Huaibi

In the mid-winter of the 38th year of Hongxuan, the emperor took the throne and was called the Supreme Emperor.

The new emperor ascended the throne, and changed his reign title to Yanshou, implying the meaning of inheriting the great achievements of the emperor's ancestors, extending the well-being, and recreating the great cause.

At the beginning of Emperor Yanshou's ascension to the throne, he pardoned the world, promoted meritorious officials, established good generals, and reorganized the court inside and outside.However, half of the officials in the court have been lost through the chaos of sibling seizures, many titles have been emptied, and there are no talented people to take on important responsibilities.

Emperor Yanshou appointed people on their merits, rather than being mediocre, and would rather keep his official position idle.In addition, the imperial pen personally approved the major reform of the imperial examination system, adding another test before the imperial examination, that is, those who pass the imperial examination need to face the saint twice, one test of scriptures and second test of policy questions, the admission is not limited to the top three, and the official positions given by the middle school Does not fully follow the old system.

It can be said that in ancient times there was adapting measures to local conditions, but today there are adapting measures to individual conditions.

Emperor Yanshou's reform shocked the people and even touched the government and the public. Students from all over the country felt that the time and place were favorable, and they all cherished the time. The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty secretly lamented that it was bold to reform the old and reform. There are even old officials who have gone through two dynasties. Jun, nothing seems to be as eclectic as the new emperor.

I don't know whether this is good or bad, but the spirit of the emperor has indeed suppressed all the ministers here.

In the twelfth lunar month of winter, the palace servants were wrapped in short jackets with thick collars and velvet, and red lanterns were hung on the poles along the corridor, ushering in the Spring Festival that lasted for one year.

Ping Huaizhen walked out from the Shou Palace, and unfortunately bumped into a palace man who was trotting with a lantern in his arms, so startled that the palace man let out a low cry, and forgot to hold the lantern steady, let it roll away glowing red, knelt down and begged for mercy: " The servant deserves to die, he offended the holy car, please forgive the emperor, please forgive the emperor..."

"Let's get up," Ping Huaizhen didn't look down at him, but listened intently to the movement in the hall behind him, and felt that the Supreme Emperor was not disturbed, so he opened his mouth to avoid his fault, "The Supreme Emperor is sick, and we will cut him off in front of the Palace of Harmony and Longevity. Don't be rash."

"Yes, slave, remember."

The lantern rolled down the steps, and Ping Huai walked past the fire-like ball without squinting, whispering unintentionally: "It has been closed in recent years."

Although he was talking to himself, Jiang Chang, who was following behind, replied: "Yes, it will be New Year's Eve in less than half a decade." As he spoke, he remembered the conversation between the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor a moment ago, which meant that Ping Huaizhen's filial piety period will However, I'm afraid that in the beginning of spring, they should get married and be drafted into the palace.

Jiang Chang didn't dare to talk too much about this matter, after watching Ping Huaizhen for thirty years, he could tell at a glance when he was happy and when he was unhappy, knowing that his heart was clouded at the moment, so he just mumbled after the half-answer Walk with him, and accompany him not knowing where to go.

Li Qingjue hadn't been seen in the palace for a long time.

On that day, Ping Huaizhen appointed an official Renxian, and seeing that there was a vacancy in the Ministry of Industry, he appointed Li Qingjue as the Minister of Industry, and since that day, Li Qingjue has not entered the palace.Except for a few insiders in the court, none of them knew the word "Li Qingjue". It was vaguely found that he was born in the camp of Yuan generals, and because he had not joined the court for a long time, he was too arrogant, so it was inevitable to secretly care about him. Relatives.

Li Qingjue didn't hear anything and wasn't bothered, he stayed at the house of his nephew outside Beijing, letting the rumors grow more and more exaggerated.Ping Huai was annoyed for several days, finally he was busy for a long time, and he spared no time to go out of the palace to look for him.

Jiang often goes out of the palace with the emperor, although he can't make a big fanfare, but he has lost the cautiousness he used to have. He no longer has to be wary of where people's eyes are hidden.

The elm trees in the courtyard were bare and all their leaves had fallen, and it was getting colder in winter. Li Qingjue picked up a stool and sat under the eaves, looking up at the branches, distracted, and turned his eyes to the approaching sound of horseshoes and ruts, feeling somewhat absent-minded at that moment Looking at Ping Huaizhen walking out of the car, it seems to be the same as before, but it seems to be very different.

