Survival countdown

The prison stopped, three hundred officials were acquitted, and more than 2000 people were killed. It is a good thing to sing praises. However, Huo Jingtang and Zhao Baiyu have hidden their merits and fame. Donate some sesame oil money to the temple.

Zhao Baiyu: "There are endless ways to get money from Baohua Temple, and there is no shortage of our sesame oil money... How many long-burning lamps have you offered there?"

Huo Jingtang: "There should be three thousand lamps."

Zhao Baiyu: "Instead of donating sesame oil money, it is better to spend the money on the daily care and maintenance of the long-burning lamps. I told the monks in Baohua Temple to pay more attention... In addition, we now have two Zhuangzi who housed veterans and orphans on the outskirts of the city. With the size of a small village, Aunt Xiu advocated that the two villages should be interconnected and hire veterans to protect the orphans. If the restaurants and silk shops in the mansion need guards, veterans can also be given priority, which is a mutually beneficial solution.”

Huo Jingtang Zhiyi looked at Zhao Baiyu's serious side face, nodding his head from time to time to express his agreement: "It's up to you to decide."

Uncle Hai, who was supervising Adjutant Cui sweeping the snow in the courtyard, and the mother in the mansion took a peek at the situation in the room, and couldn't help but smile at each other: "Auntie, do you think the little county king and Mr. Zhao look like some of the people in the Duke's mansion?" The relationship between the uncle and the wives?"

"Like."

Nanny is a servant sent by Cui Guogong's mansion to take care of the affairs of the county prince's mansion, watching Huo Jingtang's biological mother grow up, she has a special affection.

She laughed and said: "The few gentlemen in the Duke's mansion are like the Duke of the country. They let their wives make decisions on small matters, and discuss with their wives on major matters. So you see, there is no one in the capital who has a back house like the Duke of the country." The mansion is so quiet and beautiful. The king of Xiaojun is also a son of our Duke's mansion, and he has some advantages in his bones."

As soon as the words fell, they heard a ghostly cry of "Yohe". The two looked up and saw the big and small Adjutant Cui running wildly in the snow with a broom, so that the ground that was originally swept was covered with dirty snow.

"..."

Mammy couldn't help but say: "Good things come out bad, there are exceptions to everything."

***

It has been snowing heavily for several days in a row in Kyoto Prefecture, and it finally cleared up at the end of the new year. Small stalls and restaurants in the streets and alleys have opened up one after another, and there are frequent means of attracting customers. The smell of scalding fresh mutton wafts from the restaurant, and it never stops from morning to night.

The closer the New Year is, the stronger the flavor of the New Year inside and outside of Kyoto Prefecture will be.

The Prince's Mansion of Lin'an County purchased everything from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival in advance, and took advantage of the fine weather to sweep up and down the Prince's Mansion, and also re-counted hidden places such as treasury and library. Uncle Hai wanted to hand over the account book to Zhao Baiyu, but Zhao Baiyu did not Excuse me on the grounds of being busy.

God knows his appointment hasn't been scheduled yet.

Zhao Baiyu went back to the Ministry of Officials to report on his work. Emperor Yuanshou asked him a few words, but he did not arrange for his next post. The Ministry of Officials was uncertain and worried for a long time.

***

At this time, the official department.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was so worried that his hair was about to fall out. His immediate superior, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, passed by and asked curiously, "What are you worried about?"

"This year, officials, large and small, from all over the country came to the Ministry of Officials to report on their duties when their term of office was up. Basically, they arranged for the dispatch of official positions before the end of the year. They should be promoted or demoted, but this envoy who went to Huainan Zhao Baiyu, I really don't know how to arrange it."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials had a sad face: "You said that Zhao Baiyu was a seventh-rank official who could step on anyone half a year ago, and suddenly he showed his face in front of His Majesty, surpassing the first-rank officials of the three divisions and two mansions to get a Huainan The errand of the envoy... the errand was indeed well done. We all know that Zhao Baiyu started the Huainan case, but on the surface—he just left out the political achievements he handed in, and the Holy One doesn't care about it. One word, and no follow-up rhetoric, so I'm not sure about his attitude. If you say that he has done a good job as an envoy, he can get a fourth- and fifth-rank Beijing official no matter what, but he is not a Jinshi, and he was a seventh-rank before. Small official, the papers he handed in show his political achievements are quite satisfactory, if he is promoted to four or five ranks in a row...won't all civil and military officials change their colors in an uproar?"

"It's only after 20 years of hard work that others have the chance to become an official. It takes three to five years of hard work to be promoted one or two levels. It's really not appropriate to directly mention three or five levels. An official of the fifth rank?"

