Chapter 1409 The hanging coffin and the hanging heart
In the next few days, Shen Yi, Shen Yuan and Shen Ying did not return to Jiankang City, but found a place to live near Huiling.
If he lives here, he will not be of any substantial help to the Huiling project. In fact, Taichang Temple and the craftsmen are still doing the things that should be done. But as long as Shen Yi is here, it means that the imperial court is interested in this matter. attitude, as well as Shen Yi's own attitude.
There will be no resistance in the court to the move of Emperor Sejong's coffin to the north, because this is a major event that has been hanging over Da Chen's head for decades. However, after Emperor Sejong, the current imperial mausoleum was moved north, and even the entire court had to Moving to the north will definitely face great resistance.
The emperor alone would be reluctant to deal with this kind of resistance. Therefore, Shen Yi also needed to take a stand on this matter and stand firm on his own.
In fact, Shen Yi's attitude is very crucial.
Because, if the overall strength of the imperial court is quantified, as long as Shen Yi stands firmly with the emperor, then an actual "absolute majority" can be formed.
What does this absolute majority mean? It means that as long as the two of them insist on moving north, they can definitely push it forward. If all the officials in the entire court oppose it, as long as Shen Yi supports it, His Majesty the Emperor can even bring his family with him. People moved directly to the north and built another court!
However, if you do this, the world will be completely chaotic. At his current age, Emperor Hongde does not have the energy to spend twenty or thirty years to rebuild the court.
But no matter what, as long as the two of them have this ability, their voices can be infinitely amplified in the process of advancing this matter.
Three days later, Mr. Shen asked his entourage to take his son and nephew back to the city. He himself, together with officials from Taichang Temple, greeted him at Huiling.
The time for lifting the coffin is set at noon. After all, the Yang Qi is the strongest at this time and can suppress the Yin Qi.
Near noon, His Majesty the Emperor's guard of honor finally arrived at Huiling. Shen Yi and others greeted him at the Shinto, and then accompanied the emperor on foot to the East Side Hall.
After entering the East Wing Hall, Emperor Hongde took a short rest, then stood up, looked at Shen Yi, and said, "It's almost time, let's go to the underground palace."
Everyone stood up one after another. Zhou Yuanlang stood in front of the emperor, bowed his head respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, everything is ready in the underground palace. We are just waiting for your order to raise the emperor's coffin."
The emperor looked at Zhou Yuanlang and said, "Let them wait in the underground palace. After I paid my respects to Huiling, I immediately started to raise the coffin."
Zhou Yuanlang responded and turned around to give the subordinate of Taichang Temple behind him a wink. The latter immediately lowered his head and turned around to do his work.
His Majesty the Emperor was a little surprised when he saw this, and said with a smile: "It seems that Zhou Qing has not been in Taichang Temple for a long time. He seems to be very comfortable with using people."
Shen Yi on the side also smiled when he heard this and said: "Your Majesty, Zhou Qingzheng was almost the emperor's master of Northern Qi. He is one of the best figures in the entire Yandu."
"It's naturally not difficult to get a Taichang Temple now."
His Majesty the Emperor smiled playfully and said, "So, Zhou Qing's family is still a man of talent."
The two of them joked about it, which made Zhou Yuanlang feel a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, I was born in the north. I was young and ignorant. I only served as an official and pretended to be an official. It was only after Lord Shen gave me some advice that I finally woke up and abandoned the dark side. Now I am full of people, except for Except for my wife, everyone died in the hands of the barbarians! Throughout my life, I will always be at odds with Zhu Li Zhenren!"
"Now that the Holy One has not given up, I am able to serve as an official in the Holy Dynasty. My remaining wish in this life is to make some modest contribution to the Holy Dynasty. As for the past of Yandu..."
"I have already forgotten."
When His Majesty the Emperor heard this, he was startled for a moment, then turned to look at Shen Yi, and said with a smile: "Except Shen Qing, I haven't seen anyone so eloquent in a long time."
Mr. Shen smiled and said nothing.
His Majesty the Emperor touched his chin and smiled playfully: "Shen Qing said that Zhou Qing's family was originally the Imperial Master of the Northern Qi Dynasty, and now An Le Gong also lives in Jiankang. In the past few months, have Zhou Qing's family visited your disciple?"
Zhou Yuanlang lowered his head and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I don't have any disciples, but only sworn enemies. Now that Your Majesty has made that man the Duke of Anle, I only wish I could violate the laws of the country and kill this thief."
"I don't want to see this thief even once again!"
The emperor smiled playfully: "You can't say that. Since we are old friends, you should go and see them when you have free time. It is also interesting to sit down and have a cup of tea together and talk about old times."
