Chinese New Year

Chapter 1379 Return to Kaifeng
As expected, although Shao Xun returned to Luoyang before the New Year, the New Year's Day court assembly was still held by the Crown Prince in Bianliang.

He stayed at Jingu Garden to oversee the Ministry of Rites officials in handling Wang Yan's funeral arrangements.

After consulting with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Shao Xun personally bestowed upon him the posthumous title: Zhao.

Wang Yan was posthumously granted the title of Duke of Ju, but this title only extended to him. Therefore, his adopted son Wang Xuan was re-enfeoffed as the Duke of Pingyuan, the first generation of this title, and was granted an additional 500 households as a sign of imperial favor.

An imperial edict was issued again, restoring Wang Xuan to the position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, despite the mourning period, and allowing him to assume his post after completing the funeral arrangements.

Cui Yu, the Minister of Ceremonies, once again took over the entire funeral arrangements. He was now practically in charge of all weddings and funerals in the Great Liang Dynasty, extremely busy, but to be honest, he had also accumulated a lot of goodwill—even Shao Xun was indebted to him.

On the third day of the first lunar month, Chen Yougen, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, came to Jingu Garden on behalf of the Eastern Palace to attend the funeral.

On the fourth day, the court officials and generals either came in person or sent their direct descendants as representatives; basically, everyone was present.

Shao Xun waited until the seventh day of the first lunar month (Renri) before he stopped showing his face and focused on taking care of Wang Jingfeng in the back of the Jingu Garden.

After her father passed away, she also fell ill.

Wang Huifeng was more rational than her sister and was able to hold on, bringing her children to accompany Wang Jingfeng.

Shao Xun stayed by her side almost day and night, but he didn't get much kindness in return.

Of course, he was quite shameless. When no one was around at night, he would sleep next to Wang Jingfeng and whisper sweet nothings to him.

"I regret it." In the quiet night, Wang Jingfeng was wide awake, staring at the dark night sky, and said something completely nonsensical.

"I don't regret it." Shao Xun hugged the woman, but she shook him off.

"My sister and I were on good terms with Yu Wenjun, and in the end we've all ended up like this," Wang Jingfeng said with a heavy nasal tone. "Pei Lingyan must be regretting it now, right? She's been completely fooled by you."

Shao Xun remained silent; women's thoughts really do wander. However, he also knew that her father's death had thrown Wang Jingfeng into a state of chaos and stirred up resentment, causing her to speak recklessly.

There was no need to explain at this point; the more he explained, the more complicated it would become. So Shao Xun simply pretended not to hear and remained silent.

Sure enough, after wiping away his tears for a while, Wang Jingfeng hugged Shao Xun again.

Shao Xun hugged her back.

Wang Jingfeng has aged very quickly in the past two years, his appearance fading at an astonishing rate. On the other hand, Shao Xun is not so dramatic. Apart from having rough and dark skin, he doesn't even have any white hair. He is strong and healthy, with vigorous blood and energy. People would believe he is forty years old.

However, since he had once been involved with Wang Jingfeng when she was handsome, and they had been together for so many years, how could he now dislike her for being old and faded?

He simply held the woman in his arms and gently stroked her back.

The two sat on the couch, quietly savoring the lingering melancholy, resentment, and sorrow of the night.

"Are you leaving?" Just as Shao Xun shifted slightly, as if trying to change his position, Wang Jingfeng suddenly grabbed his arm and asked.

"I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving, I'll stay here with you." Shao Xun had indeed planned to return to Bianliang, but after hearing Wang Jingfeng's words, he immediately changed his mind and comforted him, "However, I can't stay here tomorrow, I have to find another courtyard."

Wang Jingfeng relaxed a little.

Silence fell over the room once more.

After a long while, Wang Jingfeng began to sob: "I have no father, no mother, and even my son is not by my side."

“I’m here too.” Shao Xun patted her hand gently.

“I’m thinking of Xunniang,” Wang Jingfeng suddenly said. “Before she passed away, her biggest worry was her child.”

