When the night falls, the four gates of the Zhou Dynasty's most important official Zhu Da's house are guarded by stone lions. The four doors are tightly closed, and the lanterns illuminate the door brightly. Compared with the daytime, it looks more majestic and quiet.
The middle-aged man who came out of Prince Wenjun's palace in a sedan chair stopped in front of Mr. Zhu's door.
The boy came up to call the door. The concierge, who had a sullen expression and was impatient to be disturbed, immediately put on a cheerful smile after seeing the face of the boy who called the door.
"Your Majesty, please come quickly." He hurriedly opened a door and stood respectfully with his hands lowered.
The middle-aged man walked in without even looking at him, and the door slowly closed.
When this man entered the gate of Zhu's house, Master Zhu was sitting in the study, looking at a young man kneeling in front of him.
"...So, you and that Gu Hai are old acquaintances?" Mr. Zhu said slowly in a calm and unhurried voice.
"Yes, Father." The young man's slightly hoarse voice came over.
"So, you went under my banner to ask your uncle to treat that Gu Hai leniently?" Mr. Zhu still said in a leisurely manner, but there was already a bit of coldness in his voice.
"Father, please spare his life." The young man hit his head on the ground, his voice choked with sobs.
"Spare him? How do you want me to spare him..." Mr. Zhu smiled and said, "It's not me who wants his life..."
He looked at the young man in front of him who was still banging his head on the ground, "...Xuan'er, this is the emperor's decision, and there is nothing I can do about it as a father... Get up, don't mess around, you can protect him from punishment these days. , compared to the two Jinshi who were already terminally ill, you are already pretty good, and you can be regarded as the most benevolent and righteous person..."
The young man who was called Xuan'er cried bitterly when he heard this, kowtowed repeatedly, and just called "Father, please, please," and soon there was blood on his forehead.
Mr. Zhu's expression turned very ugly and he slapped the table.
"Presumptuous! What are you trying to do?" he said solemnly.
Before he finished speaking, he heard a servant replying outside the door.
"Sir, Mr. Hu is here."
These words made Mr. Zhu immediately put away his anger, stood up, shook his clothes and said, "Please..."
The young man still kowtowed and begged.
"Go down!" Mr. Zhu shouted in a low voice.
The young man also knew that it would be useless to continue talking in this situation, so he had to stand up and leave.
The middle-aged man came slowly under the guidance of someone under the lantern and met the young man who had exited.
Under the light of the lantern, this is a handsome face, with sharp edges and corners. The only pity is that a shallow scar at the corner of the eye ruins the overall beauty. At this time, the complexion is sad, the eyes are red, and the bruise is obvious on the forehead.
Looking at this, Mr. Zhu may be in a bad mood... An idea flashed through the middle-aged man's mind, and he couldn't help but look at the young man a few more times, guessing his identity.
His description is a bit embarrassing, but his clothes are luxurious and he doesn't seem to be a servant...
"Master Xuan..." The servant saluted the young man respectfully.
As soon as this title was shouted out, the middle-aged man immediately understood.
Mr. Zhu has been in a high position for more than ten years and is a figure who makes the whole world tremble when he sneezes. However, this man who is feared by countless people is actually a henpecked person. He only has one wife, Sun, and Sun is infertile. In this way, he did not take a concubine, but adopted a son of Sun's brother.
But at this time, this young man is not the son that everyone knows. The adopted son is named Xian. He is twenty-four years old this year and is an official and a secret scholar.
The young man in front of him, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, was Master Zhu's new adopted son.
This adopted son was originally Zhu Xun's slave, but somehow he caught the eyes of Zhu Xun and Sun. The mother and son persuaded Mr. Zhu to accept him as their adopted son. This adopted son was not as domineering and domineering as Zhu Xun. It's low-key, so not many people know about it.
"So it's him..." The middle-aged man nodded and looked at the young man again.
It seems that even though the adopted son is born a slave, his status is still that of a slave.
Young Master Xuan walked out for a while, stopped, turned around and knelt down facing the study.
Is this something wrong? The middle-aged man was vaguely curious. Master Zhu had already come over and closed the door, blocking his view.
"Master Hu, what's the matter with your late night visit?" Master Zhu looked at the middle-aged man with a gentle smile.
"That's it..." The middle-aged man was not polite and whispered what King Wenjun said again.
Master Zhu really understood it and looked at the dancing candlelight in silence for a moment.
"The county prince and he are old acquaintances. We first met him while concealing our identity, and we got along quite well, so..." the middle-aged man explained in a low voice.
Master Zhu smiled and raised his hand to stop him.
"In this case, I will show my face to the Holy Spirit..." He said, patting the middle-aged man's hand and showing a meaningful smile.
