Jiajing Spiritual Records

The autumn rain was getting colder, and another year passed in a blink of an eye. Zhu Ziyang's mother did not survive this autumn because of a long illness.The thick bright yellow curtains covered the warm sun at the window sills, and the warm pavilion was shrouded in a dead shadow. The air was mixed with the bitter smell of medicine and a vague smell of blood.Standing in front of the window, Zhu Ziyang looked at the pool of withered summer lotus in front of his mother's window, and whispered softly: "Geng Yi, she's gone."

The light in the Nuan Pavilion was dim and oppressive, Geng Yi looked at Zhu Ziyang's profile, he opened his lips, but he didn't know how to comfort him for a while.He suddenly thought of the day his father was executed, probably on such an autumn day, he followed the prison car with his bare feet.

"Geng San, go back quickly—" Under the scorching sun, his father's voice was already hoarse, and he shook his head stubbornly.Everyone in the city wanted to see the fate of the traitor. They cursed "death to hard work", and from time to time, dead branches and rotten leaves would fall on his father's face... Geng Yi was a little lost in thought, he looked up at Zhu Ziyang silently for a moment, then lowered his The head said nothing.

King Xingxian's concubine was upright, that day, Zhu Ziyang's mother had just given birth.That night, the lotus pond in front of the Nuan Pavilion was brightly lit, and the servants dug out a ghost Buddha in the mud under the lotus pond...

"Your mother is a monster, bewitching people's hearts, and you are also a monster when she was born!" King Xingxian said angrily, and left in a huff.

It was as if a tiny needle pierced the softest part of Zhu Ziyang's heart.The raging fire was reflected in his eyes, and the dazzling red light from the burning made his skin scald hot. The servants hurriedly sent the things belonging to the former princess into the fire, first ancient books, and then clothes and jewelry.The people in the mansion sighed, they didn't expect such a kind person like the former princess to be a monster, she really knew people, knew her face but didn't know her heart, and couldn't keep her things...

The fire was so bright that night that it lasted all night before it was extinguished. "Is there anything left?" the prince asked.

"My lord." The servant called softly next to his ear. He was holding a scroll in his hand, looking a bit embarrassed, "I found it among the belongings of the king... the princess..." The scroll was rolled out, and only Seeing that the person in the painting is lifelike, the ink-colored pen outlines the graceful figure of the girl, and the soft hair flutters in the breeze, "This is Nanwang Dance." The girl's laughter rang in her ears, "In the We in Siam only dance for those who like it."

The prince stared at the picture scroll that had been carefully preserved in a gold silk brocade box for many years, and there was a trace of sadness in his eyes, but the warmth was fleeting in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he replied: "Burn it..."

The bright yellow flame licked the edge of the drawing paper, devouring the woman in the painting.The prince left the other courtyard without looking back, and the ashes of the burned scroll were finally swept into the air by the wind with the chill of late autumn. They floated and floated, and it is unknown where they went...

The boys in the courtyard stood huddled beside the fire, with terrified fear on their faces.Zhu Ziyang stared coldly at his father's back, his chest was cold, is it a monster?

"All of you go." He raised his eyes and looked at the chilling expressions on the faces of the boys in the courtyard, and whispered.The boys left the other courtyard in a swarm.Zhu Ziyang lowered his eyes, and a complicated sneer slowly appeared on the corner of his mouth, and deep hatred slowly flowed through his black pupils.

At this time, his cuff was slightly pulled, "Master." The man called softly from the side.

Did he not leave?A dazed look flashed in Zhu Ziyang's eyes, he turned his head, and only heard the young man say, "I picked it up secretly just now." Geng Yi carefully took out an ancient book from his bosom, and put it in Zhu Ziyang's hand .The cover has been blackened by fire, but the writing on the inside is still clear.He turned his hands behind his back and lowered his head, "I think although the prince is not allowed to keep the princess's belongings, the young master can at least leave one thought."

Zhu Ziyang's dark eyes stared silently at Geng Yi's face blackened by ashes: "Stretch out your hand." He said after a long silence.

Geng Yi was taken aback, hid his hands behind his back tightly, and stumbled in his mouth: "Master, I..."

Zhu Ziyang frowned, and he grabbed the boy's hand involuntarily.I saw a messy mark on the boy's palm, with blood-colored flesh exposed and black ash stuck on it. "Master, it's dirty." Geng Yi wanted to break free from Zhu Ziyang's hand, he explained anxiously, "I accidentally touched a spark when I was digging the fire just now, just wash it with cold water, it's not serious."

Zhu Ziyang pursed his lips and did not speak, just grabbed Geng Yi's hand and entered the room, he took out the ointment from the cabinet, gently wiped the ashes on Geng Yang's hands with a wet towel, and carefully applied the ointment on him .In the depths of the carved huanghuali cabinet is a ghost Buddha, half human, half ghost, with blood-red eyes shining like blood, and a human-headed skull in each of the four hands.

Geng Yi stared blankly at this half-human, half-ghost ghost Buddha. He remembered that the ghost Buddha buried in the lotus pond was smashed by his servants, but he didn't expect there to be another one here?

