Chongzhen Sunset Song

?one

On the second day, Wu Mengming sent the list of confiscated properties from the Wenfu cellar to the Hall of Martial Arts.Xi Zhao didn't focus on reading the items on the list, but only looked at the file which was longer than Qian Qianyi's 58 indictments, and he knew that the so-called incorruptible and party-free illusion that the emperor could not bear was finally suppressed by Qi Qianyi at this moment. It was scraped and peeled off, leaving no trace.Chongzhen was silent, reading the number of gold and silver treasures one by one for a long time.Xi Zhao didn't know why the emperor spent so much time on the details of the list, but he couldn't imagine how unbearable it would be to hold his mistakes in his hands so nakedly.After Wu Mengming resigned, Chongzhen began to criticize the memorial without getting angry or complaining, and he didn't even say a word.Xizhao was troubled in her heart, and she served Chongzhen more carefully, even changing clothes and eating meals, she never took her eyes off her, and never left a single step.Although the imperial doctor said that yesterday's dizziness was not a serious problem, but Xi Zhao was afraid that the emperor would be so depressed, if he didn't pay attention, his heart would become stagnant, and he would pass.

"Since the imperial doctor said it's all right, you don't have to be so nervous." The next morning, Chongzhen insisted on helping Xizhao get on the dragon chariot, watched Xizhao put down the bead curtain, and said lightly.

"The imperial doctor said that the emperor will be raised for two days, but the emperor only stayed in bed for half a day. There must be no mistakes in the dragon's body, and the villain is also afraid of accidents." Xi Zhao said with a smile.

Seeing Xizhao's words were firm, Chongzhen stopped arguing and let him go.

Huangji Hall is located in the middle of the palace, tall as if supporting the backbone of the palace, and its majesty is three points higher than that of Qianqing Palace.The dragon chariot stopped outside the Huangji Hall, and Xizhao watched the emperor walk up the steps safely and sit on the dragon chair, but still worriedly walked around to the side door closest to the dragon chair, listening carefully to the movement inside.

As an eunuch, Xi Zhao has never stayed in the palace for too long, nor has he carefully observed the overall view of the main hall, but he can only imagine the momentary scene every time he peeps from the side door, if he stands in the Huangji Palace in person, he will What kind of solemn atmosphere pierces the bone marrow.The emperor was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, and he was sitting on a high platform with a bright golden light. The courtiers were covered with black gauze, and the ranks stretched to the outside of the hall.With a loud voice, the lingering lingering sound is like a Zen bell in an ancient temple. All the officials worship together, and the rustling of the sleeves of their robes is like waves crashing on the shore.Every time he looked at this scene, Xi Zhao could not help but be fascinated—his father might have stood somewhere in this lineup back then, carefully answering the emperor's questions, and respectfully listening to the emperor's instructions.And if I follow my father's expectations, maybe one day I will become a member of that black yarn...

But today's Xizhao was not in the mood of fugue at all. Seeing the emperor on the dragon chair who was clearly suppressing his anger and holding back his displeasure, Xizhao was a hundred times more nervous than the courtiers standing under the hall.

Wen Tiren was demoted from office and ransacked his home, Qian Qianyi was released without charge - the events that happened in these two days are naturally known to all.Even if you just know a little bit, smell the tense air in the court hall, and look at the original assistant Zhang Zhifa standing in the position of the first assistant, you can understand that the name Wen Tiren has probably been wiped out from this Huangji Hall. went.The person who originally monopolized the government suddenly fell, what should he do in the future?Everyone lowered their heads, both those who were in the Wen party and those who were not, were secretly calculating their own calculations in their hearts.

"You say that he does not plant party members, but the Wen Party spreads all over the court. You say that he is clean and self-sufficient. The wealth he copied can be said to be incomparable to the country. Concern for the community, but the country's worries have not improved, and the party's fight against dissidents is in full swing." Chongzhen propped his chin with one hand, leaned on the dragon chair, and slowly scanned the officials in the hall, his eyes showing no emotion, "At this point, what do you have to say, what you haven't said, what you want to say, good or bad, you might as well say it today. It will give me a reason to hesitate, to weigh and weigh, should you... You gang of mediocre officials have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

Chongzhen's tone was suddenly sharp, causing an uproar in the hall, all the ministers shouted to the emperor to forgive their sins, and fell to their knees.Chongzhen ignored it, and only opened his mouth slowly when the hall finally became quiet.

"Let's talk." Chongzhen uttered two words, seeing that everyone was pressing their heads and refusing to respond, he raised his hand towards the front row, "Zhang Zhifa, you speak first."

Zhang Zhifa trembled slightly, his eyes were flickering and he dared not look at the emperor. After dawdling for a long time, he finally opened his mouth and said: "Your Majesty has learned from you... Mr. Wen has indeed made many close friends in the court for many years. It's far from that. Chen Luqian has only been a guest of the Wen family for a few months, and he knows so much. This confession is probably a trick of torture, or someone deliberately framed it..."

"Oh?" Chongzhen narrowed his eyes, then looked at the other courtiers, "What Zhang Zhifa said is the truth?"

"Return to Your Majesty." Just as Chongzhen finished speaking, a voice came from the other side of the hall.This person is wearing a crimson shirt with scattered flowers and a honeysuckle belt around his waist. It seems that he should be a third-rank official.I saw him standing upright, arching his hands, with a righteous and dignified face: "Master Zhang's words are wrong. Everyone has good friends. Why does Mr. Du Wen say something about Wen Dang? Everyone in the court knows, Mr. Wen He has always threatened each other with power, and those who obey are promoted and promoted, and those who disobey are relegated to prison. How can this be a normal relationship between friends? There is only one reason Mr. Zhang talks about him like this..." The scarlet robe official smiled coldly , said sharply, "Because you are Wen Tiren's most powerful minion!"

