Gongsun Ce and Bao Zheng

The dull sky had accumulated thick clouds, as if it was overwhelmed. After a bang, the heavy rain finally poured down.The rain was continuous and fell to the ground with crackles. In the yard paved with bluestone slabs, the rain crawled. Under the eaves, the rain fell, as if it had been woven into a curtain and hung in front of the window.

Gongsun Ce stood on the porch, watching the pouring rain, which had blown away the sweltering heat of the past half month.It was as if the thick and dreary days half a month ago had never existed.Just like Pang Ji who should have been sentenced to beheaded, he disappeared in the capital without a sound, along with the Eight Sage Kings.

"Brother Gongsun!" A cheerful voice came from the corridor.

Gongsun Ce turned his head and looked at the bouncing Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao who was being pulled by Bai Yutang. Zhan Zhao had a sad and helpless face.

Gongsun Ce couldn't help laughing.

"Brother Gongsun! It's raining, it's so boring! Let's go to the bar." Xiaobai said with a smile and a little excitement.

A few days ago, Pang Tong, the Marquis of Zhenyuan who had just accepted the title of knighthood, came to talk to Bao Zheng. At the banquet, he drank two glasses of wine, Zhan Zhao and Xiaobai. Since that day, Xiaobai has never forgotten the wine taste.If Xiaobai's older brothers hadn't happened to come here, threatened and intimidated him, and Zhan Zhao's firm refusal, I'm afraid that the future Chinchilla would have a different name.

How about changing the name of Drunken Rat?

"Drinking? Are you sure?" Gongsun Ce said with a casual smile, looked at Zhan Zhao, and asked gently, "Zhan Zhao, are you ready to write today's big characters?"

"...Not yet..." Zhan Zhao's distressed face began to turn pale

"Where is the strategy that Brother Bao arranged yesterday?"

"...No, no good..."

Gongsun Ce smiled softer, glanced at Zhan Zhao, whose face was pale, and Bai Yutang, who was cross-faced, "Xiao Bai, where's yours?"

Bai Yutang grimaced, "Brother Gongsun, we are people from the world, what kind of books do we study?" Fighting and killing are the most important thing.

"Xiaobai, look at you, Big Brother Bao. He is just a scribe and has no power to restrain a chicken, but do you think that Pang Tong ever underestimated him?" Gongsun Ce sighed softly, staring at Bai Yutang solemnly, " At the banquet that day, why did he dare to drink you and Zhan Zhao, but never drunk you, Brother Bao? That's the reason."

Although Bai Yutang, like Zhan Zhao, will be a hero with both civil and military skills, praised by everyone in the world, but at this moment, why do he hate writing and reading so much?

When Bai Yutang heard this, he felt embarrassed and annoyed.

Zhan Zhao pulled Bai Yutang, and said in a low voice, "Xiao Bai, accompany me to write, I can't write well, Brother Bao will hit my palm when he comes back."

Bai Yutang pursed his lips, nodded, and followed Zhan Zhao's tugging to walk away. Halfway there, he remembered something and suddenly turned his head to look at the smiling Gongsun Ce, "Brother Gongsun, you are also very good!"

Gongsun Ce was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, Xiaobai, what nonsense, if he is really as powerful as Bao Zheng.

Gongsun Ce sighed softly, and turned to look at the front yard. At this time, the rain was still continuous, and the heavy rain curtain blocked his sight. The scene in front of him was hazy and confused, just like the road ahead for him and Bao Zheng.

For half a month, Bao Zheng, who was waiting for the appointment of the Ministry of Rites after his debriefing, had not waited for any news. Pang Tong came a few times before the expedition, drinking, tasting tea, talking about what he saw on the border, talking about interesting things in the court, and even talking about the people in the deep palace. Some "little secrets" that shouldn't be said - the joys of a certain person and a certain person, but they didn't mention Bao Zheng's whereabouts at all, nor did they mention the sudden disappearance. grand master.

And it is heard that a certain prime minister once submitted a booklet and wanted to return to his hometown, but he was detained. After that, he also came here to drink tea and sighed, but it seemed that he had never seen the plight of Bao Zheng who had been stranded in the capital for more than half a month. .

