Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 413 House Arrest!

Cheng Yi's face was gloomy, he tightly grasped the tablet, veins on the back of his hand bulged, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

The wind between the palace walls whistled past, making his python-patterned robe rustle. The python pattern, which originally symbolized glory, was now twisted in the wind, as if sighing for his loneliness.

He dragged his heavy steps, his eyes subconsciously sweeping across the palace road beneath his feet. He counted the cracks on each bluestone slab, and every step seemed to be stepping on his increasingly heavy heart.

The footsteps of the officials behind him gradually became sparse until they disappeared completely. Even the Jinwu Guards on duty at night, who had been standing upright, quietly turned their heads and cast their gazes towards the palace wall, as if they could not bear to look at his frustrated look.

After turning the corner of Yuehua Gate, the surroundings became increasingly quiet, with only the moss spreading on the corners of the walls and onto the steps, indicating that few people come here.

Just then, a slight rustling sound was heard, breaking the silence.

Cheng Yi looked up and saw a eunuch in indigo cloth squatting in front of the hanging flower gate.

The eunuch was holding a vermilion food box in his arms, and the sweet aroma of cakes wafted faintly through the gap in the box lid.

Sensing Cheng Yi approaching, the eunuch's body suddenly stiffened and his head quickly drooped, almost burying it in his chest.

Cheng Yi was confused but didn't say anything. When he was about to leave, a hard object was suddenly stuffed into his right sleeve.

He was slightly startled, and caught a glimpse of the eunuch's lowered face and slightly trembling hands out of the corner of his eye, and then the eunuch turned around and hurried away.

He calmly reached his hand into his sleeve and touched the piece of letter wrapped in oil paper. There were some pastry crumbs on the corners, as if it had just been hastily taken out of the lunch box.

The eunuch's wooden clogs tapped rapidly on the blue bricks, and the "tapping" sound echoed throughout the corridor. The copper ring on the food box swayed violently with his steps, making a series of tiny and rapid tremors.

The voice gradually faded into the night until the figure disappeared at the end of the palace road.

Cheng Yi's face turned serious.

He looked around, then tightly grasped the mysterious letter in his sleeve, and hurried along the dark street, wanting only to get back to the post station.

The sound of the night watchman's clapperboard was particularly abrupt in the silent night. The huge silhouette of the palace's corner tower was like an invisible mountain, weighing heavily on his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe.

He walked around alleys filled with water. The coarse cloth soles of his shoes rubbed against the bluestone slabs, making a rustling sound that could be heard far away in the silent night.

The porter of the post station had already fallen asleep, but he was suddenly awakened by the footsteps. Just as he was about to greet Cheng Yi, he saw that Cheng Yi had a serious expression and raised his hand to stop him. Seeing this, the porter quickly shut up and shrank back into the corner.

Cheng Yi pushed the door open and entered the house. He saw that the oil in the lamp was about to burn out. The flame was flickering weakly and the whole house was shrouded in dim light.

He stood in front of the table, took a deep breath, and carefully opened the oil paper package. Two plain white letters quietly slipped onto the desk.

His eyes first fell on the top of one of the letters, where it was written "Personally written by Mr. Zheng Shu". He was very familiar with the thin and strong handwriting. It was the handwriting of the official Zhao Xu.

Cheng Yi's Adam's apple rolled up and down unconsciously. He leaned closer to the oil lamp and read word by word in the dim light:
Mr. Zheng Shu, I am very happy to see you. When I left Chuigong Palace today, the Empress Dowager ordered me not to leave the inner court.

From now on, your daily life will be managed by the palace maids sent by the Queen Mother, and your meals and medicines must be checked three times.

The emperor's uncles Hao and Yu visited Cishou Palace three times recently, but we were not able to hear what they discussed.

The day before yesterday, I saw the eunuch Zhang Ze secretly handing the golden knife to the steward of the palace, and I was afraid that there was something wrong.

All the guards around me have been replaced by new ones, even the eunuch who has been with me for ten years has been expelled.

Now the situation is precarious, and only Lu Jifu can be trusted. Sir, please go to Taiyuan Prefecture as soon as possible and see him with my secret edict.

If it’s urgent, don’t refuse.

The twenty-third day of the winter month in the eighth year of Yuanyou.

