Chapter 039: Ding Fengbo (Part 2)
Judge Tan did not know why Wu Jikang suddenly went crazy, he just thought he was suffering from hysteria. A strange snowfall happened suddenly, so the trial had to be hastily concluded and the case would be retried on another day.
However, the incident of thirty-six scholars and Ni Qinglan's sister being tortured and redressed at Dengwen Drum Court caused a sensation throughout the entire Yunjing City.
There were many people watching outside the gate of the Drum Court that day. Countless people had seen the snow, and the voices of Chongyang crying out for justice had reached an uncontrollable level.
Many candidates or tribute students who participated in the winter examination also joined in the condemnation of the emperor's brother-in-law Wu Jikang.
"Are you waiting for the official?"
The autumn rain continued. Zhang Jing leaned on his crutches with both hands and spoke suddenly.
"As ministers, don't we just ?" There were not many officials in the government hall at that time. Meng Yunxian held a tea bowl and said while watching the rain.
Even if it was Chief Censor Jiang Xianming, who was highly regarded by the emperor, who knelt several times outside the Qinghe Hall, didn't the emperor still say he would not see him?
Zhang Jing touched his knees and said, "I heard from He Tong that Ni Qinglan's policy papers are very well written. He is a rare talent."
"indeed,"
Meng Yunxian nodded, then smiled at him, "You know it in your heart. No matter what the Jianyuan and Hanlin Academy are fighting for, your student He Tong is a straightforward and honest person. He really feels sorry for Ni Qinglan."
"My students, I know myself."
Zhang Jing said calmly.
The two were chatting indifferently when a eunuch came in outside in the rain. Meng Yunxian looked carefully and found that it was Liang Shenfu, the chief eunuch who usually served the emperor, who came in person.
"Mr. Meng, Mr. Zhang."
Liang Shenfu bowed and said, "The emperor has ordered that Mr. Meng go to the Qinghe Palace."
Meng Yunxian and Zhang Jing looked at each other and then stood up. "Eunuch Liang, please go first. I will be there soon."
Zhang Jing sat on the chair without moving until Liang Shenfu left. He just said, "You have been waiting for the emperor to summon you for so many days. Why don't you go quickly?"
Meng Yunxian turned around when he heard the voice and said, "Your beard is a little too messy. After I meet the emperor, shall we go to East Street to get a haircut together?"
Zhang Jing turned a deaf ear and took a sip of tea.
Meng Yunxian touched his nose in dismay, asked someone to bring him a long-winged hat, put it on, and tidied his appearance before leaving the government hall.
It is always darker on rainy days. The entire Forbidden Palace is washed by rain, and the color is as cold as ink. Meng Yunxian walks in the rain and fog with an umbrella, lifting up his clothes and walking up the white jade steps.
From a distance, he saw the Chief Censor Jiang Xianming, who was soaked all over.
"Mr. Meng."
As soon as Jiang Xianming saw Meng Yunxian coming up, he immediately stepped forward.
"Thank you for your hard work for the winter trial, Censor Jiang. I heard that you have come to see the emperor every day in the past few days. Does the emperor want to see you today?" Meng Yunxian handed the umbrella to the young eunuch beside him.
"I am waiting for Mr. Meng to come into the palace with me."
Jiang Xianming wiped the rain off his face and lowered his voice, "The winter exam case has now spread throughout the streets of Yunjing, and the voices of injustice on Chongyang Festival have not stopped. I'm sure that Mr. Meng has heard about it. I beg you to speak a fair word for this case in front of the emperor."
"Didn't the emperor allow you and me to enter the palace together? Censor Jiang can say whatever he wants."
"That being said,"
Jiang Xianming said awkwardly, "But I think the emperor doesn't like to listen to me now."
It was precisely because he talked too much that the emperor felt annoyed. In addition, the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy quarreled all day long, so the emperor was even more unwilling to listen to what those who talked too much had to say. Otherwise, the emperor would not have summoned Prime Minister Meng today.
