Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Mingding Kingdom is

Yikuang went to the front door to meet a wolf at the back door of the tiger. He looked up at Guangxu in surprise, and hesitantly accepted the edict in Guangxu's hand. He only read the words "Ming Ding Guoshi", he was half scared to death, his face was like the moonlight The paper price of the window is pale... The flames in the charcoal basin are blazing, and the aroma in the smoker cage is wafting, creating a warm atmosphere.Just lying on the bed, Concubine Zhen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.Outside the window, the ticking of dripping water in front of the eaves and the tinkling of iron horses in the wind rang non-stop.Concubine Zhen stared blankly at the dark sky with her dull eyes, looking back at the ups and downs of the past, looking forward to the bleak future, two lines of tears flowed down...

A few dry and dull bells sounded, Concubine Zhen opened her starry eyes, but seeing that the room was full of light, she hurriedly sat up straight, and shouted: "Mother Chen, pour salt water!" She said and got off the bed in a cloak . Kou Liancai, who was waiting under the eaves outside the house, muttered, "I'm so old, is there still time for me to sleep?" Hesitantly opened the curtain and opened the door to come in, but saw Nanny Chen lying stiff on her side On the ground, the bright red blood seeped a large area on the brick floor of Linqing, holding the scissors in his hand, he couldn't help being dumbfounded by the price of the clay Buddha fetus in the temple. "Who's outside? Mother Chen? Why don't you come in sooner?" Concubine Zhen, who was dressed in front of the dressing table, heard the movement and said, "By the way, take my white shirt. The cabinet under the east window, yesterday—”

"Back to the master, it's... the servant Kou... Kou Liancai, Nanny Chen...she..." "What's wrong with her? Look at you—" Concubine Zhen lifted the curtain and came out with her buttons covered. She didn't finish her sentence, her face seemed to be frozen, and she stared fixedly at Nanny Chen on the ground.Afraid that it was a dream, he rubbed his eyes, "She...she..." "Master," Kou Liancai finally came to his senses, leaned over to check Nanny Chen's breath, looked at Concubine Zhen, and shook his head slightly, " The body is already stiff, depending on the situation—"

"Unless the emperor asks about this matter, no one should bring it up." Concubine Zhen slowly raised her head, looked into the distance deeply, and let out a sigh of relief, "Rinse this off. I want the next one to send her off properly." .” Kou Liancai frowned, “Master, this bitch—” "Don't talk about it, there are many things she can do nothing about." Concubine Zhen raised her hand, took a shirt from the closet and draped it over her shoulders, "Where's the emperor? Hasn't he come down yet?" As she spoke, she glanced at the corner of the room Golden chime bell.Kou Liancai moved his lips and raised his face as if he wanted to call someone, but he paused after pondering. Hearing the sound, he called Qian'er and said: "Long live Lord, I returned to the palace at the time of day. I saw that the master was sleeping soundly. He has already passed the mansion of Prince Chun. The master stayed overnight last night." If you haven't slept well, let's lie down for a while. Long live Lord said, the master doesn't have to go there anymore. "

"Well——" Concubine Zhen pondered for a while, and said, "No need. You should pack this up quickly, so that the emperor won't have a clean rest when he comes back." After finishing speaking, Lianbu moved out of the room lightly. In the blue sky, the thin clouds move slowly, and the sun lazily splashes down the bright light, shining on the body, which is indescribably comfortable.Standing under the alchemy, she took a deep breath and looked up at the mysterious sky. Concubine Zhen remained silent and her nail price did not move. "Bold slave, you dare to stop me?!"

"Master, please calm down. The Lord Long Live ordered me to do so, but the slave can't do anything about it. The master is sympathetic to the slave, so please go back." "I'm sympathetic to you? Don't you weigh your own weight?! Why don't you get out of the way sooner?!" "Long live God's will, slave—" There was a crisp sound of "snap", and the voice of Concubine Jin's thunder came back again: "You dog slave, show some face to you, you don't know how big the sky is! Get out! Don't let me see you again!" "The master killed the slave, and the slave didn't dare to leave."

"you--" "Sange!" Concubine Zhen shouted as she walked around the moon cave door, "Is that your Master Jin? Let her come in!" The five glaring finger marks on Sange's cheeks faintly ooze blood, and he strode forward to strike thousands of times. My son greeted me, and said: "Long live God's decree, except for the slaves of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, idlers and others are not allowed to enter the Moon Cave Gate. The slaves——" Concubine Jin has clouded temples, with two jasper hairpins inserted obliquely. The spirit of dressing up the seven-point appearance and twelve-point appearance.Only the phoenix eyebrows were furrowed, and the almond eyes were wide open, obviously extremely annoyed, the guards blocking Dao'er in front of the eyes shouted: "Idlers wait? Listen, sister, does this servant still see me? !"

"Sange, tell me to get out of the way." "Master, slave—" "The emperor blames it, and I will speak for you." "No, no, I don't mean that." Sange licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, bowed and said, "I'm worried——" "Don't talk nonsense." Concubine Zhen reprimanded Sange in a low voice, "Besides, you are here , what will happen? Tell me to go on.” Sange nodded hesitantly. "Where's your majesty?" Concubine Jin's face was livid, she approached without touching the ground, and said, "He won't be the master with me today, I—" Concubine Zhen looked at Concubine Jin coldly, and said slowly: "Your Majesty So I went to the mansion of King Jin. Sange is also for the purpose, so you can calm down." "Calm down? Can I calm down?! Sister, think about it, being trampled by this slave like this, that's it. Forget it, how can I control the slaves in the palace in the future?" Concubine Jin stared at Sange, "He is favored by the emperor, but after all, he is also a vile slave—"

Concubine Zhen saw the blood on Sange's cheeks dripping between her fingers, and her robe had already soaked into a large piece of her palm, she took out a handkerchief and handed it over, and interjected: "In the eyes of the emperor, he has never been treated as a slave. Sange, you go down and ask the servants of the Tai Hospital to give you some medicine, so you don't need to wait on me." "Slaves don't get in the way—" "The emperor doesn't treat him as a slave, it doesn't mean that he is not a slave, let alone let him ride on the head of the master, bossing him around—"

"Are you still finished?!" Concubine Zhen stared at Concubine Jin, "Didn't I tell you that this is what the emperor meant?!" As if not believing her ears, Concubine Jin stared blankly at Concubine Zhen, muttering to herself. He said: "Sister, you...you..." Venting the depression in her chest, she took a long breath, and Concubine Zhen took two steps: "Not only today, but in the future, if there is no emperor's will, you should not go here again." .” As if being whipped suddenly, Concubine Jin's face turned blue and dark, her eyes widened in surprise, her lips moved, and she couldn't say a word for a long time.As if she couldn't bear it, or felt something in her heart, Concubine Zhen sighed for a long time, and said, "If there is anything going on in the future, I need my slave to tell me, and I will do my best for you—" Concubine Jin finally recovered With a little sanity, her voice trembled like leaves in the autumn wind: "Why...why? Why is this..."