Zhou Yuanlang took a deep breath, lowered his head and said, "Yes, after Chen Huiling finished his errands, he immediately returned to Jiankang to see Duke Anle."
The emperor then nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand: "Okay, you go and make arrangements for the memorial service to the mausoleum. I will go there later."
Zhou Yuanlang bowed his head respectfully and exited the side hall.
After he left, the emperor looked back at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "He is really a man. If it were not Shen Qing, I might not have such a talent."
Mr. Shen thought for a while and said: "Zhou Yuanlang is a man with enough scheming and methods. What he lacks is that his vision is not broad enough, but it is enough for the imperial court."
"Everyone below the prime minister is qualified."
Marquis Shen's light words were obviously a compliment, but they completely eliminated the possibility of Zhou Yuanlang entering Zhongshu.
Although as a surrendered minister, his chances of being ranked among the top secretaries were not high, but it was not impossible. So far, this chance has been completely wiped out.
The emperor smiled and said: "It's rare for Shen Qing to give such a high evaluation to a person."
"When I come back from the north, I really want to take a good test on him."
While the two were chatting, the time had come. The emperor pulled Shen Yi's sleeve and said, "Shen Qing, please accompany me to pay homage to the mausoleum."
Shen Yi lowered his head in response.
Not long after, Emperor Hongde knelt in the Huiling Hall.
Shen Yi fell one position behind him and knelt behind him.
His Majesty's princes also knelt behind the Emperor and kowtowed after him.
Almost all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, as well as the noble clans, were present. They could not kneel down in the Hall of Enjoyment, so they all knelt outside the Hall of Enjoyment. Wuya knelt down.
Especially the members of the Li family and their relatives all knelt behind His Majesty the Emperor. Many of them could not help but lower their heads and wipe their tears.
Some older members of the Li family burst into tears.
Some of the clan members were really moved by this. After all, the Li family had indeed held their breath in their hearts over the years, but most of them were just pretending.
After all, it would be inappropriate not to cry at this time.
The whole Huiling was filled with mourning.
After His Majesty the Emperor burned incense and prayed for a while, he inserted three sticks of incense into the incense burner, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath: "My great-grandfather is here."
"Li Zhu, the unworthy descendant, is here to take you back to your hometown."
He bowed his head three times sincerely. After he stood up, his body was swaying because his knees were numb from kneeling. Mr. Shen quickly stepped forward and supported his arm.
The emperor shook his head to indicate that he was fine, then stepped forward, took down the throne of Emperor Sejong, then turned around and placed it in the sandalwood box that had been prepared behind him.
The emperor placed the throne, held the sandalwood box in his arms with both hands, and walked out, saying, "Qing Shen, I will entrust you with the matter of moving Emperor Sejong's mausoleum."
"You take Emperor Sejong's coffin and wait at the north gate of Jiankang. Three days later, my emperor will drive north to support the emperor."
As His Majesty the Emperor walked out of the Xiangdian Hall holding the wooden box, the palace servants and craftsmen at the entrance of the Xiangdian Palace fell to their knees on the ground.
Mr. Shen followed the emperor, took a deep breath, lowered his head and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will handle this matter properly."
The emperor hummed and asked, "How are the preparations for things at home?"
Shen Yi lowered his head and said: "Everything is ready. In three days, my family will go north with me."
Mr. Shen paused and then said, "I have one more thing to ask of Your Majesty."
The emperor paused for a moment, then continued walking forward and said, "Speak directly."
"After my family left Jiankang, the house gifted by Your Majesty became empty. I would like to implore Your Majesty to allow Xu Chen's younger brother to continue to live in that house."
"after all…"
Mr. Shen smiled bitterly and said: "The house in Jiankang is too expensive. With his salary..."
At this moment, His Majesty the Emperor had almost reached the underground palace. Hearing this, he smiled dumbly: "Isn't that your own house? What are you asking me for?"
Shen Yi said: "It is a house gifted by His Majesty. Logically speaking, it should be reported to His Majesty."
"That's right, that's right."
Emperor Hong De shook his head and said, "You are still too cautious."
"There's no need to ask for everything."
While they were talking, the monarch and his ministers had already arrived at the entrance of the underground palace. Following His Majesty the Emperor's order, hundreds of people in the underground palace worked together, and the coffin that had been sealed underground for more than seventy years finally saw the light of day again.
Even though there were logs at the bottom, it took less than half an hour before the heavy coffin was loaded onto the cart.
During the entire process, the hanging coffin never fell to the ground.
Emperor Hong De watched intently until the coffin got on the car, then he turned back silently. His eyes were already a little red, and his voice was choked with sobs.