Chapter 221 Long-cherished
Wish In the Buddhist room of Zhongling Palace, Concubine Yu Gui was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue, chanting devoutly.
The emperor came with his hands behind his back. Seeing the figure kneeling in front of the Buddha, the palace maid who was about to salute waved.
The palace maid quietly withdrew, and the emperor slowly walked behind Concubine Yu Gui.
Because her eyes were closed, her ears were particularly sensitive. Concubine Yu Gui heard the steady footsteps approaching and suddenly opened her eyes and turned around.
"Your Majesty."
Concubine Yu Gui was surprised and happy. She didn't expect the emperor to come to Zhongling Palace.
"How long have you been chanting?" The emperor stretched out his hand and helped her up.
Concubine Yu Gui smiled faintly and said, "Not long."
She said not long, but her unsmooth walking posture betrayed her.
The emperor's eyes were heavy and he led her to the main hall.
"Let me see your Majesty's hand." Yu Guifei said worriedly.
The emperor handed her his hand wrapped in cotton cloth as he said, and said slowly: "It's okay, just a slight burn."
Yu Guifei held the emperor's outstretched right hand, gently untied the cotton cloth and looked at it carefully.
The back of the emperor's right hand was burned with a thumb-sized area, and the burn was quite severe. Although ointment was applied, the skin and flesh could still be faintly seen to be slightly charred and blackened.
Yu Guifei looked at it with warm eyes: "Burns are the most painful, can your majesty sleep at night?"
The emperor sighed: "I can't sleep a little, it's a good time to think about the merits and demerits of these years, and think clearly about why our ancestors gave this warning." "No
one is a saint, who can be without mistakes, your majesty does not need to blame too much." Yu Guifei rewrapped the emperor's hand and tied it.
The emperor withdrew his hand and frowned, saying, "This time Cheng'er was injured for me. There will definitely be a commotion in the court after the court opens."
The merits and demerits of the emperor will be recorded in history books and judged by future generations. The emperor didn't care much, but the situation in the court really worried him.
If Yu Cheng and the Cao family were of the same blood, it would be fine, but he was upright, loyal, filial and benevolent, but he couldn't get rid of the control of the Cao family, which made people love and sigh.
Seeing Yu Cheng, the emperor seemed to see himself in the past.
Knowing the emperor's inner struggle, Concubine Yu Gui said sincerely: "The prince was taught very well by Master Zhou. He is upright and respectful, and he cares about the world. He is a wise monarch."
The emperor pondered for a long time and said in a low voice: "Cheng'er is very good, Zheng'er is also very good. No matter who of them takes my position in the future, the Cao family must be eliminated."
This is the emperor's long-cherished wish, and it is also the only thing he can do for them as a father.
As an emperor, what he weighs is the overall situation of the world, not personal gains and losses. No matter what the historian writes, no matter whether Yu Cheng will blame him or not, he will follow his heart.
The Cao family cannot stay.
The harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. Concubine Yu Gui replied one or two appropriately and then stopped talking.
She knew that the emperor had his own judgment in his heart, but he had no one to tell it to, so he wanted to find someone to talk to.
It is precisely because Concubine Yu knows how to act, is delicate and transparent, and never takes advantage of her favor to become arrogant, that the emperor feels comfortable with her and is willing to talk to her.
The palace walls are high and everyone inside is a trapped beast. If there is no confidant, every year and every day is torture.
"Zheng'er should be at the Jiang family now." The emperor suddenly said.
Concubine Yu nodded: "According to custom, today is the day to return to the parents' home."
Concubine Yu's father was a former imperial tutor. He had different opinions with Cao Taishi, who was also the emperor's teacher. He was repeatedly suppressed and later transferred to Wenshuge to sort out documents. He retired to his hometown ten years ago and passed away a few years ago.
Concubine Yu is the only daughter in the family. After her parents passed away, she had no relatives and had nowhere to visit her relatives.
"Mother, eh, father is here too." Yu Lan came with Zhuang Yin.
"Grandfather, grandmother." Zhuang Yin greeted them politely.
