PDLP Chapter 659 Let’s grow old together
Chapter 659 Let’s grow old together
In fact, when Master Buyu met Emperor Shenwu, the Emperor had not yet reacted. Now, no one and no thing could arouse his emotions. Master Buyu did not care about the emperor's dullness. He respectfully presented a string of Buddhist beads with both hands: "Amitabha! Well-behaved, well-behaved! Your Majesty has been mourning yourself too much, resulting in gray hair and sudden heart disease. Your Majesty may not care about your own dragon body and the people of the world, but do you not care about the Empress too? These are the soul-stabilizing Buddhist beads that my master has prayed for and repaired. He asked me to bring a few words to Your Majesty. He said: If Your Majesty still wants to see that person a hundred years from now, you must follow the will of nature and die a natural death before you can see the old friend again!"
The eyes of the Emperor Shenwu finally lit up. He asked anxiously, "Did your master say that? What else did he say?"
Master Buyu said, "Master is old and barely moves anymore. He didn't say anything else, only asking me to give this string of Soul-Fixing Buddhist beads to Your Majesty! The Soul-Fixing Buddhist beads were once worn by the Empress for many years, and they carry the Empress's aura. The Empress's origins are unusual, and without special reasons, I'm afraid no one in this area will ever encounter her again in their lifetime!"
This is what Emperor Shenwu was worried about. He was extremely terrified that after his death he would not be able to find Lan Qingwu in the underworld, and they would never meet again, and he would not be able to find the outside world where Lan Qingwu was.
Emperor Shenwu quickly reached out to take the Soul-Fixing Buddhist Beads. His hands trembled slightly, and his eyes flashed with relief and excitement. "This string of Soul-Fixing Buddhist Beads was once broken for no reason, and now it's back in my hands. It seems this is God's will! If I have some free time, I will definitely visit the Guoan Temple to pay a visit to Master Kunlun!"
Master Buyu clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: "Master said - no need!"
Emperor Shenwu was stunned. Before he could speak, Master Bu Yu said, "Amitabha! I will go chant sutras and pray for the Empress."
Master Buyu turned and walked away: "I hope Your Majesty will take good care of yourself!"
After drinking the medicine, Emperor Shenwu felt better and got out of bed to return to the mourning hall. His mood had completely changed. The prince and others did not dare to stop him and could only accompany Emperor Shenwu carefully.
Emperor Shenwu was eager to see Lan Qingwu again, so he hurried to the mourning hall. There, Imperial Concubine Jiang was kneeling in the front row of the imperial concubines. Upon hearing the noise, Imperial Concubine Jiang looked up and was stunned. It had only been half a day, and Emperor Shenwu had grown a lot more white hair. She said sadly, "Your Majesty... Please take care of yourself! If you are like this... The Empress will not be at peace. Your white hair..."
The Shenwu Emperor didn't answer, but hurried to the ice jade coffin. He reached out and stroked the ice jade coffin, looking at Lan Qingwu's peaceful face through the ice jade, and his heart finally settled a little: "Ruo Ruo, I'm here! Will you dislike me when you see my white hair?"
Emperor Shenwu said with a wistful look, "Suddenly an old friend crosses my mind. Looking back, winter has already arrived. If we could get drenched in the snow together one day, we could grow old together in this life. If white hair could be replaced by snow, there would be no heartbreak in the world. If you were by my side right now, why would I need to get drenched in the snow and grow old together? My dear, you and I have been married for generations. If my hair turns white, even if yours turns white, we can still grow old together, right? Don't worry, I will take good care of the children. With these soul-stabilizing Buddhist beads, we will meet again one day, right?"
Emperor Shenwu closed his eyes and thought of Lan Qingwu's last wish. He felt extremely painful and hesitant. He didn't want Lan Qingwu to leave him. He didn't want to send Lan Qingwu out of the imperial city and send her to the distant border. How could he feel at ease when she was so far away from him in the future?
After today's wake was over, Emperor Shenwu left behind the Crown Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Seventh Princess. He sat beside the bed and said in a low voice, "I've left you here today to tell you that your mother's last wish was not to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. She wanted to return to the great peach tree at the border. I... have agreed!"
The Crown Prince looked up in shock, and the Seventh Prince and the Seventh Princess were silent for a moment.
After a moment of silence, the prince asked, "What does Father want to do?"
"Of course I will fulfill your mother's last wish, but... I want to keep her body in a state of rest for 49 days. On that day, I will place a lock of her hair in a golden nanmu coffin and bury her in the imperial mausoleum. It will be her last remains. I want to... personally see her off on her final journey."
