Chapter 543: Letter from Ma Wan
The news that Chang Suining had dealt a heavy blow to the Fanyang Army temporarily calmed the people in the government and the country to a certain extent.
However, this temporary peace was only in response to the court's fear of the Fanyang Army and its worries about the situation in Luoyang and Henan. The shock caused by the tragic death of the governors of Lingnan and Shuofang outside the Forbidden Palace was not eliminated.
Anyone can see that the biggest beneficiary of this shock is undoubtedly the Rongwang Mansion in Yizhou.
Everyone in the court was urgently discussing countermeasures to minimize the impact of this incident.
When it was getting dark, after Wei Shuyi left the Menxia Province, he did not leave the palace, but went to Ganlu Palace to ask for an audience with the emperor.
In the hall, Wei Shuyi lifted up his official robe, knelt down and bowed to the emperor, explaining his purpose and request.
There was a rare look of surprise on the face of the Holy Ce Emperor. She looked at the minister who knelt down to recommend himself, and her emotions fluctuated.
After a long while, the emperor finally spoke: "Wei Qing, you should know that this trip is full of dangers, more than a hundred times more than last year's mission to Dong Luo..."
Wei Shuyi bowed deeply and said: "It is my humble duty to relieve your majesty's worries and quell the rebellion in Dasheng."
The hall fell into silence again.
After an unknown amount of time, Wei Shuyi finally heard a long sigh from above.
Then, the voice slowly said: "In this case, I will hand this matter over to Wei Qing."
Wei Shuyi kowtowed again.
Soon, he exited the Ganlu Palace and turned to step into the night with suspended glass lamps.
Outside the gate of Ganlu Palace, the eunuch in charge of the Palace Office saluted to Wei Shuyi and said respectfully: "It is getting late. I have asked someone to prepare a sedan chair for Wei Xianggong to leave the palace..."
This is the emperor's favor and also a symbol of status.
"Thank you, Boss Yang. It's not necessary." Wei Shuyi smiled slightly and left with his hands behind his back: "It's windless tonight, perfect for enjoying the moon."
The head of the Palace Office bowed and saw him off respectfully. After Wei Shuyi walked away, he raised his head again and subconsciously glanced at the jade plate that was almost full. It was indeed a rare clear and bright moonlit night.
The bright moonlight shines on the palace road like a thin layer of frost, adding coolness to the night.
Wei Shuyi traveled alone, and every time he passed a palace gate, the imperial guards saluted him.
After crossing the gate of the Forbidden Palace, Changji, who was waiting not far away, came forward holding a cloak.
Wei Shuyi did not go to take the cloak, but stopped at the foot of the palace wall and looked at the palace road under his feet.
There was no blood on the stone bricks, and everything seemed particularly quiet under the moonlight, but Wei Shuyi could hear the sound of fighting in his ears and see the splattered blood in front of his eyes.
After a moment, he raised his head slightly and looked at the standing palace wall.
Last night, when he heard that a murder had occurred outside the Forbidden Palace, the first thought that came to Wei Shuyi's mind was not "Oh no, something big is going to happen", but - I was wrong, the court had finally made an irreparable mistake.
The military generals who were responsible for protecting the territory died in the struggle for royal power. This was a crime committed by the perpetrators, and also a serious fault of the court, the emperor, and him as a minister.
The emperor set up a plan to invite military generals from all walks of life to the capital to prove their loyalty, but after they offered their loyalty, the court was unable to protect them.
At that moment, Wei Shuyi felt a surge of self-reflection that he had never felt before.
He used to firmly believe that political struggles had nothing to do with right or wrong, but at that moment, when the face of the Shuofang Jiedushi appeared in his mind, he suddenly wavered.
He gradually realized that for a long time, what he thought was his clarity was actually another form of arrogance and pride.
The court was wrong and the emperor's decision was wrong, but no one would correct it and the emperor would just continue on this path.
The entire imperial court was like a devastated ship, tossed in the wind and rain. The emperor was unwilling to let it sink, so its only fate was to keep crashing into the shore until it was shattered to pieces.
If it's lucky, it can take its enemies with it to their deaths.
And in this process, more people are bound to be involved, the innocent people of the world.
Wei Shuyi bent down and quietly placed a half-bloomed chrysanthemum under the palace wall.
It was already late at night when we returned to Duke Zheng's Mansion.
Duke Zheng and his wife were still awake. When they heard the servants come saying that their husband had arrived, they looked at each other and hurriedly put on their clothes and got up.
Zi Gu returned home late at night and rushed here, definitely not to pay respects...
"But what happened in the palace?" Seeing that her son had not changed his official uniform, Duan asked hurriedly.
Wei Shuyi raised his hand to salute his parents and said, "My son will have to leave the capital in two days and rush to the interior of the country..."
Duan was shocked: "Going to the north? Is it because of the death of the governor of Shuofang?"
