Chaos of Ming 1628

Kyoto Post Station!

Shen Junru was soaked through with snow water.

She couldn't remember how she got here from the Wei residence, her mind still foggy.

"Hurry up and change your clothes, don't catch a cold." Sun Qing said anxiously, about to wipe her wet face with a towel.

But someone grabbed her hand mid-air.

Shen Junru gripped her sword in one hand and held Sun Qing's hand in the other, her small face scrunched up: "What's marriage?"

She was puzzled.

Sun Qing's hand paused slightly, unsure how to respond.

"Why does it hurt here when I hear this?" Shen Junru released Sun Qing's hand and gently pressed it against her chest.

If Sun Qing still didn't understand Shen Junru's feelings at this moment, then he would be a fool.

But how is he supposed to answer?

Sun Chengzong has not yet had any direct contact with him, and the Sun family's attitude is unclear.

Emperor Chongzhen was suspicious and had no trust in him at all; otherwise, he wouldn't have vaguely sensed someone behind him after leaving the palace.

As for Wei Zhongxian, the dynasty was on the verge of collapse and there was no one to rely on.

He has always relied on himself. He knows very well what he wants: to build his own kingdom and have his own peaceful place.

"You're too young to know this." Sun Qing's words were far-fetched.

Shen Junru immediately retorted, "You're only a year older than me, why can you get married but I can't?"

"I won't do it. If you want to get married, then I want to too."

"If you can do it, so can I."

Shen Junru tilted her head back and said angrily.

Sun Qing felt sorry for her and reached out to gently touch her delicate face, wiping away the water droplets from her skin.

My heart is also heavy with unease.

He could only manage a wry smile: "No way!"

"When will I grow up enough to get married?"

After saying that, Sun Qing wouldn't let her continue. He pressed her into the room, got some hot water, and let her wash up by herself.

Sun Qing stood under the eaves, looking at the heavy snow falling all around, and tucked his hands into his sleeves.

A messenger from the post station delivered a message that Grand Secretary Sun had fainted in the warm pavilion.

Emperor Chongzhen, understanding that Sun Chengzong was old and frail, specially ordered people to carry him back to the post station in a sedan chair, and even bestowed upon him a royal physician to accompany him.

Back at the post station, he had regained consciousness.

Sun Chengzong and Sun Qing were separated by only one wall.

Shen Junru had already gone to take care of him, leaving Sun Qing alone in the room.

Sun Qing leaned back in his chair, a roll of white paper in front of him. He held a brush in his hand for a long time, but in the end, he only drew a turtle on it.

"Squeak!"

The door is pushed open.

Shen Junru's face was devoid of any smile; in fact, it was terribly pale.

Upon seeing this, Sun Qing immediately stood up, about to offer his concern. Then, another person stepped out from behind Shen Junru.

Although he had changed into civilian clothes, even dressed in a scholar's robe, he still carried the air of someone weathered by the storms of war. His beard and hair were gray, yet his refined features hinted at a fierce, combative nature.

Such an imposing presence is something that ordinary civil officials could never possess.

And at nearly seventy years old, no one else could be as robust and strong as Sun Chengzong.

I never imagined that I would be meeting him so soon.

Sun Chengzong stood there, neither annoyed nor angry. His face showed no emotion whatsoever, and when he spoke, his voice was loud and clear: "I apologize for the intrusion."

"Would it be convenient for us to come in and talk?"

Sun Qing quickly placed his hands on his forehead and bowed deeply: "This junior greets Grand Secretary Sun."

"Please don't find it offensive, Your Excellency. Come and warm yourself in the house."

Sun Chengzong nodded slightly and went into the house.

He appeared nonchalant, but out of the corner of his eye, he had already thoroughly examined the handsome young man in front of him.

He took a few more steps and stood in front of the table.

Looking at the painting above, a black tortoise is raising its head, about to climb from the pond onto the shore.

The painting isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it depicts concrete images in a fairly standard way.

