Luoyang Spring

The narrow room seemed to have been filled with ice water. It was clearly the spring of February, but the bone-chilling chill was crawling over people's nerves.

All the soldiers who followed were silent like cicadas—acquaintances didn't know that after Ji Kang was executed, the court feared Sima Zhao's prestige, and everyone avoided the name, let alone dared to set up spiritual sacrifices.

Who is it that dares to set up a private ghost for Ji Kang behind his back?

The people who came with them all lowered their heads, carefully watching Sima Zhao's back from the corner of their eyes.The general led everyone to Ji Kang's grave by mistake, and undoubtedly slapped himself in the face in front of everyone.How will the general handle this matter?Should we simply destroy the spirit card, or thoroughly investigate the identity of the person who set up the spirit and deal with it strictly?

Sima Zhao, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, "Go back to the carriage first, and no one is allowed to spread this matter to the outside world."

The generals were stunned, they didn't know why the general gave such an order, but no one dared to move for a while.

"Why, do you have to say it again?" Sima Zhao growled irritably.

Seeing that the general was angry, no one dared to dawdle any longer, and retreated one after another. For a while, the temple was so quiet that only the sound of footsteps rubbing against the ground could be heard.

After everyone had left, Sima Zhao slowly walked towards the spirit tablet—when he saw it, he was suddenly angry, but now he has basically calmed down.After experiencing countless unexpected changes, he has been able to control his emotions well.

It was Zhong Hui's idea to kill Ji Kang, which was also approved by Sima Zhao.However, the whole process was not smooth, and it even caused three thousand Tai students to intercede under the name of Ji Kang.

What kind of person can instigate more than 3000 scholars to stay?Indeed, as Zhong Hui said, this person is like a potential dragon in the abyss, if he vacates the water, he will set off huge waves.

After Ji Kang was executed, Sima Zhao faintly felt a quiet change around him.The uncooperative officials in the DPRK and China became obedient and obedient, and more celebrities entered the DPRK and surrendered but did nothing.As for Sizong, it seemed that he suddenly disappeared from his sight.Until today, when the persuasion document was presented, Sima Zhao had never heard anything about Ruan Ji.

There are fewer and fewer frank people, and more and more hypocritical people.He enjoys the pleasure of returning to the heart of the world, satisfies the desire to conquer others, and countless obedient praises and the emperor's reward throw him into the clouds.

But is this really what you want?

One night, he looked through the records of court officials and staff members of the general's mansion.Flicking the familiar or unfamiliar names with his fingertips, he found that there were a lot of useless redundant officials.

The bean-sized candles flickered in the darkness, and people's hearts became blurred as the light became weaker and weaker.

He thinks he has worked hard, but it seems that he is getting farther and farther away from his youthful ambition, and in the end, only vicious means and desire to grab power remain.The Duke of Jin, the domain of Uncle Tang, and the words of praise and beauty, these were all held up in front of him.But Sima Zhao, who has deviated from his original intention, really knows what he needs?

He felt lost, and Ruan Ji's face that didn't look happy appeared in his mind.

Is it for the praise of the name, the haggard makes the heart sad?

The commoner can last a lifetime, so what's the point of being pampered!

It was Sizong's poem - calm, but sharper than any kind of irony.

The officials who came with them seemed to have left, and the temple was as silent as a sealed box.

With no one around, he didn't have to hold back his emotions anymore.

He suddenly became irritable, and swiped the spirit card to the right with his sleeve.There was only a "bang" sound, and the spirit card fell to the ground, and a tiny crack was thrown from the top.

Suddenly there was a sharp exclamation from behind, Sima Zhao was startled, and turned around quickly, only to see a handsome girl glaring at him with unreasonable eyes, her high eyebrows were sharp and domineering, totally different from the usual people around her The appearance of being humble to oneself.

She rushed forward and picked up the spirit tablet to protect it, and yelled at Sima Zhao angrily, "What are you? How could you be rude to the ancestors?!"

Sima Zhao was taken aback by the scolding, and then recovered his calm face, "Who are you?"

The girl said righteously, "I don't care who I am. The sky is bright and bright, and you broke into the ancestral temple and smashed the spirit cards. Do you want to destroy this place?"

Sima Zhao smiled instead of anger, "What? Do you know who the spirit tablet is enshrined to?"

"Ji Kang." She said firmly, "This spirit tablet was set up by my father for a friend, he—"

"Do you know how Ji Kang died?" Sima Zhao interrupted him rudely.

