Chapter 114
Concubine Zhou did not survive.
As she got older, she was burdened by longing and became thinner day by day.
On the day of her departure, Concubine Liang and the other two concubines from the Cining Palace, Concubine Xuan and Noble Lady Guo, as well as Qu Watanabe and Zhiyi, were all by her bedside.
But among so many people, the one that Concubine Zhou had in mind was not among them.
She held Qu Watanabe's hand, "She ate the snack...she ate the snack, right..."
It was the snack that she asked Zhiyi to give to Princess Xiang that day. Although it was late, Qu Dubian rode a fast horse and finally delivered it to Princess Xiang.
Concubine Zhou had asked him several times and confirmed it several times, but she was always worried that she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, and that this was just someone else comforting her.
Qu Duanbian said patiently: "Don't worry, Grandma Taifei, Auntie must have tasted it. I rode very fast, and it was still hot when I delivered it."
"You still don't believe me? When have I ever lied to you?"
Concubine Zhou: "Okay... That's good..."
She looked toward the north through the window again. "If one day, Ah Xiang comes back, you tell her that her mother tried very hard to live a few more years, so that she could see her again, but... her life span has come to an end, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Tell her not to be sad, I just returned to Xianghe, you send me back to my hometown, I will wait for her at the soul tomb in my hometown..."
"Xiao Qi, Zhi Yi, tell me, if I return to Xianghe, can my soul fly along the river to the northern border to take another look at her."
Qu Watanabe held her hand tightly and said affirmatively: "Yes, it is possible."
Concubine Zhou smiled with relief, "I trust you the most."
She murmured, "I will leave sooner rather than later. Remember to tell her that I still want to be her mother in my next life."
A drop of turbid tear flowed down the corner of the old eye and sank into the silver-gray hair.
Concubine Zhou closed her eyes, and the petals of the flowers in the vase on the windowsill withered and fell.
The window in her room always faced north. Over the decades, from black hair to white hair, she had no idea how many times she had looked out from this window and prayed for the future.
Low sobbing sounds were heard in the Cining Palace.
Qu Dubian's eyes were red, and Zhiyi lay on the edge of the bed, suppressing her tears.
I raised him for fifteen years, we were separated for more than twenty years, and we met again in just half a month, and now we are separated by life and death.
Concubine Zhou spent the rest of her life in longing.
Now the longing has finally come to an end.
-
The funeral of Concubine Zhou was rather troublesome to deal with.
Because of Princess Axiang's marriage, Concubine Zhou had a big quarrel with the late emperor. The late emperor promised her that after the leader of the Northern Frontier royal court changed, Princess Axiang would be allowed to come back and live with her in Concubine Zhou's hometown.
From then on, he lived a peaceful and comfortable life, free and unfettered, and never set foot in the political arena again.
According to the late emperor's order, Concubine Zhou does not have to be buried in the late emperor's concubine tomb.
The Queen was in charge of handling this matter: "Before Concubine Zhou died, she also wanted to return to her hometown Xianghe. Since it was the will of the late emperor and Concubine Zhou's last wish, Your Majesty will not refuse. But the choice of the person to carry the coffin back to the hometown needs to be carefully considered."
Emperor Chongzhao was also inside Fengwu Palace. He nodded when he heard this and said, "Well, Ah Xiang is still in the Northern Frontier. Concubine Zhou's funeral needs to be handled properly. Just follow her wishes and the late emperor's will."
Queen: "Then...Princess Xiang?"
Emperor Chongzhao sighed, "Let's keep it a secret for now. I'll tell you when everything is settled. Do you have anyone to escort Concubine Zhou back home?"
The queen thought, "According to the rules, I can go too, or you can select the main concubines to support the group."
"It's better to be serious," Emperor Chongzhao thought for a moment.
This kind of coffin-carrying job has little to do with the court, but it involves Ah Xiang, so it needs to be treated seriously.
When Concubine Zhou was alive, she was on good terms with Shunning Palace and they visited there frequently. It was very suitable for Xiaoqi to carry the coffin to Xianghe River, but his health was too poor. Emperor Chongzhao was worried that only one person would have to lie down when he went there, and two would have to lie down when he was buried.
Xiaoliu is spoiled and has just entered the court. He might become more calm after some experience.
