Gu Qingci

Yan Xi didn't come back until the end of November, covered in wind and frost.

She still messed things up after all.A talented woman in the middle of the capital can't control the common people in those remote mountain villages, and the two sides are at a stalemate.

The common people saw that the matter had not been resolved, and worried that the imperial court would continue to demolish their ancestral hall of faith, so they completely smashed the half-destroyed water conservancy project one night.When the pavilion chief visited there the next day, he reported to the sheriff in a panic.

Originally, Liu Yueying was not going to let the people in that village go, but now she directly accused them of their crimes.

Because this village belongs to Daiwan County, from the village head to the county guard, all the officials were imprisoned without exception, and those innocent people... Sigh.

Yan Xi is the same as me, knowing that there are tigers in the mountains, but his conscience can't let it go, he can't see that group of simple villagers being wiped out, so he wrote a letter to plead for mercy.

The result is predictable.

With Yan Xi's intercession, impeachment papers fell on Liu Yueying's imperial table like snowflakes, saying that the imperial envoy was not incompetent, but had a long-standing plan and selfishness, and he was on the same rope with those villagers.

In those few days, Yangzhi came to me every day crying and asked me to say something nice to Liu Yueying.Therefore, Yan Xi returned to Beijing almost as a crime, extremely embarrassed.

I once went to find her privately at the expense of the world.

When Yan Xi saw me coming, he only said: "Why, Prime Minister Yang came to see my joke? You saw it as you wished. Do you still want to step on me, a criminal?"

It choked me for a long time before slowly saying: "Don't say that, the emperor hasn't convicted you yet, it's all nonsense from outsiders."

"Pfft," she laughed out loud, "I hope that Prime Minister Yang will stop throwing stones at me, a sinner, because of his past friendship."

She said with a gun and a stick, really wanting to drive people away.Why did Yan Xi become so mean?She didn't realize it until she calmed down. She didn't want me to get involved in this muddy water, so she deliberately said these things to drive me away.

When a dust of the times falls and falls on that village, it is a catastrophe.

Ordinary people are just little people in the long river of history, like the sand at the bottom of the river, covered by the turbulent torrent above, and washed away in the dark night, leaving nothing behind.And all of this was just a thought of that woman.

I was very worried about Yan Xi, so I finally went to find Liu Yueying. She was reading the master's paper in the conference hall, and the cabinet members were also there.

After listening to my pleading, Liu Yueying raised her chin, then lowered her head to read the document.

"I don't intend to do anything to her." She was a little careless.

I said a lot, but she only gave such an ambiguous answer, she felt dissatisfied in her heart, and her tone couldn't help being rushed: "Your Majesty clearly knows that Mrs. Yan can't handle it well, why did you still send her?"

Liu Yueying paused for a while, raised her head and said to me seriously: "My lord right, you have overstepped the distance."

After being stunned for a moment, I realized that the cabinet officials on duty were still sitting aside, and I shouldn't be so aggressive.Since she promised to wait for me for five years, I am now a subject, so naturally I must abide by my duty.

Reluctantly left, ready to ask later in the day.

But before I could ask, two things happened that afternoon.One is good news from the north.Before autumn came, General Xiao Chu took advantage of the gradual shortage of supplies on the grassland, and even sent out surprise troops to defeat the Northern Qiang army, leaving only three or four out of ten of the main cavalry.The leader of the Northern Qiang fled farther northwest with a small group of elite soldiers.

Northern Qiang has always been proud of its main force of cavalry, all of them are muscular men who can fight one against a hundred, and they are extremely difficult to deal with.But now he was beaten to pieces by Daxing.The good news spread to Beijing, and General Xiao Chu asked the emperor whether to take advantage of the victory to pursue.

Another thing is about Yan Xi.Liu Yueying issued an imperial edict.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the emperor dealt heavy blows to local officials, but Yan Xi, as an imperial envoy sent by Rongjing, was only moved to Jincheng to be the governor.

The holy will is unpredictable, no one can know the emperor's pulse, and all the officials in the court have made mistakes, and no one talks about it.

Most things in the world are calm, but accidents are like a stone suddenly thrown into the calm water, causing ripples.

Yan Xi resisted the decree.She wrote a long form, begging to resign.When I heard about it, I just felt my head buzzing.Liu Yueying summoned me into the palace, and slapped the resignation form written by Yan Xi on the table for me to read by myself.

This form is too long, the words are sincere and humble, and every sentence comes from the heart, not like a fake.But this content...

In the first half, he said that he was useless, with narrow vision and lack of ability. He was struggling in Daiwan County. He was not qualified for the post of imperial envoy. A few years ago, the root cause of Zhi Zhi's illness was sore, her limbs were sore and it was difficult to walk, so she could only be confined to a corner, so she wanted to take her to visit famous doctors to treat this stubborn disease; permit.

Yan Xi wants to take Yangzhi out of Rongcheng?His mood suddenly sank.When I was looking at this watch, I felt Liu Yueying's eyes wandering over my body and face. When I looked up after reading it, she quickly looked away and asked me in a low voice: "What do you think?"

Resisting the strangeness, he said hesitantly: "How about I go to the Yan Mansion and ask her what she means."

"Alright, then you can ask." Her earlobe was a little red.

==

"Yan Xi!" I called her.She was talking to Yangzhi, and she saw me as soon as she turned her head.

"Prime Minister Yang is here again?" Her attitude this time was a little better than last time, and there was warmth in her brows and eyes.

"Yan Xi... In view of the past, we don't have to be so unfamiliar, okay?"