"This ghost Buddha is called Joyful Buddha. It was cast from the body of a Siamese eminent monk. I poured it with my mother's heart and blood every day. I pray that the Zhu family will be happy and successful." Zhu Ziyang said, and a sneer came out of his mouth, " The ghost Buddha they found in the lotus pond is just a useless clay sculpture, but it was just a trick of that person." Zhu Ziyang's pupils had a violent murderous intent, and he smiled, "Xi Le Buddha, he is a statue Ghost Buddha who wants human life. My mother traded her life for the glory and wealth of the Zhu family, and now they have to pay back..."

From that day on, Zhu Ziyang became busy, and the time he spent in the study became less and less day by day, and even Geng Yi seldom saw him.One day, Zhu Ziyang was sitting in front of the pear-wood table reading a book. This was probably a rare time for him to be free these days. Geng Yi stood beside him, lowering his head and rubbing his ink clumsily and earnestly.

"Geng Yi." The sunlight shone through the window lattice and filled the room.Zhu Ziyang put down the pen in his hand, and suddenly raised his head, "I suddenly remembered a long time ago, I asked you what you would do if I hadn't picked you up."

Geng Yi was taken aback, stopped what he was doing, and slightly widened his eyes.Zhu Ziyang smiled, he stood up and looked out of the window, the mottled halo reflected on his white jade face, he sighed and said: "Don't be my book boy, I'll send you to join the army .”

Both knees fell to the ground with a "plop", Geng Yi lowered his head, and said in a low voice, "Master, is there something wrong with what Geng San did?"

Zhu Ziyang smiled, he knelt down and touched Geng Yi's head, "You didn't do anything wrong, but I have made up my mind, go and be a general like your father." Geng Yi was abandoned, But he didn't understand that Zhu Ziyang's remaining humanity and tenderness in the second half of his life were all given to this beggar he picked up from the corner of the alley.

At the age of 13, Geng Yi was sent to join the army. At the age of 13, he has passed the age of first love, the desert is barren, and the sky is full of wind and sand. The veterans laughed and asked him if he had a sweetheart.He drank the first sip of wine in his life to strengthen his courage, and expressed his love for the first time.He said, yes, looking into the distance with deep eyes.

In the 13th year of Zhengde, the spring of that year came earlier than in previous years.On the seventeenth day of Geng Yi, the spring in March was like a brocade, and even wild flowers bloomed in the desert.At such a season, the man came suddenly riding a tall horse, wearing silk clothes with light peach and gold trim, with a pair of eyebrows bent, looking at Geng Yi who was stunned by the side, and asked with a smile: "What's the matter? I don't know me." gone?"

Geng Yi smiled, his youthful face that had already faded in the desert wind and sand froze for a moment, shaking his head like a rattle: "Master, how dare Geng San forget you."

That night, the two of them carried two altars of good wine and got very drunk. "Geng Yi, my father is dead." Under the dim candlelight, the man said so, his face could not distinguish between joy and sorrow.He took a sip of the strong wine in the bowl, "I sent you to the frontier, you have hated me all these years."

Geng Yi was stunned for a moment, he bent his knees, and poured down a jug of wine casually: "Master, you are joking, Geng San has never hated you. Not for a moment." He poured down the jug in his hand and found that there was no more wine He simply picked up the wine jar on the ground, "The military master said that we use the sky and the earth as the coffin, and the sun and the moon as the wall. I think if I can die for this desert one day, it will be considered a worthy death."

Zhu Ziyang smiled: "You..."

Sleeping soundly with a pillow of wine, soft lips caressed his cheeks, Geng Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking that the man had entered his dream again.

Zhu Ziyang left quietly, and rode thousands of miles into the border, as if just to drink a pot of wine with Geng Yi.

Geng Yi slowly opened his eyes and then closed them again, as if the deep lovesickness could fall into a dream...

Two years passed in a hurry. The 19-year-old young general, dressed in fresh clothes, angered the horse, and the horse's hoof raised dust all the way.Geng Yi was recalled back to the capital by his superiors, and he was appointed as a fourth-rank military general. The first thing he did when he came to Beijing was to meet that man.Unexpectedly, it was the man who opened the door himself, "Geng Yang." The man had a little surprise on his face, "Why are you here?"

"Who is the person outside the door?" A beautiful woman's face appeared behind the door, and asked innocently.

"My friend." Zhu Ziyang was slightly taken aback, but still turned sideways, the woman quickly saluted Geng Yi, and blushed when she looked up.

"I'm going to marry a wife." That was the second sentence the man said after seeing him.

Geng Yi's smile froze on his face.

Marrying a wife, yes, that person is already at a weak age.

The woman's name is Miao Yu, she is in the age of jasper, and her appearance and family background are all excellent, she thinks she is a perfect match for him.

"This may be my last fight, Geng Yi, I need her family background."

The trees were rustling, and Geng Yi was at a loss for a moment. For the first time, he felt that the warm spring sun shining on his body was actually cold.

