Chapter 176: minister's confession

Chapter 176: minister's confession

Zhang Zhe found something missing on the way.

It's just that since he bumped into Jiang Xuening, he has been distracted, he can't remember when he disappeared, and whether he was lost on the way back or in the Linzi Palace.

So go and come back.

Jiang Xuening was gone in the empty garden, and there was nothing in the gazebo, only the messy cups and plates left by the two attendants in the pavilion.

Seeing Zhang Zhe go and come back, the attendant who served earlier had some impressions of him, stepped forward to bow and asked, "Master Zhang, what's the matter, but what's left behind?"

Zhang Zhe asked, "Have you ever seen a kit?"

The attendant was stunned for a moment: "Is it the appearance of the silver pattern on the black background?"

Zhang Zhe said, "Have you seen it?"

The attendant waved his hands again and again, but his eyes became a little strange, and his expression was a little bit troubled. He hesitated for a moment before saying: "I have seen it, but when I came here to clean up, I saw Jiang Shilang." The daughter of the family is standing here, holding a brocade bag, which looks a bit like what you are looking for. She looked at it... the younger ones didn't dare to go up and ask more questions."

"..."

Zhang Zhe stood in front of the steps, very dazed.

Without the kit bag at the waist, it feels a little empty.

The attendant then felt that the expression of the young court official in front of him overlapped for a moment with the second girl Jiang he had seen before. It was a strange and unsteady heaviness, like a mirror under the dark water. , so that the refracted light appears dim.

After a long time, Zhang Zhe spoke.

He asked, "Did Miss Jiang Er leave?"

The attendant nodded and said: "Yes, it seems that I have returned home with Mr. Jiang."

Zhang Zhe closed his eyes slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said "Thank you".

The attendant was puzzled, but he didn't dare to ask more questions.

After bowing again, I looked up and saw the lord walking out along the garden path again. It was clear that in the warm summer night, when the back gradually disappeared at the end of the light under the stacked corridors, it seemed to be walking in the cold and lonely autumn frost. inside.

It rained the day before yesterday, washing away the floating dust covering the capital, and the road surface of the long street was also washed clean by the rain.

The sound of carriages and horses faded away.

Then the sound of footsteps lightly stepping on the road surface became obvious, empty and deserted. Zhang Zhe seemed to have thought of everything in his mind, but also seemed to think of nothing.

The place where he lived was quite a distance from the place where the princes and nobles gathered. After passing through this place where every inch of land was very precious, the height of the pavilions on both sides became lower, and gradually some laughter and shouting sounded.

Accidentally knocked over the teapot at home this morning, and his mother told him to remember to buy a new one when he came back.

Zhang Zhe went into a porcelain shop that was closing late, and chose a simple Xing Kiln white porcelain tea set, but he heard the shopkeeper of the porcelain shop standing in front of Duobaoge and sighing, accompanied by an elegant customer.

"Qinggu fine wine, the sea of ​​drunken wine, the glaze is clear and thin, which is called the thin bone of plum. It's a pity that boss Zhou's plum vase is broken. I have found many skilled craftsmen and tried my best to repair it, but I can only stop here .”

"From a distance, pouring is no different from a new bottle."

"You can't appreciate it from a close distance. Look at the neck, the slits are subtle, even if a skilled craftsman can do amazing work, it is difficult to fill in the old marks. After all, it was broken. Your precious love will be even more beautiful in the future. Take care of it carefully, otherwise it will fall apart if there is any bump, it can't be compared with the time when it is as good as new when it just comes out of the kiln."

"well…"

…

Zhang Zhe looked at that grid, and there was a plum vase standing in the center, the sky was as blue as jade, and the texture of the fetus was delicate, which had a natural beauty. But there are tiny cracks on it, which are left after repairs, like scars that have been worn down by time but are still difficult to erase.

The guy in front of the counter glanced at him: "Do you want to buy a plum vase too, sir? We have everything in this store. Would you like to see more?"

Zhang Zhe slowly withdrew his gaze and said, "No need."

After paying the money, I took the tea set home.

Zhang's mother knew that he was going to the banquet today, and she was afraid that he would inevitably drink too much during the banquet, so she prepared hot hangover soup, and when he came back, she just served it to him.

Zhang Zhe felt sour in his heart.

For a moment, he even felt extremely depressed, but in the end he still lowered his voice, and said to Jiang: "I came back late, and my mother worried again. You are not in good health, you should go to bed earlier."

After all, he is also the son raised by himself, how can Jiang not see that he is preoccupied? For several days in a row, he has been leaving early and returning late, busy with official duties in the yamen, if it is true that there are too many complicated things, but looking at him, he seems to be unwilling to do anything other than official duties Thinking about it, it's more like trying to suppress something.

But he has been very determined since he was a child, and he buries everything in his heart.

