Since the beginning of spring in the 16th year of Yongshuang, two major events have occurred that shocked both the government and the public.
The first thing is that His Majesty the Emperor officially appointed the candidates for the chief examiner and deputy examiner of Chunwei. The chief examiner Li Zixin returned to Beijing and resumed his duties, personally abbotting many matters of the Chunwei imperial examination. The Gongyuan of the Ministry of Rites in the capital is also in full swing of repairs.
The second thing is that Zhang Gu, the grandson of the emperor of the orthodox royal family of Dafeng, was recommended by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to become an official. He served as the Zhongshu Sheren under the Zhongshu Province and was responsible for drafting edicts.
After Zhuang Tianji, a highly respected minister, fell seriously ill, the power of the imperial court was seriously divided, and the same party opposed the different. Therefore, officials with high aspirations were forced to take sides. The temple was so smoky, not to mention the battlefield, not to mention the border "counter-insurgency" war. After that, people died every day. It was not easy to swallow up Jiang Xing's 300,000 troops in one go. Over time, it fell into a slow and grinding situation. Just when the banquet of the ministers was about to begin on New Year's Eve, the military officer The ministers were all dealing with the military information sent back from the border front. The entire Ministry of War residence had been brightly lit all night since the beginning of the first month. The mountains of military reports and military information recorded mostly small victories, without any real final word.
Why didn't the hussar general, who was dull by nature but used his troops like a god, lead his troops to join the battle?
The reason is simple, because now the court is calm on the surface, but secretly it is like a whirlpool of chaos, and as long as he is in the capital, it will be the Dinghai Shenzhen.
The current situation of the imperial court also illustrates one problem: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's trip to the Dafeng Palace is imminent.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the royal family went out of the palace to watch the lanterns together. It was originally a happy thing, but unexpectedly, someone in the mixed crowd shot a cold arrow at Geliu. Fortunately, it was stopped by the light snow. Later, it was discovered that the arrow was covered with drama. Toxic, if it comes into contact with the skin, the consequences will be disastrous. The perpetrator was captured by the Twelve Earthly Branches who were hiding in the dark and committed suicide on the spot by taking poison. As a result, no clues were left in this sudden assassination.
Once the festival is over, the flavor of the New Year gradually dissipates, and it becomes no different from usual.
After breakfast today, His Majesty the Emperor temporarily put aside the matters at hand and took the car to the banker's residence.
The highly respected prime minister was lying on the hospital bed. His whole body was black and without any flesh and blood. He was so emaciated that only his skin and bones were left. His eye sockets were sunken and his cheekbones were horrifyingly protruding. He tremblingly stretched out a hand as thin as a dead branch from the quilt, motioning for his granddaughter to help him up.
Zhuang Bingyan, who had always served her grandfather, took a few steps back and shook her head.
The seriously ill old man on the bed closed his eyes and murmured feebly. Since ancient times, heaven and earth have to worship the emperor and master. If people are rude, they will not be born, if things are rude, they will not be successful. If the country is rude, it will not be peaceful. I, Zhuang Tianji, will abide by the etiquette of the emperor and his ministers all my life. How can you not pray before you die?
He dragged his body bit by bit and struggled to get up. Zhuang Bingyan quickly helped him and said anxiously: "Grandpa, can't you just lie down peacefully?"
There was a sudden voice outside the door, helping your grandfather to get up. "
The Emperor crossed the threshold and entered.
"How can my grandpa get up when he's like this?!" Even though she was facing the emperor of a country at this moment, Zhuang Bingyan still refused to give in. Just like before, she would rather kneel and die in front of the Ji Tu Altar than admit her mistake.
Zhuang Tianji's eyes widened and he was extremely angry. He trembled all over and hit his granddaughter hard, but it was as light as fluff and it didn't hurt or itch.
"Grandpa." Zhuang Bingyan's red lips trembled, tears welled up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and reluctantly helped Zhuang Tianji up. Because the old man could not sit up by himself, she always hugged him tightly behind her.
