Lin'an City, the inner palace, the inner court, and the Cining Hall.
On the brocade couch in the palace, Yang Guizhi, the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty, looked haggard, emaciated, and gray-haired, making it difficult to recognize.
"The Queen Mother, the Emperor, Concubine De, Concubine Xian, Concubine Guiyi, Jia Jieyu, Meiren Zhang, and the emperor's grandchildren are all here!"
Seeing Zhao Hong and others coming in, his nephew, Yang Shi, the king of Yongning County, whispered in Yang Guizhi's ear.
"I have met Your Majesty! I have met Empress De, Xian Fei, and Gui Yi! I have met Jia Jieyu! I have met Zhang Meiren!"
The Yang family and the Wu family, including Prince Yang Gu of Xin'an County, all saluted Zhao Hong, Zhou Xiuniang, Yang Yi, and Cuizhu, the harem concubines.
"How is the Queen Mother?"
Looking at Yang Guizhi on the hospital bed, Zhao Hong felt pity in his heart.
Birth, old age, illness and death, no one is exempt from vulgarity. There is no such thing as a banquet that lasts forever, but being there is always hard to accept and let go.
Seventy years is rare in life. Yang Guizhi is already seventy years old, which is considered a long life in this era.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is waiting to see Your Majesty for the last time."
Yang Gulao burst into tears, and Zhao Hong patted him on the shoulder to express comfort.
Looking at the nun sitting on a chair outside the crowd, counting the beads with her eyes closed, Zhao Hong couldn't help but be stunned.
Isn't this his first wife Wu? How could she become a nun?
She is only twenty-six or seven years old, so young. Why is she like this?
"Your Majesty, you are here."
Zhao Hong was still thinking deeply, and Yang Guizhi turned her head from the couch with difficulty. She struggled to open her eyes, and there was a smile on her face.
"Queen Mother..."
Zhao Hong knelt beside the couch, his eyes red with sadness.
He has always been a sentimental person, and the thing he can't bear the most is separation between life and death.
"aunt!"
Yang Yi couldn't help it and cried softly.
Although Yang Guizhi is domineering, she takes great care of the Yang family.
Cuizhu also knelt next to Yang Yi and cried bitterly on the ground, unable to make a sound.
The scene between master and servant, thinking of the past, facing the separation of life and death, filled with tears.
"Queen Mother!"
Zhao Quan and other emperors and grandsons began to cry one after another.
"My dear grandson, don't cry anymore."
There were successors to the Zhao Song royal family, and the branches were luxuriant. Yang Guizhi felt a little comforted in her heart. Facing Yang Yi and Cuizhu, she whispered.
"Yi'er, Cuizhu, don't cry, put away your tears. Remember to serve His Majesty well, don't be arrogant due to favors, and forget your dignity. Yang Yi, especially you, don't forget your identity."
Yang Guizhi's face was kind, and there was some red light. I wonder if it was the so-called reflection of light. She carefully warned Yang Yi and Cuizhu, as well as the younger generations of the Yang family and the Wu family.
"Listen carefully, you must serve the emperor without any second thoughts. As an official, you must not interfere in the government affairs; in business, you must not bully the market; in farming, you must not bully the villagers; in the army, you must not be arrogant and domineering. Do you understand?"
"Follow the Queen Mother's teachings!"
The Yang family and the Wu family said respectfully together.
"Your Majesty, I am leaving. I am just waiting to see you one last time. Tell the truth, do you hate me?"
Yang Guizhi's bony hands grabbed Zhao Hong's wrist.
"Queen Mother, please tell the truth. There was something wrong before and after you ascended the throne, but now it has disappeared. You are my mother, the Queen Mother of the Song Dynasty, so don't think too much about it."
Zhao Hong held Yang Guizhi's hand and spoke softly.
