It has been three years since that day of the fire.
There have been many changes in the court in the past three years. The old ministers were eliminated one by one by the current majesty, and only some newly elected officials remained.
His majesty was so thunderous that day, even the Duke of Ningguo, who had been treating him kindly after he ascended the throne, was the same, showing no sympathy. Even more harsh on it.
Within three years, his status plummeted, and most of his children were dispatched to the frontier.
No one knows why, and can only guess that His Majesty has long planned to reform, but he just chose this time to launch an attack.
At first, there were people who opposed the reform of the court, but under Fu Jinming's pressure, they had to compromise.
In just three years, the world has been turned upside down, and everyone is in danger.
The reason for His Majesty's sudden change in temperament has aroused many speculations. Only the little eunuch who has been waiting by his side knows that His Majesty is doing this for the Empress Dowager. He is completing what the queen mother did not complete.
Since returning to the palace three years ago, His Majesty ordered people to seal the Zhanghua Palace, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.
Immediately afterwards, a decree was issued to rehabilitate the Gu family and the Queen Mother. The previous case was turned over and over again, which was shocking.
That period was the bloodiest time in the capital. Officials, big and small, were beheaded and ransacked their homes, almost bleeding into rivers.
The little eunuch sighed from the bottom of his heart, and when he came back to his senses, he heard His Majesty coughing.
In the past three years, his health has been getting worse day by day, but his hair has already grown gray. Those who knew what happened back then felt emotional, but dared not say a word.
The Empress Dowager's name has become a taboo in the palace.
Fu Jinming coughed, and asked calmly, "Anyone else want to play?"
His voice was calm, and the surrounding ministers looked at each other, hesitated, and finally stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the border has received news that the king of Mobei has recently entered the capital. Do we need to strengthen the guards and patrol the capital?" ?”
It was the newly appointed Commander of the Imperial Army who spoke.
Three years ago, Xie Xiao led the army out of the Jin Dynasty and established himself as king in Mobei. Although no war has been provoked in these years, he has never interacted with Da Jin.
In the past, the generals were mercilessly beheaded as soon as they crossed the border. Their behavior was presumptuous, and they were simply provoking His Majesty.
Everyone was wondering why he tolerated Mo Bei for so long, given his temperament that could not tolerate sand in his eyes.
But some people also thought of the tragic situation during the siege of the city. If it weren't for the help of God, it would have been rainy days, and Da Jin might not have won so easily.
Now that the Mobei army is resting and recuperating, it has slowed down, and it is indeed inappropriate to go to war again. Everyone had different thoughts, but they all held their breath and waited quietly for His Majesty to speak.
The hall was quiet. Fu Jinming was slightly startled when he heard the words Mobei Wang, but he was not surprised.
Today is the anniversary of Gu Yu's death, so it's only normal for him to come here at this time. Every year at this time, Xie Xiao would return to the original place.
Fu Jinming knew very well in his heart that he ordered people to take care of the burned place every day, but he never dared to go there once.
He knew that Gu Yu didn't want to see him, no matter in life or after death.
Even later, he took that poisonous medicine in order to atone for his sin. Everyone thought that his body was getting worse day by day because he was overworked, and only Fu Jinming himself knew it.
He is taking medicine.
He wanted to experience again and again the pain that Gu Yu had experienced before, even if it was heartbreaking. This is what he owes her, and it is also voluntary.
Even the sound of breathing could be heard clearly in the hall, and at the mention of that person's name, Fu Jinming's throat welled up with a fishy sweetness. Everyone lowered their heads and did not see the veins on his forehead.
After a long time, the fishy sweet swallowed, and then said lightly: "There is no need to send more people, just let him go."
His last sentence was very soft, and some of the people below could not hear clearly. After hearing this, the eunuch beside her lowered her head a bit. Seeing that the ministers had nothing to say, he said, "Retire."
After saluting, everyone filed out. Fu Jinming sat in the hall for a while before being helped up by the eunuch.
"Your Majesty, are you going to the study?" the little eunuch asked softly.
Fu Jinming paused with his fingertips, and said after a while: "Go to Zhanghua Palace."
Hearing this name, the eunuch's heart trembled, but he didn't dare to ask more questions.
On the other side, Xie Xiao really went to the place where Gu Yu went to bed.