"It's just a scribbled drawing, I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Your Excellency." Sun Qing looked embarrassed and hurriedly tried to put it away.

Sun Chengzong did not stop him. He put his hands behind his back, as if talking to himself: "The tortoise lives by enduring and lying dormant, calmly waiting for the right opportunity. Only those who can endure all kinds of hardships can gain great power and achieve great things."

"This turtle is drawn very well!"

Sun Qing's hand, holding the painting, trembled slightly. He dared not take Sun Chengzong's words as praise.

He traveled day and night from Gaoyang to the capital to finally meet the emperor, but ultimately no explicit decree was issued to reinstate him.

Moreover, it was common knowledge that Sun Qing had close ties with the eunuch faction. Sun Chengzong was always upright and incorruptible, and he hated the eunuch faction to the core.

He did not ally with the Donglin Party, but he never clarified that he was not a member of the Donglin Party.

Only the eunuch faction, openly and secretly, cursed and utterly despised them.

If this painting were created by Emperor Chongzhen, it would be considered sycophancy. But in the hands of someone who not only impersonated Sun Yat-sen but also went against the principles of the Sun family, it was like poison.

Without hesitation, Sun Qing's knees buckled and he knelt on the ground.

His words were earnest: "It was a desperate and risky move for me to impersonate someone else. I have always admired your integrity in defending the country's borders, and everything I have done has its reasons."

"What I do is for the country and the people, and I dare not even dream of rising step by step to power and influence."

"We will never repeat the mistakes of Wei Zhongxian."

"I dare not ask for your help or understanding; I only ask that you treat me with some dignity and respect."

Sun Chengzong scrutinized Sun Qing: "Judging from your speech and vision, which far surpass those of scholars from humble backgrounds, and your steady and reliable manner, you are not some fortune teller from the martial arts world."

"They say you are one of the current emperor's men, is that true?"

In front of Sun Chengzong, Sun Qing held nothing back: "That's not true."

"Hmph!" Sun Chengzong snorted coldly, clearly disbelieving: "I don't care whose people you are, since you use the name of the Sun family, you must abide by the rules of the Sun family."

Sun Qing dared not answer that question.

It is true that the Sun family was full of loyal martyrs, and the entire family is even more worthy of respect.

However, this does not mean that the Sun family's rules were complete. At least in the eyes of modern people, the rules were too rigid, which was fine in peaceful times, but in times of chaos, they were a recipe for extermination.

Sun Chengzong did not press the issue.

He calmly sat down, took the tea offered by Shen Junru, and took a sip: "Sun Qing, His Majesty will decide on your matter with Wei Zhongxian."

"I've come today only to ask you: how exactly did you persuade the Emperor to summon me to the capital?"

If one truly wants to reuse oneself, how could one abandon the idea of ​​reuse simply because of a few words from others?

Looking at the stubborn old man, Sun Qing felt a pang of pity and decided to tell him the truth: "Grand Secretary Sun, to be honest, it wasn't me who helped you get into the palace."

"But His Majesty is already well aware of the correspondence between you and me."

Sun Chengzong's face suddenly changed color.

His voice trembled slightly, filled with disbelief: "So, His Majesty has no intention of reinstating me?"

"Not necessarily!" Sun Qing replied decisively, "As for the situation in the Liaodong area, I'm afraid no one is more clear about it than Grand Secretary Sun."

"His Majesty naturally hopes that you can solve the border problems."

Sun Chengzong nodded.

This is why he was so eager to go to Beijing.

"Unfortunately, the current emperor is suspicious of us."

Sun Chengzong's expression changed drastically, and his voice was strained, but he still tried to argue: "Since His Majesty has summoned me to the capital, it means he trusts this old man."

"You treacherous scoundrel, how dare you harbor such suspicion towards the Emperor? If you weren't one of the Emperor's men, I would have taken you to the authorities, exposed your true identity, and condemned you to eternal damnation!"