Ping An Biography

The rain in Wuchang was not heavy, but it never stopped. The entire Chu Palace seemed to be covered with water, shrouded in a humid world.The rain curtain is like fog again, blurring the vision and making everything hazy.

In the Nuan Pavilion of the Zhongzheng Hall, besides Emperor Jianwen and Empress Ma, there was also Guo Jie, a minister of the foreign court, who reported the matter: "This time I have not contacted Wang Gou'er, and other people in Beijing finally found out. The prince has never been taken into custody. The eyeliners on the several roads to Beijing have also asked one after another. I have not seen any people escorting the prince passing by before. I think that the news that the prince was escorted to the prison by Wang Gouer is very likely to be false ..."

Zhu Yunwen's face was angry, "This dog servant dares to bully the king!"

Empress Ma was angry and anxious: "The concubine said it a long time ago, but Wang Gou'er can't believe it."

Guo Jie has had a hard time understanding this matter for several months. It is because of Emperor Jianwen's order, but the most fundamental reason is because of Empress Ma's pressure.Empress Ma regards the prince Zhu Wenkui as more important than life. She has not heard from her for such a long time, and she has never let go of this matter for a day.There was only one news about Zhu Wenkui before, that was, he was imprisoned in the hands of the court officers and soldiers. Of course, such a news from others could not satisfy her.

Moreover, Empress Ma has always suspected that her son is related to the conspiracy of Mrs. Yao and others; the Xiangwang Group has stabilized the officials of the Jianwen family by sharing power, but no matter what, they can't make a mutually satisfactory transaction with Empress Ma, so this The matter was temporarily put on hold at the time, but it never ended.

Now that Guo Jie has verified that Zhu Wenkui has not been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, where is he?

Empress Ma was about to go crazy, so she directly asked, "Where is Wen Kui?"

Guo Jie bent over, unable to answer.Jianwen was also silent.No one seemed to be able to answer her questions.

Empress Ma choked up and said, "Wen Kui was murdered by that temptress mother and son! Otherwise, how could there be no news of a living person for such a long time!"

Guo Jie hurriedly advised: "The king of Xiang is the prince's brother, there will be no such thing."

"Don't think that I don't know, you... You were all bought by him, how much is a black gauze given to you, it's a lie!" Empress Ma cried and cursed.Jianwen suddenly shouted: "How decent!" After scolding, there was a distressed expression on his face.

Guo Jie said cautiously: "I have reported everything I know. If the emperor and empress have no other orders, please leave."

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said nothing.Guo Jie hurriedly knelt down on the ground and kowtowed, then bent over and walked backwards towards the door.

Empress Ma took out her handkerchief and wiped away her tears. Her face was pale and bloodless, and deep hatred was hidden in her sad eyes.She calmed down, although she really wanted to know the truth of the matter, but she knew that it was impossible for Yao Ji and others to tell her the truth.

……

Holding a stick, Zhang Ning limped slowly up the stairs of Fengyi Building. He looked back at the sky, not knowing when the rain would stop.The old injury on the leg happened once, and it may inevitably happen again in the future when the weather is bad. Some things are really hard to get rid of. Once it happens, it can't be removed.

Two attendants followed behind. They wanted to help King Xiang go, but they were rejected before.

Arriving at the place where Yao Ji lives, the entrance is a wide hall, and the things in her place seem to be always neatly arranged and spotless.It was very quiet, although the sound of the rain outside never stopped, and there was no one in the hall.Outside the warm pavilion is hung a bright bead curtain, gently swaying in the humid breeze, the beads collide with each other and make a crisp "ding ding" sound, which reminds people of wind chimes.

Yao Ji's voice came from inside: "On weekdays, you may not see anyone for several days. Today you have trouble with your legs and feet. You should walk less, but you remembered?"

Zhang Ning said: "I just want to sit here with you and calm down."

There was silence inside for a while, Yao Ji opened the curtain and came out, her long hair was casually tied on top of her head, she looked like she was at home, maybe she didn't want to go out even if it was raining.She glanced at the two attendants at the door and ordered: "Go down and don't let anyone disturb you."

The attendant in white bowed and said: "Yes."

Zhang Ning saw a table under the window with a chessboard and other things on it, and two futons on the floor beside the table, so he walked over and sat on the ground casually.One advantage of living in a pavilion is that you can sit on the ground, cross-legged or kneeling, and you don't have to worry about the dampness of the ground.

"Now do you feel that I am the only one you can trust?" Yao Ji's eyes fixed on him, "You have done your best with humility, benevolence and righteousness, so what now?"

"Yes." Zhang Ning suddenly became a little depressed, "Only you will never be my enemy, or when I am proud, or when I am in danger, or when I am desperate..."

Yao Ji came over and knelt down opposite him.Unlike Zhang Ning, who sometimes doesn't pay attention to her posture, she also has a decent and dignified temperament when she kneels on the futon on the ground, just like the place where she lives, there is no mess.

