Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Crisis Recurring

The promotion of Yuan Shikai's official position, the abolishment of idle yamen, and the dismissal of the officials of the Ministry of Rites in the past few days, no matter what, it is enough to excuse the Empress Dowager Cixi!Seeing that Guangxu seemed to be in a desperate situation, Li Duanfen's heart was frozen... Although the thunder was coming and going, the rain shyly refused to fall. On the contrary, it was the weather that made people feel more sweltering and hot.I don't know if it's because of the hot weather or because the Shuntian Mansion has already chased away all the passers-by, and there are no ghosts on the spacious and flat loess post road.Except for a few chirps from time to time as if Cicada could not bear the loneliness, there was no sound at all.There is an uneasy feeling in the silence.

Although several basins of ice cubes were placed in Chengyu, Guangxu still felt unbearably hot. He stretched out his hand to untie the belt from his waist, hesitated for a while, and wanted to open the window to breathe, but he just opened a crack and was hit by the hot air Withdrew his hand.Hot day?Upset?Or both?He couldn't tell the difference, he just felt that his heart was wandering without a real place.Is she trying to change her mind?Was she moved by the situation?No, neither is possible.Then she— "Wang Fu! How far is it?" Guangxu raised his hand and kneaded his aching temple.

"Go back to Lord Long Live, we will be there soon." "En." Guangxu said, took a deep breath, let it out slowly, closed his eyes and lay down on the bamboo chair.During the pouch of cigarettes, Chengyu stopped shaking, Guangxu opened his eyes and glanced across the window, and took a long breath before he came out.The door of Le Shou Hall was wide open, and more than a dozen eunuchs lay down on the hot brick floor, all of them sweating profusely.Guangxu entered the yard without even looking at them. "Slave pays respects to Lord Long Live." Cui Yugui came out from the gatehouse, beating Qian'er to say hello, and said, "I don't know that Lord Long Live—"

"That's all. Lafayette got up for a while?" "Look at what the Lord Long Live said, this is a very bad situation, can the Lafayette not get up?" Cui Yugui nodded and bowed to guide Guangxu along the shade under the eaves, "The Lafayette just came back from the Buddhist hall and is waiting for the Lafayette As soon as the words fell to the ground, Empress Dowager Cixi's thunderous voice came from Dongnuange: "Cui Yugui! Cui Yugui! Where did you die?!" Cui Yugui responded loudly and ran forward without touching the ground. "My son is here to see you!"

"Come in." The Empress Dowager Cixi sat cross-legged on the kang, holding a pipe in her hand and staring at the palace note on the kang table, she said slowly.Enter the room with a promise, glance at the Empress Dowager Cixi, and Guangxu will go down like a thousand sons: "My son, please greet my father." "Yeah." Copy the palace notes from the kang table and watch.Cui Yugui poured a glass of ice water and brought it up, turned around and moved a bamboo basket, and was about to send Guangxu off, when Empress Dowager Cixi said coldly, "Huh?!" "Slave—"

"It's none of your business, keep watch outside." The Empress Dowager Cixi took a sip of ice water from her cup, swallowed it for a while, and asked lightly, "Your Majesty, how old is Kang Youwei's servant?" Her voice Very light, like a pool of autumn water, people can't figure it out.Guangxu glanced at the Empress Dowager Cixi: "According to my father's wishes, it is the sixth grade." "Sixth rank, thank you for remembering that he is only an official of the sixth rank?!" Empress Dowager Cixi's eyes flashed coldly, "I follow the ancestral system, and officials who are not above the fourth rank cannot be summoned. Have you forgotten?!" Guangxu stared down Lin Qingzhu, who was so brightly lit on the ground that he could see the figure, felt overwhelmed, and bowed after pondering, "How dare I forget the rules of my ancestors—" "Don't dare? Huh!" Empress Dowager Cixi snorted coldly He made a sound, moved his feet and got off the kang, "You are determined to reform, I follow you, but I warn you not to reuse Kang Youwei, why don't you listen?! Why do you still have to order to summon?!"

"When my son saw him, he only asked a few words, and never meant to reuse him. Please give me a lesson from my father." "Bullshit! You don't want to use it again, what's he doing?!" Empress Dowager Cixi's face turned cold, "I see you, you are fascinated by his deviant nonsense!" Guangxu tried his best to suppress the ups and downs of his emotions, swallowed his sour and astringent saliva, and said: "The slave's words are paradoxical, but what he said about the reform is reasonable. My son announced that he would enter the palace to see you, but In order to hear his ideas for reform——" "What good idea does a person like him have?!" Empress Dowager Cixi snapped, "But according to his thoughts, the idea left by his ancestors may ruin your legacy. !"

"If my dear father doesn't believe me, my son will turn around and present his book—" "I don't have that much time to spare!" The Empress Dowager Cixi sneered, "You have heard the truth today. If you want to change the law, I can follow you. But if you continue to behave recklessly and provoke anger and resentment, don't blame me for not favoring mother and child." Affection!" As soon as a word came out, everyone was shocked.Guangxu bit his lower lip tightly with his fine white teeth, clenched his hands into fists, trembling slightly.The sound of Empress Dowager Cixi's flower pot-soled shoes stepping on Linqing bricks made him dizzy for a while.silence?struggle?Where do we go from here?

"What, didn't you hear the truth?" Empress Dowager Cixi said with a creepy grin on her lips, "I still don't believe that I dare to do that, huh?!" "My son heard it clearly, and I also believe that my father would do that." Guangxu's forehead suddenly became bulging, and after a while, he vented his depression and secretly let out a long breath. "Then what are you going to do?" "My son must obey my father's instructions." It seemed that after a lot of effort, Guangxu Fang breathed out through his teeth. "That's very good." The Empress Dowager Cixi nodded lightly, then changed the topic, and said, "However, I have two more things to do. The first thing is Beiyang Dong Fuxiang Gan Jun, Nie Shicheng Wu Yijun, and Yuan Shikai Xiao There are tens of thousands of new troops standing there, and I would like them to be under the control of Rong Lu, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Beiyang and Governor of Zhili." Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Guangxu, "Recently, bandits in Lu territory are rampant. As for the Beiyang armies defending the capital, after Li Hongzhang left, although they were in charge of the governor of Zhili in name, they had no clear order, so they inevitably had two minds. "Military power, she wants to firmly control the military power in her hands!Guangxu's heart sank suddenly, he pondered for a while, and said noncommittally: "I don't know what my father's second thing is—"

"From now on, anyone who is awarded the first rank of civil and military affairs or the Minister of Manchu and Han Dynasty in the courtier's work must enter the garden to thank him." The official system is upright, but officials above the ministerial level can join the Military Aircraft Department.Empress Dowager Cixi's move seemed like a trivial matter, but it actually blocked the way for Guangxu to appoint reformers as military ministers and then implement the New Deal tightly and airtightly!Guangxu's gloomy eyes stared at the sky outside the window.The setting sun was still struggling on the western sky, and the thick clouds in the east were slowly pressing down on the Summer Palace. "Only these two things." Empress Dowager Cixi stared at Guangxu with cold eyes, "You should try to figure it out."