Mrs. Jiang didn't know much about him, and seeing him as if nothing had happened, she knew that he wouldn't tell if I asked, so she simply didn't ask, and said: "Even if your father didn't have any future for you, he will die if he knows. You, my mother only hopes that you will be more peaceful. It would be great if you meet a girl you like and start a family. As for prosperity and wealth, although good is good, you have to chase and chase, but live a very happy life tired."

Zhang Zhe did not explain.

Jiang Shi sighed, then retreated from this ordinary study room, told him to go to bed earlier, and then closed the door.

He brought back many files from the Ministry of Punishment to read.

Now they are all piled high on the desk.

The flame of the lamp next to it swayed slightly, illuminating the lines of ink on the paper, but it couldn't get into the eyes.

Zhang Zhe felt that the light was dazzling, so he moved the lamp farther away.

So the words on the paper are also darkened.

He sat withered behind the desk case, like ink ink gradually drying up in the inkstone on the desk, he didn't move for a whole night.

Early summer light comes early.

The voices in the market were noisy again.

Jiang woke up early in the morning to cook porridge, thinking that Zhang Zhe had gone to court before dawn as usual, so she planned to tidy up the room and tidy up the courtyard before the weather got hot. Who would have expected to be in front of his bedroom door before putting his hand on it, and the door opened. The bed inside was neatly covered with pillows, and it was clear that no one had slept in it last night.

Looking back, the door of the study room was closed.

It was not yet bright, and there was still a little light shining through it.

She hesitated, and knocked on the door: "Aren't you going to court today?"

Zhang Zhe's body sitting behind the table moved slightly, as if he was finally pulled back from a dark and lonely place, but he said slowly: "I won't go today."

He has never delayed the day when the imperial court called for great rise.

I never said yesterday that I would take a leave today.

Mrs. Jiang was stunned for a long while without saying a word, and then said: "Then I'll go to the market to buy some vegetables, and I'll go to the yamen after breakfast."

She packed up her things and went out, carrying a small bamboo basket.

The morning market is a lively time.

Pick a black carp weighing two catties, buy some young ginger, shallots, leeks, and fresh tofu, and finally choose a piece of pork shoulder that looks good, put them into a bamboo basket together, and walk home.

When we went to the market, it was still daylight.

When I came back, the morning light was already faint.

But when Mrs. Jiang turned around the familiar alley and saw her old courtyard, she suddenly found a young girl standing under the mossy steps. Wearing a moon white wide-sleeved fairy dress, her face was facing the sky, her complexion looked pale in the morning light, she raised her head slightly, and seemed to be staring at the mottled wooden door in a daze.

this early in the morning...

Mrs. Jiang hesitated for a moment, walked over, and asked with a smile: "This girl, are you looking for someone?"

Jiang Xuening turned around and realized that she had been standing for a long time.

She saw Mrs. Jiang, an ordinary-looking woman. The trials and hardships she experienced in raising her son alone left deeper marks on her face than women of the same age, with frosty temples and fine wrinkles.

In the bamboo basket on the crooked arm are fresh vegetables just bought.

At this time, he looked at himself with a bit of worry, but his eyes were very kind.

He should hate himself.

There was only one family in the depths of this alley, and Jiang Xuening had already guessed the identity of this woman, and the shame in her heart surged like a hot spring, she tried to laugh, but tears still fell.

She said: "Excuse me, is this the home of Mr. Zhang from the Ministry of Punishment?"

He came to find his wooden son.

Seeing such a glamorous girl like a fairy, Jiang didn't think about Zhang Zhe at all. It can be seen that she shed tears before saying a few words. Then she remembered Zhang Zhe's unusual things last night and this morning, and murmured in her heart: That boy can't beat the elm lump, so don't he provoke other girls and make others sad, right?

When I was in Henan, I was fine, but I didn’t learn well in Beijing!

If he really does something wicked, let's see if she doesn't ask for family law, and beat him up for his short-lived father!

"Yes, yes, here it is." Jiang Shi couldn't help but hurriedly said, "He didn't go to court today, he is in the study, please come in first, I will tell him to go!"

She stepped forward to open the door and invited Jiang Xuening to enter.

Then he even forgot to put down the bamboo basket in his hand, so he went to knock on the door of the study room that had not been opened that night to let Zhang Zhe come out.

Unexpectedly, before she walked up the steps, the closed door opened.

Zhang Zhe put his hands on the door frame and stood inside the door.

Mo Lan's long robe hung on him, although it was still straight, it gave off a feeling of silence and desolation. He quietly looked at Jiang Xuening who was standing in this simple courtyard, and after a long time, he said, "Miss Jiang, please come in."

Jiang Xuening also looked at him for a while before walking up the steps.

When he got to the door, Zhang Zhe stepped in.

She entered the house.

Zhang Zhe explained something to Jiang, then turned around and closed the door.

The two people who hadn't slept all night sat down facing each other.

The tea is old tea from last night, and it is already cold.

