It was only the third day of the first lunar month when Chen Bochong and Chen Xiaozong were about to set off.
Huayang did not show up and only asked Chen Jingzong to see him off.
When Chen Jingzong arrived at his home on horseback, he saw two carriages already prepared at the door. The attendants had also moved their belongings and were ready to set off as soon as their master left.
The whole family was in the main hall of the main courtyard.
Except for Chen Tingjian, Chen Bochong and Chen Xiaozong, everyone from Mrs. Sun to their two daughters-in-law and grandchildren shed tears.
The two brothers were sent out to promote the new policy. In order to ensure the thorough implementation of the new policy, they must stay in their respective positions for at least three years.
It's thousands of miles away, let alone three years, even half a year, how can family not miss you
After Chen Jingzong came in, he looked at everyone one by one, said nothing, and just stood aside.
Luo Yuyan's eyes were filled with tears: "Father, Mother, please let me go with Third Master. At least I can take care of him, so that he won't be alone outside without anyone who cares about him."
Yu Xiu looked at her husband with red eyes and shed tears silently.
Chen Xiaozong coaxed his wife with a headache: "If you leave, who will take care of the children and who will take care of our parents for us? Don't be unreasonable."
If he were to go out for sightseeing, it would be fine to bring his wife along, but this trip was dangerous, so he would have no worries if his wife stayed at home.
Sun sighed, "Don't change what has already been agreed upon."
Sometimes, elders have no choice but to be cruel.
She would first get through this most difficult and dangerous year. If the situation improved after autumn, she would arrange for her two daughters-in-law to reunite with her sons while she would stay at home to take care of the children.
Chen Tingjian waved his hand and said to his sons, "It's getting late, hurry up and leave. Feel free to write if you have anything else."
Chen Bochong and Chen Xiaozong knelt down together and kowtowed to the two elders.
The sobbing from the women and children became even heavier.
Chen Tingjian looked at the fourth brother standing over there and said, "You go and see him off."
Chen Jingzong agreed and walked out with his two brothers.
Yu Xiu and Luo Yuyan wanted to take their children with them to catch up.
Chen Tingjian: "Everyone go back to your own courtyard. No need to see you off."
What's the point of seeing it for another quarter of an hour? It will only add to the sadness.
He was the head of the family, and no one dared to disobey his words. The two family members left with sobs.
Outside the gate of the Chen Mansion, the three brothers first got on Chen Bochong's carriage.
Chen Jingzong walked at the back and looked at his two brothers who were already sitting in the carriage. He said considerately, "How about I ride the horse first? I'll get on after you've cried enough."
Chen Xiaozong pretended to take off his shoes.
Chen Jingzong smiled and got on the carriage.
After he sat down, the carriage slowly set off.
Chen Bozong looked at the fourth child and said, "We are not in the capital, and father goes out early and comes back late every day. You should come back more often to see mother on your days off."
Normally, the Chen Mansion and the Princess' Mansion are relatively distant, and it is not easy for the fourth brother to visit them frequently. This year, they are not here, and it is reasonable and filial for the fourth brother to come back to visit more often.
Chen Jingzong: "Don't worry, I will not only be filial to the old lady, but also coax the children for you. You just need to do your job and don't worry about the family."
Chen Xiaozong: "Finally I heard you say something obedient."
Chen Jingzong did not comment, his eyes swept across the faces of his two brothers, he snorted, reluctantly said: "The eldest princess also wanted to come and see you off, but her status is there, and this is a treatment that only an old man can get when he leaves the capital, so you two should save yourself the trouble."
She respected the old man and was always courteous to her two brothers. In the morning, she specifically asked him to help convey her farewell message.
Of course, Chen Jingzong would never say those flowery words verbatim.
Chen Bozong: "I understand. Please also convey our gratitude to the princess."
Chen Jingzong: "Don't tell me, you can tell me yourself when you return to Beijing."
Chen Xiaozong: "You are so petty. Fortunately, we were already married when the princess chose her husband. Otherwise, you would have plotted against us and we would not have been able to go."
Chen Jingzong: "Even if you go, she won't look down on you."
Chen Bozong: "Be careful with your words!"
After a moment of silence, Chen Bozong told his third brother: "There are many beauties in Jiangnan. Don't let your father down, and don't do anything to let your third brother's wife down."
Chen Xiaozong raised his voice and said, "Why are you telling me this? Are you afraid that you can't control yourself, so you warned me on purpose?"
Chen Jingzong: "Brother has never worried about me, you should reflect on this carefully."
Chen Xiaozong had just wanted to take off his shoes, and this time he didn't want to endure him anymore. He took off one shoe and hit his fourth brother's thigh.
Chen Jingzong moved his fingers and endured it.
With a "pop" sound, Chen Xiaozong was stunned: "Why don't you hide?"
Chen Jingzong looked at the shoe prints on the pants and said, "Take it back to show the princess."
Chen Xiaozong: …
He rushed over to brush off the shoe prints on his brother's body, but this time Chen Jingzong pushed him back into his seat.
The physical strength of the civil and military officials was truly demonstrated at this moment. Chen Xiaozong was pressed on the car board, unable to move, and could only use his eyes to ask for help from his eldest brother.
The carriage went all the way to Tongzhou Wharf.
Both brothers travel by water and will travel together for a while.
Chen Bozong asked his third brother to get off the car first.
When the curtain fell again, Chen Bochong handed his fourth brother a small note.
Chen Jingzong unfolded it and saw an address written on it, a village that he had to pass through on his way to Daxing Wei Suo.
Chen Bozong whispered, "My people have been investigating Qi Jin. My father is too busy. During my absence from the capital, you will take over this matter. We will meet once every fifth day of the month in the morning. We can discuss the specific progress when we meet."
