Heavy rain in Nanyang.
The eunuch from Chang'an came in the rain with the imperial edict and went straight to the Rang County Magistrate's office to announce the imperial edict from Chang'an.
However, the magistrate of Rang County was not in Nanyang at the moment, and the eunuchs were at a loss when they first arrived. They wondered if the magistrate was not here, and whether only the county magistrate was in charge of the affairs of Rang County. Fortunately, the eunuchs did not have to wait long before Pei Qing, who was held up by a servant with an umbrella, came up the steps to the hall.
Pei Qing's shoulders were wet from the rain, and his sleeves, which fell to his knees, were also damp. He apologized to the eunuch who had been announcing the decree, and smiled helplessly: "...I am the local chief official, and I am temporarily handling the government affairs of Rang County. The county magistrate is not in Rang County now, so if you want to announce the decree, I am afraid you will have to make an extra trip."
The eunuch was shocked: "How come the local county magistrate is not in the government office? This, this... Sir, are you talking nonsense? The county magistrate will be punished for leaving the jurisdiction without permission. He has just been promoted by the imperial decree, but if the central government knows about it, won't he be demoted again? Sir, this is not a joke."
Pei Qing didn't know how to answer. A eunuch appeared from behind Pei Qing with a smile and asked the eunuch who came with the imperial eunuch: "Are you looking for Yan Erlang? Then there is nothing to worry about. Yan Erlang... was kidnapped by Princess Danyang. This is the behavior of Her Royal Highness the Princess. If Chang'an knows about it, they will turn a blind eye. Eunuch, please don't make trouble."
Pei Qing asked the servant beside him to step forward and quietly put a gold ingot into the sleeve of the eunuch who announced the decree. The eunuch's uncertain expression improved a little, and he said helplessly: "Since it was done by the princess of the royal family, Yan Erlang must have been forced. The only one to blame is the princess."
The leading eunuch said: "That's right, that's right."
The eunuch who came later asked curiously, "Eunuch, how come you are also in Nanyang? Could it be that before me, you also came to announce the imperial edict to the magistrate of Rang County?"
The eunuch who came first denied with a smile: "No, no. I brought the imperial edict, first to Pei Langjun, and then to Princess Danyang. I originally thought that the princess was still in Nanyang. When I arrived in Nanyang, Pei Langjun told me that the princess had already gone to Jinling. When the rain stops, I will have to go to Jinling to bring the edict to Princess Danyang."
Being looked at with subtle eyes by the two eunuchs, Pei Qing forced a smile twice, said that it was raining heavily, and invited the two eunuchs to have a drink. Then he left, giving the space to the two eunuchs.
After Pei Qing left, the banquet was served. While they were eating and drinking, the eunuch who had come to Nanyang a long time ago told the latecomers mysteriously: "There is nothing secret about the imperial edict I brought. The news should have spread in Chang'an, right? I have two imperial edicts here. One is to remove Pei Langjun from his position as the consort of the emperor. Naturally, Pei Langjun looked unhappy.
"The other one is to inform the new prince consort. I will naturally go to Jinling and personally hand the imperial edict to the princess."
The latter suddenly realized: "So that's it! I heard about it when I was in Chang'an. It turns out that Princess Danyang's consort is really going to be replaced."
The former smiled, he was drunk, he said with a big tongue: "Your Majesty has already liked Princess Danyang and Yan Erlang, it's not the first day."
The latter was shocked: "The new consort is Yan Erlang?! No wonder... No wonder."
The former asked curiously, "Of your two imperial edicts, isn't one about marriage, specifically about Erlang's consort?"
The latter shook his head and smiled: "The imperial edicts I brought were issued by the Secretariat. There are also two letters, but both are related to official positions, and indeed have nothing to do with the matter of the prince consort."
The former was puzzled, but nodded, thinking that this eunuch probably worked in the Secretariat, so he came here for a promotion, and the Secretariat did not care who Yan Erlang would marry or marry. The former wanted to ask the latter how Yan Erlang's official position would change, whether it was good news or bad news, but the latter, who worked in the Secretariat, was very tight-lipped and refused to say anything.