The emperor smiled and said, "Yun'er is becoming more and more like an adult now."
Zhuang Yin's eyes lit up when he heard that: "Really?"
"Yes." The emperor nodded.
Zhuang Yin said, "Then when you talk in the future, can you please not ask me to avoid you?"
"What a clever girl." The emperor and Concubine Yu laughed out loud.
With the arrival of Yu Lan and Zhuang Yin, the deserted palace instantly became lively.
At the same time, the Jiang family was also full of laughter.
Today, Yu Zheng gave Jiang Ning an exquisite bow and taught him archery in person.
"Brother-in-law, I hit it." Jiang Ning looked excited.
"Yeah." Yu Zheng responded, put an arrow on the bow, and shot Jiang Ning's arrow.
Jiang Ning was stunned. How could he play like this?
Yu Zheng said: "Archery is not a game for fun. If you want to learn it, you must learn it well. With one more skill, you can have more self-protection ability."
"Although your arrow hit the target just now, it was still far from the center of the target, and the force was too shallow. If you were hunting and killing an enemy, it would only cause superficial injuries, not fatal." Although the
academy teaches the six arts of a gentleman, it does not focus on riding and archery. Therefore, although Jiang Ning has some contact with them, he only knows the basics.
And what Yu Zheng taught was all solid and detailed.
Jiang Shu was drinking tea and chatting with Jiang's father and mother in the hall. Seeing Yu Zheng teaching Jiang Ning seriously, he was very relieved.
"It is rare that the prince is willing to teach Ning'er in person." Jiang's mother was relieved and grateful.
Jiang's father also said: "Yes, it is Ning'er's fortune to receive the prince's guidance."
Although Yu Zheng is not a tutor, he is a disciple of Tutor Zhou and has learned the art well, which is no different from a tutor.
With Jiang Ning's status, it is a great honor to be taught by Yu Zheng.
Seeing that Jiang Ning has been learning for a long time and his hands are rubbed red, Yu Zheng said: "That's enough for today. You can practice more at home when you have time."
"Remember, archery is not achieved overnight. Persistence is the key."
Jiang Ning took it to heart and the two walked into the hall.
As they walked, Yu Zheng asked him, "Do you want to learn how to ride a horse?"
Jiang Ning nodded repeatedly, "Yes!"
Yu Zheng said, "There is a racecourse in the palace. I'll have someone teach you how to ride a horse when you go there someday."
The palace not only has a racecourse, but also many good horses.
"Thank you, brother-in-law." Jiang Ning thanked him loudly, wishing he could go there tomorrow.
Father Jiang was afraid of causing trouble for Yu Zheng, so he frowned and said, "The prince is very busy, so you don't have to rely on him for everything."
Yu Zheng sat down next to Jiang Shu and said, "It's okay. There is a horse trainer in the palace, so I don't have to teach him myself."
Father Jiang was relieved when he heard this.
When the court opens the day after tomorrow, Yu Zheng will be busy with government affairs again, and he really doesn't have time to teach Jiang Ning in person.
Of course, Jiang Ning will go to school in a few days, and he won't have much time to go to the palace.
"Does your hand hurt?" Jiang Shu was worried about Yu Zheng's injury.
Yu Zheng wiped her hand wrapped in cotton cloth and said slowly, "It doesn't hurt, it's not involved."
Only she would care so much about this little injury, and Yu Zheng felt warm in his heart.
"Brother-in-law, let's play chess after lunch." Jiang Ning was very interested.
"Okay." Yu Zheng agreed happily.
"That has to be agreed upon first. I'll go first." Father Jiang interrupted.
Jiang Ning was not convinced and asked, "Why?"
Father Jiang said sternly, "Because I'm your father."
Jiang Ning was so angry that he had nothing to say in reply.
Mother Jiang was ashamed and said, "How old are you, and you're still fighting with children. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the prince?"
Yu Zheng picked up the teacup to drink tea, and Jiang Shu peeled a handful of pine nuts for him.
The sky was gloomy and cold, but the hearts of the family were sunny and warm.
On the third day of the New Year, Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng went to the Pingxi General's Mansion.