Chapter 10 Chapter Ten Emperor Chongzhen and Shi Kefa

A smear of setting sun made the solid outline of the capital stand out in the sky, and the tooth-like arrow stacks on the city wall stretched vaguely towards both sides in the twilight. What a big city!Mao Pijiang reined in his tired horse and stood alone on the side of the official road on the outskirts of the capital. He was already shocked and excited by a strong royal style.A few camels with loads of boxes on their shoulders walked slowly past him. He watched the strange animal walk towards the distance arrogantly and calmly. The last camel was riding a beautiful foreign woman. He dared not Look more, because there is a fainting smell on her body that radiates through a short distance, reminding him of Dong Xiaowan - the seductive fragrance of flowers on her body.

He led the horse into the city.The city is still very lively, there is a high-hanging lantern not far away, the lights are dim, there are shadowy people everywhere, and gorgeously dressed figures can be seen everywhere.Mao Bijiang is the son of a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, and he feels shabby at this moment. A merchant-like man bowed to him with a smile and said, "Guests, do you want to stay in the hotel? This restaurant provides board and lodging, which is cheap and good quality." Things were going wrong and Pijiang didn't know where to stay, so he followed the owner. Turn around three alleys.He became suspicious and was about to ask questions, but the inn had already arrived.This inn was remodeled from an ordinary courtyard house, and the furnishings were fairly elegant. He chose a single room to live in, and it cost three renminbi a day.He told the bartender to feed the horses, then fell asleep, and the fatigue along the way gradually disappeared in his dreams.

The city was full of fluffy poplar flowers, and Mao Bijiang was wandering alone in the city. At noon, he ordered a bowl of stewed pork vermicelli at a hotel to try this famous Guanwai dish.He was lowering his head and devouring greedily, when suddenly someone tapped his shoulder with a fan. He was startled, and turned around to see Zhang Tianru standing beside him.Meeting old acquaintances in a foreign land is a great joy in life.Mao Pijiang hugged his shoulder excitedly. "Brother, are you safe?" "Why is your son here? I only think that someone similar to you is here!"

Mao Pijiang listened to his question, his face was slightly troubled, showing a worried look.He pulled Zhang Tianru to the seat, and gently told about his experience and his plan to save his father on this trip.Zhang Tianru was also shocked: "Your son is risking his beheading." "I am ready to die." "How do you proceed?" Zhang Tianru asked with concern. "I'm struggling to find a solution. My brother has lived in the capital for a long time, can you think of a way?" "Memorials outside Beijing are usually delivered by Yushitai. Wasn't your father in Yushitai back then? Find out if there are any acquaintances, and ask him to introduce you, maybe you can meet the saint."

He reminded him of Mao Pijiang Jing, and suddenly remembered that Master Xu Zhen was a close friend of his father, and he might be able to thread a needle.My heart felt relieved, and my worry was also reduced a bit. The two talked about resuming the society.Zhang Tianru asked: "Where does the young master live now?" Mao Bijiang said it was a small and medium shop in an alley, Zhang Tianru shook his head and said, "Not right, not right. Living in this small shop, it is difficult to get a glimpse of the sceneries and people in Beijing.Come on, I'll lead you to a place. "

The two went back to the small shop together, paid the bill, led the horses, and went to live in a medium-sized hotel near the bustling road in the city.After the arrangements were made, Zhang Tianru left and said: "My dear brother is here in Beijing. I should have given my best to help, but the trip is in a hurry. Today I was ordered to go south to buy royal jewels, so I can't accompany you. I hope that my dear brother will be considerate. If my dear brother is short of silver in Beijing , you can go to Hufang Bridge to find my brother, as long as there is no serious problem, I will bid farewell!"

"Brother, how long have you been here?" "About half a year." Mao Pijiang had dinner in a restaurant, the food was delicious, and he thought that the accommodation arranged by Zhang Tianru was really good.While eating, a shop clerk ran in in a panic and accidentally knocked a bench to the ground.The shopkeeper said: "Have you encountered a ghost? Why are you panicking?" "Boss, the emperor has ordered a curfew today." "Curfew is curfew. Your Guizhou donkey has never heard a horse bark." "The bandits are attacking Shanhaiguan again."

"Oh." The shopkeeper was not afraid of the Qing soldiers attacking Beijing, he just hated the refugees who came before each attack, they always asked him for money, and they hugged his legs with dirty hands, which made him sick. Mao Bijiang originally wanted to go for a walk, but when he heard about the curfew, he lost interest, so he went upstairs alone, thinking about drafting a memorial.He was lying on the bed, thinking hard, this was a much more headache than writing articles usually, and every move had to be done according to the emperor's rules.He thought of Xu Zhen again, but he didn't know where to find him.

About one more day, the streets in the capital were already quiet, and there happened to be an important street downstairs, and many officers and soldiers were standing there, and occasionally they could hear curses and reprimands from their interrogators.Mao Pijiang sneaked to the window, lifted the curtain and looked at it.In the dim light, one could see a large notice of martial law made of wooden boards pasted on the wall at the intersection, and the officers and soldiers huddled in the corner with their sleeves folded.From the narrow and long alley, a watchman came out with a small lantern, beating a broken gong.The huddled shadow just flickered slightly, and then disappeared into the darkness, and the slow, listless sound of the gong gradually faded away in the sound of the wind.The shadow of this time makes people sad, the prosperous scene in the daytime has disappeared, and the city looks particularly gloomy and desolate.He felt his future was bleak.