In short - the two eunuchs clinked their glasses and chatted happily: "In this case, you and I can be companions and go to Jinling together to announce the decree for the two nobles."
-----
In Chang'an, the so-called discussion on the official recusation never came to any conclusion. But as the Crown Prince and the King of Qin reached a private settlement, no one cared about the official recusation anymore.
The King of Qin acquiesced to the prince's taking over the troops of Shannan Road, and the prince's response was to reshuffle the Nanyang Jiang family, transfer officials, and no longer block them. The previous leaders of the Nanyang Jiang family fell one after another, but new people took over. Although the vitality was damaged, it was still the territory of the Jiang family.
This made the King of Qin uneasy, but he reluctantly accepted this outcome.
However, the current situation made the King of Qin no longer able to convince himself. All parties were forcing him to do something, and it was obvious that the higher-ups were going to use him as a scapegoat, and use the Nanyang Jiang family as a scapegoat. The prince would lose the Yang family, and he would lose the Jiang family. Now it seemed as if their father was asking the two brothers to kill each other.
His father was not on his side.
In the past few months, the King of Qin had clearly recognized the Nanyang Jiang family case. In the previous case of the Crown Prince's Ministry of Revenue, the Crown Prince imprisoned himself in the Eastern Palace after confessing his crime, and the Emperor let it go; but now it was his turn, and the Nanyang Jiang family was trapped in the bandit suppression, unable to extricate themselves, and because of the transition from the old to the new, their help to the King of Qin was far weaker than before.
If Your Majesty is reshuffling the cards, then Your Majesty is targeting the King of Qin.
After several disappointments, the King of Qin began to secretly raise troops to prepare. He could not sit back and watch his power being used as a wedding dress by others, and he could not wait for His Majesty to attack him... He had to seize the initiative!
In the palace, after drinking the new medicine, the old emperor was in a daze and drowsy, when he suddenly woke up from a nightmare. He called out, "Cheng An."
Cheng An, who was a little older and had been following him, quickly stepped to the side of His Majesty.
The emperor asked, "I dreamed that the man in Jinling had passed away."
Cheng An whispered: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. The dreams of the Son of Heaven must have signs. This is a good omen."
The emperor panted, as if he wanted to laugh, but he didn't even have the strength to do so. He was extremely skinny, with sunken eye sockets, and his entire vitality was almost worn away by the disease. But he knew in his heart that he had finally outlasted the head of the Li family... Fortunately, fortunately, that person died, so he didn't have to worry about the Li family rising up with the help of Yaoyao after he left.
Yes, he also wants to put a lock on Yaoyao.
Yan Suchen!
He wanted Yan Suchen to become the lock for Yaoyao, and he wanted Yan Suchen and Yaoyao to restrain each other... The Mu Dynasty must never return to the era of prosperity of aristocratic families!
Cheng An saw that he was so exhausted, but still had to work so hard, and he couldn't help but feel sad. The miracle doctor kept your majesty alive, but your majesty was also tortured during this period. If it weren't for these things, why would your majesty... But there was just not enough time! There was far from enough time!
Cheng An advised: "Your Majesty has already arranged these matters very well, there is no need to worry about it anymore. Your Majesty should take good care of your health..."
The emperor shook his head.
The emperor looked deep in the eyes and said, "I... am waiting for Yan Suchen to return to Chang'an. Based on his current achievements..."
Cheng An also saw the imperial edict from the Secretariat and said, "Yan Erlang is truly remarkable. He has changed the situation in Rang County."
The emperor said, "When he returns to Chang'an, I will hand over the poor families to him little by little, let the poor families contain the noble families, and let the prince and the noble families draw a clear line... Then, kill Liu Wenji... Only then can I feel at ease."
Cheng An was surprised, but also expected it: "Your Majesty wants to... get rid of Liu Wenji?"
The emperor was in a daze. He muttered a few words to himself and then closed his eyes and fell into a coma. In a daze, he muttered: "Eunuchs can only be used for transition, not for dominance... If eunuchs are in power, they will disrupt the government. When there is someone to lead the way for the poor, eunuchs will no longer be needed..."
