The snow is getting heavier and heavier near Chang'an, but fortunately, it is the official road, and the snow is cleaned up every day, so it is okay, and there is no delay on the road for too long.

They traveled all the way without stopping, and when they arrived in Chang'an, it was just dawn.

At that time, Chang'an City was the time when the most people queued up to enter the city in the past, but now, probably because of the heavy snow, there are only a few people waiting in line.

Zhou Shilin raised his hand to cover his lips and yawned: "The ...... of this snowy day"

The rest of the words dissipated from his mouth, and there was fatigue in his eyes after many days of traveling, but now he had to cheer up and enter the palace to face the saint!

The officers and soldiers showed the guards guarding the city gate the waist signs, and the guards, who had already received the news, immediately flashed away, and the carriages and horses began to enter the city.

In the end, Chang'an City under the heavy snow, although there are still hurried pedestrians walking around the streets, and there are occasional passing officials patrolling, but compared with the past, this Chang'an City is obviously a lot lonely.

Pei Qingqing was lying on the side of the car window, looking at the shops on the side of the road that were going backwards one by one, and the people who had been walking all the way were also happy: "The sugar cake of Liji, the pastries of the Zhou family's shop, and the sugar cake of Lin Ermazi......" The dim sum shop in Chang'an City jumped out of her mouth like a treasure, and her eyes were full of excitement, "I haven't eaten it for a long time, and I miss it." ”

Seeing this, Qiao Ran couldn't help but smile and shook her head, and then listened to the little girl pause, and suddenly said: "There is also Sister Hongdou's sugar water, does she know that we will come back today?" ”

"I haven't said yet, so it's better to give a surprise." Qiao Ran said, bowed his head and said to Pei Qingqing, "I and a few adults are going to enter the palace to face the saint, thinking that I will put you down at the intersection in front of me, and you go home first." Otherwise, it's boring to be waiting outside the palace gate. ”

Pei Qingqing blinked, did not speak, but thought seriously for a while, and then said: "I'd better go with you, I miss my father and mother too." ”

almost forgot about this stubble, although this little girl always makes a farce of running away from home and coming to her from time to time, every time she goes back to Chang'an, she still has to go home to see her father.

"It's okay," Qiao Ran smiled and said, "In this case, you won't stop, and you will stop at the gate of the imperial city." ”

Without even asking where her father was, she knew that she would be put at the gate of the imperial city, Pei Qingqing made a grimace at Qiao Ran, and sat aside with a smile.

didn't stop all the way, just passed by the gate of the Yamen of Dali Temple, and Qiao Ran just lifted the curtain and took a look.

The gate of the yamen is open, probably because of the heavy snow, and the officials who stood at the door in the past have not come out, but the snow at the door has been cleared, and it is very clean.

Compared with many yamen who have simply put officials on leave, Dali Temple is obviously not idle.

His Majesty, who received the news in advance, did not have an early dynasty today, so the road was unimpeded, and after entering the imperial city, everyone was directly led to the side hall to wait.

While waiting, the female official Xue in front of the palace also brought people snacks and tea.

The craftsmanship of the imperial chef is naturally good, the pinched dim sum is in the shape of a flower, Qiao Ran looked down, and when he was about to pick up one, a pinch of plum blossom-shaped pastry was picked up, and then handed over.

"This one should be to your taste." Zhang Xie pinched the plum blossom cake road.

Qiao Ran took it easily.

Zhou Shilin sat down in the chair opposite and patted Bai Zhijun on the side, and said, "Fortunately, Lord Li was called in by His Majesty, otherwise it would ......."

Thinking of the blessing of those two bowls of noodle soup makes people feel cold.

Bai Zhijun glanced at him, shook his head and was about to persuade him, but the female official Xue in front of the palace came over at this time: "Please come with me, the Great Governor, General Bai." ”

Zhou Shilin and Bai Zhijun hurriedly got up, straightened their robes and followed Female Officer Xue out.

This time, His Majesty did not call everyone together for questioning, but chose to summon them one by one.

As soon as Zhou Shilin and Bai Zhijun left, only her and Zhang Xie were left in the side hall.

"Don't worry." Zhang Xie paused and looked out of the hall.

The two female officials were guarding outside the hall, not looking close to them, and they didn't care about the things in the temple. However, he knew that these two female officials were not ordinary women, and they had learned good martial arts, so I was afraid that what happened in this palace would be passed on to His Majesty by them.

Qiao Ran followed his gaze and said, "I'm not worried. "The errand is not messed up, so naturally there is no need to worry.

"But this time when I went back to Chang'an, what I saw surprised me a little." The girl picked among the pastries, picked up a piece of plum blossom cake and took a bite, and said, "I'm not making a fuss out of nothing, nor am I afraid that the world will not be chaotic or anything, but I just feel that the Chang'an City I saw this time is a little too quiet." ”

It was so quiet that she was a little unaccustomed to it.

