Clothes Hunt

This day just finished the court, Cheng Shen went out as usual - speaking of it, his court was just a decoration, and being able to listen to the government was purely a divine grace.

After walking a few steps, he was blocked by the emperor's close eunuch, Eunuch Ding.

"Master Hou, go slowly."

Cheng Shen really walked slowly, with a slight smile on his face, he said to Eunuch Ding, "I don't know what's wrong with Eunuch Ding?"

Eunuch Ding had a bottomless smile on his face: "As a servant from the slave family, how dare you have anything to do with Lord Hou. Isn't it because His Majesty is thinking about Lord Hou? Please gather in the imperial study and talk about family affairs."

Cheng Shen's face changed slightly, and he nodded.

"Then please."

Royal study.

After waiting for a while, the emperor entered the door surrounded by his attendants.

Cheng Shen quickly knelt down and saluted.

"No." At this time, the emperor changed into a dragon robe and wore ordinary clothes, but Cheng Shen still felt oppressive.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cheng Shen stood up cautiously, but he didn't dare to look at the emperor. He stared at the ground motionlessly, as if he could see a flower in it.

The emperor only heard a smirk: "It seems that this imperial study room has to be refurbished."

Cheng Shen raised his head in doubt: "Your Majesty?"

"Perhaps the bottom is a gold mine, otherwise why did Marquis Junji keep staring at the floor?" the emperor then laughed.

Only then did Cheng Shen realize that the emperor was really teasing himself, and hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty's eyes are vulgar, Your Majesty really offended you."

The emperor said: "Can I blame you?"

Cheng Shen: "Never."

"Then why did you kneel down? Is it so scary?" the emperor asked slowly.

Cheng Shen said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being rude."

"But I think you are not only innocent, but also meritorious."

Cheng Shen whispered: "I dare not."

The emperor laughed again: "You are quite like your father, get up."

Cheng Shen's whole body froze, but he still answered bravely, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor waved his hand to dismiss the people around him, and said: "I may not have seen my nephew for a long time, when he is free, you bring him into the palace to see me."

Cheng Shen: "Yes."

"I heard he kissed you very much?"

Cheng Shen said: "Yan Jing grew up with the minister since he was a child, he is a humble and caring child."

The emperor laughed: "I heard that he is also a good player in the field."

Cheng Shen's nervousness was relieved, and he couldn't help but smile on his face: "This kid can endure hardships, and he runs to Shanglinyuan every three days, and he has practiced all the year round."

"Studies can't be neglected." The emperor pondered for a moment, and said: "He is not too young, any young master at his age is not married and has children, so let him take care of him. Then I will find someone for him in the court." If you have a suitable official position, give him a mansion and let him start to listen to the government."

Cheng Shen: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After leaving the imperial study room, Cheng Shen's back was completely soaked. At the same time, there was an indescribable sense of melancholy and loss in his heart: he hardly had any memory of his long-lost parents.

Master Li's words echoed in my ears again...

Cheng Shen shook his head, drove the miscellaneous thoughts out of his mind, and walked in the green brick and red walled courtyard at a leisurely pace.

It was the season when the east wind was thawing, and the cool wind was blowing, accompanied by a drizzle.

Fortunately, I brought an umbrella today.

Jiang Jiang approached the gate, but outside the gate, he saw an unusually familiar figure, with a loose blue shirt and a clear silhouette, looking inside.

If not Cheng Yanjing, who else?

Cheng Yanjing was also holding an umbrella in his hand, with a mixed expression on his face.

Cheng Shen never carried an umbrella before.

"Why don't you hold an umbrella?"

It was expected that Cheng Yanjing would be angry, but in fact it was the opposite. Instead of being angry, Cheng Yanjing stepped forward and held an umbrella for him as usual.

Cheng Shen had never seen such a look in his eyes. They were sincere and sincere, but there was also a trace of inherent indifference, as if he was trying his best to endure and test.

And, the gentleness that he didn't dare to think about.

In the past, Cheng Yanjing cared about him in every possible way—but he was always polite and distant, keeping a distance from himself, just like he did to his elders.

Because of this, Cheng Shen always has a kind of reassurance and...awe towards Cheng Yanjing.

But in the past few days... I think of all the small details when Cheng Yanjing taught himself calligraphy in the past few days...

Cheng Shen's heart sank, and a very uneasy feeling slowly rose in his heart.

"Come closer." Cheng Yanjing said.

Cheng Shen hummed, and smiled at Cheng Yanjing: "Your Majesty summoned me today, so it's a bit late... We talked about your marriage..."