"It's useless to say these things. You go... go back and rest." Concubine Zhen raised her hand, moved her eyes and looked into the distance, as if she wanted to see far away through the red walls and green tiles, she remained motionless .Concubine Jin trembled with acupuncture: "It's you! It must be you! Why did you do this?! I'm your own sister——" "Enough!" Concubine Zhen snarled and turned around, only glanced at Concubine Jin, and couldn't help but slow down again, "If you weren't my sister, this would never have happened." "Master Jin, Mistress Mistress talked to you a lot in front of Long Live Lord. If it wasn't Mistress Mistress, you are afraid—" "Shut up! There's no place for you to talk!" Concubine Jin twitched her cheek muscles, staring at Concubine Zhen coldly, "You have such a good heart?! You still have my sister in your heart?! You are ruthless, you I am not satisfied that the empress can't return to the palace, but I still want to—" Zhenfei bit her lower lip tightly with her fine white teeth, and couldn't help raising her hand and slapped her across the face: "You—" I don't know if it was because of the three In Greg's presence, or because she was so angry, she couldn't even utter a complete sentence!Caressing her burning cheeks, Concubine Jin stared blankly at Concubine Zhen who had spent enough time cupping tea, Fang Zi murmured: "You...you hit me, you hit me in front of the slave..." "You forced me to do this." Seeing Kou Liancai coming out of the hall with Nanny Chen on his back, Concubine Zhen ordered, "Sange, go and help me." Sange looked at Kou Liancai, hesitating at the sound In Liangchen's direction, the dumbfounded guard at the gate of the moon cave raised his mouth and greeted him.A wry smile flashed across the corner of Concubine Zhen's mouth, and then she continued, "Now you should understand why." "I--" "Mother Chen is someone close to Lafayette, you don't know that?!" Concubine Zhen stared at Concubine Jin with her starry eyes and said word by word. "No, no, no—" Concubine Jin's face turned as pale as the window paper under the moonlight, "I really... really don't know..." "Didn't you bring her into the palace?!" "Sister, really, I really don't know..." Concubine Jin had tears streaming down her cheeks, "Talk to the emperor, I really didn't...unintentionally...really. Lafayette that day... " "Okay, maybe it's true as you said, but everything is over." Concubine Zhen raised her face and let out a long breath, "You know the emperor's temper, and it's lucky that you are like this now. You are my sister, no matter what, I'll take that into consideration." "Sister, I—" "Go back." Concubine Zhen looked at Concubine Jin, turned around and walked up to Dan Chi. "Master." Kou Liancai approached lightly, as if he was afraid of waking up the sleeping baby, he bowed down and called Qian'er softly. "Huh? Huh——" Concubine Zhen leaned weakly on the pillar, raised her sleeve to wipe away the tears from her cheeks, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "You send your Master Jin back." "Hey——" Kou Liancai glanced at Concubine Jin who was standing in a daze on the brick floor of Linqing from the corner of his eyes, unable to respond, and said with his lips moving, "Master, Lord Shou Fushou please see me." "he?" "Master Shou just came back from Tianjin." Kou Liancai nodded, "The slave told him that Lord Long Live is not here, but he said he wanted to see you, Master. Do you think he is called in?" Concubine Zhen frowned, pondered for a while, Fang Qing He breathed out and said, "Call in." After finishing speaking, he walked back to the hall. "Slave Shoufu pays respects to the master and empress!" At the sound of footsteps, Shou Fuhong's voice came in.Concubine Zhen sat sideways on the kang, staring at the golden bell in the corner of the room with her starry eyes thoughtfully, and responded lightly: "Come in." He looks very vigorous, his black eyes are shining brightly, and his whole body seems to have endless energy. "Sit down and answer." Concubine Zhen glanced at Shoufu, raised her hand and said, "Just came back? Did the journey go well?" Shoufu stood up, thanked En obliquely, sat down, bowed slightly, and replied: "The slave entered Beijing when he was born. Thanks to the emperor and the empress, the journey is safe." "That's good." Concubine Zhen said with a sigh of relief, "I heard that the slave said that you want to see me, what's the matter?" Shoufu bit his lower lip and looked at Concubine Zhen with his fine white teeth, as if he was meditating on something, and then suddenly knelt down on the ground with a "plop". "What are you doing?" Concubine Zhen's eyes widened in surprise, "It's okay to say something if you have something to say. It's like this, let the servants watch and pass it on—" Shoufu knocked repeatedly He slammed his head three times, still knelt on the ground, and said: "I implore the master and empress to make a living for the country and the common people. I urge the emperor to make up his mind early and reform the law to save me from the fire and water!" Concubine Zhen shivered unbearably from the cold, staring at Shoufu with her starry eyes: "You...how did you say such a thing? I ordered eunuchs and concubines not to interfere in politics. Have you forgotten?" "Forgive me for your boldness, but is the master jealous of Lafayette?" Shou Fu looked at Concubine Zhen without blinking. "you--" "Slave speaks recklessly, master