The fire of Qiandemen burned for a day and a night, and the next day it rained heavily, washing away the fire and blood, as if there had never been such a rebellion. The DPRK and China were in a chaotic mess, with some shirking responsibility and some attacking each other, and it was very lively for a while.

The second prince, Bai Yi, was deposed as a concubine and given wine.

The golden bottle was placed on the table, and Chu Shixia and Bai Yi sat opposite each other through this glass of wine, and the two sides were surprisingly calm.

Bai Yi maintained the last vestiges of his dignity, neatly dressed in prison and meticulous in his crown. When he wasn't mad, he was also a young man with clear eyebrows, but his legs were tortured, and his face was pale with blood loss.

"You're here to see my jokes?" Bai Yi lifted her eyelids to look at her.

"I'm here to see you off." Chu Shixia said sincerely, "I heard that Your Majesty originally wanted to give you the punishment of car splitting, but it was the queen who interceded in exchange for a glass of wine. ”

"Do I have to thank her?" Bai Yi sneered.

"Concubine Li hanged herself." Chu Zhixia said again.

Bai Yi was silent for a long time this time, and after a long while, his voice was hoarse, "I don't regret becoming a king or losing a king." I just want that in the next life, she will not be the mother of my unfilial son again. neither for her glory nor for her life. ”

"I have a question." Chu Shixia asked, "What did you say to Master Qingxuan that made him not hesitate to help him with death?" ”

When Bai Yi heard this person's name, he couldn't help but smile, revealing a bit of cold mockery. I don't know if he is mocking Master Qingxuan, or himself.

"That was a few years ago, and a relative of a 'nobleman' in the palace in his hometown in Bingzhou relied on his power to forcibly occupy the land in the township. This was not uncommon, but the harvest was not good that year, and the peasants who had been robbed of their land became tenants and could not pay their rent. An old couple was forced to die like this. ”

Chu Zhixia frowned when he heard this.

It seems that a man is dying, and his words are good.

Bai Yi said calmly: "That old couple has a son, who is a scholar, and he was also beaten half to death by those dogs and people. He came to the imperial capital after a lot of hardships, but there was no way to ask for help. ”

"Then, he met Qingxuan."

Master Qingxuan was shocked and angry, and promised that he would definitely help.

He approached the queen with great hope, but after a long silence the queen took out the gold and silver, and ordered him to place the scholar in his life, and not to mention anything else. Qingxuan was puzzled and unwilling, and under questioning, the queen said that "the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics".

Qingxuan found the emperor again, but the emperor didn't want to listen to him, so he drove people out.

At this moment, the scholar died quietly.

Qing Xuan was completely disappointed, and he realized that the scripture in his hand could not save all beings.

Chu Shixia had a rough guess about the ins and outs of this matter in his heart, and asked, "That 'nobleman' in the palace is someone close to His Majesty?" ”

Although the emperor is suspicious and naïve, he will not be so stupid that he will have such a reaction, and it is likely that he will be bewitched. Master Qingxuan is respected by the empress, and it is not easy to kill people under his nose.

Thinking about it, this "nobleman" is not ordinary.

"What a nobleman, Wang Xianfu is a gelding dog, and the dog is just a human power." Bai Yi couldn't hide his disgust, and confessed, "Qing Xuan thinks that his father is ...... His Majesty is obsessed with power tricks, completely ignoring the lives of the people, and the prince is poisoned by the regent, which must not be a good thing. ”

And Bai Yi lived in a simple place, no matter what the purpose, he actually funded Jishantang, and when Qing Xuan was indignant and powerless, he contributed money and efforts to take care of the scholar's funeral, pretending to be a living bodhisattva.

Qing Xuan and he planned the assassination of Yuanjue Temple together.

The way to save the world is not in the Buddhist scriptures, under Bodhi.

The bronze statue of King Ming, who was brought back to the Great Zhou Dynasty thousands of miles away, was abandoned, and the lengthy scriptures written in Sanskrit were plain and dusty.

The gods and Buddhas did not give the answer that Qing Xuan wanted.

Qing Xuan abandoned his path and threw himself into the torrent that swept all beings without hesitation.

Even though he died, he still did not give up.

"I'm really not a good person. You asked me that day, did you ever pity Bai Ziche who was bullied by Bai Yu, I told you the truth, no. Bai Yi shook his head and said with a wry smile, "If Qingxuan knew, probably he wouldn't have helped me." ”

"He died...... Pity. ”

Chu Zhixia couldn't bear to close his eyes and took a deep breath, as if to suppress the churning pain in his heart.

It turned out to be so, and it turned out to be so.

The origin of this bloody storm shrouded in the sky of the imperial capital is actually the death of a scholar, the Zen heart abandoned by a monk, and the blinded eyes of an emperor.

"Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you." Bai Yi said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Miss Chu, give me the last bit of decency." ”

Chu Zhixia slowly got up and bowed deeply to Bai Yi.

She turned away.

