Chapter 660 The Queen Goes South

Chapter 660 The Queen Goes South

Chapter 660 The Queen Goes South
Yuan Xiaoju and Yuan Shou rode back to the mansion in the same carriage. Yuan Shou whispered, "Brother promised to take care of Wang Long. After so many years, will Wang Long still listen to our Yuan family?"

Yuan Xiaoju smiled faintly and said, "You don't know Wang Long. He is extremely ambitious and only cares about his own interests. Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism are bullshit to him. As long as the benefits are enough, he will betray anyone. What's more, I have evidence that he poisoned Crown Prince Yang Zhao, so he has to listen to my arrangements honestly."

"I understand, but brother, are you still going to Jiangdu?"

Yuan Xiaoju nodded and said, "I have to go again. This matter is of great importance. I need to communicate with him."

"But the emperor is his father after all. No matter how bad their relationship is, they are still father and son after all."

Yuan Xiaoju smiled and said, "I won't mention this matter. I just want to discuss overseas trade and salt and iron monopoly with him, as well as how to recover Hexi and Shuofang. I can't let him know our plan."

Yuanshou nodded, "Brother, just know the situation. When will you go to Jiangdu?"

"At the end of the year or the beginning of next year! I will stay in Luoyang for a while, and when the emperor starts his western expedition, I will set off."

In the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Nanyang Yang Feiyan brought her nephew, King of Yue Yang Tong, to her father's imperial study.

Yang Guang had just received an express letter from Xiao Xia, saying that his eldest sister Yang Lihua was seriously ill. Yang Guang could not visit her in person, so he decided to let his daughter and his second grandson go on his behalf.

"Father, can't you go to Jiangdu in person? You've always wanted to go there. The eldest aunt and the third son are both in Jiangdu. Take mother with you, and the whole family will be reunited."

If Yang Feiyan had proposed this idea before, Yang Guang might have been tempted, but now his whole mind was on destroying the Western Sui puppet regime, especially after he received a letter from Prince Wei Yang Ji, which gave him hope of destroying the Western Sui puppet regime. Now that the opportunity to recover Bashu had come, how could he not seize it?

Yang Guang shook his head and said, "You guys go! Go ask your mother. If she wants to go back to her parents' home, she can go with you. Father wants to wipe out the pseudo-regime of the Western Sui Dynasty. As long as they are not wiped out, Father will not be able to sleep or eat well."

"All right!"

Yang Feiyan said helplessly: "I'll go tell my mother that she has always wanted to return to Jiangdu."

Empress Xiao did not expect that her husband would agree to let her return to her parents' home to visit her relatives. She was overjoyed, but she couldn't believe it. During dinner, she personally asked her husband to confirm it.

"Your Majesty agrees that I can return to Jiangdu?"

Yang Guang nodded, "My elder sister is seriously ill. I am considering letting only the younger generation to visit her on my behalf. This is a bit unkind. If the queen represents me, it will be reasonable. The spirits of my father and mother in heaven will not blame me."

Empress Xiao said happily: "I am willing to visit my elder sister on behalf of Your Majesty."

Yang Guang added: "It is the beginning of October now and the river has not frozen yet. The Queen should take the children and set off as soon as possible. I will arrange the boats and guards!"

"I will return to Luoyang as soon as possible!"

Yang Guang smiled and said, "No matter what, the King of Jin is also your son. As the queen mother, it's okay for you to stay in Jiangdu for a few more days. You can go to Jinling County to take a look. During the New Year, the Xiao family can hold a grand sacrifice in Jinling County to worship your parents. You can come back next spring!"

Empress Xiao was worried about something else. She was silent for a moment and said, "Your Majesty... Come with me to Jiangdu! My eldest sister's condition may be very serious, otherwise Xia'er would not have written to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please go to see her for the last time, okay?"

"If she wants to see me one last time, she can come to Luoyang!"

After Yang Guang finished speaking, he turned and left. Empress Xiao hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty!"

"There is another elder brother in Chengdu who gives me even more headaches. I also want to see him for the last time!"

Yang Guang left a word and walked away without looking back.

Looking at her husband's receding back, Empress Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

Five days later, five thousand cavalrymen escorted the fleet of Empress Xiao and the princess out of Luoyang and headed for Jiangdu along the Tongji Canal. This time the scale of the expedition was relatively low-key, with only a dozen large ships in the fleet.

