Chapter 47 Chapter Forty-Six

I stood on the grassy slope, looking at the camp not far away, with the bonfires lit, and the silhouettes of the patrolling soldiers faintly looking up at the waning moon in the sky, I couldn't help but sigh!After a happy gathering, it is always extraordinarily deserted! I suddenly heard soft rustling voices, looked sideways, and saw that the fourth elder brother was coming slowly, I hurriedly bowed down to say hello, and he raised his hand to let me get up. Both of them stood silently. I don't like this feeling of silence. It always makes people feel oppressed. After thinking about it, I asked: "Is the prince familiar with Prince Sataka?" The fourth elder brother said: "Prince Sataka, since you met However, you should know about it in your heart. You have outstanding talents, but they are born from concubines, and your biological mother has a low status, and is not valued by Prince Yiergenjueluo. Last winter, many people and animals in Yiergenjueluo froze to death. Erjijite had a conflict, and it was not a flattering job to see Huang Ama this time, so it fell on him. But..." He paused and said: "It was a blessing in disguise, and I am afraid that Il Lord Genjueluo and the eldest prince have a headache!"

I seem to understand but don't understand, I don't know where the blessing comes from, I vaguely know that it has something to do with who will inherit the throne in the future, thinking about Minmin, and sighed, there is a struggle for power everywhere, but I don't know Kangxi and Su Wanguaer What exactly did Prince Jia think?Then I thought that Minmin might not like Prince Sataka!I think so much now, why? While thinking wildly, the fourth elder brother said: "It's just for her to make wedding clothes! Do you really want to live alone for the rest of your life? Don't talk to me about filial piety, your head doesn't look like it was eaten by "The Legend of Martyrs" !"

I was silent for a while, I don't know why, maybe because the scenes of the night are still stirring in my mind, emotion is greater than reason, maybe I think a person who knows how to put a boat to appreciate the lotus should understand.Slowly said: "I'm so tired! Staying in the palace for these years, every step of the way is ruled, there are scheming everywhere, and I have to think again and again after everything! But I am not such a person at all! I want to leave, I want to go far away. Marriage, now it seems, is just a change from the big cage of the Forbidden City to a small cage! It may not be that I am in the Forbidden City, why should I marry?"

The fourth elder brother was silent for a while, and said in a flat tone: "Your status makes it impossible for you to decide these things by yourself! The more Huang Ama values ​​you, the more you can't control your marriage! Just take the jade pendant tonight To put it bluntly, although I can't figure out what the final plan of Prince Su Wan Guerjia is, if Huang Ama wants to propose marriage to you, I'm afraid it will be even more weighing and serious consideration! If you expect to be able to Like other court ladies, they will be released from the palace when they reach the age, I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible. Why don't you think about how to ask Huang Ama to point you to a marriage that can satisfy you relatively, it will be more practical!"

As I listened, I was in a daze, my heart just dropped, and my last hope was brutally shattered by his few words!It turns out that no matter how hard I struggle, I will inevitably become a pawn in the end!I couldn't help laughing wryly, and said angrily: "If I don't want to marry, no one can force me!" The fourth elder brother looked at me calmly, and said lightly: "Then you should be ready for a three-foot white ling!" He added: "You have to be ruthless, regardless of whether your death will anger Huang Ama or implicate you Ama and your brothers and sisters!"

I wondered blankly, is it true that one day I will risk my own life for refusing the marriage?Although he had threatened Eighth Brother with this before, it was just an attitude and a trick!Ever since I was a child, I have never thought of committing suicide, and I have always looked down on those who commit suicide. Her parents gave birth to her and raised her hard. Could it be that they let her take her own life?I always feel that everything is man-made, and there is room for maneuver in everything.After all, what could be more precious than life?Not only for myself, but also for my parents and those who love me!To live is to have hope!

He said slowly: "The palace is the place where dreams are the worst! Wake up early and think about the countermeasures. Otherwise, when the trouble comes, I really can't help myself!" I asked unwillingly: "I don't Is it really impossible to marry? If I don't marry, it won't hinder anyone, so why do you have to marry me?" The fourth elder brother stared at me and said coldly: "Do you not understand my words? Or do you not want to understand at all? The one who decides this matter is Huang Ama, you can only obey!" I don't want to understand at all?Have I been subconsciously coaxing myself that there is happiness ahead?Otherwise, how would you survive this day?

After a long time, the fourth elder brother asked calmly: "Is there no one in your heart who is willing to marry? There is no one who makes you feel that you are by his side, isn't it a cage?" I was stunned for a while and shook my head.He stared at me for a while, then turned his head to stare into the depths of the night, and said nothing. The two walked back in silence all the way, and when I asked An to leave, I sincerely said to him: "Thank you, Fourth Prince!" He waved me casually to get me up, turned around and left. Changchun Garden in September of the forty-ninth year of Kangxi

Ever since he returned from outside the Great Wall in August, Kangxi has been worrying constantly.There was a severe drought in the two prefectures of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian, and there was no harvest. The local officials greedily embezzled the relief food and grass, so that many people starved to death on the road. Kangxi was furious when he heard about it, and ordered Fan Shichong to be the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang in charge of disaster relief. The 300,000 shi of Caoliang went to Zhangzhou and Quanfu in Fujian, and the unfinished taxes of the two mansions were exempted this year.

