Chapter 128: Good Seasons (I)
From mid-February to the end of March in the twenty-first year of Zhengyuan, the spring rain in Yunjing fell intermittently. Ni Su was accustomed to the rustling sound, and sometimes her dreams were filled with wet rain.
The twenty strokes of the cane she received were not light. Even after more than three months of recuperation, the broken wounds on her body had scabbed over, but the injured muscles and bones were still very painful, and she had to stay in bed.
Qingqiong transplanted a willow tree outside the window. The soft willow branches swayed slightly in the drizzle, and the tender leaves were as new as ever. Ni Su lay on the soft pillow, staring at it without blinking.
"No one grows a willow tree in their home,"
Jiang Shao put the cloak that she had put out to dry yesterday before it rained on the wooden board. The words "Zi Ling" embroidered in silver thread on the edge of the sleeves were somewhat conspicuous. She turned around and asked, "You guys, is it because of him?"
For the past three months, Jiang Shao has been taking care of Ni Su, changing her dressings, dressing her, and helping her wash. She has not even returned to the Meng Mansion many times.
"It has been raining so much lately. In April, it will rain even more."
Ni Su's face was still very pale. "In the past, when it rained, I boiled willow leaves for him to drink. He likes cleanliness. Even ghosts always pay attention to their clothes and behavior."
"He has always been a very polite child,"
Jiang Shao walked to her bed and sat down. "Yun Xian and his teacher are good friends. He often came to our house with his teacher. Yun Xian always told me that if Princess Wenduan hadn't sent Zi Ling to Mr. Chongzhi first, he would have wanted to accept Zi Ling as his student."
"The year he passed the imperial examination, not only Mr. Chongzhi, but also Yunxian was so happy that he couldn't sleep the whole night. He couldn't wait to go to the Imperial Examination Hall to see his test papers."
"I remember,"
Jiang Shao smiled gently, "Once he brought His Highness to fight with those royal family members in Zhaowen Hall in the palace. Mr. Chongzhi got very angry and made him kneel in the yard for an entire afternoon. It was cold at that time, so he came to our house at night. I personally cooked a pot for him and let him eat with Yunxian."
Ni Su suddenly asked, "Did he love to laugh in the past?"
Jiang Shao recalled that night, the hot smoke from the pot floating in the shadow of the lamp, the young man's eyebrows and eyes were lively, and he loved to laugh. She nodded, "Yes, he has a very good appearance, and he looks very good when he laughs."
When Ni Su heard this, she thought of his face. In fact, she had never seen him truly smile. Perhaps this was the difference between a body of flesh and blood and a body of a residual soul. His facial features could never be as vivid as those of a human.
Although he looks only nineteen years old, he has been wandering in Youdu for a hundred years. His hands can still hold a pen and a sword, but he is always taciturn and never smiles. He often reads quietly and listens to her quietly.
He always carefully examines his identity as a remnant soul, but still cares about the cleanliness of his clothes, his appearance, and his etiquette.
"Is it true that he can't come back?"
Jiang Shao's gentle voice suddenly brought Ni Su back to her senses. She raised her eyes and saw the room was full of wax candles. She had been lighting lamps every day for the past three months. "The reason I was able to summon his soul is because the 30,000 heroic souls of the Jing'an Army are locked in the Youdu Pagoda. This is the only reason why Youdu allowed him to return to the world of the living."
"Now, Wu Dai is dead, and Pan Youfang is also dead."
The rain and fog rustled, and the morning breeze was moist. Ni Su's voice was very light, "It's impossible for him to come back."
The room was silent for a moment. Jiang Shao felt very uncomfortable. She wanted to say something to comfort Ni Su, but when she looked at the young woman, she found that she did not cry and even her words were very calm.
Jiang Shao didn't know what to say for a moment. She suddenly remembered something and turned to the desk and took out a book. "Ah Xi, I almost forgot. You should take a look at this."
Ni Su reached out to take it, and saw the three words "Qingya Xue" on the cover. She was moved and immediately opened it. There were several lines of vigorous handwriting on the attached page, which was an article "Soul-Calling Fu".
Ni Su raised her head, "This is..."
"This book was written by Jiang Xianming, the censor who was imprisoned in the Censorate. The 'Soul-Calling Ode' on the attached page was written by Hanlin scholar He Tong, who was also a student of Mr. Chongzhi and Ziling's senior brother," Jiang Shao pushed up the quilt that had slipped off her body. "The volume in your hand was written by both of them. Now, this book is the most popular volume printed by major bookstores in Yunjing."
"They heard about your second attempt to report the incident in prison. They begged Yunxian to give you this book."
Ni Su was speechless for a moment. She just stared blankly at the attached page -
Come back, come back! Why don't the heroic spirits come back?
