Duling's old dream

In the fourth year of Dijie, Liu Bing has been on the throne for the eighth year.

This year's autumn came very early, and the fallen leaves of Weiyang Palace scattered all over the ground.The atmosphere in Chang'an City is dignified, pedestrians look hurried, Huo Mansion, which used to be the busiest in Chang'an City in the past, is now deserted.There was an old man sweeping the floor on the street, and a boy next to him was sprinkling water on the ground with a basin in his hand. The broom stroked the cobbled road, sweeping the dark red sewage to both sides of the road.A group of people in civilian attire were sitting in a nearby tea shop, lowering their heads and whispering.

"Have you heard? The Huo family raised their banners to rebel and said they wanted to make Huo Yu emperor, but they were reported in advance, and all the families were executed."

"Who hasn't heard of this? All the dignitaries in Chang'an City have been involved. Thousands of people have been arrested."

"The Huo family is used to domineering, but they have cut a few official positions, so why raise the flag to rebel?"

"You don't know, this is not a matter of cutting a few official positions. I heard that Empress Gongai didn't die of illness, but poisoned Empress Huo Xian, the biological mother of Empress Huo. Not only that, the Huo family also tried to harm her many times. Prince Yu, the Huo family felt guilty after the news leaked after the death of the general, so they simply rebelled. Thanks to being reported in advance, otherwise the city of Chang'an will inevitably be a bloodbath."

"Although this rebellion has been suppressed. However, the Huo family has served as ministers for three dynasties, and the power is overwhelming, and the forces are intertwined and spread all over Chang'an. After this time of liquidation, I don't know how many people will be involved for no reason."

"That's what you said. The people inside are fighting for power and profit. Today the east wind prevails against the west wind, and tomorrow the west wind prevails over the east wind. No matter who gains power, it is always us common people who suffer."

A group of people were talking, their voices gradually became quieter, and finally someone sighed: "It's fate." The atmosphere fell into a long silence, and no one spoke again.

On the street, there was a man leading a horse from south to north. He was wearing a bamboo hat, and he kept his head down and walked forward without saying a word.A fallen leaf rolled down the bamboo hat, and fell lightly onto the blood-red sewage. His walking steps paused slightly, and after a while, he lowered the bamboo hat again, and continued to walk in the direction of Weiyang Palace.

"Who is coming?"

"Zhonglang will serve Zhang Pengzu and ask to see the Holy One."

#7.5

This is the first time Zhang Pengzu really saw Liu Bingji as the emperor.

Liu Bing was already dressed in a fine attire, his brows were furrowed, his face looked tired, and he was looking down at several scrolls of bamboo slips.Zhang Pengzu's footsteps stopped unconsciously, he hesitated for a moment, and finally stepped in.

Liu Bing had already heard the movement and raised his head. After seeing the person coming, his expression softened three points, and he immediately put down the bamboo slip in his hand and said: "I was surprised when I heard that you were here, but what happened? Already?" Zhang Pengzu paused for a moment, and was about to speak, when he saw that the palace was decorated with dragons and phoenixes, with a royal demeanor, it was really depressing, it was very different from the last time they met, the sound of "sickness" is no matter what I can't even shout out, but it feels strange to call Long live directly, and I am at a loss for a while, neither kneeling nor standing.Liu Bing saw Zhang Pengzu's embarrassment, waved his hands away from the attendants on both sides, pulled him to sit on his mat, and said with a smile: "I said it last time, there is no need to stick to etiquette between you and me, why don't you The older you get, the more reserved you become."

Zhang Pengzu was silent for a while, as if he had finally made up his mind, he knelt down on the ground with a plop, gritted his teeth and said, "I'm here to ask for something."

Liu Bing had already looked at Zhang Pengzu, his eyes seemed to be filled with astonishment and astonishment, he hurriedly asked: "What's the matter?"

Zhang Pengzu said: "My elder brother has a daughter named Zhang Jing, who was married to a relative of the Huo family in the early years. Now that the Huo family is rebellious and guilty of crimes connected with the nine clans, my uncle is worried about it every night, and he is getting more and more haggard, but he dare not speak out. I didn't ask His Majesty for half a thing, just this time, I just ask His Majesty to let the brothers and daughters live in the old friendship between classmates."

A trace of unspeakable complexity flashed across Liu Bing's eyes, and after a while, he said coldly, "You came here just for this?"

Zhang Pengzu slammed his head on the ground, and said: "I know that Huo's conspiracy is unforgivable. However, Zhang Jing is a virtuous and prudent person. I dare to guarantee that she has absolutely nothing to do with this matter."

Liu Bingji said slowly again: "It turns out that in Qing's eyes, I am such a person who does not respect benevolence, trust or reason."

