Biography of Concubine Shujia

Chapter 177

After Empress Xiaocheng left, the emperor stopped court for nine days.When the court ministers saw the emperor again, the emperor felt a dull pain of twilight all over his body.

Empress Xiaocheng was born after Xijia entered the palace for 26 years and has been a queen for 40 years.Although he has no children in his life, he is peaceful and fair, and has a good reputation in the palace.She and the emperor are cousins ​​and have known each other since childhood.Accompanying the emperor for [-] years, when the empress was around, the emperor was very dependent on the empress.As soon as the queen left, the emperor became much older.

After the 27th, the emperor's grief seemed to fade a lot.The emperor insisted on keeping filial piety for his first wife for a hundred days, and the concubines in the palace were dissatisfied and dared not touch the emperor's bad luck.

Especially Yu Chongyi, who came out of confinement, wished to bite her silver teeth.She tried several times to get the emperor to visit her, but the emperor was in no mood to go to her.In the end, the imperial concubine reprimanded her for disrespecting the former queen, and she was grounded and punished for copying Buddhist scriptures for three months.

The status concubines in the palace saw the imperial concubine's fierce attack, and the emperor ignored it, so they all packed up their thoughts and lived their small lives safely.

Perhaps the emperor missed the empress, coupled with the busy affairs in the middle of the court, in October, the emperor relapsed.But he still insisted on approving the memorial, and he dismissed all the concubines who came to visit the sick in the harem.

Ten Niang heard his heart-piercing cough from a long distance away.She entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a pot of sweet-scented osmanthus tea, and nodded to Yang Zhong who was standing outside the door.Although Yang Zhongren is pedantic, he also knows that this master is coming, so he definitely dare not stop him.So he personally opened the heavy curtain and let Concubine Jia enter.

The cool wind came in through the gap, and the emperor, who was standing in front of the imperial case writing and drawing, raised his hand to cover his cough with a handkerchief.After coughing, he put the handkerchief back into his sleeve.Then he didn't raise his head, he was still busy with concentration.

The weather in Lidong just now was not very cold, but the emperor put on the fox fur early.The earth dragon was also burned in the room early, but even so, a trace of cold air still made him cough for a while.

Since his abdomen was injured, his lungs have been weaker, and he will cough when winter comes, and he can't see the cold air.

He can't sit for a long time, and usually sits for a while and then stands up to approve the papers.Due to the torment of illness, he looked thinner and thinner, and his body wrapped in fox fur still looked thinner.

Ten Niang lightly put the teapot she was holding on the imperial case, while the villain who had been watching her since she came in, stepped forward to find the teacup that the emperor used to drink tea on, and helped her pour scented tea into it.

Because he didn't do these tasks often, when the man lowered the tea lid, there was a slight ding-dong sound.

The emperor was disturbed by such a big movement, and the pen in his hand just paused, Fang smiled and said, "Ansheng, sit in your seat and read the notebook I just gave you."

"Have a cup of hot tea and keep busy." Ten Niang said softly, her eyes scrutinizing the emperor's face.

His spirit is not very good, and his temples are also gray when she is not paying attention.His brows were a little wrinkled, and his eyes were as serious as ever when he was looking at Zhezi.

Hearing her voice, the emperor looked up, only to find that it was her, put down his pen, and waved to her, "Why are you here in such a cold day?"

"My daughter-in-law came to the palace and gave a folk prescription. I showed it to Dr. Li and said it is good for relieving cough and nourishing the lungs. So I boiled a pot and brought it to you while it was hot." Shi Niang stepped forward and helped the emperor sit down. Next, help him massage the acupuncture points on his head.The sixth prince Mu Jing, who was waiting by the side, packed up the papers on the imperial case, and brought the hot scented tea to the emperor.

"Did Xiao Liu just go to riding and archery lessons?" The emperor glanced at his sixth prince eagerly, and started to chase people away.

The mother and son worked together during these days, all staring at his eating and drinking, wishing that he would lie in bed for ten of the twelve hours a day.

