Mo Dongyang

In September, at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the ten-year non-aggression treaty signed by the country and the northern allies lasted only three months before being easily torn up by the enemy country.

The powerful enemy country has always been annexing some small countries outside the country. Through war and lobbying, the enemy country completed this huge territory merger project effortlessly.In September, thanks to the joining of the two allies Chen and Zheng, the neighbors of the country, the enemy country became more confident and unscrupulous.In mid-September, strong Allied forces were converging in the northwest.The sharp arrows of war have been forced to stand on the crossbow, and they are about to be triggered.

The news of the enemy's breach of the treaty was concealed by the imperial court. They didn't want the common people to know, which would cause unnecessary panic and riots. However, some important ministers and officials in the military began to prepare for their family members to leave the capital.From the end of September to the beginning of October, under the cover of night, batches of magnificent vehicles passed through the south gate of the capital and headed south.

In mid-October, the pale yellow leaves in the imperial palace have already withered all over the ground. This year is different from previous years. The autumn has not yet arrived, and the trees in the palace city are all withered and yellow. When the autumn wind blows every day, the dead branches and leaves fall like snowflakes, everywhere. Xiao Ran.Everyone has seen the signs of the palace's gradual decline, and the palace people are always talking about it in private, but among them, most of them don't know what happened.

At the end of October, Fluo came to see me for the last time.

He said he was leaving, and I asked him where he was going, but he refused to tell me, just squatting in the corner by himself and whispering mysteriously.

"The country is coming to an end, if I'm not here, you must take good care of yourself." He said.

At that time, I didn't care about Fu Lu's endless thoughts. I thought he was just lonely because without Ah Xing, he couldn't find anyone to talk to in the Zhilan Temple, so he came here. Come and complain to me.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

The next morning, I heard that a dozen palace officials broke into the Nantian Gate of the palace at night after the curfew, and were shot dead by the forbidden army with random arrows. A large amount of gold, silver and jewels were found in their luggage.The statement given by the palace is that the palace people guarded themselves and stole a large number of valuables from the palace, and conspired to leave the palace privately and pawn them to make money.But the official explanation is obviously full of loopholes, even if some palace people are stupid enough to let themselves lose their lives for money, but no palace people are stupid enough to break into the Nantian Gate at night because of their own greed, which is obviously inappropriate logical.However, the officials don’t seem to care whether this explanation is reasonable or not. On the third morning, the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested the palace servants on the grounds of purging the bad style in the palace. That night, another large number of corpses were transported to the mass graves in the east of the city, causing an uproar in the palace. , everyone was silent, and no one dared to discuss this anymore.

I didn’t know that Fu Lu was one of the eunuchs shot to death by random arrows that night until I saw the announcement about the theft list posted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs around the palace on the fourth day.

Flow is dead.

In the middle of the night of October 28th, I took the cut paper money and Mingyi, and quietly came to a blind corner of Xinzheku, wanting to pray for the dead souls. It is strictly forbidden in the palace to burn paper to worship, but for this month Come down one after another, I can't be indifferent to myself, I don't care about things, I can only comfort myself and say goodbye to the dead in this way because I am restless.

One by one, the sacrifices were greedily devoured by the rising flames and turned into ashes. The black dust was thrown into the air by the heavy smoke, and then fell back to the ground after the flames weakened.The hidden flames disappeared quickly, and the surroundings remained calm.

It has been three years, A Xing, A Qing, Fu Lu, you have been by my side for three years, it is you who made me feel like a family member, but without you, Zhilan Palace is not a real home at all.Now the Zhilan Palace is changed from people to people. The original people walked and died, leaving only the mistress guarding a palace that has long been turned into an empty shell.I can't believe that in just three years, everything around me has changed, both in the hearts of the people and the people there.What's even more frightening is that from the beginning to the end, I watched the changes of the surrounding things as a bystander. I wanted to be involved, but there were always some intentional or unintentional factors that excluded me from the edge.When you are most helpless, I am not by your side. When you disappear one by one, I am the last one to know the truth.You know, I hate this kind of feeling the most. Watching a living body fall in front of me, but I can only stand by and watch them struggle to death, but I can't save them. I hate this A feeling of powerlessness.

I can't help you, so I can only burn some ghost papers here, and wish you well in another world.

The tears in the corners of my eyes had already dried up, the ashes in the corner of the wall had already cooled down, and I was still stuck in my own memories and thoughts, and I finally came back to my senses when there was some movement in a nearby room.

The two maids got up to relieve themselves, and I lay down in the corner, watching two blurred figures squatting beside the well in the distance, and the intermittent sound of water could be heard in my ears. The two people there started a conversation.

"Hey, let me tell you a secret. I've discovered it for a long time, but you swear, don't tell anyone."

