Back in the capital, the emperor listened to the government in Qianqingmen on the first day, and said: "One is Mingzhu, the other is Suo Etu, and the two of them have been fighting for decades." It's not that I don't know what they've done, and I'm not protecting them, I want them to repent. However, they only took my words as a deaf ear! Suo Etu is especially hateful, he should be killed! After remembering that he was a meritorious service, I also had military exploits when I was young, so I saved him from death. There are also a group of people who collude with each other and do a lot of shameless things. All your servants should take warning! ”

The ministers bowed their heads, lest their names be called by the emperor. The emperor glanced at the ministers and said, "I am deeply pleased that most of you can be loyal, fulfill your duties, and be innocent officials. I want to talk about Chen Tingjing today. I ascended the throne at the age of eight, and Chen Tingjing was only twenty-four years old at that time. Since then, Chen Tingjing has been studying with Master Wei. It's been forty-eight years, I'm already fifty-six, and Chen Tingjing is already a seventy-year-old man. His green hair, I watched it turn white with my own eyes. Forty-eight years have passed, and now that I look back, I can't find Chen Tingjing's fault! My evaluation of Chen Tingjing is eight words: lenient and old, almost perfect! ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly knelt down to thank him and said, "Thank you for the emperor's mercy!" To err is human? In the forty-eight years of the minister's reign, there must have been many things that were disqualified and wrong, but the emperor was benevolent and couldn't bear to punish the crime. ”

The emperor smiled and said: "Old Xiangguo, you don't have to be humble!" ”

Chen Tingjing bowed his head and said: "The minister once heard the emperor say that the dynasty does not have the position of the country!" ”

The emperor smiled and said: "I said that you are Xiangguo, you are Xiangguo!" ”

There were still many people who were condemned by the emperor on this day, but they didn't hear the names of Gao Shiqi and Xu Qianxue. It turned out that the emperor had cared about the monarch and ministers for decades, and he couldn't bear to pursue their crimes anymore. Later, the emperor actually gave some rewards to Gao Shiqi for the calligraphy and paintings he had collected for many years, and sent someone to send them to Hangzhou. What is the deep meaning of the emperor's move, outsiders are puzzled. Xu Qianxue was depressed at home, but one day he suddenly received a golden plaque from the emperor, which turned out to be the four big characters of the imperial book: Brilliant flames. Xu Qianxue guarded these four words and set up a museum in his hometown to give lectures, looking like he was bathing in the emperor's grace, but he couldn't say anything bitter in his heart. Scholars all over the world are seeing more and more that the emperor treats the old ministers well, and there is really a holy monarch atmosphere.

Chen Tingjing returned home and was very interested, and said: "The emperor gave me eight words today in front of hundreds of civil and military officials: lenient and old, almost perfect. ”

Yueyuan was overjoyed and asked, "What did the emperor say personally?" ”

Chen Tingjing laughed and said: "Yueyuan is really going back more and more, didn't the emperor say it himself, I still dare to be pretentious?" He laughed again.

Zhen'er said: "The master is a perfect person, Zhen'er has been with you for so many years, and I really can't find your fault!" ”

Chen Tingjing said again: "The emperor still calls me Lao Xiangguo!" ”

Yueyuan is really a little strange when she sees the old man looking like him today. The old man always said that he was not shocked by the humiliation, but what happened today? When the pearl was in power, the Manchu Dynasty competed for the Xiangguo, and it didn't take long for the Xiangguo to be planted. Yueyuan was preoccupied, but Chen Tingjing was full of emotion, and said: "Eradicate the treacherous villain, the monarch and the minister are harmonious, and the top and bottom are united, and it is possible to open up peace for all generations!" It's a pity that the old man is old, if only he were ten years younger. ”

She had already fallen asleep at night, but Yueyuan still couldn't help persuading: "Tingjing, you are really old." Life is rare for seventy years, and it can no longer be reckless. ”

Chen Tingjing smiled: "Where am I getting old?" I won't be in a sedan chair another day, and I'm still riding a horse. ”

Yueyuan said: "I think you can go back to your hometown in Shanxi while you are still in good health, so that you can live a few years of leisure." There are still strong performers in the court, and it can't be said that my family is disloyal. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Yueyuan, I don't like to hear what you say. The emperor entrusts him with state affairs, how can I slap my ass and leave? ”

