In the imperial city of Chang'an, the white snow extends along the city walls, and the palace domes are covered with snow, and goose-feather-like snowflakes are falling.
The patrolling palace soldiers walked up the swept steps, while the eunuchs, whose faces were red from the cold, stood guard outside the study door with their necks hunched, breathing out white air and enduring a slight shivering body.
Behind the tightly closed door, a straight red carpet was stretched out in front of a copper stove, the red-hot charcoal fire was warm. In the hall, the sound of pen tips stroking across paper could be heard, and the warm yellow light illuminated the focused profile.
Yang Guang reviewed a memorial and put it aside. A servant came over and called softly, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. You should rest."
"Um."
Under the burning candlelight, the emperor seemed to be in a good mood. He responded to the rare request, picked up another memorial and flipped through it, smiling: "Wait a moment. If I don't finish reviewing today's matters, there will be another pile tomorrow. I can't handle it even if I'm busy. By the way, is there any news from outside the palace recently?"
After the Western Expedition to Tuyuhun and the killing of Murong Fuyun, Yang Guang's power in the court is now greater than before. All his orders outside the palace are carried out. He is confident that he has made the right move and is naturally satisfied. As for the appearance of the evil spirit in the palace before, he has no need to worry about it with the imperial teacher around.
During this period, the young emperor's imperial aura became more and more majestic in his every move.
As soon as the words fell, the eunuch serving on the side of the dragon case bowed and took small steps to quickly stand at the corner of the table. As the emperor's confidant, he naturally understood what the news outside the palace referred to. He replied in a shrill voice: "Your Majesty, the spy I sent out reported that Duke Yue rarely left the palace recently."
Over there, the pen stopped writing a stroke of words. In the candlelight, the emperor raised his head: "Oh?" Then, he frowned, leaned back, and squinted his eyes.
"You live in seclusion... Are you trying to do something to me, pretending to be sick and avoiding the spotlight for the time being?"
Amid the joking words, the eunuch's eyelids twitched. What would be the fate of him if he was suspected by the emperor? How could an experienced person not understand the darkness in the palace
At this time, no matter what the emperor said, the eunuch just lowered his head and dared not respond.
After a while, the emperor bent over his desk to write again. Amid the slight rustling sound, Yang Guang looked at the memorials of unknown content, and while reviewing them, he opened his lips and squeezed out words.
"Since Duke Yue is ill, send him some medicine."
The eunuch on the other side trembled slightly, and bowed quickly: "I obey your order."
Soon, the sky was slightly bright, and two teams of cavalry followed a carriage out of the palace and walked along a long snow-covered street to the official residence street in the west.
In the clear sky, servants of many officials were already sweeping the snow in front of their doors on the streets. In the most prominent mansion of the Duke, servants and guards who had risen early were busy. The huge mansion had a side courtyard where guests lived.
The servants in the mansion brought breakfast. The cold wind squeezed in as the door opened. There were four scholars in the room, talking in low voices, wearing warm clothes. Some yawned and walked out of the bedroom, while some stood in front of the window and occasionally got inspiration and improvised a poem. The servants who brought breakfast left, and the scholars who were scattered everywhere sat down at the table, took the steamed buns and filled their stomachs with porridge, and talked while eating.
"My three brothers, do you think we have chosen the wrong person again? Duke Yue is a famous general, why didn't His Majesty take him with him on the Western Expedition?"
"...Stop talking, this is the residence of the Duke of Yue, be careful or you will be kicked out... We don't have a house to live in in the capital."
"Brother, you are just too cautious. Look at the four of us. We are full of talent and have excellent looks. We are not only good at both civil and military affairs, but we have also experienced a lot. What have we not seen? Don't you agree?"
"That's right, back in the Southern Dynasty, we opened a city gate!"
…
After a few words of complaint, the four of them walked out of the side yard, stretched lazily together, felt the coolness of the snowy day, tightened their necks, clasped their hands with their sleeves, and walked hesitantly to the front yard to sort out some clerical work.
After passing through the crescent door and leaving the corridor alone, they started whispering again.
"But speaking of it, Duke Yue is still a relative of the emperor and a well-known person. If the four of us join him, we will be able to stand out sooner or later."
"Brother, what you said makes sense. It's really hard to choose."
Turning around the corner of the front yard's eaves, before passing the main hall, they suddenly saw the courtyard in front of them. A group of people with swords and knives came from the gate of the mansion. The man leading them was wearing a black robe, a red collar, and a hat on his head. The four of them knew each other.
"Hey, it looks like a eunuch."
"… Look at what he is holding, it seems to be an imperial edict. Maybe the Duke of Yue will be promoted again. Wouldn't it be a good thing for the four of us?!"
"No, no, why do these soldiers look so ferocious and murderous?"
The sharp-eyed Zhang Ti quickly grabbed Wang Feng, and retreated to the corner with the other two scholars to hide. Only four heads popped out, overlapping and looking over.
"It's definitely not a good thing."
"Well, I have a feeling that the Duke of Yue may lose power. Isn't that what is written in those wild anecdotes and chivalrous novels? This is what happens when loyal ministers are suspected by the emperor."
"What should we do then?"
"Of course he left!"
Among the four, Wang Feng called them over, frowned, and showed a rare serious look: "We scholars, how can we be spineless and waver around like fence-sitters? Duke Yue has treated us well, how can we abandon him!!"
Ma Liu, Zhang Ti, and Zhao Tang were left. They looked at each other, then at their brother:
"Brother Wang, you are right. What do you think we should do?!"
Wang Feng watched the helpers approaching the front yard, narrowed his eyes, his cheeks puffed up, and clenched his teeth to squeeze out a sentence: "For scholars like me, why do we study so hard..."
He suddenly came out of the corner where he was hiding, and rushed towards the eunuchs and soldiers from the palace who were coming over there. A flattering smile instantly appeared on his face, and he clasped his hands and bowed.
"You are here to look for the Duke of Yue, right? I am Wang Feng, and I will lead the way for you. I am very familiar with this palace!"
The three scholars over there staggered and almost fell when they heard the voice, then came out, smiling with teeth showing on their faces, and bowed down: "We will all lead the way!"
The leading eunuch was stunned, and it took him a long while to react. He put on a smile, looked at the four people, nodded, and raised his index finger with a smile.
"Then please lead the way for us, the Duke's mansion is so big, so that we won't get lost."
The four of them looked at each other, laughed, and hurried to the front and sides, drove away the guards and the steward who had rushed over, gestured to the eunuch, and excitedly led them through the front yard and straight to the courtyard. At this time, they knew that the Duke of Yue should be there having breakfast and reading a book.
"By the way, eunuch, what do you want to see Duke Yue about?"
The eunuch glanced at the brocade box in the hands of the guard who was following him and said, "His Majesty saw that Duke Yue had not been out of the palace for a long time, so he specially asked me to bring some supplements and the best medicines from the palace to visit him."
Wait! Visit
The four of them froze in expression. It turned out that it was not what they thought. They all swallowed their saliva, and sweat appeared under their thick robes.
Ma Liu, Zhang Ti, and Zhao Tang all looked at Wang Feng, their eyes seemed to convey something.
"Brother Wang, it's not what you think!"
The latter glanced away.
"How the hell did you know that? Now you blame me?"
The four of them swallowed their saliva together, their legs began to tremble, and they walked slower than anyone else.
What the hell is this? !
Looking at the courtyard getting closer and closer in front of me, I cried out sadly in my heart.