On the day of the order, Jinyiwei sent people south to Huguang and Guixi, under the planning of Yan Houzhao, Huguang Xuezheng Li Pei was arrested by Jinyiwei and brought back to Zhaojiao, among which all those who handled the sale and proofreading of this book and periodical, whether it was officials or ordinary people, were hanged or exiled with a cane.

The courtiers who heard about this all smelled an ominous breath, and they knew very well that once the son of heaven was a courtier, and now that the cabinet has left Zhang Huaizong and Yan Weizhang has come, where is the new chief assistant willing to use a bunch of old people.

Even in order to avoid the outlet, the officials who said they were sick and recuperated at home, and did not even dare to go out, as long as they were Zhang Huaizong's disciples, they were all invited into Zhao Prison by Jinyiwei.

When Jinyiwei was about to arrive in Guixi, the person who went to report the news had already arrived one step ahead, and at this time, Zhang Huaizong was wearing a regular suit, draped in a thick mink rat, sitting there indifferently, wearing a bamboo bucket hat with gray hair, a small Xiaoice mouth was carved out of the pond, a fishing line was hung in it, Zhang Huaizong pinched the fishing rod, and waited quietly.

After a while, a servant came over, cautiously, for fear of startling the fish under the water, and said, "Master, someone has come to the capital." ”

The originally groggy eyelids moved slightly, and Zhang Huaizong moved the corners of his lips as if he was asleep: "Let him come over." ”

The servant walked down when he heard the sound, and after a while, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps, and when he got closer, Zhang Huaizong said indifferently: "You go down." ”

The servant walked down knowingly, and the person who came immediately stepped forward and said anxiously: "Elder Ge, a few days ago, Yan Houzhao reported that there are many great rebellious words in the concentration of water from Huguang Xuezheng, Master Li has been executed, and many of his family have been exiled and hanged, and no one who handles this book has been spared, and now Jinyiwei has come to Elder Ge. ”

Zhang Huaizong's wrinkled hand like an old tree trembled slightly, and the fishing rod under his hand couldn't help but move, and the fish that had already surfaced on the water, and was tentatively preparing to eat fish food was so startled that his tail swung his tail, and when he landed, he abandoned the deadly food to his mouth and hid under the water, leaving only a slight residual ripple.

"It's good to go, you can save your life if you go. ”

Zhang Huaizong looked at the ice mouth, and the aging and relieved voice sounded, and the person who came immediately said anxiously: "Elder Ge-"

The corners of Zhang Huaizong's lips flashed with a cold and helpless smile, he slowly put away the fishing rod in his hand, bent down little by little, lifted the bucket containing the fish, got up tremblingly and walked to the edge of the pond, and then squatted down with a slow bow, and poured the water and fish in the bucket clean with a backhand.

"Got it, you go. ”

The barrel returned to the ground, the old man's tired wheezing sounded, this physical work was also extremely tired in front of an old man in his sixties, Zhang Huaizong held his knees for a long time, and under the incomprehensible eyes of the comer, he gradually smiled and put his hands behind his back, looked at the frozen pool and said: "The king wants the minister to die, and the minister has to die." This life can't be avoided, and what can I fear when I live to this age. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Huaizong turned his head to the side and asked, "How are Shaoting and Wen Jing." (Note: Wenjing is Tan Wuzhen's small character.) ）

When the person heard this, he immediately replied: "Gu Ge Lao had some hidden worries after the old man left, so he took advantage of the autumn flood of the Huai River to recommend Tan Ge Lao to go south to control the water in person, and now Tan Ge Lao has made meritorious contributions to water control, I heard that even the saint also said that there is only one Tan Wenjing who can control the water in Daxing, although the Yan father and son want to involve Tan Ge Lao, His Majesty also responded, so he approved the expulsion of Tan Ge Lao from the cabinet and demoted to the Nanjing Ministry of Industry Lang, as for Gu Ge Lao, Yan has not moved. ”

"Good, good. ”

Zhang Huaizong nodded again and again when he heard this, as long as Tan Wuzhen is saved, Shaoting really lives up to his trust.

