When he opened his eyes, Azu was shocked to find that he was lying on the bed.

There was a sharp pain in his head, but it made him sober up a lot. His body was a little hot, Azu felt uncomfortable, and wanted to turn over, but he turned over a towel pressed on his head.

There was a voice of getting up next to him, and Xu Mu's voice came slowly: "Zu'er, are you awake?"

Azu's mouth was dry, and he said a little hoarsely: "Mother, I want to drink water......"

"Water, drink water. Mother Xu hurriedly took water and helped Azu sit up. After drinking half a bowl, Azu felt better, but he didn't know what was happening.

"Mother, what's wrong with me?"

Mother Xu just touched Azu's forehead, but there were tears in her eyes: "Silly boy, how can you run in the rain, you have contracted the wind cold and have been sleeping for two days." ”

Azu was stunned, vaguely remembering the events of that day, but he had some impressions. The thunderstorm came suddenly, and I was defenseless, but I went home.

"What about the Tao Te Ching?" suddenly remembered the Tao Te Ching, and Azu was afraid that it would get wet, so he brought it up.

Mother Xu looked at him lovingly: "Your father helped you put it away, if you want it, I'll get it." ”

"No, mother. Hearing this, Azu felt a little relieved. Suddenly remembered something, and asked again, "How is Amin's family?"

Mother Xu looked at Azu, a little silent.

Azu felt that something was wrong, but he asked again: "Ah Ming's family, aren't you leaving?"

"Early this morning, it's gone. Mother Xu's voice was a little unbearable.

"What?" Azu's heart jumped when he heard it, and he wanted to get up. Friends parted, although Azu is not big, but he also knows the truth of sending each other. It's just that the pain came all over my body, and I couldn't get out of bed.

Mother Xu hurriedly helped him and patted him on the shoulder: "Zu'er, it's already afternoon, it's too late for you to go now......"

Azu struggled a little in his heart, and finally lay down on the bed, but his eyes were misty: "That's my best friend......"

"Cry, cry out and get better......"

......

Dinner was brought by Xu Si'an. Today, it's not green vegetables and radish, but a bowl of yellow chicken ginseng soup. After a few sips, Azu lost his appetite and set the bowl aside.

Xu Si'an looked at Azu and didn't say anything. Zu'er, who is cheerful on weekdays, is suffering from human suffering, perhaps a little miserable.

......

Half a month after the thunderstorm, summer goes to autumn, and the buds in the village are ripe, revealing a golden orange yellow, which is the happiest season for farmers. Then the farm is busy, and it is the deep winter of busyness.

Xu Si'an and Xu's mother were holding their trouser legs in the field to cut the late rice and harvest the straw. A few acres of land in a radius are probably busy farming.

After that day, Azu was a little silent. The wind and cold are only good for two days, but Azu still doesn't want to go out. Xu Si'an and Xu Mu couldn't do anything, knowing that he was stimulated. Probably let him stay at home and rest, so that the years can ease the scars in his heart.

There were a few drums from the land, and the farmers stopped their work and looked, but they saw a team of chariots and horses driving slowly on the village road. The carriage and horses were dressed in a very luxurious manner, and they were actually covered with the fabric of a five-clawed golden dragon, and the leader was nine red tall horses, but behind them was a high platform, on which stood a few wrestlers with white turbans, beating several red-skinned drums.

And behind the high platform, there seemed to be a black and gold flag, with two big characters clearly written: "National Funeral!"

Xu Si'an frowned and whispered, "The emperor has died." ”

More than 300 years have passed since the Ming Dynasty, and there have probably been more than a dozen emperors. But whenever the emperor died, he would send hundreds of Kowloon to travel around the world, but whenever he met people, he beat drums to show sorrow and call for national mourning. But Xu Si'an has lived for more than 30 years, but it is also the first time he has encountered it.

Mother Xu was shocked when she heard this, but she was silent. The emperor's death is such a major event, it is obvious that the people can't help but say, if he says too much, he is afraid that it will cause trouble.

The carriage and horses were moving very slowly, but the wrestlers were beating the drums unhurriedly. Most of the peasants also saw that something big was happening, and most of them did not dare to move, but were stunned in place.

Halfway through, the carriage stopped. From the carriage came a strange yellow-haired man, holding a black scroll, and read as he sits:

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor said. In the 324th year of the Holy Dynasty, at noon on the fourth day of the ninth month, Emperor Wu's merits were completed, and the true dragon returned to heaven. Remembering the life of the saints, all of them are concerned about the sufferings of the people......"

The voice is sharp and thin, like a duck's voice, and a little harsh. But Xu Si'an knew clearly in his heart that this was the eunuch of the West Factory, but he never thought that he could come to this mountain village to make a announcement.

"Now that the true dragon has returned to heaven, he ordered the second prince Zhu Hao to be the emperor of the son of heaven, in charge of the world, and the title of the year is Haoran Year, Qin this——"

After reading a long article, the duck voice did not take a breath. Xu Si'an's eyes were solemn. Emperor Wu Zhu Wu died, but he named the second prince as the emperor, according to common sense, the default eldest son is the first choice of the Son of Heaven.

Unexpectedly, the duck-voiced eunuch took a yellow scroll from the attendant beside him, and began to read at length:

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor said. Emperor Jinhao ascended the throne, refined the government, and granted amnesty to the world. Moved the capital of the dynasty to Shuntian, turned the literature and politics, and now the court has been weak for a long time, and recruits talents to enter Beijing, and is the minister of the court......"