The old man's breath was extremely weak and he could not speak. After sitting upright, he dusted his sleeves to show great respect and bowed gently with his hands.
At that moment, Gui Qi's lips trembled and she almost burst into tears.
At that time, there was a young man who had just proclaimed himself emperor. He took part in the meandering water drinking ceremony of the King and Tyrant Competition, and hit it off with the talkative celebrity. Afterwards, the two traveled together, and the young emperor gradually discovered that this celebrity liked to pursue fame and wealth, and was full of worldly temptations. Since ancient times, there have been two types of scholars, one who governs the country and brings peace to the world, and the other who governs the world and brings peace to the world. Compared with the latter, the former has a smaller structure and only wants to be famous in the world, while the latter often takes the common people as their own responsibility and establishes virtues for the world. , to make contributions to the world, and the imperial court has never needed scholars like the latter. It is precisely the need for the former to settle the king's world affairs and win fame during and after his death. Therefore, when the two people who traveled together finally parted, the young emperor took the initiative to confess his identity. , stretched out a hand to him and asked: "Would you like to assist me in achieving great achievements?"
The famous talker held his hand. From then on, he was no longer a down-and-out scholar seeking official positions. He suddenly became the prime minister of the dynasty.
But in the long-term relationship between the emperor and his ministers, the young emperor gradually realized that he had made a mistake. He was not the kind of scholar who wanted to be a highly respected minister during his lifetime, and who wanted to be remembered for eternity after his death. He also wanted to leave a mark on history. He is a scholar who observes all things in the world with a benevolent heart, eats the emperor's salary, is loyal to the emperor, and owes nothing to each other. He goes to the temple not to seek wealth or fame, but to be able to see further and govern the world as a better scholar.
Such a scholar with a world-wide mind, when he served as the prime minister to assist the emperor, successively appointed the three departments of Yitong of the Kaifu, the Imperial Academy of Jijiu, the Minister of Zhongshu Ling, and the Minister of the Secretariat, and he had a clear understanding of the general who was originally a farmer. The general of the Hussars was promoted, and he started from both grand and small matters. He first solved the hidden dangers left by the late emperor during his reign, and then followed the emperor to conquer the north and south and stabilize the territory of the mountains and rivers. Who says Baiwuyiyong is a scholar? Since then, the Dajing Dynasty has enjoyed peace and prosperity in the country and the people.
In the year of Yongshuang, signs of troubled times began to emerge. Zhuang Tianji had no plan left and had already prepared countermeasures. The emperor followed his advice and divided the world into twenty areas. He no longer relied on the dangers of mountains and rivers, but found new ways to make each area special. In places where chaos and chaos occurred frequently, an intertwined situation was formed, and governors were dispatched to inspect the country, which effectively strengthened the centralization of power and local control and governance.
At that time, they made a vow to create great achievements together. Decades later, this pair of monarchs and ministers brought the Dajing Dynasty into an unprecedented prosperous period. They were destined to leave a good saying in the history of "the monarch and his ministers are compatible". The generation that can be called the greatest hero in the world is coming to an end. How long can he survive?
Even before leaving the palace today, the Imperial Master, who was living in Jian Chuqin Tianjian, took the initiative to find the emperor and left a message: "The old prime minister cannot survive today."
The first time the emperor shed tears in front of his ministers was in front of this old man. Like the old man, he dusted off his clothes, bowed his hands, and bent down to say goodbye.
Yes, goodbye.
"I am very happy to have worked with you for so many years. Thank you for your hard work, sir."
The old man shook his head and nodded, closed his eyes, and murmured softly that only he could hear, "On the journey of the great road, the world is for the common good, trustworthy and harmonious, select the talented and promote the capable... so that the old age will end well. The strong have their uses, the young have their talents, the widowed, the lonely, the disabled, all have something to support... Goods are abandoned on the ground, there is no need to hide them, plots are not prosperous, thieves are not committed... .I’m not talented, so I still haven’t been able to do it in this life.”
