In the afternoon, it's time for lunch.
The sunset was beautiful.
At this special time, the Crown Prince's entourage caught Sheng An's eye.
Only then did everyone on the street realize that the Sun brothers' charitable organization and its members had been invited by the sage.
(During the Tang Dynasty, amnesties were extended to the elderly with exceptional favor. In the twenty-third year of the Kaiyuan era, the imperial farmland was cultivated. Those who served the elderly and were over one hundred years old were appointed as prefects of superior prefectures; those over ninety were appointed as prefects of central prefectures; and those over eighty were appointed as military commanders of superior prefectures. In the twenty-seventh year, an amnesty was granted. Those over one hundred years old were appointed as prefects of inferior prefectures, and women who became county ladies were appointed as ladies of the county; those over ninety were appointed as military commanders of superior prefectures, and women who became ladies of the county were appointed as ladies of the county; and those over eighty were appointed as county magistrates, and women who became ladies of the township. In the seventh year of the Tianbao era, those in the capital who were over seventy years old were appointed as magistrates of their respective counties; and those over sixty were appointed as assistant county magistrates...)
Regulations often change, but it's not unusual for a centenarian to be granted the title of Prefect of Mingzhou.
The key point is the old scholar; a Grand Master of the Palace (金紫光禄大夫) is far more substantial than the Prefect of Mingzhou.
The ceremonial guard entered the imperial city.
Sun Hongmin and Sun Hongliang were both trembling with fear.
Mrs. Yuan and Mrs. Li carefully took care of the old man.
Since there was an imperial decree, all the people in the charity hall who were over sixty years old came, a total of eighteen.
The others are in good health, except for the centenarian and the old scholar, there are four disabled people.
Even sages bestowed upon them palanquins.
Rather than thanking the sage, Lady Yuan should say that Lady Huan was benevolent.
How many people have seen them all these years? Who has reached out to them? The Sun family is truly on the verge of collapse.
For example, a beggar I took in a few days ago had both his legs broken and was blind. He would have died if I hadn't taken care of him.
Sun Hongmin's original intention was that he couldn't watch people die, no matter what the point of raising them was.
This caused quite a stir in the family, but in the end, the person was kept alive.
Madam Yuan thought to herself, "The Emperor's grace is boundless. As long as the Sun family isn't implicated, I can support more of them in the future."
Looking at the palace, Li sighed, "It's worth it to be able to come in here even once in a lifetime!"
It's hard to be a good person. I don't know how I managed to persevere for so many years. It's all been worth it now.
She wasn't that kind-hearted; the decision regarding the Sun family was made by Sun Hongmin.
But she didn't have any bad intentions, so it was worth it.
The evening breeze felt warm on Li's face. She was wearing newly bestowed clothes, which were also warm.
How pretty it is is secondary; what I need is warmth on this cold day.
With money, everyone in the charity can have a warm winter.
Many people have arrived at the Zichen Palace.
The Ministry of Rites, and also the Charity Department of the Qing'e Palace.
When Madam Yuan saw Gong Shanyuan standing next to Consort Huan, Consort Huan looked like a fairy!
The palace maids carefully helped the centenarian and the old scholar to sit down in their chairs.
The centenarian struggled to say, "This humble commoner is willing to kowtow to the sage."
The emperor bowed to the old man, saying, "I cannot accept your esteemed presence. Your well-being is a blessing for the Great Zhao!"
The centenarian cried out in a panic, "Long live the Sage! Long live Empress Huan!"
Huan Yue came over and kowtowed to the old man, saying, "May I share some of your good fortune with you."
A group of people hurriedly advised, "You mustn't!"
He laughed and said, "She's young, it doesn't matter."
Princess Changning and Princess Guangning came to kowtow together to pray for their father, the living Emperor, who was celebrating his birthday.
Don't worry about how this ritual came about. It's just a matter of kowtowing.
Huan Yue vowed: "From now on, I will kowtow to every centenarian. If that is inconvenient, I will visit them in person to show my sincerity."
Yuan said, "We all want to go into the palace to have a look."
