Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 749 I Can’t Sleep Tonight
Outside Changle Palace,

Several princes looked at each other with some fear in their eyes. How could there be white brocade hanging outside such a nice palace? Could it be that the retired emperor had secretly "passed away" and his death was kept secret?

When I was in doubt, the side door behind me
With a "click", it suddenly closed.

The five princes walking in front couldn't help but shiver, but when they entered the palace of the retired emperor, they seemed to be shrouded by a kind of majesty. They bowed their bodies slightly and lowered their heads, then stepped onto the jade steps of Changle Palace.

Xia Shouzhong, the general steward, was walking in the front. It was the same. The Changle Palace today was not the same as before. The temper of the retired emperor was getting more and more weird. Many servants were punished with sticks. Moreover, the retired emperor was often not seen resting on the dragon bed where he used to sleep, but was found in the big tent where he was meditating. No matter how much he tried to persuade him, he couldn't do anything. What could he do?

"Once you enter the inner hall, you must behave yourself. You must not be lazy or talk too much. Remember this."

"Remember that, eunuch."

Several people nodded hurriedly in response, and followed slowly to the entrance of the hall. However, what they didn't know was that the plaque on the hall was not "Changle Palace", but was engraved with four big characters "Wuwei Palace". They were puzzled. Even Zhou Zhengbai, the prince of Zheng, became suspicious and quickly looked around. It seemed that there was no one serving at the entrance of the hall. It should be arranged by Eunuch Xia, but the windows and the pillars at the entrance were wrapped with white cloth. Oh, and black cloth. What did this mean?

In doubt, several people arrived at the palace gate, thinking that the eunuch was going to push the door open and enter. Unexpectedly, when several people stopped outside the palace, they saw Xia Zongguan outside the door, knocking on the palace door and shouting;

"Emperor, the people have arrived."

Just one sound, but no movement.
Everyone thought that Eunuch Xia would continue to shout, but unexpectedly, Eunuch Xia in front just stood there motionless. Everyone was confused and did not dare to ask.

In the palace,

Emperor Zhou Shengzhuo was half lying in the monastery tent, leaning on the quilt. For the convenience of monastery, the quilt was also moved in. Hearing the shouting outside, he slowly opened his eyes and knew that those little brats had come. Recalling the secret letter sent by Concubine Zhen,

For a moment, my mind was filled with thoughts.

It is good for his sons to be filial, but how could he not know what they are thinking in their hearts? No one knows their sons better than their fathers. There are some things and some words that need to be done or not done. With the changing times and circumstances, it all depends on the emperor's reaction. The emperor has cultivated his wings over the years, and there have been some changes. His wings are hardened.

If I really don't care about it, it won't take more than a year. Even if the four princes and eight dukes put more effort into it, they won't be able to hold out for long. The court can't just leave it alone, so the emperor suddenly opened his eyes. The sickly look he had a few days ago was long gone.

He picked up the golden hoop beside him and struck the bronze bell not far away.
"when"

The loud and clear voice was heard outside the hall, and everyone waiting outside the hall heard it. After receiving the letter, Manager Xia slowly opened the hall door and stepped in.

Although the princes did not understand why, they knew to follow closely and walked into the hall one after another.
As soon as I entered the hall,
Chief Eunuch Xia turned around and closed the palace door.

"My lords, the emperor is in the inner hall. Please follow me in."

"Thank you, eunuch."

Several people thanked him and walked towards the back hall again. However, along the way, they felt that Changle Palace was not only empty, but also had so many Bagua diagrams and Tai Chi diagrams hanging on the pillars, which made it feel a bit eerie. The original luxurious decorations were nowhere to be found.
The few people did not dare to say anything. After entering the inner hall, they were even more surprised. On both sides of the long corridor, there were rows of candles. In the center of the hall, there was a large tripod, burning sandalwood and emitting bursts of green smoke. At the end, there was a high platform, curtains all around, and a large tent. If it were not for the surrounding candlelight and the flash of human figures, they would have thought that there was a coffin parked inside.
The princes swallowed their saliva. They did not expect that Changle Palace would not only have a completely changed appearance, but also be so strangely arranged. This was obviously beyond their expectations.

"Your Highness, please bring the princes here."

