Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 150
The custom of tomb-sweeping in Qingming has a long history. It existed around the Zhou Dynasty, but it really became popular in the Tang Dynasty.

It is the end of spring and the beginning of summer, and it is the season of luxuriant vegetation. Choose this time to sweep the tomb and pay homage, and you can also remove the weeds on the tomb.

When Gao Ming received the notice from Li Shimin that he was going to Zhaoling to sweep the tomb, Gao Ming realized that it seemed that it was Qingming Festival now.

"Since it's the old man's request, let's go and treat it as a tourist."

Comparing to Gao Ming's casualness, Su Wan'er has to put more effort into preparing the cakes and sacrificial offerings. The whole person is very busy. Looking at her busy figure, Gao Ming also feels a little real in his heart.

"There seems to be a bit of a festive atmosphere now."

During the Ching Ming Festival in the Tang Dynasty, there was generally no fire. Everyone ate cold food for these two days, so it was also called the Cold Food Festival. Although Gao Ming didn't know about it, Su Wan'er knew it very well, so she naturally became busy.

While Su Wan'er was busy, Gao Ming continued to wander around with the little tiger carefree.

Probably because of better food, the little tiger Benben is bigger than before, and its weight has doubled. It is not so easy for Gao Ming to put it in his arms, so he found a rope Tether it, and then lead it around the palace.

The little guy is getting smarter now, and he is also very clingy to Gao Ming. He is basically inseparable and follows him wherever he goes. Gao Ming loves this little furry guy very much, so this time he went to Zhaoling to visit the grave. , Gao Ming also took it with him.

Zhaoling is located in Liquan County in the northwest of Chang'an, about 66 kilometers away from Chang'an City. If you ride a horse, you can arrive there in an hour. However, as an emperor, Li Shimin can't go there so casually. He has to prepare chariots and horses. Guard of honor, put the pomp before you go.

It may be that this time Li Shimin intends to play a big game, so the ostentation is also very grand, with flags, umbrellas, musical instruments, and venues. All the officers and soldiers add up to no less than five to six thousand people. Adding horses, chariots, oxen and the like, the long line can't be seen at a glance!

Gao Ming was wearing an apricot-yellow robe with four-clawed dragon patterns at this time, and was also sitting on a chariot, swaying from side to side following the movement of the chariot, still humming.

"Swing, swing... swing, swing... can't hide the passion and feelings... swing, swing, swing... swing, east, west, north and south..."

Hearing Gao Ming's singing, Su Wan'er, who was sitting next to him, almost laughed out loud, but when she saw the people on both sides of the road, she blushed and quickly reminded Gao Ming.

"His Royal Highness, there are many people watching by the side!"

Su Wan'er's original intention was to make Gao Ming calm down, but when she heard Gao Ming's ears, she had another meaning.

"His Royal Highness, many people are watching, why don't you express it quickly?"

Thinking of this, Gao Ming immediately nodded towards Su Wan'er.

"I see."

After finishing speaking, Gao Ming adjusted his expression, showing a smiley expression, and waved his hands to the people below.

Seeing this scene, Su Wan'er's eyes widened.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Hearing Su Wan'er's question, Gao Ming didn't turn his head around, and still maintained that gesture of smiling and waving his hands.

"Leaders are always like this when they go on tour. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Come, follow my example, smile and wave to the people. The smile must be natural, serious, dignified, dignified, and at the same time kind and friendly. .”

"..."

Seeing Gao Ming's half-smiley expression, Su Wan'er was dumbfounded.

"It turns out that His Royal Highness's smile contains so many meanings!"

In the end, Su Wan'er hadn't learned Gao Ming's profound smile, so she could only sit quietly beside Gao Ming, watching him dumbfounded as he continued to wave down with a half-smile.

After leaving Chang'an City for about a few miles, the number of people gradually decreased. At this time, Gao Ming rubbed his face that was a little stiff from laughing, and then sighed with emotion.

"Hey... It seems that being a leader is not easy, my face is cramp from laughing!"

"..."

At this time, Su Wan'er remained silent decisively, because she was worried that if she said anything more, she would make even more weird moves.

But it turned out that her worry was completely unnecessary, because even if she didn't say anything, Gao Ming couldn't just stay there.

"Baby, are you bored? Oh, how pitiful..."

Hearing Gao Ming's voice, Su Wan'er immediately turned her head to look, only to see him flicking his hem, and then hugging a little furry thing from under his robe.

"Ben Ben?"

At this time, it was the little tiger Benben who was being held in Gao Ming's arms, and when Su Wan'er called its name, it howled immediately.

"Meow..."

Seeing this scene, Su Wan'er rubbed her forehead helplessly. Now she understood that Gao Ming came to visit the grave this time just for fun.

"I hope that the emperor will not blame you when the time comes!"

Thinking of this, Su Wan'er suddenly became a little worried again.