"Okay." Geng Yi said with a smile, "The young master's wedding must be lively, it must be the most lively in the whole capital..."

It seems that only such a grand wedding can match the young man in brocade clothes in Geng Yi's memory.

Geng Yi raised his head slightly, followed by a slight movement of his Adam's apple: "Master, I came here today to say that I'm leaving. This time I'm going back to Beijing to report on my duties—" His gaze traced Zhu Ziyang's face with difficulty, stroke by stroke The painting seems to engrave him in his heart, "From now on, I may never come back."

Zhu Ziyang looked up at him in a daze, and Geng Yi smiled bitterly: "I was too excited just now, and forgot to say congratulations to the young master. But don't worry, young master, I, Geng San, will definitely not miss your marriage."

The wedding date was set in mid-March, and the spring was just right. The window lattices and doorposts were painted with new paint early, and the words "Xixi" were posted in red everywhere, and there was a lot of joy.A red lantern hung under the eaves of the door, Geng Yi's figure was hidden among the visitors, he had a smile on his face, but his heart was already twisted into a ball.

The bride got on the sedan chair and was greeted by everyone.Zhu Ziyang dressed in a festive red dress, and stood at the door to greet the guests.

"Congratulations." Everyone said so.

Geng Yi sat in a daze in front of the study with two jars of wine in his hand. The mahogany table, the pear blossom square table, and various scrolls in the celadon vase seemed to maintain the same appearance as before he left.

He watched the sun gradually set outside the window lattice, the light and thin gauze curtain was gently lifted, and a scent of medicinal herbs slowly wafted from his side.

"What are you doing! Do you want to get drunk before the banquet is over?" Da Hong's skirt brushed his face lightly, he grabbed Geng Yi's flagon and said.

"Master, do you think there are gods and Buddhas in the world who can give people joy and satisfy people's wishes?" Even those dirty and shady wishes.

"Where in the world is the real Joyful Buddha, it's just an evil ghost that lures people into the abyss and pays off with their lives."

Outside the house shouted that the auspicious time has come, Geng Yi raised his head and smiled suddenly: "Yes, there is no such thing as such a good thing. Young master, the auspicious time has come."

Zhu Ziyang's expression paused slightly, and he took a deep look at Geng Yi.In the end, he walked out with a cold face.The jug was smashed to the ground, and the strong aroma of wine filled the room.Geng Yi looked at the debris all over the floor, he smiled wryly, and finally felt sorry for his daughter who became popular in the past 20 years.

Nothing more...

The new house is filled with red candles, and the festive redness inside can be seen through the waxy white window paper. The hot candle tears fall on the table drop by drop, burning at the tip of the heart.Outside the house, the noise of the crowd did not dissipate until the middle of the night.

Geng Yi went back, returned to the desert that belonged to him, and became his vigorous young general.He never thought of saying goodbye to Zhu Ziyang, even though it would be the last time they will meet in this life.

In the 16th year of Zhengde, an obituary came from the capital. The late emperor passed away, and because he had no heirs, it was said that he was the son of King Xingxian.The eldest son of King Xingxian passed away a few days ago, and his elder brother and his second son, Zhu Houcong, were his heirs.

Did he still fail?Geng Yi said in his heart, the hand holding the obituary gradually clenched into a fist.And the day after the obituary came out in the capital, Geng Yi received a letter from Zhu Ziyang's old servant, the envelope was pasted with a thick layer of yellow paper.

Geng Yi tore open the yellow paper, and read the letter under the flickering candlelight.At five o'clock, he slowly stood up and looked up at the yellow sandy sky in the distance. The red sun was slowly rising against the corners of the desert, and the sound of the bleak wind was waking up the sleeping Gobi.He knelt down straight and solemnly kowtowed three times towards the distance.

Geng Yi burned the letter paper and rode all the way back to the capital.

Jin Yiwei had already ambushed in the southern outskirts of the city, and Wang Zhenning never thought that the person he had been waiting for for half a day was Geng Yi.He and Geng Yi met in the military camp in the early years, but one of them went to the frontier to guard, and the other entered the palace and became a Jinyiwei.

"Geng Yi, do you know what crime you are pleading guilty to? The crime of colluding with foreign countries and treason!" Wang Zhenning looked at Geng Yi fixedly, with anger, "You haven't washed your father's stigma, don't you? Do you also want to bear the name of Xi Zuo as a criminal minister? Could it be possible that you really want to be the son of Xi Zuo as others say is Xi Zuo?"

Geng Yi was slightly taken aback, "The son of Xi Zuo is also Xi Zuo".

He suddenly thought of the young man in white at the corner of Nuanyang capital city in March of that year, "My family happened to be short of a book boy, if you don't mind, come with me." Jiansui made a lingering sound, and Geng Yi smiled suddenly, with a smile on his face With a touch of sadness, he replied: "Xiao Zuo's son is really a fine job, Mr. Wang, those letters of collusion with foreign countries were all written by myself. I admit this crime. I do it alone and bear it alone."