In the early morning, a hazy halo cast into the window.
　　When Dong Lingjiu woke up, he saw Zheng Yuheng's back in clothes through the thin gauze curtain.
　　He stood in front of the small table by the window, lit the lamp, frowned, and wrote something carefully. Dong Lingjiu guessed that it was those complicated account books.
　　The scene in front of her made her suddenly dazed.
　　In the old nights of the past, she had seen Meng Zhen sitting in front of the small table more than once when she got up, with a lonely figure. At this moment, her heart, which had long been cold and ashes, would ring the voice of "maybe he is not wrong".
　　It's just that this thought often emerges like a bubble, and is quickly punctured and dispersed by reality. She finally realized again and again that the two of them are only suitable to be friends, partners, and lifelong partners, but not lovers with everlasting love.
　　Dong Lingjiu turned over and lay on the bedside looking at him. She felt that the inner hall was still warm. I'm afraid Zheng Yuheng had gotten up more than once. He was young and energetic. Even though he was so tired, he could still concentrate and do everything seriously.
　　Hmm... this dress looks familiar.
　　As she looked at it, she found the key point. She examined Zheng Yuheng from top to bottom again, reached out to lift the bed curtain, and sat up.
　　Dong Lingjiu's movements were light, but there were also some rustling and friction sounds. Zheng Yuheng immediately sensed it, put down his pen and walked over, leaning against the bed and asking in a low voice: "It's still early. Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
　　Dong Lingjiu raised her finger and stroked his cheek: "Are you really not tired?"
　　Zheng Yuheng answered truthfully: "A little. But after seeing you, I was just happy and excited, and didn't feel tired."
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled and said to him: "You really learned bad things, sweet-mouthed, as sweet as flowery words."
　　Zheng Yuheng did not refute, holding her wrist, and said in a gentle voice: "I will help you change your clothes."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded.
　　He did not call the servants outside the palace, but brought in a set of clothes that Aunt Ruixue had already prepared from outside the screen, and dressed the Queen Mother and tied her hair. Dong Lingjiu sat in front of the makeup mirror, looking at the reflection on one side of the mirror, and suddenly said: "The white crane pattern suits you very well."
　　Zheng Yuheng paused and glanced at the white crane pattern embroidered on the cuffs. A circle of faint silver thread gathered the edge, and the design was very delicate. He adjusted the cuffs, not knowing whether she wanted to praise him for his ability to dress, or was satisfied with his attitude of imitating Emperor Mingde's style and willing to be a substitute.
　　He suddenly felt a little depressed. Even if Zheng Yuheng really wanted to please her and made these clothes, facing such praise, he would inevitably be jealous and question his impure intentions.
　　Dong Lingjiu continued: "More suitable than the previous emperor." This can always reassure you, right?
　　Doesn't the little doctor like to hear this? Otherwise, he wouldn't always compete with people who have been buried in the ground.
　　Zheng Yuheng put his hand on her shoulder, paused for a long time, then raised it again to cover his face, pressed the corner of his eye, and said: "My Lady..."
　　Dong Lingjiu turned his head: "Does your eye hurt?"
　　He bent down, moved his hand away to show her, and the corner of his eye was red. He said pitifully: "My eyelash fell in."
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "Let me see."
　　She pressed her hand on the corner of his eye and found that his eye socket was hot. She thought that the fallen eyelash hurt him, so she looked carefully for a long time, blew on his eyes, and whispered: "Where is it?"
　　"It hurts." Zheng Yuheng just said.
　　Dong Lingjiu looked again, and finally plucked out a fallen eyelash from the corner of his eye, and blew it gently a few times, and said in a gentle tone: "Why are you so careless."
　　Zheng Yuheng let her blow his eyes, and they looked into each other's eyes. When their eyes met, he suddenly didn't know where he got the courage from, and stretched out his hands to circle her waist - his hands went around the back of the chair and held Dong Lingjiu in his arms.
　　He leaned over and kissed her lips without defense, then hugged her tightly, his voice a little hoarse: "Empress Dowager..."
　　"Well..." Dong Lingjiu stroked his back, "What's wrong?"
　　"I don't want to leave you..."
　　Dong Lingjiu whispered: "No one wants you to leave me?"
　　"I mean a long, long time later." He said.
　　"How long?"
　　"Decades later." Zheng Yuheng's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he turned the words around in his mouth several times, and then said, "A hundred years later, Empress, I want to accompany you..."
　　"There is no rule of burying people alive with the dead in the Great Yin." Dong Lingjiu said, "If there was, I would have abolished it long ago, and would not let the living be innocently implicated by the 'loneliness' of the dead." Zheng Yuheng
　　stopped talking.
　　"And," Dong Lingjiu hugged him, and the other's body was actually very warm in the winter, like a small stove. She patiently and gently comforted him, "How old are you? How much of your life will you lose if you want to be buried alive with someone? There will be many things to do by then... many, many other unfinished things that will involve you. When you live in this world, you are lucky enough to risk your life once. How can you risk your life for someone all your life?"
