Chapter 372 Boating on West Lake

Liu Yiyi learns the reason why Yun Jiaoyue's Phoenix Seal was taken away.

Early in the morning, people were sent to clean up the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, leaving not a single weed behind.

After cleaning, workers were hired to repair the roof, doors, and windows, fixing whatever was broken.

When Granny Gui saw the guards sent by Yun Zhaoxue to supervise the work, she loudly ordered everyone.

"Consort Liu has instructed that the courtyard be repaired as soon as possible so that the Princess and the Princess can move in. You must keep your eyes open and see if there is anything missing."

Yesterday, Zhu Feng and Zhui Ying led a group to do a simple cleaning of the front yard, just to make a show of it, waiting for the palace to send people to repair it, so they could save some money.

With someone helping with the work, Yun Zhaoxue didn't have to worry. She took everyone out to offer incense to him and others, and then went shopping.

The scenery in Lin'an is beautiful, and the architectural style is unique. I went out for a stroll before it snowed. I heard that it might snow in another half month, and then it will be too cold to go out.

Yang and Xiao Xuanwu wanted to visit the ancestral hall where the local people worshipped the Prince of Zhenbei.

After having breakfast at the inn, our first stop was to offer incense.

The temple stood in the most bustling part of the street, where people came and went. Passersby would go in to offer incense before going on with their other business.

The carriage stopped in front of the temple. The weather had suddenly turned cold today, and those who could afford it had already put on thick cotton-padded clothes, fox fur coats, or cloaks.

Yang got off the carriage and looked at the crowd coming and going at the entrance. The ancestral hall was also almost full of people.

A mother led her child to a temple to offer incense. As they came out, she said to her child, "Yan'er, the person inside is the Prince of Zhenbei. He guarded the border for decades, which is why we were able to live a peaceful life. He is a hero of our Great Zhou. You must remember him and learn from him, okay? When you grow up, become a great hero like him."

The little boy nodded vigorously, "Yes, Yan'er has remembered."

Yang learned from the people that their attitude towards the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion had changed, but it was far less shocking than seeing it with their own eyes.

It turns out that so many people remember Yuanshan.

Although he is no longer alive, he will forever be remembered and revered by the people, inspiring future generations to defend their homeland.

She was proud of her husband.

Her eyes reddened and moistened, and she quickly turned to the side to wipe away her tears with a handkerchief.

Xiao Mingshu stepped forward and took Yang's arm. "Mother, let's go inside."

"Alright, let's go in." Madam Yang had wanted to come yesterday, but by the time she finished resting and tidying up at the inn, it was already dark, so she could only come today.

She held her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with guilt as she looked at her. "Shu'er, I'm sorry I couldn't let you recognize your father. He didn't even know you were his daughter. You have four older brothers, and you're the only daughter among them. When he found out he had a daughter, he was so excited he didn't sleep all night. He personally taught you to walk, fed you, took you out, and told everyone you met that you were his daughter..."

She forgot that the person was not Xiao Mingshu, but Xiao Xiuning.

Everyone sensed that something was wrong, and Yang kept talking incessantly.

Yun Zhaoxue coughed lightly, "cough..."

Xiao Mingshu isn't the one who enjoys fatherly love. Talking to her about these things just makes her seem like she's genuinely upset and disgusted.

Only then did Ms. Yang realize that she had brought the wrong person.

"Shu'er, I'm sorry, Mother is so sorry..."

Xiao Mingshu forced a smile and shook her head, saying, "Mother, don't say that. It's not your fault. Even if you don't know I'm your daughter, you've always been very good to me. In my heart, you've always been my mother. My uncle is the elder I respect the most. He's a hero of our Great Zhou."

Xiao Xuanwu said, "Fourth sister, you're still calling him 'elder uncle,' but don't you think you should call him 'father'?"

“Father doesn’t know me. Let’s go in and light incense for him, and tell him that I am his daughter. Once he knows, I will call him father.”

"Alright, let's go in and tell him." Madam Yang took her two children by the arms and walked towards the ancestral hall, with the others following behind.

Enter the inner hall.

I heard that the temples are operated and managed by the local people and are not used for profit.

The incense was donated spontaneously by the people. Those who had money bought extra and left it here, while those who didn't bring any could just take it and use it.

They bought more than a dozen bundles of incense on the way and left the rest here for people who didn't bring their own to take.

Xiao Xuanwu counted the incense sticks, lit them, and divided them into three sticks for everyone.

After Yun Zhaoxue finished her prayers and placed the incense sticks in the incense burner, she turned around and took Da Bao from Zhu Feng's hands, raising her chin slightly to indicate that they should look at the statue above.

"Da Bao, Er Bao, do you know who's upstairs?"

The two children looked at the statue and called out, "Grandpa, Grandpa..."

Da Bao said, "Mom, Grandpa is a great hero..."

"Yes, that's right, it's your grandfather..."

She doesn't know how to guide children. Your grandfather was a marshal and a general, and so was your father. You will all be like your grandfather and father, galloping across battlefields and dying on the battlefield.

She supports whatever her children want to do when they grow up, and she doesn't dictate what they can or cannot do.

After leaving the temple, we went to West Lake, where boating was still possible at that time.

