Chapter 133: Bidding Farewell To The Old
Shortly after emerging from the Inner Palace, Xiao Yi was pulled aside by Li Hongyi and Li Hongjian.
“General Xiao, have you discussed the funeral procession with the Empress?”
“Yes.”
Li Hongyi stroked his beard and asked softly, “May I ask, have you decided how to resolve it?”
“Resolve what?”
“This… Has General Xiao not discussed it with the Empress?”
Xiao Yi pondered, had they perhaps sensed something?
But since he and An Yuanzhen were innocent, he was at ease and said calmly, “If you have something to say, please speak directly.”
“Yuzhou is over three hundred li from Kaifeng, a round trip for a funeral procession will take at least ten days. The New Emperor is about to ascend the throne, there isn’t enough time.”
Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback. Judging from their words, Rui Mausoleum was in Yuzhou, so far away? He had originally thought it was about the same as Yingling.
The problem was, no one had actually told him.
The Empress was in charge of the funeral ceremony, so naturally, one couldn’t expect her to understand. Those who did understand dared not speak, lest they be told, “Since you know where Rui Mausoleum is, you go send them off.”
Li Hongyi’s eyes flickered, and he asked, “Who would want to miss the New Emperor’s ascension? Moreover, the imperial coffin cannot be placed here during the New Emperor’s enthronement, what is to be done?”
A sense of absurdity washed over him.
Xiao Yi felt that the entire Imperial Palace, including himself, was a makeshift operation.
These were Li Hanmei’s own flesh and blood, her posthumous affairs. If she hadn’t extricated herself so decisively, whether she had died or gone to Tai Ping Palace, she would have become a burden to others, waiting for their salvation.
Xiao Yi profoundly learned two things from her.
Firstly, regardless of gender, losing power is akin to losing dignity and life; one must maintain the struggle at all costs, by any means necessary, with unwavering tenacity. Secondly, do not think of entrusting your future and life entirely to anyone; remain independent, and in any situation, save yourself first.
“General Xiao? Why aren’t you speaking!”
“What advice do you two have for me?”
“General Xiao is handling the funeral rites and slept soundly last night. It seems you have a plan in mind, please give us a decision.”
Xiao Yi understood their intentions, hoping he would make the decision so the Li brothers wouldn’t have to attend the funeral procession.
He could make this decision, but with conditions, and he would only discuss it with Li Hongxin.
This was also an opportunity to force both sides to be forthright…
“Look at these two brothers of mine, they’re fools!”
Li Hongxin sighed, “We both know that the imperial coffin doesn’t contain our younger sister, so I absolutely cannot go to Rui Mausoleum and miss the New Emperor’s ascension.”
“Isn’t the Military Governor Li bringing this upon himself?”
“In my original plan, I intended to act after some time, conveniently waiting until I was about to leave the capital.”
Once Li Hongxin admitted it, the truth was out, and his attitude changed considerably.
He sighed again, “Either, we can store it at a temple for a while; or, let the Palace Servants escort it, and we don’t need to go.”
“Both methods are prone to delays and might expose the truth. Moreover, Lord Ming is a sentimental person, and doing so would make Lord Ming look down on the Commander.”
“What method do you have?”
“Send it thirty li outside the city, cremate the body, and bury it in their hometown. Afterward, the procession will continue to Rui Mausoleum, while we return to the capital to welcome Lord Ming.”
“But if the New Emperor finds out…”
“The Commander dotes on his sister and is fulfilling her last wish. Since Lord Ming knows about the matter of Gaozu snatching his wife back then, would he blame the Commander for this?”
“He probably wouldn’t blame me, but you would be in serious trouble.”
“My affairs are my own to handle.”
Li Hongxin did not immediately agree. He paced back and forth, then suddenly turned and looked at him, guardedly asking, “What are your conditions?”
“No rush, let’s protect the Li Clan first.”
“If you don’t say, I’ll be even more uneasy.”
“We are family, why be so eager to settle accounts now?”
