From Binzhou to the imperial capital, the long journey is more than hundreds of miles. Chu Shixia couldn't imagine how a person could walk to the imperial capital step by step in the ice and snow, and he didn't even dare to reveal the slightest bit of his identity, and he had to beware of killers who were secretly waiting for an opportunity in every word and deed.

"The doctor said that he had come to this point by hanging in one breath." Yan Jue took a deep breath and looked at Chu Shixia with an unpredictable expression, "He has a lot of injuries on his body, frostbite, blood blisters, worn and crusted flesh on his joints, and stomach injuries caused by long-term hunger. ”

Chu Zhixia closed his eyes and motioned to Yan never to say any more.

"Do you want such a person to set off a bloody storm in the imperial capital?" Yan Juetu was desperate and said disappointedly, "He's dying." ”

"The implementation of the New Deal requires such a bloody storm." Chu Shixia said indifferently but firmly, "There are still many people who are in dire straits under the rule of corrupt officials and corrupt officials, and if you can't knock on the mountain and shake the tiger, you can only watch more people die in vain." ”

"But Cao Xianling is a good person, maybe let him take care of it well, and his life can still be saved. Isn't it more valuable for the Great Zhou to live than to die? "Yan is very aggressive.

"Master Yan Xiaohou, don't be naïve! Is he really cured? Chu Zhixia raised his head sharply and stared at Yan Jue deadly, "Don't I want to save him?" Didn't I know he was a good guy? But it's too late, if it drags on any longer, he will die of illness on the bed silently, and it will be in vain for him to support himself and go to the imperial capital! He died in vain, and the people of Chunxian also died in vain! ”

The two were at a stalemate, and a scream erupted from the house behind them. Chu Zhixia and Yan Jue turned around and pushed the door at the same time and broke in, only to see Yan Shu in a panic, and Cao Jie who was lying on the bed and vomiting blood.

Yan Jue pulled Yan Shu over, covered her eyes to comfort her, and whispered to her to find a doctor.

Chu Zhixia clicked a few times on the big acupoint on Cao Jie's back, and Cao Jie slowly eased up, and his abnormal face gradually calmed down. He trembled and grabbed his collar, and thanked Chu Zhixia angrily.

Chu Zhixia looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze, and Cao Jie was in a coma and clutched his clothes and didn't let go. Cao Jie obviously didn't trust Chu Zhixia and Yan Jue, his eyes wandered between the two, and he didn't ask about their identities for a long time.

"What's on you?" Chu Zhixia asked bluntly.

"It's nothing, it's just cold." Cao Jie avoided her gaze and asked unnaturally, "Dare to ask the girl's name?" ”

"Chu clan in the clouds, Zhenbei Wangfu, Chu Zhixia."

Cao Jie suddenly woke up like a person in a dream, and asked in a daze: "So...... I've really arrived in the imperial capital. ”

Without warning, he grabbed Chu Zhixia's arm and asked eagerly, "Where is my official seal?" ”

Chu Zhixia tilted his head, and his gaze fell on Cao Jie's pillow. Cao Jie reacted at this time, holding the wrapped official seal like a life-saving straw, and vigilantly looked at Chu Zhixia and Yan Du.

"Cao County Order, did you travel thousands of miles north to enter Beijing, and only brought the official seal?"

The official seal can only prove Cao Jie's identity, and now the people in the imperial capital have their own ghosts, even if Cao Jie has an official seal, as long as they bite Cao Jie to death The official seal in his hand is stolen, Cao Jie is helpless.

If you want to prove that the officials of Chun County colluded with the high-ranking and powerful people in the imperial capital to act as a prestige and annex the cultivated land of the people, only his identity cannot be corroborated.

Cao Jie's deeply sunken eyes reflected Chu Zhixia's sharp eyes, and he said slowly and calmly, "I don't know what you're talking about. ”

"Didn't you bring the Fish Scale Atlas?"

Chu Zhixia said word by word, "Without the fish scale atlas, it would be useless for you to die headfirst on the Xuanzheng Palace." Cao County Order, I have read your confession document in the Ministry of Officials, you are the sixth year of Jingtai, you will not be naïve enough to think that you can shake the deep-rooted interest group by yourself, right? ”

Cao Jie still shook his head, coughing up blood foam thinly, and said, "I don't know what you're talking about." ”

After nearly 20 years of experience as an official in Chunxian County, Cao Jie lost his trust in people due to the hardships of fleeing all the way. Even though this man had just rescued him from Ying Tianfu's cold cell, he still suspected that it was part of a conspiracy.

