The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 331: Old friends meet again, things change and people change
"Slow down, Queen Mother. The weather is cold and your legs will become very stiff at this time of the year. Walk slower."

"Oh, my legs and feet are getting worse every year. I'm afraid I won't be able to get out of bed next year. I just don't know if I can survive until next winter."

"The Queen Mother has long-lasting blessings and will surely enjoy her old age in peace."

Chamberlain Zhang Gui supported Empress Dowager Li, who was dressed in a plain palace skirt and fur robe, and walked slowly out from behind the screen.

Empress Dowager Li is becoming more and more stooped. She is holding a hand warmer in her hand. She is not yet fifty years old. Her hair is already a large amount of white. There are fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and many deep wrinkles on her cheeks. She looks like an old woman in her sixties or seventies. generally.

"Huh~ How did you untie the gold thread belt that tied the yellow silk? Yu Mingming remembered to tie it by hand?"

Walking to the imperial case, Empress Dowager Li noticed that the yellow silk wrapped in the nanmu brocade box was untied, and the gold thread belt was left aside.

Zhang Gui was also startled and looked around warily. Except for him and the Queen Mother, there was no one else in the hall, and the doors and windows were closed.

"The eunuchs in the palace know the rules. No one dares to touch the seal privately. It must be someone outside the palace!"

Zhang Gui checked it over and found that the seal in the brocade box was intact, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Empress Dowager Li sat down softly after the imperial examination, looked at the brocade box and sighed: "Nowadays, Ye Jun is in charge of the affairs of the palace guards. It seems that there are restless people under Guo Wei~"

Zhang Guigong cupped his hands and said, "I will go check now and see who is on duty in Kunning Palace today."

Empress Dowager Li waved her hand: "That's all, since Baoxi is in good condition, there is no need to make any announcement about it, lest people say it to incite people's hearts and cause chaos within the Ye army.

With Guo Wei's ability and prestige, he is not afraid of the appearance of ambitious people under his command. As long as I hand over the seal to him safely, everything from now on will be entirely up to him."

Queen Mother Li's aging face looked calm, and her eyes seemed to contain deep sorrow that could not be erased.

Zhang Gui sighed deeply in his heart.

Ever since the news of the official's unfortunate death came back, the Queen Mother's heart had completely died.

She did not cry in grief or scold Guo Wei and Ye Jun for committing regicide. She just locked herself in the Buddhist hall and chanted sutras from morning to night. She would only stop when Zhang Gui brought water and food. Eat and drink a little.

Zhang Gui knew that the deepest wounds often cannot be cried out. The Queen Mother's tears had long since dried up. When Guo Wei raised troops in Yedu, she might have expected that such a day would come.

On the one hand, everyone in the Situ family was murdered, and she felt guilty towards her old friend. On the other hand, her own son insisted on going his own way, listening to slander and doing the opposite. The Queen Mother was really in extreme pain when she was caught in the middle.

Now that the imperial court is defeated and the official is dead, the Queen Mother has to give up her white-haired person to her black-haired person. Naturally, her heart is full of sorrow, but looking at it from another perspective, it is not a relief.

Zhang Gui looked at the precious seal box placed in the middle of the royal case and sighed, the struggle for power is cruel and destructive~~
Outside the main hall, Guo Wei looked up at the hanging plaque, his face solemn and solemn.

Zhao Kuangyin led the imperial guards in the inner hall and stood aside with their heads bowed respectfully.

"Is the Queen Mother okay?" Guo Wei asked in a deep voice.

Zhao Kuangyin said hurriedly: "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, the Queen Mother is in good health, but she is too worried and looks much older."

Guo Wei fell silent and sighed.

Glancing at Zhao Kuangyin, he found that he was sweating profusely. Guo Wei frowned and said, "But you feel itchy?"

Zhao Kuangyin hurriedly knelt down on one knee and said: "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, I will be fine. Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief! It's just that I will lead people to inspect the entire harem to ensure that the palace is safe. I have been busy for a long time and I am sweating all over."