Come back, come back! Where do the loyal souls live? The birds are quiet in the rocky creek, the clouds are high and the wind is clear, the lake is endless, the long journey is thousands of miles, and the thoughts are endless...
The Chief Censor Jiang Xianming wrote the book "Qingya Xue", in which he wrote the life story of General Yujie Xu Hexue, and the Hanlin scholar He Tong even wrote a poem for General Yujie and the 30,000 Jing'an Army in this book.
As soon as this book came out, almost all bookstores in Yunjing started to reprint it non-stop.
The reason why people still remember the name of a man who has been dead for sixteen years is that he was a traitor who was wanted by everyone.
Too many people have forgotten the past that was hidden beneath his dirty reputation.
But in the book written by Jiang Xianming, people got to know him again. They remembered that he was a descendant of the Xu family of Qingyazhou, and they remembered that he was the son of General Tiance Xu Xian.
His father Xu Xian defended Pingjiang for ten years, preventing the Hu cavalry from advancing deep into the northern border for ten years.
He went to Beijing at the age of seven, sent his mother's ashes back home alone at the age of thirteen, and passed the imperial examination at the age of fourteen, but he gave up his pen and took up his sword and went to the border.
At the age of fifteen, he captured the prince's son alive. At the age of sixteen, he recaptured the Yan Pass a thousand miles away. At the age of seventeen, he made the Hu people terrified. At the age of nineteen, he was awarded the title of General Yujie.
Thanks to the oral accounts of Miao Tianzhao and Ge Rang, every battle of General Yujie Xu Hexue during his lifetime was described in detail and vividly by Jiang Xianming between the lines.
"There is snow on the green cliffs, and I carry it."
This sentence, which Jiang Xianming left at the end of the page with a heavy brushstroke, is neither a poem nor a lyric, but it touches everyone who has read this book.
I am not the only one who has let down the general.
"Now this book is so popular that teahouses have started to use the contents of this book to talk about the battles that General Yujie fought during his lifetime. The illiterate common people, the rich ones stay in the teahouses, while the poor ones squat in the teahouses to listen to the students reading word by word..."
Guangning Prefecture's Yang Fupan was sitting on the back porch talking to Tao Fupan, "Even my wife has been taking the children to the teahouse to listen to it every day these days. Old Tao, haven't you seen it?"
"How could I not have seen such a mess?" The judge of the Tao Mansion was depressed. "But even so, these people petitioning outside Guangning Mansion every day is not a big deal... How can we control the affairs of our clan members?"
From mid-February to the end of March, Crown Prince Zhao Yi personally handled the old case of treason committed by General Yujie Xu Hexue. From the Yongzhou military report sixteen years ago, to the testimony of local officials, to the discussion and conviction of General Yujie for treason, hundreds of officials were involved.
Now, more than eighty officials have been taken to the Night Court for interrogation.
"If you ask me, these common people are just naive! Even if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is trying to overturn General Yujie's verdict, Duke Lu is still a relative. Do they still want His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to execute Duke Lu?"
Tao Fupan hated this rainy weather and his tone was very bad when he spoke.
"Now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is ordering the Imperial Academy and the Censorate to discuss the crimes of Pan Youfang and Wu Dai, but both are already dead. Censor Jiang's book reminds the people of what General Yujie did for the country and the people when he was alive. They feel pain in their hearts, but they can't find a way to vent. In that incident, Duke Lu was the son of King Nankang after all. Although he pushed everything onto the deceased King Nankang, he can't say that he didn't participate in it. The people hate him very much now."
Seeing that the rain was getting heavier, Yang Fupan called a police officer and said, "Call some people to set up a larger oilcloth tent outside our government office. Don't let the people get wet in the rain and get cold. It's not worth it."
"yes."
The young jailer responded, turned around and walked out quickly.
Judge Yang turned around and said, "Old Tao, Lord Yin Zheng hasn't spoken yet, so don't worry about it. Let's just report this to the court and don't worry about the rest."
In April, not only in Yunjing Guangning Prefecture, but also in some local prefectures, in addition to the memorials sent by officials to the desk of Crown Prince Zhao Yi, there were also blood-written petitions from the people.
The military supervisor Han Qing, who was far away in Yongzhou, and the general Qin Jixun, the commander Wei Dechang, Yang Tianzhe and others submitted a petition together. The military and civilians of Yongzhou were united in requesting the crown prince to restore the innocence and justice to General Xu Hexue.
"Your Highness, I think that since Duke Lu is a relative of the royal family and there is no evidence to prove that he was involved, he should not be sentenced to death !"
In the Chaotian Hall, a court official spoke up.
"If he had not participated, how could he have given this confession?" Ge Rang stepped forward and pressed his words, "Could it be that before Prince Nankang died, he reviewed his life's achievements in front of his son?"
