Dressed as Su Peisheng

September of the 36th year of Kangxi

Evening Yuqing Palace

The prince sat alone in the study, and the surrounding was so silent that the little Chuzi who was on duty in the room didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

This afternoon, when the crown prince was out, the Ministry of Internal Affairs suddenly came to Yuqing Palace to take someone. The guards guarding Yuqing Palace almost confronted the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, until Mr. De Zhu appeared at the gate with a peaceful face in a moon-white robe.

Xiao Chuzi was originally a handyman in the warehouse. After the eunuchs in Yuqing Palace were purged, he was promoted by Mr. Dezhu to the side of the prince.In his heart, both the crown prince and Mr. Dezhu are his benefactors.Therefore, when Mr. Dezhu was taken away, he knocked open the door and ran over to the guards, and charged at him with the gleaming knife point, but he only heard one sentence, "Xiao Chuzi, go back, don't forget to warm up the ginseng for Your Highness!" Soup."

As the night darkened, no one could be seen clearly in the study. His Highness the Crown Prince, who had been sitting blankly for an unknown amount of time, suddenly stood up and walked out.

The curtain of the inner hall was lifted, the prince came out in a hurry, Xiao Chuzi hurriedly beckoned the young eunuch on duty to follow, but was blocked by a beautiful figure at the door.

"Your Highness," said Fujin Li Jiashi kneeling straight on the ground. The first elder brother, second elder brother and third elder brother who were still in their swaddling arms of Yuqing Palace were all led to the entrance of the main hall by the wet nurse, and the prince stopped in place. .

The three-year-old Hong Xi stumblingly ran up to the prince, hugged the prince's leg, and softly called out "Ama..."

The prince froze and patted Hong Xi's head.

Li Jia walked up to the prince on her knees, grabbed the prince's hand, and two lines of tears slid down her face, "Your Highness, I know the hatred in your heart and the pain in your heart, but that is an imperial decree! Please see For the sake of the child, for the sake of the late empress, for the sake of my aunt Pingfei, and for the sake of serving you as a concubine for many years..."

Li Jiashi couldn't make a sound, and the third elder brother who was in the swaddling baby also cried. The eldest elder brother pursed his lips stubbornly, and took Hong Xi's hand to kneel aside.

The prince closed his eyes tightly, trembling slightly, his face was as pale as rice paper that had not been soaked.

Xiao Chuzi looked at everything in front of him, silently lowered his head and bent his knees.

A dark prison cell, the only light is the tall small window.

De Zhu sat in the shadow of the moonlight, his moon-white robe was covered with spots of vermilion stains, glowing white in the moonlit night.

This day, to him, seemed like an established ending, with no complaints or regrets.

In the depths of the prison cell, there were bursts of indistinct groans, and De Zhu lowered his head with cold eyes.If he wants to commit a crime, there is no reason to worry about it. The two servants who were detained together with him are just servants doing chores. Occasionally, they got a few words of praise from the prince, but now they have become bandits who brought the prince down together with him.

After a night of torture, I don't know how many secrets they made up for the prince, but De Zhu knew that all this would be over soon.

A red pill fell into the kettle, making a muffled knock.

Dezhu leaned his head up against the cold wall, his clear eyes warmed into the water, "The slanting moon sinks and hides the sea mist, and Jieshi Xiaoxiang has an infinite road. I don't know how many people will return by the moon, and the falling moon is full of trees in the river... Your Highness, Dezhu is leaving, I wish you a happy life..."

"Ah!" Su Weisheng screamed, sitting up on the bed, the early morning sun came in through the window, it was dawn...

"Eunuch Su, the master told you to come over," Zhang Qilin pushed the door open, but the room was empty.

Su Wei walked along the palace wall all the way to Shenxingsi.It was still too early, the palace gates had just opened, and there were almost no people on the road.

At the gate of Shenxingsi, Su Wei didn't know why he came.

"Little Suzi?" Jiao Jinchao was taken aback, he just opened the door and saw Su Peisheng standing in the doorway.

"Brother Jiao," Su Wei forced a smile.

"Why are you here? You look so bad, are you sick?" Jiao Jin looked around and pulled Su Wei into a corner.

Su Wei shook his head, lowered his voice and said, "From Yuqing Palace, are you here?"

"It was still there last night," Jiao Jinchao sighed slightly, "I pulled it out in the middle of the night."

