In late March, Gu Qingyan personally presided over the imperial examination.
Before the start of the imperial examinations, Gu Qingyan personally summoned Jiang He. It wasn't that Gu Qingyan went out of the palace incognito, but rather that Jiang He personally entered the palace in a carriage.
Along the way, passersby couldn't help but turn their heads to look.
This was the first time Marquis Dingyuan had entered the palace since he declared that he was severing all ties with the Daqing royal family. Almost all eyes were on this carriage, as Marquis Dingyuan's relationship with Daqing was far too crucial.
Although Jiang He announced that he was no longer the Marquis of Dingyuan in Daqing, everyone still treated him with the respect due to a marquis.
To everyone's surprise, when the palace gates opened, Gu Qingyan was personally waiting for Jiang He at the gates.
Even Jiang He's eyes narrowed sharply. "This humble subject greets Your Majesty."
"Uncle, please rise."
Jiang He's lips moved slightly, and Gu Qingyan's smile widened even more. "Uncle, do you not even acknowledge me, your nephew?"
"How could that be?" Jiang He blurted out instinctively.
"I know the foolish things my ancestors did, and I have no face to ask for my uncle's forgiveness on their behalf." Gu Qingyan's voice was loud enough to be heard by the kneeling people around him. "Does my uncle want to move my maternal grandfather and grandmother's graves to Lingzhou?"
Jiang He still didn't understand Gu Qingyan's meaning, so he could only nod blankly, "My father and mother died in the battle of Lingzhou, so I want to go to Lingzhou."
"When are we departing?" Gu Qingyan grinned. "Remember to let me know in advance."
"Tell the Emperor?"
"I personally carried the coffins of my maternal grandfather and grandmother."
"No, this is unacceptable!" Jiang He knelt down. "Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"
“My mind is made up. The late emperor frankly admitted the wrongdoings he committed against the Jiang family in his edict of self-reproach. As a junior, I should go and carry the coffin.”
Jiang He's eyes were a little moist. Gu Qingyan had put the Jiang family in a position where no one dared to criticize them, so that no one in Daqing would dare to say a word against the Jiang family in the future.
"Finally, I would like to ask my uncle for one last favor." Gu Qingyan stepped forward and took Jiang He's hand. "Lingzhou is still in the hands of the rebels. I originally intended to capture the rebels myself, but they have moved away from Lingzhou."
"With the imperial examinations approaching, I would like to ask my uncle to help Daqing conquer Lingzhou. After that, I will not send any officials to Lingzhou. I will entrust Lingzhou and its people to you. Is that alright?"
"This humble subject kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace."
“There’s no need to call yourself a commoner, Uncle. You will always be the Marquis of Dingyuan. This title was earned by the blood of our ancestors.” Gu Qingyan paused. “Issue a decree that the title of Marquis of Dingyuan shall be hereditary.”
Regardless of military merit or right or wrong, as long as the Marquis of Dingyuan's family still has a trace of blood, this title will forever belong to the Jiang family. This is Gu Qingyan's token of his appreciation.
"Your Majesty, I will certainly guard Lingzhou well and live up to your trust."
"Get up quickly, your uncle is coming to the palace to talk to me. I haven't seen you in a long time, and I've missed you terribly." Gu Qingyan's words were all sending a signal that his kinship with the Jiang family was unbreakable.
In the shadows, Gu Lin stared intently at Gu Qingyan.
"My lord, the young master is becoming more and more composed in his dealings with others."
"I wish he were a little more childlike."
His Ayan cherished these family ties too much, so he was even more careful to maintain the relationship between the Gu and Jiang families and between him and Ayu. His obedient nature made his heart ache.
Just a few days ago, he was furious because he couldn't personally go to Lingzhou to capture Gu Qingling, but now, after only a few days, he immediately began to pave the way for Jiang He's future.
......
Bai Mansion.
"The Marquis of Dingyuan will depart in three days?" General Bai was taken aback upon hearing his subordinate's report. "Why the rush?"
"His Majesty said he would personally carry the coffins of the late Marquis Dingyuan and his wife, so the Marquis of Dingyuan did not want to delay His Majesty's presiding over the imperial examinations, and therefore set the departure time for three days later."
General Bai's expression was somewhat complicated. In order to prevent Axi from going to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence again, he had Axi lead troops out of the capital. In three days... Axi would definitely not be able to return in time.
Does he really want to prevent A-Qian from even seeing Jiang He off?
At night, General Bai was awakened from his sleep and sat up in a cold sweat.
"General." A subordinate's voice came from outside. General Bai took a few deep breaths before calming down. "I'm fine."
But for the rest of the time, General Bai tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Finally, as the sun rose, General Bai opened the door to the house.
"Immediately send a message to the young lady at full speed, telling her that Marquis Dingyuan will be setting off for Lingzhou in three days, and urging her to return as soon as possible."
After saying this, General Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief, giving the young couple a chance.
Just like Ah Qian's maternal grandparents gave him an opportunity, which he seized, and that's how he was able to marry Ah Qian's mother.
But Bai Qian did not return until the day Jiang He was about to leave the capital.
On this day, Gu Qingyan, dressed in white linen, stood at the front of the procession, carrying the coffin with Jiang He.
Along the way, all the people spontaneously knelt down to express their gratitude for the contributions the Jiang family had made to Daqing.
Under Jiang Yu's insistence, all of Jiang's secret guards followed Jiang He out of the capital. Gu Lin also repeatedly assured Jiang He that the people of Lingxiao Pavilion would ensure the safety of Jiang Yu and her son, Gu Qingyan.
Jiang He then agreed to take away the secret guards from the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.
Not only the coffins of the late Marquis Dingyuan and his wife, but also the ancestral tablets of the Jiang family enshrined in the Marquis's residence were taken away.
The emperor himself carried the coffin; this was the highest honor.
On the other side, Jiang Yu, also dressed in white, stood on the city wall of the palace gate, gazing ahead, paying tribute to her father and mother in another way.
"Your Highness," said Granny Ling, standing behind Jiang Yu, "it's still a bit cold outside. Please take good care of yourself."
"If it weren't for my status..." Jiang Yu twitched the corner of her mouth; she would also love to personally carry her parents' coffins.
But she couldn't. Now, Ayan was trying his best to elevate the Jiang family's status, treating them with the courtesy due to a ruler and his subject.
If she were to get involved, people would think that Ayan was only treating the Jiang family with respect because of her, which would weaken the Jiang family's loyalty and integrity, and she did not want that to happen.
"The Marquis's departure can be considered as fulfilling a long-cherished wish."
As the procession carrying the coffin approached the city gate of the capital, Jiang He couldn't help but look back, but he didn't see the figure he was hoping for.
Ever since Uncle Bai took Bai Qian away, he has had no news of her. People around him have been keeping it from him, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and he has never asked about it.
It was as if the two of them were complete strangers.
At the city gate of the capital.
"Your Majesty, please escort me here."
Jiang He bowed to Gu Qingyan one last time, and Gu Qingyan was also a little sad, "The journey ahead is long and arduous, Uncle, please take good care of yourself."
"Your Majesty, I await the day when Your Majesty leads your troops all the way to Lingzhou."
As the suona horn sounded, Jiang He straightened his back and said, "Father, Mother... your son will take you to Lingzhou. May your spirits in heaven protect my sister and Ayan, and keep them safe and sound."
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