Jiuxi

Chapter 1021 1019 [Garden Tour]

The tenth day of the twelfth month in the third year of Yongning in the Great Qi Dynasty.

According to the calendar, pheasants began to crow.

For the people in Heluo City, the rumor that Empress Dowager Ning was going to visit Zhuo Garden did not cause any controversy. At most, it was just a topic of idle talk after dinner.

However, it was difficult for the civil and military officials and dignitaries in the court to remain calm. Most of them could not understand the purpose of Empress Dowager Ning's move. Only a dozen people, because of their understanding of Empress Dowager Ning, roughly guessed the tip of the iceberg of the truth behind the garden party.

Right Prime Minister Xu Zuo took a rare half-day off and sat in his study holding a book, but the occasional uneasiness in his eyes revealed his true mood.

Jiang Hui, who had done a lot of work for the Prime Minister's New Policy Office in the past year, wanted to say something but stopped himself several times. Looking at his master's silent attitude, he could only keep what he wanted to say in his stomach, and occasionally got up to help Xu Zuo add tea.

In another prime minister's residence, Xue Nanting had a solemn expression and a deep gaze.

He had originally made preparations to stop Lu Chen from taking any further steps when Empress Dowager Ning summoned important civil and military officials for a small-scale court meeting a few days later. However, his pace was disrupted by Empress Dowager Ning's sudden visit to the garden, and Empress Dowager Ning also specially asked Lu Wei to deliver a handwritten letter.

There were only two simple words "peace of mind" written on it, which made Xue Nanting feel even more uneasy.

However, now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to wait patiently.

As for Xue Ruogu, who was sitting below with a slightly dull expression, his mind was in turmoil.

There is only half a month left until the year-end court meeting. All the preparations he has made are basically completed. Now he is just waiting for that day to come. He only hopes that no unsolvable accidents will happen in this half month.

The father and son remained silent, and the atmosphere became increasingly depressing.

Not only did the two prime ministers' residences fall into a strange silence, but several other mansions in the capital were also in the same state.

In the Yongding Marquis Mansion, Zhang Xu sat alone in the General's Hall. He stared blankly at the various weapons on the shelves and muttered to himself.

In the Linjiang Marquis Mansion, Chen Lanyu stood in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, looking at the desolate courtyard in winter, with snow and wind in his eyes.

In the main office of the Weaving Bureau, Qin Zheng was standing in the corridor on the third floor, and Yang Jingxuan was standing beside him respectfully. They both looked towards the southwest at the same time.

That is Zhuo Garden.

……

At the beginning of the si hour, outside Chengtian Gate.

The emperor's departure from the palace is naturally no small matter. Fortunately, this time the Empress Dowager Ning is only going to Zhuo Garden in the city, so there won't be too much fuss.

She only ordered Shen Yulai to transfer 500 imperial guards to serve as ceremonial guards, plus the accompanying eunuchs and female officials, a total of 600 to 700 people, and then left Chengtian Gate.

Lu Chen did not come to greet the emperor alone. He personally led five hundred royal guards and stood respectfully on both sides of the Imperial Street to salute. He then joined the imperial guards and followed the emperor when he came out.

About a quarter of an hour later, the emperor arrived outside the gate of Zhuoyuan, which was under martial law.

"Stop."

The clear voice of Ruolan, a female official of Fu'an Palace, was heard.

Lu Chen, who came to the side, cast a questioning look at the pretty female official.

At this moment, the gate of Zhuo Garden was wide open, and the emperor could have walked straight in. Although curtains had been set up at both ends of the long street, Empress Dowager Ning was of noble status, so she did not need to walk.

Ruo Lan didn't dare to look directly into Lu Chen's eyes, and bowed her head slightly and said, "Your Majesty has ordered that this place is different from other places, and we should walk to show respect."

Lu Chen bowed in response.

Zhuo Garden is Yang Guangyuan's former residence. Empress Dowager Ning was so solemn today. Regardless of how Lu Chen would react, at least the older generation such as Lu Tong and Xiao Wangzhi would have some feelings.

After a moment, Queen Dowager Ning stepped down from the phoenix chariot and appeared in Lu Chen's sight.

She was dressed in gorgeous clothes with a flower ornament on her forehead.

Long eyebrows are like mist, and eyes are like stars.

Full of nobility, dignified and elegant.

Lu Chen stepped forward and saluted, "Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be so polite."

Empress Dowager Ning had clear eyes and a serene smile, and then she looked up at the gate of Zhuo Garden in front of her.

This manor has a history of nearly seventy years, and its main structure has been well preserved. For a long time in the past, it served as Qing Yu Huaijin’s residence in Heluo, and it has been repaired and improved very carefully. In terms of scenery and charm alone, it is by no means inferior to the famous gardens in the south of the Yangtze River.

Seeing this, Lu Chen turned sideways and said, "Your Majesty, the garden has been cleaned up. Please come in and take a look."

Queen Mother Ning nodded slightly and said, "The King of Qin is thoughtful."

She stepped forward, followed by Ruolan and other female officials, and other eunuchs and palace servants followed slowly. Lu Chen turned his head and saw Tan Zheng, who was standing in the distance, making a gesture to him, indicating that there was nothing unusual outside and the interior was well arranged, so he followed.

Five hundred imperial guards and five hundred personal guards of the Prince of Qin's palace stayed outside the garden to deploy defenses. At the same time, three thousand soldiers of the Guangling Army transferred by Lu Chen were stationed to guard various important locations.

