160 160

◎King Yong guarding the mausoleum.◎

Although the emperor could observe mourning days instead of months, Qingyang decided to wear plain clothes for three years. If she did so, her three royal brothers who did not need to observe mourning and Prince Yong and his son should also do the same.

However, Prince Yong did something that surprised all the civil and military officials in the court. This uncle, who usually had the least regard for etiquette, actually submitted a letter of resignation after the late emperor was buried, saying that he would guard the late emperor's tomb for a year and would not go anywhere else within that year.

Qingyang knew that Uncle Wang and the emperor had a deep brotherly bond, but she did not think that Uncle Wang's action was purely out of brotherly love. Moreover, even if Uncle Wang was really willing to guard the emperor's mausoleum for a year, this move would put her elder sister and three royal brothers in a dilemma of whether to guard or not, so Qingyang rejected Uncle Wang's memorial on the spot.

Prince Yong submitted his memorial outside the imperial mausoleum. A prince's uncle is a prince's uncle. Other ministers wouldn't dare disobey the imperial edict, but Prince Yong did. When the emperor's niece forbade him to guard the mausoleum, Prince Yong simply ran to a room in the row of wooden houses reserved for palace guards, locked the door, and refused to leave. Qingyang tried to persuade Prince Yong, but he wouldn't listen. Yongkang and Qin Hong's four siblings tried to persuade him, but it was no use. Civil and military officials like Yan Xizheng and Lü Zan offered countless persuasions, but received no response.

Qin Liang knelt outside, tears streaming down his face as he spoke, "Your Majesty, although my father and the late emperor were brothers, they were as close as father and son. Since the late emperor's passing, my father has been unable to eat or sleep for a month. Rather than letting him live in a daze in the capital, it would be better if I could stay at the imperial mausoleum and be with the late emperor day and night. This way, my father would feel better. I beg Your Majesty to grant this request."

The father locked himself in the wooden house guarding the mausoleum and refused to come out, while the son showed such deep affection in front of the civil and military officials. If Qingyang really ordered people to forcibly destroy the wooden house and take Uncle Wang back to the capital, it would be considered inhumane. Moreover, even if she brought Uncle Wang back to the capital today, he was such a big living person, and a brute with extraordinary martial arts skills. As long as Uncle Wang wanted, he would still have countless opportunities to run back.

In this way, Prince Yong stayed in the imperial mausoleum, but he drove his son Qin Liang back to the capital, finally saving the three brothers Qin Hong, Qin Bing and Qin Ren from embarrassment.

.

On April 12, Princess Meng Yao of Prince Jing gave birth to a son safely. Because the royal family was still in mourning for the late emperor, Qin Bing only told the emperor's sister and did not think of holding a banquet to entertain relatives and friends.

Having a new baby is a happy event, and Qingyang was very happy for his second brother and sister-in-law. He bestowed rewards on his nephew and second sister-in-law. When the little guy was one month old, on May 20th, Qingyang asked his mother to summon his eldest sister, three royal brothers, and the entire Yong Wang family except his uncle to Xianfu Palace where the Queen Mother lived in the name of missing the royal family. In fact, it was just a simple congratulations to his nephew on his one-month old birthday on behalf of his second brother and sister-in-law.

Although everyone gathered together was wearing plain clothes, their complexions were much better than when the late emperor had just passed away. Qingyang's once thin face had recovered. Although Yongkang's dress was plain in color, it was obvious that the embroiderer had put a lot of thought into it. The sadness and guilt between Qin Hong's brows had returned to calmness and peace. Qin Bing couldn't hide his smile as he hugged his son. Qin Ren kept an eye on his two-year-old Rui Ge'er, fearing that this naughty child would run around.

Looking closely, it was Qin Liang who had changed the most. His face was still thin, and he was not as gentle and cheerful as before. It seemed that he had not yet come out of the grief of losing his uncle, the late emperor. However, after noticing the relaxed atmosphere among the people in the hall, Qin Liang immediately smiled again, so as not to spoil everyone's mood for reunion and chatting.

As for Princess Deng of Yong, she was much more depressed than in previous years when she re-entered the palace after Deng Chong's death. She was like a quail that no one dared to offend.

