Chapter 1292 Companion

Chapter 1292 Companion

Chapter 1292 Companion
Outside the Xingguan Gate of Liang Palace, a team of ox carts lined up to enter.

The car was filled with various white linen, silk, and fur cloth. The gatekeeper checked it with a serious face and let them in.

After entering the gate, the convoy turned directly north and walked along the area between the palace city wall and the Linzhi Hall. It was obvious that it was heading to the large warehouse near the Xianju Hall.

Although they didn't get any news, they guessed everything.

The streets outside the palace were bustling with people.

In recent years, there are more and more people in Bianliang, the construction is getting better and better, wealth is flowing here, and the vitality of the whole city is becoming more and more vigorous. However, in the Xianju Palace, two old men who have experienced the chaos since Sima Jin are about to pass away.

Maybe it's not a bad thing. People who have lived through troubled times are leaving one by one, and slowly everyone is born in a peaceful era.

After leaving Xianju Palace, Shao Xun came to Hefengyuan for dinner.

Princess Jingling Shao Shu also came, holding her seven-month-old daughter. Last July, she gave birth to a daughter, her first child with her husband, the commander of the imperial guards and the official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Miao Xie.

"After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Ministry of Personnel becomes extremely busy, and the prince consort has to stay overnight in the government office every few days." As she said this, the daughter looked at Shao Xun.

"It's true." Shao Xun put down his bowl and chopsticks and said.

He ate the slowest. After he finished, Le Lanji asked the palace maids to clean up and offer tea for rinsing the mouth.

"Xiangpu, what are you thinking about all day?" Shao Xun asked.

"Didn't the purpose of selecting a prince consort was to make him look good? Who knew he would be so busy?" Shao Shu said, "My daughter is also worried about the prince consort. The Tongshi Sheren runs errands every day, going back and forth between various government offices, submitting memorials, announcing imperial decrees, and receiving guests. He has no time to study."

Le Lanji gently pinched Shao Shu's ear.

Shao Xun was a little "sad".

The daughters were cute when they were little, but when they grew up, they became oriented to their husband’s family and children.

After Miao Xie passed two classics, he was appointed as the literary supervisor of Taichang Temple, a very leisurely position, so he had plenty of time to prepare for the "on-the-job examination". As a result, he passed three classics successfully last year and went to Menxia Province to work as a Tongshi Sheren.

This position is quite busy.

In simple terms, if Shao Xun did not draft the edict himself, or asked his close ministers to draft it for him, most of the edicts came from the Zhongshu Province. This meant that Shao Xun expressed an intention or an idea, and the prime minister asked the Zhongshu Ling to implement it. The Zhongshu Province began to draft a policy edict related to this intention, and then sent it to the Menxia Province for review. After approval, it was sent to the Shangshu Province and the six ministries for implementation.

The Tongshi Sheren traveled between various government offices. Sometimes the imperial edicts drafted by the Zhongshu would be rejected, so it was not surprising that they traveled back and forth many times. In addition, there were many general affairs that required written edicts and edicts, which needed to be transmitted by the Tongshi Sheren.

The imperial edict that Miao Xie comes into contact with most every day is probably the "die", which is a daily government matter jointly signed by multiple government offices. It is not a big deal, but it needs to be implemented.

In fact, this is also due to the booming papermaking industry. The yellow paper, which is very cheap today, was once used as paper for imperial edicts during the Cao Wei era. Can you believe it?
At this time, imperial edicts were usually made of silk and honey-scented paper, while ordinary official documents were mostly made of rattan paper. Lower-level government offices used a mixture of cheap white and yellow paper. Thinking of the bamboo slips and wooden tablets that were still used thirty years ago, Shao Xun couldn't help but sigh with emotion. He stepped on the accelerator of the papermaking industry of this era. There were a lot of papermaking workshops in Xiangyang, Jiangxia, Jingling, and Nanjun. Almost every manor had one, big or small. Even Wuchang, Baling, and Wuling began to flourish.

The increasing production of paper has greatly facilitated the dissemination of knowledge. Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult to promote education.

The tea was served quickly. After rinsing her mouth, Shao Shu said, "Grandpa, I brought you some Shuzhong tea just now. It's much better than the Zhongwu tea in the palace."

Le Lanji sat down and asked, "Where did you get the tea?"

"Mother, I am sending my servant to sell tea in Shuzhong." Shao Shu said, "The best tea in Daliang is produced in Shuzhong. I kept some Mengding tea as a gift to you. Hehe, if you think it tastes good, you can ask Hanjia County to list it as a tribute. They will be happy to do so. There are too many good teas in Shuzhong, but unfortunately they are not famous enough. If they are rated as tribute, the free teas they give away every year will really be nothing."

