Between the vast sea of ​​clouds

Li Yan's face became hot, and he hurriedly bowed to salute, and said: "Your Excellency, you have been dismissed as an official. I came here to pay a visit this time and delivered an invitation card. It was because I found something when I was sorting out the documents yesterday, so I remembered it." It's a big deal."

The steward took something from her hand, opened it and presented it to Qingping, and said, "My lord, take a look."

Qingping glanced at the invitation, and felt that Chen Kaiyi was very boring. She had declined the invitations from the Chen family a few times before, and when she was in the Ministry of Rites, she often avoided matters related to the Qing Dynasty. Let Li Yan do it, isn't this attitude clear enough?She said indifferently: "Director Chen wants to write "Scholar Encouragement Collection"?"

Li Yan saw her lonely expression, but she was not surprised. He couldn't help showing some sympathy in his eyes, and said tactfully: "Yes, Mr. Chen has worked in the Ministry of Rites for many years and has heard a lot about the deeds of the ministers in the court. Leave it to Mr. Chen to write... Mr. Chen was busy with his affairs earlier, and the Qing Dynasty official sent someone to deliver the invitation card, but he was pressed under other documents, so he didn't see it, and almost delayed his important affairs. , The next official will hold me accountable, I implore my lord to forgive me."

Qingping nodded, "Scholar Encouraging Learning" is an official book compiled by the Ministry of Rites. It contains the stories of some ministers in this dynasty who are motivated, filial and respectful. It aims to encourage the world to know etiquette, respect each other, Cultivate sentiment.In particular, Chu Jun played the golden signboard of benevolence and filial piety, filial piety is the first, since the emperor can abide by filial piety and respect etiquette in everything, then which of the ministers below dare to say that the emperor is not good enough?But according to common sense, most of the people who compiled this book were servants of the Ministry of Rites, and they all left their names and biographies, but since the cabinet entrusted such important matters to Chen Kaiyi, it must be Chu Jun's instruction.

Since this book is to be compiled, it is necessary to sort out the commendable deeds of the courtiers. The compiler needs to visit one by one to verify the situation. It often takes several years to complete the book.

In order to level a bowl of water, Chu Jun used his consummate skills to check and balance such imperial minds.However, this invitation is very suspicious. It only said that there was an invitation, and did not mention official business. I think this is also the reason why it was suppressed under the official document. Besides, Li Yan also personally paved the bridge for Chen Kaiyi, so it seems that I have to go there .

Qing Ping smiled slightly, and said: "It's okay, Director Chen is good at dancing with long sleeves, and he is very popular in the court. He is not talented in the headquarters, so he is listed as a servant. Now Mr. Chen is writing this book, and he deserves his name. There is nothing in this invitation Explain the number of people, and you go to the banquet together."

The dinner was held in Xiaoyao Building, a well-known restaurant in Chang'an. Chen Kaiyi was the host, and invited a few courtiers who were acquainted with each other. Everyone exchanged glasses, and it was very lively. After drinking for three rounds, one of them borrowed Drunkenly said: "I heard that His Majesty's selection of this time, Mr. Wen has been handed over to Li Shizhong to be in charge, and I need to ask Li Shizhong to take care of it - do you think so?"

At the banquet, there was Zhao Siqing from Honglu Temple who had dealt with Qingping before, she covered her mouth with her sleeve when she saw this, she had seen Li Shizhong's ferocity, so she didn't dare to say anything at the moment, she just sat on the side and ate wine.Qingping probably knew why Chen Kaiyi invited her so kindly. It turned out that it was for the selection of Chu Jun, and she wanted to operate secretly in advance. She used the name of compiling a book to perfunctory Qingping. , lowered his head and smiled, and said: "How can Li be compared to Mr. Chen? What's more, the Ministry of Rites will not be in charge of the draft for a while. The Zongzheng Temple is the most important part. Why don't you ask Mr. Zongzhengsi?"

The man was dumb, looked at Chen Kaiyi and then turned his head to look at Qingping, and said angrily: "Li Shizhong is not willing to help this favor, I thought that Li Shizhong's character is fair, so I accepted Master Chen's invitation to come here Yan, isn't it just a joke?"

