Between the vast sea of ​​clouds

The new year is just over, and at the beginning of February, the papers of the speech officials were sent to the palace like snowflakes. Yan Minghua, the chief minister of the cabinet, and several ministers all submitted the papers of pleading guilty. As the chief assistant, Chen Yandao committed the crime of negligence and failed to handle the matter properly in time, and most of the officials he recommended had dereliction of duty, so it was difficult for him to be the chief assistant.

At the same time, the news of the marriage between King Nanding and the Wei family of Chenzhou spread to the court, and the rumors that the family was inclined towards the vassal king were rampant. Among them, the chief assistant of the cabinet is the main one. What the aristocratic family resents is that the emperor only punished and deducted the salary, and Yan Minghua still sat in the position of the chief assistant.The second is Li Qingping, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites. She deceived the family to write a petition in Chenzhou, voluntarily handed over the land, and made up for the taxes owed in the past ten years. These three points alone are enough to make the family hate her to the bone.Although Mr. Li is now in the body of treating crimes, he is still serving in the Ministry of Rites, which is no different from usual. It seems that it doesn't matter if he treats crimes in this way.Another official from Hezhou joined the Ministry of Punishment to serve Zhongyuan Sui. When investigating cases in Hezhou, he indulged his subordinates to treat the meritorious family harshly, with no regard for decency, and investigated and dealt with the family ancestral halls privately without suing the superior several times. title.

From this point forward, Hu Zhuo was even accused of what she did when harvesting the fields.The other three attendants were also doomed, and were all involved in this accident.All the officials involved in this matter were not spared, but it is not so much that the Chenzhou family used this to vent their anger, it is better to say that the six states' family has realized that their status is in jeopardy, and they must get the emperor's statement to test the emperor's attitude towards the family. manner.If they don't get the result they want, maybe they will soon fall to the vassal king.

Although it was said that a strong man broke his wrist, the emperor quickly made a choice. He announced his will at the court meeting, and first removed Yan Minghua from his position as chief assistant. Below the government, officials in the state were demoted to remote and wild places.Among them, officials of the fifth rank and above were dismissed for investigation, demoted to white bodies, and exiled thousands of miles away.The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was removed from his official position, expelled from the court, and never hired.This is almost a complete announcement that the career of an official has come to an end. This Shangshu, who was promoted by En En last year and was recommended by several important ministers of the previous court, calmly accepted the order in the palace.But unexpectedly, the world is impermanent, and the officials did not expect her to fall so quickly.

It can be said that the emperor dismissed a group of officials so quickly, including an old man, a minister, and four servants, which is not insincere.In this way, it can be exchanged for a period of peace, less disturbance, and many things can be done freely.

After the court meeting that day, the distraught and tearful officials each led their orders back to the mansion. The emperor had some human touch and did not order the relegated officials to be expelled. Things, ready to leave Beijing.Although there were complaints in Beijing, Yan Minghua, the former chief assistant, left Chang'an on the day he received the decree. This was the case for the chief assistant, let alone other officials. Do not come forward to maintain order and clear the way for these officials so that they can leave Beijing as soon as possible.

There were faint cries in the noisy streets, and people were coming and going on the road. The common people seemed to know that something big had happened, and they all carefully avoided it, standing aside and whispering.Along the way, Qingping saw many carriages carrying boxes and cages passing by, forming a long queue and heading out of the city gate.

It was still snowing heavily that day, as white as onyx, falling on the street, being trampled into gray slush by passing cars, horses and pedestrians.She passed by the wonton stand that she used to frequent, ordered a bowl of wontons, ate slowly, and walked home facing the wind and snow.The cold wind howled and the snow fell heavily, just like every winter in the past, she walked for an unknown time, reached out to wipe the snow from her eyes, and stood there for a long time, as if she saw herself when she was studying in the past, at the same age as Ersan Walking together in the alley, although we are often worried, we can always see the longing and expectation for the future on our faces.

But now she is walking in the snow with empty hands, is she not seeking benevolence and deserving benevolence.Although he had nothing left, but he had thought clearly enough beforehand that Qingping didn't feel too sad.She repays Chu Jun's kindness with her own future in return.As soon as those debts of love were paid off, she felt a sudden lightness all over her body, her steps became much faster, she left behind her past, and she no longer had to think about it.

The next day, Qingping bought a horse from the market. When she was packing up, she saw something. It was originally in a drawer. She picked it up and put it in her sleeve. Dazed, he left in a hurry.

According to common sense, she should have left Chang'an at noon today. When she reached Changhua Street, she was stopped by a carriage. When she looked up, it turned out to be Liu Zhen.

The two looked at each other for a long time, Liu Zhen saw Qingping's ordinary attire, and remembered that she would not be able to be an official in the future, and her face was a bit sad.Seeing that it was her who came, Qingping knew that something must happen, so he took the initiative to ask: "Your Majesty wants to see me?"