　　Zheng Yuheng was comforted, but did not answer.
　　He recharged himself in Dong Lingjiu's arms, and then stood up to pick out the appropriate hairpins. Halfway through, Dong Lingjiu looked at the intertwined ornaments on the table with a complicated expression, and said tactfully: "Call Ruixue in."
　　Zheng Yuheng heard her hidden meaning: "Isn't it pretty..."
　　"Do you want to hear the truth?" Dong Lingjiu asked back.
　　He was a little hit, and silently went to invite Aunt Ruixue, then packed up the accounts he had recorded, and said goodbye to Dong Lingjiu again and again, and then reluctantly walked out of the Cining Palace.
　　Because of Zheng Yuheng's reluctance, when he was leaving, he happened to meet the little emperor who came to pay his respects.
　　Neither of them had a good rest for two days and one night. Zheng Yuheng even slept for several hours in the Cining Palace. Meng Cheng couldn't sleep at all. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the ministers arguing, criticizing each other, and talking about it.
　　He had a terrible headache and a dark spot under his eyes. The two of them met, and Zheng Yuheng saluted politely, but Meng Cheng stood still.
　　The little emperor didn't know that Doctor Zheng had been assigned other matters, and he didn't understand the pain of grassroots bureaucrats who couldn't calculate accounts. In his eyes, Zheng Yuheng only had the job of serving his mother and taking care of the Queen Mother's health. Meng Cheng
　　saw his slightly red eyes and his lack of energy, and he couldn't help but think about it. He was annoyed for a while, and turned to everyone and said, "Everyone, leave."
　　He dragged Zheng Yuheng to a deserted place in the courtyard, and the two stood by the remaining snow that had not yet melted.
　　The little emperor pulled him over, glared at him fiercely, and just as he let go, he started to scold him: "Do you know who you are serving? You have to consider the Queen Mother's health, right? You know how busy she is during the day. If everyone was as idle as you, and focused their minds on this matter, they would not be able to live!"
　　Zheng Yuheng: "..." What's the matter?
　　Did Your Majesty misunderstand something?
　　He touched his face and suddenly realized.
　　Meng Cheng was so disappointed: "I have retreated to this point. I spared your life for the Queen Mother's happiness. Don't push your luck and bully my filial piety!"
　　Zheng Yuheng coughed lightly, and said innocently on the surface: "There is a difference between the monarch and the ministers. How could a minister bully Your Majesty?"
　　"Don't go too far!" Meng Cheng said viciously, "When I finish dealing with state affairs, I will find a docile and obedient person for my mother to replace you, the bastard."
　　Zheng Yuheng thought of the account books in the Ministry of Revenue, and thought that His Majesty might not be able to finish dealing with state affairs. As for "docile and obedient", no one in the world is more docile and obedient than him. He
　　held Meng Cheng and explained sincerely: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I did not delay the Queen's recuperation."
　　Meng Cheng judged others by himself. He felt that if he had the time to accompany Sister Wang for night activities every day, he would keep her awake for at least half the night. The two were of similar age, and Meng Cheng did not believe how good Zheng Yuheng's self-control was. This man was visibly spoiled by his mother.
　　The little emperor shook off his hand: "Liar."
　　After saying that, he left.
　　Zheng Yuheng didn't go up to defend himself, but just sighed and thought to himself:
　　"Is this really a bit of a conflict with the father and son of the Meng family? Isn't it just that he likes the first wife of Emperor Mingde, the biological mother of Meng Cheng, and the queen mother of Dayin? How can he be so hated..."
　　It seems that the young doctor Zheng has not yet correctly recognized the extent of his "hatefulness".
　　...
　　In late October of the second year of Huining, Geng Zhe led his troops back to the court.
　　He only led a thousand soldiers to protect Wei Que, the Minister of Wei. Although he was a step late, fortunately, Minister of Wei did not have any major problems. Although he has been bedridden until now, at least his life is safe.
　　And as early as a few days before Geng Zhe returned to the court, Wei Shuman's wife Zhang gave birth to a boy, the eldest grandson of the eldest house of this generation of the Wei family. Mother and child are safe. When the news came, Wei Que was so excited that his wound almost split open in bed, and he almost turned from joy to sorrow.
　　After Geng Zhe returned to the court, he had the Empress Dowager as his backer, so he naturally had no faults. He only filled in one rule and lightly revealed the matter of beheading first and reporting later, which made the Chief of the Censorate, Wei Zefang, very dissatisfied.
　　Although he was dissatisfied, he had to give up in the end because of Dong Lingjiu's power and the dissuasion of other ministers. He could only watch General Geng receive more rewards, promotions, and the title of Marquis of Taining.
　　As for the purpose of this lavish reward... Everyone with eyes in the court knew that this was a prelude to discussing the war in the spring, which put an invisible pressure on all the civil and military officials in the court.
