It has to be said that the construction of the cemetery for Ye Ziyuan was really difficult for everyone, and it happened to coincide with the arrival of the New Year.
These officials and craftsmen from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry could not go home to reunite with their families, so they could just spend the New Year together. As a result, everyone had to work non-stop during this New Year, which inevitably caused some people to complain.
But this matter was decreed by the Holy Father, and complaints were complaints, but no one dared to say anything on the surface.
As the person in charge of this matter, Xu Maocheng also felt very embarrassed. According to tradition, this Spring Festival should allow everyone to have a peaceful year, but he could not make the decision on this matter.
If the construction of the cemetery was delayed due to the Chinese New Year, let alone the difficulty in explaining to the Holy Emperor, he would not be able to justify it to Shao Xi.
Originally, this time was his opportunity to perform. If he messed up, he would no longer have the idea of advancing in the future.
But the people under my command have emotions, so the work will naturally not go so smoothly, and various problems will arise from time to time.
Although Xu Maocheng didn't tell Shao Xi about this matter, Shao Xi also noticed something was wrong when he went out of the city to pay homage to Ye Ziyuan.
Shao Xi called Xu Maocheng over to ask. Although Xu Maocheng was hesitant and did not dare to explain too clearly, Shao Xi had already guessed something.
So he asked Xu Maocheng to inform all officials and craftsmen that they would stop work on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and he would hold a banquet in a restaurant in the city to express his gratitude.
At the same time, everyone will receive a New Year gift from Shao Xi, which to put it bluntly means money.
As soon as the news came out, Xu Maocheng could say ten thousand words to them. Everyone was immediately motivated, and Xu Maocheng didn't need to supervise them at all.
The original plan was to complete the construction of the cemetery before the Lantern Festival, but if it was delayed for two days, the matter might be pushed to after the Lantern Festival.
Xu Maocheng was also worried that this would delay the progress of the construction and would not be able to explain it to Xiao Changyi when he returned. However, Shao Xi said that he would be responsible for all the matters and dispelled Xu Maocheng's concerns.
Even Shao Xi himself had arranged this, so he naturally had nothing to say, and it would be easier to explain to the Holy One later.
As a result, on the night of New Year's Eve, not only did everyone have a good meal and drink in a restaurant in Qingshan City, but everyone also received a full tael of silver as reward.
Not to mention the craftsmen, even the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works were overjoyed when they received this tael of silver.
You know, given their official rank, their monthly salary is not much, and this one tael is no longer a small amount.
Not to mention the craftsmen, they don't earn much more than this in a year.
Shao Xi naturally had his own motives for being so generous. Building a cemetery for Ye Ziyuan was no small matter for him. If these people were all emotional, they might not be so attentive to the work.
Now that the food is good, the food is good, the food is good, and there is money to be made, so I don’t have to supervise myself when I start working.
As the saying goes, eating someone else's mouth is soft, and taking someone else's hand short.
After eating your own banquet and taking your own money, if you don't do it right, it will be really unjustifiable. Even if you are a black hand, no one can say anything.
Everyone understood this truth, so the next thing went as smoothly as Shao Xi expected.
The two days that were originally delayed were rushed back in the next few days, and the cemetery was actually completely built before the Lantern Festival.
A few days before completion, officials from the Ministry of Rites of the DPRK had already arrived at Qingshan City.
They wanted to hold a worship and conferment ceremony on the day when the cemetery was completed, to formally establish this place as the cemetery of the fourth-grade imperial concubine of the current dynasty, hang a monument on the forehead, and at the same time convey the Holy Spirit's will.
From now on, the officials of Qingshan County will be responsible for taking care of this cemetery. If anything goes wrong, it will be considered as dereliction of duty.
To put it bluntly, taking care of this cemetery will be one of the responsibilities of Qingshan County officials from now on. It must be handled as a matter. Anyone who slacks off in the slightest will be held accountable. This is no joke.
On the day of the conferment, the entire cemetery was solemn and solemn. The plaque given by the Holy Emperor and the merit tablet with the inscription personally written by the Emperor were all covered with white silk.
Whether they were officials who came to Qingshan County from Daliang, Kyoto, or local officials from Qingshan County, they all came to the cemetery without missing a beat.
After the officials of the Ministry of Rites read out the imperial edict and sacrificial inscriptions in public, they handed the edict of conferment into Shao Xi's hands, and then all the officials present came forward to worship him one by one.
At this time, the person they were worshiping was no longer an ordinary folk woman, but a serious fourth-grade imperial concubine.
In terms of rank, except for Shao Xi, everyone present was not as high as Ye Ziyuan, so every official did not dare to be careless or perfunctory in his worship.
After a complicated worship ceremony, all the officials came to Shao Xi and saluted to express their condolences, and Shao Xi also returned the salute one by one.
Originally, according to tradition, Shao Xi should not come to the cemetery at this time, but because Ye Ziyuan was born in a lonely family and had no other relatives in the world except Shao Xi, Shao Xi could not control that much.
