The palace had been peaceful for a long time, but the news of Eunuch Feng's return was like a stone falling into the lake, breaking the peace.
Prince Zhu Yun received the news that day, and Queen Yuan in Jiaofang Palace also found out about it the next day.
In the evening, Emperor Qing'an, who was in a good mood, returned to Jiaofang Palace. Empress Yuan came over with a smile and asked, "I heard that Feng San'er is back?"
Emperor Qing'an hummed: "Feng San'er has been away on business. Now that Yang Jinghe is seriously ill, she specially returned to the palace and took care of him at his bedside, showing her filial piety as a foster son."
Empress Yuan praised: "This Feng San'er is quite affectionate and righteous."
Isn't it?
For Eunuch Yang, he left his husband and children behind and traveled thousands of miles to return to Beijing. To put it bluntly, when the emperor was on his deathbed, he was afraid that Feng Shaojun would never come back to take a look.
Thinking of this, Emperor Qing'an actually felt a little unhappy. However, he just couldn't show it in front of Queen Yuan, and responded casually: "I went to see Yang Jinghe today. When Feng Saner came back, he cheered up a lot."
, his complexion is also getting better. Maybe he can live for a few more days. So, I asked Feng Saner to stay and take care of him. "
Queen Yuan naturally knew the importance of Yang Jinghe in Emperor Qing'an's heart. Although he was just a rootless servant, he was the closest and most trusted person to Emperor Qing'an. In terms of feelings, he was far more than anyone else could compare to.
"It is true that Feng San'er should be allowed to stay." Empress Yuan sighed: "When a person is about to die, it will feel better if there is someone beside him who knows both cold and heat. When Eunuch Yang closes his eyes, Feng San'er will still be able to
To bury Eunuch Yang at his death is to fulfill the bond between their adopted father and adopted son."
Emperor Qing'an nodded slightly.
The emperor and empress chatted for a few words and went to have dinner together.
Since the border war a few years ago, the expenses in various parts of the palace have been reduced, and this has continued to this day. The dinner in Jiaofang Palace has a total of eight dishes. Compared with the previous regulations of dozens of dishes, it can be said to be simple.
However, both husband and wife are used to it. Queen Yuan would occasionally murmur: "There are just two of us, how can we finish so many dishes? I will simply reduce the number of dishes to two in the future."
Emperor Qing'an laughed: "Don't reduce it any more. In the past few years, Daqi has had good weather, the national treasury is quite full, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not short of money. There is no need for you, the empress, to scrimp on food and clothing."
Empress Yuan pursed her lips and smiled, but her eyes were still clear: "You and I should spend less money to make a show for the civil servants, military commanders and relatives. It can also change the bad trend of glitz, luxury and comparison in the capital."
In fact, in the past few years, the custom of officials frequently having banquets has gradually changed. What is good from above must be followed by lower officials. The emperor does not like banquets, and occasionally holds palace banquets without even silk and bamboo singing and dancing. Naturally, the ministers will not
It’s time to have a feast and have fun.
The same goes for the female concubines. The queen in the palace does not like flashy clothes, and her daily wear is mainly comfortable. This trend spread quickly.
Because of this, Queen Yuan's former reputation as "straightforward" has long been replaced by "virtuous".
For the common people, having such an emperor and queen is indeed a blessing.
After dinner, the couple took a shower and changed clothes. When they got to the bed, Emperor Qing'an put his arm around Queen Yuan's shoulders, and Queen Yuan leaned against her husband. She suddenly smiled and said, "In the blink of an eye, we have been married for thirty years."
Yes! Time flies so fast!
The memory of their first meeting and falling in love at first sight seems to be vivid in their minds. In the blink of an eye, they have been husband and wife for thirty years, their son has grown up, and their four grandsons and granddaughters have also grown up.
Emperor Qing'an chuckled, lowered his head and kissed his wife on the cheek: "It's only been thirty years. In my eyes, you will always be the same as before."
At that time, he made a promise in public that he would never be contaminated by two people in his life, only her.
After he ascended the throne and became the emperor, she was the only queen in his harem, and he never chose any concubines or beauties.
Outside he was the majestic and solemn emperor, but when he entered the Jiaofang Palace, he was her husband. The two of them were like an ordinary loving couple.
For a woman to find such a beloved man, her life is not in vain.
Queen Yuan smiled sweetly, and the shallow fine lines at the corners of her eyes were particularly warm and beautiful.
At this moment, a hurried knock on the door broke the tranquility in the bedroom.
Queen Yuan was startled: "It's so late, could something have happened?"
Emperor Qing'an frowned, got up from his bed, walked to the door, and asked through the thick door: "What happened?"
Hongyu's slightly panicked voice sounded outside the door: "Go back to the Emperor, Cuiwei Palace has just sent a letter of mourning. Concubine Tian Shu has gone."
Emperor Qing'an frowned and said in a deep voice: "I understand. Pass on my oral instructions and immediately send someone to send a letter of mourning to Prince Zhao's Mansion, and order Prince Zhao and his wife to bring their children and grandchildren into the palace immediately."
Queen Yuan also quickly got off the bed: "I'm going to Cuiwei Palace."
Emperor Qing'an said: "I will go with you."
…
It has been nine years since the late emperor left. The concubines who are retiring in the harem are suffering in long, monotonous and lonely days day after day. Concubine Tian Shu is the oldest and has the highest status. She has been in bed to recuperate intermittently and has been away for several years.
Show up in front of people.
King Zhao would visit Cuiwei Palace once or twice every month.
Since last year, Concubine Tian Shu's illness has become serious. At that time, even the funeral was prepared. Unexpectedly, Concubine Tian Shu had tenacious vitality and survived, and she lived for more than half a year. Then she suddenly closed her eyes tonight.
.
Emperor Qing'an and Queen Yuan were both mentally prepared. After the initial shock, they quickly calmed down, got dressed quickly, and went to Cuiwei Palace together.
The prince and princess of the East Palace also arrived quickly, arriving at Cuiwei Palace almost at the same time as the emperor and empress.
Death in the harem is always a funeral. However, whether Emperor Qing'an, Crown Prince Zhu Yun, or Princess Hetian Shu had limited emotions, they could not pretend to be sad. Empress Yuan and Crown Princess Yuan Min, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were each in their own way.
She shed a few tears.
The gray-haired Concubine Tian Shu was lying quietly on the bed, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep, with a fairly peaceful face.
Empress Yuan always ignored trivial matters. Yuan Min wiped the corners of her eyes and went to arrange the funeral spontaneously. White flags were hung in Cuiwei Palace, and the palace servants changed into plain clothes.
Soon, everyone in the palace was alarmed, and all the palace servants and servants changed into mourning clothes.
Concubine Tian Shu was silent on weekdays, but her death caused quite a stir. She was the highest-ranking concubine in the harem and the biological mother of King Zhao. The emperor and the empress had to respect her as an elder and had to wear plain clothes for Concubine Tian Shu for a period of time.
An hour later, the mourned King and Princess Zhao and his wife entered the palace with red eyes. Also entering the palace were the Crown Prince Zhao and the Crown Princess Zhao.
King Zhao, who was in his forties, knelt down beside the bed and looked at the lifeless and cold face of Concubine Tian Shu. He was filled with sadness and burst into tears.