"I want to comfort my life quickly, but I can't pay for my remnants. I wanted poetry and books to reward my ambitions, but I saw the sages covered in dust. ”

Bai Yi suddenly laughed, he held the glittering gold bottle high, and the sunlight thrown into the prison stretched his shadow very long, like an adult man standing up.

"I also wanted to be a good king, to assist my brother and protect the people. But father, why don't you look at me again after I can't stand up? Am I really more unbearable than the stubborn and vicious Bai Yu and the lowly Bai Ziche? ”

Bai Yi shook his head with a bitter smile and drank the wine.

"Chu Zhixia, you won. But I'm not losing to you. A line of blood flowed from the corner of Bai Yi's mouth, and his voice was weak and hoarse, "I'm losing to myself." ”

The golden bottle fell to the ground with a "dang", and Bai Yi fell heavily, kicking off a cloud of dust.

Chu Shixia did not look back.

——

Emperor Hui's second son, Yi, has a gloomy temperament, is unruly, and wants to kill his father and brother with the heart of not being subordinate. In the summer of the fourth year of Yu Xiangfu, he died in prison.

Bai Yi's unwillingness, paranoia and pride in his life were lightly buried by the words in the history books. The little bit of desire to save the country that careerists once gave birth to because of the monks' persistence also disappeared in the dust of the prison.

——

Painting Academy.

"Fourth brother, fourth brother, my aunt made me pastries, let's go eat together." Bai Yan grabbed Bai Ziche's fingers and dragged him out of the door one by one.

"Ah Yan, the fourth brother is not a child anymore, and he doesn't eat pastries." Bai Ziche patiently coaxed him, "Fourth brother, can you take you to the palace?" ”

"Fourth brother, you always seem to be hiding from your aunt." Bai Yan pierced him tenderly, "Why? ”

Bai Ziche only smiled bitterly.

Although the palace tacitly acquiesced that Concubine Pei's sister would take Concubine Pei's place, the emperor was not canonized for a long time. "Little Concubine Pei" is not rightly named, for Bai Ziche, she is still a sensitive Pei family girl, and it is easy to get close.

But these complex twists and turns, Bai Yan doesn't understand.

Bai Ziche had no choice but to say: "That's Ah Yan's aunt, not the aunt of the fourth brother." ”

Bai Yan's eyes widened, and he was even more puzzled, and corrected him firmly, "My aunt is the aunt of the fourth elder brother; My uncle is also the uncle of my fourth brother. The fourth brother is the same as me. ”

Bai Ziche shook his head helplessly, he couldn't make sense with this kid.

The crow-blue boots stopped a few paces away, and the green leaves above their heads rattled and stirred up the shade.

Bai Ziche looked up and saw Pei Zhang, who was dressed in plain clothes, standing not far away, greeting him politely.

"Ask Your Highness how you are doing, Pei Mou came to pick up the painting." Pei Zhang said with a smile.

——

Bai Ziche handed Bai Yan over to the palace people, carried him to Concubine Pei, and led Pei Zhang to the attic. He often paints in the attic, which is empty with only a table and shelves for hanging scrolls.

"I heard that when Yuanjue Temple was assassinated, my sister unfortunately died, and it was His Royal Highness who sacrificed his life to protect him, and Ah Yan was safe." Pei Zhang said softly, "I haven't thanked His Highness yet." ”

"Pei Gongzi doesn't have to be polite, I also have my own reasons." Bai Ziche took down a picture scroll from the shelf and handed it to Pei Zhang, without making eye contact with him.

"Pei can ask, what is the reason?" Pei Zhang didn't reach out to pick it up.

Bai Ziche raised his eyes, met Pei Zhang's inquiring gaze, and smiled self-deprecatingly, "I pity him." ”

Bai Ziche is used to living without the protection of his mother, even if he knows that Bai Yan has the support of the Pei family, it is impossible for him to fall into the same situation as he was back then. But the child's cry of pain seemed to make him see himself in the pouring rain, struggling to hold the cold hard fingers of the woman under the white cloth.

Pei Zhang was slightly moved, but he was noncommittal. He unfolded the scroll, looked at the blank paper, and raised an eyebrow.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

The Buddha pulled the flowers, and the leaves smiled. Everyone didn't understand what it meant, and only the master and apprentice knew the deep meaning. Bai Ziche said slowly, "I don't understand Pei Gongzi's intention, so I can't paint, so I have to treat each other sincerely." ”

"Good for a sincere person." Pei Zhang smiled, "If I don't be honest, I will look secretive and villainous." ”

Bai Ziche waited quietly for his next step.

"I have never entered the official career, but I am afraid of provoking His Majesty's suspicion, and then affecting my sister and Ah Yan. But my sister is still gone, and I know that I am just killing myself. ”

Pei Zhang's posture of Zhilan Yushu is gentle and polite to people and things, and never reveals half of arrogance and indifference. Speaking of the dead Concubine Pei, Pei Zhang showed a little chill. The gentle mask was torn off, and Pei Zhang had a little bit of the prestige of the young master of the Pei family.

This is the edge that can only be cultivated by teaching poetry and books and sharpening by blood.

