What men fear is not getting older, but the desolation that comes with getting older.
No matter how heroic you were when you were young, you were brave enough to reach the mountains, you were brave enough to reach the moon, you were brave enough to go down to the sea to slay the dragon, once your years are gone, they will all disappear.
At first, I felt powerless, and then gradually became depressed.
Beyond that, what awaits is a painful hospital bed.
Forget it, what is even more frightening is the powerless loneliness and helplessness.
The reason why Zhu Yunxi celebrated the old man's birthday with great fanfare and even recalled the Ming Dynasty princes to the capital was so that the old man could live in the last days of his life and feel the attention of his relatives and the excitement of the world.
Xi Laodao and the imperial doctors had already predicted the old man's health. After more than seventy years of hard work, the old man's body had long been empty, just like a towering ancient tree. It still looks tall and tall on the outside, but in fact it has lost its support.
Zhu Yunxi had no ability to change life, old age, illness and death, he could only show more filial piety while the old man was alive.
For the elderly, it is a sign of filial piety to go home often.
In the Jinshen Hall, the old man and Zhu Yunxi were in the middle. On both sides were the vassal kings and consorts sitting in order. In the middle of the hall were the ministers and the surviving founding nobles.
There are sons, grandchildren, and old friends around me. There are endless words to say and endless memories to tell.
The Zhu family's imperial family has a splendor and wealth that is unimaginable to ordinary people. But it also has to face the separation of flesh and blood that ordinary people do not have.
The old man's eyes were nostalgic on the faces of all his sons, looking at them one by one, like a loving father.
"Fourth, you are not young anymore. Don't always be the first to fight."
"Prince Qin and Prince Jin, you are still young. You should learn more from other uncles and princes, and listen more to the opinions of your subordinates on border matters. Don't act like a prince, insisting on everything and not listening to the advice of others.
"
"Old Fifteen, your place is a bitter and cold place. You should take good care of your health and don't take advantage of your youth to take it seriously."
"Old Seventeen, don't be so showy. Don't always think about fighting big battles and making great achievements. Don't think too highly of others."
"Our little twenty-one, you are over there in Korea, treat the people well and don't mess around!"
The palace ladies in auspicious clothes came in with charcoal stoves and various dishes. The old man didn't even look at them, he still looked at all his sons and grandsons.
Suddenly, he looked at the end of the vassal kings and waved, "Come forward and let us have a look!"
Zhu Yunxi also looked over and said with a smile, "Prince Jingjiang, I call you!"
Jingjiang King Zhu Zanyi is only sixteen years old, with a gentle and elegant face, "My lord, I'm here to greet you..."
"Get up, get up!" The old man smiled and asked someone to help him up. Then he took the other person's hand and looked closely at him, his eyes full of love. "How about studying? Can you get used to living in remote Guilin?"
Zhu Zanyi is the old man’s nephew and Zhu Wenzheng’s grandson.
When the old man started the army, the only remaining relatives were his nephew Li Wenzhong and his nephew Zhu Wenzheng. He and Queen Ma treated them as if they were their own children.
Needless to say, Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzheng did not disappoint the old man. In the famous defense battle of Hongdu, Zhu Wenzheng led Xue Xian and others to fight against Chen Youliang's army alone.
Later, because Zhu Wenzheng was guilty of betraying and surrendering to the enemy, he was placed under house arrest and died of depression.
In fact, he said he wanted to rebel because he was telling others. He is the old man's nephew. Who is he rebelling against? Who can give him more power than the old man.
Zhu Wenzheng was the core figure of the Huaixi martial arts group at that time. When he had the highest official position, he commanded the entire governor's office. Even Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and others were subordinate to him.
The reason why he is under house arrest is because of his ambition.
There was no Ming Empire at that time, and no one could tell or guarantee the final direction of the Huaixi martial arts group, and no one knew when the troubled times would end.
If the Huaixi martial arts group wants to maintain cohesion and combat effectiveness forever, in addition to the old man as a leader, it must also have a successor who can serve the masses.
Zhu Biao was still young at that time, and Zhu Wenzheng, who had repeatedly made military exploits, was the perfect candidate.
He himself must have thought that if something happened to his uncle, he would take over the banner of the Huaixi warriors and inherit the legacy.
But a nephew is not a son after all.
After Zhu Wenzheng died, his son was also adopted by the old man and Queen Ma, and he was full of hope. But he was not only a short-lived ghost, but also a bastard.
He alone is more vicious than all the Ming vassal kings combined.
"Go back to the Supreme Emperor, I am still used to living in Guilin!" Zhu Zanyi was a little shy. He and his father are two completely different people. His father is the kind of cruel person who knows no mercy, but he has the qualities of a gentleman.
wind.
"It's just...it's just that the weather is a little hot." Zhu Zanyi continued to smile, "I wish you a happy birthday. I don't have any gifts. I only brought some local products. There is a kind of dried longan that is best for making porridge.
but."
"I thought that the Emperor was getting older and his teeth might not be as good as before, so I had several carts loaded up and brought to the capital. If you eat well, I will send someone to deliver it to you every year."
"Okay, okay!" The old man praised repeatedly, his tone full of relief, "As long as you are filial, why do you bring anything with you when you come all the way? Your child has a hard life. He lost his father when he was young, and he doesn't have any brothers or sisters who are alone.
We haven't cared about you all these years."
Zhu Zanyi was already choking, "The Emperor's kindness to me is really great... I still remember being raised by you in the palace when I was young, and you personally took care of my food and daily life..."
As he said that, he suddenly knelt down again and kowtowed heavily, "Ancestor, my grandson wishes you a happy birthday!" After speaking, he held the gold cup and said, "My grandson wishes my ancestor a long life, good fortune and good health!"
Then, he drank from the golden cup in one gulp.
"Okay, okay! You can't drink too much when you are still young!" The old man laughed, looked at the other person and said to Zhu Yunxi, "Big grandson!"
"My grandson is here!"
"He is your great grandfather's bloodline. You must take good care of him in the future, do you understand?"
Zhu Yunxi didn't understand the meaning of the old man's words, so he nodded and smiled, "My grandson understands, don't worry." He continued, "Although King Jingjiang is young, the local officials repeatedly praised him in the notes given to his grandson.
It’s a wise king!”
"Okay, okay!" the old man laughed again.
At this time, the casserole on the charcoal fire was already hot, and the pure white soup inside was sparkling with water. The palace servants waiting on the side carefully put in various ingredients slowly.
"What's the way to eat this?" The old man was quite curious and looked at the dishes on the table.
"Returning to the Emperor, this is called Dabian stove, which is similar to the pot we usually eat." Li Jinglong stepped forward and said with a smile, "The ancients said that when a family sits around the stove, it is called Dabian stove. Today is your birthday,
I didn’t ask anyone to prepare any delicacies from the mountains and seas. It’s just these home-cooked dishes that are better than a lively one.”
"Family, sit around the stove!" The old man looked around, then at the charcoal stove, and said with a smile, "Yes, a family should eat in the same pot, regardless of each other!"
As he said that, the old man smiled again and said, "Let me tell you, everyone is ready to eat and drink. Don't make so many red tapes on our special day."
Then, he shouted to the noble warriors, "Hey, those killers, let's have a fun game of wine and guessing today."
~~~~
It's really wet today, I'm sorry everyone.
My cervical vertebrae are uncomfortable, and I have something in my head that I can’t write out. Please forgive me.
This chapter has been completed!