"I have no objection to the latter matter." Guangxu seemed to have made up his mind, and gritted his teeth, "Just put the new army together with the Gan Army and Wu Yi Army, and I don't think it's too—" "Isn't it right?!" "Yes. The Gan Army and Wu Yi Army are greedy for life and afraid of death, corrupt and depraved. The newly formed army has been in operation for several years, and then they have some improvement. They are united with them. My son is afraid that those who are close to ink will be black, so I will do it--" Don't wait When his words fell to the ground, the Empress Dowager Cixi sneered and said: "Isn't there a saying called "near Zhu Zhechi? Why can't you think about the good? Huh?!" "There are two situations, just for prudence, my son—" "Forget it, I'm sleepy." Empress Dowager Cixi handed the palace note to Guangxu, "On this matter, you go down and think about it. When you understand it, write a few words on it, stamp it with a seal, and hand it to the Military Aircraft Department. "As he spoke, he shouted, "Cui Yugui!" "The slave is here." "Your master is tired today and won't go back to the palace. You ask the imperial dining room to cook some dishes and deliver them to your master." "Father, many things in the palace are waiting for my minister to deal with. According to my son, it is better to go back to the palace." Guangxu pondered, and said, "As for what my father ordered, I will report back later." "Aren't there still so many slaves? What do you want them to do? You just have to think about it!" Two words flashed across Guangxu's mind: house arrest!Seeing the Empress Dowager Cixi move as if she didn't know her, Guangxu bowed and beat Qian'er, hesitating and retreating out.Looking through the window at the trembling body that seemed to be unbearably cold, the Empress Dowager Cixi remained motionless for a long time, only the muscles around her cheeks twitched from time to time. Feet filled with heavy weight, he walked out of Le Shoutang after Cui Yugui in a trance like a sleepwalker, Guangxu was exhausted, his body swayed like a disintegrated frame, and he almost fell to the ground.Without using human rights, how can we rely on the New Deal?Without military power, how can we defend ourselves, and how can we build an unbreakable barrier for reform and reform?She is ruthless!She is poisonous!Only now did he realize that even though he was almost thirty, he was still so childish.She didn't dare to go against the sky and destroy his "rebellious son" who was born with eccentricities, but just two or three words, she was enough to make him difficult to get off.This, it was him, was beyond his expectation. "Long Live Lord——" Seeing that Guang Xu suddenly seemed to be more than ten years old, with a haggard and miserable expression, Wang Fu couldn't help feeling sour. "Withdraw Chengyu, I will walk over." "Long live, your bones—" "It's okay." As he spoke, he felt a throbbing pain in his heart. Guangxu raised his hand and rubbed it while saying, "Where's Liancai? Haven't come back yet?" "not yet." "Send a servant back to the palace to tell your master that there is something going on in my garden. In a few days—no, I'll go back tomorrow." Wang Fu trembled, stared blankly at Guangxu, and murmured: "Long live Lord, Lafayette, she...she..." "It's nothing, it's okay if you come here." Guangxu took a long breath, and when he looked up at the sky, several stars had already climbed up, occupying space on the eastern sky, shining white light. "Tell me, what will the weather be like tomorrow?" His voice was so weak that it sounded like it came from hell, and it made people shiver. "Slave——" Looking at his thin back, Wang Fu intuitively felt astringent and bitter in his heart, thinking of something to say to comfort him, but he couldn't speak with his lips moving.While he was in trouble, he saw that Guangxu had already stepped into the Yulan hall, and hurriedly followed him two steps away. The stone statue of Empress Jingfen rested on the altar, looking anxiously at the direction of the palace gate, and remained motionless for a long time.She didn't know what happened, but the Empress Dowager Cixi gave her an unprecedented gift to meet Guangxu, but it made her feel a little uneasy.Intuitively, she knew that the latent, intermittent undercurrent had resurfaced. "Master, Madam," said the maidservant Xiao Hong, who walked quickly forward and squatted on Wanfu, "Long Live Lord is here." "Huh? Oh——" Jingfen came back to her senses after being stunned for a moment, and stepped down Danji in three steps at a time. When she was still five or six meters away from the gate of the palace, she saw Guangxu's thin figure flashing in, and hurriedly turned to the side Squatting down to greet the master, he said: "The concubine greets the master." "That's all." Guangxu raised his hand, walked towards the "Xiafen Room", lay on his back on the big kang, and did not move for a long time.At this moment, in this small space that belongs to him, his resentment, frustration, and exhaustion... are fully revealed. The sky was completely dark, and the bleak moonlight splashed down. In the shallow light, his complexion was frighteningly gloomy. "Your Majesty." Jingfen seemed to have been stabbed by someone, her body trembling, "You... Lafayette, she..." Guangxu remained silent, resentful, helpless, melancholy, and indescribable hope, one arch after another overwhelmed the river and the sea. tortured him.Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he sat up straight with a "whoosh".However, in the blink of an eye, he fell down powerlessly: "No... no..." "Your Majesty, what happened? You should tell me—" "Put up the bright window." "emperor--" "Tell you to support yourself, why are there so many words?" Guangxu glanced at Jingfen, got up and opened the window and let out a long breath.The bright moon in the heart of the sky, the quiet lake water, the flickering lights, and the Qionglou Yuyu coated with a layer of silver frost by the moonlight naturally form a warm picture.Guangxu seems to be caught in memory, motionless.Jingfen looked at him in fear and anxiety, her lips moved, she only swallowed but stopped. At this time, the eunuch from the imperial dining room came in lightly with the meal in hand.After the table was set up one by one, Cui Yugui bowed and gave a slap, and said in a low voice, "Long Live Lord, it's time to eat." "Yes, I see." Guangxu replied, but did not move. "Long Live Lord," Cui Yugui bit his lower lip with fine white teeth, hesitated for a while and said cautiously, "Lafayette still... has another word, I want a slave—" Guangxu's cheek muscles twitched, and he turned to stare at Cui Yugui: "What are you talking about, huh?!" "Long live Lord, Lafayette..." Cui Yugui glanced at Guangxu, lowered his head and said in a trembling voice, "Lafayette wants the servant to sue the master, the master must taste this meal carefully." That’s right, it might not be tomorrow—” "What do you mean?!" Without waiting for Guangxu to say anything, Yiyi Jingfen opened her mouth, "You dare to say such a thing?! I think you are—" "Forget it, it's none of his business." Guangxu Xu raised his hand, looked at Cui Yugui with a half-smile, "Anything else?" "No... no more." "You go back to Lafayette, I will taste it carefully." After finishing speaking, Guangxu waved his hand to signal Cui Yugui to step back. "Your Majesty," Jingfen turned pale, she reached out and shook Guangxu's arm, "what's going on?" A wry smile flashed across the corner of Guangxu's mouth, looking at Jingfen, he let out a long breath. "This this……" "In this way, Lafayette can sit back and relax and allow me to reform the law." Guangxu bit his lip with his fine white teeth, and suddenly smiled at Jingfen, "The reform... this is what I miss day and night. "Hahaha..." "Your Majesty, you...don't be like this..." Jingfen listened to his words, the desolation, resentment, sadness, and helplessness in that voice made the hairs all over her body stand up, trembling Said in a low voice, "there is no unparalleled road, if you think about it... think about it, there will be... there will be a way..." "How? What's the way?" Guangxu said with a wry smile, two lines of tears streaming down his cheeks silently, "If I don't agree to her two, I'm afraid I won't think of this garden again. If I agree, Then what kind of law has changed, what newness has been maintained?" Yes, under the shadow of Empress Dowager Cixi, what good laws and strategies can there be? In the deathly silence, Wang Fu and Yi Qiang's voices came from outside the house, and a man's muffled voice was sandwiched between them. "Long Live Lord," Wang Fu bowed out of the window and said, "Prince Qing Yikuang and Infantry Commander Chongli have something to see." Guangxu raised his face and let out a long breath to calm his mind, and glanced at Danqi The two of them, Yikuang, nodded hesitantly. "Long live, there is one more thing—" Wang Fu glanced behind him from the corner of his eye, whispered in a low voice, "Kang Youwei, the director of the Ministry of Industry, has entered the garden. The servant wondered if—" "Xuan." Guangxu took the towel and wiped his face, his eyebrows trembled, and he said in a hoarse voice. "Long Live Lord, this—" Wang Fu hesitated, and said cautiously, "I'm afraid it will be inconvenient. This servant is bold, so Long Live Lord will endure it for a night. Let's talk about it when we return to the palace tomorrow." "No, just now." Guangxu's tone was firm and unquestionable. "Long Live God—" "Huh?!" Scanning Yikuang and Chongli, who were whispering with their heads down, Guangxu stopped Wang Fu with a wink, folded his body and sat cross-legged on the kang.After a while, Yikuang and his two came in with their bows and knees, stole a glance at Guangxu, and greeted him: "Slave greets master and empress." Guangxu stared at Yikuang with deep eyes, raised his hand and said, "The day before yesterday How are things going with what Li told you to do?" After that, he pointed to one side of the embroidered porcelain pier.Bowing to thank En, he sat down with a slanted sign, his brows were half gray, and after a while, Yikuang would feel better, coughed twice, bit his lower lip with his fine white teeth, and said in a low voice: "Go back to the emperor, the servant will come back the next day." Send the money to the yamen of the household department exactly." "How many?" "Two hundred and thirty thousand." "Two hundred and thirty thousand?" "I don't dare to lie to the emperor. There are only so many. Please check it out." Yi Qiang stood up as he spoke, and when he was about to kneel with a "papa" he flicked his horseshoe sleeves, but was stopped by Guangxu: "I believe you for now, but don't do it later." I want you to listen to those words again." He tapped his fingers on the kang table, "two hundred and thirty thousand, enough to feed how