NCCnovel Chapter 746 What happened after death
Chapter 746 What happened after death
Chang'an in late autumn is filled with the sweet fragrance of locust flowers, and the wind chimes on the eaves of the Liangyi Palace tinkle in the draft.
Li Zhi paused with his hand holding the brush, the ink on the "Qianwu Zhengyao" spread out on the desk was not dry yet.
The sunlight outside slanted in through the window.
Footsteps came from afar, and the gilded animal-head door knocker knocked three times.
The moment the door was opened, sunlight carrying the fragrance of locust flowers filled the hall.
Su Tan was sitting in a wheelchair, the hem of his blue-gray brocade robe was wet with rain, and it was obvious that he had just arrived from the Duke's Mansion.
Behind him, Li Jingyi clutched the corner of her clothes. Her moon-white skirt was embroidered with half-opened magnolia flowers, and the pearls hanging from the silver hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her trembling.
The girl's face still has a childish look.
"Father-in-law!"
When Li Zhi stood up, he knocked over the paperweight on the table. He walked quickly forward, sweeping his wide sleeves across the pile of memorials, and firmly supported Su Tan's hunched back before he was about to salute.
"Since you have difficulty walking, please don't bother with these formalities."
Li Zhi's palms were strong and warm, and when they touched Su Tan's bony shoulder blades, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in his heart.
Su Tan's cloudy eyes welled up with tears, and his hands, covered with age spots, tightly grasped Li Zhi's sleeves: "Your Majesty's body is worth millions of gold, how can you..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Zhi had already bowed respectfully, his forehead almost touching the back of the old man's hand: "If it weren't for my brother, how could there be the Li Zhi of today?
"I will always remember this kindness in my heart."
His voice was low and sincere.
Li Jingyi stood behind Su Tan. When Li Zhi stood up, his eyes suddenly softened. He gently squatted down to look the girl in the eye, and gently placed his warm palm on the back of her cold hand. "Yier, it's been so long since we last met. You've grown so tall. I remember the last time I held you, you were not even as tall as my waist."
His eyes were full of doting. Through the girl in front of him, he saw the child who once laughed and played in the sanatorium.
Li Jingyi wanted to pull his hand back in panic, but he didn't dare to use too much force.
She lowered her head slightly, "Hello... Uncle."
The sound is as thin as a mosquito or fly, but as clear as a yellow oriole singing out of a valley.
Su Tan gently tugged at Li Jingyi's sleeve.
"Yier, don't be rude. You should call me uncle."
Li Zhi smiled and waved his hand, reaching out to gently rub the girl's hair, messing up her carefully combed bun a bit: "To me, you will always be my uncle."
"Yier can go to any corner of this palace if she wants to."
"Remember when you were little and loved playing hide-and-seek behind the rockery, turning my room upside down?"
Li Jingyi raised his head, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and his tense shoulders gradually relaxed: "Uncle, I still remember! That time I hid in the haystack in the woodshed, and you searched for me for a long time before finding me."
When she talked about the past, her chatterbox seemed to be opened and a bright smile appeared on her face.
"Have you had breakfast?"
Li Zhi asked with concern, "If you haven't eaten yet, I'll ask the imperial kitchen to prepare your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus cake and crab meat soup dumplings."
He knew Li Jingyi's preferences very well, and every detail reflected his care.
Li Jingyi quickly shook her head, the pearl tassels in her hair swaying: "I have eaten, little uncle."
"That's good." Li Zhi turned around and ordered, "Wang Can, prepare a sedan chair to take Princess Yunhe to Taiming Palace."
"Tell the guards guarding the palace that from now on, the princess doesn't need to be informed when she goes in or out."
His tone was unquestionable, demonstrating the emperor's majesty.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wang Can bowed and retreated. After a while, guards came out of the hall carrying a sedan chair.
Li Jingyi looked at Su Tan reluctantly, then looked at Li Zhi, and then got into the sedan chair.
The footsteps gradually faded away, and Liangyi Hall returned to silence.
Li Zhi walked to the rosewood cabinet and took out an antique teapot.
The surface of the teapot is engraved with lotus patterns, and the edges have been polished smooth, obviously having been rubbed repeatedly countless times.
"Father-in-law, look."
Li Zhi opened the lid of the teapot and found some fine tea leaves inside. "This is what my brother left behind."
"He said that the best tea should be given as a reward to meritorious officials, and that drinking the tea foam himself would be more delicious."
His voice was filled with a hint of nostalgia, as if he could see his royal brother reviewing memorials in the imperial study with a cup of tea.
Su Tan looked at the tea foam, his eyes moistened again.
When the late emperor sat on the dragon throne and discussed state affairs with him, there was always a cup of tea like this at hand.
My daughter always has something to say.
Hot water poured into the teacup, and the steaming heat blurred the faces of the two people.
Li Zhi handed the teacup to Su Tan with a natural and intimate gesture.
"Try it, it still tastes the same."
Su Tan took the teacup with trembling hands. He put the teacup down and suddenly started coughing violently, his body heaving violently.
Li Zhi hurried forward and patted him gently on the back.
It took a long time for Su Tan to catch his breath.
He looked at Li Zhi, his old face full of worry: "Your Majesty, I came here today to ask for something."
"Father-in-law, please feel free to speak."
Li Zhi sat down again and looked at the old man with a firm gaze. "As long as it is something I can do, I will do it without hesitation."
Su Tan took a deep breath, tears welling up in his eyes: "This old minister's time is approaching, I'm afraid I won't make it through this winter."
"The old woman passed away early, leaving behind only one daughter, Su Zhi."
"The late emperor only has two bloodlines left, You'er and Yi'er. Now You'er..."
At this point, the old man choked up and couldn't continue.
His heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
"My condolences, father-in-law." Li Zhi reached out and held the old man's trembling hand. "Yier is my brother's blood, and also my closest relative."
"Don't worry, I will treat her as my own and protect her throughout her life."
Su Tan tightly grasped Li Zhi's hand, as if grasping the last straw to save his life: "Your Majesty, Yi'er is simple by nature and does not understand intrigue and deception."
"How will she cope with herself after the old minister leaves?"
Li Zhi stood up and walked to the window.
The sunlight shone on him, outlining a golden outline.
He turned around, his eyes as firm as iron: "Father-in-law, I will protect the people of the Tang Dynasty to live and work in peace and happiness, and protect the continuous continuation of the Li family's bloodline."
"Yier is of the Li family's bloodline and the apple of the Su family's eye. I will never let her suffer even a little bit of injustice."
He walked up to Su Tan and said solemnly.
"If you break this oath, let me, Li Zhi..."
"Your Majesty, you can't!" Su Tan interrupted, "I trust Your Majesty. I just hope that Your Majesty will take better care of Yi'er in the future."
"Don't worry, Father-in-law. From today on, Yi'er's food, clothing, and other expenses will still be paid for by the palace."
"I will hire the best teacher for her to teach her poetry, literature and etiquette. I won't talk about poetry, literature and etiquette. Yi'er can learn whatever she wants."
"When she comes of age, I will choose a good marriage for her and let her live a happy and healthy life."
"However, Yi'er looks like the Emperor's brother and his wife. Even though the Grand Tutor doesn't want to, I can't do anything about it."
Li Zhi smiled and scratched his head.
Su Tan looked at Li Zhi with gratitude in his eyes.
He picked up the teacup and took a sip. Although the tea foam was coarse, it had a unique mellowness.
This tea is like the late emperor's way of governing the country, simple and unpretentious, yet warms people's hearts.
"With your Majesty's words, I can rest assured even if I die."
Su Tan put down the teacup and finally breathed a sigh of relief.