Extra: When we are all old
Extra: When we are all old
Gu Zixuan was awarded the title of Duke of Protector of the Country for his meritorious service in protecting his master in the 19th year of Yuanjing. When the new emperor ascended the throne and changed the country's name to Zhengqing, Gu Zixuan officially assisted the new emperor and was entrusted with important tasks, such as guarding the border and training troops, until he was sixty years old.
The Duke of Protector of the Country, who turned sixty this year, returned to the capital to resume his post. He was wearing the soft scale armor bestowed by the emperor, a bright red cloak on his back, sitting astride a tall horse, with a sword on his waist and a silver spear in one hand. Although he is old, his murderous and fierce aura is as strong as ever. Wherever he looks at, those who are afraid avoid his gaze and even lower their heads, not daring to look at him.
Humph, they are just a bunch of incompetent idiots.
A man should be upright and honest. He should be able to debate with the emperor in court, and be fearless when riding a horse with a sword in hand. A cowardly man is not worthy of breathing the same air as me.
"The old Protector of the Country is still as brave and heroic as ever!"
"Yes, with a sharp gaze and a strong body, he is over 60 years old, but he still fights the enemy in person. He is really strong despite his age!"
"I heard that the Xiongnu people in the northwest were so scared when they heard the name of the Protector of the Country that they dared not come out!"
"With the Duke of the Protectorate guarding the northwest, our Great Zhou is peaceful and prosperous..."
He could hear the people's discussions behind him, and his children and grandchildren who had followed him to the war all straightened their backs, feeling proud of it.
But the old Duke remained unmoved, his eyes fixed straight ahead, he led his horse and gazed into the distance.
Mother, your son is back.
A son is unfilial as he has been fighting on the frontier for many years and cannot be with his mother.
The Duke's face darkened slightly, but he finally passed through the door without entering and went into the palace first.
Looking at the emperor who was already gray-haired sitting on the dragon throne, the Duke was filled with emotion and couldn't help shedding tears.
As people get older, they become more emotional, especially when they meet old friends, they cannot control themselves.
Gu Zixuan covered his face and cried, "Your Majesty is in good health, and this old minister is relieved."
Emperor Zhao Huaiguang is already over sixty years old, with grey hair, but he is in good spirits, his eyes are bright, and he has not gained weight. Instead, he is still thin, and one can still vaguely see his youthful beauty. His eyes have long been as calm as water, and there is always no disturbance in his heart.
"Now that I'm back, I'll take a break. I still have a lot to say to you."
After saying that, Zhao Huaiguang gave out a bunch of things as rewards, including a gift for his mother, Su Jin, a first-rank lady.
Every time the emperor gave rewards, the mother's share was always included. There were many complaints about this in the court, but the emperor always managed to dismiss them with just one sentence.
"It's not easy for Su Jin to teach his son. Back then, the Duke of the Protectorate was just a scoundrel, but now he has become a pillar of the country and stabilized the northwest, all thanks to his mother's teachings. Even the court should thank her, right?"
"Moreover, Su Jin never remarried after her divorce. She devoted herself to taking care of her children and even adopted the children of the Yong'an Marquisate. She is a great mother and everyone in the country should learn from her."
Since then, no one dared to discuss this matter.
But the old Duke of Protectorate and his younger brothers and sisters were all very clear about the emperor's true intentions. However, since the death of the Empress Dowager, even fewer people knew the truth.
After thanking the emperor for the meal, Gu Zixuan hurried back home, but it was not the Duke of Huguo's Mansion, but a courtyard. This courtyard was much larger than that of an ordinary family, but not as big as the courtyards of princes and nobles. Gu Zixuan dismounted from his horse, his movements still skillful and agile.
"How is mother?"
As soon as he entered the room, he asked hurriedly. His fourth sister Gu Suiyu and fifth brother Gu Zilu were standing on either side of the bed. The three of them were already old, and even the youngest Gu Zilu's black hair had turned white.
"The imperial physician came to check it out." Gu Zilu frowned slightly. Although his face was calm, one could see his hands trembling slightly under his sleeves.
"Say, it's these few days."
Gu Zixuan's heart skipped a beat, and Gu Suiyu's eyes turned red. She choked up and asked, "Should we call everyone back?"