"He, he..." The girl was annoyed when her words were interrupted, but she was taken away unknowingly by the other party, "Everyone in the world knows that Uncle Ji was framed for no reason—"

"Innocent?" Sima Zhao sneered, "Young man, don't speak indiscriminately. This man's words are dissolute, he destroys the times, and he deliberately helps others to rebel. He is a repeat offender of the court. How can he be said to be innocent?"

"You bullshit!"

The girl was furious, and was about to refute, but suddenly her eyes lit up, and she ran out the door: "Father!"

Seeing this, Sima Zhao quickly turned around and saw the face of the visitor clearly——

Ruan Ji.

Knowing that there was a fire on the mountain, Xiao Huai originally wanted to persuade Ruan Ji not to come today, and wait for the smoke to clear after a while.But Ruan Ji was worried that the fire would spread to the ancestral temple and damage his friend's spiritual tablet, so he was even more determined to come.The two stopped the car nearby, and Ruan Ji was a little tired, so he asked Xiao Huai to clean up in the temple first, and then he came back after resting in the car for a while.

Ruan Ji never imagined that the general would go out of the city in person, and happened to have the pleasure of visiting an abandoned temple.It was also the first time for Xiaohuai to meet Sima Zhao, so she must not know the identity of the other party.

It turned out to be such an embarrassing scene to meet by chance in the old place.Ruan Ji was more surprised than Sima Zhao, as if a ladle of cold water was poured from the top of his head, soaking his whole body slowly and icily.

The two sides stalemate for a long time, Sima Zhao suddenly sneered darkly, slightly mockingly: "If Zheng Sikong couldn't invite Ruan infantry in the morning, Gu really thought you were sick."

Ruan Ji saw the spirit card in Xiaohuai's hand, and then looked at Sima Zhao, suddenly felt more magnanimous than ever.

He didn't take Sima Zhao's words, but led Xiaohuai forward, "Minggong, this is a dog girl, she is used to being aggressive and doesn't know how to behave. If there is any offense, I hope the general Haihan."

General...Xiao Huai was slightly taken aback, and looked sideways at Sima Zhao—it turned out to be him, no wonder his father suddenly became nervous when he saw him...

Sima Zhao looked Xiao Huai up and down, and saw that her eyes were still round and round in resentment.At first, he wanted to propose marriage to this woman for his eldest son Sima Yan, but the matchmaker went for sixty days, but when he came back, he couldn't speak because Ruan Ji was intoxicated and lying in bed.Now it seems that it is not difficult to understand.

"Qianyuan and Gupo had some disputes, and it was due to the poor discipline of the infantry." Sima Zhao sneered.

Ruan Ji had an ominous premonition, "Dispute?"

Sima Zhao pointed to the spirit tablet in Xiaohuai's hand, "She said that Ji Kang was innocently victimized, but she blamed Wang Fa for the crime. Could it be that the infantry saw it that way?"

Ruan Ji's expression was ugly - he was indeed the one who taught Xiao Huai.However, Sima Zhao has the heart of a jackal, so if he said this in front of him, wouldn't he be stroking a tiger's beard?

But Ruan Ji couldn't even say that Ji Kang was guilty - he felt guilty for not being able to help his friend at the beginning, so how could he say another word against his will in order to seek justice?

"So that's the case. The dog girl doesn't know how to measure, so please forgive me." He held his breath, avoiding Sima Zhao's constricted gaze, "Xiao Huai, please accompany Sima Gong."

Xiaohuai was in a fit of anger, but he didn't listen to persuasion, "He was rude first, why didn't he apologize!"

Ruan Ji immediately opened his eyes wide and looked at her in disbelief.

"Hugh is rude!" He was a little annoyed, "Apologize!"

"No!" Xiaohuai's heart was pounding, but she was thinking and refused to compromise.

Ruan Ji looked at her in horror and anger - his daughter's lack of cooperation almost pushed him to the brink of collapse.

"presumptuous!"

He snapped, followed by heavy gasps.

Xiao Huai was spoiled by her father, she had never seen her father like this before, and was immediately taken aback by the drink.

Why should I apologize?

Why should you bow your head to Sima Zhao?

In my impression, my father was kind and gentle at home, but rebellious outside. Why did he look like two different people in front of Sima Zhao?

She has a strong temper and a heart of iron.She doesn't care what others say, but her father's words can hit her weakness the most.

Xiao Huai was wronged and angry, tears were already rolling in her eyes.

"I'll wait for you in the car."

She bit her lips tightly, almost threw the spirit tablet into her father's arms, turned around and ran away after leaving a sentence.

Ruan Ji realized that he had spoken too seriously, and seeing his daughter's tearful appearance, he felt very regretful.He stood on the spot holding the spirit card, but his eyes followed her out the door.

