Chapter 67. Thoughts.
"It's the New Year's Eve for everyone. Please invite monks and Taoists to read scriptures and prepare wine and fruits to send gifts to the gods."
——Tang Dynasty, Anonymous, "The Record of the Year under the Chariot?" Stove lamp》
………
New Year's Eve, the night of the last day of the year in the lunar calendar, is a time for rest when everyone prays for blessings and reunites, and there is also a festive atmosphere in the Zhao Mansion. However, Zhao Junchen still hid in the study, as if the big atmosphere had nothing to do with him, and was just focused on handling various public and private affairs.
In his last life, Zhao Junchen was considered a lazy person, always muddle along no matter what happened, but after coming to this world, the environment has changed, his status has changed, and the people have also changed.
He is used to intrigues and all kinds of busyness. If Zhao Junchen is suddenly allowed to relax, Zhao Junchen will not only not adapt to it, but also can't help but feel uneasy.
Yes, nowadays, whenever Zhao Junchen is free, he will feel inexplicable uneasiness deep in his heart, as if something important has been overlooked by him, and as if some plan has suddenly escaped his control. Only by continuing to deal with public and private affairs, only by continuing to be busy with intrigues, can one have a sense of peace of mind knowing the situation.
However, Zhao Junchen believed that this was not only true for him, but also for Zhou Shangjing, Shen Changmao, Huang Yourong, and perhaps Emperor Deqing and Prince Zhu Heyu.
Although you can see far and have a unique scenery when you are at a high place, you are not only lonely, but you are also standing on a cliff. If you fall, you will die without a body intact. However, no outsider can know the fear and fear of walking on thin ice.
Perhaps, this is the so-called "gain and loss".
Zhao Junchen is like this now. The Zhao Mansion is in a noisy and festive mood. Zhao Junchen does not stop it, but he has no idea of participating. In addition to not adapting to this relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, there is also a kind of incompatible confusion.
New Year's Eve is a day for family reunion, but Zhao Junchen can't find where his "family" is. The significance of this New Year's Eve made Zhao Junchen feel even more lonely.
"Perhaps, it's time to find someone close to her in the mansion who can talk about her worries, share some of the pressure, and take off the mask in front of her. Otherwise, this is just the 'Zhao Mansion', how can we call it 'home'? '? What a pity, the most difficult thing to find in this world is a close person, especially for me."
Or feeling the loneliness and confusion in his heart, Zhao Junchen put down the internal treasury accounts in his hand, thinking deeply.
And just when Zhao Junchen was thinking secretly, Fang Ru's voice sounded outside the study: "Master, the time has come, it's time to have New Year's Eve dinner."
Zhao Junchen packed up the papers on his desk and responded at the same time: "I know."
After finishing cleaning up, I opened the door and saw Fang Ruzheng standing outside the study with a smile. She was wearing a red long-sleeved coat and a red skirt. Her long hair was pulled into a pony bun. She wore light makeup and looked enchanting and cute.
After drinking poisonous wine that day, Fang Ru fell ill. She finally recovered a few days ago. As the New Year was approaching, Zhao Junchen saw that the preparations of the Zhao Mansion were a bit chaotic. He was busy with official duties and had no time. Xu Qingyan had no ability and kept following him. Zhao Junchen once again handed over all the affairs of the Zhao family to Fang Ru.
And Fang Ru did a good job indeed. After taking over, all the affairs of Zhao Mansion quickly became in order again.
After seeing Zhao Junchen appear, Fang Ru smiled charmingly and said again: "Master, it's time for the New Year's Eve dinner."
Zhao Junchen smiled and nodded, and walked towards the main hall of Zhao Mansion with Fang Ru.
On the way, Zhao Junchen asked: "Qingyan hasn't come back yet?"
Fang Ru said with a smile: "I just came to see the master when I saw him coming back. Xu Qingyan meant to wait for the master to finish the official business before having the New Year's Eve dinner, and did not dare to disturb the master. But it seems to me that you have been dealing with it for a whole day. It’s time to take a rest from your official duties, and tonight is New Year’s Eve, so I can’t work too hard. What’s more, we can’t let the guests in the house wait, right?”
When she mentioned "guest", Fang Ru quickly glanced at Zhao Junchen. Seeing that Zhao Junchen's expression did not change, he seemed a little happier.