One day, Chen Tingjing went to the Yamen, and Yueyuan and Zhen'er were talking about the master at home. Yueyuan said: "Sister Zhen'er, did you say that Tingjing was a little confused?" ”

Zhen'er said: "Sister, why do you keep picking on the master these days, aren't you?" Where is the old man confused? ”

Yueyuan shook her head and said, "Sister Zhen'er, that's because you're confused!" Tingjing, he can't be an official anymore. ”

Jane asked, "Why?" The emperor trusts him, and the court needs him, so why don't you become an official? ”

Yueyuan said: "I've seen it for so many years, and I know that as long as the minister is called Xiangguo, a catastrophe is about to come." This is true of Mingzhu, and so is Suo Etu. ”

Zhen'er said: "But our master is different from them, Mingzhu and Suo Etu are bad people!" ”

Yueyuan knew that there were some truths that Zhen'er didn't understand, so she said: "Sister Zhen'er, you only listen to your sister's words and persuade Tingjing, he is now more and more unable to listen to me." ”

Chen Tingjing looked at the excerpts in the south study every day, and the emperor often came here when he went down to court. There is an old tree under the window at the root of the wall on the south side of the south study, Chen Tingjing has occasional leisure after finishing his official work, and likes to sit here to burn incense and play the piano, or drink tea. Chen Tingjing's piano skills are highly appreciated by the emperor, and he likes to listen to him play a few songs in his spare time. Although the emperor is also through the six arts, there is a time when the emperor heard the sound of Chen Tingjing's qin in the Qianqing Palace, the music is quaint and simple, which makes people think of being out of the dust, but it is very strange and has never heard it.

The emperor couldn't help but come out, and he waved his hand from afar and told Chen Tingjing not to stop. The emperor walked over slowly, and when Chen Tingjing finished playing, he asked, "Old Xiangguo, what kind of tune are you playing?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Back to the emperor, this song is called "Gull and Heron Forget the Machine", and the emperor knows that "Liezi" is exemplified. It is said that there is a fisherman who goes to the beach every day to catch fish, and plays with seagulls, and has a good time. One day, the fisherman's wife said, "Since seagulls are so fun, you can catch them and come back for me to play." The fisherman promised his wife. On the second day, when the fisherman went to the beach again, the seagulls saw him and flew away. It turned out that the seagull saw through the fisherman's ingenuity. ”

The emperor nodded for a long time and said, "Tingjing, what you said made me understand a truth. This is true for people and birds, and even more so for people and people, mutual trust, no scheming, natural Vientiane is peaceful, and the world is peaceful. ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "Congratulations to the emperor, now is a peaceful and prosperous era, the monarch and the ministers are harmonious, and there is no scheming." ”

The emperor was very happy and said: "Old Xiangguo, you are rarely at leisure, I am very happy to see you caressing the piano under the window, the crane has a childish face, like a fairy wind and bones." I asked the painter of the Ruyi Pavilion to draw a picture for you, and it will be called "The Window Map". ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly thanked him, and the straight old minister couldn't afford it. Zhang Shande, who was next to him, listened, and was even happier than Chen Tingjing himself, and immediately ordered the eunuchs below to go to the Ruyi Pavilion to deliver the decree. After Chen Tingjing finished his desk work for several days, he went to sit under the tree and asked the painter to paint for him. After the painting is completed, it is presented to the emperor first. The emperor was very satisfied, and inscribed a poem on it: "The horizontal passage summons the grass, and the memory is winged." Etiquette and righteousness heirloom family motto, fresh and purple hair. Fang Yao is better than Yayun, Li Du and Shihao. How can it be like a flat appearance, a happy palace brocade robe. ”

Chen Tingjing was grateful, and naturally thanked him in poetry. But after all, the state affairs are heavy, and when he has little time, Chen Tingjing is buried in the case all day long. One day, he looked at the excerpt, frowned, and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers think that when the ministers and governors of the court and the governor take care of the excerpts, they should be ordered to omit the false text, and if they have something to say, don't move what Kunlun is towering, and the Yangtze River is surging." ”

The emperor smiled and said: "Old Xiangguo, readers like to write articles beautifully, so let them be, whether they like to listen or not, I naturally know it." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "But the minister feels that the style of sycophancy is really inappropriate. ”

The emperor smiled and said, "Okay, I know it in my heart." ”

Chen Tingjing thought that the emperor's ears were only afraid that they would slowly soften, and the emperor couldn't listen to sycophants in the past. I think the emperor may know more about the way of royal people? I know that there are some beautiful things to say below, so I let them say it. To be significantly peaceful, good words are naturally indispensable.