Sima Zhao looked at Ruan Ji with complicated eyes—even though the weather had warmed up, the man was still tightly wrapped, and his thin figure became smaller and smaller under the heavy cloak.

The sudden situation made Ruan Ji lose his composure.He has always been careful not to disagree with Sima's wishes; even if there is a serious conflict of ideas, he will not reveal his thoughts.But today, he confronted Sima Zhao in such a wrong way, which really made him never expect.

Can't hide, can only look up and face.

He bowed obediently, "The little girl is not good, it's all because of her lack of discipline, I hope Minggong forgives her sin..."

Sima Zhao looked at him, "This is the third time you have asked for forgiveness."

Ruan Ji remained silent, still maintaining his gesture of saluting.

Behaving obediently in front of others, who knows what you and your family are talking about—Sima Zhao thought so, and laughed angrily, "It's okay, just go back and discipline."

"I will obey your orders." Ruan Ji reluctantly agreed, "If there is nothing else, I beg you to leave."

"Wait a minute," Sima Zhao called out to him loudly, "there is a spirit card for respecting outsiders in Boyi Shuqi Temple, and Sizong doesn't want to explain it?"

Ruan Ji was silent for a moment - the matter has been exposed, there is no need to hide it.

"I did it."

Sima Zhao laughed loudly, "It's worthy of being the contract of Jinlan, it's deeply affectionate and righteous."

Ruan Ji closed his eyes and didn't want to pay attention to it, he just held the spirit card in his arms tighter.

"It's not appropriate to punish a person for a crime, even if it's a folk sacrifice." Sima Zhao approached him, and said coldly, "What's more, you, as an official of the imperial court, set up a mourning hall without approval, how bold you are!"

Ruan Ji suppressed his disgust, and reluctantly went along with him: "According to Duke Ming, how should we deal with this matter?"

Sima Zhao paused for a moment, calming down his tone: "Burning the spirit tablet, and no longer setting up spirit sacrifices, this matter will not be pursued alone."

Ruan Ji laughed faintly, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

It's a good sentence not to pursue it, the general is really magnanimous!

"What if I don't agree?"

He once retreated again and again in order to bear the burden of humiliation, naively thinking that he could avoid disaster by forbearance.Ji Kang was killed by Sima Zhao, and he kept silent about it; Zheng Chong forced him to write a letter of persuasion, and he swallowed his humiliation and swiped drunk ink.

He was wandering on the verge of drunkenness and waking up, and sometimes when he woke up from his dream, he really wanted to go all out and break with Sima Zhao.At least the edge of the butcher's knife can reflect his true appearance.But at this time, the faces of relatives and friends will appear in front of my eyes——I am gone, what should they do?

But the result of forbearance is that he is getting deeper and deeper in the mire.If he struggles to figure it out, what he faces will be a more complete submersion.

Sima Zhao didn't expect Ruan Ji to resist, and immediately became angry, "No one asked for your opinion!"

Ruan Ji couldn't help smiling wryly—to this day, it would be foolish to endure any longer.

"Sima Gong keeps saying that Lu An Ji Kang is a sinner, but when did you have evidence?"

"Hmph, as expected, like a daughter, like a father."

"What crime are they guilty of? The general can even let off the regicide, why won't he let go of two ordinary—"

"Bullshit!"

Sima Zhao interrupted him with a yell.The word regicide is like a bleeding scar in his heart, hot, ferocious, frightening and anxious.

When a man pokes the jackal's scar, he will face a vicious attack.

Ruan Ji clenched his fists, his body trembling uncontrollably under the agitation.A bone-chilling chill spread through his body, and he suddenly felt terrified—he broke the law of not talking about people, and was held to be the handle of setting up a private mourning hall. How will Sima Zhao treat him next?

Sima Zhao looked at Ruan Ji with a complicated expression - the best friend of the boy's travel companion and the obedient staff in the past, at this moment he almost lost his mind and tore his bottom line.How many things does this person hide on weekdays?Sima Zhao suddenly instinctively panicked at his outburst.

Fear... How could the leading general, Duke Jin, who will be the emperor tomorrow, be afraid of a mere school lieutenant?Sima Zhao felt that at least one of them was crazy, either Ruan Ji or himself, or both.

It was deathly silence again.The two sides faced each other without saying a word, their eyes met, and there was anger and fear in the eyes.Although Sima Zhao was furious, his expression remained unchanged; Ruan Ji could no longer restrain the pain in his heart, leaning against the wall and weeping silently.

After an unknown amount of time, Ruan Ji calmed down and broke the silence.

"Remember the beginning?"