After saying this, everyone already knew it, and the middle-aged man also smiled and patted his hand, saying that Mr. Zhu would not worry about it.
It was not easy to stay in the minister's house for a long time. After the two of them exchanged a few words, the middle-aged man left. Mr. Zhu did not stay and sent him out personally.
In order to avoid people's eyes and ears, Mr. Zhu only sent him to the screen wall. He listened to the creaking of the sedan chair outside the door and then turned around and came back.
In the courtyard of the study, the young man was still kneeling there, dressed in night clothes, like a stone sculpture.
"Get up." Mr. Zhu walked past him and shouted in a deep voice.
"Father, my son's life was saved by him. We can't just watch him die..." The young man kowtowed and begged again, his voice full of despair.
Master Zhu snorted, interrupting his plea.
"If you say one more word, you will have to pay with his life..." He said unhurriedly.
The young man who was kowtowing didn't react for a moment and looked up at Master Zhu blankly.
"Father..." he murmured, his anxious and sad face covered with a layer of surprise, "You...you..."
"What am I?" Mr. Zhu snorted, frowned, and brushed past him with a flick of his sleeves, "So even if you have no children, you are still in trouble, so I don't have to worry about you debt collectors..."
His voice was a little helpless and a little unnoticeable. After saying this, he had already entered the study.
The young man knelt there straight. It seemed like a long time had passed before he understood the meaning of what he just said. He was so ecstatic that he hit his head on the ground with a thud, feeling no pain at all.
"Thank you, Father, thank you, Father..." He only repeated this sentence.
When Gu Shiba Niang opened her eyes, it was already two days later.
She was lying on a bed covered with soft mattresses, covered with a soft brocade quilt, and there was a faint light coming from the curtains embroidered with golden dark flowers, and she didn't know where she was for a moment.
But soon she sat up suddenly, opened the curtains, and the room was filled with light.
"Little lady, wake up."
Two pretty maids heard the sound and came over with a smile. One brought tea and the other brought clothes.
Gu Shiba Niang had no time and no way to pretend to be stupid and dressed quickly.
"My little lady slept so deeply..." the pretty maid who helped her put on her coat said with a smile.
Gu Shiba Niang felt panicked in her heart, and she didn't know whether it was because she was hungry after sleeping for two days, or because she was panicking about the results she was about to know.
No matter what the outcome is, you will have to face it sooner or later.
* In the bright and emerald courtyard, Gu Shiba Niang had been kneeling for a long time, and finally there were footsteps behind her.
"Why haven't you left yet? You've slept enough, why don't you wait until you have a full stomach?" A cold voice came from the top of the head, and the red clothes with complicated patterns stood in front of them.
Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Thank you, Prince..." She laid her head on the ground and choked with sobs.
"Thank you?" King Wenjun smiled lightly and glanced over the girl's head, "I don't dare. You want me to thank you, right?"
"My little girl doesn't dare..." Gu Shiba Niang lowered her head and said.
"What else do you dare not to do..." Prince Wenjun said slowly, while walking slowly past her.
It wasn't until he walked far away that Gu Shiba Niang raised her head and watched that gorgeous figure disappear into the layers of green shadows.
This clumsy half-truth and half-false lie finally gave her a life. Although she knew that this pieced together prophecy had a certain effect, she would not believe that it had a complete effect.
"No matter what your reason is, as long as you are willing to take action, you will be my reborn benefactor, Gu Shiniang..." She lowered her head again and murmured in a low voice.
Outside Prince Wen's gate, Peng Yizhen and others were still standing there, sitting blankly leaning against the carriage, with blank expressions on their faces.
The door creaked, causing their eyes to look over as usual. This time, the thin figure appeared in their eyes.
But no one moved, their expressions remained dull.
This is a phantom. Just like before, as long as they take a few steps forward, this thin figure will disappear.
"You, you have always been here..." Gu Shiba Niang said with surprise, joy and sadness, and walked over quickly.
Peng Yizhen and others' expressions were shocked.
"It's true!" Lingbao jumped up first and rushed over, "It's Miss, Miss is out..."
He cried loudly while talking.
"Yes, yes, I'm out," Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but shed tears.
Only then did Peng Yizhen and the others become happy, and everyone surrounding Gu Shiba Niang had red eyes.
Back at the inn, Gu Shiba Niang felt very sad when she saw Peng Yizhen and Lingbao looking haggard.
"Miss, they didn't beat you, right..." Lingbao said, looking at her face sadly.
His complexion was pale and radiant, and his eyes were slightly swollen and rippled.
She slept very well... Gu Shiba Niang was a little shy. She was afraid that no one would believe her if she told her. In fact, even she didn't believe it herself, so why did she fall asleep
At that time, King Wenjun walked away without leaving a single word, but her extremely tense mood suddenly relaxed, and she fell asleep while repeatedly reviewing what she had said and guessing the consequences.
