Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

"This time, Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting stole the limelight."

In the evening of that day, Wen Tiren finished handling political affairs in Wenyuan Pavilion, returned to Wen Mansion, took off his court clothes, and sat in the back hall slowly waving a folding fan to enjoy the cool air.The doorman Wang Cong took the teacup from the maid and presented it to Wen Tiren, and sat on the side seat by himself.

"How did the emperor reward them today?"

Wen Tiren didn't drink tea, looked out the door, and said in a muffled voice: "Sun Chuanting has been promoted to the third grade, and Lu Xiangsheng has no other way to go up. He actually added a Xuanda governor on top of the governors of the five provinces."

"This Lu Xiangsheng is really not easy." Wang Cong smacked his lips and sighed, "In just a few years, he has gone from a prefect to the top of the Ming Dynasty. It shows that this person is really capable."

"The head of the general?" Wen Tiren twitched his brows slightly, the fan in his hand shook more and more slowly, and he said these four words on his mouth, with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Seeing Wen Tiren's behavior, Wang Cong realized that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he quickly stopped talking, glanced at Wen Tiren's expression, and asked cautiously, "My lord, do you mean...?"

Wen Tiren glanced at him, twitched the corner of his mouth, and smiled coldly.

"You're smart, kid. This Lu Xiangsheng...is indeed a disaster."

After Wen Tiren finished speaking, Wang Cong immediately regretted it.Knowing what your lord's temperament is, but still uttering such harsh words as the leader of the position, you violated your lord's taboo.Originally, Mr. Wen and Lu Xiangsheng are different in civil and martial arts, and the well water does not violate the river water. If I talk too much, won't I make trouble out of nothing?So he thought for a while, and then persuaded him:

"Your Excellency is overthinking. Then Lu Xiangsheng is just a leader in the war. He is away all the year round and does not return to the court. What trouble can there be?"

"You don't know something." Wen Tiren closed his fan and tapped on his palm, "Sun Chuanting is just a warrior, nothing to worry about, Hong Chengchou has only devoted himself to fighting in the past few years, but Lu Xiangsheng is different. This man was born as a civil servant. Although he is a leader in war, he has never been less concerned about government affairs. He would pass some papers to the emperor to express his political opinions every now and then. If one person is in control, in terms of fame and status, no one can surpass him. If we don’t guard against it, there will be endless troubles.”

"Could it be that my lord is afraid... that one day he will be replaced by Lu Xiangsheng...?" Wang Cong asked tentatively.

"For an official position...not really." Wen Tiren's expression relaxed slightly, "Civil and military have different paths, and besides, Daming can't lead many soldiers, how could the emperor be willing to recruit him back and only deal with this paper memorial. It's just... ..." Wen Tiren's brows gradually tightened again as he said, "It's just that if things go on like this, the emperor's mind will be careless, then it's hard to say."

"..." Wang Cong was at a loss for words for a while, and then hesitated for a while and said: "Then...how should we do it? A few days ago, Mr. Zhang just opened his mouth in front of the emperor, but he was scolded back..."

"Hmm..." Wen Tiren didn't answer, but his expression became more solemn, he simply stood up, with his hands behind his back, and started pacing in the room.

"My lord, it's time to eat."

As the daylight gradually dimmed, the young maid walked into the back hall with small steps, blessed her, and said meekly.Wen Tiren looked out, the sky outside the door was already gray.

"The autumn tiger hasn't retreated yet, but the sun is setting earlier every day." Wen Tiren stopped, looked at the sky, and murmured.

Seeing Wen Tiren walking around for a long time, Wang Cong waved off the maid and took the opportunity to persuade:

"Nowadays the trend of impeachment against the lord is in full swing in the court. Although the prince can hide some of the lord's cover, he can't hold back the fact that it is getting more and more day by day. From the perspective of his late life, since Lu Xiangsheng has not targeted the lord yet, Just to slow him down for a while, the top priority is to deal with those officials who plotted against the law first, and the rest will not be too late after the unhealthy trend subsides."

Wen Tiren pondered for a while, nodded and said: "Well... what you said is not unreasonable. Alright, let's have dinner first, and we'll talk about this later."

two

This afternoon, the rare breeze is pleasant.Chongzhen was writing memorials as usual in the Warring Pavilion of the Wuying Hall. Xizhao had eaten too much for lunch, and his eyelids were drowsy for bouts of drowsiness, and he was very drowsy.At this time, the eunuch who was ordered suddenly came into the room, bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, there is news from the Supervisor of Rituals."

"Supervisor of Rituals?" Chongzhen paused his pen, suspicious in his heart, and asked, "Isn't the person here Wang Cheng'en? Why did you come to inform me?"

"It's not Wang Gonggong, it's a stranger, and I haven't seen it before."

"Hmm..." Chongzhen was even more puzzled, after thinking about it, he ordered: "Let's pass it on."

"Yes."

