Horse on the World

Chapter 605 Yan Nanfei

In March, the lone official Yan Nanfei that Luo Daoming talked about finally traveled a long distance and returned to Dingzhou, but he didn't go to the Marshal's Mansion immediately to meet Li Qing, but instead rode a horse with only an old servant , came to Zhushan alone.

Zhushan is not high, it is located more than ten miles west of Dingzhou City, on the mountain more than [-] meters high, except for a few ancient trees, large areas are all planted by nuns in a nunnery above Zhushan. When planting green bamboo, when the spring breeze hits, the bamboo leaves are fluttering, full of vitality, fresh bamboo shoots come out one by one, and in summer, a new batch of green bamboo will form a forest.
A winding mountain stone path is hidden in the bamboo forest, winding upwards, the sunlight shines through the bamboo forest, leaving patches of mottled light and shadow on the stone path, looking up at the top of the bamboo mountain, the outline of the houses that appear and disappear from time to time, swallows Nan Fei suddenly felt heart palpitations. On it, now lay the famous princess of Da Chu, Qingcheng who accompanied him all the way from Luoyang.

The Bamboo Temple used to prevent people from going to the mountain to worship Buddha, but since the coffin of Princess Qingcheng stayed here, it is naturally impossible for ordinary people to go up the mountain. Convenience falls short here.

"Master!" The old servant gave Yan Nanfei a worried look. "You have arrived at the foot of the mountain. Your Highness knows and will appreciate your kindness, master. So, don't go up the mountain!" The old servant has white hair and a vicissitudes of life. Coming here again to pay homage to the princess, I'm afraid it will displease Marshal Li.

Yan Nanfei didn't speak, looking up at the top of the mountain, but he didn't know what it was like in his heart. When he followed the princess to the west, he really had a grand plan and ambition in his heart. Now I am indeed going to take the position, but things are different, and the master has changed.

With a long sigh, Yan Nanfei took a step forward and stepped onto the first stone steps leading up to Zhushan.The old servant sighed secretly, unloaded the two boxes from the horse, threaded them through with a wooden stick, carried them on his shoulders, and followed Yan Nanfei step by step.

"Yan Nanfei went to Zhushan?" Li Qing, who was reviewing the report, was slightly taken aback when he heard Li Gan's report.

"Yes, Marshal, just now there was a report from Zhushan on a flying horse. After Mr. Yan Nanfei returned to Dingzhou, he went straight to Zhushan. According to some things his old servant bought on the street, he seemed to be going there. Pay homage to Princess Qingcheng!" Li Gan said.

Putting the pen on the pen stand, Li Qing rubbed his wrists, raised his head and pondered for a moment, and said, "I see, I have ordered the guards of Zhushan to let him go up, and there is no need to stop him!"

After the death of Princess Qingcheng, she has not been buried. The reason is that there is a huge debate in Dingzhou. One side thinks that Qingcheng rebelled and caused Dingzhou to suffer huge losses. It should be considered a traitor. How can there be another grand funeral.

The other faction believes that although the Qingcheng Rebellion did great harm, the rebellion was not obvious. If Shuai's official wife is buried hastily, she will have to give the world an explanation, which will definitely damage the reputation of the Shuai.

The two factions have been fighting for a long time without a decision, but Li Qing has been silent for a long time, and this matter has been dragged on, so that Qingcheng's coffin has been staying in Zhushan. The body is preserved for a long time without being damaged.

Yan Nanfei returned to Dingzhou, and went to Zhushan first, but the commander did not stop him, but instead informed him to let him go. It didn't take much effort. All the high-level people in Dingzhou basically knew that the commander-in-chief had made up his mind, Lu Yiming, Luo Daoming, Yang Yidao and others knew Li Qing's intentions immediately, and knew that the problems surrounding Qingcheng's death would be resolved soon.

Yan Nanfei didn't know that he had given a lot of information to the officials of Dingzhou. He didn't know that if Li Qing didn't want him to go up the mountain, then he wouldn't even be able to step up a step. In short, at this time , With a sad heart, he walked heavily towards the bamboo hut on the top of the mountain step by step.Or he knew it, but he still wanted to do it. Maybe he just wanted to convey a clear message to Li Qing.

In the bamboo nunnery, cigarettes were curling up, and the sound of wooden fish could be heard endlessly. Standing in the forest in front of the nunnery, Yan Nanfei was hesitating, and Qingcheng's proud and disdainful eyes seemed to appear in his mind, "Yan Nanfei, you betrayed me!" Don’t you dare to come before me?”

Yan Nanfei couldn't help being distracted, and stretched out his hand to support a bamboo that was as thick as the mouth of a bowl, and unexpectedly, a bird on the top of the bamboo was startled, screaming and flapping its wings, it flew up, across the bamboo forest, and went straight to the sky.

"Master!" The old servant noticed Yan Nanfei's strange behavior and took a step forward.

Waving his hand, Yan Nanfei signaled that he was fine, but a wry smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Since he has made a choice, there is nothing to regret. If a man acts like a man, since he has done it, he must take responsibility. Coming here today is also a reminder of the past. Make a closure.

Reaching out to lift up the two boxes, he said to the old servant, "You don't have to go in, just wait for me here!" Fang Bi then stepped out of the forest.