Yang Guizhi's hands were so cold that there seemed to be no warmth at all. Yang Guizhi's eyes slowly dimmed again, and he seemed to be in a trance, which made Zhao Hong secretly frightened.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for you. Fortunately, God protects you, and the Great Song Dynasty is prosperous. I heard that my King of the Great Song Dynasty has occupied Shaanxi, and Li Quan in Huainan has also been eliminated, right?"
Yang Guizhi asked, a glimmer of light seemed to shine in his dim eyes.
"Your Majesty, our army defeated the Northern Army at Shukou, annihilating more than 60,000 enemies and capturing 8,000 prisoners. Our army of the King of the Song Dynasty marched eastward, and Li Ping, the general guarding Tongguan in the Kingdom of Jin, surrendered. Shaanxi has returned to our rule in the Song Dynasty. Li Quan's entire army in Chuzhou After being destroyed, our navy of the Song Dynasty has already stationed in Haizhou and Mizhou in Shandong Province. It has sufficient food and grass and will be able to go north in the near future to restore the sixteen states of Yanyun."
Zhao Hong spoke slowly, trying to be as careful as possible.
"When will Sanjing and Tokyo City be recovered?"
Yang Guizhi sounded expectant, with a faint light in his eyes.
"The Jin Dynasty's energy is not exhausted, and the trapped beast is still fighting. It will probably take about two years."
Zhao Hong replied softly.
Every Song person has a dream of the Central Plains in their heart, and even Yang Guizhi, the Queen Mother of the Song Dynasty, is no exception.
"Two years?"
Yang Guizhi's dull eyes suddenly brightened a lot, and then he shook his head gently and returned to gloominess.
"I will never see that day again."
She looked at Zhao Hong, gave a soft smile, and her eyes were distracted, which made Zhao Hong feel frightened.
"Your Majesty, with your great talents and military skills, you will definitely restore the Central Plains and return the Sixteenth State of Yanyun to my rule in the Song Dynasty. When the time comes, I will leave your father's and me's coffins in your hands."
Yang Guizhi's voice was as thin as a gossamer, and it took Zhao Hong a lot of effort to hear it clearly.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, your ministers will definitely restore the Central Plains within three years, and then move the coffins of the Queen Mother and father to the Central Plains. Don't worry, Your Majesty, your ministers will definitely do it, and the ceremony of moving the mausoleum will be carried out smoothly. All the subjects of the world!”
Zhao Hong patted Yang Guizhi's skinny hand and said solemnly.
"Your Majesty... said this, I can... don't worry..."
Yang Guizhi nodded happily, and before squinting his eyes, he glanced at Li Weiming, half-smiling but not smiling, with a strange expression.
By the time she finished speaking, she was exhausted and overwhelmed.
Zhao Hong looked at Li Weiming, who was expressionless, and came out calmly, with a heavy heart.
The strong and domineering Yang Guizhi cannot withstand the passage of time. When the oil is exhausted and the lamp dries up, it is also so sad.
Without people like Shi Miyuan and Yang Guizhi, he actually felt a little lonely for a moment, and a part of his life seemed to have been taken away.
As for Li Weiming, Yang Guizhi's glance made him feel that Li Weiming seemed to be getting farther and farther away from him.
Maybe, this is the real Li Weiming! This is how things should be between them.
"One smile and one ups and downs, one rest and one coming and going, one thought and one world, one dream and one reincarnation. Cause and effect reincarnate, life is also death, death is also life..."
The Buddha's voice rang out in the hall, and the voice was familiar, like a dream.
Zhao Hong was in a trance, and there was a sound of crying inside, accompanied by the sound of chanting sutras. It seems that Yang Guizhi has already traveled westward on a crane.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me and take care of your dragon body."
At some point, Wu Nian walked out and whispered behind Zhao Hong.
Zhao Hong has a strong personality, but he is broad-minded and can take the overall situation into consideration when doing things, which he can't help but admire.
He is less than 30 years old, and in just eight years since he ascended the throne, he has already achieved heights that none of the previous kings of the Song Dynasty could reach in their lifetimes. Who can be dissatisfied? Who dares to dissent?
