Bamboo Raw Huaian

Shisan slept intermittently that night.In the dream, someone came and stood by the bed, looking at him sadly.

He wanted to raise his hand to smooth the man's frowning brows, saying don't worry, I will take care of myself, don't worry and do what you want.

But he was so tired that he fell asleep drowsily before he could move.

When I woke up the next day, it was already daylight.

It snowed again last night, and it was quiet all around.The stove at the foot of the bed burned quietly all night, and only the last coal was still burning.

Thirteen hugged the quilt and turned over, and subconsciously reached out to find the person next to him.

I only touched a cold bedding.

He took a breath, opened his eyes suddenly, and listened to his heart beating.

Thirteen just stared fixedly at the wooden beams on the house.

After an unknown amount of time, he closed his sore eyes, waited for his heartbeat to slow down, and got up and got out of bed.

The prince is at the border all the year round, and he is not used to having servants waiting for him to wake up.So on weekdays, the servants would not enter the bedroom in the morning.

Thirteen alone washed, cleaned their faces, and put everything back together.Then he took out an azure robe from the cabinet, put it on, put on a cloak, and opened the door to go out.

The yard is very quiet, no one has been there, and the snow is clean and thick.

Thirteen stepped on the snow and walked out slowly.

After leaving the main courtyard, there were more voices.

Like any ordinary morning, the smoke from Dongchu’s cooking rose early, and everyone went to eat when they had time; the sweeper took a big bamboo broom to sweep the snow and clear the road; A bucket, hurriedly walking towards the water tank; little girls who love beauty sit in groups of threes and twos, sitting on the porch braiding each other's hair and applying rouge...

When they saw Thirteen, they stopped and made a salute as usual, calling him "Mr. Thirteen".Thirteen would also stop and return the salute seriously.

Thirteen quietly walked out along the swept road.Almost at the meeting hall, I saw two little girls squatting on the side of the road making a snowman. After thinking about it, I went over to say hello and asked, "When will Your Highness leave the mansion?"

"Your Highness went out before dawn!" The two little girls patted the snow on their hands, stood up excitedly, "Thirteen! There was a lot of snow last night! Let's make a snowman!"

Thirteen smiled softly: "No, you guys play, I'll walk around by myself."

The two little girls said "oh", and continued to squat down to make their own snow dumplings.

Thirteen looked at the place for a while, and before taking a few steps forward, he saw Zheng Liu hurriedly running over from the front.

This Zheng Liu was originally the guard of Chu Yue's subordinates. Last time when Zhou Fan brought people to the palace to make trouble, Zheng Liu's loyalty was appreciated and he was promoted. Now he is the leader of the guards of the palace.

Thirteen guessed that he was looking for her, so she stopped and waited for him.

Zheng Liu ran over and saluted hastily: "Young Master Thirteen, the Ministry of Punishment has led troops to the palace, and the leader is Zhang Rui, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion."

Really can't wait.

Thirteen sneered in his heart, and said lightly, "Has Master Chu come back?"

Zheng Liudao: "Your Excellency has just rushed back from the palace, and this society is leading the brothers to guard the gate of the mansion."

Thirteen nodded, motioned Zheng Liu to follow, and walked towards the gate.

The door of the mansion was closed tightly, and Zheng Liu ordered someone to open the door for him.

Shisan crossed the threshold and went out, and saw Chu Yue leading a dozen guards, wearing battle armor and holding silver guns, guarding the door in a terrified manner.

Thirteen walked over: "Brother Chu."

Chu Yue responded, turned his head, his eyes were full of exhaustion, and he said in a hoarse voice: "This morning, Zhang Rui took out a letter from His Highness and Hu Erhan, which said that His Highness conspired with the Beiyan assassin to kill Zhou Yu." Fan's arrangement. The emperor ordered someone to check it, and it was the prince's handwriting. He also ordered the Ministry of Punishment to produce the statement of the assassin at that time, and the details were correct. The failure came to criticize His Highness for colluding with Beiyan. Zhang Rui said that the king of Huai’an had long wanted to usurp power and seize the throne. Unfortunately, most of the troops in his hands were left in the northern border, and the capital was short of manpower, so he hit it off with Huerhan and borrowed the hands of the Yan people to fight against dissidents. .When the imperial court becomes Huaian Wang Yiyantang, it is time for him to replace the emperor. Then Mr. Zhou Ge took the lead and implored the emperor to be convicted of treason and treason."

