Cheng Ping's legacy

Outside the Hanyuan Hall, there is a Huan Biao, which was set up by the Taizu himself. The lotus seat has a flowing cloud pattern, and a dragon is coiled on it.If the doctors of Yushitai want to give advice, they must pay homage to the rich soil of heaven and earth under Huanbiao, so as to show that the official speaks frankly and remonstrates with righteousness.Since the founding of the country, there have been sixteen officials who have died here to give advice, more than fifty people have stood here and more than a hundred people have knelt here to give advice. Therefore, in the hearts of the officials in the Tianqi Dynasty, this Huanbiao is almost equivalent to the holy law of the apocalypse. things.

But it was this Huanbiao who had witnessed countless vicissitudes and ups and downs after a hundred years of wind and rain was struck by lightning yesterday and collapsed in the overwhelming thunder and fire.

That's why Qin Pei and others exclaimed yesterday.

Since ancient times, thunder and fire have been regarded as an ominous omen, and if they unfortunately hit palaces and temples, they are regarded as signs of decline and ruin. The officials gathered in one place, racking their brains to think about how to use that advice to incite people, and use their brilliant pen to eliminate dissidents. If they don't take advantage of this golden opportunity to pull down their colleagues and colleagues, how can they show their strength? Fearless of power, upright to destroy relatives, upright and noble?And if their colleagues in the same department don't take the blame and step down, how can there be a vacancy for them to fill in and leave Qingshui Yamen like Yushitai?

Qin Pei has always kept the eloquent officials at arm's length, but now he is only worried that someone will make a big fuss about Huan Biao's affairs and lead to the prince's personal virtue, but he has no choice but to be humble, and the news in the palace has long been uninformed.I was in a daze for a long time anxiously in the mansion, and just when I felt anxious and irritable, the servant came to report.

"My lord, there is a Doctor Gu begging to see you outside the door, saying that he has an appointment with you and wants to travel together."

Qin Pei was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly changed into a plain coat, and hurried out.

Sure enough, outside the Qin Mansion, a rather simple carriage was parked under the shade of a tung tree, and the person on the shaft was the butler Qingxin whom he had seen in Luojing before.

Qingxin greeted him, opened the curtain of the car, and Gu Bing really sat inside with a warm smile.

"Don't be too polite, just get in the car."

Qin Pei sat down under him, feeling a little dazed for a while.The last time I went to Mingling, it seemed that I was still with Xuanyuan Mian, the past was vivid in my memory, but it was vaguely a matter of my previous life.

Gu Bing scrutinized his expression, and saw that he looked gloomy, and smiled wryly, and there was a bit of relief mixed in that wry smile, it was really complicated, and he couldn't help but smile.

In the silence, Qin Pei felt cramped for no reason, so he raised a random topic, "Master Gu, is there any disturbance in the matter of Huanbiao? Is there any trouble at Yushitai or Hanlin Qingliu?"

"Yihuan," Gu Bing said leisurely, "You can call me Uncle, and you don't have to be so born. As for the matter of impeachment...Since the imperial court has set up officials to monitor all officials and speak out, then there are them." The reason why the job exists."

"Qin Pei knows," Qin Pei said solemnly, "it's just that nowadays the officials are full of ignorant villains, and the real corrupt officials are not involved. They only participate in trivial matters. If things go on like this, who would dare to let go of their hands and feet to do things?" ?”

Gu Bing smiled and said nothing, Qin Pei saw that he was not angry, so he boldly said: "Gu Xiang... What do you think of the gentry?"

"Oh? Why did Yihuan ask this question?"

Qin Pei knew that he and Gu Bing had only met twice, and that he was humble and condescending, and it would be too much for Meng Lang to discuss such a major economic and state affairs in front of him, but the words were out of his mouth, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say: "I am not speaking in vain. The meaning of court affairs is just that during this period of time, I carefully recalled the criminal cases I have taken over over the years, from the beginning of the Luojing case, to the horse riding case, the Cainu case, and now that Huanbiao was struck by lightning from the sky, I thought there was a dark line Running through it, if it is not a coincidence, there is a man behind the scenes manipulating it... and this dark line is the dispute between scholars and commoners."

After Qin Pei finished speaking, he suddenly felt relieved in his heart, but saw Gu Bing smiled lightly: "It's here."

When the two got out of the car, it was already dusk, and flocks of birds were flying up and down from the treetops in the forest, gliding back and forth.

Gu Bing seemed to sigh, and said to Qin Pei: "Let's pay homage to Huang Xiang and Helian first."

Qin Pei naturally promised.

Different from the hasty worship between him and Xuanyuan Mian last time, Gu Bing lingered in front of the tombs of the two of them for a long time, carefully wiped the tombstones for them, wiped the altar wine glasses with his own hands, and poured a glass of water and wine.He was not used to muttering and weeping in front of the grave like many people, he just stood quietly, thoughtful, and finally gave a well-mannered salute and left with a smile on his face.

Arriving in front of Qin Yang's tomb, Gu Bing nodded to Qin Pei, and swept away the fallen leaves on the steps with him. He watched Qin Peixian's long fingers holding a silk handkerchief and wiped his handwriting "Zijin Guanglu, official minister, Qin Gongyang" He said softly, "Brother Zilan, the Holy Majesty and us are fine." After a pause, he continued: "Brother Boming asked me to take the word. Over the years, we will go down to find you."

His tone was cryptic, with indescribable emotions, like an undercurrent at the bottom of Dongting Lake.

Qin Pei stopped his movements and stared blankly at his father's stele.

He also heard Gu Bingdao: "Your son is very good, really good. I am very relieved that he is friends with Mian'er."

Qin Pei's eyes gradually turned red, he didn't know how to face this kind and gentle uncle in front of him, and what tone to use to deal with his trust.

Gu Bing turned to look at him: "I'm old, I don't ask about court affairs for a long time. Although I am going back to Beijing this time to follow the order, in the final analysis, I am visiting friends, so I can't really answer your question just now. What you just said to me, You are already very insightful at your age. The situation in the court is complicated and confusing, and many times it is similar to the case. Just like me, when I was the minister of Dali Temple, the judgment was only ordinary, and later in the center, it was also very mediocre. Bo Ming and Mian'er It is said that you do not understand officialdom, which may be true, but this does not prevent you from seeing the details and discovering some truths that others have not seen because of the clouds."

Qin Pei bowed his head shyly.

Gu Bing smiled softly: "You can go to the table or go to the East Palace to have an audience, and talk about your opinion just now, it can also be regarded as a reminder to Mian'er."

The sky is getting late, turning from blue to dark blue, the setting sun dyes the flowing clouds into red, and there are partridges crying in the distance.

The two were silent for some reason. Standing in front of his father's tomb, Qin Pei felt that the fog in front of his eyes gradually dissipated, and his heart became clearer.

"Uncle..." Qin Pei bowed to Gu Bingxing's nephew, "I was too worried about gains and losses before, but now it seems that I am obsessed."

"How did Yihuan feel?"

Qin Peiduan said solemnly: "To be an official and a man, to be a minister and a friend, all you want is to be honest."

After finishing speaking, there was a moment of silence, Qin Pei was thinking to himself whether he had said something wrong again, but someone lightly pressed his shoulder, but when he looked up, it was Gu Bing's smiling eyes: "There is a spirit under the spring, Brother Zilan will definitely comfort you."

Volume Six: Bow and Drink Feather