Chapter 217 Xia Jingheng's Reunion
Inside the palace.
Imperial physicians came and went.
Xia Jingheng felt as if something had tugged at his heart, and he quickly went to the Empress Dowager's side.
The Empress Dowager patted his hand, her face full of affection, "It's alright, it's just an old ailment."
He felt deeply ashamed upon hearing this.
His grandmother had stayed with him at Zhenguo Temple for more than ten years. The mountain was damp and cold with heavy dew, and he developed various health problems.
But I am a useless person, and even now, I cannot fulfill my filial duties to my grandmother.
"Grandmother, may I keep you company these few days?" Xia Jingheng asked with concern.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "For the past ten years or so, you have been with me every day. I am tired of looking at you. You should conspire with Qingbao and do some treasonous things."
Xia Jingheng: ...
Where is the promised scene of filial piety and grandparental love?
The anxiety he felt upon arrival eventually turned into a low chuckle.
"That makes it sound like your grandson has corrupted Qingbao."
The Empress Dowager remained calm. "Don't forget to flatter yourself. You're not even as good as a single hair on Qingbao's head."
Xia Jingheng: ? ? ?
The Empress Dowager continued to add insult to injury, "Qingbao is so much more exciting when she's being naughty, it gets people's blood pumping. What are you anyway? Don't you want to learn from Qingbao? Do you want to become a kind person like your father in the future?"
"Kindness is often taken advantage of. Look at your father, how many people have bullied him?"
"It's better not to be so kind."
“Jingheng, you still have a lot to learn from Qingbao.”
The old man solemnly patted Xia Jingheng on the shoulder.
Xia Jingheng suddenly had a sense of familiarity.
"Qingbao, get off my royal grandmother right now!"
The next moment.
The Empress Dowager grabbed his ear and said, "I have learned this from Qingbao. What do you know? You are useless."
If Qingbao hadn't fainted, he would have really thought that his grandmother had been possessed by Qingbao.
It turns out that the kind Empress Dowager's sudden change in sharp tongue was something she learned from Qingbao.
They imitated it so well.
After Xia Jingheng visited his grandmother, his worries dissipated.
Then he went to see his mother and younger siblings.
Finally, they arrived at the Imperial Study.
He saw his father, the emperor, who was dealing with state affairs and was in a state of great distress.
Surprisingly, he found the scene somewhat heartwarming and lingered for a while.
He engraved his father's diligent governance in his heart.
After an unknown amount of time, the setting sun cast its rays upon his back, stretching his shadow to the emperor's desk.
The emperor put down his pen and looked at him.
"Heng'er, I knew you were coming back today, so I ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare your favorite Jiangyao Clear Soup. As for the scallops, your mother picked them out one by one herself..."
"You must stay for dinner tonight, otherwise you would be disappointing your mother."
It hadn't been long since I returned from Zhenguo Temple, less than half a year.
Royal affairs are numerous and complicated, and the number of times the family can eat together is very limited.
Xia Jingheng nodded, his eyes unconsciously welling up with tears.
He lowered his eyelids, trying not to let his father notice, and asked in a gentle voice,
"Father, if one day you must choose between your son and the people of the world, what would you choose?"
The emperor remained silent for a long time.
After a moment, he turned around and pondered for a moment:
"I am the king, and I will choose the people."
Xia Jingheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Then the emperor said, "I am the father, and I will choose my son."
Different stances and different identities lead to different choices.
Xia Jingheng understood.
The Emperor turned around, his smile full of satisfaction. "Over the past ten years, your grandmother has truly raised you very well. Heng'er, I am very happy to have a child like you."
Without realizing it.
The emperor's eyes also reddened slightly.
He took a jade-colored blanket and gently covered Xia Jingheng's knees.
"This was sewn for you by your mother overnight. Use it as a cover."
Every stitch and thread reflects the mother's silent concern.
When he was five or six years old, he mentioned that he liked the color of jade, and his mother remembered it for more than ten years.
"Your subject will go back to bathe and change now, and will come over to have dinner with Father and Mother in a while." Xia Jingheng tried hard to suppress his voice.
After the guards pushed him away.
The emperor's tears fell to the ground with a patter.
Eunuch Li, feeling quite sorry for him, advised, "Your Majesty, you know about this and are reluctant to part with His Highness. Why not persuade the Crown Prince to stop? What if he really disappears..."
"He is the Crown Prince, and his sacrifice for the sake of all people is worthwhile. I shed tears because he is my son..."
He knew everything.
But he didn't blame his son; his eyes were full of reluctance and pride.
Eunuch Li silently lowered his head.
Hopefully, His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't noticed anything unusual.
*
Xia Jingheng returned to the East Palace.
Her eyes were slightly red.
"Go and find out who in the Princess's residence has recently sent a letter to the Emperor."
The guard was stunned. "Could it be..."
The only person who could inform the emperor of this matter so quickly would probably be the one with magical powers.
Thinking about this...
Xia Jingheng frowned slightly, "Never mind, she just wants Father and Mother to spend more time with me..."
Tang Chen is the person he has met who knows the most about being a parent.
If her daughter were still alive, she would surely be very happy.
"Your Highness, you've already guessed it all. His Majesty and you both know the truth. Do you still want to eat this meal?" the guard asked.
Xia Jingheng touched the thin blanket on his knees. The embroidery was exquisite, shimmering with a soft light, and it felt comforting.
"Father would not want to hurt Mother's feelings. Wise people never point things out to each other."
Even if it's a family member, even if there are a thousand words to say goodbye.
If both parties understand each other, there's no need to say more.
Xia Jingheng changed his clothes and went to his mother's bedroom with his father for dinner.
My younger siblings were also there, and even the Empress Dowager came despite her poor health.
He grabbed a whole roasted chicken and ran.
Xia Changle angrily chased after her.
The elderly person had difficulty walking and ran slowly, and almost twisted their back.
Xia Changle held the roasted chicken, wiped his nose, and looked smug.
"Grandmother, you're both incompetent and playful."
Everyone burst out laughing.
It had been a long time since such a harmonious scene had been seen in the palace.
Eunuch Li stood to the side, laughing so hard his body trembled.
"Looking at them like this, they really do resemble an ordinary family reuniting during a festival."
very nice.
Unfortunately, we probably won't be able to see it again.
*
The capital city.
Su Xiao led several senior brothers down to search for traces of the Heavenly Manifestation Library.
On the long street.
They stopped and looked at a small stall selling calligraphy and paintings, which was crowded with people.
Su Xiao pushed aside the crowd and led a few people to cut in line.
"Senior Brother Xuming, these are calligraphy and paintings from our human realm, which have aesthetic value..." Su Xiao fawned over Xuming, who was leading the group.
"I know, but no matter how beautiful something is, it's no different from trash to us." Xu Ming raised his chin, his eyes full of disdain.
In the eyes of cultivators, anyone who cannot help with cultivation is a piece of trash.
"Then you..." Su Xiao couldn't understand why he stopped to look if he didn't like it.
Xu Ming glanced at him. "I'm just curious why the paper used for this calligraphy and painting has a spiritual aura and looks like it's not an ordinary item."
"Has the paper you mortals use developed to this extent?"
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