many people, huh?! Touch your chest to see if your conscience is still there? !" "Slave—" Guangxu waved his hand: "That's all, let's talk about something." The Pingyuan Boxers clashed with the officers and soldiers, so please order that Jiang Kai, the county magistrate of Pingyuan, and Yuan Shidun, the battalion officer who suppressed the Tuanmin, be dismissed and investigated." Guangxu's dark sword eyebrows trembled, and he walked a few steps with his hands behind his back under the smoky candlelight, and asked, "What else is he talking about?" Since the banditry, Bo, Qing, Gao, and Endo have been harassed, blocked one after the other, it is impossible to guard against it, thinking that the time is difficult and urgent, and the key is to consolidate the hearts of the people." Yikuang touched the pocket from his sleeve. Presented Guangxu, and replied with a dry cough, "Another censor station presented Jin Zhezi together, thinking that Deyi occupied Jiaoao, taught the flames to grow, Xiaoxiaoshi was used as a talisman, and used the excuse to harass the village. The people were unbearable, so they provoked Disputes have arisen repeatedly. The local officials blindly protect the teachings and suppress the people regardless of the right and wrong, so they have no way to sue and no way to preserve them. "Huang Guijun?" Guangxu paused, his face was turned away from the lamp, and he couldn't see clearly what expression he had on his face, "Is it for the city?" ... "What does Lafayette mean?" Yikuang's eyebrows trembled, he lowered his head and stared at the neat Linqing bricks on the ground, and replied: "The servant passed the emperor's side when he entered the garden, and he hasn't greeted Lafayette yet." Guangxu turned around slowly, glanced at Yikui Qiang, facing the candlelight, said slowly: "You take the booklet and go to Lafayette's side, and tell me what I mean. It's better to comfort Boxer." As he said, he rolled his eyes at Chong who was dazed on one side. Li, "Speak up if you have something to say." "Hey." Hearing Guangxu's words, Chongli arched his body slightly on the porcelain pier, and said, "Your Majesty, according to the decree of Lafayette, the palace is very unstable these days. For the emperor's safety, five hundred soldiers will be selected by the infantry yamen to enter. On duty. I want the slave to return to the emperor to know." His tone was very flat and slow, only heard in Guangxu's ears, but it was like a sap in the head!His eyes sized up Chongli, as if he was meditating on something, and suddenly, he saw his "slap" strike!Chongli hesitated for a while, got up and knelt on the ground.Guangxu tried his best to conceal the extreme resentment in his heart, paced back and forth in the hall, and when he could not move, Fang took a heavy breath, walked in front of Chongli and said: "I see, thank you Lafayette for your kindness!" "Long live, Lafayette's errand in Sange means—" "Sange has been with me for many years, and I can't do without him!" "This--" "That's all you need to say. Let's go!" "Hey." Watching his tall and thin body leave the Yulan Hall and disappear into the night, Guangxu remained silent for a long time without moving, with the veins on his forehead popping up suddenly, obviously extremely angry.A sharp arrow struck, piercing his chest with bursts of pain!Holding the cup to drink, he hesitated and placed it on the table.There was a dead silence all around, only the sound of footsteps echoing, giving people a feeling of uneasiness.Liangshou, I saw Guangxu approaching the Kang, took out the palace paper from his sleeve, unfolded the Kang table, stared at Liangshang with a trace of melancholy eyes in the gloom, and wrote at the end of the manuscript: "The two listed Items, each drafted and issued by the Military Aircraft Department.” "Your Majesty, you—" "Well." Guangxu nodded heavily, holding the carved porcelain cup in both hands, as if admiring the colorful patterns on the cup, he smiled lightly after a long breath, and said, "So what if I don't do this? Is it possible that the old Buddha will be the one?" Is it impossible to stay in the garden like this? At this point, I can't wait any longer." After finishing speaking, Guangxu moved his eyes to look at Wang Fu, and popped out a word between his teeth, "Yin." Wang Fu was stunned for a moment and came back to his senses, his body was trembling in the autumn wind, and he took out the Huangshi Longnuo small seal "Emperor's Seal" from his waist purse with both hands and presented it.After putting Yin to wipe his hands, Guangxu took a long breath as if he had let go of a great burden, and looked at Jingfen: "You can send it there now." "Your majesty, my concubine—" "Go. Why do you think you can come here? Chat with me?" "Slave Kang Youwei is here to see you!" Guangxu glanced outside the room, pouted to let Wang Fu wait outside, then motioned for Jingfen to step back, and Fang Li sat in the middle of the table in front of the table.Kang Youwei's brand-new robes were stained with mud, he bowed into the room, stepped forward and kowtowed: "The head of the Ministry of Industry, Kang Youwei, respectfully invites the emperor's peace! Kui Ye summoned the ministers, I don't know that the emperor—" "I thought Lafayette was going to ask you to question me, but it's all right now." Guangxu took a breath, and glanced at Kang Youwei, "What's wrong with you? It's——" "The slave was walking in a hurry and accidentally