Rebirth of a Star General

Early the next morning, Xiao Jue did not come back.

Xiao Jing also entered the palace, while Bai Rongwei and He Yan stayed in the palace. Bai Rongwei had a body, and He Yan didn't dare to let her worry, and didn't tell her more about the palace. After the maid helped Bai Rongwei to rest in the house, she sat in the yard by herself, waiting for Xiao Jue to come back.

When Xiao Jue came back, it was night.

The sky was completely dark, and the lanterns were already lit in the yard. He Yan was sitting at the table absent-mindedly reading a book. When he saw him coming back from outside, he was full of wind and dew, and his expression was a little cold, so he got up and approached and asked: " How's it going?"

Xiao Jue put Yinqiu on the table, took off his outer clothes, and said after a moment of silence, "The national mourning will be three days later."

"So fast?" He Yan was surprised.

"Not only that, the emperor left a will before his death, and four concubines and twenty palace maids in the palace were buried."

He Yan blurted out: "Impossible!"

Regarding the death of the emperor and the burial of women, there are indeed records in the history. But this rule was abolished long before the first emperor ascended the throne, because Emperor Hezong at that time thought that the burial was too cruel, so it was abolished. This is a rule that has been abolished, not to mention that although Emperor Wenxuan has made little achievements in political affairs, he is still benevolent and tolerant, and he will never issue such a will.

"Among the four concubines who were buried, there was Concubine Lan Gui." Xiao Jue said coldly.

He Yan suddenly understood, "What do you mean, this edict is fake?"

Emperor Wenxuan favored Concubine Lan for many years, but now that after Emperor Wenxuan's death, no one can protect Concubine Lan, so a fake edict can be used to remove this thorn.

"If the edicts are all fake..." He Yan looked up at Xiao Jue, his eyes moved slightly, "Have you ever seen Your Majesty..."

Xiao Jue looked at her, "No."

He Yan felt a heartbeat.

If you haven't seen His Majesty with your own eyes, you can't know whether Emperor Wenxuan really died of illness, and if it was something else...

"I asked the chambermaid at the dormitory at that time. Before the emperor settled down, he had seen the fourth prince."

"So coincidental?" He Yan frowned slightly, but if it was said that the fourth prince attacked the emperor, there would be no reason at all.

"After the national mourning, it is the enthronement ceremony." Xiao Jue sat down on the chair, "The prince is about to ascend the throne."

He Yan's voice sank: "This is not a good thing."

Before the edict of changing the crown prince appeared, Emperor Wenxuan's palace car Yan drove, and the prince ascended the throne, not to mention whether the prince could sit firmly in this position, I am afraid that once the prince ascends the throne, the situation facing the Xiao family is not optimistic.

Seeing He Yan's frown, Xiao Jue twitched the corners of her mouth and comforted her: "Don't worry, I'll go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion tomorrow."

"you……"

He didn't speak, just looked at He Yan calmly. In an instant, He Yan understood. She lowered her head and remained silent. After a while, she raised her head again and put her hand on the back of Xiao Jue's hand with a firm voice, " go."

...

Emperor Wenxuan died, and the state mourned on the twenty-seventh day. During the state mourning, courtiers were prohibited from banqueting, drinking, and having fun. Choose a date and enter the imperial mausoleum three days later.

In the court, there was a lot of quarrel over Emperor Wenxuan's "burial" edict. Among them, the most fierce opposition was naturally the fourth prince Guangshuo and the fifth prince Guangji, only because Concubine Lan and Ni Guiren were buried in the same row. Guangji was still young, and he only knew how to cry endlessly.

Looking at it now, it seems that Guangyan has won the throne of Jiangshan, but things in the world are not clear for the time being. Even if he actually ascended the throne and became an emperor, it is not uncommon for people who became emperors in previous history to be pulled down and replaced.

In the DPRK, everyone was in danger, and the wind was shaking for a while.

After the death of Emperor Wenxuan, Guangyan, as the crown prince, temporarily handled all matters in the DPRK. And the first thing he did was to release the Uto messengers who had been under house arrest earlier. And ordered to allow the Utuo country to seek peace, and deliberately allowed the Utuo people to open a court in Dawei.