Before he could get up, the nephew from the room had already heard the sound, the sixteen boy still didn't know Ping Huaizhen's identity, and he called "Uncle Lang" to welcome him with a smile on his face.

"Long time no see Uncle Lang."

"Recently I've been busy," Ping Huaizhen explained with a smile, seeing that the young man was more upright and handsome than before, he was relieved and said, "Rui Ning has grown taller."

"When will I be as tall as Uncle Lang?" Li Ruining invited him into the house to rest. It was cold and dry, and he poured some hot tea for him to warm up and moisten his mouth. Mother has gone to Beijing, only my uncle and I are here..."

Ping Huaizhen responded to him from time to time, walked in with his pace, and stopped beside Li Qingjue before entering the house.Li Ruining went to warm up the tea, Ping Huaizhen leaned half a step closer to grab Li Qingjue's hand hidden in his sleeve, and said in a distressed voice, "It's so cold, yet I'm still sitting outside."

The words were ordinary, as if the matter of being unemployed was in the middle.

Li Qingjue didn't answer, and didn't wave his hand to leave. After a while, he said slowly: "Chen..."

At this point, Ping Huaizhen suddenly interrupted him, and without evasion brought up something that made him resist: "Since you are a minister, why don't you want to be a minister?"

Li Qingjue was silent and speechless, Ping Huaizhen softened his tone when he had nothing to refute, tightened his hands and said: "Qingjue, you have loved to be my vassal since childhood, whether I am the prince or the emperor, I can't miss you by my side."

Li Qingjue finally looked into his eyes when he heard the words, and suppressed his anger: "Then how do you want me to be a minister? That is the place where my father once stood on the high ground, and it is also the place where he was imprisoned... I am a minister because I need help in life You protect you, I was ignorant when I was young, I only knew this as my ambition, and later when something happened to the He family, I took this as my life. Pinghuaizhen, the emperor's road is difficult and dangerous, and now you are the king, no one is more gratified than me... The emperor is incomparable , The Empress Dowager Zhaoxian is incomparable, and the concubine is also incomparable. Only I am the happiest, the happiest, but also the most sad. I have been a minister all my life, but it is difficult to step into that palace."

After listening to his long sentences, Ping Huaizhen felt emotional and blamed himself.In the past, it was not easy to hear him express his sincerity, and he thought he was considerate enough, but today he told him frankly, that he realized many shortcomings, and even more knew Li Qingjuan's pain, no one could express his empathy.

Just as he was about to apologize to him, Li Qingjue's expression paused, and embarrassment appeared in his eyes.

Ping Huaizhen followed his gaze and looked back, it was Rui Ning standing by the door with tea in his hands, what he said just now, Xu Shi heard every word in his ears.

For a moment, it was as quiet as a night, Li Qingjue pulled his hand away from Ping Huaizhen's palm, and wanted to take half a step back, but he almost tripped over the low stool beside his feet.Ping Huaizhen stretched out his arms to help, and Rui Ning also rushed out of the house, and the tea in his hand was not so good that the hem of the clothes of the three of them was soaked sporadically.

Li Qingjue closed his eyes, feeling absurd in his heart, and when he opened them again, his eyes were slightly red.

Li Ruining was full of doubts and thoughts without asking, the three of them didn't say a word that day, he held the cup and watched Ping Huaizhen's carriage go away, the remaining tea at the bottom of the cup was quickly soaked by the winter cold.

It was not until late at night that Li Ruining knocked on the door of the side room.

Li Qingjue couldn't sleep all night, and got up wearing a thick robe.The boy outside the house was so cold that his neck shrank slightly, and he exhaled warm smoke from his mouth, and the moon just fell on his shoulders, entangled with the smoke.

The young man still laughed at him in a low voice, and instead of being formal with him, he hid in the room fearing the cold and said: "It's really because I have doubts in my heart that I can't sleep because I harass my uncle late at night."

"Rui Ning wants to ask today, uncle will not hide it from you." Li Qingjue knew that he would ask sooner or later, but he didn't want to wait even tonight, so he replied in relief, "You are curious about who your Uncle Lang is?"

After the words fell, he shook his head.

"I don't doubt who Uncle Lang is. There is no other person in the world who makes people bow their heads." Li Ruining smiled slightly, and said softly but firmly, "Uncle, Ruining wants to ask you today. The meaning of those four words..."

Li Qingjue felt hesitant, frowned and stared at the expression on his face, and finally heard the four words fall into his ears:

"'The He family is wrecked'."