Eunuch Xia walked to the cauldron, stopped about five steps away, knelt there and reported,

Several princes also knelt down in panic and bowed in unison;

"My grandson pays respect to the Emperor, and wishes him good health and long life."

"Ahahaha, interesting. You guys are really filial, but now you come to the palace to see me in the middle of the night. How can that make sense?"

After the emperor finished speaking, he deliberately used his golden cudgel to knock on the bronze bell. There was another "ding" sound, which was heard far away, and made the princes kneeling on the ground shiver.

The prince of Zheng, Zhou Zhengbai, was moved, and immediately kowtowed and replied;
"Replying to the Emperor, I think that filial piety should be practiced day and night, and should be kept in mind all the time. Father often said that he had not seen the Emperor since he left the capital, and he often slept restlessly at night, ate poorly during the day, and always sighed. Due to the ancestral teachings, he dared not return to the capital without permission, so he could only let me come to visit the Emperor, show some filial piety, and serve him."

After saying that, he raised his head slightly and used his peripheral vision to observe the movements in the big tent. When he came in and knelt, Zhou Zhengbai deliberately lagged behind and stood on the outside. When he knelt, he was right beside the big cauldron. As long as he raised his head, he could see the movements in the big tent. Although he couldn't see clearly, he saw the general idea.

But there was a movement in the big tent, and it seemed that the emperor sat up, followed by the sound of words;

"That's a good reply. If you want to show your filial piety, there are plenty of opportunities. You are a good talker. Whose family do you belong to?"

The emperor was sitting in the tent, smiling slightly, and his sleepiness went away. He didn't know which family it was, so he asked,
Zhou Zhengbai's face lit up with joy, and he quickly replied;

"Replying to the Emperor, your grandson is from the Zheng Palace. I would like to send my regards to the Emperor on behalf of my father."

"Well, it turns out to be Changde's son. I haven't seen him for a long time. Hey."

Thinking of Zheng Wang Zhou Changde, the retired emperor felt mixed emotions. You know, at that time, he was his favorite. Unfortunately, he had no courage, no responsibility, and dared not admit what he did. How could he be a good emperor? However, over the years, the tribute convoys never stopped, which showed his filial piety.

Looking back into the hall, the other people were kneeling there one by one, and he asked again;
"Tell me, all of you, introduce yourself."

The people kneeling on the ground did not dare to neglect them. In the order of kneeling in front and behind, the Prince of Han, Zhou Xingshan, responded first;
"Replying to the Emperor, I, your grandson Zhou Xingshan from the Han Palace, would like to send my regards to the Emperor on behalf of my father!"

"Replying to the Emperor, I, your grandson Zhou Yewen from the Song Palace, would like to send my regards to the Emperor on behalf of my father!"

"Replying to the Emperor, I, your grandson Zhou Yunfu from Prince Chen's Mansion, would like to send my regards to the Emperor on behalf of my father!"

Several people introduced themselves one after another, which made the emperor silently think about it. His sons were all here, and he did not forget their filial piety.
"Everyone, get up,"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Several people bowed their heads and stood up. They seemed to no longer be afraid. However, the eunuch clothes they wore made them look careless.

The emperor saw it clearly and knew the situation. As a member of the royal family, if he couldn't stand this kind of grievance, then why did he come to the capital?
"Since you are here, please share your thoughts,"

Several people in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment. The question of the retired emperor was too direct. How could some words be said in front of everyone? Could it be that he was asking about the health of the emperor?
I just stood there, not knowing how to start.
The Emperor looked at the reactions of the few people, chuckled, and continued to ask;

"Why, you came into the palace in the middle of the night just to pay your respects to me? You're from Prince Zheng's Mansion, tell me."

Zhou Zhengbai was standing behind the Prince of Song, not knowing how to respond, but was called by the Emperor, so he had to step forward and respond;

"Replying to the Emperor, there are some things that my grandson should and shouldn't say."

"speak."

"Yes," Zhou Zhengbai's voice trembled, causing sweat to instantly appear on his forehead. He considered his words and bowed.
"Grand Emperor, I came to the palace tonight to pay my respects to you. This is the first reason. Secondly, I want to say something on behalf of my father. I have been in the fiefdom for a long time. I miss my father and king every day. I cannot fulfill my filial duty. I can't sleep at night. I have trouble sleeping and eating. I feel guilty. Indeed, I want to ask for the king to return to the capital to fulfill my filial duty."

