Emperor Kangxi: The First Rule of the Palace

Chapter 19: Shi Longbiao of Yuepeng's Store and Wei Dongting of Wenhua Palace are Ordered (2)
His face was gloomy, and he was about to get up to deal with the matter when the old man came in and said, "Master, Mr. Zhang is here outside." Wei Dongting hurriedly said, "You two sit down and drink, I will come as soon as I go", and went out From the West Wing to the vestibule.

Zhang Wanqiang and Wei Dongting are familiar with each other informally.When Wei Dongting came in, he saw him sitting and drinking tea, so he said with a smile: "There are two friends in the back, and they have good wine, why not sit and get drunk together!" Zhang Wanqiang laughed and said, "I have no time today. Let’s bother another day.”

Wei Dongting sat down and said with a smile: "Kuye's visit must be something important!" Zhang Wanqiang saw that the old man had gone to the back, so he got up, stood facing south and facing north, and said softly: "By the secret order——"

Although the words were light, it was like thunder and electric shock to Wei Dongting, he got up hurriedly and stepped forward, he wanted to kneel down when he lifted his robe.

Zhang Wanqiang said: "Long live there is a decree: no ceremony to listen to the announcement - a secret decree: Wei Dongting, the sixth-rank bodyguard in front of the imperial court, enters the palace immediately, and sees you in the Wenhua Hall, hereby!"

Wei Dongting was extremely surprised: "There has never been such an example! Besides, the palace gate may have been locked at this moment, don't you just make fun of me, father-in-law?"

"This is indeed abnormal." Zhang Wanqiang said sternly, "Who dares to make fun of this! There is no need to worry too much about entering the palace, let's go." Wei Dongting hurriedly took care of Shi and Ming, and entered the inner room neatly dressed and tied up. With a knife in his waist, he ordered the old man to "take good care of the guests and eat wine", and then he followed Zhang Wanqiang and rode straight to the Forbidden City.

The sky was as dark as ink, and the thunder rolled from far to near.Lightning danced in the clouds.The cool, rustling wind swept across, kicking up the dust from the ground and hitting people's faces, blowing away Wei Dongting's hot body immediately.After the wind and thunder, there was silence again, except for the desolate and long cry from the depths of the alley from time to time, which added to the mystery of the night.

A palace slave and a young imperial bodyguard rode side by side on horseback without making a sound.Zhang Wanqiang glanced sideways at Wei Dongting from time to time in the dark night, but it was so blurry that he could only see a silhouette. Occasionally, he flashed across the sky, and the space was bright and bright, only to see Wei Dongting's expressionless face staring straight ahead like a stone carving. In an instant, it sank into a darker blur.Zhang Wanqiang couldn't help thinking: "This man is very powerful. Compared with the iron beggar, he is tough but not vulgar. No wonder Xiong Cilu and Suo'etu praised him in every possible way. This calm demeanor is the appearance of a nobleman!"

In fact, Wei Dongting is not what Zhang Wanqiang thought at this time, he is thinking wildly: "This interview is chosen at this time, so it is not a trivial matter, it must be related to Oboi. What can I do as a little guard? He Guizhu knows Wansui's whereabouts very well. , Is he reliable? Should I change him to another place, or kill him to silence him?... If Jianmei knew about this, what would she think? She doesn’t know what to do now—cough, why did I think of this! "

As he was walking, he suddenly heard someone shouting in front of him, "Who is it? You are not allowed to ride a sedan chair or ride a horse unless there is a special decree here!" Suddenly, Wei Dongting realized that he had arrived at the Wufeng Tower, and the sky had begun to thin out. Raindrops were sprinkled, and the green brick floor in front of the Forbidden City made a rustling sound that was sometimes tight and sometimes slow.

The two got off their horses, and the man came over with several people carrying lanterns. It turned out to be a middle-aged servant.Seeing that it was Zhang Wanqiang, he hurriedly apologized with a smile and said, "Eunuch Zhang, Liu Gui greets you. It's so late, where are you going?"

Zhang Wanqiang took out the Golden Arrow from his bosom, waved it under the lamp, and proudly said: "Long live special decree, to see Wei Wei." Liu Gui understood, led them to the right door without saying a word, and let them in.