"So I'm relieved. ”

Zhang Huaizong said as he turned to walk towards the man, and when he rubbed shoulders, Zhang Huaizong paused silently, and finally said in a low voice: "Tell Shaoting, don't intercede for me, my old life is not worth their rescue, I was afraid that it would be impossible to drink with him again, let him pour the wine on the ground when he comes to the world of peach and plum in the future, and I will be able to look at it." ”

The goose-featherlike snow fell one after another, confusing everything in front of him, the whirring cold wind carried the cold air of the frozen pond even more chillingly, and the old man's twilight and regretless voice dissipated lightly in the cold air, making it difficult to hide the sadness.

"Pavilion Elder—"

The man choked up, but Zhang Huaizong waved his hand and gradually walked away.

Under the vast snow, the back of the trembling and trembling back and bowing down is like a gradually falling sunset, which makes people feel infinite sadness.

When it was time for dinner, all the juniors of Zhang's house were gathered in one room, Zhang Huaizong looked at the faces full of new students in front of him, both relieved and sad, the family was rare to sit at the same table like ordinary people's homes, talking and laughing.

The corners of Zhang Huaizong's lips and eyes are full of smiles, and it is clearly a scene of family happiness among the crowd, but only by looking carefully through the lights, you can see the sadness and choking in everyone's smiling eyes, which is both lively and sour.

Until nightfall, Zhang Huaizong, who was wearing bedclothes, and his wife Jin sat quietly in the house, listening to the sound of falling snow outside the window.

"Over the years, I have been busy with government affairs, sometimes I don't return home for several months, sometimes I simply live in the cabinet, and the matter of raising children and grandchildren falls on you alone, and it is hard for you. ”

The old Jin sat there steadily, looking down at the hand that had come up, and the tears that were originally wrapped in her eyes surged slightly, but she was suppressed by her.

"With you in this life, I have never felt hard, no matter how bitter it is, it is also sweet. ”

Hearing this, the corners of Zhang Huaizong's eyes moved slightly, the wrinkles seemed to be a little deeper, and feeling the heat in his eyes, Zhang Huaizong suddenly reluctantly held Jin's hand tightly.

Jin felt the friendship of her husband, and after 20 years, that friendship surpassed that of husband and wife, crossed family affection, and penetrated each other into the blood and bones, and it was long inseparable.

"I was not born with you on the same day, and it is the best luck in my life to be able to go with you today. ”

A tear slipped silently from Zhang Huaizong's aging face, the man didn't flick his tears, and it was enough to get a tear from her husband for her in this life.

"Let's go. ”

As if comforting, and like a kind of relief, Jin gently covered his right hand and held the back of Zhang Huaizong's hand.

After a long time, the old man's trembling but regretless voice sounded in the room.

"Good. ”

As soon as the words fell, the left hand that had been holding the candlestick was thrown lightly, and the candlestick with the candlestick fell right on the veil, and the sound of the flame burning gradually sounded faintly, and the delicate veil was burned out of a hole, spreading at a rapid speed, gradually turning black and burning into ashes.

Feeling the heat gradually baking in the room, Zhang Huaizong and Jin Shi, who were sitting there, seemed to give each other courage, holding each other's hands tightly, motionless, waiting for this last moment of relief.

……

When the plainclothes Han Zhen arrived with the brocade guard, he saw such a scene, the charred house had been extinguished by water, mixed with the smell of dampness, and it rushed into his nose. Everyone in Zhang's house knelt in front of the burned ruins, bowing their heads and sobbing, or howling and crying.

Han Zhen's cold eyes became complicated and struggling at this moment, and finally unfolded the holy decree drafted by the cabinet (in fact, it was the Yan family's father and son) in his sleeve, and calmly read out every word on it.

The moment he finished reading, the house was once again plunged into a noise of another kind of fear, and as a messenger who carried out the holy decree, he could do nothing but stand quietly in front of the pile of ruins, silent.

