Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

Yangchun March.The warm wind was blowing, and the catkins were flying.

In the sunset when I was a child, I loved playing with this furry thing the most.But now Xizhao is full of resentment towards the flying catkins - because he has to clean up the annoying mess in front of the southeast library by himself.

Half a month ago, Zhou Xi was transferred from the Southeast Library and went to work with Eunuch Li.And Xizhao, who never visited Eunuch Li, naturally stayed here.Before leaving, Zhou Xi told Xizhao that if brother Dexiu had difficulties in the future, he would definitely help him with all his strength, and he looked very sincere.It would be best if you can help me leave smoothly at that time.Xizhao thought.

It has been four months since he lived in the palace, and it's almost time for Liu Butou to make a fuss.For a while, Xizhao was often thinking about ways to get out of the palace.The best way to use it is naturally to go to the funeral under the pretense, and then never return, but the words about the death of both parents have been said since childhood, and it is too late to regret.Being the supervisor of Zhidian, sweeping the floor in this southeast warehouse every day, and there is no official business to leave the palace by the way, it is really a headache.

"Brother, is something on your mind?"

"Huh...huh?" Xi Zhao was staring at the scriptures on the wall in a daze, but couldn't react when she heard the question.

Uncle Gui held up three sticks of incense, squinted his eyes, blew on them, carefully inserted them into the incense burner in front of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, bowed his waist, and bowed respectfully.

"Looking at the little brother's appearance, he seems to have something on his mind."

In the past, Zhou Xi often went to Eunuch Li's place, and when he was bored, Xizhao would come to sit at Uncle Gui's place.Now that Zhou Xitiao is gone, they come more frequently.Xizhao didn't believe the theory that Uncle Gui brought Yin Qi, not to mention the scriptures and Buddha statues in this room, but Uncle Gui, after being in touch for a long time, Xizhao felt that he was just an ordinary and kind old man.

"It's nothing, I told you, but you can't help me." Xi Zhao fiddled with the small gourd ornaments on the table sullenly, "Otherwise, tell me the story of the emperor."

"When do you want to hear about it?"

"Anytime is fine."

"Hmm..." Uncle Gui walked slowly to the small cabinet by the window, opened one of the drawers, took out a pinch of herbs, carefully put them into a medicine pot, twisted the powder on his fingers, and then took Holding the medicine jar, he sat down on the low wicker chair. "Then let's talk about the time of succession."

"During the Tianqi period, most of the political affairs were controlled by Wei Zhongxian, especially in the last years. At that time, the emperor was still the king of Xin. In order to avoid persecution by the Wei family, he kept a low profile and often said that he was ill. When the first emperor was critically ill, he recruited the king of Xin to He said in front of the hospital bed, "Come on, my brother will be Yao and Shun." The emperor at that time was very terrified, silent for a long time, knelt down on the ground with a plop, and said in reply: "I'm guilty of death! Your Majesty's words, I should die." I was afraid of being harmed by the Wei family, and also afraid that it was Wei's plan, so I politely declined."

"Hey~ Then what?" Xi Zhao listened very engrossed.

"Just as King Xin was resigning, Empress Zhang walked out from behind the screen and said to King Xin: "This matter is imperative to the emperor, and the situation is urgent. If you resign, I am afraid that life will change." With a sincere look, King Xin accepted the will .”

"Since the day he was appointed, King Xin has been careful every day, walking on thin ice. When he entered the palace, he remembered the warning of 'Don't eat in the palace' in his heart, and went with his own dry food hidden in his sleeve; Sleeping, leaving the guard's saber by his side, and invited the guard to stay overnight in the house to prevent any accidents. God bless, the emperor finally ascended the throne safely, and Wei Zhongxian was eliminated."

"There is such a story..." Xi Zhao couldn't help sighing, and then smiled, "Uncle Ghost really knows a lot."

"Hehe." Uncle Gui smiled hoarsely, lowering his head and twisting the herbs in the jar with a pestle. "My little brother seems to be particularly interested in the emperor's affairs."

