Chapter 183
End of April.
Qu Dubian just managed to extricate himself from the enthusiasm of the northern border soldiers and went to Yangzhou with Xu Jin.
He originally wanted to go to Qingzhou, Jeju, and Xianghe County, but looking at the current situation, he was afraid that he would not be able to reach his fiefdom in a year.
So I temporarily changed my itinerary and went directly to the fiefdom. After I got familiar with the fiefdom, I went to travel in the south.
It wouldn't be good to make grandpa and grandma wait too long for the meeting, as they haven't seen each other for more than ten years.
After bidding farewell to Xia Fuyang, Ye Lianyang, Lang Qing Ersen and others, Qu Dubian set out again.
-
Qu Watanabe spent his eighteenth birthday on the road.
It wasn't as grand as his seventeenth birthday, but Xu Jin still found an inn where he could use the kitchen and personally cooked a bowl of longevity noodles for him.
It was already mid-May when they arrived in Yangzhou.
The Great Zhou Dynasty was established for only three generations, a few decades. It took root and sprouted in the rotten body of the previous dynasty, and many traces of the previous dynasty remain.
For example, when Qu Dubian's mother, Concubine Yun, was posthumously conferred the title of empress, the court still followed the previous dynasty's rule that the son of a posthumously conferred empress was also the legitimate son. Later, Emperor Chongzhao abolished the previous dynasty's old system, and Concubine Yun was able to be posthumously conferred the title of empress.
The Zhou Dynasty had states and counties. The chief of a state was called a governor, and the chief of a county was called a county governor. Although the names were different, their titles, powers, and responsibilities were the same.
This naming system is a unique name created after the integration of the previous dynasty and the Great Zhou Dynasty. Later, everyone accepted it and called the one-character name "zhou" and the two-character name "jun".
In order to avoid the division and chaos of the country caused by the enfeoffment of kings, Qu Dubian's fiefdom was in Yangzhou, but he did not have full jurisdiction over Yangzhou. He only enjoyed the food and part of the taxes here.
He can form a guard within the specified specifications, but he has no military power. He has certain administrative power, and if the Yangzhou officials want to do anything, they have to discuss it with him.
The carriage slowly drove into the city.
A cool breeze blows.
The perceived temperature is around 17 or 18 degrees, which is just comfortable.
Qu Dubian was wearing a red and black cross-collared robe, sitting on the front beam of the carriage, driving himself. Driving was not unusual, but what was unusual was that he was blindfolded.
The blind man was driving the cart and attracted many people to look at him along the way.
The girl carrying a flower basket on the roadside smiled and threw a flower to the blind handsome boy, "What a handsome young man, where are you from? Tell me your name, I won't dislike you."
Qu Dubian reached out and caught it accurately. He raised his lips and smiled towards the direction where the voice came from.
"You have a disability, so it won't hinder me. I am a sweet and kind person, and I am sure I will find a good family."
The girl selling flowers was stunned for a moment, then smiled brightly, took out a bunch of flowers from the basket and threw them at Qu Duanbian, "Thank you very much."
The flower fell on Qu Dubian's robe, and he spread his hands helplessly, "My sister gave it to me, what else can I sell?"
"Take what's given to you!"
More and more people were watching from both sides of the carriage. I don't know who started it, but after the flower girl threw the flowers, some people threw sachets, some threw handkerchiefs, some threw hairpins...
The girls were laughing and joking, mostly trying to join in the fun.
Xu Jin said happily: "My grandson is welcomed wherever he goes."
Ye Xiaoyuan said: "Your Highness, why don't you come in and hide."
Qu Watanabe: "This is my territory, there's nothing to hide."
He raised an eyebrow and smiled, reaching into the carriage, "Umbrella."
Xi Zixing handed out an oil-paper umbrella.
Qu Dubian opened his umbrella to block the flowers, sachets, handkerchiefs, etc.
"Now you can't hit the head."
Look how cute the Q-version man is standing on tiptoe to throw flowers. He doesn’t want to go in.
Xi Zixing laughed: "Our Prince Yong, when he first arrived at his fiefdom, he experienced the scene of the number one scholar riding a horse and parading through the streets."
The people on the bridge also looked down, curious as to why everyone was circling around a carriage.
The ten-mile-long street is connected to the market, and you can see the gods on the moonlit bridge.
A person is only fit to die in Yangzhou, and the scenery of Chanzhi Mountain is a good place for a burial.[1]
The lazy boy held an umbrella and leaned against the edge of the carriage. The carriage slowly passed through the street, and the corners of his clothes were already filled with the fragrance of flowers.
