Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

"Lord Qian, Lord Qian." Wen Tiren strode out from the back hall, and when he saw Qian Shisheng, he smiled and arched his hands together, "Today is He Liangchen's auspicious day, why is Lord Qian interested in visiting the humble house?"

"Lord Wen." Qian Shisheng also smiled, and bowed his hands in return, "It's not that His Majesty issued an edict a few days ago to encourage the people of Ming Dynasty to practice more filial piety. Stop by to visit Mr. Wen."

"I see." Wen Tiren echoed and gestured to the maidservant.Wen and Qian exchanged pleasantries and sat down one after another.The maid carefully served two cups of hot tea, Qian Shisheng raised the teacup, half lifted the lid, and a burst of refreshing tea fragrance came over his face.

"A few days ago, I came across some good Biluochun. Please taste it with Mr. Qian." Wen Tiren smiled and picked up the teacup.

"The teacup is white and moist, the color of the tea is fresh and green, and the fragrance of the tea is refreshing. This tea and the tea set are both top-grade among the top-grade ones. Mrs. Wen is really a person with extraordinary taste." Qian Shisheng took a sip and praised.

"Lord Qian, I appreciate the prize." Wen Tiren smiled slightly, "A good cup of tea needs to be entertained by such an elegant person as Lord Qian. If it enters the mouth of ordinary people, it will be different from boiled water made of coarse porcelain."

"Where is it? Qian Shisheng is so elegant, how can he be as elegant as Mr. Wen." Qian Shisheng hurriedly waved his hands and said humbly.The two hugged each other like this for half a day before Qian Shisheng started to bring up the topic.

"Qian took the liberty to interrupt this time, mainly because he wanted to ask Mr. Wen, what is Mr. Wen's plan regarding the promotion of Zheng Fu?"

"Hmm..." Wen Tiren pondered for a moment, and said: "Master Qian asked, Wen Mou would never refuse, but Zheng Yan is capricious. It's hard to guess what he is thinking." Wen Tiren frowned, Putting on a look of embarrassment, "Half a month ago, he came here with a gift and asked me to recommend him as an official. Although Wen did not accept the gift, he agreed without hesitation. But a few days ago, I heard that he was impeaching Wen. A certain name was signed on the brochure. In just half a month, this Zheng Fu’s attitude towards Wen can be described as a world of difference. Mr. Qian, tell me, does he want me to recommend him, or does he not want me to recommend him?"

"This..." Qian Shisheng was startled, and was rendered speechless for a moment.Zheng Xun did such a thing without notifying him in advance. At this moment, Qian Shisheng's face turned red and then turned pale, but he could only groan secretly in his heart.Seeing that he was confused for a long time, he said in embarrassment: "Lord Wen, calm down. Qian really doesn't know about this matter. But Zheng Xing and Qian came from the same school, and their character and talent can be guaranteed. Let's talk about Mr. Wen... Qian will definitely find him when he goes back, so ask carefully."

"Hey~ That's not necessary." Wen Tiren waved his hands and said, "I don't know how many people have impeached Wen. One more is not too many, and one less is not less. Besides, Wen is not that narrow-minded." Halfway, but half-smile, and suddenly changed the subject, "However, Mr. Wen has learned some stories recently, and he has written them into an excerpt and is preparing to play them to His Majesty. Since Mr. Qian is so concerned about this matter, I should ask Mr. Qian to pass it on before submitting it. It's good to have a look."

Looking at Wen Tiren's smiling face, Qian Shisheng had a vague premonition in his heart. He swallowed, and was about to decline, but saw that the young scholar in Tsing Yi had already sent a memorial-like document to up.Qian Shisheng had no choice but to take the booklet, unfold it and see that Zheng Fu's name was clearly visible on it.While he was reading, his hands kept trembling, and when he finished reading the last word, he felt cold sweat dripping down his face, he was tongue-tied and didn't know what to say.

That side of Wen Tiren looked at Qian Shisheng who was frozen aside, still stroking the rim of the cup unhurriedly. "If Mr. Qian doesn't dislike it, Mr. Wen is willing to sign the performance together with Mr. Qian. I don't know what Mr. Qian wants?"

"This...this this..."

Wen Tiren smiled coldly, and before Qian Shisheng could say a word, he went on to say: "Hey, I already guessed that Mr. Qian didn't want to sign the name, so I didn't inform Mr. Qian from the beginning. Wen always doesn't force others to make things difficult for him." , let’s just let go of the signing.”

"Ah, haha..." Qian Shisheng felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles, smiled stiffly, and said something indiscriminately, then left hastily.Qian Shisheng was still in shock until he sat back in the sedan chair.Zhang mother, steaming concubine, and adulterous daughter-in-law, recalling the shocking crimes in the memorial, Qian Shisheng clutched the skirt of his clothes, feeling very anxious.No matter what, they are old acquaintances from the same family. How could they just stand by and watch on this friendship... But the person who wants to sue him is Lord Shoufu. If he openly opposes Shoufu, Wen Zhenmeng, He Wuzhen, and The countless fallen colleagues are a lesson from the past... Qian Shisheng frowned, thinking about it - it seems that there is only one way to go.

two

"Report to the emperor, the queen empress asks to see you."

"Queen?"

In the Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Martial Arts, Chongzhen propped his forehead and was in a bad mood.Hearing the Queen's arrival, he frowned slightly: "Let's declare."

"Empress Xuan's audience—"

After a while, only the sound of footsteps was heard, and Empress Zhou came in with the maids.

"Greetings to the emperor." Queen Zhou said in a soft voice, bowing down while saying.

