Chapter 688 Qin Qiong's Death

A trip to Ganye Temple.

Su Mingzhe felt that he had gained a lot.

Before leaving the next day, Su Mingzhe summoned the female official in charge of Ganye Temple.

The female official in charge of Ganye Temple was none other than Concubine Yang, the head of the 27 ladies in the harem.

Yang Jieyushi was the cousin of Concubine Yang, the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui, the cousin of Concubine Dai, and the cousin of Concubine Yan.

Two of the four concubines in the harem were related to her.

With such prominent connections, Concubine Yang was able to become the head of the twenty-seven ladies, in charge of sacrifices, guests, and funeral matters.

In order to preside over the sacrificial ceremony, Concubine Yang arrived at Ganye Temple three days in advance.

Also because she was living in Ganye Temple, Concubine Yang had been wearing a plain face these past few days, with no makeup on her cheeks. Her jet-black hair was tied up with only a green jade hairpin, and her clothes were changed into silk black clothes without a belt.

Ziyi means black clothes.

The Tang Dynasty was the water virtue, and originally valued black.

However, the Tang Dynasty succeeded the Sui Dynasty, which was the Jin Dynasty.

The virtue of gold is white.

Women in the Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty liked to wear white dresses since they were young.

When Concubine Yang heard that she was summoned, she hurried over:
"His Majesty."

"No need to be so polite, my dear."

When Su Mingzhe saw Concubine Yang, his eyes lit up.

All the other women were dressed in white, except Concubine Yang, who wore a black silk dress. She was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, which was the season when peaches ripened.

That swaying look is the perfect ancient costume uniform temptation.

Su Mingzhe had just fasted for three days. When he saw Yang Jieyu's alluring appearance, he was naturally salivating. He imagined the beautiful scenery underneath her black clothes and wanted to kill her right away.

"His Majesty."

Yang Jieyu felt quite proud when she saw that the emperor was staring at her, but this occasion was inappropriate after all, so she could only remind him again.

Su Mingzhe was reminded and coughed lightly to ease his embarrassment. He then pointed at the shy little master behind him and said with a smile:

"This little Master Fadeng is very good. I want her to return to secular life and become a female official in Hanyuan Palace. My beloved concubine, please help her."

When Concubine Yang heard that the man asked her to come over to help another woman enter the palace, she immediately felt unhappy.

However, this was an order from the Emperor.

Concubine Yang knew that if she didn't help, the emperor would probably ask other ladies to do it on her behalf.

Therefore, at this time, Yang Jieyu could only hold back her temper and said with a sweet smile:

"Since Your Majesty likes this young master, I will help this young master return to secular life later. Your Majesty, please wait for two days."

"Thank you for your hard work, my dear."

Su Mingzhe was delighted to see Concubine Yang agree with a smile, and couldn't help but speak again:

"My beloved concubine, your black dress looks very nice today. I will go to Shujing Palace to sleep tonight."

Although Concubine Yang was the head of the imperial consorts, she was just an imperial consort.

The harem is headed by the Queen and four concubines, followed by the nine imperial concubines.

Below the nine concubines are the twenty-seven ladies.

The twenty-seven ladies were divided into nine imperial concubines, nine beauties and nine talented ladies.

These twenty-seven ladies belonged to a middle-class or middle-class class in the harem. They had no separate palaces and could only live together.

Yang Jieyushi was the cousin of Concubine Yang, so after entering the palace, she stayed close to Concubine Yang and lived in Shujing Palace.

When Concubine Yang heard that the emperor was coming to Shujing Palace, she was immediately delighted and agreed immediately.

After the emperor left, Concubine Yang lowered her head slightly and wanted to check herself to see if there was anything different about the skirt she was wearing today.

However, when she lowered her head, she didn't notice anything unusual, it was still the same as before.

Forget it.

Since the emperor likes it, I will wear this skirt to sleep with him at night.

