20demayo Chapter 305 Celebrating Together in Two Cities
Chapter 305 Celebrating Together in Two Cities
In the imperial study of the Xijing Kingdom's palace, morning light streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
Jiang Youan, dressed in a black dragon-patterned casual robe, was reviewing memorials at his desk.
The gilded incense burner on the table emitted wisps of sandalwood incense, adding a touch of solemnity to the tranquil space.
At this moment, a guard dressed in a flying fish robe quietly appeared in the study, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter sealed with sealing wax with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is a secret letter from the Nanzhao Kingdom."
Jiang Youan put down his vermilion pen, took the letter, and a hint of doubt arose in his heart. After he opened the letter and quickly read through its contents, a joyful smile appeared on his face: "So Nan Yi got married."
Thinking back on the youthful days he spent with Xiao Nanyi, Jiang Youan was filled with emotion. Although they lived in different countries, their friendship was deep and had never been estranged because of their different social statuses. Now that Xiao Nanyi had started a family, Jiang Youan was genuinely happy for him.
"Summon the Minister of Rites to the palace," Jiang Youan ordered.
Before long, the Minister of Rites rushed over, knelt down and bowed: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May I ask why Your Majesty summoned me here?"
Jiang Youan handed the secret letter to the Minister of Rites: "The Crown Prince Xiao Nanyi of Nanzhao has been married. I intend to send an envoy to congratulate him. You should quickly prepare a generous gift."
The Minister of Rites took the secret letter, glanced at it, and said, “Your Majesty is wise. I believe that we can select the finest silk and tea from our Xijing Kingdom, along with a painting titled ‘The Harmonious Union of Phoenixes and Luan Birds’ meticulously crafted by a court painter, to express our congratulations.”
Jiang Youan nodded in agreement: "This plan is excellent. In addition, prepare some rare and precious treasures to demonstrate the sincerity of our Xijing Kingdom. You must have the gifts ready within three days and select an eloquent envoy to go to the Nanzhao Kingdom as soon as possible."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" The Minister of Rites accepted the order and departed.
Three days later, everything was ready. Jiang You'an personally received the envoy and repeatedly instructed him: "On this mission to Nanzhao, you represent the image of my Xijing Kingdom. When you meet the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Dowager, and the new Crown Princess of Nanzhao, you must be respectful and courteous. Convey my blessings to them, wishing Nan Yi and the Crown Princess a loving and harmonious marriage, and that Nanzhao will prosper and flourish."
The envoy knelt and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly not fail in my mission."
The envoys, carrying generous gifts, embarked on their journey to the Nanzhao Kingdom. Along the way, they traversed mountains and valleys, enduring wind and rain, and finally arrived at the capital of Nanzhao.
Inside the palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, Xiao Nanyi and Lin Wanqing were discussing state affairs with Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli. At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly entered the hall, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Dowager, and Crown Prince, an envoy from the Xijing Kingdom requests an audience."
Xiao Nanyi raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Summon them quickly!"
Led by a eunuch, the envoy entered the main hall. Dressed in magnificent official robes and holding a letter of state, he respectfully bowed to the crowd: "The envoy of Xijing Kingdom pays respects to the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Dowager, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess of Nanzhao Kingdom. His Majesty, having heard of the Crown Prince's joyous marriage, has specially ordered me to deliver this congratulatory gift to express my congratulations."
With that, the envoy presented the letter of state and then ordered the gifts to be displayed one by one. The exquisite silks, the fragrant teas, the precious treasures, and the magnificent "Phoenixes and Luan Birds in Harmony" painting drew admiration from everyone present.
Xiao Nanyi accepted the letter of state, read it carefully, and then a gratified smile appeared on his face: "You'an is very thoughtful. I am deeply honored to receive the blessings of Xijing Kingdom for this grand wedding."
Lin Wanqing smiled and said, "The gifts from Xijing Kingdom are so generous, which shows the deep friendship between our two countries. Please convey our gratitude to His Majesty of Nanjing Kingdom when you return."
The envoy bowed again: "Your Majesty, I will convey the words of His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess to my Emperor. My Emperor also said that he wishes for the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Xijing Kingdom to be friendly and fraternal for generations to come."
Xiao Jingchuan nodded: "The Nanzhao Kingdom and the Xijing Kingdom have always lived in harmony. Now that the children have grown up, I hope that the friendship between the two countries can continue to be passed down in their hands."
Afterwards, Xiao Nanyi ordered a grand banquet to entertain the envoy. The banquet was filled with singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was lively. The envoy and the princes and ministers of Nanzhao drank and chatted, reminiscing about the friendship between the two countries.
