Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

Time flies, and when the north wind goes away, it is early spring and February in a blink of an eye.

Wuying Hall, Xinuang Pavilion.With one hand resting on his forehead, Chongzhen stared at the opened memorial on the table without moving a page for a long time.

"Your Majesty, are you tired?" Xizhao asked Chongzhen with his gaze, and then scanned the memorial that had been standing for a long time, and asked softly.

"Hmm..." Chongzhen moved his body slightly, noncommittal.The sun outside the window is warm, reflecting the glazed yellow tiles brilliantly.Chongzhen retracted the hand supporting his forehead, looked at the window, and stood up.

"Accompany me to the Imperial Garden for a walk."

The imperial garden in February is still light in green.Most of the trees are bare, as if they were made of earthen paper, and they are rough and unattractive.Only a few magnolias beside the path are blooming luxuriantly. The blossoms are as white as the snow, and the petals are exquisite and moist, but they are really as finely carved as the finest suet white jade.Although it's not yet the season of blooming flowers, the jade-like flowers appearing in the black color, it doesn't look very charming.Chongzhen and Xizhao walked slowly along the path, stopping from time to time to enjoy the beautiful flower scene in early spring.I just turned around, went around, admired the flower scene a few times, and walked around the imperial garden a few times, but I didn't see Chongzhen intending to go back.Sunset looked at the sun and leaned forward.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late..." Xi Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said after considering, "Today's excerpts... are quite a lot."

"It doesn't matter." Chongzhen stopped in his tracks, and looked up at the magnolias huddled together in a tree, "Look at this flower, it looks very elegant from a distance, but it's just mediocre when you look up close."

"Yes..." Xi Zhao replied, and also stared at the flowers, but there was nothing special about it.But seeing the emperor walked a few steps away, he hurriedly followed, a few words came out of his mind, but after thinking for a while, he finally swallowed with his lips pursed, and said with a smile:

"If the emperor thinks that only magnolias are monotonous and unattractive, after a while, the peach blossoms and apricots will bloom. At that time, the imperial garden will be full of pink and pink, and the emperor can come to enjoy the spring again."

When Chongzhen heard the words, he half turned his head.Come back in a few days... He looked at the sunset and twitched his lips.

"Are you... urging me to be diligent?"

"Don't dare!" Xi Zhao was startled, and quickly knelt down, "The villain has no such intentions! The villain is clumsy and can't speak, so I ask the emperor to forgive me!"

"Hey~ get up." Chongzhen waved his hands, "I didn't mean to blame you."

"Yes..." Xi Zhao stood up with her hands on the ground, and let out a soft breath.Since what happened last time, Xi Zhao has been more cautious than before, for fear that if she doesn't pay attention, she will anger the emperor.Even though the emperor said that night that he was irritable and said heavy words, Xi Zhao knew in his heart that there was one sentence wrong in these so-called heavy words.Everything is just my own confusion, but it is the emperor who is the first to condescend, speak softly, and have such affection, so what can I ask for.

But after calming down, those words finally drew a deep boundary mark on the originally ambiguous master-servant realm in Xi Zhao's heart.

"I always feel a little tired." Chongzhen didn't notice anything unusual, and said to himself while pacing slowly, "Recently, I just feel lazy day by day, looking at piles of memorials, I feel more and more tired Get up. Maybe it's Fengyang and his party, who have spoiled me." Chongzhen smiled lightly, put his hands behind his back, his eyes didn't know where to focus, he seemed to be admiring the flowers, but it seemed to be looking through the red wall, looking at the farther place place. "Plain clothes and hats, simple tea and light food, far away from the government, but after a few days of idleness and ordinary people, I can't take it back. Sigh...this business is to worship the ancestors and apologize, but it leads to such a state of mind. It really is a big treason."

Xi Zhao's complexion softened, and she smiled softly: "Anyone is tired at times, and the emperor can't escape human nature. If the emperor is tired, it's good that the villain can accompany the emperor to go out of the palace some other day to relax."

"Going out of the palace...to visit Xishan again?" Chongzhen raised his eyes slantingly and said with a smile.

"As long as the emperor is happy, it's fine to go anywhere." Xi Zhao leaned forward to answer, slightly happy in her heart.