Chen Tingjing was immersed in writing the ticket, and the emperor handed over a fold and said, "Old Xiangguo, look at this." ”

Chen Tingjing took the fold with both hands, and when he saw that it was a secret performance, he hurriedly said, "How can the secret music minister see it?" ”

The emperor said: "I think it's a secret piece you watch, so you can watch it first, and then send it to me to see." ”

Chen Tingjing knelt down to thank him and said, "The emperor favors the old minister so much, the minister is terrified!" ”

The emperor hurriedly helped Chen Tingjing up with his own hands and said: "There are at least hundreds of ministers who have been serving by my side for many years, and most of them will inevitably rise and fall, and those who are too uncompetitive will never be used." Only you are an old Xiangguo, and you have suffered some small grievances, and you have always been disciplined in the end. I believe in you! ”

When the emperor said this, there were several ministers in the south study, and they regarded Chen Tingjing as the first assistant and respected him very much. Chen Tingjing thanked him again, lowered his head and looked at the secret music again, but saw that this was an excerpt from the Taoist ginseng. After reading the tantric recital, he said: "Your Majesty, the lower side of the excerpts, especially the upper tantra, should be well-founded. When you hear about it, you are afraid of being wronged! ”

The emperor was kind and pleasant, and said: "Old Xiangguo, you don't remember, right?" You've probably forgotten that the rumors and rumors were exactly what I advocated back then. If you don't allow your servants to hear about it, you will stop their mouths, and I will become blind and deaf! ”

Chen Tingjing said again: "But the minister is afraid that some people will use the excuse of rumors and rumors to fabricate charges and crack down on dissidents. ”

The emperor shook his head and said, "I have my own decision, and I will not listen to and believe partially." ”

After Chen Tingjing finished reading the secret music in his hand, the emperor handed another one and said, "Please also ask Lao Xiangguo to watch this first." ”

Chen Tingjing knew that it was not a good thing to watch the secret music, but the emperor instructed him not to dare not watch it. He opened this secret music and took a look, but saw that it was Liu Xiangnian. It turned out that not long after Liu Xiangnian returned to Beijing, he was appointed by the emperor as an envoy to Jiangsu. In the end, the emperor valued Liu Xiangnian's loyalty, and just told him to change his temper.

Chen Tingjing saw Liu Xiangnian write on the secret recital: "The minister's visit to Lianghuai has a lot of expenses, and its names are listed below. 1. Hospital fees, the old practice of the Yancha Yamen included birthday gifts, lantern festivals, ghostwriters, rear secretaries, family members, etc., a total of 86,100 taels. 2. Provincial fees, for the Jiangsu Governor and Fu Sidao Yamen regulations, a total of 34,500 taels. 3. The secretary fee is the bad rules of the Yamen of the Yundao Road, a total of 24,600 taels. Fourth, miscellaneous expenses, for the two Huai miscellaneous communication, in addition to the two farewells, the past scholars, there are still 62,500 taels. The above four paragraphs are all sent to the heads of the merchants, and every time the money and grain of the imperial court are not completed, the above-mentioned floating fees are first put into private pockets. The minister thought that the floating fee should be abolished and the government should be purified. ”

Chen Tingjing finished watching the secret recital and said: "Your Majesty, Liu Xiangnian, the envoy of the inspector, is really using the right person. "After that, I will present the secret music to the emperor.

