The summer heat in Jinling is a bit uncomfortable.
It was only the fifth day of June, but the sun was already scorching the huge city of Jinling like a blazing brazier.
The morning court session had already ended, and Emperor Xuan did not stay in the imperial study. He returned to Dieyi Palace because Empress Shang had returned, and also because his ninth princess, Yu Wenyun, had returned.
Queen Shang had finished her bath. She was dressed in white and asked the palace maid to bring two basins of ice and place them in the room.
Yu Wenjun sat silently at the tea table and made a pot of iced sour plum soup, waiting for Queen Shang to come.
"Why didn't you bring Yi'an back?"
Yu Wenjun smiled faintly, "It's too hot today. I can only stay in the ice house. I'll cry if I go out."
Queen Shang sat down. "But you've spoiled him. He's not as tough as his father...Have you replied to the letter?"
"Yes, he replied. He's busy in that damn Chi Lechuan Autonomous Region. He came here today to see the Queen Mother and also to write a letter for his daughter to give to the Emperor."
"Oh..." Empress Shang frowned slightly. Yu Wenjun poured her a cup of sour plum soup and asked, "Your Majesty, you have worked hard on this journey. I will soon be leaving Jinling. It will be difficult for me to fulfill my filial duties by your side in the future..."
Queen Shang sighed slightly, "I still have your brother by my side, right? You won't be too lonely with Shulan and the others when you go to the Wu Dynasty. I don't know who he will make his empress after he ascends the throne, but I want to tell you that in the harem, you should only fight for what you should fight for, and never fight for what you shouldn't fight for."
"I am a man who understands the big picture. If you can teach Yi An well, that will be your greatest success."
"This woman, a mother's status depends on her son, after all, there is some truth to that..."
Before Empress Shang finished speaking, Emperor Xuan walked in.
Yu Wenjun stood up and bowed to Emperor Xuan. After Emperor Xuan took his seat, he poured him a cup of sour plum soup and handed it to him.
"Has the time been set?" Emperor Xuan asked lovingly.
"It's settled. We'll leave on June 8th."
Emperor Xuan's hand holding the sour plum soup trembled slightly, then he lowered his head and took a sip. "So urgent?"
"We had originally planned to leave when autumn came and it was cooler, but my husband wrote to say that we couldn't keep Zhou Tongtong and the others waiting in Shangjing for too long. If we didn't leave, Zhou Tongtong and the others wouldn't be able to leave either. So, after much thought, we had to leave eventually, so we might as well go there sooner rather than later."
Yu Wenjun took out a letter from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Emperor Xuan. "This was sent yesterday along with the family letter. My husband asked me to pass it on to you."
Emperor Xuan frowned slightly, took it and unfolded it:
"Father-in-law, how nice to hear from you!"
He addressed him as "Father-in-law" instead of "Your Majesty"... In fact, this was a family letter, and it also showed that the relationship between them was no longer between a monarch and his subject!
"My son-in-law now basically controls the Chi Le Chuan Autonomous Region, and has also signed a friendly trade agreement with the Yi Kingdom.
My son-in-law will rebuild Xinzhou City on the old site of Xinzhou, and set up Xinzhou City and the border town as free trade zones to facilitate trade between the Yu Dynasty and the Wu Dynasty.
The autonomous region will have a large number of cattle, sheep and horses traded in Xinzhou City. I also ask my father-in-law to allow merchants from the Yu Dynasty to trade in Xinzhou and open shops. The autonomous region also needs a large number of goods produced in the Yu Dynasty.
For example, cloth, tea, rice, wheat, etc.
My son-in-law has thought deeply about this move for several days and believes that it will be extremely beneficial to the people of both countries and will also explore a path for large-scale economic and trade exchanges between the two countries in the future.
I will always remember the three years I spent in Yu Dynasty. I am extremely grateful to my father-in-law and mother-in-law for their care and love for me and my family.
I really just wanted to be a small landlord by the river, but fate had it that my son-in-law had to leave after all.
The craftsmen from the Ministry of Works that you gave to me have already mastered the technology of smelting iron, manufacturing red-coated cannons and flintlock rifles. I will leave all these people, the Firearms Bureau, etc. to the Yu Dynasty. Please ask my father-in-law to send someone to receive the handover.
Linjiangxia Village is the fiefdom granted to me by my father-in-law. I have already asked for the opinions of all the people in Xishan. I am afraid that most of them will follow me to Wu Dynasty. I hope my father-in-law will be tolerant.
As for the Minshan Gold Mine, I have already asked them to hand it over to General Fei, and have also asked my father-in-law to send someone to take it over. However, I suggest that the silver notes issued by the Sitong Money House should continue to be used, and the silver notes issued by the Baolong Money House should be gradually phased out, because the silver notes issued by the Sitong Money House have stronger anti-counterfeiting capabilities.
Wen Yun and the others are leaving soon, so please rest assured, father-in-law and mother-in-law, they will live a good life and will not suffer any grievances. If they miss their parents' home, they can come back to visit at any time.
Wendao said, "You once promised to take care of the Ding'an Earl's Mansion for me. Please don't sell that place to me. It is my son-in-law's home in Jinling."
..."
He spoke eloquently, openly and honestly, and there was nothing fishy about it.
Emperor Xuan had long known about the transfer of Xinzhou and border towns to the Wu Dynasty, but had not yet announced it.
This was a difficult announcement, but it can be made now.
"When will I return to Wu Dynasty?"
"He didn't say anything, but he said he was very busy in the autonomous prefecture."
Emperor Xuan nodded slightly and put the letter away, without showing any expression.
"It's a long journey to Wu Dynasty, please take care of yourself along the way."
"Well, Zhou Tongtong also came with a medical officer. Nangong Piaoxue is also a master of medicine, so I think she's fine, but..."
Yu Wenjun's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head and sobbed, "I'm just saying goodbye to my daughter, so please take good care of yourselves."
Emperor Xuan raised his head and looked out the window. The sunlight outside was still scorching, and he felt a little sad.
"Father is old. Next year, next year, I will abdicate the throne to your brother. I will hand over the Yu Dynasty to him. Your mother and I will tend to the flowers and plants in the back garden and no longer be concerned with worldly affairs."
Perhaps the plot against Fu Xiaoguan had exhausted Emperor Xuan physically and mentally. At this moment, his face was extremely gloomy, and he seemed to have lost interest in everything.
When Yu Wenjun looked at Emperor Xuan, she discovered that her father actually had a few strands of white hair in his hair.
But she couldn't say anything to persuade him. She could only sigh in her heart, put on a forced smile, and chatted about family matters, never mentioning the three words "Fu Xiaoguan" again.
With worry and melancholy, she left Dieyi Palace as the sun was about to set.
Emperor Xuan looked at the setting sun for a long time. "These past few days, I've been wondering, if I hadn't let him serve in the court, would he have ended up like this?"
"After much thought, I came to the conclusion that this is a double-edged sword!"
"I didn't hold the sword properly, so I injured myself... Biancheng and Xinzhou will be transferred to the Wu Dynasty. Tomorrow I will issue an edict to inform the world at the court meeting."
"Also... I once promised him to make him the Duke of Shengguo. Although he didn't hand over the Desolate Kingdom to the Yu Dynasty, he was the one who took back the Wofeng Road. He also laid the foundation for the future development of the Wofeng Road. Therefore, I cannot break my promise."
"...Is Wu Dalang okay?"
Queen Shang was silent for three breaths. "She's fine, but she's gained a lot of weight."
"He lives a carefree life."
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