On the 22nd day of the first lunar month, the sky in Chang'an was leaden gray, and a cool breeze rose in the afternoon, and snowflakes fluttered one after another.

Early that morning, Li Mao told Xiaoru that he was going to the south of the city to hire a wise man as a staff member, and asked her and Guo Ren to go to the Dafeng Fang by the Qujiang Pond to prepare, saying that they would have a banquet for the Magi by the Qujiang Pool in the evening.

Xiaoru was a little suspicious, not to mention that the person had already left the capital, and at this time he had to turn back again, but when he said that he had a meal and there were many places in Chang'an City, why should he go to Qujiang Pond near and far.

Besides, invite guests to dinner, that is the place where the real lady is beautiful, how can you bring a concubine to the table? A few days ago, he left Chang'an City in a hurry, saying that he wanted to go to Youzhou before March, but he was stranded in Qingniyi at this time, what kind of medicine was he selling in this gourd?

Xiaoru doesn't like to inquire about things like Guo Ren, and she never asks about Li Mao, but this doesn't mean that her ears can't listen to things, in fact, she has a lot of secrets in her stomach, but she has a tight mouth and buries it.

Since the beginning of the first month, the atmosphere in Chang'an City is very abnormal, and it is rumored that the Son of Heaven is seriously ill, the prince is seriously ill, and there will be great changes in the palace. Many people are moving their families and possessions outside the city, Xiaoru often walks around the neighborhood, looking at it in her eyes and anxious in her heart, she doesn't understand what Li Mao is doing, and she doesn't want to understand it, but she knows that he has nothing to do with this imminent storm.

She asked Li Mao: "Something is wrong with you, why do I feel a little relieved." ”

Li Mao smiled: "Nonsense, what can I do, I'm very good." ”

He said: "Don't think nonsense, the wise man's wife is in his hometown in Hunan, and he is alone in Chang'an, with only two favorite concubines by his side." He is a celebrity, he takes his lover with him wherever he drinks and feasts, I am a rough man, but I also want to learn from his celebrity style, I will bring you with me. It is good for you women to talk together, and if they are moved, they will go back and blow the wind on their pillows, and maybe it will be done. As for Guo Ren, if he comes out of a small family, it is good to bring him to see the world, so that he will not lose his face in the future. ”

There are a few sentences in Li Mao's words that Xiaoru likes to hear, she pursed her lips and smiled, and said coquettishly: "Rhetoric, don't you know that you are coaxing me." I don't care. He took a cloak and put it on Li Mao, and carefully advised: "Don't force everything, do your best, and be worthy of your heart." It's windy outside, so watch out. ”

After saying this, Xiaoru's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears were about to come out, she hugged Li Mao's neck, held back her tears, and told again: "Go early and return early, I'll wait for you." Li Mao's eyes were also sour, he forced a smile and said: "Last year, the monkey was in charge, and we made a mistake, so we were unlucky, this year the rooster is in charge, I come to run, this will definitely be successful, you just wait for my good news." ”

Li Mao said this, tears burst into his eyes, he hugged Xiao Ru, quietly wiped away the tears, in order to cover up the embarrassment, he suddenly picked up Xiao Ru's face and kissed it fiercely......

Li Mao looked up to the sky and laughed and went out, Xiaoru was like losing her soul, stood there for a long time, touched her face, and her cheeks were spicy. The last time I felt this way was two months ago, and in the past two months, Li Mao didn't know what he was busy with, he always didn't go home at night, and when he returned, it was always late at night.

It's a good feeling, but when is the next time?

Xiao Ru was stunned for a while, sighed faintly, she wiped her tears, tried to squeeze out a smiling face, and got up to ask Guo Ren to go. Guo Ren was about to come to her, and when they met, he asked: "What are they going to do, it's mysterious, I won't say no matter how I ask." ”

Xiao Rule said hehehe: "He said that he was going to hire a great sage as a guest, and he also said that he was going to have a treat by the Qujiang Pond tonight, so let's go and prepare first." ”

Guo Ren wrinkled his brows and said: "No, if you really want to hire a sage, what to do in soft armor, what to do when sharpening knives, this is obviously going to war." ”

Xiaoru took Guo Ren's arm and persuaded with a smile: "Don't think nonsense, the city has not been peaceful recently, and it is always right to be careful when you go out." Shentong is a meticulous person, so what's so strange about him doing this. ”

Guo Ren stared at Xiao Ru's face, trying to find out some flaws in it, Xiao Ru smiled gently, there were no flaws, Guo Ren sighed, and said: "Maybe I really think too much, I don't understand, why Brother Mao doesn't stay in Kyoto, he wants to go to Youzhou, what's so good under the fence." ”

Xiao Ru smiled: "Don't think nonsense, men's thoughts, even if you want to break your head, you can't figure it out." By the way, Brother Mao said that he wanted us to put on makeup, there are female dependents over there, but don't lose the face of our Shandong people in front of outsiders. ”

Guo Ren said: "That's a make-up, this person just lives with one breath, and it's better not to live if the family is pressed to death." The two women held hands, giggled and walked out.

A man walked as fast as he flew in, almost bumping into the two, Guo Ren scolded: "Are you in a hurry to reincarnate, walking so fast." ”

When he looked at it, it was Chen Shu, who was stunned and asked, "Why are you here?" ”

Chen Shu stayed in Ziqing and stationed in Shangdu Jinyuan as the secretary, and everyone had already sent them off before they left the city, so it was a little strange to appear here.

"Where is Brother Mao?"

"Went into the city, what's the matter?"

