The case of Li Yong's embezzlement of public money, which was exposed in early April, went into a vigorous uproar for nearly a month, and finally involved more than 10 stalwarts of the DPRK, such as Li Shizhi and Pei Kuan, the heads of the third houses of the political affairs hall, and middle-level officials of various ministries. Even Li Yong was together, four senior members of the court died, eight were exiled, and Li Shizhi and Pei Kuan were also demoted out of Chang'an City, one went to be Yichun Taishou, and the other went to be An Lu.

The first day of the fifth month was the deadline for Li Shizhi and Pei Kuan to be ordered to leave the capital. In fact, when the holy decree was issued to denounce them, the choice of ordinary people was to leave this place of right and wrong as soon as possible. But Li Shizhi insisted on staying in the capital, hoping that things would turn around and that he would have a chance to reverse the decline.

However, Li Shizhi found that his life was such a failure, and after the holy decree was issued, there was not a single official from the DPRK and China in his mansion. The people who revolved around him on weekdays were nowhere to be seen, and no one spoke for him, and no one came to him to confide in his anguish and discuss countermeasures with him. Even the guests in the palace were scattered, and the scribes who were usually long on the left and short on the left suddenly disappeared without a trace, without even saying hello.

In the early morning of the first day of the fifth month, it was cold in front of the once glorious and noisy Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion. Two carriages stopped at the foot of the steps, and several servants struggled to carry bundles of luggage in the carriages.

Li Shizhi stood on the steps in front of the door in a plain robe, silently watching all this. After the servants finished carrying the luggage, they reported to Li Shizhi, Li Shizhi nodded slightly and said, "Go and get the severance fee and go home, it's hard work." ”

Several servants silently entered the door and went to settle the wages of Mr. Li's bookkeeper. Li Shizhi is going to the distant Yichun, it is impossible for them to follow, they are already the last batch of servants to be dismissed, except for a few servants who serve him personally and the maidservants who take care of the female dependents, Li Shizhi has dismissed hundreds of people in the mansion.

After a while, several maidservants helped the tearful ladies out of the house, and the wives and concubines of Li Shizhi, who were originally jeweled, were now all dressed in cloth and hairpin skirts, wearing clothes that they didn't care about at all on weekdays, and they looked quite uncomfortable. Most of Li Shizhi's family property has been ordered to be confiscated, and even the glorious Zuo Prime Minister's Mansion in front of him will be confiscated from tomorrow, and the once extravagant Li family has to face a stretched life.

"Master......" Mrs. Qin looked at Li Shizhi with tears in her eyes. The concubines and maidservants were also in tears.

Li Shizhi frowned and shouted, "What are you crying about?" Get in the car, what's there to cry about. ”

The Qin family and the others looked back at the gate of the tall Zuo Xiangfu, covered their faces and gritted their teeth and got into the carriage, the two carriages were full, and the thick curtain also hung down. Li Shizhi sighed slightly, and the little guy next to him led the horse and whispered, "Master get on the horse." ”

Li Shizhi nodded, but his eyes looked around the long street, hoping to see someone to see him off. However, on the long street, only the people who got up early came and went sparsely, and they ignored Li Shizhi at all, and they didn't even know who he was.

Li Shizhi took a long breath, turned over on his horse, and said in a hoarse voice: "Let's go." ”

The carriage started, Li Shizhi and several servants rode horses to follow, all the way to the east, out of the east gate to leave Chang'an City, and frequently looked back, and had arrived at the side of the Shiliba Bridge outside the city. After crossing the Baqiao, he left the Chang'an realm, and I am afraid that he will not be able to return in this life.

"Master, someone stopped us on the road and didn't let us pass, he said his name was Wang Yuan, and he came to see off the master." A little guy shouted.

Li Shi was stunned, and hurriedly raised his hand to cover the dazzling morning sun and looked forward, only to see a person standing on the road in front of him, and he couldn't see his face clearly. Li Shizhi stepped forward immediately, and when he got close to the man, he saw his appearance clearly, and sure enough, it was Wang Yuan, who was wearing a green shirt, standing in the middle of the road.

"Gong Li, Wang Yuan is polite." Wang Yuan saluted respectfully.

Li Shizhi sat on the horse and sneered: "It turned out to be Master Wang, what's the matter?" Is this a joke about Li? ”

Wang Yuan stretched out his hand and pointed at the long pavilion on the side of the road and said: "Li Gongdon't misunderstand, I am here to practice for you, there are drinks and dishes in the pavilion, and I have been waiting here for a long time." ”

Li Shizhi wanted to say a few sarcastic words and refused, but he wanted to leave the capital without anyone to send him off, only this Wang Yuan still had the heart to give him a ride, even if this person was useless in his eyes, but at least he gave himself a little comfort at this moment.

"Gong Li, please get off the horse and take a seat. It's a long way to go, have a few drinks, and it's not too late to go. Wang Yuan stretched out his arms to invite.

