Tired!

Yue Su really felt a little tired. For so many years, the sea has been floating, there have been ups and downs, intrigues, deceit, conquest in the east and west, and war in the south and north, and he is not yet forty years old, but he has gray hair.

Everyone has the heart of power, and Yue Su also has it, but when you stand at the peak of power and look at the mountains, it is inevitable that you will be lonely. It's cold in the heights. Thinking about Yang Tinghe and Xu Jie, when they were standing at the top of this pyramid, they left suddenly.

It's time for the rapids to retreat bravely, and the high merit will cover the lord and the world, and still remain at the top of the power, and it will inevitably be suspicious. The things that should be done have been done, and the things promised to Carpenter Zhu have also been done, the grace of knowing the encounter, the love of the ancients, the eternal monarchs, if you leave, I will leave too. There's really nothing more to be nostalgic for here.

Zhou Gong is not so easy to do, you know, Zhou Gong was also afraid of gossip back then.

Yue Su finally made up his mind, left here, returned to the countryside, and went to his own son. For the first half of his life, he lived for the emperor and repaid his kindness, and now he can finally live for himself. At this moment, Yue Su suddenly felt a sense of relaxation, it seems that people should really be able to afford it, put it down, and after putting it down, there will be no other world.

"Your Majesty ......" Yue Su slowly took out a wooden figure from his arms, that is, the wooden figure of Carpenter Zhu, he carefully placed the wooden figure on the ground, and then knelt on the ground.

"The minister decided, the minister decided to leave, to leave this place of right and wrong. The young lord has grown up and has become pro-government, and now he doesn't need a minister, and the minister has also thought of some easy words. For many years, the minister has not carved again, the craft is a little raw, and after the minister leaves, he must practice more, carve more small toys that His Majesty likes, and then burn it down, see if you carve well, or the minister carves well. ”

He knelt alone in the temple and muttered to himself to the wooden figure, which was inevitably a little desolate. I don't know how long it took, the sound of footsteps sounded outside the hall, maybe it was too engaged, Yue Su didn't even hear it.

Of course, idle people are not allowed to enter this heart cultivation hall, and it is none other than Zhu Ciyan who walks in. After Zhu Ciyan entered the door, he didn't see Yue Su sitting on a chair, he wondered in his heart, and swept around, but he saw Yue Su inside, where the other party's wooden utensils were.

Why is Lord Yue kneeling here?

Zhu Ciyan walked over curiously, his steps were very light, he wanted to see what Yue Su was doing.

"Your Majesty, I remember that the minister patrolled Henan for the first time and killed his mentor Zou Jiaren, and the minister's heart was really contradictory at that time. Zou Jiaren was kind to me, and he cheated in the examination room, and he found out that it was a capital crime, but he opened up to the minister and kept the position of the county commander. If Zou Feng's case is just an ordinary case, or if the minister does not have so many edges and corners, he may take into account the kindness and handle and let him go. But Zou Feng's case was really a heinous crime, and the minister couldn't show mercy to his subordinates, so in the end, he was all over the house, and the minister's cheating in the field was known to the world. Originally, the minister thought that he would definitely die, but when Xu Xianchun came with the holy decree, the minister had already planned to be captured. Fortunately, before setting off from Yanjing, the emperor had said to his ministers that no matter what happened, His Majesty would not issue an order to arrest Weichen, and if there was a decree to arrest Weichen, everything could be regarded as an edict. It is because the minister believes in His Majesty, and His Majesty also believes in the minister, that the minister can live to this day. The emperor has the grace of reinvention to the ministers, and I still remember that in the Forbidden City, the ministers were pointed out by thousands of people, and all the people should be governed by the ministers to death. Of course, the minister later heard that it was the queen's idea, and the queen's kindness to the minister, the minister has always kept it in mind. Although, over the years, the queen has always been suspicious of the minister, but the grace and power are used, and the minister has never held a grudge. The minister is leaving, and after the minister leaves, the queen's heart should also be relieved......"

Yue Su's words are not only reminiscing about the past, but also feelings, which can be said to come from the bottom of my heart. Zhu Ciyan listened to it sincerely and understood it, especially the last sentence. As soon as he heard that Yue Su was leaving, he couldn't help but say, "Aiqing, you ......"

