Extra 3
At dawn the next day, You Shu returned to the palace as promised, while Xie Feiyuan was still sitting alone on the eaves drinking.
Xiao Weixin intended to let him go freely. He had endured for many years for the sake of Concubine Xian, and had made painstaking plans for her. He had not lived his own life for nearly twenty years. It was time for him to enjoy his own life.
But Xie Feiyuan refused to leave. He didn't want to start a new life. He devoted most of his life to his beloved woman without regrets and was even willing to pave the way for her son for so many years. This love can no longer be described as great.
Xie Feiyuan was unwilling to leave, but he also rejected Xiao Weixin's wish to confer him a title of nobility. Ziqing wanted to go to guard the tomb of Concubine Xian.
He said that he had already lived most of his life, so the remaining twenty years wouldn't matter. In the past, he couldn't leave without permission because of Xiao Weixin, but now he has sat on the throne and is no longer needed. He can finally accompany his beloved one quietly.
Even though he was guarding outside her tomb, he felt happy in his heart.
Even Xiao Weixin's eyes were red, but she really couldn't keep him. Xie Feiyuan had made up his mind and refused to stay no matter what.
Last night was probably the last time he and You Shu drank together. After today, he would leave the city and walk towards the imperial mausoleum, and perhaps never come out again.
Xiao Weixin was very sad, "He is like a father to me."
Throughout his entire childhood, he had never enjoyed even a moment of favor from his father. It was that man who accompanied him through his birthdays time and time again. It was also he who taught him martial arts, how to survive in the palace, how to preserve his strength for the future, and it was also he who built the huge Shadow Guard Camp for him.
If it weren't for Xie Feiyuan, Xiao Weixin knew that he would never have come this far.
"But even he is leaving." Xiao Weixin said sadly, "Besides you, there is no one else by my side."
You Shu knew that he was sad, so he went forward and hugged him gently: "Master Yingshou certainly has you in his heart. He has suffered for so many years. Maybe guarding the mausoleum for the virtuous concubine is the happiest thing for him."
There are many lovers in the world who end up hating each other, but there are also infatuated lovers who are determined and never regret for the one they love.
Maybe Lord Shadowshou himself is very happy.
Even though You Shu was extremely sad, he had to comfort Xiao Weixin.
However, this is not the only thing that is truly sad.
Zhao Shen sent someone to bring a message into the palace, but he only brought one letter.
You Shu helped open the letter and read it for a while, then handed it to Xiao Weixin.
Although they were all prepared, they couldn't help but feel regretful when they really saw it.
When he was drinking with Zhao Shen in the Imperial Garden before the wedding, he could actually hear the will to die in his words. Even though Xiao Weixin wanted to explain everything, for a man who was already exhausted both physically and mentally, no words would make sense.
For him, he could live for seven more years just for revenge. His enemy had been killed by his own hands, so the only belief that could support him to live had collapsed, and what was left was just a walking corpse. He missed his family and wife very much, and especially wanted to go to the underground to accompany them.
There were only a few words in his letter, the gist of which was to ask them to bury his body together with Yunniang's, as this was to make up for his last regret that they could not be together as a couple during their lifetime.
Xiao Weixin read the entire content in silence, then carefully placed the letter on the table. He said in a low, hoarse voice that sounded a bit tired: "Ask someone to arrange it."
It is said that Zhao Shen committed suicide at home using the sword he never left behind, which was the betrothal gift he brought to Yunniang when he married her.
Xiao Weixin fulfilled his last wish and really had him and Yunniang buried together. When the Zhao family was exterminated, all the bodies were thrown into a mass grave. Zhao Shen secretly found Yunniang among the piles of corpses, but the bodies of his other family members were incomplete and almost impossible to find. He could only quietly bury Yunniang on a barren mountain outside the city, thinking that he would come here to accompany Yunniang to rest in peace after taking revenge one day.
Xiao Weixin was in a bad mood for the next few days, and You Shu stayed with him all the time.
But it's not all bad news.
Sutu also sent a message saying that he was preparing to migrate the entire country westward to find a new water source. He was a man of his words. He really did not cause trouble for such a long time after he ascended the throne, and he honestly returned the twelve border cities that had been seized.
Of course, the more likely possibility is that their last source of water has dried up, leaving him no time to come out and cause trouble.
If the Xirong really migrated away as a nation, it would definitely be great news for Daliang. Without this biggest threat, Daliang could take a breath and start recuperating.
"It's just... isn't Su Tu being too unreasonable?" You Shu frowned, "Why did he detain our Lao Jiu?"
"He's still saying he's grateful for us sending him a princess he likes... Is Lao Jiu willing?"
Xiao Weixin couldn't help laughing, "Even if he doesn't want to, I'm afraid he won't be able to come back for a while."
You Shu never expected that Su Tu would be so shameless: "I was wondering why Lao Jiu had not returned even though he should have completed his mission and retired. It turns out that Su Tu secretly detained him! Did he think we had no one left?"
"That may not be the case." Xiao Weixin comforted him, "Maybe Yingjiu is willing. With his skills, if he is really determined to leave, wouldn't he find a chance?"
