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◎ "If you are more filial to your mother, I will give you a great merit."◎
After New Year's Eve, it marks the 20th year of Xingwu.
The capital city was still chilly in the first month of the year. Although Emperor Xingwu was not afraid of the cold wind in his heart, his body could not bear it. Ever since he had a performance review banquet with a group of military officers before the New Year, Emperor Xingwu had never stepped out of the back hall of Qianyuan Hall. He would just call anyone he wanted to see. If there was anything going on in the court, Emperor Xingwu would let his daughter handle it. He was no longer willing to worry about it.
Maybe it was because the weather turned cold early last year. After the Lantern Festival, the wind blowing through the capital suddenly became not so cold, and the sun became warmer day by day.
On the 25th day of the first lunar month, Emperor Xingwu finally felt like strolling in the Imperial Garden again. He didn't want to sit in the wheelchair specially made for him by the craftsmen, nor did he want the weak Concubine Li or the equally old and frail He Yuanjing to support him. What if they both fell down while supporting each other?
Therefore, Emperor Xingwu sent someone to summon his younger brother, Prince Yong, who was only 51 years old and still as strong as a tiger, into the palace.
King Yong is in the North Camp.
There has been no war at the border in the past two years, and the military officers of the four major Beijing camps have been even more idle. Those who want to stretch their muscles will train and spar with the soldiers, while those who are too lazy to move will stay in the public housing in the camp all day long, drinking tea and chatting, and no one cares.
When Prince Yong was young, he liked to drink and gamble, and was often beaten by his elder brother for this. The beatings made his skin become tighter. At least in the Beijing camp under the nose of his elder brother, Prince Yong did not dare to drink or gamble, but he disliked drinking tea and chatting even more. He would rather go to the martial arts field to train his troops, and then pick out a few generals and soldiers to beat up for fun.
When Prince Yong heard someone from the palace was looking for him, his heart tightened. His elder brother's health was getting worse and worse. Could it be...
He ran to the eunuch as fast as he could and learned that his elder brother was still there and was summoning him to the palace. Prince Yong breathed a sigh of relief and rode back to the capital.
After going back and forth for a while, by the time Prince Yong arrived at Emperor Xingwu's side, the sun outside had become warmer.
Emperor Xingwu was lying on the couch in the second room. Concubine Li was originally sitting there reading to him, but because Prince Yong had arrived, Concubine Li went to the inner hall early.
"Brother, what do you want to ask me?"
In the court, Prince Yong would call his elder brother "big brother" from time to time, and in private he was even more accustomed to calling his brother by his old name.
Emperor Xingwu raised his left arm, and Prince Yong immediately stepped forward and helped his elder brother sit steadily.
Emperor Xingwu glanced out the window again and said, "It's been a while since I last basked in the sun. Help me take a walk in the Imperial Garden."
Prince Yong subconsciously squeezed his elder brother's thin arm and said worriedly, "The sun is warm, but the wind is still cold..."
Emperor Xingwu said: "If you don't want to serve me, I will call Lü Zan."
Prince Yong wisely shut his mouth and first helped his elder brother put on a sleeveless satin jacket and a pair of warmer leather pants. Then he bent down to pick up his elder brother's winter boots and helped him put them on himself. After Emperor Xingwu stood up, He Yuanjing brought a cloak and a fox fur hat that could cover Emperor Xingwu's neck to keep him warm.
When Prince Yong put the hat on his elder brother, he couldn't help laughing: "When I was little, it was my elder brother who took care of me. Now it's my turn to take care of him."
Emperor Xingwu, who didn't want to be taken care of by his brother at all: "..."
Fortunately, he is the emperor. If someone else were the emperor, he would not be liked by the emperor even if he did not make any mistakes just because of his brother's mouth.
After getting dressed, Prince Yong held his eldest brother's arm with one hand and his shoulder with the other, and the two brothers walked out slowly.
As soon as they arrived at the Imperial Garden, Emperor Xingwu felt tired, so he picked a bench facing the sun and asked his brother to help him sit there.
After sitting down, Emperor Xingwu leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and raised his face, feeling so comfortable that he let out a "hmm".
Prince Yong was afraid that his elder brother would be cold, so he helped to tuck his elder brother's cloak together. After it was tucked together, he also leaned against the sun like his elder brother did.