"Your Majesty ......" Yue Su hurriedly got up, turned around, and gave Zhu Ciyan a salute.

"Qing family, who are you talking to? Why do you say you want to go? Where are you going? Zhu Ciyan asked.

"Minister...... It was talking to the first emperor...... "Yue Su said truthfully: "When the emperor went to Cining Palace, the ministers had nothing to do, and came to admire the woodware here. Seeing this, the minister couldn't help but think of the past, remembered the first emperor's love for the minister, but fortunately, the minister did not live up to the first emperor. At present, the emperor is in power, and he is about to get married, and the world is smooth, and the country and the people are safe, which is really the blessing of the community. Thinking of these, the minister suddenly found that there was nothing needed in the court anymore, and the minister was really tired now, and he wanted to resign and return to his hometown. ”

"This, how can this work, the current court can have this situation, all of them are held by the Qing family, if there is no Qing family, how can I have the current prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. Also, my pro-government is short, and I don't understand many things, all the big and small affairs of the DPRK and China have to be presided over by the Qing family, how can the Qing family just say go. This matter must not be, please think twice. "Zhu Ciyan still understands things very well, and knows that he can't let Yue Su leave.

"Your Majesty, now in the imperial court, there is both a cabinet and a parliament, and major and small matters can be handled through mutual consultation. Among the ministers, Qi Shijiao, Zhang Zhenggang and others are all capable ministers of governing the country, and with them, the ministers are dispensable. Besides, the emperor is already in power, and the minister, who is entrusted to the orphan, can really step down. Yue Su said sincerely.

"Qing family, you are not yet forty years old, Qi Shijiao and Zhang Zhenggang are both very old, and they have no plans to be a scholar, let alone the Qing family. Aiqing, is there anything wrong with me, that's why the Qing family has the idea of going, if so, although the Qing family has made it clear to me, I will definitely change. ”

"No, no...... Your Majesty is a generous person, a wise gentleman with a way, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, all because the minister really wants to leave. Over the years, the minister has been so tired that he really wants to rest. Besides, the minister's wife is old, and the minister has not been able to serve around the left, and the minister plans to return to his hometown, serve his mother well, and fulfill his filial piety in front of his mother's knees, so that her old man can enjoy his old age in peace. Yue Su said earnestly.

"This ...... Filial piety to the mother, this is the right thing, but ...... I really can't live without the Qing family. Otherwise, the Qing family will take her mother to Beijing, and I will reward the Qing family with a house, give her more gold and silver, and let her retire in Beijing. Zhu Ciyan said.

"Your Majesty, this is not a good game, the old mother is old, it is not suitable to travel and travel, and the grave of the old father is still in his hometown, and the mother will not agree to come." Yue Su excused himself.

"Aiqing ......" Seeing that Yue Su had made up his mind, Zhu Ciyan really didn't know how to persuade him, so he had to say: "Don't leave in a hurry first, I don't think it's better like this, you can think about this matter for a while, and then decide to stay after I get married." ”

"That'...... Wechen obeyed. Yue Su bowed and said.

"I suddenly thought that there was one more thing, I wanted to go to Cining Palace, if the Qing family had nothing else to do, let's retire first." Originally, Zhu Ciyun also planned to study Yue Su's matter about making commemorative gold coins, but now when he saw Yue Su's resignation, he was not in the mood at all, and he just wanted to tell his mother about it quickly and discuss with his mother what to do.

"The minister will retire first." Yue Su bowed again, then turned around and bent down to pick up the puppet on the ground.

"What is this?" Zhu Ciyan asked.

"This is the puppet of the first emperor, when the minister and the first emperor for the first time to test woodworking, the first emperor carved according to the appearance of the minister, the minister carved according to the appearance of the first emperor, this is the carved at that time, and then the minister has been carrying, never left the body for a moment, whenever he misses the first emperor, he will take it out and see." Yue Su told him bluntly.

"The Qing family is really a loving person...... The fact that my father was able to meet such a confidant as the Qing family was comforting for his life. Zhu Ciyan said with emotion.

