Zhuo Qihua

There was a lot of traffic outside the Duke's Mansion, and the carriages stopped outside the Duke's Mansion, and then drove away immediately to avoid congestion.Today is the 80th birthday of Sui Guogong Lin Xieshan. Not only the Lin family must treat it with caution, but the palace also ordered the Ministry of Rites to celebrate Sui Guogong's birthday early in the morning.The Lin family started setting up the Duke's Mansion a week ago, warming up for this day.As Sui Guogong's only son, Lin Yi also got the holiday two days in advance and stayed in the mansion.Lin Xieshan stepped down as the Chief of Defense of the Military Department, and Lin Yi was transferred from the Firearms Battalion to the Military Department, and is now one of the cabinet members of the Command Department.Edward Lam's nephew, Lei Cong, was also transferred from the Firearms Battalion to serve as Sima of the Armed Development Department of the Military Department.

The 80-year-old Sui Guogong is still in good spirits.Shi Yu, Qin Su, Pan Jianzhi, Cang Zhusheng and other friends from the court and China of Lin Xieshan came here early in the morning.Cang Zhusheng is several years younger than Sui Guogong, but his body is much weaker.Both Pan Pozhi and Cang Zhusheng came here in wheelchairs, and the hard work of guarding the border for many years has brought a lot of burden to their bodies.The two are now enjoying their old age in the capital.Pan Beigu is no longer one of the generals of the five major armies, and is now in the military headquarters.Cang Qingnan no longer manages the Maritime Affairs Department, but is qualified to be the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Cang family "retired" following Cang Zhusheng, and Cang Qingnan entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and gradually separated from the army.

Sitting in the yard with his old friends, Lin Xieshan was in a very good mood.As an old birthday star, he wore a new suit, which was sewn for him by his grandson-in-law, which was also his blessing.It is also because Chaozhong is rich now, medical science is developing rapidly, and they receive health benefits every month, and they can go to places with good scenery and good weather every year to recuperate, so this body can last until now.In the past, as an important minister in the court, no matter how rich the mansion was, how many of them could live to be eighty?It is a blessing to live to sixty or seventy.

Lin Xieshan's birthday happened to be in early summer, and the climate in Xixiang City could be considered pleasant.The birthday banquet is arranged at noon and will last until evening.The Duke's Mansion has also arranged guest rooms, and the old people who come here can go to rest at any time when they are tired.For the birthday of the Duke of the Kingdom, all civil servants and military generals will come.

The butler hurried over: "Old Master, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness King Ning have arrived."

When Sui Guogong heard this, he immediately got up, and the others stood up as well, and wanted to go to greet him.

Lin Xieshan led a group of old men who walked by themselves, were supported by others, or sat in wheelchairs out of the garden, and saw His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness King Ning head-on.The old ministers wanted to salute, His Royal Highness made a gesture of not being too polite first, and said: "I am here alone to celebrate the old man's birthday, all veterans, don't be too polite."

King Ning was even more casual: "I wish the old Duke a happy birthday. Seeing that the elders are in good health, as a junior, this king is also happy for the emperor's brother. This is the blessing of the Mata country."

"Don't dare, His Royal Highness King Ning has broken the old minister."

The prince and King Ning's close palace servants presented birthday gifts brought by them, and Lin Xieshan invited His Highness the Crown Prince and King Ning to sit in the garden.The Supreme Emperor is getting older and older. Since the Empress Dowager passed away the year before last, King Ning has stayed in the capital for a long time. Her husband Nan Rongke and their son Yu Wang Nanrong Ximata have been running between Xizhou and Matata.Lin Xieshan's birthday banquet was so grand, and it also had the meaning of the palace, to dispel the sadness in the hearts of some empress dowagers after the death of the empress dowager.

The crown prince sat down with King Ning, Lin Xieshan endured it and did not ask.However, King Ning took the initiative to say: "Mother and father called me to come over this morning, and asked me to help my father choose clothes. Both father and mother will come over today, and it is very lively."

Lin Xieshan was overjoyed, and the others were also overjoyed. Shi Yu: "The Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager Shun will come here?"

Ning Wang smiled and said: "Father has long wanted to leave the palace. It's not that Father had a cold a while ago, and his mother and father held him back. The old Duke's birthday, and mother and father gave Father a step down, so that Father has enough time. The reason is to leave the palace. Mother and father will also come to celebrate the old man's birthday."

As soon as King Ning finished speaking, the prince and all the veterans present were happy, especially today's old birthday star.