Yan Shu led the doctor into the door, Chu Zhixia had no choice but to stop and say to Cao Jie: "Mr. Cao, I didn't save you to waste time with you and be suspicious of each other. If there's anyone in the Imperial Capital who wants you to do this, I'm one of the few. ”

Cao Jie leaned on the edge of the bed and coughed heavily and violently, his cheeks flushed sickly, unable to answer Chu Zhixia's half a word.

——

Chu Zhixia didn't sleep all night, and took a rest in the small courtyard that Yan Jie's house had temporarily cleaned up. She didn't even dare to lie down, just leaned her head on the table and slept lightly.

When you close your eyes, the sound of the candle popping is particularly clear, and the small sound of the frost condensing is especially in your ears. The light of the sky, which was hidden by layers of wind and snow, lit up little by little, and the imperial capital in obscurity gradually faded to gray.

Vaguely, Chu Zhixia heard a faint bell from the direction of Miyagi.

This is the morning palace people are striking the bell, and the courtiers gathered in front of the palace like white sand are about to take off their heavy coats and enter the Xuanzheng Hall to start the early dynasty. The emperor should be on his way from the Yang Palace to the Xuanzheng Palace, and the entire imperial capital is slowly waking up.

"Oh no, Sister Chu, it's not good!" Yan Shu pushed the door and broke in, crying and saying, "Mr. Cao is gone!" ”

Chu Zhixia opened his eyes suddenly.

Yan Shu said while crying: "The doctor said that you should eat something before taking medicine, and the porridge in the kitchen has just been boiled, and I will not see anyone else when I bring it into the house." Sister Chu, where will he go? ”

The entire imperial capital was secretly searching for Cao Jie's traces, and there was only one place he could go to - in front of the Son of Heaven, Xuanzheng Palace.

Chu Zhixia picked up the drinking stream snow and rushed out of the door without saying a word.

——

Before the noon gate.

The faltering figure coughed incessantly, as if he had stepped on thousands of sharp knives with every step. He tightly hugged the burden in his arms and looked at the noon gate shrouded in layers of wind and snow, in front of which there were one carriage after another, waiting for the courtiers of the early dynasty to greet each other.

Soon someone noticed this weak, lonely suspicious figure, and the courtiers' guards held the hilt of their swords in front of their master.

If he is a beggar, he should kneel on the spot and beg for mercy from the dignitaries, instead of walking straight to the noon gate in a daze; If it is an official, the official who is qualified to go to the temple to discuss politics is far less shabby. He was wrapped in a patched robe, and the biting cold wind pierced his back, as if mocking his downfall.

"Who are you? Miyagi is a heavy place, and idle people are not allowed to approach! ”

Yu Linwei, who was on duty, scolded loudly: "If we don't retreat, we will do it!" ”

The curiosity of the Yu Lin guards is greater than their vigilance, this weak and uncontrollable "suspicious character" doesn't even need to use a knife, and he will fall to the ground if he pushes it. He was sandwiched between the bright red robe and the golden armor, an insignificant gray, as small as a speck of dust, which could be wiped away with a raised hand, leaving no trace.

"I'm ...... Binzhou Chunxian County Commander Cao Jie, I have grievances to tell Your Majesty. Cao Jie only felt as if the blood in his whole body was frozen, and his stiff tongue mechanically spit out this sentence that had been practiced countless times in his heart.

His voice was fleeting in the wind, Yu Linwei didn't hear it clearly, only saw him keep moving forward, so his face sank and he was ready to take him down.

At this moment, the blue fiery horse galloped over, as if a swift and fierce lightning stopped behind Cao Jie, kicking up a person-high snow dust.

"Stand down, don't touch him." Chu Zhixia held the reins and said expressionlessly.

Yu Linwei was stunned for a moment, he was so oppressed by the posture of Chu Zhixia's superior that he couldn't breathe. As soon as Yu Linwei was about to agree, he listened to the person next to him and said: "The palace is important, it is related to the safety of Your Majesty, Miss Chu is so majestic, she actually came to the noon gate." ”

Yu Linwei was startled and looked at Bai Huan who spoke out.

Bai Huan didn't look at Yu Linwei, he just stared at Chu Zhixia, his face was not good. Bai Ziche in the crowd looked at Chu Zhixia in shock, trying to make eye contact with her, but Chu Zhixia had no time to take care of him. Bai Ziche quickly thought about how to break the siege, and another horse came a few steps behind.