Unexpectedly, the emperor saw it, shook his head and sighed: "Liu Xiangnian acted like this for a long time. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Xiang Nian is indeed too upright, but if he is not vigilant in what he plays, the wind of greed for ink can't be stopped." ”

The emperor stopped talking, lifted the Zhu pen and said, "I know." The second paragraph of the four floating fees listed cannot be removed, and there is not much money, so why bother to offend the governor for this, but accumulate harm! Governing the place is to be quiet, and there is no need to make a big deal when something happens. I tell you to change your temper, and you must remember it. Careful, careful, careful, careful! ”

The secret music is still going to return to Liu Xiangnian's hands, and the emperor approved four cautions in a row, and Chen Tingjing was shocked to see it. He secretly confessed to himself that he would try to watch as little as possible in the future.

Chen Tingjing's family couldn't hear the sound of the piano for a long time. He always stayed at his desk late into the night, either writing excerpts or proofreading manuscripts. At this time, the emperor put the errand of the president of the "Kangxi Dictionary" on his shoulders. Originally, Zhang Yushu was the president, and Chen Tingjing was the vice president. But Zhang Yushu died not long ago, and the president's errand was all on him.

Yueyuan had to persuade him several times every night before he was willing to go to bed to rest, but he always said that he couldn't use one day as two days. One day and night, Yueyuan couldn't help it anymore and said bluntly: "Tingjing, the more things you do, the more dangerous it becomes. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Yueyuan, how did you become a person?" ”

Yueyuan said: "You will be thankless. ”

Yueyuan and Zhen'er talked about the master at home every day, Zhen'er understood Yueyuan's thoughts, so she said: "Sister, what do you think in your heart, you can say it, it depends on your master's urgency!" ”

Yueyuan said: "You are so tired that you want to die, you think you are doing your best, and you are dead; Others look at it, but they are greedy for power and position, covering the sky with one hand. ”

Chen Tingjing was furious and scolded: "Yueyuan, you are becoming more and more disagreeable!" With that, he got up and ran to the patio to get angry.

Yueyuan ignored him, Zhen'er chased him out, and persuaded: "Master, it's cold outside, you can go into the house." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "The emperor has put so many things on my shoulders, how dare I be lazy?" ”

Zhen'er said: "Sister is also good for you!" She's seen so many things, maybe it's clear to the bystanders. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "A woman's family, what do you know! ”

Zhen'er smiled: "Zhen'er is also a woman's family!" We don't understand, who cares about you! ”

Chen Tingjing said: "You are also angry with me!" ”

Zhen'er pulled Chen Tingjing and said, "Okay, let's go into the house, what are you gambling on?" ”

Chen Tingjing shook his head and followed Zhen'er into the house, but his mouth was complaining: "You two, you know how to make me angry!" ”

Zhen'er smiled: "One day we won't be angry with you, you will feel bored again!" ”

In the spring, the emperor summoned Chen Tingjing to visit the garden in Changchun Garden. The emperor remembered several southern tours, so he said: "Every time I go to Hangzhou, I feel that the gardens of the rich people there are getting better and better, which shows that Jiangnan is really rich." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, if the people are peaceful today, the people are getting richer, and the country will be forever solid." It's just that the minister thinks that the world is not as good as before. The trend of extravagance in the world is flourishing day by day, the officials are not tired of food and clothing, and the people are not tired of the joy and sorrow. There is always a limit to the riches of the world, and the desires of man are unfathomable. The minister believed that the etiquette system of the world should be reformulated, and certain rules should be established for the clothing, food, housing and transportation of the officials and the people, so as to promote frugality. ”

The emperor smiled and said: "Tingjing, your wish is good, but the way you came up with is too roundabout." The food is getting better and better, which means that the country is prosperous and the goods are abundant. What you like to eat and what to use, how big the pomp and circumstance of red and white ceremonies are, it has become a habit over time, and it is difficult to return, and there is no way for the court to forcibly change. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, what the minister is worried about is that if you listen to the trend of extravagance as the wind grows longer, the people's hearts will not be ancient. The important thing is that the court officials are all extravagant, and they are only greedy for silver. ”

The emperor said: "Officials dare to be corrupt, and they will be investigated and dealt with according to the law, why is it difficult?" ”

Chen Tingjing still said: "If you don't cure it from the source, the officialdom will get worse and worse, where can the imperial court investigate and deal with it?" ”

When the emperor heard this, he no longer admired the spring in the garden, looked at Chen Tingjing, and said: "According to the old minister's intentions, all the officials of the dynasty are rotten?" Now it can be said that the river is clear and the sea is clear, the world is abundant, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Could it be that I take care of the country so well, relying on all corrupt officials? ”

Chen Tingjing was speechless, and was stunned for a long time before he realized his guilt. When I got home, I looked depressed and sat alone in the study and sighed. In the past, when Mrs. Li was here, Weng and his son-in-law often talked late at night. He rarely talks about the affairs of the court at home now, and this time he can't help but talk to Yueyuan about his grievances, but the emperor can't listen to a word of his words.

