Xi Zhou, the bitter cold of the Ying dynasty. The wind was strong and the sun was strong. It was so cold in the mornings and mornings, but at noon, it was so hot that people wanted to strip off their clothes.
A few years ago, the people of Xi Zhou didn't have enough to eat and their clothes were too cold. Since the new dynasty was established and Emperor Cheng'an ascended the throne, their lives gradually improved. At least they could eat their fill. The local officials also became more honest. Those who were dishonest were said to have been captured and beheaded in the capital.
In the hearts of the people, even if someone said that His Majesty the Emperor had three heads and six arms, they would foolishly believe it.
In the fourth year of Cheng'an, it was said that the capital wanted to select some women to enter the palace as female officials. The quota was very limited and the requirements were strict. When the news reached Xi Zhou, it was already many days late. Even so, many people were interested.
That was the imperial palace. If they could be selected, it would bring honor to their ancestors.
The common people didn't even have the chance to hear the news. They only saw the daughters of some officials or scholars running to the county magistrate's house.
In the Prefect's Office of the West Province, Xie Qilin circled a few women with clean family backgrounds whom he knew well. He said to the servant beside him, "Post up the list according to this."
"Daren, Miss Zhang is well-educated and has a clever personality. Why didn't you choose her?" The servant had received benefits from official Zhang's family and couldn't help but ask a few questions.
"In the imperial harem … there is no need for well-educated and clever palace maids," Xie Qilin said lightly, "You can leave."
"Yes." The servant saw that his expression was not good and didn't dare ask any more questions. He obediently left with the list.
After the list was posted, the selected girls were both nervous and happy. They were happy because they finally had the chance to enter the capital and even work in the palace. They were worried because the capital was far away and they didn't know what the future would be like.
There were many people around the list. Some people said that the girl looked ordinary, so why was she selected? Others said that the girl was dull and didn't deserve to serve His Majesty and the Empress.
The Shi Feixian stood in the corner and listened to the people's guesses and yearnings for the imperial harem. A slightly mocking smile appeared on his face. These people thought that if they entered the palace as palace maids, they would have a meteoric rise and the glory of their families?
How many palace maids had died silently in the imperial harem?
"What are you looking at?" A woman wearing the same cloth dress as her walked out and whispered in her ear, "Don't even think about running away. In the past, there were also women like you who were sent here to be sent away. In the end, they were found outside. There wasn't a single piece of meat on their bodies that wasn't eaten by wild wolves."
Shi Feixian smiled bitterly. "Don't worry. I won't do that."
"I can see that you are a smart person. You must not be foolish." The woman nodded. "Sigh, it's a pity that the new Emperor did not grant amnesty to the world. Otherwise, people like you could be exempted from punishment."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Shi Feixian's face became even more bitter. She looked away and saw a man in an official's robe riding a horse in the distance.
"Come on, it's time for us to go back." The woman pulled her and was about to drag her to a dirty and broken donkey cart. The cart was driven by two sloppily dressed veterans. Their hands were thick with calluses, and their eyes were half-closed, as if they had never fully opened.
Shi Feixian broke free from the woman's hand and looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. How could he be here?
Xie Qilin … How could he be here?
"Miss Shi, don't offend the nobles. Come with me." When the woman saw Shi Feixian staring at Xie Qilin, she thought that Shi Feixian wanted to use her looks to seduce the prefectural magistrate. She hurriedly advised, "We are all sinners. These high and mighty people are not people that we can associate with."
"Sister, let me go." Shi Feixian anxiously pushed the woman away and ran a few steps forward. "Xie Qilin, Xie Qilin."
Five years. She had suffered for five whole years in the West Region. Her originally tender and smooth skin had been roughened by the wind and sand. Her skin was also dark and shriveled like the locals. She was only in her early twenties, but she looked like a woman in her thirties.
When the news of Rong Xia's coronation came, she was happy because it meant that she would be pardoned.
However, her expectation was soon disappointed. Rong Xia didn't pardon anyone. He only reduced the taxes of the disaster victims. Xi Province, as a bitter and cold place, was also exempted from taxes for a year after the coronation ceremony.
When the news came, all the people in Xi Province were overjoyed. Everyone remembered the good of the Empress and wanted to erect a Longevity Monument for her.
Shi Feixian thought that she couldn't survive a day, but she didn't expect that her desire to survive was so strong. She was bullied, ridiculed, and ostracized. She had suffered for five years in this barren land. When she thought she had to continue, Xie Qilin's appearance was like a straw that saved her from drowning.
He was an official of the Ying Dynasty. He must be able to get rid of her criminal record and save her.
The surprised eyes of the crowd and the vigilant attitude of the guards couldn't stop Shi Feixian's excitement. She felt that she had never run so fast or been so nervous.
