After the moon passed through the willows, the Qionglin banquet was dispersed, and Chen Huaien, the chief eunuch beside the emperor, came in person and took Shao An to the Yangxin Palace to meet him.

Since entering Chang'an, Shao An has wanted to see the emperor and is afraid of seeing the emperor, so he has been waiting anxiously. However, the wait was much longer than expected, and it was not until after the title of the gold list that the emperor issued an order to summon him.

Shao An followed him nervously, but walked slower and slower. Gonggong Chen realized and secretly slowed down.

The two walked unhurriedly for a while, and Shao An finally asked, "Your Majesty, are you good?" ”

"Everything was fine. It's just that since he ascended the throne, there have been many government affairs, and he has stayed up to three or four shifts every time. Now that you're finally back, you can also help the emperor share a share of the burden. ”

"Where, I just hope to do my best." After a few modest words, Shao An then asked, "My brother is he...... Luckily? ”

"When the slave went to the army with the emperor, he met once, and it was okay to look at the body."

Shao An felt a little relieved, and then hesitated to ask him: "The emperor ...... about that incident three years ago."

Grandpa Chen understood that this was what he really wanted to ask. comforted him and said, "Three years have passed, and I have long let it go." The emperor often talks about you, and when we meet, I will be happy. ”

"The emperor is open-minded and generous, and he can let go of the past. But in the past three years, I have been reflecting on myself every day, and I dare not forget the mistakes of the year. ”

"Why bother with yourself so much. Who would have expected the accident three years ago. Gonggong Chen said sideways, "Now everyone is guarding the clouds and seeing the moon, and your brother is still alive." And your blessings are yet to come. ”

During the chat, the two had already walked to the Heart Cultivation Palace, Shao An stood in front of the hall, looking at the solemn door, feeling depressed, that step could not be taken after all.

"Please." Gonggong Chen bowed down to open the door for him personally, watched Shao An take a deep breath and then step in with his legs raised, closed the door again, and walked softly to the front of the palace and replied, "Long live, Shao Zhuangyuan has arrived." ”

After three years, the old people reunited, and when they saw each other again, they were already divided into monarchs and ministers.

Shao An didn't dare to hold it up, so he kept his duty when facing the saint, and knelt down in his robe in a proper manner.

The emperor walked down from the throne and gently helped him up, "An'er, after three years, you have grown up." Let me take a good look at you. ”

Shao An stood up, bowed his head and stood still. The emperor looked him up and down for a while, frowned, and said, "Why is your face so bad?" But the bitter cold in Qianzhou hurt the body? ”

"Xie Shengshang is concerned, but he has been a little tired in recent days."

The emperor looked at Shao An with pity and said, "At the beginning, I really shouldn't have let you be exiled to Qianzhou. Are you, to blame? ”

Shao An instantly sweated through his heavy clothes, and hurriedly knelt down, "The sinner deserves it, and he is voluntarily exiled to atone for his sins." ”

"Yesterday's events are gone, and it doesn't matter what is right or wrong." The emperor helped him and said earnestly, "The important thing is the present, the future." You lived up to your expectations and topped the list, and I am very relieved. ”

Shao An bowed humblely.

"According to the convention, the first-class jinshi is admitted to the Hanlin Academy. But on the surface of Hanlin, there is no real power. Therefore, I want you to go directly to the six departments to do practical things. The emperor paused suddenly when he said this, and then continued to ask, "Among the six parts, where do you want to go?" ”

Shao An said without thinking: "Weichen wants to go to the military department. After speaking, he suddenly felt that something was wrong, and hurriedly changed his words, "No matter where the emperor arranges, Weichen will definitely do his best." ”

"The Army." The emperor smiled slightly, "Whether it's the Ministry of War, let's be appointed as the military selection division of the Ministry of War." ”

Gonggong Chen listened silently on the side, and said in his heart that this Langzhong is a five-grade official position, and the military selection is in charge of the selection of military attaches and military registration in the country, but it is a big fat shortage. If according to the formal way, the champion will enter the Hanlin Academy and only be awarded the six grades of revision. Now that Shao An has won this high position as soon as he enters the office, I don't know how many others he will envy.

After Shao An received the order of thanksgiving, he also wanted to ask his brother about his current situation. But before the words could be spoken, he was interrupted by the emperor, and he had to swallow it back into his stomach.

I only heard the emperor say: "In addition, you are now the champion, and the permanent inn is not a thing." I will give you the palace of the former king. ”

As soon as these words came out, not only Shao An, but even Gonggong Chen was stunned by this sentence. Although the palace is simple and simple, Su Jinmin became the emperor, and there is the hidden mansion. In this dynasty, the emperor ascended the throne, and the palace was changed to a temple to worship the Buddha. And this is the first time to reward his subordinates, and he is still a newcomer who has just entered the official career.