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Living in a deep palace for a long time is always boring. Wang Sizhi wanted to ask Guiliu to accompany him to the capital for a walk today, but before he could say anything, this man hurriedly went to the Imperial Academy, as if there was something very urgent. Business.
She was so bored that she didn't know what to do, so she had to sit in the courtyard in a daze holding the snowball, but she couldn't just sit there all day, she had to find something to do, so she thought of that woman.
Do you want to go over and talk to her? Wang Sizhi was a little hesitant and didn't want to go. He didn't know what else to do. We were already enemies, and I didn’t know what to say to her.
After hesitating for a while, Wang Sizhi decided not to go. There was nothing to talk about with that cold and inhuman girl. If she had time, she might as well walk around the palace or do some embroidery. If she wanted to be a If you give a small sachet to a man, he will not be able to put it down, right?
Otherwise... let's go home and take a look.
She stood up, stood there blankly, and asked herself: "What's the point of going back? It will only increase the sadness."
The answer in her heart kept telling her that it wasn't worth going back, but she still stepped down the steps and walked out.
Because the Wang family was confiscated, the street where the Wang family's residence was located was deserted. The ground was covered with thick snow and no one had cleaned it. There was not even a single footprint. In the hustle and bustle of the capital, this place seems to be an abandoned place, and everyone has forgotten the Wang family, which was extremely wealthy and prosperous in the past.
In the past, the Wang family's mansion was filled with nobles and nobles. Now the door is locked and sealed. Through the door gap, only a desolate and dilapidated scene can be seen.
She walked around the whole mansion and finally stopped in front of the gate. She didn't go in because she couldn't but she didn't want to. Because she knows that seeing things and thinking about people is the most hurtful thing.
Snowball in her arms meowed softly.
Wang Sizhi was a little confused. She looked up and found a horizontal couplet with black characters on a red background posted high in the center above the door. The handwriting was flying and phoenix-like. Although it was not pretty, it was unique. At first glance, it was written by that man.
She stepped slightly and read the three words clearly, "family."
He never told her that if she didn't come here today, she might not come here in the future, and she might not know about it for the rest of her life.
He loved her very much. Although he always deliberately made her angry and deliberately pretended to be careless, she knew that his love was all secret. He never pointed it out, never patted his chest and said proudly that I was What have you done? Look how much I love you.
Love is definitely not something that will be rewarded after giving. The truth is exactly the opposite. Love is often one-way, selfless, and does not get anything in return. There is someone who is willing to pay for you. If love is just about blindly asking for and taking away from the other half to satisfy yourself, then it is actually just love for yourself, an illusory love, and a false love.
How many men and women in the world fall into this kind of fake love? How many men often say to women during quarrels: "I have sacrificed so much for you, and you treat me like this?"
How many unforgettable and vigorous love can there be? Many times love is just daily necessities, every little thing can cause thunder in a silent place.
There was no denying that she was lucky to meet him.
After sitting on the steps at the gate for a long time, Wang Sizhi walked out of the deserted street with red eyes, staring blankly at the bustling flow of cars and horses, when suddenly someone called her from behind.
Wang Sizhi turned around and saw that she was a woman with outstanding appearance, and she felt very familiar, as if she had seen her before somewhere.
Come to think of it, isn't the weak woman in front of Liu Fufeng the oiran woman that my man redeemed in the brothel of Shuanghua City? She is also the aunt of the little girl named Bai. Wang Sizhi loved the little girl very much, and lived with the little girl for a lot of time during the time on Fanke Mountain, so his first impression of the aunt in front of him was not a bad one.
But at the next moment, Wang Sizhi narrowed his eyes and asked coldly: "Who are you?"
With a mysterious realm, she could tell at a glance that the body of the woman in front of her contained the soul of a man, which was very similar to the Taoist saying of "taking the body" of borrowing another person's body to return Yang.
