In the twilight of the sky, an unremarkable gray cloth carriage was parked not far from the east gate of the city, and it had been almost half an hour.
In the carriage, Zhu Yunxuan leaned against the wall of the carriage and closed his eyes to rest, but he never let go of his tightly knit eyebrows.
Gao An called him softly from outside the car: "Your Majesty, people are coming."
"Help me out of the car."
Outside the car, Zeng Huai and his family knelt down on the ground and bowed to Zhu Yunxuan for the last time. Today they will be escorted to the land of exile.
Zhu Yunxuan was supported by Gao An to get off the car, stepped forward, and helped Zeng Huai up with both hands: "Teacher, get up."
Old Zeng Huai burst into tears: "The minister has no face to see His Majesty, no face to see His Majesty..."
Seeing that his already gray hair was now completely white, Zhu Yunxuan sighed: "I am sorry for the teacher. If that day... I didn't bother the teacher, today the teacher is still enjoying his old age in that idyllic thatched cottage. I have treated you badly." you… "
"Your Majesty, please don't say that. It's the minister who betrayed His Majesty's trust. The minister's unworthy descendants have caused such a catastrophe. The minister is in vain. It's the minister's fault, it's all the minister's fault!"
Zeng Huai broke down in tears, and Zhu Yunxuan was also very sad, but he couldn't say any more words of comfort. When Zeng Huai calmed down a bit, he took a wooden box from Gao An and handed it over: "Here are some bank notes. It's soft with gold and silver, and I gave it to the teacher to use outside."
"I can't accept it," Zeng Huai hurriedly waved his hand, "I'm going to be punished, how can I accept these from His Majesty..."
"Teacher, take it, even if it's not for yourself, at least think about the little brother at home."
Zeng Huai's one-year-old great-grandson was hugged and knelt on the ground by the woman at home, the tip of his nose was red from the cold, and he was at a loss as to what had happened. Zhu Yunxuan sighed and persuaded again: "There is not much money in it. It’s only enough to sustain your daily expenses, so the teacher will accept it.”
Hearing the sobbing of women and children at home, Zeng Huai hesitated again and again, gritted his teeth and finally put away the things. Zhu Yunxuan said again: "After two or three years, I will find a way to give you an amnesty. At that time, teacher Then you can take your family back to your hometown.”
Zeng Huai was about to kneel down and kowtow to Zhu Yunxuan again, but he stopped him: "Teacher, you don't have to do this."
Zeng Huai wiped his eyes, calmed down his overly agitated mood, and said to Zhu Yunxuan in a trembling voice, "There is one thing that I wanted to ask someone to tell His Majesty, and that wicked grandson of my minister said that he had a relationship with Zhu Yunxuan before. When I was out spending time and drinking, I heard people say that someone in the Jingnan camp took the military pay from the imperial court and opened an underground gambling house to release loan sharks in order to make huge profits. The evil person was even taken to the gambling house to see it, like Both Zongbing Zhang and Deputy Zongbing Liu were involved in it. Your Majesty might as well ask someone to investigate. If you can get solid evidence, Your Majesty can justifiably remove these two people, and then severely break King Zhao's arm. , There is also an opportunity to take advantage of the recovery of the South Camp."
Hearing this, Zhu Yunxuan's eyes darkened: "I see, thank you teacher for reminding me."
Zeng Huai took a step back and insisted on saluting with Zhu Yunxuan: "I have no regrets in this life to be sent off by His Majesty in person. I will be leaving soon. I hope His Majesty will take care of you in the future."
Zhu Yunxuan nodded with red eyes: "It's a long way to go, I have asked people to take care of the teacher and family members along the way, teacher, please take care, there will be a later date."
Watching Zeng Huai and his party go out of the city gate, Zhu Yunxuan stood in the cold wind for a long time again, until Gao An reminded him in a low voice that it was time to go back, then he withdrew his blank gaze, closed his eyes, turned and went car.
It was already daylight on the way back, and the bustling market was lined with hawkers everywhere, and the air was filled with the aroma of food. Halfway through the journey, Gao An asked Zhu Yunxuan: "Your Majesty, do you want to eat something? I heard that there are several dim sum restaurants The pastries in the shop are pretty good.”