fell down." Seeing Guangxu's gloomy expression, Kang Youwei became more suspicious, biting his lower lip with his fine white teeth, and muttered, "Your Majesty, but Lafayette—" Guangxu took the chopsticks He blew on the piece of meat and chewed it in his mouth, as if he hadn't escaped from the previous atmosphere, he answered the wrong question: "Get up and sit down, Lafayette ordered this table of imperial food specially for me, you can use some, don't bother." Wasted everything." Kang Youwei's heart was filled with fifteen buckets, the price of water fluctuated up and down, his lips moved for words, he hesitated to kowtow to thank him, got up and slanted his body to accompany him. He took a few mouthfuls while accompanying him, and seeing Guangxu put down his chopsticks, Kang Youwei got up in a hurry to thank him.Guangxu rinsed his mouth with a cup, and moved to the window to look at the scenery outside. He seemed to be thinking about something. After a long while, he opened his mouth and said, "The imperial edict of Ming Dingguo has been issued, and the new policy will be implemented in a blink of an eye. What's going on in your heart these days?" want?" "National affairs are difficult and the current situation is fleeting, so the slaves think that the emperor should eliminate resistance and speed up the pace of reform and reform." Kang Youwei responded with a bow, thought for a while, and then began to talk, "Political aspects: open the system The Bureau of Civil Affairs, pull out the talents of the world, and swear that the officials will be ashamed of the country. Economic aspects: revitalize commerce, agriculture, industry, and protect the development of national capitalism. Cultural and educational aspects: abolish stereotyped writing, develop schools, run newspapers, open social Ethos. Military aspects: cut old troops, train new ones, and reorganize national defense." Guangxu listened carefully, while thinking, looking outside with piercing eyes.After a while, he turned to Kang Youwei and asked, "What about setting up a parliament and opening a congress?" "In the House of Representatives, the slave thinks that we should not act too hastily. The House of Representatives was opened 20 years after the reform in Japan. It is not the right time for me to be in the House of Representatives." "Is that really the case?" Kang Youwei looked at Guangxu's thin body, as if he wanted to see something. After a while, he swallowed and bowed and said, "The people's wisdom is not enlightened, and the people's rights are used abusively, which is the way of chaos. The slave was not thinking carefully at first, and his words were reckless. I also beg the emperor to forgive me." "Is this really a crime?" Guangxu looked at Kang Youwei, and sat cross-legged on the kang, "Now the people who are in the lower row, those who avoid, and those who slander fill the alleys, and I--if Acting impetuously, the whole party will work together to encircle, attack, and destroy it. My personal safety is very small, and the country's future is hopeless." Guangxu raised his hand to signal Kang Youwei to sit on the carved porcelain pier, and sighed angrily. "I originally wanted to promote you as a servant, and then as a military officer. You and my monarch and ministers are of the same heart, and the country will be rejuvenated, but Lafayette only rewards you as an official below the sixth rank. You are now a sixth rank. Can she not know? Today Lafayette She wanted me to come here, and forced me to agree to her that all the Beiyang armies would be under the jurisdiction of Ronglu; the slaves above the second rank would be under her own control—” "I implore the emperor not to agree to these two things." Kang Youwei got up and knelt on the ground, kowtowed his head and said, "There are already many obstacles to reform and reform, but if you allow these two things, the stubborn old forces will--" "That's all, I have already agreed. In this way, there is still a way to go, although it is a narrow path full of thorns; if you don't agree, there is no hope at all. I am afraid that I will never go back to the palace." Guangxu took a long breath and said, " So in the future, when doing things, you must think carefully and be cautious." "Slaves follow the hadith." Guangxu stared at the candle seedlings, as if he was thinking about something. After a long while, he coughed lightly and said, "I deeply agree with the reform and other matters you mentioned just now. But where should we start now? It's impossible to promulgate all kinds of reforms." Let's go down?" "Enlighten the wisdom of the people, summon the hearts of the officials." Kang Youwei groaned for a long time, twisting his beard, and then said, "Enlighten the wisdom of the people, the servants have done something over the years, and they have achieved something, but they still think it is not enough; and the heart of the officials, More are still stubborn and rigid, so the servant thinks that the most urgent task is still here. And to achieve this, the most urgent thing is to abolish stereotyped—” "Abolish the stereotype system?" Guangxu frowned. "Yes. Only in this way can the idea of ​​reform be accepted by more people. Only when the people, especially the officials in the court, accept this idea, can the implementation of the New Deal be accomplished overnight." Kang Youwei nodded with a depressed expression, "In addition, the slave also asked the emperor