Unexpectedly, when they arrived at Jingyun Gate, the two of them were suddenly summoned by a group of guards who patrolled the night: "Hey! What are you doing? The gate of the palace has been locked, no one else, no matter who they are, are not allowed to enter the palace!"

When Zhang Wanqiang looked up, a few glass lamps were clearly shining, and the leader was the second-class guards Murima and Namo, standing in the rain in oil coats, blocking the way.Zhang Wanqiang hurriedly stepped forward and said with an apologetic smile: "The emperor was reading the memorial in the Wenhua Palace, and sent the guards of Wei Dongting to the various ministries to fetch the urgent memorial. It was delayed by the rain..." As he spoke, he took out another roll of things from his bosom Dangled under the lamp.

"False!" Before the words were over, Nemo shouted, "I'm working in Wenhua Palace, why didn't I listen to the decree?" Zhang Wanqiang hurriedly said: "The emperor's order in the Hall of Mental Cultivation before dinner, how dare it be false! "Murima said arrogantly: "No one is allowed to pass through the Qianqing Gate without receiving a clearance sign. Tell him to come back tomorrow!"

Zhang Wanqiang was in a dilemma, Wei Dongting said coldly: "The emperor summoned me, of course you don't need to know." Murima turned her head and said coldly: "A little sixth-rank guard, what is the emperor's message to you? Blocking your drive, I will apologize to the emperor tomorrow."

"You can't be blamed!" Wei Dongting sneered, and raised his voice and shouted, "Which of you dare to resist the order? Eunuch Zhang, let's go in!" After speaking, he pulled Zhang Wanqiang and wanted to force his way in.

Murima yelled: "Who dares!" With a wave of his hand, more than a dozen guards dispersed with a "Hula", standing in a fan shape and approaching the two of them.Wei Dongting also pulled out his waist saber in a "bass", and set up a posture to meet the enemy.A burst of heavy rain fell, and a flash of lightning shone on the imminent formation.

Just as he was riding a tiger, someone inside the Jingyun Gate suddenly shouted: "Zhang Wanqiang, what's the matter with you? The emperor told you to pass on Wei Dongting, what are you dawdling about?"

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, but when they looked back, it was Sun Dianchen running out of the rain, panting.He didn't seem to see that the two sides were at war, so he pushed Wei Dongting away from the crowd and went in.Murima was furious, and scolded Namo: "Stupid thing, hurry up and serve the emperor!" Namo agreed with a "Zha—" and disappeared into the rainy night.

The thunder in the sky was frightening, and the lightning sometimes looked like a twig, and sometimes it was like a golden snake flying through the sky. Make large pieces of blisters.The sound of rushing rain and thunderclap from time to time are intertwined, as if nothing exists in the universe, which is really scary.

The main entrance of the Wenhua Hall was half open, and the candlelight was shining inside, but there were not many attendants, only two rows of guards stood motionless in the rain.Wei Dongting stepped onto Danchi, took off his oil coat, shook the water, took off his waist knife and put them on the corridor, then knelt down and reported loudly: "Wei Dongting, the sixth-rank imperial guard, has an audience with the Holy Majesty!" Kangxi ordered sharply: "Come in!"

Wei Dongting stepped into the hall, kneeled three times and kowtowed nine times to Kangxi according to the etiquette required for an audience, then raised his head.

Kangxi sat upright to accept the ceremony with a solemn expression on his face.Xiong Cilu and Suo Etuchang knelt beside them, also silently listening to Emperor Kangxi's edict.

Kangxi didn't speak yet, and after a long time, he got up and walked among the three of them, looking at Wei Dongting who was prostrate on the ground by candlelight.Wei Dongting's clothes were completely soaked, clinging to his body, the dripping water dripped quietly on the ground, and occasionally a bright light shone on his body, just like a toad made of iron.

"Wei Dongting, how do I treat you?"

Hearing this, Wei Dongting firmly bumped his head three times and replied: "This slave was born as a lowly slave, and has been favored by the imperial court for several generations. "

"I have something embarrassing," Kangxi asked again after heaving a sigh of relief, "Are you willing to risk your life to do an errand for me?"