Three days later, the curfew was lifted, and the residents of Beijing happily spread the news of General Wu Sangui's victory.Mao Bijiang also showed joy. He drew up a memorial to discuss the matter of supervising the army, which he regarded as his proudest work in his life. Early in the morning, Mao Bijiang got up, dressed neatly, and finished washing.With the enthusiastic guidance of the waiter in the shop, he went out and turned three corners, and he saw a lot of traffic and crowded official sedan chairs in front of the Meridian Gate from a distance. He entered the Yushi Terrace behind a few sedan chairs, and stood under an old horned dragon pine, waiting for the opportunity. Seeing that all the officials and councilors were leaving one after another, he took the memorial and walked up to the hall, knelt down, and held the memorial high. .Some of the attendants on the left and right came forward to ask what's the matter.There were two censors sitting in the hall, they asked that the person kneeling down in Ming hall was just a young student, they were furious and ordered to quit.Mao Bijiang was pushed out of the door and let out a long sigh.Seeing that Yushitai couldn't get in, who would he go to?He was so worried that he threw the memorial on the ground and lingered for a long time in desolation.

With tears streaming down his face, he walked sadly along the way he came.Suddenly a fast horse blocked the way, and immediately a Jin Yiwei asked loudly: "My lord, please stop, Master Yushi wants to see you." Mao Pijiang was overjoyed, and walked back with him, he didn't hope that Yushitai could help him, but just wanted to take the opportunity to find out about Master Xu Zhenxu's residence.At this time, an official sedan chair in front stopped, and an official came out from the opening of the sedan chair curtain. The official said: "Student, I saw that the article you threw on the ground was very good, so I came here to catch up. Now I ask, are you the son of Mao Qizong?" "My father is Maoqizong." "Nephew, I know your purpose, but this is something that Yu Shitai can't help. You can go to Xu Zhen's staff, he has a good relationship with your father, maybe he can make a difference.His house is on the left side of Chaoyang Gate, and there is a pair of green lions in front of the gate, which is very special and can be seen at a glance.Take it, your memorial. " "Thank you, Master Yushi." The official sedan chair left slowly again, followed by many servants.He grabbed the last one and asked: "Who is the censor just now?" The servant said proudly: "Sheng Yong, Master Sheng." The pair of green stone lions in front of Xu Li's department is really special, not only has both form and spirit, but also is gentle and cute.When Mao Pijiang saw two Persians touching the stone lion, frequently pointing their thumbs, he couldn't help smiling.Seeing him smile, the two barbarians blushed and hurried away. He knocked three times on the knocker, and a steward opened the door, telling him to wait in the hall.When Xu Zhen heard that he had pretended to ask for an interview, he asked the housekeeper to lead him to the study. Mao Bijiang met Xu Zhen in Chen Xiang who borrowed the book.The clerk greeted him in a casual robe and said, "Haha, thirty years have passed like a cloud of smoke, and the first time I saw you, you were walking!" Mao Bijiang made a big salute, Xu Zhen told him to excuse himself and sat down at the lower head.Xu Zhen sighed: "Since your father was imprisoned, I have been anxious about him and tried to rescue him every day. The day before yesterday, Hengyang Feiqi came to write a letter, telling your father that your father is still alive, which made Xu Zhen feel a little better.But to get him out of prison quickly and restore him to his post, only Prime Minister Fan lobbied hard, and there might be hope.Do you know who framed your father? " "My nephew doesn't know." "It was the work of Wei Yan, a scholar of Dongge University. This man is a hard bone. A tiger would complain of toothache when he gnawed on it." "My nephew is here, and he will face the saint to plead guilty even if he dies. Even if he dies, he must return his innocence." Xu Zhen sighed and said, "It's rare for a virtuous nephew to show filial piety, look at this banner." He deliberately changed the subject, "It's your father's handwriting." Mao Pijiang saw that the banner was written with a line of poem: "Flowers hear the cry and die, but water sees newness." Then he said: "It seems to be a sentence by Meng Dongye. Dad always likes to read Meng Dongye." "It's exactly Meng Dongye's poem. 'Flowers hear the sound of crying and die' is a word that hurts spring. 