"Regarding the post-disaster treatment in Lanzhou Province, the first batch of relief food has been delivered, which can calm the panic of the local people in a short period of time. The dam built at the beginning has been washed away by the spring flood. Instead of increasing labor labor, it is better to consider using labor as a substitute for relief. By distributing relief food and money to encourage victims to participate in post-disaster reconstruction, it can not only reduce the public complaints caused by increased labor, but also reduce the turmoil of the local people during the disaster period.”
In a blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and the young and immature emperor is now talking in the hall, with the vigor of a young man in his eyes.
Listening to Emperor Jingning's handling of the once-in-a-century flood in Lan Province, the courtiers couldn't help nodding their heads.
Time not only made him fade away from his childhood youthfulness, but also made him more and more like an emperor.
At the beginning, when Emperor Chengqing issued the Edict of Guilt, the people of the great merchants admitted their crimes against the loyal officials of the Yan family, which caused an uproar, especially the people in the northwest. They were the people who were most favored by the Yan family. When the accusation came out, the people in the Northwest region were skeptical and caused a considerable riot. It was the imperial court who sent troops to suppress it to eliminate this disaster. Now Emperor Chengqing admits that he framed all the crimes against the Yan family back then. The people in Weiyan's family who called Qu were completely unable to sit still.
It was Zongzheng Qingqi who issued several edicts one after another to calm down the public grievances.
An edict is to collect the bones of the Yan clan and rebuild the Yan clan's ancestral tomb.
The second edict set Yan Zhaonan's spiritual seat in the Hall of Heroes. Since the founding of the Great Shang, only a few people have been able to enter the Hall of Heroes. These people are all great men with great fame recorded in the history books.
The Hall of Heroes is set up in the imperial ancestral hall of the Zongzheng family. All the meritorious officials who enter the Hall of Heroes can receive incense from the people and share the good fortune of the royal family.
The third edict sent the Supreme Emperor to the imperial tomb, and he will stay in the imperial tomb for the rest of his life, and he is not allowed to leave the imperial tomb.
There has never been a precedent for such a severe punishment for a former emperor.
Although it is said that the Son of Heaven commits the same crime as the common people, when the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he will only use various reasons to cover it up, and he will never tell the world like this.
Zongzheng Qingqi's actions attracted criticism from many pedantic scholars, and also won the favor of many common people. Those years were indeed the most turbulent years in the court. Internal and external troubles, he also In those few years, there has been qualitative progress.
Now, it's different from before.
"Teacher, what do you think of the lonely idea?"
Seeing the thoughtful expressions of the courtiers below, Zongzheng Qingqi turned slightly sideways, and looked at the lower left corner, the slightly feminine man sitting on the grand master's chair, who stood aloof from other ministers.
Perhaps because of the serious injuries he suffered in the early years and the accumulation of toxicity from those messy pills, Yan Chu's body has become more and more deteriorating in the past few years, and he was absent from the morning court for half of a month.
At this moment, the man sitting on the grand teacher's chair was thin and thin, with pink lips. Although he was haggard, he did not hide his unique temperament.
He was twisting a string of sandalwood beads in his hands, and he was wearing loose and comfortable casual clothes, which didn't quite blend in with the serious atmosphere around him.
As the little emperor grew up and Xiao Chu's body deteriorated, the situation in the court also changed a lot.
After all, Xiao Chu is an eunuch, following him for ten or twenty years, maybe it will be very beautiful, but after a hundred years, the royal family will be in power after all, not to mention Xiao Chu's body, can it last another ten years? Years are hard to say.
Following such a master with no future is very risky.
In the early years, the little emperor was still young and couldn't see his temper. In recent years, it's different. As the little emperor began to intervene in the government, anyone with a discerning eye could see that facing Xiao Chu who prevented him from fully taking power, the relationship between the two of them was different. Sooner or later one will die.
Either, Xiao Chu lost, or the little emperor lost. As far as the current situation is concerned, the former is more likely.
Looking at his body, it seems that he really can't last for many years.
"Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth or lies?"
Yan Chu looked at the young man sitting on the high platform, feeling a little dazed. Although he lacked all the training in his previous life, the young man in front of him was still more and more similar to him in the previous life.