You Shu thought about it carefully. Ying Jiu was best at disguise and poison. If he really didn't want to follow Su Tu, he would find a way to escape. Maybe... he really had other ideas
"Alas." You Shu sighed, "If Su Tu really takes me away, I may never see him again in this lifetime."
Xiao Weixin patted his shoulder and stood with him in front of the window looking outside.
It is spring outside the window, and the plum blossom is blooming particularly beautifully.
In the second month after he ascended the throne, Xiao Weixin issued an imperial decree, saying that he would bring Prince Liu's eldest son Xiao Weixian into the palace to accompany him and make him the crown prince so that he could succeed to the throne in the future.
As soon as the news came out, the entire court was in turmoil again. No one could have imagined that the emperor would come up with such an idea. He made the prince of Liu the crown prince at such a young age. Doesn't he really intend to have no offspring in the future
Although the old ministers wanted to report and say something, they couldn't find the words to start. It was logical and reasonable that this was the world of the Xiao family, and it didn't matter who sat on that seat. What's more, Prince Liu had a very good reputation, and the Crown Prince was smart and knowledgeable. If he was the crown prince in the future, the country would be stable. After all, it seemed that there was nothing wrong with it.
Therefore, since Xiao Weixin, Daliang not only created the first male queen, but also set a precedent of appointing a cousin as the crown prince, which can be recorded in history books for future generations.
Xiao Weixin soon came to the palace to accompany the emperor. After entering the East Palace, Xiao Weixin personally invited several old Hanlin scholars of the dynasty to be the prince's tutors, and also assigned Shen Qingyu to teach together. Xiao Weixin was fifteen years old this year, at the age of youth and liveliness. He was not timid when he entered the palace, and he was obviously a good seedling.
You Shu felt relieved a little. This heir was reliable. Xiao Weixin really had good vision.
Now that the issue of succession has been settled, everyone has the energy to start doing real work. After Xiao Weixin came to power, he issued a series of new policies, reducing and exempting a lot of taxes in almost all walks of life, especially agricultural tax, which has been reduced to the lowest level in history. Those who are willing to go home to farm will be rewarded with one year's exemption from agricultural tax.
The country is in great food shortage now, the more people return to their hometowns to farm, the quicker the empty treasury can be restored. There is no war to fight now, so the veterans who have retired from the army and returned to the fields have a place to settle down. Each of them received five mu of land, which is not a bad treatment for them.
Xiao Weixin established a good reputation among the people in the first year of his tenure. Everyone praised him as a good emperor. When You Shu occasionally went out of the palace to stroll on the streets, he could hear the songs sung by children playing in the streets and alleys. Almost all of them praised him, and he felt proud.
He knew that Xiao Weixin was different from other emperors, and that the country would become strong again sooner or later.
You Shu bought a string of candied haws from the street and walked back slowly, his heart full of beautiful expectations for the future.
In the second year after Xiao Weixin ascended the throne, he arranged a marriage for the King of Qin, and his wife was the youngest daughter of an old Hanlin.
"How did you get Xiaoyueer such an identity?" You Shu looked at him curiously, "How did the old Hanlin agree to it?"
Xiao Weixin was looking down at the memorial. After hearing what he said, he said without raising his head, "It is a great honor for him to have a princess in his family. He is old and will retire soon. How can he not be willing to have the support of the King of Qin?"
"He was so happy that Xiaoyue was registered under his name."
You Shu thought about it and it seemed to make sense, "This way, no one will doubt her background."
Xiaoyueer married into a fifth-rank Hanlin family under the name of a lady from the Hanlin Academy. Although marrying Qin Wang Xiao Weiming was still marrying up, others would not say much about it. It was much more impressive than her original brothel background.
Xiao Weixin thought about it day and night for a long time before coming up with this idea. The family he found for Xiao Yue'er could not be too high or too low in rank, the fifth rank was just right. The old Hanlin knew the benefits of this and happily accepted it.
The King of Qin is young, brave, handsome and has a bright future. If their family can establish this relationship, even if it is just in name only, it will bring honor to the family.
Xiao Yue'er and Xiao Weiming, the couple who were not favored by everyone, actually had the best ending in the end. You Shu was happy for her from the bottom of his heart and even gave her the fat rabbit as a dowry. She liked it anyway.
On the day of her wedding, Xiaoyueer got into the sedan chair from the Hanlin Mansion in a solemn manner. Her red makeup made others envious. Those who didn't know her would think she was a princess getting married. Most of the things were bought by You Shu, and Xiao Weixin was willing to spend money on him, so he could do everything.
"There is nothing to worry about now."
As night fell, You Shu and Xiao Weixin sat in the inner hall drinking. You Shu couldn't help but sigh, "Although Xiao Yue'er is getting married, I'm reminded of the scene when we got married."
Xiao Weixin raised his wine glass and chuckled, "I still remember that day, Xiao Shu was so beautiful."
You Shu blushed and coughed lightly: "I am a man, I can't use that word."
"Same." Xiao Weixin has become more and more frivolous in recent years, and loves to make him blush whenever he has nothing to do. "In my heart, Xiao Shu is very beautiful, regardless of gender."
You Shu held his forehead to hide his shyness. Xiao Weixin took his hand and leaned over to kiss him.
"Things are unpredictable, but fortunately you and I finally have a happy ending."
You Shu put down his wine glass and gently held his hand back.
"yes."