Rebirth after waste

Chapter 162

At the end of summer in the 19th year of Xianqing, Cui Shuo came to Xiating City in the south by boat.

I haven't seen it for many years, but the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River is still picturesque. The small bridges and flowing water stand quietly in the drizzle, with an indescribable desolation.Holding a 48-bone oil-paper umbrella, he walked through the long street to his friend's house.

My friend is a well-known scholar in the south of the Yangtze River. When he arrived, he was drinking in a pavilion in the middle of the lake. When he looked up, he saw a smiling figure not far away.

"Ru Jing." The friend chuckled, and his tone was so familiar that it seemed like we hadn't seen each other in ten years, but more like we just parted ways yesterday, "The wine is already warmed up, and I'll be waiting for you."

A pot of yellow rice wine, two steamed sea bass overflowing with flavor, and a pair of close friends who haven't seen each other for many years are an extremely pleasant experience.

"In the spring of this year, His Majesty issued a new decree to reduce and exempt taxes. The people in the south of the Yangtze River are very happy, and they are grateful for the saints!" The friend said, "You student is a good teacher, and you have done a good deed for the world." The tone Casually, as if the "student" he was talking about was not the emperor who ruled the world, but just a junior.

Cui Shuo didn't say anything about his outspokenness, he just smiled and said: "Your Majesty has kindness in his heart, so he naturally treats his people kindly."

"For so many years, you don't know how much I hope that he will grow up quickly so that you can be released from that cage." The friend sighed, "You have worked so hard in the court for so many years, and your hair has turned white. I finally made it through. A while ago, Gongsun Jun told me that when you resigned from office and went south, we compiled the book that we had agreed to compile. After so many years, it almost became a problem for me. gone."

Cui Shuo drank a glass of wine slowly, "Of course, if it wasn't for this matter, I wouldn't have come here in such a hurry."

Just as they were talking and laughing, a beautiful woman in plain clothes walked over gracefully.Cui Shuo saw that she was only in her twenties, and raised her eyebrows, "Your Mannia is much prettier when she grows up than when she was a child."

The friend laughed, "Mannia is in her husband's house, this is not Mannia." He stood up and held the beauty's hand, "Call me, this is your sixth uncle."

At this time, Cui Shuo realized that this woman is probably the continuation of a friend, and hurriedly scolded with a smile: "You can talk nonsense." Turning to the beauty, "Sister-in-law, Shuo Shi didn't know, so don't be surprised if she is so abrupt."

The beauty smiled slightly, "My concubine has admired Liulang for a long time, and now it's too late to be happy to see her again, how can she be offended?" She glanced at her husband with a half-smile, "You said a few years ago that you would arrange for me to meet Liulang, after so long... It took a few days to fulfill your promise, which shows that your ability is limited. It seems that I have to carefully weigh your other promises to me to see how credible they are."

Cui Shuo didn't expect his friend to marry an eloquent and cunning little girl like a fox in his old age. He waited until she left before shaking his head with a smile, "It seems that I really missed a lot of good things these years." play."

My friend said triumphantly, "That's not it. Do you think that everyone is like you and lives like an ascetic monk? As the saying goes, 'You must have fun when you are happy in life, don't let the golden cup be empty to the moon', the ancients are sincere me."

Cui Shuo had heard enough of such words over the years, and his smile didn't change when he heard the words, and he drank alcohol on his own.The friend stared at him for a while, and sighed exaggeratedly, "I don't know what kind of woman stole your soul, but the magnificent Cui Lang ended up guarding his life for the rest of his life. What a tragedy, what a pain!"

Cui Shuo drank another glass of wine before smiling, "Is she? She's not here anymore."

The friend frowned, "Don't use your deceased wife to fool me. I've thought about it, and I think the beauty that made you worry about it is definitely not her, but someone else."

"I'm not talking about Xiao Ci." Cui Shuo smiled helplessly, "The beauty you were curious about is no longer here."

The friend was stunned for a moment, and after Pin read his words, his expression immediately became very complicated. Apologies, pity, regrets and regrets flooded in, and finally all turned into a sigh, "If this is the case, you should also look away."

"I've seen it for many years. If it wasn't for the fact that you guys are always holding on to this matter, I wouldn't bother to bring it up with you today." Cui Shuo said calmly, "Okay, send someone to inform Gongsun and the others quickly, and just say Cui Liulang is here, let them push off the complicated things, let's have a good drink."

The friend stood up with a smile, "Then you can do it yourself, I will arrange it right away." He walked out of the water pavilion.

There was a hint of a smile in Cui Shuo's eyes, looking at the weeping willows in front of him with a peaceful expression.

He remembered that in the late spring of a certain year, he and His Majesty were reading by the Taiye Pond, and the falling flowers were like rain.His Majesty let out a "huh" at the side, he turned his head, and saw Yun Niang approaching lightly as she scattered the flowers and brushed the willows.