Yongkang and Qin Hong had both disliked Qin Liang when they were young, and Yongkang still looked down on the Yong family. Qin Hong, at best, offered polite words to Qin Liang, but it wasn't particularly cordial. Qin Bing could drink with Qin Liang, but today, his mind was preoccupied with his son and he had no time for Qin Liang. Qin Ren, seeing that his elder brother and Qin Liang were forcing conversation, chimed in.

It was not obvious when the late emperor was alive, but as soon as he passed away, Prince Yong's branch and the late emperor's branch became obviously two families. The more distant they were, the more courteous and considerate they had to be when entertaining each other.

Qingyang first showed concern for his nephew and asked his second brother and his wife, "Have you named Hu'er yet?"

Hu'er is the nickname Qin Bing and his wife gave to their child.

Meng Yao smiled and said, "Zheng Ge'er and Rui Ge'er are both good names given by the Royal Grandfather. Our Hu'er is waiting for the Royal Aunt to give him a good name."

Meng Yao had experienced the pain of losing her mother. After going through the most sad period, others were cautious when mentioning her mother in front of her. She had to force a smile to show that it was all in the past, and then she would comfort them and tell them not to worry about her. Both sides were tired of being polite, so when it was her husband's family's turn to lose the late emperor, Meng Yao cried when she should cry and laughed when she should laugh.

Qingyang missed her father, but she didn't cry every time she thought of him. She really liked Meng Yao's open-mindedness.

Seeing that her second brother also wanted her to give his nephew a name, Qingyang thought for a moment and said, "My second brother is fond of martial arts. Military books often use the phrase 'Yue Zhen Yuan Ting' to praise the stability of an army's formation, like a standing mountain or stagnant water. How about naming Hu'er Qin Zhen? I hope that when he grows up, he can learn both his second brother's excellent martial arts and the calmness and steadiness of his grandfather, Marquis Meng."

Meng Yao was overjoyed. She hugged the little guy and kissed him twice. "Listen, what a wonderful name the imperial aunt gave you, Qin Zhen. Brother Zhen, you must remember the imperial aunt's high hopes for you. Don't be like your father, who is so easily ignited by a single blow."

Qin Bing: "...If you want to praise the emperor for his naming skills, then just praise the emperor. Why do you have to criticize me?" His sister didn't even criticize him!

The noble concubine glanced at her son with disdain, and everyone laughed.

After a while, Qingyang looked at Qin Liang and asked, "Have you visited Uncle Wang at the Imperial Mausoleum recently?"

Qin Liang stood up and replied respectfully, "I just visited him once at the end of April. I've noticed that my father's appetite has improved a lot recently. He's cultivated two acres of land himself, and when he's done, he goes on a mountain tour. Although he's not as well-off as he was in the capital, he's at peace. He also asked me to tell the emperor to focus on state affairs and not to worry about him."

Deng, who had been silent for a long time, finally wiped her eyes and choked out a sob, saying, "Ever since the late emperor fell seriously ill, the prince often reminisced with me about the common people's days when he and the late emperor were young. Back then, the prince hated the hard work of farming and always wanted to slack off. Whenever he slacked off, the late emperor would beat him. Now that the late emperor is gone, there's no one to beat the prince anymore, so the prince has returned to farming honestly."

Regardless of whether she was sincere or not, these words brought tears to the Queen Mother's eyes.

Qin Liang's wife hurried to persuade her mother-in-law, but Qin Liang also scolded his mother in a low voice: "Why are you bringing up these old things when you are fine?"

Deng was so frightened that she knelt down and begged the emperor for forgiveness.

Qingyang sighed, "Aunt, please excuse me. It's not just my uncle who misses the late emperor. I also often think of the days when I was little and was cherished by my father."

There would be no banquet in the palace. After saying this, Qingyang took Zhang Su to bid farewell to his mother and the noble concubine and went back to Qianyuan Palace first.

As soon as the emperor and empress left, Qin Hong and others had no choice but to say goodbye.

The noble concubine went into the house to comfort the empress dowager, and the Yongkang families walked out of the palace along the familiar palace road.

Deng kept crying, saying that her nagging had ruined the emperor's good mood. Yongkang and Qin Bing were too lazy to pay attention to her. Qin Hong and Qin Ren coaxed her from both sides until they sent Deng to the carriage.

