Cao Jie died.

After Cao Jie reprimanded Xu Delu in front of the emperor and hundreds of civil and military officials, the heavy human life on his shoulders seemed to suddenly rise to the sky, and the soul that remained in his body and struggled to support collapsed. He fell to the ground from Bai Ziche's hands and never got up again.

The emperor summoned Chu Zhixia alone in the apse of the Xuanzheng Palace.

"Did you use your sword before the noon gate?" The emperor asked with a blank face.

"Yes." Chu Zhixia was still half-immersed in Cao Jie's sudden death, and his limbs were stiff and cold.

"Do you know Cao Jie?"

"The minister was born in the clouds, grew up in the clouds, and the farthest door in his life was to come to the imperial capital. Therefore, the minister and Cao Xianling have never known each other, let alone know each other. Chu Zhixia seemed to expect what the emperor was going to ask, raised his head slightly, and said, "Disaster to the country and thieves, everyone will be punished." ”

"Scourge of the country? What a thief! The Emperor sneered, "You are all loyal and courageous, but you are ignorant? ”

Chu Zhixia's heart sank heavily, "The minister doesn't dare." ”

"What kind of person Xu Delu is, can I still not know? He was gentle and deferential, and could never have done such a thing. It's just that he sat in the position of the eunuch of the palm print, and he offended people by doing things for me. I'm not old and foolish, these people don't want to use this method to pull him down! ”

Chu Zhixia looked up at the emperor in disbelief, his gaze almost arrogant.

"Your Majesty, more than 100 lives in Chunxian County ......"

"I see you're confused!" The Emperor reprimanded, "Your position as the head of the Yulin Guard has long been stripped away, and if it weren't for your brother's hard work, I would have punished you a long time ago." Wumen moved his sword, that's how your brother disciplined you, are you going to rebel?! ”

These words have already been said very seriously, Chu Zhixia knelt down with a "plop", bowed his head and said, "The minister doesn't dare." ”

Bai Shan didn't know whether to persuade or add fuel to the fire: "Your Majesty, Miss Chu is also dedicated to the country and the people, but she is a little impulsive when she is young. Your Majesty will read Miss Chu's loyalty and patriotism, and forgive her once. ”

As soon as these words came out, the emperor immediately remembered the ridiculous things Chu Shixia had done before, and he was furious and crackled, "Is there less time I forgive her?" I just indulged her too much, so I let her do these disrespectful things three times and twice! ”

Chu Zhixia's heart was sad and mocking. She thought silently, Cao Jie, Cao Jie, if there is a spirit in the sky, seeing such a monarch and such a country, will you also feel that your death is not worth it?

The courtier's blood was splashed three feet, but he still couldn't wake up the emperor's ignorant heart.

"The minister is at the disposal of His Majesty."

"Do you know what's wrong?" The emperor stared at Chu Zhixia.

Chu Zhixia didn't say anything.

"Mo Xue, do you know what is wrong?" The Emperor raised his voice and asked sternly.

Chu Zhixia still didn't say anything.

"Good," said the Emperor angrily, slapping the arm of his chair, "since you don't know what is wrong, go and kneel outside." The weather is cold, and it also tells you to be sober and sober, when to know that you are wrong, and when to get up. ”

"Commandment."

Chu Zhixia walked out without looking back, so angry that the emperor smashed an inkstone behind her.

——

The snow in front of the Xuanzheng Hall was cleaned by palace people every day, but the snow was too big, and soon a thick layer accumulated on the wet and cold ground.

Chu Zhixia knelt straight in front of the Xuanzheng Palace, his face expressionless, his back straight. The palace people who came and went were silent, and they talked about it in private. Chu Zhixia's drooping hair and long and thick eyelashes condensed a layer of silver-white frost, but she stood in the snow like a stone statue as if she didn't know the cold.

An umbrella covered Chu Zhixia like a flowing cloud, isolating the continuous fine snow.

"His Royal Highness King Qi doesn't have to be like this, go back." Chu Zhixia said softly, "Don't let Your Majesty be angry with you. ”

Bai Ziche stood beside her, looking down at her hair covered with a layer of frost, "Judging the situation, I thought you were more skilled than me." Why did your father punish you? ”

Because His Majesty does not believe that what Cao Jie said is true, and thinks that this is a frame by Xu Delu's political enemies. And I am part of the frame, and I will not repent. Chu Shixia said lightly, "Actually, Xu Delu has a lot of flaws, in the final analysis, His Majesty thinks that this good dog is more important than the people who died in Chunxian County, so he just deceives himself." ”

Chu Zhixia said word by word, as if he was cutting his own heart, allowing himself to see the emperor's cold-blooded ruthlessness and lust for profit more clearly. And the clearer she looked, the more desperate she became at the situation in front of her. Xu Delu's biggest backer is none other than the emperor.

"Even so, my father wants to punish you, and you have a chance to avoid it. As long as you admit your mistake......"

Chu Zhixia shook his head lightly but firmly, "I can't admit my mistake. ”

Bai Ziche was stunned.

"At least not today." Chu Zhixia smiled bitterly, "Cao Xian Ling died in front of my eyes like this, crying blood and hoarseness. Cao County's corpses are not cold, and the people of Chun County have not yet been wronged, how can I dare to say that I am wrong? ”

"Your Highness, do you remember?" Chu Zhixia raised his head slightly and looked at the Xuanzheng Hall in the hazy wind and snow, "Innocence is very important. If even I can't hold on, Cao Xianling's death will become a political conspiracy, and no one will remember the bloody case behind it. ”

"I ...... Remember. Bai Ziche said a little hurriedly, "I'll go and plead with my father." ”

"You don't have to go." Chu Zhixia said, "Let's go." ”

——

Chu Zhixia knelt in the snow for a long time.