On the other hand, Bao Zheng could hold his breath, reading and writing, drinking tea, and gossip with him every day, looking very leisurely and happy.

However, it was also like this before, when he was in charge of Kaifeng, he also worried too much, but Bao Zheng was very calm and collected.

Today, Bao Zheng was summoned into the palace suddenly, and I don't know why the Holy Majesty who was more and more different from what he remembered had summoned Bao Zheng.

But let Bao Zheng work in Kaifeng as before?Or, looking for Tianmang?But now, with the departure of Taishi Pang and Pang Tong, the power of the Pang family has gradually faded away. Tianmang is nothing but a legend, so why look for it?

The more Gongsun Ce thought about it, the more anxious he became, and somehow it took him so long?Although he was considered a benevolent monarch, after all, Bao Zheng was involved in the royal family's secrets... I don't know if there will be any changes.

Gongsun Ce held up his umbrella and walked slowly across the courtyard to the gate.

******

The carriage rattled slowly on the bluestone-paved street.

Bao Zheng raised the curtain and looked outside. There were people passing by in twos and threes in a hurry. Although the rain was a little weak, the autumn rain was a bit cool after all.

"Lord Bao, the Holy Majesty has said that Lord Bao has no residence in the capital. Lord Bao can live in the yard behind the Kaifeng mansion. Although it is a bit simple, it is also part of His Majesty's heart." The smiling Eunuch Zhao looked at Bao. Zheng said with a warm tone.

Bao Zheng nodded slightly, bowed his hands to the sky, and then said to Eunuch Zhao, "When everything is settled, please don't be disgusted with Eunuch, come and drink tea."

"Hahaha, definitely."

……

Bao Zheng lifted the car curtain again, but this time, he saw a vague but very clear figure in the heavy rain curtain, a thin man in sky blue clothes, holding an umbrella, even if he couldn't see clearly, he must be Slightly raised the corners of his mouth and chuckled.

Bao Zheng's anxious heart calmed down quietly, but he couldn't help but frowned. It was raining so hard, why wait here?

After finally the carriage stopped, Bao Zheng watched the carriage go away, then hurriedly turned around and walked towards Gongsun Ce who was coming to welcome him.

"It's raining so hard, why don't you wait for me in the house?" Bao Zheng took Gongsun Ce's umbrella with a dark face, and hurriedly walked in with him.

Shoulders are a little wet.How long have you been waiting in the rain, this idiot?

Before Gongsun Ce could open his mouth, Bao Zheng grabbed him and took him back to the house. He was a little dazed, but he quickly came to his senses. Seeing Bao Zheng's gloomy side face, the smile on the corner of his mouth deepened.

When they got to the house, Bao Zheng pushed Gongsun Ce to change his clothes involuntarily. When he came out, he was stuffed with a cup of ginger tea. Gongsun Ce couldn't laugh or cry.

——He's really not that weak.

Forget it, Gongsun Ce drank the ginger tea helplessly, he knew that Bao Zheng was frightened that time at Lingguang Temple.

"But I have an errand for you?" Gongsun Ce asked after drinking the ginger tea.

"The Holy Majesty let me take charge of Kaifeng." Bao Zheng said in a low voice.

Gongsun Ce paused while serving the tea, he was indeed in charge of Kaifeng.

"That's fine." Gongsun Ce said, looking up at Bao Zheng, seeing that Bao Zheng frowned, he seemed to be worried, "But what's hidden in it?"

"The people behind Zhao Hui will definitely cause trouble again. Kaifeng is not a safe place." Bao Zheng said, looking at Gongsun Ce, he was not afraid, but if Ah Ce followed him, he had to think about it.

"No matter where, is there a safe place?" Gongsun Ce raised the corners of his mouth and laughed.

"There is nothing to fear in the land of tigers and wolves, but Ah Ce..." Bao Zheng paused, staring at Gongsun Ce, and said in a low voice, "I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you well."

Gongsun Ce was taken aback for a moment, then frowned, staring at Bao Zheng, "Bao Zheng, I don't need you to protect me." Why does he, Gongsun Ce, need other people's protection?

"I know, but—"

"Wherever you are, I will be there."

