In the first year of Zhangwu (AD 210), Chang'an was extremely festive due to the new emperor's accession to the throne and the conferment of meritorious officials. The streets were decorated with lights and colorful lights were hung, and crowds gathered in the night markets, just like the scene of the king's conferment last year. The new dynasty simply announced that this matter would be formalized. From now on, there would be no night ban in Beijing in the first month of every year. Hearing this, the people in the city praised the new emperor's virtues and policies, thinking that a peaceful year was just around the corner.
After the lights went off, Chang'an City gradually returned to its former peace. Although the imperial court held daily meetings, due to the tense state affairs, the role of the meetings was not significant. As in previous years, many military and state affairs were handed over to Taichung, the Sino-Korean minister, and secretly decided by a few people including Emperor Liu Bei and Prime Minister Chen Chong. What can be decided at the court meeting are basically trivial matters related to rites, education, and prison sentences. In fact, a few years ago, Chen Chong had formulated the framework for these matters, and now the court discussions are just to fill in the details.
But speaking of it, since Liu Bei was appointed queen, officials have been speculating about Chen Chong's appointment after the founding of the country. After all, Chen Chong has been in charge of the Sili Mansion for nearly twenty years. He has fought in the north and south, clarified scholars, established laws and regulations, rewarded and punished people, promoted talents, taught farmers and mulberry trees, and almost all affairs of the country have come into his hands. His power can be said to be even greater than that of Ba Mansion. Win. People at the time discussed this and said that in terms of the country, Chen Chong should be better than Xiao He and Zhang Liang, and equal to Guan Zhong and Jiang Wang. If you want to be an official, the position of prime minister is the most suitable. However, for the next two hundred years, the country did not have a prime minister, and the person who was appointed prime minister was Dong Zhuo, who usurped and disrupted the government. If Chen Chong accepts this position, he will inevitably encounter suspicion. Whether he will die well in the future is really hard to say. It would be wiser to follow Zhou Bo's example and gradually delegate power back to the government.
But Liu Bei didn't care about this. On the day after he ascended the throne, he held a banquet and met with all his ministers. He suddenly asked: "Can I inherit the Han Dynasty today as a mere descendant of the Youyan Yuan clan, a knight-errant Baiding? What do you rely on?" All the ministers said: "Your Majesty responded to the deadline with divine force, showed off Huairen with virtue, measured the sun and moon, and all the people returned like the lake and the sea. This is indeed the destiny of destiny." Liu Bei laughed loudly after hearing this, and held a cup to everyone Said: "How can people not know this? If virtue can bring peace to the world, how can I compare to Liu Bo'an (Liu Yu)? We ask ourselves, in the battle of Youzhou, I helped Bogui, and it cannot be said that I did not help him. Selfishly, if Cao Cao sits in Yanzhou and causes great trouble, it cannot be said to be wise!"
Speaking of this, he pointed at Chen Chong and said to all the officials: "I can't be where I am today without Ting Jian's work! The great ancestor helped the world with his three heroes. I have Ting Jian and hold the world's attention. Without him or me, how can I be proud of myself?" What?" Then Liu Bei stood up from the chairman's chair, walked slowly to Chen Chong, bowed into the cup and said: "When we were young, you and I swore to help all the people. Now that I am greedy for your merits and practice the middle way, we still have to advance and retreat together. Court. Jian, I will work you for a few more years and continue to be my prime minister." After that, he took out the prime minister's seal that had been prepared and stuffed it into Chen Chong's hand.
After the news of the appointment was spread, it was widely spread among the people. It is believed that the friendship between the two gentlemen has illuminated the past and present with their virtues, their brilliance and sincerity have brought peace to the universe. Although they are compared with the sages of three generations, they are not less generous. After this incident, Liu Bei discussed all matters with Chen Chong before making any decisions, whether internal or external. As a result, the power of the Prime Minister's Office increased instead of falling.
But Chen Chong was not happy about it, or in other words, because of the change of direction, he became increasingly restless at home. After the end of January, there were continuous spring rains for several days, and the weather in February turned from warm to cold. Regarding the whereabouts of Liu Xie, although the DPRK and China advertised that he was reclusive in the mountains and forests, how could there be no rumors among the people? All officials in the court knew the truth, and no one reacted to it, as if the emperor did not exist.
During the half-year period when he was busy changing dynasties, Chen Chong stayed in Dong Bai's small building and never returned home. Until the end of March, the weather cleared up and the sun was warm. Chen Chong thought that he couldn't keep procrastinating like this, so he asked Dong Bai to help pack up the bedding and returned home with the guards.
Upon entering the house, Chen Zhang, who had returned home a few months earlier, was already waiting at the door. Chen Chong dismounted and returned home. After sitting for half a day, the princess was nowhere to be seen, so he asked Chen Zhang, "Where is your mother? Why don't you come out?" Chen Zhang replied, "My mother said she was sick and could not see people. I asked her what was wrong with her. She didn’t tell me either.”
Chen Chong understood, where is the disease? It's just a mental illness. He deeply regretted marrying Wan Nian. No matter what his relationship with Liu Xie was, Wan Nian had always been innocent. He had been with her for so many years, but she was a weak woman who had spent more than ten years trying to cater to him. , there is nothing to blame, what more can you ask for? But he didn’t even have a few gentle words to say
I am willing to say that I feel sorry for her.
