I see the snow

On the Goddess River, a tall boat sailed quietly.

There are screens in pavilions, carved windows in waterside pavilions, and Guqin in gazebos.

From a distance, it looks like a certain corner of a wealthy mansion has been moved to the deck of the boat. The level of exquisite workmanship is no different from the palaces set up by princes and nobles in the suburbs of the city.

The sky is full of stars, and the water is sparkling.

Standing here, looking up at the sky and the earth, I don't know if I am in a dream for a moment.

"...The palaces and palaces of the Tianshan Mountains are dense and majestic, and the wind and smoke for thousands of miles lock the plants. Looking back, the towers are empty and lonely, and there are many raccoon temples where the crows are singing."

Shen Yan murmured in a low voice.

This is a tune he is all too familiar with, and he whispered it unconsciously along with the sound of the piano.

Downstairs, a man in white is playing the piano.

——Coincidentally, Yin Zhichuan said "I can also live in the royal palace" on the front foot, and in the next second, he met Shen Yan who went out of the palace in a low-key manner to spend a good night with Chu Yuan.

Shen Yan didn't intend to go out of the palace originally, he just wanted to stay in the Chaohui Palace to read the memorials, to approve the papers and pass the River Lantern Festival.

Unexpectedly, Mo Bihuan was diligent and courteous, and wrote a letter to prepare a building boat on the Goddess River, which was extremely exquisite and extremely rich.Your Majesty is invited to go with the young master of Guanxing Pavilion. Apart from admiring the river lanterns, you can also watch the stars on the cloudless river.

Shen Yan was not interested in his tall boats that were "fifty feet high and could only be pushed by five hundred trackers", and "everyone who saw them would admire them", but when he glanced at the word "Chu Yuan", his eyes couldn't help but move slightly. stay.

——It is difficult for him to see Xiatai Chu Yuan by himself on weekdays.

This person always seems to be avoiding him, "sleeping", "no one is there", "please come back, Your Majesty"... and many other reasons emerged one after another.Even if Shen Yan waited from night to dawn, watching the white mist he breathed out gather and disperse in winter, he still couldn't wait for the day when Chu Yuan opened the paper door and let him in.

Now that someone is on the line, it is better to give it a try.

For Shen Yan, even if it is only a chance to go to Qiu Xiatai, it is very good.

"It's getting late, let's go to the hall and have something to eat."

After waiting for a long time, Shen Yan approached Chu Yuan hesitantly, and said to him: "I warmed Wanhuang wine, you can have a few drinks to warm up your body."

From the moment he boarded this building boat, Chu Yuan was alienated from Shen Yan. Shen Yan watched the lanterns on the second floor balcony, while he played the piano in the water pavilion downstairs.

They didn't talk much to Shen Yan, and their expressions were indifferent, as if they were just monarchs and ministers, and they didn't even have the friendship of a boat.

The pavilions are surrounded by veils, and the curtains are heavy, and the water wind brought by the boats blows the veils of the green lake together and falls.

"Your Majesty, let's have dinner first."

Chu Yuan said: "I will go on my own later."

"you……"

There was a wry smile on Shen Yan's handsome face, he looked down at his sleeves, and said in a hoarse voice: "Now you don't even want to eat at the same table with me?...Xianyu, what did I do wrong? Where, let you alienate me like this!"

On the rippling Goddess Lake, a boat smashed into a pool of moon shadows.

The sharp and sharp hull cut through the water, and slowly swayed with the waves.

The sound of the piano stopped.

"Yes, I don't care about you purely."

Shen Yan said: "You and I are best friends. You treat me like a true friend, but my mind wanders and I think about dirty things. However, I have never done anything! You don't want to be my star-gazer Waiter, that would be inappropriate, and I never force you to do anything...why...why do you just avoid me like this?"

Shen Yan panted slightly, as if these words had been in his heart for a long time.

How many times I tossed and regretted in the middle of the night, wondering if I shouldn't express my heart.That way at least we can stay together as best friends.It won't fall into the situation where we can't even see each other now.

...He thought that Chu Yuan also had something in his heart.

"Xianyu."

Shen Yan smiled wryly and said: "What secret is hidden in your heart? After telling you 'that matter', even friends don't want to have sex with me. I don't care who touched you...Really, if you don't want to mention it, you can talk about it. Don't mention it, in my heart, you will always be the one who lives alone in Sinan Mountain. You come here with a qin, and you sing as you please...for so many years, you have always been."

The thin and pale young pavilion master of Guanxing Pavilion lightly pressed the strings with his fingers, and silently looked down at the surface of the guqin.

