Pick all the cold branches

The Son of Heaven was buried on the seventh day, and buried in the seventh month. After Nine Yu, the God Lord returned to the Taimiao.After the funeral ceremony is over, the whole world mourns, and the music of singing and dancing is forbidden.

In the new spring, everything sprouts and gradually recovers.The emperor issued an imperial edict, changed Yuan Zhengde, reduced and exempted corvee taxes, and made the world recuperate.

Another year later, the fifth day of the first month of the second year of Zhengde, before the new year, it was still a day of auspicious snow.In Mingdeng Hutong in the west of Beijing, in the courtyard of Lord Du Yushi’s mansion, Commander of Jin Yiwei and Zhiyu Lord Qingyu desperately supported his eyes that were about to close, and lamented repeatedly to Zhen Xian, the current cabinet scholar and Lord Zuo Du Yushi :

"Master Zhen, you have been calculating for an hour, don't forget, you only have a little salary, no matter how much you calculate, it will not be more."

Without raising her head, Zhen Xian looked at the book in her hand and sighed repeatedly.

This year, a new academy was finally built in the south of the city. There are three or five children in Mao'er Hutong. Seeing that they are old enough to go to the academy, they have not settled down because of poverty.

However, at this moment, he really couldn't come up with much money.

He was worried and frowned unconsciously.

Yuqing watched from the side, feeling anxious.

Yuqing joined Jinyiwei since she was a teenager, and later followed Jinshang as a guard. She has read all the people in the officialdom, and Master Zhen is really the only one who has no family members, no mansion, and no treasures. Welcoming, sending, and entertaining, being in a high position, with a clean hand, he receives a small amount of salary every year, and uses the money to build academies in various places. It is not enough to build in Gyeonggi, and the localities have to build them. After the academies are built, they have to be given The invited teacher pays the salary, and also takes care of the poor children who can't even afford books, paper and pens...

Now, in just a few short years, from Shunyinger Mansion to the southeast and northwest, Master Zhen has funded and built hundreds of academies, housing and teaching more than tens of millions of poor children. Fortunately, the current Emperor is looking after him, otherwise I'm afraid that cutting off all the flesh from top to bottom won't be enough to feed the tiger, and I don't know where I died first.

If you often do this kind of thing, you will naturally encounter liars and scoundrels.For example, there are so many people who lie about being poor and thirsty for knowledge, but actually just want to take advantage of the academy to make some money. Only Yuqing happened to be by the side and knew about it, so there are too many to count.

This does not include some parents who pinch their children's necks and extort money.

Yuqing once saw an eight or nine-year-old boy, with good features and fine features, but he looked like a child from a pawnbroker's family in a coarse patched shirt, and he was crying like a little tearful man while pulling Zhen Xian's sleeves. It seems that when I asked curiously, I found out that the child's mother died young and his father was addicted to gambling. He refused to let the child go to school after taking the money from the academy subsidy, and threatened that someone would buy the child with money. Either he will sell the child to the "South Pavilion".

At that time, Yuqing was very angry when she heard this, and she kept yelling that there was no reason for this kind of picky bastard, and it was over after a violent beating until she was convinced, but was stopped by Zhen Xian.

Zhen Xian actually took a sum of money to "buy" this child, and then brought him back to the capital, changed his name and surname, and asked him to study in the academy in the city while helping the court judge and teachers. .

The child was so grateful that he held onto Zhen Xian and said "benefactor" one by one, saying that since he had been bought, he was benefactor's, and he wanted to serve by Zhen Xian's side.

Zhen Xian tore up his contract of selling himself and said to him:

"I don't lack people to serve me, and I didn't bring you out to be my slave. If you have the heart, study hard, train your body, and serve your family and country when you become a talent. You don't need to repay me."

Sometimes Yuqing can't help being troubled, wondering what Zhen Xian is for.

They are obviously people who have nothing to do with him, why do they give up everything like this?Even if you want to do good deeds, it will be a drop in the bucket with one person's efforts, and there are poor children who can't afford to read all over the world, so they empty themselves out and squeeze them dry. How much can they save?

But Zhen Xian said to him:

"These things should have been done by the imperial court. But the hole in the early years was too big. In recent years, taxes have been cut to support the people. The treasury is barely maintained by salt, iron and silk tea and porcelain. It is slowly filled. Although there is no deficit, it is not yet rich. The Holy Spirit has difficulties, and he cannot do as he pleases. I try my best to do a little more for the Holy Spirit, even if it is only a little bit more, it is always better than nothing."

At that time, Yuqing was taken aback, and couldn't figure out what Master Zhen's reasoning was.The children of each family are born and raised by themselves, why should the emperor and the court take care of these children to study and eat?But seeing those weeping little faces time and time again, and seeing those big eyes that are still clean and unstained with fear and uneasiness, gradually seem to understand a little bit.

However, money is something like that, if it is gone, it is gone, and it can't be changed.

