The retired emperor was very certain that no one sitting in that position would wholeheartedly trust another person. Nothing had changed; it was just a matter of time, or perhaps it was merely a facade of peace.
He heard that the five princes had already expanded the territory of Xuan Kingdom by one time. He didn't believe that they were only willing to be princes. Even if they didn't remove Jiang Jin from the throne, hadn't they ever thought about establishing another kingdom?
However, he was destined to be disappointed. Jiang Ming and the other four were interested in expanding the territory, but not in managing it. Each time, they would have Jiang Jin send people from the court to garrison and educate the people. This time, they returned to the capital to rest and wait until after the Empress Dowager's birthday before going to conquer.
As the year draws to a close, the fourth prince, Jiang Jun, who is closest to the capital, returned to Beijing first, bringing back several cartloads of treasures.
The Empress Dowager looked at her son, whose beard was so unkempt that she almost didn't recognize him.
She then looked behind her son and asked, "Haven't you found a soulmate these past few years?"
Jiang Jun wiped his face: "I spend most of my time at sea, how can I have time to find women? If I bring back a savage, would you accept him, Mother?"
Upon hearing this, the Consort Xian couldn't help but hit him: "You're just talking nonsense. Since you haven't found someone yet, and you can stay in the capital for a while this time, your mother wants to discuss arranging a marriage for you with your mother. What do you think?"
"Just do as you say, my son doesn't have any requests."
"Your mother will do her best to find you someone you like." Over the years, the Consort Xian has witnessed the loving relationship between His Majesty and the Empress and highly approves of the practice of monogamy and not taking concubines. At least it reduces many conflicts and disputes. If he is still childless at the age of thirty, it is not too late to consider taking a concubine.
"Is Mother doing well in the capital?"
"It's great. I can play mahjong and drink tea with your Consort Zhuang and Consort Li when I have free time. Life is very comfortable."
"Mother, would you like to go out to sea with your son next year? There are some sights overseas that are well worth seeing."
"No, thank you." Consort Xian waved her hand dismissively. "Unlike your mother, I can't withstand this kind of torment."
Speaking of Song Xia, Jiang Jun laughed again: "I heard that the Empress Dowager was taken to the north by Jiang Gu?"
"Yes, that place is freezing cold. You could easily get frostbite if you're not careful. Your mother has a lot of energy."
"My mother has always had a strong desire to explore."
"It's been almost two years since I last went back to Beijing, and I really miss her."
I bet everyone wants that!
By mid-December, everyone except Song Xia and Jiang Gu had arrived in the capital. Everyone was eagerly waiting, and then they cursed Jiang Gu several times for taking people to such a far place.
On December 20th, Jiang Jin, who had been searching for the emperor's whereabouts, led his brothers to greet him at the city gate, while Consort Zhuang and the others prepared tea and waited in the palace.
As the sound of horses' hooves drew closer, the brothers' emotions surged, and they all dismounted, saying, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty."
"Get up, everyone." Song Xia lifted the carriage curtain. "It's just a trip back to the capital, why make such a big fuss?"
Jiang Jin smiled and said, "Your subject has missed you."
Song Xia smiled and looked at them: "This time I'll stay in the capital with you for a few months. Xiao Jin, political affairs must be tiring, you look so tired. Xiao Ming, don't think I can't tell just because you've put on some powder. How come you have another scar on your face? If you have another one, I won't see you again. And Xiao Zhen, how did you get so tanned? Xiao Jun, don't laugh, you're not much better than your third brother. As for Xiao Rui, you're the most obedient and well-behaved. I'll give you a reward when we return to the palace."
Jiang Rui stepped forward with a smug grin, proudly raising his head towards his elder brothers: "Thank you, Mother. Your son will always obey you."
Seeing him so smug, the other brothers couldn't wait to beat him up, but Jiang Rui stayed close to Song Xia for security.
Upon arriving at the palace, Song Xia and the several imperial concubines exchanged pleasantries for a while, which finally enlivened the atmosphere.
Dinner was hot pot. Song Xia noticed that the hot pot ingredients prepared by the imperial chefs were not much different from those in modern times. These spices were collected by the children from various places. There were also various ingredients that were arranged on a plate. Many of them were unfamiliar to her, but the fact that they were on the table proved that they were not only edible, but also delicious.
As usual, no one else would start eating until Song Xia did. She picked up her chopsticks and put down the first plate of mutton: "No formalities today, eat and drink to your heart's content."
Then he raised his glass again: "To our unprecedented prosperity, to all that we have created."
"Dry!"
Because there were so many people, three tables were set up, and the whole palace was filled with laughter and joy. Meanwhile, in the Taiji Palace, the retired emperor was still waiting to be invited to the banquet. However, as he waited and waited, and the cold wind picked up, he realized that he was not among those invited.
The retired emperor was furious and cursed, followed by a deep sense of desolation; none of them treated him as family.
"Jin Hui, do you think I really made a mistake back then?"
Jin Hui simply helped him inside: "Your Majesty, it's late. Let me help you inside. What would you like to eat? I'll have the imperial kitchen send it over."
"No, I have no appetite."
On one side was the Cining Palace, bustling with singing and dancing, and on the other side was the Taiji Palace, desolate and silent. Jin Hui sighed inwardly, "His Majesty has been abandoned by everyone."
Although he was the retired emperor and still received the best material treatment, he had no real power, and his descendants were not close to him. The retired emperor must have lived a lonely life. But what could he do? It was the retired emperor who had personally killed the Empress Dowager, and it was the retired emperor who had personally created the conflicts and contradictions between His Majesty, the princes, and the imperial concubines. It was understandable that everyone did not want to see him again.
Perhaps there really is cause and effect in a person's life!
In May of the following year, everyone in Xuan Kingdom knew it was the Empress Dowager's 30th birthday. Countless subjects and commoners went to the capital to present her with congratulatory gifts, including an embroidered "Ten Thousand People's Blessings" character, which was said to have been embroidered by tens of thousands of embroiderers, one stitch at a time. This made Song Xia feel very incredible.
Little did she know the profound impact her achievements had on women and how many lives they had changed. Everyone respected and blessed her from the bottom of their hearts.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects and wish you a long and healthy life, and a long and peaceful life."
Hearing the unified congratulations, Song Xia was deeply moved: "Rise, all of you."
Then she said to the lady-in-waiting beside her, "I am only thirty, but this show of force makes me seem like I am fifty or sixty."
The lady-in-waiting covered her mouth and laughed: "You'll have to get used to it. There won't be just one birthday celebration like this in the future; it might even get bigger and bigger."
As she said, by the time Song Xia was fifty years old, the territory of Xuan State had grown to an unbelievable size. Yan State had long since submitted, and countless ethnic groups had become subjects of Xuan State. Later generations always felt most proud and honored when they learned about this period of Xuan State's history.
This is an era that countless people yearn for, and it is also the era that people of later generations most want to travel to. They all want to see the legendary Empress Dowager and the one emperor and five generals she raised. Only she could make the royal family so harmonious.
Some people suspect that she is a time traveler because the knowledge she teaches is too advanced.
Before the Emperor Emeritus died, Jiang Jin stood by his bedside and said to him in a calm tone, "I have done it. I am not you, and my brothers have not changed either."
The retired emperor was speechless; his eyes were cloudy, and he had already given up.
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