This year there has been abundant rain and snow, with new snow overcoming old snow and auspiciousness following auspiciousness.
Inviting guests to drink green ants on a snowy night was a custom passed down from the previous dynasty, but Zhaowei was no longer able to get drunk anymore, and Qi Lingzhan had no intention of staying anymore.
Zicuckoo put the porridge in the casserole into a bowl, took it from Zhaowei, and sent her to rest first. When Zicuckoo retreated, she extinguished all the lights outside, leaving only two or three in the hall and two or three in the bedroom, illuminating the shadows of the lonely person standing in front of the window.
There is a sound when the snow falls.
Zhaowei was thinking about what Qi Lingzhan said when he stepped out.
He said: "If you read history in your spare time, you will be as far away as Sima Zhao and as close as the founder of the country. You should understand that true ambitions are never afraid of being known by passers-by. They are still silent and prostrate, just waiting for the opportunity. They even hope that someone will challenge them. , someone comes to light this fire. Zhaowei, you have no official, no power, and are as light as a feather in their eyes. Are you really willing to sacrifice your life to be the promoter of the unveiling and the gunpowder that ignites the fire? "
Zhaowei asked him: "Then what should we do?"
Qi Lingzhan said: "Wait and be patient."
This happens to be the sage's character that Zhao Wei failed to cultivate in eighteen years.
"The golden man tramples on us, asking us to be patient. The ministers bully the king, asking us to be patient. Life is only a hundred years, and if we endure until thirty, our achievements are dust, and our eight thousand miles are empty, what's the point of getting what we want before we die?" Can the soul of an old friend who died in vain come back? Can the mountains and rivers that were cut off be restored to their original state?...Brother, you can be like Sima Yi, but I can't."
Zhaowei thought he would be angry, but a faint smile appeared on Qi Lingzhan's face. He's very pretty when he smiles, but it just makes people feel uncomfortable.
It is as if the elder forgives the arrogant offense of the younger one.
Qi Lingzhan said: "If you can't bear it anymore, just leave. Aren't you going to follow Han Feng to Xizhou? I heard that the land there is low and the sky is high, and you can sing and ride wildly, unlike the Yongping Marquis Mansion that makes you cringe. , not happy."
"That was not what I meant."
She wanted to defend herself, but Qi Lingzhan had already walked out of the door and walked into the snow.
There are no stars or moon tonight, and the sky is like a chaotic undivided void. Only the lanterns at the corners of the eaves are shining brightly, and the flying snow is shaken out of thin air like catkins, rustling, rustling, and annihilating the footprints that gradually extend to the endless place.
If you walk out of the courtyard and turn around, you can't smell the iron horse under the eaves, you can't see the trace of where you came from, and the vast whiteness makes you hesitate, where should you go?
Zhaowei stood in front of the independent window, thinking about Qi Lingzhan's back when he left, and was confused before him.
The snow fell on the bamboo, and splashed on the window lattice with a pop. I patted the snow particles off my clothes, and suddenly I saw the paper umbrella against the door and the hand stove on the table.
With such heavy snow and such cold weather, brother, he...
With a slight thought in his mind, Zhaowei turned around and put on his cotton boots, put on a tinder mink cloak, held an umbrella in his right hand, picked up a hand stove in his left hand, and walked towards the wind and snow in the courtyard to chase after him.
Qi Lingzhan didn't feel cold, numbness was the norm for him. He walked in the snow with his hands behind his back, thinking about Zhaowei's words in his heart. He felt regretful at one moment and had a headache at the other.
When Zhao Wei caught up with him, Qi Lingzhan was covered with snow and was only a few steps away from his yard.
He looked at Zhao Wei who was chasing him in surprise, and thought to himself: Could it be that calling him a shrinking turtle is not enough to relieve his anger, so he chases after him to say a few more words?
He asked calmly: "Did I leave something behind?"
Zhaowei handed him the charcoal-warming hand stove. Qi Lingzhan raised his eyebrows lightly and thanked him after taking it.
He was about to hand the paper umbrella to him, but he changed his mind and took it back. He held half of the umbrella over Qi Lingzhan's head and said, "I'm sending my brother back. I'll use this umbrella when I go back."