On the desk full of files, a wisp of green smoke floated from the end of the wick of the lamp, which had already been burned out. The rising sun slanted into the low lacquered table in front of the window from the east, dispelling some of the chill.

Jiang Xuening stared at him.

Zhang Zhe looked down.

She said softly: "It's supposed to be early today, but Mr. Zhang is at home, as if he knew I would come. Are you waiting for me?"

Zhang Zhe was silent.

Jiang Xuening folded her hands on her knees, she was calm, and she laughed: "I once confessed that I belonged to Mr. Zhang, but Mr. Zhang said that I already belonged. I was in a trance that day, with an unyielding temperament, but I forgot to ask. I don’t know who is this girl that adults like?"

Zhang Zhe quietly clenched his palms under the table.

He said: "People from the capital are just ordinary people."

Zhang Zhe can tell lies and deceive people.

Jiang Xuening blinked, and asked again: "Master Zhang and Ms. Yao have not long since divorced, and she has empathized with this person. Although he is an ordinary person, he must have good talent and appearance, and his temperament is better than mine, right?"

Zhang Zhe took a while to say: "Miss Jiang Er is impeccable, it's just that I come from a humble background and dare not waste her life. She can't compare with the girl in talent and appearance, and her temperament is not very good, it's just..."

Jiang Xuening asked, "Just what?"

Zhang Zhe finally raised his eyes to look at her, restrained and patient, but his heart was extremely desolate. He looked into her pupils, as if he wanted to engrave this face into his heart, and said slowly: "It's just that I love her."

Jiang Xuening laughed out loud: "Then what's her name?"

Zhang Zhe was silent.

Jiang Xuening suddenly hated him so much that she couldn't even hold back that false smile: she just put the brochure that had been hidden in her sleeve for a long time and read all night on the table, and the thin paper was unfolded and pressed on the table. On the kit, said: "Master Zhang can't tell, may I tell you?"

Zhang Zhe closed his eyes.

But Jiang Xuening said every word, almost fierce, and said to him with red eyes: "The person you like is not as good as he looks, he is so bad, he is not a good person——Her surname is Jiang, and her name is Jiang Xuening!"

I intend to turn my heart to the bright moon.

On that page, the rare and correct ink has penetrated, but it is not yet old.

But Zhang Zhe's heart was riddled with holes.

Jiang Xuening asked stubbornly: "How can you say you don't like me, how dare you say you don't like me?"

Zhang Zhe then remembered his previous life.

She is vivid, bright, flamboyant, and willful. At that time, he couldn't restrain his presumptuous heart and wanted to get close to her. But finally...

The Jade Mountain tilted, and the Jinping was shattered.

The heart in his chest seemed to have been cut out by her sharp words, and the blood dripped on the tip of the knife, all kinds of bitterness poured into his throat, and fell back again, his stomach was full of sourness and astringency.

Was the plum vase broken?

He looked at her, as if looking at this life from the previous life, and finally called her in a low voice: "Mother..."

Empress.

How could this person in front of me call her "Niang Niang"?

Jiang Xuening first felt a kind of confusion, and then became dizzy. Those two words with a faint voice passed from her ears to her heart. The Zhang Zhe in front of him was shaking slightly, the sunlight that came in was pale, and it seemed that there was a mist rising in the room, making everything around him blurry, and even rumbling noises.

She subconsciously shook her head.

how could be?

Must have heard wrong...

But there is a voice in my heart that laughs coldly: I know, you should have known it a long time ago! You have only known each other for how long in this life, why does he have deep affection for you, but still hides it from you when he likes you? You heard me right!

A piercing pain bound her with endless guilt, causing her to sit down slumped.

At this moment, everything is understood. It seemed that the high mountain and the deep abyss crushed her and let her fall into it. She couldn't bear it in the end, buried her head and covered her face, and wept uncontrollably.

Zhang Zhe walked over without a word, feeling like the cruel executioner who defeated her last line of defense.

All kinds of collections from past and present lives are like a torrent.

He half-knelt beside her, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and finally allowed himself to presume at this moment, gently embraced her, and said: "It's my fault, it's my fault..."

She cried: "You didn't tell me, you lied to me..."

Zhang Zhe said, "I have deceived you."

Jiang Xuening hated herself, recalling the previous questioning, she only felt that she was ridiculous. Where does she deserve it?

Her tears fell on Zhang Zhe's chest, wet his clothes, soaked his heart in it, and made him confirm that he really shouldn't tell her: "Mother, I'm afraid. This is Zhang Zhe from the previous life."

Once you know, the past will come one after another, giving birth to infinite guilt.

She wants to be free, to get what she wants.

But this guilt is enough to crush and knock down a person who has gradually put aside the past. All the people she meets are new people, only he is her old bond. And the gully opened by the too heavy past, even if both of them try their best to fill it, how can they bridge it like a new one?

How tiring would it be to live like that?

When she was in front of him, she was nothing like the real her.