Then he knelt down again.

The other people's eyes lit up and they knelt down together.
"My grandson is also like this. Please grant me your permission, Your Majesty."

For a time,

The hall was extremely quiet, with only the faint candlelight flickering in the hall.

a long time,

There came the laughter of the Emperor.

"Taoism emphasizes governing by doing nothing. Water has no fixed flow, but it flows from west to east without stopping. Human relations are also like this. The so-called cultivation of Taoism can also be regarded as cultivating people's hearts. Since I started practicing Taoism, I have often gained insights. It is fate that you can come here tonight. It is getting late. Go back to where you came from."

Without waiting for their reaction, he took out the golden cudgel and struck the bronze bell again.
A "ding" sound made Xia Shouzhong speak immediately;

"My lords, please come this way."

Several people were still confused. They didn't know whether the emperor gave permission or not, so why did he leave? Moreover, the emperor's men didn't see it with their own eyes. They could only see a vague figure through a few curtains. They only saw the figure in the big tent lying down again.

Does this count as seeing?
Still haven’t seen it?
Unable to,

The princes could only reluctantly follow Eunuch Xia and walk out of Changle Palace.
When they were outside the palace and wanted to ask more questions, Xia Shouzhong stopped and spoke.

"My dear princes, the inside of the palace is different from the outside. After you leave Changle Palace, do not stay. Go back the same way you came. Be careful. Remember this."

"Yes, sir, I remember it."

"Just remember it. It's worth it. Let's go."

It was both an explanation and a warning. Xia Shouzhong continued to walk forward, leading the way. When he reached the side door, he opened it himself and asked the princes to leave. The princes had no choice but to bow and leave the palace one by one. Before they could stand firmly outside the door, the side door behind them was closed.
It made the few people feel like they were dreaming, and they didn't know where they were sleepwalking.
Wu Wang's son Zhou Lianghao shook his head, as if he had just woken up.
"Brothers, what happened just now? Why did you come out?"

He asked incoherently and looked silly, so no one paid any attention to him. However, Zhou Yunfu, the prince of Chen, bowed to the princes of Zheng and Han.
"Greetings, brothers. I wonder what you two think of what happened just now?"

"What do you think?"

The prince of Zheng was silent, but the prince of Han responded directly, which made Zhou Yunfu choke.
"Brother, you don't understand either?"

"Haha, it's good that you don't understand. For some things, not understanding is a blessing. Brother Bai, I haven't seen you all day. Today, I got to see Brother Shi's demeanor. I admire you. It's getting late, so I'll go first."

The prince of Han, Zhou Xingshan, laughed loudly, patted Zhou Yunfu's arm, waved his hand, and walked away. Not far away, the person who came to pick him up had already been waiting under a tree, but in the blink of an eye, the person disappeared.
The three of them looked a little angry, as it was obvious that he looked down on them. They were trying to get close to the prince of Zheng, but when they turned around, they could not see Zhou Zhengbai anymore. It was obvious that he had left when the three of them turned around.
"Humph, why are you so arrogant? They are just a few years older than us, yet they look down on us like this."

Zhou Yewen, the prince of Song, was so angry that his face turned pale. He didn't expect that as soon as he arrived in the capital, not only would things go wrong, but Marquis Luo Yun was causing trouble and more than 100,000 taels of silver were gone. Now that he had entered the palace, no one was inferior to anyone else, so why was he acting so pretentiously everywhere? For whom was he trying to show off?

The prince of Wu, Zhou Lianghao, opened his mouth and smiled bitterly. After this circle, he was the only one who looked confused and didn't understand what was going on. Only the prince of Chen, Zhou Yunfu, seemed to be thinking about something. It seemed that the emperor agreed. As for the two who just left, they had the capital to be proud. Now, only his Chen Palace fell behind. After all, it couldn't compete with them in terms of silver and money. It had to rely on the two of them for warmth. This was also what he had just realized.

I looked around.

A figure walked over not far away. He should be the leader of the three of them. It was better to leave as soon as possible without hesitation.

