Chapter 946 The Death Bell Rings
The 15th day of the 12th lunar month, the 56th year of the Kangxi reign.
There was another heavy snow yesterday. Early in the morning, the palace maids were clearing the snow in the biting cold wind.
Fourteen came forward with a glass cup in his hand: "Little Fourth Sister-in-law, the temperature is just right."
After warming the wine for a while, he fed it to the Queen Mother.
"You should go and have a rest. You just rushed back to the capital and have been guarding all day for the past two days. You haven't had a good sleep, have you? I'll call you when the empress dowager wakes up." Wen Jiu glanced at Fourteen's bloodshot eyes and finally advised him.
"It's okay. I've been away all year round and it's rare for me to come back. I wanted to spend more time with the Queen Mother. Little Fourth Sister-in-law, you should go and rest. You're still pregnant. Fourth Brother just said that he couldn't get away and asked me to give you some advice."
Wen Jiu smiled and shook his head: "I'm just resting in front of the Queen Mother." He glanced at Fourteen again: "You've suffered a lot these years, haven't you? You've grown up, taller, darker, and stronger."
Now Fourteen has grown into a tall and strong man, with a pair of tiger eyes that are intimidating without even being angry. Because he has been leading troops in battles for many years, he has countless wounds on his body, and even has a scar on his face. The fair and tender little boy in his childhood has long lost his appearance.
Hearing Wen Jiu's words, Fourteenth smiled awkwardly, "Only Fourth Sister-in-law still treats me like a child. Fourteenth is already over thirty years old now. How can she still be the same as before? Fourth Sister-in-law, on the other hand, still looks the same as before. She seems to be a few years younger than Fourteenth."
Wen Jiu glared at him and said, "Even at your age, you still can't speak in a proper way."
Fourteen was scolded, but he laughed even more heartily: "I stayed in the military camp all day, and it feels like a dream when I come back. When Sister-in-law Xiao Si scolded me, it felt like I was back to the past.
At that time, we often gathered in the Emperor's Palace of Heavenly Purity to barbecue. The Emperor didn't allow us to drink too much, and everyone was tired of the mynah bird, so we sneaked out.
Fourth brother, ninth brother, tenth brother, seventh brother, thirteenth brother, you, little fourth sister-in-law, and I, we always set up a table at the Royal Madam's place and have a secret drink together."
Thinking of the past, Wen Jiu couldn't help but curl his lips: "Yes, you are the most naughty. The Queen Mother always couldn't stand your soft and hard persuasion. She originally tried to persuade us not to get drunk, but ended up playing with us until midnight."
Fourteen's face was filled with reminiscence, and the dimples on his cheeks were revealed with a smile. "Yes, the next morning, except for Fourth Brother, none of us could get up. Every time, we were punished by the Emperor to write big characters or squat in horse stance. It was Fourth Brother who was in charge of us. Fourth Brother was very strict back then. When I was little, I wanted to run away whenever I saw him."
Wen Jiu laughed: "Is your fourth brother not strict now?"
After hearing this, Fourteen immediately shook his shoulders: "It's even worse than that."
"You guys, you're secretly saying bad things about Lao Si. If he hears you, I'll punish you."
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the Queen Mother's voice. Wen Jiu and Shisi were both surprised.
"Queen Mother, are you awake?"
"Madam!" Fourteen immediately knelt before the Empress Dowager, looking at her with red eyes: "Do you still recognize me?"
Nanny Fang also came over at this moment, looking at the Empress Dowager with tears of joy: "Empress Dowager, do you recognize me?"
The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment, then she tried to get up with some effort, and Wenjiu immediately supported her.
The Queen Mother patted the hand warming the wine and said, "Do you think I'm stupid? How could I not recognize my little Fourteen? And you, Su Wen, you've been with me for half my life, even if you turned into ashes, I would recognize you. And my little Jiu'er."
As soon as these words were spoken, Nanny Fang's eyes turned red.
"That's good of you to recognize me. That's good of you to recognize me."
The Empress Dowager has been having trouble recognizing people lately. Yesterday, when she regained consciousness, she looked at the Fourteenth Master and asked him who he was. She didn't recognize the other princes, Hongyun, or the others. She did recognize Concubine Wen, but she grabbed her hand and asked, "Where is Dabao? Why did he end up in Concubine Wen's belly?"
"What's wrong?" The Queen Mother held Nanny Fang's hand and said, "I know my own body. I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Queen Majesty, what would you like to eat? I'll prepare some wine for you."
"Stop making such a fuss." The Queen Mother grabbed the warm wine and said, "I can't eat any more. You all stay with me. I feel relieved just by looking at you."
"Okay, I'll stay with you." Wen Jiu responded with red eyes.
At this moment, the princes came here one after another after hearing the news that the Queen Mother had woken up.
Soon, a group of people gathered in front of the Queen Mother.
"Baoqing, Baocheng... they're all back... they're all back."
"Madam." Prince Zhi and the Crown Prince, who was now Prince Ren, both came forward and knelt down to pay their respects.
The Queen Mother saw them with her cloudy eyes and nodded with a smile: "Okay, okay."
He scanned everyone again: "Third brother... Fourth brother is busy again... Fifth brother... Seventh brother... Eighth brother... Tenth brother... Twelve brother... Thirteen brother, Fourteen brother..."