Before the Empress Dowager passed away, she was a little confused. She only recognized the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Shun, the Emperor and His Royal Highnesses King Ning and King Yu, and no one else could recognize her.The death of the Empress Dowager is sad but expected.The empress dowager passed away at the age of 91, which was an absolute joy and sorrow.The state funeral held in the palace for the Empress Dowager was also in the form of joy and funeral.It's just that the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager had a deep relationship, and the Empress Dowager passed away, and the Empress Dowager was very sad.The Supreme Emperor is also an old man in his 70s.If he is in a bad mood, it will inevitably affect his health.Fortunately, His Royal Highness Prince Ning was by his side, which made the Supreme Emperor feel much better.

In the palace, the Supreme Emperor standing in the mirror felt that he was not good-looking.It's not that the clothes don't look good, it just doesn't look good.Zhuo Ji, who was standing beside him, took a closer look and said, "It's pretty good. Is the jewelry not good-looking?"

Zhuo Ji thinks that his aesthetics in dressing and matching are so-so, but his son Wan Zhen's aesthetics is still very online.The overlord's outfit was chosen by his son, so the overlord's love for Wan Zhen should not be due to his disgust.

The Supreme Emperor looked at himself and the people around him in the mirror, pursed his lips, and said with tightness in his chest: "The widow is getting older, and his hair is almost black. Look at the spots on your face, they are so ugly."

Zhuo Ji blinked, turned around, raised his hand, and kissed the head of a certain former emperor under the board.The Supreme Emperor hugged Zhuo Ji and kissed him deeply, and everyone in the room immediately lowered their heads.Zhang Xian lightly hit Feng Xi who was beside him with the whisk in his hand, and after giving Feng Xi a look, Zhang Xian backed out.Feng Xi kicked and called out all the palace people in the house.

Zhang Xian is now only with the Supreme Emperor when he is about to leave the palace, and he is usually raised in Xiangfu Palace on weekdays.Others didn't understand why the Supreme Emperor was unhappy, but Zhang Xian knew it very well.

After kissing Zhuo Ji hotly, the Supreme Emperor revealed his chest tightness: "You are all over 60 years old, why don't you see old age?"

Zhuo Ji raised his head and said with a smile: "Why don't you look old, there are wrinkles around the corners of your eyes."

Emperor Yong'an: "What kind of wrinkles are those?"

Zhuo Ji really doesn't age.His hair is still black, and except for a few fine lines around his eyes, it can't be seen that he is over 60.There are three or four age spots on the face of the Supreme Emperor. Although Zhuo Ji asked him to abdicate early and paid special attention to his health, as an emperor of a feudal dynasty, as an "ancient man", the genes of the Supreme Emperor determined that he would not be able to live a particularly long life. , and the first 30 years when he met Zhuo Ji can be described as quite difficult and labor-intensive.After meeting Zhuo Ji, he exhausted his energy even more. It is not easy for him to have such energy and appearance now.

Zhuo Ji hugged the Taishang Emperor's waist and said: "You are ten years older than me. I have nothing to worry about except writing books. You are different. As the emperor of a country and a wise king, worry about it." , The energy consumed is far beyond that of ordinary people. Courtiers only need to do their own work well, but you have to plan in every aspect. If not, I will not let you abdicate early."

After that, he leaned over and said, "It doesn't make any difference to me whether the emperor is old or not. I have already dealt with the funeral."

The Supreme Emperor held Zhuo Ji's hand tightly: "Who did you tell?"

Zhuo Ji: "Wan Zhen."

The Supreme Emperor's jaw tightened: "Did you tell him?"

Zhuo Ji nodded.

The Supreme Emperor stroked Zhuo Ji's back, and after a while, he said in a hoarse voice: "Wan Zhen he..."

"Our children can accept anything."

The Supreme Emperor said with obvious pride: "Yes, our Wan Zhen can accept anything."

Only then did Zhuo Ji raise his head: "So, my lord, are you in a better mood? Do you want to set off? Haven't you been unable to hold back for a long time?"

The Supreme Emperor let go of Zhuo Ji, and said with nostalgia, "You haven't called me 'Your Majesty' for a long time, and it sounds fresh."

Zhuo Ji took the arm of the Supreme Emperor: "I prefer to call you 'Xunying'."

The Supreme Emperor smiled.

The two went out, and Zhang Xian, who was waiting not far from the door, came over immediately: "The Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager are leaving the palace?"

Zhuo Ji: "Well, let's go."