Mr. Meng has been busy with the new policy and has never been involved in this matter. The emperor wants to listen to the silent person.
As he was speaking, Liang Shenfu came out from the hall and said, "The emperor invites the two adults into the hall."
The incense in the Qinghe Hall had a bitter medicinal smell. The branches of the gold-painted copper lamps were scattered like trees, and they were dotted with several candles, illuminating the hall.
"Officials."
Meng Yunxian and Jiang Xianming bowed and saluted.
"Liang Shenfu."
Meng Yunxian and Jiang Xianming both lowered their heads and only heard the hoarse voice of Emperor Zhengyuan.
Liang Shenfu immediately ordered someone to bring a chair and put it behind Meng Yunxian. Jiang Xianming turned his head slightly and looked behind him, but it was empty.
His waist immediately lowered.
With such a difference, anyone could tell that Emperor Zhengyuan was angry with Jiang Xianming at this moment. Meng Yunxian remained calm, sat down calmly, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Mr. Meng, I asked you to come here today, not for the new policy." Emperor Zhengyuan was wearing only a round-necked red robe, leaning on a soft pillow, holding a book, "I want to know what you think of this case that the Jianyuan and Hanlin Academy are arguing about."
The emperor's figure was not clear enough because of the veil, and one could not guess what Emperor Zhengyuan was feeling just by listening to his tone.
Emperor Zhengyuan got straight to the point. Meng Yunxian rested his hands on his knees and answered respectfully, "I think this case involves the imperial examination and the people's sentiments, and it is unavoidable."
Emperor Zhengyuan remained silent behind the curtain.
"On the Double Ninth Festival, a strange snowstorm suddenly fell. Although it was short, I'm sure the emperor saw it in the palace. Now there are rumors in the market that this case is a serious injustice, and the snow in September is the lingering ghost of Ni Qinglan."
Meng Yunxian continued, "I think the story of wronged souls is absurd, but this case involves the fairness of the imperial examination. If it has come to this, if it is not handled properly, I am afraid it will really chill the hearts of those poor scholars."
The pen of a scholar is the knife in his hand, and those thirty-six scholars are young and energetic, at the age when they are fearless and only care about memorizing the "Four Sentences of Hengqu".
"It seems that Meng Qing and the Hanlin Academy have the same idea."
Jiang Xianming was startled by Emperor Zhengyuan's plain words. He looked up at Meng Yunxian and saw him standing up from his chair and bowing to the official behind the curtain.
"Your Majesty, I do not agree with the Hanlin Academy, but the public sentiment is so strong right now that if we allow the Jianyuan and the Hanlin Academy to continue arguing like this, I am afraid it will be difficult to reach a conclusion."
"The government wants to offer sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai, and this is a time for everyone to rejoice."
As soon as Meng Yunxian mentioned "Fengshan at Mount Tai", Emperor Zhengyuan raised his eyes behind the curtain and finally moved his gaze outside. There was silence in the Qinghe Hall for a while. Jiang Xianming did not dare to wipe the sweat off his face, while Meng Yunxian bowed his head and remained silent.
How could Jiang Xianming not know the importance of Fengshan Ceremony at Mount Tai in the heart of Emperor Zhengyuan? In this short moment, he also figured out that the reason why Meng Yunxian mentioned this matter at this time was to imply that Emperor Zhengyuan should pay attention to the people's sentiments.
Since ancient times, there have not been many emperors who have performed Fengshan at Mount Tai. Emperor Zhengyuan had the intention but the people had no such desire. So how could there be such a grand scene that would have captured the whole country's imagination?
Meng Yunxian's words also separated himself from the positions of the Hanlin Academy and the Censorate, and he completely showed an attitude of considering the matters of Emperor Zhengyuan's Fengshan ceremony.
"Meng Qing is right."