"Son, I'll wait for you to drink the herbal tea specially prepared by my concubine before going to cousin Xin." The sixth prince didn't agree.

His riding and archery lesson started in a quarter of an hour, and it didn't matter if he stayed a little longer.Don't watch the father and emperor drink obediently, he will definitely make trouble, and the mother and concubine will feel uneasy.

His mother and concubine didn't seem to care that much about his father's illness, so she asked the small kitchen to deliver food and prescriptions, and often came to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to accompany his father, letting him know that she was afraid.

One day after he finished class, he saw his mother and concubine sitting in front of his father's bed, staring at his father's sleeping face, with tears in his eyes.After noticing someone, he quickly wiped it away and restored his noble appearance.

For some reason, he felt uncomfortable.For his mother and concubine, but also for his father and emperor.

"One or two, can you treat me as a sick child?" Under the gaze of the imperial concubine and his son, the emperor had no choice but to open the tea cover, and a strong scent of sweet-scented osmanthus mixed with other indescribable aromas came out.

"Today, this one is really fragrant. It's sweet-scented osmanthus. What's the other flavor?" The emperor asked the people standing beside him after tasting it.

"In addition to the common rock osmanthus, there are grass osmanthus, Shandan, and lemongrass. Grass osmanthus and lemongrass are hard to find. They were brought in by Yao's daughter-in-law. It is said that Yao'er helped collect them in the south. Been looking for it for a while."

The emperor held the hot tea and took a few sips, "It's hard for Yao'er, Jing'er, go and send the white jade horse sculpture in the royal father's bedroom to your third brother."

"Third brother won't want it, you can keep it for yourself." Mu Jing said helplessly, "It was originally third brother who came here to honor you. There is no such thing as you, and you can just stop scolding him a few times on weekdays."

"You boy!" The emperor scolded with a smile, "It's almost time, go to class." After all, he was not talking about rewards.

The sixth prince, who faced his mother and concubine with a paralyzed face and was close to his father, after achieving his goal, simply saluted and left.Really he can't see, does his father want to talk to his mother and concubine alone?
For the past few days, the imperial father, Xuanzhao imperial physician and Xin Yin have not avoided him. He knows the physical condition of the imperial father better than his mother and concubine.

He also clearly knew what kind of responsibility he shouldered.Although his imperial brother doesn't have the power to rule the court, he is not bad.

The father and the emperor got close to his mother and concubine again, just to check and balance, to pave the way for him.Once the father dies, the young self will not be able to govern himself.

The father and the emperor should be planning to let the mother and concubine listen to the government behind the curtain, but the regent will choose the third brother.What I have to do is to use the hidden strength taught by him on weekdays, and hurry up to grow up.Then look for opportunities to get married and rule in person, and exclude the third brother from the court's sphere of influence.

When the royal father was fighting between the Nalan family and the Liu family, he taught himself the way of being a king.

He said that the way to be a king is to strategize; a king must be able to withstand many experiences before he can finally enjoy the honor of the emperor, bathe in the spring breeze, and talk about the world with a smile.

He also said that after a long time of training in his life, he is now ruling the world on the king's platform and enjoying all kinds of honor.He hopes that his son can also create a prosperous world and realize his grand plan and hegemony just like him.

He didn't really understand these things, but his father said it didn't matter, as long as he kept it in his heart, one day, it would come in handy.

However, father, mother and concubine, brother and brother are my relatives who are connected by blood.No matter what the future holds, I am willing to enjoy the happiness of being together as a family now.

The sixth prince turned his mind all the way to find his cousin Mu Xinyin.

From September to December in Xijia's 29th year, during the three months, whether it was long or short, the court and the harem were quite stable.However, the emperor's body has not improved, and he has become thinner and thinner.

In December, the emperor's filial piety period for the first queen expired, and he began to set foot in the harem.When he went to the harem, he mostly stayed in the concubine's palace with heirs, chatted about the current situation of the children, and comforted the old man.

Of course, the place where he rests the most at night is still the Yaohua Palace of Concubine Shujia.

Years ago, the emperor decreed that the harem be sealed off, which promoted the status of everyone in the harem.