The Taishang Emperor's guard of honor left the palace, and soon the Duke's Mansion got the news.His Royal Highness King Ning said that the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager Shun would come over, and the Duke's Mansion immediately sent people to wait outside the palace gate. Once the Supreme Emperor's guard of honor came out, he would report back to the mansion immediately.Lin Xieshan brought a group of old men and all the guests who had already arrived to wait at the gate of the Duke's Mansion. Lin Yi brought all the Lin family to the gate of the mansion. The extended red carpet stretched all the way to the intersection.

The first to arrive was Qingpingwei, who strictly guarded both sides of the main road from the Imperial Palace to the Duke's Mansion.Lin Xieshan walked down the steps at the gate of the mansion, and Lin Yi immediately went up to support his father.Everyone went down the steps.After waiting for a while, he saw the emperor's guard of honor appearing from a distance, and a smile appeared on Lin Xieshan's face.Not only him, but all the veterans present had smiles on their faces.

The guard of honor stopped in front of the gate of the Duke's Mansion, and Lin Xieshan knelt down: "Old minister, welcome the Supreme Emperor, welcome the Empress Dowager Shun—"

"The veteran (minister) respectfully welcomes the Supreme Emperor, respectfully welcomes the Empress Dowager Shun—"

The Taishanghuang's jade car door was opened by Zhang Xian, and the Taishanghuang said cheerfully, "Get up, everyone get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty—"

Feng Xi and a young eunuch got into the car first and escorted the Empress Dowager to get out of the car, then escorted Empress Dowager Shun to get out of the car, and finally helped Zhang Xian get out of the car.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness King Ning have already stepped forward to greet him.The Supreme Emperor got out of the car and held Zhuo Ji's hand naturally, and said to Lin Xieshan: "I have been detained in the palace for the past few days and my hair is almost growing. Thanks to your birthday, otherwise I would not be able to get out today. "

Everyone laughed, Zhuo Ji said: "As long as the Supreme Emperor is not greedy, the servants will definitely not hold you back."

Lin Xieshan: "The Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager, let's enter the palace."

Overlord: "Enter the house!"

A group of people entered the Duke's Mansion.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the princes who came after him all came on behalf of the royal family, while King Ning came here purely as a guest.

As soon as the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager Shun arrived, the atmosphere in the Lin Mansion reached a climax immediately.The protagonist has also changed from the birthday star Sui Guogong to the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager Shun.But Sui Guogong, the old birthday star, will not be unhappy.He hadn't seen Empress Dowager Shun for a long time.As long as the Supreme Emperor is in good health, he will get together with these veterans from time to time.The Empress Dowager Shun only saw them frequently when they traveled around with the Supreme Emperor in those few years, and after the Supreme Emperor returned to Beijing, they could only see each other when they held banquets in the palace during festivals.The last time I saw him was the birthday of the Supreme Emperor.Lei Cong, who was already a husband and father, stood in the crowd, a little distance away from the Queen Mother.He stared deeply at his former little friend, rejoicing at the happiness and dignity of his life.The regrets of the past have also turned into blessings over time.

A group of people surrounded the Supreme Emperor and Zhuo Ji and entered the main hall.The Supreme Emperor and Zhuo Ji sat at the first place, the prince sat at the seat of the Supreme Emperor, and the old birthday star sat at the seat of Zhuo Ji.King Ning sat next to his father, and everyone was used to this.

The Supreme Emperor said: "The Duke is already 80 years old. Time flies. The Empress Dowager said that the widow can drink two glasses of wine today. The Duke's mansion must bring out the best wine to entertain the widow."

Lin Xieshan laughed and said: "If the wine in the Duke's Mansion is not good, the Supreme Emperor can punish the veteran."

Taishanghuang: "If you don't drink it well, I will punish you."

Zhuo Ji: "Grandpa's [-]th birthday is a day of great blessing. The Supreme Emperor and I have prepared a birthday present for Grandpa."

An eunuch came forward holding a box, Lin Xieshan immediately stood up, took it with both hands, it was still a little heavy!He said pleasantly: "The old minister thanked the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."

Someone said: "Queen Dowager, the old minister's birthday in September, can I ask the Queen Mother for a birthday present?"

Lin Xieshan glared at him immediately: "Nothing is possible without you!"

The Supreme Emperor was also dissatisfied: "You are not afraid of going back to Lin Xieshan to deal with you."

Shi Yu was very wronged: "The Supreme Emperor is partial to the Duke. The veteran is also loyal to the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager, not inferior to the Duke. When the old minister celebrates his birthday, he also wants a birthday gift prepared by the Queen Mother and the Supreme Emperor."

Only old ministers like Shi Yu and Lin Xieshan dared to be so indifferent in front of the Supreme Emperor.Zhuo Ji smiled and said: "When Xingle Hou celebrates his birthday, the Supreme Emperor and I will definitely prepare a copy."