Yueyuan said: "Tingjing, you think that the emperor trusts you, so you can say anything." The following excerpt is going to say something beautiful first, and the emperor also knows that it is not interesting, but the emperor likes to listen to it, don't you let him listen to it? I really don't want to say it below, and the emperor won't be able to hear it if he wants to, maybe the emperor won't take it seriously. Tingjing, you originally understood these truths, and you told me, why did you end up confused? The etiquette of the world is not unchanged in ancient and modern times, you want everyone in the world to eat and dress according to the regulations of the court, and it is not the emperor who said you, you are really a little roundabout. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Which is so simple as you say? Is it to eat and dress? It's about the world and the rule of officials! ”

Chen Tingjing couldn't listen to Yueyuan's advice, he thought that either the imperial court should strictly practice frugality and prohibit officials from being extravagant; Either we can increase the number of officials and prevent them from becoming greedy again. One day in the early dynasty of the Qianqing Palace, Chen Tingjing said: "The minister thinks that the officials of the national dynasty are too thin, and many officials have lost treasury money and accepted bribes, which is really a last resort. The imperial court should increase the amount of silver to cut off its greed. ”

The emperor listened strangely and said, "Chen Tingjing, I feel that your speech is becoming more and more out of tune. You have always been honest and self-controlled, why are you speaking for corrupt officials today? ”

Chen Tingjing said: "The minister just wants to let the officials secretly corrupt, it is better to increase their income openly." ”

The emperor said: "To be an official of my Qing Dynasty is to be cleared." I said a long time ago that if you want to get rich, you don't want to be an official; If you are an official, you are not allowed to get rich. The former Ming Dynasty collapsed, and the extravagance of hundreds of officials was an important source of disaster. The emperor said, picking up a fold on the imperial case, "I once ordered someone to check the court expenses of the Ming Dynasty and compare them with the present." The accounts are clear, Fu Lun, you read it to everyone. ”

At this time, Fu Lun has entered Beijing to walk, and he is still the secretary of the household department. He took the fold handed over by Zhang Shande and read: "The palace of the Ming Dynasty uses more than 969,400 taels of silver every year, and the dynasty is less than one-tenth of it, and the silver saved is used as military salary; In the Ming Dynasty, Guanglu Temple gave more than 240,000 taels of silver to the palace every year, but now it is only 30,000 taels; In the Ming Dynasty, more than 26.86 million catties of firewood were used in the palace every year, and now only six or seven million catties are used in the palace; In the palace of the Ming Dynasty, more than 12 million catties of red snail charcoal were used every year, and now only more than 1 million catties are used; In the Ming Dynasty, the palaces used bed tents, sedan chairs, carpets, etc., and shared more than 28,200 taels of silver every year, and now the palaces do not use them; The number of palace pavilions and gates in the Ming Dynasty is 786, which is now less than one-tenth; There are only one hundred and thirty-four concubines and palace maids in the Qianqing Palace, less than one-third of the Ming Dynasty. ”

The emperor waited for Fu Lun to finish reading and said, "I can be hard and thrifty, why can't you do it?" ”

Chen Tingjing played: "The emperor's frugality and virtue are better than the emperors of the ages!" But the emperor is thrifty, and the subordinates are not necessarily thrifty, and the things on the books are not necessarily reliable. ”

The emperor was even more angry when he heard this, and said, "Chen Tingjing, you are too presumptuous to say this!" ”

Chen Tingjing pleaded guilty, but said: "The minister's hometown produces dates, and the minister ate dates when he was a child, and he loves to pick red and beautiful food, but the more red and beautiful, the more rotten it is." It turned out that insects had already burrowed into it and eaten up all the meat. The minister understood a truth, the more rotten dates inside, the more red and bright the outside! ”

Chen Tingjing said this, and there was a buzz in the hall for a while. Those who secretly hate him on weekdays say that he pretends to be the country, relies on the old and sells the old, and does not take the emperor in his eyes. Only Zhang Pengxi said that Chen Tingjing's words were all loyal, please ask the emperor to learn from them.

