Fate with you

It is in the middle of spring, when the sun rises.

From Lin'an all the way to the north, Chunzhou is full of birds and Fangdian miscellaneous heroes.The further north you go, the greener the grass is, like a new branch that has just sprouted, and everything is full of hope.

The closer she was to the capital, the more anxious Mu Sheng became, and the four characters of being close to home and cowardice were vividly displayed in her body.

In the Shili Pavilion outside the city of Yanjing, there are willows and peach blossoms.In spring, the wind is blowing in the daytime, and the miscellaneous flowers are colorful, and the nose is full of fragrance.Mu Sheng turned over and got off the horse, and using a little force with her bare hands, she broke off a section of new willow.

She left in a hurry three years ago, and no one gave her off. At that time, she was also full of embarrassment, disappointment, guilt, and reluctance. She galloped as soon as she left the city. Far away, I dare not look back at my old capital.

Looking back now, I can't remember whether Liu Se was so green when I left.

The servants of the Bo family had already been waiting outside the city. When they saw Mu Sheng and his party from afar, they trot forward happily. Beijing, Uncle Bo pinched his fingers to count the days, and it seems that it will be these few days, and the younger ones will come outside the city every day before dawn to wait, and finally we will meet Miss."

He was articulate and sincere, which relieved Mu Sheng of a lot of melancholy. Sitting on the horse, she lowered her head with a smile and asked, "How is everything at home?"

"Everything is fine, especially two years ago, Miss was promoted to Shangqing, and even Jingzhao cared a lot about our mansion, usually we don't even see a single flower."

Hearing that everything was fine at home, Mu Sheng was even more relieved, tightened the reins, and walked towards the city gate.

There were inspections when entering and exiting the city gates. Mu Sheng handed over her identity certificate. The soldier only took a look, and then hurriedly bent his body low, almost to the ground, and said respectfully, almost obsequiously: "I have seen you Lord Shangqing, Lord Shangqing has arrived in Beijing, and people from the Ministry of Rites have come to meet him outside the city every day these few days."

After being promoted to Shangqing, Mu Sheng has been her sheriff in Lin'an all the time. On weekdays, people call her Fujun more often. She is used to it. Now when she sees a soldier guarding the gate salute her with such sincerity, she shows It was some unfamiliarity that he couldn't react to, and when he heard what he said next, he felt something was wrong, and asked, "So, where are the people from the Ministry of Rites?"

Since she came here every day to wait, why was there no one on the day when she came back?Could something have happened?

The soldier scratched his head innocently, stretched his neck to look outside the city, and said, "Exactly, why didn't those adults come today?"

Before he finished speaking, he saw a middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe running from a distance.The man ran out of breath, saw Mu Sheng, hurriedly stopped, gasped for breath, swallowed his saliva hard, cupped his hands and apologized: "This official has lost his manners. Zhang Yuangou, the head of the lower official's etiquette department , Greetings to Lord Shangqing."

After finishing speaking, he bowed to the ground and made a solemn gift.

"Exemption."

Zhang Yuangou straightened up slowly, following this series of words and actions, he also slowed down, no longer panting.

He came suddenly, and it was very rude. The Ministry of Rites should wait outside the city early to welcome the ministers who are released, instead of rushing out a master to deal with them when the ministers enter the city, it is better not to welcome them.So, something must have gone wrong.Since something went wrong in the Ministry of Rites, and Mu Sheng's official position is more than a dozen ranks higher than him, he should take the initiative to be honest about the reason and get forgiveness, otherwise what will happen if he encounters a narrow-minded person who records a crime of neglect in his heart?

Zhang Yuangou just stood there quietly, holding his posture without saying a word.

No wonder this old man is still only a fifth-rank master. It can be seen that this adult is either not good at being a man or not being an official.Mu Sheng said to himself, sending such a person who can't wink, it can be seen that there is a big mess at the Ministry of Rites.

Traveling all the way, I felt that the capital city was exhausted, and the Bo family drove a carriage to pick her up. She couldn't wait to get in the carriage and go for a ride, but because she was not at ease, she still supported the carriage and turned around and asked, "Master Zhang!" Why did you come in such a hurry!"

Zhang Yuangou immediately looked morally depraved and heartbroken, lowered his head, and said in shame: "Such scandals shouldn't be announced, but Lord Shangqing asked... It was our Lord Shangshu who had an accident, and many adults in the ministry were implicated. Right now, people in the Ministry of Rites are panicking." He paused, remembering the identity of the person in front of him, and then hurriedly said: "Your Majesty has rules, only in the previous court, and never affected the Zhengshitang."

While he was talking, his face was flushed, as if he was the one who did the illegal thing that almost involved the Ritual Department of the Political Affairs Hall.

Ministry of Rites?Mu Sheng thought about it, Min Shijie was promoted to the right servant of the Ministry of Rites a year ago, and he was the third rank, which can be said to be a prosperous official.The two-year picket that almost overturned the Jiangnan Salt Administration not only proved the filth of the Salt Administration, but also proved Min Shijie's incorruptibility. I feel that Min Shijie is not as calm and upright as he appears.

So, does the matter of the Ministry of Rites have anything to do with him this time?

Mu Sheng was engrossed in his thoughts, and suddenly Zhang Yuangou's voice sounded like he had just woken up from a dream: "Look at my memory, I almost forgot! Lord Shangqing, His Majesty ordered you to see me tomorrow!"

In a word, it immediately made Mu Sheng feel like being roasted by fire, like being soaked in ice water, unable to tell whether it was cold or hot, happy or sad.