The eunuch was ordered to exit the Xinuang Pavilion in response, and after a while, a thin young eunuch bowed into the hall. After sunset, he took a closer look and found that this person was none other than Zhou Xi who hadn't seen him for a long time.This is the second time.The last time he was at the Taiye Pond in Xiyuan, he and the prince came to report such important news, and this time I will see you again, and I will come to the Hall of Martial Arts to report the news on behalf of the Supervisor of Rites.Being able to meet the emperor directly is not something that ordinary eunuchs can do. It seems that he is quite valued in the supervisor of ceremonies.Xizhao thought to herself.To be famous and rich is Zhou Xi's long-cherished wish, and he must have put in a lot of hard work for it these years.Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Zhou Xi in front of her, Xi Zhao couldn't help but feel emotional when she recalled the days when the two had been together day and night when they entered the palace at the beginning of the year.At that time, in that remote corner of the imperial palace, one person wanted to make a smooth career and make a bright future, while the other only wanted to avoid disaster safely and wait for an opportunity to leave the palace.Now in just a few years, one person is standing by the emperor's side, and the other is worshiping in front of the emperor's case.I don't know if the person in front of me has got his wish?And since he walked away that day, do you still resent yourself in your heart for your friend who should have been confiding in your heart, resent yourself for inconsistent words and deeds, and for concealing everything?Zhou Xi's body was so low that he couldn't see his expression clearly in the setting sun, but he could only see the crimson red satin inner eunuch official's robe, and the exquisite gold and jade inlaid on the brim of the black gauze hat. The shabbyness of commoner clothes and old hats.

In a trance, it really is time has passed.

Xi Zhao secretly sighed, and Chong Zhen who was beside him seemed to recognize him as the eunuch he had seen in Xiyuan that day. "Are you...?" Chongzhen couldn't remember the name for a while, frowned slightly, leaned forward slightly, and asked.

"The villain's name is Zhou Xi." Zhou Xi leaned forward and replied modestly.

"That's right, that's right, Zhou Xi." Chongzhen frowned, before he remembered, "Why are you here today, where is Wang Chengen?"

"The prince is not feeling well today, so the villain came to run this trip for the prince."

"So that's how it is." Chongzhen said softly, "You go back and tell him to live in peace and comfort, and don't overwork him."

"The villain thanked the emperor for his concern on behalf of the prince." After Zhou Xi finished speaking, he saluted respectfully, but kept his eyes down from the beginning to the end, and did not look at Xi Zhao.

"En." Chongzhen nodded and said, "What do you have to report today?"

"Return to the emperor, I got a report today that Mr. Lu has led the Tianxiong army to Datong, and has deployed defenses according to the new deployment. Please rest assured." After Zhou Xi finished speaking, he lowered his tone and said, "In addition, Gao Yingxiang's execution has been completed. The remains will be burned today at You Hour, the prince would like to ask the emperor what he means...do you still want to see it?"

"No need, just set it on fire." Chongzhen waved his hand, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes.

"Yes." Zhou Xi lowered his head and replied.

"En." Seeing that Zhou Xi had finished reporting the matter, Chongzhen picked up the ink brush and took out a memorial to read it.But Zhou Xi didn't intend to back down for a long time, and secretly raised his eyes to look at Chongzhen.

"Anything else?"

"Yes..." Seeing Chongzhen's question, Zhou Xi quickly withdrew his eyes and said hesitantly, "Going back to the emperor, there is one more thing..."

"What's the matter?"

Zhou Xi swallowed, and said cautiously: "Master Zhang Fengyi, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, has died..."

"What?" Chongzhen stared, his hand holding the vermilion pen was stuck in the air, unable to move, "How did he die?"

"It is said that in fear of the emperor's punishment, he ate a large amount of rhubarb every day, and finally died of diarrhea..."

"There is such a thing..." Chongzhen leaned back in the chair, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his mind.The emperor remained silent, and Zhou Xi didn't dare to rush, but just waited quietly before the case.After a long while, I heard Chongzhen sigh and said: "Although I intend to punish him, I don't really want him to die. Why is he so helpless. Hey, let's go." Then, he put down the vermilion pen in his hand and lowered his eyes Go, "I pass on my decree. Since Zhang Fengyi, Minister of the Ministry of War, has died, his crime of dereliction of duty will no longer be investigated. He will still be buried in the second grade and treat his family generously." Withdrew.

"It's none of the emperor's business." Xi Zhao's feelings of nostalgia when he saw Zhou Xi just now were suddenly blown away by the news of his death. "What the emperor said that day was nothing more than a fit of anger, and he was only to blame for his guilty conscience, so he took the emperor's words as truth." After Zhou Xi left, Xi Zhao comforted Chongzhen, "He This is also a crime, and he settled it on his own, the emperor must not take it to heart."