Unlike Su Wan'er, Gao Ming was in a relatively happy mood. He sat on the chariot with the little tiger in his arms, looked at the surrounding scenery, and hummed a song.

"The little monk went down the mountain to go to Huazhai, the old monk has confessed... The woman at the bottom of the mountain is a tiger, and you must avoid it..."

Su Wan'er was still a little worried at first, but when she heard Gao Ming's childlike song, she couldn't help smiling, and hummed softly to Gao Ming's rhythm.

The speed of the guard of honor was not fast, and it was less than half the way at noon. Li Shimin ordered a rest for about a stick of incense, and then everyone continued on the road. When it was dark, they arrived in Liquan County.

It was getting late at this time, so Gao Ming and the others rested in the county government for the night, and went to Zhaoling early the next morning.

After arriving at Zhaoling, the royal guard of honor stopped outside, while Gao Ming walked in with Li Shimin.

With the arrival of Li Shimin, it also represented the beginning of the sweeping of Zhaoling. After the cakes and fruits used for the sacrifice were all arranged, Li Shimin stepped forward to burn the first stick of incense, and then he was there chattering Talked up.

Gao Ming was standing outside, so he couldn't quite hear what Li Shimin was saying, so he could only stand there and wait.After a while, when he saw Li Shimin waving towards them, Gao Ming took Li Tai, Li Zhi, Li Lizhi and Li Mingda together to burn incense and kowtow.

Gao Ming was the eldest son, so he was the first to worship according to the rules, but he didn't know what to do, so he pushed Li Tai out.

"Fatty, you go first!"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Li Tai immediately glanced at Li Shimin, seeing Li Shimin nodding towards him, he had no choice but to go forward to burn incense and kowtow, and then said something to Empress Changsun's tombstone in a choked tone.

"The queen mother... Qingque came to see you!"

Seeing this scene, Gao Ming narrowed his eyes immediately.

"It's nothing difficult, just burn incense and kowtow, then pretend to cry a few words, that's easy!"

Thinking of this, Gao Ming's face showed a bit of sadness. After Li Tai got up, Gao Ming also burned incense and kowtowed like him just now, and then spoke in a choked tone.

"The queen mother... Gao Ming came to see you... woo woo..."

Gao Ming originally only planned to fake cry, but looking at the tombstone in front of him, he suddenly heard his mother from another world, and his eyes gradually became moist.

"Are you okay over there? Don't forget to add clothes when it's cold..."

As he was talking, Gao Ming suddenly felt sad, and then he couldn't help but burst into tears.

"My son is not filial, so I can't honor you anymore, woo woo woo..."

Sincere emotions are the most touching. Seeing Gao Ming's tears and nose streaming out together, the officials of the Ministry of Rites all nodded their heads.

"His Royal Highness is really filial!"

Even Li Shimin's eyes couldn't help turning red.

"It turns out that Gao Ming thinks so in his heart..."

Having said that, Li Shimin turned his head to look at Li Tai who was stunned, and suddenly became unhappy.

As the saying goes, don’t be afraid of “I’m not afraid of ignorance, but I’m afraid of comparing goods.” If Gao Ming’s crying performance hadn’t been there, Li Tai’s performance would have been nothing to say, but watching Gao Ming’s tears flow out as if he didn’t want money Flow, Li Shimin's heart is not balanced.

"It's too much for this Qingque, who loves him so much for me and Guanyin's maidservant, but now he just howls twice without even crying."

Li Tai also saw Li Shimin's expression, but at this time he felt wronged. After all, the eldest grandson empress had passed away for almost seven years. No matter how much sadness he had in his heart, it was almost diluted by time now. At this time It was so hard to cry.

Thinking of this, Li Tai looked at Gao Ming who was still crying, feeling a little reverence in his heart.

"Unexpectedly, my eldest brother is also a man of temperament. I am not as good as him in this respect!"

Li Zhi's expression was even more embarrassing, because he was only seven or eight years old when Empress Changsun passed away, and Datang didn't have a camera or anything. At this time, he even forgot what his mother looked like, so how could he be sad?
In contrast, as girls, Li Lizhi and Li Mingda were emotionally sensitive and easily influenced by others. Seeing Gao Ming crying so sadly, the two burst into tears.

After burning the incense, kowtowed, and then cried a lot, the worship and tomb sweeping was considered complete. Except for those officials from the Ministry of Industry who were in charge of repairing the Zhaoling Mausoleum, everyone began to return to Chang'an.

Gao Ming was tired after a day's work, so he washed up and went to bed after returning to the East Palace, but Li Shimin rarely drank several pots of wine after returning. That night, Li Shimin's hoarse singing sounded in the Forbidden Garden.

"It's not easy to be a big man, you are still persistent in the face of danger, you keep your children's love in your heart, let it go up and down..."

(End of this chapter)