Everyone from the rank of first-rank lady has been promoted to one level, Lan Xiurong was promoted to Lan Shuyuan, Bai Jieyu was promoted to Bai Zhaoyuan, Jiang Shunrong was promoted to Jiang Jieyu, Xu Wanyi and Gu Fangyi were promoted to Xu Shunhua, Gu Shunyi suppressed Yu Shunrong .Li Fenyi, Jing Changzai, and Zhao Changzai, who have always been out of favor, also have been promoted, and they are Li Chongrong, Jing Guiren, and Zhao Shiren.Ladies of other status all have promotions when they choose servants.

If the emperor's decree to seal the harem surprises people, then the last imperial decree issued by the emperor is a shock.

Emperor Rui wrote the last imperial decree before Xijia sealed his pen in 29 years, and it was also the last handwritten imperial decree during the Xijia years, and it can even be said to be the last imperial decree during his reign.

Bestow the first-class noble concubine in the harem of Daliang, the word "Jia".This word has been in Emperor Rui's heart for 21 years, and it was given to Concubine Shujia during his last reign. The word "Jia" implies the word "Jia" in the two characters of "Xijia" in Emperor Rui's year name, which means goodness, beauty, auspiciousness, joy and happiness.Known as "Shujia Concubine".

Before the court ministers could react and talk about it, Emperor Rui fell into a deep sleep in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, unconscious.

The princes and daughters, concubines of the harem, and honorable clan members waited outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, guarding the emperor, hoping that the emperor would wake up.On the last night of Xijia's 29 years, the emperor, who had been in a coma for five days, finally opened his peach-blossoming eyes.

He was in good spirits, ate half a bowl of millet porridge, ate a piece of plum blossom and chestnut cake made by Concubine Shujia herself, and began to summon his sons, concubines and important officials with a smile.

The people who waited around him knew that the emperor was probably coming back to life.Xiao Luzi, who had served him for more than 30 years, endured his grief and summoned someone for the emperor himself.

The clan, nobles and important ministers came in first, and the emperor, in front of them, ordered Yang Zhong to take out the imperial decree he had prepared long ago, and named the sixth prince, Mu Jing, the crown prince.A hundred years later, the six princes will inherit the throne.

The eight kings were named hereditary princes and guarded Nanming, and they were not allowed to return to Beijing without an edict.

The third prince, Prince Ze, is the brother regent, who assists the younger brother in handling the government affairs. When the younger emperor gets married, he will be in charge of the government.

The noble concubine of Shujia, Du Shi, listened to the government behind the curtain until the little emperor got married and took charge of the government.

Mu Xinyin is still the first-rank minister in charge of the bodyguards to protect the safety of the emperor. At the same time, he is appointed as one of the three lords as Tai Tuo, who is in charge of the military and political power of the country.

Du Xianyu, who was originally a first-rank university scholar and cabinet veteran, Duo Qing, was named the first assistant of the cabinet, and the grand teacher who was the head of the three princes.

When everyone heard the emperor's will, they kowtowed to the crown prince one after another, calling him a thousand years old.

The emperor smiled with satisfaction and summoned the concubine and heirs.

There were not many unmarried princesses in Beijing, and the emperor ordered them to retreat after he told them to listen to the words of Concubine Shujia and Mrs. Huimin.

The princes stayed longer. It was nothing more than a few little princes who came in with their mothers and concubines and kept crying when they saw the emperor's smiling face.These princes start from the seventh prince to the tenth prince, the oldest is only eight years old, and the youngest is less than five years old.

The emperor comforted a group of young sons, told them to listen to the emperor's brother and the noble concubine, and told the concubines to raise the little prince well, and then let them retire.

Only Concubine Shujia, mother and son were left alone.

The tenth prince was no longer crying at this moment. For the first time, he clearly realized that this man whom he called father emperor but who paid little attention to him was leaving him.But the emperor doesn't like his crying, so he won't cry anymore, and can't let him go uneasy.