A few days later, the envoy bid farewell to the Nanzhao Kingdom and embarked on his return journey. Xiao Nanyi and Lin Wanqing personally saw the envoy off to the city gate and entrusted him with a handwritten letter and some heartfelt gifts from Nanshuang City: gifts conveying affection for the young.
In a magnificent side hall of the Nanzhao Kingdom's imperial palace, soft light filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting dappled patterns of color on the floor. Xiao Nanyi and Lin Wanqing sat facing each other, discussing the return gifts to be prepared for the young prince of the Xijing Kingdom. The table was laden with various carefully selected items, gleaming in the bright light.
“Wanqing, Youan not only sent a congratulatory gift, but also expressed their best wishes for us. We should not let this friendship go to waste.” Xiao Nanyi reached out and gently stroked an ancient book on the table, saying thoughtfully, “Moreover, Xiao Chengyu is now 100 days old. We should send him a generous gift to express our feelings.”
Lin Wanqing nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of items before finally settling on a small, exquisite jade pendant shaped like a qilin. The jade was warm and lustrous, the carving meticulous; the qilin's eyes were bright and piercing, its scales lifelike, as if it might take flight at any moment. "Your Majesty," she said, "this qilin jade pendant symbolizes good fortune, auspiciousness, and protection. It would be most fitting to give it to the young prince."
Xiao Nanyi followed her gaze, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Wanqing, you have a discerning eye. The Qilin is an auspicious beast. I hope that Chengyu will wear this jade pendant and have a peaceful and prosperous life, and become a wise and virtuous ruler in the future."
After much deliberation, the two finalized their list of return gifts. In addition to the Qilin jade pendant, there were also the Four Treasures of the Study, carved from rhinoceros horn, a unique item from the Nanzhao Kingdom, in the hope that the young prince would be diligent in his studies and quick-witted; and a set of children's clothing made of the finest Shu brocade, with exquisite embroidery and delicate stitches, embroidered with auspicious patterns of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.
A few days later, the envoy from Xijing Kingdom was about to return home. Xiao Nanyi and Lin Wanqing personally visited the inn where the envoy was staying. Upon seeing them, the envoy immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess's presence is an honor to our inn."
Xiao Nanyi smiled and waved his hand: "No need for formalities. The people of Nanzhao are deeply grateful for the envoy's long journey to bring His Majesty of Xijing Kingdom's blessings. The Crown Princess and I have prepared some gifts for the young prince, and we hope the envoy will take them back with him."
After he finished speaking, the attendants filed in and presented the beautifully wrapped gifts to the envoy. Looking at these precious gifts, the envoy couldn't help but exclaim, "His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess have put so much thought into this; His Majesty and the young prince will surely be delighted."
Lin Wanqing stepped forward and gently handed the brocade box containing the Qilin jade pendant to the envoy, tenderly instructing him, "This Qilin jade pendant is a small token of our appreciation. We hope the young prince will like it. Please convey our blessings to the young prince, wishing him a healthy and blessed life."
The envoy accepted the brocade box with both hands and solemnly said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will convey your blessings to His Majesty and the young prince in their entirety."
Xiao Nanyi patted the envoy on the shoulder: "Go back and tell You'an that the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Xijing Kingdom have a deep friendship. I hope that the two countries can continue to maintain friendly exchanges and create a peaceful and prosperous world together."
The envoy respectfully replied, "Your subject will certainly report the truth."
After bidding farewell to Xiao Nanyi and Lin Wanqing, the envoy, carrying gifts, embarked on his journey back to Xijing Kingdom. After several days of arduous travel, the envoy finally arrived at the royal palace of Xijing Kingdom.
Jiang Youan received the envoy in the Imperial Study. After bowing, the envoy presented Xiao Nanyi's letter and gifts: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Nanzhao Kingdom are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's blessings and gifts. They have specially prepared these gifts to return the favor to the young prince and to convey their greetings to Your Majesty."
Jiang Youan took the letter and read it carefully, a gratified smile appearing on his face. Then, he opened the box containing the gifts and, upon seeing the jade pendant with a qilin design, the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) and exquisite children's clothing, couldn't help but exclaim, "Nan Yi and the Crown Princess have truly put their hearts into this."
At this moment, Su Liyue carried the little prince into the imperial study. The little prince opened his big, round eyes and looked around curiously. Jiang Youan smiled and showed the little prince the Qilin jade pendant: "Chengyu, this is a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Nanzhao Kingdom. They hope you will grow up safely."
The little prince reached out his small hand, wanting to touch the jade pendant, and made "ee-ya" sounds, which amused Jiang Youan and Su Liyue.
Looking at the gifts, Su Liyue's eyes were full of gratitude: "We must not let down the kindness of the Nanzhao Kingdom. We will definitely repay them properly when we have the opportunity in the future."
