Linque

On the same day that Yan Mao was dismissed from the official position of Shangshuling and imprisoned for the crime of unfilial piety, the emperor issued another edict, ordering the emperor's shadow guards to cooperate with Yushitai to strictly correct the private morals of all officials.

A few days ago, together with the non-traditional volume, there was a lot of noise in the imperial capital, and there were also evil things about the corruption of the family and the lack of repair.

The patriarchs wrote a letter of self-crime, but the emperor did not release it. He did not express his position before, but now he is just using his own way to deal with his own body, to put some pressure on them, so that they will be afraid when discussing their crimes.

But these are the second-rate and third-rate families who follow the ass of the Sixteenth Aristocratic Family. A real family with hairpin tassels like the Tanchuan Yan family can stand for a hundred years without falling down. Occasionally, there are distant neighbors who don't know how to hide their ugliness and drag down their reputation, but they can't hurt Qing Guogong's muscles for a while.

What's more, the presiding judge was the Fang family of Cangwu.

The fate of Yan Xiang is almost entirely in the hands of others.

……

Hall of Martial Arts.

When Lu Ji arrived, Yun Fei was still in the room. He looked as usual, as if he hadn't heard anything. Seeing Lu Ji rushing in, he raised the corners of his lips to say hello, and the latter heaved a sigh of relief.

At the beginning of noon, when it was approaching the time for lunch in the Wuying Hall, Lu Ji sat down with him and talked for a while, then got up and went to the dining room with him.The two stood up, and just took two steps outside when Yun Fei suddenly raised his hand and slapped Lu Ji on the back of the neck.Lu Ji didn't defend himself at all, and fell down as soon as his legs softened. Yun Fei supported him from behind, and quickly touched his acupuncture points before he could speak.

The blue veins on Lu Ji's forehead twitched, he stared at Yun Fei with wide eyes, and let out a few struggling growls from his throat.

"I'm sorry." Yun Fei helped him to the couch, and whispered, "It will be untied in half an hour."

He closed the door, avoided the flow of people and quietly left the Hall of Martial Arts, and walked quickly to Xing'anmen.

The time for value exchange has just passed, and there are not many people on the palace road.Yun Fei was going all the way unimpeded, and he was about to turn into the west side road, but suddenly a person walked up to him.

"Go back." Chu Heng said.

Yun Fei's heart sank, he clenched his fingers, and said expressionlessly, "Don't meddle in your own business."

Chu Heng's expression was indifferent, and he stood there without moving, "Are you going to meet Yan Xiang, or Duke Qing's mansion?"

Yun Fei straightened his back, pursed his lips tightly and did not speak.In the past few days, he has heard the rumors about Yan Xiang's failure to be filial to his parents, and he is very clear that it must be the reason why Mrs. Yan came to Beijing-because of the suspension of the registration, his grandfather wants to use him as a bargaining chip, and even more so. Father died.

But he can't help it.

There will be a public discussion in the Xuanzheng Hall today at the Great Court Meeting.Yun Fei didn't have the courage to ask, but the moment he saw Lu Ji rushing in, he knew the result.

He was so upset that he could only choose to beg the old man Yan to show his respect.

Yun Fei looked at Chu Heng who was standing in front of him. He had an intuition that he couldn't make it through today.

And Chu Heng seemed to see through Yun Fei's thoughts at a glance, looked straight into his eyes, and asked in a deep voice: "If you fall into the hands of the Yan family, what would you ask Xiang Xiang to give them in exchange?"

Yun Fei swayed, and couldn't help but let go of his clenched fingers. The blue and purple scars left by his nails on his palms felt pain belatedly after being blown by the wind passing through the passage.The pain was so intense that Yun Fei's eyes turned red in just one breath, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke, "...he is my father, and I only have him."

Tears overflowed from the corners of my eyes and flowed down slowly, "I hate him, since I was a child, he never hugged me."

Chu Heng was dazed for a moment.

"But I never thought he would die." Yun Fei shook his head in a daze, and said dully, "He is the prime minister, how could he die?"

"I don't want him to die."

"I just want him to live." Yun Fei's voice was hoarse and choked up, "What do I need to do to keep him alive?"

The young man fell to the ground in despair and despair, covering his face and crying bitterly.

……

On the afternoon of March [-]th, Yan Mao took off his official uniform and went to Dali Temple Prison.