After reading the letter, Cheng Yi felt a chill down his spine.

His eyes fell on the edge of the letter paper, where there were some wrinkles caused by pressing with the fingertips, and the ink on some of the words was a little heavy, which showed the official's eagerness and heaviness when writing the letter.

His fingers gently stroked the four words "in a precarious situation", and he repeatedly thought about the contents of the letter, his heart full of worry.

At this moment, the candle flame exploded without warning, sparks flew everywhere, and a few points splashed on the second unsigned letter.

Cheng Yi was startled by this sudden change and subconsciously stuffed the two letters into the inner pocket of his jacket.

Outside the window, the night watchman's clapper rang again, and together with the barking of dogs in the distance, it sounded particularly harsh on this winter night.

Cheng Yi stared at the unsigned letter and found that it was not sealed with wax. He thought for a while and then opened the letter.

Cheng Yi's eyes were fixed on the charred marks on the edge of the unsigned letter left by the flames, as if he could see through the secret behind the letter from this subtle detail.

The barking of dogs outside the window came from far away, then gradually faded away. In this quiet winter night, every bark was like a heavy hammer hitting his tense heartstrings.

He raised his hand, his movements were a little slow, and after hesitating for a moment, he suddenly pulled off the sweat towel from his waist and carefully placed it on his palm, as if he was afraid that his temperature would damage this crucial letter.

Then, he gently pinched the corner of the letter with two fingers. When the plain paper unfolded, it made a subtle and crisp rustling sound, which was particularly clear in this quiet room.

The swaying oil lamp emitted a dim light, which reflected on the wet ink on the words, giving them a light blue-gray hue.

"My Lord Jifu:

Ever since I read the Qingmiao Law when I was a child, I have known that you are the pillar of the country.

The late emperor often said, "Lü Qing's contribution to the Xining Reform is comparable to that of Guan Zhong's contribution to the Qi Dynasty," and he often asked me to read your "Memorial on Five Matters."

I still remember the six words "Natural disasters are nothing to be afraid of" hung on the wall of the Chuigong Palace. The penmanship was as strong as iron, and it was written by the public back then.

However, the court is currently in turmoil, with the Second Prince's uncle repeatedly visiting the Cishou Palace, and the eunuchs secretly communicating with the royal palace.

Although I live in the ninth floor, I feel like I am imprisoned. All the guards have been replaced by others, and even the imperial meals have to be tested three times.

The day before yesterday, I saw Zhang Ze holding a golden knife to meet with Prince Hao in his secret meeting at his residence. His behavior was suspicious and I was afraid something might happen.

Only you have been in charge of the central government and are well versed in the art of expediency. If you can come to the palace at night and rectify the government according to the old practice of Xining, I will appoint you as prime minister and entrust you with important military and national affairs.

The safety of the country depends on this one move. Please do not refuse.

The twenty-third day of the winter month in the eighth year of Yuanyou.

Cheng Yi read word by word. The unique smell of pine smoke from the ink stick wafted faintly from the letter paper, as if bringing him back to that turbulent era of reform.

When he saw the five words "拜公为首相", he noticed that these words were written with great force, and the ink even penetrated two layers of paper, which showed the official's eagerness and determination when he wrote them.

He placed the two letters side by side on the desk and looked at them carefully.

The signature dates are all "23rd of the winter month" in the eighth year of Yuanyou, but the depth of the ink is slightly different.

After a little thought, he realized that the emperor had obviously written the secret decree to him first, and then wrote the letter to Lu Huiqing.

At this time, the sound of the night watchman striking the gong for the fourth watch could be heard. The long sound could be heard far away in the silent night.

Then, from afar came the dull creaking sound of the city gate opening, mixed with the sound of clappers struck by morning market vendors preparing to open the market, interweaving into a ball in this cold night, making people feel even more uneasy.

Cheng Yi sighed, folded the letter again and put it in his arms. Then he woke up three trusted servants at night and led four strong horses out of the stable of the post station.

When the night watchman passed by with a lantern, he saw that he had wrapped his plain turban very tightly, and there was a bulge around his waist, as if something hard was hidden. At five o'clock in the morning, the city gate had just opened a crack, and the four men rode out of Bianliang on horseback, their horses' hooves crushing the morning frost and startling a group of crows on the top of the city wall.

