After the three drums, the capital has not yet calmed down from the fire and artillery battles that filled the sky on the night of the Yuan Dynasty. From the northeast corner of the palace, a bell rang suddenly, resonating with nine paths, and the temples in the four directions responded, and the bell echoed in the capital. In the dark of night, for a long time.
People living in the capital are no strangers to such bells.
The four gates of the city were already under martial law. Every household, remove the lights one after another.
It was not yet dawn, and the whole city was covered in veil, and there were cries everywhere.
Ci'er was also awakened by the sound of the bell ringing from her sleep.
He got up, leaned against Jiafu's arms, rubbed his eyes, he was still half asleep, and he muttered, "It's dawn, and I'm going to see Grandpa Huang."
Jiafu knew that at this moment, the ministers had already arrived outside the hall, waiting to welcome the grandson of the emperor to succeed him as emperor.
Cui Yinshui came in and waited beside him with his hands down.
The bell rang, and the wind sent a faint cry of the palace maid and eunuch from outside. Although the cry was far away and intermittent, it still came in because of the silence of the night.
Ci'er also heard it, as if she understood something, she suddenly woke up, opened her eyes wide, and stared at Jiafu blankly.
Grandpa Huang has been ill for a long time, and will leave him one day. At that time, Grandpa Huang doesn’t want him to be sad. Grandpa Huang hopes that he can be a good emperor of Wei—Grandpa Huang has told him this many times before. .
Tears slowly overflowed from Ci'er's eyes.
Jia Fu had mixed feelings for a while, hugged his son's tender body, wiped his tears, helped him get dressed one by one, carried him out of bed, and finally hugged him again, and finally let go. hand, and handed him over to Cui Yinshui who was waiting.
Cui Yinshui came over, knelt down at Jiafu, kowtowed, then got up, led Ci'er out, and followed behind him.
Jiafu stood there, watching Ci'er take a few steps to look back at herself, staring at him, and nodded slightly to him.
She and Pei You'an have not raised any more children for seven years since they gave birth to Ci'er.
A few years ago, it was Pei You'an who had lingering fears about her childbirth, and was reluctant to put her in danger. He was a doctor, and he didn't know which imperial doctor he got his experience from, but he actually told him which days of the month she could get pregnant easily and which days were not easy. Later, she gradually found some ways, but no matter how she wanted to have another child, in the days when he didn't have the same room with her, she used all kinds of means to act like a spoiled child, seduce, threaten, coerce, or Pretending to be annoyed, he either stayed still, or even if he had sex, he would never let her succeed, and his wish to have another child was always in vain.
In the past few years, not only Pei Youan, but also Jiafu have never thought of having another child.
Although the husband and wife never made it clear, whether it was Pei Youan or Jiafu, from the first day that Ci'er was established as the grandson of the emperor, the two of them were tacit.
They won't have a second child until Ci'er grows up.
They don't want Ci'er to feel as lonely as being abandoned, and they have no extra love to share with another child besides Ci'er.
After tonight, her son will become the new emperor of Wei.
When Ci'er first came to this world, she never thought that God had arranged such a path for her child.
Tonight, from his first step out of this temple gate, Jiafu knew that in his future growth, there will be hardships, twists and turns, and even all kinds of crises that he can't predict now.
But Jiafu believes that one day, her son will be able to move forward step by step and eventually become a generation of heroes like the late emperor hoped.
Jiafu looked ahead until the small figure finally completely disappeared outside the hall.
…
In accordance with Emperor Daxing's last edict, the seven-year-old grandson was enthroned as emperor. From the following year, the era name will be changed to Yongyi. Before the young emperor came into power, he took Pei You'an as his life and walked in front of the emperor without kneeling.
He also received the same treatment as Zhang Shiyong and Liu Jiushao, who were summoned by the late emperor at the same time.
Three days after the death of the late emperor, there was also a mourning report from Beiyuan, who died after being imprisoned for many years. According to the last order left by the late emperor, the Zhou family was buried in the imperial mausoleum with the courtesy of the empress. In the mausoleum, the dead concubines will also be buried in the future. But the first emperor did not share the same acupuncture point with the queen concubine, but slept alone in the east of the mausoleum. The hillside built on the ground, if it is rainy weather, from a distance, it stands between heaven and earth, like a statue, facing the direction of the Royal Mercy Temple, misty rain, silent.