The Crown Prince frowned slightly. "Father, not to mention that it's an imperial regulation to keep the coffin for 49 days, which is not difficult to do with a pretext, but what's your excuse for personally escorting the Queen Mother to the border? The other subjects don't know that the real Queen Mother was buried at the border, so it's not realistic for you to go in person. Otherwise, let your son do it for you! Just give your son a chance to show his final filial piety to the Queen Mother!"
Emperor Shenwu was dissatisfied and worried. He selfishly wanted to send Lan Qingwu to the border in person, but he also knew that his identity as an emperor bound and imprisoned him, making it difficult for him to move at this moment. If Emperor Shenwu left the imperial city now, those civil servants in the previous dynasty would probably start to advise him again. During this special period when Empress Zhaoyi's mourning period had not yet reached a hundred days, if the emperor left the imperial city, I am afraid that all the subjects in the world would talk about it.
Emperor Shenwu could only remain silent. He was still thinking of a solution that would satisfy both sides. At this moment, the Seventh Prince, who had been silent all this time, suddenly knelt down and said in a firm and clear voice, "Let me go!"
Emperor Shenwu and the Crown Prince both looked at the Seventh Prince.
The seventh princess' eyes moistened slightly as she murmured, "Seventh Brother..."
The Seventh Prince spoke again, "Neither Father nor the Crown Prince should leave the Imperial City at this moment. If either of them were to force their way out, it would likely cause unrest within the court and invite groundless speculation, which would not be a good thing for Mother. Only a son would be most suitable to go! I have always been uninhibited and willful. After Mother's passing, I was overcome with grief and insisted on traveling outside the Imperial City to enjoy the scenery. I believe few would doubt this reason. And I will personally escort Mother to her burial at the border. I believe Mother will be pleased. This is the final act of filial piety I can show you, and you and the Crown Prince can rest assured."
The Seventh Princess sobbed and said, "I want to go too!"
The Seventh Prince shook his head. "Yueyue, you can come with us, and we don't mind that you're a girl. But you're already married, and you can't be traveling around for long. Although you're a legitimate princess, you and your husband's family still need to respect and tolerate each other. Furthermore, you've already taken over Qingciyuan, and these things won't allow you to leave the Imperial City for long. Let me go alone to see our mother off! When we bury our mother, I'll explain the wishes of our father, the Crown Prince, and Yueyue!"
The Shenwu Emperor's lips moved slightly: "Xiao Qi has grown up! He has thought about these things very thoroughly."
The prince couldn't say what was wrong, but he still felt a little regretful.
Emperor Shenwu stayed by Lan Qingwu's side day and night from then on. Thinking that Lan Qingwu would soon be traveling to the border, his heart felt like it was on fire.
Thirty days after Empress Zhaoyi's coffin rested, an official reported to Emperor Shenwu that local residents were rioting over newly enacted laws and regulations, such as allowing women to divorce and remarry. Reports reached the imperial palace, and at least half of the officials in the Golden Throne Hall were questioning and raising objections, suggesting that Emperor Shenwu consider re-enacting the policy regarding women. Furious, Emperor Shenwu stripped the official who led the memorial of his official uniform and hat, and dismissed him from his post. He stood up solemnly and said word by word, "Governance for women is difficult. Is it harder than ascending to heaven? It's just that some people who hold office but do nothing are pretending to obey, thinking that men are in power and unwilling to leave women a way out! My sacred mind is made up. No matter how difficult it is, the policy for women must be implemented!"
"And I had a dream the day before yesterday. Empress Zhaoyi was the reincarnation of the founding empress, Empress Zhaoyan. Empress Zhaoyan was heartbroken and described the oppression and harm to women in the Dasheng Dynasty. Who still remembers that when the Dasheng Dynasty was founded, women fought in battles and traded and opened businesses just like men, and were no less inferior to men! Yes! Hundreds of years ago, because of the treacherous concubines interfering in politics, the dynasty revised some laws, but now, hundreds of years later, those laws are already vulgar, why can't they be changed! Empress Zhaoyan's words were clear. As an official of the Dasheng Dynasty, anyone who pretends to obey me but secretly disobeys me and passively responds to women's politics is disobeying the will of the emperor. "You are being disrespectful to me! You are being disrespectful to the founding emperor and empress! You are also being disrespectful to my Empress Zhaoyi! Heaven has sent Empress Zhaoyi to my side, awakening new vitality to the Great Sheng. I will see who dares to act in vain and disobey the Holy Will again! Pass on my decree. I wish to personally select imperial officials to inspect all cities, especially those in remote areas, to see if they are actually implementing policies regarding women! All these officials represent me and have the power of oversight! Any local officials who fail to act or violate the Holy Will will be strictly investigated and dealt with by me! Cities that successfully implement the policies will be rewarded by me!"
