latelenovela Chapter 285 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (185)
Chapter 285 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (185)
Lu Liruan only learned about all that had happened during the time she and Ji Shumin were away after she returned to the capital.
After returning to the capital, Lu Liruan rested for two days before, as usual, entering the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
Hot milk tea was being brewed in the Empress Dowager's palace. Originally, the Empress Dowager's palace did not have this, but Lu Liruan sent it over for the Empress Dowager to try.
Having stayed in this world for a long time, Lu Liruan sometimes couldn't help but miss the things from the past. This milk tea, brewed according to Lu Liruan's instructions, tasted like milk tea.
Lu Liruan even had people make small glutinous rice balls out of glutinous rice flour and cook them until they were chewy and translucent, to replace pearls.
The Empress Dowager tasted the novelty and praised it a few times. Later, when Lu Liruan visited again, the Empress Dowager's palace would prepare to entertain her, which showed the Empress Dowager's care and affection for the younger generation.
"Are you having so much fun that you don't want to leave?" the Empress Dowager asked her with a smile.
"I thought you two would come back after a few days of fun, but who knew you would be gone for more than a month. The peach blossoms in the garden bloomed a few days ago, and I was thinking of inviting you to come and admire the flowers together. I was about to say it when the nanny told me that you had not returned yet."
"I saw it from outside, the peach blossoms on the hills of the estate are absolutely gorgeous!" Lu Liruan nestled beside the Empress Dowager, excitedly recounting what she had seen on the trip.
"Look at me, it's not the scenery outside that's beautiful, it's you, girl, who's become so wild! Min'er was just as mischievous as you, so what, are you feeling better now?"
When the Empress Dowager mentioned Ji Shumin, the smile on her lips held a deeper meaning, and she asked Lu Liruan a question with a double entendre.
Lu Liruan knew what she was talking about, and pursed her lips: "I've been quite comfortable all along and haven't thought much about it."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "That's right. Min'er is not old, but she has experienced everything over the years. Now that life is peaceful, she should just enjoy it!"
At her age, the Empress Dowager rarely mentions anything else; she mostly just wishes that the younger generation can live happily and contentedly.
Consort Rong used to be proud and arrogant, but now that she has met the Empress Dowager more often, her heart has gradually become more and more settled. She only hopes that the Seventh Prince can live well, and she asks for nothing else.
When the capital was in turmoil, Ji Shulie was not very clear-headed. He was like someone suffering from hysteria, sometimes knowing what was happening to him, and sometimes being confused.
When he finally came to his senses, he was dumbfounded to find that the world had changed completely, and even the person on the throne had been replaced!
Ji Shulie remained silent for a few days, and eventually accepted that his current character was the same as Ji Shumin's.
Like the Second Prince Ji Shuling, over the years, Ji Shulie's biggest rival, like a target standing in his heart and a fishbone stuck in his throat, was Ji Shumin.
Now that Ji Shuqin has taken that position, he is not surprised. Then he realizes that he is not actually that resentful, after listening to his mother recount what happened during the days when she was suffering from hysteria while crying.
Even though Ji Shulie was unwilling to admit it, he was indeed somewhat relieved that it was Ji Shuqin who took that position, not Ji Shuling.
Ji Shulie reluctantly admitted in secret that his elder brother, no matter what, would never do anything immoral.
His broken leg is still not fully recovered, and the imperial physician can only tell him to rest slowly. Ji Shulie is extremely frustrated, but there is nothing he can do.
If that were all, it would be fine. He has nothing to do now, but as a prince, as long as he behaves himself, he doesn't need to do anything.
The new emperor did not mistreat the mother and son either...
But... that day, he suddenly heard that Ji Shumin and his wife had left the capital and gone off to enjoy themselves.
The news was filled with various expressions of shock and emotion.
"The Third Prince's legs can actually walk again!"
"Yes! Someone saw it with their own eyes. The Third Prince's legs are just like a normal person's. He can walk freely. He doesn't need a wheelchair or even crutches!"
"real or fake?"
"Absolutely true!"
The palace servants whispered excitedly in low voices.
Ji Shulie: ...
The next day, the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital, who was skilled in treating bone injuries, was asked by the Seventh Prince with a cold expression if there was any way to help him recover quickly.
"Seventh Prince... I am truly lacking in skill!"
"Me too."
...The imperial physicians all lowered their heads, indicating that they had no such good solution, thinking to themselves: The Seventh Prince is simply fanciful.
When this reached the ears of Consort Rong, she was afraid that this was a sign that her son was going through another bout of obsession and hysteria, so she rushed over and tearfully tried to persuade him.
Even Ji Shuqin sent word, telling him not to rush things.
Ji Shulie himself didn't know why, but he kept thinking about this matter, even after he had calmed down a bit.
I've heard that Ji Shumin has returned after spending over a month away!
"Will you still go out to play in the future?" The Empress Dowager asked, holding Lu Liruan's hand.
"Of course I'll go. I'll stay by your side a little longer. When you get tired of my nagging, I'll go out and have fun again. When you miss me, I'll come back!" Lu Liruan said glibly.
