The flying snow stops, the clouds break and the sun rises.
Looking around, the sky and the earth are full of vastness, and everything is covered in silver, which makes people feel dazzling and dizzying.
Qi Yu carried the gift and walked carefully on the snow.
The snow feels soft, and it creaks when you step on it. Yes, this is the unique sound of winter in the north.
Zhao Mingyu's home is near Xingtaipu Temple. I heard that it is a very spacious house.
Finally arrived, knocked on the door and entered.
As soon as I entered the door, I heard Zhao Mingyu's voice praising plum blossoms: "I knew it wasn't snow in the distance because there was a faint fragrance coming."
Qi Yu looked around and saw several wintersweet trees planted in the yard. The flowers were blooming in the cold weather.
"My lord, you are so excited!"
"Touching brings about emotion, so I feel and praise it."
After exchanging a few words, they offered tea.
Qi Yu took the initiative to sit in the lower position.
Zhao Mingyu took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Shaocheng, we have been working together for so long, and I have never invited you to have a meal or drink once. This is really not thoughtful."
Qi Yu hurriedly said: "What are you saying, sir? Even if you want to invite a drink, it should be done by a lower official. How can you spend money? Unfortunately, I have been busy with trivial matters recently, which has taken up time. I hope your sir will pay more attention to this." Forgive me."
Alas, while I was busy writing, why did I forget the important event of treating guests to dinner?
What a mistake!
Zhao Mingyu chuckled and said, "There are only a few people in Xingtaipu Temple. Isn't it the same for whoever invites them?"
Seeing that he was not surprised, Qi Yu smiled happily.
The two drank tea for a while, and it was almost noon.
Well, it's almost time to eat.
Zhao Mingyu looked at the thatched pavilion in the yard and said, "How about this, how about we place wine and food in this thatched pavilion, cook wine and enjoy the plum blossoms at the same time?"
Drinking on the patio?
How cold it was!
However, now that he has spoken, how can I have the nerve to refute his elegance?
So, Qi Yu responded: "Very good! I didn't expect Master Zhao to be so elegant. Shaocheng is more respectful than to obey."
"Okay, come on, prepare some food and drinks!"
…
Through this period of understanding, Qi Yu discovered that Zhao Mingyu is an open-minded person. He was demoted from the magistrate who was guarding herding to raising horses in Xingtaipu Temple. He dealt with such ups and downs calmly and never listened. He said half a word of complaint.
This mentality of not being surprised by honor or disgrace alone is worth learning for yourself.
Not long after, a servant set wine and food on the stone table in the thatched pavilion, lit a charcoal basin, and then left in a polite manner.
The two sat down on the futon.
This time, Qi Yu took the initiative to show his respect.
"My lord, please!"
"please!"
"..."
After three rounds of drinking, Zhao Mingyu became bolder. He said with emotion: "Everything is good in this Xingtaipu Temple, but there are too few colleagues. To be honest, before you came, I wanted to find someone to drink with." Friends can’t be found.”
Qi Yu couldn't help but feel happy, Shan nodded anyway.
Think about it, in this Taipu Temple, except for Qi Yu, all the officials add up to only five fingers. Now that two more officials have been seconded, how can there be any colleagues?
A banquet for the temple officials?
That’s so boring, drinking with the big boss is so boring!
Qi Yu also felt the same way about this.
As they chatted, the two of them started talking about a wide range of topics.
Taking this opportunity, Qi Yu asked for advice on how to be an official, and Mr. Zhao also gave some careful guidance. However, you have to learn this kind of experience yourself, and you can only learn a superficial knowledge from others.
How can one learn a different way of doing things?
As for who is right and who is wrong, who is higher and who is lower, only the results have the final say.
The atmosphere of the banquet was harmonious, and Qi Yu also took the opportunity to ask tentatively: "Your Excellency, you have been reduced from the fourth-grade magistrate to the current sixth-grade temple prime minister. Don't you feel a little bit disappointed in your heart?"
Zhao Mingyu was stunned when he heard this and put down the wine cup.
Qi Yu thought he had made a mistake and hurriedly went to accompany him.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhao waved his hand and said: "You are Meng Lanshan's disciple, and your master and I are old friends, so you can't be considered an outsider, so it's okay to talk." He smiled lightly and said: " Shaocheng, let me ask you a question, do you think your career is more important? Or your own life?"
Qi Yu replied: "Of course life is important."
Zhao Mingyu stroked his beard and smiled, and said with deep meaning: "Let's put it this way, if I didn't find a way to devalue myself and go to Beijing, this old life might stay in Yongchuan."
Trying to put yourself down?
What does it mean?
Seeing Qi Yu's confusion, Zhao Mingyu smiled and said, "Have you heard, Shaocheng, that Lord Tongzhi of Yongchuan Mansion who took office was killed by his own eyes?"
Lord Tongzhi?
Oh... I remembered that during the turmoil of the Emperor Worship Cult, not only King Yongchuan passed away, but Master Zhi also died in the line of duty. Afterwards, Yu Hai once said to himself that Master Tongzhi was probably killed by his own eyes.
This sentence is easy to understand, that is, he saw something he shouldn't have seen, so he was killed and silenced.
Um……
If we connect the death of Master Tongzhi with the emperor's suspected brother-killing, maybe... it will make sense.
The cause and effect of this can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words.
So, Qi Yu made a surprised look.
And Zhao Mingyu also nodded as if he saw through it without saying anything.
That's it!
Then, Zhao Mingyu sighed and said: "At that time, if I didn't try to leave Yongchuan, I would probably be the one who died."
Yes, in the eyes of the court, a fourth-grade official is no different from a passerby. If he dies, he will die.
There is nothing wrong with Mr. Zhao doing this.
However, trying to leave and passively leaving are two different things.
So, what's the idea?
Yeah, I got it.
I remember that at that time, the department handling this matter was Dali Temple, and the person appointed was Meng Lanshan’s son, Meng Jiming. Isn’t this enough to explain the problem?
I still remember that Meng Lanshan once told him personally that Zhao Mingyu's prognosis should be pretty good.
It is not difficult to tell from this sentence that someone is secretly intervening in this matter.
No need to guess, this person must be Meng Jiming. He made up some random reason and abducted Zhao Mingyu to the capital.
On the surface, Dali Temple was doing official business, but in fact, it was secretly helping him escape danger.
If he didn't leave, he would be forced to participate in countering the rebellion, and there was no guarantee that something unexpected would happen.
The next step is verification.
Zhao Mingyu said: "Actually, I have known for a long time that King Yongchuan has ulterior motives, but I can't defeat him. The only way is to avoid it and not get involved. In this level of imperial power struggle, if you are not careful, you will be doomed. of."
Looking at it now, he did the right thing.
Although he was demoted, his life was not in danger!
It has to be said that Mr. Zhao is decisive and can even accept self-demotion.
Giving up your rights also requires a certain amount of courage.
Through this incident, I also felt that he did not treat me as an outsider, otherwise, he would never tell these secrets.
Of course, this is also related to his close relationship with Meng Lanshan and his son.
…
Qi Yu toasted with a toast, touched his lips symbolically, and said, "You and my master are both smart people. In the face of crisis, we both adopt the same strategy of retreating to advance."
Yes.
Mr. Wenzhu retreated overseas in order to advance, while Zhao Mingyu devalued his official career in order to advance. Both of these are clever ways to protect one's own safety.
While Qi Yu was feeling emotional, he was also secretly pondering and analyzing, and seemed to have some insights.
