a pillow in autumn

When Shen Youtang visited the palace, Shen Xianxun was teaching Zhou Yuanzheng to read and write in Lingxiang Garden.A pinkish child over two years old shook his head and recited to his mother: "The heavens and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is wild and wild, the sun and the moon are full and flat, and the days and nights are listed."

Shuyao came in through the curtain, so as not to disturb the young master's endorsement, she stood aside and waited for a while.

Shen Xianxun praised Yuanzheng for being smart, well-behaved and pleasant, and Yuanzheng smiled with a few porcelain-white baby teeth.Xian Xun patted his head and asked the wet nurse to bring him some snacks before turning to look at Shu Yao.

Shuyao stepped forward and said, the little girl was talking back and forth, and Shen's deputy Dianjun came. "The Deputy Dianjun thought he came back in a hurry. He heard that he was in a mess. The butler asked the boy to lead him to the side hall of the main hall to serve tea. Master, don't be surprised." She was always careful, and only reported back after inquiring clearly.

Shen Xianxun's heart trembled when she heard this, and she told the wet nurse a few words, and brought Shuyao to the front hall quickly.

The blue-purple irises in the courtyard withered all over the ground, and a few little girls sat on their knees by the flowerbed, trimming and trimming with large scissors.In the mid-air, there are layers of dark ink, which weighs heavily on people's hearts. The heavy rain is not coming, like a natural disaster that cannot be avoided.

The cold wind blows through, soaking through the heavy fur.

As expected, the news that Shen Youtang brought back made her heart sink.She walked a few steps in the hall with eyebrows raised, Shen Youtang whispered the emperor's attitude in her ear, Shen Xianxun closed her eyes, feeling the wind and rain.

The two discussed in the front hall for a long while, but they didn't come up with anything ugly, so Shen Youtang went back to Shen's residence first.

Shen Xianxun had no choice but to take the maid to tidy up the new clothes for Zhou Mubai overnight, and wrote a letter with his own handwriting, asking a boy to come to Shen's mansion and make an agreement with Shen Youtang that he must come to the palace before going out, and prepare for the future. In a few days, he took it with him when he went to the western frontier.

Last year, Ruiguo lost two generals, Old General Meng and Lord Jingguo, and both Meng Xiang and Li Shaoqing rebelled because of Prince Min's battle. He was killed, and the other was sentenced to be cut in half.In addition, the Duke of Wei was old and sick, and there were no senior officials to send in the court for a while.Zhou Muchen asked the two prime ministers and the Ministry of War to draw up candidates in the Imperial Study Room, but it took him a long time to come up with one.

The matter dragged on for a few days, and another day at the court meeting, the minister of the Ministry of War recommended his servant to take up the post, and Prime Minister You recommended a young general of the fifth rank.Although the servant is in the Ministry of War, he is a civil servant, and the fifth-rank official is a military commander, but he is the nephew of Prime Minister You who is beating around the bush.

Zhou Muchen looked at Man Chao Wenwu and smiled coldly.

Taishi Sun gave a performance by chanting, although sending people to the west frontier in the court can save a momentary crisis, it is not a long-term solution after all, it is better to select capable people from the Red Wing Army as a backup.

Gunzhou and Qizhou were originally the gateways to the west of Ruiguo. Over the years, they have fought countless battles with the Tu people, and they have more than [-] permanent garrison troops.More than two years ago, in a decisive battle outside Quyang City, the Rui army drove the Tu clan out of the country for a hundred miles. After the battle in Chonghai County, Wei Jinpeng was ordered to lead the army, and all the lieutenants around him were experienced in many battles.

Zhou Muchen was sitting on the Panlong golden chair, dressed in a bright yellow dragon, the waves rolled under the corners of the brocade robe, the rolling lines surging and overlapping, like the hearts of people chasing fame and fortune in the court.

He pondered for a while with deep eyebrows, and finally appointed Qu Bin as the captain of Qingche, and received the imperial decree to go to the west border with the Minister of the Ministry of War.The tiger talisman was handed over to the deputy general of the Red Wing Army. Whenever there is any military matter, Qu Bin should attend the meeting to discuss it. If there are any changes in the army, Qu Bin can face the saint at any time.

As soon as this decree came out, all the officials in the court looked at each other in blank dismay.Qu Bin was originally the emperor's companion, and grew up with the emperor as his acquaintance.This time, he went to Ji County with the holy order. Although he did not have military power in his hands, he had the strength in his hands. I am afraid that there will be another turmoil in the army.

Qu Bin bowed to accept the order, he just smiled wryly in his heart.

The emperor's move seems to be flattering him, but in fact it is asking him to check and balance the power in the army.After all, the deputy generals of the Red Wing Army were all brought out by Wei Jinpeng. After many years of friendship, the emperor wanted to punish the crimes of the generals, so it was inevitable to guard against changes in the army.