"The first emperor recreated the favor of the ministers, treated the ministers as siblings, and the ministers dared to forget. It is bound to form a grass ring and repay death with death. Yue Su said.

Zhu Ciyan nodded heavily, took a long breath, and said, "Qing family, please go back and think about it, don't leave lightly." ”

"Commandment."

Yue Su left the Heart Cultivation Palace, and Zhu Ciyan hurried to Cining Palace to report the matter to Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan wondered in her heart, she didn't know why her son went and returned, and when she heard that Yue Su planned to resign, she couldn't help but be surprised. She was speechless for a long time, and it took a long time before she said, "Emperor, do you want Yue Su to leave?" ”

"The child doesn't want Lord Yue to be in charge of the cabinet, take care of the government on behalf of the child, be conscientious, and never negligent. There is no need for the child to say the credit of Lord Yue, from his gratitude to his father and loyalty to the child, the child does not want Lord Yue to leave. Zhu Ciyan said.

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "What you said is not wrong at all, with the current identity and status of Yue Su, when he leaves the imperial court, he will have to shake the world." However, why did he choose to leave now, he is not very old, not less than forty, anyone has a pursuit of power, why is he suddenly leaving. Qi Shijiao these people, how old are they, and they don't want to leave, he just wants to leave, tell me, what is the reason for this? ”

"Listening to Yue Qing, he felt tired and wanted to leave, live a dull life, return to his hometown, and fulfill his filial piety in front of his mother's knees." Zhu Ciyan said.

"On the surface, he would definitely say that, but for his mother, it won't be so simple." Zhang Yan said.

"What else does the queen think?" Zhu Ciyan hurriedly asked.

"It's also possible to retreat as advance. At the beginning, in the Heart Cultivation Palace, the queen mother once asked you to say the words of disobedience later, and asked Yue Su to kneel, maybe he is still angry now. Now I want to retreat and see what the emperor means. Zhang Yan said speculatively.

"Yue Qing won't do it. I saw him kneeling in front of his father's wooden man, and said a lot of emotional words, in addition to thanking his father for his kindness, he also said this sentence - 'The emperor has the grace of reinvention to the minister, and I still remember that in the Forbidden City, the minister was pointed out by a thousand people, and all people should be ruled to death. Of course, the minister later heard that it was the queen's idea, and the queen's kindness to the minister, the minister has always kept it in mind. Although, over the years, the queen has always been suspicious of the minister, but the grace and power are used, and the minister has never held a grudge. The minister is leaving, and after the minister leaves, the queen's heart should also be put down'. ”

Zhu Ciyan learned Yue Su's tone and taught what Yue Su said to Zhang Yan as it was. After hearing this, Zhang Yan suddenly felt a tingling in her heart, and after a long time, she said, "Yue Su really said that. ”

"Yes, Queen Mother." Zhu Ciyan nodded solemnly and said.

"Alas......" Zhang Yan sighed, "I didn't expect it, I have been suspicious of him many times these days, but he has seen it in his eyes, but he has never been jealous." It seems that I really live the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain. But ......"

Speaking of this, Zhang Yan changed her words and said: "Yue Su is very deep in the city, this matter, put it aside for the time being, wait for your wedding, see how Yue Su reacts, and whether he really wants to resign." If he really wants to go, let's talk about it. ”

The next thing is the emperor's wedding, making commemorative coins or something, compared with Yue Su's desire to resign, it is simply not a matter. Because Yue Su was leaving, Zhang Yan's face was always cloudy, and she was speculating all the time about what kind of chess Yue Su was playing. Zhu Ciyan is stronger than her, but it can also be seen that there is no newlywed festive energy.

Finally, the emperor got married, and the whole world celebrated. But half a month after the emperor's wedding, Yue Su made an excerpt - resigned.

"Wow!" …… As soon as this excerpt went up, the government and the opposition were immediately shocked, and no one thought that the first person in the court would invite himself to the most beautiful time. What is going on, there are different opinions in Yanjing City, some say that Yuesu is too cold at a high place, so he has to retreat bravely; Some speculate that Yue Su is taking retreat as a strategy, and wants to see the attitude of the new emperor towards him after he ascends the throne.

