About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 28 Goodnight, Mom, See You Tomorrow (Bonus Chapter for Mother's Day)
Above the yellow silk.

The dragon pattern is faintly visible, and the eight characters "Liu Fang, a member of the imperial clan, is on my behalf to tour the country" are written in a vigorous and powerful style. The imperial seal at the end is dazzlingly red.

Xun Yu looked up at Liu Fang, his previous wariness gone, but he couldn't hide the turmoil surging in his eyes:
"This is……"

"The Emperor's Edict in His Belt"

Liu Fang slowly stroked the dragon pattern on the edge of the yellow silk, a scene that had flashed through his mind countless times since his rebirth.

The majesty of wielding the imperial axe and holding the emperor's authority in his previous life ultimately couldn't compare to the empty food box on Xun Yu's desk.

Looking at the young man before him, who had not yet reached adulthood, he suppressed the turmoil in his heart:
"Has Xun Lang ever seen an imperial edict of this format before?"

The upbringing of the Xun family of Yingchuan enabled Xun Yu to maintain proper etiquette even amidst turbulent times.

"The Rites of Zhou states, 'A patrolling official is one who patrols the area he is guarding; only members of the royal family and close relatives can use this title…'"

"The Emperor's Seal has a dragon on the left and a tiger on the right, with the four characters 'Received the Mandate of Heaven' engraved between the knobs..."

"If such a form were to appear, I fear the emperor would already be powerless to control his own destiny..."

He suddenly looked up and met Liu Fang's eyes:

"If this edict is forged, it is a capital crime of treason."

Liu Fang suddenly chuckled, his fingertips pinching the two corners of the yellow silk and giving it a gentle shake:
"So, Xun Lang, can you figure out... why you've never heard of my name before?"

Water droplets dripped slowly, splashing softly on his shoulder.

Xun Yu's expression hardened, and he knelt down, slamming straight into the puddle.

"I have spoken rudely and impolitely, please forgive me, Master Yuanyi..."

Liu Fang interrupted Xun Yu and lifted the boy, whose beard hadn't even fully grown, up with both hands:

"Young Master Xun, what crime have you committed? A young man should have the spirit of a young man, not act like an old man!"

After saying that, Liu Fang couldn't help but pat Xun Yu's head.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Xuan's youngest son stared wide-eyed, revealing a deep longing:

"We need a bridge... a bamboo bridge too!"

The child's voice echoed in the culvert, turning the originally solemn atmosphere into a cheerful one.

Liu Fang hugged Qiao Zhu and pinched his nose.

"Qiaozhu, call for your father's friend!"

"Father, father, father's friend!"

Looking at the adorable little face in his arms, Liu Fang fulfilled his small wish.
-
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, a father's close friend was called a "father's friend".

This title originates from the etiquette tradition of "respecting one's father's benevolence" in the Book of Rites, specifically referring to a friend who shares the same ideals as one's father.

In everyday life, it can also be simplified to "Mr. So-and-so", "Mr. So-and-so", "Mr. So-and-so", etc.

Logically speaking, one should also strictly avoid using the names of elders. For example, if the name contains the character "况", one should not say "情况" when speaking.

Furthermore, the social structure of "hierarchy" must be observed, and different statuses must be reflected in the different titles used for them.
-
The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated from the walls of Luoyang, and dust, like fine mist, drifted over the palace walls and covered the North Palace.

Inside the hall, Liu Hong leaned against the dragon couch, stroking the cool glaze of the teacup, his gaze casually sweeping over the people below the steps.

On the left, the elder, with silver hair reaching his shoulders, wore a blue robe with patches upon patches on the cuffs, yet the stitches were fine and neat, giving him the appearance of a refined and learned scholar.

Yet, when he stood there, he exuded no imposing aura whatsoever, appearing just like an ordinary old man on the street.

On the right, the elder, who is also the leader, holds a white jade-inlaid ox-tail whisk. On his wide sleeves, embroidered with gold cloud patterns, jadeite thumb rings and agate necklaces jingle.

