The wind is fast and the grass is fast, and the brush pulls the rain line like weaving.

A path that runs through two sparse forests has been muddy, and the yellow rainwater is puddled on the left and on the right, dotted like a lake.

The raindrops that fall on the residual leaves, branches, ground, grass, and puddles make different sounds, and the sound of the wind, sometimes slow and sometimes urgent, converge into a dynamic and unhurried tranquility.

Suddenly, a stronger timbre is injected, giving the rhythm of the rain a vivid transposition.

It's the sound of hooves.

The sound of hooves came from afar, approaching, slowing down.

Immediately, the person wore a sedge coat and a bamboo hat with wide eaves on his head, bowed his head and braved the rain, and the part above his nose was all hidden in the shadows.

One of them said: "Young master, I'm tired, let's rest and go." ”

The horse at the front was strangled by his master, tilted his head to a halt, and staggered on his front legs. Immediately, the person used the whip to push the top hat, revealing a small face, the willow eyes were angry, and the expression was cold, it was Qin Juexiang. His eyes rolled from side to side, and he had taken in the surrounding scenery, and said: "There is nowhere to shelter from the rain, stop and blame the cold, the horse can't run badly, I'm afraid I'm going to get cold when I rest, so let's keep walking, just slow down." ”

Chang Sihao shook his clothes and said: "Absolutely loud, you are good at stargazing, and you said that there would be rain, and it really started." ”

Qin Juexiang smiled: "That's nature. There was a smug look on his face.

A few horses moved forward slowly, and although the trees on the side of the road were sparse, they could still block some raindrops, and the wind became weaker. Ah Xiang pulled his horse closer to Sihao and asked, "Brother Hao, we saw that Gonggong Hu in the city, he is a eunuch, right? I heard that it is only in the palace, but this is the first time I have seen it." ”

Chang Sihao nodded. Chen Shengyi said: "Eunuchs are not unique to the palace, and the general eunuchs who wait in the palace are called chamberlains, or eunuchs, and those who can be called eunuchs have a very high status, at least above the fourth grade." Some of them are in Beijing, some are stationed abroad, some guard the emperor's mausoleum, some are weaving, and they have everything, and they are divided into eunuchs with a pen, eunuchs with military overseers, and so on. That Hu Gonggong was the overseer eunuch stationed in Datong. ”

Qin Juexiang's face turned gloomy again, and said: "That old man is not a good thing at first glance, his voice is already demonic, but he speaks with a yin and yang weirdness." ”

Chang Sihao said: "The army should be decided by the general, what do you want to do with an overseer eunuch? Chen Sheng sighed slightly: "When you are the emperor, the most worrying thing is the military power, the eunuchs are closest to the emperor, arrange them in the army, and any wind and grass can reach the emperor's ears first." Soldiers, the major affairs of the country, life and death are all due to this, it is the lifeblood of the country, and now the East Factory is powerful, and it is also related to the fact that they control these overseers and eunuchs, and they can affect the military power. Feng Bao and Guo Shu Ronghua have this trump card in their hands, so they naturally sit firmly in Beijing, and the overseers and eunuchs outside are naturally rampant outside because they have the master of Dongchang to rely on. ”

"It's Feng Bao again!" Chang Sihao secretly gritted his teeth when he heard this: "I really don't know how a person like him can get so much power!

Ah Xiangqi said: "Aren't the eunuchs illiterate?

"Hey!" Chen Shengyi shook his head and said: "Eunuchs are not allowed to read and write, the grandfather said so, what I am afraid of is that they interfere in internal affairs, but how many descendants in later generations can take the words of their ancestors seriously? Later, Xuanzong ordered to set up an inner study hall in the palace, so that the scholars could teach the eunuchs to read and write, this literacy, but it was terrible, they could do more things, so what is the ceremonial supervisor, the inner official supervisor, the divine palace supervisor, the Shangbao supervisor, the Shangyi supervisor, the left one, the right one, divided into categories, all kinds of built, become a bridge of internal and external communication, so that they are indispensable to do anything. ”

Chang Sihao said: "Passing on a document is nothing, but the emperor actually asked them to supervise the army, how can the military power be a joke? What if they rebel?"

Chen Shengyi: "The overseers are actually mostly supervising the army, and the power is not as great as you think, and if you think about it, the eunuchs are all people who have cut off their children and grandchildren, what can he covet? If he wants to seek the dynasty and usurp the throne, who can support him? He rebelled and became the emperor, who can he leave to? Like mules, they can only eat and drink in this life, no matter how powerful they are, they can't do anything that threatens the royal family. Everything in their hands is given by God, if they want to keep their status and power, they can only enter the way of loyalty and favor, so the eunuchs' flattery is first-class, they can make the emperor happy, and they will not let him feel that he has any threat, the emperor is greedy for fun, too lazy to do office work, leave it to them to do, both worry-free and rest assured, why not?"

The corners of Qin Sexiang's mouth were slantedly raised, with a cold smile in his eyes: "Actually, Feng Bao is nothing, as long as the emperor is still there, it is the same if he changes his position to another person, can anyone else kill the emperor? Even if there is a new emperor, what can it do? Hehe, this world is like this, it turns its, let's live ours! Let the heart on the earth not, the heart of the sky, what's the point!"