Seeing that Zhen Xian had already begun to turn his eyes to the various ornaments placed in the room, Yuqing felt a "thump" in her heart.

Mr. Zhen uses everything in this house, but if it is valuable, there is no one that is not a gift from the emperor.If this is exchanged for emergency, the Holy Majesty will be sulking for a long time when he finds out... By that time, everyone will have to walk around without food.

"Come on, don't worry about the money. Isn't it just about three or five children? Let me think of a way."

Yuqing hurriedly picked up the burden, bit the bullet and did the drudgery, and walked out rubbing her hands.

Ever since the late emperor's funeral last year, Chen Shiqin's words and gestures in front of others have been Sima Zhao's heart, and the court is about to move around. Rumors are everywhere, and everyone thinks that Eunuch Chen is planning to attack Zhen Xian.It is also said that the Chen family seems to be targeting Zhen Xian, but in fact it is using this to compete with the emperor and put pressure on the present.

However, Mr. Zhen himself has a big heart, so he doesn't pay attention to it at all, and still thinks about some irrelevant children whether to study or not.To be honest, even if these children don't study, they can still live if they are illiterate. Those who were targeted by Chen Shiqin in the past are all dead...

Feeling helpless, Yuqing went to Chengnan Academy, found the court judge, and then explained her intentions. Originally, she wanted to discuss it, and the big guys joined together, thinking that it would take a lot of talking.Unexpectedly, the court actually laughed after hearing the verdict, and told him that the matter of the money had been settled, and a good man heard about it, and had taken over the boarding and lodging of those children, and also donated another sum to the academy. donate.

Yu Qing was startled when she heard this, and felt even more weird, so she hurriedly asked who this person was.

The court judge then took out a long box with dark squares and handed it to Yuqing, saying that it was left by the good man. The other party admired Mr. Zhen's character and knew that Yuqing was coming, so he asked to hand it over to Mr. Zhen.

Inside the box is a scroll of calligraphy and painting.In the painting, there is only a branch of red plums in the snow, and a bird hovering on the branch. I don't know whether it is going to land on the branch or it is planning to fly away.

Yuqing tilted her head and looked at it for a long while but couldn't understand it, so she had to put away the scroll as it was, turned around and took it, and went to the palace.

It's not that the painting will not be handed over to Mr. Zhen, but before handing it over, it must be reported to the Holy Master to know.

Ever since Chen Shiqin approached the door and flirted with him face to face, the first person who was too nervous was Jia Fei, who was much more concerned than Zhen Xian himself. Yan ordered Yu Qing and the rest of the brocade guards to keep a close eye on any suspicious person and Nothing can be missed, but if there is any movement, you must go to the palace to let him know as soon as possible.

Yuqing took the painting into the palace, told the whole story, and presented it to the imperial court.

Jiafei unfolded the picture scroll with his own hands, and after taking a look, his expression changed slightly.

Aoxue Lingshuang cleans alone, picking all the cold branches and refusing to live there.

Yuqing couldn't understand the meaning of this painting, but he could understand it all too well.

Jiafei's eyes immediately darkened.

He told Yuqing not to go anywhere, and just waited at the same place, while he went straight to Yikun Palace to find Concubine Cui.

Cui Ying was arranging the colorful flowers for the Lantern Festival in the palace, and Xiao Hengwu was by her side. Seeing Jiafei's sudden arrival with a bad look on her face, both of them were startled, and hurriedly saluted accordingly.

Jiafei suppressed his anger, threw the scroll in front of Cui Ying, and asked, "Do you recognize this?"

Cui Ying showed panic, knelt down and leaned over, saying: "Your Majesty, forgive me..."

Seeing this, Jia Fei had a sullen face and said nothing.

What he was looking for was of course not Cui Ying.He knew that Cui Ying didn't have such thoughts.Even if there is, I dare not.At best, she just acquiesced and pushed the boat along.

What's more, he only mentioned the four words "picking up all the cold branches" in front of one person.

Jiafei turned his gaze to look at Xiao Hengwu who was kneeling beside him.

When Xiao Hengwu saw the picture scroll, he looked as expected, with his head half down, but there was no panic in his voice.

"Your Majesty, don't blame innocent people in a fit of anger. It was not a big deal at first. It's just that the princess of Zhuangmin County was forbidden to pay homage to the imperial concubine that day, and happened to meet the prince who also came to visit his mother. During the chat, I mentioned that Lord Zhen was worried about the academy recently. The prince His Royal Highness wanted to share his worries. Hearing that the princess of the county had a talent and reputation, he asked the princess of the county to paint on his behalf, pretending to be admiring, and sending some money to relieve the urgent need. The content of the painting was decided by His Royal Highness and us, but it was because His Royal Highness likes this artistic conception, there is no other meaning."

They are all pre-prepared speeches.

She intentionally involved the prince, but what she said every sentence was that this matter had nothing to do with His Highness King Rong.

The more so, the more unbelievable it is.

Jia Fei suppressed a fire in his heart several times.