"There is Mengshan in Hanjia County..." Shao Xun said.

Shao Shu was a little surprised: "Grandpa, you even know about this mountain? Mengding tea is produced at the top of Mengshan Mountain."

Hanjia County of Hanjia Commandery was the Qingyi Qiang State in ancient times. After its destruction, Qingyi County was established. In the Later Han Dynasty, it was changed to Hanjia County. Until today, it is roughly located in the Mingshan and Lushan areas of Ya'an in later generations.

Mount Meng is located in this county. According to legend, people have tamed the wild tea trees on the top of the mountain since the Western Han Dynasty, and it has been hundreds of years since then.

In fact, the place where the most tea is grown, produced and sold is Shuzhong. Jingzhou and Jiangdong have good tea, but their overall scale and fame cannot compare with Shuzhong.

Their first-mover advantage would continue for hundreds of years until they were finally overwhelmed by the Jiangdong region.

"Okay, then let's list Mengshan tea as a tribute." Shao Xun said.

At present, the "only designated" tea used in the palace is Zhongwu tea, which is the tea produced in Zhongwu Longxiang Mansion. Maybe the quality of the tea trees has not been cultivated well, and the taste is average, but Shao Xun has been working hard to promote the product, making Zhongwu tea more famous, and the production has also increased dramatically, making Zhongwu Longxiang Mansion earn a lot of money.

But to be honest, the quality doesn't support his efforts in promoting the products.

If I were to open a live broadcast room with this kind of tea in the future, I would probably be scolded to death by my family.

"Xiangpu, your father promoted tea for a reason. You should think more when you are doing business. Don't sell inferior products as good ones and ruin the reputation of this business." Le Lanji said earnestly.

Shao Shu nodded repeatedly, then looked at her father again.

My father smiled and said, "Your mother is right. Tea and wine are the same, and Grandpa calls them 'drinks'. In fact, the two are in competition. Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, receiving guests, welcoming and seeing off guests, and gatherings for leisurely conversations have often been inseparable from wine. If tea can replace wine, there will be many benefits. Grandpa now always has tea when meeting guests, and tea is often used to entertain guests in public and private occasions. It is necessary to correct this habit of drinking alcohol excessively. You should do a good job. It would be best if you can build a tea garden yourself, and don't just make money by trading goods. It would be a good thing if tea can be promoted on the grassland in the future."

"Grandpa, you think too much." Shao Shu sighed, then smiled and said, "Is my daughter doing this business according to the emperor's order?"

"Look how beautiful you are!" Shao Xun said helplessly.

Le Lanji gently hugged her daughter and looked at Shao Xun with a smile.

Shao Xun also looked at the mother and daughter and smiled.

Under the dim light, the family of three was having a great time and laughing non-stop.

Some things ultimately need to be healed by family affection.

After dinner, Shao Shu chattered like a lark about what she had seen and heard outside. Until she felt a little sleepy, she pestered her mother to sleep with her.

Shao Xun put his hands behind his back, went to another room and stayed in Mrs. Wang's room.

******
In mid-February, the weather started to warm up a little.

Shao Xun basically rarely left the palace.

He would attend court meetings, and after court was adjourned, he would move to the Lichun Terrace in the Guanfeng Palace to review memorials to the emperor or summon his ministers for questioning.

On days when there were no court meetings, he basically stayed in the Dragon Scale Hall or the Huangnu Palace, reviewing memorials to the emperor or talking with close ministers such as the Attendant Censor, the Yellow Gate Assistant Minister, the Palace Attendant, and the Imperial Secretary.

He would go to Xianju Palace almost every morning and evening to check on his mother.

In fact, he had been mentally prepared for a long time, and now he was just waiting for the day to finally arrive.

In late February, apart from the rapid rise in temperature, he had already moved to Xianju Palace, except for a day of farming outside the palace.

At dusk that day, Shao Xun was sitting in the corridor examining the land records of Jiangnan sent by the governor of Yangzhou when Empress Yu Wenjun arrived with the prince and his wife.

Shao Xun nodded and motioned for them to go in directly.

My mother, Mrs. Liu, is rarely awake during the day and is often drowsy, and can hardly say a few words.

The lights were already on. Shao Xun finished reading the last word, wrote a comment, closed the file, and handed it to Huan Wen, the Imperial Secretary, to take away.

A moment later, the palace servants brought dinner.

It's quite light, just corn porridge, served with salted radish that my mother had made, which is sweet and sour and refreshing.

After eating, he went inside to visit his mother.

The mother woke up, and after seeing Shao Xun, her eyes were fixed on him.

Wherever he went, his mother's eyes followed him until Shao Xun came to her side.

Lu quietly made way.

Shao Xun noticed that Yu Wenjun seemed to have given a bracelet to Lu.

