Chu Zhixia was stunned for a moment, and then laughed out loud in Shen Zhou's embarrassment. Shen Zhou was ridiculed by her, and was so anxious to stand up and run, but was dragged back by Chu Shixia's hand. Shen Zhou was reluctant to break free of her hand, and was embarrassed to sit in her smiling gaze, and he actually felt a little aggrieved.

"I didn't say I wouldn't taste it."

Chu Zhixia kissed him on the lips lightly, Shen Zhou was stiff, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. Chu Zhixia couldn't help laughing again, hooked Shen Zhou's neck and brought him down, deepening the dragonfly's watery kiss.

Shen Zhou's breathing was short, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus filled the tips of the noses of the two of them. Shen Zhou unconsciously wrapped his arms around Chu Zhixia's waistline, and put his other hand on the back of her head, not giving her a chance to retreat. Chu Zhixia's eyelashes fluttered, like a butterfly fluttering its wings, sweeping on Shen Zhou's face, crispy and numb.

The wind also became hot.

Chu Zhixia stepped back two inches, pinched Shen Zhou's approaching chin, and asked funny: "Have you been holding this sentence for a day?" ”

Shen Zhou corrected her rigorously: "Half a day." ”

Chu Zhixia was about to laugh again, but Shen Zhou covered her mouth a little fiercely, her sweaty eyelashes were thick and long, and said, "Don't you want to kiss me?" If you hadn't stared at my lips every day, how would you have known that my lips were cracked and gave me fruits and oils. ”

Shen Zhou said a little proudly: "Are you peeking at me every day?" ”

"I'm looking at it openly."

Chu Zhixia bit his fingertips, and Shen Zhou withdrew his hand suddenly, the residual heat in his ears did not disappear. Chu Zhixia licked his lips and was about to continue to tease Shen Zhou, but he was suddenly held in his arms. Shen Zhou put her in front of him, took off his coat and wrapped it around her, his chest against her back.

The coat has a fruity scent.

Shen Zhou's chin rested on the top of Chu Zhixia's hair and rubbed it gently.

"You know how to bully me." Shen Zhou whispered.

Chu Zhixia laughed sullenly, held his fingers, and said, "Today's stars are so bright. ”

——

In the ninth year of auspicious charm, at the beginning of May.

Hallym Temple.

The pear blossoms are like snow, and they weigh heavily on the branches that are growing greener. The sun was just right, and the officials of the Hanlin Academy were drying books in the courtyard.

Xu Yan rolled up his sleeves and trouser legs, walking through the spread of books, the smell of aged ink was intoxicating. Chu Zhixia simply tied up his long hair, and stood under the tree in a robe that was blue and blue, and the shadows of the trees swayed.

"Hanlin Academy is a place to raise talents and store hope. The cabinet officials have all been raised in the Hanlin Academy, and everyone in the world admires the bright future of the Hanlin Academy, but they don't know how many unknown people in the Hanlin Academy have no chance to get ahead in their lives. Jinshi, Tanhua, and champions all have to spend their years in this one-third of an acre, waiting for the opportunity to come. ”

Xu Yan was so tired that his back hurt, a layer of hot sweat appeared on his forehead, and he looked at Chu Shixia and smiled, "Isn't it ridiculous that the place where the talents of the Great Zhou are gathered, but they were once suppressed by the ministers and eunuchs?" ”

Chu Zhixia was indifferent to his sadness, and hugged his arms and said, "Do you know someone in the Hanlin Academy?" ”

Xu Yan shrugged his shoulders and said, "Naturally, there are one or two who can speak." ”

Chu Shixia gave him a thumbs up and said in admiration: "You really have a lot of friends. ”

"I've heard that the DPRK and China have been in a lot of chaos recently!" Xu Yan glanced at her, "Do you still have the leisure to come and see me to post books?" ”

Shen Shilang got Bai Ziche's order, and went to Zhuang Shoufu half-pleadingly and half-threateningly; Zhuang Shoufu relied on his high position and ignored it. The desperate Shen Shilang sued him to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, counting no less than 15 charges of Zhuang Shoufu, including forming a party for personal gain.

The two sides bite each other.

