Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

"Xu Yuqing teamed up with Wen Zhenmeng to fight for an official?" Chongzhen frowned, and scanned the memorial in his hand again, "Xie Sheng wrote a note, saying that Xu Yuqing would not follow orders, and did not want to go south, but only stayed in the capital to seek promotion. Is there such a thing?"

"Back to the emperor, it's hard to say whether he wants to be promoted as a servant or maidservant, but it's true that he won't be dispatched. It's been seven days since the transfer order was issued, but he not only didn't leave, but turned up every day, and didn't say anything else. The difference between Dao Shoufu and Master Xie." Wang Chengen replied.

"...Even if he doesn't follow orders, why did Wen Zhenmeng get involved?" Chongzhen closed the memorial with a puzzled look on his face.

"Mr. Wen has always been optimistic about Mr. Xu. This time, Mr. Wen is also very dissatisfied with the dispatch of Mr. Xu by the Ministry of officials. There is a memorial here, and the emperor will know it after reading it." Said, Wang Chengen will protect Wen Zhenmeng's letter Xu Yuqing's notebook was presented.

Chongzhen took the booklet and opened it to see, it was indeed Wen Zhenmeng's handwriting, full of small letters on the paper, he wrote a large article in an eloquent manner, which made people dizzy at first glance.

"It is said that Mr. Wen lost his temper in the cabinet because of Mr. Xu's affairs, and he will definitely ask Mr. Chief Assistant to take back the transfer order..." Wang Chengen took advantage of Chongzhen to read the memorial, and beat the side drum, "Are the two forming a party... …It’s not clear yet, but it’s really puzzling that Mr. Wen obstructed Mr. Xu’s transfer so arbitrarily..."

Hearing the word forming a party, Chongzhen's eyebrows twitched immediately.Knowing that the emperor hates cliques the most, Wang Chengen probably said it on purpose.Xi Zhao, who was standing by the side, thought to himself.But it's no wonder that Wang Chengen has always had some secret contacts with the first assistant, and such behavior is reasonable.However, Chongzhen ignored the word forming a party, and just asked: "Wen Zhenmeng lost his temper in the cabinet?"

"Yes..." Seeing that the emperor didn't follow his own words to ask questions, Wang Chengen paused for a moment, turned his head, and then replied: "However, this is not uncommon in the cabinet. Since Mr. Wen entered the cabinet, not only did he not do anything for the court Contributions, but disputes and conflicts with colleagues all day long, disturbing the cabinet, and the cabinet ministers also have complaints."

"Oh?" Chongzhen frowned, and asked again, "You mean he often has conflicts with the chief assistant?"

"Naturally, I don't get along well with Mr. Shoufu. Almost none of the major cabinet ministers can get along well with him." Wang Chengen bowed his body, with a sincere expression, "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Mr. Wen is too upright, not tactful, not tactful. Knowing how to deal with affairs, it’s okay to delve into knowledge, but as a person...it’s really not suitable to stand at the center of the government.”

"You just need to report what you heard truthfully. You don't need to worry about the rest." Chongzhen said seriously.

"Yes. The servant is talking too much." Wang Chengen immediately lowered his head and obediently admitted his mistake.

"Well, back off."

Guessing that Wang Chengen had gone far away, Xizhao leaned down and looked for an opportunity to say to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, what Wang Gonggong said may be exaggerated, Dexiu thinks it cannot be trusted."

"Well, I know." Chongzhen lowered his eyes and sighed.Xizhao thought that the emperor would say something more, but Chongzhen didn't speak anymore, just took Xie Sheng's memorial, and stretched out his hand to smooth out the thin note on the cover of the memorial.

In the case of engineering, Xu Yuqing used officials to seek personal gain, worked hard on the law and discipline, and immediately demoted his post to serve the people as a punishment.