please forgive me." Shou Fu kowtowed, "I only have God to show my heart, I hope master will learn from me." Concubine Zhen got up and took two steps, but did not speak.The sun reflected on her face, showing a resolute and unyielding look in her paleness. "The barbarians are staring at each other, and the Qing Dynasty is at stake." Shou Fu looked at the moving shadow on the brick floor of Linqing with hopeful eyes, "I implore the master and the empress to urge the emperor to rest assured, to save the country from danger, and to save the people from the fire and water The time. The ancestors have established a law, but those who benefit the country and the people should stick to it; but those who are against the sky and out of date should also be discarded. Concubine Zhen still didn't say a word, bit her lips and pondered for a while and said, "Even if we don't talk about it, for the sake of the emperor's situation, the master and empress should—" "How's the situation in Japan?" Concubine Zhen asked with eyebrows drawn. Hisotomi's heart hanging in the air was a little more at ease: "Because of the economic crisis and the impact of the war with our country, Japan is full of domestic conflicts, and it is difficult to extricate itself in the short term. Only its achievements since 1868 have surpassed those of the British and American powers." I am also amazed by it." He swallowed, "Thinking of how weak the Japanese and barbarians were when they were forced to sign a series of unequal treaties with Britain, the United States and France in the 1970s?! Today, in just over 20 years, the country is so strong. The wealth of the people is like this, which is really admirable. However, the reason is nothing more than the word "reformation"! The current situation of my dynasty is like that of the Japanese barbarians, and the only way out is to implement the New Deal in the same way!" "You will write all these in the booklet and submit them later—" "The slave has already written it on the way back to Beijing. Please have a look at it, master. In addition, the dismissed Imperial Academy has sent a letter from the four-rank attendant to the bachelor, and the daily life commentary official Wen Tingshi asked the slave to bring a letter with the master. Please read it together." Concubine Zhen's hand holding the letter trembled slightly, she moved her eyes to look at Shoufu, and asked, "How is Mr. Wen doing now? Are you okay?" "Wen Ting's style of running a school in Sangzi is also living a happy life." Shoufu As Fu spoke, he changed the topic, "Only for the emperor and master, but he is always concerned about the current situation of the court." "How can all the people of the Qing Dynasty remain indifferent when the barbarians invade and humiliate and the country is in danger? What's more, the emperor The king of a country?" Concubine Zhen nodded lightly, and said in a deep voice, "It's just that the situation in my court is different from that of the Japanese barbarians. Although the situation of the Japanese barbarians was dangerous at the beginning, they were in chaos. The Lafayette is high above you, he is holding back in every possible way, and the emperor has nothing to do with it. If you act hastily, how can the consequences be imagined?" "The situation is at stake. If we reform and reform in time, our dynasty can prosper, and our lord can turn the crisis into peace. Hesitating and hesitating will only lead to the loss of the country's lord—" He stopped his mouth abruptly, swallowed, and continued, "Master, think twice, Lafayette has been angry with the emperor for a long time, he has not made any big moves, only the external situation is beneficial to the emperor. If you don't take advantage of this to do something to strengthen the imperial power, as long as the wind dies down, what will happen to Lafayette? Four or five people in Pujun's garden The academic supervision of the Hanlin Academy is definitely not for display." "you……" "Master, after a long time, I'm afraid Yuan Shikai's servant will rebel." Shou Fu stared at Concubine Zhen with tears in his eyes, "If we wait until then, it will be too late! Concubine Zhen saw that he was so excited, and the heat wave in her heart was rushing upwards. She really wanted to say "I will try my best", but Liu Ye frowned and didn't say it.Scanning the bell from ringing, a moment has passed, Concubine Zhen let out a sigh of relief, and said: "It's getting late, you should be tired first. The emperor will return to the palace soon." "Master, I beg you—" "Hurry up." Seeing Shoufu kneeling on the ground with his horseshoe sleeves swinging, Concubine Zhen hurriedly said, "Go down first, this matter is no joke, let me think about it." Shoufu looked at the delicate ground with his eyes When his shadow moved, Fang bowed and retreated silently.Concubine Zhen watched his back disappearing outside the gate of the moon cave and remained motionless, but her heart was overwhelmed and could not be calm for a long time.Ten years, she has lived in this red wall and green tiles for ten years!For more than 3,600 days and nights, what else does she have besides Guangxu's deep love?Maybe she is happy compared with those promises and constant presences that are rare in her life; maybe she should be satisfied.However, she also loved him deeply, and she couldn't bear to see him being wronged, tortured or even oppressed, even a little bit!Reform and reform was