As I was basking in the sun, I suddenly heard my eldest brother sigh softly: "Ah Hai, I may not make it to February."
The weather was getting warmer, but he felt more afraid of the cold than during the coldest period. He almost couldn't breathe several times at night. He was saved only because Concubine Li woke up and called the imperial physician on standby outside to come in and help him breathe. However, Emperor Xingwu felt that the day when he could no longer breathe was approaching.
Prince Yong, who hadn't heard his elder brother call him by his nickname for a long time, burst into tears and knelt down on his elder brother's legs, not allowing him to say such words.
Emperor Xingwu patted his brother's head and said, "Big brother, I'm reluctant to leave many people, but the one I'm most worried about is you. I'm afraid that because you're not obedient to Lin'er, someone might instigate you to rebel against him one day."
Prince Yong's entire body stiffened, subconsciously trying to assure him that he would never rebel. Emperor Xingwu spoke first, "No need to refute or swear. I don't believe that. I just want to tell you that Lin'er is the flesh of my hand, and you are the flesh of my hand. If either of you is hurt, I will feel the pain too. So I just hope that you two will be at peace and be well."
If he was cruel enough to frame his younger brother, who was in charge of the Northern Camp and his family, and imprisoned him on a charge of a crime, even if Deng Kun and his brothers had the intention to rebel, they would not be able to cause any trouble. But his younger brother was also a founding hero of the Great Qi Dynasty and had fought in battles for him time and time again. Emperor Xingwu even gave a chance to live when Yuan Zhaoxiong had already rebelled. How could he be so cruel as to imprison his younger brother who was just dissatisfied with his daughter's succession to the throne?
Emperor Xingwu could only remind his brother again and again not to go astray in the future.
"You're really rebellious, Lin'er. By then, Big Brother won't be around anymore and won't be able to control you, but you'll eventually reunite with Big Brother in the afterlife. So when Big Brother is gone, whatever you do, think about it first—Big Brother is watching you from the other side. If you treat your nieces and nephews well, Big Brother will be happy to see you. How dare you attack them..."
At this point, Emperor Xingwu suddenly took off his left boot and slapped Prince Yong's head and shoulders. "If you dare to bully them, I will come and beat you even if I become a ghost!"
Prince Yong cried and promised that he would not dare to do it, but he did not dodge or evade, and let his elder brother beat him with his boots. When his elder brother was tired of beating him, he carried his elder brother, who was sleepy from being exposed to the sun, back to Qianyuan Palace.
The next morning was another sunny day. Emperor Xingwu summoned the imperial concubine, his five children, two sons-in-law, and grandchildren to the Qianyuan Palace. As for Concubine Li, she was already by his side and did not need to be summoned specifically.
Before the children arrived, Emperor Xingwu spoke to the imperial concubine for a while: "...Since you entered my house, you have worked tirelessly to look after my children in the harem. Although I respect you, I have never shown you much favor, allowing you to waste half your life in the harem. Ultimately, you have been wronged."
The imperial concubine wept bitterly, looking at the white-haired emperor across from her and saying, "I am a common woman. It is my great honor to have been able to be with the emperor and witness him create such a prosperous era. I have never expected favor from him, so how can I say that I am wronged?"
A woman in troubled times is content to have a stable life. The emperor has given her wealth and honor, respect and trust. The imperial concubine has no regrets in her life.
Emperor Xingwu gestured for Concubine Li to sit next to the Imperial Concubine, his eyes filled with unconcealed longing. "The children have grown up and each has their own family. There shouldn't be much time for you to worry about them. I hope you and Concubine Li can continue to be together, enjoying the flowers and listening to operas, and living the rest of your lives without worries."
The two concubines agreed with tears.
When the younger generations arrived one after another, Emperor Xingwu was already sitting in a wheelchair and letting He Yuanjing push him to the imperial garden.
He asked his five children to line up in order of age and wait at a distance, and then he went forward one by one.
Fu Kui of Yongkang brought the siblings Fu Ming and Fu Xi to kneel before Emperor Xingwu.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his eldest daughter, who bowed her head and wept, and said with a smile, "I spend the least time with you, but I also miss you the most when I'm away at war. I wonder if my Ning'er misses you, if she's had enough to eat, if she's changed into nice clothes... and if she's been tempted by some brat..."