“Kid, you’re trying to get something for nothing.”
“I’m risking my life, and the Li Clan is risking hundreds of lives. Is the Li Clan at a disadvantage?”
“If my younger sister hadn’t stopped me, I would have really wanted to kill you.”
Despite his words, Li Hongxin extended his hand and clapped palms with Xiao Yi.
Once agreed, that very day they first escorted Zhao Chu and others to a cremation furnace built in the mountains twenty li outside the city.
The next day, in the western suburbs of Kaifeng, thick smoke rose over the wilderness.
Xiao Yi looked up, and the topic he had discussed with Li Hongxin deepened further.
“Lord Ming is different from the successive Sons of Heaven after the fall of Tang. The trend of the world is long division, then union. When it unites, it starts with Lord Ming. Without this consensus, the Li Clan still cannot be protected.”
“If we can gain the New Emperor’s trust, who would care about gamblers and ruffians like Liu Chong? To be honest, when I first joined Gaozu, I didn’t get along with Liu Chong.” Li Hongxin said, “The problem is, can the New Emperor tolerate the Li Clan?”
“Commander, do not rely on military power. When it comes to fighting, no one in the world can defeat Lord Ming. All Liu Chong can rely on is the terrain of Hedong, but Shaan Prefecture is absolutely not viable. To gain Lord Ming’s trust, there is only the word ‘sincerity’.”
“It’s easy for you, but difficult for me.”
“At that time, I will demonstrate for the Commander, how about it?”
“You have caused great trouble this time. If you can get through it safely, then I will trust the New Emperor, why not.”
“Good.”
As they were talking, Zhao Chu came out holding a large white ceramic basin, preparing to hand it to Xiao Yi.
Li Hongxin stepped forward first, took it, and said, “I will send people to deliver it back to Mingli Village.”
“That’s good. I suppose Liu Chong has not completely blocked the roads to Hedong yet.”
At this point, the entire matter had come to a close for Xiao Yi. It was only then that he realized that Li Hanmei actually needed him to do very little.
As if casually, Li Hongxin said again, “After the funeral procession, why not come to my residence for a while?”
Xiao Yi shook his head, “No.”
“I won’t be able to stay in the capital for long,” Li Hongxin sighed. “Before the city closes tomorrow, I will arrange for my family to return to Shaan Prefecture first.”
“I still have to rush to Gaomen Village tomorrow night. Perhaps another time I can trouble the Commander at your residence.”
“You’re a stubborn kid.”
…
The funeral procession continued with the empty coffin towards Rui Mausoleum. As the new ruler was about to enter the city, no one cared about this matter anymore.
“Let’s go, Bidding Farewell to the Old and Welcoming the New.”
The Li brothers did not return to the capital but rode their horses directly towards Gaomen Village.
Xiao Yi, on the other hand, escorted the Empress to Tai Ping Palace, completing the last task of the old dynasty.
During a break, An Yuanzhen kept waving, beckoning Xiao Yi closer.
“Empress.”
“I’ve beckoned you several times, and only now do you come.”
“Yes, Empress, are we embarking on a big trap or a small one this time?”
“Shut up, I’ll whip you.”
“Then, what is it that the Empress needs?”
“I just wanted to tell you, I also took this route when I came from Xiangzhou, and I didn’t notice it yesterday.”
“Is Xiangzhou that good?”
“Yes, you’ll know when you go. Since the Tang Dynasty’s chaos, Xiangzhou has been the most stable. It’s prosperous and wealthy, more peaceful to stay in than Kaifeng, you won’t want to leave once you go.”
“Understood.”
“Alright then, go prepare the sedan chair canopy… Hmm, a small one will do.”
At this moment, An Yuanzhen was in a very good mood, as if returning from an outing. However, upon arriving at Tai Ping Palace that afternoon, she froze.
“We’re staying here?”
“Although the environment isn’t comparable to the palace, it’s not bad. Empress, please.”
“But… it looks like a prison.”
