On March 26, the 30th year of Hongwu's reign, Princess Yining of North Korea set off from Seoul and went to Yingtian Mansion, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, to enter the East Palace of the Emperor Taisun according to the imperial decree.
The spring is chilly, bees and butterflies are swarming, and the branches of the poplar trees are a little green, which is exactly what "the palace of thousands of trees is green beside, and the fresh breeze blows through the night." Early in the morning, the streets were filled with people, old and young, flocking to the Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace is open with colorful flags flying. Rows of guards were neatly arranged, with bright armor.
Buddhist scriptures, ginseng, lacquerware, rice cakes, tribute rice... Thirty carts were filled to the brim. There were also fifty Goryeo horses as tribute. The king sent Nan Huo, the secret minister of the Secret Service, to accompany him with the memorial, and Zhao Ke of the Chinese army led 160 soldiers to escort him. There were so many people, cars and horses neighing, that the large square in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace seemed a bit crowded.
The king and princess, together with civil and military officials, saw him off outside Gwanghwamun. Some people were happy to congratulate him, while others were sad and sympathetic. Mrs. Cao's eyes were red. She thought she had been crying for more than a night. She held Lianhua's hand and was speechless. Zheng Shanggong supported Mrs. Cao and whispered comfort in her ear.
The lotus flowers are decorated according to the customs today, the clouds on the temples are as tall as lush spring pines, and the palace clothes are as gorgeous as the clouds reflecting the clouds on the clear pond. It is truly the only one in the Yaochi and the Purple Mansion. Holding my mother's hand is like holding my mother's support for seventeen years, but I just don't want to let go.
Zheng Shanggong reminded in a low voice: "Princess! The time has come."
Lianhua's eyes were full of mist, and she finally let go of her mother's hands with a cruel heart.
Yingying walked up to the king and queen and knelt down with great ceremony. The king and queen stretched out their hands to support her, and bowed three times without lifting the lotus flowers. What needs to be said has been said a thousand times, and several people just choked in silence.
Finally, the king cleared his throat and said loudly: "My son, let's go now! May my son have a safe and smooth journey, and may our friendship between Korea and the Celestial Dynasty be forever forged! Be a herdsman in heaven, and be a descendant of Yongchang!"
The civil and military officials and the people around them also shouted in unison: "Eternal friendship with the Celestial Dynasty!" "Heirs of Yongchang!" "Peace be with you, princess!".
The cries came and went, resounding in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
With tears in her eyes, Lianhua leaned over and bowed again, then turned around and got in the car. Glancing in the direction of the officials, Li Fangyuan didn't come for some reason. Lianhua felt empty in her heart and quickly got on the carriage. Shanxi accompanied him, and Haishou followed closely behind on horseback.
As they waved their hands, the figures of the king, princess, mother, and officials and people gradually disappeared, "Forever the friendship between the heaven and the dynasty!" "Princess, be safe!" The rising and falling voices became smaller and smaller. Finally, we turned a corner and Gyeongbokgung Palace disappeared.
Sometimes you can see people waving in the street, and you can also hear the blessing of "Princess, have a safe wind and peace!", and the lotus flowers smile and wave one by one.
Soon he left the city gate and went to the official road. Lian Hua turned around and looked at the city gate.
Farewell, Seoul!
Farewell, my home!
After getting on the official road, the speed of the car increased significantly, and the trees on the roadside flew past. Lotus sat in the car, closed her eyes and remained silent. Even Shanxi, who had always talked a lot, didn't say anything today. The carriage was completely silent. Only the squeaking rotation of the axle could be heard, and the coachman waved his whip from time to time.
After traveling for about twenty miles, we were about to leave Seoul. Vaguely hearing a commotion in the team in front, the carriage slowly slowed down and stopped. Shanxi kept shouting: "What's wrong? Go and have a look!"
Without waiting for Lotus's instructions, Hai Shou had already flown forward. Shan Shan curiously got out of the car and looked towards the front of the convoy.
After a while, Hai Shou had already rushed back, bowed beside the car and saluted and said, "Princess, please come over." Hai Shou paused and said, "This is Lord Jing'an."
Lianhua was startled, stood up slowly, got off the carriage, and walked forward.