"Brother Wen, Brother Hao, this is not the place to talk. We'd better leave quickly. As for the two brothers just now, they have the capital to be proud. The Zheng Palace and the Han Palace are among the best among all the palaces like us. We can't deny them."

After listening to Zhou Yunfu's advice, Zhou Yewen looked around and found that the two men had disappeared long ago. They left faster than mice, but he also knew that this was not the time to chat.
"Listen to Brother Fu and leave early, but I am just angry. With only three of us, how can we be afraid of them? Even if they are the best, so what?"

The angry words made the two speechless. They each grabbed Zhou Yewen and walked straight to the foot of the south wall. They were already angry and would make a fuss when they got back.

In a corner of the garden to the north, Zheng Wang's son Zhou Zhengbai walked around two trees and returned to his previous seat. The eunuch who stayed there nodded and asked;
"The prince is done now."

"Well, everything is fine,"

"Then follow me and go back to the north gate."

The old eunuch nodded and walked in another direction, avoiding the way they came. The other two eunuchs followed them from a distance. In this way, after walking through countless places, they finally arrived at the familiar North Palace Gate.
"My Lord, I am old now. I am afraid that I don't have much time to work for the prince. Don't ask any more questions. I will tell you this. Changle Palace will not be able to hang the plaque forever. If you want to take action, you must be quick. If you don't want it, leave peacefully. Don't stay where you are. Remember, I will take you here. Take the token and leave the palace."

The prince of Zheng, Zhou Zhengbai, was shocked. It seemed that the eunuch in front of him was his father's man. He wanted to ask more questions, but was stopped by the eunuch, who waved his hand. Zhou Zhengbai had no choice but to bow and pay his respects before turning around and leaving.
After leaving the palace gate, he hid directly at the agreed location, but saw a carriage parked there. He immediately dodged and got on the carriage. Then, the carriage moved and disappeared into the street alley.
"Sir, have you seen anyone?"

The person asking the question was naturally no one else. At this moment, Fan Wenhai had a serious look on his face. There were some things that needed to be confirmed first. Was the emperor ill and bedridden, or was there another reason? He had to find out clearly in order to prepare for the next step.

Zhou Zhengbai wiped the sweat off his forehead. When he left the palace, he felt a little scared. What was more, he felt a strange feeling in his heart. He looked out the window at the towering palace that was gradually moving away. A trace of longing flashed in his eyes.
"Teacher, people have seen it, but they haven't seen it either."

"Hmm? How can you say that?"

Fan Wenhai frowned. There was something else going on in the prince's words, and the subtle details were slightly different from the last time he came here.

"Teacher, when we got to the inner hall, we couldn't see the emperor clearly through the curtain, but the voice was real. It was the emperor himself, full of energy. And he was not under house arrest by the current emperor as rumored. It's just that Changle Palace is almost turned into a Taoist temple, which is really strange."

Now that Zhou Zhengbai thought about it, the last sentence was the most important thing. Although he didn't quite understand it, he understood something. It seemed that the emperor was not completely ignorant of the outside world.

"Taoist temple, could it be that the prince meant that the emperor retired actually practiced Taoism? Hiss, what did the emperor retired say in the end?"

Fan Wenhai immediately thought of the Jia family of Ningguo Mansion. Isn't the Jia Jing lineage a Taoist? So, does Your Majesty mean to focus on the nobles or the Jia family? He asked;

"Teacher, the Emperor did ask a question, and I did not hide it. I pleaded for my father and wanted to return to the capital to fulfill my filial duty, but the Emperor replied with a sentence. I didn't understand it."

"Which sentence?"

Fan Wenhai sat up straight, his eyes sparkling. As long as the emperor was healthy and everything was fine, he could start the next one.
"Before I left, the Emperor said that Taoism emphasizes governing by doing nothing. Water has no fixed flow, but it flows from west to east without interruption. Human relations are also like this. The so-called cultivation of Taoism can be regarded as the cultivation of human hearts. Since I started practicing Taoism, I have often gained insights. It is fate that you can come here tonight. It is getting late. Go back to where you came from."

Zhou Zhengbai slowed down his tone and recited the original words, word for word. The teacher smiled after hearing them.

"Prince, it's done."

(End of this chapter)