Chapter 743 The Army Returns
The fourth day of the seventh lunar month is the beginning of autumn.
Li Sanniang got up early. A couple of days ago, she heard from the people at the drug rehabilitation center that a large army returning from the border city was stationed only ten miles away from here.
As for why they stopped outside Chang'an even after arriving there?
Firstly, in order to better manage this group of tens of thousands of returning soldiers, it is natural to manage them in a unified manner before they are rewarded, so as to avoid causing trouble for the security of Chang'an City.
Secondly, before Emperor Wu rewarded those who had died for the Tang Dynasty, there would be a ceremony at the Loyal Martyrs Shrine outside the city, led by Emperor Wu, to pay tribute to the loyal souls who had died for the Tang Dynasty.
This is something all soldiers must participate in, even auxiliary soldiers, such as the cooks who are responsible for cooking.
Therefore, this large army is currently stationed outside the city, waiting for today's arrival.
Li San Niang and the other physicians had been notified well in advance, of course, by the Imperial Medical Bureau. This time, Director Wang of the Imperial Medical Bureau would lead dozens of physicians from the Chang'an Medical Alliance to attend the ceremony.
After all, the military doctors made great contributions in this battle, and Emperor Wu will surely reward the physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau when he rewards them for their merits.
As for why these doctors, who were not from the Imperial Medical Academy but merely from the Chang'an Medical Alliance, were brought to the ceremony?
In Wang Shuzheng's words, "We also need to show them that the doctors in our Imperial Medical Bureau are respected and meritorious."
That way, they can see our Imperial Medical Academy as a good place and desperately want to get in.
Besides, I reckon this drug rehabilitation center will be staffed year-round from now on, so we should at least give them a taste of success, shouldn't we?"
Today, Li San Niang changed into the dark blue dress that her mother had made for her long ago. Ling Lan carefully inserted a wooden hairpin into Li San Niang's hair bun.
"Master, isn't this a bit too plain? Even if it's for attending a memorial service, this is too..."
Li San Niang looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She was truly impressed by Ling Lan's skill in creating such a neat and tidy hairstyle. She gently shook her head and replied to Ling Lan, "That's what we want. It's all about simplicity. We're going to a memorial ceremony, so this is fine. There's no need for any more hair ornaments."
At the agreed time, Li Sanniang and Qiu Xiang, who was also dressed in dark blue, stood in the open space outside the drug rehabilitation center and waited.
On this day, no one was unprepared, and soon everyone was present.
After Ning Yizheng said a few words, everyone went to find their own carriages.
Just as Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang were about to go find the carriage arranged by the Imperial Medical Bureau, Granny Yan came over and said, "The princess knows that Doctor Li is also going to the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, so she asked me to ask if Doctor Li is willing to get on the princess's carriage and go together."
Li San Niang hadn't expected that Princess Qingyang was still thinking of her. She quickly curtsied to Granny Yan and said, "Thank you for remembering me, Princess. Qiu Xiang and I thank you very much."
Thus, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang walked forward and followed Granny Yan onto Princess Qingyang's carriage.
Believe it or not, this princess's carriage was much larger than an ordinary carriage; it was truly spacious. Inside, there was only the princess and a maid, plus Li San Niang, Qiu Xiang, and Granny Yan, and there was still room to spare.
Besides their carriage, there were many other carriages and pedestrians on the official road.
The fact that Emperor Wu would hold a memorial service for the soldiers who died in this great battle at the Temple of Loyal Martyrs outside Chang'an with the army returning to Chang'an was known to everyone in Chang'an.
Not to mention, today is the beginning of autumn, which is a ten-day holiday. Those with officials in their families have already left the city a day or two in advance to stay in their estates on the outskirts of the city. They will then set off directly from the estates to the Martyrs' Shrine.
The rest of the people who wanted to see the ceremony could only go to the Martyrs' Shrine along the official road as soon as the city gates opened in the early morning.
As a result, the official road is quite congested right now.
Earlier, when Li San Niang returned to the Li family, she asked Li's parents if they wanted to go to the Martyrs' Shrine in the suburbs to pay their respects, but after thinking about it, they declined.
Although there will be guards and patrols to maintain order, there will definitely be a lot of people, and it wouldn't be good if something happened.
Li San Niang thought about it and agreed; it was indeed not very suitable.
However, all three members of the Li family's eldest branch, father and sons, will be present. Li the eldest, as a member of the Imperial Guard, will definitely be guarding Emperor Wu's carriage. Li the youngest is a soldier in the returning army, and Li the second is an official in the Ministry of War's Assistant Department, so he will certainly be there.
There were many people and vehicles, but fortunately, it was all planned out, and we left home just as dawn was breaking.
Inside the carriage, Princess Qingyang treated Li San Niang to cakes, saying, "I suppose that since we're setting off so early, Doctor Li won't have time for breakfast. We'll probably have to wait for more than an hour when we arrive."
"Dr. Li, please have something to eat to tide you over."
Princess Qingyang was right. Li Sanniang had gotten up early and hadn't eaten anything with Qiuxiang. However, Li Sanniang did have some sugar cubes that Linglan had specially put in her sleeve.
“Your Highness is right. Qiu Xiang and I have truly not eaten or drunk a drop of water. Therefore, I will not stand on ceremony with Your Highness.”
Li San Niang took the plate of four cakes handed over by Granny Yan and shared them with Qiu Xiang, each taking two cakes.
After traveling for nearly an hour, the carriage finally stopped. The coachman outside explained that the area had been under control for some time, with soldiers in front of it. This meant that the carriage could not proceed further and that passengers would have to get off and walk to get in.
Li San Niang was somewhat surprised by this, because she was sitting in a princess's carriage.
The last time Li San Niang came here to pay respects to Dr. Guo of Yuandetang, who unfortunately died on the front line during the great plague, she came as a commoner. She got off the carriage at the door and walked all the way in.
Unexpectedly, even a royal princess had to dismount and walk here.
Princess Qingyang noticed Li Sanniang's surprise. Dressed in dark clothes and wearing only a silver hairpin in her hair, Princess Qingyang explained to Li Sanniang, "It was ordained by the Sage."
As the sage once said, the loyal souls in the Temple of Loyal Martyrs, the Monument to Loyal Martyrs, and the Tomb of Loyal Martyrs all died for the Tang Dynasty and its people. As living people, even princes and nobles must dismount and walk over to them.
This is the respect that the living should show them.
Li San Niang raised her head and looked steadily at Princess Qingyang. She could hear the seriousness and agreement in Princess Qingyang's words.
"Yes, it is because of them that we have such a peaceful and stable life."
After Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang got off the carriage, they bid farewell to Princess Qingyang. After all, Li San Niang came with the Imperial Medical Bureau, so she naturally did not stand with the royal princess.
However, once she stepped off the carriage and looked at the huge crowd around her, Li San Niang finally had a real sense of what was going on regarding this memorial service.
Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang spent a while figuring out the directions before they finally found the location of the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and it took them another quarter of an hour to get there.
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