Many literati and scholars boated on West Lake, composing poems and couplets.

There are dozens, even hundreds, of poems about West Lake alone.

There are more than a dozen tourist boats on the lake.

And further away, because of the thick fog, I couldn't see anything clearly, but I could vaguely make out a dark shape.

There were both men and women.

Many women were just as talented as men, and their poems were passed down through the ages.

The emperor loved poetry and songs, and his ministers followed suit, frequently holding poetry gatherings to make friends through literature, which inspired the literati.

They often gathered together to compose poems, and one person was even awarded the title of Eighth-Rank Hanlin Scholar for his excellent poetry.

The late emperor was fond of calligraphy and painting, and for a time he used poetry, calligraphy and painting as criteria for selecting talents.

The economy and culture have achieved unprecedented prosperity, and the country has invested a great deal of financial, material, and human resources, but has paid no attention to the military.

The soldiers fought bravely on the front lines, but their pay was cut, they were often hungry, and they frequently suffered defeats due to insufficient supplies.

Due to insufficient military pay, soldiers deserted or surrendered to the enemy.

The soldiers' monthly pay was less than that of an expensive painting or calligraphy.

The military pay they received was less than the price of a single piece of their calligraphy or painting, which led to the country being crushed by the northern ethnic minorities.

The emphasis on civil officials over military officials reached a pathological level. There was a lack of trust in military generals, and they were strictly guarded against and unwilling to relinquish power. Civil officials completely overwhelmed military generals.

If the borders cannot be defended, the country will be lost, the people will be massacred, and the culture will be destroyed.

A brilliant culture that cannot be passed down to future generations is ultimately just a fleeting moment.

Since Yun Zhaoxue was already there, she decided to rent a boat and go boating on the lake.

Send someone to ask the shopkeeper.

Zhu Feng went to inquire and returned to report: "Princess, all the large ships are gone, only medium-sized ships remain."

"Can the medium-sized ship only seat all of us?"

"Can."

"Okay, then let's rent a mid-range one."

I'm worried that my child's body won't be able to handle staying outside for too long.

Many cruise ships sailed back, and the men sat on the decks at the bow, drinking and composing poetry.

She has no interest in writing poetry, but she is interested in looking at handsome men and beautiful women.

On the pleasure boats on the lake, well-dressed gentlemen, wearing thick fur-trimmed cloaks and warm hats, recited poems and chatted at the bow.

Inside the cabin, the girls, wrapped in embroidered brocade cloaks and adorned with delicate pearl hairpins, huddled around a brazier, whispering softly, occasionally glancing curiously out the window.

Yang, Xie Wanyun, and Song Mingyan, who were afraid of the cold, enjoyed the lake from inside the cabin.

Yang Shi wouldn't let Da Bao and Er Bao go out, and told Yun Zhaoxue to leave the children in the cabin while they watched over them.

Yun Zhaoxue was not afraid of the cold. She leaned on the railing and looked out to admire the winter scenery of West Lake. The fog on the river was very heavy. From a distance, it looked like a snowfall. The boats in the distance looked like ink spots spreading on rice paper, and the water rippled with the light of the fog.

If it really snows lightly, the scenery will be even more breathtaking.

The younger generation doesn't like staying in the cabin; they all go to the deck to enjoy the winter scenery.

A stove was lit on the deck, tea was brewed, and various snacks were prepared.

A small ceramic stove was set up on the bow deck, the charcoal fire glowing red.

A cold wind blew by, and Hongzao wrapped her apricot-red cloak tighter around herself, watching the spring in the copper kettle gush out like crab eyes.

She used bamboo tongs to turn the slightly charred oranges and dried longans, their sweet aroma mingling with the tea fragrance in the cool mist.

On the low table, in a celadon cup, Longjing tea has been brewed, revealing the colors of spring.

Green Branch served several cups of tea on a tray to the masters.

Yun Zhaoxue, Xiao Xuanwu, and Xiao Mingshu each took a cup, and there were still a few cups left.

Yun Zhaoxue took a small sip. "It tastes good. You should drink some too, and have some hot drinks to warm yourselves up."

These words were spoken to them.

"Chasing the Wind and Shadow, you two drink too, drink as much as you like, there's plenty of tea today."

She allowed them to eat and drink together whenever there was something delicious to eat or drink.

They didn't stand on ceremony, "Yes, Princess."

The princess will only get angry if they are too polite.

Occasionally, I could hear verses from literary figures.

The words spoken during the reading carried a hint of regret and melancholy.

First line: A withered willow, a fishing line dangling, yet it's difficult to catch half a crescent moon over the Central Plains.

Second line: Withered lotus leaves, like empty canopies, obscure the autumn sky over the lake south of the river.

First line: Withered lotus leaves listen to the rain, a pavilion's frost-covered surface presses down on the cold ripples.

Second line: A lone oar, draped in the wind, half a mountain's shadow locked in the evening clouds.

...

Yun Zhaoxue doesn't understand the creation of poetry and songs, so she doesn't know if it's right or wrong. She just thinks it rhymes, and it's already quite good that she can come up with a matching poem in a short time.

A good poem.

Swimming to the middle of the lake, Yun Zhaoxue suddenly caught sight of a familiar face.