"Don't you know that once you leave, you will never be able to return to North Korea or see it again in this life?"
The Ideological and Political Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace was filled with gloom and gloom.
The king and princess remained silent, and all the palace attendants lowered their voices and held their breaths in a solemn and solemn manner. The palace was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Zheng Shanggong handed over a silk handkerchief, and Lotus stretched out his hand to touch it. Unexpectedly, his face was filled with tears. Mrs. Cao woke up leisurely at this time, and the two of them were silent and looked at the king.
Li Chenggui knew what the two wanted to ask, so he said softly: "I have ordered Yin Yilang to negotiate with the Japanese pirate Azatai to redeem the bodies of the three of them. They will be able to return to the city soon. I should ask for it myself." Master surrendered himself."
Zichao was an eminent monk of the Caoxi Sect in North Korea. He traveled to China to study and learn Buddhist scriptures since he was a child. After returning to North Korea, he was worshiped by the king for his Zen studies and was honored as the King's Master. Lian Hua took refuge in Buddhism at an early age and studied Buddhism and Zen under Zi Chao's disciples. The old and the young got along very well with each other.
Mrs. Cao held back tears and worshiped with Lianhua: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Chenggui waved his hand: "No need to be polite", sighed and said: "The Japanese pirates are so powerful this time that our army cannot directly attack them. I have ordered General Wu to retreat to North Jeolla Province to avoid their attack, which will be a disaster for the people." At this point, he frowned and sighed again.
Lian Hua raised her head and asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty's plan is to deal with the Japanese pirates?"
Li Chenggui was a little surprised, glanced at the lotus, and said: "General Wu is good at guarding, and the walls of Jeollabuk-do City are strong. It is impossible for the Japanese pirates to move forward. It is difficult to raise food and grass in the cold weather. After a long time, they will naturally return to the island, but next year I will definitely come back. The Japanese pirates are stubborn and cunning. Even if our army is repelled for a while, the Amutai pirates will flee to the sea when they are defeated. When our army retreats, they will come ashore to invade again. New pirates are constantly replenishing them, so it is really difficult to eradicate them."
Lianhua frowned slightly and asked again: "Then the court doesn't care about it?"
Li Chenggui sighed and said: "I have reported to the court several times, hoping that the court would send a large army to support and attack with naval forces, but His Majesty the Emperor only replied, 'North Korea is limited by mountains and seas, and Dongyi was created by nature. The customs are different, and it is not our China." The ruler refused to send troops. Zhao Pang, the official of Zhimi Zhizhi, agreed to the matter. Zheng Daochuan went to the capital many times, but only went to the Ministry of Rites, and did not even see His Majesty the Emperor. The beautiful ladies who went to pay tribute were heard to be in the palace. It’s just a handyman.”
After hearing this, Lianhua lowered her head and thought silently. The hall was silent again.
Li Chenggui raised his head slightly to signal that he wanted to send the two of them to leave. The princess stood up and looked at the lotus.
But Lotus stood up, walked to the king and prostrated herself. Li Chenggui waved his hand and said warmly: "My niece doesn't need to be polite. If you have something to do, it's okay to just say it."
Lian Hua knelt still and said slowly: "Lian Hua is brave, please ask His Highness to use Lian Hua as a beautiful girl to pay tribute to the court."
Li Chenggui was shocked, but before he could answer, Mrs. Cao was shocked. Huo Ran stood up and pointed at her daughter: "Lianhua you!" in a trembling voice.
Lianhua turned her head and looked at Mrs. Cao with a determined look: "My child has made up his mind. I beg my mother to forgive my child for being unfilial."
Mrs. Cao fell to the ground, and after a long while she said with tears in her eyes: "Okay! As expected of the daughter of my Cao family, I will not stop you as a mother." Zheng Shanggong gently supported Mrs. Cao on one side, and everyone looked at the king.
Li Chenggui looked down at the kneeling lotus, pondered for a long time, and then said: "My niece has always been one of the best in our country in appearance, and she is the best candidate for a beautiful girl. But do you know that this trip is difficult?"