Xu Yuqing... Chongzhen stared intently at this piece of tissue paper, remembering something, after a long time, he just came back to his senses.Wen Zhenmeng, who did not hesitate to conflict and work hard to protect people, is there still such a ticket... Chongzhen put the memorial on the table, scanned the words on the ticket up and down, thought for a while, and raised the ink pen, In the blank space of the ticket, I wrote a word: quasi.

two

Xu Yuqing was finally dismissed.Even though Wen Zhenmeng and He Wuzou submitted defense documents several times, and rushed to Qianqing Palace to complain for Xu Yuqing as soon as the decree was issued, they still failed to change the result.Saying goodbye to Xu Yuqing that day, Wen Zhenmeng returned to Wenyuan Pavilion full of resentment, without greeting anyone, went straight to the seat, dragged out the chair vigorously, and sat down with a bang.The chair muffled, and then stopped making any noise, but Wen Zhenmeng, who was sitting on the chair, had a gloomy expression on his face, gathering more and more densely.

Wenyuan Pavilion was originally quiet, and the cabinet ministers were dealing with the government affairs at hand, and there was hardly anyone talking to each other.Although Wen Zhenmeng's series of noises were not loud, they were harsh enough in this quiet room.Several cabinet ministers looked up one after another, then lowered their heads and got busy with their own affairs.Seeing this, He Wuzhen pursed his lips, thought for a while, got up and went to the table to pick up a few memorials, and put them on Wen Zhenmeng's desk.

"Master Wen."

Seeing that it was He Wunu, Wen Zhenmeng relaxed a little.He Wuzhen didn't say much, just pressed the memorial with his hands, his eyes seemed to be regretful, but also seemed to be comforting.Wen Zhenmeng would agree, took a deep breath helplessly, nodded, picked up a memorial and began to read it.

"Master Wen, why are you late today?"

Before Wen Zhenmeng could read two lines, he heard that familiar and annoying voice from the chief assistant seat.

Wen Zhenmeng glanced at Wen Tiren and remained silent.

"Hey." Seeing that Wen Zhenmeng didn't answer, Wen Tiren didn't mind, and put on a few smiles that were neither salty nor light, and let out a short sigh. "Mr. Wen, don't be sad. In the officialdom, ups and downs are common. As the saying goes, no official is light, and having a son is everything. Master Xu returns to his hometown to enjoy the family relationship, and Master Wen should be happy for him."

Xu Yuqing lost his job, Wen Zhenmeng was already depressed, and when he saw the instigator ridicule with a complacent expression on his face, a burst of anger rushed to the top of his head, he turned his head suddenly, and stared at him bitterly. With warm body benevolence.Seeing that the situation was not right, He Wuzhen hurried to appease Wen Zhenmeng, but before he could speak, Wen Zhenmeng stood up abruptly, took a step forward, arched his hands, and said loudly:

"It is a matter of great honor in the world to serve the people with science and the way. On behalf of Mr. Xu, I would like to thank Mr. Chief Assistant for your success!"

When Wen Zhenmeng said a word, the scene froze immediately.Wen Tiren was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, but then he was inexplicably happy, he also arched his hands, shook Wen Zhenmeng twice, and then stopped talking. "How can you say such rebellious words!" Wen Zhenmeng was extremely angry, but He Wunu was sober. While talking in a low voice, he hurriedly helped Wen Zhenmeng back to his seat, and stood in front of Wen Zhenmeng, not asking him to say anything else .Some of the cabinet ministers shook their heads, some were silent, and some stole glances at Wen Tiren and sighed softly.What was said could not be taken back. In this cold and embarrassing atmosphere, He Wunu secretly felt that everything was going in the most unfavorable direction uncontrollably, going further and further away.

three

"Wen Zhenmeng really said that?" In the south study, Chongzhen narrowed his eyes and his face was tense.