-
Yangzhou developed because of the canal and is the second most prosperous and bustling city after the capital.
Qu Dubian's residence in Yangzhou was in a very quiet location, and the carriage stopped in front of Prince Yong's Mansion.
Several people got off the carriage, and a plaque was hung on the gate of the mansion. The three large gilded characters "Yongwang Mansion" were written in a majestic and powerful manner.
The servants outside the palace were the servants from the prince's palace who moved here when Qu Dubian was in the capital.
He was dozing off quietly, but when he saw the people and dogs getting off the carriage, he immediately woke up and shouted towards the mansion: "His Royal Highness Prince Yong is back!"
He ran up attentively: "Your Highness, Butler Ye!" His eyes stayed on Xu Jin for a few seconds, and he said cleverly, "Old Marquis, you are so young!"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "You are the only one who talks sweetly."
Xi Zixing and Yi Twelve followed behind.
They went in chatting and laughing, and not long after they entered the main hall, Concubine Xuan, Noble Lady Guo, and Wu Siwan all arrived.
Qu Watanabe: "Mother."
Concubine Xuan smiled and held his hand, saying, "Yeah. Did you have a good time on the way?"
Qu Watanabe nodded: "Very good."
He looked at his grandparents, who were still three or four meters apart, staring at each other in silence.
Qu Dubian is eighteen years old this year. When he was two and a half years old, his grandfather went to the border and stayed there for sixteen years.
My grandparents haven't seen each other for sixteen years. All their thoughts, memories and memories have gradually faded away with the passage of time.
And the last time they met sixteen years ago was only about half a month ago.
Halfway through life, we are together less and apart more.
Qu Dubian walked up to Xu Jin and poked him quietly from behind.
Xu Jin seemed to come back to his senses and walked up to Wu Siwan in three or two steps. Sixteen years ago, their hair was clearly a mixture of black and white, but now it was completely white.
Xu Jin wiped his eyes and sighed with a smile, "Alas, I really don't want to embarrass myself in front of the children."
Wu Siwan pinched his palm hard, turned his face away, and said something irrelevant: "The stones you grind and send to me every year are so heavy. It's not convenient to bring them this time."
Qu Dubian waved his hand silently, and tiptoed out with Concubine Xuan and the others.
Leave this space here for grandpa and grandma.
They should have a lot to say.
-
Qu Dubian temporarily settled down in the palace in Yangzhou.
The governor of Yangzhou and others came to pay a visit, and all official social interactions were handed over to Mr. Xi Zixing, the former top scholar and current chief clerk of the Prince Yong's Palace.
He thrived here like a fish in water, and it was no problem for him to sort out the taxes on his fief, check the accounts, and investigate corruption.
He lived a truly leisurely and happy life here.
Concubine Xuan and Noble Lady Guo often went out dressed as men. Qu Dubian often saw them wearing different styles of men's clothing, or foreign women's clothing, which were very popular in Yangzhou, and going out on the streets. Gradually, they went further and further on the road of cosplay.
When she went out seriously, she went to the orphanage and the women's hospital.
The two of them helped these two places in Yangzhou, funded the growth of the children in the orphanage, invested in medicines for the women's hospital, and looked for female doctors to teach in the orphanage.
It is said that he started doing this not long after arriving in Yangzhou, and regarded it as half of his career.
In the palace, they were the same "concubines" kept in the harem. After leaving the palace, they became flowers of different shapes and forms, stretching their bodies to their heart's content, some sharp, some bright.
Concubine Xuan also concealed her identity and went to work as a female master in a local martial arts school. She was not a resident master and only needed to go there once every three days.
Qu Dubian made a development plan for the orphanage. Funding alone is not enough. Since it is a charity, there must be a detailed plan, otherwise a good thing will turn into a bad thing for someone to enrich himself.
Grandpa and grandma have a lot of free time, often go out for a stroll -
They all went out through the back door of the palace to avoid being recognized by others.
Otherwise, if you can hear greetings of "Hello, My Lord" everywhere you go, what's the point?
Yishier still occasionally goes out to do some dark web stuff.
Qu Dubian got up early every day to walk his dogs and grandchildren, and every few days, he would take Xi Zixing to go fishing.
-
In July.
A major event happened in Da Zhou.
The fourth prince was appointed as the crown prince and officially became the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou.
All officials congratulated and the whole world was happy. Qu Dubian also wrote a letter and sent a congratulatory gift.
It was also from this day that he tried to make his eyes start to improve.
-
Capital city.
The Imperial Palace.