Lianhua lowered his head and said, "Lianhua understands."
Seoul is more than a thousand miles away from Yingtianfu, the capital, and the journey is full of obstacles and dangers through thousands of mountains. Even if it was a safe journey to the capital and entered the palace, how easy would it be to meet the emperor and persuade the emperor and the court to send troops
Li Chenggui looked at the lotus, feeling hesitant and uncertain for a moment. Cao Mengyi has always been on good terms with him, and after the founding of North Korea, he became even more loyal to him. This time all three men of the Cao family died. Although Lianhua was a daughter, how could she bear to sacrifice her last bit of blood
You know, the emperor of the Celestial Dynasty is already seventy years old! Moreover, it is said that the three palaces and six courtyards of the Chinese harem are complicated and dangerous. How can she, a foreign woman, gain a foothold? Don't talk about moving reinforcements when the time comes, there is a high chance that a life will be lost inside.
But if it succeeds...
Lianhua raised her head and looked at the king with a firm gaze: "Lianhua only hates that she is a weak woman and cannot go into battle with her father and brother to kill the enemy. When I go to the capital, I will definitely mediate with the imperial court to save our people from danger and relieve the worries of His Highness." "Lianhua paused and said in a sad voice: "It is also the meaning of father, brother and younger brother."
Li Chenggui looked at Lian Hua, who was kneeling straight, and met her eyes. After a long while, he finally said in a deep voice: "Okay! I grant you my favor! I recognize you as my adopted daughter and give you the name Yi Ning. From today on, you are my Li Dan's My daughter, Li Lianhua, is Princess Yining of my country, North Korea!"
Lian Hua was startled, and after a moment of concentration, she understood that this was to improve the level of the tribute show girl and attract the attention of the court. Lian Hua took half a step forward and bowed down again: "Father, King! Mother!"
The king and princess came forward and helped up the lotus. At this time and after that, Princess Yining of North Korea. Li Chenggui turned sideways and ordered: "The heir apparent and the great king."
Li Chenggui had five sons in total. The eldest son Li Fangshuo was named the crown prince, followed in order by Li Fanguo, Li Fangyi, Li Fanqian and Li Fangyuan. The Li and Cao families have always been good friends, and the children of the two families have been playing together since they were young. Li Fangyuan is the youngest son of the Li family, and he and Lian Hua have always been together since childhood, which makes them even more unique. If Cao Mengyi hadn't hastily left Beijing to go on an expedition in the fall, the two of them would have already discussed their marriage.
After a while, five princes hurriedly entered the palace. I met the King and Princess before saluting, and when I saw Madam Cao and Lian Hua sitting respectfully beside me, I understood and felt a little pity.
The crown prince, Li Fangshuo, is handsome and elegant, wearing a bright red brocade robe; the three younger brothers in the middle are martial arts, wearing military uniforms of amber silk or autumn fragrant satin, all of them are heroic.
Li Fangyuan is wearing an azure robe, a white jade belt, and green satin boots. He has a tall and majestic figure and is the most prominent among the five princes. Looking at the lotus from a distance, his dark eyes were full of comfort. Lianhua lowered her head and avoided Li Fangyuan's gaze.
Li Chenggui waited for the five sons to sit down and said in a leisurely manner: "I have recognized Lianhua as my adopted daughter and named her Princess Yining. I will go to the court and pay tribute to Princess Yining when she enters the capital. I specially call you to come and see me. Sister Wang."
The five princes were shocked and looked at each other.
Li Fangyuan stood up with a cry, clenched his fists with both hands and said urgently: "Father! You can't!" After saying that, he ran to the king and knelt down, saying loudly: "My child, please become a general and go to Jeolla Province to kill all the Japanese pirates." !”
"My child is willing to go!"
"My child is willing to go!"
"My child is willing to go!"
Li Fanguo, Li Fangyi, and Li Fanqian were stunned for a moment, then fell forward one after another, shouting for a fight.