He knew that she rarely left the Changle Palace, so he did not expect that the two of them would have the chance to meet in the palace.After the death of the first emperor, she completely put herself in the position of a widow, never wearing a bright dress, and it was the same that day.The plain dark clothes, with a circle of dark lines around the cuffs and neckline, looked elegant and solemn, but it also made her look mature and dignified.But she was only in her early thirties then.

"Mother, why are you here?" His Majesty asked.

He waited for a while, and heard her gentle and soft voice as he wished, "I have been bored in the room for a long time, and I was dragged out by Liu Shanggong for a walk." Looking up at him, "I didn't expect Master Cui to be here too. Master has taught me all these years Your Majesty has worked hard studying."

He hesitated, and then didn't know what to say.Fortunately, His Majesty was in a good mood, surrounded the Queen Mother asking around, and even wanted to visit the garden with her.She was worried about his schoolwork and deliberately refused, and His Majesty immediately looked at him pitifully, "Mr. Cui, can I take a short leave of absence to accompany my mother to walk around?" His big eyes were full of longing.

He had heard people say that the only time His Majesty and the Empress Dowager spent together in the past two years was when the Empress Dowager considered his homework every night.Other than that, the Empress Dowager was concentrating on worshiping the Buddha, but not asking about palace affairs.After all, the poor boy hadn't played with his mother for a long time.

He smiled slightly, nodded and said: "Your Majesty's article yesterday was very good, and I promised to give His Majesty a vacation at that time. If you want to rest today, you can naturally."

As if hearing the sound of nature, the emperor immediately took Yunniang's hand happily, and said with a smile: "The queen mother, let my son go boating with you!"

Gu Yunxian looked at Ji Huan with an urgent expression, his heart softened, and then he turned his head to meet Cui Shuoping's peaceful eyes.It was obviously a very quiet look, but it seemed to contain a lot of inexplicable emotions underneath.

She thought for a while, and said softly: "Then, thank you sir." She ordered the palace servants to prepare a boat, and she and His Majesty were going to swim in the lake.

The mother and son and a large group of palace people hurried away, leaving him kneeling on the spot to send them off respectfully, not looking at the figure that had long been engraved in his heart.

At that time, Jiangnan's friends had sent him letters, inviting him to go south as soon as possible, but he knew that he would not leave, at least not for ten years.He promised to assist the young emperor until he could be alone, and he wanted to teach him to be a enlightened master and complete the most important task in the second half of his life.

What's more, he could still see her from time to time while staying in the Nine Layers Golden Temple.

For a chance encounter like today, although neither of them said a few words from the beginning to the end, it was enough for him to include it in his memory and store it properly.

Later, he also began to worship the Buddha, just like Wang Wei after his middle age, he put himself into another mysterious world, and his whole person and heart became quiet.

In fact, looking back seriously, he has longed for her for so many years, but he has never longed for very few things.At the beginning, he had hoped for her, but after realizing that this life was hopeless, he hoped that she would live well.He never wanted to force her, let alone put any burden on her.As long as he can look at her from a distance, that's enough.

But even such a modest wish will eventually be destroyed one day.

She left on a spring night.He had learned the news a few days ago that the empress dowager's body was restless, fearing... that time would be short.

The emperor did not go to court that morning, and stayed in Changle Palace all the time.And he stood on the square in front of the Bozheng Palace for a long time, until all his colleagues dispersed, until the eunuch came to remind him that he should leave the palace.

He turned his head, only to see the tall roof of Changle Palace looming in the shadow of the palace, which seemed so far away.

He is not qualified to stay by her couch to see her off for the last time, he can only sit in his own mansion.Tong Yi knew that he was in a bad mood, so he deliberately put aside his business and came to accompany him, so the two sat in the court, drinking one cup after another.In the end, he became interested, and he personally dug up the loess beside the plum tree with a hoe, and took out the wine jar inside, "This is Wuhe wine that I buried ten years ago. I planned to drink it on a special day." .Today is just right, it’s cheap for you.”

Tong Yi didn't ask why today was special, and sat down with the wine toast together, enjoying the precious old wine with him.

When the moon was in the middle of the sky, Tong Yi was already lying on the stone table and couldn't fall asleep, but he sat silently on the stone bench, and a domestic servant was kneeling beside him, "My lord, there was news from the palace just now, the empress dowager has passed away. Half an hour ago... he passed away."

After a long time, he said "oh" softly, "Got it." After a pause, he continued, "The next month will be very busy, and you all have to know what to do during the national funeral, so as not to cause trouble."

The domestic servant responded, and retreated cautiously, as if fleeing from danger.And he sat on the spot, looking at the cold moon, and slowly raised the wine glass.

Under the bright moonlight, there was an extremely gentle smile on his handsome face, and his black eyes focused on the moon, as if staring at his closest lover.