The fine lines at the corners of her eyes seemed to conceal countless emotions, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance and noble bearing.

Behind her stood a slender middle-aged man with delicate eyebrows and red lips, his hairpins and ornaments jingling, yet he appeared perfectly at ease with her.

Her face was extremely delicate, her hands, held in a delicate, orchid-like gesture, were as white as jade, and her figure swayed gracefully, possessing a charm that surpassed even the beauties of the imperial harem.

Zhang Rang, whom Liu Hong called "Father," huddled in the second position on the left.

He wore his official robes with python patterns loosely, his chubby hands folded in front of his abdomen, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes still present, and his eyes hidden in the folds, making it impossible to discern his joy or anger.

As the people in the hall were talking, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had already passed.

The sound of rustling clothes came from the palace gate. Xia Yun, dressed in brand-new black official robes, paused at the threshold, lowered his eyes to adjust his sleeves, and then stepped into the palace.

He first bowed deeply to Liu Hong, his sleeves brushing the ground.

When he turned to face the elderly man in the first seat on his left, he turned slightly to the side, displaying proper manners but with a hint of aloofness.

When he was about to bow to the person seated on his right, he bent his waist extremely respectfully, his fingertips almost touching the blue bricks.

When he got to Zhang Rang, he became a little more natural, and when he bowed, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if they were familiar with each other.

Finally, she lightly tapped the hem of her clothes with her fingertips at the slender man, which was considered a perfunctory gesture.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has taken care of the last things I needed to do."

Xia Yun's voice was high-pitched, creating subtle ripples in the hall.

The teacup in Liu Hong's hand clattered softly, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes as he looked up.

The old man's left sleeve twitched slightly, and his wrist, hidden beneath the patch, swayed.

The old man lightly swept his whisk with his right hand, and the jade beads made a soft sound.

The slender man lightly wiped the corner of his eye with a handkerchief, his delicate nail polish revealing his exquisite beauty.

Zhang Rang remained smiling, his chubby face showing no emotion, but his interlaced fingers began to rub together.

Although their expressions differed, they all contained a hint of reluctance...

Xia Yun saw this and sighed inwardly, but smiled outwardly:
"Gentlemen, there's no need for this..."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Liu Hong again:
"Your Majesty has important business to attend to. The learned scholar Liu Chong, Prince Liu Shuo of Pingyuan, the Imperial Clan Court official Liu Kuan, the Grand Herald Liu He, and the Grand Counselor Liu Meng are all waiting outside the palace."

Liu Hong coughed lightly, sat up straight, and placed the teacup on the table.

With a crisp sound, the five people below the steps each made their own movements, stepping out of the palace gate and leaving in different directions.

Only the old man holding the whisk patted Xia Yun on the shoulder as he passed by.

……

Just as Liu Hong was about to discuss matters with the five newcomers to the palace, a young eunuch hurriedly ran over.

He knelt on the ground with a thud, panting as he reported:
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is coming this way; she has already passed through the Yongxiang Palace."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was taken aback and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Liu Hong immediately put down the report in his hand, a gentle smile appearing on his lips:

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I will go and greet the Empress Dowager first."

With that, he got up, straightened his robes, and strode out of the hall.

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting Liu Hong's clothes.

He looked up and saw his mother's figure, and his steps unconsciously faltered.

The old eunuch following behind Empress Dowager Dong was about to announce the news, but she stopped him with a raised hand, her gaze already fixed on the faint dark circles under her son's eyes.

The emperor lowered his head to avoid his mother's scrutinizing gaze:
"Why did Your Majesty come in person? You should have sent a palace maid to inform me so that I could go and pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"If I wait for the palace maids to announce my arrival, I'm afraid I'll have to wait until the third watch of the night."

Empress Dowager Dong covered her face and coughed lightly twice, then turned to look at the falling petals beside the hall:
"I heard that His Majesty has prepared a banquet tonight. May I have the honor of joining in the fun?"