After Sanchao came out, the colleagues all bowed their hands to Mr. Qu to congratulate him, congratulating him on his promotion, and turned their heads like a mirror in their hearts, knowing that this errand would inevitably make enemies.

Of course Prince Rui's residence was unaware of the commotion in the court.Shen Xianxun waited for a few days, but he didn't see his brother coming to say goodbye, so he was anxiously waiting.It was passed to the housekeeper, and asked him to send two more boys to Shen's residence to ask the deputy Dianjun to go over the residence for a briefing.

The sun was already in the west, and when the boy who went out came back, he brought Shen Youtang's servant.The servant knelt on the ground to greet Princess Rui, and only then did he mention that Grand Tutor Shen suffered from phlegm disease in the Shen residence yesterday. He is already old, and he was not well in winter. Now he is sick and people are confused. up.

The Shen residence is in chaos, Shen Youtang is the eldest son and grandson, and the younger brothers and sisters below, Shen Xianxun married into the palace, Shen Yan died in battle, Shen Lan was far away in Zhangzhou, and he was the only grandson in front of him for a while, he was undressed last night Accompanying my father and uncle to wait on my grandfather.

Shen Xianxun was very anxious when she heard this, and ordered the mansion to take good care of Zhou Yuanzheng and Zhou Huawan, brought Shuyao Siyuan with her, and asked for the car to be prepared, all the way to Shen's mansion.

It was getting late at that time, the housekeeper and maids couldn't persuade her, so they had to send a whole team of guards to protect the princess and rush to her mother's house.Siyuan knew that he would be staying for several days this time, so he hurriedly yelled at the little girl to prepare several bags of clothes, and hurriedly came out to help her young lady into the car.

In the winter season, it gets colder and colder day by day, the sunlight has thinned, and there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street. The guards surrounded and opened the way, and the carriage ran fast all the way.

Kankan rushed back to Shen's house at night, the carriage stopped outside Yimen, and a group of women came up to meet her.Shen Xianxun couldn't wait for the girl to swing up and down a few times, so she leaned on the shaft of the car and jumped down, almost spraining her ankles.

She stomped her feet, asked where grandpa was now, and walked into the inner courtyard with the hem of her skirt.

Shen Youtang's first wife just gave birth to a baby, and she is still in confinement, only Bi Yue and two maids greeted her from the yard, and then Princess Rui rushed to the main room where Taifu Shen was staying.On the way, she talked about the situation at home in a few words, and Shen Xianxun felt a little bit in her heart when she heard that the doctor came in yesterday and was still invited to stay in the house.

The main room is brightly lit, and the eight hanging flower doors are open, reflecting the shadows of people.Girls and women held water basins with their heads down, or held medicine cups in both hands, and they came and went silently.

Standing outside the court, Shen Xianxun could see clearly, and the corners of her eyes were red for some reason.

Taifu Shen finally failed to survive this winter.Two days before the New Year's Eve, he passed away.

Before he left, the old man finally regained consciousness, but he was speechless. He looked at Shen Youtang tremblingly and stretched out his hands. Ken cry.

Taifu Shen rolled his eyes, and found Shen Xianxun whose face was full of tears, and there was a sound in his throat.

Shen Xianxun wiped his face with a handkerchief, and knelt beside his grandfather with a forced smile, trying to comfort him, "Grandpa..." Before he could finish a word, he choked up his voice.

Taifu Shen looked at her for a while, slowly holding up three fingers.

Shen Xianxun took his hand and said: "Prince Rui is in Ji County, and General Wei's home is in an emergency. His Majesty ordered Prince Rui to stay in the west for a while to lead the army. She asked her granddaughter to kowtow to Grandpa on her behalf, saying that she could not be by Grandpa's side." As a filial piety, I beg my grandfather to forgive me. She always remembers her grandfather's teachings, since she is on the border of the country, she must do her best and be loyal to the country."

She spoke without force at all, as if the emperor had really issued a decree, as if Zhou Mubai had really accepted the imperial edict.

Shen Youtang turned his head to look at her, but she didn't meet his gaze, but only looked at Taifu Shen with a slight smile.Shen Youtang lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

With tears in his eyes, Fang Yunhe hugged the baby born to Shen Youtang's first wife and handed it to Youtang. Taifu Shen was already exhausted, and didn't remember that there was a great-grandson in the family. With a faint and relieved smile, a pair of hands as thin as old vines slowly loosened.

The Shen residence mourned continuously.

The slender bamboo strips surround the cool and thin vines, making translucent white lanterns, each of which is written with the word "Dian" written in black, hanging under the eaves of the Shen Mansion, lined up in rows, illuminating the life of the dead. the road behind.

The four eldest maids of Prince Rui's mansion have all come to accompany Princess Rui and accompany her in front of Shen Taifu's coffin.

According to the laws of Ruiguo, the royal family does not have to mourn for the people's family, let alone wear hemp and mourning for the people's family.Shen Xianxun was wearing plain clothes, the skirt and cuffs were still embroidered with the royal auspicious cloud pattern.