The imperial family is named Mu, and the world belongs to scholars. No matter where, there is no place for eunuchs. If eunuchs are in power, they will not last long if they are not in a legitimate position.
He would never let the eunuchs take charge of the overall situation...
Cheng An sighed when he saw the emperor fall asleep again. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeves uncomfortably and left quietly.
In the corner of the palace door, the eunuch who was secretly eavesdropping on the conversation inside saw Cheng An walking out with a hunched back, and quickly hid in the corner.
-----
Liu Wenji sat in the dark room, turning a high-footed cup in his hand with a gloomy look in his eyes, listening to the eunuch's report. He learned all the news about the emperor's bedroom and the conspiracy between the emperor and Cheng An to kill Liu Wenji.
The emperor was seriously ill, Cheng An was devoted to serving the emperor, and Liu Wenji was in and out of the inner court and the court all day long. Unconsciously, the entire palace no longer listened to Cheng An, but only followed Liu Wenji's lead. Unfortunately, Cheng An only had the emperor in his heart, and did not realize that he, the chief eunuch, had been sidelined by his former apprentice.
The young eunuch imitated the words in the bedroom very vividly: "I heard it carefully! His Majesty said that we can't let the eunuchs disrupt the government, we can't sit idly by and watch the eunuchs become too powerful, and we must kill the eunuchs..."
Liu Wenji showed a kind expression to the young eunuch: "You have done a good job, go down and receive your reward."
The young eunuch was immediately led away happily. But as soon as he left, Liu Wenji summoned another eunuch and said calmly: "Find an excuse in the past two days to deal with that person. Do it cleanly and don't let him contact anyone. It's nonsense."
The father-in-law who was ordered was so frightened that his face turned pale and he did not respond for a while.
Liu Wenji looked at him coldly and said, "How can we let him go if he is chewing on your majesty's words?"
The eunuch heaved a sigh of relief, took the order, and went down to find a reason to kill. Liu Wenji sat alone in the inner room, put down the high-footed cup, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
Tap, tap, tap.
Again and again.
If Your Majesty wants to kill him, he must kill him before the new emperor ascends the throne. Because the eunuchs are too close to the emperor, it is easy for them to manipulate the emperor. A man as shrewd as Your Majesty will naturally not leave any problems for his descendants.
But... Liu Wenzhi sneered.
He can praise me when he wants to praise me, and kill me when he wants to kill me... In the past, I was the fish and others were the butchers, and I had no way to be controlled by others. But now Liu Wenji has great power in the court. Why can the old emperor kill me at will?
By divine right?
But isn't this imperial power also using Liu Wenji as a guard dog! And who in the world is willing to be just a guard dog forever? Who is willing to be manipulated by others all the time? !
Liu Wenji was thinking, murderous intent was hidden in his heart. He was brewing a new conspiracy, and the beginning of all this was just to protect himself. Self-protection, in the end, is just - fighting for life with others! If you die, I live!
-----
When the Ghost Festival comes, the gates of hell open wide.
Jinling was in mourning because of the death of the head of the Li family. But the new head of the Li family soon sent a message to the people of the city not to panic. On the day of the Zhongyuan Festival, everyone should just enjoy the lanterns and flowers. If anyone wanted to express gratitude to the Li family, they could just burn a paper lantern for Mr. Li.
The Li family did not stop the activities held in Nanjing to celebrate the Ghost Festival.
The whole city became lively again amidst the sad atmosphere.
As for the Li family, after Li Gong passed away, the Li family sent a letter to Chang'an to ask for the approval of His Majesty. The letter was written by Li Gong himself before his death. He wrote with great effort and begged His Majesty to let his son Li Zhi return to Jinling to observe mourning for three years, fulfilling the filial piety.
Your Majesty will almost certainly approve this letter. Filial piety is the foundation of the Wei Dynasty's governance. Even if Li Zhi is demoted again, he will return to Jinling with this pleading letter from Lord Li. The road that Lord Li has paved for the Li family is natural and beyond reproach.