Chen Tingjing didn't care what others were saying, but still played: "Your Majesty, now a magistrate of the county, earns forty-five taels of silver a year." Who in the world believes that the magistrate lives on these forty-five taels of silver? The emperor can't just look good on face, it's useless. If you wait until the officials in the world are rotten and then come to rectify it, it will be too late! Your Majesty, we can't deceive ourselves! ”

The emperor finally made a big gesture and scolded: "Chen Tingjing, you are old and confused! ”

Chen Tingjing heard the five thunders, his eyes suddenly darkened, his body staggered and almost fainted.

Chen Tingjing fell ill and was bedridden when he returned home. When the emperor heard about it, he hurriedly ordered Zhang Pengxi and Fu Lun to lead the imperial doctor to visit Chen's house. The imperial doctor looked at the illness and only said: "Lao Xiangguo is old, his body is weak, and he is too tired, so he is prone to illness." Don't let Lao Xiangguo be so tired anymore. ”

Chen Zhuang hurriedly wrote a thanksgiving excerpt and asked the two adults to play it. The emperor looked at the excerpt and asked, "How is the old Xiangguo?" ”

Zhang Pengxi said: "Back to the emperor, Chen Tingjing has a fever, dry mouth, and tinnitus. ”

The emperor asked again: "What about the diet?" ”

Zhang Pengxi said: "At first, the water and rice did not enter, but after the imperial doctor was ordered to see it a few times, he can now drink some soup." ”

The emperor said: "Send the best imperial doctor." Tell the old Xiangguo to rest in peace, and he won't worry about the affairs in the court. Chen Tingjing has been working for the court for almost 50 years, and the old minister seeks the country and is loyal! I spoke a little heavier that day. ”

Fu Lun said: "The emperor doesn't have to blame himself, Chen Tingjing is indeed too presumptuous." Qi played the emperor, there are many people who say Chen Tingjing behind his back! ”

The emperor scolded Fu Lun and said: "You are talking nonsense! If the ministers were as loyal as Chen Tingjing, the court would be able to handle it easily. ”

Chen Tingjing was recuperating at home for a few months, and it was already summer when his body got better. When the emperor heard that Chen Tingjing was tough, he summoned him to the imperial garden to speak. Zhang Shande was about to go out to deliver the decree, and the emperor said: "Chen Tingjing is my old minister, and there is no need to avoid the edict to the ladies of the inner palace. ”

Chen Tingjing entered the imperial garden and saw that the queen was admiring the garden with the concubines, so he was so frightened that he was busy trying to hide. Zhang Shande said with a smile: "Old Xiangguo, the emperor instructed the servants, saying that you are an old minister, and the ladies don't have to avoid it." ”

Chen Tingjing lowered his head and followed Zhang Shande inside. The emperor allowed him to enter the inner palace and did not let the female relatives avoid it, which was really a great favor. But Chen Tingjing was so indifferent that he even forgot to thank him. Suddenly, I heard a woman say: "Old Xiangguo has worked hard. ”

Zhang Shande hurriedly said: "Old Xiangguo, please give your mother a greeting!" ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly invited the queen mother Sheng'an, but he heard the concubines ask the old minister Guo'an. Chen Tingjing just bowed his head and bowed back, and did not raise his eyes to look at people. After the return salute was finished, Chen Tingjing saw the emperor standing under Gu Bai, looking at him and smiling. Chen Tingjing hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, and said, "Respectfully, please ask the emperor to be sainte!" ”

