I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 44: Prince Shen, the Filial Son

...

Zhao Ya handed the glasses that had been adjusted many times to Empress Dowager Xiang.

Empress Dowager Xiang took the magical item that could restore her eyesight with great anticipation and slowly put it on the shelf.

In an instant, the whole world seemed to be awakened again.

A hint of shock first flashed across Empress Dowager Xiang's eyes, and then they were filled with endless surprise.

She saw herself clearly in the glass mirror, every wrinkle and every silver hair was clearly visible; she saw the exquisite patterns on the rouge box in front of her, the delicate carvings seemed to tell of the craftsman's ingenuity; she looked out the window again, at the green bamboo under the palace wall in the distance, the veins on the leaves were clearly visible, even a little bird resting on the bamboo branch, its smart eyes and colorful feathers were all in sight.

"This...this is so amazing!"

Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help but mutter to herself, her voice full of excitement and emotion.

Empress Dowager Xiang had studied scriptures diligently since childhood and had become nearsighted long ago. Everything beyond one step was blurred, and she could not distinguish between people and animals. She had to rely on her feelings to get around.

For many years, the world was nothing more than a vague outline in the eyes of Empress Dowager Xiang.

Now, with her vision clear again, memories of the past flooded back like a tide. Empress Dowager Xiang recalled the scene of admiring flowers in the imperial garden when she was young. The splendor of flowers at that time was even more vivid in her mind. Thinking of Song Shenzong's voice, appearance and smile, it became so real...

Seeing that this audition mirror seemed to be usable, Zhao Ya asked from the side: "Mother, how is it?"

The Empress Dowager nodded gently, tears glistening in her eyes, yet a smile welling up in her eyes. These small glasses not only allowed her to see the world clearly, but also allowed her to recover precious memories that had been obscured by the blurry years.

"My son is truly filial."

Then, Empress Dowager Xiang looked at the glass mirror in front of her and exclaimed in amazement: "This glass mirror is really good, much clearer than a bronze mirror. I didn't expect that I would have white hair and wrinkles on my face. I'm old!"

As she spoke, Empress Dowager Xiang touched her own white hair and her own wrinkles. When she was young, she was also a beauty.

How could Zhao Ya let Empress Dowager Xiang sit there and feel sorry for herself? He helped her up and said, "I have prepared ten large mirrors and a hundred small mirrors for you. If that's not enough, I have more. You can look at yourself later. I have also prepared something more interesting for you."

As he said this, Zhao Ya wanted to help Empress Dowager Xiang go to Shengping Tower behind.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Xiang almost fell down.

Empress Dowager Xiang held her head and asked, "Why do I feel a little dizzy?"

"This is what it feels like when you first wear glasses, but once you get used to it you won't feel that way anymore," said Zhao Ya.

After letting Empress Dowager Xiang get used to it for a while, Zhao Ya helped her to Shengping Tower.

Going up to the second floor, Zhao Ya handed the telescope to Empress Dowager Xiang, and then patiently instructed her on how to adjust the focus and how to aim at the distance.

When Empress Dowager Xiang finally aimed her telescope at the distant palace, the distant palace buildings suddenly zoomed in before her eyes, becoming crystal clear. Every piece of rubble, every carved beam and painted building seemed within reach.

"This... this is simply a divine object!" Empress Dowager Xiang exclaimed, her voice filled with incredible shock.

"For Empress Dowager Xiang, who has lived in the deep palace for a long time and rarely had contact with the outside world, this undoubtedly opened a window to a new and wonderful world." Zhao Ya thought.

"Mother, look over here again. Can you see the scenery outside the palace?" Zhao Ya pointed outside the palace and said to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager Xiang followed her instructions and looked in the mirror. Suddenly, the scene in the mirror transformed into the bustling market outside the palace walls. The bustling crowds, the busy streets, and the boats on the Bianliang River all unfolded before her like a scroll.

"Is this really a clairvoyance?!" Empress Dowager Xiang exclaimed repeatedly.

"I can't say I have the ability to see clairvoyantly, but I can see far with this telescope. If I use it on the battlefield, I will be able to anticipate the enemy and seize the initiative, making it easier for our Song army to win. I will present this mirror to my brother, the emperor, and ask him to give it to the commander-in-chief on the front line to help our Song army win on the battlefield." Zhao Ya said.

Seeing that Zhao Ya always took the overall situation into consideration and was selfless, the Queen Mother lowered her telescope and asked Zhao Ya: "Your Majesty is determined to make Liu Qingjing, the vicious woman, the queen, and you are still helping him?"

Without any hesitation, Zhao Ya said with great righteousness: "The Great Song Dynasty is not just my brother's country and people. It is the foundation passed down by our ancestors. We, the royal family, share weal and woe with it. If the Great Song Dynasty prospers, we will all enjoy prosperity and wealth; if the Great Song Dynasty falls, we will be slaughtered. What I do is only for the eternal security of the Great Song Dynasty, not just my brother's. As for the mistake of choosing the queen, when the opportunity arises, I will have a frank discussion with my brother and strive to correct the wrongs."

Empress Dowager Xiang nodded slightly, a hint of relief and helplessness in her eyes: "I am very pleased that you can do this, and it is worth my years of teaching you. If..."

Empress Dowager Xiang wanted to say, "If you had been born ten years earlier, I would never have advised the late emperor to make Your Majesty the crown prince. If you were the emperor, why would our Great Song Dynasty not prosper?!"

However, this cannot be said. If it is said, it will not only be of no benefit to Zhao Ya, but may even harm Zhao Ya.

Empress Dowager Xiang could only say in her heart: "What a pity!!!"

Zhao Ya came to visit Empress Dowager Xiang today, not to discuss politics with her, but to cheer her up.

So, after briefly chatting about the current political situation, Zhao Ya took Empress Dowager Xiang to use a telescope to observe the people and scenery around her.

The spring scenery outside Bianjing, the prosperity of the Bian River, the streets in the city, and even the farmers working hard in the distant fields, all came into the eyes of Empress Dowager Xiang.

This telescope seemed to have magical power, shrinking the distance between all things in the world, making Empress Dowager Xiang feel as if she was in those scenes and feeling the life of different people.

Empress Dowager Xiang's old face was always filled with a happy smile.

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, standing by, looked at the Queen Mother, whose smile never faded, and thought to themselves, "It's been years since the Queen Mother has been this happy. Prince Shen really knows how to please the Queen Mother. Even Prince Duan can't catch up in this regard!"

Then, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu looked at Zhao Ya, their eyes full of admiration and affection...

……

Just as Zhao Ya accompanied Empress Dowager Xiang on a high vantage point, Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, and Yuan Qingcheng approached Ma Xiaojiao. From a distance, they winked at her, signaling her to come over for a chat.

To be honest, Ma Xiaojiao is really a little scared now. Well, to be precise, she is a little embarrassed to see Zhang Chun and the other four.

——She was a time traveler, but she was pushed so easily by Zhao Ya, a native. This was too embarrassing for a time traveler.

But I can't not go.

If her man wants to become emperor and be a good emperor, he needs the help of these four women.

There was no other way, so Ma Xiaojiao could only say to Tong Guan: "Manager Tong, I'm going to go talk to an old friend. Please take care of this here."

Tong Guan knew that Ma Xiaojiao was Zhao Ya's favorite concubine, so how could he refuse Ma Xiaojiao's respect? He immediately said with a smile on his face: "Madam, please do as you please. Tong Guan will take care of everything here."

Afterwards, Ma Xiaojiao took the food box that Xiduo had prepared long ago and walked towards Zhang Chun and the other three girls...

……

(End of this chapter)