In the next few days, the life of the academy was not shocked, and it was still the same, and there was no major news from the inner palace. I couldn't help but inquire with my young companions who had been transferred to the Inner Chamberlain, and they told me that the dragon body of the official family was gradually healing, because I heard that Princess Fukang prayed to the moon and prayed when he was uncertain, and was willing to replace his father, and I was quite moved, and from then on I loved the princess more and more. Although Zhang Meiren is arrogant in front of people, in the face of the official family, she knows how to observe words and feelings, and now seeing that he regards the princess as a palm bead, it is not good to mention the witch Gu again, and Youwu's condition has improved slightly, so she will not embarrass the princess for the time being.

On the day Cui Bai left the academy, I sent him to the palace gate. Before leaving, he led me to a secluded place, took out a scroll, handed it to me, and asked, "Can Huaiji give this picture of Qiupu Rongbin to a friend for me?" ”

I didn't think about it, but I was surprised after taking the painting: it turned out that Zixi had another friend in this palace.

Unfold a look, but see that he painted the Qiupu waterfront, the lotus is half folded, the hibiscus is gorgeous, three or two wagtails skim the water and inhabit among the flowers and leaves, there are autumn geese on it in pairs, one leads the neck to the right, one spreads the wings to the left, and flies in a whirlwind one after another. The scenery is smart, and the colors are light and elegant.

I couldn't help but marvel and asked him who he wanted to give.

He smiled and said: "A few years ago, the official family ordered the people in the painting academy to draw a scroll of Xingle map, but after the original was completed, the official family was not satisfied, and said: 'The room looks good, but the clothes of the palace people inside are not fashionable. So I ordered the female officials of the Decoration Department of the Shangfu Bureau to explain the characteristics of the palace costumes for us, and demonstrated the hairstyle combing method for us to see. The insiders who comb their hair form a group of two, and one person crowns the other's hair. Among them was a little girl of twelve or thirteen years old, who looked delicate and cute, and for some reason, combed her hair and wept on the wall. When I saw this, I was surprised and asked her why, and she said, 'The little finch I raised died this morning.' 'The voice is soft, and I really feel sorry. I promised her that I would give her an immortal finch the next day. I drew a wagtail that night and gave it to her the next day. She was pleasantly surprised and thanked her again and again. Her complexion was fine and white, her cheeks were slightly red at that time, and even the middle of her nose had a childish rouge color. What is the name of makeup? She was too shy to answer, and I didn't ask any more questions, but asked her to keep her makeup in this color in the future, and I wanted to draw her in the picture. For the next few days, she wore this makeup until I finished painting. ”

I bowed my head and said, "The director of the Shangfu Bureau is in charge of the ointment of the scarf and the clothes and plays, and it should be part of his duty to paint new makeup." ”

Cui Bai smiled: "But I later learned that her makeup was not depicted...... On the last day of the Shangfu Bureau's visit to the Academy, she was absent. I asked her companions, and they told me that although she was fair-skinned and unusual from ordinary people, she was also extremely sensitive, and that changes in the weather or improper diet could cause her face to be red. When I asked her about her makeup, she first went to comb Miao Zhaorong's hair, and Miao Zhaorong rewarded her with a peeled pomegranate. She couldn't eat this dry and sour thing, but because of her face, she had to eat it, and then her cheeks flushed, as if she had applied rouge. ”

I kind of understood: "Then she deliberately ate hot things in the next few days to keep her makeup for you to depict?" ”

Cui Bai nodded and sighed: "As a result, her anger became depressed, which made her feel unwell, and finally fell ill." I haven't seen her since. I've always been reluctant to go to this matter, so now I want to give this picture to her and apologize. ”

I then asked the girl's name, and Cui Bai said, "Her surname is Dong, and I heard other insiders call her 'Qiuhe'." ”

Again, I promise to deliver the painting. Because I was very familiar with him, I smiled casually: "When I saw you take out the scroll, I thought that this painting was given to me." ”