　　On the 25th, the north wind was strong and there was light snow.
　　There was a vase in front of Dong Lingjiu's desk, and the vase was replaced with newly picked red plums, each one was fresh and beautiful.
　　She was revising the memorials approved by the little emperor. Ruixue rolled up her sleeves and ground a square of Hui ink in the inkstone. When the hall was silent, the parrot that Xuan Jingyun had brought back earlier stood on the wooden stand beside the stove. It suddenly turned its head to the outside and imitated: "Oh, Lord Xuan is here, Lord Xuan is here!"
　　"Oh." Xuan Jingyun was startled and almost bumped into the parrot stand. He pointed at the parrot and walked over sideways, "Who taught it to do this? The female officials in the Cining Palace have terrible tempers. They always make fun of me. There are so many 'adults' in the hall, how can I call them 'adults'?"
　　Ruixue smiled secretly with her hands covering her lips. Even Dong Lingjiu raised his lips slightly and stopped writing.
　　Xuan Jingyun came forward, knelt down to salute, then stood up and approached, whispering: "Your Majesty is really wise. How do you know that Shang Kai used the name of Your Majesty to collect land and make money in the suburbs of Beijing? When I went back to ask, no one knew whose land it was. The local tenants only knew that it was the land of the nobles in the palace, and the academy didn't know even more. But when I checked the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, I found a pair of silver in the palace. Oh, that was really the property of the "old ancestor". I checked from this side and finally caught the tail."
　　Shang Kai was the eunuch who held the seal beside the emperor. In name, he was the head of the eunuchs in the entire Ministry of Revenue. The newly-entered eunuchs and palace maids all called him "old ancestor" out of respect.
　　"What kind of ancestor is he." Dong Lingjiu supported his forehead.
　　"I made a slip of the tongue. I deserve to be beaten." Xuan Jingyun slapped himself lightly.
　　But Dong Lingjiu also knew that this was not a slip of the tongue. Wasn't this just provoking Shang Kai? But she knew Xuan Jingyun did it on purpose, and Xuan Jingyun also knew that he could not hide it from the empress dowager. The two sides knew each other like mirrors, so there was no need to warn.
　　Dong Lingjiu squinted his eyes and looked at him, saying: "This is not because I am wise. Last night, an official from the Ministry of Revenue pointed out the gaps in the account and insisted on showing it to me, saying that the extra money for lamp oil must have been embezzled by someone in the name of the palace. I was annoyed at first, but his eyes have been red for several days and look pitiful. Let me take a look for him."
　　Xuan Jingyun was stunned when he heard this, thinking, an official from the Ministry of Revenue? Lord Zheng has a rival?
　　He looked around and saw that it was Aunt Ruixue Shimo. He also thought vaguely in his heart - could it be that Lord Zheng made the empress angry, or he was young and strong-willed, and was angry with the empress dowager? Oh, this is not allowed. What kind of person is the empress? It's just a matter of a word to pamper you, and it's just a matter of a word to take your life, right?
　　Although Empress Dowager Dong has always been kind, and she would never do such a cold and ruthless thing. But without the protection of the Cining Palace, and his relationship with the Zheng family, wouldn't he be unable to move forward? This man is stubborn after all. When I see him later, I must persuade him and talk to him more.
　　Xuan Jingyun turned the mountain road eighteen bends in his mind several times, and said with a smile on his face: "Then this lord is also dedicated and capable. You don't know that he hides his way. If I hadn't found the scholar who made false accounts for him outside the palace, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to figure out what's going on."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded gently, very satisfied with Xuan Jingyun's praise. Although she said "annoying", she was actually very happy that Zheng Yuheng could be so calm. Those who have accomplished great things in ancient and modern times are all people with strong character, especially the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue... The more complicated and intricate, the more haste makes waste.
　　Xuan Jingyun said tentatively: "If that lord is satisfied, why not let me test the waters for the empress... We can't have someone unclean in the Cining Palace."
　　Here they come again, the rhetoric of these eunuchs.
　　His words were obviously to test the waters, but in fact they were testing Dong Lingjiu's feelings, and also to remind the empress dowager that even if she had her eyes on a new lover, she should weigh the pros and cons. Little Zheng was devoted and had a clean background. There were not many men like him who had never even had a concubine.
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at him and said slowly, "Xuan Jingyun."
　　Xuan Jingyun's back stiffened, he lifted his robe and knelt down, lowered his head and said, "My queen."
　　"Why do you always worry about the wrong direction?" Dong Lingjiu said, "Gather the witnesses and material evidence and send them to Guiyuan Palace. Don't say anything this time. I want to see which one is lighter and which one is heavier, compared with the friendship of Shang Kai accompanying him growing up and accepting bribes in the name of the palace and occupying school land."
　　"By the way." Dong Lingjiu added, "If the emperor comes to Cining Palace to ask me for advice, just say that I am sick."
　　Xuan Jingyun got up from the ground and said quickly, "Yes. I will do it right away."