression in He Yanchen's eyes changed several times, but eventually returned to calm. He didn't look at the Queen Mother, but at the distant sunset glow:

"The journey to Changliu Mountain is long. I have sent the Imperial Guards to accompany us, and the temple has also made arrangements for everything."

"Your son also hopes that your mother will take care of her health. After all, your son has few relatives left."

The Queen Mother quickly turned her face to the side and wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes with her fingers.

"I will."

"The court is busy these days, Your Majesty, please take good care of your health."

Just two short greetings expressed all the sadness and care hidden for so many years.

The Queen Mother got on the carriage, but before the carriage started, she looked out the window with a sad look in her eyes:

"Chen'er, it's your mother who is sorry for you."

Therefore, she would not stay in the palace any longer and make him feel uncomfortable just by seeing her. She would spend the rest of her time alone repenting and atoneing her sins.

He Yanchen didn't say anything else. He watched the carriage gradually drive out of the palace gate and disappear in the distant glow.

*

After the Queen Mother left the palace, the palace was peaceful for a long time.

At the end of the year, Yue Liyang asked He Yanchen to promote the status of the few remaining concubines in the palace.

He Yanchen glanced at her sideways without saying anything, but his eyes were full of suspicion, as if he suspected that she was up to something again.

Yue Li coquettishly snuggled up to me and said, "I am really exhausted. Although I don't have to handle so many palace affairs myself every day, I still have to look at those files and account books. Your Majesty, please give them a promotion and let a few of them help me."

"That's a good idea you have."

With the promotion of rank, all the allowances will increase. Although the expenses in the harem are nothing, he pays for the money and all the benefits go to Yueli. No matter how you think about it, he feels like he is losing out.

Yue Li pulled him and acted coquettishly: "How could Your Majesty suffer any loss? When I am not busy, I will have time to serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty can use me however you want."

He Yanchen looked her up and down, raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "You said so."

So Yueli went from the study in Zhuoyu Palace to the study in Linde Hall.

After the New Year, He Yanchen indeed issued an edict to confer titles on the six palaces.

Except for Concubine De, who was already one of the four concubines, the rest of the concubines were promoted one level.

Some of Yueli's palace affairs were also handed over to Concubine De and Lin Xiuyi.

*

In June of the seventh year of Cheng'an, the emperor went on a southern tour.

Standing on the deck, Yueli felt the wind and was a little dazed.

She had been away from Jiangning City for three years. It was also at this time three years ago that she met He Yanchen.

"What are you thinking about?"

Footsteps were heard behind her, and before Yueli could turn around, a pair of strong arms leaned on the fence and enveloped her in their arms.

A man's lazy and casual voice sounded above her head: "We'll be arriving in Jiangning City in three days. Jiaojiao, are you feeling homesick?"

Without waiting for her to speak, He Yanchen said in an ambiguous tone, "I don't know how many old friends Jiaojiao has in Jiangning City."

Yueli was stunned for a moment, not sure whether he was jealous or not.

This is too stingy.

When they met, she had just reached adulthood. At most, there were some playboys who had admired her, but Yueli couldn't remember them at all.

"I don't know about that, but it's definitely not more than the three thousand beauties in your Majesty's harem."

As soon as the words fell, He Yanchen pinched her cheek and snorted, "You're so sharp-tongued."

Yueli muttered incoherently, "It's clearly His Majesty who's being aggressive."

"None of the three thousand beauties in my harem came with me. As for you, don't run into any old friends when you get off the boat."

Yueli didn't want to listen to his nonsense: "Your Majesty is so annoying."

She covered her ears and ran away.

Three days later, the boat docked and the imperial carriage took them directly to the Jiangning Palace.

Yue Li and He Yanchen rode together. Outside, the imperial guards were guarding the place. The wide streets became crowded, and people gathered on both sides to watch the excitement.

Since becoming the queen, Yueli has also started to pay attention to her face. For example, at this moment, she was curious, but she only lifted a small corner of the curtain with her hand and looked out from there.

Although people outside couldn't see her, she still got up early in the morning to dress up and was sitting upright now.

He Yanchen found it funny and pulled the person into his arms to lean against him.

"You are not tired, I am tired of watching."

Yue Li struggled in vain, and simply lay comfortably in his arms: "This concubine is not doing this for herself, but for the sake of your Majesty's face."

He Yanchen didn't argue with her: "Yes, yes, I have to thank Jiaojiao. She also thought about my face in the sedan chair."

"Then do we still want to go out and play tomorrow? What if I accidentally fail to save your face..."

"Let's play, let's play!" He was interrupted by Yueli before he could finish, "Where are we going to play?"

He Yanchen asked back, "I should be asking you, right? You've lived here for fifteen years, shouldn't you know better than me what's fun?"

Yueli really started to think.

At this time, a boy of about ten years old outside stretched his neck to see the imperial carriage passing by him. Seeing that he kept pushing forward, the imperial guards pushed him back without any hesitation.

The boy was thin and of course could not withstand the strength of the imperial guards. He was pushed and staggered, and fell to the ground with the woman next to him.

The woman looked to be in her forties or fifties, with some gray hair on her temples. She didn't dare to speak after being pushed down, and stood up by rubbing her waist.

"It's boring." The boy spat in a low voice and glared at the woman impatiently. "I don't want to watch it anymore. I'm going home."

The boy's clothes were a little tattered, with traces of patching everywhere. The woman followed him with a hunched back.

The two men went in opposite directions from the imperial carriage and walked further and further away.