Cheng Yanjing suddenly interrupted Cheng Shen: "It's still early."

Cheng Shenyu said earnestly: "Yanjing, ordinary people have already married and had children at your age. It is my negligence these years, and I have lost my mind on you..."

"So you want to make it up like this? Which lady did your Majesty take a fancy to? Or, which lady did you pick for me? Actually, I..." Cheng Yanjing seemed a little excited, and his tone was actually a bit aggressive. After finishing speaking, he also Realizing that he had made a slip of the tongue, he took a long breath and closed his mouth.

The stiff smile on Cheng Shen's face disappeared, and he sighed: "Yan Jing, go home and talk."

Cheng Yanjing frowned, and asked softly, "What if I say I have someone I like?"

It stands to reason that Cheng Shen's reaction after hearing this sentence should be happy, and then he smiled and asked Cheng Yanjing who is that girl?But Cheng Shen was not only not happy, on the contrary, he was a little more afraid——

He didn't ask who it was, but said, "I'm very pleased to see you getting married."

But Cheng Yanjing was relentless: "Why don't you ask me who he is?"

"No matter who she is, I believe you won't let me down, Yan Jing." Cheng Shen's clear and gentle eyes carried undeniable firmness.

In the past, he had been cautiously catering to his nominal son. Others laughed at him for being afraid of Cheng Yanjing, but he didn't care too much - he knew that Cheng Yanjing cared about him, even though his tone was a bit harsh and domineering.Human hearts are made of flesh. In addition to the two eyes on the forehead, people also have another eye, which grows in the heart.

He can feel it.

After some clues are uncovered, follow the clues all the way, and the truth is not far away.

Cheng Shen was afraid of hearing an answer that he could not accept.

He didn't even know how to enlighten and help this man, who was only six years younger than him, to get on the right track, and he didn't even know what he had done wrong in the past, so that Cheng Yanjing went astray on the road of love.

Cheng Shen was very confused.

A trace of sadness flashed in Cheng Yanjing's eyes.

When they were about to arrive at the Hou's mansion, Cheng Shen said, "Yanjing, from today onwards, let's sleep in a separate courtyard."

"Didn't you say that I wasn't close to you before, why are you pushing me away now?" Cheng Yanjing's face was flat, but there was a bit of a wry smile when he spoke.

Cheng Shen was in a turmoil: "Yanjing, don't make trouble."

Cheng Yanjing: "Okay."

"...In the spring season, go to temple fairs and Puliu Lake a few more times, and you can also go outing in the countryside..."

"it is good."

Cheng Shen almost ran away in despair.

☆、Chapter 3

The days passed like running water, and it was Cheng Yanjing's birthday in a blink of an eye.Cheng Shen and Cheng Yanjing had never met since they said goodbye at the gate of the mansion that day.

At first he planned to avoid Cheng Yanjing, but after a few days he found that it was unnecessary.

He also inquired about Cheng Yanjing's situation in private, but he completely avoided the opportunity to meet him, so he really didn't know whether to be angry or grateful.

Is it possible to live like this forever?

Cheng Shen had taken leave of absence two days ago and never went to court, anyway, his standing there was nothing more than a decoration.With him or without him, it really doesn't matter at all.

This is of course secondary. In fact, the fact is that Cheng Yanjing's birthday is approaching.

Since the time of Chen, Cheng Shen began to hesitate, thinking over and over again, but he couldn't make a good decision, what kind of attitude should he take to face Cheng Yanjing.

So he chose the most stupid plan - after all, some words were not clearly stated, and he could continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb as if nothing had happened, and maybe he could treat all this as if nothing happened.

His thoughts were a little wandering, and he always felt that he was not ready to see Cheng Yanjing, so he came to the study in a daze.

It was also a coincidence that Cheng Yanjing just opened the door and walked out.

The two of them were a little embarrassed for a while, when their eyes met, the surrounding was so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling could be heard.

In the end, it was Cheng Shen who broke the silence. He pretended to be relaxed and said, "I just wanted to come over to take a look, but I didn't expect you to be here."

Cheng Yanjing still supported the door with one hand, without any expression on his face, just looking at Cheng Shen quietly.

Seeing that he was silent, Cheng Shen tried to break the deadlock: "What's the matter, do you want to go out?"

Cheng Yan nodded, looked down at his shoes, pursed his thin lips slightly, and didn't know what he was thinking.

Cheng Shen asked again, "When will you be back?"

"It's not clear yet."

A moment of disappointment flashed through Cheng Shen's heart, but he still smiled and said, "Then come back earlier, I...we will wait for you to have dinner together."

