bookrandom Chapter 343 The Han couple
Chapter 343 The Han couple
With the arrival of winter in the seventh year of Xining, Mrs. Han's health became increasingly weak, and she often fainted. Yu Yanran served her all day and all night without taking off her clothes.
As for Mr. Han, he now has no interest in handling government affairs, and even has less time to play with "Qiaojie".
What the old man does most often now is to lean on the corridor outside his wife's bedroom, recalling the scenes of his youth with tears streaming down his face.
This couple who had supported and respected each other all their lives also came to the end of their lives.
Han Cui felt that she had no dissatisfaction in her life. She married a talented and virtuous official who held a high position in the government. She had both sons and daughters, and a large family with many descendants. She also did not have to deal with the troublesome practices of other families where concubines were favored over wives.
She has been very happy and blessed throughout her life, especially with the grandson born to her eldest son. It is truly a blessing that she has accumulated over several lifetimes to have such a grandson that makes her so proud.
Although the little guy has been very mature since he was a child, he is unwilling to act coquettishly and cute like other children.
But what's the big deal? My old man was also a representative of maturity and prudentness when he was young. Isn't this a good thing?
As for the granddaughter-in-law he married, she was gentle, good at managing the household, and a good person. Her only shortcoming was that she was not resourceful enough, and it was difficult for her to get around in the huge backyard.
Perhaps it was because his grandson saw this that he did not take a concubine into his family for more than ten years. This alone was not easy.
Thinking about the rumors about her grandson spreading all over the capital, Old Lady Han wanted to laugh. Perhaps this was love, love to the extreme.
Thinking of this, the frail old lady Han wanted to complain a few words to her old man. He already had a daughter from a famous family like her, but he still wanted to take a concubine. Was it because she had no charm when she was young?
And my eldest son has been a dull person for most of his life. Why can't he be more energetic like his father and son?
But fortunately, he had his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lu, who was also a hottie in Bianjing City when she was young!
There's also Erlang, Sanlang... Oh, and there's also the eldest daughter, and another little daughter who hasn't had time to grow up yet...
In her drowsiness, she seemed to see a ray of light, slowly reached out and grabbed a familiar shriveled person.
"Old man... I'm leaving now... I'm going to look for Miss Yao first... I'm sure she'll be very happy to see me..."
"In this life...I don't regret marrying you..."
Looking at Han Zhang, who was trembling all over and constantly combing his hair, Han Cui tried hard to force a smile, but it did not show on his withered face.
"Don't walk too fast when you see Miss Yao...wait for me...wait for me..."
Old Mr. Han, who was a high-ranking official and a wise prime minister, was now crying and snotting. He could no longer hold back and bent over.
While he was busy tidying up his wife's messy hair, he was mumbling incoherent words.
Han Ming and Yu Yanran behind him also had salty and bitter tears flowing from the corners of their eyes, and they remained silent.
Han Duanyang squatted at the door and hugged Han Xi Niang, whose eyes were swollen, and kept gritting his teeth.
Han Xiniang is the full name of "Qiaojie'er", a name that the old lady discussed with Mr. Han some time ago.
The old lady hopes that the child born on the Chinese Valentine's Day can have a happy life. This is the last blessing she gives to her great-granddaughter.
In the winter of November in the seventh year of Xining, Cui, the wife of Prime Minister Han Zhang, died in her hometown of Anyang at the age of 66.
A few months later, Han Zhang personally opened the "Anyang Collection" he wrote and filled in the blank in Volume 64 - "Record of Madam Cui's Deeds".
"My father was enthroned, and the emperor served as the Minister of Works before retiring. He was upright and capable in government, and was admired by the gentry and clan... My wife's great-grandmother and grandmother were both surnamed Lu and Li, so their family was highly respected."
"Madam is the fifth daughter of the Minister. She is gentle, quiet, virtuous, and has shown great virtue since childhood. She is proficient in needlework."
"At the age of twenty-one, she married Han Shi and served Qin Guo Taifu Hu Shi, who was born to Qi. She was able to fulfill her wifely duties..."
The wife was kind and virtuous by nature, righteous and filial, and devoted herself to raising them, often as if she were not doing enough. She personally arranged their marriages, and would not ignore them even though her family had little money.
He praised his wife for her frugality, tranquility and lack of desire, for eating simple food and wearing simple clothes, and for not seeking too much decoration.
I often pawn things for money to help my relatives and friends.
Every time Han Zhang helped someone in the clan to alleviate their financial difficulties, his wife would be happy to sponsor him, and she would even worry that what she gave was not enough.
"This is universally known, but it is particularly difficult for women."
He also praised the woman for her strict management of the household, her attention to detail, her methodical approach, and her disciplined actions.
Although Madam Cui had been ill for a long time, she still managed the household affairs tirelessly and treated her relatives with even more consideration and courtesy.
Mrs. Cui and Han Qi had three sons and five daughters.