Zhu Yunxuan opened the window and looked out, the bustling market and the scene of people coming and going kept changing in his eyes until they became overlapping phantoms.
Gao An called him again: "Your Majesty..."
Zhu Yunxuan came back to his senses, his eyes fell on the wonton stall opened by an old couple not far away, he paused, and ordered: "Stop the car."
Gao An helped him get out of the car, and it was rare to see that he had an appetite. He was very happy: "Does your majesty want to eat wontons? This small stall is not clean, and there is a famous noodle shop in the capital in front of it. The wonton noodles there The most famous, why not go there to eat?"
Zhu Yunxuan smiled lightly: "You are perverse, you actually know where there is good food out there when you stay in the palace every day."
"The slaves and servants all listened to the newcomers who just entered the palace. The shop lady and the eldest princess in the front also liked it very much. They would send their servants to buy it from time to time. Why don't you try it, Your Majesty?"
Zhu Yunxuan said indifferently: "Just here, it's all the same."
He walked into the stall, picked a table at random and sat down. The hunched old man came over, offered him a cup of tea, and asked him with a smile, "What would you like to eat?"
"Serve two taels of wontons without green onions."
"okay."
The Ouchi guards stood outside the stall, and Gao An stood by the table, ready to serve Zhu Yunxuan at any time, Zhu Yunxuan signaled him: "Sit down too, let's eat together."
Gao An was taken aback, he didn't dare to follow: "How can it be done, Your Majesty... Young Master, you can just eat, and the little one will serve you."
"Why not, let you sit down and sit down."
"This is absolutely impossible. If it gets out... the little one will die, so please don't hurt the little one, young master." Gao An begged with a bitter face.
Zhu Yunxuan no longer forced him, staring at the tea stalks dangling in the cup in front of him, slightly dazed.
Two days ago, he still wrote to Zhu Yunjing, asking him if he would like to come to Beijing. He knew that Zhu Yunjing might get into danger and trouble when he returned to Beijing, but he... was really lonely .
In the past, when his elder brother was still there, every time he went out of the palace with his elder brother, the happiest thing was that he could take his elder brother to taste the delicacies in the market. Even though his elder brother disliked most of the food, he liked it. But now, there is no one who even eats with him.
The steaming wonton was quickly served, Zhu Yunxuan lowered his head and ate it slowly, the taste was probably good, but it was tasteless in his mouth.
A flurry of snow suddenly fell, this was the first snow since the beginning of winter this year. Hearing someone outside shouting that it was snowing, Zhu Yunxuan only raised his eyes for a glance, then lowered his head again.
The old couple were discussing in a low voice that they had to close the stall early today, go back to boil soup to warm up, and add more firewood to the kang at night, listening quietly to them talking about trivial matters, Zhu Yunxuan kept twisting His eyebrows finally gradually relaxed, and the corners of his mouth raised a little unconsciously.
At the corner not far away, another carriage had been parked there for a long time.
There is no morning court today, Liang Zhen went to the Yamen of the Jingwei Army in the morning, and was about to go back to the mansion, when he passed by here, he saw Zhu Yunxuan who came out of the palace in a micro-clothes, he asked someone to stop the car, hesitated for a long time, and finally did not go forward, Just watch from afar. Seeing Zhu Yunxuan eating, at first there was a smile in his eyes when he thought of something, and then he suddenly felt a little lonely, but now he smiled again, and his heart was constantly changing with the subtle changes in Zhu Yunxuan's expression beating frequency.
Zhu Yunxuan finished a bowl of wontons, and sat for a long time. Seeing the snow getting heavier, Gao An had no choice but to remind him: "Master, it's time to go back."
He nodded and signaled Gao Anduo to give the old couple some money.
When preparing to get on the carriage, one of the horses harnessed to the cart suddenly knelt down on the ground, and refused to get up no matter how the guards drove him away. The guards were sweating profusely. Zhu Yunxuan waited by the side, not urging him, but found it interesting. Keep staring.
A quarter of an hour passed, and the horse didn't know what was wrong with it, so Liang Zhen asked someone to drive over and stopped in front of Zhu Yunxuan.
Seeing Liang Zhen getting off the car, the last trace of smile on Zhu Yunxuan's mouth disappeared, and he nodded lightly: "King Zhao."
Liang Zhen said softly: "I send His Majesty back to the palace."