The Fourth Prince had long ago moved from the Prince's Mansion to the East Warm Pavilion next to the Zichen Palace.
When he came back from the enthronement ceremony, everyone who passed by called him "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Fourth Prince, wearing the noble and gorgeous black and gold prince's robe, entered the slightly gloomy East Warm Pavilion.
The East Warm Pavilion was much more cramped and smaller than the Prince's Mansion, and the windows did not let in much light. The piles of books on the desk were piled up together, forming a small mountain.
The fourth prince has been a little chubby since he was a child, with big eyes that are always half drooped, as if he is unable to wake up.
There is a lot of elegance in his brows, with a hint of alienation that seems to keep strangers away.
But now, he doesn’t look fat anymore, he has lost some weight recently.
After entering the pavilion, the palace servant said softly, "Your Highness, the gift from His Highness Prince Yong has arrived, along with a letter. Do you want to read it?"
The fourth prince seemed to show some vitality at this moment, "Bring it here quickly."
The palace maids were also arranged by Emperor Chongzhao to be around him. All the ones that the Fourth Prince was used to using in the Prince's Mansion were replaced. His every move and every word were watched by the emperor.
The Fourth Prince didn't care and didn't become restrained by such gazes. Except when he was forced to teach, he slept when he was tired, ate when he was hungry, and pretended not to hear when he was scolded.
Live like a disobedient puppet.
He washed his hands and opened the letter his brother sent him expectantly:
"Fourth brother, I am glad to hear from you. I heard that you have been promoted to the position of Crown Prince. I am sure many people around you are congratulating you. I know your character, so I will not congratulate you. I just hope that you can take more rest in your spare time."
The fourth prince curled his lips.
"I sent you Yangzhou specialties, as well as some weird things I bought along the way. Fourth brother, remember to open them. Even if you don't play with them, the process of opening things will be very happy and relaxing." At the end, he drew a little man with his hands on his hips and a V sign.
The fourth prince couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Just by looking at the lifelike little man you can tell that the letter was written by him.
Xiao Qi is quite good at writing blindly. After all, he has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. Even though he can't see, he has a good sense of direction.
He turned another page.
"...The snow scenery in the northern part of the Great Zhou is very beautiful (Liu Liu and Ban Ban both said so), but it is very cold. I am always worried that a little bit of white poop will freeze my butt on the road."
The fourth prince held his forehead with his hand.
Xiaoqi is really something, he writes everything down.
The next two or three pages are all filled with his rambling about the trivialities of his daily life.
"There is an old man in his seventies in Yangzhou, who seems to be a craftsman who worked for the royal family in the previous dynasty. He is very proficient in painting porcelain. Concubine Yi likes to sketch on paper. I will send her a porcelain painting someday. You can deliver it on my behalf..."
The Fourth Prince watched as he seemed to be experiencing it himself. He read very slowly, going over every word in his mind and imagining the scene.
After watching it, I felt a lot more relaxed.
He asked someone to grind ink and wrote back to his brother.
-
East Factory.
Inner prison.
The innermost room was separated.
The lights and candles inside were kept burning day after day except when the prison master was sleeping.
The prison where the fifth prince lived was connected to the prison on the other side of the wall.
The cell on the left side of the wall was extremely simple. The Fifth Prince would only live here when he had to deal with the palace maids who occasionally came to inspect. He usually lived next door.
A low-key and comfortable cell.
Qu Dubian asked Wen Xiaochun to take care of the Fifth Prince. Wen Xiaochun directly moved all the things in the Fifth Prince's bedroom and arranged them there according to the original specifications.
After all, habit is the most comfortable.
There were two additional storage shelves to store the strange things that Qu Watanabe sent privately, for the Fifth Prince to identify, select and classify.
This time when Qu Dubian sent things to the Fourth Prince, he did not forget his fifth brother.
Of course, Xiaochun also has one.
The fifth prince looked at the small pile of strange things in the cell and sighed slightly.
He knew Xiao Qi was worried that he would commit suicide, but there was no need to send so many gifts...
well.
The fifth prince came closer holding a lit candle, squatted down resignedly, and began a new round of gift opening.
-
Purple Palace.
After the winter, Emperor Chongzhao's health deteriorated and he spent more time in bed.
Before the Xiang River flood, his health had not been good. Doctor Yang told him to give up drinking cold and strong tea and not to stay up late to avoid damaging his nerves.
Emperor Chongzhao abstained from doing things for a period of time, but in the past two years, things happened one after another, and his mind was frequently shaken, and he felt extremely sad and angry, which were all taboos.
