There are not many windows in the room, and the surroundings are dim, but it doesn't feel gloomy. The fragrance coming from the flowers and plants outside makes the person extraordinarily calm, as if he is outside the world and has entered a Zen state. In front of her, there were Western clocks of various sizes, covering almost every side of the room, surrounding them in the center. The hands on the dial move neatly and clearly, pointing clearly to the blackened Western numerals, making a soft clicking sound at all times, just like sand falling from the fingers, and it is not discernible at all.
"How is it?" Seeing her stunned, Ye Yongjia hurriedly approached and asked, "How is the layout of the bell room?"
"Very good, very good..." Mrs. Cui slowly turned around and put her hands on her heart. "The sound made by these clocks is like the beating of the heart. It is unhurried and makes people want to think and shut up. Sit with your eyes closed for a while... Do you like it too?"
"Heroes really see the same thing," Ye Yongjia smiled happily. "When I first came to the capital, I was fascinated by this thing, so I asked someone to get one. After that, I felt it was not enough, so I bought a few more. I just thought that if you feel restless or puzzled, staying here for a while will have a miraculous effect. I thought you would find the voice confusing and urgent, but I didn't expect it to be the same as me. "
"Miss Cui," he said, taking a few steps forward, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty clock room, "standing here, do you feel that you are truly living in the world?"
"W-what do you mean?" Ms. Cui was confused at first, but when she looked at him inadvertently, the two of them stopped talking and remained motionless for a long time.
Although her ears were still ringing, she had forgotten the time and the area she was in. It was as if she was in an isolated space, and her body slowly disappeared and turned into a ball of burning fire. The flames were desperately extending in all directions, as if trying to break free from some kind of restraint; she looked at this open fire, it was so hot, so uninhibited, and contained all the joy, anger, sorrow, and joy, and she was left alone. Human heart - here, without the eyes of others, without the rules that should be followed, there are only rampant flames.
"I... roughly understand." With clear tears in Cui's eyes, she gritted her teeth and pressed herself against Ye Yongjia's chest, hugging him tightly, "I am a living person, right? "
"Yes, yes..." Ye Yongjia stroked her hair gently, his voice was excited and slightly choked.
The two hugged each other for a while, until they heard shouts outside the house, they let go. Ye Yongjia went out to take a look and saw a clerk from the Ministry of War running in panic.
"It's a serious matter. Something happened in the palace," the clerk reported breathlessly. "I'm afraid the emperor is completely leaning towards Party Chen!"
"What? Please speak clearly!" Ye Yongjia pulled his shoulder and asked eagerly.
The clerk replied helplessly: "I don't know what means the Chen party used to accuse an officer named Song of treason and implicating us. This aroused the emperor's anger and issued several edicts to punish Cui Cui and others. With his salary, Lu Ting gave him the title of Censor Zhongcheng, and transferred Dong Sheng back to the capital to prepare for legal action."
Ye Yongjia suddenly felt that the world was spinning, took a few steps back, and almost fainted. But he still stayed awake. After thinking for a moment, he turned to Mrs. Cui and said, "The situation is urgent. I have to go this time. You are at home alone. Make sure you are well." After that, he gently touched her forehead. After a kiss, he walked out of the house without looking back.
When he arrived at the Ministry of War, Ye Yongjia saw that Lu Tingci and Ming Huiguang were also there, so he asked everyone about what happened in detail, and then he understood it completely. Cui Yi sighed at the side: "This is a humble duty and a big responsibility. I only cared about the court proceedings and wanted to keep the new army, but I didn't expect that this was just a cover for the Chen Party. The real purpose was to lure me and others into taking the bait, so I was negligent. Be on guard and ruin the overall situation. This crime will lead to death!"
Ye Yongjia said: "I don't blame you He Xun for this matter. Who would have thought that Chen Thief was so smart that he would use this method of 'making a sound in the east and attacking in the west'. But I would like to ask Lu Yushi, after you got the letter, why didn't you just report it to him? Impeachment must be submitted to me first!"
Lu Tingci was so ashamed that he immediately knelt on his knees and said with tears: "At that time, Lu was only afraid that if the impeachment was opened, tens of millions of people would suffer unjust hardship, so he hesitated to make a decision. Now that I think about it, this is what I have done for a low-ranking official." My selfish thoughts have failed you, Your Excellency, and your new policy..."
"It seems that Mr. Cai was right about what he said before." After hearing this, Cui Yi was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at him and yelled, "You are indeed a woman's benevolent fellow!"
Lu Tingci had lost his confidence and was unable to refute. He was scolded by Cui Yi several times and just kept shaking his head. Seeing that he didn't reply, Cui Yi became more and more annoyed as he scolded him. He simply went to persuade Ye Yongjia: "Sir, we can't keep this guy anymore. It would be best to put him in jail and take the blame for our rebellion, which would kill two birds with one stone; in addition, whoever recommended him here should also be dealt with!"
The spearhead of the second half of the sentence was pointed at Ming Huiguang, and everyone's eyes unconsciously moved to him.
"Everything is over," the disheveled Ming Huiguang sat in the corner, his voice hoarse and deeper than usual, "I can make a concession of ten thousand steps. Come on, you can kill me, I can rest in peace."
Ye Yongjia was originally full of endless anger, but after hearing his words, his heart became cold. Yes, Mr. Cai was killed and Dong Sheng returned to Beijing. A series of sudden blows caused them to lose all the means of counterattack they could think of. A vigorous reform was like a dream that left nothing behind after waking up. . All we can wait for is to be slaughtered by Chen's party. What's the use of resisting?
The anger in his eyes extinguished, and his expression became solemn: "Forget it, it's now this time, and I don't have the strength to fight anymore. Let's leave everything to God's will..."
"Sir, when we are fighting for our lives, how can you and I just give up?" Cui Yi, with all kinds of anxiety, grabbed Ye Yongjia's sleeves; but seeing that he had no reaction, he walked to Wan Yuzhi again , trying to persuade him to move, but Wan Yuzhi was indifferent.
Cui Yi had no choice but to finally smile bitterly, wave his sleeves, look up to the sky and walk out of the office.
He staggered out of the palace and ran into a wine shop, shouting for a drink. The wine shop recognized his official uniform and was so frightened that he froze for a long time and did not dare to move. Cui Yi kicked the table and cursed: "Do you think I'm an official? Look clearly, I'm the Cui Yi who taught outside the city back then. Go get the wine!"
The restaurant owner hurriedly said yes, and immediately brought a bottle of wine and filled it for him. Cui Yi no longer had any airs, he lowered his head and drank a few times until he looked slightly drunk, but suddenly someone patted him:
"Master Cui, why are you so worried?"
He looked up and saw that it was Liu Shuzhai from Prince Yi's palace.