Yongkang was born in a year of war and the Qin family was poor. Emperor Xingwu, who had just become a father, had the only expectation for his daughter that she would grow up safely, so he named her Qin Ning.
Yongkang thought of the letters she had kept at the bottom of a box, unread for so long. Some were from her father to her mother and grandmother, others to her. Even after her three younger brothers were born, before the family moved to Beijing, her father had only ever written to her. Yongkang had long known that it wasn't that her father disliked her, but simply that they had been apart for so long, and she was now a grown woman, which naturally created a rift between them.
"I like you, but I will punish you when you make mistakes. However, I've noticed that my Ning'er has become much more sensible this year. As long as you don't make mistakes again in the future, I believe my Ning'er will live a healthy and happy life."
Emperor Xingwu also touched his eldest daughter's head.
Yongkang fell on her father's knees, filled with remorse. So what if she was only seventeen years old? She regretted not taking the initiative to get close to her father before getting married.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his eldest son-in-law and said to Fu Kui, "Your father collaborated with the enemy in the past, so I can no longer use him. He is old now, so you should just stay at home and take care of him. As for you, you are a good martial artist. As long as you are loyal to Lin'er, the Fu family will surely return to the ranks of the nobles in our dynasty under your leadership."
Fu Kui was inspired by these words and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, I will follow your instructions and live up to your high expectations!"
Emperor Xingwu encouraged his grandson and granddaughter separately.
Next is Qin Hong’s family of three.
Before Emperor Xingwu could say anything, Qin Hong began to cry. Emperor Xingwu shook his head and said simply, "I have already told you everything I should have told you. Apart from hoping that you are strong and healthy, I have no worries about you. Wen Rong is also a good child. It is a blessing for Hong'er to marry you, and it is also a blessing for our Qin family."
The couple cried like two tearful people.
Emperor Xingwu looked at the eight-year-old Zheng Ge'er who was kneeling beside him. After being the Prince of An for almost two years, Zheng Ge'er's eyes no longer had the resentment and anger they once had, but who could tell what the child was thinking?
Emperor Xingwu had only one message for his eldest grandson: "Study hard and practice martial arts. When you grow up, serve your aunt well."
A daughter who is loyal and talented will not deliberately neglect her nephew. On the contrary, it is his own choice of path and he should bear the consequences at his own risk.
Zheng Ge'er lowered his head to hide his disappointment. He thought that the emperor's grandfather would at least hug him and get close to him, his grandson.
After Qin Hong left with his son, Qin Bing and Meng Yao came over with five-year-old Ying'er. Because Meng Yao was seven months pregnant, Emperor Xingwu did not allow her to kneel.
Emperor Xingwu embraced Ying'er and instructed Qin Bing, "Your eldest brother is soft-tempered, and your third brother is too weak. If anyone dares to challenge Lin'er in the future, it will be up to you, the second brother, to teach them a lesson. But please do not use your recklessness on Lin'er, nor on innocent officials or civilians. The laws of the Great Qi are not for show."
Qin Bing's eyes were red as he said, "Don't worry, Father. I've remembered everything. I'll remember it for the rest of my life!"
Emperor Xingwu asked his second daughter-in-law to keep a closer eye on him.
Ying'er was still young, and Emperor Xingwu just wanted to cherish her. Soon the child in his arms became Rui'er, the two-year-old from Qin Ren's family. Qin Ren and Yan Zhenzhen knelt side by side in front of him.
One was twenty-four years old, the other nineteen, both with tears in their eyes.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his third son and sneered, "I don't even know what to say to you."
Praise, there is nothing to praise, scold, scold a bunch of problems are useless, put high hopes on him? What can he expect from the third brother?
"When you have time, go visit your mother more often. Lin'er is busy. If you show more filial piety to your mother, I will give you a great merit."
Qin Ren sobbed and sobbed, his nose running. "I will not only be filial to my mother, but also to my father. Your Majesty, rest assured and recuperate. You like to bask in the sun, so I will come over every day to accompany you. I am not good at either civil or military affairs, but I know a lot of interesting things. I will tell you all of them one by one."
He doesn't want to listen to his father's last words, he wants his father to live a few more years!
【Author’s words】
It’s too late, so I’ll stop here for now and write about the separation of father and daughter tomorrow [poor]
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
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