Just when the people on both sides were anxious, Shen Ming died in the prison of Dali Temple for no reason, and the emperor was furious and asked Dali Temple Qing for his guilt. Dali Siqing has been closed for three days, and he has written to resign.

The wind and clouds in the court were surging, but it did not shake the surging spring light of late spring at all.

Chu Zhixia half-leaned on the pear blossom tree, and said as if unintentionally, "When will Mr. Huo arrive in the imperial capital?" ”

Xu Yan's movements froze, as if he had foreseen Chu Zhixia's next sentence.

"The second son is dying."

——

"Isn't something big happening lately?"

Huo Wenbai sat in the sunny courtyard, like a handful of snow about to melt. He looked up at the brilliant roses and muttered to Bai Ziche beside him. Bai Ziche wiped his hands with a handkerchief dipped in water, and his movements froze when he heard the words.

"No, everything is going well." Bai Ziche's stiffness was fleeting, and he naturally replied dilutedly, "Teacher don't worry. ”

Huo Wenbai has always been easy to fall asleep recently, and he will be groggy for most of the day when he sleeps. He indulged in dreams that no one knew, and when he was awake, he was also ignorant, as if he were in a dream. Bai Ziche guessed that there must be his hometown in his dreams.

"I've read all the articles that the teacher asked me to read." Bai Ziche tried his best to ignore Huo Wenbai's burning gaze that fell on the back of his neck, and said stubbornly, "Do you want to read your feelings to the teacher now?" ”

"You're skilled at lying."

Huo Wenbai touched his head and said lightly: "It's because I had a hard time in the palace when I was a child, and children who have no one to protect must always have all kinds of ways to protect themselves." It's not your fault, and I don't blame you. Ziche, tell me the truth, what's going on outside? ”

Bai Ziche didn't dare to look at his eyes, lowered his head and quickly thought about what he could and couldn't say, what Huo Wenbai would not be exhausted and hurt his body after listening to it, and what Huo Wenbai would not be sad and angry when he heard it. But before Bai Ziche could think of a reason, he heard a sound of footsteps in the courtyard.

"The son of Shen Shilang of the Ministry of Officials was exposed to cheating in the imperial examination, and the questions of the palace examination were leaked; Shen Shilang impeached Zhuang Shoufu for forming a party for personal gain, favoritism, and malpractice; Shen Shilang's son died in prison in Dali Temple, and Dali Temple Qing asked to step down. ”

Chu Zhixia walked behind Huo Wenbai, pressed his shoulder, and said, "It's all a trivial matter, you don't have to worry about it." ”

Huo Wenbai was mentally exhausted, and there was a faint dark blue under his eyes, and he turned his head to meet Chu Zhixia's warm gaze, and couldn't help but smile. Chu Zhixia rarely speaks softly to people, and he always speaks with bad intentions, guns and sticks, and every character has a purpose.

"You're in a good mood today." Huo Wenbai said.

"Your Majesty has long wanted to rectify the regent and Zhuang Shoufu, and he will not let go of this opportunity. We just need to fish in troubled waters and make things bigger, so big that they can't be hidden. I'm skilled at these dirty methods, so don't listen to them. Chu Shixia seemed to be discussing, but in fact it was appeased.

Huo Wenbai shook his head and asked, "Which are your methods?" ”

Bai Ziche coughed dryly and said, "Shen Shilang's impeachment of Zhuang Shoufu was provoked by me. ”

"Shen Ming was killed by someone I sent. Dali Siqing is too slow. Chu Zhixia said lightly.

Huo Wenbai didn't say good, nor did he say bad, but commented objectively and calmly: "It's just impeachment, and it can't shake the foundation of Shoufu." He has been in this position for many years, and he doesn't know how many impeachment twists and turns he has eaten. His Majesty only suppressed him, but never replaced him, why? ”

Bai Ziche continued: "Because it is difficult to find someone who can compete with the regent. ”

Chu Shixia interrupted and said, "But now there is." ”

Huo Wenbai looked at her quietly.