The next night, under the escort of the emperor's shadow guard, Yun Fei finally came to see his father.

Dali Temple is Lu Mian's site, and it has the emperor's order. Although Yan Xiang is in prison, he is well taken care of. When Yun Fei came, he was reading a miscellaneous book.

Seeing the young man's eyes were red, Yan Mao unconsciously exerted a little force on the book, his brows were slightly frowned, but his expression was as indifferent as before, his eyes returned to the scroll, and his tone was flat: "What are you here for?"

Yun Fei lowered his head and did not speak.

The Shadow Guard of the Son of Heaven had already delivered the man, bowed slightly and saluted Xiangyan, and retreated with the prison guards.

The candle was burning quietly, Yun Fei didn't say a word, and the book in Yan Mao's hand didn't turn to the next page for a long time.The silence seemed to last for a long time, but it seemed that only a few breaths passed. Yan Xiang put down the book, walked to the candlestick and picked up the scissors to light the lamp.

Yun Fei looked up at his back, just like many times in the past, he always turned a blind eye to himself, no matter what Yun Fei did, unless it was out of line, it was really going to cause him trouble - like the trap Shao sack, and then tried his own method to give the family party a handle——Yan Mao will "face up" Yun Fei's son.But more often, it's just small mistakes, right and wrong, just move your fingers and take care of it.

There is Yun Fei's courtyard in the prime minister's mansion, and Yun Fei also had dinner with Yan Mao, and even lived there briefly occasionally.But Prime Minister Yan has Kyushu, state affairs, colleagues, and political opponents in his eyes, but he is the only one who doesn't have his son.

"Why exactly?"

There was a crackling sound from the crackling lights, Yan Mao's hand holding the candle scissors shook undetectably, and Yun Fei's voice behind him had unknowingly tinged with tears, "I was born with a mistake, didn't I?"

"..."

"For me, yes." Yan Xiang said calmly, looking back at the precarious young man in front of him with complicated eyes, "If you want to ask me, this is the answer."

Yun Fei slightly opened his eyes wide, and was stunned in place.

Yan Mao put down the candle scissors, stood with his hands behind his back, and continued: "But for you, it shouldn't be."

A tear fell on Yun Fei's clenched hand.

Yan Mao was silent for a while, and said: "It's not because of you. I and the Yun family are married. She chose me, but I didn't want to. I begged her..."

It is a kind of cruelty for Yun Fei to tell this past story from Yan Mao's mouth, but it is also an answer.

"...I have mentioned the reconciliation with Yun's several times, drafted the reconciliation and divorce in her name, and said to the public that it was my fault. But..., she and I are people who will not bow our heads. Later, there will be You are her answer to whether to leave or not..."

Yun Fei raised his head slowly, and said with difficulty: "If I can choose, I will never be your son."

Yan Mao said, "I'm really not a good father."

Yun Fei's tears flowed all over his face in an instant, he looked at Yan Mao, and suddenly ran into his arms with hatred, his voice was almost hoarse: "You are my father, how can you be so cruel?"

"...Can't you coax me once?"

Yan Mao's body swayed slightly, he was at a loss for a while, and finally reached out his hand hesitantly, and gently touched Yun Fei's head.

Yun Fei hugged him and cried loudly.

……

As if pouring out all these years of incomprehension, sadness, and resentment in one breath, Yun Fei's tears flowed down Yan Mao's chest.Yan Xiang also had nothing to do with the crying child, so he just watched Yun Fei cry, and patted him on the shoulder awkwardly.

In the memory of his son, who was not very good-looking, Yun Fei actually didn't like to cry very much, especially when facing him, he was like a little hedgehog with a stubborn temper all over his body.

Yan Mao coaxed Yun Fei for a while, but Yun Fei cried more and more.Yan Mao was helpless, and frowned slightly, "...why do you keep crying?"

Yun Fei's sobs stopped, and he looked up at him in disbelief, "You..."

Yun Fei was so angry that he pushed him away, and hiccupped before he could speak.Yan Mao thought for a while, went to the table and raised his hand to pour a glass of water and handed it over.His clothes were wetted by Yun Fei's tears, and he changed into another robe and sat on the side of the bed.

Yun Fei calmed down slowly, and looked up at the innermost cell on the second floor of Dali Temple Prison.