Yan Chu's mood is very complicated, so is Zongzheng Qingqi.
At the beginning, he hated the man sitting in the teacher's chair very much, but over the years, Zongzheng Qingqi gradually changed his opinion of him in the little things he got along with him.
That man is complicated.
He doesn't seem to be greedy for power, allowing him to learn a lot of emperor's skills, and let him get in touch with the government indifferently after he became an adult, but at the same time, he still firmly grasps the killer weapon of Jinyiwei, and acts as an eunuch in the court. Breed his henchmen.
He seems to be very friendly to him, for example, he will take him out of the palace in low clothes, and take him to learn a lot of useful knowledge that the teachers can't teach, but at the same time, he treats him as if away from him. There was a time when he wanted to be close to him, But he always kept a strange distance from him, as if the connection between them was only in teaching.
Such an elusive man, Zongzheng Qingqi couldn't help but explore, admire, and at the same time, deeply jealous.
Because he was so unpredictable, Zongzheng Qingqi didn't know what the other party would do in the next second, not to mention, as an emperor who was already twenty years old, married and had children, the imperial power was not fully in his hands. In my own hands, this feeling of having trouble sleeping and eating, and always having a knife around my neck is really terrible.
The counselors around him had asked him to attack Xiao Chu more than once, and Zongzheng Qingqi had been hesitating because he found that even if he was afraid, he couldn't attack Xiao Chu.
But Zongzheng Qingqi didn't know how long she could hold on to such hesitation.
"The truth, Gu naturally wants to listen to the truth." He looked at Xiao Chu and smiled.
"Very well, Your Majesty already has the shadow of a Mingjun." Yan Chu nodded, he had nothing to teach him, and he needed to figure out the rest.
This was the first time in history that Xiao Chu praised him in front of all the courtiers. Zongzheng Qingqi, who had long been used to not showing her emotions on her face, couldn't restrain the smile from the corner of her mouth. All of a sudden, her back straightened It became straighter, and the chin couldn't help but lift up, looking like a child praised by the elders.
This expression was fleeting, but it was still captured by some sensitive ministers.
Xiao Jiuqian's way of getting along with the emperor didn't seem to be as tense, strange, and strange as they thought.
The morning court soon ended, and Yan Chu did not return to his own palace, but walked towards the inner hall of Qianqing Palace with the support of the grown-up eunuch whom he had chosen to take in at the beginning.
"I don't know if Your Majesty can honor me and accompany me out of the palace."
In private, Yan Chu always referred to himself as me in Zongzheng Qingqi, and Zongzheng Qingqi himself was used to it, as if he never called himself lonely to Yan Chu when getting along in private.
In the past two or three years, Zongzheng Qingqi never went out of the palace with Yan Chu again, because at that time he had already started to get in touch with the government and started to cultivate his new power in the court.
People around him made him guard against Xiao Chu, fearing that the other party would do something to hurt him in the private relationship.
Suddenly hearing the other party ask him out of the palace together, Zongzheng Qingqi was still not used to it.
"His Majesty."
The servant who was following Zongzheng Qingqi called out nervously. Now the voices in the court asking Xiao Chu to return the power are getting louder and louder. Who knows what the other party is asking His Majesty to accompany him out of the palace this time? idea.
I have survived for so many years, and I can't fall short at the last moment.
"it is good."
Meeting Yan Chu's eyes, Zongzheng Qingqi agreed.
*****
"You are talking about my father, he passed away the year before last."
In a farmer's home, Zongzheng Qingqi and Yan Chu were wearing ordinary clothes, sitting around an old wooden table with a missing corner, having lunch.
Whole grains, pickled vegetable porridge, and chicken soup with a layer of chicken fat, Zongzheng Qingqi's thoughts suddenly returned to ten years ago.
The meals are exactly the same, except that the old farmer who sat with them at the dining table has become the old farmer's son, and the three thatched huts that were slightly dilapidated at the beginning have become five bright mud tile houses now.
Zongzheng Qingqi was chewing the rough and dry grains in his mouth. He was still not used to the taste, but now he was able to chew the sweetness from it, and he could also talk about farming with this farmer. talk.