There was a thin layer of ice on the official road, and the horseshoes kept slipping.

Cheng Yi tore off his outer robe to wrap the secret letter, letting the north wind blow into his inner garment.

When they arrived in Zhongmou County, the sun was rising. The innkeeper brought hot porridge, but he only broke off a piece of cold cake and held it in his hand, chewing it while staring at the map on the wall.

"Which is the fastest way to Taiyuan Prefecture?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already slapped five taels of silver on the table.

When passing Hulao Pass, a servant's horse stumbled and broke his leg.

Cheng Yi took off the jade pendant and gave it to the horse dealer, then exchanged it for a green horse and continued galloping.

It was noon and the sun was shining brightly. The four men's clothes were soaked with sweat, and their dry food had long since turned into lumps in their throats.

Passing by Sishui Town, a blacksmith shop was quenching horseshoes. Sparks splashed on Cheng Yi's boots, but he was unaware of it and just kept repeating the four words "go to the palace on a starry night" in his mind.

As the sun sets, the Yellow River glows golden in the sky.

The ferry was crowded with merchant ships waiting to cross. Cheng Yi took out the golden sword from his bosom and threw it to the boatman: "Take us across the river immediately. This sword is the fare."

The wooden oars cut through the turbid waves. He stood at the bow and watched the mountains on the south bank gradually become clearer.

When the evening mist seemed like a veil, slowly drifting over the towering city walls of Taiyuan Prefecture, Cheng Yi and his party finally arrived.

As the night deepened, dim light spread across the city.

Cheng Yi had been galloping all the way here and was already exhausted. At this moment, the reins of his horse were tangled in the handle of the windlass.

He didn't bother to tidy up, and stepped onto the well platform with great effort to get off the horse. The mud and sand from the Yellow River on the soles of his boots fell on the bluestone steps of the provincial government office, leaving a conspicuous mark on the clean ground in an instant.

The doorman, dressed in neat white clothes and holding a "Silence" sign, blocked his way with a vigilant look.

Cheng Yi was so anxious that he didn't have time to say anything. He quickly took out the ivory waist badge from his bosom and said in an urgent and solemn tone: "Uncle Cheng Zheng wants to see Prefect Lu. There is an urgent imperial decree. It is urgent and there is no time to delay!"

When the gatekeeper saw the badge, he knew the visitor was of extraordinary status, so he did not dare to delay and hurriedly turned around and trotted inside to report.

Inside the second hall of the provincial government office, the flame of the tung oil lamp flickered gently, and the lamp wick had already formed, emitting a faint, flickering light.

Lu Huiqing was concentrating on checking tax deeds at his desk. Beside him were various documents and account books. Next to him was a tattered copy of the "Continuation of the Qingmiao Law". The pages were slightly yellowed, as if telling the story of the past reform years.

Hearing the gatekeeper's announcement, he was slightly startled, slowly took off his reading glasses and placed them beside the table. As he stood up, the hem of his moon-white jacket brushed lightly across the bench piled with files, making a slight rubbing sound.

Cheng Yi strode over the threshold and happened to see Lu Huiqing adding charcoal to the copper brazier.

The charcoal fire in the copper brazier was burning brightly, sparks were flying everywhere, and a few points happened to splash onto the map hanging on the wall.

Cheng Yi looked up and was stunned.

The map was carefully drawn, with detailed markings of the terrain of mountains and rivers and the distribution of towns, but strangely, this map was not a map of Taiyuan Prefecture, but a map of Yan'an Prefecture.

"Brother Zheng, why are you in such a state of disgrace?"

Lu Huiqing looked at Cheng Yi with concern. Cheng Yi was covered in dust and looked extremely embarrassed.

Cheng Yi waved his hands, his eyes firm and anxious, staring at the flickering lantern of the night patrol outside the window, his voice low but revealing unquestionable majesty: "Please ask Lu Gong to dismiss the attendants, this matter is of great importance and must be kept confidential."

Lu Huiqing's heart trembled, and he instantly realized the seriousness of the situation, and immediately waved his hand to signal.

The clerk on duty hurried out of the room holding a stack of account books.

Cheng Yi glanced at the clerk and noticed the bronze fish token hanging around his waist. The unique style was exactly the same as the one mentioned in the letter about the palace. His heart sank.

