Han Shizu

Chapter 1157 The Empress Dowager Died

From Jinling to Kaifeng, it was a long distance of more than 150 miles. I abandoned the boat and used all the saddle horses. I traveled overnight and traveled [-] miles a day.

After arriving in Huaibei, Emperor Liu left some of his entourage again, leaving only [-] forbidden horses as escorts. The concubine, the emperor's children, ministers, and palace officials were all hanging far away on the way back.

Emperor Liu was also in dire straits, caring about these people, taking them with him, not only slowed down, but also made many people sick due to exhaustion, including his concubines and children.

However, no matter how hard it is, Dafu always insists on being with him.It wasn't until Fuli in Suzhou that he rested for a while longer. Emperor Liu's body was not made of iron, and he was already going downhill.

The queen had suffered from a serious illness before, and although she hadn't relapsed in these years, she obviously couldn't stand such exhaustion and tossing.When looking at her tired and haggard face, Emperor Liu finally calmed down a bit.

At the same time, I also felt that the reason why Dafu insisted on accompanying him back to Beijing was because he wanted to dissuade him in this way.

He didn't refuse Fuli County's welcome, so he went to the post for rest.At night, the lights flickered, perhaps affected by the atmosphere, it looked so dim, as if reflecting the mood of Emperor Liu.

What made him so nervous and urgent, regardless of the reasons for returning to Beijing, without him, Kaifeng came to report, and the queen mother died.Empress Dowager Li is also very old, old and sick, and she had relapses from time to time in the past few years.This trip was to see that she was in good health, so she left Beijing with confidence, but the bad news still came unexpectedly.

Emperor Liu may have some indifferent behavior, but he has a deep affection for Li Shi. After so many years, he is respectful and filial from the bottom of his heart.As far as Emperor Liu was concerned, mother, the queen mother, could not have done a better job. She neither interfered in government affairs nor made things difficult for herself with personal feelings. She was always considerate and magnanimous.
If it is said that Emperor Liu felt a bit of drama while feeling sad about the passing of those former heroes and ministers, then the death of the Empress Dowager hit him completely.

Although preparations had been made in the past two years, when the news of the funeral came, it was discovered that all the psychological preparations and constructions were so vulnerable.The strong mourning urged Emperor Liu to return to Tokyo urgently.

Among the various emotions, there is also a kind of regret, regret for the wrong timing of the tour, and regret for not being able to see the Queen Mother for the last time.And this may become the greatest regret of Emperor Liu's life!

In the autumn night, the cool wind is bleak, carrying the moisture of the river, making the body even more chilling.He walked into the room with a small bowl of porridge in his hand, looked at the big talisman lying on the couch, and showed a little worry on his tired face. He sat down and said, "Your health is not good at all, so you can take care of yourself as you please." The brigade moves slowly, but does not listen."

The words, which were obviously concerned, came out of Emperor Liu's mouth at this time, but they were suppressed.Da Fu propped up the bed and sat up, looking at Liu Chengyou, his eyes couldn't help showing a hint of distress, and said: "I'm fine, I'm just a little tired, but you, after driving for such a long time, rarely sleep, You have to take care of your health. If you fall down, how can the world be safe? My lady is an old man, I’m afraid I don’t want to see you like this.”

At this time, Emperor Liu had serious dark circles, his pupils were bloodshot, his spirit was extremely poor due to exhaustion, his beard was messed up a lot, and his overall state was not right.

"Have some porridge!" Liu Chengyou said with a sigh, still so depressed.

Seeing this, Da Fu grabbed his hand and called softly: "Erlang!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu tensed up slightly, and then smiled wryly: "You may not have called me that way for a long time, only mother and you in this world can call me that way, but now."

The sadness was beyond words, and the eyes of the big talisman were already flushed. He held Emperor Liu's hand tightly, and comforted him: "Be filial in life and mourn in death. When your mother passes away, the whole country should mourn together. You don't have to blame yourself too much. Already!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu said with a sarcastic interest; "Tell me, why don't I even understand the principle of 'my parents are here, don't travel far away'? It's really fun to travel around the mountains and rivers!"