However, when she was about to get close, two yamen runners with knives stopped her.
"Auntie, if you have any grievances, you can tell us first and we'll pass them on for you."
"Auntie?" Shi Feixian looked at the yamen runner who spoke as if she had been struck by lightning. The yamen runner had a round face and looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. She touched her face. Was she old enough to be called auntie?
She looked up again and found that Xie Qilin was walking further and further away. She hurriedly said, "I'm an old acquaintance of your Lord. Please let me meet Lord Xie."
"An old acquaintance?" The yamen runner looked at Shi Feixian suspiciously. This woman was dressed in coarse clothes and looked like a sinful woman serving hard labor. How could such a person be an old acquaintance of their Lord?
Seeing that the yamen runner didn't believe her, Shi Feixian said anxiously, "I'm really an old acquaintance of your Lord. If you don't believe me, you can ask him. Do you know the Shi Feixian?"
Noblewomen generally wouldn't tell the name of a lowly man. But now that she had fallen into such a situation, how could she care about the name?
Seeing that Shi Feixian was so confident, the yamen runner nodded reluctantly and said, "Wait here. I'll go and ask."
"Thank you, thank you." Shi Feixian repeatedly thanked him. She wiped the tears on her face. Her rough palms rubbed her eyes painfully.
Xie Qilin was about to go to the suburbs to check on the growth of this year's crops when he heard the yamen runner calling him. He stopped the horse and looked down at the yamen runner who was cupping his hands in front of him. "What's wrong?"
"My Lord, there's a woman who claims to be an old acquaintance of yours. She wants to see you."
"An old acquaintance?" Xie Qilin frowned. He looked back and saw the woman in gray who was stopped by the yamen runner in the distance. He didn't remember knowing such a person, so he shook his head and said, "I don't know any old acquaintances in the West Province."
The yamen runner was about to leave when he thought of the woman's pleading eyes. He couldn't help but add, "She said her name is Shi Feixian. You must know her."
"Shi Feixian?!"
This name was buried deep in his memory and hadn't appeared for a long time. Xie Qilin felt it was absurd when a seventeen or eighteen-year-old yamen runner said it out loud. He looked back at the woman and was silent for a moment. "Bring her here."
The woman in gray gradually approached. Xie Qilin looked at her weathered appearance and was silent for a long time. "Miss Shi."
Shi Feixian looked at Xie Qilin who was sitting on the horse and pinched the hem of her gray dress uneasily. She was wearing a uniform uniform. Standing in front of Xie Qilin who was wearing an official's robe, she suddenly felt very embarrassed.
"My Lord." She curtsied. Although she hadn't paid attention to such etiquette for many years, the elegance that was engraved in her bones couldn't be washed away so easily.
The yamen runner who was passing on the message looked at them in surprise. It turned out that they really were old acquaintances. He didn't know who this woman was, but the way she curtsied was different from other women.
"How have you been these years, Miss Shi?" Xie Qilin didn't expect that the noble lady who used to walk eight feet with one step would become like this. He looked at the people around them. "This is not the place to talk. Please come to the teahouse."
Shi Feixian nodded silently.
They entered the teahouse. Xie Qilin chose a seat by the window.
Shi Feixian suddenly remembered that she also liked to sit by the window. Every time Xie Qilin discussed poems with her, he would also choose a private room with a good view and a wide window, waiting for her to come.
Soon, they were almost on the table. Xie Qilin poured a cup of tea for Shi Feixian. "There's no good tea in the West Region. I hope you don't mind."
"I'm so grateful to be able to drink a sip of clean water. How can I be picky about the quality of tea leaves?" Shi Feixian reached out to take the tea. Her rough hands were exposed in front of Xie Qilin.
He looked away and turned his head to look out of the window. In the distance, there was a continuous yellow wall and a sky full of sand.
"I didn't expect … that you would be here." Shi Feixian noticed Xie Qilin's cold attitude. She smiled awkwardly. "My brother still has a sister, okay?" She heard that the former crown prince had abdicated to Rong Xia. Under such circumstances, Rong Xia couldn't kill the deposed crown prince. Her sister was the deposed crown prince's first wife. Even if she lost her freedom, she would live a better life than she did now.
Xie Qilin turned to look at her. After a while, he said, "The Lord Shi is very good. He's now the Minister of Taichang Temple. Although it's not a prominent position, he's still quite respected."
"Then … is he married?"
Xie Qilin shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't hear about the Lord Shi's marriage."
"Is, is that so?" Shi Feixian was a little confused. She took a sip of tea and pursed her dry lips. "What about my sister?"