He couldn't cast fire on the crown prince. After all, he was just such a hard-won heir. Whether he loved it or not was another matter. Good or bad, he was the only one.

As for Jia Yu, he was even more helpless.Otherwise, why bother to turn the corner and come to Yikun Palace.

Ever since Concubine Wan followed the former emperor to stay in the imperial tomb, Jia Yu has been ill—at least complained of illness, and stayed in Prince Rong's mansion all day long, not even seeing him.

Originally, he thought that Jiayu just needed to rest for a while, or lost his temper, so he didn't interfere too much, but he didn't expect that he would have such a small thought in a place he didn't know.

But Jia Yu didn't want to hide it from him.

This is obvious.Otherwise, there is no point in using such a painting.

On the contrary, more than half of this painting is for him to see.

Jiafei felt very uncomfortable.

He could probably guess what Shiro meant.It was nothing more than wanting him to know that the reason why Xiaoxian became the target of public criticism, and even became the target of Chen Shiqin's arrows, was nothing more than because he did not care about the favor of others.It was his favor that put Xiaoxian in the most dangerous situation.If he wants to protect Xiaoxian, he can only keep Xiaoxian away from him.At least you have to put on a show.Otherwise, even if there is no Chen Shiqin in front of us, there will still be Wang Shiqin and Li Shiqin in the future, and there will be no end and no peace.

Jiafei couldn't deny that he had actually thought about it more than once.

His mind was even darker.He wished he could hide Xiaoxian, where no one could see him except him.In contrast, what Shiro did was simply normal.

However, Shiro has something to say, but he is no longer willing to speak directly to him, but wants to tell him behind his back, and then let him know in a roundabout way.

Thinking about it, only Shiro knew him well enough to know that if he told him to his face, he would be furious and would inevitably quarrel, but he was still stubborn and refused to go along with his wishes.

But why Xie Wanzhi?

Although this daughter of the Xie family once helped Cui Ying rescue the prince.But she is Goro's widow after all.

Perhaps Shiro felt that this status was just right.

However, just thinking about it in his heart, it seemed like wormwood was overgrown, and he wished to cut it off with a knife.

There seemed to be a torrent in Jiafei's chest, and he tried his best to restrain himself for a long time before calming down a little, but his face became more cloudy and uncertain.

He asked Cui Ying to send a female historian to summon Xie Wanzhi to the emperor.

Xie Wanzhi came in dark clothes and plain face, and when he learned the whole story, he just smiled slightly, "Your Majesty secretly intercepting other people's private property is not what a gentleman does."

The corners of Jiafei's lips were about to twitch, and he said coldly: "A gentleman is open and aboveboard, and he doesn't do secret plots."

Xie Wanzhi asked back: "If it was really a conspiracy, why would His Majesty call me to see him?"

Jiafei immediately asked again: "Do you know what you are doing?"

Xie Wan knew: "Save people and save yourself."

Jiafei asked, "Do you know who he is?"

Xie Wan knew: "I'm not blind, so I naturally know."

This sentence really deserves it... Looking at the government and the public, except for Shiro and Xiaoxian, there are only a few people who dare to make such a sentence make the face of the emperor.Once upon a time, there was a man who tried to make him feel unhappy, and then he was thrown into the sea.

In particular, Xie Wanzhi was a woman, and she was still his brother-in-law by name, and she was the princess of the county of Wulang who was rumored to be against him and was killed by him.

Jiafei was almost choked by this sentence, and it took him a long time to recover, his face was even more ugly and indescribable.He asked Xie Wanzhi again: "Since you know, how dare you?"

Xie Wanzhi raised the corners of his lips slightly, "The same thing can be done by His Majesty, why can't he do it? If so, why don't I dare?"

When she said this, she straightened her body without squinting.

Cui Ying, who leaned over at the side, turned pale in an instant.

This woman from the Xie clan, Jia Fei, is not familiar with her, and she has not even met her a few times. She has only vaguely heard of her reputation in Jiang Zuo's boudoir back then.Now when I saw this woman, she was neither humble nor overbearing, every word, every word that came out of her mouth was like golden needles, densely piercing his heart.

No wonder the father chose her out of thousands of choices back then to be Wu Lang's princess.If Goro knew a little bit of his father's painstaking efforts back then, he wouldn't have ended up like that.

What about him?

He can stand on the sidelines and judge Goro back then, but what about himself today?

Jiafei felt a little depressed, as if he had lost a battle, so he could only press his forehead tiredly, "What do you want?"

Xie Wanzhi raised his eyes when he heard the sound, and looked straight at the sad and cold emperor, his voice was always faint, but every word was burned in his heart.

"I am here, and getting involved in it is not what I want. What does it matter what I want. It is what His Majesty wants, but His Majesty has really figured it out?"

Jiafei was stunned when he heard this, and thought for a long time alone, and it was late at night when he came back to his senses.He didn't say anything more, put the scroll back into the box, and asked Yuqing to take it back and hand it over to Zhen Xian, without saying a single word about it.