Chu Yue took a deep breath: "The emperor agrees."

Thirteenth said: "How is Your Highness?"

Chu Yue said: "The emperor thought of His Royal Highness's hard work of guarding the frontier for ten years; after returning to Beijing, he started to expand the national treasury; You cannot be summoned into the court——Zhang Rui is here to search the palace according to the order."

Chu Yue's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "These bastards! Twenty sticks can kill a person. If you get these forty sticks and throw them in such a humid place in the south of the Lingnan, it will kill His Highness!"

After Shisan listened, she pressed her lips tightly together and said nothing.

After half a cup of tea, Thirteen took a deep breath, recovered his voice, looked at the silhouettes of officers and soldiers looming in the distance, and said, "Zheng Liu."

"exist!"

"Go back and tell all the people in the mansion to wear warm clothes. Summon all the guards, put on armor, gather all the people in the mansion outside the house, and keep watch. Don't let the soldiers who come in take advantage of the chaos to kill our people. Hurt."

"Here."

Shisan watched Zheng Liu take the order, turned to Chu Yue and said, "Brother Chu, let's go in too."

Chu Yue's eyes were about to burst, and he growled lowly: "I, Chu Yue, have no ability. I can't do anything about His Highness being wronged so vaguely, but I, Chu Yue, swore to be loyal to His Highness. Now His Highness is gone. If a dog wants to enter the palace, it must step on my dead body!"

Thirteen's tone was uneventful: "Zhang Rui has the imperial decree in his hand. Brother Chu is resisting the decree if he refuses to let in. Your Highness cannot be charged with another crime."

Chu Yue gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, let it out with a sullen face, and bowed: "I was reckless."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and strode into the mansion to help the guards.

Thirteen bowed their hands in return.

When Chu Yue was far away, Shisan straightened up, turned around to look at the approaching officers and soldiers, turned around and entered the mansion, closed the mansion door casually, and told the guards at the door not to show off for a while, and opened the door when they saw the imperial decree.

After everything was done, Thirteen walked back slowly, entered the meeting room, sat on the first chair next to the main seat, made himself a pot of tea, and waited quietly.

In less than a stick of incense, shouts came from the gate of the mansion.Chu Yue and Zheng Liu entered the meeting hall one after another, standing behind Shisan on the left and on the right.

It was almost time for the tea in the pot, Shisan lowered his eyes, poured himself a cup of tea slowly, blew on it gently, and took a sip.

When it was time to drink again, Zhang Rui led someone into the meeting hall.

In an instant, the dense crowd of officers and soldiers surrounded the meeting hall.

Holding the imperial edict, Zhang Rui glanced around, as if he hadn't seen Thirteen, and said, "Tell your managers to come out and receive the edict."

Zheng Liu couldn't see, and when he wanted to speak, Chu Yue secretly held him down.

Thirteen took another sip of tea, put the cup on the table, Shi Shiran got up, took two steps forward, stood not far from Zhang Rui, and performed a literati salute, indifferently Said: "Master Zhang can announce the decree."

Zhang Rui smiled: "Little darling, the patriarch is supposed to receive the imperial edict. Your patriarch is stripping naked and being beaten in the palace right now. If you don't have time, you have to call the manager of your mansion."

Thirteen glanced at him, and said in a neutral tone, "I am."

Zhang Rui looked him up and down, cupped his hands in a gesture, and said with a smile: "It's Zhang who has lost his eyesight. I didn't realize that Huai'an Palace is now a little singer in charge."

Hearing this, Zheng Liu almost went mad. If Chu Yue hadn't stopped him firmly, he would have rushed over to beat up Zhang so that he couldn't get out of bed for three days.

Looking at Shisan again, he still had that indifferent look, with a smile on his lips, and he didn't speak, just waiting for Zhang Rui to announce his order as if he was reading a joke.