But no matter how they guessed, everyone set their eyes on the Forbidden City and Lord Yue.

When the emperor saw Yue Su's excerpt, he immediately sent it to Zhang Yan and made a decision for his mother. Zhang Yan didn't directly approve it this time like Yue Su did last time, because of Yue Su's merits and the fact that his son has become pro-government and has a stable position. Moreover, she also wanted to see what you Yue Su planned to do after she was not allowed. Is it true or false.

At that moment, she told her son that she would reject Yue Su's excerpt and not allow him to instruct.

Zhu Ciyan obeyed his mother's instructions, rejected the recital, and the reply was very simple, your Lord Yue is not very old, why are you in a hurry to retire, so let's do it.

Normally, this is a procedure, and the next thing is to depend on what Lord Yue means. Yue Su went to the book again and insisted on going home to serve his mother. And said that he was very tired now, and it was time to rest. There are many capable ministers in the DPRK and China, and one more of oneself and one less of oneself is nothing. I hope the emperor can grant permission.

Yue Su asked Zhishi for the second time, and the excerpt was sent to Zhu Ciyan, and he sent it to his mother in the same way. After Zhang Yan read it, she hesitated for a while before she could express her position, and her words were reassuring, but she was still not allowed.

These two methods are very clever, the first is to refute by force, the second is to appease with good words, say more New Year's greetings, I will not go into detail here, all in all, it is to say that you Yue Su's ability, the country can not do without you, the emperor can not do without you, if you have any requirements, although you mention, but you just can't go. This is not a small step, if you Yue Su retreat as advance, this time you will win. After all, Zhang Yan still feels that Yue Su can be relied on, for so many years, ups and downs, it is all relying on Yue Su to support and tide over difficulties, how can there be a reason to unload the mill and kill the donkey at this time.

However, after Yue Su received this reply again, he still took the third fold and continued to insist on leaving. As the saying goes, there are two in one, and there is no three and four. The first two times I was going to leave, the emperor was not allowed, but I persuaded each other, and I have already given enough face, if you really take retreat as advance, then accept it when you see it, be polite to each other, and forget it. But the third time he went to the book, the meaning was different, proving that Yue Su really wanted to go.

Seeing that Yue Su was going to leave for the third time, Zhang Yan couldn't help but settle down and took a serious look. Yue Su didn't mean to see it, he really wanted to leave. To let him go or not to let him go. Zhang Yan weighed it again, and finally decided to summon Yue Su into the palace and speak to his face.

Yue Su came to the imperial study by order, and he had long expected that he would not only see the emperor today, but also Zhang Yan.

"Aiqing, you don't have to be polite, just sit down and talk."

Zhu Ciyan was much more polite today than before, as soon as Yue Su entered the door, before he could say anything to invite Sheng'an, he took the first step to say.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live my emperor, long live, the queen mother, thousand years old. Yue Su still bowed and sat down.

As soon as he sat down, Zhu Ciyan immediately said: "Qing family, I invite you to come this time, not for anything else, but for the Qing family's own invitation." Over the years, the Qing family has worked hard and made great achievements, sharing worries for me, and solving problems for the court, I know it. Seeing that it is a peaceful and prosperous world, why did the Qing family leave. Can't you just stay and continue to assist me? ”

"Your Majesty, it is because of the peace and prosperity that the ministers dare to ask to leave the court. The ups and downs of the sea are said, the minister is really tired, and he really wants to return to his hometown and live that peaceful day. Serve the old mother, do some carpentry, rural life, and be at ease. Yue Su said truthfully, "The so-called people have their own aspirations, and I hope that the emperor can fulfill the micro-ministers." ”

"Yue Qing, the emperor saw that you had made up your mind, so he invited you here to keep you in person. Don't you take into account the feelings of the first emperor and want to leave it alone? Zhang Yan suddenly said on the side.

"The emperor, the queen mother, now the emperor is already in power, if not, the ministers dare to bear the burden of orphans. It is useless for the minister to continue to stay in the court, and it is time to retire. Yue Su said sincerely.