Guo Wei nodded: "Thank you for your hard work. I will go back to my house to rest later."

"Thank you, Marshal!" Zhao Kuangyin lowered his head and clasped his fists.

"After I enter the palace, order people to stay five feet away and don't allow anyone to get close!"

"The end will obey orders!"

Guo Wei raised his hand and paused for a moment, then pushed open the palace door and strode in.

Zhao Kuangyin stepped forward and gently closed the palace door, looking through the gap and watching Guo Wei walking towards the depths of the hall.

Zhao Kuangyin wiped the sweat from his forehead and led the imperial guards in the inner palace to retreat further to prevent anyone from overhearing the conversations in the palace.

"Your Majesty, Guo Wei, pays homage to the Queen Mother! Please forgive me for not being able to perform the full ceremony because I am wearing armor!"

Guo Wei's deep voice sounded in the hall.

The palace was quiet for a moment, Queen Mother Li stared at him and sighed deeply.

"Zhang Gui, give Guo Situ a seat."

Zhang Gui responded and hurriedly moved the embroidered pier to Guo Wei's side.

"Guo Situ, please sit down!"

"It's work!"

Guo Wei clasped his fists, glanced at Zhang Gui, and forced a smile on his lips.

Gently raising his robe, Guo Wei sat down with a solemn expression on his face.

The hall fell into silence again.

Guo Wei lowered his eyelids, Queen Mother Li stared at him, smiled bitterly and sighed: "Brother and I, when did we become so different?"

Guo Wei slowly raised his eyelids, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

When he saw Queen Mother Li's white hair and old face, Guo Wei couldn't hide his shock and couldn't help but whispered: "How could the Queen Mother have aged like this?"

Empress Dowager Li smiled sadly and murmured: "Yes, I am two years younger than my brother. Now my brother is still as powerful as a tiger, and his majesty has not diminished, but I am getting older."

Guo Wei sighed: "Wan Wang, Queen Mother, take care of yourself!"

Empress Dowager Li said softly with some hope: "Brother, are you still willing to call me third sister?"

Guo Wei's lips moved, and after a while, he sighed deeply: "Third sister."

Queen Mother Li was quite moved, her body was trembling a little, and the corners of her wrinkled eyes were moist.

"Okay~Okay! As long as brother is willing to recognize me!"

Guo Wei smiled bitterly and said: "Back in Taiyuan, the late Emperor, Third Sister and I, the three of us swore that our feelings for Jinlan would not change no matter when."

Empress Dowager Li couldn't hide her sadness, tears fell from the corners of her eyes, and she choked with sobs: "I'm sorry for my brother Chengyou's arrogance. It's my fault in discipline that finally caused him to cause a big disaster. He lost his life in Liu Zipo. It's all his own fault. He deserves it." The blood debt of the Situ Mansion pays for life. I don’t blame my brother for this matter. I, Mrs. Liu, was the one who felt sorry for my brother first!"

Zhang Gui bowed and handed over the soft handkerchief, and whispered lovingly: "Don't be sad, Queen Mother, it's important to take care of your body~"

Guo Wei sighed and said: "The grievance has the head, the debt has the owner, this matter has nothing to do with the third sister, my family's vengeance has been avenged, and I will not implicate others."

Empress Dowager Li choked with sadness and relief: "Brother is kind, and my little sister would like to thank my brother for his generosity on behalf of the people of Kaifeng!"

Empress Dowager Li pointed to the precious seal brocade box on the imperial desk: "This item will be handed over to my brother for safekeeping from now on."

Guo Wei looked at the brocade box and knew what was inside.

After pondering for a moment, Guo Wei slowly shook his head and said, "I don't care much about the things Shi Jingtang used. This is also a relic of the late emperor, so please keep it safe." He had great ambitions. When he was in Taiyuan, his brother and the late emperor pointed to Yanyun and made a grand oath. In this life, they would ride on the White Wolf River and rebuild the Songmo Governor's Mansion! Shi Jingtang ceded the sixteen states of Yanyun. The late emperor and his brother regarded him as the Central Plains How can you be willing to inherit his legacy if you are so ashamed?"