Qi Lingzhan was tall and tall, slightly taller by comparison, and wore a jade crown. It was difficult for Zhaowei to lift the umbrella. Qi Lingzhan hung his neck and felt uncomfortable. Although he was rarely considerate of her, he took two steps. Finally, he still couldn't help but took the umbrella from her hand and said, "I'll do it."
"Brother's hand..."
"It's okay to open an umbrella."
He took the umbrella, turned his feet in a different direction, and said softly: "I'll take you back first."
Zhaowei followed him and heard him say quietly: "I know you have some abilities, but my daughter's family still needs to avoid walking at night. Although you are in the mansion now, the Marquis Mansion cannot contain you after all. You have to be careful and change yourself." Not in the habit of bringing attendants.”
According to Wei's heart, big trees attract the wind, so Qi Lingzhan should avoid walking at night.
Turning around, I saw his hand holding the umbrella, his black glove tightly clutching the umbrella handle. Thinking of the misfortune he encountered on the night road, I couldn't bear to say anything, so I whispered, "Brother taught me a lesson."
The lesson is. These four words made Qi Lingzhan feel a little weird.
In just one moment of burning incense, something knocked her head down?
Qi Lingzhan turned his head to look, and met a pair of clear eyes.
There was no moon on the snowy night, and there were a few lanterns hanging sparsely on both sides of the bluestone path. Half of them were covered in the snow, and the other half were filled with endless silence. The dark golden light cast on the road, and the direction of the road could only be vaguely seen.
It was clear that everything was foggy, her eyes were darker than the snowy night, but their brilliance could penetrate the heart.
Qi Lingzhan slowly turned his face and tightened his grip on the umbrella in his hand.
He spoke in the silence: "What I am saying to you tonight is just that I hope you will take care of yourself and don't take it lightly to deal with tigers and wolves. If you feel that your stay in Yongjing is not pleasant, you can go to Qingcheng or Qingcheng as you wish. Go to Xizhou. I have friends in Xizhou, so I can ask my friends to take care of you. The Han family is a good place for you. You don’t have to marry, you can stay free, and you can come back to visit your mother often."
Zhao Wei's thoughts moved slightly, "Brother, do you agree with me to go to Xizhou?"
Qi Lingzhan sighed slowly: "Go, don't worry about Yongjing anymore."
It turned out that he thought she was nosy.
Zhaowei said: "Even if I go to Xizhou, my mother and uncle are still in Yongjing, and sister Yaoning is in the palace. I can't help but be worried. You blame me for being publicity, but I feel that disaster is inevitable. Instead of letting others go there with a hammer If you retreat, it is better to show your claws and claws first, which may make people jealous."
That's it. If we continue talking, it's time to start an argument again.
Qi Lingzhan didn't want to disturb his current state of mind and said softly: "Be careful of slippery roads."
Zhaowei also stopped when he should, lowered his head to look at the road, and said no more.
The snow was falling so hard that the footprints she made when she chased her were almost invisible. Only the stagger under the steps at the door was still clearly visible. Qi Lingzhan glanced over, paused slightly, and thought of something, the corner of his mouth slightly raised.
Zhaowei hummed, "I'll explore the way for you first. It doesn't matter if I fall a few times. If I fall on you, I'm afraid my mother will be heartbroken to death."
Qi Lingzhan glanced down at her: "You are the most troublesome in our family. Don't worry, I won't argue with you."
Zhaowei was dissatisfied and had ten thousand words waiting to refute him. Qi Lingzhan stepped up the stone steps ahead of her, put down the stove and stretched out his hand towards her.
The slender fingers stretched out in front of her eyes, and a few snowflakes fell in the palms. The black hand clothes held the white snow.
"Be careful. If you fall, your mother will feel bad for you."
Zhao Wei was mute, holding his hand and walking up the steps. There was still residual heat in the palm of his hand, but Zhaowei knew that it was just the residual warmth of the hand stove.
The lights in the courtyard were slightly brighter, and Qi Lingzhan sent her to the hanging flower gallery. He watched her walk towards the house, then turned and left.
Zhaowei turned back and ran to him in a few steps. Qi Lingzhan was puzzled, but patiently asked her what else she wanted.
"And you." Zhao said softly after taking a breath.
They always used "Don't let mother worry" to persuade each other. After all, if Rong hadn't married into the Yongping Marquis Mansion, they would never have been destined to be brother and sister in their lives.