Cui Bai laughed: "How dare I ignore the nobles!" I wanted to pick a masterpiece to present, but I had no choice but to look at it, but I didn't see any disgraceful rewards. But I will pay attention to this matter, and he will draw a good picture for you one day. ”

After Cui Bai left, I immediately went to the Shangfu Bureau to look for Dong Neiren, but she was not among them at this time. The Shangfu Bureau, like the Shangyao, Shangyu, Shangran, and Shangshi Bureaus, is located in the northeast of Miyagi, not far from the Inner Servant Province, and I went there several times later, but I didn't find her. According to other insiders, Dong Neiren has a delicate mind and very good skills, and the concubines in the Forbidden City love to ask her to comb her hair, and often delay her until dark.

Even though I, as an internal servant, it is still not good to go to find a palace maid at night, and it is suspected of giving and receiving the picture scroll for outsiders to pass it on to outsiders, and it is inconvenient to leave the scroll for other insiders to hand it over, so this matter is postponed for the time being.

One day, after the service of the academy, I returned to the residence of the Inner Servant Province, and when I walked to the Tongye Gate connecting the Inner Servant Province, the Shangshu Inner Sect and the Emperor's Reading Place, I saw a small yellow door about the same age as me in front of me, holding a brocade box in one hand and pressing my abdomen with the other hand, bending over and slowly squatting down against the wall, with an expression on my face that seemed to be in pain.

I hurriedly walked over and asked him what was wrong, and he said that he had abdominal pain, probably an intestinal attack. I wanted to help him go to Shang Pharmacy, but he waved his hand again and again, and said: "The new Dali Commentator and Guozijian directly said that Sima Guang has a good name, so the official family ordered him to enter the right place more times. It took a while for the gift voucher to be handed over to the contract voucher for review by the Division, and I just took out the glass cup from the imperial treasury. Now that the official family has returned to the Funing Palace, Mr. Sima is still waiting in the Ying Pavilion, I wanted to go over to him quickly, but I suddenly fell ill...... This brother, can you send the glass cup over for me? Shang Pharmacy is nearby, so I'll just walk slowly by myself. ”

I hesitated, he kept urging me, looking very anxious, and finally I agreed, took the brocade box, and folded it to the Ying Pavilion.

There was a thin gentleman in the pavilion who sat upright and waited. The face is very young, and he should not be in his old age, but his expression is serious, and he is old and serious. When he saw me come in, he looked up at me, and his eyes were bright.

I hesitated and whispered "Mr. Sima", and when I saw him bowing his head, I approached with confidence and bowed down to present the brocade box to him.

He turned in the direction of Funing Palace, thanked Ruyi, took it, and slowly opened the brocade box.

The moment the lid opened, he was suddenly stunned. I saw that his expression was different, so I led my head to look into the box, and immediately like a thunderbolt, I stood in place, helpless.

The glaze inside is bright and clear, bright and crystalline, but it has been split into two halves.

The brief blank space in my mind was followed by a jumble of thoughts: not me, not me, I have always held the brocade box steadily, and I have never fallen...... I forgot to ask the name of the little yellow door just now...... It was useless to find him, and I had no way of proving that the glass cup was broken before it was handed to me......

At this time, the door of the pavilion suddenly opened, and several chamberlains poured in, and the last one to come in was the deputy governor of the province who entered the chamberlain.

Ren Shouzhong put his hands behind his back and slowly paced to my side.

"Good boy, I have broken the treasure given by the official family...... he said with a gloomy face, and suddenly turned his head to the side, and looked at the left and right attendants, and immediately someone stepped forward and brought me to my knees.

Ren Shouzhong bowed to Sima Guang again, and said: "The old practice in the palace is that the chamberlain damages the things given to the minister, and the minister is at his disposal. This kid is beaten or chased, and the gentleman just commands. ”

I am completely powerless to argue. It feels like I'm back to when I was a kid and was locked in a dark room. My vision blurred, my thoughts faded, the air I breathed filled with the smell of death, and I stared down blankly at the afterglow of the sunset through the window, unsure if I could see the bright sun tomorrow.

