Qizhou

Meng Yincheng did not announce that He Qizhou would enter the palace to face the saint.He has been escaping the summer heat in the other garden, and he tries to be as simple as possible when going to court. He has no chance to go to court with such a idle job as Qin Tianjian. If the emperor doesn't call him, he can only stay behind and deal with trivial matters every day.

It's nothing more than celestial phenomena and astrology, and it seems that they are all those things. He Qizhou has seen too much, so he is naturally tired of watching it.The rain in summer comes and goes quickly. He Qizhou looked at the sky full of stars, and he didn't even have to divination. sunny."

Resigning from the year without raising it, he rubbed the black and white characters in his hand, knocked and listened, and said: "Before I came to Chang'an, I thought that this five-featured seal was just a great official. These days, I see you jumping up and down every day. It turned out to be a weather forecast from Shangfang Jiewa..."

He Qizhou snatched the chess piece from his hand, and leaned on the chess table with one side: "You are the one who praised my ability, and you are the one who said that I went to the house...how could it be you?"

Instead of robbing him, Ci Nian took another chess box from the side and played with it in his hand: "I didn't say you went to the house to break the tiles, I said you had a weather forecast, who said the weather forecast is not good enough?" , I didn't say anything."

Nearly half a month passed, and Aman and Fu Jin didn't come back, and Xu Wenzhi couldn't get any news.After being bored at home for so many days, apart from playing with his rouge and chickens in the backyard, he just sat at the chess table and played with chess pieces.After playing for a while, he himself felt bored, so he put Reversi back into the box and sighed: "Is there no news from Mr. Xu..."

"Not yet." He Qizhou pondered for a moment, and said, "But at this time, no news should be good news."

Xu Wenzhi's father is still in prison, and he was wronged because of the private salt.He has no one to rely on in the court, and his only friend is a small official of the Qintian Supervisor who has no real power. He has come here once during these days. I told him with reservations.

This must be preserved.Meng Yincheng has always been like this. When playing chess, he should be vigilant about what he should know, and he shouldn't even listen to the wind when he shouldn't know it.He Qizhou was very clear, so he only said to him: "The emperor already knew about this matter, and he said that he will find out the truth and deal with it fairly, so that you and your family will not be wronged."

Xu Wenzhi heard the words, but did not reply for a long time.

He was restless because of this matter, and he had not slept well for many days.He didn't sit or stand, walked around the room again and again, finally picked up the tea on the table, drank it in one gulp, and sighed heavily.He wanted to spit out all the grievances that had been accumulated in his chest these days!Why did this inexplicable incident involve him for no reason?

He Qizhou comforted him: "Brother Xu, do you still remember the day we met Jiang Huanyu?"

He Qizhou took another breath, and said helplessly, "Remember, what did you mention him..."

He Qizhou said: "Listen to him, the affairs of brother Xu's family are more or less related to him."

"Yes, I understood what he said that day. It's just..." Xu Wenzhi sighed again, "You and I just heard this, do you have any other witnesses, not to mention that he wants to play tricks, there must be someone else Even if I send someone to intercept the correspondence, it has been so long and it is unknown whether the evidence is still there. How could you cooperate with me... After thinking about it, I can only ask Brother He to find an opportunity for me in front of the emperor to prove my father's innocence!"

"I saw the emperor, and I talked to the emperor about it..." Facing the emotional Xu Wenzhi, He Qizhou could only comfort him, "The emperor will definitely give justice to your family, our majesty is not a fool..."

Xu Wenzhi said: "I know that Your Majesty is not a stupid person, but... But I am afraid that someone with a heart will deceive the Emperor. What Jiang Huanyu said that day was nothing more than asking me to admit my crime, and to admit that the daughter of the guilty minister was because of me. Missed into the palace! But I didn't, I didn't! My father is the same! He didn't sell private salt! Today they can't take advantage of me, because I can defend myself in front of the emperor, but my father...he is far away in the south of the Yangtze River, A commoner, how can he defend himself, how can his words be heard by the heavens!"

As Xu Wenzhi was talking, he even fell into a daze. He paused, and then murmured: "If...if my father really did something wrong in a moment of confusion, how can I save him? Go ask Mrs. Fu... go and confess your guilt, or..."

Days of uneasiness made him look haggard, Xu Wenzhi frowned, and the bruises under his eyes became more and more obvious.He was so anxious that he wished he could grow his wings, so he immediately flew back to his hometown from Chang'an to find out the whole story himself.

On that day, He Qizhou comforted him for a long time, and finally persuaded the depressed and anxious Minister of Rites to go home.At this time, the burden of the Ministry of Rites cannot be messed up.There are so many pairs of eyes staring at him in the open and in the dark, wishing to strike him personally and pinch him until he can't breathe.