That's in the north.

From Yingtianfu to Shuntianfu, it is a large span, and it has roughly collapsed half of the Ming realm. The new emperor is established, is it really good to be so laborious?

Xu Si'an thought in his heart, but the voice of the duck's voice was like a thunderous explosion.

"Xu Si'an listens to the order!"

Xu Si'an's eyes shrank when he heard this, but he ran away to straighten his clothes.

Seeing the holy decree as if seeing a real dragon, Xu Si'an knelt on the side of the road, bowed his head, but his hands trembled.

"Today's saint is thirsty for talent, and since he is the champion of Tianfu sixteen years ago, he should not be buried. Today, I order you to be the ceremonial department of Shuntianfu, and concurrently serve as a member of the Ministry of Rites, and the official residence is the fifth grade, and you will enter Shuntian within half a month, and the feelings of military and political affairs, please do this!"

"Minister, take the order. ”

Xu Si fell with peace of mind, but he said this sentence in a depressed manner, and accepted it with both hands.

The duck-voiced eunuch nodded, but he rolled up the holy decree and said, "If you want to accept the decree, you must not defile your hands." The attendant beside him hurriedly took out a clean bottle, poured out water to wash Xu Si'an's hands, and took out a clean silk scarf to wipe it.

The eunuch was satisfied, and solemnly handed over the holy decree to Xu Si'an.

Xu Si'an looked at the golden scroll, his eyes were dazed, excited, but also helpless and reluctant.

Until the cart beat the drum and gradually moved away, the road was full of smoke and dust. And the surrounding villagers all gathered around, and they all watched the excitement.

"Xu Si'an, you have a chance, you are going to be an official!"

"Listen to the eunuch, you are the champion, why do you want to farm here?"

Chirping like a sparrow, Xu Si'anquan regarded it as the wind in his ears. Just glanced at his wife, the two of them had a good heart, left the crowd, but walked home silently.

......

There is no furniture at home, but it is also quiet. The two were in a hurry, and when they returned home, Azu was still washing the dishes silently, and there was no sound.

Mother Xu walked over, but took Azu's hand, and her eyes were very solemn: "Zu'er, you come." ”

Azu's eyes were confused, but there was no resistance. Most of the days he was a little listless, just resting at home, not reading or playing, and his father and mother never talked about him.

Daddy, are you going to talk about yourself?

Azu felt that he was a little decadent.

was pulled down on the table by Xu's mother, and the three of them were seated at the time of eating. Xu Si'an looked at Azu, and Azu also looked at Xu Si'an.

"Zu'er, do you like to read?"

Azu was stunned, as if Xu Si'an had asked half a month ago. He nodded, but didn't answer.

"I don't force you, if you don't like it, then don't read it. ”

Azu looked at Xu Si'an in surprise, his father seemed to be a little different from before.

"Dad has been forcing you to study, it's not right. ”

Azu opened his mouth, speechless.

"When my father was young, he didn't find it interesting to read. But your grandfather read the best private school for your father, and spent the most money to hire the best teacher. At the age of twelve, my father memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, and learned the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting...... When I was seventeen years old, my father went to take the national examination for Ying Tianfu......"

Azu listened carefully, and Xu Si'an spoke seriously.

"Dad was admitted to the top prize. ”

Azu's eyes widened.

"I took the top prize, but I failed to pass the fame test. Do you know? When Emperor Wu was in power, the court was full of maggots, and my father's champion name could have been directly entered ...... court to listen to the holy seal."

"That Emperor Wu is a faint king, and the official is still unhealthy, and he is even more evil...... Whoever listened to the title and who entered the knighthood, Emperor Wu all listened to Ning Wuji's words. Hehe, this fame is all ingot of gold, and it all goes into Ning Wuji's pocket. ”

Azu heard it clearly, and he couldn't imagine that his father still had such an experience, so he couldn't help but say it: "Then why are you saying it now?"

"The Dog Emperor is dead. Xu Si'an continued, "The newly enthroned Emperor Hao is his second prince, I have never heard of his name, but he wants me to return to Shuntian as an official. ”

"Dad, you want to be an official?"

"yes. Xu Si'an sighed, "The holy decree is here, and I have to go." But I don't know if this time, it's another decay of people's hearts. ”

Turning his head to look at Azu, Xu Si'an squeezed out a smile: "Dad is leaving, you have to take care of your mother." ”

Azu exclaimed, "Dad, you want to go by yourself?"

"The decree speaks of military politics. ”

Xu Si'an muttered in his mouth: "Military and political, without family members, once you enter Shuntian, you will not come out for life." ”

The four words "never come out" are like a boulder, and as soon as they came out of Xu Si'an's mouth, they crushed this family.

Mother Xu was crying, and Azu was howling like rain.

Xu Si'an's eyes were red, his life of farming and reading was finally coming to an end, and he finally entered the career he wanted. But looking at this wife and children, this humble room, and this pastoral village, I couldn't hold back a tear in my eyes. Men don't flick when they have tears, but how sad is a man who leaves home and abandons his children?

In the tears, the three hugged each other tightly, like the difference between life and death.

Outside the window, I don't know when, an autumn rain slowly fell again. Overnight, endlessly.