After a long wait, finally, a voice rang out.

"Let him go." Sima Guang said.

"What?" Ren Shouzhong was stunned for a moment, only suspecting that he had misheard.

"Let him go." Sima Guang repeated, his voice clearer, and his tone was unusually calm.

Ren Shouzhong frowned, still in disbelief: "Just let him go?" It is not an exaggeration to damage the things that have been given by the emperor and be sentenced to death. ”

"How can a reward be more valuable than a man's life?" Sima Guang said lightly, "This noble man is still young, and it is not a big deal to accidentally break the glass cup. ”

Ren Shouzhong was embarrassed: "However, the official family ......"

"If the official asks, please answer it in two sentences." Sima Guang paused slightly, and said: "Yujue Fu waved, although the ceremony was heard in the past; The clouds are easy to disperse, and the poor should be forgiven to the people. ”

Dali Appraisal belongs to the primary official of the capital, only eight grades, to the head of the internal service Ren Shouzhong, who is accustomed to seeing the minister, may not be insignificant at all, Mr. Sima's tone is peaceful, gentle and gentle, and he is not domineering, but a few words, there is a strange power, it sounds like a word, irresistible.

Ren Shouzhong looked at Sima Guang repeatedly, and stopped talking several times, and finally retreated stupidly.

Only me and Mr. Sima were left in the cabinet, and I bowed down with tears: "Mr. Sima's life-saving grace, Huaiji is grateful, and will be remembered forever." ”

He put his hands around me and smiled, "It doesn't have to be like this...... It's just that I'll have to be more cautious in the future. ”

I bowed my head: "Wai Ji remembers the teachings of Mr. ”

"Waiji?" He groaned, and then asked, "Are you Liang Huaiji, a nobleman from the Hanlin Calligraphy and Art Bureau?" ”

"Yes, I worked in the Book Art Bureau for a few years, and then I was transferred to the Hanlin Painting Academy." I replied, surprised, "How does the gentleman know ......?"

"I've heard Mr. Sun Zhihan talk about it." He said, "Look at my face more and more kindly."

In the winter of last year, when I was still working at the Hanlin Calligraphy and Art Bureau, one of my tasks was to transcribe the speeches of the ministers of the past for the editors of the Secret Pavilion to be put into the inventory. The official Sun Fu (the word Han) because of the red snow in the sky, and the earthquake disaster in the country, once to the emperor to the emperor, directly pointed at Zhang Meiren's favor of the city, the disaster gradually became a shadow, regardless of the difference between the noble and the low, the use of things is too much, resulting in a warning of the sky.

In the article, he quoted the words of Prime Minister Zhang Xingcheng in the "Book of Tang" to advise Tang Gaozongyuan to be a female villain: "I am afraid that women will use things and ministers will conspire, and it is appropriate to be in the shadow." Later, when the secretary of the province reviewed the original text and the transcription, he saw this change and asked Sun Fu for his opinion, and Mr. Sun even called him "ashamed", admitting that it was his own clerical error, and not only did not think he was angry when I made an unauthorized proposal to revise his words, but also praised him greatly, and mentioned it to many people.

"Have you read the Book of Tang?" Mr. Sima asked me, his tone implying appreciation.

I hesitated slightly, and then bowed my head and replied: "When Jia Xianggong was compiling and repairing the books of Zishantang, he gave a lecture to the attendants of the Hanlin Academy, and I went to listen to it and borrowed one or two books that were mentioned a lot in the recital of the ministers......

Zishantang was the reading place of the prince of the dynasty, and the prime minister Jia Changchao once summoned some scholars to give lectures to the attendants of the Hanlin Academy when compiling the books of Zishantang, and wanted them to participate in the revision of books. However, later the counselor Wu Yujin objected, saying that this move was "teaching the inner servant", which was easy to incur the disaster of eunuchs interfering in politics, so he stopped the internal service course today.

Since then, whether to train the chamberlains to be good at Confucianism and read books, or to keep them in the state of ignorant and ignorant slaves of the Son of Heaven, has always been a topic of debate between the two factions of the DPRK and China.