But Chongzhen suppressed his smile, closed his gaze, and sighed softly. "Hey... No, this is wrong. In the past, □□ was in office for 31 years, and he was diligent and never slackened. Qualified to slack off."

"□□God-given divine power is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Your Majesty, you are wise and diligent in governance, which is rare in ancient and modern times. The dragon's body is important, so don't be too demanding." Xi Zhao said softly and relieved.

"Even if you don't compare it with the Communist Party, it is not as good as the previous few years." Chongzhen's eyes darkened, and he said quietly, "Perhaps his heart is different. At the beginning of his ascension, he always thought that as long as he worked hard, he would be successful sooner or later." Sheji Zhongxing, now it seems that I was too naive at the time."

"Your Majesty..." Xi Zhao's expression also dimmed a bit, and he had to search hard in his heart for words that could persuade the Emperor, "Your Majesty, don't be careless. Your Majesty has worked hard day and night, and God will not fail to pay so much hard work for the community." Let me down, maybe this year, maybe next year, everything will go smoothly in the government, and the spirit of heaven will bless the Ming Dynasty forever and prosper."

Chongzhen raised his head subconsciously to look at the sky when he heard the words, his lips trembled, but he didn't speak, just smiled and nodded slightly.

The breeze passed through the magnolia flowers, blowing off a few withered petals.The petals fell to the ground one by one, scattered like newly broken white porcelain, in the silence, but there was a little helplessness of the dust settled.

"Yesterday...was the day of Zheng Yan's execution. Can you blame me for this?"

When walking past the falling flowers, Chongzhen suddenly asked.

"No, no, how dare a villain blame the emperor." Xi Zhao hurriedly denied, "The villain doesn't understand many important national affairs, but in fact he just wants the emperor to feel at ease. Don't hold grudges anymore."

Chongzhen smiled slightly, but walked forward slowly without answering.

two

"Although Li Quan usually doesn't talk much, suddenly he can't see anyone, can't talk to anyone, and feels quite bored." Wang Chengen flipped through a stack of paperwork in a bored way, and passed the time without reading the words.

On a spring afternoon, the sun slantly sprinkled a layer of lazy gold on the window sills, starlings sneaked into the room in the cage, and only a few people in the ceremonial supervisor were idly arranging the memorials, and there was a hint of lightness in the air. Light tiredness.After hearing what Wang Chengen said, Zhou Xi took a few steps forward and said with a smile:

"Eunuch Li went home for the funeral, and I'm afraid it will take half a year to come back. Eunuch Li explained to the villain before he left. If you have anything to do, just tell the villain to do it."

"Hmm..." Wang Chengen rolled his eyes and looked Zhou Xi up and down. "Then what can you order to relieve our family's boredom?"

"Yes..." Zhou Xi rolled his eyes, bowed and said, "The villain just learned a few little plays from others a while ago. I wonder if my father-in-law is interested?"

"You know what our family likes." Wang Chengen laughed and looked at Zhou Xi with great interest, "Which part can you sing? Why don't you sing it and listen to it."

"Yes. The villain will sing a piece of "Li Chun Tang" for the father-in-law first." Zhou Xi straightened up, put on airs, cleared his throat, and sang:

The public officials followed closely, Yu Hou hurriedly supported him, and Xiu fell behind.Come back from victory with a lot of joy and laughter, full of vigor and ambition.Drink thousands of spring breeze, look back Jinluan purple mist heavy.Begging and begging to urge Yucong, smiling with a silk scorpion in his sleeve.I can be drunk and help out of the imperial garden.

"Oh, not bad, not bad." Wang Chengen nodded slightly, and said with a smile, "You have a small appearance, and there is some meaning in singing this old-fashioned joke."

"The villain is a new learner, and he can't sing well. My father-in-law laughed at me." Seeing Wang Chengen's smiling face, Zhou Xi was also happy in his heart.Feng Dachuan sincerely does not deceive me, the prince really likes this rap and singing, and now that he can please him, it is not in vain to spend so much effort on learning that awkward song.

"What else can you sing? Listen to another song." Wang Chengen straightened his body, quite interested.