The funeral of the late emperor, although he left the will of simplicity, was the Son of Heaven after all. No matter how simple it was, the funeral lasted for half a month. After the funeral was over, the twenty-seven days of the last emperor's edict had passed, and the whole world was removed from the service. The people were not affected by the death of many emperors. They were married as usual, and they had no problems. As for the court, in the past two years, The late emperor had already let go of most of the government affairs, and now the cabinet headed by Pei You'an is in charge, and the transition is smooth.
The past should be in the past, let it be in the past. Humans are born to be alive, and always have to look forward.
Gave understands this. She knew that Pei You'an must know better than herself.
Before the emperor died, Pei You'an went back and forth, came to him, and gave him the bow.
In the eyes of the ministers who were watching at the time, Pei You'an's move should probably only be out of gratitude for Emperor's grace.
But Jiafu knew that, as far as Pei You'an was concerned, in his heart, from that moment on, he really let go.
Jiafu was not nearby at the time, and Pei You'an did not describe the scene to her in detail, but Jiafu believed that the emperor should be like this at that time.
He must understand the meaning of Pei You'an's bowing his head this time, which is the meaning that only the two of his monarch and his father and son can know.
Sometimes, a loud voice is better than a voice.
The moment before the emperor left, he must have obtained the comfort he had longed for for a long time, and he felt relieved that he could leave.
…
After the national mourning, the young emperor ascended the throne, and Pei Youan was busy all day long, leaving early and returning late, sometimes even in the middle of the night.
These days, Jiafu has not been idle. With the help of Sandalwood, she is doing some things, running between the Guogong Mansion and Nanxunfang's mansion next to the southeast gate of the imperial city, and chooses a day to move to make it easier to Pei You'an would go in and out of the palace in the future, and he would suffer less from the rush on the road in winter.
Sandalwood married Yang Yun a few years ago and gave birth to a son. The husband and wife have been helping Pei Youan and Jiafu independently over the years, and they are loyal.
As for the second and second rooms of the Duke of Wei's mansion, in the past few years, it has been a different scene.
Three years ago, Pei Xiuzhi disappeared for a period of time inexplicably, and it was not until more than half a year later that he was sent back secretly by Pei Youan himself. Mrs. Xin later learned that her son was actually involved in the party of the abolished prince who had rebelled. Although she tried her best to defend herself, claiming that she was forced, but if the emperor hadn't looked at her husband Wei Guogong and Pei You'an, she would have ended up taking the blame. Those who were accused of treason were terrified. After the beating, they saw that their son was no longer the same as before. Uneasy, I can't worry about myself all day long.
On the other hand, the second room has been going smoothly for the past few years. Although Pei Quan has no future in his official career, Pei Xiuluo passed the jinshi examination the year before. What I hate is that Pei You'an is now a minister of Gu Ming, assisting the young emperor, and he is so powerful. He is called "Pei Xiang" behind his back. He can be said to be above ten thousand people. However, the relationship with his couple has always been awkward, neither cold nor indifferent. In recent years, the second room has been flattering. Pei Xiuluo respected his couple and regarded himself as Pei Xiang's younger brother everywhere. He greeted him with a smile. Not only that, but gradually, the wives of the entertainment families who have been in contact with each other on weekdays seem to all know that their own "mother" is estranged from the eldest son and his wife, but it is Mrs. Meng of the second room, who is Mrs. Pei You'an's aunt. The relationship is good, those who want to go out, go to the second Mrs. Meng to manage the relationship one after another. The second Mrs. Meng is proud of her spring breeze and smiles all over her face, making Mrs. Xin feel hatred and jealousy in her heart, worrying about gains and losses all day long. It became more and more strange, with sleepless nights and rage at every turn, and his body gradually deteriorated.
The title of Duke of the Pei family was transferred from Pei You'an to Pei Xiuzhi in the early years. With Pei Xiuzhi standing up, it is justifiable for Pei You'an to relocate from the Duke's mansion for the convenience of the auxiliary government.
When the selected day came, Jiafu arranged things and moved from the Duke Wei's mansion where she had lived for many years to a new mansion.
She has been moving quietly, and doesn't want to disturb outsiders, but with her husband's current status, her every move has become the focus of attention of many women in the capital. , and some people sent all kinds of valuable gifts in the name of housewarming and congratulations, but Jiafu refused to take any money back.
In a blink of an eye, it was mid-April, and it was the three-month anniversary of the death of the first emperor. On this day, Pei Youan, on behalf of the young emperor, led a group of ministers to the imperial mausoleum hundreds of kilometers away from the capital to pay tribute to the sacrificial ceremony. One trip, it will take three or four days to come back.