Liu Zhen nodded, and opened the curtain to invite her in, but Qingping shook his head and said, "No, I'll just ride a horse."

Ordinary people will not be so calm and calm when such an accident happens, their achievements of decades will be wiped out, and they will be thrown out as outcasts.But Qingping was the same as before, Liu Zhen couldn't see the slightest loneliness on her face, Qingping noticed that she was looking at him, and even turned his head and smiled at her.

Liu Zhen forced a smile, then gently lowered the car curtain, feeling even more sad for her.

When the carriage came to the outskirts of the city, Qingping faintly heard the sound of the horn, and saw a flag standing in the snow, the pattern on the flag was very familiar.She recalled it for a while before realizing that this was a big camp in the suburbs of Beijing. Before the New Year's Eve, the emperor summoned Zhou Gan to lead an army of [-] troops to garrison here. In recent months, she has been lucky enough to drive to the palace to participate in this military parade in person.The first purpose of the military parade is to show the power, and the second is to deter the princes.After the emperor punished the officials, he started to change the defenses of the garrison in the six states, and visited the camp to inspect in person, clearly revealing his warning to the aristocratic family.

The scale of the palace here is small, and the guards on the outside are the Yun Ce Army in silver armor, with thick snow on their shoulders.The appearance of the palace is simple and vigorous, different from the exquisite and gorgeous imperial palace, filled with a chill atmosphere.Qingping climbed up the steps, the palace was empty, except for the soldiers stationed outside the palace, not even any extra figures could be seen.

Liu Zhen led her to the inner hall, hesitated to speak, finally sighed, brushed the snow off her head, and whispered: "Qingping, do you want to go?"

Just now Liu Zhen wanted someone to take the horse away, but Qingping stopped her, left the horse behind and tied it to the partition wall outside the palace.

Qingping lowered his eyes, held Liu Zhen's hand and said softly, "Yes."

They stood on the steps and looked at the snow falling outside the hall together, and they didn't speak again, but the hands clasped under the sleeves conveyed the warmth of each other's palms, which was worth a thousand words.

Suddenly Qingping felt something stuffed in his hand, Liu Zhen said: "I can't help you, if you are determined to leave, I will leave this to you." She turned her head to look at Qingping, let go of her hand and took a few steps back Standing up, he said, "Unconsciously, so many years have passed. Qingping, you are still the same, so good."

Qingping's eyes were sore, he smiled wryly and shook his head, "Is there anyone who won't change, I have... changed a lot."

Liu Zhen looked at her seriously, and said with a smile, "No, really." She stepped back, exhaled and said, "Go in, Your Majesty is waiting for you inside."

The inner hall was empty and cold, when Qingping walked in, there was the sound of footsteps inside, she sideways avoided, and saw several young female generals coming out of the hall, talking in a low voice, one of them looked familiar to her, and she took a closer look, It turned out to be clear.

Ming Yuyan seemed to have been promoted to the military rank, and there was an additional silver feather pattern on his shoulders.Because Qingping was dressed in ordinary clothes and stood aside with her head bowed, they regarded her as a servant in the palace and walked past her directly.

Qingping looked at Ming Yuyan's back for a while, and said goodbye by fate, and waited until they left before going in.That Xiangming Yuyan felt that someone was looking at her from behind, she turned her head strangely, only to see a person entering the hall.Several other generals saw her standing still and asked her what happened.

Ming Yuyan shook his head slightly, but still couldn't help but look back, and then said: "Maybe I'm overthinking."

She planned to leave quietly, but she didn't expect to see two friends one after another. Qingping had mixed feelings in her heart for a while. She touched the thing in her sleeve, thinking that she was carrying it with her inexplicably this morning, is it destined?When she entered the hall, Chu Jun was wearing a crisp riding uniform, with soft armor on his chest and shoulders on both sides, and a jade crown tied up his hair, making him even more handsome and handsome.

There is a bow hanging on the wall behind her, which looks quite imposing.Qingping was pondering whether to hand over the things in his sleeve to her, but he didn't speak for a while.Chu Jun's face was a little haggard, and he said lightly: "Although you are an official, I didn't order you to leave Chang'an. If that's the case, it doesn't matter if you live here."

Qingping tasted a bit of pleading from her flat tone, she was a little surprised, Chu Jun has always been able to advance but never retreat, and he seldom shows weakness in business matters.Her heart was surging, she couldn't tell what it was like, her throat was slightly choked, and she said slowly: "Most of the demoted people have left the capital, and the criminals dare not stay."

Chu Jun was silent for a long time and said: "Stay here, don't go." Chu Jun was stunned, those two words were spoken very lightly, but it seemed that she had expressed the most secret thoughts in her heart, even she herself I feel ridiculous, it turns out that she will be so weak at times.

Qingping also heard those two words, and his hands trembled slightly.She closed her eyes, took out the item from her sleeve that had been prepared for many days, knelt down and said: "But if the guilty minister stays here, it will only tarnish His Majesty's reputation and hinder His Majesty's judgment."