Because they are brother and sister, no matter how incompatible or completely different they are, they always have to give in to each other.
On the way back to the hospital alone, Qi Lingzhan recited those three words over and over in his mind.
And you.
She said she would never stay out of the Yongping Marquis Mansion because her mother was here and sister Yao Ning was here.
And you.
Perhaps it was because of the paper umbrella and the hand stove that the wind and snow had not abated, but there was warmth in his palms.
Warmth and numbness are two completely different feelings. He concentrated and could feel the blood flowing through his palms to the last inch of his knuckles. When he closed his eyes, he seemed to be able to hear the slow, gurgling sound.
It's hot, it's slightly painful, it's something that will eventually be lost... Qi Lingzhan thought silently in his heart, he didn't like this feeling.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the excitement of the New Year has just stopped, and the Lantern Festival has not yet arrived. Everyone inside and outside the palace and mansion has a moment of peace. The Yongping Houfu family went to the palace to see Queen Xiangyi.
The three carriages drove from Yongpinghou's residence to the right gate of the palace. Yongpinghou and Qi Lingzhan rode together, Rong and Zhaowei rode together, and the last one sat alone, Qi Pingzhi, the girl from Qi's parents' room.
Kunming Palace sent a sedan chair to pick it up early. Qi Pingzhi first occupied the top with the red eight-treasure pattern, touching and picking at it along the way, looking around uncontrollably.
She didn't expect that she would be so lucky. Qi Yaoning's sick son was about to die. He finally realized that blood relatives were more reliable and begged her to enter the palace to take over the position of queen. Although the cousins are separated by a room, they are still better than Qi Zhaowei's shabby settlement. Oops, fortunately, the marriage with Qian Yanei has not been finalized. Otherwise, who would be better off in the palace and the mother's good luck in the world?
Qi Pingzhi was overjoyed all the way to Kunming Palace.
Emperor Changning accompanied the queen in Kunming Palace. The group had a ceremony. The female family members entered the inner hall to pay homage to the queen. Marquis Yongping and Qi Lingzhan accompanied Emperor Changning in the outer hall.
After Yongping Hou Qi Zhongyi was transferred back from Xizhou, he wanted to be a casual official. Seeing that Emperor Changning had something to discuss with Qi Lingzhan, he did not interfere. Please go to Wenyuan Pavilion to pay homage to the "Jingguo" inscribed by Emperor Ren during his lifetime. Peace of mind" plaque.
"Zhang Zhi, please accompany Marquis Yongping there and be careful."
Emperor Changning ordered his attendants to be escorted to the palace. Zhang Zhi kowtowed in response and led Marquis Yongping to leave the Kunming Palace. The long palace was filled with warm fragrance, and only Emperor Changning and Qi Lingzhan were left.
Emperor Changning spoke first: "It snows on New Year's Eve and on the fifth day of the lunar month. I asked Qin Tian to calculate it. It snows on the fifth day. It is a good sign and this year will be a good one. When I go to the Yuan Dynasty to worship my ancestors, I must worship you sincerely." , I hope our ancestors will protect the Queen’s health and that this year’s tax collection will be smoother.”
Qi Lingzhan said: "Last year's national treasury was already full of grain, and we can't overspend this year. Yesterday, Cai Shu, the doctor of the Duzhi Division, paid a visit to the minister's residence at night. He first showed me the draft expenditure for this year. The Ministry of Industry wants to build the canal. Officials The Ministry of Finance wants to raise salaries, and the Privy Council said that Beijin will also increase the annual salary. For these three items alone, the expenditure is expected to exceed 12 million taels. And according to estimates from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Salt and Iron Bureau, various taxes next year will not exceed Fifteen million taels.”
Emperor Changning leaned forward after hearing this: "What about the Ministry of War? What does my army rely on for food?"
Qi Lingzhan said: "We still owed a lot of military pay a year ago. Even if we give all the remaining three million to the Ministry of War, it will only be a drop in the bucket."
Emperor Changning looked angry, "The Ministry of War is in the hands of Prime Minister Yao. Is this how he raises troops for me? He is not afraid of triggering a mutiny at all. I will deal with him, right?"
