102 Crashed
◎Lu Jing forced himself to hide his smile◎
In late October, the emperor returned to the palace ahead of schedule and took a three-day detour to the Beishou Emperor's Mausoleum.
The civil and military officials were led by Prince Yu and returned to the capital as usual.
In the beginning of winter, the grass and trees in Beishoushan District are withered and yellow, and the streams are gurgling.
This place is surrounded by mountains and water, and gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It is the location of the Great Jin Imperial Mausoleum personally chosen by the Supreme Emperor.
At the foot of Jiyun Peak, the Qing Mausoleum of the retired emperor has been under construction for more than twelve years and has not yet been completed.
The mausoleum of Empress Yiwen is located on the right side of the emperor's mausoleum. Mausoleum officials offer sacrifices and sweep the tomb with great respect and solemnity.
After a short rest in the Jufu Hall, Lu Jing and Gu Ningxi changed their clothes respectively.
In the offering hall, in accordance with Your Majesty's order, all sacrificial ceremonies have been prepared.
The sunlight broke through the clouds and the gray sky gradually brightened.
Gu Ningxi and Lu Jing walked together, the sun shining all over their bodies, making them feel warm.
The portrait of Empress Yiwen hanging in the main hall shows her appearance when she was young, exactly the same as the bright and beautiful princess in Gu Ningxi's memory.
She took the three candles and incense handed to her by the ceremonial officer, and this time knelt on the mat beside Lu Jing.
In the painting, Empress Yiwen smiles lovingly and gazes tenderly at the pair of young children in front of her.
Lu Jing smiled. His mother had loved the delicate and graceful Yuan Le since she was a child, and she must be very happy about this marriage.
He should have brought Yuan Le to pay a visit to his mother long ago.
Gu Ningxi held the incense and kowtowed with Lu Jing.
Empress Yiwen passed away at a young age. Gu Ningxi hopes that her spirit in heaven can protect those around her.
The fragrance is lingering, like a dragon flying straight up, which is a sign of great luck.
After the sacrificial ceremony, Lu Jing held Gu Ningxi's hand. They would formally offer sacrifices to their mother during the ceremony to establish her as the queen.
The two of them left the offering hall together. It was still early, so Lu Jing took Gu Ningxi and headed east.
The autumn wind blew gently, and after a long time, they arrived at the foot of a peak that was far away from the Cumulus Peak.
The mountain is majestic and surrounded by the other eight peaks, creating a spectacular scene of "peaks surrounding the source".
The mountain was renamed Jingyao Peak, which was the burial site chosen by Lu Jing for himself.
The Ministry of Works has surveyed the mountain terrain, drawn up a construction blueprint, and will choose a year to break ground.
Gu Ningxi looked at the green on the top of the mountain and did not take his eyes off it for a long time.
The stream flows around the peak like a jade belt. The mountains and rivers are carved, and the wind and energy are gathered. It is an excellent place.
Lu Jing looked at his beloved beside him. They slept in the same bed in life and would shed the same blood in death.
He was willing to share his kingdom with her.
…
In the imperial mausoleum, the two people's residences were separate, separated by a corridor.
"What's wrong?"
On the way back, Lu Jing noticed that Gu Ningxi was unusually silent.
"I'm looking at the mountains and rivers."
She couldn't express her feelings, but she didn't want to make him worry, so she smiled at him.
They stayed at the imperial mausoleum for one day, leaving them plenty of time to return to Beijing.
Gu Ningxi said, "How about we stop by Chongsheng Temple tomorrow?"
The peace and blessing there was effective, and she wanted to seek peace of mind.
Lu Jing did not respond. After dinner, the two returned to their bedrooms to rest.
It was winter, and it got dark even earlier in the mountains.
Gu Ningxi sat in her quilt for a long time, calming her troubled mind and blowing out the candle beside the couch.
Late at night, when everyone is asleep, the mountain breeze blows past the hall, rustling the grass leaves.
As the moon sets and the sun rises, and the first ray of morning sunlight shines through the morning mist, the entire Beishou Mountain is still immersed in tranquility.
Gu Ningxi got up, changed her clothes, gave a few instructions to the palace guards who were on night watch, and left her residence alone.
The mist lingers in the mountains, making it look like a fairyland and a dream.
Guards could be seen patrolling from time to time, but since Gu Ningxi had a jade token on her waist, no one would stop her and she could walk freely.
She followed her heart, occasionally looking up at a tall and majestic mountain in the distance.
She didn't know the way, and after taking several detours, the mountains became clearer and clearer in front of her.