"The empress dowager, the veteran will celebrate his birthday next month." Xian Wang said with a shy face.

The emperor is so angry!Come again!

Lin Xieshan was also angry, this is his birthday, are these people here to celebrate his birthday or to make trouble for him!

King Ning watched it with gusto, no matter how much power these veterans held in their hands before, they would always look like children snatching sweets in front of their father and mother, which is very interesting.

At the beginning of Shi Yu, who is the best at "grabbing things", all the old officials put away their face and rushed to hope that when they celebrate their birthdays, the Empress Dowager Shun and the Supreme Emperor can also give them a birthday gift.Of course, it doesn't matter if the Supreme Emperor is too busy to prepare, as long as the Empress Dowager Shun is free!

They were all old guys. Although the Supreme Emperor was very angry, he didn't stop Zhuo Ji when he promised to give birthday gifts to every veteran who asked for it.

At the birthday banquet at noon, the Supreme Emperor drank two glasses of fine wine.Say it's two cups, it's two cups.When he asked Feng Xi to pour him a third cup, his wine cup was taken away by Zhuo Ji by his side and replaced with health-preserving tea.The Supreme Emperor could only regretfully watch his wine glass being taken away.Anyway, the courtiers already knew that he was afraid of internal affairs, so it didn't matter if he was ashamed or not.

The Supreme Emperor is in a good mood, after all he has been detained in the palace for many days.Although you can't drink as much as you want when you come out, it's still very pleasant to drink tea and chat with the veterans.

After dinner, the Supreme Emperor went to the largest and most luxurious guest room in the Duke's Mansion to rest, and he would go back before the palace gates closed at night.Zhuo Ji accompanied him.There was still something to do at Ningwang Research Institute, so he left after dinner.The crown prince and several princes also left one after another.

When Lin Xieshan returned to his room, the first thing he did was put the gift box given to him by the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager Shun on the table, and he untied the tie on the box excitedly and full of curiosity.Lifting the lid of the box and seeing the contents inside, Lin Xieshan's breathing froze for a moment.Putting the lid aside, he slowly took out the contents of the box with steady hands and placed them on the table.

In the box is a brass sculpture, a sculpture of a general standing next to the artillery, holding the barrel of the gun.With just one glance, Lin Xieshan recognized the general as him.It is impossible for such a sculpture to be the idea of ​​the Supreme Emperor.The corners of Lin Xieshan's mouth slowly raised, and the arc became deeper and deeper, his eyes were full of liking.

Someone knocked on the door: "Master, Xinglehou is here."

The smile on Lin Xieshan's face disappeared immediately, and he quickly put the sculpture back into the box and closed the lid: "Let him in."

The old slave pushed open the door and Shi Yu came in.

Lin Xieshan: "What are you doing here? I told you to go back to the house and rest."

Shi Yu was not polite either, and asked, "What kind of birthday gift did the Supreme Emperor and Zuo give you? Let me see."

Lin Xieshan: "Just to see?"

Shi Yu curled his lips: "Can I snatch it from the Duke?"

Also.

Lin Xieshan opened the box, showed it to Shi Yu, and said, "This birthday gift from the Supreme Emperor and Zuo has been sent to my heart."

As he gets older, Lin Xieshan inevitably develops the childlike innocence common to old people—commonly known as childishness.Shi Yu was very displeased: "The Supreme Emperor and Chu Chu are the ones who love you the most."

Lin Xieshan put the lid on: "Then Xinglehou has to think about why the Supreme Emperor and Yuzu love me the most."

"Humph!"

Shi Yu left angrily.

After Shi Yu left, Lin Xieshan took out the brass sculpture from the box and carefully put it into his treasure house.On the wall in the middle of the treasure house, there is a painting.In the painting, the general is fighting on the battlefield, his back is chilling.Lin Xieshan placed the sculpture under the painting.He stared at the painting without moving for a long time.

Many years later, Lin Xieshan died of illness. Among the funeral objects in his coffin were a painting he cherished for half his life and a brass sculpture.One hundred years after Lin Xieshan, Emperor Kang Jing issued a decree of kindness, allowing Lin Xieshan to be buried in the tomb of loyal ministers that was expanded next to the emperor's tomb.After Lin Xieshan died of illness, Shi Yu, King Wu, King Xian...these veterans and important ministers of Emperor Yong'an were all buried there one after another. Finally, a large group of tombs of emperors and ministers of the ancient Matata Kingdom was formed with the emperor's mausoleum as the center.This is also a good story that has been circulated in the history of Mata country.