"it is good."

Just waiting for such a word that is neither cold nor enthusiastic.

Only then did he realize that deceiving himself and others is really stupid.

A day full of worries passed, and Cheng Yanjing still hadn't come back until Haishi.

The carefully prepared meal was already cold, Cheng Shen ordered someone to take it to the kitchen to warm it up, while he still sat in the hall and waited for Cheng Yanjing to come back.After waiting, it's the time of Zi.

Cheng Yanjing finally came back.

After some distance, Cheng Shen still smelled the wine.But it was obvious that Cheng Yanjing was not drunk.

Cheng Shen asked, "Are you hungry?"

In all fairness, Cheng Shen is a very kind-hearted person, and he always puts aside many trifles, big or small, with a smile.

All this is not because he is nervous and heartless.

Cheng Yanjing actually understood it very well.

He stood under the steps of the hall, looked at Cheng Shen at the door, felt sad and distressed, and could only say a pale and feeble apology: "I'm sorry, I'm late."

After finishing speaking, he stepped up the steps without hesitation, and asked softly, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet, I'm waiting for you." Cheng Shen looked very happy, but he couldn't help but took a few steps back, deliberately keeping a distance from Cheng Yanjing.

Cheng Yanjing acted as if he hadn't noticed, and said, "Then let's go together."

The whole process was silent and dull, and there were not many conversations between the two in the past, but the atmosphere was warm and quiet.

Cheng Shen felt a little sad, and tried to cheer up the atmosphere: "The flowers in Tangliyuan are blooming very well. If you have any, go and see, and also go to see your mother, she misses you very much these few days."

"Oh, by the way, come to the palace with me when you have time, Your Majesty has been telling me about you for a long time."

Cheng Yanjing didn't speak, but put down the bowl and chopsticks, picked up another pair of chopsticks on the table and added food to Cheng Shen's bowl.

Another watery silence followed.

Cheng Shen really couldn't bear such a lengthy and heart-wrenching silence, and he didn't want to see the distance between him and Cheng Yanjing farther and farther apart, so he couldn't help but said: "Yanjing, you are the only family member left for me. .”

The tone was very light, but it was a sentence he said with great determination, even pleading and helpless.

Cheng Yanjing had never heard Cheng Shen speak in such a tone.

At that moment, he realized how selfish and willful he was. He clearly knew that putting this feeling on the surface would trouble Cheng Shen and make him sad and blame himself, but he still couldn't help feeling a little bit of luck in his heart, like a desert. The man in the land of the world sees a mirage like a dream and hopes - what is he hoping for?

"Just this time." With a hoarse voice, he stretched out his arms to hug the person beside him, and gently pressed his head against Cheng Shen's neck like a wounded animal: "Just this time, I'm sorry, Cheng Shen .”

I will never bother you again.

In the past few days, a major event happened in the court. The emperor fell ill.

According to privately disclosed by the important officials who went to visit, the emperor has aged ten years due to this disease.And the emperor himself seemed to be aware of this, and had begun to summon important ministers into the palace frequently.

However, the strange thing is that the emperor never summoned the prince from the beginning to the end.

For a while, the whole court speculated about what kind of medicine was sold in the emperor's gourd - the only son of His Majesty is the Crown Prince.

However, it is well known by everyone that the prince, who loves everything deviant, is not liked by His Majesty.

Lord Li came to the Cheng Mansion again.

Cheng Shen still looked hesitant. After all, he half-believed Master Li's words, and he really couldn't think of a reason why the emperor hated him.

Furthermore, he couldn't let go of Cheng Yanjing.

Just when Mr. Li was persuading Cheng Shen earnestly, an imperial edict came from the palace, asking Cheng to go deep into the palace.

Unbeknownst to Cheng Shen, Master Li went to Tangli Courtyard after he left the mansion.

"Princess, the servant deserves to die for not being able to convince Lord Hou."

The woman seemed to have expected the outcome: "Forget it, since some things cannot be avoided, it is better to face them directly. That is... I am afraid that Yan Jing will be sad...

The emperor's palace.

Cheng Shen knelt in front of the dragon bed, without saying a word.

"Do you know why I called you here?" The weak and old voice had lost all the majesty in the past, and the emperor at this moment was a dying old man.

Cheng Shen felt uneasy, always feeling that something was going to happen, his eyelids were twitching, he held his breath and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know, please let me know."

"Cheng Shen..."

"The minister is..."

"I...I'm sorry for your Cheng family...don't blame me, back then...I had no other choice."