Jiang Xianming was deep in thought when he suddenly heard the voice of Emperor Zhengyuan from behind the curtain. Obviously, the tone was warmer.
"I have something else to report to the emperor."
Meng Yunxian said.
"What is it?"
"I followed the government's order to implement the new policy. The government approved the additional salary and used the money for the construction of Linghua Palace to reward the officials, so that the construction of Linghua Palace was stopped. I deeply feel the government's kindness and know the government's determination to implement the new policy this time. However, when I checked the national treasury, I found that this money could have been used without using the funds for Linghua Palace."
As Meng Yunxian spoke, he took out a memorial from his sleeve and looked at Liang Shenfu who was standing beside Emperor Zhengyuan behind the curtain .
Jiang Xianming was secretly admiring how well Meng Yunxian's words were spoken, when Liang Shenfu had already lifted the curtain and taken the memorial from Meng Yunxian's hands.
"Why did so much money go into dredging the river?"
When Emperor Zhengyuan received the memorial and looked at it, his expression changed. He raised his eyes and said sternly, "Why is the number different from the one reported before?"
"The actual amount of money used for dredging the river is only tens of thousands. I have already sent people to Zezhou to investigate. Please wait and see."
Meng Yunxian lowered his eyes, his expression unclear.
The more Emperor Zhengyuan looked at it, the gloomier his expression became. He threw the memorial heavily to the ground, stood up suddenly, but felt dizzy.
Liang Shenfu, who was standing by, immediately stepped forward to help him, "Official..."
"Well, I stopped the construction of Linghua Dao Palace, but it turned out to be a wedding dress for these corrupt people! I even gave them extra salary? Aren't their lives better than mine?!"
Part of the memorial was scattered outside the curtain. Jiang Xianming looked up and saw that among the names of officials on the last page, there was Grand Tutor Wu Dai.
He couldn't help but be shocked.
"If the government takes over the wealth of the officials on this list, Linghua Taoist Palace can be rebuilt, and the government can be more careful with the expenses of the Fengshan ceremony."
Meng Yunxian bowed again.
Although the emperor had not yet expressed his opinion, Jiang Xianming walked out of the Qinghe Hall and looked at the misty rain outside. He breathed a sigh of relief, took the umbrella, and went down the stairs with Meng Yunxian.
"On normal days, the emperor might not punish the Grand Tutor after reading such a memorial, but today, Lord Meng first mentioned the Fengshan matter and then talked about the heavy sentiments of the people. This time... I'm afraid the emperor has been persuaded by you."
Jiang Xianming stopped and bowed to Meng Yunxian, "Mr. Meng, there is hope for this case."
What Meng Yunxian said today really hit the emperor's heart. Under normal circumstances, the emperor would definitely protect Grand Tutor Wu Dai, but Meng Yunxian first mentioned the suspension of construction of the Taoist Palace, and then mentioned the loss of funds for dredging the river. In addition, the emperor introduced the new policy because the royal family had countless fertile fields in recent years and had become more and more reckless in making money, while the emperor himself was facing difficulties in building the Taoist Palace.
The government is angry, how can it bear it?
Meng Yunxian reached out to help him up, smiled a little, and asked, "Why is Censor Jiang so concerned about this case?"
"Ni Qinglan was a good candidate, probably because his family tradition was upright. His sister was also very loyal and true. He was a good young man who should have had a bright career, but he died because of Wu Jikang's selfishness. This is really regrettable." Jiang Xianming walked down the white jade steps while saying, "I just think that if we don't let the scholars in the world see Ni Qinglan's justice today, how can we give them hope and make them feel at ease to enter the government and serve the emperor and the people?"
The rain was wet and crackling.
Hearing this, Meng Yunxian looked at Jiang Xianming, who was following him in the rain and fog. After a while, he sighed meaningfully: "Imperial Censor Jiang is truly a loyal minister who serves the emperor and the people..."