The woman smiled and spoke with a soft voice, "Who I am is not important, what I want to tell you is the most important."
"I have nothing to say to you. Where did you take her? Come back!"
The Zhuxian Sword broke through the palace's landscape restrictions and was held in Wang Sizhi's hand.
The woman remained calm and smiled: "You can kill me now. Unless you don't want to know the truth about your father's death."
Wang Sizhi was stunned, and after a long time she came back to her senses, her lips trembling, "You...what did you say?"
The woman spoke in a soft voice: "Wang Sizhi, your father has been greedy for life and afraid of death all his life. Even he didn't have the courage to save your mother back then. Do you think he is willing to die a dignified death, or is he willing to live quietly? Your father Wang Gong Qiao, you hit your head on a pillar and died on the day you were released from prison. It was our empress, the empress of heaven, who forced you to marry into the Gui family. Although your father lived a lifetime, he never took a step towards marrying a daughter. If you retreat, you can obviously survive, but in the end you will be killed."
"I know it's empty talk, and I happen to have some magical powers, so I'll take you on a journey along the river of time."
In an instant, Wang Sizhi was in the long river of time, going upstream, and the stream soon reflected the scenery of the past.
The next second, the stream was rushing, and suddenly a dying old man appeared. He tremblingly raised an arm forward, gently touched his imaginary daughter, and said softly: "Si Zhi, please don't marry me. Dad." You have been cowardly all your life and failed to protect your mother. Dad will never be able to forgive you again."
"Dad! Don't!!!" Wang Sizhi roared heartbreakingly. His hands had clearly grasped the old man's reflection in the water, but he could not stop the old man's fate.
Wang Gongqiao used all his strength and hit the pillar with a bang.
On the streets of Beijing, there was a woman who couldn't kneel down, holding her face in her hands, and howling like crazy.
Someone passed by and whispered, "Did my parents die? They were crying so miserably."
Yes, it wasn't until the moment she witnessed the collision with her own eyes that Wang Gongqiao truly died in her heart.
The woman walked up to her, without saying any words of comfort, with a calm smile, "Deceit, lies, life and death, what's the point of this world? Why not strip away humanity and regain the old things? It's been ten thousand years, it's time to pick them up."
Wang Sizhi peeled off her face with her hands, stood up slowly, her bright red eyes dimmed, as if she was a different person, and said calmly: "What do you want?"
The woman suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and knelt at her feet with a plop, banging her head on the ground, "Bai Shirong is willing to serve you for tens of thousands of years!"
Wang Sizhi, who had become extremely unfamiliar, shook his head and said indifferently: "You are not worthy."
The moment the words fell, Bai Shirong's body exploded, blood filled the air, and broken arms and limbs scattered on the street.
Her slender fingers reached out slightly and crushed his soul inch by inch.
"Snowball."
The naive white cat seemed to have become extremely indifferent, its bright red eyes were lifeless, and it swallowed up the soul in one gulp. It seemed that it still wanted to eat. It glanced at Wang Sizhi, and after receiving the permission, it began to "eat to the fullest." All those whose souls were swallowed by it disappeared from the world.
She looked at the palace with her red eyes and remained silent.
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On the border between the Dajing Dynasty and the Dafeng Dynasty, the north wind blew the white grass on the ground and the snow fell all over the sky. Two carriages slowly met each other.
The carriage drivers were an ancestor of a certain Xian family sect, and General Dafeng, who commanded two million cavalry.
The curtain opened, Qin Fang stepped out of the carriage and said softly: "Slow down, don't fall."
The charming woman gently jumped out of the carriage, timidly and weakly, not daring to raise her head.
"Don't be afraid, come with me." Qin Fang took her hand and walked towards the carriage in front.