"Hmm...well." Every time Uncle Ghost comes here, the word "Emperor" is more or less mentioned, no matter how dull a person is, he should be aware of it.

"Brother... don't you want to work with the emperor?"

"Huh?" Xi Zhao was taken aback.

"A companion is like a tiger. Things around the emperor are not easy to do." Uncle Ghost continued without looking up.

Xi Zhao lay on the table, looking at the round gourd in his hand, thinking. "Going to the emperor's side, I haven't thought about it. I just want to... know more about the emperor's story."

"I see."

"Do you think the current emperor is a good emperor?"

"Hmm... probably a wise gentleman." Ghost Uncle nodded slightly.

"Oh..." Xi Zhao's eyes were full of longing, "He is indeed a good emperor."

Uncle Gui still lowered his head, but his hands stopped.

"The current emperor can be regarded as a wise emperor, but it is a pity that he was born at an untimely time."

"Hey? How do you say that?" Xi Zhao sat upright and looked at Uncle Gui.

The sound of smashing medicine sounded again.Xizhao waited for a long time, but he couldn't wait for Uncle Ghost's answer.

two

Recently, Zhou Xi's life can be described as prosperous and prosperous.He had just followed Eunuch Li, the inspector of the Zhidian, for less than three months, and after an order from his superiors, he became a member of Eunuch Li, the inspector of ceremonies, in a blink of an eye.I don't know if it's Zhou Xi's bad eyesight or good luck, this Eunuch Li is indeed unique, and the city is quite deep, which is beyond the comparison of ordinary people, otherwise how could he easily enter the head of the 24 yamen that eunuchs sharpen their heads to enter.In the past two days, Zhou Xi has been in a daze like a dream. The good thing happened so suddenly that even he couldn't get used to it.But after all, he was born clever, and after a short period of time, he became acquainted with an elder brother of Bingbi eunuch Wang Chengen's subordinate.

"Ah..." At noon, the two of them were sitting together eating, and suddenly they sighed.

"What worries Feng Ge?" Zhou Xi asked.

"Well, to tell you the truth, there is a famine in my hometown, and I can no longer survive. The eldest brother in the family rebelled with the militia in the village. How did he do this against the imperial court? I am afraid that there will be no good results in the future. Thinking about it, I am worried. Good food is tasteless in your mouth..." Eunuch Feng frowned and put down the bowl and chopsticks.

"Brother Feng, don't worry, I can't blame my brother for this matter, it's just that the world is not peaceful. Brother Feng, don't worry, it's important that you eat your food." Zhou Xi comforted on the side.

"It's not peaceful...it's really not peaceful." Mrs. Feng listened to Zhou Xi's words. Although her face was full of gloom, she picked up the bowls and chopsticks anyway, "You talk about the world, famine and rebellion here, and rebellion on the other side. I'm afraid Jin Jun is going to make a fuss."

"Huh?" Zhou Xi raised his eyebrows, "How do you say that?"

"I wonder if you've heard of that incident?"

"What is Brother Feng referring to?"

Eunuch Feng looked serious, lowered his voice and said, "Do you know Yuan Chonghuan and Governor Yuan?"

"But Yuan Dushi, who guards Liaodong? He has heard about it."

"Then do you know Mao Wenlong Mao Zongbing?"

"I've never heard of this person." Zhou Xi shook his head.

"General Mao is guarding Pidao in Liaodong, which is located behind the Jin army. The Jin army dare not make a big attack because they are afraid of him." At this point, Eunuch Feng looked around and lowered his voice. According to the news, Governor Yuan killed Zongbing Mao without authorization with that Shangfang sword."

"Oh?" Seeing Eunuch Feng's mysterious expression, Zhou Xi hurriedly asked, "That means..."

"There's no fire in the backyard, so can Huang Taiji stay in peace?"

"Hmm... Brother Feng is right." Zhou Xi suddenly realized and nodded, "Then according to Brother Feng, Jin Jun will call?"