"Hmm..." Chongzhen was noncommittal, and continued to review the memorial in silence, but the haze gathered on his face did not dissipate all afternoon.

three

The weather is getting cooler day by day.When they set off from Beijing, the soldiers of the Tianxiong Army were still wearing single clothes and thin jackets. After settling in Datong for more than a month, they all put on half-thick jackets.The autumn rain continued throughout the day, and the yellow sand flying in the northwest was washed away by the rain, and the air was rarely clear.However, the coolness of late autumn slowly dissipates with the rain, penetrating through the skin of the clothes and jackets, penetrating into the bones, making people feel the breath of the approaching winter from the heart to the body, and can't help but pull up the skirts, shrink the shoulders, and fight a few more times. A cold war is coming.

"To Xiaoxiao, the evening rain sprinkled the river and the sky, to wash away the autumn..."

In an unremarkable courtyard in Datong City, Yang Lukai looked at the rain scene outside and whispered.Lu Xiangsheng, who was studying in the room, heard this sentence inadvertently, and when he looked up, a smile hung on the corner of his eye.

"Accident, surprise, you can still chant this phrase?"

"Hey..." Yang Lukai turned his head, scratched his head and said, "The adults taught the villains before, and I just saw the puddle in front of the door, and suddenly remembered it."

"Is it raining in the evening?" Lu Xiangsheng smiled brightly, and put down the scroll in his hand, "Although you don't like to study, you have a good memory." After speaking, he stood up, walked to the door, and admired it with Yang Lukai. This autumn rain is coming.

Although it is a reward, the gray rain scene in the northwest frontier city is really nothing to see.In the small courtyard made of rough earth bricks, there are neither flowers nor trees, only a few clusters of weeds growing between the bricks and stones, which are roughly withered and yellow in this late autumn.The rainwater gathered between the corrugated roofs and fell to the ground along the blurred patterns of dripping water, like strings of clear beads. Apart from this, there is nothing moving about the rain scene in this courtyard.

"My lord praised it too early." Yang Lukai smiled shyly when he heard Lu Xiangsheng say that he had a good memory, "I only remember this sentence, and I don't remember the rest."

"Since it's all exaggerated, you can keep it." Lu Xiangsheng smiled, and a crescent-like fine line appeared on his cheek, "Do you remember the author of the title?"

"Hey..." Yang Lukai shook his head embarrassingly.

Seeing that Yang Lukai didn't know it, Lu Xiangsheng said, "This word is from the Northern Song Dynasty..."

At the beginning of the conversation, I saw a soldier wearing a coir raincoat quickly walked into the small courtyard, came to Lu Xiangsheng, saluted, and took out a letter from his arms.

"It was sent from the capital, please take a look at it."

"Oh?" Lu Xiangsheng was overjoyed, and regardless of the half-spoken topic, he quickly took the letter and opened it hastily. After reading it for a while, the inexplicable eagerness cooled down, and he only smiled warmly: "So it's Xiang The same family letter."

"Oh? Master Xiangtong went to the capital? What did you say in the letter?" Yang Lukai asked.

"It's nothing important, but the mother is well and the family is safe." After reading the letter, Lu Xiangsheng carefully folded it, put it back in the envelope, and handed it to Yang Lukai.Yang Lukai entered the room and put the letter in the letter box, then turned and returned to Lu Xiangsheng's side.

"My lord...are you waiting for the reply?" Yang Lukai looked at the silent Lu Xiangsheng and said, "Waiting for the reply from the face saint."

Lu Xiangsheng smiled, as a tacit consent.

Yang Lukai also laughed.It may not be easy for others to notice, but at the moment when he opened the letter, Yang Lukai clearly caught the fleeting touch of disappointment in Lu Xiangsheng's eyes.

"The face saint's request has been submitted for so long, why hasn't there been a reply." Yang Lukai said, "Is it... where did you get stuck?"

"Do your best, obey the destiny." Lu Xiangsheng said slowly, and waved his hands, the unspeakable complexity and chaos in the court seemed to be taken away by these understatement.He silently looked at the weeds in the small courtyard, his eyes were as deep as thick ink, there was no joy or anger between his brows, he just looked thoughtful, he didn't know where he was flying.

"What is your lord thinking?" Yang Lukai blinked and asked tentatively.

"Ah, it's nothing." Lu Xiangsheng came back to his senses, and smiled slightly, "I was just thinking... the second half of the eight-tone Ganzhou song just now-I can't bear to climb high and look far away, looking at the bleakness of my hometown, it's hard to return to my thoughts. Sigh The traces of the years, what is the trouble to stay."

"These words...do they mean homesickness?" Yang Lukai muttered to himself, thought for a while, and asked again.

But Lu Xiangsheng didn't seem to hear Yang Lukai's question, he stepped out of the door slowly, looked around the gray courtyard with empty bricks, stones and tiles, and sighed quietly: "Hey... I sigh for the traces of the years, why do I have to suffer... Saibei Jiangnan , thousands of miles away, I don’t know the hometown of pine and bamboo, when will we meet again.”?