"How can the Qing family say that, your talent in governing the country, first solved internal and external troubles, and then made the country and the people safe, and said that the Ming Dynasty was prosperous, and there are still many things that need the Qing family." Zhang Yan said again.

"The country is now past the time of recuperation, and it can become more and more prosperous if it does nothing. On the Mongolian side, adopting the Huairou policy, it is expected that it will not take many years to be naturalized, and the county order election has developed to the whole country, and the people themselves elect their parents and officials, and there has been a certain effect, and the officials are clean and the people are safe. The treasury is full, all industries are prosperous, let it be, and it will be steaming. Yue Su said.

"Qing family, it seems that you really want to return to the countryside." Zhang Yan said.

"Yes." Yue Su nodded.

"Over the years, you have been dedicated to serving the country, loyal to the emperor, and living up to the trust of the emperor. On the contrary, the mourning family is still wary of you everywhere, don't you hate the mourning family? Seeing that Yue Sutie wanted to leave, Zhang Yan was very emotional, thinking of the past, and couldn't help but ask such a sentence.

"The queen mother is right, the emperor is young, the ministers have monopoly power, and the party henchmen are all over the government and the opposition, and the queen mother is right to beware of micro ministers. Thunder, rain and dew are all Jun's grace, besides, if there was no emperor and queen mother, the minister might have died long ago, how can there be today. Yue Su said sincerely.

"The Qing family is worthy of being my first loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, and the first emperor did not look at the wrong person. Okay, Yue Qing, since you want to leave, the mourning family will fulfill you. Wait for the emperor to issue an edict to allow your invitation to return to your hometown. Zhang Yan said again with emotion.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you Queen Mother." Yue Su stood up, came to the middle of the hall, and fell to his knees.

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor said: the first assistant Yue Su, repeatedly invited himself, but many times to stay, but Yue Su has made up his mind, I have no choice but to agree. During Yue Su's tenure, he not only made great contributions, but also was loyal and commendable, and I made a special decree to crown Yue Su as a loyal prince, hereditary replacement, and after his death, he was worthy of the Taimiao, and rewarded 30,000 taels of silver. Yue Su is really an example for hundreds of officials, and he hopes that other ministers will follow suit. Chin this. ”

The next day, the holy decree was issued, Yue Su packed his bags, and left Yanjing like this.

Before leaving, he rewarded Yuesu with a hereditary duke, although he was not a prince of the country, but he could also see grace, which could be regarded as an affirmation and recognition of his half-life achievements.

Yue Su resigned, and his subordinates, Jin Chan, Yin Zhu, Tong Xuan, and Tie Qiu, also asked for resignation. They are all regarded as Yue Su's retainers now, and wherever Lord Yue goes, they all follow him, even if they resign, they will all follow together. It's just surprising that Huzi is also leaving, even Jiang Jie is the same.

For the performance of these people, there are all in the credit book in the past, and now that people are leaving, Zhu Ciyan and Zhang Yan will not hesitate to reward, these six people, each of them will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver, plus the Lord of the Third Grade, and the captain of the light car.

In this way, everyone took a boat south and went to their hometown in Yunmeng County, Huguang. The emperor personally sent him off, and hundreds of civil and military officials arrived one after another, and they were sent to the outside of the Shili Pavilion, and the situation was not to mention the scenery. Not only the emperor and officials, but also the people of the capital also came. All people's feelings are complicated, some are feeling for Yue Su's departure, some are puzzled, some are reluctant, and of course, some are happy.

As soon as Yue Su left, the capital immediately made a lot of noise, and the court could not say that there was no first assistant, and the competition for the first assistant was launched in the parliament within a few days. But these have nothing to do with Yue Su.

Yue Su took the boat to the south, and suddenly there was a sound of the piano outside, the sound of the piano was pleasant to the ear, and this song was so familiar. Yue Su listened to it so earnestly that he couldn't help but sing.

"The rolling Yangtze River is passing away, the waves are sweeping away the heroes, the success or failure of right and wrong is empty, the green mountains are still there, and the sunset is red and ...... several times"

Several wives sat with Yue Su, and when they heard Yue Su suddenly chanting, others didn't think anything about it, only Ruan Aoyue looked at him with incredible eyes. It can be said that Ruan Aoyue couldn't believe that someone would sing this song, and who would be the person who played it outside?

