Mei Qingxue and Du Guqing were living happily and leisurely in the prime minister's mansion. In the imperial palace, however, Empress Yirong couldn't find any joy. Initially, Du Guyou promised her that he would take her back to the South of the Yangtze River as soon as possible, but there had been no sign of action. A look of worry gradually crept onto Guo Qiner's face, which made Du Guyou secretly amused.
Now that she was the empress, her emotions were still so simple. When she was unhappy, she would show it directly on her face without any concealment. Du Guyou loved her precisely for her lack of scheming.
Over the years, Guo Qiner had learned to rein in her emotions. But in front of Du Guyou, she didn't need to pretend at all. The only two women who could rival her had either committed suicide or been made the imperial concubine and voluntarily gone to the imperial ancestral temple. Now, the harem was completely under her control. However, this was not what she truly wanted.
"Qiner, be patient. I'll arrange the matters at hand. In a few days, I'll fulfill your wish."
"You've said that too many times. I don't believe you anymore." The empress's face flushed slightly, irritated by Du Guyou's words.
She had been away from home for more than a decade. Every time she learned about her parents' news, it was only through letters. Although she knew they were in good health, her parents were getting older. How much longer could they wait for her?
At this thought, the empress's eyes welled up with tears. The misty teardrops were on the verge of falling.
Du Guyou watched her with deep concern. All he could do for her now was to wait. Qing'er hadn't fully adapted to his role as the crown prince yet, and the plans he had made for him were not yet complete. He had recently granted retirement to a large number of officials, and now he needed to select suitable people to fill the vacancies.
He would help Qing'er accomplish all these things one by one.
"You should let Qing'er do things on his own." The empress looked up at Du Guyou. "I can't wait any longer."
"Let me think about it." Du Guyou had previously considered letting Qing'er handle things independently. But when he recalled the chaotic situation in the court before, he decided against it.
Now, hearing what the empress said, he pondered for a while, then let out a soft sigh and replied, "Okay." He actually agreed to Guo Qiner's request and decided to loosen his grip on power.
"Then shall I summon Qing'er back?"
Du Guyou looked at the woman he loved most. "Yes, tomorrow. Let him stay with his wife at his father - in - law's place for one more day today."
In the future, he wouldn't be able to do so. The empress knew that her trip to the South of the Yangtze River was imminent, and a look of joy immediately appeared on her face.
Du Guyou slowly got up and went to the imperial study. He was going to draft the imperial edict now. Guo Qiner immediately forgot her status as the empress and got up to return to the inner chamber.
"My lady, look how happy you are." Xiaoyun knew she had the best temper, so she teased her.
"You naughty girl, always so talkative. Hurry up and pack for me. Go to the warehouse and collect the high - quality medicinal herbs from previous years. We'll take them with us." She didn't care about gold and silver treasures. Her parents' health was the most important thing.
"Yes, my lady." Xiaoyun was also extremely happy that they could leave the palace. She thought that once she entered the palace, she would spend the rest of her life there. She never expected to have the opportunity to return to the South of the Yangtze River with the lady.
She was a servant born into the Guo family. Because she was smart and capable, she was sent into the palace more than a decade ago when she was just a few years old to accompany the then Concubine Qin. It had been more than ten years since she entered the palace.
Now that she could leave the palace, Xiaoyun was overjoyed. She could go home to see her parents, which was a wish she didn't even dare to think about. She never expected to be able to fulfill it in her lifetime. She knew that the chance of leaving the palace after entering was extremely slim.
"Xiaoyun, what are you dawdling about?" The empress saw Xiaoyun standing in a daze in front of the warehouse and called out to her.
"Ah, my lady." Xiaoyun wiped her face. "Xiaoyun is just too happy."
After saying that, she rushed into the warehouse to look for the medicinal herbs.
"This girl." She still remembered that when Xiaoyun was first brought in front of her, those deer - like, intelligent eyes. Over the years, it had been Xiaoyun who had been accompanying her.
Wasn't returning to the South of the Yangtze River also Xiaoyun's wish? Guo Qiner gently shook her head. The deep palace had worn away her most beautiful youth and separated her from her parents for several years. Her longing to return to the South of the Yangtze River was like a lark that had been set free, flying merrily without knowing where to go.
Du Guqing and Mei Qingxue spent their last night in the prime minister's mansion. In the morning, they were summoned back to the imperial palace by the emperor.
The empress took Du Guqing's hand. "Qing'er, your mother is going back to the South of the Yangtze River!"
"Huh?" The two of them were stunned. Mei Qingxue was also confused. How could the empress go back to the South of the Yangtze River? What about the emperor? Empresses didn't have the privilege of visiting their relatives.
Du Guqing looked at his mother suspiciously, then at Du Guyou, trying to read something from their expressions.
Du Guyou noticed his son's gaze. Looking at the face of his favorite son, he gently nodded. "Your mother is right. I'll also go to the South of the Yangtze River with her."
"The edict of abdication has already been written. I summoned you to the palace today just to tell you to be an emperor loved by the people. I'll be watching you!" Du Guyou wanted to reach out and pat his son's shoulder, but since they hadn't been that close for more than a decade, his outstretched hand froze in mid - air, not knowing what to do.
