Liu Zhao's body was covered with traces of old injuries.
Big scars, small scars, layer upon layer.
Over time, the scars have faded a lot.
Some scars are still hideous and terrifying.
He had just finished a massage, applied a plaster, twisted his neck, and felt a little better.
Gu Jiu asked him, "Are you feeling better?"
"The plaster you prepared is more effective than the one from the Imperial Hospital. It's amazing."
After saying that, he gave a thumbs up.
Gu Jiu snorted.
Bang!
Another plaster was placed on his neck.
"If you hadn't screamed in pain in the middle of the night, were you planning to keep it a secret from me?"
This is a typical case of launching a military campaign to bring about an accusation.
Liu Zhao already had a countermeasure.
He chuckled and pretended to be honest, "I was just worried that you would worry."
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him, "You're clearly showing off! Do you really think you're a 20-year-old boy? I think you've lost your mind."
After saying that, he stretched out a finger and poked him on the head.
Liu Zhao took the opportunity to grab her hand and said, "Don't be angry. I promise that if I feel any discomfort, I will not hide it from you."
Gu Jiu had a stern face and never gave him a good look.
"As for you, just rest and recuperate in Xiaozhu. The boss is helping to look after you in the palace, so you don't need to worry about anything."
"I will do as you say. All my will. Otherwise, I will just issue an edict and let you govern the country."
"Don't put him on the fire. We live in Xiaozhu, so close to the capital. If you issue a decree to let Yu Ge'er govern the country, the court officials will have wild imaginations and create a lot of trouble for no reason."
"The Queen is right. I will obey her in all matters."
Liu Zhao muttered secretly again, "I am not as important as that brat Yu Ge'er."
"What are you mumbling about?"
Liu Zhao flatly denied it, "I didn't say anything."
Gu Jiu used his concentrated technique to massage his neck. "Is it still sore?"
Liu Zhao said, "Much better! I feel better! The Queen really cares about me the most!"
Bang!
A slap hit Liu Zhao on the back.
"Stop the sweet talk and flattery. Do you think I won't mind the things you've hidden from me just because you're coaxing me? You're dreaming! I'll keep nagging you until you're annoyed."
Liu Zhao raised his hands in surrender because he was afraid of Gu Jiu's nagging.
…
Early in the morning, Liu Yu came to Xiaozhu carrying a basket of memorials.
When he saw that his father was completely subdued by his mother, he couldn't help laughing while hiding aside.
Liu Zhao couldn't do anything to Gu Jiu, but he was very good at dealing with his own son.
His face turned serious, and he pointed at Liu Yu, "Come here! I want to see you..."
Liu Zhao began to nag and give a long speech in front of his son.
Gu Jiu secretly rolled his eyes, stood up and left, leaving the space to the father and son.
Liu Yu was in great pain. After two hours of suffering, he finally ended. He ran to Gu Jiu for comfort and help.
"Mother, you have to control Father! He's been nagging more and more. He's even brought up things from when I was a child more than a decade ago."
Gu Jiu said, "Your father has been suffering from an old injury these days and can't sleep all night. He is really irritable, so you should be patient."
"Has Father's pain not subsided yet?"
"It has eased slightly, but it's only a temporary solution. When he was injured, the conditions were poor and there was no way to get proper treatment. Now that he's older, his body is starting to ache. You must learn from your father's lesson and take good care of your body."
"I will obey my mother! Otherwise, I will stay in Xiaozhu and spend time with my father."
"No need! Your father is very busy. You should keep an eye on the court for your father and report anything that happens in time."
"The court has been relatively calm lately. Because of the drought, they were making a fuss for a while, but by now, most people have calmed down. No matter how much they riot, the 10% tax rate, the universal tax rate, will not change. It seems they can't hold out any longer, and some people are exchanging their land for shares in the Shaofu Grain Store."
Gu Jiu urged, "Keep a close eye on it and strive to have a peaceful new year."
"Your son obeys your order!"
…
By handing over government affairs to Liu Yu, Liu Zhao had a rare chance to enjoy some leisure time.
But these leisurely days have lasted too long, and I miss the busy days.
Gu Jiu suppressed him and did not allow him to return to the palace.
Her attitude was unquestionable. "We'll return to the palace after the New Year. You should take this opportunity to take good care of your health. Once you're well, you can handle government affairs properly, instead of constantly smashing cups and kicking stools, pointing your finger at court officials and threatening them with confiscation of property and even death. Tell me, after being emperor for so many years, why haven't you learned to get along well with your court officials and discuss things properly?"
"It's not that I'm unwilling to have a proper discussion with the court officials, but that those court officials are unwilling to talk properly."
Liu Zhao was justified in putting all the blame on the court officials.
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him. "The court officials are unwilling to speak properly, and you are unwilling to speak properly either. It has become a tit-for-tat situation. It's always like this. Aren't you tired?"
"If the court officials are not tired, then of course I am not tired either."
"The court officials have changed batch after batch. You are alone, so there is no need to get angry with them every day. You understand the court officials' style of doing things, so you should change your way of dealing with them."
Liu Zhao shook his head, very stubborn. "My style is to be straightforward and do things with real swords and guns. I feel uncomfortable if you ask me to change my approach."
Enough!
She worried for nothing.
It seemed that he enjoyed arguing with the court officials.
Gu Jiu stopped persuading him.
The palace servant reported, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, there's a monk outside who wants to see you. He said he has an appointment with Your Majesty."
When Gu Jiu heard this, he immediately ordered: "Invite him to the flower hall and don't embarrass him."
"I obey your command!"
The palace maids left.
Gu Jiu said to Liu Zhao, "It's time for us to pay our debts."