"Uncle Wu, you were young and frivolous in the past. Please forget all those sorry things."
Zhao Hong spoke from the bottom of his heart.
"Your Majesty, please don't take it to heart. Your Majesty has the important responsibility of reviving the Song Dynasty, so you can't look back!"
Zhao Hong expressed his true feelings, and Wu Nian also showed his true feelings.
"Uncle Wu, I know. Wu... why did she... become a monk at such a young age?"
Zhao Hong turned his head and asked softly with raised eyebrows.
How could he escape into Buddhism and become a bhikshuni when he was only in his twenties?
Is this the evil result of his predecessor? Why does he feel guilty?
"When she encounters someone who is not kind, that person is a libertine. She was heartbroken, so she became a monk and became a bhikshuni. Speaking of which, this is her life, and she cannot blame others."
Wu Nian looked tired, hunched over, and seemed much older.
"If she wants anything, just ask and I will do my best."
Zhao Hong felt compassion and said emotionally.
"Uncle, time is merciless, you must take care of yourself!"
The daughter became a monk and the son became disabled. It can be said that misfortunes never come singly to the Wu family.
"Your Majesty, I can't thank you enough for your words, and I will feel at ease for the rest of my life!"
Wu Nian quickly saluted, and there seemed to be a lot of emotion in his words.
"Your Majesty worked hard to conquer the lost territory, promote the prestige of the Song Dynasty, and inspire the hearts of the people of the Song Dynasty. His literary and military skills are wise and wise. Even though our ancestors in the Song Dynasty, there are few who can match it. It is a pity that my daughter is not blessed and cannot …”
Wu Nian's words stopped suddenly, and Zhao Hong was speechless for a moment.
A slap cannot make a sound. How can those old things be explained clearly in one sentence?
"Wu Feng, have you exchanged letters recently?"
During the Northwest War and the march into Shaanxi, Wu Feng led his troops on the expedition, which was considered meritorious. The imperial court was discussing merit and rewards, and Wu Feng was promoted to deputy capital commander of Hexi Road.
I just don’t know if this guy has any contact with the family. What’s the situation like?
"Your Majesty, I am here. Thank you for taking care of the dog."
Wu Nian's tone was sincere, and there was a smile on his face unconsciously.
"Wu Feng has only come back once in more than seven years since he went to the frontier. He already has two children, but he has not brought them back because they were young. This time the Queen Mother died of illness, and he was unable to come back. .Why……"
Wu Nian's face returned to a sad look.
"If the imperial court wants to regain the lost territory, the soldiers will have to fight decisively on the battlefield and go through life and death. Wu Feng has done well and is a good man of the Song Dynasty. This time he has made a contribution, and I am afraid he will still be stationed in Hexi. The Tatars are weak, and he will Okay, you two elders, don’t worry.”
After Zhao Hong finished speaking in a warm voice, he looked inside, waved his hand, and Dong Songchen came up.
The Wu family has a daughter, which is rare good news.
"Pass an edict to summon all the ministers to enter the palace to offer sacrifices."
"Your Majesty, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your grace. I will take my leave first."
Wu Feng said goodbye and left knowingly.
Dong Songchen left, and the eunuchs on the left and right came forward to put Zhao Hong into mourning clothes.
Zhao Hong went in and saw Yang Yi, Cuizhu and others lying on the ground crying, and felt sad.
He bowed deeply to Yang Guizhi who had died of illness on the bed.
Sitting on a chair nearby, in front of them were two brothers, Yang Gu and Yang Shi, who were in tears. They were both almost sixty years old. They had runny noses and tears. It was sad to see them.
"He has passed away. Please forgive me for your condolences."
Zhao Hong sighed and said with emotion.
Although he and the two brothers had disputes and acrimony, time was running like water. Is it necessary to compare every penny and penny in everything?