"It's not suitable. There are a few sixth-rank county magistrates and fifth-rank magistrates, but they are all released officials. My lord, don't forget that Zhao Baiyu is still the princess of the county. How can you release people outside without knowing?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was stunned: "That's true. Is there really no suitable vacancy in Beijing?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials hesitated: "There is a vacancy in the mansion for the tax envoy from Wupindu, who is in charge of water transportation..."

"No!" The Minister of the Ministry of Officials categorically vetoed: "The vacancy of the tax envoy of the capital business has traditionally been held concurrently by the second and third rank officials of the court. In recent decades, it has been controlled by the third division. , but no one can get it except the third division. Zhao Baiyu has no family and no party, how can He De get such a fat job? If he is assigned rashly, he will not only become enemies with the third division."

Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "So humble and embarrassed, I don't know how to arrange Zhao Baiyu's errand."

Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "I see that Feng Chunshan's position as the prefect of the Kyoto Prefecture is not stable, and he can't say when it will be vacant. It just happens to arrange for Zhao Baiyu to fill the vacancy."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was surprised: "For Zhao Baiyu, the prefect of the fifth rank is not promoted to three levels in a row?"

Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "So you can find out if there are any official positions around the sixth rank and with a lot of turnover, so that Zhao Baiyu can be transferred to fill the vacancy at any time."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials thought about it for a while, and felt that this method was feasible, and he couldn't help sighing: "At least half a year ago, how could you and I think that today, we would think twice and think about arranging for the vacancy of an inconspicuous seventh-rank official? ?”

Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "The world is impermanent, and officialdom is more unpredictable than life."

When they were sighing with each other, someone came to visit, but it was the little yellow gate from the East Palace.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials said politely: "My father-in-law is here, but is there an order from the East Palace?"

Xiao Huangmen clasped his hands and said: "There are a lot of things this year, and there have been two big prisons in succession. Although the Huainan prison was stopped in time, there are still many vacancies, and there is a shortage of manpower. In addition, the year is approaching, and the Ministry of Officials will select officials from all over the country. I'm afraid I'm busy with official duties, and I don't have time to arrange the vacancies of the Criminal Department and the Household Department."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials hurriedly replied: "I also ask the father-in-law to pass the message on your behalf. The Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Households are important departments of the court. I know that there should be no delay. I have already arranged for highly capable officials to take office."

Xiao Huangmen: "His Royal Highness has no other intentions, just to care... By the way, what new mission did the little imperial envoy who came back from Huainan give?"

"Zhao Baiyu?" The Minister of the Ministry of Officials wondered why Donggong cared about Zhao Baiyu, and replied truthfully: "Your Majesty has no will, and I dare not arrange it without authorization."

"Not yet? Good thing." Facing the incomprehensible eyes of the Minister of the Ministry of Officials and the servant, Xiao Huangmen pointed out: "The East Palace is thirsty for talents, and the little imperial envoy is capable, so why not go to the gate of the East Palace to show off his ambitions?"

The East Palace meant to recruit Zhao Baiyu.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials understood it, and said to Xiao Huangmen: "Please pass on the message for your father-in-law. I understand the meaning of the East Palace."

"It's good that my lord understands." Xiao Huangmen smiled from ear to ear: "There are many people in the East Palace, so I won't say more, I will leave first."

After sending Xiao Huangmen away, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials and the Minister of the Ministry of Officials breathed a sigh of relief, and their mood was clear. The East Palace wanted Zhao Baiyu, which would solve their problem.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they sat down, Du Gongxian, the envoy of Duzhi of the third division, came to their official department.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was deeply confused, except when asking for money to write off the account, they walked around each other, and at other times basically took a detour——

Of course, when the officials asked for money, Du Gong walked around them first.When the third secretary asked for money, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials avoided them.

There is not much tacit understanding between the two departments.

Du Gong smiled all over his face first, and said politely, "Brother Nian, how are you?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was nervous, and turned his head with some fear, thinking that this year's accounts should all be settled with the third division, so what name does Du Gongxian want to get money from the Ministry of Officials?

The Ministry of Officials is the oil and water department, which is known to all officials.

Everyone in the world knows that being an official can earn money, but they don't know that being an official costs money.

The "Qing" in "Three-year Qing Zhifu, [-] snowflake silver" is really poor and white, because the magistrate has to spend money to move around if he wants to become an official again after his term of office expires. Half of it fell into the pocket of the official department.

The money is sufficient and the relationship is opened up. The official department will naturally arrange for ample money and vacancies, so the official department has money.