The Golden Throne Hall fell silent for a moment, as if everyone was stunned by the Emperor Shenwu's resolve. No one dared to touch the Emperor Shenwu's weak spot so soon after Empress Zhaoyi's passing, and no one dared to oppose the Emperor Shenwu, bearing the suspicion of disrespecting the founding emperor and empress. Were the Emperor's white hairs all caused by the deceased Empress Zhaoyi?
Finally, someone stepped forward and bowed to the ground. It was the elderly Imperial City Governor, Lin Suzhi. He was a true close minister to the Shenwu Emperor, having been offered promotion within the Imperial City but had declined three times. The position of Imperial City Governor might not seem high-ranking, but it was a crucial and complex one, one that could easily offend people in this city teeming with powerful figures. The Shenwu Emperor valued Lin Suzhi's talent and appreciated his loyalty and his ability to tactfully navigate the various powerful and influential circles, so he hadn't forced a promotion on him. Seeing Lin Suzhi step forward, the Emperor was somewhat surprised.
Lin Suzhi bowed three times respectfully and silently, then he slowly took off his official hat with both hands and placed it at his side. All the civil and military officials in the hall were shocked.
Emperor Shenwu was moved, and heard Lin Suzhi loudly reply: "Your Majesty, I am willing to be the first inspector! I am old, and it is just right for me to hand over the position of Imperial City Governor to a young and promising official. Let me go outside the Imperial City to share your Majesty's worries!"
Emperor Shenwu rose to his feet and said in a deep voice, "Lord Lin, do you know how difficult it is for women to advance the cause? In a few years, you will be retiring, and I cannot bear the thought of you still toiling away for the Dasheng Dynasty!"
Some ministers lowered their heads involuntarily.
Lin Suzhi kowtowed again: "I'm afraid it won't be difficult! I would be honored to be able to do something beneficial to the people of the world for the court in my lifetime! My mother would also support me if she knew! Please grant me your majesty's blessing!"
"Very good! I am fortunate to have a loyal minister like Lin Qing! I am also moved by Lin Qing's filial piety to his mother! I will immediately issue an edict to appoint you as the First Inspector General. After you go to the outer city, you will not only be responsible for women's affairs, but also for inspecting the implementation of other laws in various cities. I will grant you the Inspector General Jade Plate. Seeing the jade plate is like seeing me in person! My dear Lin, you can go ahead and do it!"
Lin Suzhi kowtowed again: "Your Majesty is wise! I will not let you down!"
Emperor Shenwu added, "I will confer upon your mother the title of Second Rank Imperial Consort! Madam Lin truly deserves the title for raising such a meritorious official like you for the Dasheng Dynasty!"
Lin Suzhi blushed with excitement. "If my mother could see the prosperity of the Dasheng Dynasty and the laws governing women, she would be extremely pleased! I thank Your Majesty for your grace on my mother's behalf!"
Leng Qujing took a long step forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, I wish to accompany Lord Lin! There will undoubtedly be more people gathering to cause trouble in the outlying cities. In today's peaceful and prosperous times, I, a military commander, have no place to use my skills. I wish to accompany Lord Lin and contribute to the cause of women's politics! Please grant your permission, Your Majesty!"
Leng Qujing always remembers the kindness of Empress Zhaoyi and supports her in all decisions. For Yu Piaolan and their daughter.
"Alright! I appoint you as deputy envoy. You will lead two teams of troops from the suburban military camp and cooperate with Lord Lin in implementing the policy for women!"
Leng Qujing and Lin Suzhi's leadership made most of the ministers come to their senses, especially Leng Qujing, who came from an aristocratic family of military generals and to a certain extent represented the attitude of the aristocratic family.
"I am also willing to go..."
"I am willing to go!"
Some clever ministers had already sensed a path to rapid promotion. Regardless of their reasons, they lined up and bowed. As long as they had the will, the Emperor Shenwu would accept them all. The empire was too vast to be covered by Lin Suzhi and Leng Qujing alone.
Empress Zhaoyi dedicated her life to supporting the disadvantaged. Qingciyuan (Qingciyuan), Helisi (Helisi), and, more recently, women's charity schools were established in over a dozen prominent cities. Her actions influenced two generations of emperors, prompting the highest decision-makers of the Dasheng Dynasty to revise the Dasheng laws and regulations, painstakingly implementing policies for women. These included allowing women to remarry, establish their own households, and engage in commerce. The difficulty of implementing these policies plagued subsequent provincial governors, and even more challenging was changing the minds of the people. In some places, even women disagreed with these laws. One can only imagine the arduous journey of promoting policies for women.
However, the two generations of emperors did not give up. Day by day, year by year, they promoted, read the political documents, and educated people. Finally, the policy for women gradually achieved results. In the middle and late Ming Zhaodi period, there was even a famous female empress, the first female empress after the implementation of the policy for women. The idea of women divorcing and remarrying was no longer a fantasy.