A person can't help chewing his tongue.

"Tell me, I promise not to tell anyone."

The other yawned casually.

"As for that Qi Xin in our courtyard, I found that she has a big background. Didn't a maid from the Zhilan Palace often visit her before? I found that every time she came, she would give Aunt Shen a lot of silver jewelry. , Later that maid stopped coming, and another eunuch was sent to Zhilan Hall, who gave more things than the previous maid!"

Although the maid suppressed her voice, I could still hear it clearly.

"Oh, no wonder, she is confident in our courtyard, she has nothing to do all day long, so she has the backing of Zhilan Palace, Zhilan Palace has the ability to get her in, why don't you get her out, and don't ask Xin Zhe What kind of place is Ku, is this a place that those delicate people can afford to live in, if that guy hurts a vellus hair here, we have to be punished!"

The other court lady couldn't help but speak bitterly.

"Keep quiet, if someone else hears it, neither of us will have to live. I really regret telling you this. Let's go back to the house!"

The maid pulled up her pants, pushed her companion and turned to leave.

After a while, the yard returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

But my heart has already turned upside down. I always thought that Zhang Lei was the one who helped me all this time. I didn't expect that Zhilan Hall also intervened secretly, but Li Shu didn't have any reason to help me. Why?

I squatted in the corner and pondered the short conversation between the two maids, trying to find out the logic behind Li Shu's desire to help me, but unfortunately I found nothing.

Let's go to Aunt Shen, I think.

When I went to find Aunt Shen, it was four o'clock in the morning, and the surroundings were still pitch black, but Aunt Shen had already woken up. When I came in, she was making the messy bedding on the bed.

"In addition to General Zhang giving you money every month, did Zhilan Hall do the same?"

I pushed open the door and couldn't wait to get straight to the point.

"Oh, it's really direct, how do you know?"

Aunt Shen was a little surprised, but couldn't hide the ridicule on her face.

"You don't care how I know!" I couldn't help but get angry.

"That's right, Zhilan Hall gave me money to take care of you, and the money I gave was more than what General Zhang gave." Aunt Shen admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me!" I yelled at her.

"Hey, my little ancestor, I can't blame my head for this. It was Zhilan Temple who told me not to tell you. If you want a theory, you can go to them for a theory!"

She walked slowly to the table and sat down, poured a cup of tea, her face was full of sarcasm.

"Does General Zhang know?" I calmed down.

"Of course he knows, Zhilan Hall didn't say that I would not tell him." She said calmly while taking a few sips of tea.

After listening to her harsh words, I basically proved my conjecture. I probably understood the ins and outs of the matter, and I didn't intend to stay here any longer, so I turned around and prepared to rush out.

Since Zhang Lei also knows, go directly to him and ask him for clarification.

Unexpectedly, just as I turned around and wanted to go out, Aunt Shen, who had a calm face before, suddenly stopped me again.

Perhaps, she finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Qi Xin, don't put on a face that the whole world owes you debts all day long. If I didn't owe you a favor, even if General Zhang begged me, I wouldn't help you. It's also Master Yan's. Man, why don't you know what's good or bad, that person's temper is as bad as yours, but she doesn't have as good a life as you, and I don't know what Master Yan thinks, she actually wants to save someone like you!"

Aunt Shen looked at me with an unruly expression, after all, she still couldn't hold back her contempt and disgust for me all the time, she uttered malicious words.

"What, who is that person?"

I heard something strange.

"Hey, thinking that you don't know the real reason why you are here, I really thought that Master Yan wanted to fulfill you and General Zhang. It's so ridiculous. Master Yan asked you to come here because I was in charge here. It's not Master Yan, you don't know how many times you have died!"

The sarcasm on Aunt Shen's face intensified.

"Stop talking nonsense, tell me who is that person?" I looked impatient.

"It's the woman who was hanged under the locust tree outside General Zhang's house."

Aunt Shen casually revealed that person's name.

"Concubine Xiao Gui!" I was taken aback, "What does she have to do with Master Yan!"

"Heh, what's the relationship with Master Yan? Let's talk about the relationship between her and you. You are all people who are treated by Master Yan as close relatives, but how did you treat Master Yan later? One by one for the sake of men, Master Yan Your heart is being trampled on like a donkey's liver and lungs, ask your conscience, are you worthy of Master Yan!" Aunt Shen became more and more excited as she spoke aside.

"Why did Concubine Xiao feel sorry for Master Yan?" I asked tentatively from the side.

"Master Yan and that bitch were the nobles who were most favored by the emperor ten years ago, but she joined hands with the queen to plot against Master Yan behind his back for the sake of being in power, and replaced the anti-fetal medicine with an abortion drug, and asked Master Yan to take it every day. In the end, Master Yan's only child died."