"The relationship between your father and son is really good."
The little baby with gaping teeth is now married and has children, and has become a cheerful young man. He holds a baby who has not yet grown teeth in his arms, and feeds him chicken soup with chopsticks. Said.
Father and son
Zongzheng Qingqi glanced at the much older man beside her, her heart softened, and she didn't say anything to refute.
"I still remember when you ate one of my candied haws."
When returning to the palace, Zongzheng Qingqi specially bought a bunch of candied haws. This taste has always been in his heart, but since that time, he has never tasted the taste of candied haws again.
"Well—it's a little sour."
Zongzheng Qingqi took a bite of the candied haws, and frowned at the hawthorn in it. Is this really the delicacy he missed for a long time when he was a child
Doubting her own taste when she was a child, Zongzheng Qingqi handed the remaining candied haws to Yan Chu's hands.
This is what he once owed him.
Yan Chu looked at the little emperor's tightly squeezed hands and smiled.
"Letting Your Majesty accompany me out of the palace today has fulfilled my wish. My body can't last long. For the rest of my life, I just want to visit the beautiful rivers and mountains of Dashang. When the time comes, I will find a place with the most beautiful scenery. Bury yourself."
He returned the two bunches of candied haws, so should he also return the items to the regime of the original owner? This is what the little emperor wanted to express.
Yan Chu understood the other party's feelings very well, not to mention that he really planned to leave.
He has cultivated a wise gentleman for Dashang. What he owed in his whole life, he has made up for it in this life.
"leave?"
Zongzheng Qingqi's hands trembled, that's right, the best choice is for the other party to leave, if he is still in court for a day, his former party members and forces will not give up for a day.
And only when the other party completely leaves the court, can he truly feel at ease with him.
This kind of thinking is very despicable, it is indeed the best choice for the two of them, it is better than one day, he will become the real emperor, and he will no longer tolerate the existence of the other party.
"I will send a team to protect you."
"No need."
Yan Chu glanced at the emperor who had a tense brow and eyes. Whether the role of the team was protection or surveillance, his expression was written all over his face.
Zongzheng Qingqi was also a little annoyed that Yan Chu saw through his petty thoughts. In fact, the other party's body had already deteriorated to such a state, so why should he be vigilant.
"Take care all the way."
With no conflict of interest, Zongzheng Qingqi felt that a huge stone had been put down in his heart. From now on, perhaps he could look at the man in front of him with pure admiration.
No matter what he was, at least for him, he was a good teacher.
*****
"you are leaving?"
After Emperor Chengqing died in the imperial mausoleum, Wan Qilan had been waiting for Yan Chu to leave.
Ten years have passed, and Wan Qilan has become a grandmother-level character. The once strong emotions have gradually accumulated. She has become wiser and more charming. Similarly, she is no longer young.
"Well, it's time to go. If I still stay in the palace, wouldn't it be a choice for you to choose?"
This time was just right, Zongzheng Qingqi was already ready to become an emperor, but she was not as cruel as an emperor. In a few years, as the courtiers guessed, one of the two of them would end up miserable.
"You have been hiding from me for ten years, and you will never be able to avoid me again in the days to come." Wan Qilan looked at the man not far away and smiled slightly.
The meaning in the words was that he wanted to leave the palace with Yan Chu.
"This time, you chose me?"
Yan Chu smiled, and in a daze, Wan Qilan returned to more than 30 years ago, when his smile was the same as now, without any complicated emotions, just pure happiness.
Yuanshen had two wishes, one was to make the great merchants live in peace and the common people live in peace, and he did it. He helped the Zongzheng clan manage the country and society for more than 20 years, and he also cultivated a wise monarch for the common people.
The second wish is that the original owner wants to be chosen by Wan Qilan once.
In his previous life, he had countless chances to win against Zongzheng Qingqi, but in the end he still lost. Did he really lose to the Northwest King? No, he just lost to Wan Qilan, his only survivor. fondest memories.
This time, he also wants to be chosen by Wan Qilan once, no matter what the reason is, only once is fine.