Zhuo Garden has beautiful scenery, with one place connected to another, with occasional blank spaces, which prevents people from feeling tired. It can be said to be a testament to the utmost ingenuity.

Empress Dowager Ning strolled forward, Lu Chen lagged behind by half a body length, and another thirty or four feet behind were Ruolan and a dozen other trusted female officials. The others were sent away by Empress Dowager Ning. She didn't like a large group of people following her, as it was really boring.

The weather is nice today, with warm sunshine that slightly dispels the chill in the air. Touring the park in such weather will undoubtedly make people feel relaxed and happy.

Perhaps the only flaw was that the two nobles walking in front remained silent, and the atmosphere was a little solemn.

"The King of Qin is going to inspect the three northern states this time. I wonder how the new policies are being implemented there?"

When they reached Pianshan Terrace, Empress Dowager Ning finally stopped and turned to look at Lu Chen.

The morning sun shone behind her, and there was a hint of concern in her misty eyes.

Lu Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, I have only been on the lookout and don't have a thorough understanding. At present, it seems that most local officials are very attentive to the new policies, and the people's lives have indeed improved slightly because of the new policies."

Queen Mother Ning asked with great interest, "Can you tell me more about it?"

"The minister knows everything."

Of course Lu Chen was willing to talk about the new policy. It must be said that Queen Mother Ning was an extremely smart woman. Even though her sudden proposal to invite Lu Chen to visit Zhuo Garden was a little abrupt, using the new policy as the first topic could make the somewhat strange atmosphere return to normal in a short time.

The emperor and his minister stood on the Pianshan Terrace, admiring the half-walled scenery of Zhuo Garden from a high vantage point, while discussing the effectiveness and shortcomings of the various new policies in the three northern states.

Ruolan stood a little further away, while the other female officials tactfully stayed backstage.

After listening to Lu Chen's concise statement, Queen Mother Ning couldn't help but look forward to it: "I think in another two or three years, the lives of the people will definitely be better."

This time Lu Chen did not give a clear answer. He said slowly: "Your Majesty, the so-called better is actually just to increase the cost of survival a little bit from the current situation of starving to death, freezing to death and dying of disease."

Empress Dowager Ning was startled.

She was not completely unaware of the suffering of the people. She had reviewed countless memorials during the years she was in power and must have had a general understanding of the people's living conditions. However, she overlooked one point: the memorials she saw were written by officials, not by the people.

With two upright prime ministers, Xue Nanting and Xu Zuo, few people dared to confuse right and wrong and deceive the court. It was not difficult for the officials below who were proficient in literature to embellish the words slightly.

Lu Chen was obviously very clear about this, so he talked about the ordinary family he had seen with his own eyes: "Your Majesty, I saw such a pair of grandparents and grandchildren in a small village called Dujia Village, a few miles outside Linchuan County, Dongqing Prefecture, Lingzhou..."

He told the story of Du Wang's experience. When Empress Dowager Ning heard that this lonely old man had experienced the tragedies of losing his wife, son, and daughter-in-law in just over a decade, and that in the end he could only depend on his only granddaughter, she could not help but quietly clench her hands in her sleeves.

When Lu Chen used sketches to depict Du Wang's dilapidated and desolate home, as well as the poorly clothed and hungry conditions of the villagers in Dujia Village, Empress Dowager Ning's eyes were already filled with sorrow.

She pursed her lips, stared at the vast sky, and remained silent for a long time.

"People's lives are difficult, and the people are innocent..."

Queen Mother Ning said in a low voice, lamenting, "It is the court that has let down these simple people."

Of course Lu Chen could tell that Queen Mother Ning was not just pretending.

In fact, putting aside the conflict in their positions, Lu Chen admired the kind-hearted and wise woman in front of him very much. If Empress Dowager Ning had taken over the power of the court after Li Duan passed away, the situation might not have developed to this point. After all, at that time Lu Chen only had the ability to protect himself to a certain extent, and was not as unstoppable as he is now.

He said in a slightly melancholy tone, "Your Majesty, those scholars often say that the people are suffering, but I don't think they understand the true meaning of these three words. They see the court that weighs the world, the rich and powerful who live in luxury, and this majestic capital, but they don't see what kind of life the people of Da Qi live in those corners that the sun can't reach. Even in the capital, there are many people who have no food to eat and whose whole family only has a few pieces of linen clothes."

Queen Mother Ning looked away because of his words, as if she wanted to see the true appearance of the capital city. She murmured, "I know what you are thinking. Although the new policy is a good medicine, it has no magical effect of resurrecting the dead. Only by persisting and continuously deepening and extending it on the existing basis can we truly change the lives of the people of Da Qi."

"Your Majesty is holy."

Lu Chen said these four words with true feelings.

"How can I say I am wise? This is all thanks to you."

Queen Mother Ning shook her head slightly, and then asked a question that she had kept in her heart for a long time: "How many people in the three northern states who are struggling to survive still remember Marshal Yang Guangyuan?"

This is Zhuo Garden.

It was the mansion awarded to Yang Guangyuan by the imperial court, although he only lived there for two or three months in total.

For the court of Da Qi, Yang Guangyuan has been a name that is rarely discussed publicly since twenty-five years ago.

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at an ancient tree in the distance, and said softly: "Not many, because most of the people who experienced those years are dead, but the living people will definitely remember it."

Empress Dowager Ning looked at his profile and sighed silently in her heart.

(End of this chapter)