Chinese New Year

Chapter 1456 Meeting
A tall figure appeared in front of the canal in front of the Nine Dragons Hall.

The lake-blue outer robe was covered with sand and even mud.

His eyes revealed a mixture of weariness, worry, and perhaps a hint of unease.

His beard hadn't been groomed in a long time; it was messy and had a few stray hairs.

After crossing the bridge, he arrived at the small courtyard in front of the palace and was slightly stunned.

This is the courtyard where my grandparents lived for many years. In the small courtyard in front of the hall, the vineyard and vegetable plots can still be vaguely seen, but they are neglected and the vegetables are not growing as well as before.

He remembered clearly that when he was young, his father was often away, and he would often sneak into this courtyard. His grandparents would always pick fresh fruits and vegetables for him and invite him to stay for a meal. At that time, even the Empress would not be able to call him back to review his studies.

Whether in Pingyang, Luoyang, or Bianliang, the food his grandparents cooked always smelled so delicious. After eating, he would take a nap on the bed, feeling tired. When he woke up, he would always see his grandmother fanning him to keep away mosquitoes.

He grew up little by little, from a toddler learning to speak to a spirited young man, then started a family and established a career, step by step becoming the Prince of Yan whom everyone in Liaodong now respects.

In this process, he gained a lot and lost a lot.

Now, he stands tall and imposing, commanding the respect of countless people, but he can no longer see his grandfather who would carry him to pick fruit.

Now, his prestige is growing daily, and his orders are carried out in eleven counties, but he can no longer see his grandmother who always asked him if he had eaten enough.

That's probably life.

"Tiger Head!" The father's figure appeared in front of the palace gate.

Shao Yu took two quick steps and was about to bow when his father stopped him.

As he stood up, he noticed the stray gray hairs at his father's temples. Though not many, they were there nonetheless, and he felt a pang of sadness.

My father is old; the hand that supported him just now is no longer as steady and strong as it used to be.

"Tiger Head." Wang Huifeng walked over.

"Aunt." Tiger Head bowed respectfully.

Wang Huifeng stepped forward, gently helped Hu Tou up, and then looked at Shao Xun and said, "Hu Tou has become more and more composed, just as heroic as you were back then."

Shao Xun happily pulled on Hu Tou's hand; as a father, he loved seeing his son resemble him.

"Are you tired?" Shao Xun asked. "Would you like some tea and snacks?"

“My mother…” Shao Yu asked directly.

"She just fell asleep in the side hall," Shao Xun said, releasing his grip.

"I'll go check on Mother," Shao Yu said, glancing outside.

"Let's go." Shao Xun nodded and led the two towards the west hall.

Yang Zha, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Medical Academy, bowed outside the hall. The officials from the Imperial Medical Academy were walking out when they saw Shao Xun and his son. They were slightly startled and nervously bowed in return.

Shao Xun waved his hand, letting him leave on his own. Shao Yu didn't look at him much, but instead stared intently into the inner room.

The footsteps sounded softly and then stopped in front of the bed.

Incense burned to calm the mind inside the hall, but it couldn't mask a heavy silence. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

As if he had lost some kind of spiritual support, the fatigue from the long journey overwhelmed him in an instant, and he almost collapsed onto the couch.

Shao Xun subconsciously reached out his hand, then slowly withdrew it.

The palace servants had all left, leaving only four people in the hall.

Shao Yu gently brushed his robes, his movements very soft, as if afraid of waking his mother.

Wang Huifeng sat down on the other side, glancing at her sister from time to time, and then at Shao Xun and his son, her gaze finally settling on the void.

Wang Jingfeng was fast asleep, breathing very lightly. However, his brows were tightly furrowed, as if he had some unresolved problem.

Shao Yu sat there in front of the couch, as if he was content just watching, or as if he was saying goodbye. The expression on the imperial physician's face just now had already explained everything.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze. Unbeknownst to them, Shao Xun had quietly left, leaving the space to his son.

******
After it got completely dark, the imperial chef brought out the evening meal, which Shao Xun carried himself to the west hall of the Nine Dragons Palace.

Wang Jingfeng had already woken up, his face still streaked with tears, and he was holding Hu Tou's hand, saying something incessantly.

Princess Shao Ni of Mayi stood silently to one side, listening attentively.

Upon seeing Shao Xun, Wang Jingfeng glanced at the food box and shook his head slightly.

Shao Xun placed the food box on the table, then came to the bedside and said softly, "You have to eat something."

Wang Jingfeng shook his head again, then looked at everyone and said, "I would like to say a few words to His Majesty."

Wang Huifeng glanced at her sister with some worry, then pulled Shao Ni away.

Shao Yu hesitated for a moment, but Shao Xun patted him on the shoulder, and he finally got up and left.

Shao Xun sat down next to Wang Jingfeng and quietly watched her.

"I don't blame you anymore," Wang Jingfeng said softly, "but I regret it, I hate it!"

Shao Xun sat there in silence.

Wang Jingfeng shed a few more tears and said, "After I die, bury me far away from Yu Wenjun. I don't want to see her."

Shao Xun opened his mouth.

"What do you want to say?" Wang Jingfeng turned his head slightly, stared at him, and said, "Are you still trying to lie to me? You've been lying to me your whole life."

Shao Xun sighed and fell even more silent.