When the third division is short of money, he likes to pluck the wool of the officials, and the minister of the official department is most afraid of a few smiling tigers from the third division.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "What is the reason for Duzhi's visit?"

Du Gong first ignored the official minister's bad face, and said with a smile: "There is no one else, I came here for one person."

"Oh? The selection of officials from all over the country is inspected and selected by the Ministry of Officials. The final decision on the official position depends on His Majesty's will. If Duzhi is running around to gain access to the back door for others, please leave. For the sake of being an official in the same dynasty, I will Just as if today’s events hadn’t happened.”

Du Gongxian: "It's not about seeking connections for others, but I want to go to the third division alone...ah, it would be great if I work under my sect." He took the arm of the Minister of the Ministry of Officials and spoke in the corner: " If you ask Brother Nian to make arrangements, the Ministry of Officials will reimburse the account in the coming year, and I will do my best to wipe it out."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials made an inch of progress: "Can the money that the third division made cleverly from the Ministry of Officials—"

"That can't be."

"..."

Seeing Du Gongxian's shameless refusal, Minister of the Ministry of Officials was in a bad mood: "Since that's the case, don't talk about trivial matters."

"Really? If I remember correctly, the accounts of the official department have been piled up for two or three years, and there are funds for officials to take office—" Du Gong patted his colleague's arm first, and said earnestly: "Brother Nian, why bother with Yin Zi?" make life difficult for?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials twitched his cheeks, gritted his teeth and asked, "Who are you here for?"

Du Gongxian said bluntly, "Zhao Baiyu."

"Why is it him again?"

"again?"

"The people from the Eastern Palace just left."

Some of the capable subordinates he liked were eager to explain his good vision. Du Gong didn't feel the slightest sense of nervousness, and he still used the meaningful old saying: "No one has trouble with Yinzi."

No matter how prosperous the East Palace is, it is not as good as the accounts that the official department has piled up for three years and has not been written off.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was really moved. Anyway, he didn't stand in line, so it didn't matter if he offended Donggong.

"It's hard to say, it's hard for me to decide."

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials responded very vaguely, neither agreed nor denied. For Du Gongxian, he had a [-]% chance of winning.

Du Gong is not in a hurry: "The new year is approaching, and I will have a nine-day vacation. I have plenty of time to think about it. But how to arrange Zhao Baiyu's official position, it must be a headache to ask Brother Nian. I have a vacancy for managing the canal here... If you also think it is suitable to ask Brother Nian, I will recommend it to His Majesty in a booklet later."

The lack of canals... Could it be that the five ranks are merchants and tax envoys?

With Du Gongxian's recommendation, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials will not worry about the court officials' doubts, and can solve the problem of how to arrange Zhao Baiyu. It's really hard not to be tempted!

Du Gong first stated his intention to come, so he didn’t stay any longer. The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was still in a dilemma. department.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials was dumbfounded, and before he could respond, Fan Wenming left in a hurry.

In the afternoon, Yantie Envoy Li Yanqi and the Deputy Envoy of the Ministry of Household Affairs came to the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs quietly. An expression of satisfaction or lack of interest.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials immediately felt blessed, and asked bluntly if they came for Zhao Baiyu. After getting an affirmative answer, his expression was as numb as his heart.

Before today, I didn't know how to solve the problem of Zhao Baiyu's employment. I was worried that I would be criticized if I gave too good a job, so I racked my brains to find a decent official position for Zhao Baiyu.

After today, where Zhao Baiyu will take up his post is still a hot issue.

The Minister of the Ministry of Officials, who tortured himself for two days, chose to throw the question to Emperor Yuanshou, and truthfully reported that many people from the three divisions, two governments and six departments came to beg Zhao Baiyu, but he couldn't make a choice, so he left it to His Majesty to decide.

At that time, there was a stack of memorials piled up in front of Emperor Yuanshou's case, and nearly half of the papers mentioned that there was a vacancy in his department. To be tactful, he first praised Zhao Baiyu and then turned around to hint at his intentions. So he brazenly made a request, saying that he wanted someone.

Emperor Yuanshou felt a headache, and postponed the matter until after the new year on the grounds that the year was approaching and having fun with the people, so that Zhao Baiyu stayed at home until the end of the Shangyuan Festival.

***

The day before New Year's Eve, there was a sudden blizzard, and the streets and alleys were full of people. The shops and shops were closed but swept away. Only Huajie, Liuxiang and restaurants were still open to welcome customers.

At just the right time, a handsome BMW from the Western Regions galloped across the street, and snowflakes splashed everywhere where the horse's hooves passed.The horse's reins were tightened suddenly, its front hooves were raised high, and it neighed towards the sky. It stopped at the gate of the prison in Dali Temple, and immediately came down a stern man wearing a leather cloak and a black robe with wide sleeves.