There was no stalemate for too long, Zhu Yunxuan got into Liang Zhen's car, and the two sat on one side, relatively speechless.
As the wheels rolled forward, Liang Zhen broke the silence first, and asked Zhu Yunxuan: "Your Majesty is going out of the palace today...to see off Elder Zeng Ge?"
Fearing that Zhu Yunxuan might misunderstand, he added another sentence: "I guessed, I didn't intend to inquire about His Majesty's whereabouts, I just happened to pass by today."
Zhu Yunxuan's expression did not change, and he reminded him coldly: "The teacher is no longer a cabinet minister, but a prisoner sentenced to exile, and he can't be the elder of the cabinet like King Zhao."
Liang Zhen sighed in his heart, but didn't say anything more.
Sending Zhu Yunxuan back to the palace, the car was parked outside Ganlin Palace, Liang Zhen did not follow, but only watched Zhu Yunxuan go up the steps. Zhu Yunxuan turned around suddenly, looked down at him, and asked calmly, "Is this what King Zhao wants?"
Liang Zhen's pupils narrowed slightly, and his deep eyes looked back at him: "Your Majesty..."
"Back then... when King Zhao and I reached out to help, I was sincerely grateful to King Zhao. At that time, King Zhao was the only person in the palace who was willing to help me. I didn't even know how to repay you."
"I have also thought about what it will be like if you and I can coexist peacefully and the monarch and ministers get along well, but now, it is impossible after all."
"You want too much, I can't afford it, and what I want...you won't give it either."
Recalling the past, Zhu Yunxuan's expression was in a trance for a moment, but soon changed to that calm and calm state again.
A few steps away, Zhu Yunxuan's face became somewhat blurred through the snow and fog, and Liang Zhen's heart tightened suddenly: "What does Your Majesty want?"
Zhu Yunxuan was startled, and after a while, shook his head slightly: "It doesn't make sense anymore."
He turned around, walked up to the top of the steps step by step, and walked into the hall without looking back.
Liang Zhen watched his back go away intently, his heart sinking into the deepest valley bit by bit... Zhu Yunxuan, does he really not want to look back anymore
A couple outside the episode (1)
In the seventh year of Jingrui, in the third month of spring, Guisi.
The afternoon spring outside the window was just right, Zhu Yunxuan sat cross-legged on the couch, resting his head on the desk with one hand, absently flipping through the memorabilia, drowsy from the sun.
The ink on the nib of the pen fell down and stained the notebook under his hand. Zhu Yunxuan didn't notice it, still squinting his eyes and nodding his head from time to time, and was about to fall asleep.
Gao An reluctantly leaned closer and called him: "Your Majesty..."
Zhu Yunxuan was startled, sat up straight, dazed for a moment, finally regained consciousness, turned around and asked Gao An: "What time is it?"
"It's six quarters, if Your Majesty is sleepy, can I serve you to rest inside?"
"It's not past six quarters, that's all, I won't sleep, and I'll be back from school soon..."
After muttering, he lowered his head again, dozing off while continuing to read the melody.
The words in front of her eyes gradually became blurred shadows, drowsiness took over again, and in a trance, she smelled the familiar tea fragrance approaching, lingering on the tip of her nose, Zhu Yunxuan subconsciously pasted it, rubbed it lightly, and closed it completely Eye.
When I woke up again, it was already sunset, and I could see the afterglow of the setting sun outside the window, I was confused for a moment, Zhu Yunxuan blinked lightly a few times, and gradually regained consciousness, she actually slept on Liang Zhen's shoulder until this hour.
He didn't move, and Liang Zhen, who was concentrating on reviewing the memorial for him, didn't realize that he was awake. His eyes fell on Liang Zhen's side face and stopped for a moment, Zhu Yunxuan thought to himself that he hadn't seen him for more than half a month, he seemed to be darker and thinner, and there was still a stubble on his face, it was really hard to go out this time .
Soft lips pressed against his cheeks, Liang Zhen stopped holding the pen, turned his head, rubbed the tip of his nose against Zhu Yunxuan's, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is awake?"
"I came back early and didn't say a word..."
As soon as a complaint was uttered, everything that followed was blocked back. Liang Zhen raised his hand and pressed the back of Zhu Yunxuan's head, and pressed him into the couch, entangled in a deep kiss.