He Qizhou knew what he was worried about, so he specially sent the pigeons left at the house to him, and passed on the letter from home for him.This gray pigeon is Qin Ge's big baby, capable and well-behaved, and very obedient.Xu Wenzhi was so grateful that he immediately drafted a letter from home and stuffed it into the mailbox.The small bamboo tube hanging on the pigeon's feet carried his countless hot hopes. Xu Wenzhi held the bird in his hand, trembling, and gently touched its head: "Good pigeon, you can fly faster by relying on it." is you……"

The moment he let go, the powerful gray wings spread out suddenly, and within a short while, they rushed into the blue sky and disappeared into the boundless sky.Xu Wenzhi stared at the direction where it disappeared for a long time, finally lowered his head, and let out a long sigh.He had to try his best to keep his appearance as tidy as he went to and from the Ministry of Rites and home every day, but now, under this dignified appearance was his exhausted heart that he couldn't even hide.

After that day, it was more than half a month.

Pigeons once hovered over the courtyard, but never returned home.Xu Wenzhi held the pigeon whistle, presumably calling it for help.It's not like in the middle of Sichuan, the mountains and roads in the south of the Yangtze River are high and the roads are far away. Even the pigeons trained by Qin Ge don't have the ability to go back and forth in a day.What's more, Mr. Xu was so burnt out, He Qizhou only thought that if it was now, he would let the little gray pigeon rest for a few days and serve him delicious food, which would be regarded as a reward.

He Qizhou couldn't wait for Xu Wenzhi to come, nor could he see him, knowing that he was still going to work in the Ministry of Rites every day, he couldn't bear to disturb him during the rest time.The summer is very long, and the heat is getting hotter and hotter. The emperor is still escaping the heat in Cuihua Mountain, and there is no news of his coming back.This string of knots is holding Xu Wenzhi, and it is divided into several strands, one is held in the hands of the Taifu, the other is held in the hands of the emperor, and there may be another one, which is pulled by some hidden person hiding in the dark.And Xu Wenzhi is not even worthy to be the center of this knot.He and his family just had the bad luck of eight lifetimes, and happened to be stuck between these threads.

He Qizhou couldn't figure out how to play this game of chess.

As expected, Qin Tianjian, as Ci Nian said, should be assigned to a job of watching stars and measuring weather and rain.Master's temperament of timidity and only seeking to live in peace is the best choice for an official life.

This night, on a whim, Ci Nian wants to accompany He Qizhou to the roof to look at the stars.There was no need to go up to the roof to watch the stars, but He Qizhou felt that it was cool up there, so he sat on it.After watching for a while, there was the sound of bricks and tiles beside him. When he turned his head, he saw a furry head pressing unceremoniously on his shoulders, and his two furry ears trembled: "I want to do it too." Look at the stars."

He Qizhou smiled: "Can you look at the stars?"

Ci Nian said confidently: "No, but if you look at it from above, then I will also look at it."

He Qizhou took Ci Nian's hand and led him to raise his finger. Taking advantage of the still clear night, he pointed out the brightest and largest silver plate with missing teeth in the sky: "This one is called the moon."

Ci Nian's ears immediately perked up: "You are fooling a fool! Who doesn't know that it is the moon!"

He Qizhou laughed loudly: "You said you were a fool, I didn't say..."

Ci Nian withdrew his hand, and was about to cover his mouth immediately: "Make you laugh! Smelly Taoist priest, all day long! Either bullying me here or bullying me there..."

"Hahahaha, how dare I... ouch, little god, spare me, slow down..." After all, the roof is not flat, He Qizhou laughed and dodged Ci Nian's attack, and he had to hug him to prevent this guy from falling down, after all Even if he was sitting on a chair, the little fox might get overwhelmed by tilting up the stool legs. If he fell from the eaves because of fighting, he would have to wail for days, crying for chicken legs.

The two were fighting and had no time to care about other things, but from the corner of his eye, Ci Nian caught a glimpse of a figure coming in from the bottom of the wall.He who was laughing and laughing one moment, immediately got out of He Qizhou's arms the next moment.As soon as he flew into the air, he lightly tapped the tiles of the eaves with his toes, and landed on the ground with a bang.Seeing what he found, He Qizhou quickly followed him. The two of them landed in the yard, but saw the grass under the wall rustling. After a while, a man came out and shouted: "Ouch! What kind of rocks are you two putting in the bushes, you almost sprained my foot!"

The two of them took a closer look, they could climb over the wall so smoothly and come uninvited, who else could it be except Qin Ge?

General Qin patted the dirt on his body, and said anxiously: "Hey! Don't say I won't knock on the door! It will be too late when you two open the door, so hurry up and follow me! There is something urgent!"

