"Mr. Shen Ge has been an assistant minister for more than ten years and has rich experience. He is my right-hand man... Why not stay for a while? I can't let go..."
"Your Majesty, I am almost 70 years old, and I have been feeling weak recently... It is a small thing for me to be old, but it is a big thing to delay the government. I no longer dare to sit in the position of chief minister and have a vegetarian meal... My only wish is to return to my hometown. I wish to end this remaining life. Please allow me to retire and return to my hometown to take care of myself."
"……allow."
Under the setting sun, Yan Qihua held Shen Shixing's arm, and the two slowly boarded the carriage. Behind them, the door of the "Shen Mansion" closed heavily.
Following the coachman's shout, the carriage rolled and headed south.
Shen Shixing stuck his head out of the car window and took one last look at the majestic capital.
In the forty-one year of Jiajing, he entered Beijing on a white horse, became the top scholar in high school, became famous all over the world, and began his official career; in the thirty-year year of Wanli, he formally resigned from the emperor, ending the ups and downs of his official career.
It was really like a dream... He sighed softly and lowered the curtain of the carriage.
Yan Qihua was hugging the brocade and leaning on his shoulder. Shen Shixing stroked her dry long hair with his old hands, and then closed his eyes.
I haven’t taken the road south for many years. Fortunately, I have you by my side every step of the way.
Accompanied by the fiery setting sun, the carriage gradually moved away.
Fifteen years later, Yan Qihua died without illness, and a month later, Shen Shixing also passed away.
The emperor was very sad and gave him the posthumous title "Wenzhong".
…
“I believe that under the leadership of the next Governor of Luzon, we will be stronger and the government will be more prosperous!”
"The future belongs to Luzon and belongs to you!"
Yan Shiyi stood on the stage and said loudly, ending his career as the governor of Luzon with these words.
Time has left traces on his face, and ten years of hard work has made him much older. Although he is only in his fifties, he looks like a sixty-year-old man.
But it's worth it.
During his tenure, to the south, the Luzon Governor-General ended the Nanyang Unification War that had been going on since the establishment of the Yongle Dynasty, fully integrated Southeast Asia into the territory, and began to develop the northern part of the southern continent; to the north, the Japanese Kingdom was destroyed, It became an important source of gold, silver and cannon fodder for the Governor's Palace; to the east, the expedition fleet across the ocean had set off; to the west, it controlled Goa and withstood the counterattack of the Mughal Empire, and cooperated with Britain, Spain, France, etc. The two countries have established friendly relations and sent ambassadors.
Internally, he developed the economy, established a large number of workshops, and greatly developed commerce and industry. The living standards of the people on this land reached the highest peak in thousands of years.
With his great achievements, there is no doubt that he will be written into the history books and praised by all generations.
Yan Shiyi slowly walked down from the stage.
Behind him, the new Governor of Luzon was delivering his inaugural speech.
The 17th Governor-General of Luzon was elected half a year ago and officially took over the responsibility of Luzon in the first month of the 30th year of Wanli.
"I will pay my blood for the government and the people! Everyone, we will create a better tomorrow together!"
As the sonorous words fell, thunderous applause broke out. The officials present welcomed their new leader with warm applause, hoping that he would lead Luzon to new glory.
Yan Shiyi sat at the bottom, gently clapping his hands with his thin hands, with a smile on his lips.
He seemed to see himself in the past, with the same high spirits and ambitions comparable to the mountains. With the vigorous government, he conquered land after land.
So good, so good.
…
Thirty-two years of Wanli.
Yan Chenxin, who was handling the affairs of the Houjun Governor's Mansion, suddenly vomited blood and fell unconscious on the table.
After three months of serious illness, there was still no way to recover. He was already broken and dying.
The funeral arrangements had been settled, but Yan Chenxin still tried to keep his eyes open, as if waiting for something.
It wasn't until a dusty figure came to him that he finally let out a sigh and raised the corners of his mouth slightly:
"Ancestor..."
"I did... not bad..."
He used the last strength in his life to spit out the last few words from his mouth, as softly as a whisper, but Yan Ling beside him could hear them clearly.
On one side, his eldest son had already approached him and asked in a choked voice:
"Dad, what else do you want to say? Please give me your instructions."
But Yan Chenxin didn't answer, he had closed his eyes.
The eldest son brushed his nose with a trembling hand, and a cry burst out:
"father!"
Along with his cry, suddenly, everyone around the hospital bed began to cry together:
"My lord!" "Father!" "Husband!"
Duke Chen Guo passed away in his mansion today.
Yan Ling stood quietly aside, silently looking at the mourning hall, the passing Yan Chenxin, the crying people and the plain Chen Guogong's mansion.
Over the past two hundred years, he has experienced this scene too many times.
From his son to his grandson...
Even if there are tears, they have been shed long ago. Yan Chenxin is just a passerby in his long life...
"You did a good job."
He responded softly in his mind.
…
Deep in the palace, Prince Zhu Changxun raised his head, frowned and asked:
"My master, the First Emperor burned books and harassed scholars. What is the truth?"
Yan Chenhao answered with a smile:
"There are different opinions about burning books and trapping Confucian scholars. Some people say that the First Emperor burned the world's classics and killed Confucian scholars in order to control his thoughts; some say that the people who killed the Emperor were alchemists and Confucian scholars who verbally attacked the First Emperor; others say that there are no Confucian scholars at all. Relationship, those who were tricked and killed were all alchemists because they deceived the emperor about the method of immortality, and this disaster only happened after the emperor exposed the scam. There are different opinions, and I don’t know which one is true..."
Speaking of this, he seemed to think of something and suddenly froze.
Looking up at the setting sun, he let out a long sigh:
"Eternal life..."
"Your Highness, you must remember that you must not be obsessed with the theory of ghosts and gods. Immortality is illusory and cannot be sought by humans. Birth, aging, illness and death are the laws of the world..."
Zhu Changxun nodded as if he understood.
He was still young, and things like the end of his life seemed a bit far away for him.
Yan Chenhao smiled and continued his lecture.
Behind him, Emperor Wanli was leaning on his seat, holding Empress Zheng in his arms and playing with each other, with happy smiles on their faces.
Since that court meeting, he continued his rule in the deep palace and never took a step out of the harem. Among the officials, only Wang Xijue and a few others could see him.
As the Zheng family ascended to the position of queen, Prince Fu entered the East Palace and became the crown prince, and he had no other aspirations.
Enjoy, just enjoy.
Time passes, spring passes and autumn comes.
Eighteen years passed by in a hurry.
(End of chapter)
