Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

That night, the two stayed in a wing room by the southeast library.According to Li Gonggong's instructions, Xi Zhao carefully closed the doors and windows, turned on the fire, put the warm curtains in place, and prepared to go to bed.

"Why, brother Zhang sleeps without taking off his clothes?" Zhou Xi took off his overcoat and padded jacket, and put it on the back of the chair.

"It's freezing cold, I wish I could put on a few more clothes to sleep warmly." Xi Zhao replied.

"It turns out that brother Zhang is so afraid of the cold." Zhou Xi chuckled, lifted the quilt and slipped into bed.

Sunset turned off the lights and went to bed to lie down.

"Brother Zhang..."

"Call me Dexiu, I always call Brother Zhang strange."

"Okay, Dexiu...Brother Dexiu, you can call me Zhou Xi too."

"it is good."

Maybe it was too much physical effort to resist the cold wind during the day, and what Zhou Xi said afterwards was not heard clearly by Xizhao, and he fell asleep in the blink of an eye.

When I opened my eyes again, it was morning.Zhou Xi is still asleep.Xi Zhao got up and looked at the doors and windows, they were all closed tightly, and the warm curtains were also neat and tidy, as before going to bed last night without moving at all.Sunset looked around, tilting her head in doubt.What Eunuch Li said about closing the doors and windows at night may not mean much.Xizhao thought.

Just after noon, today's work is done.When the two of them cleaned up the broom, the sun was warmly covering their bodies, and fell on the green bricks on the ground.No wind, no cloud, just the right weather.When the two walked out of the small room where the tools were kept, Zhou Xi suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.

"It's still early, I'm going to visit Eunuch Li, brother Dexiu, can you come with me?" Zhou Xi asked Xizhao, patting the dust off his body.

"What's the matter with Eunuch Li?"

"Well...it's nothing. Hehe." Zhou Xi smiled slyly, "It's just that the Southeast Library is too deserted, so we should go out and walk around more."

Thinking of what Zhou Xi said yesterday, Xi Zhao probably understood what walking around meant. "I feel unwell today. Brother Zhou Xi will go to explore the road first, and I will visit Eunuch Li another day." He will leave secretly after a while, so it's better not to attract attention now.While talking, Xizhao thought to herself.

Seeing this, Zhou Xi didn't force it: "Alright. Brother Dexiu, let's rest, I'll go back as soon as I go."

two

I haven't been this relaxed for a long time.No need to worry about livelihood, no need to hide, no need to think about anything.Xizhao sat in the sun for half an afternoon and felt sleepy, so she went back to the house to take a nap. When she woke up, the sun had already set to the west.Xi Zhao stretched contentedly, looked around the house, Zhou Xi hadn't come back yet.So he straightened his clothes and went out for a walk again.

Most of the rows of small houses here are locked.In the sunset, one by one looked through the crack of the door, some of the small rooms were piled with incense candles, cloth and the like, while others were empty and covered with dust.I have been seeing the last few rooms in the south, but nothing more.Xi Zhao felt bored and was about to return when suddenly a voice came from nowhere.Is there anyone nearby?Xizhao took two steps and listened carefully, the voice seemed to be someone singing.The singing voice is old and deep, it should not be far away, but it seems to be inaccessible from the depths of the ground.Xi Zhao felt a little chilly in her heart, but she couldn't help being curious, so she bravely searched for the source of the sound, relying on the light of day.

Approaching the gap between the two rows of small rooms, the singing gradually became clearer.Xizhao poked his head to look, and there was indeed a small door hidden in the gap, which was concealed and unlocked.Xizhao stopped and listened carefully. The song seemed to be sung like this:

……

The prosperity is just right, but it is the evening sun.

When the twilight is over, the moon is cold and the wind is clear, and the heights are even more desolate.

……

Sunset and evening photos... What a coincidence, my name is implied in this lyrics?Xi Zhao became more and more interested, so she approached the small door, raised her hand, paused, and knocked twice hesitantly.