Gradually, the voice became more and more noisy and chaotic, and at this moment, the sound of a young girl struggling and resisting to death caused Han Zhen to move slightly, and finally turned his head. Seeing the girl who was forcibly dragged out and unwilling to submit even if she was embarrassed, Han Zhen finally spoke up.

"What?"

As soon as the words fell, Jinyiwei, who was the commander, hurriedly ran over and said, "Lord Hui, this woman is the granddaughter of the sinner Zhang Huaizong, and she refuses to go back with us." ”

Han Zhen looked at the girl quietly, her face was beautiful, but even in this situation, she was not embarrassed in the slightest, her back was still straight, and her head was still raised.

"You know that you are resisting the will. ”

Hearing Han Zhen's words, the corners of the girl's lips were indifferently hooked, and then she turned her gaze fixedly, and said without fear: "As the daughter of the Zhang Mansion, I would rather die than be an official prostitute." ”

Han Zhen looked at the girl silently, and after a long time, he finally looked away, looking at the ruins in front of him and faintly overflowing with a sentence.

"Let it be. ”

When the brocade guard heard this, he immediately exclaimed, "My lord?"

"I bear all the blame. ”

Rather so, he is not willing to go against his original intention and embarrass the descendants of a loyal minister.

After the words fell, the brocade guard behind him let go of his hand, and the girl looked at Han Zhen quietly, looking at the man who seemed to be cold and ruthless, even if her face was stained with tears, she smiled without losing her dignity: "Sinner girl Xie Han, I won't embarrass Lord Han-"

The last sentence was said lightly and ethereally, and when it fell on Han Zhen's ears, he was slightly shocked, and the next moment, when he turned his head in shock, it was too late.

Almost instantly, the girl pulled out the saber of the brocade guard beside her, and slashed her neck without hesitation.

The red blood grew proudly along the cold blade like a plum blossom, Han Zhen stepped forward and hugged the girl almost without thinking, and the saber that flashed with cold light fell quietly to the ground, and everyone seemed to be quiet at this moment.

Han Zhen squatted down holding the girl who was struggling to breathe, and could only see the dazzling hot blood spreading along the girl's neck to the girl's dress, blooming one plum blossom after another.

The pride of beauty.

The determination of beauty.

"Your Excellency...... I can't repay the kindness of adults......"

Every word the girl said, it was difficult and not easy, looking at the corners of the girl's mouth more and more blood flowing, Han Zhen didn't know what to do or what to do.

The next moment, a cold thing was stuffed into his hand, Han Zhen looked down, and there was a flawless jade lying in his blood-stained hand, even if it was soaked in blood, it couldn't hide its nobility.

In a bang, the women in the mansion who saw this scene were all inspired by it, and they fearlessly slashed themselves, so that the stunned Jinyi Wei around them didn't even have time to think.

has been a Jinyi guard for so many years, and has been arrested countless times, but this is the first time that he is not afraid of life and death.

"If there is an afterlife...... I wish to be Zhang's daughter. ”

Feeling the spasm of the girl in his arms due to pain, Han Zhen's hand couldn't help but tighten a little, but the girl in his arms had no regrets, no fear, hearing the frightened voices of the people around him, knowing that his family was gone with him, it was more of a relief and relief.

Yes, as an honest and honest first auxiliary family, even if they are women, they should maintain this last dignity for the family, how can they be official prostitutes and lose their Zhang family's lintel and integrity.

So, for the best.

The corners of the girl's mouth gradually curled with reassurance, and the next moment, the blood-soaked slender hand fell, when the girl's eyes closed.

Han Zhen felt that for the first time, his heart was touched.

In the cold wind, there was hot blood coming from the tip of his nose, and the hand holding the girl was tightly clenched, Han Zhen felt that his cold and silent heart seemed to be dripping with hot blood, gradually burning.

Sometimes, death is easier than life.

Han Zhen closed his eyes tightly, and he felt something inexplicable rampaging through his body.

When he opened his eyes again, those cold and indifferent eyes were more cold and compelling than before, like a sharp blade, losing the last of his human vitality, but gaining an unknown firmness.