In this world, there is always someone who makes you unable to play the piano quietly. Ruyan Jin is always stubborn and refuses to admit it every time he is restrained by Youxie. In Chu Yuan's heart, the person who makes his piano sound chaotic is called Shen Yan.

He sighed very lightly, Chu Yuan has always been a person who is not good at words, he has many words hidden in his heart, he wants to keep silent, but he doesn't know how to say them.

"His Majesty……"

After a long time, the stargazer in the curtain sighed, and said very slightly: "In my heart, I have always regarded you as a close friend..."

Shen Yan suddenly raised her head, but saw that the person behind the heavy veil was also looking at him, as if looking at him through the fluttering curtain:

"Your Majesty has lost weight recently... Is the court affairs bothering you? If there is anything I can do to help, please just tell Chu Yuan."

...After all, I'm here for you too.

However, Shen Yan shook his head, his star-like eyes were slightly sour at the moment, Shen Yan shook his head and lowered his head——

I want to say, no, there is no need, in fact, as long as you don't hate me so much and are willing to see me on weekdays, I will be very happy.

But after a few months, hearing Chu Yuan talk to him so gently again, even caring about him, made Shen Yan speechless with joy in his heart.

"envy--"

The new emperor opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he suddenly heard a whistle coming from behind——

It was Yin Zhichuan who stepped on the pull rod on the side of the boat and greeted them arrogantly with a smile:

"Your Majesty, where are you going to enjoy the river lanterns? It's a coincidence, and we are too."

Shen Yan, who had just managed to talk to Chu Yuan: "..."

After a cup of tea.

Yinzhichuan, Xihuai, Chu Yuan, and Shen Yan sat together in a hall.

Xihuai and Yinzhichuan were on one side, Chu Yuan and Shen Yan were on the other side, and there were several dishes on the table in the middle, which were extremely exquisite.One of the golden carp has even had all its thorns removed, and against the surrounding peacock feathers, it looks delicious and smooth, making people move their index fingers.

The rich families who booked the boats on Shennv Lake often knew each other. Sometimes when they saw their friends, they would inevitably want to board the boat.

Therefore, driftwood and ropes are reserved on each boat, which can be thrown out at any time to form a pontoon that connects the colorful boats to each other.

It's just that Xihuai was afraid of the water and didn't dare to walk on the pontoon bridge, it was Yin Zhichuan who hugged his knees and the back of his neck and jumped over with a few taps of his toes.

"Children under the age of 14 can take the colorful boat for free, hide in the cabin below the deck, and go to the other side of the Goddess River to pick lotus seeds and eat."

Yinzhichuan took care of his messy robe and sleeves when he waded over just now, and said with a smile: "It's a pity that your Majesty closed the river, otherwise the lake at the River Lantern Festival would be much more lively than it is now."

Shen Yan originally wanted to be alone with Chu Yuan, but now she could only maintain the demeanor of a king and sit there calmly.

Not far away from Chu Yuan and not close, you can see it but you can't touch it, and you can't tell what it feels like.

Chu Yuan seemed to be very interested in Xi Huai, and asked Xi Huai's name and where he came from.

"The west of Yangguan, the Huai of the Qinhuai River."

Xi Huai lowered his eyes and said, "The villain is from Jinling Qinhuai."

"Jinling Qinhuai..."

Chu Yuan was thoughtful: "Decades ago, there was a very famous and famous family there, the Shuxiang Ye family. It is not inferior to the Taifu Lin family in the capital of stars and fields." "The villain left home early, and many I can't remember anything."

Xihuai said calmly, "I don't have much impression of the Ye family that the young pavilion master said."

Chu Yuan said "Oh", as if he felt a little regretful, but he didn't mention it again.

"Is Your Majesty still worried about Guanshan County?"

Seeing Shen Yan's gloomy expression, Yin Zhichuan deliberately said: "Since I went out to swim in the lake with the young pavilion master, it's better to let go of my troubles and relax for a while. I won't go back to correct the papers, and hate that I didn't cherish the good things at this time. hour."

Yinzhichuan's free and easy style today is completely different from his former presumptuousness.

After Xi Huai said "You want to betray the country and the emperor", he seemed to be relieved suddenly.

After piercing the layer of window paper in his heart, Yin Zhichuan felt unprecedentedly relaxed. All the depression and frustration in the past have been vented, and now facing Shen Yan, he is much more at ease.

——If you treat me kindly, then I will give you the same response.