Now Wan Qilan chooses to give up her status as queen mother, give up becoming the emperor's son, and leave with Yan Chu. Yuanshen's wish has been fulfilled.
"I'm tired."
After the laughter, Yan Chu shook his head lightly.
"The first half of my life, I lived for revenge, the second half of my life, I lived for the people of the big merchants, and for the rest of my life, I just want to live for myself."
Yan Chu looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the palace wall, "The girl I like is the girl with long braids and riding on the back of a deer. You like the upright and cheerful little General Yan back then. Now we, It’s not what it was before, what we each like is really the changed us, or the shadow deep in our memory that we keep beautifying and reminiscing about.”
Yan Chu turned around, and smiled relievedly at Wan Tiran's puzzled and doubtful eyes.
"Empress Dowager, from now on, let's take care of each other."
Yan Chu gathered the cloak on his chest, turned and left under the dazed gaze of the other party.
*****
"Nine thousand years old, do we really have to leave?"
The little eunuch, who was lucky enough to be chosen by Yan Chu to stay by his side, looked at the fading red palace wall, feeling a little bit reluctant.
You said that he finally climbed to such a high position, why did he follow the governor out of the palace when he couldn't think about it, and when he left the imperial city, he would be nothing.
"If you are reluctant, there is still time to go back now."
Yan Chu sat on the carriage, holding a book, and spoke slowly.
"That can't be done." The little eunuch replied without thinking, he has been serving the governor for more than ten years, how lonely the governor must be without him, he also has a conscience, the governor treats him well, he also needs to know Entu newspaper.
Doesn't this feel sorry for his unpacked treasures, but the gold, silver and jewelry they brought with them this time to leave the palace is enough for them to be a handsome rich man outside the palace.
Thinking about the precarious life in the palace and the increasingly tense situation, it seems that this is also a good choice.
The little eunuch didn't think so much anymore, seeing that the tea beside the governor was finished, he quickly filled it up.
The imperial doctor said that the governor's time is running out, he can't show a bitter face in front of the governor, he should be happy every day, maybe the governor will be in a good mood when he sees him, and his life span can be extended.
Not all of those doctors could be trusted. Why can't a man as good as the Dudu not live a long life
The little eunuch cheered himself up in his heart, and the carriage gradually left the imperial city and went to an unknown place.
*****
"Unexpectedly, after all, I will send you away first."
In the ancestral tomb of the Yan family, there is a newly repaired tomb with Yan Chu's name written on the tombstone.
Wan Qilan dressed up in disguise and knelt in front of the tombstone in casual clothes. At this time, she was even older than three years ago.
Before the other party died, she asked her to bury him in a beautiful place so as not to pollute the Yan family's ancestral grave, but Wan Qilan still lived up to his last wish.
When he was alive, Yan Chu was unwilling to admit his identity, making the world laugh at the Yan family. After death, he should return to the place where he should be the most. Here are his parents, younger siblings, and relatives.
When burying Yan Chu's body, Wan Qilan also put a booklet describing his life experience in the coffin.
Maybe one day in the future, when there is no big merchant, no royal family, and everything becomes more enlightened, this booklet will be discovered. At that time, people will be able to better evaluate his mistakes in this life and return him. true identity.
In his life, there is nothing worthy of ridicule, he is a hero.
"Your Majesty, it's time to go back to the palace."
The only old lady who knew about Wan Qilan and Yan Chu's past was still in good spirits. She looked at the time and urged Wan Qilan in a low voice.
Wan Qilan stood up with her support, her knees were already numb.
"I still don't understand what you said when you left."
Wan Qilan said slowly to Yan Chu's grave, "But don't forget to wait for me when you cross the Naihe Bridge, at least in the next life, let's not miss it again."
"Ma'am, it's time to go."
The old mother couldn't bear it in her eyes. The imperial doctor said that the empress had a heart disease. Ever since the news of General Yan's death came, her body had collapsed, and she probably wouldn't be able to last long.
She couldn't persuade the empress, but fortunately she was too old, and she could still serve her princess for a while on the road to Huangquan.
Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the two figures were stretched longer and longer until they disappeared.