The Emperor granted his request: "As long as your health permits, you are welcome to come to the palace on the Double Ninth Festival from now on. The weather will be fine on the Double Ninth Festival, so you can take a stroll in the garden."
The centenarian kept repeating: "Long live the sage!"
The three men, all over ninety years old and of advanced age, recited the four-character mantra together: "Long live the sage."
Xie Zhou felt that his father was in a good mood.
But the old scholar's health was indeed failing; it seemed he was holding his breath, determined to teach a student.
As for how he taught a scholar to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he was quite talented.
Given his health, it's best not to talk to him too much right now.
The old scholar had some regrets, but he had no regrets as he had seen a wise ruler.
As for his own experiences, they were unavoidable. He took them in stride.
A true scholar should have this backbone and this magnanimity.
The old scholar murmured, "It's a pity I was born thirty years too early."
Huan Yue advised, "It's not too late to take care of your health."
The old scholar knew his own situation; he was lucky to live to seventy. He looked at the Crown Princess and was tempted.
The old men were very happy, saying that the sage was a wise ruler, the crown prince was benevolent, and the crown princess was virtuous.
Princess Guangning, standing beside Consort Guo, finally understood her father's intention.
Doing this now couldn't be better! You couldn't find something this good even if you went out of your way to look for it.
Sun Hongmin was summoned to speak.
Sun Hongmin stood there, very nervous. An emperor is an emperor, but at least he was doing a good deed.
Today's question is: "What are your plans for the future?"
Sun Hongmin smiled bitterly: "What future? If it weren't for Gong Shanyuan's visit, the charity would be considering whether to hold out until the end of the year or the beginning of the next."
That's not enough, Sun Hongmin blurted out: "The imperial edict arrived yesterday, and people came to our door early this morning. This is going to cause some chaos."
Huan Yue interjected: "Did someone deliberately dump this place at your place and expect you to raise it?"
Mrs. Yuan smiled bitterly: "There's too much to say. The child is sick, and we leave him at the door. Should we treat him or not? My son is being forced to study medicine so he can do it himself and save money. Fortunately, the neighbors are kind; if it's really incurable, no one dares to cause trouble."
Huan Yue asked, "If we give you more money, can you expand the charity hall and manage it better in the future?"
Sun Hongmin replied: "My mother passed away because no one took care of her back then. I acted impulsively and have neglected everything else over the years, but I have some ideas about charity."
Huan Yue said, "Then let's figure it out as we go. Kindness is the priority, but we can't let kindness be taken advantage of."
Today, someone asked, "Does Qing'e want to start a big business in Renhe Township?"
Huan Yue replied, "I think Renhe Township is good, and the Sun family is willing. There is one thing to consider: how to complement the court's benevolent policies, rather than just going to whichever family has the best food. It's like when they're distributing porridge; if you can eat at one place, you'll go to another. People who are truly hungry will not complain."
Everyone understands.
During times of famine, people can't even get enough to eat, so some people will try to find a way to get enough to eat.
There are plenty of people like this who consider themselves smart.
Huan Yue said, "We must let him know that this is good, so that he can have good intentions; instead of taking it for granted, feeling dissatisfied, and having evil thoughts. If he can eat, he should eat; if he can't eat, he should steal."
Huan Yue emphasized: "I believe that everyone is an individual with rights and obligations, such as supporting oneself. When you are young, you are raised by your parents, so you must keep a record of the debt in your heart, and you must repay it when you grow up. If you really can't repay it, this debt must remain, and right and wrong must be distinguished. You can't let a small favor be met with a big one."
Gong Yun said in a low voice, "There are so many people who take advantage of others. They say it's all the same no matter who it's given to."
Ms. Yuan chimed in, "Some people say that raising someone is the same as raising them, since they aren't my biological parents."
Huan Yue summed it up in three words: "Shameless!"
Guo Bing chimed in: "Shameless!"
The Yuan family also does charity work, which gives people a lot to talk about.
Sun Hongmin is now a proper county magistrate and can write memorials to the emperor.
The reason for bestowing the title of Lady Jingshan upon Yuan was to honor her.
An official rushed over, shouting, "An urgent dispatch from 800 li away!"
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