Qi Lingzhan was silent, and after Emperor Changning calmed down, he said: "There is still room for discussion on the request of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Officials, but blindly cutting expenditures is not a long-term strategy. The taxes on salt and iron transfers can only be collected based on the Prime Minister's face. Send more and give less." It’s just a matter of his words, that’s the problem.”
"I know, of course I know..." Emperor Changning said coldly, "Yao Heshou just wants to strangle me so that I can't raise troops, so I can only surrender to Beijin. He just relies on Beijin as his backer to take advantage of Beijin. The Alliance of Pingkang serves as a life-saving talisman.”
The Pingkang Alliance was a contract signed between Emperor Ren and Beijin. The terms on paper are well known to everyone, such as the cession of the sixteen cities of Yanyun, the retreat of the Zhou garrison from the Xizhou front line, the annual payment of three million taels of silver to Beijin and Two hundred thousand pieces of cloth, porcelain and other valuables.
However, there was also a secret clause in the Pingkang Covenant, which few people knew except for Emperor Ren, Yao Heshou and the general of the Northern Jin Dynasty who were present at the meeting. Even the current Emperor Changning only found out about this when Emperor Ren was dying.
At that time, Emperor Ren was already swallowing the sound of phlegm. He raised his head with difficulty and said to Emperor Changning:
"I have three failures in this life, I have failed a loyal general, a good minister, and a filial son... I have also failed three times. I have not failed the ancestral temple, the people, and my heart... I will let future generations comment on my posthumous reputation. I know you I have always been filial, but don’t get into a fight over this..."
Emperor Changning cried when he heard this, and the old ministers and servants who knelt around and listened to the instructions also burst into tears. Emperor Ren thought they were unlucky and drove them out of the outer hall, leaving Emperor Changning alone who was wiping tears and asked him to come closer.
"But there is one thing, I cannot bear the infamy for nothing... It is not that I believe in slander and sycophancy, and I favor Prime Minister Yao, but there is an article in the Pingkang Covenant that has not been written on paper. The court of the Northern Jin Dynasty said... Prime Minister Yao is the one who has good relations between the two countries. Meritorious minister, the Great Zhou Dynasty must not change the prime minister at any time, otherwise it will be regarded as the Great Zhou Dynasty's unofficial minister, and the Jin people and cavalry will conquer Yongjing..."
Emperor Changning's tears fell on the back of his hands. Hearing this, his face turned as white as paper.
After Emperor Ren said this, he couldn't breathe in as quickly as he could breathe out. He only opened his hands and murmured: "This is the only crime I can't admit... This is the only crime I can't admit..."
Emperor Ren died, and the burden of the Pingkang Alliance fell on Emperor Changning.
With Bei Jin as a guarantor, Yao Heshou could not kill or move him. He relied on him as a wise prime minister and allowed him to cause trouble and become Bei Jin's minion.
There was silence in the palace for a moment, the past and present were like a cage and shackles, weighing heavily on him. Everything he could see was heavy. Only the smoke from the beast's furnace was the only freedom in the palace.
The palace guard came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Concubine Yao heard that the Queen's mother's family came to the palace to visit today, so she prepared some small gifts and sent the female officials to Kunming Palace to give them to all the female relatives."
"She is very meddlesome, but she is very good at repaying her with her ears." Emperor Changning sneered coldly, glanced at Qi Lingzhan, and said to the palace guard: "Send it in and leave it in the outer hall. There is no need to disturb her inside."
Imperial Concubine Yao sent people to place the gifts and saluted Emperor Changning, "The imperial concubine said that the imperial kitchen has newly supplied lamb from the north. If your majesty is kind and allows the empress to reunite with her family for a while, she can move to Linhua Palace to have lunch." Dinner, the noble concubine is waiting in the palace."
In front of the people of the Yongping Marquis Mansion, it was a bit excessive to invite him to Kunming Palace.
Emperor Chang Ning did not answer this and looked at Qi Lingzhan again.
Qi Lingzhan stood up, saluted, and asked Emperor Changning: "I am a foreign minister, and I am not allowed to enter the inner palace. However, I have not seen the queen for many days, and I am worried about her. I would like to ask your majesty to show mercy and allow me to come in."
Emperor Changning nodded and sighed: "You brother and sister have always been on good terms, but the queen has been in a bad mood lately. Please go in and see her, and help me enlighten her."
Qi Lingzhan kowtowed: "Thank you for your majesty's grace."