"There are a lot of idlers in the city," Qiao Ran thought for a while, and said, "On this snowy day, you can walk around the Speculation Hall, go to the teahouse and tavern to listen to the stories or something, but we have just come all the way, but we have not seen a single person like this." ”

Hearing her mention this, Zhang Xie thought for a while and said, "When you say this, it reminds me that the people who lined up at the city gate to enter the city are a little familiar. ”

Qiao Ran looked at him.

Facing the girl's surprised eyes, Zhang Xie smiled and said, "It's from the suburban farm, and the pigs and vegetables raised are also some fish and shrimp, and they don't go to the market, but are sent directly to the homes of the powerful and wealthy families in the city." ”

Qiao Ran sighed, and suddenly said: "So these powerful and rich people really don't even go out." ”

She was a little surprised to come to this conclusion: "Can those people really hold back from going out?" ”

After all, as far as she can see, when she is full of food and has nothing to do, she ran out on a windy and snowy day, and when she chatted with the group of colleagues in Dali Temple before, she also heard that someone who learned to lie on the ice without clothes on a snowy day a few years ago felt the suffering of the people without clothes, and then froze himself to death.

As for not sleeping in the middle of the night and reciting poetry, it is a good reason to see a flash in the pan.

"I don't think so." Zhang Xie said with a smile.

"Then maybe it's not ordinary," Qiao Ran paused and suddenly smiled, "When you go back in a while, just go to Dali Temple and ask." ”

It may have been something that had happened in such a quiet city that the people didn't just go out.

After chatting for a while, His Majesty summoned Zhang Xie again, and after Zhang Xie left, she put down the pastry in her hand, took out the handkerchief in her sleeve pocket, and slowly wiped her hands.

Unexpectedly, the last person His Majesty summoned was her.

However, she didn't feel that this was His Majesty's contempt, but more likely...... Thinking of this, Qiao Ran stretched out her hand and straightened the entire crown. It's not that she's humble or anything, but that if His Majesty wants to know more about this case, it must be up to her.

So, that's probably the last one to summon her.

……

Qiao Ran didn't stay alone in the side hall for a long time, and soon, the female official Xue who led people to the imperial study to see His Majesty one after another came.

"Please come with me, Lord Joe!"

Qiao Ran got up and thanked him.

Lady Xue returned the salute, turned around and walked out.

From beginning to end, the word "ceremony" was not leaky.

In this regard, Qiao Ran was not surprised. can stay in front of His Majesty for more than ten years, it must be meticulous, and I can't find the slightest fault. Moreover, this female official Xue heard that she was also a model of famous and noble women in the city back then, whether it was dignified appearance, background or talent, she was one of the best.

Qiao Ran followed Lady Xue out of the side hall.

It's not disappointed, she just always feels that this Xue female official is too restrained, or maybe it's because she has served the king all the year round! It's just that there are folk rumors about how this Xue female official is so good, and she and the Great Heavenly Master are both female role models. She subconsciously regarded Female Officer Xue as a woman like the Great Heavenly Master.

Qiao Ran remembered that the Great Heavenly Master she had met once, who acted decisively and intelligently, but did not adhere to worldly views, in her opinion, the Great Heavenly Master was better than this restrained Xue female official. Of course, this is just the words of her family, maybe for some people, a noble female model, obedient, restrained, and polite Xue female official is what they think is the demeanor of a noble girl.

After thinking too much for a while, she was a little distracted, and when Lady Xue's voice sounded in her ears, Qiao Ran came back to her senses.

"Lord Qiao," for her wandering daze, Lady Xue didn't reveal much other emotions, but just reminded her, "Your Majesty is invited." ”

Qiao Ran thanked him, pushed open the slightly hidden door of the hall and walked in.

The warmth on the face makes people feel comfortable, and the charcoal basin burns very warm. Qiao Ran took a deep breath, and then unexpectedly smelled a cool smell to the bone. Very refreshing taste, Qiao Ran looked at the source of the taste, and incense was burned on the small table next to the imperial study, where the smell came from.

At that time, people preferred warm incense in winter, but His Majesty did the opposite with cold incense, and this incense, compared with the almost inaudible fragrance, has a more obvious refreshing effect.

It seems that His Majesty is really diligent, and even the refreshment incense prepared in the imperial study is this kind.

Of course, these inconsequential things just flashed in Qiao Ran's mind for a moment, she stepped forward and walked in front of the empress to give a salute: "Qiao Ran, an official of Dali Temple, see Your Majesty." ”

"Get up!" The Empress's voice rang out from behind the curtain.

Qiao Ran got up, lowered her eyes slightly, and looked at the empress in front of her.

This is the first time she has met His Majesty, and it is the first time she has been so close to His Majesty, and at this moment, she can't help but feel slightly stunned.