"In the past few days, I have also been recalling the past, how I have fulfilled my filial piety!" Emperor Liu said to himself deeply: "The queen mother worships and believes in Buddha, while I destroy and suppress Buddha; The position of power demoted my uncle to the frontier; siblings are often outside Beijing, making it difficult for mother and son to see each other for many years; the queen mother repeatedly interceded for the emperor's uncle, but I refused time and time again; "

As he said that, Emperor Liu couldn't help but see tears from his eyes, like a sluice gate bursting, and his tears kept flowing.Seeing this, Da Fu took Emperor Liu into his arms, and perhaps found a chest to rely on, Emperor Liu finally burst into tears.

"I haven't even seen her old man for the last time!"

In the bleak autumn night, in the post house of Fuli, the emperor and the empress cried, venting all their emotions.This is the first time Emperor Liu has shed tears in so many years, the first time he has lost his heart and cried bitterly.Compared with the calmness when the first emperor Liu Zhiyuan passed away, the death of the Empress Dowager can be said to have broken Emperor Liu's psychological defense for the first time.

After a big cry, the emotions were vented, and Emperor Liu returned to normal. He was still on his way, but not as desperately as before.Of course, it was also to take care of the queen. The queen mother had already gone, but she didn't want any problems with the queen.

After slowing down, a series of edicts were also sent directly from Emperor Liu to all states in the world.Nothing else, when there is a great national funeral, all the Dao states in the world mourn for the queen mother. What Emperor Liu restrained is not to disturb the people.And emphasized that if there is a report, it will be regarded as death.

It is difficult to get out of the grief for a while, but after accepting this reality, he calmed down, and Emperor Liu also started the funeral.He felt that he was not filial enough during his lifetime, but he must make up for his mother's mourning after death.

The team returning to Beijing soon all put on white flags and banners, and everyone wore mourning.After entering Songzhou, the prefectures and counties along the way have already held large-scale funerals. After entering Kaifeng, the scale is even larger. Almost every household mourns and wears mourning.

This is not a mandatory order from the government, it is just a spontaneous behavior of the people in Gyeonggi after hearing of the Empress Dowager's funeral. The Empress Dowager's wisdom and kindness are also well-known, and her reputation among officials and people has always been very good.

In the early years, Emperor Liu left Beijing several times, and the one who actually took over the capital for him was actually the Empress Dowager. At that time, Li's prestige was already very high.And the prestige created by the accumulation of 20 years of word-of-mouth is also conceivable, so when the news of the Queen Mother's death spread, the shock caused by the government and the people in Gyeonggi was also huge.

In the south city of Kaifeng, the autumn wind is rustling, yellow leaves are falling, and the sad atmosphere almost permeates the whole city.There is no formal attire, no Luanjia, Emperor Liu came on horseback, issued an edict in advance, Tokyo officials and people do not have to greet the driver, went straight through the city gate, ran across the Tianjie, and then rode the horse across the palace gates, one after another. , until the front of the Ciming Hall.

Falling off the horse, his footsteps were a little unsteady, so the prince Liu Yang hurried forward to support Emperor Liu.The ministers who stayed in Beijing also came, and when they saw Emperor Liu, they saluted, but they didn't make a sound, and the scene was very solemn for a while.

After a few glances at their sons and ministers, Liu Xu was devastated, Liu Yang's eyes were flushed, Liu Xi and Liu Fang all looked autistic, and other ministers and ministers also showed sad expressions, especially Li Ye. , such as bereavement, for him, not only the relatives who loved him the most went, but also the biggest backer collapsed.

Many people who were acquainted with Emperor Liu noticed that there seemed to be a few more strands of white hair on his temples.Raising his eyes, he looked at the Ciming Hall decorated with white silk, and came back in a hurry, but he was a little afraid to enter the hall.

The eye sockets were a little moist again, but this time Emperor Liu suppressed it, it didn't flow on the face, but flowed into the bottom of my heart.

"Father!" Liu Yang supported Emperor Liu, seeing his sad expression, finally called out softly, breaking the silence.

"Did the Empress Dowager leave any will?" Finally, Emperor Liu also spoke, his voice low and hoarse.

Liu Yang also answered with sobs: "Grandmother said that she has no regrets in this life, and she is destined to be buried with the emperor's ancestors. The funeral ceremony should be kept simple and not extravagant."

Hearing this, he opened his mouth, Emperor Liu got rid of Liu Yang's support, and walked up the stone steps slowly, step by step, up the hall, and entered the hall alone.

After returning to Beijing, Emperor Liu did not cry again. However, regarding the Empress Dowager's funeral, he did not have any scruples about extravagance. With Xue Juzheng and Li Ye as funeral ministers, everything was handled according to the highest standards.

(End of this chapter)