Jiuxi

Chapter 787 [The past cannot be changed]

As the New Year approaches, festive decorations can be seen everywhere in the palace, and the palace servants are a lot more relaxed than usual, because even if they make some minor mistakes at this time, they generally will not be punished.

At the beginning of the morning hour, the imperial carriage arrived at the Cining Palace on time.

Over the past year or so, unless delayed by government affairs, Li Zongben would come to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Xu every day.

The dynasty ruled the country with loyalty and filial piety, and Li Zong himself, as the emperor, should set an example. His pure filial piety towards the two empress dowagers, which was spread throughout the capital by some people, had already spread throughout the capital, and even the major prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River were spreading the emperor's reputation for filial piety.

After the female official passed the message, Li Zongben went to the inner hall and said to Empress Dowager Xu who was sitting on the couch, "Greetings, Empress Dowager."

This most noble mother and son in the world knew in their hearts that this was just a show, but they looked as if the mother was loving and the son was filial, and they were in harmony with each other.

Empress Dowager Xu said gently, "The emperor looks good today. Please take a seat."

Li Zongben smiled slightly, and after sitting down, he said some polite words as usual, which were not practical. He just asked whether the empress dowager was feeling well and what she needed to buy recently.

Empress Dowager Xu had a kind expression and a gentle smile. She responded to the young emperor's concern slowly and praised him from time to time.

For a woman like her who has lived in the palace for decades, she doesn't need to think at all when complimenting others. She can do it almost instinctively. However, it sounds a little unusual to Li Zongben.

Empress Dowager Xu's attitude towards him actually changed gradually.

Not long after the death of the previous emperor, because he had imprisoned Li Zongjian, although he did not take his life, Empress Dowager Xu was still full of resentment and naturally did not have a good face for him.

Later, as time went by, perhaps because she knew that the general trend could not be defied and that Li Zongjian's life was always in the hands of the emperor, Empress Dowager Xu slowly changed her attitude and at least she would not greet Li Zongben with a cold face.

But it has never been as gentle and kind as it is today.

Li Zongben was secretly suspicious, but his face remained calm.

When he was about to leave, Empress Dowager Xu suddenly smiled and asked, "Emperor, will the family banquet be held as scheduled this year?"

The so-called family banquet refers to a banquet for the royal family. According to convention, it will be held on December 29th every year, which is the day before the New Year.

This tradition has a long history. It became a regular rule after Emperor Taizu of the Great Qi Dynasty founded the country. It was only interrupted once, when Heluo City fell.

After the previous emperor fled south, the royal family was sparsely populated. Except for Li Duan's branch, the other royal family members who fled to the south of the Yangtze River were no more than 20 people in total. Therefore, Li Duan attached great importance to it and held a family banquet every year.

Li Zongben's heart moved, and he vaguely guessed the other party's plan, so he nodded and said, "Don't worry, Queen Mother, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has made preparations, and the family banquet will be held as scheduled."

"Uh, that's good."

Queen Mother Xu responded with one sentence, and then nothing else happened.

It wasn't that she found it difficult to speak up, but she was worried that Li Zongben would still be as cold and hard as he was a year ago, which would lead to a bad ending.

Deep down, Empress Dowager Xu didn't care whether she could continue to maintain this false mother-son relationship. She changed her attitude towards Li Zongben only for Li Zongjian, who was still imprisoned in Zhaoyu. After the imperial tomb assassination case, Li Zongjian could no longer enjoy the life of being imprisoned in Qiushan Lane, but was imprisoned in the extremely strict Zhaoyu.

Li Zongben was waiting leisurely, as if he didn't know what Empress Dowager Xu was thinking, so he appeared very calm.

After a moment, Queen Mother Xu sighed softly.

Li Zongben was very familiar with this method. Although he felt a little disgusted, he still asked with concern: "Why is the Queen Mother sighing?"

Queen Mother Xu raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes and said slowly: "I remember when the late emperor was alive, the family banquets were always lively every year. But now everything has changed and the old friends are gone. In just three or two years, the royal family's bloodline has become so weak. I really can't rest easy."

"Don't worry, Queen Mother."

Li Zongben knew that the other party wanted to lead the topic to Li Zongjian, so he pretended to comfort him: "Now that the Jing Kingdom is in constant turmoil and unable to look south, our dynasty has wise ministers and famous generals, and the revival of the Great Qi is inevitable. Although the royal family's bloodline is thin, as long as we wait for ten or twenty years, it will surely be gradually strengthened. Please rest assured, Queen Mother."

"I believe you can definitely fulfill the late emperor's last wish."

Seeing that he was unwilling to take the bait, Empress Dowager Xu could only force a smile and said tactfully, "Your Majesty, it is the right way for the court to clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments. I also know your principles. It's just that the family banquet is coming soon. When I think of Li Zongjian still being imprisoned in Zhaoyu, I feel uncomfortable."

Li Zongben fell into silence.

Because of his silence, the inner hall, which was originally as warm as spring, seemed to be blown by a cold wind.

The female officials standing solemnly around did not dare to make a sound.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Xu said with a sigh, "Logically, you have already shown mercy by sparing his life. How can I make things difficult for you? But he is the late emperor's son and your brother after all. I didn't teach him well at the beginning. This is my fault. I just hope to give him another chance. I hope the emperor will understand."