what she had been longing for for a long time, but she was also deeply afraid of the consequences of a little carelessness.Where to go, where to go?The blazing sun shone on the damp Linqing brick floor, and the heat rose up. With the breeze blowing in, Concubine Zhen intuitively felt that her heart was getting hotter and more uncomfortable.Scanning the bell, hesitantly turned his face up and let out a long breath, and called out softly, "Liancai." "Master, the slave is here." Kou Liancai appeared in front of Concubine Zhen almost immediately, as if emerging from the ground. Concubine Zhen waved her hand to stop him from saluting, and ordered: "Get a sedan chair downstairs and go to the Buddhist hall." "Master, this—" Kou Liancai hesitated, "It's time, Lord Long Live may return to the palace immediately, you still—" "Go." "Hey——" With the scorching sun above his head, Shou Fu was already soaking his underwear with sweat as soon as he left the moon cave gate, which was 50 or 60 meters away.In addition to being full of melancholy, I feel more stuffy and unbearable.Turning straight into the long Yongxiang, the cool breeze blows through the alley, and the chaotic mood calmed down a little. "Brother Shou." Chen Chi watched from the Long Zongmen, trotted all the way to greet him, "How is it? Master Zhen, can she agree?" Shou Fu looked at Chen Chi with a wry smile, and shook his head slightly. "How... how could this happen? Master Zhen, she—" "Why can't this happen?" Shou Fu sighed softly, "The authorities are obsessed, but the bystanders are clear. It's the same if you and I let the one go. Now there is only Xiong Zijing (Xu Zhijing's word) for the book."" And you." Chen Chi stretched out his hand and patted Shoufu's shoulder vigorously, "You two work hard together, I believe that even if you can't make the emperor make up your mind, you will be able to get rid of most of the worries in your chest. You are so good to think about it, later Seeing Jia Zensheng's reply is safe, most of the hope is still on you, don't—" While he was talking, he walked quickly like a note, and Chen Chi stopped and asked, "What's the matter?" "Master Shou has just asked Mr. Shou to come over." Said that he bowed and greeted the two of them. "I don't know if it's—" Shoufu's black eyebrows were twitched, and he stopped talking as soon as he could speak. He nodded with Chen Chi and went straight to the military computer room. He straightened his robe under the dripping eaves and coughed lightly. Said, "Humble job longevity rich——" "come in!" "Hey." He entered the room with a promise, and glanced at Zhou Zai, only to see Gang Yi sitting cross-legged on the big kang.Wang Wenshao, Yu Lu, Ministers of Military Aircraft, and Sun Jianai, the co-organizers and Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, each sat on the stilts. All of them looked at themselves. Only Li Hongzhang waved the bamboo fan of Concubine Xiang in his hand, and looked out through the window thoughtfully.Shoufu bowed down and beat the general with a thousand sons, "Shoufu, who is a humble job, has met all the prime ministers and Li Zhongtang." Sun Jianai was also the master of Emperor Guangxu, although he was over seventy years old, he seemed to be in good spirits, but his physique was a bit slimmer.Looking at Shoufu on the bed, Sun Jianai raised his hand and said, "Sit down and talk." "Yes. Thank you, Mr. Xiang, for sitting down." Gang Yi took a sip of ice water from his cup, swirled it around in his mouth a few times, swallowed it, and said slowly, "When did you come back to the capital?" "When I returned to the prime minister, I entered Beijing when I was in a humble position." "Then when did you enter the palace?" "Chenshi passes by a moment." Gang Yi glanced at the chiming clock in the corner of the room intentionally or unintentionally, and said coldly: "So, you have stayed with the emperor for almost an hour. The emperor is not in the palace, what are you doing there as a slave? Hmm?! Master Zhen There's enough gossip out there—" "The humble official met Chen Zhangjing, and they chatted for more than half an hour before passing." Shoufu rolled his dark eyes, got up and called Qian'er and interjected, "The humble official doesn't know that the emperor is not in the palace, so I ask the prime minister to learn from you." "You don't know?!" "As soon as the humble official arrived in the capital, he went straight to the palace, and he never heard that the emperor was not there." Shoufu said calmly, word by word. "Even so, what about Chen Chi? Doesn't he know?!" Gang Yi's eyes were frighteningly cold, "Where are the slaves in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? Don't they know?!" "Chen Chi may know, but he has never talked to Beizhi. Eunuch Kou of the Hall of Mental Cultivation told Beizhi that the emperor had gone to Prince Jin's mansion early in the morning. Xiaozhi wanted to turn back, but Master Zhen was not feeling well. Seeing that there were not enough slaves there, Xiaozhi went again. I went to the hospital." "yes?!" "Just believe it, but you can send someone to the Imperial Hospital to check." Shoufu's cheek muscles twitched, "Although Prime Minister Gang is also in the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, he is not a prisoner pending trial. Even if there is something wrong with the humble position, it seems to You shouldn't have asked me just now." Gangyi's fat face flushed suddenly, he