“Then let Tiger Head stay with you for a while longer,” Shao Xun said. “I will send more supplies and civilians to Liaodong to help manage it. He will stay in Bianliang to accompany you until you are satisfied.”

Wang Jingfeng quieted down.

Shao Xun added, "I'll catch some more fish for you to eat. I learned how to make them with Tong Qianjin, I'll make them for you tomorrow, starting with fish soup..."

Shao Xun talked on and on for a long time until Wang Jingfeng slowly fell asleep in his arms.

******
At dawn, Shao Xun, dressed in a water jacket, walked through the mud by the pond.

Several plump carp were already placed in the wooden basin on the shore.

Princess Shao Ni of Mayi sat beside her, sometimes looking at the fish, sometimes at her father.

She was already nineteen years old after the New Year, and according to custom, she should have been selected as a consort, but her maternal grandfather had just passed away, so it was obviously impossible this year.

Actually, she didn't care; she could get married whenever she wanted, there was no rush. Besides, it would probably be difficult to find a husband like her father, who was willing to coax a woman.

"Splash!" Shao Xun, carrying the net, hesitated with each step as he struggled to reach the shore.

The fish were struggling unwillingly in the net; there seemed to be several of them.

Shao Zhen stepped forward, pulled Shao Xun ashore, then took the fishing net, picked out three or four fish, and put them into a wooden basin.

Shao Xun's lips were a little bluish; time waits for no one.

After removing his wet coat, he immediately took the fur coat brought by his personal guard and wrapped it tightly around his body.

"Come on, let's start a fire and warm up," Shao Xun said, beckoning to his daughter.

Shao Ni obediently followed behind her father and soon arrived in the kitchen.

"Is my dear girl well-versed in women's work?" Shao Xun asked, holding a sharp knife and skillfully cutting open her abdomen, scraping off the scales, and removing her gills.

"I can make fish soup," Shao Ni said softly.

"Let's make it for the prince consort in the future," Shao Xun smiled and said, "Let people see that the princess of the Great Liang Dynasty is not a spoiled person, she can do everything."

Shao Ni nodded, then took the cleaned fish from her father, sliced ​​the fish meat on the stove, and carefully removed the fish bones.

Not long after the father and daughter finished their work, Shao Yu arrived.

Shao Xun glanced at him and said, "There's one last fish. You kill it."

Shao Yu responded and took the fish, then skillfully began to prepare it.

"Where did you learn that?" Shao Xun asked. It's not surprising that someone knows how to kill fish, since it doesn't require much skill, but to do it so skillfully is quite impressive.

“Grandpa, you know how astonishingly strong the desire for fish is among the grassland herders,” Shao Yu said. “They even watch for fish when they have nothing else to do. They are overjoyed to catch fish to eat. I used to teach them how to fish. The Yuwen Xianbei are quite stupid and have little contact with the Han people. Very few of them use nets to fish. In summer and autumn, they shoot fish with bows and arrows, and in winter, they fish by hooking fish through the ice. These are the only methods they use.”

Shao Xun nodded. Historically, one of the great pleasures of the Tuoba Xianbei rulers was to "watch fish" in the lakes near Pingcheng. They spared no expense in building numerous palaces for this purpose, combining vacations and inspections with watching and catching fish.

Tiger Head must have fished and killed fish many times on the grassland, hence his skill.

"Has everything been arranged in Liaodong?" Shao Xun asked.

"arranged."

Shao Xun then stopped asking questions; his son was grown up, and there was no need to pry further.

"Stay in Bianliang for a while longer and keep your mother company," Shao Xun said.

“Okay.” Shao Yu agreed immediately without hesitation.

"Has your mother...has she..." Shao Xun hesitated.

Shao Yu looked up in surprise, then froze.

His father, whom he regarded as a great, wise, and powerful figure, was now so hesitant, which even revealed a deep-seated helplessness in him.

Do fathers also feel helpless and panicked? At this moment, he seemed to understand many things.