"But why is it you?" Duan said in disbelief: "How could a saint let you..."
Wei Shuyi: "My son volunteered to go."
"Zi Gu, you're crazy!" Duan was so frightened that her soul almost left her body, but her tongue was tied: "What kind of person are you looking for... I mean, as the left prime minister of the Ministry of Personnel, how can you ask to leave the capital at this critical moment?"
Wei Shuyi: "Now the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Personnel are all the emperor's confidants, and they can take over the management of affairs."
As for Cui Hao... the saint has decided to take action against the Cui family by taking advantage of Wan Yantai's incident.
"What the Ministry of Personnel is doing now is nothing more than helping the emperor relieve his worries. This matter does not require Wei Shuyi." Wei Shuyi said, "Why not go north and apologize on behalf of the court?"
Facing her son's rare serious look, Duan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt that something was different about him.
Duke Zheng said anxiously, "Zi Gu, you are just a civil official, and the soldiers in the north are fierce and will surely bear a grudge against you..."
"That's why we need to let them see the court's sincerity." Wei Shuyi said, "Only if a civil official of my status goes there, it will be possible to dispel their anger."
The Guannei Road is far less vast and sparsely populated than the Lingnan Road, but the former has been facing harassment from the Northern Di all year round and shoulders the heavy responsibility of resisting alien races, so the soldiers are more cohesive.
Because of this, the imperial court could not deal with the military power of Guannei Road like it did with Lingnan Road by selecting a new governor to take office - the governor of Shuofang died tragically in the capital, but the imperial court was eager to let the new governor take control of the military power, which was bound to cause the military morale of Guannei Road to revolt.
Cui Ling'an was still fighting with the Northern Di at this time. If there was another war in the Guannei Road, a catastrophe would be imminent.
So, he must go.
Wei Shuyi has asked the emperor for the right to act at his own discretion. He plans to personally escort the body of the Shuofang governor back to the north, personally apologize to the soldiers of Guannei Road, and then select a capable person from among the Shuofang governor's subordinates to take over the position of governor, and not change the military power of Guannei Road, so as to minimize the shock.
Even though the Emperor of the Holy Ce did think of taking the opportunity to seize the military power within the Guannei Road, he also knew that Wei Shuyi's proposal was the safest one given the current situation. After careful consideration and weighing, he finally nodded in agreement.
"Zi Gu..." Duan's eyes were red, and she wanted to say something to dissuade him, but she saw that the young man was seldom showing his scholarly character and determination, so she could not say anything against him. She could only ask again: "Have you really thought it through? If you go, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid I'll never come back! Wei Shuyi raised his hand and bowed deeply: "I'm an unfilial son."
These three words, which could not carry any more weight, made Duan burst into tears instantly.
Mrs. Duan had always known that although her son had extraordinary talent, his own aspirations were vague and indifferent. He stood between heaven and earth, but had never taken root in this world.
Over the years, he had achieved great success and fame. At the age of twenty, he had reached a pinnacle that others would find difficult to reach in their entire lives. However, the one who truly enjoyed everything was not him, but the Zhengguo Mansion behind him.
He seems selfish, but in fact, nothing he does is truly for himself. He is always trying to provide stability for his family.
He was indifferent to likes and dislikes, and seemed to treat all living beings in the same way. What Duan never expected was that the glorious journey of the previous twenty years had not moved him at all. But at this critical moment of the survival of the world, he suddenly completed his true transformation.
How could such a change not be a blessing for the world and for him? Zi Gu had found something that he had not understood before, and as a mother, she should have been happy for him, but... for her, this almost came at the cost of losing him!
After Wei Shuyi left, Duan threw herself into her husband's arms and finally burst into tears.
"Let him go..." Duke Zheng sighed softly, "He said that the Ministry of Personnel no longer needs Wei Shuyi. Isn't it because he has become disillusioned with the court and the emperor..."
He thought that Zi Gu probably no longer wanted to stay in the Menxia Province and continue those meaningless hustle and bustle just to maintain power for the emperor.
He wanted to go north and use his body as a scholar to block the strong wind for the people.
Going north in this way is not only a way to repay the emperor's kindness, but also the best way to continue protecting the Duke of Zheng's Mansion in front of the emperor.
With such intentions for the family and such a heart for the people, how could they, as parents, stop it?
Duke Zheng comforted his wife all night.
Duan cried all night. At dawn the next day, she went into her study alone. With her red and swollen eyes, she ground ink, wrote a letter in tears, and had someone send it secretly to Bianzhou.
The next day, it was the day for Wei Shuyi to leave the capital.
Wei Shuyi stayed at Menxia Province last night to hand over official business. When he left this morning, it was drizzling outside. He passed by the six ministries with an umbrella, but unexpectedly saw an old and thin figure standing quietly in the rain, waiting for him.
The old man was also holding an umbrella, standing alone in the rain.