——He had already said that wherever Lord Bao is, so will he, Gongsun Ce.

Bao Zheng's heart was shaken, looking at Gongsun Ce's solemn face, even though what Ah Ce said might not have the affection he expected, it's so... very good.

"When the rain stops, let's go to the government office to have a look. The Holy Majesty has also given a courtyard, just behind the government office. You can see what needs to be tidied up then." Bao Zheng got up slowly while talking, Walking to Gongsun Ce's side, meeting Gongsun Ce's puzzled eyes, he pretended to be calm and gently stroked Gongsun Ce's forehead with his fingertips, "This is not urgent, we will talk about it when the rain stops."

"..." Gongsun Ce looked outside, as if... the rain stopped?

******

After a whole day of heavy rain, it finally stopped.At dusk, the raindrops dripping from the green leaves hit the ground, ticking.

"Shall we go to the government office tomorrow?" Gongsun Ce put down the bowl and chopsticks, and looked at Bao Zheng who was still eating in a muffled voice.

Bao Zheng nodded, since he accepted the order, he must go sooner or later.

"Brother Bao, are you really going to stay in Kaifeng?" Zhan Zhao asked excitedly

"That's right, we're planning to move tomorrow." Gongsun Ce said with a smile.

Bai Yutang was a little unhappy, but his family was in the empty island... and it was almost time before the elder brother came to pick him up.

"Little Bai, Hero Lu Fang said he would come to pick you up in a few days." Gongsun Ce looked at Bai Yutang and said with a smile, "But I said you are studying with me, and you may have to stay for another month."

Bai Yutang's eyes lit up, "Brother Gongsun, are you telling the truth?"

"When did you ever see your big brother Gongsun tell a lie?" Bao Zheng put down the bowl and chopsticks, looked at Bai Yutang with a serious gaze, "So for the next month, you will finish five big characters every day and endorse one."

Bai Yutang nodded without thinking, a little excited, "Okay!"

"The same goes for Zhan Zhao."

"Brother Bao, I will study hard." Zhan Zhao said seriously.

Bao Zheng nodded, and when Gongsun Ce got up, the two left first.As soon as the two left, Zhan Zhao rolled up his sleeves and started to clean up the dishes. It was his turn today.

********

"Pang Tong should know that you will be in charge of Kaifeng." Gongsun Ce said abruptly.

"When he comes to drink with me, he always talks about the local conditions and customs of Kaifeng, how could he not know?" Bao Zheng said in a calm tone, "I'm afraid this is also what the Eight Sage Kings and Grand Master Pang meant."

"I don't know what these two are planning..." Gongsun Ce sighed softly, saying that he was far away from the court situation, but Grand Master Pang's power was complicated, leaving behind a Pang Tong and a Pang Concubine, and the power of the Pang family was still affecting him. North Korea Bureau.

"There's no need to think about these things." Bao Zheng patted Gongsun Ce on the shoulder, and did what was in front of him. No matter what they plan, it's none of their business right now.

"Hmm...then let's go take a look tomorrow?" Gongsun Ce looked at Bao Zheng with bright eyes, and he missed the courtyard where he lived for so long.

Looking at Gongsun Ce's bright eyes, Bao Zheng couldn't help saying softly, "Okay."

After finishing speaking, he took out a stack of bank notes and handed it to Gongsun Ce.

"Where did it come from?" Gongsun Ce took it in doubt.

"It was rewarded by the Holy Majesty, and it was given by the steward of the Eight Sage Kings." Bao Zheng said, and took out another stack of bank notes, "Pang Tong also brought it, saying it was money for buying calligraphy."

"Buy words?"

"He said that my reputation can be heard even at the border, and my writing should be worth a lot of money, so he asked me to write a few words to sell him." Bao Zheng said lightly.

Gongsun Ce was dumbfounded for a while.

After a long while, I finally spoke, "Did you write it?"

"What did you write?"

"cheese"

"..."

When he reached the door of the wing room, Gongsun Ce raised the bank note in Yang's hand and asked, "Give it all to me?"

"Ah."

"That's mine." Gongsun Ce frowned.

"What's mine is yours." Bao Zheng whispered.