If you want to tame me like a horse with the majesty of the heavenly family, the ruler and ministers, then I am definitely not a foolish and loyal person.

"Your Majesty need not worry."

Yinzhichuan joked: "If the household department has too many deficits, you can sell officials and ranks. It's so difficult to get a candidate now. There must be many people who have gold and silver in their homes. Officials are nothing more than a vegetarian meal, and it doesn't matter which trash takes the stage."

Shen Yan: "..."

"The people in Guanshan County are common people, and the people in other counties are also common people."

Shen Yan said patiently: "I won't do such demented things as knocking down the east wall to make up the west wall."

In fact, Yin Zhichuan said that on purpose.

Because Shen Yan had already thought about this in his heart.The household department has been in deficit year after year, and the relief money allocated with great difficulty has been embezzled privately. The disaster situation in Guanshan County cannot be delayed. Before the relief money is recovered, the people of Guanshan County cannot wait.

Then there are only ways to sell officials and nobles, or to get money from wealthy businessmen.

The first emperor had already done this when he was in power, and Zhu Shifeng's family entered the capital of stars and fields in this way.But now that there are many famines and the situation in various places is quite unstable, selling off officials and nobles may deepen the dissatisfaction of the people, further intensify the conflicts, and lead to something irreversible.

Yin Zhichuan said it on purpose to make Shen Yan deny it, and he would never regret it later.

"Money is a trivial matter."

There was a moment of silence in the hall, but Shen Yan opened his mouth and said, "I'm afraid that if the disaster drags on for a long time, there will be a rebellion. The court... has no one available."

This is the truth, as soon as Shen Yan opened his mouth, Yin Zhichuan knew what he meant.

General Sheng Yang has always relied on the Yin family, and the Yin family has prosperous children, each of whom is loyal.

Not only is he willing to do everything for the imperial court, but he is also so loyal that if they cut off their food and grass before the battle, they will not be betrayed.It can be said to be the most obedient and easy to use dog.

After the Yin family's accident, Shen Yan always hoped that Yin Zhichuan would receive the commander-in-chief seal of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion again, and continue to serve the court, so as to "pay for his sins".

But Yinzhichuan insisted that his father and brother must have been slandered, and if the court refused to conduct a thorough investigation, he would not accept the idea of ​​"atonement", let alone put on armor for the heartless king.

"There is no one to use... If only there were ghost generals in the world."

Yin Zhichuan smiled, shook the wine cup in his hand, and said in a low voice: "In this way, the son of my Yin family will surely come back from Canglan City and continue to serve His Majesty. ... If His Majesty still wants them if."

Shen Yan's face became ugly.

It was not easy for the king to ask for peace, not to mention Yin Zhichuan refused him time and time again.

"If Your Majesty really feels that there is no one in court, then promote Di Yang."

After a moment of silence, Yin Zhichuan still mentioned a name: "He is my father's former department, and he was born in the market, but he is talented in marching and fighting. Give him more money...he will be willing to work for you."

I don't know if it was because of the unpleasant conversation, but the delicacies presented also tasted tasteless.

Shen Yan made people sing and dance, otherwise the hall would have been shockingly silent.

Yin Zhichuan sat on the seat for a while, and suddenly felt very tired, so he put down his chopsticks and said:

"I'm going out to blow some air."

Xi Huai paused, then saluted, and followed him out.

The boat had sailed a long distance, being pushed by the wind and waves, it was getting farther and farther away from the shore.

Soft ropes and buoyant ropes were piled up in a mess on the edge of the deck, and the lake water not far below the ship's deck was swaying quietly, giving off some shimmering light.

Listening quietly, you can also hear the sound of launching water when the waves wash over the hull.

Because it is too close to the railing, it is not very stable when standing, and it is slightly swaying.

Yinzhichuan looked up at the moon in the sky.

"what happened to you?"

Xihuai said.

"Ok?"

Yinzhichuan was startled, turned around and saw Xihuai also coming out from behind the screen in the attic. "Why did you come out?"

Xi Huai shook his head, but did not answer.

Yinzhichuan smiled, and reached out to touch his cheek: "I'll take you back later to eat delicious food."

"Ah."

Xi Huai responded lightly.

"Are you thinking about your father and brother?"

In the silence, Yin Zhichuan remained silent, staring at the ethereal and fragile moon shadow in the water.Xi Huai asked him.

"No."

Yin Zhichuan was startled, and said, "I'm thinking about some messy things."

"I think...the world is really meaningless."