stared at Shoufu with dead eyes, and shouted: "What a bold slave, you—" "The lowly position is the slave of the emperor and Lafayette, not—" "Shoufu! Still not shutting up?!" Sun Jianai listened quietly to the two talking, wrinkled like walnuts all over his face, motionless, his snow-white eyebrows were lowered, he couldn't see any expression, and he heard "dong" ", and when he moved his eyes, he saw fragments of the teacup in Gangyi's hand rolling on the brick floor of Linqing, and couldn't help but speak. "Even if Prime Minister just doesn't care about the affairs of the palace, can't he ask you? Are your words said by a subordinate official?!" As he said, he winked at Shoufu.Shoufu swallowed his saliva, bowed slightly, and said: "The humble official is rude by nature, please forgive me for the inappropriate words, only the humble official—" "Forget it, the more you talk about it, the more reasonable you are, right? You haven't been on an errand for a year or two. Should you come to the Military Aircraft Office to inform me when you return to Beijing, huh?" Sun Jianai patted the Xiangfei bamboo fan in his hand Xin, got up and took two steps, "Why don't you hurry up and apologize to Prime Minister?!" "Humble job—" "That's right, I'm the emperor's servant, can I afford it?" The fortitude tadpole rolled his eyes at Sun Jianai, and sneered, "Brother Shoushan, you see. You just came in, and you will be more important in the future." My heart, this job is not easy to do." Shoushan, that is, Yulu, whose surname is Xitala, is from Zhengbaiqi in Manchuria.He once served as a doctor of the Ministry of punishment, a soldier in Rehe, and an envoy of Anhui.During the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1895, he was repeatedly defeated and escaped. He was appointed Minister of Military Aircraft and in charge of the Ministry of Rites only because of his meritorious service in suppressing the Jindandao Uprising in Rehe, and he also paid tribute to Empress Dowager Cixi in everything.Hearing the resolute words, Yu Lu's slanted broom eyebrows trembled on his yellow face, and he said with a half-smile: "It's really hard to do the job now, the only reason is that this kind of people are messing around. Brother Ziliang today It’s such an embarrassing situation, if it spreads, I’m afraid—” "I'm notorious, so it's not a big deal." A sinister smile flickered across the corner of Gang Yi's mouth, "It's just spread, how can I still do errands in the future?" He said, and heaved a long sigh. "If a person like this has no boss, if he is not punished, I'm afraid I'm going to—" "You two are worrying too much." Sun Jianai's heart sank, and before Yulu's words fell, he hurriedly interjected, "Shoufu's words and deeds have always been well-regulated, and today he is a little presumptuous. Words—" "Today this one is disturbed by things, and tomorrow that one speaks unscrupulously, so I can't wait for them to be discouraged?" Yu Lu shook his head and said, "I think it's better to play the emperor, please punish severely. " Gangyi moved his body: "This requires the emperor to issue a decree to punish severely, I'm afraid it will be nothing in the end!" "Then I can only ask Lafayette to say something." He said, "It can't be done like this, right?! Brother Sun, you are quick-thinking, and you have heard and seen. I think I will thank you for this book!" "What's the meaning of this, or—" "Brother Sun, Lafayette has high hopes for you!" Gang Yi said word by word between his teeth, "If Lafayette finds out about this, I'm afraid you, Brother Sun—" He didn't say any more, But Sun Jianai's heart is already clear.When the Strong Society was established, he had sincerely and fully supported it. With only a slight flip of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the strong and powerful Society was reduced to ashes.He shrinks back, although he has an inextricable friendship with Guangxu in his heart, although he also fantasizes that he can witness the great feat of the Qing Dynasty's rejuvenation in his lifetime, as long as he abandons the fame and fame earned by decades of prudence, he... "Long live God is here!" While he was in trouble, there was a thunderclap, and Sun Jianai heaved a sigh of relief when he saw a raft like a drowning man. "Papa", he flicked his horseshoe sleeves and fell to his knees on the ground. "That's all, let's all get up and sit and talk. It's a hot day, what are you doing with so much etiquette? Resolute, take off your robe too, look at your appearance, what do you look like?" Hearing Guangxu's arrival, he pulled his robe and put it on indiscriminately, and knelt on the ground with everyone in a hurry. Hearing Guangxu's words, when he lowered his head to look, Fang Jue was wearing his robe backwards, his face suddenly swelled like a ripe persimmon.Guangxu hung up his court clothes, was so hot that sweat ran down his cheeks, put the tassel on his head upright on the table, shook his sweat-soaked neckline with his hands, and said to Wang Fu who was guarding the door: "Twist a cool cloth towel for me. Here, there are a few of them. The room is as hot as a steamer." Yin took the fan from the kang table and shook it gently. "Shoufu? When did you come back?" A look of joy flashed across Guangxu's face. "Back to the emperor, the capital where the slave returned to Maoshi." "Well——" Guangxu nodded, took the handkerchief and wiped his face. When he was about to take