"You...!" Zhang Zhifa's face flushed red, he turned his head and pointed at the scarlet-robed official on the other side, his hands trembling and he couldn't speak.

"Master Chen, I'm afraid you don't have the right to criticize others." Before Chongzhen could speak, another person straightened up a few rows behind Zhang Zhifa and spoke out.After this person threw a word to the official in the scarlet robe, he stopped looking at him and bowed respectfully to Chongzhen, "Your Majesty has learned from you that Chen Tonghe, the servant of the Ministry of officials, took advantage of his power to bribe officials during their inspections. The magistrate Liu Qing Yushi He Maoxing and others were corrupt and dereliction of duty during their tenure, but because of bribing Chen Tonghe, not only were they not punished, they were promoted instead. This matter is related to the court's morals and has a great impact, please investigate it carefully, Your Majesty!"

"Lord Qiu, don't you want to spout blood! He Maoxing just participated in your passive inaction in disaster relief, and you held a grudge and falsely accused him of bribery. What are your intentions!" Chen Tonghe, an official in scarlet robes, scolded with an angry look on his face.

"Whether he really bribed, you know in your heart!"

"Master Chen is an honest and hard-working official. You said he bribed a lot, but there is evidence!" Before Master Qiu finished speaking, another person stood up and scolded.

"The lower officials have heard what Master Qiu said. If there is no such thing, how can it be groundless!"

"Hmph, Master Qiu's failure in disaster relief is well known throughout the court. If Wen Tiren hadn't covered it up for you, your black yarn would have been lost long ago!"

"Hey, Mr. Yang, you still have time to testify against others. Don't think that you don't know how much tax was withheld last month!"

"Full of nonsense! When did Lord Yang withhold tax money, but how much money was deducted by your Ministry of Industry and Taimiao when it was repaired!"

"You, you, you...you, the Wen Party, are working together to protect each other..."

Boom!

Suddenly, there was a loud noise like a landslide in the depths of the hall, and the officials who were arguing in the hall were all cut off.Hearing the movement outside the side door, Xi Zhao was startled, thinking that something had happened to the emperor, he hurriedly opened the door to look, only to see the dragon case lying on its back under the steps, the bright yellow satin tablecloth twisted and hooked on the table legs, Inkstones, pen holders, incense burners, and papers were scattered all over the floor.Chongzhen stood on the high golden platform with carved dragons, gritted his teeth fiercely, with an angry expression on his face, his eyes seemed to burst into flames.The maids and guards all knelt down together, and the courtiers in the hall were too frightened to look up, and the officials who were arguing even fell down on the ground, trembling with their eyes closed, as if there was a guillotine on their necks , The atmosphere did not dare to come out.

"emperor……"

Xizhao tried to call Chongzhen, only to realize that in such a scene, her own throat seemed to be strangled, and she couldn't make a sound.Even though it was early in the morning, the hall was so quiet that it seemed that no one was there.Occasionally, a few untimely bird calls came from outside the hall, which sounded particularly noisy and piercing in the deep silence, making people want to rush out of the hall to drive them all away, as if if the birds were allowed to continue to shrill in their ears, Then something frightening will break through the silent and oppressive air, and suddenly, it will burst out.

Birds don't know people's hearts, and keep calling without understanding, but the unbearable silence in the hall lasted for a long time inexplicably. The fire in his eyes gradually faded away.He sat down slowly, closed his eyes, leaned on the side of the dragon chair, and resumed the usual posture before, and spoke calmly, with an incomparably calm voice.

"Among you, there is one person who will live up to me."

One word, one sentence, not tight, not slow, not high-pitched, not low-pitched, not mixed with joy, not angry, but every word is bitingly cold, making people hear it like a thorn in the back, like a sword piercing the heart.

two

After the imperial court, Chongzhen instructed Jin Yiwei's fellow acquaintance, Wu Mengming, to investigate the events that emerged from the farce in the court hall, as well as many unresolved mysteries one by one.Therefore, during this month, those who demolished officials and those who punished crimes were all severely punished, and no one was lenient.But what is surprising is that the emperor did not mention a word about the remnant Wen party and did not pursue it.Xizhao once asked the reason, and Chongzhen only said lightly that the warmth and benevolence had fallen, and a mess of sand could not make a climate, but Xizhao always felt faintly that the emperor seemed to want to firmly carry on his body the inhuman lessons he had believed in for many years. In his heart, it seems that severely punishing the Wen party is slyly shirking the responsibility he should bear.The Qian Qianyi case was originally a very common case, but inadvertently uncovered the glamorous clothes of the court, revealing a rotten ulcer and malignant sore. This unexpected turn of events made a corner of Chongzhen's heart loose Cracking, splitting, and finally collapsing into ruins when the words came out.Xi Zhao didn't know how to restore this pile of broken rocks and wood to its original appearance; but he knew very well that no matter how loyal he was, it was all due to the efforts of one person, one stone and one tile. How to support the emperor's already broken heart.He could only see the emperor's attitude towards a group of courtiers becoming more and more indifferent, while Wang Zhixin and Wu Mengming visited the Hall of Martial Arts more and more frequently. run away.