Afterwards, Su Mingzhe completed the prayers and sacrifices at Ganye Temple, and then set out again with the guard of honor to the Circular Mound.

The object of worship at Ganye Temple is Empress Taimu, while the objects of worship at Circular Mound this time are the ancestors of the Li family and Emperor Huangdi.

The most important affairs of state are sacrifices and military affairs.

Si means sacrifice.

Rong means weapons in war.

In the Tang Dynasty, there were many types of sacrifices.

Among them is the moon festival, which is a small matter.

It is usually handed over to the Zongzheng Temple and the female officials in the harem to complete.

There are also four seasonal sacrifices, and the emperor can attend them when he is free. If he is not free, the crown prince can take his place.

What the emperor must participate in are the sacrificial activities on important festivals such as Qingming Festival and New Year's Day.

These sacrificial activities are very important.

Because every time there was a major sacrifice, the emperor needed to go to the Taimiao to worship, pray, and offer incense, blood and food.

Those enshrined in the Taimiao include Huangdi, ancestors of the Li family, meritorious officials who are worthy of being enshrined in the Taimiao, sages, etc.

There is a reason why ancient civil and military officials regarded being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple as the highest honor.

Because being allowed to worship in the Taimiao meant that future emperors would have to kowtow to him and offer sacrifices to him.

Just when Su Mingzhe was offering sacrifices to his ancestors, a major event occurred in Chang'an City.

Duke Qin Qiong of Yi State suddenly vomited blood and fainted at home.

Fortunately, Duke Yiguo's mansion was very close to the imperial city, and they quickly invited an imperial physician to treat him, and he was saved.

However, seeing that he was listless and in a daze, it seemed that he didn't have much time left.

After Su Mingzhe finished the sacrifice, he got the news and rushed to the Yiguogong Mansion without returning to the palace. Before he entered the door, he saw that the front of the Yiguogong Mansion was full of tall horses and noble guards.

At this point, Su Mingzhe didn't bother to look at these people, and walked in directly. When he saw Qin Huaiyu, the eldest son of Qin Qiong, he said anxiously:
"How is Shubao?"

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that there is no way to save him!"

Qin Huaiyu was inconsolable, but had to tell the emperor.

When Qin Qiong learned that the emperor had come to see him, he tried to sit up, but was held down by Cheng Yaojin, who had been guarding him:
"Shubao, you are already like this, why are you still so stubborn?"

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong were both born in Wagangzhai. They defected to Li Yuan together and were later assigned to Li Shimin. They made great military achievements for Li Shimin in unifying the Central Plains.

Even Li Shimin and his son Li Yuan admitted that Qin Qiong led the troops and made the greatest contributions in the war for the unification of the Tang Dynasty.

Unfortunately, such a great general with outstanding military achievements is now very old and his time is running out.

When Su Mingzhe came in, he saw that Qin Qiong's face was golden, his lips were purple, and his breath was intermittent. It seemed that his time was up.

"Shubao, I'm here to see you."

Su Mingzhe has a very good impression of Qin Qiong, the protagonist of "The Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties".

Seeing a hero of his generation dying of illness, it is natural to feel sad.

Memories flooded back and forth, and for a moment, tears flowed from Su Mingzhe's tiger eyes.

This scene was seen by all the generals present, and they were all excited.

The King of Qin from that time is still alive and remembers our friendship.

Qin Qiong was already in his last moments of life at this moment. Seeing the emperor crying for him, he was deeply moved. However, he knew that his time was up, so he had to say what he needed to say quickly.

Thinking of something, Qin Qiong waved and called his three sons over.

The three brothers Qin Huaiyu, Qin Huaiyi and Qin Huaidao all knelt in front of the bed with sad looks on their faces, allowing their father to entrust their son to the emperor.

Su Mingzhe agreed immediately and let his eldest son Qin Huaiyu inherit the title of Duke of Yiguo. He also arranged for Qin Huaiyi and Qin Huaidao to serve as generals in the Prince's Eastern Palace. Finally, he agreed to marry one of his princesses to Qin Huaidao.