On the bloody chessboard of the imperial capital, no one can stay out of it. In this case, Pei Zhang is willing to bet on the rise and fall of the family and his own life to fight for a way out in this chess game.

This person is somewhat similar to Chu Zhixia.

Bai Ziche's expression moved slightly, but he still didn't say a word.

"Your Highness saved Ah Yan, I naturally won't harm you." Pei Zhang carefully put away the painting and said seriously, "What kind of relationship I have with His Highness in the future, I believe that in the near future, His Highness will know for himself." ”

——

Yu Linwei and the forbidden army were left with few losses, and countless generals were implicated and imprisoned. The emperor intended to reorganize the Yulinwei and the forbidden army, to select talents from the garrisons in various places, and also intended to raise a group of his own people.

The nightmare of being broken through the palace ban, the emperor didn't want to have a second time.

The emperor promoted a group of young officers, Yan Du was promoted to Yulin Wei Zhonglang and concurrently served as the front of the palace, and Cheng Yuan was transferred to the head of the four guards.

On that day, Yan decided to be the east and privately invited Chu Shixia and others.

"I heard that on the day of the palace change, His Majesty asked who was on duty, but fortunately the little marquis stepped forward, otherwise I would not be able to escape the blame." Chu Shixia handed over the congratulatory gift with a smile, "This gift not only congratulates the little marquis on his ascension, but also expresses my gratitude." ”

"If it weren't for Miss Chu's timely arrival that day, I'm afraid that Yan would be unable to parry the traitor." Yan Jue smiled bitterly and shook his head, "If something happens to Your Majesty in front of my eyes, Yan Jue Jiuquan will have no shame to face the ancestors and ancestors." ”

Chu Zhixia smiled and said nothing, motioning for him to open the box and take a look.

The box with embossed gold carving, the red brocade holds a smooth mutton fat jade safety buckle, and the tentacles are warm.

"I remember that the little marquis has a younger sister, and those who are brothers have to worry about their sisters." Chu Shixia said, "Give it to Miss Yan and be a thing." ”

This Ping An buckle is an extraordinary product at a glance, and it is a priceless good thing in the market. Yan Jue was taken aback, but when Chu Zhixia said this, he couldn't shirk it anymore.

Chu Zhixia turned over and sat on the window, her long hair draped down, washing out the soft ink color under the moonlight. She grabbed a green jade bottle and drank it to herself, and when she heard the words, she raised the wine bottle and gestured to Yan Du in the air.

Outside the window is a peaceful yard with a grove of vines growing lush and cicadas chirping. The Yan family is rarely quiet, and the silver-white starlight can be seen on the treetops of the wall.

Chu Zhixia's resentment against seeing Bai Yi during the day subsided slightly.

Deng Mian and Cheng Yuan were a little embarrassed, they had never looked for Yan Jie's bad luck before, but they didn't expect that one day they would have to sit at a table to eat.

Deng Mian looked at his nose and eyes, and only knew that he would fill his stomach with the dishes on the table, and after a while, he would eat his belly round. Cheng Yuan smiled when he saw Yan Jue, his face stiffened with laughter, and from time to time he lowered his face under the table and patted his sore muscles.

Yan Jue thought about it for a while, decided to ease the atmosphere, and said, "These days, I have heard an interesting story about Miss Chu in Gyeonggi Weili. ”

"What good words can you say about me in Gyeonggi Weili?" Chu Zhixia was lazy, "Little Hou Ye might as well talk about it." ”

"It is said that on the day of the rebellion, the rebels were like lost dogs, and they scattered in all directions. You went straight into the formation alone, seven in and seven out, and you didn't lose a single hair. Yan Jue smiled mysteriously, "Now the people in the imperial capital who are familiar with military affairs are all passing on the merits of the Chu family for generations, and they are blessed by the gods. ”

Chu Zhixia also laughed, and his heart was full of secret pleasure. She raised her glass and touched Yan, almost carried away by the joy that filled her heart.

Chu Zhixia had a smile on his lips that couldn't be erased, and muttered, "It's not a god." ”

It's my shadow.

——

The moonlight sprinkled on the dark roof, and Shen Zhou pillowed his sword on his knees, looking down at the imperial capital with clouds in the pavilions. He had excellent hearing, and every word of the two people in the room fell into his ears clearly. Chu Zhixia's laughter was like broken silver smashed into an empty jar, which shook his heart numb.

He was dressed in black, with a silver-white camellia embroidered on the placket that slanted diagonally across his chest.

It was like a thick black shadow pierced through the heart by moonlight.

Shen Zhou hung down her long eyelashes, wondering why she was smiling.

Then he heard Chu Zhixia say, "It's not a heavenly god. ”

It's me. Shen Zhou was a little expectant and told him that it was me.

But Chu Zhixia didn't say anything more, just drank.

Shen Zhou clenched his scabbard in disappointment, and was a little aggrieved for no reason, stomped on the tiles hard, and rolled down the few pieces of rubble that he had stepped on.