Such a sarcastic tone made the court official's face turn pale and blue, but he did not dare to confront the Deputy Privy Envoy Ge at all.
"The Duke of Lu is a relative of the clan. After all, Your Highness has not yet succeeded to the throne. How can you sentence him to death?" Huang Zongyu spoke up at this time. He glanced at Ge Rang with some displeasure, "You only know how to speak quickly at the moment, but you don't know where you are going to put Your Highness!"
"Just because Duke Lu is a relative, should we treat him with gentleness?"
"It's just that the death penalty is not imposed, but it doesn't mean there is no punishment !"
"If such a serious crime cannot be punished by death, what is the point? The death of General Yujie and the death of the 30,000 Jing'an Army, are we really going to let them disappear into thin air?"
"Your Highness cannot kill clan members at this time!"
The officials started arguing again.
Meng Yunxian said nothing, only Huang Zongyu was sweating anxiously.
"Mr. Huang."
Zhao Yi's sudden call made the Chaotian Hall quiet for a moment, and everyone followed the Crown Prince's gaze and looked towards Huang Zongyu.
"I am here."
Huang Zongyu leaned over.
Zhao Yi asked him, "Do you think that I must sentence Duke Lu to death now?"
"this……"
Huang Zongyu felt that this was a very difficult question to answer.
"Mencius said, 'The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least important.'"
Zhao Yi put his hands behind his back and said, "Xunzi also said that water can carry a boat but can also overturn it. As ministers, you should think about the country and the people's livelihood. So let me ask you, what do you mean by the word 'people's will'?"
The whole court was silent, and the officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Mr. Huang,"
Zhao Yi cast his gaze on Huang Zongyu again, "Do you think that as the crown prince, I should go against the current?"
"minister……"
Huang Zongyu's forehead was covered with sweat and he was unable to answer for a moment.
Meng Yunxian suddenly stood up, bowed to the crown prince, and then stood up straight and looked at all the officials, "You have heard the memorial from Guangning Prefecture, and you have also heard the memorial from Yongzhou. Your Highness has also had all the memorials sent to you read to you."
"I want to remind you that we are now overturning the verdict for the wronged. The people are watching His Royal Highness, watching you adults, and the soldiers who are guarding the border for Da Qi are also watching us."
"Who among you hasn't heard the phrase 'There is snow on the green cliffs, and I bear it'? If a verdict cannot be overturned thoroughly, and the guilty person cannot bear the responsibility he should bear, is it still an overturn of the verdict?"
Pei Zhiyuan was beside him, and his heart was moved. He couldn't help but say:
"Are we, the living, really going to let General Yujie down?"
The court officials were silent for a moment, unable to say anything. Huang Zongyu looked very unhappy, but he did not speak again. Seeing this, Zhao Yi said gently, "I know you are considering me and do not want me to be known as an unkind person who harms my relatives. Thank you very much."
"But now public opinion is overwhelming. If I cannot follow public opinion, would that also be a kind of inhumanity?"
The court officials were not unaware of the current public outcry, but what could they do in this situation? Could they detain the people who had gathered in front of Guangning Mansion?
Of course this is not possible.
After the morning court was over, Huang Zongyu and Meng Yunxian remained in the hall. Zhao Yi walked down the steps and saw that Huang Zongyu looked gloomy, so he bowed to him.
"Your Highness...what are you doing?"
Huang Zongyu was shocked, "I dare not accept it!"
Zhao Yi stood up straight. "I was distracted before. As you said, I can't kill all the more than 80 people detained in the Night Police."
Huang Zongyu was startled, "Your Highness... have you thought it through?"
"yes."
Zhao Yi nodded, "Mr. Meng has already told me your painstaking efforts. If I were to resolve the party disputes between the old and new parties by wiping out the old party, it would be a case of partial listening and partial believing."
Huang Zongyu couldn't help but look at Meng Yunxian standing aside. He had just cursed Meng Yunxian in his heart, but now he felt a little embarrassed.
"Mr. Meng told me that the old party has its shortcomings, and the new party also has its shortcomings. If I blindly favor the new party, it will not be beneficial to the new policy. What I need to do is to be impartial and do the right thing, so that I will not make mistakes."
"Your Highness, this is exactly what I mean!"
Huang Zongyu lowered his head.
"Yes, I understand your painstaking efforts,"
Zhao Yi held his arm and said, "But, Mr. Huang, I can forgive some of them, but I cannot forgive Duke Lu. Please don't stop me."
Huang Zongyu raised his head and saw that the prince's expression was stern and cold. His previous gentleness was restrained, and now he was so unquestionable. He opened his mouth, but could not say anything.
