Chapter 478 Mother
Meng Lingge recalled that when Wen Zhiming was in the northern frontier, the military camps under his command were strictly disciplined and the people were never harmed. At that time, he was also renowned for his virtue, and many people came to him because of his reputation. She nodded in agreement.
"Wherever your father goes, given time, he will become a hero of that place. This trip was planned, and we did not expect the people to come, which is why we have to go to such lengths. When we arrive in the northern frontier, we should not announce the arrival time in advance. This way, we will not trouble the people and we can catch the local officials off guard."
Wen Zhiming looked at Meng Lingge with doting eyes.
“My wife, we’re thinking the same thing now. Just now, I had the idea of having the people deliver the gifts to the nursing home, and you said it first. No wonder we’re husband and wife, this tacit understanding is simply innate.”
“Woyu, your father has been well loved by the people over the years and has achieved some political success, but this is inseparable from your mother’s contributions. Your mother is a very clear-headed, decisive and charming woman. Your father needs to be excellent enough to be worthy of her.”
Wen Woyu smiled, her eyes crinkling, her face full of seriousness.
"My father is a hero, and my mother is an extraordinary woman. I am very content and lucky to have such a father and mother. So whatever decision my father and mother make, I will support you."
Meng Lingge blushed deeply at the sudden praise from the father and daughter.
In particular, Wen Zhiming's words were both praise and affectionate. If it were just the two of them, it would be fine, but now, in front of the Empress Dowager, an elder, it made her feel really shy.
She couldn't help but glare at Wen Zhiming, then raised her eyes and said seriously, "Speaking so rudely in front of the Empress Dowager, she may not hold it against you, but I won't. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll send you to another carriage."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhiming looked at the Empress Dowager and smiled, "We are no longer in the palace, so the rules are not so important. After such a long and tiring journey, it is more important for our family to be comfortable and relaxed. What do you say, Mother?"
Through the gap in the carriage window, which was blown open by the wind, the Empress Dowager saw the grateful and respectful faces of the people outside, following behind the carriage and insisting on seeing them off. She still felt a little regretful that Wen Zhiming had given up the throne.
But when they looked up and saw the two adults and one child in front of them, their faces were relaxed and relieved, and their smiles were so simple and pure that the slight regret seemed to become less important.
Parents who are solely focused on personal gain and fame only care about their children's abilities and how high they can climb in life. Parents who truly love their children are content as long as their children are happy.
The Empress Dowager smiled and looked at Meng Lingge.
"The rules are indeed not that important along the way. You two have been restrained in the palace for several years, and there will be many things to do in the northern frontier. These days of travel are the only time you can relax. If you are unable to relax because the Empress Dowager and Woyu are in front of you, you two can go to another carriage together. The Empress Dowager and Woyu will take care of each other, so you don't need to worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Wen Woyu immediately sat down next to the Empress Dowager and obediently nodded, saying, "Woyu said she would take care of the Empress Dowager, so please rest assured and entrust the Empress Dowager to me."
Their luggage was stored in another carriage, and the space in the front was not large, barely enough for two people to sit.
But this large carriage isn't too small, and it's not like the whole family is going to be split into two carriages for no reason. The fact that the couple is in the other carriage, even if they haven't done anything wrong, is enough to arouse suspicion.
Meng Lingge blushed even more and lowered her head.
"It's lively when the whole family is together. This is the first time that the Prince and I have taken the Empress Dowager and Woyu out for a trip. It's safer to be in the same carriage."
After saying that, she looked at Wen Zhiming with bright eyes and complained, "It's all your nonsense. Now even the Empress Dowager and Woyu are making fun of me."
Wen Zhiming smiled but remained silent.
Seeing that Meng Lingge refused, the Empress Dowager did not say anything more. The family chatted and laughed, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Seeing that there were still people following behind the carriage, Wen Zhiming felt sorry for them and urged the guards to hurry up, so that he was able to leave the people behind.
When they reached the city gate, the carriage stopped again.
A guard standing beside the carriage said, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort's family members request an audience."
Upon hearing that they were Meng Lingge's family members, the couple got up at the same time, lifted the curtain, and got off the carriage. The Empress Dowager and Wen Woyu followed closely behind.
Meng Lingge didn't want to be too sentimental at parting, so she summoned her family yesterday and told them not to see her off today. Now, seeing Du Shiyin waiting at the city gate with Meng Xiyao and Meng Qingyu, she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
Du Shiyin took her hand and said, "A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles. You and the prince are going to the northern frontier, a distance of a thousand miles. How could I, as a mother, not see you off in person? We originally planned to wait at the palace gate, but there were too many people there. Qingyu said you would definitely have to pass through the city gate, so we went ahead and waited here."
Her legs and feet are now quite flexible, and there is no sign of anything unusual when she stands still.
However, the sun was scorching today, and Du Shiyin was afraid of missing Meng Lingge and her party, so she was unwilling to wait in the carriage. She stood in the sun for a while, and her face turned red from the sun, with a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.
Meng Lingge casually pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her sweat. "Didn't we agree yesterday that we wouldn't see you off? Your leg has just recovered. If I had known you insisted on seeing me off, I would have left the palace earlier and gone to the Meng residence."
The only thing Meng Lingge felt guilty about was leaving the palace and going to the northern frontier with Wen Zhiming. Her only regret was towards her parents.
Although being an empress meant not being able to see her parents every day, she could still see them several times a month and be informed of everything happening in the household immediately.
Going to the northern frontier is no different from marrying far away, and she will likely hardly see her parents all year round. Fortunately, there are plenty of people to take care of her in the mansion. Meng Qingyu is filial and sensible, and Meng Xiyao is also very good to her parents, which can somewhat comfort Meng Lingge's guilt.
Du Shiyin knew that Meng Lingge could not stay long, and she could not let the 50,000 soldiers behind her wait for them to slowly pour out their sorrow of parting, so she looked at the Empress Dowager and Wen Zhiming and said.
"The Empress Dowager and the Prince's itinerary was set long ago, and I shouldn't be taking up your time now. But a mother can't help but worry about her child, so I went to the temple early this morning to get some amulets and brought them over. Empress Dowager, Prince and Princess, Princess, each of you should keep one close to your body. These amulets have been blessed by a high monk and are very effective."
She took out a purse from her bosom, carefully removed the four amulets inside, and handed them to the other person one by one.
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