"Yes." Wen Tiren before the dragon case leaned forward and said with a heartbroken look, "Throughout the ages, only this official title has encouraged scholars to forge ahead and benefit the society. His Majesty has also used this as a call to the public for many years. Gather talented people. As an important minister of the court, Mr. Wen made such a remark that violated the principles of ethics, which really chilled the hearts of scholars all over the world. Hey... When Mr. Wen just entered the cabinet, he said that this cabinet minister would be clean if he didn’t do it Yunyun, it seems that this person has no intention of being an official, and if things go on like this, it will be difficult to make any contribution to the community..."

Wen Tiren talked endlessly, and Chongzhen frowned, clasped his fingers, and remained silent for a while.This warm-hearted man's benevolence was still unfinished, he thought about what he should say in order to further impress the emperor, and pushed this thorn in his side out of the cabinet with all his might, but Chongzhen waved his hand without saying a word, actually signaling him to back down.

"Your Majesty..." Wen Tiren was taken aback for a moment, naturally he was not willing to let this excellent opportunity end so hastily, but Chongzhen ignored him, reached out to take the memorial on the case, and began to look through it.It wasn't until Wen Tiren left for a long time that he raised his head again, leaned back, and sighed faintly.

I thought that serious illness should be treated with strong medicine, but now the illness is compounded by illness, making a mess.Is it because the medicine is not right for the disease, or because of my thoughts, I am really too naive...

four

In Beijing in November, there have been several snowfalls.Today the clouds cleared and the sky cleared. When Chongzhen was walking in the imperial garden, the cloak trimmed with mink fur had a soft luster in the sunlight.The winter in the Royal Garden is strong, the rocks, pavilions, bushes, bushes, and the frozen willow lake are all covered with a thick layer of snow.

"I heard that Mr. He... and Mr. Wen have resigned from office together."

Xizhao followed Chongzhen, looking at the silver-white figure of the emperor's silent back, and raised the topic.

"En." Chongzhen probably responded without saying anything.

"Dexiu still remembers that day in Qianqing Palace, when the emperor persuaded with sincere words, Mr. Wen was so moved that his eye circles turned red." Xizhao hesitated for a moment, and asked cautiously, "Now...it's only March, and the emperor will To demote him to a commoner, Dexiu doesn't understand, what is the emperor's intention?"

After asking a single word, Xi Zhao felt a little regretful.I don't like this stubborn old man, let alone defend him.Since the emperor made a decision, he asked so many why, perhaps adding trouble to the emperor out of thin air.

Hearing the words, Chongzhen stopped in his tracks, half turned his head and smiled, so clear and shallow that he seemed to have something, but at the same time nothing.

"Do you also feel that I am unpredictable and moody?"

"No, no..." Xi Zhao quickly leaned over and denied, "Dexiu is just guessing, the emperor may have deeper considerations for doing this."

"A deeper consideration..." Chongzhen laughed again, as if laughing at the sunset, and as if laughing at himself.He looked around at the plants and trees in the imperial garden, then retracted his gaze after a while, and said flatly: "I'm afraid I will disappoint you. I don't have any deeper considerations."

"Then the emperor...?" Xi Zhao looked at Chongzhen, very puzzled.

Chongzhen didn't answer, turned around, and walked forward slowly.

"Tell me about your past. When you were not in the palace. When you were a child."

"Yes……"

The originally thin shoulders were wrapped in a sable cloak, making them look very generous and majestic, but the emperor's already unpredictable heart was also deeply hidden in it, making it even more unpredictable.Xizhao was used to it, so he blinked, recalled for a moment, and said slowly: "I remember when I was young, Dexiu was very naughty. Every winter, I always liked to wrap the snow in a bag and put it on the kitchen door. , when the servants go in and out, they will accidentally hit their heads and get covered in snow." Xi Zhao said, the expression on his face gradually softened, as if he had returned to the nostalgic past years, "Some After setting up the snow bag once, it was the mother who didn't want to come out of the kitchen. The mother was shocked by a big snowball, and even smashed the soup in her hand. The father was very angry when he found out , reprimanded the villain loudly, picked up the feather duster and was about to beat him, but the mother was still protecting the villain, saying that there was nothing to do, and would not let the father do it..."