Jiang Youan nodded in agreement: "That's right. The friendship between Nanzhao Kingdom and Xijing Kingdom must be passed down from generation to generation."
In the winter of the Nanzhao Kingdom, the warm sun struggled to pierce through the thick clouds, gilding the ancient palace walls with a soft golden edge. Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the vermilion gates of the Longevity Palace swayed quietly in the morning breeze, as if silently telling the story of time. Xiao Jingchuan, holding Gu Liuli's hand, walked slowly towards the Longevity Palace. Their shadows were stretched long by the sunlight, like a serene and beautiful painting.
"It's been a long time since I've visited my mother and father. I wonder how they are doing." Xiao Jingchuan frowned slightly, his words filled with worry. After abdicating, although he was relieved of the heavy political burden, he was unable to spend much time with his parents due to various trivial matters.
Gu Liuli gently squeezed his hand back and softly comforted him, "Your Majesty, please do not worry. The Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager are blessed with good fortune and will surely be well. If we go together today, they will be delighted." With the change of her status, she has also returned to the inner palace more often from her active role in court affairs, carefully managing the warm and orderly relationship within the royal family.
Stepping into the courtyard of Changshou Palace, a vibrant scene unfolds before your eyes. Several red plum trees stand proudly in the cold wind, their blossoms like specks of rouge, exuding a delicate fragrance. A parrot under the eaves, seeing someone enter, flaps its wings and chirps clearly, "Honored guest! Honored guest!"
Hearing the commotion, an old eunuch hurriedly came out to greet them. Upon seeing Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli, he immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "This old servant greets the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager! The arrival of the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager today truly brings honor to Changshou Palace."
Xiao Jingchuan slightly raised his hand: "Eunuch Li, no need for formalities. Are the Empress Dowager and Father Emperor inside the hall?"
Eunuch Li rose and respectfully replied, "The Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager are currently enjoying tea in the hall. This old servant will go and inform them immediately."
A moment later, Eunuch Li came out, smiling, and said, "The Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager invite you."
Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli entered the hall, which was warm and cozy, filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager sat on carved nanmu chairs, and their faces immediately lit up with smiles upon seeing Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli.
"Jingchuan, Liuli, you've finally arrived." The Empress Dowager put down her teacup, stood up, and her eyes were full of affection.
Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli quickly stepped forward, knelt down and bowed: "Your subject (daughter-in-law) greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress! May Father Emperor and Mother Empress enjoy good health and long life."
The retired emperor smiled and waved his hand, "Get up quickly, there's no need for such formalities among family."
Xiao Jingchuan stood up, walked to the Emperor Emeritus's side, and asked with concern, "Father, how have you been lately? I heard that you caught a cold a few days ago, have you recovered?"
The Emperor Emeritus nodded: "You're much better now. But you, how are you settling in after your abdication?"
Xiao Jingchuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am doing well. After abdicating, I am relieved of my burdens and have more time to spend with Liuli, which can be considered as enjoying the happiness of family life."
Gu Liuli walked to the Empress Dowager's side and gently took her arm: "Mother, your daughter-in-law has brought you some new tea, a precious tribute from the south, which is said to have health and beauty benefits."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager beamed with joy: "Liuli, you're always so thoughtful."
The group sat together, sipping tea and chatting. Xiao Jingchuan recounted to the Emperor Emeritus his observations and reflections on the new policies of the court after his abdication, as well as some changes in the Nanzhao Kingdom under the new emperor's rule. The Emperor Emeritus nodded frequently, offering his own insights, his words revealing his deep concern for the country.
Gu Liuli chatted with the Empress Dowager about everyday matters, sharing anecdotes from the palace, as well as her teachings and expectations for the younger generation. The Empress Dowager listened with great interest, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh.
"By the way, how are Yi'er and Wanqing doing lately?" the Empress Dowager suddenly asked. "Are they getting along well after their marriage?"
Gu Liuli smiled and said, "Mother, please don't worry. Yi'er and Wanqing are very much in love, and the young couple gets along very well. Wanqing is well-educated and takes good care of Yi'er."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction: "That's good. Jingchuan, Liuli, you should also take good care of them and help them produce heirs for the royal family as soon as possible."
Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli exchanged a smile and replied in unison, "Your subject (daughter-in-law) understands."
Before they knew it, the sun was setting, and Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli rose to take their leave. The Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager escorted them to the palace gate, repeatedly urging them to visit often.
"Be careful on your way back," the Empress Dowager said reluctantly, holding Gu Liuli's hand.
Gu Liuli's eyes reddened slightly: "Mother, you and Father should also take good care of yourselves. Your daughter-in-law and Jingchuan will come to visit you again in a few days."