It must have been ordered by His Majesty. This place has far exceeded the decent configuration of princes, generals, and relatives of the emperor in Tianzi No. [-]. There are beds, tables, and chairs, lamps, tea, and chess. The pen and ink of the scroll appeared, except that it was slightly cooler than the outside, it was almost impossible to tell that this was a place where a dying "prisoner" lived.

——Yun Fei knew very well that from the moment Yan Xiang stepped here, no matter how well he was taken care of, even if it was no different from his usual time in Xiangfu, the only way waiting for him was "death".

"Is it worth it?" Yun Fei asked.

Yan Xiang stretched his lips slightly and said, "Of course."

Yun Fei shook his head, his expression almost distressed, "But you will die..."

"I know." With a calm face, he thought for a while and said, "My life, the first 20 years, I lived in the hands of others, and the next [-] years, I controlled it myself. I can do what I want It’s not in vain to come to this world.”

Yun Fei was taken aback when he heard the words. After a long time, he lowered his eyes, and his voice was as low as raving, "...What about me?"

Yan Xiang stared at him, "No matter what the ending is, I won't drag you down..."

Of course Yunfei knew!

Yesterday when Chu Heng stopped him from going out of the palace, he ordered it, and after a night, he himself fully understood it.

Chu Heng said that Yan Xiang is the assistant minister, the person promoted by His Majesty's mother, Empress Chengde, Gu Huiyin, and even an unknown emperor's teacher. He, like His Majesty, is naturally opposed to the Queen Mother and King Qi. The thorn in the side of the flesh, it is impossible to live together.Back then, no matter whether we sent you into the Hall of Martial Heroes or not, His Majesty and Yan Xiang could not lose, and if you entered the Hall, he could only win but never lose.If King Qi wins, you are the emperor's guard of the "old emperor", and you will not have a good way out.Even if you have never entered the palace, you are still the only son of Prime Minister Yan. When you were young, you lived in Duke Qing's mansion. I think Old Master Yan would push you out without hesitation to show his goodwill to King Qi, the "new emperor" loyal.

"I know!" Yun Fei interrupted Yan Xiang's words, and glared at him—the iron law of the Martial Heroes Hall, the emperor's guards are promoted, transferred, entered and retreated, everything is dictated by the Sacred Heart, and no one from the aristocratic family can intervene. The only one who can decide Yunfei's future is the emperor—but is he afraid that he will drag him down?

Yun Fei covered his face sadly, and a cry filled with tears overflowed from his throat, "I don't want you to die..."

Yan Mao fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he said, "I'm not afraid of death."

"But I'm afraid!..." Yun Fei rolled himself into a ball and fell on Yan Xiang's bed. Yan Xiang sat on the side and looked at him, not knowing what it was like.After a long time, seeing that Yun Fei was motionless, Yan Xiang touched him, "You...don't fall asleep here."

Yun Fei didn't respond, but kicked off his shoes, and pulled the quilt over his body.

Just as Yan Mao wanted to say something, when the words came to his lips, seeing Yun Fei's slightly trembling shoulders, he swallowed them back.He reopened the previous idle book and looked at the bright candle, but this time, his heart was not so peaceful.

Half an hour later, the Shadow Guard of the Son of Heaven came over and stood outside the door for a while.Yun Fei had already fallen asleep in a daze, Yan Xiang hesitated for a moment, and finally waved his hand.

The shadow guard nodded and retreated.

That night, Yun Fei lay beside his father, and fell asleep soundly. It was the first time in a long time that he felt such a dark and sweet sleep. He was not dreaming, and there was the faint scent of books on Yan Xiang's body, the only thing that stayed with him all night. .

In the early morning of the next day, Yun Fei woke up much calmer.

After washing up, the shadow guard came in with a tray and stood by the side, with a comb and a silver hair crown on it.Yun Fei knelt in front of Yan Xiang and made a big salute.

Yan Mao tied his hair into a bun and put on a silver hairpin crown for him.

He is not yet 20 years old, but he has to walk the road ahead by himself.

Yan Mao lowered his eyes, and lightly patted Yun Fei three times: "Do what you want to do in the future, live a lifetime, this is a kind of consummation."

Yun Fei kowtowed to him, followed the shadow guard and walked out. When he reached the door, he couldn't help turning his head to look at Yan Xiang again.

Yan Xiang waved his hand and said with a smile, "Go."