The aftermath of this incident was not resolved. In September, another case broke out in which the Ministry of Household Affairs purchased Caodou silver taels at a loss. After more than ten years, the total loss of silver taels reached more than 400,000 yuan. There are a total of 120 relevant officials of all sizes.After Kangxi listened to the report, he was immediately stunned on the dragon chair and didn't make a sound for a long time. Those of us who serve lowly are careful and cautious, cautious and cautious, lest something goes wrong and bring about a disaster of death.One day, he tidied up the tea set and went out of the tea room. Before he had traveled far, he saw Elder Brother Thirteen with an anxious face, giving orders to Wang Xi and the eunuchs. After speaking, the eunuchs immediately scattered away.

What can make Brother Thirteen so anxious?Can't help walking a few steps, An asked: "What happened?" The thirteenth elder brother said anxiously: "Huang Ama wants to see the fourth brother, but the fourth brother doesn't know where!" Don't know the whereabouts of the prince?" With grief and indignation on his face, he whispered to me: "You are not on duty in front of the palace today, so you don't know what happened first. Everyone discussed how to deal with the loss of the household department, and the fourth brother and Huang Ama disagreed. , was angrily reprimanded by Huang Ama for "acting viciously, being mean and ungrateful, reading many years of sage books in vain, and having no benevolent and righteous gentleman's demeanor'! At that time, he ordered us to kneel down!" I was slightly surprised, "Oh", thinking that he has always kept a low profile , The city is deep and strict, how can there be a direct conflict with Kangxi? Thirteen took two deep breaths and said: "After the fourth brother and I knelt down, he said he wanted to be alone, so I went first. As soon as he left the garden, the prince hurried to find him, saying that Huang Ama had returned I want to see the fourth brother. The guards guarding the gate said that they have not seen the fourth brother come out, so he must be still in the garden, so quickly order someone to look for it!" After speaking, I looked up and looked around, and said anxiously: "I don't know if I can find it or not?" My heart moved slightly, and I hurriedly said to Thirteen: "Follow me!" After speaking, I walked quickly .Thirteen hurriedly followed, asking, "Where are you going?" I didn't answer, but just hurried away. When I got to the lake, I bent down to look under the bridge pier, and sure enough, the boat was gone!Heaving a sigh of relief in his heart, he turned around and said to Shisan with a smile: "I'm afraid the Fourth Prince is on the lake!" After speaking, he raised his eyes to look at the lake.Different from the emerald green and the sharp buds just showing up last time, now the lake is full of lotus flowers. Although it has turned from prosperity to decline, and it is slightly ruined, it is still graceful and erroneous. Shisan didn't bother to ask me how I knew that the fourth elder brother was on the lake. Standing on the arch bridge and looking at the endless lake full of lotus, he sighed, "How do I find it?" I said helplessly, "I have to find a boat to try my luck." !” Saying this, he hurriedly turned around and ran out quickly to call for someone to bring the boat. After the eunuchs moved the boat, Shisan grabbed the oar and boarded the boat, and I jumped on board too.Before I could sit still, he rowed vigorously. He rowed the boat, and I kept calling "Fourth Prince", the boat circled around, but no one answered, both of them were anxious, he rowed faster and faster, and I shouted , just shouted 'four princes'. 'Four...', I suddenly saw the fourth elder brother rowing out from the lotus leaves behind the thirteenth elder brother, I hurriedly shouted to the thirteenth: "Stop! Stop!" pointing to the back. Brother Thirteen turned around and said joyfully, "But I found it! Huang Ama wants to see you!" The fourth elder brother slowly stopped beside our boat, I hurriedly bowed to say hello, he glanced at me, and calmly said to Thirteen, "That time!" After speaking, he took the lead in rowing away. Thirteen was sitting on the boat, but he didn't move. I was about to remind him to row the boat when he clenched his fist and punched the boat hard, causing it to shake wildly.I hurriedly held the side of the boat. His face was heavy, his fists were clenched tightly, and his veins were throbbing. After a while, he slowly let go of his fists, picked up the oars, and quietly rowed after him. I stared at Thirteen for a while, and then turned my head to look at the back in front of me, with a straight waist, as if nothing would overwhelm me, but the thin back showed pain and loneliness. After thinking about it for a long time in the room at night, I finally went to Yu Tan, and asked lightly: "Why did Long Live Bai Ri reprimand the Fourth Prince?" Yu Tan hurriedly replied in a low voice: "When discussing how to deal with the loss of the household department, The prince and Babeile said that these officials have no other faults except that they have been conscientious for many years, so they may as well deal with it leniently; the long live god has already allowed the prince to investigate this matter, but the fourth prince knelt down and begged for a thorough investigation. Severely punish the officials involved in the case, saying that lenient sentences are just appeasement and nurturing. They counted the corruption and money-gathering in the officialdom for many years, and said that it has intensified. There are folk songs singing "Nine Heavens offer gifts to the East China Sea, and the golden pearls of all nations are offered to the poor", mocking today's official corruption. The emperor was furious because of this, after scolding the fourth prince, he ordered the fourth prince and the thirteenth elder brother to kneel down!" I nodded and asked again: "Then what did the emperor say when he summoned the Fourth Prince?" Yu Tan said puzzledly: "I didn't say much, I just ordered the Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Lord to help the Crown Prince to find out the matter!"