Jiuxi

Chapter 619 Chapter 617 [The setting sun has afterglow]

The Mansion of Duke Jing.

Under the setting sun, the courtyard is deep and filled with smoke.

Han Zhongjie got off the carriage, tidied his clothes slowly, then entered the ceremonial gate and walked towards the Anguo Hall in the back house.

A confidant in his forties walked behind him and whispered, "Master, everything in the mansion is normal these days."

Han Zhongjie nodded imperceptibly and then quickened his pace.

There was silence in Anguo Hall. Han Zhongjie waved away the serving maid and doctor and walked straight into the bedroom. His eyes fell on the bed with a slightly complicated expression.

Duke of Jing Han Lingfu, the founder of the Great Qi Army, a loyal minister who supported half of the country, and the most loyal supporter of the late emperor, is nearing the end of his life.

The emperor sent several imperial edicts to express his concern and greetings, the genius doctors from the Imperial Medical Bureau came to visit one after another, all kinds of rare medicinal materials were delivered like water, and people from every mansion in the capital came to visit and express their greetings, but this could not delay the departure of Master Han.

As Han Lingfu's condition became worse and worse, he was now in a coma all day long, with only a few moments of clarity in a day. The Duke's Mansion had already begun preparing for his funeral.

Han Zhongjie moved a chair and sat beside the bed. Looking at his old father's thin face and closed eyes, he suddenly let out an incomprehensible sigh.

"Father, you once suspected that I participated in the rebellion. Although you didn't say it explicitly and I didn't answer, you knew it very well. If there is anyone in this world who can do something to the Beijing army, besides you, I am the only one who has this ability."

"Perhaps it's because you think I didn't hurt the late emperor, or maybe you're too weak to worry about these things now, so you didn't dwell on it. But in fact, I want to say that you still misunderstood your son after all."

"Today I will tell you some sincere words."

"At the beginning, you took the initiative to hand over the power of the Beijing Army to those aristocratic families for the sake of the late emperor. Although I was reluctant, I could understand your difficulties. Therefore, I did not act recklessly to destroy your plan with the late emperor. I was just unwilling to do so."

"By chance, I came into contact with the current Majesty, who was the Second Prince back then. I could see the desire in his heart, just like my own unwillingness. Under the circumstances at the time, if I still wanted to make a comeback, I could only bet on the Second Prince who was not favored by everyone."

"Fortunately, I succeeded in the end."

Han Zhongjie stopped talking and reached out to tuck in the corner of the quilt for the old man, his movements extremely meticulous.

He withdrew his hands and leaned back in his chair, and said with a slightly tired look: "I helped the Second Prince solve the mystery and ascend to the throne, and at the same time, I also brought the Han family back into the sight of the late emperor. The late emperor appointed me as the Minister of Military Affairs, and no one in the court or the public objected. This is the reward that the Han family deserves, and it is also the reward you deserve for your hard work throughout your life."

"Looking back, I actually didn't do much. I just helped the Second Prince find a difficult but promising path. I wanted to tell you the truth, but every time I thought of your loyalty to the country, I lost the courage to speak frankly."

"Because I don't understand why loyalty and righteousness can't coexist with wealth and honor? Among the countless powerful families in the capital, is there anyone like our Han family who gives everything for Da Qi without asking for anything in return? Can't the children of the Han family serve the country when they are in power? Do the children of the Han family have to hide their identities and live in poverty all their lives?"

"Li Daoyan, Xue Nanting, Zhong Cheng, Li Tianrun, Xiao Wangzhi, Liu Shouguang, Lu Chen, etc., when they worked hard for Da Qi, didn't they enjoy superior treatment?"

"Why is it different in our Han family? Do you know how much I have done in private over the years to suppress the surging dissatisfaction of my own children?"

Han Zhongjie looked at the old man sleeping on the bed. Although his tone was not loud, the melancholy in his voice almost filled his chest.

He sighed softly, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his face.

"The Han family is based on loyalty and righteousness, and you gave me the name of Zhongjie. I have been influenced by you since I was a child, and this belief has long been rooted in my heart. Even if I have these dissatisfactions, I will not make any mistakes, so you don't have to worry."

"The present emperor is naturally not as good as the last emperor, but it is precisely because of this that he needs my assistance and that I have room to realize my ambitions."

"Perhaps you don't understand why I am so persistent. Perhaps you suspect that this eldest son whom I raised has ill intentions. In fact, I am not as complicated as you think."

Han Zhongjie slowly stood up and knelt down towards the old man on the bed. He said calmly and firmly, "I just want you to know that the Han family was once a loyal minister of Da Qi, and will always be in the future, but this does not mean that the children of the Han family have to hide in the mansion and watch the changes in the world. Your descendants can also achieve the achievements that others can achieve."

"In this world of constant fighting and slaughter, the presence of the Han family's children is indispensable."

"To bring glory to the family, one should start with one's own generation."

He prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed loudly.

Then he stood up and walked out.

The room fell into silence again.

After a long time, the old man on the bed let out a slight sigh that was filled with countless complex emotions.

It’s like saying goodbye to this world.

The next morning, a mournful cry was heard in the mansion of Duke Jing, and Han Zhongjie's eldest son rode his horse to the palace. Not long after, the bad news spread throughout the residences of the powerful in the capital.

