Chapter 703 - 703: Daily Life (1)
Because of the appearance of the “Emperor Taizu’s Notebook”, Gu Yanfei ended today’s plan in advance. After bidding farewell to Wei Jiaoniang, she brought the twins back to the palace.
The two of them didn’t get out of the car either. They sat in the green carriage and went straight to Ningshou Palace on the east road of the palace.
Since the abdication ceremony three years ago, the former Emperor, Chu Qi, relocated from the Qianqing Palace to the Ningshou Palace, living a life focused on indulging in sweets and playing with his grandchildren, with no involvement in state affairs.
In the first two years, when the ministers occasionally went against the new Emperor’s opinion, they would run to Ningshou Palace to ask the former Emperor to persuade the new Emperor, but the former Emperor didn’t see any of them and didn’t care about power at all.
“Father.”
“Grandpa!”
After greeting the elders, little Chu Zhen handed the “Emperor Taizu’s Notebook” to th former Emperor as if it was a treasure. “This is a gift for you!”
The little girl looked at their grandfather with admiration. The corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a smile very similar to her mother’s.
The former Emperor was old after all.
He was already 59 years old this year and was approaching the age of 60. His hair was half black and half white, and there were more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. However, his face was flushed and he was in high spirits. He even looked better than the two years when he first ascended the throne.
“Good child!” The former Emperor praised without thinking. Various praises were already on his lips. At this moment, he saw the familiar words on the blue book cover and his hand trembled.
The white piece he had just picked up flew out of his hand and landed in the chess box, emitting a clear sound of chess pieces colliding.
“This is…” The former Emperor hurriedly took the book from Chu Zhen’s hand. In his anxiety, his elbow hit the Torreya Wood Chessboard, and the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard were immediately messed up.
His eyes were a little wet, and his old hand trembled slightly. His fingers rubbed the book skin repeatedly.
A moment later, he took a deep breath and slowly flipped through a few pages. He saw a yellowish-brown medicine stain on a certain page.
This was left behind by him when he accidentally knocked over the medicine bowl back then.
30 years ago, when Emperor Taizu was seriously ill, the palace was very chaotic. It was only when Emperor Taizu died that the former Emperor realized that the “Emperor Taizu’s Notebook” had disappeared. Along with it was an inner servant serving Emperor Taizu.
The former Emperor and Feng Yang immediately sent people to find the eunuch and the letter. The Embroidered Uniform Guards searched the capital for a day and night before finally finding the eunuch, but when the eunuch realized that he couldn’t escape even if he had wings, he took poison and committed suicide. The letter wasn’t found on his corpse.
From then on, “Emperor Taizu’s Notebook” disappeared.
The late Emperor had always felt that Feng Yang was deliberately mystifying things. He thought that Feng Yang had taken away “Emperor Taizu’s Note” because she was coveting the throne.
And now, the late Emperor and Feng Yang were no longer around.
The former Emperor’s heart tightened.
“Grandpa, are you very sad?” As the little girl’s soft voice entered his ears, a snow-white handkerchief was handed to him.
Chu Zhen tiptoed and gently wiped the tears from the corners of the former Emperor’s eyes with a handkerchief.
Meeting the little girl’s clean and pure eyes, the sorrow in the former Emperor’s heart was swept away, leaving only a sweet feeling.
His granddaughter was really too considerate!
“Grandpa isn’t sad,” the former Emperor comforted his granddaughter gently. “Grandpa is happy.”
“I know!” Chu Zhen smiled and said, “You’re crying from joy, right?”
The former Emperor was amused by his granddaughter and laughed out loud.
“Slam.”
At this moment, the crisp sound of a piece being placed sounded.
The former Emperor subconsciously looked at the chessboard and saw Chu Yun quickly place the two black pieces on the chessboard without hesitation.
“Grandpa, I’ve restored the messy chess game,” Chu Yun said meticulously and smiled at the former Emperor.
The chess game that had just been accidentally knocked over by the former Emperor was restored to its original appearance by Chu Yun.
The former Emperor:”…”
The emotions in the former Emperor’s heart were complicated beyond words. There was a trace of pride in them. His eldest grandson was as intelligent as his son when he was young. He had a photographic memory, and the father and son’s personalities were similar.
“Cough, cough.” The former Emperor cleared his throat dryly and rubbed his grandson’s head. He praised, “Yun’er’s memory is so good.”
Little Chu Zhen glanced at the chessboard excitedly and said innocently, “Grandpa, you’re about to lose.”
“…” The former Emperor nodded helplessly and simply admitted defeat.
Chu Yi, who was wearing a moon-white straight shirt, was sitting on the other side of the chessboard. His eyebrows were as black as ink, his eyes were like bright stars, his nose was high, and there was a hint of nobility in his elegance.
The facial features of the young man who was 26 or 27 years old were clear. He was extremely handsome, and he looked more heroic and stable than when he was 17 or 18 years old..