The Queen Mother looked at everyone one by one, then looked at Wen Jiu in confusion: "Jiu'er, where is Lao Jiu? He's always following you around, why... isn't he here today?"
As the Queen Mother spoke, she seemed to feel tired and leaned gently against Wenjiu.
Wen Jiu looked at the Queen Mother's state and his heart tightened: "Queen Mother, do you remember that crystal chandelier? Jiu Ye went overseas, and this is what he brought back for you. And that music box, you have always liked it, and you put it by the bed and look at it every day. These are all brought back by Jiu Ye from far away places. He will be back soon, and he said he would bring you more interesting things. Your Majesty, you must be happy."
The Queen Mother looked in the direction of Wenjiu's finger and nodded again, "Huanxi, it doesn't matter what you bring, as long as he's back. Jiu'er, Laojiu...when will he come back? I haven't seen him in years."
Hearing the Queen Mother say this, many of the female relatives at the back had tears in their eyes, and some even began to sob softly.
People say that when people are about to leave, they always look for the one who is not around.
The Empress Dowager is in much worse health this year, and in the past few days, she has shown signs of running out of energy.
"Queen Dowager, it's coming soon. Master Jiu is galloping back. He wrote in a letter earlier that he missed you very much."
The Queen Mother seemed extremely tired. She spoke for several seconds, half-closed her eyes, and said in a low voice, "I miss him too... I wonder if he has lost weight."
After saying this, he seemed to fall asleep on the warm wine.
When Emperor Kangxi and the Fourth Master hurried over, the Empress Dowager had already been put to bed.
Emperor Kangxi's hair had already turned gray. He had been feeling unwell for the past two days, and his feet were severely swollen. He had warm wine and had some swelling-reducing tea brought in, but it had little effect. He was now simply holding a cloth wrapped around his feet, and the Fourth Master helped him into the house.
After Emperor Kangxi entered the room, he glanced at the expressions of the people who were warming the wine, and he knew what was going on. He walked forward and knelt in front of the Empress Dowager, and fed her the medicine with his own hands.
"I have been guarding the Empress Dowager for the past two days. As for the affairs of the previous dynasty, I will leave them to you, Old Four, and Old Eighty-Three will assist you."
"yes."
This was not the first time the emperor had given such an order, but no one was surprised.
But the Fourth Master was a little worried: "Father Emperor, you haven't been feeling well lately, so your health should be the most important thing."
"I have made up my mind, please stop trying to persuade me."
The Fourth Master glanced at Emperor Kangxi's bound feet, then at the warm wine and her already visibly pregnant belly, and for a moment his brows furrowed even more.
Emperor Kangxi also glanced at the wine at this moment: "You and I will take turns guarding it. You should also take a rest. You are pregnant."
"Your Majesty, I am in good health and strong. When I am tired, I will take turns to rest with Your Majesty."
Emperor Kangxi nodded, knowing that the Empress Dowager would need to warm the wine, so he turned around and said, "Well, Fourth Brother, don't worry. I'm keeping an eye on her. Everyone else, please go away. What are you crowding here for?"
"yes."
The surroundings became quiet, and Wenjiu and Nanny Fang told Emperor Kangxi everything the Empress Dowager said.
"If Lao Jiu doesn't get delayed on the road, I think he'll be back in Beijing in ten days. I think... he should still be able to see me..."
Wen Jiu was stunned: "Well, the emperor is right, it will definitely work."
......
The 20th day of the 12th lunar month, the 56th year of the Kangxi reign.
As the New Year was drawing to a close, Jiu Ye rode a fast horse back to Beijing after several days of riding.
Less than an hour after entering the Forbidden City, the death knell rang.
When~
When~
When~
Every sound strikes the heart.
It wasn't snowing that day, but the view was pure white. Amidst the wailing, Emperor Kangxi stumbled forward and knelt before the Empress Dowager's window. His cloudy eyes gazed at the warm wine, and he asked in a trembling voice, "What did you say last, Empress Dowager?"
With a lump in his throat and red eyes, he presented an antique box.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother said... that she wanted this thing to be buried with her."
Emperor Kangxi took the box with trembling hands, opened it slowly, and was stunned after looking at it.
In that box was a handful of soil.
After a long time, Emperor Kangxi finally took two steps back and knocked his head to the ground.
"Your son...is unfilial! Your son is unfilial."
That day, Emperor Kangxi held the box in his arms and was filled with grief.
Let the tears seep into the soil inside the box.
Finally, he stumbled over to the scissors and cut off a lock of gray hair.
The emperor buried the empress dowager during the funeral ceremony.
"Aunt, what's wrong with that handful of soil?" Behind him, a hint of confusion flashed in Sibao Tongtong's eyes.
Liusu wiped away her tears. "That... is soil from the Empress Dowager's hometown. It was dug by the Khorchin Prince himself, and presented to the Empress Dowager by his master."
Sibao was stunned. "What does the ancestor need soil for? If he missed home, why didn't he go back when he was feeling better?"
The tears that Wenjiu had been holding back suddenly fell after hearing Sibao's words.
Yes, if I can go back to my hometown, why would I still want to be a farmer?
In a trance, I suddenly remembered the moment when the Queen Mother left for the last time.
She grabbed her own hands and begged in a low voice: "Aunt, please don't be angry with uncle. If you are all well, I can go back to Korchin."
"Grandfather said, my Red Hare is sick again. It won't eat grass without me. I have to go back and take care of it..."
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