A pang of sadness flashed in Liu Hong's eyes; how could he not hear the expectation in his mother's words...

"Mother, my brother Fang has important business to attend to today, and I don't know when he will be able to return to the palace..."

Looking at the faint gray hairs at his mother's temples, Liu Hong hesitated, unable to speak.

"The Empress Dowager always retires early; if she were to participate..."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Empress Dowager Dong's eyes, but it quickly turned into a gentle smile.

She raised her hand to pluck a fallen flower from her temple; the petals trembled gently in her palm.
"I know that His Majesty and Fang'er have a lot to worry about, as well as those matters in the court..."

As she spoke, she tentatively took her son's hand: "It's just that sometimes I think back to the nights when we were children, the two brothers would squeeze together on my bed..."

Even if he is the emperor, so what?
There are also many things that cannot be obtained...

Her father died early, and her mother was the sole breadwinner of the Marquis's mansion.

She had to take care of him and his younger brother, while also maintaining the prestige of the Marquis's mansion.

Later, he was welcomed as emperor, but his maternal relative, the Dou family, repeatedly made things difficult for him and even nearly killed him.

Leaving aside the many evil deeds that Empress Dowager Dou committed against Consort Dong in the deep palace.

Just to put it simply, whenever he faced open or covert attacks, his mother would resolutely stand in front of him...

She dared not be afraid, and even more so... could not be afraid.

Later, Empress Dowager Dong continued to help in her own way even within the inner palace.

For example, the filthy words spoken against Empress Dowager Dong by the common people were the infamy she bore for her son.

Now, this enormous palace is hundreds of times larger than the garden of the Marquis's mansion, yet the mother can no longer even hope to see her son.

"Your Majesty, I will escort you back..."

He gently helped his mother up, but felt a chill on her skin, and his heart ached even more.

"On the way, Mother, would you like to tell me about the stories from your time at the Marquis's residence?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong's fingers trembled slightly. Despite feeling bitter inside, she still nodded in agreement.

"That's fine..."

In Liu Hong's eyes, however, it was the fine lines at the corners of Empress Dowager Dong's eyes that softened into a smile as her son helped her walk along the winding flower path.

"Back then, His Majesty was only six years old. He was chasing a white butterfly when he tripped and fell on the bluestone path..."

"Blood seeped from her knees, but she stubbornly refused to cry, only clutching the hem of my skirt and saying it didn't hurt...it didn't hurt."

"Fang'er, on the other hand, was laughing so hard she cried while lying on the stone table, and His Majesty chased her all over the courtyard."

She looked up at the sky where the sun and moon shone, and a trace of sorrow appeared on her face.

"Now the two brothers are separated, one in the inner palace, the other in the martial world..."

"Your Majesty, don't you think of the sun and moon... The sun has its glory, and the moon has its radiance, but each has its own difficulties."

Liu Hong looked up and recalled the scene of Liu Fang leaving the palace for the first time on a snowy night for his sake.

At that moment, the mother wanted to stop him, but in the end, she could only hold Liu Fang in her arms for a long time:
"If you encounter any difficulties on your journey, Fang'er, do not be reckless..."

"I am too old to accompany your brother. If I see dark clouds obscuring the moon, it means I am thinking of Fang'er."

When Liu Hong looked at his mother, he saw that the phoenix hairpin at her temple was exactly the same as it had been years ago.

"Mother, how about I have my younger brother Fang come to pay his respects to you tomorrow?"

Empress Dowager Dong shook her head, "Don't make things difficult for Fang'er anymore..."

"Your Majesty's elder brother... owes him a great deal."

She turned to look at Liu Hong, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes:

"Although I am a woman, I know what is important... But all mothers in this world are equal, regardless of whether they are empress dowagers or commoners."

"Your Majesty, please allow me to say one more word, though Your Majesty and Fang'er share a deep brotherly bond..."

"But there is one thing I fear..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Hong was already shocked. Where had his mother heard such rumors?
"Your Majesty is overthinking it. Your son and brother Fang will not be harmed in the slightest by this power."