a sip from the cup, he saw the broken cups on the brick floor of Linqing, and the brows trembled. He said, "How can this happen?" Something?" Everyone wiped their hands with wet towels that were as cold as ice, feeling a little bit of refreshment in their hearts, but they didn't dare to wipe their faces presumptuously, and let it go after a little wiping.Hearing Guangxu's question, Yu Lu took a peek at Gang Yi, and seeing Gang Yi couldn't help but lose his eyes, he bowed and said, "It was the slave who accidentally broke the cup just now, and the emperor just—" "Back to the emperor, it's the slave who annoyed Gang Xiangye." Shou Fu got up and beat Qianer, and interjected, "Gang Xiangye——" Guangxu's deep eyes glanced at Gang Yi and Yu Lu, and he raised his hand to stop Shoufu: "How many times have I told you about your temper, huh? You have to pay for your fortitude." As if he couldn't believe his ears, Shoufu looked at Guangxu in a daze, and murmured: "The emperor—" "Ok?!" "Hey." Shoufu bit his lower lip with his fine white teeth, and bowed slightly in front of Gangyi as if his feet were filled with lead, and said, "I was reckless in a lowly position, please forgive me." A sneer crossed Gangyi's face : "Master Shou please hurry up, how can you bear such a big gift for your fortitude?" You should learn more from him, but you are arrogant and presumptuous due to my favor, which should be dealt with seriously. I think you are impetuous, and I forgive you this time. If you dare to indulge in absurdity and have no boss in the future, I will never forgive you! " "Slaves follow the hadith." "You go down to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and wait, and I will pass right away." Guangxu raised his hand, glanced at the crowd, his expression became solemn when he moved his eyes, and continued with a sigh, "It's becoming more and more difficult to do errands now. There is something wrong with this servant, but his heart is sympathetic. I just heard your discussion outside, so I think this is the case." Stealing a glance at Yulu, he moved his body resolutely and restlessly, bowed and said, "The servant obeys the order." "The emperor's decree, I dare not obey." Yu Lu broom twitched, and said, "Actually, the slaves don't mean that at all. They just want him to know what is good and bad, and don't make any more outrageous offenses in the future. But everyone followed suit. , slaves, this is also difficult to do. The slaves have such a mind, please let the emperor learn from you." A sneer passed by the corner of Guangxu's mouth imperceptibly, he took a sip of tea and nodded: "That's good. Wang Wenshao, the decree can be drawn up gone?" Wang Wenshao nodded in response, took out a grass letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.Guangxu's eyes flickered faintly, he stood up slowly, and said: "The wording is too heavy. He only talks about government affairs indiscriminately, and even confuses the people and confuses the hearts of the people. Is this relevant? I will draw up a statement later Let me see." He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, "I just went back to the palace and met that slave, and he was running around to take care of errands, what would happen if someone else changed? Master Sun, I will ask the House of Internal Affairs to send you five hundred Two denarii with him." "Hey." "Your Majesty, the servants are afraid that something will happen to the dismissal, and they haven't told the servant yet." Yu Lu coughed lightly, "The servant deceives the public with lies, and if the one who is going to be dismissed is given money, the servant thinks it's really wrong." ...It is inappropriate, Your Majesty, please think twice." Looking through the window, seeing Chen Chi profusely sweating, directing the delivery of documents under the sun, Sun Jianai felt sad, he let out a sigh of relief, and said, "Chen Chi discusses government affairs indiscriminately, He has already received the punishment he deserved. The emperor bestowed the silver this time, one is that he is prudent in his daily errands, and the other is that his family is poor and his mother is seriously ill and bedridden, these are completely different things." "Master Sun's words are true. Merits are merits, and mistakes are mistakes. You can't erase all his previous achievements and hard work just because something went wrong with him. In this way, there are still slaves who can do errands with peace of mind. Is it?" He looked up at the algae well on the top of the hall, as if carrying a flame that wanted to penetrate everything, burning Yulu's heart, he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty—" "That's all, that's the end of the matter." Guangxu said as he took out a booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Sun Jianai, "I have read all the papers that were submitted yesterday, and when I look back, I will draft the papers that should be drafted and reject the papers that should be rejected, as soon as possible." It's done. Xu Zhijing, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, handed in a booklet, which is quite thought-provoking. Master Sun, you can read the important words." "Hey." Sun Jianai promised to read it briefly, and his brows frowned. He coughed twice, cleared his throat, and said in a loud voice, "After the Sino-Japanese War, we were completely weak before the big powers. The wolf's ambitions invaded and plundered me