"Why don't you defend yourself?" Wang Jingfeng said, tears streaming down his face. "Aren't you the best at sweet-talking women?" "I owe you," Shao Xun said. "In the next life—"

"I don't need you to repay me in the next life," Wang Jingfeng said. "I'm also sorry to my father; he hinted to me so many times..."

In the end, tears streamed down my face.

Shao Xun gently wiped away her tears and said, "It has to be repaid. The debts we owe in this life, we'll probably have to be your slaves in the next."

“Who wants you, you beast of burden?” Wang Jingfeng cried. “In my next life, I will definitely be obedient. Even if I don’t get married, I will still be filial to my parents.”

"If I can't be your ox or horse, then I'll be your cook and groom." Shao Xun smirked and said, "I'm a very good cook, and you love my food. If you want to go out for fun, I'll drive you. If anyone dares to come near me, I'll kill them on sight. I'll boil water for you to wash your feet every day and dry your hair. After you fall asleep, I'll keep watch in the outer room, never leaving your side."

Wang Jingfeng gradually calmed down, and for a moment he was lost in thought, as if he was recalling something.

After a long silence, she sighed softly and said, "You'd better not come any closer. I'll be fooled by you, and I won't be able to help... fooling myself."

Shao Xun gently took her hand and said, "No, I won't. I'll spend my whole life paying off my debts, why would I lie to you? If that's really the case, then punish me by making me go down to the river to catch fish for you in the dead of winter."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jingfeng stared intently at Shao Xun.

"If you want to eat Yellow River carp, I'll stay in Luoyang and watch over you. If you want to eat water shield soup and perch, I'll escort you to Jiangnan. If you want to eat sea fish, I'll take you to the seaside." Shao Xun said, "It'll be quiet and peaceful, with no one to disturb us, and our children playing around us, clinging to our legs and acting cute."

Wang Jingfeng was stunned for a long time, then said softly, "You've been my beast of burden for so long, and you still dare to be so presumptuous..."

"Yes." Shao Xun gently touched Wang Jingfeng's face and said, "I'll listen to whatever you say."

Wang Jingfeng slowly turned his head, opened his eyes, and looked at the dimly lit roof.

It seems to be getting darker, but some scenes are becoming clearer.

A stunningly beautiful face in youth, a leisurely life at home in middle age, and endless tears in old age.

Her father, mother, sister, son, and daughter were the people she missed the most, as well as the hand that held her tightly in the darkness.

Her mind was a little confused. Whose hand was that?
Suddenly, she remembered.

When they were in Chen County, those hands helped her mount her horse, took her sightseeing around, and even planted fruit trees for her.

Those hands even washed her feet, something other men wouldn't do or would disdain to do.

Those hands were still catching fish in the icy cold pool, just to comfort her.

With her last bit of strength, she grasped those hands in return; they were the most important people in her life.

******
As dawn broke, Shao Yu woke up and saw a palm-leaf fan gently waving beside him.

The fan brought a cool breeze, drove away the mosquitoes, and allowed him to fall asleep peacefully.

"Husband, you're awake?" Mi's gentle voice rang in my ears.

Shao Yu opened his eyes wide, then slowly reached out and pulled Mi Shi into his arms.

He didn't know why he did it; he just felt a soft spot in his heart was touched, and he instinctively hugged his wife.

Mi leaned quietly against him; at that moment, silence spoke louder than words.

After a long while, Shao Yu gently released Mi Shi and said, "I'm going to see my mother."

"I went to check on her; she is still unconscious," said Madam Mi, bowing her head.

Shao Yu remained silent.

He knew that his mother was simply clinging to life, waiting for him to return so she could see him one last time. Now that her wish had been fulfilled, it was time for her to depart.

He was just a little lost, not knowing what to say.

However, upon seeing Lady Mi, he sighed softly. A man cannot live only for himself; he now has a family, subjects, and citizens. His journey is long, and he has many years to go.

Furthermore, he also has a father.

My father was domineering; he used his illustrious military achievements and supreme prestige to dictate everything.

He stipulated that whoever instigated discord within the imperial family would be punished, and Lucky Film was in trouble.

He defined who would be the crown prince, and Liang Nu got his wish.

He also designated the locations for his two sons, one in the Northwest and the other in the Northeast, each separated from the Central Plains by deserts and swamps.

He was a ruthless and cold-blooded king, making people neither dare nor have the ability to challenge his authority.

But after starting his own family and independently managing his fiefdom, Shao Yu thought a lot and came to understand many things.

Perhaps, he will follow in his father's footsteps in the future.

They are not the first, nor will they be the last.

It is already quite difficult for the imperial family to retain even a trace of warmth, and my father has done his best to achieve this.

Moreover, such things mostly only happen in the early days of the founding of the country; the later it goes, the more ruthless and heartless it becomes.

Shao Yu sighed softly. He was both a son and a father, but he had only recently come to understand many of these truths.

Well, children and grandchildren have their own destinies; he probably can't control that much.

After getting up, Shao Yu went to visit his mother.

Wang Jingfeng was in a coma and was unable to respond.

On the 24th, Empress Yu Wenjun, along with the Crown Prince and his wife, came to visit.

On the 25th, Wang Jingfeng passed away at the age of 63.

(End of this chapter)