The girl's momentary apprehension fell into the eyes of the empress above, and she was a little surprised: "Qiao Aiqing, you ......" paused, and couldn't help laughing, "I'm afraid I can't find a few of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military who dare to be in a daze in the imperial study." ”

As soon as these words came out, Qiao Ran hurriedly replied: "Minister, I am indeed in a trance. Chen Zhi didn't expect that at the beginning of this year, Xia Guan was still thousands of miles away in Jinling, but now he can stand here, see the face of the sky, and sigh for a moment that the world is impermanent! ”

With such a big gap between the front and back, it is inevitable to feel emotional, which is also human nature.

"I have always paid attention to promoting meritocracy, and you can appear here because of your talents," the empress looked at her and nodded slowly, "The errand on Shanxi Road is very good. ”

"The minister is terrified." Qiao Ran said, "It's better to let the mastermind behind the scenes run away." ”

"It's not your fault." The empress rubbed the round wooden chess piece in her hand, looked at the red word "pawn" on the chess piece and snorted lightly, and suddenly said, "I have clear rewards and punishments, you do a good job, you should naturally be rewarded!" She said as she reached out and covered a brocade box in her hand, and asked her with a smile, "I often hear that Zhen Shi is quite talented from afar, why don't you guess what I will reward you?" ”

Qiao Ran: "......"

Who could have guessed that? She is not familiar with this empress at all, let alone the unfathomable Sacred Heart, I am afraid that even the female officials who accompany her all year round can't guess what is in the brocade box!

Of course, the empress didn't mean to embarrass her, as if Fang Cai's sentence was just a casual joke, and she didn't mention it again, but just let her take the brocade box and go back to see the contents of the brocade box.

However, after the reward, the empress did not let her leave immediately, but suddenly lowered her voice and said solemnly: "During the time you were not in Chang'an, a major event happened in Chang'an. My subordinates want to leave this matter to you, is Aiqing willing to take over? ”

At this point, who can retreat? Qiao Ran was taken aback, and hurriedly knelt down and said, "Minister...... I will do my best to live up to the Holy Command! ”

"Good!" The empress looked at the girl kneeling at the bottom and paused, and suddenly said, "But this case may involve a lot of people, in order to facilitate your investigation, I will give you another thing, so that no one in this Chang'an City dares to stop you." ”

How can this be? Qiao Ran raised her head in surprise: I don't know what kind of case His Majesty wants her to investigate.

……

……

Even when she was the last to be summoned, she didn't linger long in the imperial study before she withdrew. Before leaving, Lady Xue took two palace maids to move a large stack of music folds into the imperial study.

Qiao Ran walked out of the hall and looked at the slightly hidden palace door, the empress sitting on the dragon chair, holding the imperial pen in her hand, and the curtain shook slightly.

Sure enough, the emperor is not so easy to be, especially when you want to be a good emperor.

There are many things in this world, and the palm of the country naturally has to bear the heavy pressure of the governance of the country.

There are gains and losses! Qiao Ran walked out of the imperial city all the way with the brocade box.

As soon as she stepped out of the Yellow City Gate, she saw Pei Qingqing waving to her with a burden.

"Miss Joe!"

Qiao Ran looked at it with a burst of laughter, walked over, took a deep breath, and the sweet fragrance in the air made her can't help but raise her eyebrows: "Ran away from home again?" ”

Pei Qingqing snorted twice and said, "Yes! I ran away from home with my baggage this time! ”

Qiao Ran glanced at the purse on her waist and glanced at Zhang Jie, she had to run away from home eight hundred times a year, and she was used to it.

Zhang Xie stretched out his hand and took the brocade box in her hand: "Your Majesty's reward? ”

Qiao Ran nodded: "What about you?" ”

Zhang explained: "Some ordinary gold and silver rewards, they will come down with Yu Lu next month, but you are a little different." ”

This brocade box had already been seen by the people who had entered it before, and it was placed in His Majesty's hand, and it turned out to be for her.

"Let's get in the car first." After glancing at the girl's somewhat reddened nose all the way, Zhang Xie stretched out his hand and helped her into the carriage.

There was a charcoal basin in the carriage, and it was very warm.

Pei Qingqing was already curious about the contents of the brocade box, and as soon as she got into the carriage, she hurriedly opened it to see what His Majesty had rewarded.

Qiao Ran smiled and said hello, and opened the brocade box under the gaze of Pei Qingqing and Zhang Jie.

In the bright yellow satin lay quietly a golden scale.

"It turned out to be a rod scale!" Pei Qingqing was disappointed, and thought it was something amazing!

Compared to this kind of golden pimple, her dim sum is delicious.

The little girl turned her head and opened the burden on her body, and naturally she didn't notice the slight changes in the faces of Zhang Xie and Qiao Ran on the side at the same time.

There was a woman in the previous dynasty, when she was born, her mother dreamed of a giant and gave a scale, saying that she could weigh the world by holding this scale in the future.

And the scale in front of him is not a gift from ordinary people, it is Your Majesty.

The implication is self-evident.

Book Keju Reading Website: