Chang'an is good

The ten years of Changhua were the first ten years of Li Suining's reign as emperor, and also a decade of prosperity.

And this year seems to be a year full of farewells.

Since the year before last, Chu Hui has become a little forgetful, and sometimes when he is about to speak, he often calls the wrong names of his children and grandchildren.

Of course, the old tutor couldn't help but complain that this was because there were too many children and grandchildren in the family, which caused him to mix things up.

No one dared to refute this, but they were secretly worried and frequently went to Doctor Sun to ask questions.

The Taifu's temper became worse because of this. It was difficult for a man who was extremely intelligent all his life to accept the fact that his memory had deteriorated and his brain no longer obeyed him.

Under such circumstances, the old man, who had always sought peace and quiet, was unwilling to interact with others easily. Even Qiao Yang, who came with a fishing rod, was stopped outside the door several times, or was allowed to go fishing by himself. The tutor stayed in the courtyard and refused to come out.

The more this happened, the more worried the younger generations of the Chu family became. They came to visit every now and then. Because there were so many people, they came every now and then, but there were still people coming every day.

The Taifu was so angry that he drove people away and broke several of his crutches. His temper was even worse than when he was young... In this regard, Doctor Sun's advice was: spoil him.

Until one day, the Chu family discovered that the old man's temper suddenly became gentler.

But Doctor Sun said that this was not a good sign.

The old master became more and more confused. He gradually began to lose recognition of people and speak incoherently. For example, when his great-grandson offered him a foot bath with herbs, he was unwilling to do so, saying it was too hot. He snorted, "My hands are about to be burned and peeled by you, little brat."

The great-grandson named Chu Mo served the old man for several days, but the old man turned around and asked the servants: "Why haven't you seen Chu Mo come recently? Is he out studying again?"

Hearing the servants say that the Saint and the Princess were coming, the old master sitting in the carriage took a moment to react and asked, "Which Princess? Oh, well... that troublemaker."

As he spoke, he thought for a moment and asked, "This little kid, it's time for his fourth birthday, right? I should prepare a gift..."

"I'm going to celebrate my eightieth birthday!"

Five-year-old Ayun suddenly appeared from behind him and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips: "You need to prepare a big gift!"

“Oh my…” The old man laughed loudly: “This is incredible. You are almost as old as me now! Come here, let me see how many white hairs you have…”

Ayun was also very cooperative. With a round smiling face, he moved closer to let the old man count his non-existent white hair.

Li Suining and Cui Jing came over with smiles.

The old tutor looked at the emperor in his robes and snorted with a smile, "Li Shang, you have taught your daughter well... She is just like you, never telling the truth!"

Hearing the wrong call of "Li Shang", the servants were slightly startled, fearing that the emperor would be displeased, but the emperor just smiled and pushed the teacher's chair over as he had done for ten years.

At the end of July, when it was the time to enjoy the scenery in early autumn, Cui Jing took his jumping daughter along to look at the flowers and plants.

After walking for a while, Cui Jing took over the chair and pushed the bicycle, fearing that Li Suining might be tired.

Li Suining and his daughter stood on either side of the chair, chatting with the old man.

The old man gave Ah Yun a test, but when Ah Yun answered, the old man had already forgotten what the test was. Because his temper had calmed down, he laughed and joked to himself: "I have been fishing for my whole life, but in the end I became a fish and forgot it the moment I turned my head..."

Li Suining: "Even if it's a fish, you have to be the one with the most thorns."

"Isn't it?" The old master's mind was still sharp during the bickering: "Otherwise why would I be criticized by you all the time?"

The teacher and the student argued all the way, and the old tutor felt that his brain seemed to have become much smarter.

Just one month later, the old man's health condition took a turn for the worse again.

Doctor Sun has tried every possible means, but the old man is too old and had suffered a serious injury ten years ago. He has been relying on nursing care at all costs to prolong his life over the past ten years.

Li Suining had just finished his morning court session and rushed over from the palace without even changing out of his dragon robe.

The bed was surrounded by sobbing and crying children and younger generations of the Chu family. When they heard that the emperor was coming, they all bowed and made way for him.

On the sickbed, the old man who could no longer recognize anyone and had not spoken a word, actually stretched out a skinny hand when he saw the student coming, and spoke in a clear-headed manner: "Here I come..."

Li Suining knelt down beside the couch and held the hand: "Yes, the student is here."

The Chu family temporarily retreated to the outer room to guard, and Cui Jing, who had arrived early in the morning, quietly stayed behind Li Suining.

"You're crying." The old man still had the energy and mood to laugh at the student: "How strange..."

“Don’t cry.” The old man then said in a slow and soothing voice: “Going back and forth, withering and flourishing is the way of nature… If we don’t wither, how can future generations flourish?”

This was a gentle tone that was almost like comforting a child. Li Suining almost burst into tears, and the words he spoke were as capricious as a child: "But teacher... I want you to always be with me, and I want to be your student forever."

"I will always be your teacher, do you still want to deny it..." The old man said slowly: "But you don't have to be my student forever, you have to be a student of this world forever..."

The old man raised his wrinkled hand with a smile and gently placed it on Li Suining's shoulder. The texture of the dragon robe was unique in the world, which made the smile in the old man's eyes deepen.