After watching the carriage from Prince Yong's mansion leave, Yongkang glared at his two younger brothers. "The more she praises Uncle Prince for his loyalty, the more it seems like you and I are heartless. It's a shame you even rushed over to play along with her."

Qin Hong moved his lips, but still did not explain to his elder sister, because nothing he said would convince his elder sister.

Qin Ren spoke up for his eldest brother, "Uncle Wang's affection for the Emperor is undeniable. Now that Uncle Wang is away guarding the Emperor's mausoleum, if we, his nephews, neglect Aunt Wang, what will the officials and the people say about us if word gets out?"

Yongkang: "Okay, then you guys continue to coax that side."

She turned around and got on her own carriage. Fu Xi winked at his two uncles and followed. Fourteen-year-old Fu Ming rode horses with his father Fu Kui to follow the carriage.

After the eldest sister left, the three Qin Hong brothers also got on their own carriages with their wives and children.

In Qianyuan Hall, Qingyang said to Zhang Su, "Uncle Wang has been devoted to our father, and we, as his nephews, cannot neglect him. So, at the end of the month, you should ask your eldest, second, and third brothers, Fu Kui, to accompany Qin Liang to visit Uncle Wang in the imperial mausoleum. If you can persuade him to return, that would be great. If not, you can all come along and help Uncle Wang with his land."

There are some things that the three royal brothers cannot see, but Zhang Suneng can.

The end of the month is already here.

Qin Liang had not received the emperor's order in advance. When he rode out of the capital, he found the male queen, three princes, the prince consort, and two carriages parked on the side waiting for him on the roadside.

Qin Liang was shocked and hurried over. He dismounted and bowed to Zhang Su: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

A male queen was too rare. Deng Kun would occasionally deliberately call her "Her Majesty" as a hint of irony. When ministers met Zhang Su in private, they would simply call her "Your Majesty".

After Zhang Su exempted him from the ceremony, Qin Liang bowed to the three princes.

Qin Binggao sat on the horse and hummed, "Alright, why are we being so polite to each other? Hurry up and get on the horse. We have been waiting for almost half an hour."

As he spoke, he also glanced at Zhang Su, not understanding why Zhang Su called them over so early. Qin Liang should have been waiting for them.

Zhang Su didn't need to explain to Qin Bing.

When everyone was gathered, six fast horses and two carriages loaded with the emperor's rewards galloped towards the imperial mausoleum.

Imperial tomb.

After Prince Yong decided to guard the mausoleum, Qingyang selected a piece of land and built a small courtyard for his uncle. The two acres of land opened by Prince Yong were next to the courtyard.

The coachman pulled the carriage to a stop outside the courtyard. Zhang Su and the others saw people working in the fields and came directly here.

Prince Yong was dressed in cloth, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his strong, wheat-yellow arms. When he looked up, his face was a little darker than at the beginning of the year. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary, strong farmer.

"What are you doing here?" King Yong asked unhappily.

Qin Bing smiled and said, "I miss Uncle Wang. How long do you plan to stay here? Aunt Wang has lost weight because of you."

Prince Yong pointed to the imperial mausoleum within easy reach and glared at his nephew, saying, "I won't beat you here, but if you dare to disrespect me again when we return to the capital next year, you'll see what happens."

The implication is that he still has to wait for a full year.

There was no need to persuade Zhang Su and others anymore. They went down to the fields to help with the work, and then accompanied Prince Yong to patrol the mountains around the imperial mausoleum for most of the day, leaving at dusk.

After returning to the palace, Zhang Su said to Qingyang, "Uncle Wang really keeps to himself. Apart from Qin Liang, he has never been in contact with anyone."

The emperor has spies among the palace servants and guards who guard the mausoleum. If Prince Yong makes any unusual moves, these spies will not be able to hide it.

Upon hearing this, Qingyang looked out the window.

Uncle Wang earned a good reputation for guarding his father's tomb, so if Uncle Wang had any plans, he could only rely on Qin Liang to accomplish them.

In other words, Uncle Wang's going to guard the mausoleum was itself part of Qin Liang's plan.

【Author’s words】

Here they come, 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!