The county guard's debriefing is in the form of a big exam, which is presided over by the Ministry of Officials. There are two exams.The big exam is scheduled for three days later, and after the exam, the emperor will receive him.His Majesty is busy with government affairs, so he will not see each other one by one, usually in batches.

Mu Sheng originally thought that she would be summoned by His Majesty after the final exam, but unexpectedly, the day of the audience came so hastily.

Early the next morning, Mu Sheng washed and changed her clothes, put on Zheng Yipin Shangqing's extraordinarily expensive and gorgeous crown robe, and entered the palace to have an audience.

There was a female official waiting in front of the palace gate, seeing her coming, the female official saluted respectfully.

She looks very familiar. There are countless people serving the emperor, and there are not a few high-ranking female servants who need to be used. Mu Sheng has seen many in the past.

While leading the way, the female officer introduced herself, her words were friendly but not flattering, making one feel like a spring breeze.

Mu Sheng immediately thought of the chief officer from yesterday, and then looked at the color of the female officer's clothes, well, it's no wonder that yesterday's officer was of the same grade as this female officer who seemed to be only 25 or six.

Enter from the palace city, pass through the imperial city, pass through the Dexuan gate, and enter the inner court.

Along the way, all the sights are familiar scenery.In the past three years, this palace admired by thousands of people has not changed much.The pear blossoms in front are blooming, and thousands of trees are falling and dancing, rolling up a long fragrance. Walking through this section, you can see peach blossoms blooming again, clustered and full of branches.

Gong Zhongchun and Jingming were lively and cheerful, which relieved Mu Sheng's nervous mood a little.

However, as the field of vision gradually widened, Jianzhang Palace appeared in front of her eyes. The jade steps that seemed to go straight into the sky, the towering palace, this familiar scene made her nervous again, as if her stomach was hurting.

Mu Sheng is still walking in an orderly manner, no one can see how her heart is pounding on the shore under her calm appearance.

There seems to be no end to the high jade steps, ninety-nine and eighty-one steps, symbolizing the unity of ninety-nine and the unification of the world.She stepped up step by step, and the scenery above gradually appeared in front of her eyes.

Meng Xiuyi stood there in plain clothes, with an indifferent expression and an outstanding temperament.Hearing the movement, she looked over faintly, her dark eyes reflected a figure, and her calm expression finally moved as if the surface of a lake suddenly dropped a stone. Evening Sheng.Mu Sheng felt that his whole body was stiff in an instant, only his legs were still moving upwards meaninglessly subconsciously.

She just got closer and closer to Meng Xiuyi step by step, holding it as hard as she could, not to lose her composure.After three years of separation, I can't lose my dignity in front of the king as soon as I come back.

As she came up step by step, Meng Xiuyi's brows furrowed little by little, and the corners of his mouth, which had been clearly joyful just now, calmed down.

Mu Sheng immediately became more nervous. She felt that the heartbeat in her chest was not her own. The remaining ten jade steps seemed to have gone through three autumns. It was a long and frightening time, and finally it was coming to an end. Meng Xiuyi suddenly flung his sleeves and left.

Everyone can see that His Majesty's long face is displeased.

Mu Sheng's palms were sweating urgently, His Majesty didn't say a word, just stood there, just frowning and made her go up and down for a few rounds.

She comforted herself in her heart. In the past, although His Majesty was a bit stubborn, he was not narrow-minded. Even if the relationship between them is over, they still retain their status as monarchs and ministers. His Majesty will not be lazy to even look at her, otherwise, Why did she make her a minister?

With such unconvincing self-comfort, Mu Sheng finally summoned up the courage to walk into the hall.

As soon as he entered the hall, he saw Meng Xiuyi sitting behind the imperial case, reading a book of memorials. When he saw her coming in, he just raised his eyes and ignored her.

Mu Sheng pursed her lips, stood up straight, knelt down respectfully, and made the most solemn Jishou salute: "Your servant, Mu Sheng, pay homage to my emperor, long live."

After reuniting after a long absence, she just came up with such a set of official phrases. Meng Xiuyi put down his pen and looked at Mu Sheng kneeling on the ground, with a purple robe and jade belt, a seven-beam crown, and an ivory wat, looking noble and dignified.

Meng Xiuyi snorted lightly and said, "Get up."

Mu Sheng thanked him politely, then stood up, and stood quietly on the spot, with her head lowered, her eyes looking at the bright gold bricks, yesterday she secretly thought that Zhang Yuangou was too dull and unable to change, today She became too dull and unable to change.

"What are you doing keeping your head down?" Meng Xiuyi asked coldly.

Mu Sheng trembled, and hurriedly replied: "Don't dare to peek at Shengyan."

After she finished speaking, she wanted to bite off her own tongue. In the past, His Majesty hated her words that forced the distance between the two of them so far, but she soon realized that it was different now.Today is different, what she hated before may not be hated now, what she liked before, she doesn't like anymore now.

Thinking of this, Mu Sheng's heart felt a twinge of pain, and Mu Sheng lowered her head, feeling a little more depressed than just now.

"You are very self-aware. You know that I don't really want to see your face." Meng Xiuyi's words were even colder. Standing next to her, McLone almost couldn't help covering his face. His Majesty's stubborn When will the problem be corrected? For the past two years, I have been looking forward to finding an opportunity to recall Lord Bo back to Beijing, but now I really see him, and she has to stab him with sneering words, which makes the eunuch anxious It's going to kill me.

Mu Sheng was stunned by her cold and obviously displeased words, her tongue was dry, her mind was in a mess, and her heart was even more embarrassing.