In addition, he was used to reviewing memorials himself, so even if they had been screened by Master Fang and the other two, he would check them from time to time when he was free.
Later, I started drinking strong tea again, which drained my mind early on.
Therefore, he followed the wishes of the court officials and appointed the fourth prince as the crown prince.
After all, there is no point in waiting any longer, as there is only one candidate left who can ascend the throne. Instead of waiting, it is better to decide as soon as possible and appease the country.
He summoned Prince Ming back from the border just to have him look after the court.
To outsiders, the worse his health is, the more worried they become.
Even the three Grand Secretaries including Master Fang were the same.
"Please pay more attention to the affairs of the court and ask more questions about everything. The fourth brother is a smart one, but he is too lazy," Emperor Chongzhao leaned on the bed.
Prince Ming: "The Fourth Prince has always been like that since he was young. Even if you want him to be diligent, you can't rush it."
Emperor Chongzhao was silent for a while and looked at his hands which were far from old. The weakness inside caused his hair to turn white quickly. When he looked in the mirror, he felt like a real old man.
"I don't know how many years I can last."
He had not expected earlier that the fourth prince would become the crown prince in the end. Now he wanted to make up for what the fourth prince had missed learning, such as the art of checks and balances as an emperor, the art of controlling subordinates, etc., which he had to cram into his head as soon as possible.
Prince Ming consoled him, "No. Now that the crown prince has been appointed, all my brother needs to do is take good care of his health and train the fourth prince to become a qualified crown prince."
Emperor Chongzhao changed the subject: "Since the fourth prince has become the crown prince, the status of Concubine Yi can be appropriately promoted."
Prince Ming: "The mother of the crown prince should be given the title of consort."
Emperor Chongzhao nodded and said, "Tell the fourth son to go and tell her."
-
The fourth prince went to Fu'an Palace.
Everything in Fu'an Palace remained the same as before. The Fourth Prince seldom came, and three or four times a month to pay his respects was considered a lot.
He knew that his mother had the same personality as him and liked to have her own independent space and stay quietly in her own space.
Concubine Yi was still in her own small Buddhist temple.
The smoke is curling up, and it is peaceful and quiet.
She knelt on the mat and chanted sutras in a low voice.
When the Fourth Prince arrived, he didn't say hello. He just knelt on the cushion next to Concubine Yi and waited for Concubine Yi to finish the prayer process.
After about a quarter of an hour, Yipin opened her eyes and said, "Here it comes."
She turned her head and looked up and down at the crown prince robe on the Fourth Prince. The four-clawed golden dragon looked majestic.
Concubine Yi reached out her hand, touched his clothes for a moment, and sighed slightly.
"Since you wear it, you have to take responsibility."
"I don't want to wear this."
Moreover, the Fourth Prince saw very clearly that his father only wanted him to be a king who would maintain the status quo.
The Great Zhou is very stable now and will no longer face the situation of being attacked from both sides. The Northern Frontier Protectorate has been established, Xu Tingfeng is guarding the Zhennan Pass, and there are regent ministers and Emperor Ming's uncle in the court. As long as he is not a fool and is frugal, he can be a king who maintains the status quo.
The Fourth Prince: "I can't breathe outside."
Yipin: "When you can't breathe, you'll feel much better if you find a spiritual support." She looked at the shrine. "What else can I do? Fate is falling on my head. I can't avoid it. I can only accept it."
The Fourth Prince followed her gaze upwards.
He had seen this upward-looking perspective countless times when he was a child, and many times he fell asleep while watching it.
"Mother, I don't think I've ever asked you why you believe in Buddhism. Is it because of your maternal ancestors?"
He actually had no maternal grandfather. He had heard that before his mother entered the palace, all the members of her family were burned to death by the Nanning soldiers who invaded the border of the Great Zhou.
Maybe I have asked, but it has been a long time and I have forgotten it.
Yipin nodded and said, "My family members died in the fire. The Buddha will let them rest in peace. Do you have anything else to do today besides resting with my mother?"
The fourth prince: "Father wants to promote mother to a higher position and make her a concubine. He asked me to ask mother what she thinks."
In fact, he asked just to go through the process.
If Concubine Yi wants to change her title, she should tell him, and he will tell Emperor Chongzhao, and then they will change it at the time of enthronement.
Yipin: "As long as I don't move and don't get too tired, it'll be fine. I'll discuss with the Queen and it would be best if the enthronement ceremony can be shortened."
Her reaction was within the Fourth Prince's expectations.
