Tanghua old story

As the winter became colder and colder, Qi Rou's body also declined day by day as the old doctor had predicted. On the day when the red plum blossoms in the Moon Palace were invited, Qi Rou fell asleep forever.

When Qi Tang walked into Qi Rou's room holding a bunch of bright red plums, Qi Rou smiled weakly, regretting that it's not spring, she really wanted to see the peach blossom tree in the imperial garden again.

"Tang'er," Qi Rou hissed weakly, "read Xiuyun's letter for me again."

Qi Tang obediently picked up the thick stack of yellowed letters, speaking in a gentle voice.

Listening to the beautiful dream woven by Lu Xiuyun, Qi Rou couldn't stop the crystal tears from the corners of her eyes. Gradually, Qi Tang's voice became more and more distant and blurred. The leafy peach blossom tree, the sun is shining, the flowers are burning, the fragrance is overflowing, the bees and butterflies are clustered, there is a person under the flowers who is independent, white clothes are better than the snow, the familiar smile is so reassuring, and the person slowly opens his arms , as if she had been waiting for Qi Rou for a long time.

"Rou'er, I'm waiting for you."

Qi Tang read the last sentence tenderly, and at some point, Qi Rou closed her once captivating graceful eyes forever, only the sweet and shy smile of a young girl appeared on her thin and pale face again.

Filled with joy and relaxation, Qi Rou ran to the open arms of her childhood lover, to the girlhood in the distant dream. "Xiuyun, I'm here."

The seventh year of Xuanyuan was a year of ups and downs for Qi Tang. The third brother Qi Rong stayed forever in the spring of Yangliu Yiyi. The blooming days get rid of the disturbing world and meet again with Brother Xiuyun...

From winter to spring, the spring of the eighth year of Xuanyuan is an important day for Qi. Daqi will hold a grand sacrifice every eight years. The last time it was held was in the 22nd year of Zhaoqi.As soon as the new year was over, people in the palace got busy for the eight-yearly grand festival.

At the time of the great sacrifice, the vassal kings who were entrusted in various places rushed to the capital to participate. Qi Tang saw Qi Gui, the king of Yongfeng who came to pay respects to his fourth younger brother.

"Gui'er."

"Second brother."

The two looked at each other and smiled wryly. This was very different from the situation eight years ago. At that time, Emperor Zhaoqi sent troops to the Kingdom of Yan, Crown Prince Qi Tong held a grand sacrifice, and Qi Tang, Qi Rong, and Qi Gui, who were entrusted to different places, returned. The four of them reunited in the capital. Except for Qi Tong who was always calm and kept his emotions hidden, the other three were all in high spirits. Emperor Zhaoqi was away, and Qi Tang, Qi Rong and Qi Gui were "unscrupulous" and even teased the eldest brother of the prince. It was a lot of fun.At the end of the grand ceremony eight years ago, Qi Tong died unexpectedly. Eight years later, Qi Rong is gone at the present ceremony.

Due to a serious accident in the previous grand ceremony, when the then crown prince Qi Tong was accidentally assassinated and died, all the officials in this grand ceremony were all trembling for fear that something might go wrong. There was a little accident, perhaps because of overwork, Qi Tang, the emperor of Da Qi, fell ill.

"...There is a rebellion from the Yan people in the north, and General Ling Ce has been sent to suppress it." Wei Yuchen finished reporting the political affairs calmly.

Qi Tang was lying on the bed moaning, not wanting to drink the soup that Eunuch Renjin handed over.

"Your Majesty, good medicine is bitter." Eunuch Renjin persuaded him earnestly.

"Got it, got it, let's let it go first," Qi Tang waved his hand, and once again ruthlessly drove away Eunuch Renjin, "Renjin, go down first, I'll talk to Wei Qing, and we'll have a drink later."

Eunuch Renjin sighed, put the medicine on the table, and said to Wei Yuchen with a sad face, "Prime Minister Wei, please supervise His Majesty to drink the medicine."

Wei Weichen nodded indifferently, and Eunuch Renjin sighed helplessly again and retreated.

Seeing Eunuch Renjin's figure disappear at the palace gate, Qi Tang just breathed a sigh of relief, then he was horrified to see Wei Weichen pick up the decoction on the table, go to the edge of his bed and sit down.

"Wei Qing, what are you doing?" Qi Tang shrank back under the quilt in horror.

"Of course it's for His Majesty to drink the medicine." Wei Weichen's gentle smile today was slightly sinister in Qi Tang's eyes.

"Wei Qing, this is really bitter and hard to drink, can I not drink it?" Qi Tang said pitifully, trying to win Wei Weichen's sympathy.

"It's not because His Majesty is too weak and sick." Wei Weichen said ruthlessly.

Qi Tang was dissatisfied, and said, "I'm not too weak, but Wei Qing, who keeps coughing and coughing every winter, makes people worry."

"Who worry?"

"Let me..." Qi Tang didn't finish his sentence, because Wei Weichen made a quick decision and took a spoonful of medicine while Qi Tang opened his mouth.

"Wei Qing!" Qi Tang protested bitterly and angrily.

Wei Weichen raised the spoon again and brought the medicine to Qitang's mouth, and said softly: "Good, Your Majesty, open your mouth."

"I'm not a child." Qi Tang was indignant.

"But Your Majesty, you really make me very worried." Wei Weichen lowered his eyes and sighed softly, looking sad.

"Okay, okay, I'll take the medicine!" Qi Tang cried helplessly when he saw Wei Weichen's expression.

Wei Weichen poured the medicine into Qi Tang's mouth spoon by spoon, and Qi Tang bared his teeth in pain.After feeding the medicine, Wei Yuchen tucked the quilt on Qitang's body again, touched Qitang's hot forehead, and sighed: "Your Majesty, rest well."