"Then I can't figure it out. I also heard from Wang Gonggong." Eunuch Feng smiled honestly, a little embarrassed, "But there is Governor Yuan guarding Liaodong, and the defense line is strong. It is probably in Liaodong. Fighting at the boundary will not come to the capital."

"Well... hey, but this war is a waste of people and money everywhere. When will the war end and the world will be peaceful." Zhou Xi sighed.

"Oh, really." Eunuch Feng pouted and shook his head, picked up another dish with chopsticks, and put it in his mouth.

three

These changes were not known to the setting sun far away in the southeast library sweeping the floor.What worries him the most is still his own big event.

In the middle of the night, Xi Zhao sat by the wall, rubbing her sore arm, and looked at the high red wall depressedly.At that time, I was forced to rush, and I really didn't think too much about it.Thinking about the way to get out after coming in, who would have imagined that this palace is easy to get in, but getting out is not easy, several months have passed, and they are still stuck here helpless.Xi Zhao stood up, picked up the rope, rolled it into a ball and put it away, kicked the broken tiles on the ground, and went back to the room resentfully.

Climbing the wall was unsuccessful, so I could only find an opportunity to go out through the gate openly.In the past few days, Xi Zhao's mind wandered around and turned to Eunuch Ma - maybe he could get some errands from him and walk out of the palace gate directly?Whether the method will work or not, I don’t know if I don’t try it, so one afternoon when the sun was westward, Xizhao sneaked to the small courtyard with gray walls where I had been on the day of reporting, and tiptoed under the outer window of the courtyard wall , pricked up his ears to listen for the movement inside.

Sure enough, someone was talking inside, and Xi Zhao listened carefully... That's right, that voice must be Eunuch Ma's voice.

"It's really a good idea to talk about Li Quan. He sneaked into the Supervisor of Ceremonies one step ahead of our family." Eunuch Ma's words sounded sour.

"Brother Li is one of his own. He was single-handedly promoted by his father-in-law. If he is asked to do something, there is no reason for him not to obey." Come to kiss ass.

"Hey~" Eunuch Ma didn't seem to take it seriously, "We have become eunuchs, and we are no longer afraid of cutting off our children and grandchildren. There is nothing we can't do if we are ungrateful, cross the river and tear down the bridge. Where do you sit and say something, you can remember the old love, and don't pick your back It’s not bad to play tricks.”

"Eunuch Ma is overthinking, Brother Li is not that person."

"Hey, your boy's body hasn't grown yet, can you tell who he is?"

"Uh……"

"Don't talk about others, do you know Wang Cheng'en, the supervisor of ceremonies?"

"Wang Gonggong, that is the celebrity in front of the emperor."

"Hmph, red man? Damn! When we were on errands together, he was called Ma Ge before and after. I was afraid that something good would not call him. Now that the power is strong and the people are awesome, it depends on our family. It's pleasing to the eye, and I keep putting shit pots on our family's head, pushing all the sloppy things here! I won't mention the trivial things about killing chickens and kicking dogs, just talk about our family, when did we receive money from Zhou Shilang? He made such a false accusation because he thinks our family has such a long life! Hmph! Sooner or later he will hold his pigtails, and our family will let him be at ease!"

The little sycophant inside quickly comforted Eunuch Ma with kind words.Sunset outside the window curled her mouth and stuck out her tongue.The anger is big enough, it seems that today is not a good day to eavesdrop.So looking around, there was no one around, and then tiptoed out of the small courtyard with gray walls.

Since then, every now and then, Xizhao always sneaks to Eunuch Ma's place to listen to the movement and find out the news, but every time there is no big gain.Seeing the end of summer and the end of autumn, he has been in the palace for almost a year, and he can only look at the ocean and sigh in front of the red palace wall every day.But Xi Zhao, who was at a loss what to do, would not have thought that in fact, the chance for him to leave the palace would come soon due to the accident caused by Governor Yuan thousands of miles away.