"Weichen, thank you Lord Longen." Shao An obviously knew that this was a great favor, and when he first entered the court, he would definitely attract criticism. But he can't care so much, after all, King An's Mansion is the place where he and his brother met and knew each other, and the best memories of his life are sealed there.

After he left, the emperor said to Gonggong Chen beside him: "Huaien, do you think he has changed?" ”

Gonggong Chen replied: "It's the emperor's identity that has changed." ”

The emperor sighed, "He's too heavy." ”

After many years, Shao An returned to King An's Mansion again. This is where he has lived since he was twelve years old. He drove straight to the small courtyard where he lived with his brother, and saw the familiar trees, trees, flowers and grass...... Stepping into the inner room, the tables, chairs, and benches in the room were all spotlessly clean, and even the old sword used by my brother and the books he had read were all in their place, as if their owners had never left.

In the old residence, looking at the familiar furnishings, Shao An closed his eyes and felt the familiar breath, but there was an auditory hallucination. He suddenly heard his brother's voice echoing in the empty courtyard, and said to him ostentatiously: "An'er, look how fast this sword is. I heard my brother complaining and protesting, "An'er, what are you reading so late?" The lights are so bright that I can't sleep. ”

Recalling the bits and pieces of the past, tears gradually blurred Shao An's vision, and the memory drifted back to nine years ago......

※※※※※

In the fourteenth year of Yongkang, An'er first entered the palace.

"Huh? What happened to you? A loud voice sounded overhead.

An'er looked up, and a tall and powerful man dressed in a guard's attire stood in front of her. Looking around again, I found that somehow I actually ran to the stable near King An's mansion. From this, it is guessed that this person should be a slave rider of the palace.

When the master goes out, he rides with him, acts as a guard, and also has the role of a guard of honor.

"I'm fine." An'er said impatiently.

"Is it really okay? So why cry? The man seemed enthusiastic and asked again.

"I'm really fine, thank you." An'er said coldly. He was not in a good mood and just wanted to be alone and not want to be disturbed.

As soon as An'er stood up and wanted to leave, a sudden feeling of dizziness hit him, making him stagger. The man saw that he was unsteady on his feet, and hurriedly helped him, "You haven't eaten dinner yet, have you?" An'er was slightly embarrassed and didn't answer. The man didn't care, but invited An'er to eat something in his room, saying that he wouldn't get dizzy. An'er hesitated slightly, after all, she didn't know him.

"Let's go, let's go." The man didn't care about thirty-seven twenty-one, just pulled him up and left. As soon as he turned a corner, he was in his room. An'er looked around and saw that he was the only one living in this room, which showed that this person was not an ordinary riding slave, and his status in the palace was not low.

After greeting An'er, the man introduced himself: "My name is Li Hongyi, what about you?" An'er arched her hand and said: "My name is Liu An, you can call me An'er." ”

"An'er, where are you on duty? Why haven't I seen you before? ”

"I've just been here for a few days, and I'm working as a scholar in the study." An'er's voice sounded lazy and low, and Li Hongyi knew that he was still sad.

"Alas!" Li Hongyi sighed deliberately, "In this life, there are nine times out of ten that things are unsatisfactory. So, don't be too sad, it's no big deal. ”

"Poof!" An'er saw that Li Hongyi was obviously not much older than herself, but he pretended to be a little adult, and instantly smiled.

Li Hongyi saw him laughing, and he laughed too, "Haha, you laughed, you're in a better mood." ”

An'er realized that he was deliberately making himself laugh, and his heart was moved. Although it was the first time we met, it was the same as before.

In the days that followed, he and Li Hongyi often went to ride horses and catch birds together, and their lives were quite comfortable. One day, An'er told Hongyi the story of Liu Guan and Zhang Taoyuan's three alliances, and after Li Hongyi heard it, he said that he wanted to learn from Liu Bei and them, and pulled him to worship him as brothers. But An'er said that the worship is very solemn, and you have to choose an auspicious place to worship all kinds of gods. Li Hongyi asked him to pick a good day and insisted that he must pay his respects. An'er also felt that Li Hongyi was bold and righteous, so she readily agreed.

On that day, the two of them chose a quiet small temple, solemnly knelt in front of the Bodhisattva to burn incense and tie the knot, and said in unison: "Liu An and Li Hongyi are now brothers here." Drain your liver and gall, and never give up. Share honor and disgrace, life and death. But if you violate this oath, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed! ”

After the oath was completed, An'er asked Li Hongyi how old he was, and Li Hongyi replied that he was thirteen years old. An'er was one year younger than him, so he worshipped Li Hongyi as his elder brother.