Mei Qingxue gently pushed Du Guqing forward. Du Guyou's hand landed on his son's shoulder. For a moment, both of them felt a bit uncomfortable.
"I... I'm not ready yet."
Du Guqing never expected that he was summoned to the palace early in the morning for this matter. Seeing the uncontrollable joy on his mother's face, he knew that her wish to return to the South of the Yangtze River was waiting for his approval.
Looking into his mother's expectant eyes, he had no choice but to nod. "I agree."
Du Guyou glanced at his son. "Let's go to the court together."
The new emperor's imperial robes had long been prepared. They were tailored exactly to Du Guqing's size. The empress's robes were also completed.
It was only natural for Mei Qingxue to become the empress. However, Du Guyou knew that managing Du Guqing's harem would be a difficult problem. Originally, he wanted to arrange the draft at the same time, but Guo Qiner stopped him, so he gave up the idea.
"Let the court session begin!"
Du Guyou sat majestically on the dragon throne. Today was his last day in this position.
"Dear ministers, I have something important to announce today."
Seeing all the ministers' eyes on him, Du Guyou took out an imperial edict that he had written long ago from his sleeve and placed it on the tray in the little eunuch's hand.
"Prime Minister Mei Zhenguo, please read the imperial edict."
"I obey the order!" Mei Zhenguo stepped forward and respectfully took the imperial edict from the tray in the little eunuch's hand.
"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees that the crown prince, Du Guqing, is both talented and virtuous, and is well - loved by the people. From today onwards, I will abdicate, and Du Guqing shall inherit the throne. I hope that all of you ministers will whole - heartedly assist him to prosper the Feng Kingdom! So it is decreed!"
"Long live the retired emperor! Long live the emperor!" All the ministers knelt down and shouted loudly.
"Rise!" Du Guyou lifted his hands in a gesture. The little eunuch brought out the new emperor's robes and helped Du Guqing put them on. Seeing the majestic new emperor, all the ministers offered their congratulations once again.
Mei Zhenguo stepped forward. "I have a memorial to present to the retired emperor and the emperor."
Unexpectedly, the father and son said in unison, "The old prime minister's memorials will not be approved!"
Mei Zhenguo let out a long sigh. He originally thought this would be an opportunity for him to retire, but he didn't expect that the father and son, who had been on bad terms for many years, would be so in sync on this matter. Forget it. After all, Du Guqing was his son - in - law. Whom else could he help if not his son - in - law?
Seeing the old prime minister return to his position, Du Guyou secretly laughed. If you won't help me, you have to help your son - in - law, right? If you don't help your son - in - law, you won't be able to explain it to your daughter.
Du Guyou knew that Mei Qingxue was the apple of the Mei family's eye, and Mei Zhenguo would never ignore her. Relying on this, he had firmly said what he said just now. He didn't expect to say it in unison with Du Guqing. The father and son looked at each other and smiled. The years of estrangement disappeared, and Du Guyou was also happy. He knew his son's abilities well and trusted his father - in - law even more.
"Alright, from now on, you'll follow the new emperor's orders. I'm getting old and it's time for me to retire." Du Guyou burst out laughing. He was going to retire, but he deliberately ignored Mei Zhenguo's resentful look.
Du Guyou stood up and glanced at his officials. Suddenly, he felt extremely relaxed.
The empress saw the smile on Du Guyou's face and her own face also lit up. "Have you finished the arrangements?"
"Yes." Du Guyou reached out and took the empress's hand. "Qiner, you've been impatient for a long time."
"Of course. I haven't seen my parents for so long." To avoid suspicion, after she married into the royal family, her family had only communicated with her through letters. They had only sent a maid, Xiaoyun, and there had been no further contact.
"I heard that Qing'er's Prince Rui's Mansion is very beautiful. Shall we stay there?" Du Guyou had heard from Eunuch Tang's boasting about his supervision of the construction, so he was thinking of staying in his son's mansion.
"Let's stay at my parents' place." Guo Qiner pouted. After returning to the South of the Yangtze River, he still wanted to stay in their son's mansion. Her embroidery chamber had been idle for many years. It would be just right for the couple to stay there when she went home to visit her relatives.
"I'll do as you say." Du Guyou looked at the woman in front of him lovingly. After more than a decade, her appearance hadn't changed a bit. Instead, she had become even more charming.
"I've already packed. When can we set off?"
Du Guyou knew that Guo Qiner was anxious. "Today." He had already arranged for the attendants, and they could set off at any time.
"Xiaoyun, hurry up and pack the things we're taking." She was going home.
"Yes, Empress Dowager." The title made Guo Qiner feel at a loss for a moment. She looked at Du Guyou in surprise.
"I've abdicated. Now I'm the retired emperor, and you're the empress dowager. It's only natural. If we don't arrange it like this, do you think we can leave?"
"I didn't know. I thought you could just say we're going on a trip."
"Silly girl. With Qing'er here, we can go anywhere. I'll accompany you to enjoy the beauty of the South of the Yangtze River." His parents had long passed away. Now he could live like an ordinary person with his in - laws. That kind of life was something he had never even dreamed of in the previous decades.
"You, thank you." Guo Qiner looked at Du Guyou gratefully. She knew that he had given up his power just to accompany her back to serve her parents. This was something that no other emperor could do, but Du Guyou had done it. How could she not be touched?