Li Shizhi turned over and dismounted and walked into the long pavilion with his head held high, and sat on the seat without waiting for Wang Yuan's invitation. Wang Yuan didn't care, sat down with a smile, and ordered the eldest sister who came with him to pour wine for Li Shizhi and himself.

"Gong Li, I salute you with a glass of wine, borrow a poem by Wang Majie as a congratulatory speech, and persuade you to have a glass of wine, and there is no one in Yangguan in the west."

Li Shizhi picked up his wine glass and stared at Wang Yuan, "Are you my old friend?" ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Li Gong thinks yes, and if he thinks no, he doesn't." ”

Li Shizhi raised his neck and drank the wine, smacking his lips and said, "What a strong wine." ”

Wang Yuan said: "I know that Li Gong loves to drink spirits, this is Shu Di Spirits Jian Nanqiu, it burns when it is dipped in fire, it is very strong." ”

Li Shizhi pointed to the wine glass and said, "It's full again." ”

The eldest sister came forward and poured Li Shizhi full of wine. Li Shizhi took a cup and said to Wang Yuan: "Come and don't be rude, although you are not my ideal drinking object, but today only you came to see me off, Li is still a little moved." After drinking this glass of wine, I want to ask you a few more words. ”

Wang Yuan raised his glass and drank it, Li Shizhi had already drunk the wine in the cup, put down the wine glass and looked at Wang Yuan and said, "I didn't expect you to come here to set up a banquet to see me off." I, Li Shizhi, have failed to be a man, I have been a left-hand minister for five years, and in the end I don't have any friends. I am really ashamed that no one came to send it out of Chang'an. The human affection is weak, and it is like this. What's wrong with the people in this world? Even if I, Li Shizhi, am unlucky, it won't be like this. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "The common feeling of seeking benefits and avoiding harm, Li Gong should be able to figure it out." ”

Li Shizhi glared at Wang Yuan and said, "Then what do you mean by seeing me off?" Don't think I don't know, you are also the one who contributed to Li Yong's case, and you have contributed a lot to Li today. Do you feel that your conscience is not at ease, so you are here today to ask for peace of mind? ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "Gong Li, I don't argue with you about this. I have come to see you off today for purely personal friendship and has nothing to do with political opinions. I don't deny your accusations, but you also know that everyone has their own path, and I'm just going my way. In any case, you have been kind to me, when I met Li Gong in the West Market, if it weren't for Li Gong's generosity, I am afraid that I will not be able to pass the New Year. Including taking me to see the Ewha Poetry Club later, this is all a blessing. If it weren't for the encounter in the West Market, how could I Wang Yuan be where I am today? I never forgot that in my heart. ”

Li Shizhi sneered and drank the third glass of wine and said, "It's rare that you still remember this, but you betrayed your benefactor later, what can you say?" I treated you with courtesy, and you didn't even say goodbye to me when you left my house. ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "Gong Li, I don't want to argue with you about who is right and who is wrong. I know what I've done, and you know what you've done, but that's all in the past, so is there any point in mentioning it? Today I just want to see you off, and at the same time thank you for your kindness, but I don't want to care about your intentions in carrying me. ”

Li Shizhi thought about it, sighed and said, "That's what I said, so far, what are you talking about?" I am very comforted that you can set up a feast for me here today. I don't mention all kinds of things before, and the grievances between you and me are written off, and no one owes anyone anything from now on. Here, another drink. ”

The two drank another glass of wine, and after four glasses of spirits, Li Shizhi's face was flushed with a hint of red, and his expression was much more relaxed.

"It's rare to see you have a new work coming out recently, Wang Yuan, I also admire your poetic talent, but don't care about climbing high and noble, but forget what you rely on to become famous in Chang'an. Some time ago, I gathered with the scribes, and Wang Majie was also on the seat, and he lamented that you have gone astray, and the Chang'an poetry circle has lost a shocking talent. ”

Wang Yuan sighed: "I'm extremely ashamed, I really have to live up to everyone's expectations and reputation, maybe I've really gone astray." ”

Li Shizhi smiled and said: "You are like me before, I used to write poems to warn myself not to forget my original intention, and studying poetry can keep me away from the dirt in my heart." But since I became the prime minister, I have been obsessed with fame, fortune and power, and few poems have come out, and I even get bored when I put pen to paper. In the past few days, I have been reflecting on myself, I am ashamed, I have wasted a lot of good time, and it is not worth doing something boring. However, since the resignation, my door has suddenly been cold, but it has left me with a lot of time and poetry. I wrote a poem yesterday, would you like to hear it?"

"Listen up."

Li Shizhi's fingers tapped on the table, and he slowly chanted in his mouth: "Avoid the virtuous and the first minister, and be happy and hold the cup." In order to ask the guests in front of the door, how many are coming today? ”

Li Shizhi groaned, tears flowed from his eyes, he snatched the wine jug, drank three glasses of spirits in a row, got up and said, "Master Wang, thank you for sending me off, I am leaving." ”

Wang Yuan stood up and saluted back: "Gong Li, the mountains are high and the waters are long, the road is difficult and dangerous, so cherish it more." ”