You rascal, stop right there!

Emperor Jiaxing's move shocked all civil and military officials.

Everyone dares to be angry but dare not speak out.

From that day on, Ling Shumo had to face the impeachment of this relationship without any data, and he was exhausted every day.

But it is not so easy to overthrow the prime minister of a country.

Prime Minister Li has a royal family member, Princess Qinyang, in his hands, and the three ministries of Personnel, Military, and Households are all his people.

The only ones he had tried so hard to make friends with were the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Observatory. The Minister of Rites, the head of the Six Ministries, was actually weak.

Ling Shumo met Emperor Jiaxing in broad daylight. No matter how he argued, the emperor refused to listen to a word he said and was only partial to Prime Minister Li.

After being filled with indignation, he could only return home to think about it.

At this time, A Yan, who had been ordered out for many days, came back and quietly reported: Among the people who were replaced from the Ministry of Justice six years ago, one has been found alive.

This person seemed to have come at a very coincidental time, and he was afraid that delaying for even a quarter of an hour would disturb his decision.

After returning to the Shangshu Mansion, Ling Shumo followed A Yan into the reception room.

He always felt that the replacement looked familiar, as if he had seen him once or twice before. But now he was a blind and lame old man, not even a bit heroic.

"Six years ago, you were a jailer at the Criminal Department. May I ask what happened? How did you end up like this..."

The blind man on the opposite side hesitated for a moment, then calmly sat down with the help of the man, saying:

"Six years ago, there was a person imprisoned in the prison who was supposed to be released, but the late emperor suddenly fell ill at that time."

Ling Shumo's eyes were red: "Do you still remember what the imprisoned person looks like? What... characteristics does he have..."

He had long ago discovered that the fact that the Ministry of Justice suddenly confirmed Han Miaoyan's death was indeed strange.

During these six years, all the prisoners and jailers who were imprisoned at that time were investigated, and only one person's identity could not be found.

Finally, it was discovered that the person who could have made the entire Ministry of Justice conceal his existence could only be a prisoner imprisoned by the order of the previous emperor.

Moreover, he deliberately destroyed all the files because he didn't want to leave any evidence and wanted this person to disappear from the world.

The blind man sat upright on the chair, seeming to recall: "That man, I remember that even though he was covered in dirt in prison, his eyes were bright. He always sat there without saying a word, and liked to write and draw on the ground or wall with stones.

Ling Shumo hurriedly grabbed his arm, his voice trembling: "Is there a black mole on his left eyebrow?"

My face was covered in black ash at that time, who still remembers it?

The person on the opposite side just thought that this person was pulling him a little too hard, like a martial artist.

Then, he sighed: "I heard that this man offended the late emperor and was to be beheaded. But the late emperor released him for some reason. I only remember that he seemed a little happy on the day he was released, and even said he wanted to celebrate his birthday. What a pity..."

Unfortunately, it was not released, and it seemed to have been transferred out by another group of people...

Ling Shumo's eyes were dark and unclear, and he asked faintly: "Do you remember which day it was?"

The blind man nodded dazedly, "I don't remember the date, but I remember that day. The world heard that there was a fairy in colorful clothes on the city wall. Even at night, you could see the colorful clothes."

Someone dared to rob the prisoners from the Criminal Court.

And he was also blinded and lame by those people at that time.

Ling Shumo's eyes suddenly warmed up, and he pursed his lips: "I know which day it is."

The fourth day of March six years ago.

It is said that there is a colorful fairy on the city wall of the capital, and the former emperor dismissed all officials and opened the granaries to provide disaster relief and help the poor because of it.

And that day——

But it was Ling Shumo’s fifteenth birthday.

……

the other side,

Bai Wan restored Han Miaoran's memory.

He went to the Kasyapa Temple alone to light the lamps.

Here, he had set up candles and offered sacrifices to his biological parents, the souls of the dead in his childhood paintings, and the people he had seen with his own eyes.

Master Liaochan, wearing a white cassock, stood among the withered leaves and yellow flowers, isolated from the world. Just like last time, he gave people a sense of etherealness.

Looking at the man in fiery red clothes in front of him, he suddenly realized something and walked towards him slowly.

In the green and quiet mountain forest, the loneliness and indifference in this person's eyes seemed to be relieved, and his gaze became much gentler.

He sat down and brewed tea, the same bitter tea he had six years ago. He carefully looked at the person in front of him and said, "Donor, are you going to talk about Zen with me again this time, or have you finally agreed to become a monk?"

Bai Wan smiled. It was obvious that the master could tell the difference between himself last time and this time.

"Master, are you dizzy from taking advantage of me?" He put his hands together.

"Now my six senses are not pure, and I cannot forget love, hate, anger, and ignorance. How can I be a monk?"

"But the donor is confused this time, and I don't know how to solve it. I clearly have a compassionate heart, but it is difficult to embrace it. I clearly have the evil of cynicism, but it is difficult to choose."

Master Liao Chan spoke with great earnestness and sincerity, and his words were full of hidden meanings, as if they hit upon all that was on his mind.

There was tenderness in Bai Wan's eyes and her lips trembled slightly.

"Back then, Han followed the example of the ancient Buddha Dipankara, discarded all emotions, and painted works of sorrow and anger to warn the late emperor. I didn't expect that I would almost become a Buddha."

"Do you regret it?" Liao Chan asked him.

Bai Wan took a sip of tea and said, "I have no regrets."

In the fifty-ninth year of Daying Lvzhen, the late emperor saw his paintings. Although he angered the emperor and was severely punished, he was finally moved and saved the people.

He dismissed all officials, opened granaries to provide disaster relief and help the poor. He was truly a wise ruler.

If he hadn't been...

Nothing more...

Bai Wan's tone suddenly became a little lonely: "It's just that Han feels too tired. I want to be a rogue painter forever and stay with my confidant."

Liao Chan nodded: "I see that there is still compassion in your eyes and eyebrows, and there is a hint of nirvana and rebirth. And you can't escape from this world. Maybe if you let go of your private feelings, you won't suffer so much."

So what this sentence means is that the choice made six years ago may have to be experienced again.

"No, no, I'm a shameless ruffian now and don't want to be a saint!" Bai Wan curled her lips and smiled.

Six years ago, he made that choice because he had no idea what Ling Shumo felt, so he was able to let it go.

Now, how is it possible?

He didn't dare to think about what it would be like for this person to lose him again, and was afraid that he would not be able to rest in peace even if he died.

The idea of continuing the life after death is nonsense. When a person dies, he is dead.

The invisible and intangible afterlife is not even as good as the steamed buns in the west of the city.

Bai Wan's smile was bright, and the red clothes made his face look handsome and free and easy.

He doesn't ask for much, he just hopes that the world will be peaceful and that he can stay with Ling Shumo forever in this life.

The two of them are like the mountains and rivers in the painting, stretching endlessly, forever blending into one—

At this time, Bai Wan quietly saw a familiar person appearing not far away.

It turned out that Li Simeng was wearing official uniform, and brought palace soldiers and others to light lamps for the deceased.

The entire ancient temple was silent, except for the solemn gaze of the man in red as he looked at those people.

He held his breath...