Without letting Xihuai open his mouth to ask again, Yin Zhichuan took the initiative to say: "The king, the power, looks at the supreme honor and envy of all people, but it is not very interesting. The so-called king of a country is nothing more than a lion in a pride." The strongest and the one who can get the food first. He is responsible for the distribution of food... He will share more with those male lions that are not easy to mess with, or have the benefits he wants; some lions are not useful, so they are driven out... ...But among the lions, there are always many intrigues, or temporary weakness in order to get more benefits... Such people, aren't they tired?"

Xi Huai has long been familiar with the competition for power and the desire for profit.

But like Yinzhichuan.He still finds it strange to use the metaphor of "lions".

"So, you think you are a lion who can still be pleased for the time being?"

Xi Huai thought for a while, then asked: "You have the chips that the king wants, so he has to endure your wanton behavior for a while."

"Yes."

Yin Zhichuan smiled: "If there were no such legends as 'the silver gun' and 'the Yin family has hundreds of thousands of dead men', I am afraid that Shen Yan would have dragged me out and beheaded a hundred times."

Xi Huai smiled, thinking that his understanding of himself was quite accurate.

"You know, every time I see them flattering the cabinet with gifts, or saying something nice to please people, I feel like I see a monkey."

Yinzhichuan said: "A monkey is holding a fruit and presenting it to another monkey with long arms and legs..."

Yin Zhichuan made a movement, Xi Huai couldn't help laughing at him.

"Life is alive, how difficult it is to reincarnate."

Yinzhichuan said: "I don't know when I will die. Isn't it a waste of time to spend time on these pursuits of fame and fame? The fire in the stone, the horse in the gap, and the body in the dream. In a life as short as a mayfly, It’s better to love, to see mountains and rivers, to visit old friends.”

"Ah."

Xi Huai said, "You're right."

"However...some people enter the court, not entirely for fame."

After a pause, Xi Huai continued: "You know, studying hard in the cold window, following the learning of sages, is sometimes quite boring. To display your talents and learning in the world, thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are your chessboard, and the common people are chess pieces. It’s also a pleasure.”

Just like some people rebel for the sake of money and beauty, some people rebel just for the sake of rebellion.

He doesn't ask for anything in return, he just plays a game of fast chess to prove his talent and learning.

The former is like a hero in troubled times...the latter is like Xihuai.

He lives in the world only for revenge, only for treason, and only to prove that "the wrath of a counselor can overwhelm the world."

"……Um?"

Xi Huai said devotion, but at the same time he was thinking about his own affairs.

When he came to his senses, he found that Yin Zhichuan was looking sideways at him.

He frowned, touched his face inexplicably, and asked, "Why, is there something on my face?"

"No."

Yinzhichuan smiled, looked away, looked at the moon shadow in the water again, and said in a low voice: "The way you spoke just now is so charming. It just makes me want to kiss you."

"..."

Xi Huai didn't know how to answer, he was a little embarrassed.

Yin Zhichuan's hand hanging by his side lightly touched him, and in silence, Xi Huai felt his fingers hooked.

Like wanting to hold him.

But he was a little hesitant, and he hadn't decided whether to check back or not.

I've slept through it all, and I still care about these things.

Xi Huai sighed, thinking, it's better to follow his wishes quickly, get what he wants, and get rid of this situation.

His slender and cold fingers snapped back, grabbed Yinzhichuan's, and entwined with his fingers.

Xi Huai felt Yinzhichuan tremble for a moment, but then he shook him back with greater strength.

He exerted so much force that Xi Huai couldn't help but feel some pain.

"you……"

Yin Zhichuan turned around slightly.

Xi Huai felt that he might want to do something, on such a bright moon night, on the sparkling water.

"Cough cough."

However, in the next second, the voice of a third person came from behind——

Shen Yan and Chu Yuan also came out.

As if he wanted to avenge the private revenge that he just couldn't declare, he deliberately interrupted Yin Zhichuan, gloating: "What are you doing?"

Yinzhichuan: "..."

Yinzhichuan was about to die of anger.

"Do you want to do something like Caizhen and Xianyu?"

Shen Yan said kindly: "It's windy outside, and it's easy to catch cold if you stand for a long time. Why don't you go back to the mansion and find a place where no one is around."

"..."

Yin Zhichuan was quite angry, he looked at Shen Yan coldly, and asked, "What are you doing out here?"

"Moon admiring."

Shen Yan said: "Let's take a look at the stone statue by the way. The monster Bodhi statue in the center of the Goddess River is coming soon."

It is not only a legend, but also a symbol of auspiciousness.