There was a hint of nostalgia in Guo Wei's eyes: "Third sister still remembers what happened back then."

Queen Mother Li said softly: "Brother has great ambitions to reshape the world. My younger sister wishes that he will realize his wish as soon as possible and restore long-term peace to the people of the Central Plains."

Guo Wei nodded lightly and said nothing, and the hall fell into silence again.

Speaking of this, the meaning is already obvious.

Guo Wei is bound to replace Liu Han's court and establish a new dynasty, and Empress Dowager Li also expressed her willingness to hand over power, hand over the imperial power of the artifact, and support Guo Wei to become emperor.

Guo Wei's family was killed by Liu Chengyou's order, and Liu Chengyou also died at the hands of Guo Yunming in Zhaocun. The grievances between them were settled, and it didn't matter who was guilty of whom.

The transfer of imperial power came to an end, and Empress Dowager Li chose to accept it calmly. Naturally, Guo Wei would not embarrass her. The two parties completed a series of negotiations before the handover of power in an extremely harmonious atmosphere.

Empress Dowager Li had nothing to ask for. She only hoped that Guo Wei would allow her to continue living in Kunning Palace, so that she could have a quiet environment to chant Buddha and chant sutras, and spend her old age peacefully.

Guo Wei naturally agreed that after the establishment of the new dynasty, he would still respect her as the empress dowager and let her enjoy the honorary position of mother of the country.

Guo Wei will not directly declare himself emperor. In order to demonstrate political legitimacy, a series of showmanship will be needed to pave the way for him to proclaim himself emperor.

Empress Dowager Li also readily expressed her support and would cooperate with Guo Wei to complete this show of abdication of the throne.

A quarter of an hour later, Guo Wei got up and resigned, left Kunning Palace and rushed to Long Live Palace to prepare for the great court meeting.

Empress Dowager Li also had to dress up again, put on the ceremonial attire of the Queen Mother, and go to the Long Live Hall to host the court meeting.

When the emperor was vacant, the court naturally respected her, and everything must have the Queen Mother's decree in order to be called orthodox and legal.

Queen Mother Li watched Guo Wei go away, feeling both relieved and a little sad.

She knew that the friendship the couple had formed with Guo Wei in Taiyuan back then was running out. Ever since Liu Chengyou ordered the family to be exterminated, Guo Wei had completely separated himself from the Liu Han court.

Empress Dowager Li could not hold any hatred towards Guo Wei in her heart. After all, it was her son who committed the outrageous deeds and committed suicide. No one else could blame him.

Guo Wei was able to treat Kaifeng's old ministers kindly and treated her kindly, which was regarded as caring about old friendship.

"Hey~ let's go to the Long Live Hall. After today, I can stay in the Buddhist hall with peace of mind and never come out again for the rest of my life. Let others take the trouble of the chaos in this world."

Queen Mother Li looked around the elegant and tidy, yet luxurious and exquisite hall. This might be the last time she would visit here in her life.

Empress Dowager Li looked at Zhang Gui again: "My life is dull and boring, but it's hard for you to suffer along with me. I serve a third-grade young prisoner in the palace, but you serve me, a lonely old woman, all day long. I don't even have a new robe during the New Year and the holidays." Can’t afford to wear it”

Zhang Gui smiled and said in a soft voice: "The Queen Mother knows the temperament of slaves. She is as light and tasteless as the Queen Mother. She likes to live a quiet life. She doesn't like the noisy and fighting for power. As long as she has enough food and clothing, If people live with less vanity and luxury, they can live longer.”

Queen Mother Li smiled and said: "It seems that after listening to me chanting sutras for many years, you have also acquired some Buddha nature."

"Hehe, it is the greatest good fortune for a servant to follow the Queen Mother in this life."