Emperor Chongzhao: "Let the Sixth Prince go, then ask Concubine Xuan if she is willing to take charge, and finally pick two experienced relatives from the royal family."
The queen agreed.
-
Shunning Palace.
Concubine Guo asked, "Why did Your Majesty let my sister go?"
Concubine Xuan: "I am the most suitable one."
Concubine Zhou was, after all, a member of the harem, so all matters related to the burial needed to be attended by someone of sufficient status from the harem.
Your Majesty has chosen the Sixth Prince, so the biological mothers of the other princes who have already established their own palaces and attended court would be better off avoiding this coffin-carrying event. Your Majesty is probably worried that the other princes' mothers will attack the Sixth Prince on the way.
But she is different.
Xiao Qi still lives with the prince. She is not his biological mother, but she has a sufficient status and a certain level of combat power.
No matter how you look at it, it's the most suitable one.
Besides, Shunning Palace and Cining Palace are very good friends because of Xiaoqi.
Concubine Xuan: "Xiao Qi, what do you think?"
Qu Dubian: "The Xiang River should be very beautiful. Xia Fuyang is stationed there and he often writes about how beautiful it is."
Concubine Xuan smiled and said, "Yes, I almost forgot that your little playmate chose the Xianghe garrison."
"Empress Xuan, why don't you go there?" Qu Dubian remembered how Concubine Xuan looked at the scenery outside on the way to hunting last time. "We didn't have enough fun hunting. It will take at least two months to go to Xianghe. You can have some fun on the way."
Concubine Xuan was lost in thought for a moment, then said, "Carrying the coffin is a serious matter, how can we relax and have fun?"
Qu Watanabe: "That's Grandma Taifei's hometown. She must have wanted others to appreciate the place where she grew up."
Concubine Xuan: "I'll think about it."
Qu Duan nodded: "Madam Xuan, don't worry about me. I will come to Shunning Palace after school to enjoy Madam Guo's food."
He really hoped that Concubine Xuan could go out for a walk, ride a horse, and enjoy the fresh air more often.
Until her death, Concubine Zhou had only left the palace a few times, and she spent her entire life languishing and buried in the harem. He didn't want Concubine Xuan to be the same.
Concubine Xuan thought about it for a day and agreed to the task of carrying the coffin.
Emperor Chongzhao officially issued an edict.
Three days later.
Concubine Zhou dressed herself in formal attire and closed the coffin. The Sixth Prince and Concubine Xuan set out for Xiang River to send her back to her hometown for burial.
-
Only Concubine Guo was left in Shunning Palace.
In order to prevent her from feeling lonely, Qu Watanabe and Zhiyi came back for dinner almost every day.
Because he didn't want to play tricks with Master Fang, Qu Dubian went out of the palace more frequently, mainly to visit his grandmother's house.
It was unfortunate that I came today, it started raining on the way.
Because he didn't bring an umbrella, after arriving at the Marquis's Mansion, he hurriedly got out of the carriage and got a little wet.
Mother Fang hurriedly asked someone to cook ginger soup.
Wu Siwan wiped his hair with a cotton towel and said angrily, "It's raining a lot recently. You can either stay in the palace or stay in the Marquis' Mansion for a while. You don't have to worry about getting sick if you go back and forth."
Qu Dubian rubbed against me and said affectionately: "I missed you."
Wu Siwan stretched out her finger and tapped his forehead: "After Concubine Xuan went to Xianghe, I think no one is watching over you, and you are playing around everywhere. Stay at the Marquis' Mansion tonight? I don't think the rain will stop for a while."
"Change your clothes later, take a medicinal bath, and eat something hot."
Qu Dubian smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to grandma."
The grandfather and grandson had not been talking for a while when a servant came in to report, "Old Madam, Young Master, Prince Yu Ruo is outside our house. He said it was raining and wanted to hide in our house for a while."
"Prince Yuruo?" Wu Siwan was puzzled. "What a coincidence."
Qu Watanabe: "It's coming for me."
Wu Siwan: "It's strange, why do you always avoid him?"
Qu Watanabe: "He is a pervert."
Wu Siwan: “…”
Qu Duan looked at the simulator Yu Ruo's favorability, which was currently 17.