On the afternoon of the Ghost Festival, Yan Shang was alone in the room, with the old imperial physician applying medicine to him and talking about precautions.
Mu Wanyao was not there. She was called away by the other children of the Li family, who told her to go to a temple in the city to pray for Lord Li and to go to the Qinhuai River to release Kongming lanterns for Lord Li. Yan Shang was not included in the group because of his inconvenience in moving around and because he had no direct relationship with the Li family.
Mu Wanyao just said that they could just go for a stroll together when they came back in the evening. Yan Shang didn't care at first, but everyone went out, leaving him and Han Shuxing staring at each other, which made him feel a little lost and lonely.
Although he quarreled with Mu Wanyao unwillingly all day long, he felt very lively when she was around. She made him feel alive. When she was not around, he could not study or handle chores, and he felt very bored.
In the evening, there was a heavy rain.
The old imperial physician who was applying medicine to Yan Shang looked at the rain outside and said, "It's easy to rain at this time of year."
Yan Shang closed his eyes, which were slightly burning. Hearing this, he turned his head towards the direction where the imperial physician was speaking and said, "Is the rain heavy? If it is, Yaoyao... Your Highness... You should have to come back."
The old imperial physician couldn't help but laugh. He looked at the gentle-looking young man and saw that he was blushing because of his slip of the tongue, but he was trying to act natural. The old imperial physician had seen this kind of young man who was trapped in love and absent-minded. After applying medicine to Yan Erlang for so many days, how could he not see the relationship between the princess and Yan Erlang?
The imperial physician joked, "Does Erlang miss His Highness?"
Yan Shangqiang insisted: "...That's not the case. It's just that my vision is blocked and human nature is cowardly."
The old imperial physician shook his head. He sat beside the couch, threw the gauze that Yan Erlang had changed into the stove, and then went to the medicine box to find new medicine: "This new medicine that I prepared for Erlang may sting your eyes a little, but it's okay. It's all normal..."
Yan Shang closed his eyes and felt a sting in his eyes, more than before. He was always good at endurance, but now, listening to the rain outside, he felt irritated and impatient. He couldn't help but open his eyes and face the window. He glanced casually and was startled.
The old imperial physician was packing up his medicine box when he heard a teacup fall to the ground behind him. He turned around and saw Yan Erlang standing up. Hastily, Yan Shang swept the teacup off the table. Yan Shang lowered his head to look at the teacup that fell on the felt carpet on the ground, and then looked at his hands.
He seemed to be thinking about something.
The old imperial physician consoled him: "It was just an accidental drop of a teacup, Erlang, don't panic..."
Yan Shang opened his eyes and looked at the old imperial physician. There were red bloodshot in the center and corners of his eyes, but his pupils were clear and black, and his eyes were like clear water, flowing and gurgling. He looked at the old imperial physician, pondered for a while, and said, "I pushed the teacup down myself. I want to prove whether I can really push it down."
The old imperial physician opened his eyes wide in shock.
Yan Shang seemed to be trying hard to control his emotions, but he still couldn't help it, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly. His smile was very shallow, gentle and quiet, but he really smiled.
Yan Shang bowed deeply to the old imperial physician and said, "I can see now. Thank you for saving my life..."
The old imperial physician was amazed. He didn't expect the new medicine he prepared would be so effective.
He stroked his beard and smiled, accepting Yan Erlang's gift. But after Yan Shang thanked him and turned to walk out, the old imperial physician couldn't help but stop him: "Erlang, where are you going? Erlang has just recovered his eyesight, so he shouldn't go out yet. Erlang, you should sit down and let me take a good look at your eyes..."
Yan Shang stood at the door of the house and turned around.
He already had a good demeanor, and now that he had opened his eyes, his eyebrows and eyes were clear and beautiful, which added to his beauty. Those eyes were like bringing a jade statue to life, making Yan Shang no longer have the cold and ethereal temperament that cannot be pursued.
Yan Shang blushed slightly, and smiled: "Of course I should ask you to check my eyes for me, but I am extremely anxious. I can see again, and I want to find someone. When I come back, I will ask you to check my eyes for me. Please forgive me."