Xie Qilin was silent for a moment. He turned his head away from Shi Feixian's expression. "Your sister sent people to assassinate the Empress. His Majesty and Prince He were furious. Prince He divorced her. Later, because the Lord Shi pleaded for her, the Empress spared her life. However, your sister committed suicide after returning with your brother. "
"Suicide …" Shi Feixian was stunned for a long time. She wiped away the tears on her face. "She was braver than I was."
She suddenly didn't want to ask Xie Qilin to save her anymore. Even if her criminal record was erased, what could she do? Could the old grudges between her and those people in the capital be written off?
Could those people in the capital forget the enmity between her and the current Empress? Even if the Ban Han didn't care about these things, those who were eager to please the Ban Han couldn't wait to jump out and humiliate her for fun. They would implicate her brother for no reason and add trouble to his official career.
She had been in the capital for so many years. How could she not understand the thoughts of those people in the capital? Because even she herself was such a person and had done such a thing.
"I'm sorry for what happened in the past." She held the teacup tightly. This made her feel more confident. "There were too many people who didn't want you to marry the Ban Han. I added fuel to the fire. I'm sorry for hurting your family."
Xie Qilin closed his eyes to hide the emotions in his heart. "I can only blame myself for being vain and complacent. If …"
If he was as firm as Rong Xia, no matter what others said, he could maintain an unwavering attitude. His engagement with the Ban Han wouldn't have ended in such an embarrassing way.
He thought that he was noble and virtuous. He thought that he looked down on the Ban Han. However, it was only because of the uneasiness and inferiority in his heart. He was afraid that he couldn't catch the Ban Han. He was afraid that he wasn't good enough for her. Therefore, he couldn't wait to show his self-esteem. He wanted to let the world know that it wasn't that he, Xie Qilin, couldn't catch the Empress, but that he didn't like her and didn't want to marry her.
He liked talented and gentle women. Ban Han didn't have these qualities.
After a long time, even he himself almost believed that he only liked talented women and refused to think about Ban Yu's good points. He also refused to accept the fact that when he was with Ban Yu, he had nowhere to put his heart and hands that he didn't know where to place.
At that time, he was too young. He didn't know that this was love. He didn't know that this was shyness in front of the person he liked.
When he finally understood, it was too late.
"When I came to Xi Zhou, I didn't have a change of clothes. I didn't have any money to curry favor with the bailiffs. I didn't even have a grain of dry food." Shi Feixian drank the bitter tea in one gulp. "Everyone avoided me like I was a snake or a scorpion. Only one person sent his subordinate to deliver a package and said that all the past grudges were written off."
"Although she didn't say who she was, the words and actions of the bodyguard reminded me of someone." Shi Feixian sneered. "It was Ban Han."
Xie Qilin unconsciously looked at Shi Feixian. He wanted to hear more about Ban Han from her.
Noticing his gaze, Shi Feixian smiled bitterly. "You don't have to look at me like that. She and I have disliked each other since we were children. More than ten years ago, I even arranged for a little palace maid to lead her to a frozen lotus pond. I wanted her to die under the ice. "
Xie Qilin's expression changed slightly. How old was Shi Feixian at that time? Ten years old? Eleven years old?
"What? You didn't expect me to be such a woman?" Shi Feixian chuckled. She didn't have to maintain her gentle facade anymore. She actually felt very happy. If Ban Han had died at that time, would there have been so many troubles later?
"Everything had been planned, but Rong Xia suddenly appeared." Shi Feixian laughed at herself. "The people I arranged couldn't kill her. Don't you think it was fate? Rong Xia, who had always been well-behaved, actually left the banquet and happened to meet Ban Han? "
"Why?" Xie Qilin looked at Shi Feixian. "She was less than ten years old at that time. Why did you hate her so much?"
"You really believed it?" Shi Feixian sneered. "It seems that I'm such a woman in your heart."
Xie Qilin didn't say anything.
"To tell you the truth, it wasn't me who wanted to kill Ban Han. It was Rong Xia's biological mother, the Lin Clan." Shi Feixian sneered. "The Lin Clan hated De Ning Princess Royal so much that they hated Ban Han as well. I just happened to discover the truth. "
The Lin Clan hated the Ban Family, but her son married the granddaughter of the Princess Royal and treated her like a treasure. Would the Lin Clan come back to life because of anger?
Xie Qilin didn't expect that there would be such a life-or-death crisis. If Rong Xia hadn't appeared at that time, would Ban Han … have died in the cold water?
"Miss Shi …" His throat was a little dry. "I'll go back to the capital next month to report on my work. Do you have any letters you want me to bring back?"
"Letters …" Shi Feixian was silent for a long time and slowly shook her head. "The Shi Family has been destroyed long ago. My brother has a hard time in the capital. Let him think that I'm dead. It's good for him and me."
The table was quiet. After a long time, Xie Qilin nodded. "I understand."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Sir. I should go back." Shi Feixian stood up and bowed to Xie Qilin. "Goodbye."