In front of the nunnery, several soldiers with swords were guarding in front of the nunnery. Looking at the clothes of those people, Yan Nanfei knew that they belonged to the Statistics and Investigation Department.

"Lord Yan!" A military officer saw Yan Nanfei stepping out of the forest, so he hurried up to greet him and saluted Yan Nanfei.

"You know me?" Yan Nanfei was greatly surprised.

The officer smiled and said: "I just received an order from the commander-in-chief's mansion, knowing that Mr. Yan is going to go up the mountain, the last general has been waiting here for a long time!"

Yan Nanfei raised his head, "Aren't you allowed to go in?"

The officer laughed and said: "Your Excellency is overthinking. The last general was ordered to stay here to protect the safety of Madam's coffin, so as not to damage Madam's celestial body by someone like Xiaoxiao. Where is the courage to stop Your Excellency. Please, Your Excellency!" A gesture of please.

Following his gesture, the closed temple door opened wide with a bang.

Yan Nanfei understood, nodded to the officer, and strode inward with the food box in his hand. The officer behind him couldn't help showing a look of admiration. Qingcheng's coffin had been standing here for a long time. This was the first People who come up to worship.Moreover, the identity of this person is very sensitive. The princess belongs to the old commander, but she has defected to the commander-in-chief, and will be reused soon. The officer belongs to the Statistics and Investigation Department. The news is naturally known much earlier than ordinary people. Such a person who is about to hold It must be brave and wise for people with great power to come to worship their former masters.A disharmony, but it is an ending that is not pleasing to both sides.

In the hall of the nunnery, the statue of the Bodhisattva stands high above. A group of female nuns sit in meditation on the ball, chanting sutras in a low voice after an old nun knocking on a wooden fish. Looking at the Bodhisattva with benevolent eyebrows and kind eyes, Yan Nanfei let out a heavy breath. He didn't say anything strange. As a student of Confucianism, he doesn't believe in gods and Buddhas, but today, he still solemnly lit the three sticks of incense, respectfully Inserted it into the incense burner, and then made a few bows with both hands together.

A middle-aged nun came out from the back hall, "Master Yan, please come in!"

Turning into the back hall, there was another courtyard. Walking along the small path in the middle of the large bamboo forest, a Buddhist house appeared in front of him. When he opened the door, a huge coffin suddenly appeared in front of Yan Nanfei's eyes. Before, a person was sitting there, throwing pieces of burning paper into the brazier in front of him, and the room was filled with smoke.

Hearing the sound of the door, the man turned around and met Yan Nanfei's eyes, "Master Yan!" The man screamed and stood up.

"It's you!" Of course Yan Nanfei recognized him, this is Wan Lun, the imperial cook that Princess Qingcheng brought from the capital.Surprised to see him here.

"Master Yan, why are you here? Aren't you in Shiwei?" Wan Lun asked in surprise. Wan Lun was just a cook before, so naturally he didn't know some of the twists and turns.

"Marshal Li called me back to Dingzhou!" Yan Nanfei said in a low voice. "I won't go back to Shiwei again!"

Wan Lun blinked his eyes, stared at Yan Nanfei for a while, and suddenly realized that Yan Nanfei had already joined Li Qing, and the look of surprise on his face instantly dimmed, and he said coldly: "I Speaking of which, how could you come back, even we were implicated, you are fine, that’s why! Lord Yan, what are you doing here, Her Royal Highness the Princess won’t like you appearing in front of him.”

Yan Nanfei felt a little uncomfortable, "Every time more dogs are slaughtered in righteousness, Wan Lun, the princess will be relieved to have such a loyal subordinate like you. The underground knows, but I, I, also have some unavoidable difficulties. Forget it, these things, What did I tell you, Wan Lun, can you let me stay here alone for a while?"

Wan Lun stared at him angrily for a while, then waved his hands and left the hall.

Yan Nanfei bent down and took out the contents of the two boxes one by one, several dishes, a jug of wine, and some incense papers, arranged them one by one, lit the incense candles, and inserted them into the censer before the funeral, Yan Nan Fei knelt down in front of the coffin and kowtowed several times heavily.

"Princess, I'm back!" he said hoarsely. "I know that you must be very angry with me, but I have something to say to you today, I hope you can understand me."

"Following the princess, you came to Dingzhou from Luoyang. I really wanted to assist Her Royal Highness to achieve a career, but things backfired. Dingzhou obviously took precautions against us. However, I became familiar with many things in Dingzhou, their governing philosophy, their governing style, their ideals, their enthusiasm, the princess, I was deeply shocked."

"I saw a big tree that is thriving. He is in full bloom and full of energy. On the other hand, I am a magnificent tree, but it looks like a thousand-year-old tree. It seems to be much thicker, but inside it is riddled with wounds. Kong has already been strong on the outside and dry on the inside, and if there is a slight disturbance, he will definitely fall down."

"Seeing all this, I agreed when Li Qing asked me to go to Shiwei. I knew that I was cowardly, and I was going to back down, because I knew that we must have no chance in Dingzhou."

Yan Nanfei poured out a glass of wine from the pot, and poured it lightly in front of Qingcheng's coffin.

(End of this chapter)