…
I heard that there was a light snow in the Drum Courtyard on the Double Ninth Festival.
Ni Su didn't see it because she was already unconscious at that time.
But since that day, she was half asleep and half awake, and there was always snow in her dreams. The cold snow particles hit her cheeks, and she was lying on the spring bench in the drum courtyard, being punished together with thirty-six scholars.
Just like tonight, the reason why her dream was a nightmare was because Wu Jikang was also in her dream, smiling at her.
Ni Su was almost drowning. She could feel the edge of the quilt gently covering her mouth and nose, making it difficult for her to breathe, but she couldn't open her eyes.
She wanted to speak, but she couldn't open her mouth.
The more anxious you are, the stronger the feeling of being unable to breathe becomes.
Suddenly,
One hand pulled down the quilt and gently adjusted the edge for her, but his fingertips accidentally touched her cheek. He seemed to pause and let go.
The temperature between his fingers was so cold that Ni Su opened her eyes immediately.
She first lowered her eyes to look at the corner of her quilt. It seemed to be tucked in neatly, but the room was quiet. A single lamp was on the table, and Yu Wen was not in the room.
She vaguely heard voices in the yard.
It was Cai Chunxu and Yu Wen who were talking.
It was Cai Chunxu who brought Ni Su back that day, and left Yu Wen and several other maids here to take care of Ni Su.
Ni Su's gaze moved to the lamp.
She moved her lips and called softly: "Xu Ziling, where are you?"
As there was no response for a long time, Ni Su tried to force herself to get up, but she suddenly heard a gust of wind blowing the window frame . She raised her eyes and saw the night fog passing by the window and quickly condensed into the shape of a person.
His eyes were lifeless, dark and empty, and he groped patiently, step by step, to her bed.
"When it was getting dark, you should have woken me up to light a lamp for you."
Ni Su looked at him and said.
“No need.”
He followed the direction of her voice and shook his head.
"Are the lights in your room out?" During the day, Ni Su asked Yu Wen to bring a lot of candles, lit them one by one, and asked Yu Wen to send them to the next room.
Although Yu Wen didn't understand why, she still did it.
"Um."
"Then go and get the lamp that's on the table. The tinder is there too."
Ni Su said.
Xu Hexue said nothing, turned around, stretched out his hands and groped forward, listening to the girl behind him carefully reminding him "right", "forward", "careful", his steps became more cautious, but he managed to touch the candlestick and the fire starter on the table.
Ni Su blew out the lamp and quickly lit it again.
The candle flame lit up the eyes of the person in front of her, and the clear light and shadow flickered. After a brief moment of confusion, he stared at her face seriously.
"Would you like some water?"
His eyes fell on her dry lips.
Ni Su shook her head and watched him put the candle back on the table. She just kept looking at his back secretly.
His figure was still very pale.
Maybe it will take a lot of incense and candles to make up for it.
Ni Su recalled the dream of snow. In the dream, he seemed to be so light and indifferent that he would soon disappear. And Wu Jikang was standing in front of her.
When she saw Wu Jikang on the day at the Drum Court, she told herself that the more serious the situation was, the more she should remain rational. But the fact was that just a smile or a word from Wu Jikang could bring her to the brink of collapse.
He reminded Ni Su that he was a royal relative and she was like a grass.
Just like then, she had suffered enough punishment in the Drum Courtyard, and he came late, surrounded by people.
When Wu Jikang came closer and stared at her with such a vicious look, she was almost overwhelmed by the overwhelming hatred, but she had to face the fact that she was being tortured while he could come and go freely.
Xu Hexue saw through her despair, so he made the relatively well-dressed Wu Jikang look even more miserable than her.
In this way, to comfort her helplessness.
The blood of a dead person had obviously turned cold, but he told her that some people's blood is hot.
Ni Su saw that he still poured a glass of water, turned around and walked in front of her, explaining: "Your lips are very dry, moisten them, and you will feel better."