Shisan understood very well in his heart that the emperor protected the prince and did not condemn him to death. The people of the old clan were all hoping that something would happen to the palace, so that the prince would die in the capital in one fell swoop, saving the night and dreams.

Seeing that Shisan was not fooled, Zhang Rui was not in a hurry, and continued: "It's degrading to let a little singer take charge of the dignified palace, but in the end it's His Royal Highness Huai'an's private matter, and I shouldn't have anything to do with it. It's just—"

He looked embarrassed: "Your Excellency has no rank or rank, and you don't even have a serious name. Turning around, Your Majesty asked me who I should pass on the decree to. How can I answer this?"

A mocking smile flashed in Thirteen's eyes, and he was about to speak when he heard footsteps coming from the door.

The person who came was an old man, wearing a stone-blue python robe, a red hat, and a jade pendant.

Zhang Rui looked back and saw the person coming, he cupped his hands and said, "Why is the prince here?"

The visitor returned the salute and said: "Master Zhang, the emperor thought that the people staying in the Huai'an palace are of no rank, and he was afraid that it would be difficult for him to do so, so he asked the old slave to come and visit."

Zhang Rui raised his eyebrows, wondering what the old man was going to do: "My lord, please."

Wang Gonggong gave him a salute, then turned to Shisan, looked at the people in front of him, seeing him approaching the city without arrogance or annoyance, he couldn't help admiring him.

But he didn't show it, he just said: "Duan Qingzhu accepts the order."

Thirteen knelt down to receive the order, and bowed to the ground.

Just listen to the prince's justice: "Following the heavens, the emperor said: Duan's green bamboo, full of talents, knowledgeable about the past and the present, with both ability and political integrity, and high learning and talent. Specially named Cheng Yilang from the seventh rank. This is my honor."

After Shisan took over the imperial decree, the prince stepped aside and said politely, "Master Zhang please."

Zhang Rui gritted his teeth, he never expected that the emperor would protect his weaknesses so much that even the king of Huai'an had collapsed and sealed him in his mansion.Seeing that the imperial decree has been accepted, he can't dismiss the emperor here.

I had no choice but to swallow this breath, hastily announced the decree, and took people all over the house to search.

When he left the meeting hall, Wang Gonggong saluted Shisan and said, "Lord Duan, this old servant will take his leave."

Thirteen bowed his hands to the old man, and said earnestly, "Qingzhu thanked the prince."

Wang Gonggong laughed and waved his hands: "This old slave can't afford this thank you. If Lord Duan is free, you might as well go to the palace to thank His Majesty in person."

Thirteenth said: "Qingzhu wrote it down."

After sending off the prince, Shisan didn't enter the house again, and asked Zheng Liu to help him move the chair to the porch, and sat there, watching the officers and soldiers running around in the yard, tapping his fingers on the armrest unconsciously, his eyes lost In the distance, I don't know what I'm thinking.

There was a clanging sound from the inner courtyard, Shisan turned his head to listen, and said to Zheng Liu: "Let brothers watch carefully, don't hurt us."

Zheng Liu responded.

Thirteen watched him go by, and after a while, his eyes fell into the void again.

While he was in a trance, a man came over beside him, bent over, and handed him the teacup with both hands.

Thirteen looked up, it was Chu Yue.

Thirteen looked at Chu Yue for a while, then lowered his gaze to the teacup he handed over.

Hot air floated up from the uncovered gap, and a dense white mist evaporated.

Chu Yue changed the cold tea for him.

Shisan knew that the prince's life and death were unpredictable, and Chu Yue wanted to avenge the prince.But Chu Yue also knew that he couldn't get through the twists and turns of the officialdom, and if he wanted to achieve great things, he had to follow the right master.

After drinking this cup of tea, he is Chu Yue's master at Thirteen.

Thirteen looked at the cup of tea and didn't move.

Chu Yue didn't hold back either, just stood bent over holding the tea in both hands.

After a long time, when the dense white mist above the teacup was about to dissipate, Shisan finally reached out to take it, lifted the lid of the cup, and took a sip of the lukewarm tea.