Li Yan was on the sidelines, wanting to talk, but because of his humble official position, he couldn't speak well.It's just that Qingping insisted on bringing her in, so everyone regarded her as a confidant and didn't think about being a subordinate.She originally wanted to remind Shangguan not to confront these courtiers, it would be better to go roundabout, but Qingping ignored her reminder, sighed as if drunk, and said: "Probably."

All the seats were quiet, and Chen Kaiyi, as the host, was about to say some pompous words to smooth things over, when suddenly the sound of strings sounded, at first it sounded like a bamboo weeping, and then it sounded like a mountain spring gurgling and tinkling.The rooms were opened a crack, and one person opened the door and slipped in, came in and smiled apologetically, "Master Chen, Mr. Lan is here."

The sound of the pipa moves from far to near, plucking lightly and slowly, expressing the feelings in the heart. It is the tired birds returning to their nests, the warmth of spring and the blooming of flowers, sitting alone on the railing and listening to the spring rain all night. , intertwined like a net, with countless winds, flowers, snows and moons, and endless lovesickness.

Someone on the seat tapped the rim of the porcelain bowl with an ivory knife in keeping with the rhythm. A man dressed in costume slowly stepped into the room. Xiao flute bell, for its accompaniment.

After the song was over, everyone was mesmerized, and the unhappiness in the banquet just now disappeared. Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief, and secretly went to see his lord, but saw her staring directly at the person playing the pipa. My heart skipped a beat.

The young clerk felt dizzy, seeing the right eye so quickly, it was too...

Just as she was searching for words, Chen Kaiyi also noticed the strangeness here, and said with great interest: "It seems that Li Shizhong likes listening to music very much, so intoxicated, what's the good idea?"

Qing Ping withdrew his gaze, with a smile on his lips, and lazily said: "This song should only exist in the sky, how often will it be heard in the world."

Chen Kai laughed and said jokingly: "Then Chen will not be beautiful, and today he will be a moon girl!"

The chord sounded softly and fell to the ground, then the man slowly raised his head, Qingping held up his wine glass and said: "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your kindness."

The man took off his fine clothes and only wore a thin tulle dress. He sat at the table and asked softly, "I don't know what song my lord wants to listen to. Although Lan Mo is not talented, he is involved in all the styles of the six states."

He had already been instructed by the Chen family to make this young Mr. Li fascinated by him. He thought it would take some effort, but he didn't expect that just a piece of music would make Yu'er hooked.

The incense in the room was warm, Qing Ping half-closed his eyes, as if he couldn't bear the strength of alcohol, and asked after a long time: "What kind of incense is used on Mr. Lan, it smells very good."

This remark was a common opening conversation in the Land of Fengyue, which made Lan Mo feel that she was not such a puzzled person, and said with a smile: "What kind of fragrance is your lord talking about?"

The person in front of him has a very beautiful appearance. Under the influence of alcohol, his cheeks are stained with crimson, but the eyes are filled with infinite affection. They are really romantic. It is hard to say that they are beautiful and fragrant. Lan Mo heard her hoarse voice say :"come over."

He obediently went over and snuggled into her arms, Qingping pulled up a strand of his long hair, and said with a smile: "Dare to ask my lord, what's the name of that song just now?"

Lan Mo said angrily: "Does your lord only ask the tune?"

Although Qingping was smiling, his eyes didn't know where to fall, and he seemed a little careless.The robe was infused with a light fragrance from the warm body temperature, and it was only for a moment, but it was suddenly stunned.

He withdrew his smile, sat up from Qingping's arms, suddenly changed his face, and said indifferently: "My lord is really a romantic person, just now I asked what kind of incense is on this servant... The servant's body is just ordinary spices, but it is on the master's body." The fragrance is interesting."

Qingping was stunned for a moment, then turned over and sat up, arched his hands and said: "Your Majesty was rude and abrupt, Young Master, but I really don't understand what Young Master said."

"It's easy to find a priceless treasure, but it's rare to have a lover." Lan Mo groaned softly, glanced at her with a gloomy face, and said, "Your Excellency is already someone else's guest, and you have been accompanied by a beautiful woman, why do you still come here to have fun? , could it be that they are here to make fun of the servants?"

Qingping straightened his robes, walked to the table and sat down, poured two cups of tea and said: "What... what beauty? Please enlighten me, my lord."