'Water sees newness' is a word that laments the time. Our old people know the true meaning of it! It's not that water is really new. , is the old guest!" Just as he was sighing, the butler rushed to report: "Prime Minister Fan is visiting." Xu Zhen said, "It's just in time." Then he took Mao Bijiang's hand and introduced him to Prime Minister Fan in the living room. Prime Minister Fan laughed loudly and said: "Nephew came at the right time, just after coming down from the holy hall, the emperor has granted your father the official reinstatement." Mao Bijiang and Xu Zhen were ecstatic.How can it not be exciting when a dark cloud finally disappears from the sky. Xu Zhendao: "It's all thanks to Prime Minister Fan not forgetting the old feelings and speaking kindly in front of the Holy One, that's what made him today." "No, no. This is Zhang Xianzhong's credit." "How do you say that the anti-thief has merit?" Prime Minister Fan said sternly: "The important town of Xiangfan has already been destroyed by offering thieves. If we had followed the strategy of taking precautions, there would be no disaster today. The country is in danger, and the emperor has a heart of repentance. He has sent people to Hengyang to pass the decree. went." Mao Bijiang first thanked the sage Long En, and then asked: "The state affairs are not going well, what is the situation of thieves everywhere?" "It's not good. Robbery has become a trend, and it seems to be on the verge of destroying Luoyang. The country is in danger." Mao Bijiang only hates that he is not a general, otherwise he will go to the front to fight against the rebels.As soon as he tried hard, he broke a brush.Remembering that there was nothing to do in the capital, he told the two elders that he planned to stay in the capital for a day or two before leaving. Prime Minister Fan and Wei Yan have become incompatible.Just now when I heard that Mao Pijiang wanted to leapfrog to face the saint, I thought to myself that this kid still has some guts, and he can use his blood to achieve the purpose of attacking Wei Yan.At this time, I heard that Mao Bijiang was leaving, so he hurriedly stopped him and said: "My nephew is on a mission, do you think your father is safe?" "Isn't it?" Mao Pijiang asked in surprise. "Remember that Wei Yan is still here, and Lingfu's tragedy may repeat itself." Xu Zhen immediately understood his intention.He said: "When weeds are cut, we must get rid of the roots, otherwise there will be endless troubles." "How can we get rid of Wei Yan? My nephew is willing to do his best." "This matter needs to be discussed in the long run." Fan Chengxiang had one more brave and arrogant pawn in his hands, so he had more confidence.Risking Pijiang did not expect the dangers involved in this political maneuver. If necessary, Prime Minister Fan would sacrifice this little pawn to protect himself without mercy.Mao Bijiang himself sent himself to the wire rope.After leaving Xu Zhen's house, he lived in the prime minister's mansion.In order to keep the secret, he had to live in the backyard and dare not show up easily. During the days when he lived deep in the prime minister's mansion, his heart was full of aggressive feelings.He threw Wei Yan off the temple several times in his dreams. The large number of books, antiques, calligraphy and paintings in the prime minister's mansion made him fondle admiringly and opened his eyes.An unprecedented pride made him feel a little giddy. Every afternoon, he would put down his book and take a walk alone in the corridor. Although the summer sun was fierce, what he felt more exciting was the always blue and clear sky in the capital city and the soft white clouds floating in the sky. A bliss rarely enjoyed in gloomy weather. At first, he ran into A Piao, the prime minister's niece, by chance.As time goes by, he meets A Piao every day.She always had a lot of woman's work to do in the hallway, which she thought was well lit.He also gradually discovered her beauty. Ah Piao smiled happily at him, because seeing him made her feel happy in her heart, and she also vaguely noticed that he always smiled at her, and gradually his eyes became a little dazed, with a pensive expression look. "Young Master, I'm getting bored again." She blushed slightly. "Yeah, time flies so slowly." He fanned the wind. "It's really hot today." "That's right. The sun is always so big in the north, and it rarely rains." "Isn't Ah Piao a northerner?" "I'm from Changsha, and I like rain." "I don't like rain, and I hate cloudy days even more. It's better to be sunny, and I feel refreshed in everything I do." "Actually, it's only interesting when it's raining. Especially when I'm lying alone in bed at night and listening to the raindrops running from the roof in the distance, it's like someone is throwing sand on the tiles all the way. It's very beautiful." "Of course, but the sun is always exciting." "Are you often depressed? I don't understand why you stay at home all day like a woman. Are the books so beautiful?" He scratched his head with his fan, not to explain.At this time, a butterfly flew in from outside the wall.He said: "What a beautiful butterfly." Ah Piao also saw it. The butterfly came lightly and landed on a flower not far in front of them, happily devouring the honey in the stamen.Mao Pijiang's childlike innocence was so strong that he slapped a fan, and the flower branch broke, but the butterfly flew away. "You are so bad, you show no mercy." With a support, he easily stepped over the railing, picked up the fan, and folded the flower off.Then he supported it with his hands and returned to the corridor.He said inadvertently: "The famous flower has its owner!" A Piao blushed, in order to cover up, she hurriedly bent down to pick up the embroidery circle she was embroidering just now. She said: "Hey, it's getting late, I'm going to help my mother with something. I'm leaving." After speaking, he walked towards the backyard.He liked to watch her back, so he watched to his heart's