Li Hongyi patted An'er on the shoulder and smiled: "From now on, they will be brothers, share blessings and hardships!" ”

※※※※※

The next day, the emperor's gift of Shao Zhuangyuan's residence spread like the wind all over the court. This move really attracted everyone's attention, and there has been an endless stream of opposition in the past few days. However, the emperor resisted the pressure of the imperial court and ignored it. Until the Imperial History Terrace Imperial Doctor played in the Chengping court, the spearhead was pointed directly at Shao An, setting off a stormy wave.

"Yu Aiqing, what do you mean when you say that Shao'an's name is not worthy of the name?" The emperor sat on the throne and asked coldly.

Yu Chengping, whose name is Zhongping, has been serving as a doctor for many years, and he looks like he is old and serious. Seeing that the emperor didn't believe it, he analyzed it in a clear manner: "Back to Your Majesty, Weichen suspects that Shao Junyi is acquainted with Master Sun, the chief examiner of this department. The two had a long secret conversation after the temple examination, and many scholars had seen it. If the Holy One does not believe, let him ask the Princes. ”

Of course, the emperor knew everything, but he still pretended to ask, "Sun Aiqing, is there such a thing?" ”

"Wechen is indeed familiar with him." Sun Yi told the truth, "But Shao Junyi relied on his own talent to win the top prize, and it has nothing to do with whether Weichen knows him or not." ”

"Lord Sun's words are wrong." Yu Chengping retorted, "If you don't have anything to do with it, why do you have a secret conversation after the palace exam? But in the joints, the words? ”

The so-called "through the joint, on the word" is commonly known as "do the code". Candidates use some obscure tone words in the paper, set them as special marks, so that the examiner can recognize them when marking the paper, so as to commit fraud.

When Sun Yi heard him plant him like this, his face turned blue with anger, and his beard trembled. He shouted wronged, "Your Majesty, Weichen is just an acquaintance, he is overjoyed, and he greets him for a word or two." It was inappropriate for Weichen to forget to avoid suspicion, but he never dared to admit the fraud. ”

Sun Yi's subordinate, Peng Yuanping, the left attendant of the Ministry of Officials, also stood up to speak for him: "Weichen believes in Lord Sun, this Shao Junyi is Huiyuan, and it is not impossible to even have two yuan. ”

The emperor naturally understood Shao An's talent, and at this time, he just wanted to settle the matter earlier, so he asked the Ministry of Rites Shangshu: "You are also an examiner, and you will also talk about it." ”

The Ministry of Rites replied: "Weichen looked at Shao Junyi's examination papers, and his knowledge between the lines was extraordinary. Moreover, each volume must be read by the two Shangshu and the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and all of them can be named champions. ”

The emperor nodded, and just wanted to turn the matter over, but Yu Chengping was unwilling to fail, and still insisted: "Although Shao Junyi won the Huiyuan and the champion, the emperor knows that he is a prisoner. ”

As soon as these words came out, a slight uproar immediately sounded in the court. The prisoner is the kind of person who enters the national prison with donations, and it is an abnormal way to buy fame with money. Therefore, the prisoners have always been looked down upon by the ministers of the DPRK and China.

The emperor naturally knew about this, because it was he who sent someone to tell Shao An that Li Hongyi was still alive four months ago, and asked him to help him quickly. Therefore, in order to catch up with this big exam, Shao An donated money and was qualified to participate in this examination. As long as the parties don't mention this, no one will be idle and bored to investigate, but Sun Yi and Shao An's secret conversation made people think about it, which led to this matter and became Shao An's fatal wound.

Yu Chengping's words successfully aroused the public anger of the court, and no one dared to stand up and argue with him. He proudly waited to see Sun Yi make a fool of himself, but Sun Yi did not look half different on his face, like an old monk in his heart.

Seeing that no one spoke, the emperor finally spoke: "I only look at the results, not my origin. Since the ministers are arguing, let's check the papers. If there is no blame, then Shao An's champion is well deserved. ”

After a while, the test paper was presented to the dragon case, and the emperor had already read Shao An's paper, so he asked the chamberlain to hand it over directly to Yu Chengping. After Yu Chengping read it, it was passed on to other ministers who had not seen it.

After everyone finished circulating, the emperor asked, "What do you think?" ”

There are those who say yes, and there are those who find thorns. But most people think that Shao An's literary insights can be described as extraordinary, and there are sometimes surprising words in the text. There is nothing wrong with the point being the champion.

"Since all the secretaries have no objections, let's make up our minds. I don't want to hear any more about prisoners in the future. ”

As soon as the emperor said this, the ministers naturally understood the holy will, and how dare they touch the scales, they all shouted Shengming in a loud voice, but they secretly envied and resented Shao An and Sun Yi in their hearts.