The bracelet was originally given to Yu Wenjun by her mother, and Yu Wenjun gave it to Lu.

Mrs. Lu may have never worn a cheap bracelet with such poor material and rough workmanship in her life, but she cherished it and wore it in the most conspicuous place.

As the title was passed from daughter-in-law to daughter-in-law, Yu Wenjun's role was also changing.

Shao Xun sat down, and Yu Wenjun glanced at him with slightly red eyes.

Shao Xun held her hand tightly.

Lu bowed her head and said nothing. The prince stood very close to her but did not hold her hand.

Shao Xun turned his head and looked at the prince and his wife, and said, "You should go back early and come back tomorrow."

The couple responded, bowed and left.

"You should go back to Ganlu Palace too." Shao Xun patted Yu Wenjun's hand and said softly.

My mother is like this every day. She doesn’t say a word all day and I don’t know if she is awake for even an hour.

"I'll accompany you." Yu Wenjun said.

"Go back." Shao Xun advised again: "Come and accompany me tomorrow."

The palace maids have already started making the beds.

Shao Xun had a couch added next to the room, and now he sleeps here every night.

His father slept in the next room. The palace maids would wash his mother regularly, which would easily wake up his father, so Shao Xun let him sleep in the side hall.

At this point, there is no more excessive sadness, only companionship.

Yu Wenjun stood up reluctantly.

Shao Xun nodded and signaled her to have a good rest.

After everyone left, his mother seemed to have fallen asleep again. Shao Xun simply sat back on the couch and picked up the memorials on the table next to him to pass the time.

One of the memorials about Jianhaipu in Donghai County interested him a lot, so he took a closer look at it.

As I watched, I recalled my childhood in the East China Sea.

Thirty-three years ago, he was conscripted into the army by Sima Yue.

When I was about to leave, my father, mother, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, third brother and younger sister all came out to see me off.

He was leaning on a wooden spear, carrying a tattered bag on his back, and holding a few eggs in his arms, as he set out on the journey to the county town.

Looking back now, many details are already blurry.

I only remember that my parents looked worried.

Yes, the kings were fighting each other, and the whole country was in chaos. Sima Yue was just a distant prince, and he was given a nominal position as Sikong. Even Sima Mao, the governor of Xuzhou, didn't respect him. In the end, he gathered a group of soldiers, old and young, and sent them to Luoyang.

If this small number of troops were involved in the melee in Luoyang, they would be wiped out in one battle. How can we not be worried?
Shao Xun put down the memorial and pen, put his hands behind his head, and let his thoughts run wild.

How could we know so much when we were isolated from the news? Even if we were time travelers, we would only know about the "Eight Kings Rebellion" at most, and we would not know the details, but the devil is often hidden in the details.

The group of old men who came to Luoyang together were actually all okay. Most of them ended up in Pan Garden and Guangchengze. Although they died in a foreign land, their circumstances were not bad compared to others.

The children and teenagers who came together had different fates. Some became founding heroes, while others gradually drifted away.

Shao Xun suddenly remembered that there was a person who ran back to Xuzhou and was then recruited by Sima Yue to become a lieutenant colonel. However, he could not even remember the face of that student. He only knew that after the Yanzhou hereditary soldiers were reorganized, he became an officer of the palace soldiers. After that, no one mentioned this person in front of him again.

This is what it means to drift apart.

The person who accompanies you on the journey at the beginning may not be able to accompany you to the end.

Now that he holds power, has many children and grandchildren, and is surrounded by beauties, who can stay with him until the end?

Shao Xun's eyelids gradually drooped, but his thoughts continued to fly.

Training troops in Pan Garden, defending Biyong, capturing Sima Yi in Taiji Hall...

He took Hua Nu's dowry to Yiyang to build a fort, defend Luoyang against Zhang Fang, and inquired about Sima Yue's news with Uncle Cao, and crossed the river to the north to welcome the emperor...

They robbed the Xuchang arsenal, besieged and killed the Xianbei in Chang'an, and defeated Jisang in Feixiang...

One thing after another, I almost went through the first half of my life again.

As he felt sleepy and his consciousness became blurred, he suddenly realized: he came here to complete a mission, he was carrying many things, he was destined to move forward with the burden, he was destined to be unable to tell many things to others, but he had to persevere no matter how tired he was, no matter how tired he was!

The night is dark and everything is silent.

Under the flickering candlelight, the palace maid dozed off in a daze.

Shao Xun lay quietly and fell asleep.

A pair of skinny hands struggled to pull the corner of the quilt and carefully covered him.

As if he had used up his last bit of energy, his skinny hands slowly dropped and his breathing gradually stopped.

My mother left without saying goodbye.

(End of this chapter)