Parents can't persuade their children, and grandmothers can't persuade their grandchildren. On the day when the little grandson Helian Songsheng was one month old, the empress dowager gave in and said, "Choose an auspicious day and let Xiaobai and He get married."
With the marriage of the shipping king, the marriage of the newspaper king was also put on the agenda.
The King is not like the Crown Prince, who is too busy to take care of his children's love affairs.
He was not like the ship king who had a lively personality and wanted to find a wife by himself. When Jiang Changning asked him what kind of girl he liked, he asked for: "Pretty, obedient, and quiet."
"That's it?" Jiang Changning asked with a smile.
The king nodded, "I'm sorry to trouble my mother."
"Raising a child for a hundred years means worrying about him for ninety-nine years. Your mother is willing to worry about you." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
The three requirements of reporting to the king sound simple, but it is still difficult to accomplish them.
Good looking people may not necessarily be obedient and quiet.
Being obedient and quiet is not necessarily good-looking.
However, since he had just finished his second son's wedding banquet, he was not in a hurry for his third son's marriage. He could take his time and he would always be able to find a good girl that suits his taste.
Life is like floating clouds and morning dew. In the blink of an eye, the Crown Princess gave birth to her and the Crown Prince's fifth child, another daughter. Emperor Xuanzhi named her Helian Ying.
Before this, He Dandan gave birth to her and the shipping king's eldest son. Emperor Xuanzhi also named his grandson: Helian Chengzhang.
Happy events came one after another. After the full-month banquets for the two children, it was time for the king to get married.
After obtaining the consent of Emperor Xuanzhi, Jiang Changning decided to marry the girl from the Ji family in order to repay the king.
Ji was the descendant of a famous official in the capital. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a chaste and indifferent character and was wise in her handling of affairs. Most importantly, she and the King Bao had similar interests and both loved reading.
Among the three granddaughters-in-law, the empress dowager was most satisfied with Ji. As a result of her satisfaction, even Jiang Changning received a reward from her, a white jade carved kang table screen.
But this life has joy and sorrow, birth and death.
In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Xuanzhi, the empress dowager was seriously ill, and Jiang Changning took turns to look after her with her three daughters-in-law and daughter.
That day was Xia Xueer's birthday. Jiang Changning let Xiao Yuer go out of the palace to play while she went to take care of him.
The maid came in with the medicine, "Your Majesty, it's time for the Queen Mother to take the medicine."
Jiang Changning glanced at the empress dowager lying on the bed. Her chest was barely rising or falling. It seemed that she was breathing out more than she was breathing in. She was about to pass away soon. He sighed secretly.
It doesn't really matter whether you take this medicine or not, it won't save your life anyway.
But Jiang Changning couldn't and shouldn't say this.
"Mother, wake up. It's time to take your medicine." Jiang Changning walked to the bedside and called softly.
After calling several times, the Queen Mother finally uttered a weak voice.
"Mother, let me help you up." Jiang Changning easily helped up the empress dowager, who had been bedridden for several months and was already emaciated.
The Queen Mother opened her eyes, her gaze unfocused, "Emperor."
"The foreign countries are here to pay homage. Your Majesty is meeting with the envoys and will be here soon."
"This medicine is useless, so I won't drink it."
"Mother, the prescription has been changed. This is a new prescription prescribed after a consultation among several imperial doctors. It is suitable for your condition and will definitely cure your illness." Jiang Changning lied to persuade her.
"Can it be cured?" The Queen Mother didn't believe it.
Jiang Changning said firmly: "It can be cured."
"Okay, I'll drink it." The Queen Mother didn't want to die either. She hadn't enjoyed enough of her blessings.
She was still able to swallow, and the whole bowl of medicine was finished, but unfortunately the medicine was useless.
After feeding the Queen Mother the medicine, Jiang Changning helped her lie down and tucked in the quilt for her, "Mother, you should have a good rest."
Seeing the Queen Mother falling into a coma again, Jiang Changning stood up and walked out.
An autumn wind blew, blowing a few yellow leaves in front of her.
Jiang Changning squatted down, picked up a fallen leaf, and sighed softly.