Looking back on her mother's life, it was plain but happy. There were many people who liked to be around her, especially the descendants of the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion. No matter if they were married daughters or descendants who had already set up their own homes, everyone treated Su Jin with respect as if she were their biological mother. The young ladies served her wholeheartedly and regarded Su Jin as their only master.
Gu Zixuan pursed his lips and said nothing. Although he had seen life and death on the battlefield, he was still afraid and terrified when facing his dying mother.
I drew aside the bed curtain and took a look, and saw an old woman of seventy-seven years old lying on the bed with her eyes slightly closed, as if she was soundly asleep.
Although he is seventy-seven years old, Su Jin looks like he is in his early forties. The years have not left many marks on Su Jin's face, but time still passes like an hourglass, and life will eventually come to an end.
Gu Zilu whispered: "Mother has been in a coma for several days..."
Gu Zixuan's eyes were red and his Adam's apple rolled. He was about to speak, but the person on the bed seemed to know that he was back and slowly opened his eyes.
This was the first time Su Jin opened his eyes after being in a coma for several days. Everyone's eyes were red, and everyone knew that Su Jin's time was up.
"The Duke is back?"
The weak voice made Gu Zixuan's tears fall. Su Jin forced a smile: "You look older than... older than me, but you can cry more than me. Your Majesty, how can the emperor trust you to guard the border? My son, you are sixty years old, but you still look like sixteen..."
Gu Zixuan cried even harder. He could still clearly recall what happened when he was sixteen. That year, he was misled by a villain and ran to Liuting Pavilion, wanting to run away from home. His mother personally packed his bag and gave him some money...
At the Baihualou Poetry Festival, if his mother hadn't kicked him into the river, he wouldn't have been credited with saving the emperor, and he wouldn't have gotten to know Xie Huaiguang, or even become one of the most trusted people of the current Emperor Zhao Huaiguang...
"Mother..." Gu Zixuan choked up: "The emperor gave me something as a reward and asked me to bring it to you..."
Reward again?
Su Jin slowly looked outside.
Several maids stood not far away holding the gifts sent by Zhao Huaiguang, including a hollow peony-carved ivory comb, Buddhist beads blessed by the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple, amber necklaces, and even a white jade Guanyin made by a master. Just by looking at the quality of the jade and the craftsmanship of the carving, one could tell that this Guanyin was of great value.
"The emperor gave me the Jade Guanyin, saying that with Guanyin's blessing, my mother's health will definitely get better."
Su Jin smiled.
It was obvious that this was a lie as soon as she heard it, but Zhao Huaiguang was thoughtful and even gave her a statue of Guanyin. However, Su Jin knew in her heart that there was a limit to life and death, and she could not escape it even if she traveled through time.
She was about to die. If there was an afterlife, they would all be innocent with each other. She would be entangled with Zhao Huaiguang again... no, with Xie Huaiguang again. Xie Huaiguang forty years ago was truly beautiful and charming, like a beautiful tree or a flower.
Flowers bloom on the roadside, and the gentleman is like jade.
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
She said weakly, her eyes swept over her children, and began to talk about her affairs after death: "My little bit of things, you can divide it among yourselves. As for the things awarded by the emperor, take them down to accompany me. I am not worried about you. In this life, I have lived comfortably and without regrets. No matter what kind of life I have, I just want to die without regrets. I have done it, and I am satisfied..."
Her voice became lower and lower, and finally died away.
There was crying in the house. When the news of his death came, the bell of Daxiangguo Temple rang, and even white banners were hung in the imperial palace.
In Prince Rui's mansion, Zhao Jingyu, who had always lived in seclusion, finally became red-eyed. He found a deserted place by himself and slowly set up a brazier.
He felt helpless. Even something like paying tribute to the dead could only be done in secret.
The flames illuminated Prince Rui's old face. His eyes were still filled with reluctance and tenderness. The old man cried silently, and yellow paper fluttered.
Looking back on his life, he only met one woman who made his heart beat faster. He had no offspring in his life. It was Emperor Zhengqing who took pity on him and adopted a prince to take care of him in his old age and see him to his death.
"Su Jin, Jin'er..."
He murmured, "Don't blame yourself. The reason why I have no descendants is not because of you, but because I cannot allow the blood of the Central Plains to be mixed with the blood of foreign races."
"Actually, marriage is also good. I don't want to leave blood with other women..."
It is enough to have one true friend in life, and we should treat each other with the same feeling in this world.
If there is a chance, in the next life...