"Zhonger, father named you Zhong, in the hope that in the future... you will be upright and honest... do your best... be loyal to the monarch and the empire. Promise father that you can do it...cough cough" the emperor Cover your mouth with the handkerchief in your hand, and hold the handkerchief tightly in your palm.

The noble concubine Du Shiniang of Shujia saw the blood-stained handkerchief in her tearful eyes, and she cried even more fiercely.He stretched out his hand and pushed the little son with a pale face, "Quickly promise your father!"

"Father." Mu Zhong shouted in a strange and reluctant manner, "Zhong'er can do it, Zhong'er promises you, don't leave!"

"Good boy, go out and find your third brother and sixth brother. From now on... listen to your mother. Father is tired, and I want your mother to accompany... talk."

Mu Zhong stared at his father with wide eyes, his eyes were full of reluctance and fear, he stood there, listening to his father's coughing again and again, watching the handkerchief in his hand was stained red, blood running down his fingers down stream.

Then he was pulled out abruptly by Lu Gonggong beside the father, and with a last look, he saw the mother and concubine crying and lying in the arms of the father.And the father used his blood-stained fingers to gently stroke the mother's concubine's hair.

Only Mu Yunlan's painful panting and Du Shiniang's sobbing were left in the hall, and it was Mu Yunlan's voice that broke the silence.

His voice was weak, "Silly girl, stop crying... look up and let me take a good look at you again..." The emperor reached out to reach for her fingers.

Ten Niang sat up, wiped the tears and snot off her face with a handkerchief, and looked at the man lying there with red and swollen eyes.

I have been by this man's side for 22 years, and I can't tell what kind of feelings I have for him.At the last moment of his life, being able to watch him walk quietly was not an honor for her, but a kind of torture.

The one you love is gone, and the one who stays is the most painful.

"Brother Six, don't leave me. You promised me that I would stay by your side for the rest of your life. You can't take your word for it." Her heart was so flustered, so tight, and so dull.I urgently need his oath and comfort, just like every time I encountered a desperate situation before.

"I didn't break my promise...it's a lifetime, it's mine." Mu Yunlan panted, "Your lifetime is still long, and there are Xiaoliu and Xiaoshi who need you to take care of them, and you have to watch Yao'er have her own life." Son-in-law, watch Jingyue get married, you have to be good, and don't let the boss...ahem...worry."

He said such a long and urgent sentence, which made her dry eyes begin to shed tears again.

"In my life, I am worthy of the people of Daliang... I am worthy of the ancestors of Daliang... I am only sorry for the three women...cough cough..."

"Stop talking...I understand." Ten Niang helped him wipe the blood off his mouth, "I'll be fine, I never really blamed you."

"No... If you don't say it, you won't have a chance to say it... One is Empress Yuan, Ruixin's child is blamed for not keeping it... Cousin Mengzhen was also missed by me all her life... Fortunately, I will go down and apologize to them It's...Only you, still so young...I handed over all the responsibilities to you...It's me who is selfish...I always want to give you the best...Actually, it's not hard..."

Mu Yunlan tightly clenched the catkin in his hands, his face was as pale as paper, and his lips were bloodless.

"I'm not afraid. I'm willing. I said I'll guard the country with you. In the future, when you're gone, I'll remember what I promised you and keep your country. But not now! Stop talking, please." You! I will announce the imperial physician immediately, and you will be fine!"

"In the next life... I hope you will be alone, girl, Xu Qing..." The unfinished vow was just like that, interrupted by the cold wind leaking in from the room.

The emperor's misty peach-blossom eyes closed weakly, and the big hand holding Ten Niang loosened weakly, and there were large swaths of blood oozing from his mouth.

The blood stained the bright yellow pajamas on his body, and the orange color seemed to sting people's eyes, all the way to the bottom of his heart.Shi Niang tremblingly stretched out her hand to touch his Renzhong acupoint, but she was no longer breathing.

"Emperor Daxing is dead!" Ten Niang cried out this sentence.It was Zishi, the first day of the first month of Xijia's 30th year.

Hearing the shout, people waiting outside poured in one after another, kneeling down and crying to send Emperor Daxing his last journey.Ten Niang, who was so weak from crying, was dragged away from the bed not long after, crying until she couldn't help herself.