Hearing me mention this old incident, Mr. Sima smiled slightly, was silent for a moment, and then said, "You don't need to read too many books. The eunuch's important task is to serve the heavenly family, and he knows a few words, and it is enough to be used by the inner court. ”

I nodded yes. He looked at me and asked, "How old are you?" ”

"Fourteen this year." I replied.

He was quite emotional, shook his head slightly, and sighed: "It's a pity. ”

Naturally, I understand what this means by "pity". If I hadn't been a pure servant, he would have advised me to study more and become a pillar of the country in the future, but unfortunately as soon as I entered the palace, my life was doomed, and there was no hope for the country and my family.

I think Ren Shouzhong should have been in the official family, but I didn't see the official family order to punish me, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs only detained me for a slight punishment, which had almost no effect on me, because I had lived in the palace for many years, and there was basically no need for money. Over the years, I had accumulated a lot of money, and sometimes I would sit and stare at the box full of money, thinking back on my past and future life, and feeling that I had nothing at all, and that I was so poor that I had only money left.

I told my friend Zhang Chengzhao about the glass cup. Zhang Chengzhao has been working in the Calligraphy and Art Bureau, and he has a good understanding of the temperament of the ministers after hearing and witnessing, and sighed after hearing it: "Fortunately, you met Sima Guang, a well-known good person who knew how to smash urns to save people when he was a child, if he met a thorn like Wu Yu, he would have to lose his skin if he didn't die." Last time, he had an argument with Jia Xianggong in the court, and the two quarreled so much that they almost didn't roll up their sleeves and do it. The official family was so anxious that he tried to step down from the throne several times to persuade him, but was later stopped by Ren Duzhi......"

Speaking of this, he frowned, and suddenly realized a question: "I heard you just say, Mr. Sima just opened the box, and Ren Duzhi brought someone in?" ”

I said yes, and I vaguely felt that something was wrong here.

"How can it be such a coincidence! He knows that he is not the guard of the Ying Pavilion, and he waits there all day, but why did he lead someone to take you down as soon as you found out that the glass cup was broken? This matter is clearly set by someone. ”

I was silent, and Zhang Chengzhao asked again: "Have you offended someone recently?" ”

Is there one? Thinking about it, only Zhang Meiren can be called offended.

As soon as I told Princess Fukang about it, Zhang Chengzhao's eyes widened in shock: "You dismantle Zhang Beauty's platform, and compare her to Zhao Feiyan?" Who in the palace doesn't know that she is a master who will repay her! ”

I said, "Since I saw the situation at that time and didn't tell the truth, should I let Zhang Meiren wronged the princess?" ”

Zhang Chengzhao sighed: "The princess is the beloved daughter of the official family, don't say that she didn't do it, even if she really harms Zhang Meiren, what will your Taoist family do to her?" The master fights back and forth, and it is always the people below who suffer, so you shouldn't talk in this situation. ”

I looked down and didn't refute it, just said, "I didn't think that much." ”

Zhang Chengzhao looked at me helplessly and made a look of pity: "No wonder you are getting worse and worse in the palace." ”

He was referring to my "demotion" from the College to the Academy of Fine Arts, and asserted that I would still be ostracized, but the result surprised him: a month later, I was transferred to the Privy Council to do paperwork and delivery.

The Privy Council is located in the southwest of Miyagi, and the Zhongshu Gate and the three divisions are the most important central institutions, the main people of the Zhongshu, the main soldiers of the Privy Council, and the chief wealth of the three divisions.

Later, I learned that it was Mr. Sima Guang who recommended me to Pang Ji, the deputy privy councillor who knew him well, that the Privy Council was the main military officer, and the words were more and more incorrect, and that I had a good foundation and was competent enough to do the relevant work.

Because I am more grateful to Mr. Sima, and my reverence and gratitude for him have been maintained for many years, although one day later, when he commented on me in front of the emperor, "the mountain of sins should be punished", I also have no hatred for him.