The Duke of Lu originally thought that if he followed Zhou Ting's instructions, told the truth about General Yujie's treason sixteen years ago and put the blame of everything on his deceased father, he would be able to get out of the Night Police.
He is a relative of the clan. If the current crown prince wants to succeed to the throne and gain a good reputation for being benevolent, he must not harm him.
But who would have thought that Jiang Xianming and He Tong, who were imprisoned in the Censorate Prison, were restless. They used their pens to peel away the dust of sixteen years and let the people of the world remember the extraordinary achievements of General Yujie once again.
The sorrow and shame of countless people turned into a surging river.
Sixteen years ago, the public opinion in Yongzhou tortured General Yujie to death, and now the public opinion like a torrent in the world will eventually kill people.
April 5th,
Qingming Festival.
Crown Prince Zhao Yi ordered the execution of more than 30 criminal officials, and the Hanlin Academy and the Censorate discussed the matter for several days, and finally on this day, they sentenced Duke Lu to death.
When the Duke of Lu heard the news in the middle of the night, he fainted on the spot.
On the drizzling night, the night market was deserted. People dressed in plain clothes and holding lanterns gathered at the gate of Princess Wenduan's mansion.
"The only clothes in the princess's mansion were those worn by Zi Ling before he was fourteen. When the emperor ordered the princess's mansion's wealth to be taken into the national treasury, his clothes... were all burned."
He Tongcai was released from the prison of the Censorate, and the number of people in the prison has been reduced a lot.
Meng Yunxian was silent for a while after hearing this. "Now even if we want to find a piece of his clothing, it's so difficult."
"Mr. Meng, do you think we should find some other objects to replace them? Is there anything else?" Pei Zhiyuan said.
"No, nothing."
He Tong lowered his head.
Even the coffin placed in the mourning hall of the princess's mansion today was empty and nothing could be put in it.
"I have."
A female voice was heard like this. In the dense drizzle, the people who did not have umbrellas turned around and saw a thin young woman.
She staggered and had to be supported.
"Is it Miss Ni?"
"That's Miss Ni, right?"
"It's her!"
People recognized her and they all made way for her. Meng Yunxian watched his wife Jiang Shao and the young man named Qingqiong walking over with Ni Su.
"Miss Ni, what's in your hand?"
Pei Zhiyuan saw something wrapped in a shawl in her arms and asked.
Ni Su stretched out her hands, and the shawl spread out, floating in the night wind and pressed down by the rain. The rusty, two broken spears were revealed in front of everyone, "This is the silver spear that General Yujie used when he was alive."
"Today, we will treat this gun as his bone."
Everyone was looking at the broken gun in her hand, and some women and children couldn't help but wipe away their tears.
"……good."
Meng Yunxian said hoarsely, "A Shao, help her in quickly."
Jiang Shao responded, and together with Qingqiong, they helped Ni Su into the princess's mansion. Ni Su walked and looked around. The princess's mansion had been sealed for many years and was overgrown with weeds. It had not been cleaned or repaired yet.
A wall of roses comes into view, with varying shades of color, lush and gorgeous.
Ni Su stopped suddenly. She couldn't help but think of a night when she and he were in a strange courtyard, with roses in full bloom and him carefully holding her in his arms.
"Roses have thorns."
His voice suddenly rang in my ears.
"Ah Xi?"
Jiang Shao didn't know what was wrong with her and called her softly.
Ni Su came to his senses, shook his head, and slowly walked into the mourning hall holding the broken gun. An empty coffin was placed in the middle, and Ni Su saw the tablet on the incense table.
The color of lacquer gold is his name.
The white candles in the mourning hall were always burning, and the scent of incense was strong. She leaned over and put the broken gun into the coffin, then took off her cloak and handed it to Qingqiong, "Give it to Mr. Meng."
"good."
Qingqiong took the cloak and turned to leave.
Princess Wenduan's mansion was brightly lit, and almost all the people of Yunjing gathered outside the gate. They looked up and saw Mr. Meng standing on the roof holding a cloak.
Jiang Xianming, He Tong and others were standing below, looking up at him.
The night wind blew Meng Yunxian's sleeves. He stood on a high place, spread out the cloak with both hands, faced north, and said in a loud voice: "Xu Hexue!"
As soon as he called out the name, Meng Yunxian's throat choked. He suppressed the emotions in his heart, "Xu Hexue! Soul, come back! Delicious food, fine wine, go back to your soul! Five abundant grains, six kinds of animals, go away! There is no place in heaven or on earth where you can go! No place in heaven or on earth where you can go!"
"Soul, come back! There is no place in heaven or on earth where you can go!"
"Soul, come back!"
The people followed suit and shouted:
"Xu Hexue! Soul, come back! There is no place in heaven or on earth where you can go! Return to your old home, return to your old home!"
