At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 852 Jade Pendant
Li Xiuning, Princess of Pingyang, left Tongguan and galloped all the way to Chang'an, feeling anxious.

Not long ago, she received an urgent letter from Chang'an that her father Li Yuan had a sudden stroke and was paralyzed.It was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, which shocked Li Xiuning almost fainted to the ground. After finally recovering, he immediately left Tongguan with his family general Ma Sanbao and a group of women's soldiers, and hurried to Chang'an, although Chai Shao wanted to follow his wife very much. I went back to see my father-in-law for the last time, but he is the general who guards the pass. Now that the enemy is at hand, how can he leave his post without authorization?So I can only reluctantly watch my wife leave.

scold...

Li Xiuning whipped his mount desperately, wishing he could put on his wings and fly back to Chang'an. The family general Ma Sanbao followed behind without saying a word, but there was a hint of worry hidden between his brows.

Although Ma Sanbao is not good at words, he is very smart and smart, and he is skilled in martial arts. He was originally Chai Shao's family boy, but later he was favored by Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning and reused him. Ma Sanbao is a capable general under Princess Pingyang, and he has made a lot of contributions. Li Yuan named him Dr. Zuo Guanglu, but he refused, and continued to stay with Princess Pingyang as an unknown general.

Although the Supreme Emperor Li Yuan is sixty years old, he has always been in good health. At this time, Ma Sanbao had a sudden stroke, and Ma Sanbao inevitably had some speculations, so he was a little worried. The princess was already heartbroken for the death of the prince and King Qi. It was also done by someone appointed by the emperor. I am afraid that the princess will not be able to bear it and will do something stupid in the end.

Although the Supreme Emperor has abdicated, his influence is still great. In addition, the current situation is unfavorable, and there are undercurrents in the court. In order to stabilize the throne, it is not impossible for the emperor to be cruel and cruel to the Supreme Emperor. The struggle for imperial power is so cruel. It is not uncommon for father and son to fight each other.

Tongguan is less than three hundred miles away from Chang'an, so Li Xiuning arrived that evening. However, when she hurried to the imperial city, the death knell was sounded in the palace, and the cries were loud!
As soon as Li Xiuning's pretty face turned pale, she fell limply at the palace gate, and it took a long time before she let out a mournful cry: "Father—the emperor!"

Li Xiuning was in a hurry, but she came back too late after all. The moment she first entered the city, Li Yuan died, unable to see her for the last time.

"Father—Emperor!" Li Xiuning staggered into the Tai Chi Hall. In the courtyard outside the hall, all of Li Yuan's concubines and children knelt on the floor, court ladies, eunuchs, and guards knelt all over the courtyard, their cries were earth-shattering.

Li Xiuning rushed into Baoxia Pavilion's study with tears streaming down her face, and saw Li Yuan lying on the bed silently, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba knelt down beside the bed and wept bitterly, the former was dusty and obviously had just returned from outside not long ago.

"Father!" Li Xiuning rushed to the bed in disorderly steps, and saw that his father Li Yuan's eyes were closed, he was out of breath, his mouth was crooked, his left hand was clenched into a fist, his right hand was bent, and his five fingers were spread like chicken feet.

Li Xiuning couldn't help feeling sad, she threw herself on her father Li Yuan and wept loudly, crying until her heart broke.Li Shimin's eyes were red and swollen, he hesitated to speak, Li Xuanba coughed a few times, stood up and persuaded him: "People cannot be resurrected after death, and the third sister's mourning will be changed accordingly. In this way, Emperor Father will not survive under the Nine Springs. "

Li Shimin also stood up to comfort him, finally persuaded Li Xiuning, who wiped away his tears and asked, "When did the emperor come back? Did you see the emperor?"

Li Shimin shook his head sadly and said: "I was a little earlier than you, but I didn't get to see my father for the last time, but Xuan Ba ​​has always been by my father's side."

Li Xiuning couldn't help crying, she cried and asked Li Xuan Ba, "Xuan Ba, what is your last wish?"

Li Xuanba shook his head sadly and said: "Father suddenly fell ill, when Xuanba arrived, father was already paralyzed, unable to speak, and did not leave a single word."

Li Xiuning lowered her head and wiped her tears when she heard the words, but a slight strangeness flashed in her eyes.

The Emperor Taishang passed away, and the next thing was to go to the funeral. He stayed temporarily in the Taimiao, and was buried in Xianling on a certain day. The temple was named Gaozu, and the posthumous title was Emperor Taiwu.

On July [-], the Ghost Festival, commonly known as Ghost Festival, is also Li Yuan's first seven days. A round of bright moon hangs high, and the bright and cold moonlight is scattered all over the ground.

Li Shimin took advantage of the night to enter the Ancestral Temple, came to Li Yuan's coffin, burned three sticks of incense, kowtowed three times respectfully, and then knelt there in a daze.

At this time, a figure came in silently, went to the coffin and burned three sticks of incense, then knelt down beside Li Shimin, but did not kowtow.

Li Shimin didn't turn his head back, he was still staring at his father Li Yuan's coffin in a daze, as if he didn't pay attention to the person coming.

"Shimin, even if you kneel and die here, Li Yuan will not be able to come back to life." Li Xuanba coughed lightly.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Xuanba, is it your fault, father?"