Yang Lihua was indeed ill, and her condition left Xiao Xia helpless. To use today's words, Yang Lihua had cancer. A large tumor could be clearly felt in her lower abdomen. It was already in the late stage. She was extremely thin, as if she had aged 20 years in an instant. Her face was haggard, and her hair seemed to have turned white overnight.

However, Yang Lihua is very open-minded. She is not afraid of life or death at all. She still plays mahjong with great interest every day. This is her biggest hobby.

In the afternoon, Xiao Xia had just sat down in his study when his wife Cui Yu brought in a cup of tea. Xiao Xia put down the book and asked, "What did the imperial physician say?"

Cui Yu sighed and said, "The imperial physician said he had no other options. He could only prescribe a painkiller to relieve my mother's pain."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Xia asked again: "Did they say how long mother can live?"

"The imperial physician said at most half a year, but..."

"But what?" Xiao Xia asked. Cui Yu didn't want to say it, but finally said hesitantly: "A Qiao told me about her mother's condition. She was worried that she wouldn't survive this winter!"

"Then arrange for mother to go to Nan'an County, where the weather is warmer."

Cui Yu shook his head. "She doesn't want to go. Why don't you go and tell her?"

"Okay! I'll go and persuade her."

Xiao Xia had no other choice but to let her mother live one more day!

Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Xia suggested that Yang Lihua go to Nan'an County, Yang Lihua immediately refused.

"I want to play mahjong and see my granddaughters. You send me there and torture me like crazy. Do you think my illness will be cured by going there?"

Xiao Xia sighed and said, "Winter is coming. It's warm over there, and my mother can spend the winter safely."

Yang Lihua shook her head. "I never feel that winter is hard here. We are not a poor family that can't afford charcoal or quilts. I just wear more clothes. What's so hard about it? The Queen and Feiyan will be here soon. I will teach them how to play mahjong. We can open a few more tables. You should quickly prepare a few more sets of mahjong for me. This is the serious business."

Xiao Xia had no choice but to nod, "Okay! The princess will arrange for mother's heating, and mother must obey the arrangement!"

"I'll listen to you!"

Yang Lihua smiled and whispered, "Xiao Mei has been with you for almost three years. You should get her pregnant as soon as possible. This has always been my biggest concern. Remember that?"

Xiao Xia nodded silently, "I remember it!"

When Empress Xiao's ship arrived at Pengcheng County, the escort warships sent by Xiao Xia also arrived. One hundred warships escorted the Empress' fleet from the front and back as they marched towards Jiangdu.

Five days later, Empress Xiao's fleet stopped directly in front of the dock of Jiangdu Palace. This was the exclusive dock for Prince Jin, which could accommodate three large ships of 10,000 shi in capacity.

Xiao Xia brought her family to the dock to welcome Empress Xiao and the princess and her husband's family.

The maid helped Empress Xiao get off the boat, and Xiao Xia, along with his wives and concubines, paid homage to her, "Your son respectfully welcomes the arrival of your mother!"

Empress Xiao smiled and said, "Third brother, we don't need to be so polite to each other as a family. Let's all stand up!"

"Thank you, Queen Mother!"

Empress Xiao turned around and pulled her grandson Yang Tong over and said with a smile: "This is your third uncle, you still remember him, right?"

Yang Tong quickly knelt down and kowtowed, "Nephew pays respect to the Emperor's uncle!"

"You are a Dong'er, you have grown up so much."

Xiao Xia pulled her nephew up and saw that he was very handsome, like a girl.

Yang Tong is only eleven years old today. The last time Xiao Xia saw him was before he went to Hexi to take up the post, when he was just born.

"Third brother, there is also a nephew here, you can't be partial to him!"

Yang Feiyan came up with her five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter. Yang Feiyan also gave birth to a son and a daughter. The son was named Xiao Shidao and the daughter was named Xiao Lirong, both names given by Empress Xiao.

Xiao Xia picked up his two nephews and laughed, "Let's go! Let's go into the palace."

Everyone followed Xiao Xia into the palace, and Empress Xiao asked in a low voice, "How is the eldest aunt doing?"

Xiao Xia handed the two children to their father, Xiao Zhurong, and shook her head, saying, "The imperial physician said that she will live for at most half a year. My eldest aunt has suddenly become very old and thin, and her hair has turned white. Mother, please be mentally prepared."

"Does she know about it herself? There is still half a year left." Empress Xiao asked again.

"She doesn't know the details, but she knows she doesn't have much time left. However, my aunt is very optimistic and has no fear of life or death at all."

Empress Xiao sighed deeply, thinking that her husband should come this time to see her elder sister off for the last time.

(End of this chapter)