Empress Dowager Dong stared at Liu Hong for a moment, and finally smiled.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my rambling, I am simply concerned about my own flesh and blood..."

"Good health and peace are all that matter... that's all that matters."

She took out a brocade box from her sleeve, inside which were two newly woven peace ropes:
"One string is for Your Majesty, and the other string will be given to Fang'er by Your Majesty."

“He is not like His Majesty… He is even less likely to see me.”

Liu Hong let out a soft breath, took half a step back, and was about to bow.

But then his mother suddenly reached out and supported him, then straightened his slightly crooked crown ribbon:
"Your Majesty, the emperor's image must not be compromised. Remember this, remember this..."

……

The road to Yongle Palace is very short, very short.

Take another step, and a warm fragrance wafts towards you.

Liu Hong stared at the neatly stacked boxes of candied fruit, opened his mouth several times, and finally uttered a single sentence:
"Mother is still the same... She has the kitchen prepare my favorite snacks every day."

Empress Dowager Dong smiled broadly as Liu Hong helped her to the carved bed.

"His Majesty has had a fondness for this since childhood, but now that he's the Emperor, he can only sneak a taste from this old woman..."

With a smile in her voice, she gently smoothed out the wrinkles on his lapel.

He dared not stay any longer, not because he didn't want to...

Finally, he only said:

"Your Majesty, please rest early. Tomorrow morning after court, I will bring my younger brother Fang to pay our respects to you."

"I don't care about these things. The important matters are more important, so please don't make a special detour..."

Empress Dowager Dong rested her hands on her knees, a forced smile playing on her lips, a smile that every mother has.

"Your Majesty and Fang'er... as long as they can get a full night's sleep every night, that's better than anything else."

"Go on, this old woman will rest now..."

As Liu Hong walked to the entrance of the palace, he suddenly smelled the fragrance of osmanthus and couldn't help but turn around to look.

Empress Dowager Dong was seen removing a phoenix hairpin in front of a bronze mirror. The phoenix tail feathers, made of gold thread, hung down and cast dappled shadows on her shoulders.

She suddenly looked up, her gaze meeting his through the half-open carved door. A smile still lingered on her lips, but her eyes held a hint of moisture.

……

Outside the window, the moon climbed over the glazed tiles, casting a bluish-white glow on the furnishings inside the hall.

The sound of rustling brocade quilts came from inside the hall. Empress Dowager Dong leaned against the soft cushions, looking in the direction her son had left.

The two brothers have both grown up...

Initially, the way Liu Hong chewed his pen while reviewing memorials was exactly the same as when he couldn't recite the Analects when he was a child.

Before leaving the palace each time, Liu Fang would always go around to her and let her pat his head, just like when they were children, before he would feel at ease leaving.

She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, embroidered with two koi fish swimming side by side, which Liu Hong and Liu Fang had given her when she was a child.

The night their father passed away, the osmanthus flowers in the Marquis's mansion were in full bloom...

Liu Hong clutched her clothes, neither crying nor making a fuss, only saying:
"Mother, don't be afraid, Hong'er will grow up and protect you..."

The palace lanterns outside the hall were extinguished one by one, except for the gauze lanterns in Empress Dowager Dong's bedroom, which were still lit.

The warm light reflected off the golden phoenixes on the curtain, making it feel like a cold night from many years ago.

At that time, she held her two sons in the dilapidated mansion, listening to their even breathing, and felt that she could get through any storm in the world.

"Hong'er, Fang'er..."

She gazed at the hazy moonlight outside the window, and finally closed her eyes...

In my dream, two boys were chasing butterflies, while she stood among the osmanthus blossoms, laughing and calling out:
"Run slowly, don't fall..."

The lights stayed on all night.

As dawn broke, the palace maid on night duty gently added oil to the lamp, so that its warm light could stay with the Empress Dowager a little longer…

She spent countless nights like this with her two sons, from their first steps to their reign as rulers.
-
Wishing all mothers peace and joy.

(End of this chapter)