The old imperial physician sighed and saw Yan Erlang leave the room.
The old imperial physician was leaning against the window and saw Yan Shang, wearing a white robe and a golden crown, taking an umbrella from a servant in the corridor and about to walk down the stairs.
The old imperial physician shouted, "The red bloodshot in your eyes has not gone away yet..."
Yan Shang turned around and smiled: "No problem."
The old imperial physician said: "It is still raining heavily."
Yan Shang: “No problem.”
The old imperial physician: "Be careful, you may lose your sight again!"
Yan Shang still smiled: "It's okay."
He was in a very good mood, holding an umbrella and going down the steps, he walked out of the courtyard under the guidance of the servants. Yan Shang was such a steady person, the old imperial physician had never seen him so brisk. But in the heavy rain at dusk that day, Yan Shang's back in white clothes holding an umbrella and walking out slowly, in the eyes of the old imperial physician, really had some of the temperament of a young man.
The old imperial physician sighed: "Lust can blind one's mind."
Even someone as steady as Yan Shang is not immune to this.
-----
But how could Yan Shang not be anxious?
He met Mu Wanyao again in March, and now it is already July.
For four months, he spent time with her like that. He wondered what she looked like every day. He stroked her cheeks with his fingers over and over again... His heart was filled with longing, but he just couldn't see her.
The man that Mu Wanyao saw was always calm and at ease. But Yan Shang would panic and feel anxious. He was often afraid that he would go blind and that he would never see her again. If he could never see her again, all he would remember was her cold back as she left.
He wanted to see her face!
He wanted to see her eyebrows that were as long as green mountains, her eyes that were always filled with cunning and teasing, her small nose wrinkled towards him, her rosy and slightly upturned mouth... She had grown up, and she was no longer the girl he remembered.
But he just couldn't see it! He just couldn't see it!
How to not be anxious?
-----
Yan Shang rode out on horseback, and halfway through the journey, the rain stopped. He arrived at the market street by the Qinhuai River in Jinling, where the crowds gathered again after the rain stopped, and the horses could not get in at all. Fortunately, Yan Shang was no longer blind, so he no longer had to be at a loss when facing the crowds.
He just calmed himself down, handed the reins to Han Shuxing who had dismounted and followed him, and then walked into the crowd.
It rained in the evening, and Mu Wanyao and a group of Li's sisters-in-law, aunts, cousins and sisters scattered to avoid the rain. After the rain stopped, the market became lively again, the night deepened, the lights gradually brightened, and with such a delay, the Qinhuai River was bright and dazzling, but Mu Wanyao was delayed by the rain and missed the time to go back.
She was a little unhappy.
A sister-in-law who took her to fly Kongming lanterns comforted her: "We will go back after we finish releasing the river lanterns. The prince consort can't see, and it doesn't matter to him whether it's day or night. Even if Your Highness goes back a little later, the prince consort won't mind.
"Your Highness is a princess, do you still have to look at the Prince Consort's face? Even if Your Highness really doesn't want to go back, would the Prince Consort dare to be angry with Your Highness?"
Mu Wan frowned, and the frown grew deeper and deeper.
She gradually stopped, thinking that what these people said was wrong. Yan Shang was not only the prince consort she had chosen, he was also her lover. He asked her to respect him... She could disrespect her prince consort, because the prince consort was just a "minister" to her, but a lover was not a "minister".
She imprisoned Yan Shang, and he was already very unhappy. Although she did not apologize to him verbally, she was also thinking about what Yan Shang said...
Mu Wanyao said to the sisters-in-law, "You guys light the lanterns. I'll let Qiusi follow you and she'll help me light my lantern. Grandpa has passed away and won't care about such a small matter. I'll go back in advance because of something I have to do."
One sister-in-law saw the princess leave as soon as she said she would, and in the blink of an eye, she passed by them, and couldn't help but turn her head and asked: "Your Highness... where are you going?"