As soon as the order came out, the pan was fried up and down.

If he wanted to do this before, although there was opposition among the ministers, it would not be so strong. And after the Tianxingtai incident, it is really chilling that Guangyan still insists on reconciliation, knowing the ambitions of the Uto people.

One by one, the censor's papers flew to the crown prince's desk, and they were all thrown into the waste paper heap. The people of Shuojing did not know the benefits, and most of the civil servants advocated the moderation. Only the military generals were not angry, but they were helpless. Many years ago, Xu Jingfu had used the civil servants under the influence of Emperor Wenxuan, but now the position of the military generals, Far less important than Wenchen.

In Shi Jinbo's mansion, Chu Zhao looked at the long letter in his hand.

After a while, he held the letter in his hand, and the letter was crumpled into a ball, indicating his complicated and slightly angry mood at the moment.

It was rare for him to have such a time when his confidant saw this and asked cautiously, "Fourth Young Master..."

Chu Zhao threw the letter into the brazier and pressed his forehead.

Although he had known for a long time that Guang Yan was a brainless idiot, he didn't expect that he could be so daring if he had no brains. He had clearly reminded Guangyan that it was not advisable to kill the king, but Guangyan still did it. I'm afraid that Queen Zhang and her mother's family have also contributed to the back, otherwise everything will not be like this.

"Fourth Young Master, in three days, the emperor will enter the imperial tomb, and His Royal Highness will soon be enthroned. Isn't it a good thing for the fourth son?" After all, Xu Jingfu is gone now, and some of Xu Jingfu's people belong to Chu Zhao , In a way, Chu Zhao is also the prince's person. Once in power, as long as the crown prince becomes the emperor, the fourth son of his family will only have a better and better future.

Chu Zhao laughed, but there was no warmth in his eyes, "He can't be the emperor."

The confidant raised his head and looked at him: "This..."

"He's too impatient. If there wasn't that edict, maybe this matter would have a chance to turn around, but the announcement of the funeral edict just made him speed up his death." He said these things. There is no timidity in his eyes, as if he is talking about someone who is not a royal and noble person.

"That edict must be fake, but I don't know if it was the crown prince or the fourth prince. If it was the prince, then he is not only stupid, but also ridiculous. If it is the fourth prince..." Chu Zhao smiled slightly , "Then the prince will not be his opponent no matter what."

"You mean, before entering the imperial mausoleum..."

"Concubine Lan Gui is going to be buried, and the fourth prince will not allow this to happen. Before entering the imperial mausoleum, I'm afraid that if you haven't ascended the throne, you won't be able to keep this position."

Even now, although the words he said were startling, his expression did not show much turbulence, and he seemed to have anticipated everything in front of him.

The confidant was uneasy: "Fourth Young Master, if the Crown Prince is not worthy of following, what should we do now?"

Following the fourth prince now, I'm afraid it's too late, what's more, they have too few chips, and they don't have the capital to make a deal with the fourth prince.

Chu Zhao looked out the window.

It is already spring, but the weather is still surprisingly cold. He originally followed Xu Jingfu. If there was no Xiao Jue, Xu Jingfu looked at Guangyan, and he might not be able to sit firmly in the position of the ninth five. But without Xu Jingfu's Guangyan, no matter how long it is, he is not Guangshuo's opponent.

One day, the enemy will suffer for several lifetimes. Sometimes Chu Zhao felt that he should thank Xiao Jue. It was because of Xiao Jue that he was free.

But at the same time, he also lost everything.

Now, with Guangyan, it is really a path to the dark. But if he were to follow Guang Shuo now... at most, he would only be able to survive, and everything he gained because of Xu Jingfu would also be lost in an instant.

The cruelty of fate to him is that the other road opposite to darkness is not light. Comparing the two, it is not to abandon one, and you can choose another bright road, but it is to measure the amount of loss.

He stood up, "I'll go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion."

...

The night in Jinling is still as prosperous as before.

In the Cloud Tower, few people came because of the national mourning. The girls stopped playing the piano early and just sat in the building.

Hua Youxian also changed into plain clothes, although the state mourning does not force people to wear plain clothes, but at this juncture, it is better not to make mistakes.