content right now. She looked back at the corner, and he was still looking at her, holding a fan and flowers in his hands, without a smile on his face. Ah Piao has never seen anyone look at him like this.Sometimes in the old days she couldn't help turning her head and glancing at the people she had just talked to, as if that would make it less rude and unreasonable, but those people hurried away, and the expressions on their faces had changed , became single-minded, only this impostor, as if he was expecting her to go back.As if nothing had ever happened. Prime Minister Fan took out a portrait painting from a wooden cabinet under the desk. "Nephew, come and have a look, would you like to meet this man?" Mao Pijiang looked at it, and there was an evil look on his face, so he replied: "My nephew doesn't want to see this person." "Why not?" "This person is too evil, it's not good to see him." "Hahaha." Fan Chengxiang sat in the grand teacher's chair and beckoned him to sit beside him. "Nephew is on the way, the old man will teach you a lesson today, please sit down and listen carefully." "If you are good at learning, you will be an official." Prime Minister Fan said, "If a good nephew passes the imperial examination, he will definitely be promoted to a noble and an official. Isn't it?" "Of course. Scholars are born with a deep determination to serve the country." "Do you know that the officialdom is difficult?" "Know a thing or two." "Listen to me, the most important part of the officialdom is the quick judgment of people when in contact with them. My nephew has not seen the mystery of this aspect." "My nephew doesn't understand, please ask the prime minister for advice." "Just now you saw the portrait and immediately judged good and evil. This is a big taboo in the officialdom. You must know that there is no judgment of good and evil in the officialdom, only the judgment of strength and weakness. The judgment of good and evil is a sign of weakness. This kind of judgment is derived from women. I learned it there. They are afraid that you will be hurt when you were young, so they will teach you to forcibly divide people into good and bad in order to avoid evil. Many people only know this kind of judgment until they die. But there is no good and evil in the officialdom. The goal is to Goodness, failure to achieve the goal is evil. Then, the main judgment is only strong and weak, this is a beast-like instinct, it can make you truly appreciate the factors of the strong and the weak, so as to make full use of this person. The strong must cooperate, and if they cannot cooperate, they must be eliminated as soon as possible, while the weak can always be used and oppressed at will.Strength has nothing to do with appearance, but with charm.In short, the judgment of good and evil is childish, and the judgment of strength is the real mark of an adult. have you understood? " Mao Pijiang heard sweat dripping from his face, these words were too shocking for him.People can not distinguish between good and evil!He seemed to hear the voice of another world, as if a ghost was twisting his heart, trying to turn it over. Seeing his flustered expression, Prime Minister Fan thought it was funny, and didn't expect him to answer.He dragged the portrait over and said, "This man is Lingfu's nemesis Wei Yan. He is powerful, and it will not be easy to defeat him now." At this time, Ah Piao came in with a plate of lychees and said: "Master, this is a fine product brought by the fast horse from the southern country, please taste it." She put down the tray and floated away without even looking at Mao Pijiang. "Nephew, try it, this thing has been picked for about ten days, but it is still delicious." Prime Minister Fan said kindly. Ah Piao walked back and forth in the corridor, the sun was about to set, and there was no sign of Mao Pijiang.She was a little anxious in her heart, and she didn't understand why she had some special feelings for this person.Usually at this time, she had already talked to him for a while and then went back to the boudoir.She wrung her fingers in the shadow of the corridor, and she didn't leave until the bell for dinner came from the front hall.Mao Pijiang was still not seen on the dinner table. At night, in sleep, she knew that she was sleeping on the bed, as if it was not the same bed she lay down half an hour ago, and the room seemed not the same as before, her heart became a stone, as if outside her body, Pressed against her chest, her pulse slowed.She knew something strange must have happened.At this time, the midnight breeze blowing through the window was cool, and a ray of moonlight shone in faintly.The entire courtyard was sleeping soundly, silently. The next morning, her eye circles turned black, and she didn't cover them after applying a lot of powder, so she simply washed her face again and kept the original appearance, but she was always a little haggard. Mao Pijiang fell ill, not yesterday, nor last night, but this morning.Yesterday he and Prime Minister Fan had a secret meeting in Xu Zhen's mansion all afternoon, and in the evening they had a simple feast, inviting several beautiful singing girls to accompany them to drink and have fun all night long. When he returned to the prime minister's mansion in the morning, he felt limp and without any strength, and opened