At his words, several people felt cold, but they could hear the horse's hooves sticky and greasy in the mud, and the steps were chirping, but no one was interested in talking anymore.

Chang Sihao pondered silently in his heart: "Could this really be something that we grass people don't have to think about and shouldn't think?

When the horses were relieved, everyone urged forward again, there was nothing on the way, the end of the day had arrived in Yangqu, Chen Shengyi said that the front was not far from Taiyuan, it was recommended to rest here, Qin Juexiang nodded and agreed, not to the restaurant and the hotel where there were many people, only to find an inn, ordered wine and food from the store and sent it into the room to eat, and sent Yu Zhide out to buy some gorgeous clothes and yarn crowns, everyone got rid of their wet clothes, changed their clothes, pretended to be a merchant, and held until sunset, which would get up.

When they came to the north gate of Taiyuan City, the twilight was thick, and the smoke was rising, so everyone did not dare to take it lightly, slowed down and entered leisurely, and secretly observed the situation. But seeing that the long street is the same as before, the pedestrians are bustling, and there is not much difference from the past, Qin Juexiang is more than half a horse's head in front, passing through Dabeimen Street and not going to Qin's Mansion in the opposite direction, turning Wenshu Temple Street through Linquan Mansion and then to the west, everyone follows, although they don't understand their meaning, they don't ask much. Not long to come to Gulou Street, from a distance to see the red light in front of the guest building, the guy in front of the door smiling face to greet the send-off, upstairs and downstairs full of friends, noisy, all heart sank, the secret said that this place has been taken over by Juhao Pavilion?

Ah Xiang pointed with his hand: "Hey, isn't that the helmsman of the horse?"

Qin Juexiang followed her finger and saw a person walking by the window on the second floor, wearing a black gauze crown and a purple satin coat, it was Ma Mingshao, the helmsman of the Qin family's rudder. I was overjoyed: "The Qin family has so many rudders, only the horse helmsman and himself are the most compatible, and now that he is here, he is in control of the situation, so that the rudder will not fall into the hands of the eldest grandson Xiaochi, it is really a great luck." He turned around and led everyone with his eyes, leading the horse into the back alley of the Huibin Building. He personally stepped forward to buckle the door knocker, the knocker was heavy on the left and heavy on the right, the sound was different, he knocked on the left seven and right five a total of twelve times, the door opened, two guys poked their heads out, saw that it was them, hurriedly let in, with people through, not long after Ma Mingshao led more than a dozen people to rush to the clothes, saw Qin Jue from a distance, ran a few steps to the front of the one knee to the ground, arched and bowed his head: "Ma Mingshao see the young master!"

Qin Juexiang hurriedly stepped forward and picked it up, and said with a smile: "Brother Ma, do we still need this?"

Ma Mingshao said solemnly: "The young master is commensurate with his subordinates as brothers, which is compassion and promotion for his subordinates, and his subordinates are grateful, and they are grateful. However, etiquette cannot be restrained, nor can it be abolished, there is a difference between respect and inferiority, and subordinates dare not despise half a point. ”

Qin Juexiang smiled: "Brother Ma is still the same. Turning back to Chang Sihao to make an introduction, Ma Mingshao knew that he was a close friend of the young master, and his attitude was also very humble.

Chang Sihao saw that he was only in his early thirties, white-faced and beardless, handsome, but his eyebrows were sparse but not light, as if he had been carefully depicted, the sideburns and hairline were removed, the roots were like silk, and the purple satin long clothes were brocade flowers, which were abnormally beautiful, and there was no unclean plate everywhere in the mouth of the leader, flat and wrinkled, and the waist was obliquely hung with beautiful jade, and the moire animal face was engraved on it, simple and elegant.

Ma Ming Shaoxun gave in, and called the dozen or so people behind him to come over to meet, these people were all middle-level leaders such as the horizontal handle of the Changzhi rudder, the general manager of the association, and Chang Sihao couldn't remember many names for a while.

Seeing that the ceremony was over, they all came to the small hall in the backyard and sat down, Ma Mingshao beckoned the guys to prepare the banquet, but was stopped by Qin Juexiang, and asked about the past, Ma Mingshao said: "I came to Taiyuan because of the problem of a batch of goods accounts in Changzhi, and I saw two maids and the eldest lady in the house, only to know that there was an accident in the rudder, and quickly ordered someone to be transferred to deal with it, but fortunately, the people in Juhao Pavilion seemed to withdraw quietly after washing the rudder without encountering any obstacles. I sent people to take care of the government, while cleaning up the mess, after statistics, the rudder died a total of 642 people, there are a lot of servants and miscellaneous people, because the number is too much, so they are all smuggled out of the city at night in the forest cremation, these days have been successively to their families to complete the pension, basically no disputes, I am from the Changzhi transfer of silver two, the rudder of half a cent has not moved. As he spoke, he put the account book in both hands.

Qin Juexiang took it and flipped through it briefly, seeing that the details on it were clear and meticulous, he had no intention of looking at it for the time being, and asked, "My uncle's body can be buried?"