Jiafu was at home alone. In the evening, Mrs. Meng came uninvited and brought Jiafu some local products such as dried bamboo shoots. She said that her in-laws brought it from thousands of miles away from her hometown. She thought of it and gave it to Jiafu. A few came over and said: "My aunt knows that you never accept valuables, but fortunately these are not valuable, but it is just a thought, you are used to eating dragon liver and phoenix marrow, you and You An will also taste something new, if you agree, I will return it there. Yes, I'll bring it to you next time."
Jiafu thanked her and accepted it. Since it was a meal, she left her for dinner. After dinner, it was already dark, and the second lady was still chatting with Jiafu, and finally talked about Pei Youan's absence from home these days, and sighed: "You'an is in a high position now, and things will inevitably come up. Duo, but I always call you such a person, even my aunt looks distressed..."
She took Jiafu's hand and whispered: "Afu, I am both your aunt and your aunt, and I only told you this because I treated you as my own daughter. You and You An have been married for many years. The child who was born outside Guan was unfortunately lost. It has been so many years now, how come there is still no movement in his stomach? I am very anxious, and I have been paying attention to you. Some time ago, I heard about a very spiritual temple. As long as those who sincerely go to ask for help and come back, within a year and a half, they have all given birth to sons. Why don't your aunt take you there and try it out, if you come back and it works, wouldn't it be a good thing?"
Jiafu smiled and said, "Thank you auntie. Next time, if I'm comfortable, it's not too late to trouble auntie."
The second lady was determined to make a better future for her son at Pei You'an. Seeing that his couple had not had children for many years, she thought it was nothing, so she inquired everywhere, and finally found out about the temple. Somewhat unwilling, just as he was about to persuade him again, he saw a servant of his own hurried in, with Zhang Huang on his face. Now, there is a fire in the house, the third master is missing, the second master is not at home, the third grandmother sent me to tell my wife to go back quickly!"
Pei Quan was also among the mausoleums this time, so he wasn't there for the past few days.
The second lady was taken aback and stood up abruptly.
Although Jiafu doesn't like these people in the Pei family, the kindness of the old lady and the prince to Pei You'an is enough to overwhelm these people in the Pei family. He hurriedly brought a few servants, along with the second lady, took a carriage, and hurried to the Guogong's mansion. After a few streets, there was still fire in the direction of Pei's house, and the street was blocked by onlookers. The water was blocked, and the carriage could not enter. There were people from the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, who knew that the Pei's house was on fire and did not dare to neglect.
When Jiafu arrived at Pei's house, the fire had been cut off, and the connected houses that had caught fire gradually went out. But what she saw next surprised her.
The fire started from a warehouse in the back that was usually used to store fine silk, and the third child, Pei Xiulo, was said to be locked inside. After being rescued, his face was burnt out, people also inhaled smoke and passed out. The third grandmother was lying beside him, crying so hard. When Mrs. Meng saw her son like this, she rolled her eyes and fell to the ground.
Jiafu hurriedly sent someone to call an imperial doctor who was good at treating fire injuries in her own name. The imperial doctor arrived, gave him some treatment, and smeared the burnt area on his body with wound medicine. Pei Xiuluo finally woke up and lay there, dying. .
The second lady gritted her teeth and asked who he was imprisoned in the warehouse. Pei Xiulo's eyes were straight, and his throat was choked by the fireworks. He saw his lips move, but he couldn't speak.
The third grandma cried: "I heard the next person say that in the evening, I seem to have seen a girl next to the second sister-in-law looking for the third master. She must have something to do with that side! Sister-in-law, please, let the third master of my family be the master!"
The third grandmother cried out to Jiafu, begging non-stop.
The second lady saw that her original son, Yushu Linfeng, was burned to such a state. Even if he lived, he would be like a waste in the future. He would never be an official again. The heart was taken away, tears streaming down his face, and he gritted his teeth: "Okay, the person who has a black heart, his son Kong Zhan's ancestor has become a daddy who can't help, and now I can't see my son's goodness. Afu, You are to be a witness for your aunt, even if you fight for this life, I will also seek justice for my son!"
The second lady wiped away her tears, told her daughter-in-law to take care of her son, brought a group of servants and maids, and rushed to the big room angrily. Halfway, when she saw Pei Xiuzhi coming, her face was flushed, her steps were staggering, she smelled of alcohol, and her tongue was sticking out. Said: "Second aunt... How is the third brother..." Before she could finish her words, Mrs. Meng spit spit on her face and pushed it away.
Pei Xiuzhi stumbled, stepped back several steps in a row, and fell to the ground, leaving him drunk and motionless.