The singing stopped abruptly, and a hoarse question came from the door.

"Who is it?"

"My... Zhang Dexiu, please forgive me for interrupting you rashly."

"Please come in."

Xi Zhao took a deep breath, reached out and pushed open the small door, took a step, and walked into the room.

As soon as I entered the room, an indescribable smell wafted over the tip of my nose, like the smell of incense and medicine.The light in the room was very dark, and when I looked closely at the sunset, I saw a scripture hanging on each wall on both sides, and beside the small six-sided window, stood a dark wooden chest of drawers with [-] compartments.In the deepest part of the room, there is a Buddha statue enshrined, which looks like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.An old man was sitting on a low rattan chair in the corner, looking at himself quietly.

"My little brother, why are you here?" the old man asked slowly.

Xi Zhao made a bow and replied: "I'm just attracted by the singing, nothing else. I wonder if this song is sung by senior?"

"Singing casually, I never wanted to attract visitors. Sit down."

Hearing this, Xi Zhao went to sit on the chair by the wall. The chair made a creaking sound, which seemed a bit harsh in this too quiet space.

"I came to visit rashly because I heard the name of my... a friend implied in the lyrics. I was interested, so I came here rashly. What's your name, senior?"

The place where Xizhao sat was not far or near to the old man, and he could see the gray hair and messy wrinkles clearly, but he couldn't see his eyes clearly.After hearing Xizhao's question, the old man seemed to be smiling, but he didn't seem to be smiling. The momentary pause made the silence in the room a little weirder.

"They all call me Uncle Ghost."

Xi Zhao suddenly leaned against the back of the chair, her heart jumped into her throat, and her breathing couldn't help but be rapid.Curiosity really killed the cat, whoever would have thought that he would encounter ghosts in broad daylight.What should I do, Xu Xizhao?He wanted to escape, but his legs and feet were so frightened that he couldn't control himself at all, so he could only stick to the back of the chair, as if being farther away from the person opposite would make him safer.

"Don't be afraid. Hehe." This time, the old man really smiled, "I'm just an old eunuch. I'm called Uncle Gui just because I guard the southeast library."

"..." Xi Zhao was still in shock, moved her lips, but didn't know how to respond.

"The Southeast Library is the gate of ghosts in the Forbidden City."

"Huh?" Xi Zhao relaxed a little, but immediately became nervous again.

"This is the most gloomy place in the palace, and ominous things often happen. It seems that my brother is new to the palace, and I have never heard of it."

"Yes... I have never heard of it." No wonder Eunuch Li ordered the doors and windows to be closed at night and not to go out. This was the reason.

"Hehe. Why did you come here, little brother?" Uncle Gui smiled again, the wrinkles around his mouth were deeply embedded in his cheeks.

"Later... the junior is assigned to clean here every day, and lives in the wing over there."

"Since that's the case, I can take back the two portraits of Zhong Kui beside me and stick them on the door so that nothing will happen."

Xizhao looked around, and there was indeed a portrait of Zhong Kui on the small table next to him.Xizhao rolled up the portrait carefully and put it in her arms.

"Thank you... Uncle Ghost."

Knowing that it was a human being and not a ghost, Uncle Gui's face looked much more benevolent.After Xi Zhao thanked her, she chatted casually for a few words, then got up to say goodbye and left.

Walking out of the hut, the eyes suddenly brightened.As Xi Zhao walked back, he thought about how ridiculous he was just now.The room is full of Buddhist scriptures and statues. If the ghost is a ghost, how can he sit safely in the room?Xu Xizhao, Xu Xizhao, when did you become so timid? It's just that the room was darker and quieter, so why did you get scared?Xi Zhao patted his head, curled his lips in a self-deprecating manner, and went straight back to his small room.

three

It was getting dark before Zhou Xi came back.The noren curtain was lifted, bringing in a gust of cold air.As soon as he entered, Zhou Xi pointed to the door and said:

"What? You also know?"

Xi Zhao raised her head, but didn't react for a while: "Know what?"