Li Xuanba nodded calmly, Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said, "Why?"

Li Xuanba said indifferently: "Li Yuan called the ministers to hold a court meeting, intending to restore the restoration."

"Then let him restore it, the country was originally his."

Li Xuanba frowned and said: "What stupid things are you talking about? Li Yuan is not our own father. We are the descendants of the Yuwen family of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. My father and I have worked so hard to help Li Yuan conquer the country, and we have also worked so hard to help you ascend to the throne. It's just to get back the land of Yuwen's family, so how can you give it back to Li Yuan?"

"But the father and the queen mother have been kind to us in nurturing us, and even searched for famous doctors to treat you. The father should not have ended up like this." Li Shimin said painfully.

Li Xuanba put his hand on Li Shimin's shoulder, sighed and said: "Shimin, what we are fighting for is the country, not three melons and two dates. The reality is so cruel. If you hadn't acted first to be strong, now I'm afraid The bones are cold, including your wife, children and everyone under your command."

Li Shimin was silent for a while: "Xuanba, are we really twins?"

Li Xuanba nodded and said: "Of course, our mother is Yuwen Ruyu, the third princess of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Her father's surname is Pei Mingju. Li Yuan and the Dou family are just our adoptive parents. Just our cousin."

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Why didn't Li Yuan and Mrs. Dou mention it to me?"

"They didn't follow me, but our father found me later, and I also learned all my kung fu from him." Li Xuanba said lightly.

"Then why did our father only look for you and not me?"

Li Xuanba frowned and said: "Because you used to be impulsive and couldn't hide things, my father was worried that you wouldn't be able to hide things after you knew the truth, which would affect your development. Shimin, if you ask this, do you mean you don't believe me?"

Li Xuanba's eyes became brighter and brighter, like two burning candles. Li Shimin's eyes met the former's, his expression gradually became a little confused, and finally nodded and said: "I believe it."

"Don't think too much. Now that the enemy is in front of you, Shimin, you should put your mind on dealing with Gao Qi, and I will do my best to help you. We brothers are of the same heart, and our strength can cut through gold. We will definitely defeat Gao Changqing, and then not only With Jiangshan in hand, Guanyin servant girl will return to you." Li Xuanba stared at Li Shimin and said.

Hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes gradually lit up, as if two beams of flames were burning, echoing the flames in Li Xuanba's eyes, very strange.

…………

Princess Li Xiuning of Pingyang came to the Taimiao, but she didn't go in, because according to the rules, women are not allowed to enter the Taimiao, so she just knelt and kowtowed outside the temple gate.

After kowtowing, Li Xiuning stood up, turned around, and looked down at her left palm silently. Under the moonlight, she saw a jade pendant lying on the palm of her left hand. Its color and workmanship were of top grade.

When Li Yuan died, his left hand was clenched into a fist, and his right hand was bent into the shape of a chicken paw. He was holding this jade pendant in his left hand. Li Xiuning cried bitterly on Li Yuan's body that day, and accidentally discovered that his father seemed to be holding something in his left hand. He was always careful. She didn't say anything, but later, taking the opportunity to sort out her father's remains, she took down the thing held by her father, which was the jade pendant in front of her.

Li Xiuning recognized this jade pendant because she also had such a jade pendant. The eldest brother Jian Jian, the second brother Shimin, the third brother Xuan Ba ​​and the fourth brother Yuan Ji each had a jade pendant like this. It was made by the mother Dou before her death. They are all engraved with the names of the brothers and sisters. In order to prevent the children from being too naughty, breaking or losing them, Dou made a few spare coins for each of them.

"Three sisters!"

Just as Li Xiuning was looking at the jade pendant in his hand with a changing expression, a voice came from behind.

Li Xiuning trembled slightly, and hastily clenched her hands and turned around, only to see Li Shimin walking in from the Taimiao alone, his eyes were red, as if he had just cried.

Li Xiuning's heart warmed up, and she saluted, "Xiu Ning sees the Emperor."

"Third sister, you don't need to be too polite. You came here late at night to worship the emperor?" Li Shimin asked.

Li Xiuning nodded and said sadly: "Today is the seventh day of the father's day."

Li Shimin sighed, and said lightly: "Third sister has a heart, the night is heavy, go back and rest early."

Li Xiuning shook her head and said, "I can't sleep, can the emperor walk with me?"

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, finally nodded and said: "It's okay, we siblings haven't had a heart-to-heart talk for a long time."

The two walked forward under the moonlight, but neither of them opened their mouths. After a long time, Li Xiuning finally couldn't help but said: "Father is always in good health, why did he suddenly have a stroke?"

Li Shimin frowned and said in displeasure: "Unpredictable things happen in the sky, people have misfortunes and blessings, and life, old age, sickness and death are still human. Third sister asks this, is she doubting me?"

Li Xiuning shook her head and said bluntly: "I did doubt Fang Xuanling, but he died earlier than my father."

"Third Sister Ganqing is here to Xingshi to inquire about her crimes." Li Shimin said bitterly.

Li Xiuning hesitated for a moment, then handed the jade pendant in his hand to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, look at this, your father's left hand has been holding this after death."

Li Shimin took the jade pendant and looked at it, his expression changed slightly, the word "Xuan Ba" was impressively engraved on the jade pendant.

(End of this chapter)