Ma Mingshao said: "The subordinates didn't dare to deal with it without authorization, they only set up the mourning hall, prepared the coffin to place the uncle inside, and sent a message to know the rudder of other branches, it is estimated that the helm of Qi and the helm of Chen will be there in the next few days." As for the eldest lady...... Well, you'd better go home and see for yourself. ”

Qin Jue sounded and said: "I was worried that someone from Juhao Pavilion would be ambushed, and we would wait for us to fall into the net, so I didn't go back to the house directly, and came around the circle to inspect the peripheral situation first, since this is the case, there is no need to worry." He glanced at his entourage, "Let's go, Brother Ma, you come with us." Ma Mingshao responded respectfully and led the way with his head forward.

A group of people walked through the streets and alleys, on the road Qin Juexiang briefly told the situation of the same side, Ma Mingshao heard that the old lady had passed away, shocked, sad, everyone talked about the old things, grateful for the benefits of Qin Langchuan, unconsciously close to the Wu Temple, Chang Sihao since the practice of pile gong, the body is extremely sensitive, the divine will is everywhere, the invisible gaze can also produce the corresponding sense on the body, only to feel that there seem to be many people nearby Although they dress and behave like ordinary people, they pay attention to their own group intentionally or unintentionally, and immediately raise their vigilance, whisper a note, Ma Mingshao smiled slightly: "Aunt Sun is really powerful, these masters are all secret whistles arranged by me. Then the crowd was relieved.

After the Wu Temple is the Qin Mansion, Ma Mingshao stepped forward and knocked on the door, and a girl came out to greet him, all wearing filial piety clothes, with a strange face and a solemn expression.

Everyone walked to the courtyard of the courtyard, Chang Sihao looked up, the red light in the sedan hall was removed, the pillars were covered with black cloth, and the four characters on the plaque were still there. Now that things are wrong, the old lady Qin has passed away, and the impermanence of life is like this, how can it not make people sigh and sigh! Looking back at others, they all have cold faces and feelings in their hearts.

Qin Juexiang saw that there were few maids and maids, all of them were new faces, and there were no male servants and warriors, thinking of the many secret sentinels arranged outside, he knew that Ma Mingshao did it deliberately and with good intentions. Now there is only the eldest sister Qin Ziyin left in the house, he is not here to preside over and go to the guest house, there is also a sense of avoiding suspicion, this person has a loyal heart, thoughtful and thoughtful, it is indeed rare, more than 600 people under the helm of Changzhi, it is not a small scale, and it is good to gather this branch of people to maintain the rudder, plus Lei Mingxiu, Meng Chaoliang and himself in the nearby Xinzhou rudder, there is An Ziteng presiding over Datong on the periphery, even if most of the north is basically reliable, forgive Qi Mengqiao, Chen Zhibin They have the heart to weigh it first. Thinking of this, my heart is slightly wider.

Pass the sedan hall, open the main door, meet a banner tall, black cloth bottom pasted with three white paper cut diamond shape, write "when the big thing", the courtyard high set up the spirit shed two zhang seven, paper people and paper horses are lined up left and right, the white felt in the shed is paved, two rows of silver rods under the paper flower ball carry three pairs of six strings of white yarn white cover white ash lamp, there are words on the lamp, the first pair is written is a group of cicadas taste the dew and know the autumn cry, heaven and earth kill all beings. The second pair is that the appearance is not empty to take a photo, and Jiuquan has the knowledge to walk slowly. The three pairs are not to see the wind and rain in the world, and there is a sunny evening in the west on the road. There is a large coffin in the center, incense is burned behind the coffin, and a wooden plaque is erected, which is written on the spiritual seat of Qin Gongyi, and there are two servants kneeling on the side next to it.

When Qin Juexiang saw this scene, his heart turned over a few times like a knife, and he felt a few pains, silently took off the package on his body, took out the wooden box containing Qin Langchuan's ashes and put it on the case, turned around and led the crowd to kneel down and worship, when his forehead touched the ground, the past piled up to his heart, and there were thousands of sadness and pain in his chest, like countless small insects arching his nose sour, tears turned a few times around his eyes, and he gritted his teeth and finally glared back.

The four heads knocked and got up, he looked at the spirit cards on the table in a daze, and suddenly became distracted, and he didn't move for a long time.

Behind him, Ma Mingshao asked softly: "Young master, the coffin has not yet been nailed, do you want to open it and take a last look at the uncle?"

Qin Juexiang didn't speak, and stretched out a hand to indicate that it was not necessary.

Ma Mingshao persuaded: "The rivers and lakes are stormy, and the old helmsman also has a time when the oars are off-oar, and he gets up from where he falls, which is nothing more than starting from the beginning." What did Juhao Pavilion do, let's pay it back a hundred times, the young master must not be too sad and break his body. ”

Qin Juexiang stroked the coffin with his hand, rolled his eyes a few times, and said sideways: "I'm not here for this, it's just that suddenly it's a little strange, since Juhao Pavilion has obtained full merit, why did he quietly retreat?"