"It's haunted here." Zhou Xi moved a chair, sat by the stove and rubbed his hands vigorously. "You posted the door god on the door, right?"

"Oh, yes. I met an old eunuch today, and he gave it to me."

"You're talking about that uncle?" Zhou Xi raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Exactly."

"It's better to have less contact with him from now on." Zhou Xi said earnestly, "This old eunuch is crazy, and it is said that he was the one who brought in all this yin energy."

"Who did you hear it from?" Xi Zhao was a little surprised.

"The elder eunuch at Eunuch Li's side said that." Zhou Xinuan recovered his hands, sat on the bed, and put his hands in his sleeves, "That Eunuch Ma is really dishonest, leaving us in such a ghostly place. But Eunuch Li said Yes, if we get the chance after a while, we will be transferred to another place."

This Zhou Xi, she really went to flatter Eunuch Li. "What else did he say?" Xi Zhao asked indifferently.

"It's nothing else. However, following Eunuch Li today, I met a few famous people." Zhou Xi looked smug.

Xizhao is not very interested in those so-called high-profile people, but Zhou Xi really wants to show off today's harvest to Xizhao: "Our straight palace supervisor is the lowest among the twelve prisons. Our two newcomers The ones who come here are the lowest among the lowest. If you want to get ahead, you still have to find the right opportunity and be transferred to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, which is the way to promotion."

"Inspector of Rituals?"

"That's right, the Supervisor of Rituals is in charge of the Twelve Supervisors, the Fourth Division, and the Eighth Bureau, a total of 24 yamen in the palace. This is the one in the Twelve Prisons." Zhou Xi curled his lips and raised his thumb. "He can also help the emperor review memorials. The power to manage state affairs is very great. The few officials and supervisors I met today are not to mention their prestige. Hey..." Zhou Xi sighed with longing, "We are both eunuchs, but their status is really different. In the future, we will have to work hard there in order to live a good life."

"Hmm..." Xi Zhao vaguely agreed, although she didn't want to work hard with Zhou Xi, but she didn't want to break Zhou Xi's spirit either.After all, it is good for people to go to high places, but they are not on this road.Sunset naturally thought so.It is just an expedient measure to dress up in the palace like this.Sooner or later, you have to go out of the palace, start a family, or start a small business, and return to the life of ordinary people.Although Xi Zhao didn't think carefully about how to return, but other than that, it seemed that there was no other way to go.

At least at this moment, Xizhao thinks so.

"Today, I almost saw the emperor." Zhou Xi said to Xizhao again when the two were lying on their beds at night.

"Oh?"

"While Eunuch Li was visiting Eunuch Wang, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, someone suddenly informed the emperor that he would come to ask Eunuch Wang for questioning, but he stopped coming and asked Eunuch Wang to come over after dinner. If it wasn't like this, maybe You can still see the appearance of the emperor."

"Really?" One night, Xi Zhao was not interested, but when the emperor was mentioned, he suddenly became interested, "We are here... I wonder if there is a chance to see the emperor."

"Working as an errand in the palace will last a lifetime, and I still worry that I won't see the emperor." Zhou Xi said casually.

"Hmm..." Xi Zhao casually agreed, while looking at the dark ceiling, trying to imagine what the emperor looked like. "Tell me, what kind of person is the current emperor?"

"Should be a very smart person."

“How come you see?”

"Do you know that Eunuch Wei, who fooled the former emperor into obedience, had such great power and so many party members, but in less than half a year, he was defeated by the current emperor. If he is not a smart person, how can he?" There is such a means?"

"Ah... um." How could she not know about this matter.Xizhao has never cared about the political situation and world affairs, but this matter alone, Xizhao knows better than anything else.

"I think this Eunuch Li must be someone." Zhou Xi didn't understand Xi Zhao's thoughts, but he was immersed in his excitement, "Follow Eunuch Li, I think we will have a chance to meet the emperor soon. You can go with me tomorrow, we two brothers will go on this journey together."