In the spring of the Western Year of Qian Ding, the newly appointed Zhongshu Ling Song Muchuan was finally getting married.
Marrying for the first time after he was over 30 years old was really rare among the men of the Yu Dynasty. When the new dynasty was first established, he said that the borders were undecided and he had no time to care about the personal affairs of his children, so he plunged into the affairs of the court and assisted the new emperor conscientiously and wholeheartedly.
In the past few years, in addition to reviving the dilapidated imperial court, the most important thing was to deal with the Qi people and seek opportunities for a truce and peace.
The two sides turned over the table several times when they couldn't reach an agreement. The Qi people fought to the edge of the Yangtze River, but failed due to Yu Chao's vigorous resistance. So they sat back together several times and started new negotiations.
Huge conflicts have also arisen within the Qi people. Since Xie Queshan's identity was made public, Han Xianwang, who used him in an important position, was convicted and exiled. The eldest princess Wanyan Puruo, who was once in high power, was questioned because of her use of Han officials, even though she was a blood relative of the clan. , it is still inevitable to be stripped of authority.
Coupled with the matter of peace negotiation, Wanyan Puruo and the old nobles who occupied half of the court had completely different attitudes. Wanyan Puruo changed his previous attitude of being willing to negotiate and tried to gather troops to fight again. First of all, he did not dare to underestimate the combat power of the Yu Dynasty. In order to eradicate the weeds, he could not give them a chance to recuperate and live in peace, otherwise he would be feeding a tiger into trouble. , and secondly, she herself wanted to avenge her shame. However, the old nobles believed that occupying the north was enough. War was a waste of people and money, and the treasury was becoming increasingly empty through successive campaigns. At this time, they should seek stability and not make rash advances. Moreover, once the territory expands to the south, it will inevitably be integrated with the Han people and co-governed. The implementation of Han system and Han law will only cause trouble.
There are more people who oppose Wanyan Puruo just for the sake of opposing him.
After all, the huge royal court cannot accommodate a woman who can compete with men.
As long as she makes the slightest mistake, it will lead to greater backlash. Wanyan Puruo could have let go and returned to be her comfortable eldest princess, but she could not let go of her political ideals and still wanted to give it a try. She struggled and tried to turn the tide, but was ultimately defeated. In the autumn of the third year of Qianding, she was imprisoned in the Princess Mansion and died mysteriously one month later.
Some say she committed suicide due to depression, others say she was assassinated by a political opponent, which eventually became a secret case in the palace. Outsiders can no longer investigate, but in the final analysis, this legendary woman died under the knife of one of her own people, and it was miserable. end.
After Wanyan Puruo's death, the resistance to peace talks was completely eliminated.
During this period, the Supreme Emperor, who was captured by the Qi people, died in depression. Song Muchuan advocated the return of the late emperor's coffin and asked the Qi people to return the clan. The two parties kept going back and forth over the terms, and finally signed a contract in Langping County, north of the Yangtze River, to delineate the border boundaries, which was known in history as the "Langping Alliance."
The next month, Song Muchuan personally served as an envoy and led his army to welcome back some of the clan and the coffin of the late emperor, and the whole country mourned.
Also returning this time was Xie Zhaoqiu.
That year, she went to Bianjing with Nan Yi and planned to poison her father Xie Zhu. However, she was unable to evacuate in time due to the poisoning, and was later found by Wanyan Pu Ruo. Perhaps because of the fate of a painting in the past, Wanyan Puruo did not blame her, but instead sought out a famous doctor to detoxify and heal her injuries.
After that, Sister Qiu was placed under house arrest in Wanyan Puruo's house.
Wanyan Puruo didn't hurt her, and there was no need to hurt her, but he couldn't let her go. With such a strong temper, she would never give away any prey she got, even if it was just Xie Zhaoqiu who had no strength to restrain the chicken.
Xie Queshan and Nan Yi discussed with Song Muchuan several times how to rescue Sister Qiu, but it was at the stage of negotiation between the two parties at that time. A little carelessness might cause even greater trouble, and Sister Qiu was sent back several times. The letter stated that their lives were not in danger, so they had to shelve the plan and wait until the situation stabilized before proceeding.
In the summer of the third year of Qianding, he probably realized that the situation was over and Wanyan Pu Ruoji, who had always been strong in his life, was at the end of his rope, but he mercifully let Sister Qiu go back with the returned clan.
Xie Queshan and Nan Yi set off with the army to pick up their families after three years of absence.
Since then, the internal and external troubles of the Yu Dynasty have finally subsided. Song Muchuan has played the most important role in it, serving as an official all the way to Zhongshu Ling. However, among his clan elders, voices urging him to get married once again appeared. Even Emperor Zhao would ask about his marriage from time to time, asking hesitantly if he had anything to hide.
After all, he is the head of the court and cannot act too deviantly.
What's more, there are three types of unfilial piety, the worst of which is not having an offspring, which is also a mountain of pressure for Song Muchuan.
He had no reason to shirk anymore. As soon as he let go, things started to move forward vigorously. On the other end of the engagement was a girl from a Jiangnan family who was good at everything.
Before the appointment, Song Muchuan went to Lidu Mansion.
Nan Yi and Xie Queshan still live in Lidu Mansion, hiding in the city and being the most ordinary couple. Neither of these two people have the temper to be idle, and now they are helping Bingzhusi establish a more complete intelligence system.