The corner of her mouth raised: "As you wish, Yang Li."

I looked at Yangzhi and frowned slightly: "Are you really going to take Xiaozhi away?"

Yan Xi nodded: "This is not a temporary idea. I have already mentioned it to Xiaozhi, and now is a good time to resign."

Yangzhi's expression was tired, and the circles of his eyes were dark, which made me feel very uncomfortable.

"Sister, Yan Xi discussed this matter with me for a long time after she came back. I was a little apprehensive at first, but now I have reached an agreement with her. Although I am very reluctant to part with my sister, I still prefer to travel around with Yan Xi, without being restricted in the world. In the same city. She said, she will definitely find a quack doctor who can cure me of this problem. I think, my sister would also like to see Xiaozhi get better, right?"

"Yes, yes..." She squeezed out a smiling face: "Of course my sister wants Xiao Zhi to recover, and then we can go to the horse race."

"Okay, then it's a deal." Yang Zhi laughed, she hadn't seen her smile so happily for a long time, full of bright sunshine like years ago.

I suppressed the reluctance in my heart, and I couldn't be a disappointment at this time.

"There are still some things about the imperial court, I will talk to Yang Li alone." Yan Xi gave Yang Zhi a look, and led me to the backyard.

The room on the far left in the backyard is her study.Many years ago, I nestled in this capital like a chick, and I visited that house.

I remember very clearly that it was a winter, before the end of the year, she was splashing ink and painting in that room, and I went to the door with a shy face and asked her for wine.Before I knew it, it had been so long.

"What are you looking at?" Yan Xi asked me.

"It's nothing, I just remembered that you haven't painted for a long time."

"To each other, you may not have played the flute for a long time." She looked at her and smiled.

"Chaozhong, everyone is guessing why the emperor sent me to complete an almost impossible task?" She started to talk about business.

"Yes, I can't think of it either."

"That's right," Yan Xi said with a very indifferent expression, "This is a secret old thing, and generally no one knows about it."

"The ancestors of the Xiao family were kind to my Yan family. When my grandfather was not an official, he was almost murdered by a black shop on the road. It was the uncle of the general Zhen Guo who passed by here and saved my grandfather's life. So ..." Yan Xi turned to look at me, and I understood.

"Now that the Xiao family is powerful because of Xiao Chu, the emperor is afraid that you will take into account the kindness of the past and form a party with him?"

"Yes. This matter is a private matter between our two families. Normally, no one knows about it. But after my grandfather became an official, he once told the late emperor privately that he intended to support the Xiao family. However, due to various reasons, the late emperor still used it. Nangong." Yan Xi brushed the broken hair in front of his forehead, and continued: "The emperor deliberately made things difficult for me, just to find an excuse to get me out of the capital. Yan Xi's ancestors were also among the three princes. Shoufu, who has been with him for so long, can be changed at will.”

I sighed, and said hesitantly: "However, the emperor recently asked the eldest princess to go to Jincheng several times. Rumors spread that the emperor has plans to move the capital. Jincheng is not far from Rongcheng. She asked you to go there to be an official." I'm afraid it's a stepping stone, and it's not a bad thing."

Yan Xi glanced at me, and curled his mouth: "Still as stupid as before. Yangzhi is my wife, and you are my sister-in-law. No matter what she says, she has to take your feelings into account, and don't embarrass me too much. Right? It’s impossible for me to stay in Beijing, and it’s the same for her wherever I go. She just wants to completely eliminate my threat.”

Hearing what she said, I was speechless.Thinking of the way Liu Yueying looked up at me that morning, after thinking about it for a long time, I realized that it was helplessness and guilt.

"By the way, you can see that the Xiao family is now skyrocketing because of General Zhen Guo, and they won't be able to jump for too long. That Xiao Yue in the cabinet will be dealt with after Xiao Chu returns to the capital after beating Bei Qiang." She said. He said coldly, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Yan Xi is too transparent, it is easy to see others clearly, but it is difficult to see himself clearly.

"Xiao Xiang in your Shengqing building is too upright. The emperor still wants to use him as a gun, so he won't move easily; but the barbarian is a threat in the south. If she wants to fight the southern barbarians in the future, she will never use Xiao Chu again. .Who do you think will be used?"

"General Nangong." He replied without thinking.

"Haha, this is just our speculation after dinner. We'll see if it's true." She smiled at me, as if she had wiped away all the friendship and grievances for so many years.

With his hands behind his back, he explained everything that should be said clearly.

"Yang Li, I beg you one last thing. Go talk to the emperor and allow me to resign. I want to take Yang Zhi to travel all over the mountains and rivers of Daxing, and live up to my life."

Nodding solemnly: "Alright, if I can really find a miracle doctor to cure Xiaozhi's chronic illness, then forget about my concern."

Yang Zhi became what he is today, I have a responsibility.It's just that they are really leaving, and I feel very sad.

"Yan Xi, in the future... can we drink and compose poems together again?"

"I don't know, maybe, maybe not." She looked up at the sky, the blue sky was so high that she couldn't even see a cloud.

"Speaking of which, you taught me how to ride a horse."

"Then I'm also half of the prime minister's gentleman?"

"That's natural."

They laughed at each other and were speechless for a while.

There was a long silence, "Will you go back?" she said.

I turned my head and walked towards the main hall, and suddenly said again: "Treat Yangzhi well."

"You don't need to say it!" Her tone was brisk, and she joked with me with a smile. She seemed to let go of all the burdens in an instant, and she felt relaxed, with a youthful look.

And I am a melancholy guest in the world.