Cheng Shen was confused by the content of the emperor's words: "Your Majesty, please don't disgrace this little minister. For the past 20 years, it is His Majesty who has shown kindness to the Cheng family and favored him so much that Cheng Shen can have today..."

But the emperor let out a weak smile: "When you understand the truth... I'm afraid you're going to hate me to death..."

Cheng Shen: "Your Majesty?"

"Okay, I'm tired, you can step back and wait for the imperial edict in the mansion."

Holy decree?

Cheng Shen didn't dare to say more: "May Your Majesty's Holy Body be in good health as soon as possible, and I will take my leave."

There were quarrels outside the bedroom.

Cheng Shen was so startled that he was about to break out in a cold sweat—he seemed to have heard Cheng Yanjing's voice.Fearing that the emperor would be angry, he just wanted to kneel down and beg for mercy, but saw a bitter look flashing across the emperor's old face.

At that moment, Cheng Shen suddenly realized very clearly that no matter how high his status was, the person lying on the dragon bed at this moment was just a person with emotions, desires, regrets and mistakes.

In the face of birth, old age, sickness and death, everyone is actually the same.

Cheng Yanjing had already strode in, followed by a group of eunuchs and guards trying to stop him, but no one dared to move Cheng Yanjing.

Cheng Yanjing panted heavily, ignored the people on the dragon bed, looked at Cheng Shen, and asked with red eyes, "You know everything?"

Cheng Shen was taken aback for a moment, his palms under the cover of his long sleeves were clenched into fists.

He vaguely remembered that when Cheng Yanjing was young, he was extremely resistant to eating fish.

At another palace banquet, the emperor also said that fishy smell is the worst smell.

He played back many clips in his mind, and a ridiculous and absurd answer gradually took shape, ready to come out.So, he looked at the emperor with disbelief in his eyes.

"Yanjing is indeed my child."

These words put a seal on all his conjectures, declaring that everything was settled, the truth came to light, and he could not even find an excuse to deceive himself.

The Cheng family, which has always been blessed by the Holy Light, traced back to the source, and it turned out to be nothing more than a group of willing scapegoats.

Things that are powerless to turn around, even if you know the truth, it will only increase your sorrow.It seems that people really can't live too soberly.

Cheng Shen sighed softly, and his footsteps floated out of the emperor's bedroom.

This person is like this, no matter what happens, he will not transfer his anger to others, he will bear everything alone, he would rather suffer a loss than hurt others.

Cheng Yanjing's eyes were as red as a rabbit's, but there were no tears in his eyes—he looked at the emperor and asked, "Can you live with your conscience?"

No one would have thought that 20 years ago, the child in the womb of the Ming and Qing princesses belonged to his half-brother.At that time, his throne had not yet been firmly established, and the forces opposing him in the court were still arrogant and stubborn. He absolutely could not stumble here. At the critical moment——he stepped forward with his right hand, Cheng Heng.

"The minister dies for the king, and he deserves to die. Only the youngest son is not at ease. I hope that your majesty will take care of him, and the minister will die without regret."

If it wasn't for the withering of the emperor's heir and the failure of the crown prince, this secret would have been buried deep underground along with the dozens of lives of the Cheng family.

However, things backfired-everything is retribution.

"My surname is Cheng all my life. Yan Jing really can't afford to be loved by my uncle."

These were the last words Cheng Yanjing said before leaving the palace.

Cheng Yanjing rushed to Cheng's mansion as quickly as possible, but found out that Cheng Shen never came back.

Cheng Yanjing went straight to the Tangli Courtyard that he had never stepped into.

"where is he?"

The woman was slightly angry, and said coldly: "Yan Jing, don't mess around!"

Cheng Yanjing: "When did I say I was fooling around?"

There was a hint of resentment hidden in the woman's beautiful eyes: "Zhao Yanjing! Do you think it's normal for you to behave like this? Do you know what you're doing?"

"I've always been very clear about what I'm doing, and you are the ones who are confused."

Cheng Yanjing: "You owe him too much."

"Where are you going?" The woman lost her former elegance and solemnity, and shouted hoarsely: "Do you know what will happen if you leave now?"

"Ask yourself, what have you thought of me for the past 20 years? If it wasn't for the prince's failure, why have you ever paid any attention to me? It doesn't matter if you hurt me, but you can't hurt him."

"After cleaning up this mess," Cheng Yanjing paused, and continued, "We'll settle the matter."

After finishing speaking, regardless of the woman's tears, she left the Tangli Courtyard.