After walking a few steps, I saw Li Fangyuan riding a horse, blocking the middle of the official road. The white horse is dressed in brocade and black cloak. It stands tall and majestic. Although one person rides it alone, it has the impressive momentum of thousands of troops.
Nan Huo and Zhao Ke hid far away with their soldiers and charioteers. When they saw the lotus, they saluted from a distance.
Lianhua stepped forward, looked up at Li Fangyuan and called out: "Brother Wang!" Then she reached out and stroked the white horse's mane, and said affectionately: "Bai Xue! How are you? I haven't seen you for a long time!" Bai Xue shook the horse's head, I sprayed two sprays into my nose as a greeting.
Li Fangyuan jumped off the horse and stood opposite Lianhua. When their eyes met, Lianhua blushed, looked away, and said softly: "Thank you, I've seen it."
Li Fangyuan nodded and said: "The emperor's grandson is a good person. There is only one princess in the East Palace now. It shouldn't be too bad for you to go. But don't act rashly with the emperor and the kings and officials."
"Um".
"If anything happens when you get to the capital, just go find my people."
"Yes." Lianhua lowered her head and agreed almost inaudibly.
Li Fangyuan sighed softly, stretched out his hand to lift Lotus' chin, stared into her eyes, and said word by word: "I'll ask you one last time, okay if you don't go?"
Lotus looked at him, her cheeks were moist, her hair was covered with white frost, and even her eyelashes were stained with water. It was obvious that she had run out early in the morning and was waiting here. Every word he spoke was filled with helplessness and forbearance, and a small flame flashed in his jewel-like eyes.
Lianhua was moved in her heart and shouted with nostalgia: "Brother Yuanyuan!"
Li Fangyuan was shocked and stared at the lotus, the flames in his eyes jumping.
"You know I have to go," Li Fangyuan's hands were a little stiff, "I will remember everything here forever." Lianhua said, her eyes filled with mist and sparkling light.
Li Fangyuan slowly let go of his hand, and his straight body was a little stooped.
The two were silent for a long time. Li Fangyuan turned away, waved and said, "Let's go." Lianhua also didn't dare to look at him, turned around and quickly got into the car. When Nan Huo and Zhao Ke saw Li Fangyuan's signal, they regrouped their carriages and set out on the road again.
Li Fangyuan jumped on the horse and held the reins of the horse to the side of the road.
Lotus's carriage drove slowly by, and the two people's eyes intertwined from afar, expressing a thousand words. The carriages and horses behind followed him, blocking him bit by bit until he was finally out of sight.
The white horse suddenly stood upright, its neck neighing. The hiss penetrated the clouds and echoed in the air for a long time.
Now that we are gone, will we see each other again in this life
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The Yalu River was called Zhushui in ancient times, Mazishui in the Han Dynasty, and Yalu River in the Tang Dynasty. It was named because the color of the water resembles a duck's head, or it may come from the language of the Manchu ancestors, "Yalu" meaning border river. With a total length of 1,600 miles, it originates from the foothills of Changbai Mountain in China and is the boundary river between China and North Korea.
It was already May, the beginning of summer. The water in the river is green and clear, and the water flows quickly, heading straight towards the Yellow Sea in a mighty way.
"The long waves are rushing down like waves, and the mountains are like being cut into pieces." The lotus flower is covered with a cloak and stands on a hillside not far from the river. Looking at the Yalu River, the ancient poems float in my mind. The skirt of his clothes was caught in the wind, and his cloak was rustling. The river breeze blows on my face, with a slight coolness in the moisture. There is the fresh fragrance of flowers and plants in the air, and the sweetness of the silk river water. It is refreshing, the depression of many days is swept away, and the spirit is lifted.
It was early spring when we set off from Seoul. The road was snowy and muddy, and it was extremely difficult to move with the heavy carriages and horses. Lotus often got out of the car and walked on his own. Most of the escort soldiers worked as cart pushers, and the sextons and soldiers also became moving coolies. Even Hai Shou, a master, had to use his soft whip to drag Lotus's carriage.
Hai Shou's soft whip is a treasure passed down from generation to generation of the Sharjah sect. When Hai Shou started training, his master gave it to him with numerous instructions. "If master knew, he would have vomited blood, right?" Hai Shou was worried as he towed the truck.