This sentence changed from "you" to "Qing", Zhang Pengzu's heart was shocked, he raised his head involuntarily, Liu Bing was already looking at him coldly, with a complex expression on his face that he had never seen before, as if disappointed , and pain again, Zhang Pengzu only felt thousands of words welling up in his chest, but he couldn't utter a single word. "Minister..." He was about to explain, but Liu Bingji waved his hand and said, "I have already seen that General Zhang is very worried, and I just issued an order to pardon Zhang Jing this morning." Before Zhang Pengzu could answer, he said The bamboo slips that were half written in his hand were thrown away in front of Zhang Pengzu. Zhang Pengzu picked them up and looked carefully, and found that it was a draft edict. The last section of the bamboo slips clearly wrote a series of characters—"All were written by the Huo family. Any misrepresentation, before Bingshen's application, and officials who were not aware of it, will be pardoned."Zhang Pengzu's fingers trembled slightly, and he murmured: "This is..." Liu Bingji sneered, and said: "Back then, the scourge of witches and Gu was a crime that affected thousands of people, and I was the victim of it. It's unforgivable, but I don't know the pain of the innocent. It's just a few words from others, but... I never thought that even you would misunderstand me."

Zhang Pengzu opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but Liu Bingji didn't want to say any more, he raised his hand and said: "Since Qing's wish has been fulfilled, let's go back." After finishing speaking, he turned around and was about to go to the inner room Go, but Zhang Pengzu didn't move.Liu Bing was already annoyed, he turned back and shook his sleeves and said, "What else is there?" Zhang Pengzu hesitated for a moment, stood up, took out a sesame seed cake wrapped in paper from his bosom, put it on the case, and said, "What else can I do?" this."

Liu Bing already looked down, it was the kind of sesame seed cake that he loved most when he was young, it was a delicacy that everyone could cook, since he entered the palace, he hadn't seen it for nearly ten years.Liu Bing had already reached out to pick up the still warm sesame seed cake, and the memories of traveling among the people when he was young came back to his mind, and his expression eased accordingly.After a while, he sighed heavily: "I didn't mean to get angry at you just now, it's just that there have been a lot of affairs in court recently... In the end, you are only eager to protect your nephew."

Zhang Pengzu shook his head and said: "If anyone is in the same position, I'm afraid even one thousandth of you can't do it."

Liu Bing had been silent for a while, and said: "I have made up my mind from the first day I walked in here. Since I am destined to take this path, I will never disappoint the common people." His tone became dull as he said: "I am Unexpectedly, there are only a few people and a few people, and in the end there is really only a lonely family."

Seeing Liu Bing's expression, Zhang Pengzu couldn't help feeling sour. For some reason, he suddenly mustered up a burst of courage and blurted out: "You still have me."

Liu Bing was startled slightly, and raised his head.Zhang Pengzu knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he quickly changed the subject, got up and saluted, "Peng Zu's entry into the palace this time was a reckless act, thanks to His Majesty's pity, since the imperial edict has been issued, Peng Zu has no reason to stay any longer, so I should leave first."

Liu Bingji stretched out his hand and grabbed Zhang Pengzu: "Do you still remember that poem I read on Hongguyuan when I was young?"

He slowly chanted: "'It is advisable to drink wine and grow old together. The piano is in the palace, so it is better to be quiet'. At that time, you still laughed at me for using the classics indiscriminately, and applying poems describing the relationship between men and women to you and me."

Zhang Pengzu was stunned, he looked at Liu Bingji, but Liu Bingji was still talking.

"At that time, I used the example of drumming to refute you, but in the final analysis, whether I am using the classics indiscriminately, I am afraid that even I can't tell clearly."

"The power of the Huo family is overwhelming. I failed to protect Mr. Ping back then. I will owe her and Shi'er all my life. I owe too many people. I don't want to owe it to the Commander or General Zhang again."

"That's why I never announced you to the court, not because I don't believe you, but because I still want to protect the last clean place in my heart."

"Peng Zu, I didn't realize until a long time later that I really wanted to drink wine and play the harp with you that day on Hongguyuan, and grow old with you forever."

"Everyone says that I am the Son of Heaven, even the world is at my fingertips."

"Is it too late for me to understand after all?"

Liu Bing had been talking all the time, incoherent, confused, totally lacking in Tianjia demeanor, but Zhang Pengzu didn't answer.They were deadlocked in a strange posture until Liu Bing had nothing to say.Zhang Pengzu's shoulder moved, Liu Bing already thought that he was going to withdraw his hand, but Zhang Pengzu held his wrist like he did on Hongguyuan when he was a child, and then sighed softly.

"I'm already sick... I don't want you to be just Liu Bingji from Hongguyuan."

Zhang Pengzu said this very lightly, as if it blended with his sigh.Liu Bing only felt that there were thousands of emotions rushing into his heart, and he couldn't match any of the romances or killing decisions he had experienced in the past. He looked at Zhang Pengzu and suddenly felt that he should have After doing this, it was as if in the long life he couldn't help himself, there was finally something he could choose by himself.At this moment, he can forget about the rituals of the monarch and his ministers, and the righteousness of the world.He is just Liu Bingji, Liu Bingji of Hongguyuan, and Liu Bingji of Zhang Pengzu.Zhang Pengzu held his wrist tightly, as if he was waiting for some affirmation. The last string that had been stretching Liu Bingji's heart for a long time was finally broken. He suddenly got up and pulled Zhang Pengzu, pushing away all the things on the case. The bamboo slips pushed the mortal world to the ground.

After this door is opened, he is still the emperor of the whole world, but at this moment, he is just Liu Bingji of Zhang Pengzu.