After finishing speaking, Wei Weichen got up and wanted to leave, but Qi Tang grabbed his sleeve.

"Wei Qing, don't go."

Wei Weichen obediently sat back beside the bed, watching Qi Tang gently.

"Wei Qing, don't leave me."

"Okay, I won't leave."

"Wei Qing, I won't let you go."

"I listen to Your Majesty."

"Wei Qing, I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of, Your Majesty?" Wei Yuchen asked warmly.

"First Yu Yi, then Rong'er and Sister Rou, why can't someone stay in such a huge palace?" Qi Tang's voice trembled, "I'm afraid of Wei Qing..."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will always be with you."

"But Wei Qing's body, these years, your cough has become more and more severe in winter, I'm really scared..."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, how could I be willing to leave before Your Majesty?" Wei Weichen comforted patiently.

Qi Tang still seemed unhappy, and tears gradually formed in his eyes.

Seeing Qi Tang's red eyes, Wei Weichen couldn't help smiling and said, "Your Majesty still looks like a child."

"Wei Qing, I think you are lying to me. You are so weak, how could you stay with me all the time." Qi Tang said aggrieved with teary eyes.

Wei Weichen was helpless.

"I want to make a bet with Wei Qing." Qi Tang said suddenly.

"What are you gambling?"

"Just bet on me or you who can live longer," Qi Tang added, "Whoever loses is a puppy without a tail."

"Your Majesty is really childish," Wei Weichen said with a gentle smile, "In this case, I bet that Your Majesty will live longer, and I hope that Your Majesty can live a long and long life free from illness and disaster."

"Then I'll bet that Wei Qing will live longer," Qi Tang continued, "Wei Qing is the prime minister of Qi, and he can't let the emperor suffer the shame of being a puppy without a tail."

"Your Majesty, do your best."

"Wei Qing must remember what I said today. This is a lifelong event." When speaking, Qi Tang deliberately lowered his voice, as if the two of them were planning some outrageous thing.

"Got it." Wei Weichen felt that Qi Tang was still as naive as before, so he couldn't help laughing.

Qi Tang chatted with Wei Yichen for a long time, until Eunuch Renjin returned to the palace to light candles again.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, let's rest early." Wei Weichen planned to leave.

"No, Wei Qing will live here tonight!"

"Your Majesty," Wei Weichen felt a bit dumbfounded, "How can this be possible, leaving the minister to stay overnight in the bedroom..."

"Hmph," Qi Tang said unreasonably, "I don't care, I just like Wei Qing to be with me, why, doesn't Wei Qing like it?"

Wei Weichen was taken aback for a moment when he heard the words, then he solemnly looked into Qi Tang's eyes and replied softly: "I like it, I like it very much, I like it very much, I like it so much, I like it so much that I would like to accompany you for the rest of my life."

Qi Tang obviously didn't expect Wei Weichen to give such a formal answer, he was stunned for a while, and stammered: "Wei...Wei Qing, what do you say..."

Wei Weichen smiled and said, "Okay, Your Majesty, take a good rest, I'm going back."

After finishing speaking, Wei Weichen left, leaving Qitang alone to ponder Wei Weichen's words with blinking eyes.Of course Wei Weichen knew, Qi Tang didn't understand, didn't understand how much he liked him.

A few days later, Qi Tang dragged his sickly body to the court, and the ministers not only cared about the emperor's body, but also raised a serious question.

Although the gray-haired old master spoke euphemistically about this serious question, Qi Tang still understood what the ministers meant.What the ministers mean is that they are about to turn thirty, but they don't have any sons yet. What if there is a big problem, what should I do? We should hurry up and enrich the harem, and come up with a few sons.

The ministers' proposals were very tactful, but Qi Tang's refusal was straightforward: "I promised Queen Yu Yi that I would never accept a concubine again. Don't bring up the matter of accepting a concubine again."

The old matriarch Fu sighed: "Your Majesty, what should we do about Daqi's throne in the future?"

Qi Tang pondered for a while and said: "Shu'er is nine years old now, how about I make him the crown prince?"

Qi Shu is the son of Qi Tong, Qi Tang's elder brother.

All the ministers immediately discussed.

Qi Tang said loudly again: "If the eldest brother hadn't died to save me that day, the person sitting here should be my eldest brother Qi Tong. The throne should not belong to me in the first place, and it is only natural that the throne should be passed on to the eldest brother's son in the future. , do you have any objections?"

"What do Wei Qing think?" Qi Tang knew that Wei Weichen would support him.

"I think it's okay." Wei Yuchen said calmly.

"Where is Master Taifu?"

The old matriarch Fu bowed his head and pondered for a while, then said: "I also think it's okay."

Qi Tang wanted to ask the general Lu Tong again, but suddenly considering that Lu Tong's daughter was Qi Shu's mother, it seemed inappropriate to ask such a question, so he swallowed it back.

However, with the support of the prime minister Wei Yuchen and the old lady Fu, the court officials also accepted the proposal of making Qi Tong's son Qi Shu the crown prince, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites then discussed various aspects of the canonization ceremony.

In the summer of the eighth year of Xuanyuan, Qi Shuli became the prince of the East Palace, and appointed Wei Yuchen and Lu Tong to teach the prince himself.

Qi Tang is very enthusiastic about his nephew, but although the nine-year-old Qi Shu is still a child, her temperament is much calmer than Qi Tang's. Whenever she sees Qi Shu's serious expression, Qi Tang always thinks of her elder brother Qi Tong.

"If the elder brother is still there, what will happen?"

That year was the 22nd year of Zhaoqi, and when the grand ceremony was about to end, an unexpected assassination changed the fate of Daqi for the next few years.