Duke of Jing, Han Lingfu, passed away at the age of sixty-seven.

The capital was shaken.

The emperor came in person, and the dignitaries gathered, and the long street outside the palace was almost blocked by carriages and horses. The national mourning had just ended, and the world had just calmed down from the grief of the death of the previous emperor. Hearing this shocking bad news, it was inevitable that they were particularly sad.

Although Han Lingfu has left the court for many years, no one will forget the contribution of this old man to Da Qi.

The reason why the late emperor was able to gain a foothold in Jiangnan and continue his reign was basically due to the unremitting support of Han Lingfu and Li Daoyan, which enabled him to sit firmly on the throne in such a complex and difficult situation.

Coupled with Han Lingfu's prestige and status in the hearts of the Beijing army soldiers, almost everyone was mourning his passing.

The emperor came to Han's mansion to personally see Han Lingfu off, then summoned all his ministers and announced that Han Lingfu would be posthumously awarded the title of Prince of Dongyang. This was the first time in the history of the Great Qi Dynasty that a military hero was awarded the title of Prince.

Even if it was only a posthumous award, it was enough to highlight Han Lingfu's life's achievements.

The emperor also conferred the title of Marquis of Yongyi on his eldest son Han Zhongjie, and issued a special decree ordering him to observe a hundred days of mourning, after which he would continue to serve the court.

The Duke of Jing's Mansion became the center of the capital. In addition to various rewards from the court, Duke of Wei Li Tianrun, Duke of Shanyang Lu Chen, Marquis of Yongding Zhang Xu who had just returned to the capital, and Commander of the Imperial Guards Shen Yulai, as representatives of the court's military honors, all went to Han's Mansion to pay their respects.

The important civil officials were also present, and officials at all levels came to visit one after another like flowing water.

In Pingkangfang, just across the street, there is a mansion that occupies most of the street.

This is the prime minister’s residence, often referred to as the Li family mansion.

In the evening, Li Shizhi, the Left Vice Minister of Rites, hurried back home and went to Jinlin Hall to pay his respects.

When he arrived in the courtyard, Li Shizhi, who was usually calm, was slightly startled and looked towards the corridor.

Li Daoyan was seen sitting on a rattan chair, looking at the corner of the courtyard.

Li Shizhi came closer, bowed and said, "Greetings to father."

Li Daoyan looked up at the sunset in the sky and said calmly, "Just came back from the Duke of Jing's mansion?"

Li Shizhi bowed his head and said, "Yes, father."

"The Han family has lived very frugally over the years. Although we are not impoverished, we are inevitably not good at dealing with such a situation. You should transfer more capable stewards and servants from your family, and don't worry about the money spent. If Han Zhongjie doesn't agree, just say it was my idea. Lord Han is the first prince of a different surname in the history of Da Qi. This funeral cannot be neglected and must be held properly. This will also be worthy of his lifelong efforts for Da Qi."

"Yes, Father, I know what to do."

Li Daoyan's face was gloomy, and he said quietly: "The late emperor is gone, and Lord Han is also gone. Now I am the only one left who is about to die."

For some reason, Li Shizhi suddenly felt a chill and quickly calmed himself down and said, "Father is in good health and will live a long life."

The old man had a blank expression on his face, and changed the subject: "When will His Majesty promote you to the position of Minister of Rites?"

Li Shizhi replied respectfully: "I don't know, maybe I have to wait until Minister Xie resigns and returns home."

Li Daoyan looked up at him, a hint of irony in his old eyes, and said slowly: "To you, the Minister of Rites should be just a scenery on the way, and you are still a long way from the end."

Li Shizhi gradually calmed down and responded calmly: "Father, officialdom is like sailing against the current. If you don't move forward, you will fall behind."

"Makes sense."

Li Daoyan nodded slightly and said meaningfully: "Two prime ministers in one family, I believe it will become a good story."

Li Shizhi said: "Father, you are joking. With Prime Minister Xue and Minister Zhong here, how can I covet the position of Prime Minister? I just want to uphold my father's wish, support the Great Qi and protect the Li family business, that's all."

"Zhong Cheng is no match for you. If Xue Nanting doesn't change his temper, he will also suffer from you in the future. Don't forget that I am your father. I have watched you grow from a toddler to where you are today."

Li Daoyan paused for a moment, then said self-deprecatingly: "Perhaps, I should be proud of you. As you said, only you can protect the Li family's foundation. It is an unrealistic fantasy to rely on a fifteen-year-old Zhiyuer. You have used twenty-six years of forbearance to gain the status and capital you have today. As a father, I should be proud of you."

Li Shizhi remained silent.

Li Daoyan waved his hand and said in a disinterested tone: "Go ahead, don't disturb me from watching the sunset."

"Yes, father."

Li Shizhi bowed calmly and then left with steady steps.

Li Daoyan leaned back, curled up in the rattan chair, looked up at the deep sunset in the sky, and whispered to himself: "Mr. Han, I saw the late emperor off, but I didn't go to see you for the last time. I think you must be a little dissatisfied."

"Please wait a little longer. When I have dealt with these matters, I will go to see His Majesty and you. We will meet in the underworld then."

"Recall the past."

(End of this chapter)