The emperor helped Chen Tingjing up, took his hand, and led him to sit down in the pavilion. Chen Tingjing secretly instructed himself early on not to talk about state affairs with the emperor. The emperor only talks about Fengyue today, and asked who is the best in today's poetry, Chen Tingjing said that Wang Shizheng should be the first to be recommended, his poems are fresh and contained, quite charming, and very interesting. The emperor also said that he had read Wang Shizheng's poems, and his poems were naturally interesting and rare. The emperor asked Gao Shiqi and Xu Qianxue how they learned, and Chen Tingjing said that Gao Shiqi's calligraphy and literary talents were amazing, and Xu Qian's knowledge was also profound. The emperor sighed for a long time and said: "I am getting older and more and more in love, so I will also call Gao Shiqi and Xu Qianxue back one day." ”

Chen Tingjing accompanied the emperor to talk in the imperial garden and stayed for two hours. When the farewell came out, the emperor gave him two handscrolls of imperial poems, one hanging banner of Fushou, and four Goryeo fans.

Chen Tingjing thanked him and left the palace, but he didn't feel the slightest joy. At night, he stroked the piano alone at home, and wrote a long poem "June 25 Summoned to the Imperial Garden to Give the Imperial Book Handscroll Hanging Fan Gong Ji", which naturally could not help but praise the grace of the saint, but at the end of the sentence wrote: "In the nineteen years, he has been favored, and his face is often close to him. The painting is superb, and the cool autumn does not dare to sigh at dusk. Who is Danqing a good minister since ancient times? How many people are there in the end? He is so favored now, and he is afraid to hold on to his body independently. ”

Chen Tingjing no longer goes to the south study every day, and always asks his son to be sick. Youzhen was sick again, and half of his face was swollen with sore teeth. But he laughed at himself bitterly and wrote a poem: "The unsolved ingenuity in his life is like a spring, and his teeth are empty and two lines." Good illness should be left in the tongue, and sadness should not be as good as the lips. When we meet, we have kept the golden precepts, and who sits alone to pity the jade dust. is so old that he masturbates idly, and the snow plum smoke and bamboo are still in the sun. ”

Zhuang read his father's poems, and faintly saw the loneliness and anger in the middle, but he didn't know how to persuade him.

Soon it was early autumn, and one day Chen Tingjing was lying on a chair in the patio basking in the sun. After all, he was old, and Yueyuan was afraid that he would catch a cold, so she brought a thin quilt to cover him. The garden is verdant and the birds chirp. Zhen'er said: "Master, listen, how beautiful the bird is." Chen Tingjing closed his eyes slightly and didn't hear.

Zhen'er asked again, "Master, can you recognize what kind of bird it is?" ”

Chen Tingjing still didn't speak, but his eyes opened, staring blankly at the floating clouds in the sky.

Yueyuan patted him lightly and said, "Tingjing, Zhen'er asked you something!" ”

Chen Tingjing seemed to wake up from a dream suddenly and said loudly: "What? ”

Yueyuan and Zhen'er looked at each other and were shocked.

Zhen'er whispered: "Sister, I'm afraid the master is deaf?" ”

Yueyuan said: "I was fine yesterday, why are I deaf?" Then he asked, "Tingjing, do you hear me talking?" ”

Chen Tingjing said in a loud voice: "You are louder." ”

Zhen'er said loudly: "Sister is already very loud. ”

Chen Tingjing's eyes suddenly widened, and he said, "Huh? Maybe I'm deaf? ”

Zhen'er immediately started crying, and Yueyuan shook her head at her and told her not to cry. Yueyuan looked at Chen Tingjing with a smile, leaned into his ear and said, "It's a blessing that you are deaf!" The roots of the ears are clean, there is no disaster and no disease! You'll live a long life! ”

Chen Tingjing seemed to hear it and laughed.

Zhen'er also leaned up and said, "You have to take care of your body, Zhen'er is your ears, and my sister is your eyes!" ”

Chen Tingjing laughed more and more, tears shining in his cloudy old eyes.

On this day, the emperor summoned Chen Tingjing to the south study. Chen Tingjing saw the emperor, knelt down tremblingly, and said, "The old minister knocks on the emperor!" ”

The emperor said: "The old Xiangguo is sick this time, and his body has lost a lot. Get up. ”

Chen Tingjing knelt still, his head buried low.

The emperor said again: "Old Xiangguo, please get up quickly." ”

Chen Tingjing still knelt with his head bowed, as if he was asleep.