She did not fall asleep in the comfortable room carefully arranged for her by the Medicine Association in the capital, but she fell asleep in the prince's mansion where the tension between life and death was at stake, and she slept so deeply for so long.
"Eighteen Niang, how are things going?" Peng Yizhen hesitated again and again, but couldn't help but ask.
"Brother, he..." Gu Shiba Niang looked towards the direction of the prison, as if she was answering Peng Yizhen and telling herself, "It's okay..."
At this time, in the prison, Gu Hai, with disheveled beard and hair, was sitting across from others, with a simple table of food and wine in front of them.
"...Teacher, students, have another drink..." Gu Hai said, raising his head and drinking it all.
"...Boy, you've already eaten, what else do you want me to eat..." the old man with white hair and beard said with a smile, reaching for the small wine bottle, holding it tightly in his hand as if he was afraid of being taken away.
"...Wanquanzui from Yangzhou..." He looked at the jug in his hand, "...it's a good wine, but it's too weak. It would be better if I could drink three cups from Suzhou..."
"...If Teacher wants to drink, I will buy it for you..." Gu Hai said with a choked voice.
The old man laughed and threw the wine bottle against the wall. The wine bottle shattered with the sound.
"No, that's enough..." he said, winking, "If you pay homage to me during the Qingming Festival next year, just remember to take three cups and pour them..."
Gu Hai lowered his head and sobbed after hearing this.
"...Why are you crying..." the old man scolded, "Look at your frizzy appearance, how unbecoming you are..."
"Teacher..." Gu Hai choked even louder, "Student, I feel sorry for you..."
"What are you giving in to? Even though I died to live up to my life's wish, I was unyielding and very happy..." The old man smiled and ate the food happily, "Don't blame me for being stingy, you can't eat this decapitation meal..."
"Teacher..." Gu Hai fell to his knees and sobbed.
"Look at how useless you are!" The old man put down his chopsticks and looked at Gu Hai solemnly, "If you call me teacher, then listen carefully to what I say."
Gu Hai stopped sobbing and looked at the old man with red eyes.
"First, get rid of your impetuous temper. Second, keep your strong and upright spirit..." the old man said in a deep and solemn voice, looking at Gu Hai with a bit of pity in his eyes, and his voice softened, "Okay. , Doing something to the best of your ability is also a way to live up to what you have learned in your life. Not everyone is like the teacher, which is the way to be a gentleman."
"Students, please remember the teacher's instructions." Gu Hai leaned on the ground and choked with sobs.
A few days later, Gu Hai was released from prison. The long-delayed court examination finally took place, and Gu Hai was still qualified to take the exam. This news shocked everyone, and caused countless speculations about the political affairs of the court.
All these disturbances did not disturb the two brothers and sisters of the Gu family. The results of the imperial examination were soon released, and the results once again caused a sensation.
The first is that Gu Hai was assigned to be the county magistrate of Nanzhang County, Xiangyang Prefecture. Originally, the top two were assigned to the six departments in the capital to watch the government. Only the last ones were sent to the local provincial yamen to watch the government. Of course, Gu Hai was able to get this future, which was beyond everyone's expectations. According to everyone's guesses, he should be sitting on the bench waiting for assignment, but he didn't expect that he would get a real job directly.
However, considering that we were going to Nanzhang County, everyone felt that they could understand what the emperor meant.
Nanzhang is a county near the breakup of Dajin and Dazhou. Now that General Ye is gone, Dajin is arrogant, and life there is difficult...
Gu Haihai had accused Mr. Zhu of coveting life and avoiding death in his petition, so the emperor must have wanted him, a man who was not covetous of life and afraid of death, to practice so as not to have back pain while standing and talking.
"Don't worry, this is actually much better than me staying in Beijing..." Gu Hai explained to Gu Shiba Niang, fearing that she would worry.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded, but before she could say anything, the door of the room was kicked open.
"Gu Hai, you are such a bastard!"
With an angry curse, Gu Yu's fist hit Gu Hai's face. He came with such force that Gu Hai was caught off guard and fell out.
Gu Shiba Niang grabbed the porcelain vase on the table, but Gu Yu had already pounced on her again as her butt fell. The two young men were fighting each other on the ground and could not be separated for a moment. Gu Ba Niang could not make a move, for fear of He accidentally hurt Gu Hai.
"It's all you who hurt me! It's all you who hurt me!"
After several rolls, Gu Yu finally gained the upper hand and punched Gu Hai.
