The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 236 Three Years (Fourth Update)

The house was quite large, with Li Xianmu's three generations, more than a dozen people from the next generation, plus his wife and concubines.

The room was quiet, with only a faint sob that stopped almost instantly.

Upon seeing Li Xianmu return, Princess Lin'an smiled and gestured for him to come over.

Li Xianmu sat by the sickbed and helped his mother sit up. Princess Lin'an's face grew increasingly pale and bloodless. After a while, Zhang Wan came in with a bowl of ginseng soup. After drinking it, Princess Lin'an's face regained some color and spirit.

"Mao'er is back, so let's say these things today, because I'm afraid I won't have the chance later."

The silence in the room grew increasingly somber, like the calm before a storm, with dark clouds pressing down, heavy and oppressive.

“There are many things I want to say to you, but I don’t know where to start. So let me talk about your father and grandfather, Li Qi.”

Princess Lin'an's face showed a look of reminiscence, "Your father and grandfather seemed like two different people before and after their exile. He was very outstanding before, but later he became as outstanding as a god."

They were always confident and assured of success, gradually exonerating the Li family from a criminal clan. Among the many meritorious families who were executed during the founding of the Ming Dynasty, only the Li family was exonerated.

Only Li was exonerated, which is of extremely high significance; it was almost an impossible task.

Princess Lin'an recounted many things, most of which were unknown to Li Xianmu and his two brothers.

“After I am gone, the three of you brothers will be the closest people left in this world. Your father values ​​the family lineage very much. You must love each other and work together as brothers. If there is anything you are unsure about, ask Xianmu for his opinion.”

“Xianmu”.

"Mother, your son is here."

“From the moment you were born, your father paid special attention to you, saying that you were a born saint. Later, you did indeed have the talent of a saint. I was very surprised at the time and did not understand how your father knew, but later I stopped thinking about it. You and your father are not super geniuses that ordinary people can understand.”

Li Qi fell silent upon hearing this.

Li Xianmu also remained silent.

"From now on, your mother will no longer be able to protect you from the wind and rain. Li Shi will really have to rely on you. Your imperial uncle loves you. Remember to go to the palace often to communicate with your imperial uncle. His Highness the Crown Prince values ​​you. When you do things, you should consider the Crown Prince's interests."

Although this vast Ming Dynasty has countless political rules, ultimately, it is the domain of my Zhu family. As long as one gains the emperor's favor, one can ultimately preserve one's life and wealth. Sometimes, one must use what is necessary.

When she said these words, Princess Lin'an did not show any arrogance, but rather a sense of entitlement. She was a true princess, the eldest daughter of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, and had been deeply loved by her father since childhood. Her brothers also doted on her.

When Li was very weak, she protected her through thick and thin until Li Xianmu truly grew up, at which point she was able to step down and no longer needed to enter the palace to seek a way out for Li.

Her final words were heartfelt, a summary of her life's experiences, filled with worry and reluctance for her children and grandchildren, and a wish for them to live peacefully and safely.

“You don’t need to be sad, this is a good thing.” Princess Lin’an actually laughed out loud. “I miss your father so much. Many years ago, when your father passed away, I wanted to go with him, but he asked me to take care of Li Shi. I’ve been living a difficult life.”

Princess Lin'an started rambling again, this time her eyes were vacant, as if she were looking at someone through the void, "This time I can finally meet him in the Yellow Springs, how wonderful."

Li Xianmu had been holding back his tears, but this time he finally broke down and cried out, "Mother! Mother!"

When he cried, everyone else couldn't help but cry too, but who knew why Li Xianmu was crying?
He was crying because his mother would never see her father in the afterlife!
My father was a true immortal who ascended to the heavens, while my mother was just an ordinary mortal who would return to the underworld after death. Perhaps there is reincarnation in this world.

The immortals and mortals are forever separated; when will they ever meet again?

The things his mother had been reciting for almost twenty years were nothing more than a wish for life that his father had given him. Thinking of this, Li Xianmu felt a deep sorrow, for his mother and for his eternally lonely father.

July 25th.

Princess Lin'an closed her eyes completely. Zhu Gaochi, who was in charge of the country, ordered the officials to hold a funeral for Princess Lin'an. As a princess, she was basically second only to the emperor and empress in terms of the funeral standards.

……

The northern expeditionary army returned from the grasslands and set up camp in an orderly manner. Everyone in the army could see that the emperor was not yet satisfied, but the supplies had run out, so they had to return to base.

Zhu Di felt that he was getting old, and the older he got, the less he wanted to stay in the capital. When he was almost seventy years old, he found that he preferred to be a general commanding a large army rather than an emperor. Only when he was on horseback, charging into battle on the grasslands, could he find true happiness.

As everyone was reviewing the northern expedition in the camp, a messenger entered from outside, knelt down, and presented a letter, saying, "Your Majesty, an urgent letter has arrived from the capital!"

This letter, which should have been sent long ago, finally found the whereabouts of the northern expeditionary army and was delivered to Zhu Di.

An urgent letter?

Zhu Di was startled. Could something have happened in the capital? The people in the tent also looked over with some anxious curiosity, but they only saw that the emperor only glanced at it before he froze on the spot. The next moment, the letter slowly floated down, and His Majesty's hands were trembling and his face was pale.