Su Wei froze, and Jiao Jinchao shook his head, "At first, the superiors wanted to torture them, but before they could find anything, they all died for no reason. Anyway, the emperor also ordered the execution, so Eunuch Liu didn't investigate any further, and just handed over the matter. gone."

Su Wei pursed his lips in a daze, raised his head and said, "Then, where did it go?"

Jiao Jinchao frowned, "It should have been taken to a cemetery outside the city, and everyone in the Punishment Department was thrown there. I said little Suzi," Jiao Jinchao tugged at Su Wei's arm as if remembering something, " They are all guilty, implicating Yuqing Palace is not a trivial matter. Don't be soft-hearted for a while, and get involved with things that shouldn't be involved."

Su Wei froze for a moment, then nodded slightly, "I know."

On the way back to Zhengsan Institute, Su Wei's mind was always in chaos.

He was very afraid, afraid of death, afraid of pain, afraid that he, like De Zhu, would die inexplicably in that deep and terrifying place, afraid that that person would not be able to look at himself in the end.

He was very sad again, sad for De Zhu, sad for himself, and sad for that shady feeling.In fact, De Zhu and him may not have a deep relationship, and the two of them are more of a sympathy between the same kind of people.

Maybe it was the first conversation with De Zhu, or maybe it was the chance meeting in Cheng'en Temple that made him believe without any evidence that De Zhu and the crown prince were as close as he was with the fourth elder brother, or even closer.

However, De Zhu is dead now.Such a gentle and jade-like Mr. Pianpian ended up in a wild corpse in the wilderness.

And him?An eunuch, even if the fourth elder brother ascended the throne as the emperor, what can he do in front of the civil and military and historians of the Manchu Dynasty?

Just like now, the fourth elder brother has got a son with all his heart, can he get his wish and stay away from the backyard?Will Defei agree?Will the emperor agree?All the princes who are covetously, the mouths of Youyou all over the world, once they are presented in front of the stage, he and the fourth elder brother will be accused and reviled by thousands of people.At that time, how innocent are those children and women implicated in the backyard?

Such a relationship with no future and no hope, why did he stick to it, why did he wait?If one day, the butcher's knife was placed on his neck, would he have the courage to end his life like De Zhu?

Sho San Institute

The fourth elder brother heard Zhang Qilin's return and sat alone in the study without saying a word.

The emperor's decree is vague, but it has to remind people of the rumors about the prince's privacy in the past.Now, the crown prince has been grounded, and the related slaves have been killed and shut down. The prince who was originally as famous as the sky has become the target of public criticism overnight.

Perhaps, at this moment, the fourth elder brother really realized in his heart, what is a king and what is a minister.Even if it's only one step away, when things come to an end, they can only be willing to be fish and meat and let others slaughter them.

Now, he is just a little-known elder brother. If Su Wei was taken away by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, what should he do, what can he do?

"Master, Eunuch Su is back," Zhang Bao lifted the curtain, interrupting the fourth elder brother's chilling thoughts.Su Wei shrugged his shoulders and entered the room, "The slave pays respects to the master."

The fourth elder brother was stunned for a moment, watching Su Wei knelt down to salute, sighed silently, and said, "Get up, it's early in the morning, where did you go?"

"Slave, slave..." Su Wei hung his head, rubbed his palms, and faltered for a long time.

"Okay," the fourth elder brother stood up and walked up to Su Wei, "Have you had breakfast yet? Master has someone warm up the milk, so why don't you just have a bowl of snacks?"

"No, there's no need," Su Wei shook his head like a rattle, "It's fine for the slave to go back to the house and eat something casually. I don't dare to bother the master."

The fourth elder brother's eyes flickered, and he reached out to hold Su Wei's arm. Su Wei shook his body, but he didn't dodge back.Looking at Su Wei who was more and more frowned and lowered his head, the fourth elder brother hung his outstretched hand in mid-air, silently clenched into a fist, and hung on his side, "Okay, then you go back and have a good rest, let Xiaoyingzi bring you food, Don't stop eating."

"Yes, the slave will leave," Su Wei saluted again, bowing and retreating politely.

The fourth elder brother closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

Yuqing Palace

The prince did not eat or drink for three consecutive days, and his body was broken.

Three-year-old Hongxi walked up to the prince holding the porridge bowl, "Ama, this porridge is delicious. There are diced meat and egg drops."

The prince leaned against the head of the bed, smiled weakly, "Hongxi, drink it, Ama doesn't want to eat."

Hong Xi tilted her head, "Ama has lost weight, why doesn't she eat, Hong Xi will be so hungry if she doesn't eat a meal."