They believe in this stone statue of "Bodhi entangled monsters", which is also a proof of God's protection for them. If the Bodhi vine is still entangled with monsters, evil things in the world will not be able to cause trouble, and Shengyang will still be the country chosen by heaven. Fu Zuo is long.

Even Qin Tianjian, before taking office as Taishi, would come to Shennvhe for a cutscene to see if there is any change in the stone statue:

If not, it means that the gods are also satisfied with this Taishi.

The dark blue waves wash over the hull, and gradually, a vague shadow can be seen ahead in the darkness.

Standing on the water, it is about thirty feet high, one and a half feet wide, and has a square base, standing firmly in the waves.

I don't know how deep the bottom of the lake is, and how the support below is supported. This stone statue can stand for hundreds of years.Looking at it like this, Xi Huai felt that the craftsmen must have put a lot of thought into casting it.

Through the moonlight, one could roughly see the monster's ferocious fangs, sharp claws, and hideous, human-like face.

"It was here a hundred years ago."

Not knowing what came to mind, Shen Yan suddenly said: "I have seen how many colorful boats passing by it, and tourists watching it. They have all turned into dry bones, and it is still here."

"Thousands of years ago, the bright moon also began to watch this world."

Hearing Shen Yan's words, Yin Zhichuan smiled and said, "'Life is endless, and Jiang Yue's looks are similar every year'."[*Note 1]

Shen Yan suddenly fell silent, probably because she thought that no matter how rich and prosperous, living in the mountains and rivers, life is only a short time.

——Everyone is like this.

Kings who are noble as sons of heaven, and nobles who are invincible in the world, will inevitably feel their own insignificance when facing the eternal bright moon and mountains and rivers in the world.

"Just look here."

Shen Yan said: "Tell the people in the cabin to stop for a while, and you can see the stone statue here."

"Yes."

A servant next to him bowed his head and gave the order to go down.

Two winds blew across the river, and the four people in front of the fence did not speak.

"...Why hasn't it stopped?"

After a long while, Shen Yan frowned, realizing something strange: "Are the people in the cabin deaf? - This is too close, tell them to stop the boat quickly!"

The new emperor has a mild temper and rarely scolds people.

The servants were scolded, and their faces changed slightly, probably knowing that the matter was important, so they hurriedly trotted to repeat the order again.

Seeing the stone statue getting closer, Xi Huai suddenly felt something was wrong...it was too close.

He thought, if he went down this distance, it would be less than 50 meters, and he would hit the stone statue soon...!

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

Just at this time, the servants who had just run to pass the order also rushed back, their foreheads were covered with sweat, they hurriedly wiped, and said anxiously: "It's not good, Your Majesty, this boat... I don't know what's going on, it can't stop. Already!!"

Shen Yan's face changed suddenly, and Chu Yuan immediately turned his head to look ahead, but in the next second, Xi Huai heard an extremely dull collision sound——

The solid and heavy hull collided head-on with the stone statue that had stood for hundreds of years, the hull tilted suddenly, and was forced to turn around by the stone statue!

At the next moment, the Bodhi Trapped Beast statue was also greatly damaged, and it shook twice, split and separated from the solid square base, rolled and fell, bumped, and under the eyes of everyone's amazement and fear, "Boom!" It sank to the bottom of the water with a bang! !

The cracking and sinking of stone beasts is an ominous sign, especially in Shengyang, which is already extremely troubled.

When Yin Zhichuan and the new emperor parted that night, Shen Yan's face was full of gloomy and preoccupied.

The specific reasons still need to be investigated in detail.

All those who were operating the ship in the cabin that night were taken away pending further interrogation.

But this has nothing to do with Yinzhichuan——

The Ministry of Punishment is in charge of interrogation, and the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites are in charge of offering sacrifices to heaven and other matters. Zhao Yunsheng's father must have been busy for a while.

It's just that Qin Tianjian has always been displeased with Guanxing Pavilion——

Observing the stars is also their duty, but they set up a Star Observation Pavilion alone, and because the Star Gazer Association has physical friendship with the king, it is even more trusted by the king.Their power was divided for no reason.

On the day of the collision, Chu Yuan was present again, and this group of magic sticks who originally wanted to drive Chu Yuan out of the capital of stars and fields wondered if they would come up with some way to punish Chu Yuan.

Yinzhichuan wasted his time all day, quite bored, learning how to cook Xihuai chicken at home.

[*Note 1]: "The generations of life are endless, and the river moon looks similar year after year."From "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night", Zhang Ruoxu in Tang Dynasty.