The emperor asked again: "Does the old Xiangguo have anything to say?" To speak, it's not too late for you to stand up and speak. ”

Chen Tingjing knelt on the ground like an old tree root. Zhang Shande ran up and asked, "Old Xiangguo, what's wrong with you today?" ”

Chen Tingjing raised his head and said, "Huh? Be louder! ”

Zhang Shande looked at the emperor in surprise, and the emperor sighed and said, "I'm afraid that the old Xiangguo is sick and deaf." The last time I saw him in the Imperial Garden, it was still good, but he was old. ”

Zhang Shande lowered his head and shouted loudly: "The emperor asked you to get up and speak!" ”

Chen Tingjing heard it at this time, Xie En stood up, and cried: "Your Majesty, the minister's ears can't hear it, Yuyin asked, and the minister didn't realize it. I implore the emperor to allow the old ministers to return to the field for retirement! ”

With tears in his eyes, the emperor said: "Chen Tingjing has served the imperial court for forty-nine years, and he has been conscientious and has made great achievements. Now he suffers from ear disease, and he begs to return. I really don't want to give up. However, Chen Tingjing's intention to return to Lin has been decided, and I have no choice but to endure the pain and cut my love, and allow Chen Tingjing to rest the original product and go home to recuperate! ”

Chen Tingjing stood unaware. Zhang Shande stepped forward and leaned into Chen Tingjing's ear and said, "The emperor has allowed you to go home!" ”

Chen Tingjing knelt down again to thank him, and his movements were late: "Old minister, thank the emperor for Longen!" ”

The emperor said: "Chen Tingjing compiled a lot of books in his life, and after returning home, he still served as the chief reader of the "Kangxi Dictionary"! ”

Where could Chen Tingjing hear it, Zhang Shande had to whisper in his ear again, and he thanked him.

As early as half a month ago, Chen Tingtong was appointed by the emperor as an envoy to Guizhou, he received a letter from home on the road, and heard that his brother had returned to his hometown, and suddenly he had a sense of retreat, so he made a break to the imperial court, and rushed to his hometown in Shanxi halfway. Coincidentally, Yu Peng was also promoted to prefect, and he also knew that his father was sick on the way to his new post, so he turned around and returned to Shanxi, and hastily gave the court a fold.

Zhuang still stayed in the capital, and Chen Tingjing led Yueyuan, Zhen'er and a few relatives back to their hometown in Shanxi. After packing up for half a month, five carriages left the capital. Chen Tingjing didn't speak all the way, always closed his eyes, as if he was asleep. He was mostly awake, and sometimes he was asleep. When he was awake, he was thinking about his nearly fifty years of official career, which was really boring in the end. On the way, he received a letter from Tingtong and Yu Peng, thinking that it was a good thing for Tingtong to leave the officialdom early, but Yu Peng could do something. He just thought about it this way, and didn't take the resignation of their uncle and nephew to heart. And the heavens fell, and the earth fell, and they went with him. When Lord Wei told him the word "wait", his father-in-law told him the word "forbearance", he realized the word "stability", and finally he was forced to come up with the word "ruthless", and Yueyuan woke him up with the word "hidden" again. If it weren't for this "hidden" word, how could he get out of the way? Sooner or later, we will have to follow in the footsteps of Mingzhu and Suo Etu.

After walking on the road for more than 50 days, I returned to the old house in Yangcheng. It was the good spring season, and Shuxian led the family to welcome the family. Chen Tingjing met with his family, didn't go anywhere, went to Xitou Garden first, and said: "I haven't been here since I was a child, and I really disappointed the spring flowers and autumn moon." ”

Yueyuan was still beckoning her family to carry her luggage, and Zhen'er was greeting her husband after her. Chen Tingjing sat down in the pavilion, and his family hurriedly brought tea. He took a sip of tea, heard a bird chirping in the tree, and said with a smile: "Zhen'er, let me tell you what that bird is called." ”

Zhen'er was surprised and delighted: "Master, are you not deaf?" Zhen'er said and ran into the house, shouting as she ran, "Master, he is not deaf!" ”

Chen Tingjing laughed and startled the bird in the tree.

In December 2013, it was revised and polished in Xianjia New Village, Changsha