to accept the idea." The power of the present is to do things that can be changed. To implement the new policy, do not go to the old yamen, but only add new yamen; do not depose the old ministers, but only gradually promote small officials; Entrust him with an errand, reward him with a title, and allow him to specialize in the work." Guangxu looked at Kang Youwei approvingly: "What I'm afraid of is that you will suffer from impatience, and I am relieved that you can say such a thing." As he spoke, he took out a small yellow box from the cabinet on the side of the kang, "Here you take it, if you have something to write, put it in there, and I'm afraid it will never be possible to see you in the future." Kang Youwei took it with trembling hands. However, he looked at Guangxu with panic and fear: "The emperor—" "Needless to say anything." A smile flashed across the corner of Guangxu's mouth, "Let's be exhausted." "Hey!" When the news of the abolition of stereotyped writing came out, the price of the pot was blown up, and the voices of slander and slander were endless.In this way, you impeach and I refute, until the middle and late June, another round of confrontation between the old and the new calmed down temporarily.With the assistance of everyone, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao worked all night long, drafting memorials for the New Deal one after another.Emperor Guangxu must be accurate in every performance, and for a while, the gongs and drums of the Hundred Days Restoration were deafening and resounded through the sky. The flames are soaring for a round of daylight, and the ground is curled up in the sun.Although the row upon row of shops and premises are open, there are few customers.When Liang Qichao came out of the Zongli Yamen, he immediately felt hot and dry all over his body, and soon he was drenched in sweat.Scanning both sides, although a few sparse sedan chairs are parked in the shade of the wall, there are no people there. I have no choice but to walk slowly along the base of the wall, and just come out of the alley, but I see a green sedan chair with four people swinging around. He came over, and the person in front of him opened the way, who was the steward of the mansion, so he shouted loudly. "My aunt! Why don't you ask to take a sedan chair in this hot day?" The steward bowed to greet Qian'er, and turned his face, "Master, aunt came out of the General Administration." "I thought it was the one who picked me up, but I didn't think it was Brother Biyuan—" Uncovering the curtain and slowly stepping out of the sedan chair, Li Duanfen smiled lightly and asked, "How?" Liang Qichao wiped off his sweat, the corners of his mouth twitched like a half-smile, and said: "The decree has come, Liupin title, to handle the affairs of the translation bureau. "What?" Wang Zhaofang came out of the sedan chair. He heard it as if he couldn't believe his ears, and almost shouted, "Handling the translation bookstore? Brother Zhuo Ru is a top-ranking literary talent, and his reputation is even comparable to that of Brother Nanhai. At this juncture, the emperor is in trouble." -" "The more critical it is, the more people like Zhuo Ru should not be placed in a conspicuous place." Li Duanfen said as he moved his eyes to Liang Qichao, "This morning, the emperor Zhu approved, Zhan Shifu, Tongzheng Secretary, Dali Temple and Guanglu Temple, etc. Several idle yamen have been merged into the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Punishment, is this what you wrote?" Liang Qichao frowned and wrinkled Lao Gao, and asked an irrelevant question: "I wonder if this news is reliable?" "The Ministry of Rites is the receiving yamen. Zhan Shifu, Tongzhengsi, Honglu Temple, and Guanglu Temple will all be included. Do you think it is reliable?" Liang Qichao looked at Wang Zhao, bit his lower lip with fine white teeth, and said, "Teacher, I entered the garden first, and I would like to ask the emperor to adopt the safe method of 'but adding new yamen, not removing the old one', so as not to have too deep a grudge. How can you hand in the booklets for what the young bloggers advocated? There must be too many people who have asked for layoffs and simplification of policies, and the emperor has taken the wrong idea—" "It's really not enough to succeed, but more than to fail!" Li Duanfen let out the depression in his chest and let out a long breath, "How can you submit such an excerpt without thinking?" "Brother Biyuan, don't be impatient." Wang Zhao said with a smile, "The verdicts have come down, what's the use of being angry? Let Xiaohang see, this New Deal is also time to touch politics—" "No, no Brother Xiaohang's words are wrong." Before Li Duanfen could speak, Liang Qichao shook his head and interjected, "Although many edicts of the new government have been promulgated, except Mr. Chen of Xiang Fu, who can seriously implement them, who else has the strength to supervise them? At this time, we can't be blinded by the superficial phenomenon." "Because of this, Fang wants to do something real. If it goes on like this without pain or itch, when will the country be rejuvenated?" "Brother Xiaohang, haste makes waste." Li Duanfen slapped the concubine Xiang's bamboo fan in his hand, "Reform and reform are like walking on thin ice. Even if we overcome thorns and thorns, we don't know what the future will be like step by step. How dare we make mistakes?" He breathed a sigh of relief, "So many yamen have been withdrawn, and thousands of people have lost their jobs, but if it comes to Lafayette, then—" Liang Qichao couldn't help shivering: "Brother Biyuan, is there a remedy? " "But to make amends, the only way for the emperor to withdraw his order is that possible?" Li Duanfen had a wry smile on his face, "The only thing we can do now is to be more careful in the future. I will inform you in the official circles, and the rest of you should move around more. Walk around, but you must not submit such papers that touch the vital interests of the old school. Especially in Nanhai, he can directly report to the emperor, and the relationship is even more important. Okay, Brother Xiaohang and I have to go to the yamen Li is on duty. You go to the guild hall first, and we will go there later." It's hot, and the Nanhai Guild Hall, which is the command center behind the reform and reform, is even better.As soon as the decree to abolish Zhanshifu, Tongzhengsi, Guanglu Temple, Taipusi and other yamen came out from the inner court, hundreds of conservative officials, clerks, and servants poured out their grievances on the reformers headed by Kang You , They were crying, roaring, shouting and cursing, until they surrounded the Nanhai Guild Hall with three floors inside and three floors outside.Furious, Kang Youwei grabbed the door in a short coat and was about to go out. Hearing the deafening roar and seeing the dark scene, he hesitated.He has experienced this kind of scene, and it is what he advocated. He deeply knows that the spittle is enough to drown a person, whether you are an emperor, a general, or a prince or relative! "They're all gone?" Kang Youwei, dressed in a white coat made of coarse cloth, still dripping with sweat, didn't lift his head when he heard the sound, writing furiously while writing in front of the case, "Come and have a look, your words are still there." Think you're weak?" Kang Guangren's light gray gown was soaked in sweat and clinging to his body, he nodded silently, and sank down on the carved wooden stick without wiping off his sweat. "You—" Kang Youwei glanced out of the corner of his eyes, turned around and twisted a towel and handed it over, and then went to the outer room to bring in a few glasses of ice water, "It's hard for everyone. If this resentment doesn't come out, I will ——" "Brother! Don't you think there are not enough things?!" Kang Guangren sipped ice water and swallowed with a "gudong" sound, and said. "What are you talking about, huh?!" Kang Youwei squinted at Kang Guangren, "They are not targeting me alone, they are targeting the entire reform cause! That's all, I don't know how arrogant they will be in the future?! No, I will definitely I want to ask the emperor to arrest the initiator and punish him!" He gritted his teeth, "Not only that, I also want to ask the emperor——" "Brother Nanhai, forget it." Yang Rui sighed weakly, "Now is not the time." "Forget it? Forget it?! You really—" Kang Youwei paced back and forth a few steps, looked at Lin Xu, frowning, and said, "Tun Gu, tell me, don't you?" Should we impeach them?" "Mr. Nanhai means that Tungu also has it." Tungu, that is, Lin Xu, a Fujian Houguan, licked his lower lip when he heard the sound, and said hesitantly, "It's just the current situation, we can't... Tun Gu means, let’s put up with this grievance for the time being, and wait—” “Be patient, you are as timid as you are, when will the New Deal be effective?!” Kang Youwei glanced at the crowd with resentment, “Right now A lot of new policies have been promulgated, but except for the implementation of many in Hunan Province, all provinces have ignored them. Why? It is that they have tolerated too much of these stubborn conservative forces, so that they dare to forget about the imperial decrees! ——" He coughed twice, and when his lips moved and wanted to speak again, there was a voice from outside: "I want to make love with them, I just have to wait patiently for a while." While speaking, Li Duanfen revealed himself The curtain entered the room. "Brother Biyuan." Li Duanfen bowed his hands and gestured for everyone to sit down. Li Duanfen frowned, looked at Kang Youwei with a slight smile, and said, "Brother Nanhai also advised the emperor to add a new yamen instead of withdrawing the old yamen? Why, such a small matter changed the course "This——" A blush flashed across Kang Youwei's face. Seeing the steward coming in with a watermelon in his arms, he took it and cut it open and handed it to everyone. He took a small piece and chewed it in his mouth.南海并不想改的，只顽固守旧势力如此猖獗，若不以回击——” “他们越是猖獗，说明他们越是心慌、越是害怕。”李端棻撩袍角坐了，将手中瓜放了桌上，望眼康有为草拟的奏折，端杯接着道，“但凡这种时候，我们越该稳扎稳打，不与他们一丝空隙才是的。不然冒险行事，岂不前功尽弃？各省情形皇上心中有数，后晌又有谕旨颁下的。”他干咳了两声，清清嗓子诵道，“时局艰难，亟须图自强之策。中外臣工墨守旧章，前经谕令讲求时务，勿蹈宋、明积习，训诫谆谆。唯是更新要务，造端宏大，条目繁多，不得不广集众长，折衷一是。诸臣于交议之事，当周咨博访，详细讨论。毋缘饰经术，附会古义；毋胶执成见，隐便身图。倘面从心违，致失朝廷实事求是本旨，非朕所望也。朕深唯穷变通久之义，创建一切，实具万不得已之苦衷。用申谕尔诸臣，其各精白乃心，力除壅蔽，上下一诚相感，庶国是以定，而治道蒸蒸矣。” “但这种谕旨下了不下数十道，只结果如何？还不是外甥打灯笼──照旧。”康有为将瓜皮丢进盘子里，边揩手边轻轻一哂道，“更况圣上此旨对那些督抚将军不切实推行新政无片言只字责恕。我意思，还非严刑不足以儆下。” “皇上不是没有此意，只他能吗？那些督抚将军何以敢抗旨不遵，就在于皇上势弱。但皇上大权在握，他们又岂敢置若罔闻？”李端棻咽了口唾沫，咂舌道，“南海兄万万三思，切莫到头来一失足换得千古恨呐。”康有为默默望着外边渐渐西垂的日头，眸子一闪一闪地露着阴冷的光，良久，腮边肌肉抽搐了下道：“南海行事从不知有'后悔'二字。”他话音不高，只却听得众人不自禁打了个冷战，兀自惊讶着，康广仁已然开了口：“大哥如此说话，不嫌太过分了吗？新政关乎国运，岂可感情用事？！” "you--" “你不要大叫！我难道说错了吗？！”康广仁“嗖”地站起了身，“你坚意递折子给皇上，为什么？不就为了那些守旧势力伤了你的自尊吗？！你但求一己之快，可否想过皇上无实权，倘一旦——” "enough!" “你恼什么？我说疼你了吗？！人不可无傲骨，但不可有傲气，这些年大家伙敬着你让着你——” “幼博兄！”