After everyone left, Cheng Yi carefully took out the secret decree from his arms and gently spread it out on the nanmu desk.

Lu Huiqing leaned over, his eyes eagerly falling on the secret decree, his fingers unconsciously running over the heavily written words "Appoint you as Prime Minister".

He applied a little force with his fingernails, leaving a crescent-shaped white mark on the paper, showing that he was in turmoil.

The ticking of the clepsydra was particularly clear in the silent house, like a heavy hammer striking the heartstrings of the two people.

Suddenly, Lu Huiqing reached out and grabbed a wolf-hair brush beside him, dipped it in ink, and wrote quickly on the blank space of the notice: "You can ask the old members of the Third Class Court to guard the inner court. There will be a reply within three days."

The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, and the strokes were sharp. After writing, he quickly rolled up the paper and rolled it into a thin strip without waiting for the ink to dry. He solemnly put it into Cheng Yi's palm and said with a firm look, "Sir, please return to Beijing at night and hand this to Wang Zhaorong who is on duty at the Qianqing Palace. This matter concerns the safety of the country and cannot be delayed for a moment!"

Outside the courtyard, the long sound of the night watchman's clapperboard could be heard faintly, seeming particularly abrupt in the silent night.

Lu Huiqing turned around, took down the sheepskin cloak from the wall, strode to Cheng Yi's side, gently draped it over his shoulders, and said earnestly: "I have prepared an express post horse for 800 miles, take care on your journey, brother."

Cheng Yi frowned, and suddenly he quickly reached out and grabbed the cuff of Lu Huiqing's moon-white jacket, the silk rustling with his rough fingertips.

"Wait a minute, Lu Gong."

His voice seemed to be squeezed out from deep in his chest, and was hoarse from days of running around.

"What do the maps of Yan'an Prefecture on the wall and the bronze fish tokens on the waists of the yamen runners mean?

The government is in a precarious situation right now, and you just want me to pass on a message and leave it at that?"

Lu Huiqing lowered his eyes and looked at his wrinkled cuffs. The wolf-hair brush was placed casually beside the inkstone, and the ink spread out into a gray spot on the rice paper.

"Scholars always see wind as rain."

He nonchalantly used an ivory paperweight to flatten the curled corners of "Continuation of the Qingmiao Law", and the candlelight made the impatience in his eyes flicker.

"The map is just an old item that has not been collected, and the copper fish talisman has long passed its use period - who will be responsible for delaying the important task of delivering the message due to these trivial matters?"

Cheng Yi suddenly loosened his hand, and the force of the rebound of his robe corner overturned the teacup on the desk.

"Lü Jifu!" His sleeves swept down two stacks of tax deeds, "The government wrote in the letter that we are in a precarious situation, but you are using official documents to prevaricate!
Did the courage and insight of Xining's reforms feed the carp in the Bian River?"

Lu Huiqing picked up the fallen glasses slowly, the lens flashing a cold light under the candlelight: "Uncle Cheng Zheng has read many books of sages, but has he ever read 'A general in a foreign country is not subject to the orders of the king'?"

He took out a half piece of fish talisman from the rosewood box and threw it on the table. "This is a token for you to complete your mission. As for how to proceed——"

His words were cut off by the drum, and he suddenly grabbed his cloak and threw it over his shoulders, "The city gates will be locked at three quarters past midnight. Don't blame me for not reminding you if you are late."

Cheng Yi watched the fish symbol spinning on the table, and suddenly grabbed the wolf hair brush on the table and broke it fiercely. As bamboo chips flew, he pulled off the jade pendant from his waist and threw it at Lu Huiqing's feet: "Good Lord Lu! If the emperor makes a mistake, Cheng Yi will definitely ask for an explanation on his way to the underworld!"

When he turned around, he knocked over the copper brazier, and the charcoal ash scattered all over the map of Yan'an Prefecture, as if snow had fallen in the house.

Cheng Yi rushed into the snow outside, and the heavy snowfall head-on made his mind suddenly clear.

Cheng Yi thought about it for a while and let out a deep breath. "Lu Jifu is too ambitious and is deeply envied by the important officials in the court. I'm afraid there are many people who are on guard against him. I'm afraid that relying on him alone may not be able to resolve the current crisis!"

(End of this chapter)