Lan Mo's eyes showed sarcasm, and he said sourly: "My lord, don't you know this cold sandalwood incense? This incense is obtained by fishermen in Minzhou from the belly of sea beasts. It is a tribute for the imperial court. It is a rare fragrance that is hard to find every year."

Qing Ping slowly put down the teacup in his hand, Lan Mo saw that she was indifferent, plucked the pipa, and said bitterly: "Even if ordinary people get these spices, they don't know how to mix them. Only the top card in the flower house wants to keep a close eye. For the heart of Yuan's benefactor, I mixed these spices in the incense in private, so that she can always remember the state of love when she was in love...or so that she can always remember herself."

Tell her to always remember herself.

The sound of the pipa turned urgent, mournful and mournful, and the coquettish heartless man drank the cup of tea slowly, Lan Mo secretly thought that women are all the same, even if they use such expensive incense, so what, should they steal it or will they steal it.After thinking in this way, he only felt that his heart soaked in Fengyue had strengthened again, and he felt a bit disillusioned, but he caught a glimpse of the man's hand holding the teacup shaking violently, and the hand that plucked the string stopped.

It seems that it is not completely indifferent, it is just a mesmerizing eye.

Lan Mo smiled calmly, and said: "Although slaves and maidservants do things with money, there are rules here, and the adults have cold sandalwood on them. This place of fireworks in Beijing, which knows the rules, probably won't entertain adults. .”

The crimson color on Qingping's face faded, his eyes were icy cold, and he said after a while: "According to what Young Master has seen, what is the person who uses this incense thinking?"

Lan Mo frowned, feeling that the lord had a strange expression on his face, he didn't seem to be remembering the love in his heart, he thought for a moment and said: "This servant has little knowledge, if the person who uses this incense doesn't want to spend his life happily, stay here for a while. This kind of affection is only for selfish desire..."

The sound of the pipa stopped suddenly, and a drop of wax fell from the red candle.

"...Just let that person remember."

Li Yan resigned from the banquet. In this land of wind and moon, the sound of silk and bamboo can be heard endlessly. She walked towards the wing room in the back building as if nothing had happened, and stopped outside the door of a room. What a different kind of voice, and then boldly knocked on the door, and said in a low voice, "My lord?"

Unexpectedly, the door opened as soon as it was touched. Li Yan was startled, but he couldn't hold back his curiosity. He bent down and pushed the door open, but he didn't see anything.

Strange, there was clearly a light on inside.

Qing Ping stood by the door and watched her subordinate squatting halfway, and looked into the door suspiciously. She thought for a while and moved her body.

There was a light in front of her eyes, and she could see the hanging gauze curtain in the room. She stood up suddenly, facing a pair of faint eyes.

"what!--"

Qingping covered her mouth, pulled her into the door, and whispered: "What's your name?"

Li Yan was frightened by her, and followed into the room in shock. Qing Ping sat at the table and poured a cup of tea with her, and said, "Director Chen's wine is finished? How do you feel?"

Li Yan said cautiously: "Returning to the words of the adults, the lower officials think it is acceptable."

Qing Ping let out an oh, it seemed that the question just now was just a formality.Li Yan realized that the man playing the pipa was not in the room just now, and she didn't know why she was confused, so she asked suddenly: "My lord, when I was studying in the official school, I had the honor to see you and the governor of Anping County Sun in the cloud. I have long admired the new laws and regulations implemented by the state, and today I have the courage to ask my lord, will this new law still be implemented?"

Qingping stared at her, and the youthful face in front of her reminded her of her former colleagues. They also asked Sun Congshan in the same way: "Governor, can the new law really be implemented and benefit the six prefectures and eighteen counties?"

Mr. Sun, who was worried about Mochizuki's report on his duties in Beijing, said impatiently: "Where is there so much nonsense, the business is done?"

A piece of snow fell softly by the window, and the cold wind whizzed in, rolling up chaotic jade catkins and blowing into the distance, but drove away an old plum tree in the corner, and the light red stamens slowly bloomed in the winter night.

Sun Congshan put down the pen in his hand, turned around helplessly and said, "Of course it will."

The Sri Lankan has passed away, but the words are still in my ears.Fate is impermanent, and it is not the world that is fickle, but the human heart.The future may be difficult and there is no turning back, but there are always some things that will not change.

So she took a sip of the ice-cold tea in the cup, letting the bitterness spread in her mouth, she said, "Of course it will."