Zhang Gui supported Queen Mother Li and left slowly towards the side door.

~~~
Half an hour later, in the Long Live Hall, Empress Dowager Li, dressed in a phoenix crown, appeared on the throne of the Emperor on time and accepted the worship of the ministers.

Guo Wei, wearing a golden helmet, stood alone under the Emperor, at the forefront of all the courtiers.

Feng Dao still sat at the head of the ranks of civil servants, followed by Prime Minister Su Yugui, Prince Taishi Dou Zhengu and others.

Wang Jun, Wei Renpu and others followed.

Zhu Xiu was standing further back, with a group of crimson court officials, mostly middle-aged men in their 40s and [-]s with beards below their chins, and there were also many old men with white beards and hair.

Zhu Xiu, a young young man with a fair face and no beard, appeared unexpectedly among them, attracting many people to look at him sideways and whisper about his origins.

Zhu Xiu drooped her eyelids and stood solemnly with her hands lowered. The old god stood on the ground, ignoring the curious looks of others.

The first topic of the meeting was the discussion about Liu Chengyou's funeral and posthumous title.

Hou Yi suggested that the ceremony should be carried out according to the etiquette of the Cao Wei Dynasty, when the young emperor Cao Mao was deposed as a noble country prince and buried according to the etiquette of a prince.

As soon as these words came out, there was a chorus of agreement.

Empress Dowager Li sat on the throne with an expressionless face, but her heart was full of grief and anger.

These ministers who were enjoying the salary of the Han Dynasty actually wanted to bury Liu Chengyou in the funeral of a prince. This move was tantamount to denying his emperor status and was the greatest insult to the Liu Han royal family.

Empress Dowager Li clenched her hands tightly and looked at Guo Wei with almost earnest eyes.

Her son is dead, paying the price for his madness and cruelty.

Empress Dowager Li persuaded herself to accept her son's death, but she did not want him to be humiliated after his death.

Guo Wei didn't look up, but he knew Queen Mother Li's mood at the moment.

After pondering for a long time, Guo Wei slowly said: "This is not appropriate! The emperor was killed because we, the ministers, failed to fulfill our duty to protect him. How can we lower the etiquette and do something that demeans the emperor's status now?"

After Guo Wei finished speaking, there was silence in the hall, and the court officials looked at each other. They didn't know whether Guo Wei's words were sincere or just to cope with the situation.

Feng Dao stroked his beard, and said slowly: "The old man agrees with Guo Gong's words."

"The minister also agrees!"

"The minister also agrees!"

As soon as Feng Dao opened his mouth, Su Yugui and Dou Zhengu immediately expressed their support.

Soon, a sparse echo echoed in the hall.

Guo Wei said in a deep voice: "Since all the officials agree, there is no need to discuss this matter again. The official family should be buried as a national funeral! But how to choose the posthumous title of the official family, please discuss it."

The identity of Emperor Liu Chengyou has been preserved, but what kind of posthumous title he should be given is worthy of discussion.

Zhu Xiu narrowly opened his eyelids and looked around with interest, listening to the court officials talking in low voices.

Posthumous titles are divided into three categories: upper, middle and lower. Those who praise people use the upper posthumous title, those who disparage them use the lower posthumous title, and those who do not praise or disparage use the middle posthumous title.

The posthumous title is a summary of the deceased's life achievements, and the superiors pay special attention to it.

When a person dies, he wants nothing more than a good posthumous title, leaving some reputation in the world and bringing glory to the living descendants.

Previously, Hou Yi proposed to bury Liu Chengyou with the rites of a duke, but Guo Wei flatly rejected it. Smart people know that Guo Wei did not want to make a fuss about these superficial efforts to belittle the official, so as not to suffer infamy.

Now that the posthumous title is being discussed, many people are starting to think about it, trying to figure out Guo Wei's thoughts and try to win Guo Wei's approval.

Zhu Xiu looked around as if he were watching a play. His first experience of going to court in his life was quite lively.

(End of this chapter)