The Qi people are still watching in the north, and no one can guarantee that one day they will tear up their alliance and come back, but before that, they must be prepared.
As usual, let's talk business.
When they had different opinions, he and Xie Queshan were red-faced, but when everything was finalized and they were about to leave, they felt empty again.
Xie Queshan was already used to this process of making Song Muchuan burst into tears every time he said goodbye, making it seem like they would never see each other again for the rest of their lives.
But he took the trouble to coax Song Muchuan away every time. His patience came from his guilt. The last separation probably left a deep shadow on Song Muchuan.
But what was slightly different this time was that when Xie Queshan came back from seeing people off, he handed Nan Yi a box and said it was returned to her by Song Muchuan.
When he opened it, he saw neat piles of silver piled inside.
Nan Yi thought for a long time in astonishment before remembering that she had lent him a sum of money when Song Muchuan was at his lowest.
Such a trivial amount of money, with their current friendship, do they still need to pay it back?
Master Song was always very polite, and she even felt that... he was a little too outspoken.
But it was all returned, and I wouldn't chase him out and stuff it back into his hands. I could only accept the hot money.
When he looked up, he saw Xie Queshan's dark and unclear eyes. He probably wanted to ask something, but in the end he stopped talking.
On the way out of Lidu Mansion, Song Muchuan heard a rumor that was spreading in the streets and alleys: there was a wealthy businessman named Zhang Zhang whose business had spread all over the country, and Princess Qi Ren wanted to annex his wealth. Boss Zhang Not afraid of the powerful, he made a bet with the eldest princess who was all-powerful at that time. He took his time and set up ten games in a row, saying that as long as he lost one game, he would hand over all the family property to the eldest princess.
The eldest princess felt ridiculous and readily agreed. Then she opened the dice boxes one by one, and Boss Zhang hit all ten of them. It was a miracle. He not only saved his family business, but also gave Qi Ren a severe blow.
After hearing this anecdote, the people worshiped Zhang Gong as the "God of Luck". The trend of pursuing Zhang Gong spread from the casinos to thousands of ordinary people's homes. Some devout people even erected statues and temples to pray for Zhang Gong's blessing. , good luck favors you.
Song Muchuan just smiled slightly. He naturally knew who was the originator of these rumors.
Boss Zhang loved liveliness during his lifetime, so she used the liveliest way and his favorite words to make him deeply remembered by people.
She is always a very warm person - no, almost hot person, with a sparkling innocent heart, and those who are close to her will be illuminated by her.
Song Muchuan was very happy for his best friend, whose half-life was full of hardships and hardships, and finally landed in a warm destination.
He is very happy. Xie Chaoen deserves it.
But somehow, his departure stopped under that bridge. The past events over the years have become thinner, but they are still vivid in his mind. He once gave up on himself and plunged into the cold river, but was rescued by her and woke up with a word.
He had some unwanted thoughts about the hands that were pulling him upward.
Those moments when your face turned red when you faced her, those moments when you were infected by her courage, those moments when you could reach out and touch her, but you spurned the annoyance of being an ungentleman.
He had never told anyone how much undercurrents lay beneath his seemingly calm demeanor. In his heart, there is no better woman than her in the world.
He thought he could wait for the opportunity to declare his love. He was loyal to the etiquette, justice and shame he had learned since childhood, and kept himself within limits, always thinking that now was not the best time. And ever since Xie Queshan confided his heart to him in an obscure way, he understood that there was a more profound and destined fate between him and Nan Yi.
He felt lost and relieved. He tried very hard to forget his insignificant feelings.
But he still held on to the few bonds between them almost piously and despicably, and he delayed returning the money she lent him, just because he wanted to have an opportunity to find her again.
To this day, these selfish thoughts that have never seen the light of day should flow to the sea with the river and never look back.
……
On the wedding day, guests gathered at Song Muchuan's house, drinking and drinking among each other. But at the banquet, there was a table filled with delicacies and wine, but no guests were seated.
It was prepared for Pang Yu, Xie Xiaoliu, Zhang Yuehui, Xie Queshan and Nan Yi. Some of his close friends will never come again, and some cannot come. That Xie Queshan is still alive is a secret that only a few people know.
Everyone looked sad when they saw the table. Now the overall situation has been decided and life is stable, but every empty position is a reminder of the tragedy of the past.
The happy day finally added a touch of sadness.
After three rounds of drinking, some people got drunk, looked at the empty table, and sighed with emotion about the three heroes of Yanyu who were so high-spirited in Bianjing City back then. Most of the people present were old officials from the North, and they all shed tears, thinking about the prosperous days of the dynasty. But today's north is a hometown that everyone has seen through and can never go back to.
No one knows whether the Han people's horse hooves can still cross the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers and return to their homeland.
The celebratory wine, mixed with a bit of nostalgia and unwillingness, rolled into the throat and was drank down in one gulp.
After the guests had dispersed at midnight, Song Muchuan, who was already a little drunk, sat alone at the empty table.
After all these years, it seemed like he was the only one standing on the top of the mountain, and it was extremely cold up there.
He raised his glass lonely to the air. The red sea full of joy was just barren. He finally couldn't help but burst into tears, but suddenly he heard a hearty voice.
"How boring is it to drink alone?"
Song Muchuan looked up with tears in his eyes, and Nan Yi and Xie Queshan appeared at the door.
"Don't wait for us either."
The spring breeze blows in the face and they come holding hands. That is the best thing in the world.