“My mother told me not to rush off, but to wait until spring arrives and the flowers bloom,” Shao Yu said.

"Oh, okay." Shao Xun nodded and said, "Today, your father will show off his skills and make you all a fish soup."

Shao Yu washed the cleaned fish, then went to the kitchen and handed it to his younger sister.

Shao Xun also came in to prepare the seasonings.

Shao Yu looked at all this in a daze. How wonderful it was to be a family together.

******
The fish soup, made with the combined efforts of her husband and children, was incredibly delicious, and Wang Jingfeng's health improved slightly, allowing him to eat quite a bit.

But as she finished eating, she quietly wiped away her tears again.

Wang Huifeng sighed and told Shao Xun to go outside for a walk.

Shao Xun nodded, standing beside the lush pine forest of Jingu Garden, looking down below.

Wang Yan received extremely high honors after his death, with people from far and wide coming to pay their respects. The ceremony was even more grand than the one for Yu Chen's passing. Perhaps this is due to the difference in influence.

Shao Xun strolled along, slowly descending the stone steps.

In winter, the Golden Valley Garden is no longer as beautiful as it was in spring and summer; it is desolate and bleak, just like the declining fortunes of the Langya Wang family.

The guards and soldiers on both sides of the steps stood tall and proud, full of vigor, like the rising sun.

The rise and fall of these two phenomena subtly reflect the changes taking place in the world today.

Wealth, power, and influence never disappear; they only transfer. That's all.

Shao Xun saw Chen Yougen on the mountainside; he had come to say goodbye.

"How is the Crown Prince's Palace during my absence this year?" Shao Xun asked.

“The Crown Prince is humble and follows all established rules,” Chen Yougen replied.

Shao Xun nodded and asked, "What about the officials under the Crown Prince's command?"

"Capable of doing things, but without good intentions," Chen Yougen said bluntly.

Shao Xun nodded again, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Take good care of yourself during the first month of the lunar year." Shao Xun patted Chen Yougen on the shoulder and said, "Without you old brothers around, I would be completely lost."

"Your Majesty must also take care." Chen Yougen looked up at Shao Xun and said, "The world is now at peace, so let go of what needs to be let go."

Shao Xun glanced at Chen Yougen in surprise.

Chen Yougen sighed and said, "After the founding of the country, His Majesty's brows have furrowed more and more each day. He is not as cheerful as when he was conquering the country. He must have something on his mind."

"Is it that obvious?" Shao Xun asked.

Chen Yougen did not answer.

Shao Xun understood and said with a self-deprecating smile, "Yes, it's time to let go. Actually, I'm already slowly letting go of myself. In this world, everything boils down to four words: do your best."

Seeing that Shao Xun's expression didn't seem fake, Chen Yougen felt relieved, bowed, and took his leave.

After making his way around, Shao Xun returned to the dining room.

Wang Jingfeng had already finished eating. When he saw Shao Xun enter, he ordered someone to fetch food from the kitchen.

Seeing that the woman was feeling a bit better, Shao Xun sat down beside her and asked, "Is it good?"

Wang Jingfeng sighed with a complicated expression.

"We'll have fish soup tomorrow," Shao Xun said. "I brought back some seafood from the east; you haven't tried it yet."

"You should go back to Bianliang as soon as possible. I'm fine here," Wang Jingfeng said. "With my sister, Hutou, and Yaren by my side, that's enough."

Shao Xun did not agree.

He stayed in Jingu Garden for several more days until Wang Yan's coffin was placed in the underground palace, and he prepared to transport it back to Langya for burial on a chosen day. Only then did he return to Bianliang. It was the fifteenth day of the first month of the fourth year of Zhenming (337).

On this day in Bianliang, the imperial guards did not enforce the law, and the people rejoiced.

In the eleventh year since its founding, the Shao Liang Dynasty had already shown signs of a peaceful and prosperous era.

(End of this volume. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this book will have one final volume remaining, though it shouldn't be as long as the previous ones.)
(End of this chapter)