Chapter 303 Summoning
The carriage stopped at the foot of Fengxing Mountain, and Zhao Yi was the first to get off.
Afterwards, he lifted the carriage curtain and helped Emperor Jing'an down. Eunuch Cao, who had accompanied them, stood aside tactfully, not interfering with the uncle and nephew.
The uncle and nephew stood at the entrance of the mountain path, looking at each other in silence.
Emperor Jing'an did not arrange for Zhao Yi to go to the Taimiao today because he did not want people to look at Zhao Yi with strange eyes when he personally revealed the truth.
Because Zhao Yi's life experience had just been revealed, the court officials would not accept Zhao Yi at the first time. Emperor Jing'an was worried that those unfriendly looks would hurt Zhao Yi.
They walked from the palace to Fengxing Mountain without speaking a word.
No one deliberately mentioned their background.
Emperor Jing'an looked at Zhao Yi's unusually calm expression. It seemed that no matter what happened, he was always calm, restrained and composed.
He put aside his thoughts and took a step forward: "Let's go."
Zhao Yi looked at the quiet path paved with bluestone slabs. It was clean and tidy, with only a few fallen leaves.
Two rows of guards stood on both sides of the path.
He slowly followed Emperor Jing'an and came to the gate of a villa.
The courtyard has white walls and gray tiles, which is simple and clean.
Zhao Yi pushed open the gate and the scene in the yard came into his sight.
The yard was full of autumn chrysanthemums in full bloom, and vines climbing up the shelves and walls were bearing plump gourds.
The midday sun shines on the tiles, smoke curls up, the aroma of food fills the air, and the air is filled with the smell of life.
Emperor Jing'an said, "Yizhen said she doesn't like lonely places. She prefers the atmosphere of life in the city to living in the hostage's house."
Therefore, the guards guarding the villa will live a normal life in the villa, making this villa full of life.
Zhao Yi curled up his fingers slightly. Life in the city was free, open, unrestrained and full of human touch.
She doesn't like city life, but she yearns for the freedom and comfort of the city.
Emperor Jing'an stepped into the yard, stepped on the smooth stone slabs, and came to the backyard.
Zhao Yi saw lush pine and cypress trees standing in the backyard, surrounding a lonely grave with a half-person-high stone tablet.
The tombstone is engraved with "Epitaph of the Late Princess Yizhen of the Great Zhou Dynasty". Below it is a large blank space with no inscription engraved on it. Only his name is engraved in the corner.
At this moment, Zhao Yi suddenly understood why Emperor Jing'an was anxious when Prince Rui's men found Fengxing Mountain.
Once someone breaks into the villa and discovers this grave, his life story will be exposed.
Emperor Jing'an followed Zhao Yi's gaze and saw Zhao Yi's name on the tombstone. He slowly walked forward, stood in front of the tombstone, and brushed away the fallen leaves on it.
"Before this, you and your son cannot recognize each other. You may even be unaware of her existence for the rest of your life."
Emperor Jing'an's eyes were filled with sadness. "I thought that Yizhen was thinking of you, so I had some selfish thoughts and carved your name on her tombstone."
Zhao Yi had never seen his biological mother, let alone her portrait, and he had no idea what she looked like.
He did not stay in the Yangxin Palace today, but went to the Taimiao, stood outside the Taimiao, and listened to everything Emperor Jing'an said.
After hearing the story of Princess Yizhen, miraculously, her image appeared in his mind.
A person who cares about the interests of the country and is willing to sacrifice his own life.
Even if she is covered in mud, it cannot hide her character.
Zhao Yi took a stick of incense from Eunuch Cao, knelt in front of the tomb, inserted the incense into the incense burner, then took a wine glass and toasted from left to right.
Emperor Jing'an watched Zhao Yi kowtow to Yizhen, his heart heavy with sorrow. He had waited for this scene for over twenty years.
"This is the cenotaph I built for your mother. Her remains are still in Northern Qi." Emperor Jing'an helped Zhao Yi to his feet. "The people of Great Zhou are very angry and do not want peace between the two countries. If nothing unexpected happens, Northern Qi will send someone to take you back."
He placed his hand on Zhao Yi's shoulder and said, "When the time comes, you will go to Northern Qi in person and bring your mother's remains back to her homeland."
Zhao Yi nodded. Whether as a descendant, a citizen of the Great Zhou, or a court official, this was what he should do.
Before leaving, Emperor Jing'an went into the room, took out a small bag and handed it to Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi held the bundle in his hand, which was heavy and very substantial.
Before leaving the villa, he looked back in the direction of the lonely grave, stopped for a moment, and then looked away and left.
On the way back, Zhao Yi and Emperor Jing'an each rode in a carriage.
Zhao Yi sat in the carriage, lowered his eyes and looked at the bundle on his legs. He looked at it for a long time before he began to open it, revealing a square wooden box.
He opened the wooden box and saw a rattle and a pair of tiger shoes inside.
Zhao Yi's eyes paused, and he immediately understood that these two things were prepared for him by his biological mother.
He took out a pair of tiger shoes. The tiger shoes were very small, not as big as his palm.
The tiger on the shoe is lifelike and its eyes are lively and realistic.
The only difference is that the left shoe has an eye half-embroidered on it.
She probably died before she could finish the embroidery.
Zhao Yi looked at the tiger shoes in his hand and felt a tightness in his chest.
Every stitch and thread contains a mother's love for her child.
He was lucky in his life. Even though he was plagued by illness, he never lacked love.
His parents gave him a warm home and all their love.
His uncle dotes on him even more.
Today, his biological mother's love for him has not diminished in the slightest.
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Zhao Yi returned to Lanxue Garden and hid the tiger shoes and rattle in the sealed compartment of the cupboard.
He half-knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the cupboard. Only when his legs went numb did he come to his senses, slowly stood up, and saw Shen Qingtan standing behind the screen.
"I'm back." Shen Qingtan's eyes fell on the hem of Zhao Yi's robe, where his knees were stained with mud. "Would you like to change clothes first?"
Zhao Yi looked down and saw that his robe was dirty. He said "hmm" softly and followed Shen Qingtan into the inner room.
Shen Qingtan took out a clean straight suit and placed it on the cabinet beside him, freeing his hands to untie Zhao Yi's belt.
Zhao Yi saw that Shen Qingtan took care of his feelings and did not ask him where he went or what he did today.
But the moment he saw her, he wanted to say something to her.
"I went to Fengxing Mountain today to pay homage to my biological mother."
Shen Qingtan looked up at him, telling him that she was listening.
Zhao Yi had a lot to say, but when it came time to speak, he didn't know what to say.
He put his arm around Shen Qingtan's waist and rested his chin on her head: "Manman, hold me for a while."
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Deputy Envoy Gao's letter was sent to the Northern Qi Imperial Palace at an express speed of 800 miles.
After reading it, the Emperor of Northern Qi hurriedly summoned the imperial teacher.
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