眼见康有为面红耳赤，额头皱纹折起老高，显然已是恼怒至极，李端棻、杨锐几乎异口同声喝道。“南海兄虽则言语唐突了些，只心思却为着中兴大业，怎可如此说话？”李端棻边丢眼色给康广仁，边说道，“未时卓如便过来的，怎的现下还没个影儿？幼博兄去外边接一下，莫要出什么岔子才是。”说罢，复努嘴示意了下一侧不无惶恐神色的林旭。 “南海先生，”林旭轻轻点了点头，咬了下嘴唇上前一步安慰道，“幼博兄年轻气盛，你就莫放了心上吧。回头待他冷静下来——”不待他话音落地，康有为却已抬脚出了屋。杨锐、李端棻对望一眼，苦笑着摇摇头，亦自出屋在檐下怅然望着西际天穹。晚霞染得西半天一片血红，耀眼夺目的霞光泼洒下来，美丽异常。只死一般的宁静，给人一种不安的感觉。 “苾园兄！南海兄！” 兀自面面相觑没奈何间，垂花门外王照脚步橐橐行了过来。见杨锐、林旭亦在，王照忙不迭拱手施礼：“叔峤兄、暾谷兄也在，失礼——”戛然止口望眼康有为，王照不由一怔，移眸扫了眼李端棻，懵懂片刻道，“南海兄这是——” “礼部情形怎样？”李端棻摇了摇头，问道。 “礼部满汉堂官都顽固到极点了，那怀塔布非只扬言太后老佛爷若不点头，他一个也不接。更告诉詹事府那些官吏，咱们的日子不会远了，老佛爷一准会出来说话的。”王照冷哼了声说道。康有为眉棱骨抖落了下，嘴唇翕动着似欲言语，只话到嘴边却又止住，眼角余光扫了眼李端棻，举步下了阶。李端棻半苍眉毛皱了下，发泄胸中郁闷价长长透了口气，叹道：“怀塔布并非危言耸听，但如此下去，不待我们立稳脚跟，老佛爷定会出面的。” “但如此下去，想要立稳脚跟，无异于天方夜谭。”康有为终于忍不住开了口。 “南海兄此言——”李端棻犹豫了下，“苾园不敢苟同。自新政颁布，虽收效甚微，然根基已扎，所欠者唯不实而已，但循此路走下去，何患站不稳脚跟？”“苾园兄先时言语小航思量了半晌，依你意思，却不失为一稳妥之法，只……只小航以为，太嫌谨慎小心了些。”王照悠然踱着碎步，沉吟道，“顽固守旧势力无时无刻不想着废新政而复旧制，我们只一味谨慎小心，怕不及站稳脚跟，他们便会疯狂反扑的。” “形势至此，但我们不与他们把柄，他们虽有此心，又哪有此胆？” “我们不与他们把柄，只他们有事没事找茬儿，又该如何？”见李端棻嘴唇翕动着，王照轻抬了下手，接着道，“忍？小事可忍，只大事呢？若都忍了肚中，变法维新岂不徒具虚名？再者，次亮兄耐性如何？可结果呢？忍字头上一把刀，有些事并非人所能忍耐得下的，苾园兄。”李端棻仿佛看陌生人似的扫了王照一眼：“莫说只一把刀，便十把、百把，只要利国利民，也要忍的。昔者孟子曾云：天将降大任于斯人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨——” “别人骑了头上屙屎，苾园兄也能泰然处之，这份定力真让人佩服呐。”康有为一双深深固执的眼睛仰望着天穹，嘴角掠过一丝冷笑，不紧不慢道。 李端棻腮边肌肉抽搐了下，欲开口反驳，只话到嘴边又硬生生咽了肚里。“苾园兄，”王照伸手拽了下李端棻袍袖，“南海兄言语——”嘴唇翕动着却又不知说什么好，遂叹了口气，改口道，“小航寻思，这该忍的咱忍，不该忍的却也不能忍。像现下裁汰冗员，取消闲散衙门，是太早了些，这日后咱可以忍着，但诸如堂官阻塞言路，督抚将军历行新政不力种种事儿，却断不能忍的。其他衙门情形小航不大清楚，像怀塔布这种人，司里有人上条陈，议新政，他非只从不肯代递，反处处作难，若不与申斥，日后还有何人敢言新政？前天我写了一份条陈，奏请皇上东巡日本，递上去后被他扔下来不说，还唆使御史台上章弹劾，说小航居心叵测，预谋——” “真有此事？”康有为移眸望着王照。 “非只参劾小航，便复生兄和卓如兄，也被参劾了。”王照点了点头，“那黄均隆参劾他二人在湖南办时务学堂和《湘学报》时的言行离经背道，请旨驱逐回籍，由地方严加看管。”杨锐身子不易察觉地颤抖了下：“他们不敢明着攻击新政，却使此釜底抽薪之计，真是阴险歹毒——”“他们阴险歹毒，咱们难不成便——”话甫出口似觉不妥，康有为戛然止住，在临清砖地上来回踱了两圈，收脚望眼众人，道，“这便写折子，上章弹劾！” “南海兄，”杨锐望眼李端棻，见他脸上毫无表情呆望着远方，犹豫下开了口，“现下我们如同处在顽固守旧派汪洋大海的包围之中，树敌还是越少越好。此事叔峤意思，还是思量思量再——” “不必思量了，就这么办。我这还有几份折子待拟，咱们便分头行事吧。”说罢，康有为略拱了下手，举步拾级折了屋中。 “苾园兄，你看这事——” 天已经苍黑，西际的云灰褐色里透着殷紫的光。李端棻木然望着，眼睫毛竟已潮湿，闭目深深吸口气，复徐徐吐将出来，回首苦笑着望眼二人：“走吧，说甚也没用的。” 虽离着入夜尚有一阵光景，只一盏盏气死风灯已然布满沿街两行，被烈日困了一整天的人们如潮水般纷纷涌上街衢，直炸了锅一般。多日来始终为变法所困扰的李端棻，置身茫茫人海中，却竟是浑然不觉。这些天来他不止一次地问自己，是不是真的老了，没了年轻时的闯劲，然而，却一次次地否定了自己…… “苾园兄！” ... “苾园兄！” “嗯？哦——卓如，你怎的这时辰才过来？”李端棻愣怔着抬起头，却见梁启超已然站了身前，失笑，问道。“在前门大街遇着伯茀兄，听说皇上下旨定于九月十五日奉皇太后幸天津阅兵，以示对训练新军强国雪耻的决心，我——”梁启超剃得趣青的额头上密密细汗闪着亮儿，眼见李端棻面色煞白，如月光下窗户纸般，忙不迭收口道，“苾园兄，你神色——” “没什么的，轿里说话吧。” “苾园兄这是从衙门里出来？” “嗯。”李端棻点头轻应一声呵腰上轿，吩咐折了左侧一小巷，端杯啜口茶沉吟着，半晌，方道，“下边动静怎样？”“朝里已炸了锅价沸沸扬扬。苾园兄难道不曾听说？”梁启超黑眸凝视着李端棻，似乎想从他脸上看出些什么，久久一动不动，“有议论此乃太后对皇上不利的举动，想借此打消皇上心中幻想，从而对其百依百顺；有议论此是皇上震慑老佛爷、加强皇权之举动；更有甚者，说什么皇上想借阅兵拘系太后，从而大权独揽。” “太后可有懿旨？”李端棻嘴角肌肉抽搐了下，一股寒意打心底深处涌了上来。 “懿旨还没见下来。”梁启超无可奈何价咽了口唾液，“怕不论怎样，一场风波总避免不了的了。”他脸色凝重，在幽暗的光亮下显得有几分忧郁，隔窗望着外边暮色苍茫中向后倒退的街衢，似倾诉又似喃喃自语道，“我与伯茀兄商议，由子静兄、漪村兄、岸竹兄和他联名上折，劝阻皇上收回旨意，只折子甭说进军机处，在东华门便给守门侍卫挡了回来。老师有密折奏事特权，但他出面，必可挽回。” 稳稳的大轿晃动了下，李端棻的脸色变得愈发惨白：“即便皇上肯收回成命，又能挽回些什么？话儿既说了出去，就莫想着能收回来了。”说着，他闭目无力地仰躺了轿椅上，两行泪水顺眼角无声地淌着，在烛光下闪着亮儿，“完了……完了……” “苾园兄，你这是——” “卓如，”李端棻长长透了口气，“朝政演变忽暖忽冷、大起大伏，而太后之心，更是路人皆知。国事不可为，我意思，你……你还是上折辞了差使，回南边去吧。”梁启超深邃的眸子中不无诧异神色，望着仿佛一下子苍老了许多的李端棻，咬嘴唇道：“前途虽然凶险，只希望犹在，就此舍弃多年梦想，卓如——” “留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。现下不抽身引退，迟则卷入愈深，祸变愈烈，结果不堪设想。”李端棻缓缓睁开眼，“要不了多日，太后必会站了前边的，卓如。” “太后她——”梁启超身子不禁一个寒战。 “如若说先时她是在等待时机，那么现下这时机已然到了。为兄在官场这么多年，断不会看错的。”李端棻抬袖轻拭了下颊上泪水，声音嘶哑着说道，“方今太后操权，顽固派势力根深蒂固，我们是无论如何无法与之抗衡的。太后年纪大了，而皇上迟早必有当权的一日，我们犯不着冒风险作无谓的牺牲。如今保存实力，正是为了将来皇上真正掌权当政时，可以实现我辈振兴我朝的夙愿。你切切三思，莫要贪图一时之快才是呐。”梁启超仰脸望着黑沉沉的天穹：“苾园兄洞悉朝局，远非卓如所能及，只太后将端郡王之子百般调教，所为何来已是司马昭之心——路人皆知。设若就此收手而太后乘机反扑，皇上帝位必将不保，如此日后何谈——” “但不将太后激得忍无可忍，她断不会行此下策的。皇上亲政以来，底下口碑如何？现下已不是往日那种情形了，她不敢轻易这般做的。”李端棻顿了下，伸手捋了捋胡须，又道，“即便她真敢逼皇上逊位，诸列强也不会应允的。就她那胆量气魄，敢与诸列强抗争？” 梁启超细碎白牙咬着下嘴唇，心中直思潮翻涌，久久不能平静。他对朝政亦多少有些灰心，而今天总署查看，只以六品衔办理译书局事务，更使他感到被藐视的羞辱，犹如当头一棒，但要他就此舍弃心中多年的梦想，却又——沉吟良晌，他终于开了口：“朝政至此，卓如亦多少冷了心的。然在此生死未决之时刻，要卓如离师弃友，遁身南下，岂不叫天下人耻笑？卓如想还是留下来吧。” “此非你一人荣辱之事，实则为了我朝——” “芸芸众生，有几人能似苾园兄这般想法？众口铄金，积毁销骨呐。”梁启超说着轻轻叹了口气，“还是挺下去吧。”见李端棻嘴唇翕动着还要言语，梁启超又道，“苾园兄不必再劝，卓如心意已定，虽九死而无悔！” “你——”李端棻嘴唇翕动着，长长叹了口气。二人一时都没有再言声，只默默凝视着变幻莫测的天穹。 自轿里呵腰出来，谭嗣同只觉得浑身一爽。红砖碧瓦、琼楼玉宇，这被世人视作“天堂”的圣地，如今正张开双臂，敞开胸怀，静候着他的光临。此时此刻，站在这巍峨的禁城前，他方发觉自己的心跳陡地加快了节奏，是紧张？是兴奋？抑或二者兼有？他不知道，他只知道自己现下唯一想做的便是放喉高喊几声，喊出自己的郁闷，喊出自己的激动，喊出自己的期望…… “复生兄。” “嗯？”谭嗣同自懵懂中回过神来，失笑拱手向杨锐施礼道，“叔峤兄早。” “早也没早过你复生兄呀。”杨锐压着嗓子笑道，“怎么，心里别有一番滋味？依我看呐，皇上待会儿至少也得授你个四品京卿。”谭嗣同掩饰不住内心的喜悦，两眼眯成了条缝：“叔峤兄取笑了。南海兄至今不过是六品主事，我敢做这梦？”说着，见林旭、刘光第并肩过来，谭嗣同大步迎了上去，“裴村兄，公度兄还没有消息过来吗？” 刘光第，四十左右年纪，白净的面孔略显长点，双手抱拳一拱，说道：“公度害的是痢疾，病得瘦骨嶙峋，下床站都站不起来，一时恐怕来不了京城。”“可惜，可惜，不然来个五虎闹京都，岂不大快人心？”说着，谭嗣同将手一让，举步向西华门踱了过去。“除了你复生兄，我们几个何敢当这'虎'字？”林旭甩手将油光水滑长辫抛了脑后，“再说，复生兄又何以断言皇上不是申斥我等呢？”话音方落地，一侧杨锐插了口：“孙大人过来了，咱们还是快些进去才是。”几人回头看时，果见孙家鼐从绿冲呢纱轿中呵腰出来，脚下不由皆加快了步子。 “上边没有话儿传下来，几位大人请回吧。” “我等奉旨见驾，烦劳公公细细察看一下，上边不会没有单子下来的。”刘光第略躬了下身，说道。 “这种事儿咱家岂会弄错？孙大人过来了，几位还是快些走开，莫自讨没趣才是。” 谭嗣同腮边肌肉抽搐了下，冷冷盯着那守门的太监：枣核儿脑袋两头尖，一脸细白麻子，心里直觉着一阵恶心，忍不住开了口：“你敢抗旨？！” “抗旨咱家不敢，那可是砍头的罪名，再说这也没旨意，咱家便有那胆，又能奈何？”那太监上下打量了番谭嗣同，冷冷笑道，“不知大人是——” “谭嗣同！” “谭嗣同？咱家没听说过，哈哈哈……” “你一个小小守门太监，竟——”谭嗣同细碎白牙咬着，额头青筋已是暴突。杨锐见状忙不迭伸手扯了下他的后襟。“禁城重地，吵闹什么？！”这光景，孙家鼐九蟒五爪袍子外套仙鹤补服，顶上一枝翠生生的双眼花翎，晃悠着过来。“还有没有规矩？！”说着，他古井一样深邃的眸子扫了眼众人。“卑职刑部候补主事刘光第见过大人。”刘光第不无深意地望了下谭嗣同，上前一步躬身打千儿请安道。“卑职四人奉旨辰时见驾，只这位公公以未曾接上边传话——” “大人明鉴，咱家这确未接着上边传话，如此岂敢放他们进去？”那太监眸子扫了眼谭嗣同，“这位谭大人无理取闹，还请大人为咱家做主。” “皇城重地，卑职斗胆亦不敢稍有造次，实在——” “罢了。”孙家鼐一脸核桃皮似的皱纹动也不动，虚抬下手，说道，“他们确是奉了皇上旨意的。本官带他们进去，回头自会让有司查明此事的。”说罢，看也不看众人，抬脚便踱了进去。亦步亦趋地随了孙家鼐身后进去，几人心里都十五个吊桶打水价七上八下，而谭嗣同更胸中塞了团烂棉絮价堵得难受，先时的兴奋、激动已是荡然无存。“大人。”刘光第暗吁口气，瞥一眼孙家鼐的身影，咬嘴唇开口说道，“此事确——” “莫管怎样，在禁城大声吵闹便是大不敬。”孙家鼐边橐橐踱着碎步，边眼角余光瞟了下谭嗣同，“你父近来怎样，身体尚好？”谭嗣同神情阴郁地在林旭身边低头缓步前行，直林旭在腰眼上捅了下方回过神来，满是狐疑的目光在林旭脸上稍停片刻，移了孙家鼐身上：“托大人福，前日家中来信，家父一切尚好。卑职本欲去府邸请安的，只这几日事儿缠身，未有空暇，还望大人恕罪。” “你这确实是够忙的。”孙家鼐嘴角肌肉抽动了下，面无表情地冷冷道，“孝为百行之先。你父已届不惑之年，正是你膝前尽孝之时，可你这做人子的，又怎生做的？京师非你适宜之地，而荣华富贵亦不过过眼烟云，听老夫一语，及早离京回乡去吧。” “国事如厮——” “国事自有人料理，不需你等费心。趁着年轻，多读些书才是正路。”