The prince turned his head to look at the bed curtain, his eyes were empty, "Ama lost the most important thing, and I can't find it again."

Hong Xi blinked, "It's okay, Ama can ask Grandpa Huang for it, Grandpa Huang has everything."

The prince's eyes turned cold, "Yes, he has everything, but I don't want anything..."

Hongxi pouted and walked out of the prince's bedroom holding the porridge bowl, Li Jiashi pulled him aside, Hongxi pursed his lips and said, "Ama refuses to eat, Ama said that her favorite thing is gone, she can eat anything No more."

Li Jiashi's eyes flickered, and he turned to look at the elder brother beside him, "You go and send your Ama a visit, and persuade him well."

"I'm not going," the elder brother's face changed, he turned and left.

In the evening, Xiao Chuzi walked into the prince's bedroom with ginseng soup, "Master, you can use a bowl, if this continues, how can your body bear it?"

"I can't eat it, take it away," the prince leaned against the head of the bed and closed his eyes.

Xiao Chuzi looked down at the bowl in his hand, pursed his lips and said, "When Mr. De Zhu was taken away, he said something to the servant."

The crown prince opened his eyes slightly, and Xiao Chuzi continued, "Master De Zhu said, don't forget to serve your highness hot ginseng soup..."

The room was silent for a moment, Xiao Chuzi was about to take the soup bowl away when a hand came out of nowhere, "Give it to me."

"Your Highness," the prince had just finished drinking the ginseng soup, when the prince's bodyguard Furgon hurried in and knelt in front of the bed, "Master Suo sent a message."

Xiao Chuzi handed the envelope presented by Forgon to the prince. The prince took out the letter paper, read it silently for a moment, and suddenly sneered, "It's really hard for them. It took so much effort to make a crime that cannot be revealed. Relatives who have no grudges or enmity, brothers who have pierced the flesh and blood, just for a vain position, a name...Okay, okay, come and grab them all! Huang Ama, since you don't want to give me this seat, I will give it to you. Send it out!"

Sho San Institute

Su Wei was ill, and Xiao Yingzi found out that he was burning in bed.

The fourth elder brother came to see in a hurry, Su Wei just blindly hid himself in the quilt, cold sweat broke out from his flushed face, "Master, this slave is sick, you should go out quickly! What can I do for you, you should go away!"

Su Wei's fever never went down, and the fourth elder brother was so anxious that he wanted to see the imperial doctor, but Zhang Bao stopped him. "Master, the situation is different now. Eunuch Su should not attract attention anymore. According to the slave, it is better to be like this. Anyway, the elder brothers are repairing the mansion one after another. Master, why not send Eunuch Su to the yard. The slave asks the doctor outside to have a look." , it's just a cold and ailment, it won't be a problem."

The fourth elder brother managed to calm down, nodded and said, "You are right, so I will do as you said. You and Li Ying will go with you, bring enough money, buy what you need, and go back to the palace to get it if you don't have it outside."

"Yes, master, don't worry," Zhang Bao led the order.

Xiaoyingzi tidied up his and Su Wei's belongings, and waited for the limp Su Wei to change into casual clothes. The fourth elder brother pushed the door open, and Su Wei hurriedly found a place to hide.

"Don't hide, I have something to tell you," the fourth elder brother said with a frown, Xiao Yingzi bowed to the fourth elder brother and left the door.

"Master, this slave is sick and contagious," Su Wei hugged the bedpost and hid in the corner.

The fourth elder brother stood not far away and sighed, "Xiaowei, I know what you are thinking. Do you still remember that I said that if you feel bitter, I am willing to send you away. Now, I will tell you Say it once, if you feel bitter, I am willing to leave with you!"

Su Wei stared fixedly at the fourth elder brother, and after a while, shook his head in fear, "No, don't talk to me like that again. You have sons and daughters, a family and a career, I don't want to be a sinner through the ages, I can't afford it , I don't have the qualifications..."

The fourth elder brother lowered his head and pursed his lips, "It doesn't matter, I am willing to do whatever you want. It doesn't matter if you leave me, or just be a master and servant from now on. As long as you are well and safe, I will be fine..."

Su Wei boarded the carriage leaving the palace, the words of the fourth elder brother were still spinning in his mind, but he could never forget De Zhu's death, and the established ending that had already taken root in his mind.