"Then I will tell Eunuch Yu when I get back," the Fourth Prince stood up and said goodbye, "My son is leaving first."
Yipin: "Go slowly on the road."
The Fourth Prince walked to the door, but he heard a faint laugh from behind him, as if by illusion.
"..." The Fourth Prince stopped and turned around.
It was darker inside the small Buddhist hall than outside. Wisps of green smoke rose into the air and spread out, like a beast's face that gradually became more ferocious.
Concubine Yi was still kneeling on the futon with her back to him.
The fourth prince hesitated and asked, "Mother?"
Yipin: "Hmm? Why, you remembered something else?"
The Fourth Prince: "No, I heard it wrong."
-
Yangzhou.
Qu Watanabe received a reply from the Fourth Prince.
The fourth brother was very satisfied with the gift he sent and planned to open it slowly.
He also talked about his painful current situation of being forced to study, and his various ways of being lazy and taking a rest.
Pretending to be sick and being lazy was the most useless thing, because Imperial Physician Yang was always by his father's side. As soon as he pretended to be faint or uncomfortable, Imperial Physician Yang would come out to see him the next second.
"...Fortunately, Doctor Yang would occasionally let me off the hook, saying that I was tired and letting me rest for half a day. Xiaoqi, Fourth Brother really wants to tie the bed to himself."
The whole article is filled with the miserable atmosphere of working overtime.
Qu Watanabe: "How miserable."
After Ye Xiaoyuan finished reading, he also said, "How miserable."
Qu Watanabe: "However, Fourth Brother is probably gradually accepting it. Otherwise, according to his personality, he would never get up from his bed in the Purple Palace."
Lao Deng's coercive policy is not very effective on the fourth brother. He will adjust to a level where he can barely get by.
He put the letter away.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "It was sent along with the Fourth Prince's letter, along with Doctor Yang's new medicine."
Qu Watanabe: "It's a nice night outside today, I want to go out for a walk."
He immediately went out and knocked on the next room, "Xi Zixing, you are still awake, come out for a walk."
“…”
There was a rustling in the room, and Xi Zixing came out with his clothes on. "Didn't you just take a walk after dinner?"
Qu Watanabe pursed his lips.
Xi Zixing understood, "Okay."
The two left side by side. Ye Xiaoyuan was in the house and said helplessly, "This time it's sweet, just a little bitter."
-
Since the last correspondence with the Fourth Prince, the two began to write letters frequently.
It's all trivial daily life.
Qu Watanabe probably also understood that his fourth brother wanted to use this method to relieve the subtle pressure brought to him by the people around him.
It is September, the golden autumn.
The Fourth Prince's position as crown prince slowly began to stabilize.
When Qu Dubian was planning to go to Zhennan Pass or the three counties of Xianghe for sightseeing, a piece of news came from the capital.
Director of the Astronomy Department Zhang Fanming is dead.
More than ten years ago, after his son was killed by Xu Jin, who believed him to be a spy from Northern Xinjiang, he has been staying at home and has not gone out. According to the servants in the mansion, he looked quiet over the years, but in fact, he might have gone crazy.
He held an official position as a chief official, but his niece Zhang Chansi later deprived him of all power. He then remained idle at home and lived alone in a separate courtyard.
When Qu Dubian was a child, he suspected that he had teamed up with others to frame Concubine Yun with public opinion and rumors.
When she was seven years old, rumors arose in the palace again because Princess Sihe's biological mother was pregnant with her. He kept a close eye on the harem to find the source of the rumor, but found nothing.
Later, twelve years passed, so many people and things happened, the situation changed, some died, some left, some were abandoned. The longer the time went by, the more blurred the clues became, and it became harder to see what had happened before.
During this period, Zhang Fanming remained silent.
Qu Dubian reflected on whether his previous inference was wrong. Because of the incident with his uncle's legs, he even suspected Lao Deng, wondering if he had deliberately spread rumors to suppress the Xu family.
But, Zhang Fanming is dead?
Qu Watanabe: "How did he die?"
B Twelve said, "The message said that he came out to drink water at night, passed by the well in the courtyard, fell in, and drowned. The only one who presided over the funeral of Zhang Fanming and carried the coffin back to his hometown knew the details."
Zhang Chansi is the deputy chief who loves math and was pursued by Qu Dubian when he was a child, but apart from the master-disciple relationship of solving problems, they don't have much in common in other aspects of life.
Qu Dubian: "Carrying the coffin back to his hometown, where is Zhang Fanming's hometown?"
B12: "It's in Yangzhou. When the people arrive, Your Highness may ask them."
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