without end. The country is in this crisis, and it is not enough to change." Survival. However, the high officials in the court are still content with the status quo, slandering the reformation, the dispute between the old and the new, and the sects are very deep. The root cause is that there is no clear decree for the reformation, so that the officials have different opinions and the power is dispersed— —” "Okay." Guangxu raised his hand, glanced over everyone's faces one by one, and coughed lightly, "Xu Zhijing Zhezi, it's just one meaning, that is, to ask me to clarify the country's affairs. That is, to ask me to clearly Declare to the world, whether I will continue to follow the current path, or adapt to the current situation." He paused for a moment, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Since I entered the ruling , first came the frontier crisis, followed by the Sino-French War, the Sino-Japanese War, and now the following strong carve-ups, one by one, all of which lost power and humiliated the country and lost the face of the ancestors. Thinking about it quietly, there is only one reason, which cannot change with the times. Blindly sticking to the rules! Thinking about the small country of Japan and barbarians, why can they sit on an equal footing with the British and French powers? It is because since the Meiji Emperor, he has followed the general trend of the world, discarded the old and made new ones, and intends to change. Our current crisis is unspeakable. I want to think about protecting the country, In my opinion, there is only one way to resist foreign insults: Change!" Everyone sat beside him, but they didn't dare to look at him.The huge military computer room was so quiet that only the rustling of the bell chiming in the corner could be heard.Yu Lu felt that his heart was constricted so tight that he couldn't even breathe. He glanced at Guangxu and saw that he was only staring outside the window, so he quietly took a breath, stretched out his hand and pulled off the sleeve of the fortitude robe. Cultivate the plank road in the open, and keep the warehouse in the dark!Resolutely touching Yang Shenxiu's memorial in his sleeve, his heart was stuffed with rotten cotton wool, making him uncomfortable.Kang Youwei, you bloody bastard, miss today, look at me... Gritting your teeth and distracted, seeing Yu Lu looking at him anxiously, pondering resolutely, took the booklet on the case, stepped forward, bowed Said: "Your Majesty, Yushi Wenti handed over a booklet, please have a look at it." Guangxu's eyebrows trembled, and he asked, "What are you talking about?" He reached out to take it. "Back to the emperor," Gang Yi swallowed, and said cautiously, "Censor Wenti impeached Kang Youwei, the head of the Ministry of Industry, to protect the National Assembly privately, only to protect China and not the Qing Dynasty—" "Nonsense!" Guangxu's eyes turned green Yes, flashing fierce majesty, "China is the Qing Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty is China. How can there be any reason to protect China but not the Qing Dynasty?! I see—" he examined the fortitude, "this slave will definitely It was instigated by others, what do you think?!" The resolute heart seemed to be falling straight down from a cliff, and it took a long time to calm down, bowed his head and said: "This slave doesn't know, only the censor's rumors—" "It's not that he is going to talk about it! He just returned to Beijing from Gansu yesterday, and he came in early this morning. If he wasn't instigated, what is it? He has the guts to be afraid of hitting his head with a leaf falling from a tree. Will you hand in the booklet without using your brain?!" "This matter... this slave doesn't know the inside story..." "To confuse black and white, to confuse people, is that what a public officer should do? Wang Wenshao, you just drafted an order to dismiss that slave from his job, as a warning to others!" Guangxu gritted his white teeth, and shouted coldly, "That slave is a bastard, Those who only instigate behind the scenes are even more abominable! Fortitude, you have three days to find out who is behind the scenes!" "Your majesty, this is a slave... a slave means..." "Ok?!" "The emperor calms down." Sun Jianai pondered for a moment, bowed his head and gave him a smack, and said, "According to this slave, Wen Ti should be dealt with lightly. Perhaps this slave is really as the emperor said, being instigated by others. Only the imperial censor said It’s a rule of thumb for me to do something. If it’s important, I’m afraid it’s going to block the way of speech, so for the emperor——” Guangxu seemed to see something in his eyes, pondered for a while, and asked: “What do you mean? What about the treatment?" "Slave means, decree to reprimand—" “不，那太轻了些。将那奴才从都察院发回他原先任职的户部衙门，免得再在御史台惹是生非！”光绪眼角余光扫了下刚毅，“至于那幕后唆使之人，也就算了。”说着，他话锋陡地一转，“朕这阵子一直默不作声，希望的只是你们能仰体朕意民情国难，有所醒悟。殊想适得其反！朕要做的事决不始张终弛，无论宗室内亲、显贵权要，但阻了朕的步伐，朕就不能容他！” “奴才恭聆圣训。” “似现下这局面，莫说中兴富强，便不亡国灭种只怕也难的。徐致靖请求明定国是朕深以为然。你等可即据此折撰拟诏书，候朕钦定！” 没有人应声，四下里静寂得便一根针落地都听得见。光绪阴冷的目光在众人身上移动着：“怎的，还要朕再说一遍吗？！”“皇上，”刚毅古井一样深邃的眸子凝注在日影里，率先开了口，“明定变法宗旨，牵涉变更祖宗数百年的大法，似宜谨慎从事。奴才意思，宣召王公大臣举行御前会议，广采众议，再行裁定才是。” “没这个必要，就照朕的意思办！” “此事非同小可，奴才亦以为还是举行御前会议后再行裁定好一些。”裕禄瞥了眼光绪，“皇上若觉无此必要，奴才意思，还是禀了老佛爷再办——” “朕已亲政，可以做主，不用再请懿旨了！”光绪握着杯子的手捏得紧紧的，微微发抖，用不容置疑的口吻道，“王文韶，你拟诏书！” “请皇上三思。”王文韶“啪啪”甩马蹄袖跪了地上。 “你敢抗旨不遵？！” “奴才不敢。”王文韶背上压了块千斤巨石价身子抖着，“只此事的确非比寻常，还请皇上谨慎行事，莫因着一时义气而使我大清——” “好！很好！”光绪冷笑着，盯着众人阴狠地说道，“如此看来，你们是不想代朕拟这个旨了，对吗？！”