the door with great difficulty, lying on the railing and retching. When Ah Piao saw him, he was limp on the ground trying to stand up.A Piao was so startled that she pretended to drop the book in her hand to the ground, and the book jumped a few times on the ground. She was planning to ask the teacher for an excuse, so she bumped into his room rashly.At this time, she did not know where an unprecedented mysterious force erupted, she was not weak at all, she actually picked up his weak body, carried him into the room and placed him on the bed, realizing that she was stronger than her soft chest soft. When Prime Minister Fan came to inquire and visit, A Piao was feeding Mao Pijiang a bowl of honey water, and a doctor came with him.Ah Piao watched the doctor stretch out a withered hand from the sleeve, dark and slender, as if it had only bones, and put it on Mao Pijiang's wrist, she felt that her pulse was racing under the withered fingers. beating.The black lacquer box placed by the doctor's feet has faded in the wind and frost of the years, and it is precisely because it is old that the doctor's medical skills appear brilliant.A Piao suspects that it is Du Shiniang's treasure chest. There are really treasures in that box.The doctor took a scorched poisonous scorpion out of it, and when he rubbed the insect like an autumn leaf, it turned into a pinch of ashes.She thought whoever could turn the ashes back into a scorpion would be considered capable.The doctor put the scorpion under Mao Pijiang's nostril and asked him to inhale it forcefully.The powder entered his nasal cavity with his heavy breathing, tears came out of his eyes, he sneezed with his mouth open, and the rest of the powder stained the doctor's gray beard.He yelled loudly, then vomited two mouthfuls of blood, and then fell into a coma, but his breathing was already very smooth. The doctor ordered his clothes to be taken off.A Piao and the two servant girls blushed and stripped him naked.Then he washed his body with hot water.The doctor pierced eighty-one silver needles on his body, his whole body was shining with silver, and Ah Piao's eyes were already glistening with tears. During the countless days and nights when Mao Pijiang was struggling with the disease with needles all over his body, a political conspiracy against Wei Yan, a scholar of the Dongge University and the chief assistant of the dynasty, was secretly being planned.Prime Minister Fan often meditated alone under the lamp until dawn.Everyone in the prime minister's mansion felt a pressure of suffocation. Although the daily life was still the same, Ah Piao even felt that the pavilions, rocks, and flowers and trees in the mansion were heavy, as if the strings on the zither had been taut and there would be danger at any time. Risk of snapping. The strings really broke, and A Piao shook like chaff.The crisp sound broke Mao Pijiang's dream, and he woke up slowly. The doctor insisted that he continue to lie still for two days, and said that it was a disease brought by the mother's womb. Will relapse.At this moment, he opened his eyes, and the silver needles all over his body made all parts swollen and numb, as if they were taking root. Sweat came out.Although Ah Piao guarded him all day, he tried his best to avoid looking at his naked body.Seeing that he was awake at this moment, she turned her head to look, just in time to meet his gaze, and couldn't help blushing.Pretend to open up the frontier and shake your heart.Ah Piao yelled, "I'm so ashamed." He covered his face and ran out.At the side of the hall, he almost collided with Fan Chengxiang who was walking with his head bowed.Prime Minister Fan said: "Damn girl, you gave me a fright." When Mao Pijiang heard Prime Minister Fan's voice, he was anxious and embarrassed, because the erect guy always refused to listen to his will. Just as Prime Minister Fan was about to step through the door, the butler's voice came: "Master, Xu's Ministry of Officials has an urgent matter to see, and he is waiting in the foyer." wisdom.The hot air of summer permeated the whole room. There is no airtight wall in the world, and Wei Yan heard an ominous sound.The family members of the Ministry of Officials reported: "In the past few days, there are always some people hanging around outside the house, or telling fortunes, or setting up stalls, or leaning on trees to rest." Xu Zhen has already tightened his vigilance in recent days, and immediately smelled the danger. He immediately sent his servants to investigate the mansions of several other officials who worked together, and reported back: "There is a similar situation outside Sheng Yushi's house. The day before yesterday, There was even a knife sharpener in Chen’s official family who spent the whole day sharpening a kitchen knife. Outside Zhao Zuofu’s house, there were people selling soybeans every day...” In short, they had raised their vigilance, and this attack might fail.Prime Minister Fan was not panicked at all.He had a pawn Mao Pijiang in his hand who could die for him, and he even chose his confidant executioner. Once the emperor was angry and asked to beheaded, he would immediately kill Mao Pijiang at the Meridian Gate, leaving no one alive. "Tell my lords, don't panic." Prime Minister Fan said confidently, "During this period of time, everyone should act according