Luoyang Spring

"Remember the beginning?"

Hearing this name, Sima Zhao couldn't help being a little surprised, but he didn't show it.

"When Taichu left, we sent him off together..." Ruan Ji's voice suddenly softened, "I know that Duke Ming is a man of love and righteousness, and he will never forget it."

Sima Zhao couldn't help feeling secretly—of course he would never forget that he pleaded with his elder brother for Xia Houxuan at that time.Time has passed, and the young friends who traveled with them withered away one after another, just like the dead leaves outside the hall, which have long been trampled to pieces by the people who came and went, and were sucked into the soil.

In the early days, Uncle Ping, Zhongqian, Xuanmao...

And brother...

Counting the group of people back then, only he and Ruan Ji remained.

But even the two of them are no longer the same.

Time flies... He didn't speak, and walked outside the house with his hands behind his back.The temple was full of spring, and the sound of running water rang in his ears.

"Son, do you hear the sound of water?"

"My son is so caring, how about going to the temple to pay homage to the ancient gentleman?"

……

The crisp voice, like a drop of transparent water falling on my heart, is clear and agitated, ethereal and distant.Sima Zhao was startled suddenly, and turned his head to look at Ruan Ji, only to see that he was just facing the wall in a daze.

It turned out to be hallucinations—his hallucinations were particularly rampant today.Sima Zhao suddenly realized that now some people call him Duke Ming, and more people call him General, but no one calls him Zi Shang anymore.

It was a day full of ups and downs, early in the morning he was still immersed in the joy of persuading Jin Wen, but now it has developed to such a situation - I am afraid that the article written by Ruan Ji was also against his will.

Without words for a while, Sima Zhao thought heavily, turned and walked towards Ruan Ji.

Ruan Ji already had feelings of sorrow for the spring and autumn, and when he talked about the old man and the past, tears were streaming down his face.

"When Shu Ye was killed, I didn't say much; I don't care if you want me to sing your praises; but today... I can't make the same mistake again..."

"When will the loneliness make you sing praises?"

"Isn't Zheng Chong one of yours?"

"It's true that he handles all the matters of persuasion. But he has not interfered with whoever writes the article." Sima Zhao said firmly.

Ruan Ji closed his eyes.To this day, he could no longer believe Sima Zhao's words.

"I'm curious—since it's your article, why didn't you come when I persuaded you in the morning, and didn't see you sign the paper?"

Ruan Ji stared blankly at Sima Zhao, unable to speak for a while.

"You don't need to answer these questions. I just want to ask him personally," Sima Zhao observed his expression and approached him step by step. "All the ministers persuaded Gu to become the Duke of Jin. What does the heir think?"

Sima Zhao knew very well that even if he persuaded Jin Jian's rhetoric to be clear and strong, it was just a flattering formula; at this moment, he only wanted to hear Ruan Ji's real thoughts.

No amount of flattering praise is better than a half-truth.

Ruan Ji just smiled wryly—does the general care about his opinion?It's just playing with yourself as a noble prisoner to satisfy the desire to conquer.When Xiang Xiu was forced to join Sima Zhao, Sima Zhao also asked him: I heard that you have the ambition of Jishan, why are you here?

But why... why is the general's eyes at this moment, as if searching... for a truth?

He vaguely remembered that when he was young, he liked being with Zishang very much.

"If I answer, Minggong must promise me one thing."

"what?"

"Leave Ji Kang's spiritual seat."

Sima Zhao pondered for a moment, then said gloomily: "Destroy the spirit seat, and forget the rest."

"Why do you care so much about a spiritual position?"

"Because you are not qualified to negotiate terms with me!"

Sima Zhao sternly stopped the other party, and the anger in his heart was inexplicably ignited again.

Ruan Ji opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak, and finally turned into a sigh—he had exhausted his energy for arguing.

"Duke Ming has forced you to this point, and I have nothing to say."

He walked slowly towards the candlestick, and tremblingly straightened the spirit tablet.

Shu Ye is already a fairy in the clouds, he is not a common man, so why should he have a home in the world.

But after all, I couldn't escape the vulgarity...

He comforted himself, but still couldn't suppress the sadness in his heart.