At that moment, with tears in her eyes, she vaguely heard the voices of her sons calling out to the queen worriedly, staring at Mu Yunlan's direction, gradually blurred, her eyes darkened, and she passed out.

When Shi Niang woke up again, the sky had changed.Her sixth son, Mu Jing, was called long live by the clan officials after Emperor Daxing left.

On the third day of the first lunar month in the 30th year of Xijia, the eight kings issued a will on behalf of the royal family.The content is roughly the same as that written in the 28th year of Xijia, and it is roughly the same as the last words of Emperor Daxing, only adding the meaning that funerals should be handled according to etiquette.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Mu Jing ascended the throne of the emperor, and offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, Taimiao, and Sheji, and the capital was lifted.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Mu Jing was enthroned in the Imperial Palace of Supreme Harmony, accepted the congratulations of all officials, and issued an imperial edict requiring the clan to maintain unity and share wealth, and at the same time change the Yuan to Jian'an.

After the funeral, the Zi Palace of the Daxing Emperor was placed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the princes, princes, princesses, concubines and other high-ranking nobles went home to fast separately.As for idle officials, they gathered at the Meridian Gate to fast and stay.

During the fasting period, civil and military officials below the prince are not allowed to have fun, and mourning and wedding activities are prohibited.During the 27th, the soldiers and civilians in Beijing took off their crowns and wore plain onyx. They were not allowed to marry within one month, to have fun within 49 days, to slaughter within 27 days, and to pray and offer sacrifices within [-] days.

Since the day of the great funeral in the capital, the bells of various temples and temples have been rung [-] times.

The Ministry of Rites in charge of foreign affairs in the DPRK and China was responsible for issuing obituaries to the subordinate countries, and the Great Khan of Kunsang sent Chen Wei envoy to Yujing, accompanied by Chen Wei's family and Mu family.

Emperor Daxing was thoughtful throughout his life, was sagely and knowledgeable, thoughtful about things, and respected morality and light.

The name of Emperor Rui's mausoleum was designated by the emperor as "Xiaoling" to express his filial piety and sincerity to his father.

Emperor Rui stayed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for 18 days, and the coffin was moved to the Funeral Palace of Guande Hall.The coffin was moved to the mausoleum after being parked in the funeral palace for another 2 months.It was parked in the mausoleum for 10 days before being buried on March 25, the first year of Jian'an.Empress Xiaocheng was buried in the underground palace, and after Emperor Rui was buried, the door and passage of the tomb were closed.

After Mu Yao and Mu Jing went to Yaohua Palace to pay her respects and reported the situation of Emperor Mingrui's burial, Shi Niang realized soberly that the man who suppressed her for half her life had really left.

After Emperor Rui left, she had been ill all the time, and after the enthronement ceremony, she was forced to go to the grand ceremony of conferring the empress dowager.

She became the most honorable woman in the harem—the queen mother, and lived in Yongshou Palace.All over the world, all people celebrate together, Kunsang, a subsidiary of Daliang, congratulates each other with tribute, Mu Jing comes to the world, congratulates her mother, and at the same time gives her the emblem "Zhaojia", and was called "Empress Zhaojia" at that time.

The new emperor was young, and the late emperor ordered the empress dowager to listen to the government behind the curtain.But because of her illness, she had no choice but to take the role of regent as the emperor's elder brother, and take on the responsibility of assisting the government; but she still couldn't get out of the haze of Emperor Rui's passing.

Until today, when she looked at Mu Yao, who looked exactly like the face of the former emperor, and listened to the worrying comfort of the new emperor beside her, she really realized that there was still a long way for their mother and son to go.

The sun shines in through the dark veil in the hall, and the light in the hall is bright, and it is warm and bright as far as the eye can see, just like the fingers he brushed her forehead in the early years, it is warm and intoxicating.

She smiled brightly in the thousands of rays of light. After so many years of bitterness and ups and downs, she felt that this life was worthwhile with his company and help.

(End of this chapter)