Chen Jingzong nodded.
Chen Bozong: "Don't blame father for not using you this time. You are not only the son of the Chen family, but also the consort of the eldest princess. If you get involved in the reform, it means that the eldest princess is also involved. The eldest princess treats our family very well, and we can't drag her down."
Chen Jingzong nodded again.
Chen Bozong patted his brother's shoulder and said, "Civil and military officials have different duties. If there is a war in the future, it will be our turn to escort you out of the capital."
Chen Jingzong: "Why are you so long-winded? I'm not jealous of you."
Chen Bozong laughed: "Go back."
Chen Jingzong refused to listen to him and ran to check the official ship inside and out, even questioning the boatman. Then he returned to the dock and watched the two official ships gradually drift away with the waves. Until the two thin figures standing at the stern also entered the cabin, Chen Jingzong pursed his lips and jumped on the horse.
After returning to the Princess's Mansion, Chen Jingzong first went to Liuyun Palace and burned the small note.
He changed his robe and went to see Huayang again.
Huayang looked into his eyes.
Chen Jingzong: "You think I'm like you, always dropping golden beans."
Huayang: "Then why did you take so long?"
Chen Jingzong: "They left early, so I went outside to run a horse for a while."
Huayang: "You really love horse racing, and you can't get enough of it even if you run every day."
Chen Jingzong: "I really enjoy running today. I usually run for other reasons."
Huayang: …
If he showed a little sadness, she could still comfort him with a few words, but the fact proved that Chen Jingzong had no such feeling in his head as being sad about the passing of time, and he was only thinking about some indecent things.
.
Although the two brothers of the Chen family set out early, the court had not yet formally required the implementation of the new policy.
Most of the people were unaware of the situation and continued to live their lives as usual. When the weather was cold, they stayed at home. When the early spring wind gradually became warmer, young boys and girls would go out for an outing together.
On the morning of March 18th, Huayang went to the palace early with Chen Jingzong, and then accompanied his brother out of the city to welcome the twenty-one princes.
Some of these 21 princes were close to the capital, such as the Lu King in Shandong and the Dai King in Shanxi. Some were far from the capital, such as the Shu King in Sichuan and the Qin King in Xi'an. The princes who arrived first all stayed at the Fangshan Posthouse, where they were provided with good food and drink, and when they were all present, they went to the capital together.
Among these twenty-one princes, some were the grandfathers of Huayang siblings, some were uncles, some were of the same generation, and some, although old, should call the siblings uncle and aunt. In short, it was a mess.
Empress Dowager Qi had already written these relationships in a booklet. Huayang took a copy and Chen Jingzong also took a copy. In the evening, the couple recited it face to face, and checked each other from time to time after reciting. Now they have memorized it by heart.
When he was most annoyed, Chen Jingzong said: "In the countryside, when a woman marries into her husband's family, she has to remember all the relatives from her husband's family. I thought it would be easier to keep away relatives, but I didn't expect that all of them would show up this year, and they are a bunch of princes who cannot be offended. If you were a weak-kneed person, I'm afraid you wouldn't even dare to see them."
Huayang: "Can't offend? Who went to the Prince of Xiang's mansion and dared to beat up the prince?"
Chen Jingzong: "I am just taking advantage of your power."
Huayang: "Now you can continue to benefit from it."
What she meant was that no matter how powerful a vassal king he was, he would be inferior to the eldest princess.
Standing outside the city gate at this time, seeing the twenty-one carriages of the princes coming in a mighty procession, Chen Jingzong once again looked at the Huayang siblings who were standing side by side in front of the city gate.
The sixteen-year-old Emperor Yuanyou was dressed in a scarlet dragon robe, tall and slender, already taller than most civil officials. He became the crown prince soon after he was born, and was nurtured by the nobility of the palace since childhood. Although Emperor Yuanyou's face still had a bit of childishness, the majesty between his eyebrows and eyes was no less than that of the previous emperor. In this respect, the brother and sister were exactly the same.
Huayang was also dressed up today, wearing a red dress and a golden hairpin, looking very graceful.
The civil and military officials headed by the old man stood behind the brother and sister, talking in low voices, calmly, as if it was not a big deal for so many princes to come to Beijing.
Emperor Yuanyou and the eldest princess are naturally noble, and this group of Beijing officials, especially the cabinet, give them the confidence to not be afraid of the princes.
The convoy finally stopped a hundred steps away. The princes quickly got off the vehicles and trotted to Emperor Yuanyou. Regardless of their seniority, they all knelt down respectfully.
The palace servants serving at the Fangshan Posthouse had already reported the physical characteristics of the princes, such as height, weight, and body shape, to the palace. Emperor Yuanyou was able to match them up with most of them at a glance.
Although they are all vassal kings, their status are different. For example, the nine border guarding princes who were canonized by our ancestors are more respected.
Of course, of the nine princes who guarded the border, one became Emperor Chengzu, and one Prince Jin was deposed by him last year. Now there are only seven left, kneeling neatly in the first row. The old man with white hair and beard kneeling in the middle is the Prince Qin from Xi'an Prefecture, who is the grandfather of the siblings.
"No need to bow, kings."
Emperor Yuanyou smiled and helped the King of Qin up. He asked with concern, "King of Qin is already 82 years old. You have been traveling all the way. Are you in good health?"
The King of Qin bowed his head, looked up at the young emperor in front of him, and tears filled his eyes: "Great, I can see the emperor in this life, there is nothing wrong with me!"
Emperor Yuanyou: …
How come tears come so easily
Compared with these old foxes, he is still far behind!
(End of this chapter)