It was already dark, and in the evening, the rain that had stopped started falling again. Hua Youxian hid under the eaves of a teahouse by the Qinhuai River with the last packet of red bean cakes she just bought from Guangfuzhai. shelter from the rain. As soon as he stood still, he caught a glimpse of a familiar shadow coming from the corner.

"Master Yang?" Hua Youxian couldn't help shouting.

The man looked sideways, the sandal-colored long gown, and the elegant appearance, it was Yang Mingzhi, the governor of Jinling.

Yang Mingzhi was also startled when he saw Hua Youxian. He must have also returned from outside without an umbrella, and his clothes were mostly wet. After a little hesitation, he walked over and stood beside Hua Youxian, saying: You fairy girl."

Hua Youxian smiled and looked outside: "The rain won't stop if you want to come for a while, or else, just sit down and have a cup of tea here, and wait until the rain stops before leaving."

Yang Mingzhi thought for a while, then nodded.

Now during the national mourning, he has an official position and cannot drink alcohol, so he ordered a pot of tea and a little snack. The teahouse is next to the Qinhuai River. When the window is opened, the lights of the boats on the Qinhuai River can be seen on and off. In this rain curtain, it is like a dark star in the dark night.

"It seems that every time I see Lord Yang, I am alone." Hua Youxian smiled.

Although Yang Mingzhi is the governor of Jinling, he is different from the previous governor, and he does not like to be ostentatious when traveling, so that he has been the governor of Jinling for several years, and not everyone in Jinling City knows him.

Yang Mingzhi lowered his head and smiled, but did not speak.

Hua Youxian was a little curious. When she met this young man in the Yunyun Tower, she was particularly impressed by the experience of the world together. Although Yang Mingzhi is not as stunning as that Dudu Xiao, not as handsome as Young Master Yan, and not as handsome as Young Master Yang, but among the young people, he is also handsome and has a bit of an air of vulgarity. After they met again, although he was already the governor of Jinling, he was silent a lot, not as good as flying.

"Master Yang knows that Young Master Xiao got married not long ago." Hua Youxian took the tea and took a sip, "The slave family and Cailian sent a congratulatory gift. Master Yang is busy with official business, so he shouldn't have time to see it. , Young Master Xiao looked indifferent and inhumane, but he was very kind to that girl He."

Thinking of this, Hua Youxian also felt a little emotional. At that time, she saw that He Yan was a daughter, and Xiao Jue took care of He Yan a lot, but she did not expect that the two would get married so quickly. It seems that fate is really wonderful. If the right person is right, it doesn't take ten or eight years to try out the sincerity.

Yang Mingzhi looked down at the tea cup in front of him, paused, and said, "Yes."

My heart is not as peaceful as it seems.

In fact, Xiao Jue did not invite him. Of course, he didn't think he would receive Xiao Jue's invitation. As early as many years ago, his brotherhood with Xiao Jue had probably vanished.

then……

Yang Mingzhi turned his head to the side and looked at the river outside the window. The river was lingering and cold, and the boats carrying the water slowly flowed towards many years ago.

Many years ago, when he was still a student of Xianchang Hall, he did not know the dangers of the world and the sufferings of the world. He has friends who truly appreciate, like-minded, generous and righteous. He also once thought that the friendship of young people will last forever.

Until something happened to the Xiao family.

He was so anxious that he agreed to help and went home to find his father, but unexpectedly, the father who had always praised Xiao Jue in front of him turned down his plea.

At that time, Yang Mingzhi was extremely puzzled, he knelt down and begged, probably because his attitude was too firm, Master Yang finally couldn't resist, and finally revealed the truth to him.

It wasn't until that time that Yang Mingzhi knew that his father had always been Xu Jingfu's. The entire Yang family was under the care of Xu Jingfu.

"If you help him, you will harm the Yang family." Father stood in front of him and shook his head: "You choose."

The boy fell to the ground, dazed. He didn't understand the righteous father who kept teaching him how to live, how could he be like this? If the family training he received since elementary school was nothing more than words on paper, what was he insisting on all these years?

No one could answer him.