Liang Zhen's kisses were always domineering and full of aggression. Zhu Yunxuan felt that the tip of her tongue was bitten in the pushing and pushing. She couldn't help moaning and pushed him lightly: "Enough... Enough... Yu'er..."
After the deep kiss, Liang Zhen pecked his lips: "Don't worry, you didn't wake up when you came over just now, little brat, I sent him out to play."
"Why are you like this? He hasn't done his homework yet."
Zhu Yunxuan raised his hand and beat Liang Zhen's chest, but he caught him. Liang Zhen smiled and lowered his head, the tip of his tongue swept across Zhu Yunxuan's palm, Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, he felt itchy, the kind of itching spread from the palm of his hand to the apex of his heart.
After looking at each other and smiling, their lips and tongues were sticky together again.
After some intimacy, the two finally got down to business. Liang Zhen went out as an imperial envoy this time to investigate a corruption case, and met a few daring desperadoes. He came back without any risk, and everything that should be investigated has been investigated.
He understated the dangerous situation he encountered, and focused on talking about the case with Zhu Yunxuan. Zhu Yunxuan frowned and interrupted him: "You were detained for three days and almost killed? When did you become so useless?" gone?"
Liang Zhen sipped his tea and said with a light smile: "It's not the first time that I've been a prisoner. You can always save yourself from danger. What's the point?"
Zhu Yunxuan pursed the corners of her lips, and her gaze darkened a little. Liang Zhen stretched out his hand to embrace him, and looked at him with a smile: "Unhappy? Well, I won't mention the past."
Zhu Yunxuan put his arm around Liang Zhen's neck, put it on and rubbed against his ear: "...you just want me to love you on purpose."
"Does Your Majesty feel sorry for the minister?"
Zhu Yunxuan remained silent, and kissed his cheek again, Liang Zhen raised the corners of his lips: "Good boy."
Min'er didn't come back until it was almost dinner time. The little prince, who was sweating profusely from playing outside, held the flowers he picked in the imperial garden and presented them to Zhu Yunxuan like a treasure: "To the emperor."
Zhu Yunxuan pinched his little nose: "Your father is back too."
Min'er raised her eyes to glance at Liang Zhen, then lowered her head again, and said softly, "That's for father too."
Zhu Yunxuan hugged him and sat on his lap, frowning and asked Liang Zhen: "What happened to you?"
Liang Zhen fed the peeled grapes into Zhu Yunxuan's mouth, and said amusedly: "What can I do to him? Maybe it's because I'm back, he can't sleep with you at night, I don't like it."
Yun'er, who was pierced through his mind, puffed up his small face. Liang Zhen reached out and knocked on his forehead, and hugged him. The beard stubble stuck to his soft and tender face deliberately. The little guy was amused and giggled. Immediately, she put her arms around Liang Zhen's neck and made out with him.
After laughing for a while, Min'er asked unwillingly: "Then can I sleep with Father Huang and Father at night?"
"Impossible." Liang Zhen teased his son to tease his son, and he refused to give in on this point.
He and Zhu Yunxuan haven't been close for more than half a month, and finally came back, how could this little brat get involved.
Min'er puffed up her face again, looking expectantly at Zhu Yunxuan, Zhu Yunxuan coughed lightly: "Mr. Min, good boy, Father and your father have business matters to discuss tonight, why don't you sleep by yourself today?"
The little prince pouted in disappointment: "Oh."
Liang Zhen coaxed him with a smile: "You won't be allowed to study for a few days, and tomorrow I'll send you to your Brother Yuan Bao's house for a few days, so go and play with them, okay?"
Hearing this, Yu'er's eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"
Liang Zhen smiled and nodded: "Of course it's true."
Zhu Yunxuan also peeled a grape and fed it to his son. He was embarrassed to say that his father just wanted to send him away for a few days.
The little guy clung to Liang Zhen's arm and looked at him eagerly: "Brother Yuan Bao's pony is so majestic, I want it too, father get me one too."
Liang Zhen was about to agree, he didn't have any horses on the horse farm, his son just wanted a colt, it was a big deal, but Zhu Yunxuan cut him off first, and asked Min'er: "Can you ride a horse?"
"… Won't."