Wei Shuyi hurried over and was about to put down his paper umbrella to salute, but he saw the old man raised his hand to press it, indicating that he didn't need to be polite: "Prime Minister Wei is about to go on a long journey for the court, how can you get wet in the rain for me?"
Wei Shuyi did not insist on bowing, but still bowed his head respectfully: "I am overwhelmed with fear that the Grand Tutor will see you off."
"You, young man, have made me very frightened."
Master Chu looked at the handsome young man in front of him and sighed, "You have changed a lot now. You are not as annoying as when you first entered the officialdom."
Wei Shuyi smiled and said, "You taught me well, Master."
"When did I teach you?"
Wei Shuyi said vaguely: "Taifu's students are all over the world."
And somehow, he happened to get the most perfect one among all the students of the Taifu all over the world, and was enlightened invisibly.
Why did the death of Shuofang Jiedushi stir up such a huge wave in his heart and even make him change his long-held arrogant perspective? It might have something to do with her.
It has something to do with the deeds she left behind in the past, and also with the path she is taking now.
Wei Shuyi's words couldn't be more obscure, but for some reason, he felt that the overly wise old man in front of him seemed to understand the meaning of his words.
"You are a very smart young man..." Master Chu held up the umbrella with his thin fingers as distinct as bamboo joints, and stroked his silver beard with his other hand. He smiled and said, "Try to keep your life. Although it is rainy today, there will always be a clear and sunny day."
"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Master."
The Master waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."
To repay the emperor's kindness and to fulfill Wen's wish.
Wei Shuyi bowed again while holding the umbrella and left.
Master Chu looked at the young man's back, which was like a green mountain in the rain, and watched him quietly for a moment.
Wei Shuyi soon got on the carriage leaving Beijing.
The convoy of carriages and horses left the capital in the rain and headed north.
Inside the car, Wei Shuyi, wearing a moon-white wide-sleeved robe, sat cross-legged. He picked up the exquisite white jade teacup, faced the right window, saluted in the direction of Luoyang and Bianzhou, then drank it all with a smile, practicing for himself in this wind and rain.
On the same day, a secret order drafted by the emperor was sent out of the capital by express horse and headed towards the western route of Jiangnan.
In the afternoon of that day, a secret letter was secretly delivered to the residence of Prime Minister Ma in the capital.
When Mrs. Ma opened the letter, she was happy at first, but then she was shocked by its contents.
Mrs. Ma Xiang's expression trembled, and she quickly put the letter into her sleeve.
It was not until late at night that Ma Xingzhou returned home. He had just changed out of his official uniform which was stained with damp rain when he saw his wife sending away the maidservants.
"What happened?" Ma Xingzhou lowered his voice and asked seriously.
"Wan'er has sent me a letter..."
"Wan'er?" Ma Xingzhou was slightly surprised: "Where is the letter and what does it say?"
Ever since he used Wan'er to test the relationship between Yu Zeng and Prince Rong's Mansion on behalf of the Saint, there was no news of Wan'er for a while. At that time, he and his wife believed that Wan'er was in great danger.
But several months later, Wan'er suddenly sent a letter back to the capital to report her safety, but she only reported to them that she was safe and did not say anything else. She also signaled them not to rashly send letters to Prince Rong's Mansion... From this we can see that although Wan'er saved her life, it was a fact that she was suspected and guarded against by Prince Rong's Mansion, and her situation was not good.
From then on, the wife waited almost every day, hoping that Wan'er would send back another letter.
Until today, I finally received this letter from home.
But after reading it, Ma Xingzhou realized that this letter was not just a simple family letter, but contained all the confidential information of Prince Rong's Mansion...
Ma Xingzhou put the letter on the table and calmed himself down. After a moment, he suddenly said, "Madam, change my clothes quickly. I want to go to the palace to see the emperor!"
Madam Ma was surprised: "Master, why would you enter the palace at this hour?"
"This matter should not be delayed..."
"But..." Madam Ma was at a loss: "If I present this letter to His Majesty, will Wan'er still have a chance to survive?"
He asked again: "And will the Saint really believe it? If something goes wrong later...will the Saint turn around and doubt the position of the Lord and the Ma family?"
Anyway, presenting this letter to the Saint... This is too risky! "Madam." Ma Xingzhou's eyes were firm: "No matter what, reporting truthfully is the duty of a minister."
Meeting those eyes that never wavered, Ma Xiang's wife turned her head away with tears in her eyes, trembling, not knowing whether she was showing more respect or resentment.
Ma Xingzhou finally chose to enter the palace at night in the rain.
Thank you to the book friend Fengshuxiaxue for the reward of 10,000, thank you to Yanqiujiaqi, Li Xiangziyuan, book friend 20230102215443082, book friend 20220918120557443 for the reward, thank you all for the monthly ticket! Good night~ (End of this chapter)
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