Autumn has arrived and the leaves have fallen.
When people reach old age, it is like autumn, the season of withering.
But who wants to die when you can live!
Jiang Changning asked herself, she was not so open-minded, she lowered her eyes to look at the fallen leaves in her hands and chanted: "Since ancient times, autumn has brought sadness and loneliness."
"I say autumn is better than spring." The voice of Emperor Xuanzhi sounded.
Jiang Changning raised his eyes, "Your Majesty is here."
"Is mother's condition very bad?" Emperor Xuanzhi asked with a worried look on his face.
Jiang Changning nodded. "Today is even worse than yesterday. I was barely awake. Your Majesty, you must be mentally prepared."
Emperor Xuanzhi's eyes showed sadness, "I'll go in and see my mother."
The Queen Mother's current condition was just as Jiang Changning had said, she was in a coma, her breathing was weak and intermittent.
Seeing her like this, Emperor Xuanzhi, her son, was heartbroken, but who could snatch someone away from the hands of the King of Hell
Even if you are the emperor, you cannot reverse time.
After a while, the prince's brothers came with their wives and children.
The eldest son of Ji and Bao Wang was only half a year old, and he was also brought here. Jiang Changning hugged the little grandson and said, "It's windy and the weather is getting cold. Why did you bring little Sheng'er into the palace?"
"My daughter-in-law has dressed Xiaosheng in thick clothes, so he shouldn't be cold." Ji explained.
The Queen Mother's condition was really bad. The imperial physician said that she might not survive the night, so she had no choice but to bring her son into the palace.
Jiang Changning touched the little guy's hand, which was warm. "Take the child and sit in the back hall. The smell of medicine here is too strong and the child can't stand it."
"Yes." Ji obeyed obediently.
"Xi'er, take your brothers and sisters and go to the back hall with your third aunt." Jiang Changning sent all his grandchildren away to prevent them from being scared.
The whole family stayed with the Queen Mother. After a while, Xiao Yuer also came back from outside the palace. "Mother, is the Royal Grandmother feeling better?"
Jiang Changning shook his head and whispered, "I'm afraid I'll have to go tonight."
Xiao Yuer hugged Jiang Changning's arms tightly, "Mother, why do people have to die?"
Jiang Changning was silent for a moment, "No one wants to die, but life is involuntary, and so is death."
"Mother." Xiao Yuer's eyes were red.
"Xiao Yu'er, birth, aging, illness and death are objective laws of life. Don't be sad." Jiang Changning gently touched her face. "Death is not the end, forgetting is."
"I will never forget my mother." Xiao Yuer snuggled up to Jiang Changning.
The Queen Mother had not woken up yet. As the sky gradually darkened, the candlesticks in the palace were lit. A palace maid came in and reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."
Jiang Changning nodded slightly, "Your Majesty, it's getting late, let's eat first. If you want to take care of your mother, you can't let yourself get sick."
"Don't worry about me. I won't ruin my body and make you worry." Emperor Xuanzhi stood up and said.
The family went to the side hall to have their meal, and after the meal, everyone went to stand guard by the empress dowager's bedside.
This guard lasted until the beginning of the midnight hour, when the Queen Mother suddenly woke up and said, "Emperor."
"Mother, your son is here." Emperor Xuanzhi held her shriveled hand.
"Help me up." The Queen Mother regained consciousness and looked much more energetic than before.
Emperor Xuanzhi helped her sit up, and Jiang Changning quickly stuffed a pillow behind her back.
The Queen Mother arranged the funeral arrangements. "The things in my storehouse should be divided into five parts. One part will be given to each of the four brothers and sisters, and one part will be given to Song Sheng."
"For those around me who are willing to leave the palace, you should also give them some grace and don't let them be homeless. For those who don't want to leave the palace, find a good place for them."
The Queen Mother rambled on and on about a bunch of random things, her spirits weakened, her eyes fixed on the ceiling of the tent, "Your father is here to pick me up, I have to go down to accompany him."
After saying this, he died.
"Mother." Emperor Xuanzhi called out sadly.
Jiang Changning and others also started crying.
(End of this chapter)