It's not like he hasn't tried to get along normally with Yu Ruo, but this guy doesn't gain favorability when they do so. The 17 points now are basically earned by him undermining the other party and making sarcastic comments about him, and some points were added inexplicably.
There is no such person in the world.
He couldn't figure out the pattern, and Yu Ruo was an enemy, so he felt it was better to give up.
Wu Siwan: "How about grandma ask him to leave?"
Qu Watanabe: "He has come to our doorstep, and he is a prince, so we cannot accept his request."
Wu Siwan nodded: "Go, invite Prince Yu Ruo in."
Qu Watanabe: "I'll go take a look."
-
Yu Ruo was invited to a sheltered pavilion in the marquis's mansion.
The pavilion was surrounded by bamboo curtains, making it a little dark, so he pulled aside the curtains.
Qu Dubian came in holding an umbrella and said, "I won't ask you to go to the inner room. My grandma is resting."
Yu Ruo turned around and said with a smile: "It's really not easy to see you."
Qu Dubian shook off the water droplets on his umbrella, lifted his skirt, sat on the stone bench, and placed the lunch box in his hand on the table.
"Ginger soup and some snacks, come and have some."
Yu Ruo drank some ginger soup and ate a few snacks: "I came to Da Zhou five years ago. The original hostage covenant was five years."
Qu Watanabe: "Oh? Are you leaving?"
Yu Ruo was silent for a moment: "I handed in a memorial. The Emperor of Great Zhou asked Nanning whether he would allow the hostage to return to the country. Nanning said no."
Qu Duanbian nodded: "It's sad to trade you for peace and abandon a pawn."
Yu Ruo: "You won't comfort me?"
"We're not familiar with each other. If you hadn't come close to me, I wouldn't want to see you."
“…”
Qu Du bit his snack and said vaguely, "Isn't it easy to analyze? My father doesn't want to release you, and your father doesn't want to take you back. The five-year alliance is just words on paper. If the two countries ever clash again, you will probably be able to go back."
Yu Ruo laughed at herself sadly: "Are you talking about the body going back?"
Qu Dubian: "Even if it's just a strand of hair, it's fine." He glanced at Yu Ruo, "I don't see that you're too sad. The fact that you were sent to the Great Zhou shows that you weren't very favored. Now that you're refused to return home, isn't that expected? Why do you have to act pitiful in front of me?"
Yu Ruo was not embarrassed, the sadness on his face disappeared immediately, and he said with a light smile: "You see, even if you always hide from me, you still know my true thoughts."
Qu Duanbian rolled his eyes silently.
This shameless guy has been pestering him for five years and has not given up. How could he be broken down by this?
"If you were in better health and older, your brothers wouldn't be a problem in the court now."
Qu Dubian was alarmed: "Don't do that. With my level of knowledge, I might not even be able to pass the assessment for building a mansion."
Yu Ruo: "Master usually gives in."
Qu Watanabe was really annoyed by this person. He felt like the sheepskin of safety he was wearing was being grabbed by this person.
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
"You're different."
“What’s the difference?”
Yu Ruo: "I don't know, just intuition."
Qu Watanabe: “…”
The rain outside was a little lighter, and Yu Ruo stood up and said goodbye, "I'm leaving now."
Qu Dubian spat out two words: "You are sick."
-
July.
It was still raining heavily.
The gloomy weather gradually imprinted itself into people's hearts.
Emperor Chongzhao's brows furrowed day by day, and he asked people to pay attention to the water conditions in some southern counties and strengthen the dams.
Qu Dubian also sent a message to Xia Fuyang who was far away in Xianghe.
Please ask him to take care of Concubine Xuan and the Sixth Prince who are about to arrive near the Xiang River, and it will not be too late to start the burial after the rain stops.
Xia Fuyang's reply was brief and to the point. He had already sent his soldiers, local officials, and Concubine Zhou's mother's family to meet them.
Qu Watanabe finally felt relieved.
He looked at the dark rainy sky. His cheap father's face had not been bright in the past few days. He hoped that the sky would clear up as soon as possible.
However, just a few days after he received Xia Fuyang's reply.
An urgent letter of 800 miles arrived from Xianghe County, shocking the government and the public.
The Xiang River dam burst, causing massive flooding and devastating disasters in three counties.
This includes Xianghe County where Concubine Xuan and the Sixth Prince are located.
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