He Qizhou wanted to reprimand him, but when he heard his words, he hurriedly said: "Didn't you go to Cuihua Mountain with the emperor? Why did you come back? Did something happen to the emperor? If you have something to say, speak up quickly."

Qin Ge obviously came here in a hurry, the stone lamp in the courtyard was dim, but it could still illuminate the thin layer of sweat on his forehead, he wiped his face suddenly, and said urgently: "It's not the emperor's fault! It's Xu Your Excellency is not good! He did not know why he went crazy today, and suddenly ran to Cuihua Mountain, saying that he wanted to see the emperor. You are not allowed to see him without summons, unless there is something important..."

He Qizhou said: "Did something important happen to the Ministry of Rites?"

Qin Ge took a deep breath, shook his head and said, "I was on patrol, I looked at Master Xu, and exchanged a few words, who knew he didn't say a word, only wanted to see His Majesty, I saw his face pale, described Fearing that he was sick and talking nonsense, I wanted to take him to the barracks aside to rest, and I could say no to everything... As a result, I just invited him to the barracks, but he took advantage of the patrol guards. Be careful, run to the palace as soon as you can, and... you can't stop it!"

Almost No. 20 guards, but didn't even catch a scholar!Qin Ge watched Xu Wenzhi rush in, and hurriedly led a group of people to chase after him. It would be fine if this matter was stopped at his level, but if he bumped into a concubine, or even bumped into the emperor...General Qin is not cowardly A little timid person, he is only afraid that something will go wrong, and Mr. Xu will not be able to explain it!

But no matter how much he chased and yelled, Xu Wenzhi seemed to be in a frenzy. He couldn't hear his yells, and couldn't stop him. The passing eunuchs didn't dare to block him, and the maids screamed in fright. This cremation was accompanied by lightning, and it actually ran all the roads in the palace.Qin Ge couldn't imagine how this thin scholar could run so fast!Seeing that he was about to rush to the Cuiwei Hall where the emperor had dinner, Qin Ge hurriedly jumped up, stepping on the flowers, plants, mountains and rocks along the road, not caring how much he would have to pay if these things were broken. Wenzhi broke through the last courtyard gate and stopped him.

And Mr. Xu, who was running so fast just now, seemed to have been drained of all his strength after being stopped by him like this, and fell heavily to the ground. If it wasn't for Qin Ge's sharp eyesight and quick hand to help him, his head would have been smashed Skin.But even so, he still opened his bloodshot eyes, looked at the brightly lit courtyard gate, hoarsely, and said hoarsely: "Xu Wenzhi, the servant of the Ministry of Rites! See Your Majesty! Please send an official to hear the matter." Lin'an private salt case!"

Qin Ge didn't have time to stop him, so he could only drag him back, trying his best to persuade him: "Master Xu! Stop talking! This is the royal forbidden area! You can't do this!"

Xu Wenzhi, however, didn't care about the so-called honor of a ruler and his ministers. He was dragged by Qin Ge's outer robe, so he took off his outer robe, knelt down, and moved towards the direction of Cuiwei Hall. He was too tired, he was originally a scholar , is a courtier, he shouldn't overstep, he shouldn't shout in front of officials, let alone be so disrespectful, kneel down on the ground, and move forward with hands and feet.

But he couldn't wait any longer.

The guards who came along with Qin Ge came up to meet him one after another, dragging him back by the hands and feet. He was in such a hurry that he didn't even care about falling off the jade hairpin tied with blue silk.Before he covered his mouth with that hand, he let out the last cry that tore through the night: "Your Majesty! Save my parents! They are wronged!"

"Father and mother?" He Qizhou was startled, and hurriedly said, "Isn't Lin'an private salt only involving brother Xu's father... A few days ago, I saw him receive a letter from his mother, his mother..."

Qin Ge sighed, took out a letter from his arms, and handed it to He Qizhou.The letter was curled up, and it looked like it had been taken out of a pigeon's bamboo tube.After hesitating for a moment, He Qizhou took the letter and unfolded it.The handwriting on the letter is no longer as elegant and decent as the last letter from home. Although the handwriting is legible, it is not a good handwriting.The letter was sloppy, but only a few lines, but it revealed a chilling fact: in Lin'an, thousands of miles away, Xu Wenzhi's mother had already been detained for trial because of the newly received criminal evidence by the yamen.And his father was also suffering from chronic diseases due to the hot weather and the harsh prison environment.This letter from home was written by a servant at home holding a pen.The last sentence on the letter was blurred by tears: "Master, I beg you, Jiu! Save the master, save the madam!"

"When we took him out, he didn't say a word. He was so dazed that he couldn't even feed him with water." Qin Ge said desolately, "Master Xu... I'm afraid he can't hold on anymore."