This time, apart from her verbal pleading, she did not do anything out of the ordinary, obviously not wanting to anger the powerful young emperor.

In fact, Empress Dowager Xu felt very aggrieved.

The eldest prince died young, Li Zongjian was not ambitious, and the power of the royal family was very weak. As a result, apart from her noble status as the empress dowager, she had no means to compete with the emperor, so she was so humble.

"Cough cough."

Li Zongben cleared his throat and said slowly, "I can understand the Queen Mother's feelings. It's not too much to let my third brother attend the royal family banquet. It's just that he is naughty by nature..." Queen Mother Xu said quickly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will always watch him and make sure he won't make trouble again. If he makes any mistakes again, let Your Majesty deal with him. I will never say no."

Li Zongben sneered in his heart. He had long guessed that the so-called family dinner was just an excuse, and what Queen Mother Xu wanted was to save Li Zongjian from imprisonment.

Another long period of consideration.

It was not until the expression on Queen Mother Xu's face became stiff that Li Zongben looked up at her and said awkwardly: "The Queen Mother finally spoke up, and there is absolutely no reason for me to refuse. But there are some things I must say in advance. If Li Zongjian still does not repent, the court's laws will not allow him to continue to be presumptuous. After all, three times the law will not do."

Queen Mother Xu felt relieved, a sincere and grateful smile appeared on her face, and she said without hesitation: "Okay."

Li Zongben also smiled faintly, stood up and said: "I will order someone to release Li Zongjian now, and let him tidy up before coming to pay respects to the Queen Mother."

"The emperor has a heart."

Empress Dowager Xu stood up to see him off for the first time.

Li Zongben quickly declined and turned to walk out.

After leaving the Cining Palace, he said to Yuan Yuji expressionlessly, "I am going to pay my respects to my mother now. You go to Zhaoyu in person and bring Li Zongjian out. I will see him later."

"The slaves obey the order."

Yuan Yuji took the order and left.

Li Zongben boarded the imperial sedan chair and went to Funing Palace, where his biological mother, Empress Dowager Liu, lived.

Compared with the previous situation where they seemed to be in harmony but had different thoughts, the atmosphere in Funing Palace seemed extremely harmonious.

The mother and son had a very pleasant conversation. Li Zongben did not mention Li Zongjian's troubles, but only talked about some interesting topics, which made Empress Dowager Liu smile.

About half an hour later, Li Zongben arrived at the side hall of Rende Hall, and soon he met his third brother Li Zongjian, whom he had not seen for more than a year.

They are both brothers and ruler and subject.

One looks high and mighty, the other looks exhausted and uneasy.

Today's Li Zongjian is no longer the arrogant and overbearing Third Prince. He is only in his twenties, but he looks like a dying man, with hair like snow falling on green mountains.

Facing the indifferent Emperor of Great Qi, he knelt on his knees and said nervously: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"Get up."

Li Zongben's tone was flat and no emotion could be heard. He looked at Li Zongjian, who was standing hunched over, and said slowly, "The Queen Mother couldn't bear to see you stay in the prison any longer. Although you have done many bad things in the past, considering the Queen Mother's mood, I have decided to exempt you from punishment from today and give you freedom."

Li Zongjian quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

"You must remember that I only forgive you for the Queen Mother's sake. From now on, you must turn over a new leaf, be loyal to the court, and be filial to the Queen Mother. You must never be as ignorant as you were back then."

At this point, Li Zongben's tone finally became stern: "If you don't know how to restrain yourself and let me know that you are still acting recklessly, I will never forgive you!"

Li Zongjian said in panic: "Your Majesty, I will definitely change my past mistakes and will never make the same mistake again."

"I don't want to hear what you have to say. I just want to see what you do next."

Li Zongben showed some disgust and said coldly: "You are now the lieutenant of Fengguo. Naturally, you can no longer live in the original palace. I asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare a house in the northwest of the imperial city. Although it is not as spacious and luxurious as the palace, it is quiet and secluded, and it is closer to the palace. You can come to the palace often to pay respects to the empress dowager."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Li Zongjian thanked the emperor again, but seeing that the emperor had no interest in continuing speaking, he bowed respectfully and took his leave.

As he walked out of the Ren De Hall, a flash of resentment flashed across the depths of his eyes.

During the more than one year he was imprisoned in Zhaoyu, he lived in humiliation every moment, but had no chance to vent.

Although he had done a lot of bad things in the past, the assassination case had nothing to do with him. Neither the eunuch Wen Liangbao who assassinated the emperor, nor the two assassins hidden among the royal craftsmen had anything to do with Li Zongjian.

After all, this was just Li Zongben's way of framing him.

Walking in the majestic imperial palace, Li Zongjian still hunched his body slightly, appearing extremely timid.

While the eunuch leading the way in front was not paying attention, he raised his head and glanced at the gloomy sky.

The cold winter wind swept across the square in front of the palace, and the bone-chilling cold penetrated into Li Zongjian's body through the gaps in his clothes.

But he seemed to feel nothing, and a fire was burning in his heart.

Of course, he couldn't see the sneer on the lips of Yuan Yuji, the Junior Supervisor of the Ministry of Eunuchs, who was walking in front of him.

(End of this chapter)