Neither of them spoke again.

Thirteen sat on the porch for a long time, drank a pot of tea, watched the officers and soldiers come in and out, trampled the snow that fell last night until it was muddy, and even the corners of the walls were covered with mud.

When they smashed, moved, and almost emptied the palace, Zheng Liu finally came back and said that Zhang Rui was going to leave.

Thirteen handed the teapot to Chu Yue, stood up, gave a literati salute to Zhang Rui who was walking over, and then stood there calmly.

Zhang Rui reluctantly returned the salute with a smile, knowing that this time the palace did not cause any trouble, and he would be held accountable by the elder Ge when he went back.

I don't know why Huaian Wang brought back such a difficult gadget from the Nanfeng Pavilion.

This is a little song.

This is clearly a hidden politician.

When Shisan entered the inner courtyard, the servants of the palace got together and were tightly guarded by the guards.

Thirteen made careful arrangements to keep them from freezing, frightening, or hurting them. He kept all his valuables with him and never lost them.

In short, I didn't suffer the slightest grievance.

Seeing Thirteen approaching, they all chattered around, first looked left and right, but didn't find where he was injured, the group of people breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked the palace what happened.

Thirteen briefly talked about the prince's affairs, and said: "Now that His Highness is exiled, the Huai'an Palace must not be able to keep anyone. I have saved some money these days, and you can take it as a farewell gift."

The maids, women, and servants all over the yard hurriedly waved their hands, saying that they had some scraps of silver on hand, and now that His Highness is in trouble, they still want to raise some money to help, how can they ask for Thirteenth Prince's silver instead? .

Shisan asked Chu Yue to take the silver, smiled slightly, and put it into their hands one by one.Touch this, hug that.Tell them one by one, when you arrive at a new place, be diligent with your hands, don't let the masters catch your mistakes; eat well, sleep well, wear more clothes in winter, don't get sick...

Some little girls were stuffed with money by Thirteen, and couldn't bear it, tears fell down, crying and saying that they couldn't bear Thirteen, let her follow.

Thirteen hugged her very gently, and coaxed her softly, saying that he could not protect them right now, and that when he became capable in the future, he would bring them back one by one.

After the money was distributed, Shisan was busy helping them find anything else that could be used and taken away in the palace, helped them pack all the packages, and sent people out of the palace one by one.

After finishing all the busy work, Shisan closed the door of the mansion, turned around and went back to the yard.

Zheng Liu had already formed a team of guards for the palace, and three No. 40 people stood quietly in the yard waiting for him.

Thirteen looked at everyone's expressions, and said: "Thirteen has not been in the mansion for a long time, but I also know that you are all people of the day, but now that His Highness is exiled and the palace is in decline, you all swear allegiance. The person has gone. Thirteen is not talented enough to take on great responsibilities, and dare not make you loyal. Thirteen has prepared some thin silver for you, and I hope you will accept it. Thirteen and you will say goodbye to each other and go our separate ways. Shangao Road far, see you again.”

After saying that, Thirteen bowed to the guards.

I know how capable he is, but he is not as ignorant as he said, and cannot afford the responsibility of commanding these thirty or forty guards.It's just that there are so many pairs of eyes staring at the palace now, blindly coveting people's hands, but people will take advantage of the loopholes.

He spoke beautifully, and the eyeliner of the old clan would no longer waste time and effort with such an unknown person like him; those who were incompetent and courageous would not leave behind a better path and stay with him instead.

In this way, the last people left must be the available talents that he is in short supply now.

Thirteen thought about it, and saw all the guards clasped their fists in return, queuing up to take the money and find another way out.

There are only four or five people left, and they swear to heaven that after the prince is gone, they will be the only ones to look forward to.

Thirteen saluted them again.

After the ceremony, appoint Zheng Liu as the leader.The two immediately set off all the way to the south, secretly protecting the prince comprehensively; the two visited the hidden piles and verified the prince's old department; the other kept track of the dynamics of the capital at all times.

Everyone clasped their fists to accept orders and dispersed.