May 28, the tenth year of Jianwen, is the day of the Great Dynasty.

Since the fifth watch, the drums have been sounded, and the deserted and quiet capital has suddenly become noisy, with the sound of horses' hooves, singing promises, and shouting noisy. On the roads leading to the Imperial City, carriages of all colors flashed in a hurry.

Because of the emperor's preference, the large and small sedan shops in the city closed down one after another, and were replaced by all kinds of carriages and horses.

For high-ranking officials, the imperial court equipped them with special carriage and horse services; For low-grade officials, they can enjoy a certain amount of chariot and horse subsidies, so they can rent carriages from all kinds of chariot and horse dealers, and whenever it is time to use the chariot, such as the Great Dynasty season, the chariot and horse dealer will get up early, wait at the official's place, and send it to the imperial city; Of course, if there is money, the car dealer is also responsible for sending them back.

In the tide of the ministers rushing to the imperial city, there were several carriages going against the current.

This is Fang Xiaoru's family, and today is the day when Fang Xiaoru was ordered to leave Beijing.

The decree only gave Fang Xiaoru one day - he had to leave Beijing the next morning.

......

The coachman who drove the car was a veteran, and the carriage was walking very smoothly, but it was inevitable that it would sway, Fang Xiaoru leaned back on the chair, closed his eyes, his eyebrows trembled slightly, and his heart was uneasy.

Yesterday's holy decree was like a thunderbolt from the sky, there was no call, and until this moment, Fang Xiaoru still couldn't believe it.

In the past three years, Fang Xiaoru rarely went to Taixue, and spent most of his time in Zhan Shifu.

In order to cultivate an excellent prince, in order to be worthy of the emperor's entrustment, Fang Xiaoru thought that he had paid all his efforts, for three years, he only slept two or three hours a day, and he had to check all the prince's schoolwork. If it is something he is good at, such as a subset of classics and histories, he will carefully excerpt and make careful annotations to help the prince save time and grasp the key points; For subjects he is not good at, such as military, mathematics, physics, etc., he will study hard, carefully assist the prince, and even in some subjects, he thinks that he has surpassed the teacher......

It's a pity that after three years of mental effort, he was skeletal and gray, but he ushered in such a holy decree, and he didn't even have a chance to explain to the saint.

Thinking of this, Fang Xiaoru couldn't help but sigh.

He can imagine that the prince's future studies will inevitably be more practical, more on strange and obscene, and the sage's teachings, the knowledge of self-cultivation and Qi family, to rule the country and the world, I am afraid that will gradually decline......

Alas!

If it goes on like this, how can it be done?

It's a pity that I have the intention to kill the thief, and I can't go back to heaven!

At this moment, he remembered his teacher, Song Lian, who was exiled to Maozhou in the old age and died of illness in Kuizhou halfway.

Seriously, I am actually not as good as a teacher.

He is only forty-eight years old, he is still in the prime of life, he was exiled to a foreign land, the sea is surging, and the mountains are steep, can he see the emperor of the imperial city again in this life, can he return to his hometown, and see his white-haired old mother again, and his wife and children who have been with each other for half his life?

Thinking of this, Fang Xiaoru's heart was like a knife, and his nose was a little sour.

At this moment, Fang Xiaoru faintly heard a whimper from the carriage behind him—it should be the old wife and young daughter crying.

The eldest daughter Yayun is sixteen years old, and she has not yet allowed anyone, and she originally planned to do it this year, but unfortunately now, alas!

The second daughter, Yaru, is only ten years old, so there is no need to worry.

Thinking of his daughter, Fang Xiaoru couldn't help but raise his head and glanced at his two sons, the eldest son, Zhongxian, was twenty-six years old and won the promotion, but he will try to fail today; The second son, Zhongyue, was twenty-two years old and only won Xiucai, but because of himself, both of them were studying in Guozijian.

"Zhongxian, after your father left Beijing, you immediately escorted your mother and sister back to their hometown, and they were not allowed to stay in Beijing, understand?"

"My son understands!"

Maybe it was because he didn't sleep well last night, Fang Zhongxian's face was a little pale, but he had always been respectful to his father, and it was the same at this moment.

"By the way, you should review your homework at home for the past three years, for your father and Ningbo Mansion Professor Cheng are old friends, he will take care of you!"

"Thank you father, son knows!"

"As for you, Zhongyu,"

Fang Xiaoru pondered for a while and said, "You should also go back to your hometown in Ningbo, so as not to provoke trouble in Beijing." ”

"No, I'm not going back, I'm going to study in Beijing!"

"Nonsense!"

Fang Xiaoru was furious, but when he saw his son's stubborn eyes, he couldn't help but soften: "My father knows what you're thinking, but it's different now, if you can't be admitted to the Jinshi, don't want to marry Miss Qu!" ”

"But, but,"

Fang Zhong stammered more and more anxiously: "When you wait for the Jinshi to be examined, it will take at least three years!" ”

"Three years?"

Fang Xiaoru's eyes suddenly became confused, and he was silent for a while and said, "It's okay if you want to stay in Beijing, but you have to remember that you must concentrate on your studies, if Miss Qu can't see hope, she won't wait for you, do you understand?" ”

"The son understands, thank you father! Thank you, father! ”

Fang Zhongxian almost jumped up with joy and thanked him again and again.

......

Just as the father and son were chatting, an inquiry came from outside the car: "Steward Fang, is it Lord Fang's car?" ”

"Yes, may I ask who you are?"