He hurriedly walked, lit up the waist card in his hand, and stepped into the gate of the sky prison, without stopping all the way, until he went down to the door of the cell where the heavy prisoners were held in the deepest part of the seventh floor of the sky prison.

The jailer who always followed behind opened the cell door, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, please, according to the rules, there are two sticks of incense to stay."

The torch was lit, illuminating the dark dungeon and the face of the heavy prisoner King Jing.

Prince Jing sneered: "Why, come to kill your father?"

Huo Jingtang was quite at ease, and took out his biological mother's coffin from his bosom, and looked down at Prince Jing condescendingly: "Take my mother to see what will happen to you when you are about to be beaten by three thousand knives."

Prince Jing stared at the tablet in Huo Jingtang's hand, the flesh on his cheeks trembling: "Isn't her tablet in the palace?"

Huo Jingtang: "Mother likes the Northwest, likes freedom."

Prince Jing was stunned: "She wasn't buried in the imperial mausoleum? Fifth brother is willing?" Then he dismissed: "Pretending! It's time to get out, do you want to watch the execution? Or do you want to carry out the execution yourself?"

Huo Jingtang stared at him coldly, didn't say anything, let alone reminiscing about the past and family relationship, he moved his feet and prepared to leave when his goal was achieved.

"Wait." Prince Jing called him, eyes bloodshot: "Leave Ru Niang's spiritual seat, let her watch me die! If she has a spirit in heaven, let her relieve her hatred and anger."

Huo Jingtang asked back: "Then the grievances and grievances in this life will be wiped out, and the next life will continue to harm her?" He raised the corners of his lips, and his glazed eyes were indifferent: "When my mother went to save His Majesty, she wrote a letter and sewed it on my swaddle. In the mezzanine, she said that she never hated you. Do you know? Father, my mother doesn't have you in her heart, neither love nor hate."

King Jing was shocked, and rushed forward unexpectedly, trying to snatch the tablet from Huo Jingtang's hand, but he was firmly hooked by the iron chain embedded in the lute bone, with disheveled hair and blood all over his body, and he looked like "Ru Niang" in his mouth How crazy and embarrassing.

Huo Jingtang was puzzled, Prince Jing seemed to be deeply in love with his mother, why did he find out that the person wearing His Majesty's clothes was his mother, and ordered a thousand arrows to be fired to make her die without a whole body?

While talking about love, Huo Jingtang could only feel that this kind of love was bitingly cold while hurting her badly.

King Jing's execution date was just before New Year's Eve. Huo Jingtang rushed to wipe out the shadow brought by Prince Jing's so-called love in his heart before New Year's Eve, and rode back to the county palace before the blizzard became more violent.

As soon as he entered the warm little hall, Huo Jingtang found that the inside and outside of the house were pasted with exquisite window grilles and peach charms, the bottle was replaced with bright red plums, the antique soup on the table was steaming, and the stocky black cats were clustered around the window. Looking at the snow scene on the table, Zhao Baiyu was lying on his side on the couch, holding a book of folk tales in his hand, and was fascinated by it. Next to him was a lacquered gold box, which was full of candied fruit and dried pastries.

The couch was placed by the window, the window was opened a crack, the wind and snow and the petals of the red plum outside the courtyard fell to the eaves, Huo Jingtang went over to put the window down, took off his shoes and squeezed onto the couch.

While staring at the script, Zhao Baiyu pulled the fox fur cover over Huo Jingtang's body, hissed his hand and quickly withdrew it: "It's windy and snowy outside, where did you go?"

Huo Jingtang's tall body curled up on the couch, buried his face in Zhao Baiyu's abdomen, restlessly touched Zhao Baiyu's loose clothes with his right hand, the cold touch made Zhao Baiyu's abdomen rise up in an instant Large flakes and small particles.

Zhao Baiyu was short of breath: "Don't make trouble, it's cooking in the pot...waiting for you to eat together."

Huo Jingtang ignored it, and got into the fox fur, Zhao Baiyu couldn't put it down, and Ben fell to the side of the couch with a thud.

Bubbles came out of the antique soup, and the heat filled the air. Ghosts cried and howled in the wind and snow. A hand with strong knuckles protruded from the arched fox fur to clamp Zhao Baiyu's neck, and suddenly pulled him in.

"Meow!"