A few days ago, Liu Bei actually asked Chen Chong if he wanted to divorce his wife. After all, time has passed and Dong Bai's origin has been basically forgotten, while the princess's identity is very sensitive. Since the two of them get along awkwardly, it would be easier to separate, but Chen Chong still politely refused. Now that Liu Xie is dead, he is the princess's only support. If he abandons her again, the princess may not survive even a month.
When he returned home this time, Chen Chong made up his mind. Since the end was done, he should still make up for his shortcomings and at least make his family harmonious. Therefore, even though he was embarrassed and his steps were heavy, he still mustered up the courage to walk to the bedroom and gently knock on the door. No one in the room answered. Chen Chong waited for a while, then opened the door softly and walked slowly into the room. He turned around and saw the princess kneeling on the table, her slender back facing him.
What to say? Chen Chong was trapped at this point. He managed to think of some comforting words, but they all felt pale and ridiculous, but he also knew that it was better than not saying anything at all.
Unexpectedly, just when he was about to speak, the princess said categorically, as if she had a mental connection: "You don't have to pity me. Although I am a woman, I am not as easy to break as a willow, and I will not seek death."
She added, "I admire you and it was my idea to marry you. If it makes you distressed and delays state affairs, it is my fault."
Having said this, she slowly turned around and looked at Chen Chong with a pair of eyes that could no longer shed tears. These eyes seemed to contain mountains of swords and seas of fire. Chen Chong was at a loss, but he finally calmed down and stepped in with words. He sat next to the princess and responded to his wife's gaze: "Don't say such things. If you feel uncomfortable, do whatever you want. We have been husband and wife for so many years. I can tell whether you are telling the truth or a lie. Many I just forced myself to do this. If I could do it again, I would also like to cry a few more times."
When the princess heard what he said, she was in a daze for a moment, then smiled sweetly, reached out and touched Chen Chong's hair, then shook her head and said, "It's really not like you." Then she turned her back and stared blankly at the wine cup between the tables. . The moment the two of them touched, Chen Chong felt the frozen snow passing through his body, and then disappeared in an instant, and he felt dark for a moment. He knew that the estrangement could not be eliminated overnight. He gently stroked his wife's back, and they both shuddered and soon separated.
Within a decade after this meeting, Chen Chong tried several times to reconcile with Wannian, but the princess remained as before, indifferent to any of Chen Chong's words, and still lived in seclusion in her bedroom all day long. Ten years after marrying Chen Chong, the princess seemed to finally understand Chen Chong's weakness. She began to torture Chen Chong by torturing herself, and it was very effective. So much so that when Chen Chong stayed in the mansion, he would feel a sense of fear of stepping into a cold cave. This is something that many people in the world want to do but fail to do.
By the end of the month, the princess had won. Chen Chong took the mattress back to the small house. When having dinner that night, Chen Chong drank at home for the first time until everyone was drunk. He couldn't remember what nonsense he said to Dong Bai. He only remembered that A Bai kept Comforting myself.
I don't know what time it was, maybe in the middle of the night. The north wind roared outside, blowing some petals off the small building, and some branches crackled against the doors and windows. The cold wind penetrated into the room through the cracks, and the cold air suddenly woke Chen Chong from his sleep.
He subconsciously grabbed the edge of the bed and turned over to look. There were no lights in the room, and the shadows of the trees outside the window were swaying. He could faintly hear the ringing of wind chimes under the corridor in the back garden. Only then did he realize that he was beside Dong Bai, not among thousands of troops. This made him relax for a moment, and he looked back at A Bai's face. She was still asleep, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, one hand on her chest, and she was holding on to the skirt of her clothes under her cold clothes. Is there anything troubling her too?
Chen Chong actually knew it well, and it probably had something to do with him. He wanted to make up for ten thousand years, but he owed Ah Bai. Chen Chong instantly remembered the moment when his family was destroyed, and his heart became cold again. He understood that if he wanted to be a good prime minister, he could not be a good husband. But how can we take this path in life so that there are no flaws? It was my fault? Is it fate's fault? Or is it that when people try not to make mistakes, they already make mistakes? Are these the only mistakes you have committed? Of course not, I must be much more wrong than I think.
After Chen Chong lay down, he slowly hugged Dong Bai into his arms, using the heat of their bodies to control the confusion in his heart. He thought to himself: But there are so many
Over the years, my desire to prevent others from suffering has never changed. Even if we look at the past and present, there are very few people who can do it. He comforted himself like this, and his worries gradually faded away.
Before going to court the next day, Chen Chong found Chen Zhang and said to him: "You have already served in the Yuan Dynasty and have not been married for a long time. Logically speaking, you should separate your family and start your own business and go out to work. But your mother needs someone to take care of her, and I will also take care of others." You are not at ease, so I have arranged a job for Dongguanlang for you. On weekdays, the palace is sorting out the classics, so it is not easy to make mistakes. You can go home more often, and you can also take the opportunity to read more books and make some friends."
When Chen Zhang heard that he no longer had to join the army, he looked extremely happy and said yes to Chen Chong repeatedly. Chen Chong asked him again how he and his wife were feeling after their wedding. Chen Zhang hesitated and hesitated for a long time before saying, "Acai is very nice, but I always feel restricted and uncomfortable when talking to her." Chen Chong laughed after hearing this and asked again. Said: "Nothing in the world is truly as you wish. Just be more understanding and spend more time with A Cai. Just get used to it."
After that, he took out a thin piece of silk from his arms, which was secretly passed down to him for thousands of years. Now he asked Chen Zhang to pass it to his wife, saying that even so, he had never forgotten her kindness.