The woods stationed on the outskirts of the capital did not grow weeds, and it looked as if they had been taken care of carefully. After Xie Xiao glanced at it, his eyes darkened slightly, as if a little ironic.
He seldom wears red clothes now, and always wears black plain clothes on weekdays, and his usual joking personality has changed a lot.
Many people in Mobei said that the prince can no longer laugh.
Xie Xiao never cared about these things. He finally read Gu Yu's letter that day. It is precisely because of this that they support themselves.
The handwriting in the letter was the same as before, Xie Xiao didn't even know how he read it. Gu Yu arranged everything clearly, sent Ah Xi home, told him to withdraw his troops to stop the loss, and even told him not to set up a tomb for her.
She walked cleanly without leaving a word for Fu Jinming.
These things that were enough to make Xie Xiao happy in the past, after that day, only grief remained. Whenever he thought of Gu Yu's name, he couldn't help trembling.
Xie Xiao has long recognized his own heart. He loves Gu Yu, and has no one else.
That's why she went to Beijing alone after she was poisoned, and fought desperately in exchange for the antidote. He worked so hard for so long, just to let her live, but in the end he still couldn't grab the white dress.
This is the most painful in his life.
Xie Xiao knew that he would not kill Fu Jinming, as he said that day, he was not worthy.
He stopped on the scorched land and looked at it for a long time before he bent down and put down the wine in his hand.
"The queen mother must not like drinking wine."
"That's right, how can a person like you like those things?"
He smiled rarely, and sat on the raised ground.
The wine jar was slapped open, and the mud seal was thrown aside. Xie Xiao picked up the wine jar, with a certain awe on his solemn face. When the horse next to him leaned over, he spilled the wine on the ground. Only then did he slowly relax his brows and eyes.
"This is my own wine, using the Queen Mother's favorite plum blossom. Does the Queen Mother know that I accidentally got a plum blossom, which can bloom in spring. Thinking that the Queen Mother likes it, I moved it to the courtyard in Mobei. It was still in bloom when I left."
"If you are lucky, Queen Mother... go and see it too."
His last words were inaudible.
Ma'er looked at the wilderness in front of him, breathed out, and seemed to have a feeling.
If Gu Yu was here, she would definitely recognize that it was the horse she was riding when she ran into Xie Xiao at the racecourse.
Animals always have some spirituality, and slowly lowered their heads facing the scorched earth. Xie Xiao closed his eyes and took a sip, letting the wine choke down his throat.
He always showed a relaxed expression, not like the indifference when he was in Mobei, just like when Gu Yu was there.
The sky gradually dimmed, and at some point, it began to rain again. Drop by drop fell on the cold face. Xie Xiao's hand holding the wine jar tightened slightly, and the smile on his face finally faded.
"Queen." He only called out her name, and started drinking again. The black clothes were wet, and Xie Xiao felt that his eyes were a little dry today.
"It was windy in Mobei when we came here, maybe I got lost on the road." He said lightly, not knowing who he was explaining to.
It was only after he finished speaking that he thought it was ridiculous, but he couldn't hold back his sneer after all.
The scenes of getting along with Gu Yu are all in front of my eyes, from being shocked when I first met, to knowing her pure heart after getting to know her later.
Scenes flashed, until finally, Gu Yu's pale and haggard face on the couch. Even then, she still had no resentment.
He didn't know until then that Gu Yu was a sharp sword, and once it was unsealed, there was no turning back.
She does not accept charity from others, nor does she leave a way out for herself. It was difficult for someone like her to come into the world.
The altar of wine had already been drunk, and his heart and lungs were burning hot. Xie Xiao lay in the rain, and did not stand up until the rain was weak, and sighed:
"After staying here for a long time, the queen mother must have become impatient."
He called a white horse aside, pursed his lips, and suddenly laughed: "Xie has been bothering the Empress Dowager for three years, I wonder if the Empress Dowager will know about it?"
Quietly in the night, no one answered, only the sound of rain echoed in the wilderness.
Xie Xiao didn't care, he bent over and saluted, and when he raised his head again, he turned and got on the white horse.
The horse seemed to have been waiting for a long time, Xie Xiao looked back after holding the rein tightly, and swallowed the phrase "Yu Niang" in his heart.