Letting down my friends once again, and humiliating again...

"This matter is all one person's idea, and has nothing to do with relatives and friends." He turned and walked outside, "I also hope that Ming Gong treats them kindly."

Sima Zhao stared at his back, "Well, Gu will not only treat them kindly, but also treat you kindly."

Ruan Ji faltered, but still turned his back to him.

"Duke Ming asked me what I think about being a nobleman—I'll give you an answer now."

Sima Zhao suddenly opened his eyes wide, his heart pounding, but he waited silently for the other party to speak.

Ruan Ji raised his head slightly,

"—In the whole world, no one is more worthy of this position than Sima Zhao."

No one is more ambitious to usurp the throne than him, and no one is more suitable to take over the world than him.

Sima Zhao thought about this answer—it was neither a compliment nor a derogation, but it was the truth he wanted to hear.

He lowered his head, suddenly enlightened.

"Also, you said back then that I needed to make more friends, but later on I really had many friends. The name of one of them is on the spirit card."

Sima Zhao looked up suddenly, only to hear Ruan Ji continue talking.

"Life is not only for glory, wealth, and fame. There are mysteries in heaven and earth, and friendship in the world, all of which are more important than momentary beauty. If Minggong still cares about the past friendship, I hope he can fulfill the promise just now-be kind to my friend .”

After he finished speaking lightly, he stepped out of the gate of the temple.

Sima Zhao stood there silently, watching Ruan Ji's back disappear into the twilight, and it took him a long time to recover.

There are mysteries in heaven and earth, and love in the world...

He glanced back at Ji Kang's spirit tablet, and finally left it there.

In early spring, when the day was warm and the night was cold, Xiaohuai leaned against the side of the car with her arms around her, shivering involuntarily.She was no longer angry, but worried that her recklessness would cause trouble for her father.

She jumped twice, and suddenly saw her father walking down from the forest, and hurried to meet him.

"Father—the daughter knows it's wrong." She apologized coquettishly, and looked at her father sullenly.

Ruan Ji raised his head slowly, but it frightened his daughter - he was pale, his brows were tightly knit, and he looked extremely haggard in the dim light.

"Are you okay?" Xiaohuai was taken aback and asked quickly.

Ruan Ji gave her a hard look, and was about to speak when he suddenly fell forward.

"father--!"

Xiao Huai panicked and quickly supported him, only to hear a heavy panting sound coming from his ear.

She felt remorse and anxiety in her heart, for fear that he would not be able to hold on for a while, and tears welled up in her eyes like a flood.

Fortunately, Ruan Ji gradually recovered, took his daughter into his arms, and comforted her with an extremely soft voice:

"It's okay, let's go home."

Sima Zhao returned to the city later than Ruan Ji.When we reached the tributary of Luoshui River, the horses and chariots slowed down.He lifted the curtain and saw a vague and familiar figure standing guard on the floating bridge.Seeing his team coming back, the man immediately rode up to meet him.

Jia Chong.

It was already deep, and Gonglu hadn't untied his saddle and waited for him to come back... Sima Zhao was very pleased, calmed down his emotions, and generously invited him to board the car.

Jia Chong rejected his invitation, saying that it was not safe in Tianhei City, and he wanted to lead the troops in front.

Sima Zhao agreed without thinking too much - he just wanted to comfort his subordinates.A day's fatigue makes people physically and mentally exhausted, and he actually prefers to be alone.

"By the way, the infantry captain Ruan Ji's car passed by here just now, and it is said that he also came down from the mountain."

Sima Zhao twitched his right eyebrow, "How is he?"

Shouldn't he ask why Ruan Ji also went to the mountain at this time?Jia Chong frowned suspiciously, "He said he would go to the mountains with his daughter to worship Boyi Shuqi, and I let him go."

Sima Zhao laughed for a moment, "Ruan Bubing has been feeling ill recently, and I will send someone to take a look tomorrow."

Jia Chong nodded in the dark, and suddenly remembered the name he saw on the stele of Taixue in the morning.

"Let's go into the city." Sima Zhao waved at Jia Chong, and returned to the narrow and closed carriage.