"Uh..." Zhou Xi's smile froze, and he thought for a while, "The villain doesn't know much. Since my father-in-law thinks "Li Chun Tang" is old-fashioned, then the villain will sing "Dongsu Qinyi Brocade Returns Home" again." So, Zhou Xi recalled a little, and sang:

I pinched the fingertips and spent 20 years studying poorly.If I suffer, I will be green and yellow, and if I miss it, I will be a white horse and a red tassel.I was supposed to be a human being, Peng Wu, and traveled ninety thousand miles, but the evil west wind broke six feathers first.The reason is that Yunxiao has a difficult journey, and if I am buried in the world of mortals, I can almost win my name in history.

After singing a song, Wang Chengen narrowed his eyes, as if thinking of something, he twitched his mouth and smiled meaningfully. "Elder-in-law should like to listen to small operas. When you come back, I will learn a few more passages. In my free time on weekdays, I will sing to relieve my father-in-law's boredom." Zhou Xi bowed his head and said respectfully.Wang Chengen responded casually, raised his eyebrows, but turned to him:

"I heard that you and that Zhang Dexiu were working together in the Zhidian Supervisor?"

"Ah, yes." Zhou Xi raised his face in a daze, and replied truthfully, "Back then, the villain and Zhang Dexiu entered the palace at the same time, and they were both assigned to do cleaning work in the Southeast Library."

"Do you have a good relationship with him?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xi's cheeks twitched inadvertently, but soon, he smiled again, pretending to be relaxed and replied: "In the past, our friendship was good, but now he has reached the sky in one step and has become a celebrity in front of the emperor, my little one." People can't climb high."

"Oh..." Zhou Xi's expression at that moment could not escape Wang Chengen's eyes. He nodded slowly, smiled knowingly, patted Zhou Xi on the shoulder and said, "Okay, okay. From now on, follow our family to do things well. , as long as you are smart and diligent, sooner or later you will have a chance to rise to the top."

"Thank you, Eunuch!" Zhou Xixi was overjoyed, and quickly bowed down to the ground devoutly, and kowtowed earnestly.

three

In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly in the Wenfu courtyard.A few sparrows were pecking and jumping on the ground, very lively and interesting, but the owner of the mansion, Mrs. Wen Tirenwen, was standing on the porch with his hands behind his back, his eyes lowered, and his face was gloomy.

"Your Excellency seems to be in a bad mood." The doorman Wang Cong stepped in from the gate of the courtyard. Seeing that Wen Tiren was in a bad mood, he stepped forward to talk to him.

"Huh?" Wen Tiren raised his eyes and saw Wang Cong, so he didn't say hello, and continued to meditate with his head down.

"The result of Zheng Yan's matter should be according to your wishes, so I don't know why you are bothered?" Wang Cong walked slowly to the corridor and stood beside Wen Tiren.

"Hey, it's not a big deal." Wen Tiren relaxed his expression, and said to Wang Cong, "It's been a common practice for all these years."

"Someone has impeached Your Excellency again?" After following Wen Tiren for many years, Wang Cong can roughly figure out what is going on in his mind.

"Yeah. There's been a lot of riots and bandits in Shaanxi recently, and those good-for-nothing people complained to the cabinet that they don't want to be peaceful. As a result, bandits are becoming more and more rampant, forcing me to take the blame and resign. Hmph." Wen Tiren sneered, "It's a waste of effort. They’re having fun too.”

"Yes." Wang Cong echoed, "This Gao Yingxiang proclaimed himself a Chuangwang, and he has been making trouble since the emperor took the throne, and it has been going on until today. When did he stop it? What does it have to do with adults? Those nonsense nonsense , Sir, don’t take it to heart.”

"Of course I don't care about them like them. You know that Yang Guangxian from the thousand households even prepared the coffin before submitting the paperwork, just to accuse me of an unwarranted crime. It's really pedantic and ridiculous." Wen Tiren said, with a contemptuous smile on his lips. Skim.

"Did the emperor really punish him later?"

"It's just dispatched to Liaodong, but the coffin is useless."

"Oh... since the emperor is upholding justice, my lord doesn't need to pay attention to those scumbags. You can only ask for trouble if you are unhappy with your lord." Wang Cong laughed, while quietly paying attention to Wen Tiren's expression.

"Hmph." Wen Tiren snorted slightly, but didn't answer.Although his words were full of disdain, Wen Tiren's face was not relaxed, it was dark and gloomy, and it never cleared up.