The cavalry general turned over and dismounted, opened the thick curtain, and suddenly the bitter smell of herbal medicine hit his nostrils. The old Emperor Dafeng was lying on the couch, and a rare fairy grass was burning in a fumigation cage next to him. This fairy grass was obtained by Master Da Feng when he went to sea to visit immortals. It can be used to mourn his death. In other words, when the fairy grass burns out, it will be the death anniversary of the great emperor Feng.
Stepping onto the carriage, Qin Fang said nothing and gently pushed the charming woman forward.
The old emperor struggled to open his eyes and whispered softly: "Granddaughter, come to grandpa."
The charming woman bit her red lips lightly, mustered up her courage, and came to sit next to him.
The old emperor tremblingly stretched out his old wrinkled hand. The charming woman did not hesitate this time, stretched out her hand and gently held it.
"granddaughter?"
The charming woman looked at him doubtfully and found that the old man's eyes were filled with tears.
"Don't cry." The charming woman said softly, wiping his tears with her sleeves.
"Granddaughter?" the old emperor called softly again.
The charming woman bit her red lips tightly and said nothing.
Qin Fang quietly took a step forward, already feeling a little out of breath.
After breathing for a long time, the old emperor's breath was extremely weak, and he struggled to say: "Granddaughter?"
This time, the charming woman did not escape, she nodded solemnly, "Yes!"
The old emperor's trembling hand wanted to touch her face, so she lowered her head slightly and pressed her warm cheek against his cold hand.
"grandfather?"
The old emperor, who had fallen asleep, struggled to open his heavy eyelids again. He hummed, closed his eyes again, and said softly: "Grandpa, take a nap."
A cold wind blew through the car curtains, completely extinguishing the burning embers in the fumigation cage.
The hand on her warm cheek slid down.
In the spring of the 16th year of Yongshuang, the old Emperor Dafeng passed away on the border. Thousands of people in the capital, dressed in silk cloth, knelt down to mourn.
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Giliu went to the Imperial Academy to handle some official matters assigned to him by his father. He also took a look at the young scholar whom Lao Jijiu highly respected. After that, he went to the Gongyuan of the Ministry of Rites in the capital to personally supervise the repair work. He and Li Zixin went to a riverside restaurant to have a drink, left the palace in the morning, and didn't take the car back to the palace until the sunset.
After a long day of exhaustion, lying in the car and watching the sunset, Geiliu couldn't wait to return to that tender and gentle hometown. What could my wife be doing at this time? Is she angry? Probably yes. After all, she had something to say when she left in a hurry in the morning.
Suddenly I remembered that when I had dinner with Li Zixin in the afternoon, I asked many maids to serve wine. Could it be that I was smelling of makeup? You know, that girl's nose is as sensitive as a dog, and she can smell whenever a woman comes close to her. Thinking of this, Geiliu couldn't sit still. Although she couldn't smell it at all, she couldn't guarantee it. How about changing her clothes and going home?
Li Zixin's mansion happened to be nearby, so he might as well go there, so Guiliu turned the carriage around.
In less than half an hour, Gui Liu, who not only changed clothes but also took a shower, stepped out of the Li family's mansion and got into the long-awaited carriage.
A young man with white hair couldn't wait to return to the prince's east palace, humming a slutty song and calling the beauty's name softly.
...
After a stick of incense passed, the man flew out of the yard, and was pierced through the heart by a snow-white sword and nailed high to the wall.
Wang Sizhi broke through the palace formation and the restrictions of the landscape, stripped out his humanity, looked at the man with his bright red eyes without any emotion, and finally ascended to the sky.
At the beginning of the new year in Yongshuang’s sixteenth year,
The most powerful official of Dajing passed away due to illness, and he received a beautiful posthumous title and a lasting legacy.
The old emperor of Dafeng died, and soon after the new emperor ascended the throne, King Runan, King of Chu, King of Zhao, King of Qi, King of Changsha, King of Chengdu, King of Hejian, and King of Donghai launched a rebellion. The Dafeng royal family was crumbling and was known as the "Eight Kings" in history. chaos".
The final chapter,
This volume is finished.