When all the ceremonies were completed, officials from the Ministry of Rites came to Shao Xi and saluted him to bid farewell.
Shao Xi originally intended to invite them into the city to entertain them and then let them return to Daliang, Kyoto. However, because of the emperor's orders, the officials of the Ministry of Rites did not dare to delay. They wanted to return to the capital as soon as possible, so they politely declined. .
Now that he has decided to leave, Xu Maocheng, the officials and craftsmen from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works will also go back together.
Then the mission of Fu Biao, Long Chitai and Xuan Jiawei was completed, and Shao Xi arranged to return to Daliang with them.
It was grand when they came, and it was grand when they returned, but Shao Xi, Lao Wu, and Wu Qiu'er didn't return with them.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites received orders only to come to Qingshan County to confer a title on Ye Ziyuan. As for whether Shao Xi would go back or where he planned to go, the Holy Father had not told him, and he had no right to interfere, so these matters were all subject to Shao Xi's arrangements.
Seeing the large group of people gradually walking away until they disappeared, Shao Xi turned to Xing Wenxin and said, "Sir Xing, we will leave for the Western Regions in the next two days. From now on, we will ask Mr. Xing to take care of this cemetery.
"If Mr. Xing has any difficulties, just tell me directly, and I will try my best to solve it. Once we leave, I don't know when we will return to Qingshan County. Mr. Xing will have to worry about everything in the future."
Xing Wenxin and the officials in Qingshan County have all seen Shao Xi's methods of dealing with Chen Mohuai and others. They are thinking about your wife's cemetery. Even if you don't tell them, no one will dare to neglect it.
Master Shao can't afford to offend him. If something goes wrong, there's no telling how he will deal with him in the future!
Xing Wenxin quickly bowed his hands to Shao Xi respectfully, and replied: "Master Shao, you are too polite. Taking care of your wife is the responsibility of the lower officials and others. I am the fourth-grade imperial concubine who has been personally appointed by the Holy Lord." How dare you neglect it?
"Master Shao, you can rest assured. Your Majesty will arrange people here to clean the cemetery every day and pay homage to your wife. You will not dare to make any mistakes. Master Shao can just do your work for the Holy Master with peace of mind. This place will be left to your Majesty and others." That’s what people are.”
Shao Xi is still very confident about Xing Wenxin's work. He believes that he will not misjudge the person.
It's just that it seems a bit ironic now. A year ago, Xing Wenxin was still following his own ideas and manpower hunting down Ye Ziyuan in Qingshan City.
Now that Ye Ziyuan has become the fourth-grade imperial wife, Xing Wenxin has to carefully take care of Ye Ziyuan's cemetery. This change of status will be somewhat abrupt.
Everything was almost explained. Shao Xi, Lao Wu, Wu Qiu'er, Xing Wenxin and other officials planned to return to the city and prepare to leave Qingshan City in the next two days.
Before heading to the Western Regions, they had to go to Wanxian County. After all, they had already come here. The two boys Han Shaoguang and Zheng Yuanxiu were now working in Wanxian County, so why not just stop by and have a look.
It's been a year, and I wonder how that kid Zhang Chong is doing now?
Before returning to the city, Shao Xi offered incense to Ye Ziyuan one last time.
During the period of staying in Qingshan City, Shao Xi came almost every day, but now that he was leaving again, the feeling of reluctance in his heart unconsciously surged up again.
When she left last time, this place was just a lonely tomb, and the only honor Shao Xi could give her was to recognize her as his wife.
This time, it looks different on the surface, but Shao Xi still feels that Ye Ziyuan is lonely. As long as he is not here, even if people come to clean and worship every day, Ye Ziyuan will still be lonely.
"Zi Yuan, I'm leaving again. Last time I left, it was a year. I don't know how long it will be this time.
"What I could do for you was too little when you were alive. No matter how much I do now, I can't make up for the regrets I left at the beginning. I have done everything I can, and I hope you won't blame me anymore.
"If possible, I hope to see you again in the next life. I promise you that by that time, I will take you around the world with me, and we will never be apart until we grow old. The only thing I owe you in this life is to replenish it in the next life. is you."
After speaking, Shao Xi raised his hand and touched the tombstone in front of him again, his eyes filled with sadness and reluctance.
It was Lao Wu who stepped forward and patted Shao Xi on the shoulder, not only to comfort him, but also to remind him that it was getting late and it was time to return to the city.
Shao Xi stood up and left the cemetery with everyone. Before leaving the cemetery, he turned around and took one last look at the stone tomb where his beloved was buried.
Finally, he turned around and left as if he had made up his mind, heading towards Qingshan City with Lao Wu and others.
Just when everyone was about to arrive at the south gate of Qingshan City, they suddenly heard someone calling from behind.
Shao Xi turned around and was very surprised. It was none other than Fu Biao who had left Fu Biao with Xu Maocheng, Long Chitai and others.
What was the cause of his coming back and causing trouble?