Qin Qiong breathed a sigh of relief only after receiving so many assurances from the emperor.

Many of the generals present looked at the deceased Qin Qiong with envy.

Qin Qiong died before the system of downgrading and inheriting the title was implemented, and his son thus retained the title of Duke of Yi.

Moreover, he let his youngest son Qin Huaidao marry the princess, which once again ensured wealth for several generations.

It can be said that if Qin Qiong had died a few days later, he would not have encountered such a good thing.

Unfortunately, today is Qingming Festival, and Qin Qiong died on this day.

It just happened.

While everyone was sighing, they were also thinking whether they should learn from Qin Qiong and die quickly after returning home to leave wealth and prosperity for their descendants.

Su Mingzhe was in great sorrow at the moment and did not want to pay attention to these generals. He ordered Zhang Ananda to find the Ministry of Rites and ask them to arrange Qin Qiong's funeral. Then he left Duke Yiguo's Mansion and returned to the palace.

As for the candidate for Qin Huaidao's princess marriage, Su Mingzhe already had an idea in his mind, and that was Princess Gaoyang.

Originally, Princess Gaoyang would be betrothed to Fang Xuanling's son Fang Yiai next year.

However, Fang Yiai is a good-looking guy but useless.

Gao Yang and Bian Ji were having an affair, and Fang Yiai was actually guarding the gate outside.

How could Su Mingzhe let such a loser become his son-in-law?

Therefore, he chose to find a new prince consort for Princess Gaoyang.

This kid Qin Huaidao seems to have the same style as his father. I hope he can suppress Gao Yang.

After thinking about the Qin family's affairs, Su Mingzhe slowly sighed again.

Qin Qiong's death marks the end of a generation.

Afterwards, generals such as Li Jing, Duan Zhixuan, Niu Jinda, and Yuchi Jingde will also leave this world one after another.

Only the old man Cheng Yaojin lived the longest, nearly thirty years.

Speaking of the old villain Cheng Yaojin, Su Mingzhe felt sorry for his Princess Qinghe.

Princess Qinghe was only ten years old when Cheng Yaojin played a trick on her and persuaded Li Shimin to marry her to Cheng Yaojin's second son Cheng Huailiang.

This old man Cheng Yaojin is such a jerk.

When Su Mingzhe returned to the palace, Wang De came to remind him that it was Concubine Yang who asked when he would go to Shujing Palace.

"Go right away!"

Su Mingzhe has been through a lot in recent days and is feeling upset and wants to vent.

Inside Shujing Palace.

Since today is Qingming Festival, Concubine Yang and her sister Yang Jieyu did not prepare a sumptuous meal, but only some cold dishes and cold food to entertain the emperor.

Su Mingzhe didn't care about these. He ate a little and then asked about the child's condition.

There is no need to say much about Concubine Yang's two sons, Li Ke and Li Yin.

Li Ke is very similar to Li Shimin in appearance and personality.

If Li Shimin had not wanted to make his eldest son the crown prince, he would have wanted Li Ke to be the prince long ago.

One can only feel sorry for Li Ke, as he is Concubine Yang's child, not Empress Changsun's son.

Li Yin was a much more mischievous kid. He spent his days either hunting or visiting brothels. He even liked to drag people around him into fights.

Su Mingzhe and Yang Fei taught him a lesson countless times, but it was of no use.

Finally, the topic turned to Yang Jieyu's son Li Fu.

Li Fu is only two years old and has not yet been canonized.

Today Su Mingzhe casually gave him the title of King of Zhao.

The titles of princes were most respected from the dynasties of Qin, Jin, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Wu, Yue, Han, Zhou, and Song.

When Concubine Yang heard that her son was named "King of Zhao", she immediately threw herself into the man's arms with joy.

Su Mingzhe casually grabbed Yang Fei who was about to evade.

We are all so close now, why would we leave?

(End of this chapter)