There is a lot of rain in spring, and it rains often. It was very misty, and after a long time, my clothes were completely wet. Lianhua was worried about the Buddhist scriptures and often went over to check whether they were wet from the rain. Fortunately, the guards carefully covered them with oilcloth.
I encountered heavy rain several times and had to stop and wait for the rain to stop. However, I was not necessarily in a sheltered area, so I ended up getting wet twice. Migrant workers and soldiers often fell ill and had to cook ginger soup to make medicine. Shanxi also fell ill and was unable to wake up from a high fever. The accompanying medical officer used decoctions, acupuncture, cupping, moxa fumigation, and used them all, and finally managed to save his life.
It was not easy to travel all the way. It took more than a month to reach Xinyidu on the Yalu River. Xinyidu is North Korea's naval base on the Yalu River, close to the Korean Bay in the west. In order to enter Beijing this time, the king specially arranged for the navy's building boat to ferry them across the river, and also informed the Tianchao Donggang opposite Xinyidu in advance.
"Princess! Princess!" Shanxi shouted and walked up the hillside: "Zhao Zhongjun said that the ship is being prepared and we will be able to board the ship in about half an hour."
Lianhua turned around, looked at Shanxi and said, "Arrange the carriages and horses to get on first."
"Yes, Zhao Zhongjun has already arranged this."
Lianhua nodded, turned back and looked at the river, and said no more.
Shan Xi stood not far away from Lian Hua, looked at the river, and murmured for a while: "Princess, we are really about to leave North Korea!"
Lian Hua said nothing. After a while, he took out the Liuli Pagoda given by Master Zichao from his arms. Facing the river, he said softly: "Liu Li Pagoda, I am going to take you home. Are you happy?"
The sun is shining brightly, and the color of the glazed pagoda seems to be filled with joy. Did it understand what the lotus said
At noon, all the chariots and horses got on the boat and began to cross the river.
Although it is a navy ship, the river is still a little bumpy due to the strong current. Shanxi had never been on a boat. At first, he looked around excitedly on the side of the boat. After a while, he felt dizzy. He quickly sat down, but it was too late. He ran out and vomited. When he came back, his face was sallow and wilted. Sitting in the cabin, with his head on his knees, he murmured: "I was wrong, I was wrong, okay? Don't faint, okay?"
It was also the first time for Lian Hua to take a boat ride, and she felt a little dizzy. Although she was sitting upright, her face was pale. Hai Shou came over and gently handed over a glass of water: "Princess, do you want a drink of water?"
Lotus shook his head and continued to lower his eyes and meditate silently: "Subhuti! Bodhisattva has no abiding appearance, and the blessings of giving are so unimaginable. Subhuti! Bodhisattva should only live as taught. Subhuti! How can you see the Tathagata in person?" ? No, World Honored One. You cannot see the Tathagata through the physical form. Why? The Tathagata said that the physical form is not the physical form. The Buddha told Subhuti that all appearances are false. If you see the non-appearing forms, you will see the Tathagata... "
Things and I were forgotten, and a gleam gradually appeared on my face. Hai Shou stood aside silently, his arm holding the water glass motionless, and the water in the glass rarely shook.
For about half an hour, the ship slowly moved towards the other side. Opposite Xinyidu is the Donggang port of China, located in Dandong, Liaoning.
The day before, Captain Zheng Fang of the Navy in Xinyi Port went to Donggang on the other side in person to inform about the princess's escorting procession across the river today. So as soon as the ship arrived at the shore, Donggang opened the gate and put down the supporting auxiliary boats and road mats. Nanhuo, the secretarial officer of Mizhi, disembarked first with various documents and went to handle customs clearance documents on his own. Then came the carriages, horses, baggage, migrant workers, soldiers and tribute horses. After more than an hour, Zhao Ke organized his army and began to slowly cross the Donggang Pass. Lianhua Shanxi and several escort soldiers got off the boat at this time, with Hai Shou at the end.
Looking up at the lotus, the sky is blue and high, with long white clouds. The four characters "Da Ming Donggang" are shining brightly in the sunlight. Two rows of eight Ming Dynasty sergeants stood in front of the pass on the left and right, standing proudly, with bright clothes and armor, solemn and silent.
Lotus sighed in her heart: "Heaven!"