At first it was just cold, then it was pain, from flesh to bones, and finally I lost consciousness, only cold numbness. The snow on Chu Zhixia's shoulders melted and accumulated, accumulated and melted, her whole person was covered with a thin layer of white, and only a pair of ink-colored eyes were as clear as ever, like a hidden stroke between landscape paintings.

During this period, the emperor kept sending eunuchs to ask her: "Do you know what is wrong?" ”

Chu Zhixia didn't answer.

If you don't answer, you don't admit it.

——

From dawn to dark, the emperor's anger gradually calmed down. But he punished Chu Zhixia for kneeling in the snow for so long, and handed Chu Zhixia countless steps, but she just couldn't get down, and the emperor was also slightly annoyed.

At this moment, Concubine Rong was late.

"It's so snowy outside, why does the concubine look at Mo Xue kneeling outside?" Concubine Rong spoke softly, and while asking, she instructed the palace people to put all the dishes that the emperor loved to eat, and said with a smile, "They are all made by the concubines themselves, can Your Majesty regress when you taste the craftsmanship of the concubines?" ”

The emperor picked up a piece of horseshoe cake, his face was a little pale, and he snorted coldly: "Mo Xue, this child, is very stubborn, and she is spoiled by her brother. If I don't discipline me strictly, I may not know what will happen in the future! ”

"Mo Xue has left her hometown, and Your Majesty, as an elder, should discipline her. In the affairs of the previous dynasty, the concubines also listened to a few words from the mouthy subordinates. Concubine Rong frowned and said worriedly, "Although Mo Xue is impulsive, her heart is good, if she kneels out three long and two short, won't it chill the hearts of people with lofty ideals?" ”

The emperor hesitated.

Concubine Rong then said: "Mo Xue is just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, even if she makes a big mistake, it should be enough to kneel for so long." Could it be that Your Majesty still wants her life? ”

The emperor was dissatisfied: "Where is her life?" ”

Concubine Rong smiled, poured a glass of warm wine for the emperor, and said softly: "Mo Xue's child's temper, Your Majesty is magnanimous, why bother with her." Let her go this time, the Chu family must be grateful for His Majesty's kindness, and also encourage people of insight to be loyal to the country, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds? ”

The emperor nodded and said to Bai Shan, "Go and let Mo Xue get up." ”

——

"Miss Chu, Miss Chu?"

Chu Zhixia slowly opened his eyes, and the perception of the nine orifices in his limbs slowly returned to his place. She looked at Bai Shan, who was half-squatting down to support her, and Bai Shan instructed the little eunuch to stuff a soup woman into her arms and put a big coat on her.

"Your Majesty asked you to get up."

Chu Zhixia slowly pushed away Da Yu and Tang Pozi, and bowed stiffly and standardly in the direction of the Xuanzheng Palace, "The minister is grateful." ”

She got up on her stiff and cold knees, and nearly stumbled to the ground. Bai Shan said "ouch" and quickly helped her. Chu Zhixia stood firm with Bai Shan's hand, and the groggy darkness in front of him dissipated, before slowly letting go of his hand.

"Thank you, Grandpa Bai." Chu Zhixia thanked him thoughtfully.

"Miss, what's the matter!" Bai Shan said half-truthfully, "Your Majesty doesn't really want to punish you, you just need to be soft and admit your mistakes, why suffer like this?" Your Majesty, what can you do if you admit your mistake to Your Majesty? ”

Chu Zhixia took a deep breath, the cold air stung her lungs, and made her sober up, "How old did Grandpa Bai enter the palace?" ”

Bai Shan was stunned for a moment, and quickly continued: "Seven years old." ”

"The children who are sent to the palace to be eunuchs at a young age are either condemned by someone in the family or have a bitter family. Father-in-law Bai has been away from home for decades, do you still remember the days when he was unclothed and hungry? Chu Zhixia looked at him, his eyes were so clear that he was ashamed of himself, "Today's Cao Jie, it is not someone else who is saving, it is you in the past." ”

Bai Shan was speechless.

Chu Zhixia asked again: "What should I do after Cao Xianling's death?" ”

Bai Shan said: "The Ministry of Rites will handle it on your behalf." ”

Chu Zhixia nodded and said, "Father-in-law doesn't have to send it." ”

Chu Zhixia declined the support of the palace people and limped towards the palace gate. The lanterns lit all the way were like scattered pearls, unable to illuminate the deep night, and Chu Zhixia's figure was like a cluster of lights that were fading away, gradually disappearing into the night.

"Give him back what Xu Delu sent him as it is." Bai Shan said suddenly.

The little eunuch was a little surprised and said, "Master, Xu Zhangyin doesn't know how many little eunuchs he has saved over the years!" A person like Miss Chu can't wait to kill us quickly, is Master going to help her? ”

"You don't understand." Bai Shan rolled up his sleeves and said earnestly, "A person like Miss Chu, if you are in peace, she will naturally not touch you." The most rare thing is that even if we treat ourselves as slaves, she can treat us as human beings. But Xu Delu is going to take a road of death, even if you don't stand in his way, he will step on the top. ”

"Throughout the ages, there have been so many eunuchs who want to be political regents, which one has a good end?" Bai Shan said quietly, "The Chu clan in the clouds has killed too much. Remember how Wang Xianfu died? Xu Delu didn't have long to live. ”