She slowed down her tone and said kindly: "Does your leg still hurt?" Zhang Ning replied: "It happens from time to time, labor pain."

Yao Ji's eyes swept across his face like hands: "You don't look very good... play chess with me, think about the open place."

Zhang Ning felt a little irritable when he saw the chessboard. Go is really not that simple, there are too many chess pieces to worry about.He said: "Let's play backgammon, I'll teach you, it's very simple."

Sure enough, Yao Ji knew it as soon as she learned it. This is a quick game, suitable for modern people to pass the odd time, but it is not a good thing in the era of slow life in the Ming Dynasty.

Yao Ji was soon distracted, and the simple chess skills could not attract her full attention. She picked up the chess pieces with her white onion fingers and dropped them casually, and said, "It is said that Yu Qian received more than 3 soldiers from the King of Han." It’s very morale. We’re gambling now, using the Yongding camp as the capital to see if we can earn [-] soldiers; if we’re reluctant to part with the capital, we won’t be able to get the profit.”

What she said seems to make sense, but in Zhang Ning's view, there are far more than these factors. The resources, people's hearts, and strategic depth brought by the consolidation of Jiangxi's rule are difficult to simply measure.He couldn't help but said: "You seem to be very optimistic...We can't afford to lose any war. And there is only one chance, and there is absolutely no chance for Emperor Guangwu to regroup several times."

Yao Ji looked at him and smiled, "I already have what I want, so there's nothing I can't think about."

"What do you want?" Zhang Ning couldn't help asking.

Yao Ji looked back at Mingjing's palace, pointed to the pavilions and pavilions outside the door in the mist and rain, and said softly: "You said you wanted to conquer a large territory and live in a spacious palace for me. Now that you have obtained it, what else do I want?" Want it? People are like flowers blooming and fading, you don’t have to regret it if you have had it before.”

"Alas..." Zhang Ning sighed, his heart was a little moved, and an inexplicable sadness welled up in his heart.For some reason, I seem to be extra vulnerable and depressed today. Is it because of the rainy weather?

The two faced each other in silence for a while, and Yao Ji asked again: "Look at you... If Yu Qian hadn't had any accidents, Jiangxi's Yongding Camp and Jiangxi's combined forces would not be able to defeat the Xuanfu Datong soldiers from Nanjing?"

"It's more difficult." Zhang Ning said, "In fact, we have never had an advantage. In the past, there was a big reason for God's favor. This time Emperor Xuande is in Nanjing, and the commander in charge of attacking Jiangxi is likely to be the British Duke Zhang Fu, regardless of the difference in military strength. , even Zhang Fu is not an idle person, and he is not so easy to deal with."

He felt that Yao Ji should be a very strong woman, so there was no need to say anything nice, and he let out all the complaints in his heart, "If we lose Jiangxi and let the Northern Army go to the south bank of the Yangtze River in the west of Huguang, we will be here." It is a place where four wars are fought, with enemies on all sides. If you want to make progress at that time, neither side will be able to use all your strength. There is no danger to defend this place. Even if I have what I have seen and heard 600 years later, it will be difficult to change my fate... ...Perhaps the general situation cannot be influenced by an ordinary person, it is just a small storm in the river and sea. If we lose, how should we end up in the end?"

A gloomy look flickered in Yao Ji's eyes, and then she persuaded, "Why do you always think of the bad?"

Zhang Ning thought of his never-slack efforts in the past few years, as well as the ambitions he often harbored, and couldn't help saying, "I'm really not reconciled." This kind of mood, because he came from later generations, had a unique superiority in the Ming Dynasty. In addition, he found out that he was the prince, and even felt that he could change the world and do whatever he wanted. How could he accept the fate of being wiped out?

Yao Ji glanced at the guzheng standing by the wall, and said, "Don't you want to be quiet? Let me play a piece of music for you." After she finished speaking, she got up and picked up the zither and put it on the table. Put on the fingertips and pluck the strings casually, and there will be a series of very harmonious rhythms.Her attainments seem to have reached a state where she can play an emotion according to her mood without the need for a score or a piece of music.

Zhang Ning listened attentively. Amidst the sound of Ding Dong, he heard Yao Ji softly say: "You can come closer."

He sat next to Yao Ji, listening to the pleasant voice and smelling the fragrance of her body, gradually he seemed to forget his troubles.He couldn't help admiring Yao Ji's elegant posture and gentle movements, her beautiful lines, her towering breasts and soft waist, and the tight waist of her skirt when she was kneeling.

He was relieved and a little tired, so he lay down on his side and rested his head on her lap, as if it was a natural thing to do, and there was nothing wrong with it.Yao Ji didn't resist at all, and still plucked the strings. Occasionally, she lowered her head and whispered, "From the beginning to the end, I am the only person you can trust and rely on, do you understand?"

Zhang Ning didn't know why she repeated such a sentence with the same meaning, but in such an atmosphere, he felt like a spell, unable to think, and accepted it directly.