Chapter 289 Comforting the Emperor
"After these three days, the old ladies will no longer need to stay in the palace at night. They only need to go there every day and come back at night. This will require Brother Bao to bring people to pick them up."
"Sister-in-law Zhu, Sister-in-law Two, after we leave, you and Keqing will take care of the two mansions. For the next three days, just close the doors of the mansions. If there is nothing important, people in the mansions are not allowed to come in and out at will. The old concubine has passed away, and no banquets or entertainments are allowed in the mansions. The young people in the mansions are ignorant, so the two sisters-in-law will take care of them. It's okay for us to get together on weekdays, but we are not allowed to host any banquets, let alone drink."
Li Wan and Wang Xifeng both nodded in agreement.
"Second Uncle, you will also have to enter the palace in the first three days. After three days, you will have to guard the government office for more than 20 days. No matter what others ask, try not to say too much. If you have anything to say, please send a letter to me and we will discuss it later."
Jia Zheng nodded. He knew that he was not good at this, so he would naturally do as Jia Cong said.
Afterwards, Jia Cong asked Lu Feng to hold his seal and send a message to Hou Jing and his men. Although it was just the death of the old concubine, there would not necessarily be any accidents, but as one of the most powerful troops in the city, the Five City Army and Horse Division had to be on standby. If something really happened, he could gather strength and protect himself in the first place.
After Jia Cong had given all the instructions and the carriage outside the door was ready, everyone went out, lit torches and headed towards the palace.
Before arriving at the imperial palace, the place was already brightly lit and bustling with people and cars. The imperial edicts from various prefectures as well as the nobles and officials from various prefectures had obviously all arrived.
Because it was the old empress dowager who passed away, the female family members naturally went directly to the palace to mourn, while the officials and nobles had to wait for the imperial decree before entering the palace.
Jia Cong's arrival caused a moment of commotion in the crowd. Niu Jizong, Wang Ziteng and other people from the eight dukes and twelve marquises' mansions all gathered around Jia Cong.
"Meet the Champion Marquis!"
Jia Cong nodded slightly, and then said, "Everyone, please stand in order of rank and wait for the palace's order!"
At this time, saying anything more could lead to mistakes, so it was best to keep silent. Even Fang Yao and Jia Cong bowed from a distance and did not step forward.
After whispering a few instructions to Wang Ziteng and others, Jia Cong went straight to the front of the team.
No matter it is Prince Zhongshun or Prince Beijing, they are obviously in the palace at this moment. Although Prince Beijing is a king of a different surname, he has the title of king. Secondly, his queen is also the daughter of Zhen family and a blood relative of the old queen dowager.
Therefore, beside Jia Cong, there was only Meng Zong, the Duke of Qing, and the nobles of the Yuanping lineage, like Niu Jizon and others, stood respectfully behind Meng Zong, and no one spoke.
"Why have you been so quiet lately? This is not your character." Jia Cong had just stood still when Meng Zong's words came from the side.
Jia Cong responded calmly, "Now that the two emperors are in power and the world is at peace, it is naturally easy for me to be in charge of the Military Affairs Department and the Beijing Camp. However, if the old Duke finds it boring, then I will ask the Japanese Marquis to bring his troops to visit your house. "
"Hey! You want to scare me? You're just a kid with a few hairs. Even your ancestors wouldn't dare to talk to me like that."
"If you dare to bring your shrimp soldiers and crab generals over here, I will squeeze out your yolk, believe it or not."
"Of course this kid does n't believe it!" Jia Cong responded, "Although I am not made of steel, I am not someone that the old, weak, or sick can afford to provoke."
Meng Zong chuckled. He was not disgusted by Jia Cong's sharp tongue. There were few such interesting people among the younger generation.
Think about their generation. How many months didn't they fight in Jinling City? Not to mention the nobles, even the former crown prince, the Longxing Emperor, the Zhongshun Prince, who hadn't been beaten? But the fight was over, and as long as they didn't kill each other, even the emperor wouldn't bother to care.
Look at these little ones now, each one is as timid as a mouse, just like the quail, except this kid who has a good temper.
As the old man and the young boy were arguing, a eunuch from the palace gate ran out in a hurry, "Duke Mengzong of Xuanqing and Marquis Jia Cong of Guanjun are here to see Your Majesty at the Daming Palace!"
Meng Zong and Jia Cong bowed and then followed the eunuch into the palace.
The other court officials were not surprised by this. Meng Zong was a close confidant of the retired emperor, and Jia Cong was the young minister that Emperor Longxing valued the most. The entry of the old and the young into the palace was obviously invited by the two emperors.
The two of them came all the way to the Daming Palace, where they saw Emperor Longxing, Prince Zhongshun, and Prince Beijing accompanying them in the palace.
The emperor sat leaning back in his chair, his face expressionless with no sadness or joy!
Dai Quan stepped forward and whispered to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Duke Qing and Marquis Guanjun are here."
The retired emperor's eyes wavered for a moment, and then he looked towards the two of them.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Emperor!"
After the emperor asked the two to stand up, he waved to Jia Cong, "You little monkey, come here and talk to me!"
Under the gaze of several other people, Jia Cong walked to the side of the retired emperor. At this moment, the retired emperor seemed to have his spirit drained away, and he looked old out of nowhere. Seeing that the retired emperor, who was usually very close to him and even like an elder, was now in such a weak state, Jia Cong couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Even if he was the emperor, so what? Although he was alone, how many people could really be so ruthless?
Jia Cong lowered his body slightly, and directly grasped the somewhat shriveled palm of the retired emperor, and then said softly, "Old Master, Old Concubine Zhen has worked hard all her life, and even raised you. I don't know how many arrows and spears she blocked for you in the past. She deserves the words "immeasurable merits and virtues."
"And now, the old concubine has passed away , which can be considered as a perfect result. So, old man still needs to mourn and accept the change."
"You are the rock of our Daqian, the confidence of His Majesty, and the god of all the ministers. If you are too sad, what should His Majesty and the ministers do?"
"Your Majesty, the Marquis is right!" Dai Quan, who was standing by, knelt on the ground and cried, "You haven't eaten or drunk anything for the whole day. How can your body endure this?"
Everyone else, including Emperor Longxing, felt trembling at Jia Cong's bold words, but the retired emperor had tears rolling down his eyes. The advice and words from his grandson touched the weakest string in his heart.
Emperor Longxing felt relieved when he saw this. What he feared most was that the emperor would not eat, drink or speak. Now that he could cry, it was actually a good thing.
Emperor Longxing was not sad about the death of Concubine Zhen, and was even somewhat happy about it. However, as the relationship between him and the retired emperor gradually became relaxed and harmonious, he was the one who least wanted anything to happen to the retired emperor at this time.