"You think you can read my mind so well!" The Empress Dowager was amused by her, and lines appeared on her face, showing her great affection.
"Go, while I'm still relatively healthy. Once I'm nearing my end, you'll all have to serve me in the palace every day. I'm not the kind of elder who's reluctant to trouble the children. I want to live a fulfilling life, and in the end, you all have to be by my side..."
The Empress Dowager is wise and insightful. No matter what, she will never wrong herself. She always assesses the situation and makes sure she lives her best, which is something Lu Liruan admires very much.
"If you're so reluctant to part with me, why don't you come and travel with me?" Lu Liruan felt a little sad after hearing what she said, so she quickly tried to act silly.
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager slapped her hand hard: "You really want to take all my old bones off and play with them!"
"Let's go, do whatever we want, isn't that wonderful..." The Empress Dowager seemed to be sighing and reminiscing.
When Lu Liruan returned to the mansion, she saw Ji Shumin fiddling with a thin piece of paper, which was carelessly crumpled and wrinkled.
"what?"
Lu Liruan took it and discovered that it was a letter written in the Empress Dowager's own handwriting, written from the National Temple.
He said he wanted to meet Ji Shumin.
"Are you going?" Lu Liruan had barely finished speaking when Ji Shumin raised an eyebrow.
Of course not.
In this letter, the Empress Dowager portrayed herself as extremely pitiful, saying that she was about to die and wished to see Ji Shumin one last time to fulfill their lifelong mother-son bond.
Seeing that Lu Liruan had finished reading, Ji Shumin picked up the thin paper, burned a corner with a candle, and the flame quickly swallowed the entire paper, leaving only wisps of gray ink drifting away.
The birthday of Lady Gao of the Marquis of He'an's mansion was approaching soon, and the siblings who had not returned during the New Year also rushed back.
That day, Marquis He'an was a little drunk and rather offensively patted Ji Shumin's shoulder lightly: "Third Prince, I'll need your continued care for my daughter... These children at home, they're all so wild, they're nothing like this old man..."
"My wife and I will stay here and guard this house, waiting for them to come and go. Our daughter is innocent and doesn't know anything, so please protect her."
"Don't worry, my lord, I will take good care of Li Ruan." Ji Shumin drank a small cup with him, and received a glare from Lu Li Ruan.
After summer arrived, Lu Wanyun got married. The marriage was harmonious, and the two families became a good match.
Once the hottest part of the day had passed, Lu Liruan and Ji Shumin were finally able to pack their bags and set off on their journey.
"Your Highness... Mother, Your Majesty, we, we will, we will, we will guard, we will protect the house!"
Xiao Xizi straightened his back a bit and led the people to stand at the gate of the mansion to see them off.
Qinghe has already been sent to the palace by Lu Liruan and is now taking charge of palace affairs, waiting for the female official examination in the autumn.
The cicadas in the trees were chirping loudly. Through the thin gauze curtain, golden light shone into the carriage, and the wheels chugged forward. After passing the city gate checkpoint, the smell of dust kicked up by the hooves of the pedestrians and horses became increasingly clear.
That's the taste of a long journey.
Ji Shumin, who was leaning lazily to the side, noticed Lu Liruan's fluctuating emotions. He turned his head, and his beautiful eyes were as light as translucent amber in the light, without a trace of gloom.
“I can’t believe that Li Ruan and I have really come to this…” he murmured.
“How wonderful…” Upon hearing his words, Lu Liruan felt a surge of emotions welling up in her chest, a mix of feelings and a sense of peace.
"Yes, that's great."
-
In the twelfth month of the twenty-eighth year of Yongfeng in the Great Qi Dynasty, Emperor Yongfeng died.
The following year, the emperor's eldest son, Qin, succeeded to the throne, and his reign title was Anqing.
The emperor's second son, Ling, plotted a rebellion and was banished to his fiefdom, never to return to the capital.
The emperor's seventh son, Lie, was granted the title of Prince Lie, a mansion, and his mother was honored as a Noble Consort.
Those over sixty years of age may leave the palace to enjoy their retirement; this applies to all those in the palace who have children.
The Empress Dowager was granted the title of Grand Empress Dowager, and was put in charge of the Phoenix Seal and managing the inner palace.
The Empress Dowager departed for the National Temple to practice meditation and pray for the country and its people.
The emperor's third son, Min, was granted the title of Prince Min. He took his princess and traveled outside the capital, and their return date was uncertain.
-
In the third year of the Anqing reign, the Empress Dowager died at the Guosi Temple. She was not buried in the imperial mausoleum before returning to the palace. This drew criticism from many officials, and some even publicly denounced the emperor for his lack of filial piety.
The emperor remained silent and did not change his mind, nor did he reprimand his subordinates.
At the end of the third year of Anqing, the Empress Dowager's remains were buried in the Guosi Mausoleum.
In the fourth year of the Anqing reign, the emperor said he was seriously ill and unable to govern.
In August of the fourth year of the Anqing reign, the emperor abdicated in favor of his younger brother, Prince Min.
The reign title was changed to Ruiqing, and the daughter of Lady Lu was made empress.