The eldest son, Han Zhongyan, was promoted to the position of Zuo Pushe and concurrently Minister of the Imperial Court, and was granted the title of Duke of Yiguo. He was posthumously given the posthumous title of "Wen Ding".
The second son, Han Duanyan, served as the Right Zanshan Doctor.
The third son, Han Liangyan, served as a proofreader in the Secretariat and died young.
Fifth daughter: the eldest was infertile, the second daughter married Wang Jingxiu, a military officer in Xuzhou, the second daughter died young, and the youngest daughter, Shang, was very young.
The lady is extremely kind and treats those who are not her own children better than her own.
Alas! Madam, you are so accomplished and so virtuous, that even among the virtuous ladies of our time, few can match you.
Han Cui was successively granted the title of Lady of Wei.
. . . . . .
Since the autumn of the seventh year of Xining (1074), Han Zhang repeatedly submitted petitions requesting retirement, but was not granted.
In the winter of November of the same year, Han Cui died before Han Zhang. The old man was so sad that he fell ill in bed.
Afterwards, his health was up and down most of the time, and he had to complete the last step of "Anyang Collection", which made the old man's condition worse.
Until May of the eighth year of Xining (1075), Emperor Shenzong, in order to show his favor to the Han family, appointed the old man as the governor of Yongxing Army again. Unfortunately, he was seriously ill and could not take up the post.
This time, all the members of the Han family in Bian Jing came to the Han Mansion in Anyang City to listen to the old man's final instructions.
"...I have lived through three dynasties in my lifetime, personally witnessing important events such as the resistance against the Western Xia, the Qingli New Deal, the Jiayou Peace Talks, and the New Deal reforms."
"While I wouldn't say I was without fault in the court, I certainly deserve the reputation of being a mastermind, bringing peace and prosperity to the court and happiness to the people."
"As for the local governors, they are also conscientious, loyal to their duties, diligent in their work and caring for the people, and they dare not slack off for a single day."
"What a pity that despite the current favorable situation, I have fallen on the eve of victory and will not be able to witness the grand occasion..."
“Alas—!”
The old man held Han Shipu and Han Ming's hands, and kept lamenting that his body and life were coming to an end.
"Father!"
"grandfather!"
"..."
Throughout the room, Han Zhang's descendants all knelt on the ground and cried bitterly, looking at the old man whose face suddenly turned rosy.
Last gasp!!!
Looking at his descendants kneeling on the ground, Han Zhang's depressed mood instantly dissipated. He stroked his beard, looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, showing his utmost heroic spirit.
"Everyone has to die one day. You and I will say goodbye here."
"Everyone must live well and go see that new world on behalf of me and your mother."
"I am a remnant of the old times, and the new era has no path that can support me."
"Let's go. My children shouldn't die before dawn. Don't look back. Times are changing..."
"The best era for you is about to begin—!"
"Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"
After Old Man Han finished speaking these words with an excited shout, his expression visibly faded, his body lay down limply, and then the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
Just like when his spouse passed away, the dim room seemed to be suddenly covered with a layer of light.
In the light, a beautiful middle-aged woman holding a little girl of three or four years old was waving at him.
"Your mother and little sister are here to pick me up..."
Han Zhang stretched out his hand, offered it to the two of them, and finally paused, then dropped his hand from the air...
On June 8 (August 8), the eighth year of Xining, Han Zhang died suddenly in Xiangzhou at the age of .
When Emperor Shenzong heard the news, he wept bitterly for him in the Imperial Garden and suspended court for three days. On the same day, he gave his family 3,000 taels of silver and 3,000 pieces of silk.
He also issued an imperial decree to allow Han Zhang to be enshrined in the temple of Emperor Yingzong, and specially granted him the title of Shangshu Ling and the posthumous name "Zhongxian"; then he sent troops to build a tomb for him and personally wrote the tombstone: "A hero who advised and formulated policies for two dynasties."
In June of the ninth year of Xining, at the collective initiative of Chen Shengzhi and a group of old ministers, the posthumous title that was supposed to be bestowed during the reign of Huizong came ahead of schedule.
Emperor Shenzong "rewarded Han Zhang for his meritorious service in policy-making" and bestowed upon Han Zhang the title of Prince of Wei.
During the Shaosheng period, Song Zhezong, who created the prosperous Song Dynasty, was deeply impressed by the hardships that the Song Dynasty had gone through since its founding. He then painted pictures imitating the Qilin Pavilion, Yuntai and Lingyan Pavilion of the Former Han Dynasty, the Later Han Dynasty and the Former Tang Dynasty.
Recalling the past meritorious officials who assisted the emperor, he ordered people to paint images of 24 meritorious officials in Zhaoxun Pavilion to commemorate and praise them, and Han Zhang was among them.
When later generations mentioned Han Zhang, they still considered him a wise minister during the Song Dynasty.
The preface to the Collected Works of Han Weigong also states: "He served three dynasties, assisted two, and made great contributions to the country. People from all walks of life, from children to ordinary people, admire his name."
This is the evaluation of him by later generations, and it is also a true portrayal of Mr. Han himself.