It has no name, and if it is chosen as the location of an imperial tomb, it should be renamed.
Gu Ningxi stood in the clearing before the peak, where the autumn wind lingered and fallen leaves danced. She surveyed the surrounding scenery. In her opinion, there was something missing that didn't quite match the pine and cypress trees on either side.
There are few people in this area, and the rocks are covered with moss.
Gu Ningxi chose a cleaner place and sat on the ground.
Stroking her robe, she didn't know why she came here.
This landscape made her feel inexplicably close and familiar, as if she had found her home.
The sounds of nature were ethereal and pleasant. Gu Ningxi looked up at the blue sky through the branches and leaves.
She smiled and shook her head. In fact, they were destined not to have the best of both worlds. Someone always had to give in.
Now that you have made up your mind and made the decision, why bother worrying about it?
She should have made concessions. Even if he couldn't do as he pleased, who would be willing to fight for the throne?
She had nothing to feel wronged about. The scenery she had seen in the past two years was a gift from God.
Perhaps this was her predetermined fate. After working so hard for so long, she still had to marry into the palace.
Just like the Empress, she also accepted the change of the throne calmly.
The only person she tried her best to protect was His Royal Highness the King of Shu.
Since His Royal Highness the King of Shu can have another chance, then Lu Qian'an should be able to as well.
The country needed him more than anything else, especially now that border troubles were still lingering and the political situation was unclear. Gu Ningxi knew what was important, and for both public and private reasons, she didn't want him to reach the point of his dreams.
As for her official position in the previous dynasty, it didn't mean she had to give it up completely. Perhaps there would be a turning point in a few years.
Gu Ningxi comforted himself in this way, but he had been accustomed to the court for these years, and suddenly had to live a different kind of life, so he still felt confused and embarrassed.
She buried her head between her knees and promised to tell him after the autumn hunt.
This was her only and most suitable choice.
The wind passes without leaving a trace, leaving only the green mountains quietly embracing its owner.
When she looked up again, she saw the person in front of her.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" Lu Jing asked.
Gu Ningxi had calmed down: "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to see the scenery."
She said, "I'm tired and can't walk anymore. Carry me back."
Lu Jing looked at her lovingly and half-knelt in front of her.
Gu Ningxi rested her head on his shoulder comfortably, her arms around the back of his neck.
The road seemed winding when we came, and it remains the same when we go back.
"Why are you running so far?" Lu Jing carried her steadily.
After a moment of silence, Gu Ningxi replied, "I'm a little scared."
"Why?" Lu Jing coaxed.
"I can't tell you."
Maybe she was afraid that he would leave her, and also afraid that she would have to depend on him for the rest of her life.
Gu Ningxi felt at a loss as the sunlight was so bright that it made him want to close his eyes.
The person behind him had fallen silent, and Lu Jing turned to look at her.
Just now, he stood there for a long time.
He watched her sitting alone in meditation. Even though they were far away, he could still see the deep sorrow and hesitation in her eyes.
He was sure that they loved each other and that she was not unwilling to marry him.
Her worries were other matters.
Lu Jing really wanted to get to the bottom of it, but as she said, she might not even be able to explain it clearly herself.
But she was indeed afraid.
How could he do better?
…
The sky was clear and they could no longer tell how many times they had come to the foot of Chongsheng Temple.
Feiling Mountain is temporarily closed for Your Majesty today and will reopen in the afternoon.
Looking at the endless stone steps, Gu Ningxi pretended to be relaxed: "Let's go!"
Since you are here to pray to God, of course you have to do it piously.
The Buddha in Chongsheng Temple is the most efficacious. Gu Ningxi knelt in front of the mat for a long time, closed his eyes and clasped his hands together, listening to the monks' prayers.
She then respectfully asked the master to consecrate the amulet, taking great pains to go through each step. By the time she had finished the amulet, it was almost noon.
Lu Jing saw his name written right there, raised his lips slightly, and asked, "How many people have you prayed for?"
It was his turn now.
Hearing him say this, Gu Ningxi simply stuffed the amulet into her sachet.
"...Hmm?" Lu Jing's hand was already half extended, but he was forced to retract it.
Gu Ningxi raised an eyebrow at him and said, "I'll embroider a lucky bag for you later." She said angrily, "It will be unique if it's placed in the lucky bag, right?"
The smile on Lu Jing's face became more and more obvious.
"But can you embroider?" After being happy for a while, Lu Jing became deeply skeptical.
"Well, I'll learn from my sister. It shouldn't be difficult." Gu Ningxi was quite confident in herself.