Chu Jun's heart beat violently, and he asked with difficulty: "What is this?"

Qingping raised his head, his eyes were full of clarity: "This is the statement of the minister's crime." This was originally a statement that every official had to write by himself, and it should have been handed over to the cabinet as early as a month ago.But if he writes this, it means that he admits his crime. When Qingping was in the Yan Mansion, he insisted to the capital that what he did was right, so why would this memorial be made.In the end, even Yan Minghua got involved, but she still refused to write.

The whole court was in an uproar, and this move attracted the censor to visit her again and again, saying that she was extremely arrogant, despised the court, and had no heart of repentance.Qing Ping spit on his own face, if he accepts it.She did this for her own persistence, but she never thought that it was Chu Jun's order to be suspected.Later, she thought for a long time and wrote this scripture.Admitting a mistake that has never been made, and denying what you have always insisted on, this feeling is very uncomfortable.But she didn't want to be brought to Chu Jun because of her actions, causing the storm that was about to subside to rise again.

All Chu Jun could think about was that she was leaving, and when his eyes fell on the memorial, his heart was shocked.She wanted to say that this is the only thing between us, but on second thought, Qingping must have written it for her, but she couldn't understand why...why she refused to stay.

Qingping naturally didn't want to stay here and live under Chu Jun's protection.She can no longer be an official, and if she stays in Chang'an, she can only watch others get promoted step by step.Relying on people to live is definitely not a long-term solution, and getting along with each other day after day will only wear away everything, not even the last memory.

She would rather leave than face such an ending.

Qing Ping stood up and made a long obeisance. This obeisance was a farewell to the lord and all the glory of the past. There was a sense of determination in her movements, and she turned and left.

Chu Jun frowned, unconsciously, she had an idea that if Qing Ping was willing to stay, she would do anything.As soon as this thought came out, she felt startled and terrified. For a while, she couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, but one day she would retreat again and again for a person.But when she saw that she still didn't care about his feelings and wanted to leave, she immediately felt betrayed. In shock and anger, she turned from love to hatred, and desperately left Qingping behind.Chu Jun turned around and took down the bow hanging on the wall. He drew the bow and drew the arrow in one go. He stared at her back and said coldly, "Go out now. You won't be assassinated if you leave Chang'an. In this way, do you still want to leave!"

Qingping's breath was very unstable when he heard Chu Jun's words, and he knew that she was extremely angry.She stopped, but didn't look back, instead, she walked forward more firmly. She had made up her mind, and nothing could stop her.

If she looked back, she would be even more shocked.Chu Jun's appearance at this time can be described as extremely distressed, she only felt her chest was cold and hot, and the hand pulling the string was trembling. In my hand, it's better to--" Before finishing speaking, the feathered arrow in his hand flew out like a shooting star.

Qingping heard the sound of piercing the sky behind her, and felt her robe being torn by something. She looked down, and there was a long tear in the robe. In front of the temple gate, a feathered arrow trembled .

There was a dead silence in the hall, and there was no sound behind her.

Chu Jun thought for a moment that he had really shot her, and when the arrow shot out, her eyes turned black.After a while, she put down the bow in her hand, leaned over to pick up the memorial, covered her face with her hands, and leaned slumped on the chair.

Chu Jun is proficient in archery, how could Qingping not know.She smiled suddenly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for fulfilling the task."

After speaking, he stepped out of the palace gate and rushed into the snowstorm.

Qingping first went to look for a horse outside the palace, and now it was snowing heavily, she got on her horse and galloped out of the city, not even having time to put on her cloak, she hurried to the gate of the city, and left the city before it was closed at night.

Her actions were all based on her solitary courage. After leaving the city, she remembered the road to Yunzhou, and ran all the way to the outskirts of the city.The horses carried her through the woods and across the river, and the wind howled, but she didn't feel cold.However, the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and there was a vast whiteness between the sky and the earth. Qingping trekked hard in the snow, and she didn't know how long she had walked. In the golden light, the sun leaps out from the clouds, and the snow is like golden dots in the light, falling from the sky continuously; the frozen river is like a melted golden river, brilliant and gorgeous, flowing on the endless snow field.

Qingping turned back to look at Chang'an, the ancient capital left only a very faint shadow in the misty snow and mist, the strange scene just now seemed to be just an illusion of hers, as the sunlight slowly disappeared, the past surged like clouds and smoke, Climb to her heart little by little.She barely suppressed those boiling emotions, held her breath, and wanted to take another look at Chang'an's appearance, but in the wind and snow, she couldn't find the shadow of Chang'an City.

Qingping felt a little lost, but also relieved.Feeling a lot of emotion during this journey, her chest was filled with heat, and her eyes were slightly wet. Immediately without hesitation, she drove her horse eastward, facing the wind and snow, and disappeared into the boundless twilight.