"Oops, it's broken." Chen Shu slapped his thigh, turned around and left.

was grabbed by Guo Ren: "When you come back, what's broken, you can make it clear." ”

"Clearly? I can't tell. Chen Shu was in a hurry to leave, but was pulled by Guo Ren and couldn't move. Stamping his feet in a hurry, Xiao Ru threw a look at him and asked, "Is it that Daxian who has changed his hexagram again?" ”

Chen Shu's brain turned quickly, and he followed the words and said: "Who said no, I changed my hexagram again, I have to inform Brother Mao, so as not to run away in vain." ”

Guo Ren still grabbed Chen Shu's clothes, and his eyes suddenly sharpened: "Secretary Chen, tell you the truth, what happened?" ”

Chen Shu was stunned for a moment, and said with a sneer: "Invite guests to dinner, what can you do, it's okay." ”

Guo Ren said: "No, something big must happen, don't hide it from me, I'll tell you Chen Shu, if you don't report it, I will hate you for the rest of my life." Chen Shu snorted for a while, gritted his teeth and said: "I won't hide it from you, it's like this, there is news from the palace that the Son of Heaven is critically ill, and there will be great changes in Chang'an City, I am afraid that you will be affected, so I came over to inform me, and quickly tell me where Brother Mao is?" ”

Guo Ren threw away Chen Shu, patted his leg and shouted: ", I'll just say that there is something big to hide from me, Sister Xiaoru, let's go find them together." ”

Chen Shu hurriedly opened his arms and said, "What can you do if you go to another day." ”

Guo Ren said stiffly: "Death is better than being a lonely soul and a wild ghost." ”

Xiaoru persuaded: "If we go, it will only add to the chaos." ”

Guo Ren said: "What do you say, add chaos, how can we ......?"

Xiaoru said: "Sister Guo Ren, there will be chaos on the day of the big change, Mr. Chen is right, what can we do if we go to the big event of changing the day?" Let's not make a mess, take care of ourselves, we help them a lot. ”

Chen Shu said repeatedly: "Ru Niang's words are right. ”

Guo Ren also relieved himself, wiped his tears, and said hatefully: ", don't say it early, say it early, I'll clean it up anyway, what can I do." ”

Chen Shu said: "The stupid ones will be abandoned first, take the soft ones and follow me." ”

Xiaoru said: "Where are you going?" ”

Chen Shudao: "How many houses are there outside the city in the courtyard where you can take refuge?" ”

Xiaoru said: "We can't go anywhere, we are separated, what should we do if Brother Mao can't find us when he comes back?" ”

Chen Shu said: "I will leave someone here to wait for Brother Mao to come back." ”

Xiaoru said: "That's okay, you go to find the car first, and we'll go quietly in the car." ”

Chen Shu nodded, busy looking for the car, there are many cars and horses in the post station, the relationship between the Jinjuanyuan and the Qingniyi Station is good, after a while, Chen Shu drove a black oil cloth carriage, he rushed to push the door in, but there was no trace of the second daughter.

……

The secrets of the palace are unknown to the people, but people who have lived in Chang'an for a long time can always peek out some doorways from some unusual visions. The first month has not yet passed, the streets of Chang'an have been deserted, since the afternoon, the city gates on all sides have been closed in advance, Jing Zhaoluo has poured out the nest, and the lazy soldiers of Wuhou Pu have also raised the spirit of twelve, staring at the movement in the jurisdiction with wide eyes.

The people who delivered supplies to the garrisons inside and outside the city found that the garrison's barracks were more difficult to enter than in the past, the barracks were checked tightly, and the number of light and dark posts outside the barracks was also markedly increased.

As long as they are not blind, deaf, or stupid, everyone can smell that uneasy breath.

There is going to be a big incident in the palace, and something big is going to happen in Chang'an.

Rumors spread far and wide, and the people who had lived in Chang'an for a long time had learned to infer the true information implied from the rumors, and those who were sharp, well-connected, cautious, unclean, and fond of following the crowd had already quietly slipped out of the city to take refuge.

On the twenty-second day the gates of the city were closed, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.

escaped alive, celebrated with a crown, delayed and did not finish, beat his chest and feet, and vomited blood angrily. The residents who smelled strange hurriedly collected the business, closed their doors, restrained their brothers and children, and waited for the night to fall with trepidation. Only a small number of people who are confused are still wandering on the streets, rampant on the spacious and uninhabited streets, and suddenly have a kind of heroism that is unique in heaven and earth.

The sixteen kings' mansions in the northeast corner of Chang'an City were slaughtered, and since the early morning of this day, the princes and grandsons found that in addition to the two guards of Jinwu and the prison gate, there were more Jingzhao Luo soldiers and left and right Shence soldiers.

The forbidden army will send out something big in the palace, and the kings know very well in their hearts that in the Daming Palace, which is located in the northwest of the palace, the Son of Heaven, who has been in charge of the Tang Dynasty for 43 years, is about to come to an end.

Whenever the Son of Heaven dies, there will be bloody storms, this is an iron law, and there has been no exception since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Now, even the most apolitically indifferent princes and grandchildren are feeling the cold to the bone, and there are some disasters that you can't avoid without getting involved.

The so-called disaster from the sky often makes you unable to prevent it. Born in the imperial family, this is the price they pay for enjoying superhuman honor.

But the funny thing is that although they are closely related to this earth-changing change, they can't do even the slightest bit for it. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Tang Dynasty's participation in government politics has undergone several major changes, the most recent of which occurred after the Jingshi Change, and since then, the environment for the imperial family to participate in court politics has become increasingly harsh. Especially at the prince level, the passage to participate in the government is almost blocked.

Now, the vast majority of them are like birds in captivity in golden cages, clothed in fine clothes, honored and rich, enjoying the worship and envy of the subjects of the world, but they have no power to deal with the great changes that are about to affect their vital interests. (Dissertation College)