"Did I hurt you?" Gu Hai writhed twice, pressed him down again, and dropped his fists unceremoniously, "How could I hurt you? I'm locked in prison, and I want to talk to you, Master Zhuangyuan, I don’t even have a chance to build relationships…”
What he said meant something else. After Gu Hai came out, he realized that Gu Yu had the privilege of pardoning his sins, but Gu Yu delayed doing so. Of course, Gu Hai didn't care that he didn't plead for his life. , but feel chilled by his actions.
"You reckless man, if you hadn't acted arrogantly, how could I have suffered such a misfortune!" Gu Yu naturally heard what he meant, and was furious in his heart, so he kicked Gu Hai away.
"It's all you who hurt me, it's all you who hurt me!" He pounced on her and hit her again with hatred.
Only then did Gu Hai realize what he meant.
This is the second sensational event after the imperial examination. The number one scholar does not need to take the imperial examination. He can directly enter the Hanlin Academy and become a Hanlin master. However, this time the number one scholar, Gu Yu, was unexpectedly sent to a county in Dazhou to work. The county magistrate went there because he was young and needed experience.
This unprecedented incident immediately caused an uproar. Of course, no one believed the high-sounding reason, and soon the real reason came out.
It really happened because of Gu Hai. Ever since Prince Wen sent someone to ask Mr. Zhu what he said, Mr. Zhu entered the palace a few days ago. There were several other officials present at the time. After discussing important matters of the court, everyone should be respectful. When sending the emperor off, Mr. Zhu stood up and spoke.
"Your Majesty, do you think those trouble-making Jinshis in the prison can be released?" the old man said directly.
These words made other officials present take a breath. Grand Scholar Li had all committed the death penalty, and the emperor also said that he would not spare the Jinshi troubles. From what he heard, these Jinshis had to accompany the teacher no matter what. We were on the road together, why did Mr. Zhu suddenly say this? Isn’t this disobedience to the emperor? Mr. Zhu, who has always been proficient in the art of flattery, must be confused, right
But the facts once again surprised these officials.
The emperor snorted loudly, "I'm afraid you don't know the crime yet!"
The emperor's face was ugly and his voice was quite serious, but the meaning of this sentence was very obvious. It was clear that he regarded these Jinshi as naughty children and did not regard them as Li Dajun's party.
Sure enough, it was as he guessed. The emperor did not want the lives of these Jinshi. Master Zhu was happy that he had guessed the Sacred Heart, but at the same time, he was also slightly unhappy. He felt that the emperor's doing this seemed not as good for him as before. ….
I remember that when Zhang Quan, the editor of the Privy Council, wrote a letter to express his fault, it was already very harsh for him to demote him to Zhaozhou. However, the emperor still felt unfair for him, so he demoted Zhang Quan to Anyuan again. It was a place where there was no return in everyone's eyes, and Zhang Quan died there as expected.
This time the emperor seemed to be so angry, but it turned out that the thunder was loud and the rain was small...
But at this time, Mr. Zhu had to obey the emperor's words, so he said some good words, and the emperor went down the slope and made a decree to release these Jinshi.
The matter was originally over at this point, but somehow the emperor had a whim and joked with the boss, asking him if he had received benefits from anyone, and actually came to say good things to the person who scolded him.
Mr. Zhu did not hide anything, and used some words of loyalty, filial piety and trustworthiness to persuade Prince Wen to confess.
The emperor heard that Prince Wen had met Gu Hai, and that Lord Zhu's adopted son was willing to exchange his life to save Gu Hai. This touched the lonely man's loneliness, and invited Prince Wen over to praise him in public.
Putting aside the fact that this was unexpected by Prince Wen, the emperor suddenly thought that these outsiders and acquaintances could intercede for Gu Hai. How come Gu Yu, the brother of the number one scholar in the same clan, had not said a word yet.
So the emperor was very angry, thinking that Gu Yu was avoiding trouble and not caring about his blood relatives. He issued an imperial edict and assigned him, the number one scholar, to be the seventh-rank county magistrate, so that he could observe all kinds of things in the world and know the warmth and warmth of people.
Gu Hai also heard this, and although he was pushed to the ground and beaten by Gu Yu, he burst out laughing.
"I harmed you? You are wrong. You harmed yourself." He laughed, holding Gu Yu's fist that was about to fall with one hand, "Same clan, same clan, what do you mean by clan relatives? One will be prosperous and the other will be damaged. Do you think I will meet him?" Is it enough for you to just gloat about misfortunes?"
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This is a big post, it’s worth double updates. I won’t update when I arrive in Xi’an tomorrow. I will update when I get home on Sunday. Anyway, don’t wait, I’m so sleepy. . .
I’m so sleepy, I posted it wrong, it’s 300 words short, so everyone has to pay more. I’ll give you more words next time, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.