“How does it look like one?”
“The guard outside looks like a butcher, so scary. And those old nuns, their eyes make me uncomfortable, they clearly dislike me.”
“The Guest Courtyard is nice, take a look.”
“How is it nice? It’s so deserted, the walls are so high, so gloomy. Many people must have died here, right? I don’t want to stay here, no.”
“You’ll only stay for a while, until your father is enfeoffed as the King of Nanyang…”
“No, I don’t want to. Xiao Yi, I beg you, don’t make me stay here, take me to my grandfather’s villa, okay? I don’t want to stay, I don’t want to stay, I’d rather die than stay.”
An Yuanzhen took one look at the room and turned to run.
Xiao Yi went to stop her, but she suddenly punched him. As a result, he clutched his hand in pain and squatted on the ground, crying loudly.
“Wuwuwu…”
“Empress, don’t cry.”
“How could you do this?! You’re sending me to a place like this for your own future, wuwuwu… I’m a subjugated slave, what will they do to me?”
Palace Servants quickly went to comfort her in low voices.
Soon, an old nun approached, her face solemn. She clasped her hands to Xiao Yi and said, “Amitabha, General may leave. This place can be left to this humble nun.”
“Then I’ll trouble you. She is not only the former Empress but also the Young Mistress of a current dignitary.”
Xiao Yi gave the instruction, glanced back at the room he had arranged, knowing it was impossible to let An Yuanzhen go, and walked out.
Behind him, the crying intensified, quite pitiable.
They were clearly not very familiar with each other, yet it felt as if he owed her something.
After leaving Tai Ping Palace, Sun Zhong immediately came forward, his fawning expression about to overflow.
“General Xiao, you’ve become more robust and more distinguished. I never expected the General would give me such a good assignment. I truly don’t know how to repay your kindness.”
“Do you know what you need to do?”
“Please, General, enlighten me.”
“Empress An is the daughter of the Military Governor of Shannan East Circuit. Lord Ming will soon be enfeoffing Duke An as the King of Nanyang.”
“Understood. I will certainly be cautious and prudent.”
Xiao Yi nodded, and Sun Zhong solicitously escorted him to his horse.
Just as he was about to mount, a young monk in grey clothes ran over from the street corner, also clasping his hands in a bow.
“May I ask, is this General Xiao?”
“What is it?”
“Amitabha, this humble monk was entrusted by someone to bring a message to the General, and to guide the way. The original message was: ‘Although I have no intention of hiding it, my heart feels indebted. Please accept this small gift, and I wish you a Bidding Farewell to the Old, Welcoming the New, and a brilliant future.'”
“Where is she?”
“After making a donation at our temple, the Benefactor has already departed.”
“Lead the way.”
“Please.”
Behind them, Lu Chou grumbled, “I saw this little monk hiding in the street corner earlier. I thought he was here to meet his mistress at the nunnery.”
The procession went east for a short while and turned into a neighborhood, paved with blue bricks, where the residences of dukes and nobles were clustered.
Passing through the neighborhood, there was a grand mansion ahead, with a gate of a specific architectural style, exuding extravagance. However, the main gate was sealed.
“Where is that?”
Lu Chou, being a local of Kaifeng, replied, “Reporting to the General, in front is the Li Ye Residence. The Li brothers all live nearby. The one behind is the Li Hongjian Residence.”
Xiao Yi had thought that Li Hanmei wanted to see him before she left. He looked back; there were no other people on the street. In front of the Li Residence, there was only a row of hoof prints heading west.
The Li Ye Residence faced the neighborhood wall. On the other side of the wall was a small temple, revealing a corner of its main hall, appearing quite tranquil.
As Xiao Yi passed, he noticed a small section of the neighborhood wall had sunk somewhat into the ground. It reminded him of the Pawn Repository he had encountered while apprehending Su Fengji; it was a tunnel that passed through two neighborhoods.
The little monk led them through the neighborhood and turned into that temple.