The person in front of me spoke softer and softer, and her face was full of sarcasm at first, but at this moment I couldn't understand the complicated expression on her face.

"Why didn't anyone in the palace mention these things?" I couldn't help being curious.

"Forget it, I've talked too much, it's not good for you, you go back."

Aunt Shen actually sighed, and wanted to get up to see off the guests.

"You started this matter first, how can you stop talking halfway, if you don't say it, I dare to go back and ask Master Yan!"

I was in a hurry and hurriedly frightened her.

Sure enough, Aunt Shen started to fidget as soon as Master Yan was mentioned, she stood up and squinted at me, she didn't speak for a while, she almost looked down on me, I was about to choke but she spoke again.

"Forget it, you should know these things too." She sighed again and sat down again.

"The empress was involved in that incident back then, and no one dared to publicize it. Now more than ten years have passed, and those who knew about it are either dead or silent. Who dares to spread rumors about this forbidden matter of the palace." She continued.

"How did Concubine Xiao meet Master Yan?" I asked again.

"They entered the palace at the age of 15. They lived together at the same age and were newlyweds. It was easy for them to regard each other as confidants. In that year, they both fell in love with the emperor, and then Concubine Xiao gradually changed her appearance. After she caused Master Yan to conceive, the emperor only loved her alone, and the entire harem was turned upside down by her, until finally one day, everyone couldn't bear her arrogant, domineering, ignorant appearance, and they worked together to kill her. Relegated to Xinzheku. Did you know that everything was the idea of ​​Master Yan, who personally sent Concubine Xiao to Xinzheku. Because of this, the emperor began to no longer favor Yan nobleman. Master Yan She has been left out in the cold for so many years, but she never complained." Aunt Shen lowered her head and gradually fell into memories.

"How do you know so many things?"

How many secrets are hidden in this aunt Shen.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Aunt Shen asked me back with a wry smile.

"Why don't I want to know?" I pushed her back again.

"I was Master Yan's personal maid at the time, that is, the maid who administered the medicine."

Aunt Shen's face was full of self-mockery, but her voice was full of bitterness.

"Why are you taking drugs!"

I was quite surprised, it was obviously illogical.

"If I knew it was an abortion pill, I would be sitting here today?!" Aunt Shen rebutted me in a choked voice.

"If I knew there was musk hidden in those tonics, I wouldn't accept the money that bitch gave me, but it's too late to say anything." Aunt Shen took a deep breath and continued, "I'm very grateful Master Yan did not kill me, but demoted me to Xinzheku, otherwise I would not have the status I am today. And that bitch entered Xinzheku at the same time as me, she chose to commit suicide, and I chose to start over , I don’t know how ironic it is. Really, half of my status today is given by Yan Guiren. So when Yan Guiren asked me to help you, I didn’t hesitate, because even that bitch I was demoted to Xinzheku, and I never saw Master Yan reaching out to help her, and I didn't want to let Master Yan break his heart again by indulging your appearance, so I solemnly asked her if it was worth it, But she clearly told me 'worth it'. That is because of these two words, I promised her to help you, but I really can't see anything in you worthy of Master Yan to help you. Do you think you Who gave everything today, master Yan, not some general Zhang, and you, who still go outside all day long without gratitude, who are you worthy of doing this! "

Every word and every sentence of Aunt Shen was like a sharp knife, cutting my heart that was riddled with holes into pieces. I watched Aunt Shen scold me harshly with tears streaming down my face, but I couldn't say anything. A word of rebuttal.

I've never had a clear conscience about what I did because it was my choice.But until now I realized that I never really cared about Lishu’s feelings, and I never thought that after I broke Lishu’s heart, she would put herself in my place to help me again and again. When I realized It was only when I had suffered so many evils that I realized that since I was the real culprit of everything, how could I hope that Li Shu could understand my painstaking efforts.

"Thank you for telling me this."

I sighed, wiped the tears off my face, and turned to leave.

"I have said so much today, and I have no position or obligation to tell you these words at all, but I still can't help but restore the truth to you, I just want to tell you, please don't let Master Yan down in the future I have always thought that it is very stupid and ignorant to keep someone in the dark and let her accept another person's contribution without return, but Master Yan is willing to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. On that bitch, or on you now. Also, whether you listen to what I said today, I just want to give you a piece of advice. If the tragedy of more than ten years ago happens again, for Master Yan, and for your own sake, I hope you can try your best to stop it."

Aunt Shen sighed, and advised with good intentions.

"Don't worry, I don't have the cruel heart and schemes of Concubine Xiao Gui. How did Master Yan gift it to me? In this life, I will repay her ten times."

I turned my head, answered with a wry smile, and walked towards the door without looking back.