What's going on?
A slightly somber voice rang out, "Princess Lin'an passed away on the 25th of July."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at first, but then their hearts tightened again, and they looked at the emperor with some worry. Everyone knew that the emperor and Princess Lin'an were a close brother and sister, and this...

Zhu Di couldn't believe it. Princess Lin'an was perfectly fine when he set off, but in just a few months, she had passed away. How could he accept this?

The letter clearly states that he had been ill and had not recovered until his condition became critical and incurable. Moreover, with Li Xianmu by his side, he would surely have been able to be cured if there was a way.

After a long while, Zhu Di finally came to his senses, two lines of tears streaming down his face. He suddenly stood up and said, "Zhanji, I entrust the army to you. I will lead a light cavalry force to return to the capital first."

Zhu Zhanji agreed without hesitation.

……

The funeral for Princess Lin'an was a grand affair and would last a long time. Historically, it took a full five months from the start of the funeral to the final burial, and it is still about the same now. The only difference is that Li Qi's tomb is in the capital, so there is no need to travel thousands of miles to bring the coffin back to his hometown.

When the emperor led his light cavalry, breaking the tranquility of the capital, and returned home weary from his journey, everyone realized how much this princess had been favored during her lifetime.

Wearing mourning clothes, Li Xianmu saw the emperor like this once again, his face full of sorrow, his once steely will seemingly vanished.

Zhu Di patted the coffin and said, "Sister, don't worry, I will take good care of your nephews."

Zhu Di met with Li Xianmu and several others, and then announced a five-day mourning period. He also reviewed the funeral arrangements made by the relevant authorities. Although the scale of the funeral could not be increased, the various funerary items could be upgraded.

Zhu Di did this partly because he was genuinely heartbroken, and partly to bolster the Li family's prestige.

Although he really wanted Li Xianmu to take away the marriage certificate, he also knew that Li Xianmu was not suitable. If Li Xianmu was single for two or three years, some people with ulterior motives would inevitably make a move.

He wanted everyone to know that the Li family's favor would not change, and that there were maternal uncles within the royal family.

As the mourning period gradually came to an end, Li Xianmu and his descendants buried Princess Lin'an and Li Qi together, and it was already the end of October.

When the last handful of earth covers the body, a person's life comes to an end.

……

Li Xianmu, the Minister of Revenue, returned home to observe mourning. Zheng Huan, the former Minister of Rites, was transferred to the position of Minister of Revenue. The former Left Vice Minister of Rites was transferred to the position of Minister of Rites. The former Right Vice Minister of Rites was transferred to the position of Left Vice Minister. Wang Gen, the Nanjing Vice Minister of Rites, was transferred back to the capital to serve as the Right Vice Minister of Rites.

One person observes mourning, and three others are promoted. In ancient times, without term limits, this is why the practice of observing mourning continued. Without it, high-ranking officials would serve for too long.

For many officials, once the mourning period ended, their careers were essentially over and they could not be promoted again. Three years was enough time for them to fade into obscurity. Of course, Li Xianmu was different. Everyone knew that once the mourning period ended, he would immediately return to his position as one of the Nine Ministers.

It's just unknown which of the Nine Ministers will give up their positions. The most likely candidates are the Left Censor-in-Chief, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Personnel.

The discussion in the capital was widespread, and the three of them were naturally aware of it. No one commented on it; what was there to discuss now about something that would happen two years from now?

Li Xianmu naturally paid no attention to these disturbances. He returned to the farmhouse he had built when he was observing mourning for his father, Li Qi. The yard was overgrown with weeds, and he spent an afternoon clearing them away with his wife and children.

He then made some minor repairs to the courtyard, and then sent his children back to the original Princess Mansion, now the Li Mansion, where he and Zhang Wan lived.

"Wan'er, the next two years will be tough for you. You are a noble lady from the Duke's mansion, yet you have to live here with me."

“My mother-in-law treats me as well as her own daughter. This is what I should do. My husband doesn’t need to be so formal.”

Zhang Wan looked out to see the tombs of her father-in-law, Li Qi, and her mother-in-law, Princess Lin'an. A hint of envy flashed in her eyes, and then she looked tenderly at her husband, Li Xianmu. She also had an exceptionally good husband.

Li Xianmu was calculating the time in his mind. His mother passed away on July 25th, and the mourning period was two years and three months. He would finish the mourning period in November of the twenty-third year of Yongle, and then he could report to the Ministry of Personnel. However, officials like him would report directly to the emperor and then wait for the court to make arrangements.

As long as I can return to the central government before the emperor's death, that will suffice.

Spring goes and autumn comes, summer and winter cycle, and in the blink of an eye, year after year has passed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Princess Lin'an, whose given name was Jingjing, was the eldest daughter of Emperor Taizu Gao. Her mother was Empress Xiaoci Gao, and her birth mother was Consort Chengmu, née Sun. She was conferred the title of Princess Lin'an on the tenth day of the tenth month of the Bingchen year of the Hongwu reign. She married Li Qi, the Imperial Son-in-Law, and had three sons: Li Fang, Li Mao, and Li Xianmu.

On the 25th day of the seventh month of the 19th year of the Yongle reign (1411), she was buried with her husband, Li Qi, at the foot of Nanshan Plain outside the capital, by imperial decree. —From the "Biographies of Princesses of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong" in the History of Ming.

(End of this chapter)