Mu Wanyao had already joined the bustling crowd, and she was among the common people. She didn't have the delicate makeup and gorgeous clothes as usual. She looked like a young lady from an ordinary family who came out to play, simple and gentle. She turned around and waved to the girls, and said softly: "Go find Yan Shang."
Everyone couldn't stop her, so they saw her slip into the crowd and soon disappeared.
-----
Light and shadow flow along the Qinhuai River.
Bright lanterns, silver lights, colorful oil-paper umbrellas embroidered with landscapes, hung high on poles, decorating the night market; handsome men and beautiful women walked through the crowd, looking up at the lantern riddles.
Mu Wanyao shuttled among them, layers of light shining on her. She was not attached to such prosperity and just walked towards the outskirts of the street.
People passed by her one after another, and lights shone on her cheek.
Various sounds exploded in her ears, noisy and boiling, all of which were the excitement of the people. This excitement belonged to others and had nothing to do with her. Mu Wanyao walked out with all her heart, getting more and more anxious. Suddenly, she heard a voice calling her from behind.
She didn't pay attention to it at first, but that clear voice pierced through the crowd and the lights and rang in her ears again -
“Shake!”
Mu Wanyao turned her head sharply and saw people moving around, lights dimming, and a young man in white standing in the crowd, looking towards her. When she turned her head, his clear eyes lit up. He smiled and waved over here, but due to his reserved personality, he quickly withdrew his hand.
But his eyes were as clear as water, still looking at her.
The light at that moment was brighter than all the lights Mu Wanyao had seen all night.
-----
Mu Wanyao looked at Yan Shang in confusion across the crowd.
He tried to come towards her, without any servants following him. He looked at her, the lights from various lamps shone into his eyes, and he covered his eyes with his sleeves in discomfort. But he clearly——
You can clearly see it!
He can see her!
Mu Wan shook his head with eyes wide open: His eyes...are healed?
-----
Mu Wan looked at him blankly, then suddenly strode towards Yan Shang.
Yan Shang was careful not to bump into anyone around him. But Mu Wanyao had no scruples. She walked towards him, and everyone had to make way for her.
She walked up to him and looked at him.
Mu Wan shook: "Are your eyes okay?"
Yan Shang said softly: "Yeah."
He blinked, tears appeared in his eyes, but there seemed to be more red bloodshot.
Mu Wan shook her brow and frowned.
Yan Shang was very good at reading people's expressions. He said, "It's just that I'm not used to the light yet... The imperial physician said it's okay."
He had a small, happy joy in his heart and wanted to share it with Mu Wanyao. His desire to share was so gentle that he looked at her with tender eyes and wanted to say a few more words to her, but his wrist was grabbed by Mu Wanyao.
Mu Wanyao made a prompt decision: "Follow me."
The ground was full of puddles, with golden shadows in the puddles.
Mu Wanyao led Yan Shang through the crowd and ran in one direction. The sleeves of her robe fluttered in the wind, and Yan Shang was pulled by her wrist and followed her unconsciously.
-----
Mu Wanyao brought Yan Shang to a corner alley full of oil-paper umbrellas of various colors. She did not buy an umbrella, but directly pulled Yan Shang to squat in the corner. In this way, with the umbrella blocking the light outside, the light was a little dim.
Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang squatted under the umbrella together, and she looked at him.
His eyes were clear, reflecting all kinds of golden light. The light lingered in his eyes, and her shadow was also reflected in his eyes. He was pulled by her the whole time, squatting here with her.
Mu Wan looked at his eyes, and when his golden eyes met her gaze, he smiled again. It was a nice, gentle smile, just like he always was; but it was more extroverted than usual... a little silly.
Mu Wanyao's face became hot from his smile, and she couldn't help feeling shy, but she insisted: "Are you feeling better now? Do your eyes hurt less? Can you still see me?"
Yan Shang: “I can’t see.”
Mu Wan was startled and his eyes widened.
The next moment, he reached out and touched her cheek.
He held her chin with one hand and cupped her snow-white cheek with the other.
He leaned closer, his eyes were soft under his thick eyelashes, and his gentle voice mixed with it, flowing like spring water in the evening, shaking my heart: "Let me take a good look."
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