to the plan, and don't move around with each other." The Ministry of officials heard his voice, like a gust of wind blowing through a bamboo forest. The pole is inclined but the root is as firm as the unshakable. It's just where to attack Wei Yan, but there is no suitable breakthrough.The officials were anxious and impatient. "I've already thought about it. Didn't Wei Yan put up several memorials advocating abandoning agriculture and focusing on commerce? This is a big mistake against the sky.Turning around, I asked all the officials to quickly write anti-business memorials, and from the eighth day of the eighth month, they took turns to submit to the Holy Spirit. " The August wind was already a bit chilly, and Mao Pijiang, who had just recovered from a long illness, couldn't help shivering a few times standing in the corridor.Ah Piao puts a piece of clothing on him from behind, which makes him grateful.He thought of Su Yuanfang, his wife in his hometown.She also often puts a dress on herself in the middle of the night, but he has never felt grateful, and a trace of guilt hits his heart.He looked back at A Piao, she was looking at him shyly with blinking eyes, when she saw a special tender light full of love in his eyes, her heart jumped happily. The chrysanthemums were already in bloom, and the two of them were chatting by the side of the bushes, thinking about Su Yuanfang but bypassing the nostalgia for Su Yuanfang, and Dong Xiaowan passed through his mind like a lightning flash across the sky.Oops!Why have you forgotten her these days?I wonder how she is doing now?She has no choice but to miss the wedding appointment, will she misunderstand?If I see her again, will her tenderness still exist?Will she fall in love with someone else?She imagined that when Dong Xiaowan was having a tryst with a certain man, she happened to bump into her, what should he do?Would he cry out in pain, like a man who has lost his soul? Ah Piao was surprised by the blank look in his eyes, he reached out and swept across the chrysanthemum bushes fiercely, and lost a few flowers.He swept his hand on the wooden stick used to support the flowering branches among the hidden flowers. The thorns on the wooden stick hurt his fingers, and several soybean-sized blood beads came out.Ah Piao let out an "ah", snatched his hand, put his bleeding finger in his hand and held it, bandaged it comfortably, and looked down at her.Before jumping into the fire pit of love, a woman is always infinitely gentle. Her lips slid warmly over his cheek, and her hands stroked his back.Emperor Chongzhen embraced Concubine Tian in his arms, her body was always as soft as hot water, and the memorials that had caused him headaches after reading them for days disappeared at this moment.Concubine Tian kissed her beloved emperor, her heart was agitated, her eyes glistened with tears.It's been almost ten days, and the Holy Majesty hasn't kissed herself, and the fear of falling out of favor that shrouded her heart has disappeared. After the clouds receded and the rain receded, several court ladies washed their bodies with fragrant soup.On the incense couch, Chongzhen looked at Concubine Tian, ​​who was naked and bent over the qin. She was playing the five "Visiting Taoist Songs" composed by the emperor himself.The beautiful sound of the piano lingers on the colorful painted beams of Chengqian Palace, and the lingering sound is endless.Chongzhen saw her breasts trembling slightly with the flipping of her fingers, a drop of fine milk oozing from her nipples, shining like jewels in the candlelight. Concubine Tian secretly observed the emperor's face, hoping to persuade him while he was happy.Over the past few days, Wei Yan, a scholar of the Dongge University, has been sending rare treasures to the palace, asking Concubine Tian to take the camera and ask the emperor to issue an edict to encourage business, so that the shortage of training salaries will be resolved because many merchants pay taxes.While she was thinking, Chongzhen suddenly sighed. "Why is your majesty sighing so much, can my concubines share their worries?" "Recently, the imperial court is full of memorials related to business, which is a headache for everyone. However, Wei Yan, a scholar of Dongge University, is making a lot of bullshit. He wants me to change the ancestral law and encourage business and abandon agriculture. Alas! All the officials in the court I don't know why!" Concubine Tian wanted to speak for Wei, but when she heard the Holy Majesty complained about him, she was glad she didn't speak up, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous, and she couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat. Prime Minister Fan looked at the sky at night and found that Wenqu star was extremely bright, and he was very happy. It seemed that the time was ripe.Since he was admitted to the imperial examination, he always thought that he was a Wenqu star descending to earth, so he asked the housekeeper to invite Mao Pijiang to come to see him in the study. Mao Pijiang had just written a picture for A Piao in his room, which was a Chinese poem: "There are beauties in the north who are peerless and independent. Once you look at the city of Qingren, then you look at the country of Qingren. Poor Qingcheng and Qingguo Beautiful women are hard to come by