He gently brushed away the non-existent things on it, and said with a smile: "Because my student is no longer a poor little thing, but His Majesty..."

Li Suining burst into tears immediately.

The hand that seemed to be wiping away the old wounds and snowflakes on her shoulders slowly lost its strength and was about to slip. Li Suining hurriedly reached out to hold it.

The hand slowly held her hand, and the old man whispered: "Why is it so cold..."

As he spoke, the old man raised his other hand with some difficulty and held the student's palm with both hands to warm her up. He seemed to realize that his own hands were not warm enough, so he slowly held the student's hand in front of him and blew gently.

In countless dreams, on the endless snowfield, whenever the student covered in blood came over in the snow, he would always run over with all his might, brush off the snow on the student's body, hold up the student's bloody hands, and try to warm the student.

He looked around in his dream and saw nothing with which to make a fire. He even thought about burning himself to death to make a fire for the students to keep warm.

The old man's mind was already confused at the moment, but he was still afraid that his students would feel cold.

His weak breath was no longer warm, but it burned Li Suining's fingers and palms, as if taking away all the coldness she would experience for the rest of her life.

This was a very ordinary action, with no heart-wrenching farewell or solemn instructions.

There was only a white-haired old man who used his last breath in this world to try to keep his students warm.

Li Suining held those two hands, placed them on his forehead, closed his eyes and tears flowed like a fountain.

Tears welled up in Cui Jing's eyes and he knelt down on one knee to see him off.

Outside the half-raised bamboo curtain, seeing the Holy Prince performing such a great ceremony, the Chu family suddenly burst into grief and cried, and rushed in.

The emperor stayed in this villa for five full days without leaving.

Cui Jing traveled between the imperial city and the other courtyard every day. During the day, he would ask about Ayun's affairs in the palace, handle affairs on behalf of Li Suining, and manage the situation. At night, he would accompany her, and she would hold him and cry silently again and again.

A king who had been on the throne for ten years, and who seldom shed tears even when he was a child, seemed to have shed all the tears of his life in just five days.

Before his death, Chu Hui said that there was no need to bring him back to the city for funeral. It would be good for him to die here peacefully and be buried here.

The ceremony was presided over by Wu Jue. Many clan members, officials and scholars came to pay their respects and bid farewell. Qiao Yang and Zhan Mian both cried so much that they fell seriously ill.

On the day of the burial, Granny Jin, whose head was devoid of all black hair, also came accompanied by her younger generations.

After seeing his teacher off for the last time, Li Suining sat quietly alone in the courtyard for half a day.

When she pushed the door open from her teacher's study, she saw Cui Jing and A Yun waiting outside.

Looking further back, Wei Shuyi, Adian, Yao Ran and others were also there, as well as Chang Sui'an, Yao Xia, Cui Lang, Qiao Yumian, Qiao Yubai and others, and a group of children who were playing outside the Moon Cave Gate led by Xier and Zhai Xi.

Li Suining felt suddenly at peace and filled in the heart. He walked down the stone steps and left the villa accompanied by everyone.

It is the end of the autumnal equinox. When I leave the villa, the sky, earth and mountains are all green and yellow, it is the time of transition from withering to flourishing.

Seeing her mother go through the pain of losing a teacher, Ah Yun looked up and asked her teacher: "Will Wei Xiang die one day? When that happens, where does Wei Xiang want to be buried?"

"..." Wei Shuyi couldn't get angry with the emperor, so he smiled and looked at Cui Jing: "Cui Ling'an, take care of your daughter."

Cui Jing pretended not to hear and continued walking forward.

A stream appeared in front of them. Ah Yun suddenly said that he wanted to go fishing. He waved his hand and called his friends: "Wan Wan, Qiao Du, Cui Yi, Cui Zheng, General Baishou... Come with me!"

“Your Highness, why did you only call them? I want to go with you too!” Cui Lang said, pulling Qiao Yumian up: “Mianmian, let’s go, catch some fish and then go see my father-in-law!”

Chang Sui'an and Yao Xia were more worried about their daughter than the other, so they hurried over.

Cui Jing looked at Wei Shuyi and said, "Prime Minister Wei, please take care of your students."

Wei Shuyi wanted to have a good argument with him, but suddenly he heard that the princess had failed in her mission and fell flat on her face. He had no choice but to follow her and sighed in confusion, "What debt did he owe in his previous life?"

Qiao Yubai was originally following the Emperor and the Holy Protector Prince, but when he came to his senses, he saw that he was the only one left around, so he hurried to the stream.

Yuanxiang, Xier, Zhai Xi and other palace maids all followed from a distance.

The creek was soon filled with the sounds of playing and frolicking.

Cui Jing took Li Suining's slightly cold hand.

Li Suining held his hand back, turned around and said to him: "Cui Jing, you must live longer."

"Don't worry." Cui Jing said in a tone of promise: "As long as I live in this world, I will advance and retreat with Your Majesty, and share our ups and downs."

Li Suining asked him, "What about the next life?"

Cui Jing: “Same.”

"Yes." Li Suining nodded with satisfaction: "I am very pleased."

Cui Jing couldn't help but laugh.

The two of them walked hand in hand and slowly into the cool breeze of late autumn.

……

(End of the article)

……

——非10于2024年9月30日凌晨2：52分(本章完)