"Strict father and loving mother..." Chongzhen whispered as he walked.

"Yes." Xi Zhao echoed, her voice soft.

Chongzhen smiled slightly, with a trace of envy in his eyes, but before he knew it, there was also a hint of sadness.

"I have also imagined in the past, if I was not born in this palace, what would it look like if I was born in an ordinary family. Strict father, loving mother, doing such naughty things, being reprimanded by my father, and being punished by my father. Mother protects you." Chongzhen picked up a bunch of snow on a short tree, and shook his fingers, the snow fell from the fingers, "Born in the emperor's family, no matter where the heart is, it is always involuntary. What's more, now, I became the emperor again." Chongzhen gently shook off the melted snow in his palm, and put his hand back into the cloak, "Put on the yellow dragon robe, sit on the golden dragon chair, now that I think about it, all of this is It seems that I have never had a choice. Since my destiny is so, I have no choice but to shoulder the inheritance passed down from my ancestors and play the role of the emperor within this red wall."

Playing the part of the emperor...?

Hearing what the emperor said, Xi Zhao suddenly felt strange and fresh.Since meeting the emperor for the first time, I have never separated the word "emperor" from the noble man in front of me in my heart.He is the emperor, and the emperor is him, and it seems that there has never been and will never be any other possibility.Xizhao looked at the emperor's side face, and tried to make the word "emperor" fade out of this young and handsome face, but looking at it, even the familiar eyebrows and eyes, which were so familiar, gradually became unfamiliar.

No no, the emperor is the emperor, how can we separate.Xi Zhao shook her head, instinctively rejecting this disrespectful thought, but the more she refused, the more this thought would take root in her heart.Indeed, there was such a long period of time before I came to the emperor. This man was just a prince, and he only believed in the king. If the emperor hadn't died early and had no children, if the royal family's incense was not prosperous, he might never be with him in his life. What is the relationship between the word "emperor"... For an instant, Xi Zhao suddenly had a strong feeling in his heart, as if he was standing in front of a seal unknowingly. The shadowless and invisible curse seems to be very close at hand, and you can touch it by stretching out your hand.This feeling struck his heart like lightning, making his whole body numb, his mind blank, and only one question kept circling in his heart...

"Could it be that the emperor...doesn't want to be the emperor?"

Xi Zhao suppressed the unease surging in her chest, and summoned up the courage to ask.Although it was disrespectful, his intuition urged him, if he didn't stretch out his hand at this moment, the curse would disappear again and be hidden in the endless mist.

"So what if you don't want to."

Although Xizhao's mood was turbulent like waves, Chongzhen's answer was as light as a glass of water, as if this was just a common question with a clear answer, not enough to stir up any waves.

"So what if I don't want to. I don't want to rely on power, but the emperor wants to stabilize the country; I don't want to sacrifice my subjects, but the emperor wants to maintain the court; I don't want to be bound by this robe, but I was born with the surname Zhu. A minister can compete for fame and fortune , you can speculate in the world, anyone can disappoint Daming, only I can't. Because this is the entrustment of the ancestors, this is the Zhu family's country."

The emperor's calm voice gradually penetrated into Xizhao's mind, and the discovery that made Xizhao's heart agitated at that moment just dispersed the fog so easily, it was no longer worth making a fuss about. "There are thousands of courtiers, I don't know how many of them can understand the emperor's heart." Xi Zhao murmured.

Chongzhen smiled, his lips half pursed, but he didn't answer in the end.

The winter sun is like a gentle caress, which makes people intoxicated if they don't pay attention.With a lot of thoughts and words, they disappeared into the air in a trance and disappeared without a trace.The two masters and servants walked slowly along the gravel road, talking for a while and silent for a while.At this time, they don't know what kind of thorns will grow in front of them, and they don't know that the road of trials they embarked on will never end, until death.