Yan Jue showed the golden seal of Yulin Wei, and said loudly: "This person is Cao Jie, the county commander of Chunxian County, Binzhou, and he is the official of the imperial court, not an idle person. Who dares to be rude? Stand down! ”

Yu Linwei seemed to have a backbone, and said sonorously: "Yes!" Nakaro General! ”

Chu Zhixia turned over and dismounted, helped Cao Jie under his trembling forearm, and said in a low voice, "I'll take you to see Your Majesty." ”

"Thank you, Miss Chu." Cao Jie vaguely pushed away Chu Zhixia's hand, and said softly, "You and Yan Xiaohou are still teenagers, and with children like you, there is hope for the future of Da Zhou." There is no need to offend this high-ranking official of the Manchu dynasty for a dying person like me, it is not worth it. I'll just walk the rest of the way on my own. ”

The vermilion noon gate was slowly pushed open, and the majestic Xuanzheng Hall stood behind the layers of palace walls, like a pearl dotted at the end of the long corridor. Two rows of eunuchs carrying lanterns lined up, led by a smiling face and a pale face.

That is the godson of the eunuch who is now the master of ceremonies, Sun Xia.

Xu Delu is not as arrogant and domineering as his predecessor Wang Xianfu, and is accustomed to using soft knives. Sun Xia learned Xu Delu's ability to stab people with a soft and hard body, and even if he was slapped, he could greet people with a smile.

"I heard Yu Linwei's movement from afar, what's wrong?" Sun Xia asked knowingly, and greeted him affectionately, "Miss Chu said, this is an official of the imperial court?" Why is it so embarrassing? Don't hurry up and put on a garment for the adults. ”

Cao Jie coldly waved Sun Xia's hand, "The lower official has a grievance and wants to make a case in front of His Majesty, please let my father-in-law make way." ”

"Lord Cao's words can be seen, if you have grievances, go to Dali Temple, or go to the Yushitai and come to Xuanzheng Hall to do something?" Sun Xia's eyes rolled, and he smiled without a smile, "Not everyone can go to the Xuanzheng Palace, how many officials are the county officials of Chunxian County?" If anyone can go to the Xuanzheng Palace, it is too unorthodox. ”

Chu Zhixia looked at Sun Xia coldly, Sun Xia was cut by her sword-like gaze, and forced himself to calm down and said: "Or is it that you are not an official of the imperial court at all, but a person with malicious intentions to deceive Miss Chu and Yan Xiaohou with a forged official seal!" ”

"Grandpa Sun," Chu Zhixia stared at him, his words were forceful, as if iron was beating fire and quenching, "Shen Yan." ”

"Miss Chu is young, I'm afraid she doesn't know the methods of these assassins. According to the villain, it is better to take down this person first and verify that it is important. If it is really an official of the imperial court, the villain will apologize to Lord Cao again. After Sun Xia finished speaking to Chu Shixia with a smile, he turned his head and said to the eunuch behind him, "Invite this lord in." ”

Cao Jie subconsciously stepped back, holding the only official seal that could prove his identity in his arms. Three or two eunuchs rushed up to pull him, Cao Jie's hand covering his mouth and nose loosened, the cold air rushed into his lungs, he coughed violently, and the snow splashed red. The eunuch folded Cao Jie's arm fiercely, and the official seal slammed into the snowdrift.

Everyone watched coldly, just thinking that the little girl of the Chu family didn't know the severity of the spirit, but he also knew that he wanted to give Xu Delu three points of thin noodles, which was not too stupid.

Between the lightning and flint, Chu Zhixia slashed his palm on the back of the eunuch's neck, and the eunuch rolled in the snow without even screaming. The other two people were shocked, although they had also done rough work in the deep palace, they had never seen anyone who dared to be rough at the court meeting. The two of them trembled, stunned in place and didn't dare to move, Chu Zhixia slapped them one by one, and slapped the person to his knees.

Chu Zhixia flicked his wrist and looked at Sun Xia, who was so shocked that he even forgot to smile.

"Miss Chu, what are you doing here? You're disrespectful—"

Sun Xia's shouts were choked in his throat.

Drinking the snow suddenly came out of the sheath, fluent as a pool of clear water, and the blade of the sword that sharpened iron like mud was against the side of Sun Xia's neck. Sun Xia swallowed nervously, and the chill of drinking the snow seemed to penetrate his throat and penetrate his trachea.

"The official of the court, the pillar of the country, how can you be allowed to pull and pull?" Chu Zhixia said coldly, "I just want him to go to the Xuanzheng Hall to meet Your Majesty today, how are you doing?" ”

"Gelding, get out of here." Chu Zhixia said clearly.

"Xia Xia: Gave you face, didn't you?"