"No ceremony. Sit down." Chongzhen replied simply, with doubts on his face, "You came here suddenly, but do you need me for something?"

"Your majesty is wise." Empress Zhou sat down comfortably, she pursed her lips and smiled, her words were not concealed, "This concubine is here to ask the emperor for Changzhou Zheng Yan's favor."

When Chongzhen heard the words, his face darkened instantly. "Changzhou Zheng Po?"

Seeing the sudden change in the emperor's face, Queen Zhou's heart shuddered.I didn't expect the emperor to have such a reaction when he heard the word "Zheng Xing". Didn't he come at the right time this time?But the words were out of her mouth, so she had no choice but to continue talking: "I heard that Zheng Yan..."

"You are in the harem, what do you know about Changzhou Zhengfeng?" Chongzhen didn't wait for Queen Zhou to finish speaking, and interrupted her with a sullen face.

"Uh... The concubine heard from the head of the state that a few days ago, a zhezi participated in the performance of Zheng Fu..." Empress Zhou explained timidly.

"A few days ago?" Chongzhen picked up a memorial and shook it in front of Zhou Hou's eyes, "The lawsuit against Zheng Wei was just played this morning, and I am watching it, and I haven't had time to approve it. So well-informed?"

"It was only played this morning?" Empress Zhou was surprised, "But half a month ago..." Just halfway through speaking, she suddenly fell silent.She blushed, her eyes were faintly flustered, her lips were tightly pressed, and she fell silent for no reason.

"How was it half a month ago?" Seeing that Queen Zhou was silent, Chongzhen asked.

"Ah... no..." Queen Zhou hesitated and dared not answer.

"Say it." Chongzhen narrowed his eyes, and the cloud on his face became thicker and thicker.The emperor was abnormally displeased, and he accidentally said that he missed the time to get the news. After all these back and forth, Queen Zhou was already half guilty, and the words she had prepared before she came were half hidden in her mouth. .She frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally made up her mind.Being entrusted by others, it's not easy to back down just like that, besides, since you have come to the emperor all the time, it's not proper to leave without expressing your intention.So she gritted her teeth and said bravely, "Chenqie... Chenqie heard from the head of the country that this Zheng Xun is a rare talent who writes good poems and essays, but his rebellious personality will inevitably provoke rumors. Someone reported these groundless rumors to the emperor, and asked the emperor to see clearly, don't...don't miss a good talent..."

"Good talent? Huh!" Chongzhen raised his hand and patted the table, raised his sword eyebrows, "This Zheng Yan really has a good family background, great magical powers, and all the tricks have brought you here!"

"The emperor calm down!" Seeing Chongzhen's anger, Empress Zhou plopped down on her knees, "The concubine dare not...the concubine just..."

"It's just what." Chongzhen's tone suddenly became low, and he didn't know what to think of, and forced to suppress the rising anger.

"It's just...seeing that Zheng Yan is pitiful...so..." Queen Zhou fell on the ground, her voice was as thin as a mosquito.

"You deny it." Chongzhen lowered his eyebrows and interrupted Zhou Hou's words.

"deny……?"

"You said that you came to intercede for Zheng Yan, and you were not entrusted by Zheng Yan."

Empress Zhou bit her lips, her palms were covered with sweat, she was silent for a long while, and then she said nonchalantly: "The concubine...convicted..."

Hearing the words, Chongzhen closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "You step back." Said, waved to Queen Zhou.There was no punishment or reprimand. Although Queen Zhou didn't know Chongzhen's intentions, she didn't dare to ask more questions. She stood up and saluted. She looked ashamed and left the Hall of Martial Arts with the maids as if fleeing.

Seeing that Queen Zhou was far away, Chongzhen raised his forehead again, and said to the screen on the side of the room: "Wen Aiqing, come out."

As soon as the words finished, Wen Tiren came out slowly from behind the screen and bowed to the emperor.

"As Wen Aiqing said, Zheng Xun's hands and eyes are so good that he actually managed to win the empress to intercede for him. I just don't know how he knew you were going to sue him before this memorial was filed?"

"Return to Your Majesty." Wen Tiren bowed again, and replied respectfully, "This memorial has actually been written already, but the matter involves serious crimes. For the sake of prudence, I have not released it at the discretion. Half a month ago, I had a discussion with Mr. Qian Fu It was only later that I found out that Mr. Qian and this Zheng Xun belonged to the same family, presumably Zheng Xun entrusted Mr. Qian to be able to ask the head of the country and the empress to speak for him."

"So that's how it is." Chongzhen nodded, and turned sullen, "The mother of the stick cheated on her concubine, raped her daughter-in-law to mess with her husband, and caused disasters in the village... These kind of unkind, unrighteous, loyal and unfilial people, with all kinds of bad deeds, actually returned Clinging around to make friends, delusional to come to the court to be an official, is this deceiving me that there is no one in the Ming Dynasty? According to my order, immediately arrest Zheng Wei and put him in prison, waiting to be released."

It is perfectly normal for the courtiers to report and the emperor to issue an order; there are so many political affairs every day, and countless people have been questioned and prosecuted by the emperor.But this time Xizhao watched and listened, but always felt that something was wrong.All of this is too unfavorable to this man named Zheng Yan, so unfavorable is like a perfectly calculated conspiracy.But it is so impeccable, apart from intuition, there is no evidence that it can be concluded that it is a conspiracy.Xizhao subconsciously looked at Wen Tiren. Facing Mr. Shoufu's unfathomable smile, Xizhao could only feel the wind blowing from behind his back. His elegant and kind face made people feel an indescribable chill.