Su Wei was just suffering from stagnation of qi, chest tightness and depression, and he recovered soon after taking two doses of medicine prescribed by the doctor.It's just that the spirit is still not good, and I can't cheer up everything.Xiaoyingzi waited on Su Wei every day, while Zhang Bao ran around the palace and mansion.

The death of several servants in Yuqing Palace didn't seem to cause any big waves, but with the lifting of the crown prince's ban, the matter gradually calmed down.

In a blink of an eye, it was the Gold Awarding Festival, and Su Wei had lived in the yard for nearly half a month.

The weather at the end of autumn was already chilly, Su Wei sat on the porch with his coat on, watching the wild geese that occasionally flew by in the sky boredly.

"Eunuch Su," Zhang Bao came to meet him, "Master asked me to bring you a lot of food."

"Thank you, master." Su Wei straightened up, Zhang Bao put the food box aside, "When is Eunuch Su planning to return to the palace? Master is thinking about you."

Su Wei lowered his head, "Anytime is fine, I'm ready."

Zhang Bao looked at the listless Su Wei, turned around and sat aside, "Time flies so fast. In a blink of an eye, I have been with the master for 12 years. Eunuch Su has been longer, right?"

Su Wei blinked, "15 years."

Zhang Bao rarely curled his lips, "In retrospect, when I first came to Zhengsan Institute, I was a little eunuch doing odd jobs, and now I can be regarded as the master's confidant."

Su Wei looked at Zhang Bao and didn't understand what he wanted to say, but Zhang Bao turned his head and continued, "Don't mention that trash Zhang Qilin, in the whole yard, apart from Eunuch Su, the fourth elder brother values ​​me the most."

Su Wei wanted to curse a little bit, but after thinking about it, Zhang Bao's words were right.

Zhang Bao glanced at Su Wei, stood up, "Everyone has selfishness, I have thought more than once, if there is no Eunuch Su, I will be No.1 under the master."

Su Wei froze for a moment, and then dodged to the side.

"However," Zhang Bao raised his tone and walked to the corridor with his hands behind his back, "I am willing to bow down to the people I admire."

Su Wei stayed where he was, Zhang Bao turned around and looked at Su Wei, "Twelve years ago, the fourth elder brother and the sixth elder brother suffered from dysentery. The sixth elder brother passed away, but the fourth elder brother survived. Although I haven't seen the fight with my own eyes, I have heard a little about it. Based on this, I, Zhang Bao, am willing to be under you for the rest of my life. For so many years, Zhang Bao has also seen all kinds of things Su Gonggong has done to the fourth elder brother. It is clear in my heart. But now I have to say that Mr. Su has changed, and he no longer has the free and easy and heroic spirit of the past. Is it because time is not with me, or because he wants more, expects more, and is no longer How did you feel in the past?"

Su Wei didn't say a word, and sat there for a while in silence, finally stood up slowly, and went to his small courtyard with the food box.

Looking at his back, Zhang Bao raised his voice and said, "If there is a day of Yuqing Palace, Zhang Bao is willing to use his own life to advance and retreat with Master and Eunuch Su!"

On the roof of the small courtyard in the East Garden, Su Wei was lying among a pile of tiles. There was no dazzling starry sky, only the moon half covered by clouds.

In the days and nights of the 15 years, Su Wei couldn't remember many things and years.Only blurred or clear pictures flashed through my mind one by one. The difference was that almost every picture contained the presence of that person.

A sentence by the lakeside of Yuhuayuan, "If I want you to beat Wang Qin, would you dare to do it?"

There was a sentence in front of the gate of the third school, "Su Peisheng, open the door for my prince."

The cold words beside the well in the backyard, "Su Wei, this is fate, we cannot choose."

The care after the interrogation by the Punishment Department, the visit after being beaten by the Chengqian Palace, the kite tied like a centipede, the jade pendant engraved with the word 秦, two interlocking rings, the seal engraved with his portrait...

One piece, one pile, like red threads, tightly bound Su Wei's body and mind to that person.Pull, can't tear apart, cut, cut constantly.Every pain is hard to swallow tears, full of blood.Unwillingness to the world and complaints about the status quo, perhaps as Zhang Bao said, it is because there is too much greed, too much hope, and the mood is no longer the same as before.

Suddenly, Su Wei jumped up like a carp, stepped on a pile of broken tiles, pointed at the crescent moon and shouted, "I just like him! I just like him! What can you do to me?"

With Su Wei's roar, a piece of gray tiles flew into the night sky with utmost vigor.

Volume III, Baylor House