Li Fangshuo hesitated slightly, then knelt down with his brothers and said, "My child is willing to go!"
Li Chenggui looked down at the five sons in front of him, his eyes filled with tears and his heart surged. After a while, he said: "Everyone, get up. In the spring next year, the Japanese pirates will definitely come, and you will have time to fight."
The princes stood up as instructed, but Li Fangyuan was still kneeling upright, motionless.
Li Chenggui knew it well and sighed and said: "Yuan'er, you have fought against Japanese pirates. You should know that Japanese pirates are as cruel and bloodthirsty as Asuras. Our Korean army has few major generals, especially the navy. If we want to eradicate Japanese pirates, we must ask for reinforcements from the imperial court. .”
Li Fang stayed still, kneeling as straight as a flagpole. The angular face was stern and cold.
Li Chenggui glanced at the princess, who stood up and came to Li Fangyuan, comforting her with gentle words. Li Fangyuan remained motionless.
Lianhua stood up slowly, walked to Li Fangyuan's side, knelt down on the ground, and said softly: "Brother Wang! This is Lianhua's own idea. Lianhua has made up his mind. Please fulfill it, Brother Wang."
Li Fangyuan clenched his fist and turned his head, staring at the lotus, his face livid: "Don't you know that once I go, I will never be able to return to North Korea or see you again in this life? I, I,..." He couldn't continue at this point, his eyes were like black gems. , almost spitting out fire.
Lianhua lowered her head and said nothing for a while, then whispered softly: "I understand everything."
Do you understand
Everyone understands that it is still like this!
Li Fangyuan stared at the lotus, and the light of the gems changed. Is it angry? Is it sadness? Is it resentment? Is it pity? Still helpless
Lotus raised her head, and her clear eyes were full of tears before she knew it, like the waves of a clear spring, or like the rolling waves of a vast ocean. Thousands of words are mixed in it.
Li Fang stood up with a shout and rushed out of the Ideological and Political Hall.
****************
The next day, the king prepared a memorial: "I know that the minister of state of Korea, Li Danyan, has said: The small country of Fu Wei has been granted the title of Shengci since the Qin Dynasty. The weather is good, the country is peaceful and the people are safe. I and the people of the country are deeply grateful. My daughter Yining is twenty-eight years old, dignified and graceful." Rui, courteous and humble, always admire the customs of the Celestial Dynasty, and admire the majesty of the Emperor. I think that I have no way to repay the kindness of the heaven, and I hope that my daughter-in-law will serve as the servant of His Majesty the Emperor to express my gratitude to the emperor. I look forward to the Emperor. Your Majesty uses the brightness of the sun and the moon to observe the sincerity of the people's hearts and determines the decree based on the hearts of the people. I am so grateful that I can't help but feel overwhelmed." Zhao Pang, the close interrogator, was still sent to Beijing to report.
Jingan Jun Li Fangyuan made a fuss in the Jiaotai Palace at night, begging the king and princess to take back their lives. The princess felt sorry for her young son and also helped to persuade the king. The king was unmoved and scolded Li Fangyuan severely. Even the princess was scolded. Li Fangyuan begged again and again. The king got angry and hit his son with the incense burner. Li Fangyuan was unable to dodge and was injured in the back.
This is a rumor in the palace, I don’t know whether it is true or not.
After receiving the memorial, Zhao Pang, the secret intermediary, hurried to the capital and headed straight for the capital.
Not long ago, the bodies of the three generals of the Cao family returned to the city, and the whole country mourned. The king led hundreds of officials to pay tribute and bury him in person, and he was given the posthumous titles of Marquis of Zhongyi, Uncle Xianyong, and Lord Ninghe. Master Zichao and a group of eminent monks from Anguo Temple performed the rituals in person and prayed for seventy-seven forty-nine days.
This year's New Year passed in sadness.
(Note: In the Joseon royal family, the legitimate daughter of the palace is called the princess, and the concubine is called the princess)
(Note: Li Fangyuan’s age was changed to younger than the actual history, and Li Fangshuo was also changed to the eldest son.)