The answer was immediately revealed, and when Yue Su was halfway through the song, he suddenly remembered something and rushed out of the cabin in a hurry.

"Brother Ye, is that you?"

As soon as he reached the deck, Yue Su shouted.

Next to Yue Su's big boat, followed by a small boat, the sound of the piano came from the small boat. Yue Su's shout fell, and the sound of the piano also stopped, and immediately after, he saw a woman in a white Luo skirt walking out of the cabin of the small boat.

"Brother Yue, it's been a long time since ......"

At the end of the play****************************************************** postscript In the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City, this year's lotus flowers are blooming very gorgeously, and Zhang Yan was invited by her son and daughter-in-law to come to watch together.

Although He'er is beautiful, Zhang Yan doesn't know why, she is always in no mood, and she always feels empty in her heart. Now that the world is peaceful, the country is stable, and she should enjoy peace, but for some reason, she always seems to feel that something is missing in her heart.

In front of the lotus, the daughter-in-law appreciated the beauty of the lotus, and the son echoed on the side, but she was the only one who didn't say a word.

"Queen Mother, you see how beautiful this lotus flower is, the child suddenly has some feelings, you say that you can carve this blooming lotus flower with wood?" Zhu Ciyan looked at her silent mother and said.

"Oh...... You're going to carve lotus flowers out of wood, that's a good idea. By the way, you said that man, what is he doing now, is he carving something, didn't he say, when he goes home, he will have nothing to do carpentry? Zhang Yan said casually.

"Mother, who do you say?" Zhu Ciyan asked puzzled.

"Yue Su." Zhang Yan said.

"The queen mother originally said Yue Qing, he must be carving now, the child estimates, maybe he is also admiring the lotus, maybe he will have the same mind as the child." Zhu Ciyan said with a smile.

"He's idle, and he's really living an idyllic life. But I don't know why, Wei Niang just can't see him idle, as soon as he leaves, he still leads such a high salary, and the three copper guillotines are also stored at home, and they are about to rust. As soon as Yue Su was mentioned, Zhang Yan's face showed a smile. In the past, I was always wary of him and fought with him, but now that I think about it, I think it's quite interesting. ”

"Queen Mother......" Zhu Ciyan didn't know why his mother suddenly remembered Yue Su, but he could only go down and say, "Those three copper grunts, my father had an order before he died, and the imperial court must not take them back during Yue Qing's lifetime, which is also my father's trust in Yue Qing." But what the queen mother said is right, I haven't heard of it in the past few years, Yue Qing's family has killed anyone with these three copper guillotines, even if it is not rusty, the child can see it, it is almost the same. ”

"Yes, it's always at home, it's really easy to rust. By the way, the emperor, three years ago, Yue Su seemed to have been on the fold, saying that his mother had passed away, and the court had rewarded him with a lot of silver, so he posthumously named his mother Mrs. Zhongci. Zhang Yan said again.

"There is such a thing, it's good to have a mother's surname." Zhu Ciyan said.

"It's been three years of filial piety at home, didn't he say that he wanted to do filial piety in front of his mother's knees, and now that filial piety has entered, I don't think I should be idle at home anymore, so as not to rust the emperor's knife. Emperor, are you right? Zhang Yan said.

"Queen Mother, you're right." Zhu Ciyan hurriedly responded.

"Yue Su's contribution back then was indeed not small, and it was not too much to give him a national duke. Son, see if you can give him a duke, it can be regarded as the court has not forgotten his exploits. Zhang Yan looked at her son.

"It's up to the queen mother." Zhu Ciyan bowed down and said.

"Then it's decided. Didn't he include Taiwan in his territory, and I don't know what that place was, it seemed to be really on the sea, and listening to him, it was the gateway to the southeast sea. In my opinion, it is better to crown him as the Duke of Taiwan, to be the imperial court town in Taiwan, and to guard the gateway to the southeast sea. After Zhang Yan finished speaking, she nodded with satisfaction, as if she felt that her idea was very good.

"Yes, Queen Mother. Child, this is called a will. ”

『End of the book』