"Wish!" Wei Dongting suddenly straightened his body, and replied decisively, "Your servant will be loyal in life, and will be loyal in death!"

"Okay!" Kangxi and Suo'etu exchanged glances and said again, "I know you well. Suo'etu and Xiong Cilu will protect you with their lives." Wei Dongting looked at the expressionless Xiong, The two of Suo kowtowed and replied: "This is the wrong love of the emperor, and the false recommendation of the two adults. As long as there is one breath left, I will do my best to serve the Holy One!"

Kangxi looked back at Suo'etu and Xiong Cilu. The two kowtowed in return, then turned around and took off their swords, held them up solemnly, and said, "The treasured sword is given to the martyrs. May you live up to my heart!"

Wei Dongting answered with a choked voice: "Thank you!" Tears had already flowed down his cheeks, and he was about to speak, feeling sore and hot in his chest, he couldn't speak a word.

He shook his hands, wanting to receive the precious sword bestowed by the emperor, but unexpectedly Kangxi leaned over and pulled him up, and personally put the sword on his waist, asking, "Are you a sixth rank?" Wei Dongting wanted to Answering, Kangxi has returned to his original seat, and said loudly: "Remember the file! The guards of Wei Dongting have meritorious service, and they were promoted to be the third-class guards with swords in front of the imperial court. They will be forbidden to enter and leave the palace with my court. The sword armor is incomprehensible!" Xiong Cilu, Suo Etu I was so moved that tears came out of my eyes, and I prostrated myself to celebrate: "Long live!" A eunuch had already presented a third-class bodyguard's color feather crown, and awarded it on the spot.

Kangxi also felt that his eyes were a bit wet, so he turned his head away, got up and stepped out of the hall, looking up at the unfathomable sky in the gurgling rain.He pondered: Is the wrath and roar of the heavens annoying me, the "son of heaven", for being unworthy, or punishing the crimes of powerful officials and evil officials?The mobs in Qingzhou took a lot of effort to calm down in the Seventh Rebellion; Wu Sangui and other Han officials were sitting on heavy troops, boiled salt and cast copper, and their hearts were unpredictable; Zheng Chenggong and his sons occupied Taiwan and refused to submit; A stiff-necked determination not to eat the millet of the Qing Dynasty... These problems have been pressing on my heart for several years and I can't get rid of them.The wash of the heavy rain gradually calmed him down: "Although Wu Ciyou and Xiong Cilu learned different ways, they both expressed my thoughts: if the troubles in the heart and belly are not cured, the diseases of the elbow and armpit will inevitably become dangerous. Even if you seek to be a husband, you will not get it."

A gust of wind blew, Kangxi shivered, subconsciously stroked his shoulders, and suddenly felt someone behind him put on a windbreaker, and when he looked back, it was Oboi's servant Namo!Startled, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Namo hurriedly took a step back, slapped a thousand children on the rainy ground and said, "It's raining boss, master is standing outside, be careful of catching a cold!" A flash of lightning suddenly flashed, Kangxi could see it clearly, and Namo replied with his hand on his waist knife, feeling in his heart Startled suddenly, he hurriedly said: "You step back, I will enter the palace." When he looked back, Wei Dongting was already standing proudly behind him.Namo Nuonuo backed away repeatedly.

Kangxi walked into the hall, took out the gold watch in his pocket and looked at it, it was the end of the century and the beginning of the Haihai period, the scene just now made him terrified and uneasy, but there was nothing on his face, he saw that several people were still kneeling , waved his hand and said: "Wei Dongting, I have entrusted you with an errand, you can go to Suo'etu's mansion to discuss, the palace is not a good place." Then he asked people to get up and drive back to the palace.Wei Dongting was still about to escort him, but Kangxi said loudly: "Sun Dianchen will lead a sentry guard to wait on you, you go!" Suddenly, there was a sudden flash, which illuminated the inside and outside of the hall as brightly as day, and almost at the same time, there was a thunderclap.Everything returned to its original state, only the heavy rain was beating against the silent Forbidden Palace.

(End of this chapter)