It's just that no one can persuade her to go back to her room to rest, she just shed tears quietly, without stopping for a moment.

Shen Qixuan knelt in front of the mourning hall, turned her head and saw her daughter in grief, sighed, secretly called his wife over, and told her to take her daughter back to rest for a while.

Fang Yunhe said with tears: "Daddy has always loved this pair of grandchildren the most, even more than the two grandchildren of the second room. The daughter is like a mother, and Xun'er can't wear hemp and mourning for grandpa. She feels very sad and blames herself. She wants to Do this last bit of filial piety in front of the soul, and I, a mother, still want to stop her."

Shen Qixuan stomped her feet and said: "What do you know! Crying to the death of my daughter is a trivial matter, but who can afford to cry to the death of Princess Rui! The royal family is not allowed to wear mourning for the common people. Look at the people coming and going in this family. Those who come to mourn are all ministers from the court , are you afraid that it won’t reach His Majesty’s ears!”

Fang Yunhe listened to the left and right, and saw that there were ministers poking their heads outside, so she had to keep quiet, and quietly moved to her daughter's side, comforting and coaxing her, pulling her back to the room, talking with her a lot, and then Asked the maids of Prince Rui's residence to take care of them, and then went to the mourning hall.

As the night darkened, the mourners dispersed.A few men from the direct line of the Shen family were still standing in front of the coffin.

Shen Xianxun came over from the ear room, the four girls looked at each other, and walked out the door with their heads down, pretending to be natural, but their eyes were fixed on the outer courtyard.

Shen Youtang watched his sister take out a fine linen pullover from the small bundle beside her hand, put it on her body, walked to the coffin with red eyes, knelt down silently, tears condensed into a round drop, and broke free from her eyes come out.

She kowtowed and murmured: "Grandpa, my granddaughter is not filial, so I can only kowtow to you in linen now, please forgive me." Tears rolled down drop by drop, wet on the plain clothes.As she spoke, she kowtowed again, her voice lowered: "The granddaughter also kowtowed to you on behalf of the grandson-in-law, please bless Mubai and bless her to return safely."

Under the New Year's Eve, the firecrackers in Ruijing are booming and the fireworks are bright.The laughter of children outside chased and yelled, occasionally passing through the wall into the Shen family's mansion.The galaxy above the mansion hall is far away, as cold as water.

In early April, the flowers and plants are fragrant.Shen Taifu Hundred Days Festival.

Shen Xianxun arrived at Shen's house one day earlier, and the house was still there, as was Man Weixuan's light white lantern.

Shen Youtang was dressed in plain white, picked up his younger sister at Yimen, and went to the mourning hall to light a bouquet of incense for his grandfather.

The paper money was burning fiercely in the furnace, and it was the past that was wiped out in ashes. Shen Xianxun picked up a handful of paper money and threw it into the fire, and the circles of his eyes turned red again.

The boy who often followed Shen Youtang poked his head in front of the door, Shen Youtang saw it, and walked quietly to the door, the boy whispered something in his ear, Shen Youtang nodded and winked, the boy was clever Ran.

Shen Youtang returned to the mourning hall, kowtowed to his grandfather, got up and stood beside Xianxun, and said softly: "His Royal Highness and Shen Lan have arrived at the city gate. Around noon, I should come back to offer incense to my grandfather."

Shen Xianxun's eye circles were red, she endured it, but the tears still fell down.She bit her lip and responded with a sob.

"Ah."

The author has something to say: Seeing that everyone is scolding the emperor, that...person comes out and talks about it.In fact, the emperor was not worried that Zhou Mubai would snatch the throne, because it was impossible. He was worried that after a hundred years, if he died, Zhou Mubai was still alive, with great power and great achievements. Will the crown prince be able to convince everyone ?Who will courtiers listen to?Let’s refer to the emperors of the past dynasties (for example, when Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty except Zhang Liang, all other heroes died, for example, Zhu Yuanzhang killed 7 courtiers for Zhu Biao, for example, Kangxi was held hostage by Oboi, and Oboi was also loyal to the Qing Dynasty, but was he loyal to Kangxi? ), roughly understand the emperor's mentality.

I'm not trying to speak for Zhou Muchen, but when writing this character, I will inevitably think of the former emperors.In the job of being an emperor, there is really no one who is truly benevolent. If he is really benevolent, he will not be an emperor for a few days.

PS: Actually, I am very happy that everyone sent replies and comments. No matter what position you stand on, thank you for reading the article carefully.mwah.

Blue Rain threw a rocket launcher;

One and a half knots hit a landmine;

One and a half knots hit a landmine;

Quaner smashed a landmine;

Quaner dropped a mine.

Thank you guys for your support.During this period of time, I have written to the neck of the bottle, and I have been stuck for several days before writing this chapter.Thank you for your perseverance.At quaner's request, again, meme da(づ￣3￣)づ. .