It was the housekeeper Fang De who answered, and his voice was very respectful.

Fang Xiaoru was a little puzzled, and hurriedly opened the curtains, pushed open the window, and wanted to speak, but he was stunned, and the person who came turned out to be a brocade guard.

Just when Fang Xiaoru was in a daze, the brocade guard found Fang Xiaoru and hurriedly hugged his fist at him: "Lord Fang, the master of the contemptible family has been waiting for a long time, please come with me!" ”

Although Jin Yiwei's tone was respectful, it contained a kind of commanding flavor in it.

"Okay, please lead the way!"

Fang Xiaoru did not hesitate at all, and immediately nodded in agreement, and the two sons next to him wanted to speak, but they were stopped by Fang Xiaoru's stern eyes.

At this moment, the sky has been bright, and people and cars are coming and going near Jinchuan Gate, which is very lively.

And Fang Xiaoru's carriage followed the Jinyi guard to avoid the main road and went east along the Jinshui River, about half a mile away, Jinyiwei turned over and dismounted, and said in a low voice: "Lord Fang, please get off, we have arrived!" ”

Fang Xiaoru glanced at the river, couldn't help but shake his body, hurriedly got out of the car, ran to the river with a roll, and knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, Your Royal Highness the Prince, why are you here?" ”

Zhu Wenkui was dressed as a crown prince, wearing a black gauze folded scarf, wearing a red round-necked dragon robe, a jade belt around his waist, and black leather boots, he seemed to have been standing by the river for a while, and when he heard Fang Xiaoru's call, he turned his head and looked at Fang Xiaoru who was kneeling on the ground, a smile appeared on his face, he took a few steps closer, helped Fang Xiaoru up, hesitated for a long time, and finally said astringently: "Mr. Fang, I can't stand you alone!" ”

As he spoke, tears overflowed his eyes and flowed down.

"Your Highness's words are serious, it's all the minister's own doing, it's all the minister's fault!"

Fang Xiaoru's stomach was full of complaints and depression, and in an instant, the tears of this thirteen-year-old child disappeared, and at that moment, Fang Xiaoru also cried: "Your Highness, you are all incompetent ministers, and you have caused trouble for Your Highness, and the ministers are guilty, and the ministers are guilty!" ”

While speaking, Fang Xiaoru wanted to kneel down again, but Zhu Wenkui tried his best to pull, but he was weak, and finally had to hand over the help of the personal eunuch Zhong Hai to pull Fang Xiaoru up.

After Fang Xiaoru got up, he looked left and right, suddenly realized something, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, why are you here?" ”

"Oh,"

Zhu Wenkui was just about to answer, but Zhong Hai next to him said: "Lord Fang, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince knows that you are going to leave Beijing by order this morning, so he has sent someone to squat at the door of your house since last night. ”

"And I went to Your Majesty to ask for permission, and I wanted to send Lord Fang in person, Your Majesty originally disagreed, but I couldn't stand His Highness's pleading, and finally reluctantly agreed."

"Just after Yin today, His Royal Highness got up, sat on the hanging basket and went out of the palace, around the hour, came here, waited for more than half an hour, you came over!"

"What?"

Fang Xiaoru fell to his knees, weeping and weeping: "Filial piety is a scholar, but he is valued by His Royal Highness's blue eyes, and His Royal Highness's kindness is difficult to repay for filial piety." Now that filial piety is far away from a foreign land, he can't always accompany His Highness, but only pray for blessings every day to repay His Highness's kindness. Your Highness, Your Highness, you are ashamed of your filial piety! ”

"Just your mouth,"

Zhu Wenkui glared at Zhong Hai fiercely, and then helped Fang Xiaoru up again: "Mr. Fang, don't be polite!" Speaking of this, Zhu Wenkui suddenly lowered his voice and said in Fang Xiaoru's ear: "Mr. must ensure his body, as long as his father is angry, Gu will definitely find a way to let you return to Beijing as soon as possible!" ”

"Your Highness!"

"Someone,"

Zhu Wenkui waved his hand, Zhong Hai hurriedly took a tray from the eunuch beside him, on which was placed a fox fur and a stack of silver tickets, Zhu Wenkui took the fox fur and handed it to Fang Xiaoru: "Mr. Fang, Haidong is bitterly cold, I have been thinking about it for a long time, and I have prepared a fox fur for you to defend Mr. from the wind and cold; In addition, this is two thousand taels of silver tickets, Lone knows that Mr. has always been hard, and does not have much savings, whether the money is used for travel expenses, or to subsidize the family, it is a little bit of Lone's heart, please Mr. must be handed! ”

Fang Xiaoru didn't accept it, but Zhu Wenkui insisted on it, and finally Fang Xiaoru had to accept it with tears.

After that, Zhu Wenkui retired from everyone and chatted with Fang Xiaoru for a while.

About half an hour later, Fang Xiaoru bid farewell to the prince, and then bid farewell to his wife Zheng and his children Zhongxian, Zhongyu, Yayun, Yaru and his younger brother Fang Xiaoyou, and took the housekeeper Fang De, servants Fan Cheng and Tongbei on the road.

......

Looking at Fang Xiaoru's back gradually moving away, Zhu Wenkui's expression was complicated and incomprehensible.

After a long time, Zhu Wenkui sighed, and under the escort of everyone, he set off to return to Zhan Shifu.

Only the clear Jinshui River was left, flowing west day and night.