Emperor Ruiqing ascended the throne at the age of twenty-six and had no children. He had only one empress in the palace, and they were a perfect match.
During the reign of Emperor Ruiqing, he reformed the imperial examination system, later established a girls' school, opened a girls' examination, re-established the military examination system, reduced titles and cracked down on corruption, and opened up border trade.
Reduce taxes and corvée labor, and prioritize medical care and education.
In the fourteenth year of Ruiqing, foreign enemies launched a joint invasion. The emperor ordered a battle to be fought back. Twenty Qiang cities and twenty thousand soldiers were captured. The Rong capital was destroyed, and the royal family was exterminated. The strong stance made all the countries pay tribute, and the national power was fully displayed. It was a golden age.
Empress Lu was also an outstanding woman. She established female officials, opened academies, understood the hardships of the people, did not indulge in extravagance but generously helped the people, shared the emperor's worries, and was respected by the court and the people. She was loved and sung about by the common people.
In the thirty-second year of the Ruiqing reign, Empress Lu passed away. Three days later, the Emperor died and was buried with her in the imperial mausoleum. The whole country mourned, and the people in the capital wept incessantly.
The throne was passed to a son of a member of the imperial clan, who was personally instructed by Emperor Ruiqing and whose conduct resembled that of the emperor.
Emperor Taizong of Anqing was honored as the Retired Emperor. When the Retired Emperor abdicated, he was critically ill, but he passed away at the advanced age of eighty.
History books are cold and hard, but no matter which one, they all leave a sentence: Emperor Qi Ruiqing and his empress Lu were loving and affectionate throughout their lives.
-
Lu Liruan learned of the Empress Dowager's death on a painted boat in Jiangnan.
The oars stirred the water, creating ripples, and so did the waves in Lu Liruan's heart.
Nowadays, when she's out, she dresses more and more like an ordinary woman. Today, she even wore a skirt and trousers in the style of a woman from a riverside family. Her thick black hair was tied up in a bun and adorned with a wooden hairpin. Her face, which was not covered in makeup, was a little sweaty, and there was a bucket of freshly caught fish at her feet.
The fish's tail flicked up, splashing water all over Lu Liruan, who then snapped back to reality.
Lu Liruan wiped her face with her sleeve and stood up. She had been on many boats before, and now she was quite comfortable walking on them.
They swayed into the cabin, where the curtains of the windows were still drawn, but a little light peeked in as they swayed, causing the person on the bed to bury their head under the covers.
"Get up!" Lu Liruan sat down and pulled the blanket down a little.
They stayed on the boat yesterday. The wind and waves were a bit rough in the middle of the night, and Ji Shumin was so shaken that he felt dizzy. Although he is now better, he is still very delicate.
"It smells fishy..."
Ji Shumin slowly hummed a sentence.
"I've brought all the fish back!"
"Did you catch it?" Ji Shumin's slightly open eyes were still hazy.
Lu Liruan pouted, feeling a little guilty. She didn't have the patience to be bothered, and the fish seemed to know who couldn't sit still, almost never biting her hook.
Lu Liruan's main role was simply to take a net from one side and scatter some water downwards.
“Then I’ll make breakfast…” Lu Liruan awkwardly changed the subject.
The hazy look in Ji Shumin's eyes gradually faded, and his gaze settled on Lu Liruan. He didn't say anything, but anyone could see the faint sarcasm in his eyes.
A few breaths later, Ji Shumin, dressed in a plain-colored coat and with his hair unkempt, sat on a low wooden stool on the boat with his legs curled up.
The hair falling down his cheeks softened his appearance, making him look less sharp than usual, and even giving him a somewhat... the feeling of a noble lady who had fallen on hard times and become a fisherman's wife.
Lu Liruan was amused by her own words, and covered her mouth as she huffed and puffed as she carried over a few pieces of firewood.
Having been away from home for so long, she was interested in cooking but lacked the skills to do so.
No matter what she puts in her hands, it will all taste bad once she cooks it. Surprisingly, the Third Prince Ji Shumin, who used to be so delicate that he could hardly even get a speck of dust on his fingertips, could actually do a few cooking tricks!
At this moment, he held a sharp knife between his slender fingers, and with a steady wrist movement, thin, white fish slices fell into the dish like flower petals. In the earthenware pot on the fire, rice porridge was boiling and bubbling. He stirred it a few times, rolled the fish slices in, sprinkled them with salt and chopped coriander, simmered them for a few seconds, and then served them.
Ji Shumin raised his chin, his eyes downcast and weary, and gestured for Lu Liruan, who was clumsily adding firewood to the stove, to serve it. Meanwhile, he himself steadied himself and chopped some pickled vegetables, each strand even and glistening.
The Third Prince is skilled in both literature and martial arts, but now his literary skills are useless. The articles he wrote along the way were only glanced at by his wife, who said she couldn't understand them and then went off to play.
The hands that once held bows and swords now handle shovels, knives, and pots with remarkable ease and dexterity.
Lu Liruan felt she was making the best use of the resources, but the guards around her sensed a hint of flirtation directed at the blind...