The city was covered in darkness at night, the howling snow continued, and there was a blanket of snow covering thousands of miles around.
This year's heavy snow came later than usual, but it was also heavier than usual. The heavy snow blocked the livelihood of vendors, blocked the exchanges between officials, and blocked the spread of information. Few people went out on the streets.
In the mountains and wilderness outside the capital, more and more people are falling into the heavy snow. The north wind is biting and cold, cutting like sharp knives into the crumbling dynasty.
When Xia Zhaoxue got off the carriage and entered Zuixian Tower, Liang Nai also got off the carriage coming back from the palace, clutched the hand warmer in his hand, and walked back to the back office in vain.
All the officials in the government office gathered in the room where Zhu Xian worked. When they heard that Liang Nai had returned, they hurriedly walked out: "Sir!"
"Sir, what's the matter? What did the emperor say?"
"Sir, can you let me go?"
Liang Nai's face was an unnatural bluish-white color, with patches of inconspicuous bloodshot streaks under his skin.
Under the attention of everyone, he walked into the office hall, sat down with a small stove to warm his hands, and said very softly: "I have been waiting for two full hours, and finally I got to see the emperor. The emperor said, I won't let you go."
"Don't let go?"
"If we continue to be locked up here, everyone will die."
"You have been locked up here for so long, why don't you give an explanation? What is your Majesty doing?"
"Yes, sir, have you asked clearly? No matter what happens, we will be the ones who suffer."
…
Everyone said something to you and me, and there was a lot of discussion.
Zhu Xian and Wei Zhanzhang didn't speak. Wei Zhanzong gently tugged at Zhu Xian's official uniform from behind. Zhu Xian turned around, and Wei Zhanzong's eyes tilted slightly toward Liang Nai.
Zhu Xian paused, looked at Liang Nai, and finally noticed something strange.
Liang Nai was very good at being an official. He managed to get along well with everyone in the court, and he was very loyal to his master. Even if the emperor asked him to be a dog, he might just regret that he didn't grow a tail.
But just now, Master Liang, who they had always praised the emperor for his virtue and kindness, actually had complaints in his words. Now that everyone was dissatisfied with the emperor, he did not say anything to stop it.
"Sir," Zhu Xian said, "then what should we do now?"
have no idea.
Liang Nai answered quickly in his heart.
He was holding the heater in his hand, and his legs under his official robe were shaking uncontrollably, and he couldn't stop no matter what.
After all, he was also a high-ranking official of the imperial court, but when he went to see the emperor today, the emperor ignored him.
He thought the emperor was taking care of everything, but when he was finally called in, the emperor actually watched An Bin dancing inside!
In the main hall, the dancers have skin like jade, waists like willows, graceful and graceful, and clothes like water. Musicians are playing music and drums, eunuchs are flattering, and the whole hall is filled with the coquettish voices of women. Their emperor
, they praised and applauded in the midst of fine wine and delicious food, and kept saying wonderful things.
This is the first time that Liang Nai has seen the emperor indulge in sexual acts in all the years he has been an official in the court. It is really the first time.
Liang Nai knew that the emperor had incurred a lot of infamy due to the Dingguo Palace incident, but in Liang Nai's opinion, the emperor was still a good emperor after all.
He does not indulge in beauty, does not brutally kill people, is proficient in calligraphy and painting, and is good at concealing and planning things. However, the current situation is so turbulent. Tens of thousands of refugees outside Kyoto are starving to death and freezing to death. The emperor, who has never been greedy for beauty and wine, has
Instead, he embraced the beauty.
However, there are still nearly a hundred gentlemen imprisoned in his prison in Jingzhao Mansion!
The food they eat is from their Jingzhao Mansion, and they have to figure out how to pay for food and clothing. They don’t know what to check, and they can’t release it. They just hang there, unable to get up or down, and then they watch people freeze to death.
Death from illness.
Liang Nai was really furious.
"Sir," Wei Zhanzhang said without fear of death, "you look really bad."
After a long time, Liang Nai said: "Go down and do the same things as before."
Zhu Xian frowned: "But sir..."
"Don't my words work?" Liang Nai suddenly raised his voice, "I'll let you all go down!"
There was heavy snow in the courtyard, and everyone felt a chill when they came out.
Zhu Xian was angry and hurried back to his room. Wei Zhan followed hurriedly behind.
A few officials followed them back, including Jiang Silu and Fan Jietui, but when they entered the room, Zhu Xian said without looking back: "Close the door!"
After Wei Cheng came in, he immediately closed the door.
An official who was following behind almost hit his nose and quickly backed away.
"Hey, this..." Jiang Siru said softly, a little angry.
The official on the side frowned and sighed: "Let's go back, let's go, let's go."
The tea on the desk had gone cold, so Zhu Xian picked up the teapot on the small stove and poured hot water into it to neutralize it.
Then he picked it up, raised his hand and drank it down.
With a "bang" sound, Zhu Xian put the water cup back.
"Sir," Wei Zheng said, "I think the situation is not good."
"I'm so panicked," Zhu Xian said, looking down at the full case files on the docket, "I don't know what's going on, I'm so panicked that I can't explain."
"Let me ask you something," Wei Zhizhang looked at him, "If the world is really in chaos, what do you think we should do?"
Zhu Xian paused and looked back at him: "What should I do..."
"If the city gate is breached, whether it's Tian Dayao or Song Zhiyi, or any random refugee group or any foreign soldiers from north to south, they want to break into the capital, you say that as a big army
What should I do if I kill the officials?" Wei Zhizhang said, "Daping Square was formerly known as Tianhe. How many officials of the previous dynasty did Emperor Hongde kill on Tianhe? Do you still remember it?"
"What are you talking about!" Zhu Xian shouted immediately, "What can I do! As officials of the Great Qian Dynasty, why are we still alive before the city gate is breached? If that day comes, my body, Zhu Xian, will have been
Die under the hooves of the enemy's horses! Although I am a civil servant, I swear to defend the city to the death! There is no way the city gate can be breached before I fall!"
"Don't make impassioned speeches yet," Wei Zheng said solemnly, "Sir, you think that charging into battle and dying to protect the country is a worthy death, but in my opinion, the long-cherished wish that weighs heavily on me has not been fulfilled, and I don't want to die."
Zhu Xian frowned angrily and looked at Wei Zheng, as if he no longer recognized his friend: "Are you going to surrender to the enemy?"
"You must stop!" Wei Cheng said quickly, "I can't surrender to the enemy! But Mr. Zhu, you have a loyal heart, and the sun and the moon can tell you, but our emperor may not be willing to defend the country and die for the country. Look at it.
This!" Officer Wei picked up the scroll on the document and said, "Sir, don't you feel regretful when you see this document?"
Zhu Xian looked at the scroll and clenched his fists.
"Once we die, who will redress the grievances of Duke Dingguo? Those of us who are still alive know what happened, but one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred years after our death, how do you want future generations to evaluate Duke Dingguo?
Are you talking about the government with all the ridicule and scolding? My lord, I can't bear it!"