again." His original intention was to miss Dong Xiaowan.Ah Piao thought it was a compliment to herself, and felt elated.Hearing that the prime minister had summoned him, he hurriedly straightened his clothes and walked towards the study.He vaguely felt that the long-awaited big moment was coming, the real big thing he had done in his life. Prime Minister Fan asked him to sit down without courtesy, and then took out a piece of paper full of words from the drawer.Said: "Nephew, you know, for the sake of father's safety, old man Wei Yan must be completely eradicated. The opportunity you have been waiting for has finally come." Mao Pijiang was very excited, "All according to the prime minister's orders." "Hurry up and write a memorial based on the points I've summarized for you." Prime Minister Fan said as he handed over the piece of paper. "The article should be beautifully written and easy to read. It doesn't matter whether the words can hit the point, the rhetoric must be gorgeous." "This little nephew is easy to write." "I believe you have this talent. After finishing writing, I will help you deliberate a little bit, and then I will tell you how to face the saint." "It all depends on the arrangement of the prime minister." "Okay, without further ado, write right away." He pretended to be Pijiang and resigned.As soon as he left the house, Prime Minister Fan stopped him and told him again: "It is limited to three days. Remember to be beautiful and gorgeous." Mao Pijiang was so excited that he stood in front of the table, holding a brush, facing a piece of soft rice paper but couldn't write a word. He was secretly anxious, and the more anxious he became, the more he couldn't write. This phenomenon continued until the first day In the afternoon of the second day, Ah Piao walked into the room with a smile, and his excited heart was relieved, and the words and sentences gushed out like a mountain spring, pouring on the white rice paper.Ah Piao kept grinding the inkstone and ink for him.Rather than saying that this is a memorial, it is better to say that this is a heavy hammer hitting Wei Yan. He clearly saw that the throne of the Dongge University scholar had been smashed to pieces, and Wei Yan was like a pile of yellow sand flowing on the ground. Emperor Chongzhen enjoyed the time sweetly in the arms of Concubine Tian, ​​and he was so inspired that he composed another "Lingxian Song" by himself.Concubine Tian immediately played for him.The sound of sorrowful autumn moved people to tears.Chongzhen was overjoyed, and played with Concubine Tian until dawn. Concubine Tian leaned on his back and whispered: "Your Majesty, is today the court day?" "Yes, yes, yes, I almost forgot. Come on, it's time to morning." The maids and eunuchs were in a hurry, and Emperor Chongzhen dressed up and got on the dragon chariot. He was in great interest and headed all the way to the Golden Luan Hall. All of a sudden, the bells and drums rang together, and the sound moved the palace. The cranes gathered on the pines and cypresses in the palace were startled by the sound, flying all over the sky, and densely packed swallows were shuttling between the cranes.All civil and military officials went to the court to meet him one by one. At this moment, Mao Bijiang also sneaked into the Meridian Gate with Fan Chengxiang's cavalry.After Fan Chengxiang hinted that he entered, he pretended not to know him and entered the duty hall.Mao Pijiang hid the playbook in his sleeve, and walked casually near the Dengwen Drum, where six warriors holding golden claws stood guard.He grabbed the drumstick and slammed the Dengwen drum, and all the warriors rushed up to catch him and hand him over to Prime Minister Fan. Prime Minister Fan went up to the main hall with the memorial in his hands.Emperor Chongzhen just said: "If there is something to do, the court will be dismissed." Then he saw the eunuch in charge took the memorial from Prime Minister Fan. "Why did Fan Qing start playing?" "Nowadays, there are some students from Rugao in Jiangzuo pretending to be Pijiang and playing the Dengwen drum, saying that they want to play the state affairs of the Ming Dynasty. Please let me know." Chongzhen thought to himself, what a bold scholar, don't die!A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger, let me see what this person is capable of. He said, "Zuoben." Chongzhen thought it was discussing business matters again, so he frowned, but he had already held it in his hand, so he had to pretend to read it, so he opened the memorial, who would have thought that it would be refreshing and enjoyable to look at.There are many comparisons in the article with qin and se, which made him very happy: I was writing a piece of "Lingxian Song" for yesterday, and wanted to show off my qin skills in front of the officials, but I didn't know what excuse to find. Artists, just give the widow a chance. "Declaration to open up the frontier to the temple." The sound of summoning came all the way from the Golden Palace, and echoed in the palace continuously.Mao Pijiang only felt a mighty majestic wind rush towards him, and his legs trembled. When he was ushered into the gate by several guards, and the Emperor Palace appeared in front of his eyes, he felt that he was a little shorter at once, and the real royal demeanor was intimidating. Mao Pijiang