He broke up with Xiao Jue, he chose his family, and similarly, he also thought that he was no longer qualified to be Xiao Jue's "friend".

Later, he took the scientific examination and entered the official position. He did not stay in Shuojing, but went to Jinling on purpose. He could not face the Yang family, nor could he face himself. Only here, in the old place that I traveled with my classmates from Xianchangguan, pretended that I was still a young man who had the world in his heart and had a clear distinction between good and evil.

But it wasn't until he met Xiao Jue and the others again that Yang Mingzhi suddenly discovered that Xiao Jue, Lin Shuanghe, and Yan He had not changed, but he was the only one who had changed. They still went to the Yunyun Tower together, drinking and talking, but they didn't feel like they were in the old days.

old times...

In the old days, it was like a huge mountain rising slowly in the flat ground. Before you knew it, it was already insurmountable.

Hua Youxian seemed to see the sadness in his eyes for a moment, paused, and finally changed his words, saying: "Now that His Majesty has passed away, His Royal Highness has allowed the people of Wutuo to set up a temple in Dawei, and Jinling will be prosperous. , if Juchang intends to be in Jinling..."

Yang Mingzhi regained his senses, shook his head and said, "The farm will not be located in Jinling."

"grown ups……"

"I will stop it." Yang Mingzhi lowered his head and smiled, "If I were still the governor of Jinling."

In fact, since Xu Jingfu's accident, the Yang family sent him a letter. Teach Yang Mingzhi to look for Xiao Jue, looking at Xiao Jue's old friendship with him, and asking Xiao Jue to show mercy, Yang Mingzhi ignored it. Everyone should be responsible for their own choices, just as he chose his family back then and the Yang family chose Xu Jingfu.

After seeing him ignore it later, Emperor Wen Xuan died again, and the family members who wanted to stay in the capital should have made a new choice in the shortest possible time.

But he can't.

In the past few years, Yang Mingzhi stayed in Jinling to pay off his debts. Now that the time has come, he doesn't intend to continue to do things against his own heart.

The opening of the squatting farm will bring harm to the common people of the Wei Dynasty without any benefit. Those Uto people with wolf ambitions, once they enter Jinling, who knows what kind of things they will do to the common people. This is the introduction of wolves into the room. The courtiers in the court were aloof, thinking that the fire could not burn themselves, so they were indifferent.

But once the fire starts, no matter whether it is a high-ranking official or a commoner, it will naturally be treated equally.

He knew very well that, aside from a few daring censors in Shuojing, few civil officials would dare to raise objections at this time. Yang Mingzhi also understood very well that when his memorial appeared at the head of Guangyan's palace, his career as the governor of Jinling should have come to an end.

Maybe even lost his life? Maybe it will also affect the family? But so what?

When I was young, I read and read that "being honest with one's heart, honest with self-discipline, loyal with the ruler, respectful with the boss, trustworthy with things, lenient with the next, respectful with the affairs, these are the seven essentials of an official", that At that time, the teenagers in the Xianchang Pavilion were eager to try, and everyone thought that they could do it and be a good official, but after many years, how many people insisted?

The young people have the courage to fight against all the injustices in the world. They always think that the mountains and rivers will recover, and the willows will eventually become bright.

Just like himself.

Young with lofty aspirations, long and unheard of, and eventually rotten with the grass and trees.

"Little Master," Hua Youxian called him with a smile.

Yang Mingzhi raised his head.

"If it is the governor of Jinling, then it is Lord Yang, if not the governor of Jinling, it is Young Master Yang." The beauties on the Qinhuai River were as charming as they remembered, holding up the tea cup in front of them, "In the eyes of the Nu family, no matter how small or small No matter where the young master is, he was a hero who hated evil and spoke up in his righteousness in the Yunyun Tower back then."

"Jinling City will get better and better, so, young master, don't belittle yourself." The friend's voice was soft, like the old days, and tolerantly contained his past struggles and unbearableness, such as the heavy fog on the Qinhuai River, the fog dispersed After that, it was still a pool of spring water, and the silk and bamboo sang softly.

He bowed his head, after a long time, he smiled, then raised the tea cup in front of him, and touched the tea cup of the old friend in front of him.

"You're right," he whispered, "it will get better and better."