众人不自禁打了个寒战，一撩袍齐跪在地上连连叩头，只却都一字不吐。光绪两眼满是寒光，下死眼盯着众人，额上青筋已是暴突，脚步橐橐来回快速踱了两圈，止步睃眼众人，嘴唇翕动着似欲言语，只终将手中茶杯重重掼了众人面前的临清砖地上，拂袖出屋而去。 “寿山兄。” “嗯？嗯——”裕禄还是头一次见光绪发作，直骇得浑身寒战不已，脸贴在临清砖地上，便大气亦不敢喘一下。听刚毅言语，自惊怔中回过神，迟疑着抬起脸，才觉光绪不知什么时候已然出了屋，“子良兄——” “咱该下值了。”刚毅似笑非笑地望眼屋角自鸣钟。 “对对，是该下值了。只昨儿那些折子，皇上方才要——” “那都是孙兄和王兄的事儿，咱这便有心，也没力做呀。吏部、户部差事，寿山兄敢情稔熟？”刚毅连不迭丢眼色过去，道。 裕禄怔了下，回神时望眼孙、王二人，略一拱手：“寿山倒将这给忘了，如此有劳二位了。” “应该的。二位请。” “告辞。” 脚步橐橐出军机处，光绪一脸阴郁地径直奔了佛堂。 几个尼姑因着珍妃到来，已是惶惶不安，兀自在院中手忙脚乱地收拾着，陡见他进来，更骇得股栗色变，迟疑着纷纷跪了地上，叩头怯怯道：“贫尼给万岁爷请安。不知——”“罢了。”光绪虚抬了下手，移眸扫眼周匝，淡淡说道，“你主子还在里边？” “珍主子正在前殿里祈祷，贫尼这便带万岁爷过去。” “不用了。”光绪踏着芳草径至前殿，隔窗看时，却见珍妃凤眉微蹙，闭目坐在蒲团上，嘴唇翕动喃喃祈祷着什么，只却听不真切。 “还没好呀？” “皇上？”珍妃睁眼见是光绪，忙不迭起身蹲了个万福，“您甚时回来的？”“回来好一阵了。”光绪身子抖了下，扫眼周匝嗔道，“殿里这般阴气难挡，你身子刚略好些，怎受得住？闷得慌御花园——”“臣妾图的只是这儿清静。”珍妃淡淡一笑，挽着光绪臂腕出了殿。“皇上不必担心的，我这身子好多了。不信您瞧。”说着，她在临清砖地上打了个旋儿。 “慢着点。瞧瞧地上，跌倒了怎成？”光绪嘴角掠过一丝笑色，吩咐道，“连材，既然你主子欢喜这儿，要她们将这里外彻底清扫一遍。对了，再要内务府派奴才进来检查一下，该修的修，该补的补——” “皇上，不用了。” “你便不用，老佛爷交冬回来，能不用吗？”光绪说着举步下了阶，仰脸望着缓缓西移的日头，伸个懒腰，移眸望着身边珍妃，“她呢？” 珍妃愣怔着：“皇上——” “你那好姐姐。”光绪冷哼了声，“听奴才议论先时她在殿里吵闹，是吗？”“不——是的。”珍妃轻轻叹了口气，道，“她要见皇上，奴才们挡着不让进，心一急便——她那性子皇上也晓得的，臣妾看——”“看什么？饶了她？”光绪挥了下手，“你性子也忒软了些，像她这种人——” “不，不是的。”珍妃忙不迭插了口，“臣妾方才问她了，陈嬷嬷虽说是她带进宫的，只她压根便不晓得实情。臣妾与她自小一处长大，她绝不会做出那种事儿的。” “不会？你就那么相信她？朕是老佛爷一手带大的，可如今怎样？权利、欲望，足以将一个人完全改变！” “也许真是这样的。只她……她不会的……”说着，她已是泪水涟涟。“你呀——”见王福过来，光绪遂问道，“找到了？” “瑾主子独自一人正在御花园待着，万岁爷您看——” “皇上。”珍妃“扑通”一声跪了地上。 “你——好了，起来吧。既然她没去老佛爷那边，朕就依着你。”发泄胸中郁闷价长长透了口气，光绪抬手轻拭着珍妃颊上珠泪，叹道，“你呀，要朕说你什么好呢？唉——方才祈祷什么来着，可是要朕与她——”“不是的。”珍妃轻轻摇了摇头，“皇上可见着寿富了？” “见着了。不过，见他前朕已在沈曾植那听得讯儿了。”光绪腮边肌肉抽搐了下，“可恨刚毅众人，仗着太后撑腰，处处阻挠反对！君非君，臣亦非臣，朕真恨不能将他们统统罢了差使！” "emperor--" “徐致靖上折请求朕明定国是，大告天下我朝究是因循守旧还是变法自强。朕要他们拟旨候朕钦定，却左一声'举行御前会议，再行裁定才是'，右一句'请了老佛爷懿旨再办'，你说可恼不？”光绪愤恨地说道，“哼！朕不信离了他们，真的便做不成事？！”珍妃心直结了冰一般，满是企求渴望又不无忧虑地望着光绪，喃喃道：“皇上您要——” “他们不拟旨，朕就再没奴才使唤了吗？”光绪冷冷笑着，自袖中掏出诏谕递与珍妃。珍妃两手抖着接过去，半晌打开来看时，却见上面写道： ……朕惟国是不定，则号令不行，极其流弊，必至门户纷争，互相水火，徒蹈宋、明积习，于时政毫无裨益。即以中国大经大法而论，五帝三王不相沿袭，譬之冬裘夏葛，势不两存。用特明白宣示，嗣后中外大小诸臣，自王公以及士庶，各宜努力向上，发愤为雄，以圣贤义理之学，植其根本，又须博采西学之切于时务者，实力讲求，以救空疏迂谬之弊。专心致志，精益求精，毋徒袭其皮毛，毋竞腾其口说，总期化无用为有用，以成通经济变之才。京师大学堂为行省之倡，尤应首先举办，着军机大臣、总理各国事务王大臣会同妥速议奏，所有翰林院编检、各部院司员、各门侍卫、候补候选道府州县以下官、大员子弟、八旗世职、各省武职后裔，其愿入学堂者，均准其入学肄业，以期人才辈出，共济时艰…… “这个有名无实的皇上，朕再也不做了！”光绪脚步橐橐，在临清砖地上踱着碎步，“朕这便去颐和园见太后，不是她恩准，就是朕逊位！” “不，皇上，您不能去，这太危险了——” “老佛爷将那溥俊养在园子里为的什么？既如此，倒不如趁现下情势，放手一搏！” 珍妃握着光绪双手，急得眼眶中又自盈满了泪水：“不要，皇上。听臣妾一句话，千万不要去……不要去，等过些时候再说吧，好吗？”“朕已快奔三十的人了，还有多少日子可等？”光绪坚毅的目光凝视着高墙上摇曳的小草，“不要再劝了。朕的心意已定。朕已等了这么多年了，可结果呢？国事不能一误再误了！朕要上对祖宗，下抚苍生——” 珍妃面色愈来愈苍白：“正因此皇上才当慎之又慎呀。倘皇上万一有个意外，咱大清还有指望吗？皇上，臣妾求求您，千万别去和太后老佛爷理论，她……她气极了，可甚事儿都做得出来的。”光绪眉棱骨抖了下，沉吟着吁了口气，说道：“她那脾性，朕能不清楚？只局势堪忧，再不及时变革，只怕要亡国灭种的。”他轻抚着珍妃如云般的秀发，“再者袁世凯那奴才亦愈来愈不安生，倘他被老佛爷笼了去，朕无一兵一卒，还有甚指望？那样的皇帝，朕宁肯不做！” “只——” “你不必担心，朕现下断不会有事的。就那些奴才们说的，现下变法，朕或可稳住这位子，但错过此机，那才更凶险。君舟民水，水可载舟，亦可覆舟，这话你不也时常说与朕的吗？你想想像太后那种人，敢在这浪尖上搏击吗？”说话间，寇连材从外边进来，躬身打千儿道：“万岁爷，奴才已吩咐下去了，内务府那边待会儿便过来奴才。”光绪点了点头，见他嘴唇翕动着似还有话，遂问道：“还有什么事儿？” “庆亲王爷奉旨见驾。万岁爷您看——” “嗯——”光绪沉吟了下，点头道，“叫进来吧。”说着，拍拍珍妃纤手，“好了，朕依你，不亲自过去了，免得闹翻了。”说着，努嘴示意王福搀了珍妃回转殿中。片刻光景，奕劻快步踱了进来，边躬身打千儿，边请安道：“奴才奕劻给皇上请安。”见光绪脸色阴郁地冷冷盯着自己，奕劻身子针刺价哆嗦了下，“啪啪”甩马蹄袖跪了地上，“皇上召见奴才，不知为的——” “老佛爷召得你，朕难不成就召不得你吗？”光绪语气极淡，只却透着一股令人窒息的威压。 “不不不，奴才……奴才是老佛爷、皇上的奴才，莫说主子只召见奴才，便要奴才去死，奴才也不敢有丝毫怨词的。”奕劻丈二和尚摸不着头脑，只鸡啄米价连连叩着响头，“奴才只心里急着事儿，一时出言莽撞，还请皇上恕罪。”光绪睃了眼奕劻：“底下奴才议论，你在外边明码标价，但每个外省大员离京到你那里辞行，最低都要递五百两银子的劳苦费，甚或卖官——” “没……没有这回事……”奕劻身子瑟缩着，“皇上明鉴，这种事儿奴才万不敢做的——” “你真的不敢做，嗯？！”光绪咬着牙冷哼了声，“谷逸凡那奴才怎生做的静海县令？可要朕召他进宫与你对质？！” “奴才——” “他究竟送了你多少银子？！” ... “怎的，不说？！” “不不。那厮给……给了奴才五……五万两银子，只当时是为着……” “少与朕打马虎眼！五万两，限你一日光景送了户部，若少了一文制钱，看朕轻恕了你？！”挥手止住嘴唇翕动的奕劻，光绪又道，“背地里还收了多少贿赂，都悉数交了过去，过了这时限，外边但再有议论，可莫怨朕不与你这皇叔脸面。” “奴才……遵旨。” 光绪沉吟了下，嘴角吊着一丝冷笑，将手中诏谕晃了下：“你去趟园子，将这个与老佛爷看了，然后给朕回话。”奕劻前门去虎后门遇狼，惊怔地仰脸望眼光绪，迟疑下接了光绪手中诏谕，只看了“明定国是”四个字儿，已是吓得半死，脸色如月光下的窗户纸价煞白：“皇上，这旨意——” “怎的，嗯？！” “奴才该死，这……这谕旨奴才实在不敢……不敢代奏，还请……” 光绪扫了眼奕劻：“你怕老佛爷怪罪，就不怕朕不悦吗？！” “奴才该死……奴才该死……” “去吧！朕在养心殿候你回话！”说罢，光绪脚步橐橐地拾级进了前殿。 失魂落魄，提心吊胆，惶惶如梦游人价在颐和园见驾，奕劻直觉着一颗心似乎业已游离于身体之外。然而，事情的发展远远不是他想象的那般，慈禧太后没有圣颜大怒，相反，她的面色出奇地平静。她应允了明定国是、应允了变法自强，条件只有一个：不可重用康、梁，要赏官亦只能给六品以下的。 京师沸腾了，神州大地沸腾了，而康有为蛰居的金顶寺，则更是浑浑噩噩、茫茫杂杂开锅稀粥价热闹。听着那一声声“皇上召见之后，必将大用”，康有为嘴里连声客气“哪里哪里”，只心里却喝了蜜般的甜，总想着维新诏书既下，凡筹措变革，怎生也少不得他，至于青史留名，亦水到渠成必然之事。因此整日里喜滋滋乐哈哈，先时稍敛的傲气又悄然升了起来，出门车马仆从如云，俨然已是军机大臣的派头。 张謇二十七日一早抵的京郊，稍事歇息，待得晌午人少车稀，方在王五陪同下进城直趋金顶寺。 “施主，帖子！” 在寺门前下车，但见四下里人头攒动，张謇攒眉寻思着进前拾级便欲进去，只却被门上拦住。张謇与康、梁稔熟，彼此哪曾备过名帖？止步笑望着身前小沙弥略一拱手道：“在下来得匆忙，忘了带帖子，烦劳师父进去通禀一声，便说有位南通张朋友拜晤。”“阿弥陀佛。”那小沙弥单掌合十于胸前略一躬身，道，“康大先生客人多，施主既未曾带帖子，还请先回，备了帖子再来吧。” “这位老爷是应康……康大先生之约前来拜晤的。”王五剑眉微皱了下，压着嗓门道，“师父行个方便，如何？” “非贫僧不与通禀，实康大先生吩咐，未有帖子者一概不见，五品以下官员一概不见，还请二位施主多多包涵一二。” “这是寺院还是官厅衙门？！即便是衙门——” “张……张兄少安毋躁，此地人多眼杂，莫因此小事而——”见康广仁送客出来，王五戛然收了口，丢眼色暗示下张謇，快步迎了上前，“在下见过二先生——”“哟，原来是李爷呀，失礼、失礼。”康广仁打个马虎眼，拱手向众人告辞，近前躬身道，“季直兄——” “令兄这好大的排场呐。”张謇轻轻一哂，道。 “季直兄千万担着些。家兄定的规矩，是应付那些不相干有事相求之人的。我辈至交，怎会拒之门外？”康广仁低声道着将手一让，“季直兄请，幼博这便陪您进去。这两日登门求晤者走马灯价一拨接一拨，其中有我辈志士，只却亦不乏投机钻营之徒，家兄精力有限，又最恼恨这种人，没奈何方想了这招儿。对了，季直兄几时进的京？纱厂情形还好吧？” “先时所筹股金所剩无几，而水、电、煤加上工地上五六百执事、工役，每天开销浩大，倘再筹不到款，恐怕难以维持。”张謇长长透了口气，边踱着碎步，边叹道，“原本拟月中进京的，只在南京刘制台那延误了数十天，今儿一早方抵京。”“创业难，自古皆然。季直兄莫要灰心才是。”康广仁沉吟了下，接着道，“如今皇上已然降旨变法，相信不日便会好转。至于目前，现下我辈维新志士齐集京师，走动走动，不难筹到银子的。” “不用了。南京刘制台已应允先借十万与我。” “季直兄信他真会与你银子？”康广仁眉棱骨抖落了下。“刘制台思想开明，虽与南海兄主张颇有微词，只变法维新却亦赞同。更况目下形势如此，想他不会借口推辞的。”张謇说着自怀中掏出一信札，“这是叔峤家信，我顺道带了过来，幼博兄见着，代为——” “叔峤兄说酉时便过来的，季直兄——” “我拟见过令兄便欲离京。翁相虽说开缺回籍，只地方上滋扰不断，想必奉了上头意思。但要他们闻得我这翁相弟子忽然进京，于他怕更不利的。”听得堂屋内人声喧杂，张謇望眼康广仁道，“令兄现下——” 饶是在权力场上摸爬滚打了几十载，甚大风大浪都经历过，只面对风起云涌的变革潮流，慈禧太后仍是感到了深深的不安。为此，她釜底抽薪，强迫光绪帝颁下了朱谕：协办大学士翁同龢近来办事多不允协，以致众论不服，屡屡有人参奏。且每于召对时，咨询事件，任意可否，喜怒见于辞色，渐露揽权狂悖情状，断难胜枢机之任。本应查明究办，予以重惩，姑念其在毓庆宫行走多年，不忍遽加严谴。翁同龢着即开缺回籍，以示保全。 “吏部还有几人在里边说着话，季直兄书房稍候，幼博进去告知。” 足足顿饭光景，屋外滴水檐下方自橐橐脚步声起，张謇将手中书放了案上，起身时却听屋角自鸣钟沙沙一阵响连撞了两声，已是未正时分。张謇伸个懒腰迎出去，但见康有为大热天儿身上依然是簇新的六品冠服，剃得趣青的额头上油光闪亮，正自抬脚上阶，张謇沉吟下躬身作个揖儿道：“季直给南海兄请安了。” “罢罢。”康有为手中湘妃竹扇一合，略拱下手，道，“不知状元公驾到，南海有失远迎，还乞恕罪才是呐。幼