Liu Zhao hesitated for a moment, "I will not show up. I left that hopeless letter for you. You decide on this matter."
"OK!"
Gu Jiu tidied up and went to the flower hall.
A young monk stood in the middle of the hall.
His head was shiny and his back was straight.
The monk heard the noise and turned around, "This humble monk pays homage to the Empress!"
Gu Jiu was in a daze for a moment. "May I ask your Buddhist name? What is your relationship with Master Wuwang?"
"My name is Zhitong, and Master Wuwang is my master. This is the letter my master gave me before he passed away. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
Monk Zhitong took out a well-preserved letter from his arms.
Xu Yousi took the letter and made sure it was safe before handing it to Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu stared at Monk Zhitong's cheek, feeling dazed.
She came to her senses and asked the other person to sit down.
The letter was a handwritten letter left by Wuwang. The content was brief, only saying that Zhitong was a baby he picked up when he went to Xiliang in the west, and he was accepted as his disciple, and his certificate of ordination was recorded in Xiangguo Temple.
Gu Jiu put away the letter, feeling very sad.
She said, "When Master Wuwang was ordered to return to the capital, I didn't know until I saw him there that his health was already failing. It was a miracle that he managed to make it back to the capital. Taoist Master Xuanqing also wrote to me later. He wanted to persuade Master Wuwang not to return to the capital. After all, the journey was long, and given Master Wuwang's physical condition, he might not be able to make it back alive. However, Master Wuwang was determined to return to the capital and would not listen to anyone's dissuasion. Fortunately, he made it back to the capital safely."
Zhitong chanted the Buddha's name, "Amitabha! I was supposed to return to the capital with Master, but Master assigned me several other tasks. With no other options, I had to ask my fellow apprentices from Xiangguo Temple to accompany Master back to the capital. By the time I finished the tasks Master assigned me, I hurried back to the capital, but Master had already passed away a year ago. The abbot gave me Master's belongings, including the letter in Your Majesty's hand. Master told me to visit Your Majesty this winter, but didn't specify what I was to do. Please give me your instructions, Your Majesty."
Gu Jiu sighed, "Master Wuwang also left a letter for me before his death. His body was already failing, and he went into seclusion to practice meditation, hoping to pass away peacefully. However, he still had one unfulfilled wish, which he entrusted to me, hoping that I could help him fulfill it."
"I wonder if Master has any unfulfilled wishes?" asked Monk Zhitong.
Gu Jiu looked at Zhitong's face and saw a familiar shadow on his face.
She was in a trance again, but this time she quickly came to her senses, "How did you get to your master?"
Zhitong clasped his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name, "Amitabha! I am an abandoned baby that Master found on his way to Xiliang. I am very lucky to have met Master and to have been with him for many years."
"Do you know who your parents are?" Gu Jiu asked cautiously.
The young Zhitong already has the demeanor of the hopeless young monk of the past.
He shook his head slightly. "I am an abandoned child, but I am also a disciple of Buddhism. It doesn't matter who my biological parents are. Master is not only my master, but in my heart, he is my father."
Gu Jiu nodded heavily, "You are right."
She controlled her emotions and asked, "Have you ever wondered about your parents? Have you ever thought about finding them?"
Zhitong's face was calm, "I've never been curious, nor have I ever thought about it."
Gu Jiu smiled, "That's great! Your father...your master's unfulfilled wish is to build a cenotaph on Beimang Mountain, overlooking the imperial mausoleum."
Zhitong was a little confused, "I don't understand."
Gu Jiu said softly, "Your master's life was full of colour. He will surely leave a lasting mark in history books. His merits and demerits will be judged by future generations. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Just remember that your master wanted to look in a certain direction of the imperial mausoleum."
Zhitong nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the information! I still have the Master's clothing and belongings. I will go back and find a grave for the Master and build a cenotaph for him."
Gu Jiu laughed. "Two years ago, I selected a burial site for Master Wuwang. The underground palace has also been built. It's on Beimang Mountain. Please prepare your master's belongings and choose a date for burial."
Zhitong clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I would like to visit Master's tomb first. Please allow me to do so."
"I will arrange for someone to take you to Beimang Mountain right away."
"Thank you, Madam! I still have a question, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask it."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Ask."
"I don't understand why Master didn't have a cenotaph built when he passed away, but waited two years to do so."
Gu Jiu pondered for a moment, "There are two reasons! The first reason is that he wants to wait for you to come back so that you can build his own tomb. The second reason is that he wants to fulfill the Empress Dowager's wish."
"I don't understand, what does this matter have to do with the Empress Dowager?" Zhitong was raised by Wuwang and was used to asking questions whenever he had any.
Gu Jiu patiently answered his questions without getting tired of it.
"The Empress Dowager is resentful, and Master Wuwang hopes to appease her resentment with his own death, allowing her to leave without any regrets. This month, the Empress Dowager's twenty-seven months of mourning will be over. It's the perfect time to build a cenotaph for Master Wuwang."
"Master, are you familiar with the Empress Dowager?"
"No! They are not familiar with each other. They are only connected because of one person."
"oh!"
Zhitong did not ask who was involved.
Gu Jiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little regretful.
She clearly saw a familiar shadow on Zhitong's face.
She couldn't help but ask, "Did your master ever tell you who you look like?"
Zhitong nodded, "Master once said that I looked like an old friend. That's why he decided to take me in as his disciple instead of sending me to be raised by the villagers."
"What else did your master say?"
"Master told me to go back to Xiliang if I have the chance."
Gu Jiu laughed, "There will be a chance."
"Thank you, my lady. I'll take my leave!"
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