Xuanmao was startled when he heard the strange noise, and woke up suddenly. Looking at the source of the sound, he found that the snow-white fox fur on the couch was round and round, and a hand with good bones and flesh stretched out from it, grabbing the edge of the fox fur, The pads of the fingers turned white, but the rest of the place was crimson, spreading to the wide cuffs.

The window slammed, and the sound of howling wind and snow spread into the house. Xuan Mao found the source of the sound and continued to sleep peacefully.

After a long time, the maid brought clean warm water, disposed of the antique soup that had been burnt out and extinguished, and replaced it with a new one.Through a beaded emerald curtain, people outside came in and out. They didn't dare to look sideways at the inner room, but they could vaguely see the always lazy and indifferent little county king reaching into the fox fur with a wrung wet towel, as if he was wiping something. Leaning over and whispering, as if coaxing people.

But there was a person buried in the fox fur, holding on to the edge of the fox fur and refusing to see anyone.

The windows were wide open, the wind and snow turned into a breeze, and the cold air of red plums and wind and snow filled the inner room, and no one could smell the strange smell.

After everyone had left and wiped his body clean, Huo Jingtang coaxed him left and right, trying to coax his shameless little husband out of his fox fur.

"No one found out that there was a problem, even if they knew about it, they didn't dare to comment."

Zhao Baiyu kicked Huo Jingtang's calf hard: "Are you annoying!"

Huo Jingtang: "Okay, okay, I'll shut up, do you need me to carry you to the table?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Get lost."

Huo Jingtang is easy to talk when he is full of food and drink, he will do whatever Zhao Baiyu asks him to do, serving people at the table to eat, he is extremely attentive.

Zhao Baiyu touched his stomach unconsciously, it was still sore, and the feeling was still there, even if he had to look at Huo Jingtang one more time, he would tremble reflexively. : "Tomorrow's New Year's Eve, there are a lot of things to do, and we can't mess around at night."

Huo Jingtang has a good temper in everything: "You should listen to Xiao Lang."

Zhao Baiyu's throat was a little hoarse, he was half full after eating, and his body had recovered a bit, so he talked to him about business: "I remember that every New Year's Eve, there is a banquet held in the palace, and the four seas come to court, and all directions come to congratulate?"

Huo Jingtang said concisely: "It's the court meeting."

Zhao Baiyu: "I have to go too?"

Huo Jingtang: "Well, don't worry, the civil and military officials will also bring their families along. Tomorrow, when Shen Shi will arrive at a quarter of the unitary hour, the banquet will be over at sunset. There will be an exorcism ceremony led by the royal family. All officials will wear masks, or pretend to be Zhong Kui's kitchen god. Going out of the imperial palace on the royal street, you can walk around the capital city, which means having fun with the people."

It is a bit similar to the modern Halloween, but it is older and more lively. It was a serious and terrifying exorcism ceremony in the previous dynasty. With the development of the times, it has become an entertainment activity in this dynasty. The royal family sent a professional exorcism team. Various difficult and wonderful performances are held in Kyoto Prefecture. During the period, people will spontaneously participate in it to pray for no ghosts and gods in the coming year. It is a very lively and interesting New Year activity.

Zhao Baiyu used to play the role of Zhong Kui's door god with Yanbing, Xiumai and others every Spring Festival and mix in the crowd until the early morning before returning home to watch the new year.

And this year, he has already married and established a business, and he will spend the first New Year's Eve with Huo Jingtang together, and also participate in the banquet in the palace. To be honest, he is quite excited.

Of course, no matter what age, no matter who you are with, as soon as the new year comes, you will naturally be excited.

Although Zhao Baiyu warned Huo Jingtang not to make trouble tonight, he failed to go to bed early, turned on the lights in the small hall, and called Yan Bing and others to play horse hanging, dice or other gambling games together, beating all over the house Invincible up and down.

In the end, everyone refused Zhao Baiyu to participate in the gambling game.

Zhao Baiyu returned to the cave in a resentment, side by side with Huo Jingtang who had been excluded from the gambling game at the beginning, continued to indulge in the storybook while biting the candied fruit, and exchanged with Huo Jingtang after reading it.

As night fell, everyone dispersed, and the small flower hall returned to silence, only the candles were still lit, Zhao Baiyu was already so tired that he fell into a deep sleep.

Huo Jingtang picked up Zhao Baiyu and went back to the inner room. When he closed the window and turned off the lights, he suddenly glanced at the location of the sky prison in Dali Temple, then turned off the lights and put down the bed curtain. In his arms, he habitually touched his cheek and rubbed it, like a relative's cat.

Huo Jingtang hugged Zhao Baiyu tightly, taking a deep breath of the gentle and peaceful breath from Zhao Baiyu, his cold and irritable mood subdued instantly.