crawled up to the main hall, his back was dripping with sweat after shouting long live. Chongzhen said: "Er is a mere scholar. I don't know the law. If I dare to leapfrog the ranks, I should be sentenced to death. The widow is outstanding in Wen, so I will avoid death. However, most of the memorials have the sound of the qin and the zither. If there is any deceit to the emperor, he will definitely be punished. Give him a guqin." Mao Bijiang knelt in the hall, thinking that the Holy Majesty wanted to test the piano and se, what song should he play? The famous song sage has been tired of listening to it for a long time, and he has a lot of experience in appreciating it. If he makes a slight mistake, he will be seen through.It seems that only playing a new song.At this time, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he remembered Dong Xiaowan's "Concubine Shu in Lingtai", and he had an idea in his heart, and his confidence in facing the guqin greatly increased.All the officials in the court were surprised by the emperor's behavior, but they dared not say more. Mao Pijiang flew away with ten fingers lying on the strings, and the sound of sorrow filled the Golden Luan Palace. Among the hundreds of officials, there were many people who knew the melody. After playing a song, there is no sound everywhere. Chongzhen called out: "Good song." After asking the name of the song, he laughed out loud.Then he asked: "I am not sad when I hear the sound of grief, but ecstatic. Do you know what it means?" At this moment, all the officials in the court looked at each other and did not dare to guess randomly. Chongzhen said: "There are two realms of appreciating the rhythm. One is the one who hears the sadness and feels sad, this is the one who enters the room. The other is the one who hears the sound but does not see the tone, but only knows the skill. This is the highest realm. The widow made a self-made one last night. The song, called "Lingxian Song", is actually similar to this song "Lingtai Concubine of Shu", and it is true that the heroes see the same thing." Only then did the court officials understand that the emperor is going to show his skills again. Chongzhen played a piece of "Lingxian Song" happily on the throne, and finished playing.All the officials shouted: "Long live, long live, long live." The sound of compliments and praise resounded through the court. Chongzhen signaled his silence, and then said to Mao Pijiang: "I forgive you for your sincere heart to serve the country. The matter discussed in the memorial is in line with my wishes. You will be spared the death penalty. Fan Qing, this person is at your disposal. If there is a vacancy Give him an official position." Prime Minister Fan thanked Long En, and led Mao Bijiang down the Jinluan Palace.When the wind blew through the Pijiang Jing, I realized that my whole body was completely soaked. 崇祯言明今后朝中若有人再敢奏重商轻农之事反祖宗法度者斩。魏演心知皇上虽没明言自己，却分明是在暗示自己已经失宠。乃长叹一声，想不到机关算尽竟败在一小小秀才之手，范丞相太老道了，吾不及也。半个月后，魏演便告老还乡了，他手中权力便顺理成章落入范丞相手中。 冒辟疆春风得意，等待着皇上御赐一个官职。连日来在京城任意游玩，欲将在丞相府幽居的晦气尽皆抛落。 一天傍晚，他看见一位骑马的县令正带领衙役在前面走着，京城的官很多，那位县令没走几步就要遇上比自己还大的官，只得下马磕头让道，百米之内竟下马三次。冒辟疆觉得好笑之极，这京城的小官真可怜！ 冒辟疆渐渐收住了笑容，一丝寒意猛袭心头。他何等聪明之人，立刻联想到自身。如果皇上真的御赐官职下来，总得要合乎秀才身份，一个秀才能做什么品级的官呢！大不了和这位县令一样。That's all!That's all!这不如无官一身轻，逍遥自在一些。冒辟疆啊，冒辟疆，你好糊涂。 他抬头看看天空，天空中秋风正举着无形的大旗横扫而过。回家去吧。回家的念头一旦打定，思乡之情如开闸之水奔涌而出。 他独自闯进一家酒楼，狂饮起来。他还从来没这样放纵过。极尽洒脱之事，恍忽间竟有了太白之风。当下放声吟道： 独立高楼，我心恍愁。思乡之子，何处远游？ 阑干拍遍，青春纵酒。美人病酒，难牵我手。 怀我佳人，何处可求？问昔壮志，千里难酬。 悲哉悲哉！霜鬓泪流。 冒辟疆独饮至深夜，方才摇摇晃晃高歌而去。路口有军士盘查，他挥挥手中一块香木示牌，众人见写着“丞相府”三字，慌忙放行。静夜之中还远远传来他的高昂笑声，军士们都嘀咕道：“妈的，一个疯子。” 回家的打算纠缠着冒辟疆。他在书屋外面犹豫地走来走去，总觉得不便启齿，害怕辜负了范丞相一片好心和希望。他怎么可以去伤害一位慈祥老人的心呢！他用扇柄摇落一枝菊花上的露珠，脚边干燥的石板上便洒了几滴圆圆的水痕，像滴在蒙满灰尘的镜面上的泪，思乡的泪。 范丞相在书房中著一本《梦影斋集》，他想在本书中阐述一些仕途奋斗的计谋，梦想它像《孙子兵法》一样流传万代，永垂青史。他绞尽脑汁方才挤出几句话来，方知做官比写书容易。他扔掉笔，打开书房的门，看见冒辟疆站在落叶飘飞的院中的孤独的背影。根据他几十年对人的观察，他看出冒辟疆的骨形朝内心呈收缩之势，只有心事很重的人才会如此。 “贤侄，有何心事？” “丞相，”冒辟疆闻声慌忙转过身来，脸上的忧郁没能逃过范丞相的眼睛。他终于鼓了勇气说道：“小侄确有心事欲向丞相倾吐。” “看你忧思满面，我已知你的心意。贤侄是不是想家了？” “正是。小侄离开如皋时正是春天良辰，谁知转眼已是秋风萧瑟。想到刚过中秋节，重阳节又快到了，小侄思念老母。” “贤侄孝心可鉴。这样吧，待我奏明皇上，你就可以回家了。你再待几天。” 丞相恩准他还乡之愿，冒辟疆内心充满了感激和信服。 这天晚上，冒辟疆到许真府上饮酒，席间碰到了一个人，这个人听说他来自江南，便问他到没到过金陵，然后就谈了许多关于留都的话题。此人大谈董小宛，言辞饱含赞美和怀念，冒辟疆心中宛若插入一把钢刀。董小宛的名字从那人口中飞出来，就像一块块石头打在他身上。他真想扑上去扼死这人。此人正是当年的状元郎向迎天。冒辟疆思念董小宛已是愁肠寸断，却只有借酒浇愁。 临别的前一夜，天空挥舞着闪电的大刀，滚雷驱赶着秋雨。夜雨浇淋着京城。秋风从窗缝吹进来，烛焰频频鞠躬，好像在请求什么神灵挽救它的暗淡前程一样。老北京人心里都明白这是今年最后一场雨了。 闪电中，在丞相府的后院，雨中伫立着两个人，可以看出是一男一女，男人正背对着女人。只见女人痛哭着跪到地上，从后面抱住那男人的大腿。 这个男人就是冒辟疆，女的当然是阿飘。阿飘绝望地咬着他的大腿，这被拒绝的感情一时找不到补偿和寄托。一绺发梢弯弯地垂到她的嘴角，雨水流进她的嘴里，冒辟疆一动不动，他不知道该怎么办。阿飘却认为他太坚强，而他却只是不想让这位女人追随自己。 冒辟疆辞别范丞相，将马牵到府外，毫不犹豫地跨上马，追着南下的雁群出了南门。 范丞相目送他出了丞相府，嘴角露出满意的微笑，然后折转身回到书房，等着阿飘，他知道她一会儿就会进来。果然，阿飘笑吟吟飘了进来，跪在他面前道：“老爷，臣妾未能完成使命。” “美人，这不怪你。”范丞相托住她的手说道：“这个冒辟疆并非好色之辈，老夫错算了。” 阿飘站起来，坐进范丞相的怀中，撒娇道：“老爷，冒公子还当真相信我是你的侄女呢。我真搞不懂，他那么聪明，但在你面前，却依旧是个孩子。” “好了，不说他了。你没赢得他的心，但我却做到了，目的也就达到了。” “赢得他的心又怎么样？他不过是个生员。” “老夫觉得此人是天之骄子，也许十年后会有所作为。到那时江南就多了一枚卒子。” “老爷想得好远。” “想远了也不好，还是想近的好。”范丞相边说边亲了她一下，手也伸进她的胸衣之内。阿飘笑吟吟地望着他。 “这段时间苦了你，独守闺房。”范丞相动手解开她腰带。 冒辟疆永远也不会知道阿飘是谁。他奔出城门，又看见负重的骆驼队，最后一匹骆驼上依旧坐着一位外族女人。他嗅到了羊的气味，奇怪的是他觉得很香。 望着瓦蓝瓦蓝的天空，他轻松极了，原来在京城的生活竟然很沉重。他掏出怀中的一封推荐信，读着赞扬自己的辞句，得意洋洋。他记得范丞相提笔写这封信时，自己在旁边总感受到有一种无以言状的幸福。范丞相极力将他推荐给史可法将军。 过了黄河渡，本欲找金兰兄弟陈君悦和龙兰一叙别后之情。无奈归心似箭，又不顺路，便只朝天遥遥地祝福二位兄长，期待着有一天兄弟重逢，把酒话苍桑。东西他没有径直回家，而是直奔庐州。 史可法一边读着范丞相的信，一边不时瞟一眼冒辟疆。看来范丞相并未虚言，此人果然仪表堂堂，气度非凡，可以大用，便留他在自己帐下。 冒辟疆的本意是来见识见识这位江南人人称誉的史可法史大人，也就安下心来，他想认真细察一下。初次见面留下一个好印象，是个了不起的开始，这就够了。 冒辟疆置身这江南之地，就像在家一样，思乡之情犹可忍受，但是对董小宛的思念之情却无法排谴。