She originally said she didn't want to drink it, but when Ni Su saw him pouring the water for her, she didn't want to refuse his kindness. She wanted to stand up, but she didn't have much strength.
Xu Hexue had no choice but to hold her shoulders with one hand. Even so, he still kept a layer of quilt between them and did not touch her thin clothes.
Ni Su drank a few sips reluctantly and smelled the smell of snow mixed with a hint of blood on his body. She raised her head and stared at his smooth jawline.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Hexue's voice was a little weak.
"Does it hurt?"
"Xu Ziling, don't take care of me. I should take care of you." Ni Su held back the soreness in her nose.
"You light a lamp for me, which is already a form of care."
He said.
Ni Su shook her head, her head dropped, her cheek resting on the soft pillow, "That's not enough, you should want more, and I should give you more."
Want more.
What do you want?
Xu Hexue held the porcelain cup, his eyes fell on her black hair. He found that he didn't dare to ask for anything. After a while, his Adam's apple moved slightly: "You are not a fish."
"Then how can I pay it back?"
"What else?"
The light flickered, and Ni Su met his gaze. "I want to thank you for your company, for encouraging me to live on despite being a ghost, for finding my brother for me, for sacrificing yourself for me, for cooking for me, and even for pouring me this glass of water."
"Ni Su."
Xu Hexue's eyelashes drooped slightly, and she shook her head gently, with a strange smile on her lips: "Not everything in this world needs to be repaid. If I pour you a glass of water, what would I be?"
"What if I want to pay it back?"
Her gaze was too serious. Xu Hexue remained silent for a long time, and finally raised her eyes to look at her, "Are the clothes you made for me ready?"
“Not even close.”
Ni Su responded subconsciously.
Xu Hexue hummed and said, "That's enough."
Ni Su actually really wanted to know what else she could do to help him, but he was always like this, hiding his past strictly in front of her. She couldn't force him because she didn't know anything about his life, and didn't know why he died at the age of nineteen.
If he didn't tell her, she couldn't ask.
It was as if at this moment, she knew that she could no longer continue to talk about this matter. Cai Chunxu seemed to have left outside the house, but Yu Wen did not come in.
He stood quietly beside her bed, the wind gently blowing his light-colored sleeves.
His face is pale but his bones are fine.
"Then you, just stay here."
Ni Su said softly.
Xu Hexue was startled, then said, "I can take this lamp away."
He thought she was worried that he would lose his sight if he returned to next door.
"no."
Ni Su said gloomily, "I always have nightmares. It's always snowing in my dreams. I dreamed that you helped me vent my anger on Wu Jikang, and then you disappeared. I lit a lot of incense and candles, but I couldn't find you."
"You really don't have to take care of me. I know you're in pain too. There's a soft couch behind the screen, and I have a quilt on my bed that I can give you. If you stay here, we can recover together, and maybe I won't have that nightmare."
Xu Hexue should have refused.
He couldn't be in the same room with her, especially on a night like this.
But he thought about it for a long time.
Will she let the quilt cover her mouth and nose again at night?
Behind a screen, Xu Hexue was lying on the couch. The quilt covering her body was actually stained with her warmth. All this made him feel a little at a loss.
"Xu Ziling."
Ni Su's voice came.
The plain gauze screen was very close to her bed. Xu Hexue raised his eyes. The light from a lamp made the figure behind the screen dim and he could not see clearly.
"You are all cold. Have you forgotten what heat feels like?"
She asked.
"Um."
He responded, but he didn't know why she asked that. But the next moment, he heard her say, "Then stretch out your hand."
The warm yellow candlelight spread across the screen.
Xu Hexue saw her hand fall on the white gauze, and her shadow lengthened.
"If you reach out, you will know."
Her voice came.
Xu Hexue's eyelashes trembled. Under his sleeves, the bones of the back of his hand were clearly visible, and his slender knuckles were curled and relaxed.