☆、Chapter 4

Cheng Shen has traveled to many places in the past few years, and he will go wherever there are few people.It's a miracle to say that, according to Cheng Yanjing's standards, Cheng Shen belongs to the kind of person who will be cheated as soon as he goes out, and will not be able to take care of himself half a mile away from home.Drawing on Cheng Shen's past history, it seems that this is indeed the case.

But it is so miraculous that he is alive and well.

In the first year, he nestled in a small village dozens of miles away from the imperial city, and talked with the villagers about the major events that happened in the imperial city, including the emperor who was seriously ill and abolished the former prince who oppressed the people. It is absurd to make one's own nephew the crown prince.Then he heard about the fact that the prince acted for the emperor, and he finally let go of his heart.

So he headed south again.I thought the sky was high and the emperor was far away, but I never thought that the crown prince was too noisy and would carry out some reforms before his butt was hot.There is also a bureaucracy called the "Three Divisions"...

Cheng Shen didn't understand this kind of thing either, he only knew about Jingzhong Taiping, and then he went a little further.

I have climbed several famous mountains, crossed countless rivers, been to the cold desert in the west, and tasted the fragrance of flowers in February in the south of the Yangtze River.

None of these stopped him, and he still didn't stop.

Until passing through a small border village bordering the horse herding clan, he was stunned for a moment when he saw the young man galloping on horseback and swinging his bow.

"The Book of Songs" says:

Yi is low and prosperous, tall and long.If it is restrained, it is beautiful.Clever tends to stagger, but shooting makes you suffer.

Yi is famous, beautiful eyes are clear, and appearance is complete.Shooting Hou all day long, not going out of the way, showing my nephew.

Yi is sighing and moaning, clear and graceful.When dancing, you choose, when you shoot, you go through.Four arrows turn against each other to prevent chaos.

He had never seen Cheng Yanjing riding a horse and shooting arrows in the schoolyard, but he thought it should be so heroic and imposing - it must be more chic and imposing.

He stayed like this for a long time, two years in a blink of an eye.

In a remote village, he never heard anything about the capital again.

In the late autumn of this year, Cheng Shen got acquainted with a tribal leader from a foreign tribe by accident. While the two were drinking happily, Cheng Shen asked him about things in Beijing intentionally or unintentionally.

I don't know which name Yanjing is using now?Is it still called Yanjing?

"Yan...Yan Jing?" The tribal leader drank a little too much, and his tone was a little dragged. After thinking for a moment, he asked in doubt: "The name of the Holy One seems to be Zhao... Yi..."

Cheng Shen's heart turned cold in an instant.

Over the years, I have boasted that I have read thousands of books and traveled thousands of miles, and I have knowledge in my chest, but I am still confused.

Zhao Yi is the name of the deposed prince.

Just after dawn, he ran to the stable to lead a fast horse, and was about to head north in a panic.

"Where are you going?" A low and soft voice sounded at once, so familiar and yet so far away, in the moment of flicking fingers without any time to think, it suddenly passed through the years of eating and sleeping in the open air.

Cheng Yanjing, dressed in a foreign riding uniform, stood at the gate leading a red horse, and asked softly, "Do you want me to look for it?"

Cheng Shen was at a loss for words for a moment, and there was a surge of obscure emotions in his eyes. After a while, he asked, "How long have you been here?"

"Soon, it will be about two years." Cheng Yanjing smiled, his eyes were reddish, and he said casually: "After dealing with those messy things, I have been looking for you. I have made a plan. If you don't care about me, I will spend the rest of my life looking for you." That's it, it's good to grow old with you silently for the rest of my life as the years go by. Cheng Shen, please don't drive me away."

If Cheng Shen hadn't wanted to go north, he wouldn't have dared to show up blatantly.

"When did I stop caring about you? If I didn't care about you, why would I be alone now?" Cheng Shen asked with a smile, but tears flowed out.

Cheng Yanjing's smile froze, and the calmness on his face disappeared in an instant. He looked at Cheng Shen helplessly and pitifully, and said unwillingly, "Cheng Shen, say it again."

The ups and downs of life are too fast, you can be calm when you are in the abyss, but you will not be afraid until you are in the clouds-I am afraid that it is a fragile dream.

Cheng Shen yawned, led the horse back, and turned away from looking at Cheng Yanjing, but his voice was trembling: "It's still early, do you want to come in and sleep?"

Cheng Yanjing stood there like a log for a long time before he came back to his senses. Like a child who hasn't grown up, he answered and quickly followed Cheng Shen into the house.

Knowing the books of sages and sages, walking through mountains and rivers, and kissing the years, you will know your sweetheart.