He finally spoke, his voice trembling, but with a sense of relief that everything was over, "Yunniang, let's go."

You are finally, free.

Now you must have reunited with the late emperor.

I hope this time, he won't hurt you again.I hope this time, you can get what you want and live a peaceful and happy life with the one you love.

Two months after Cui Shuo arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, he took a boat trip along the Jia River with his friends.The friends are all famous people in the south of the Yangtze River, all of them are unrestrained and talented. This group outing is naturally extraordinary. Everywhere it goes, it attracts crowds of onlookers, and most of them are young women like flowers.

After setting off from another city, Cui Shuo sat on the deck, recalled the grand occasion of "throwing fruits to fill the boat" a moment ago, shook his head and said with a smile: "You don't even look at how old you are, why are you still acting like a young man?" , It's really outrageous."

"Everyone is having a good time, but you talk so much." Gongsun patted him on the shoulder, "But you have to know that more than half of those people came for you just now. Even if Qinghe Cui Liulang is over fifty years old, It still touches the hearts of women all over the world. Such elegance is hard to match in our generation!"

He was helpless, and just as he was about to answer something, he heard laughter from the other side, "Fish! Look at the big fish I caught!" Under the bright sunlight, the belly of the fish was white and gleaming, and it made people move their index fingers just by looking at it. .

Everyone's eyes are all on the fish, so we won't continue this topic.It wasn't until the big fish turned into a delicious meal in their stomachs that someone pulled out the energy and asked: "By the way, this boat will dock in Ningcheng in a while. Do you want to go down and take a look around?"

Gongsun waved his hand, "Ningcheng is such a big place, what's worth visiting?"

"At any rate, that's the hometown of Empress Zhangxian. Today, Shang Chunxiao has ordered the repair of Empress Zhangxian's former residence, and also exempted Ningcheng from paying taxes for three years." Someone laughed, "It's good to go and have a look."

Zhang Xian Queen.That was Yunniang's posthumous title.

Gongsun was a little impatient when he saw the expressions of interest on everyone's faces.Turning around and seeing Cui Shuo's indifferent expression, he immediately wooed his allies, "Rujing, you don't want to go to Ningcheng either, do you? Come on, speak out your thoughts bravely, we will listen to you!"

Cui Shuo raised his eyes, looked at the mist and water in the distance, and thought of the girl in his memory who was as bright as the moon and as light as a lotus, and smiled softly, "Well, I don't want to go to Ningcheng."

Gongsun stroked Dayue, "Rujing has said that, what else do you have to say? Tell the captain quickly, we don't need to stop in Ningcheng, let's go directly to Tingzhou, just in time for the maple leaves to turn red. Then the whole mountain will burn. I saw the beautiful scenery when I got up many years ago, and I can't forget it until now!"

Everyone was depressed and accused Gongsun of treachery one after another, but they couldn't go against Cui Shuo's wishes, so they had to bid farewell to Ningcheng with tears and set off for Tingzhou.

Standing on the bow of the boat, Cui Shuo watched the small town getting closer and further away, with a faint smile on his lips.

This is where she grew up, and he still remembers how sad she was when she missed her hometown.But even though she became the most honorable woman in the world, she couldn't return to her hometown again.If the soul can return to the human world, she will definitely find a chance to come here again.

In that case, he didn't bother.

They have no destiny in this life, they can only be strangers.He could have prayed for an afterlife, but he knew that even if there was an afterlife, she only wanted to reconnect with the late emperor.From the beginning to the end, she never had any feelings for him that exceeded the etiquette.It's all his wishful thinking.

His lifelong infatuation for her was his own volition, and now he doesn't regret it in the slightest.But in the next life, he doesn't want to do this anymore.

She has suffered so much in this life, and she will definitely live happily in the next life.He didn't want to disturb her peace any more.They don't need to meet again, don't need to be involved too much, just be strangers in each other's world.

As long as each other can be good, it doesn't matter whether they are together or not.

"Ru Jing, what are you thinking?" Gongsun couldn't help asking when he saw him distracted.

Cui Shuo met his curious gaze and smiled lightly.The water waves on the river are gentle, and the golden light on the river surface under the sunset gives people a very warm feeling.And he stood in this golden light, smiling and reciting a sentence, "Reminiscing about the beauty of the Xiangjiang River."

The setting sun elongated his figure, and the breeze blew across his cheeks, bringing a burst of coolness.Cui Shuo looked at the white line at the junction of water and sky, and felt as if he had returned to his youth.

At that time, he hadn't experienced the turmoil that followed for many years.It really is like glass, not stained with dust.

The girl standing in the snow teasing the sparrows, the girl standing beside the Longjiang Pond laughing softly, and the empress dowager who was high above her but with a heart like an ancient well all left him at last.

I only hope that in the days and nights after farewell, Qing's heart will have a home, no longer wandering, never wandering again.

(End of this chapter)