Every time he came to Chongsheng Temple, Gu Ningxi would go to the back of the Guanyin Hall to see the sycamore tree.
The ancient sycamore tree, now over 600 years old, has added two more rings. The green leaves that sprouted in spring are now falling, but the branches are still tied with red ropes.
Hearing that praying for marriage in the Guanyin Temple was the most effective, Lu Jing picked up a piece of red silk and wrote their names on it.
The higher the red rope is tied, the better. Gu Ningxi saw that there was a gap on the high branch that he could reach easily.
But Lu Jing refused. He motioned for Gu Ningxi to come to his seat: "Come here."
He picked her up easily and pointed to the Feng Shui treasured spot he had his eyes on: "There."
He insisted on tying it the highest. Gu Ningxi was speechless for a moment, but still nodded and did as he was told.
Their red ropes are unique and sway gently in the wind.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Okay, put me down."
"Um."
Lu Jing slowly loosened the grip on his hands, and Gu Ningxi's gaze moved downwards from the layers of branches and leaves and the red ropes, and without warning met the gaze of a person who had appeared behind the stone gate at some point.
The smile on her face froze in an instant, and she could barely stand when she landed, and was held in Lu Jing's arms.
Noticing her abnormality, Lu Jing turned around and looked in the direction she was looking.
The tree was full of tangled red ropes. Like someone trying to cover up his ears while stealing a bell, Gu Ningxi quickly hid behind Lu Jing, not daring to stick his head out.
When she saw that the person in front of Xi'er was indeed a young man, and that he looked vaguely familiar, Mrs. Meng staggered back half a step.
Holding onto the stone door, she managed to stand steady.
However, when she remembered who he was, Mrs. Meng was so frightened that she almost flew away. Fortunately, the maid was quick to support her.
“This, this…”
Gu Ningxi's mind was full of how she was going to explain to her mother. Even Lu Jing felt a little nervous because of her involvement.
Madam Meng and His Majesty looked at each other, and the latter had a perfect smile on his face.
In just a few breaths, Mrs. Meng turned and left, still holding a piece of red string in her hand to pray for her daughter's marriage.
When she passed by the Guanyin Hall, she looked at the Bodhisattva Guanyin in the hall.
Isn't this... a little too fast?
Mrs. Meng was invited to sit in the Zen room for a while.
After a long while, Gu Ningxi stroked his chest, still in shock.
She looked at Lu Jing: "Didn't they say the mountain was closed?"
She felt that the scene just now was just a dream.
Lu Jing was equally puzzled. Sun Jing hurried forward and said, "Master Hui, the mountain pass is indeed sealed. Pilgrims coming to worship today will have to wait until the afternoon. But the carriage of the Marquis Xuanping's wife..." He smiled apologetically, "How can we stop it?"
Chief Steward Sun had good reasons and Gu Ningxi was speechless.
Lu Jing forced himself to hide his smile and gave Sun Jing a particularly approving glance.
His mother was still waiting for him in the meditation room. Gu Ningxi looked at the tightly closed door and wandered in the yard for a long time.
"I'll go in alone." She came up with a more appropriate solution, otherwise her mother would be scared to death.
Today was indeed too rushed, Lu Jing nodded in agreement.
Signaling Lu Jing to stay away, Gu Ningxi took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Mrs. Meng sat on a small couch by the wall, her heart in turmoil at this moment.
"Mother." Gu Ningxi called cautiously.
Mrs. Meng looked at her, then immediately looked behind her.
"He's not here, mother doesn't have to worry."
Gu Ningxi closed the door behind her. Mrs. Meng breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the Supreme Leader had not come with her.
"Xi'er, you...you...you and..."
Madam Meng was speechless for a moment. Gu Ningxi made up her mind and cut the Gordian knot: "Mother, I'm getting married."
Although the wish she had longed for was finally fulfilled, Mrs. Meng did not feel much joy at all, but only fear.
She never asked for her daughter to be rich and powerful, but only wished for her to live a safe and smooth life. Her greatest fear was that her daughter would marry into a wealthy family, suffer from bullying and have no place to complain.
Madam Meng was extremely upset. If she really married the emperor, who would stand up for Xier if she suffered any injustice in the future?
Mrs. Meng was filled with motherly worry: "Why did Yue Lao match you with such a husband?"
In the side room separated by a wall, Lu Jing silently put down the teacup in his hand.
【Author’s words】
My baby girl won't be a spoiled wife, don't worry [sunglasses][laughing]
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