"The Pei family declared their allegiance to His Majesty, and the six princes will never be the princes, and they will never be the second regent who is in power to the government and the opposition. Pei Cifu has the first qualifications and fame, and the implementation of the new policy is the second, so he is the best candidate for the new first assistant. Chu Zhixia cut the railway, "This is the first nail that His Majesty hit in the cabinet." ”

After a long time, Huo Wenbai smiled, his smile relaxed and comfortable. He nodded his head lightly in approval, and there was uncontrollable exhaustion in his eyes.

"Mo Xue, you do a better job than me."

"You have a good rest." Chu Zhixia shook his hand vigorously, "You still have to go home." ”

"Home? I don't have the face to go home. Huo Wenbai coughed twice and said.

Chu Zhixia and Bai Ziche both tensed their nerves. Even if his legs are disabled, Huo Wenbai often sits upright with his waist straight. But at this moment, as if exhausted, he curled up in the felt-laid chair, his back collapsed, and he breathed deeply. Huo Wenbai's gaze gradually became blurred when he landed on the clearing, as if there was something in the golden sunlight that fascinated him.

But it was empty.

"I dreamed of Wen Qing last night."

Chu Zhixia's hand trembled suddenly.

In Chu Zhixia's sleepless nights, Chu Zhixia always saw Huo Wenqing's shadow in a trance, like a pool of clear water under the moon. Whenever he thought of the name Huo Wenqing, Chu Zhixia's palm swelled with burning heat - it was the imprint left by Huo Wenqing's blood.

"Wen Qing told me that she hurts here." Huo Wenbai pressed the position of his heart, and his voice was soft and low.

Huo Wenqing committed suicide, but Chu Zhixia never described her tragic death to Huo Wenbai. But Huo Wenbai's description is so clear and accurate, as if when Huo Wenqing pierced his heart with that phoenix step, his soul was floating above the golden hall, watching everything with cold eyes.

Chu Zhixia felt that a hand was slowly tightening, about to crush her throat, and the air was squeezed out little by little.

"Wen Qing has been stubborn since she was a child, she is young and strong, and she works harder than her cousins in reading and writing. The winter in Jiangnan was wet and cold, and she read in the morning in the ice and snow, and made her hands out of chilblains piece by piece, but she never cried out of pain and tiredness. Huo Wenbai's lips were pale, and his tail trembled slightly, "She must be in too much pain, she can't help it......"

Stop it. Chu Zhixia almost blurted out.

But she didn't say anything, she just listened quietly to Huo Wenbai's words, and her heart slowly dripped blood.

"The eldest brother has been the stupidest and sluggish since he was a child, and he is the least able to comfort and take care of people." Huo Wenbai smiled shyly and said, "Wen Qing told me everything secretly. The eldest brother never took good care of her. It's squeamish to say, but my sister is only seventeen years old, which is understandable, right? ”

Chu Zhixia's throat smelled of blood, nodded and said, "Yes." ”

Huo Wenbai didn't speak again, just smiled and looked at the clearing in the sun. Chu Zhixia's heart beat wildly, and his ribs were pounded.

This scene is all too familiar.

In his previous life, Chu Mingyan, who had run out of oil and dried up the lamp, looked at the empty snow like this, and then sat all night and quietly lost his breath.

Chu Zhixia stood in front of Huo Wenbai suddenly, and Huo Wenbai looked at her in confusion.

"Second son, what you see is not Huo Changgongzi and Miss Wenqing." Chu Zhixia cruelly shattered his illusions and said, "They have been gone for a long time, and the coffin was personally helped back to Jiangnan by Mr. Huo Jian'an." ”

Huo Wenbai trembled violently.

Bai Ziche couldn't bear to tug at the corner of Chu Zhixia's clothes and asked her to stop talking.

"You have to go home, you have to live, you can't die here. Your father is still waiting for you in Jiangnan, and your students have not yet achieved the peaceful and prosperous world you want, don't you ...... You can't just walk away. Chu Zhixia half-knelt in front of him, held his hand without warmth, and said, "You are the future emperor, and you have to personally seek justice for your brothers and sisters who died in power conspiracy." ”

Huo Wenbai's gaze gradually became clear, almost broken.

"This unjust heaven and earth, this corrupt emperor, is not what you want, not where you live."

"So, don't sleep. Don't indulge in the illusion of dreams. ”

"The dead are gone, and you still have unfinished business."

"Tomorrow, 1w."