The guests mentioned by Fang Ru were the two brothers Liu Zimin and Liu Rui. Zhao Junchen took them to his residence. Liu Rui was a beautiful girl. Naturally, there were many rumors in the Zhao residence.
And Fang Ru obviously felt threatened by these rumors.
Seeing Fang Ru like this, Zhao Junchen shook his head and laughed: "You, after what happened that day, you became bolder."
Indeed, after drinking the poisonous wine that day and explaining their thoughts, both Fang Ru and Zhao Junchen were relieved. In front of Zhao Junchen, Fang Ru relaxed a lot and became bolder, but at the same time, she also felt a lot more sad. , because Zhao Junchen has not been close to her since he came back from Lu'an Mansion.
But after hearing Zhao Junchen's words, Fang Ru just smiled and said nothing.
Along the way, there were Spring couplets, blessing characters, New Year pictures, red lanterns everywhere, and the faint sound of firecrackers, which made the atmosphere quite grand. While chatting and joking with Fang Ru, the loneliness in Zhao Junchen's heart finally dissipated a little.
Speaking of which, Fang Ru's character was somewhat like that of Zhao Junchen's "intimate friend". However, after Fang Ru confessed his feelings, the gap between Zhao Junchen and her became more severe. Zhao Junchen knew that Fang Ru focused all her thoughts on herself, but Zhao Junchen knew even more clearly that what Fang Ru admired was the Zhao Junchen who rescued her from the sea of suffering, but that Zhao Junchen was not the Zhao Junchen he is today. Because of this, Zhao Junchen has never slept with her.
While chatting, the two of them arrived at the main hall of the Zhao Mansion, and saw a round table in the main hall. All kinds of dishes were prepared on the round table. Xu Qingyan, Liu Zimin, and Liu Rui were also waiting there. At this time, , Liu Zimin was saying something to Xu Qingyan with a face full of flattery, Xu Qingyan listened attentively, but Liu Rui was as quiet and gentle as ever, just sitting there quietly waiting for Zhao Junchen to appear.
After seeing Zhao Junchen appear, Xu Qingyan quickly stood up and greeted him, but Liu Zimin hesitated and did not follow him after all.
Obviously, Xu Qingyan had something important to report to Zhao Junchen, but it was disrespectful to get involved at this time.
Arriving next to Zhao Junchen, Xu Qingyan said softly: "Master, I have already sent your gift to the Zhou Mansion."
Zhao Junchen walked toward the main hall with the two people around him, and asked with a chuckle: "What's the response from Zhou Mansion?"
A trace of doubt flashed in Xu Qingyan's eyes, and he said: "That old guy Zhou Shangjing didn't say anything. He just asked me to tell the young master that he transplanted three poplar trees in his backyard a few days ago. They have deep roots and luxuriant branches. They are tall and straight. They are the best place to enjoy the cool weather in summer." It's appropriate. Master, please go take a look at it in your spare time."
Zhao Junchen shook his head and laughed, saying: "What an old fox."
It turns out that a few days ago, Zhou Shangjing gave Zhao Junchen a copy of "Historical Records Volume 92?" "The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin" used Han Xin's fate to remind Zhao Junchen, and by the way, he alienated the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Emperor Deqing. Taking advantage of the Chinese New Year, Zhao Junchen also gave Zhou Shangjing a return gift, Zhang Juzheng's "Zhang Taiyue Collection". He wanted Zhou Shangjing to think of Zhang Juzheng, who was also a powerful official in the Ming Dynasty. He was almost whipped after his death and his family was harmed. In the end, it can be regarded as treating the other person in his own way.
Needless to say, the three poplar trees Zhou Shangjing mentioned to Xu Qingyan were the "San Yang" of the Ming Dynasty, which meant that although his power was no less than that of Zhang Juzheng, his actions were directed towards San Yang. Xuexue, although he was also a powerful minister, naturally it was not his turn to bear the tragic end of Zhang Juzheng.
However, Xu Qingyan, who had always been ignorant and unskilled, naturally didn't understand these riddles and their meanings. However, when Zhao Junchen laughed and called Zhou Shangjing an old fox, he nodded repeatedly.
"Take your time, that old fox just wants to gain some initiative. Now that the date of the southern tour is getting closer, I don't believe he is not in a hurry."
While muttering to himself, Zhao Junchen was already walking towards the Liu brothers and sisters.
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