Although Concubine Xiao Shu's courtyard is right next to the Qianling Mausoleum, it still takes less than half an hour to walk from this quiet and unique courtyard to the entrance of the Qianling Mausoleum.
This is not to say that when Concubine Xiao Shu built the courtyard, she deliberately chose an entrance far away from the Qianling Mausoleum, but because the surrounding areas of the Qianling Mausoleum, in addition to the soldiers guarding the mausoleum and those who maintained the imperial mausoleum, had expanded invisibly. The scope of Qianling Mausoleum was why Xiao Shufei had to choose this place when building the courtyard.
Li Hong, Wu Mei, Xiao Shufei and others walked to the mausoleum to offer sacrifices on the second day. In addition to the main Taichang Temple, there was also the Ministry of Rites who presided over the sacrifices.
For half a day, although the steps of worship were simplified as much as possible, both the officials of Taichang Temple and the officials of the Ministry of Rites even felt that this was more difficult for themselves than His Majesty leading hundreds of civil and military officials to worship. Feeling exhausted and tired.
And this kind of tiredness is not the tiredness of large-scale worship, but a kind of heart tiredness, because for them, the royal private worship and all kinds of rules and etiquette have been cut to pieces by His Majesty.
But even so, they still need to carefully look at His Majesty's face during the whole morning's worship process. Once His Majesty's face becomes dissatisfied or groans, they need to skip this step immediately. , quickly take the next step.
So in their opinion, it was already an extremely simple ceremony that they had racked their brains to plan. However, His Majesty's dissatisfaction and dislike of the tedious temper made the entire ceremony intermittently. After nearly half a month of discussion with them, Completely the opposite.
"You all should go back first. I'll be here alone to say a few words to your father." After walking out of the main mausoleum, which had never been completely sealed, Wu Mei looked at the huge stone door and walked out. said.
"Mother, I will accompany you." Li Hong held one of Wu Mei's arms, glanced at Li Lingyue on the other side, and whispered.
History has long been changed, but what never made Wu Mei change her original intention was that after her death, her mother was buried with her father and entered the mausoleum. She was still a little sad, even though her father had passed away for more than three years.
Wu Mei walked a long way, then turned around, looking at the entire outline of the main mausoleum, looking at the lush trees above, the carved stone animals, etc., Wu Mei sighed and said, "That's fine, Hong'er will stay with me. ”
"By the way, Queen Mother, Li Xian and the others have to return to Chang'an today..." Li Hong said softly next to Wu Mei. After all, if he didn't tell the Queen Mother, Long Ma might think that Li Xian and the others were just forced to come here. Just going through the motions.
"The sixth, seventh and eighth sons are all busy, and even Li Lingyue is busy with important matters. How come you, the king of a country, are nothing to do? Go back, since everyone is busy, then go and get busy. "Wu Mei waved her hand, and then took the lead by herself, walking around the back of the main mausoleum along the road made of stones.
"If my sons and ministers are extremely busy, wouldn't they all die of shame and anger? As sons and ministers, it is their duty to share the king's worries, so they should be busy." Li Hong looked at Li Xian and others He rolled his eyes at himself, and then walked a short distance away and saluted Wu Mei, who was standing there looking from a distance.
"Mother, I have also returned to Chang'an. Don't be too sad. If you have anything to do, just tell me." Li Lingyue stood next to Wu Mei and was the last to leave.
Even Pei Wanying, because Li Ye is currently in Chang'an investigating Pei Qing's case, etc., has to return to Chang'an to continue to sit in charge. Although Bai Chun is in Chang'an, she, the queen, will be fine, but after all, he is her eldest son , I feel somewhat uneasy if I don’t go back.
What's more, with Shangguan Waner, Yiyang, and Gao'an staying here, as well as other palace maids, eunuchs, and His Majesty accompanying them, Pei Wanying and others were not worried about Wu Mei being lonely here alone.
After everyone left, Wu Mei and Li Hong walked slowly on the path of the main mausoleum, looked back at Shangguan Wan'er and others behind them, and said slowly: "Go back, I and Your Majesty. You can walk around as you please, you don’t need to accompany us.”
"Everyone, go down." Li Hong repeated to Shangguan Wan'er, Yiyang and others, and then took two quick steps to catch up with Wu Mei's pace.
Neither mother nor son spoke, just like two lonely tomb-keepers, they walked silently on the stone pavement, passed through the stone beasts, walked on the steps full of pines and cypresses, and walked step by step to the top of the tomb. Go.
"Death is like an autumn leaf. It always falls and returns to its roots. After a lifetime of living, it will end up being just a pile of loess, fighting for fame and fortune for a lifetime... In the end, no one knows what the world will be like after death."
"Mother, you don't have to be so sentimental. Although this is inevitable, life and death, fame and fortune, even wealth and prosperity, are just passing clouds. I don't think there is any need to express sentiments. Face the present moment, how? It's best to live your life, and it's right for your father." The breeze blew, and Shasha's voice blew over the entire mausoleum, which also made Wu Mei's wind-blown white hair look darker than before. Like a little more.
"You have been the emperor for more than ten years, right?" Wu Mei stood at the highest point of the main mausoleum, looking down at the entire Qianling Mausoleum, stroking her gray hair at the temples, and suddenly asked.
"No, it seems to have been twelve or thirteen years." Li Hong reached out and took off the bun on top of his head, letting the wind ruffle his long hair.
"In this world, I thought that the emperor's throne was the most difficult to sit on, but who would have thought that you, Li Hong, are the only one sitting on this throne, but you sit so relaxed and leisurely every day. If your father had had such courage as you back then, With confidence, I won't go early." Wu Mei is dressed in palace robes. Although she is old, her graceful and luxurious posture is becoming more and more intense.
Li Hong is also wearing a bright yellow robe. Like Wu Mei, it is naturally because of the sacrifice today, so he wears a more solemn and formal dress.
But even so, at this moment, the mother and son, who relatively did not care about etiquette, were sitting together on a loess hill above the mausoleum.
Neither of them spoke, they just looked at the entire Qianling Mausoleum quietly. Under the bright wind and sunshine, the entire Qianling Mausoleum seemed a little quiet.
Unknown birds occasionally fly over the head, or stand behind the lush pine trees, chirping happily, and from time to time they suddenly become quiet, then flap their wings together and fly out of the pine trees, like a cloud in the sky. , after drawing a beautiful arc, and then plunged into the pine forest again.
(End of chapter)