"Then what do you want the pony for?" Seeing his son's head bowed and unable to answer, Zhu Yunxuan pinched his nose again: "You are vain, you see other people have good things, and you want them too, your brother Ming Not yet, you can have a horse if you want, but you have to learn how to ride a horse first, and you have to study well with the master, so the emperor will ask your father to get you the best horse."
The little prince nodded quickly, and obediently agreed, Liang Zhen didn't say any more, just smiled, thinking that this little brat was really obedient, and he couldn't even bully him if he wanted to.
After nightfall, after serving Zhu Yunxuan and the two to freshen up, Gao An led all the palace people back out, and helped them close the door of the bedroom.
A shadowy figure was reflected on the bed curtain, and a deliberately suppressed sound came out from time to time, constantly echoing in the hall with flickering candles.
Zhu Yunxuan's sweat-soaked hair was pasted on his forehead, and the corners of his eyes and brows were indescribably charming, especially touching. Liang Zhen leaned down, and Zhu Yunxuan's hot breath soaked in his ears, and his laughing voice bewitched him: "Your Majesty, don't hold back, I want to hear you shout."
Zhu Yunxuan was gasping for breath, staring at him with red eyes, as if she was really bewitched, the voice that overflowed her mouth was extremely sweet, as if she was infatuated with anger: "Damn..."
Half an hour later, Zhu Yunxuan leaned against Liang Zhen with his back in his arms, and the two, dripping with sweat, hugged each other, chatting casually.
"Didn't Your Majesty tell you that you want to discuss business matters with your ministers? What business matters are so important that they must be discussed at night by candlelight?"
Ignoring Liang Zhen's teasing, Zhu Yunxuan leaned on his arm and closed his eyes. Liang Zhen lowered his head and kissed him on his bare shoulder, and lowered his voice: "Ah Xuan, I will send you off tomorrow. Let's go, shall we go out of the palace to live in Zhuangzi for a few days?"
Zhu Yunxuan murmured hoarsely: "All you think about is to send your son away."
"So what," Liang Zhen said disapprovingly, "He's almost five years old, it's fine if you don't let him go to the East Palace to live alone, and you always take him to sleep with you, you don't spoil children like that."
"Then he asked you for a pony, and you agreed to him without even thinking about it? Don't you spoil him too?" Zhu Yunxuan sighed softly, "It's only five years old. In the past few years... it was you and I who owed him."
Liang Zhen was speechless, and patted him on the waist: "Then take your time, he is a prince after all, and he will grow up."
Zhu Yunxuan turned over, faced Liang Zhen, and drew circles with his fingers on his chest: "I heard that when you go out this time, there are still people who don't care about life and death to give you away?"
Liang Zhen raised his eyebrows with a smile: "Your Majesty even knows this? Is there someone beside me who is your Majesty's eyeliner?"
"... I'm asking you something, don't talk about him left and right."
Liang Zhen grabbed his hand and kissed him: "Yes, those people didn't want to fight me hard at the beginning. They first offered lures, promised a lot of benefits, and even sent a few people..."
Seeing that Zhu Yunxuan frowned, the smile in Liang Zhen's eyes deepened: "There are men and women, both of whom are only fifteen or sixteen years old. They look really good, like flower bones..."
Seeing that Zhu Yunxuan was about to pull his hand out, Liang Zhen hugged him into his arms again: "I'm just kidding, I didn't see what they looked like, so I asked someone to throw them out. How can I say that I am also the queen of Dayan?" , How can I go out of the wall with His Majesty Hongxing behind my back."
Zhu Yunxuan put his finger on his chest, and poked him twice: "It's good to know, if you dare, I will destroy you."
"Dare not dare."
Zhu Yunxuan fell into Liang Zhen's arms, closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief: "At first, I thought that those who were not things would be hanged, but no, I can't let them go lightly, at least they all have to be beheaded. "
"Your Majesty will sentence you however you want, as long as Your Majesty is happy." Liang Zhen patted him on the back to coax him.
"Well," Zhu Yunxuan sat next to him in satisfaction and rubbed against him again, "Tomorrow, let's go to the Zhuangzi, the Zhuangzi at the foot of the Yuanji Temple Mountain, and go to the racecourse to pick a horse for Xiao'er."
Liang Zhen responded with a smile: "Okay."