"Miss Shi," Xie Qilin called out to Shi Feixian. "Did you arrange for Yunniang to approach me?"
Shi Feixian paused. "She's not one of my people, but I arranged for someone to guide you. I made you think that eloping with Yunniang could show your integrity."
Xie Qilin once again realized how stupid he was when he used to talk about poetry and poetry in the past. He tore apart the elegance on the outside and revealed the scheming on the inside.
"Do you have any other questions, Sir Xie?"
Xie Qilin shook his head. "Take care."
That night, Shi Feixian received a transfer order. It said that she had performed well in the past two years and the higher-ups had given her an easy job.
Under the envious eyes of the people around her, Shi Feixian packed her bag and went to the city to work.
She didn't tell Xie Qilin that when she found out about the Lin Clan's conspiracy, she helped the Lin Clan distract several palace maids because she also wanted Ban Han to die. However, all of this was no longer important, because the one who was living a difficult life now was her, and the woman whom she had envied and hated was already high above, becoming the mother of all people.
All the past grievances were a joke.
She was the worst actress in this joke. She thought that she could win the applause of the audience, but the audience's eyes were no longer on her.
It took Xie Qilin nearly two months to travel from Xizhou to the capital, half of which was by land and the other half by water. Finally, he returned to the place he had left for three years.
The city gate was still the same city gate, but the guards guarding the city gate had changed several times. When Xie Qilin handed the documents and the token to the guards, he found that many of them were beaming with joy. He asked, "What happened in the capital?"
"Sir, you just returned to the capital to report on your work. It's not strange that you don't know about the happy events in the capital." The guard returned the document and waist token to Xie Qilin and cupped his hands. "A few days ago, the Empress gave birth to Lin 'er. His Majesty was so happy that he personally hung a bow on the wall of the Great Moon Palace. It's strange that it hasn't rained in the capital for more than half a month. On the day His Highness was born, there was a moderate amount of rain. Don't you think this is a gift from the heavens? "
Xie Qilin's hand holding the document trembled slightly. "So … the dragon son was born?"
"Yes, yes." The guard smiled. "Sir, you are also very lucky to encounter such a happy event as soon as you return to the capital. Who knows, maybe your career will be prosperous and prosperous from now on."
"Yes." Xie Qilin nodded. "Thank you for your auspicious words."
The guard didn't dare to say anything.
Xie Qilin put down the curtain of the carriage and said to the driver, "Let's go."
The carriage slowly entered the capital. This place he had lived in for 20 years seemed to be more lively than before, but also more unfamiliar. The people here wore cleaner clothes than the people of Xi Zhou, and ate more carefully than the people of Xi Zhou. Even their skin was fairer than the people of Xi Zhou who had been weathered. Perhaps it was because he had been an official in Xi Zhou for three years and felt that even though the people of Xi Zhou were not as careful as the people of the capital, they were just as lovely.
After he bathed and changed his clothes in the residence where he received foreign officials, he went to the palace to request an audience with the Emperor.
According to the rules of the Ying Kingdom, the Zhizhou would return to the capital every three years to report on his work. Then he would wait for the Emperor's edict to decide whether he would continue to work or be demoted.
Entering the palace from the Vermilion Bird Gate, he waited for about an hour outside the royal study. Finally, a eunuch wearing a dark blue robe led him in.
Walking in with his head bowed, Xie Qilin didn't dare to sit in front of the black-robed man at the head of the table. He lifted his robe and respectfully bowed. "Xie Qilin greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."
"Rise."
This voice was still familiar, but it was more dignified than it was three years ago.
He stood and glanced at Rong Xia. He was still as handsome and noble, but the aura around him was stronger than before. He was more like an Emperor than an elegant noble son.
"I haven't seen you in a few years. You are much more mature than before." Rong Xia put down the brush in his hand and said to Xie Qilin. "I have read all the reports from Xi Zhou. You have done well."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am ashamed." Xie Qilin didn't expect Rong Xia's attitude to be so calm.
"It is good that you have done well." Rong Xia put his hands behind his back. "There is no need to be humble. Tell me more about the situation in Xi Zhou. You have to tell me whether it is good or bad. "
"Yes." Xie Qilin raised his hands and began to describe in detail what he had seen and heard in Xi Zhou.
About an hour later, he saw a eunuch hurriedly walk in and say something in the Emperor's ear. The eunuch's voice was very low. He could only vaguely hear Her Majesty, soup, and so on.
Then he saw the Emperor's distressed expression. Xie Qilin instinctively felt that he shouldn't look at it anymore. He hurriedly lowered his head.
"Master Xie, go back and rest. I will summon you in a few days." Rong Xia raised his hand. "You may leave."
"Yes." Xie Qilin accepted the order and left. He hadn't walked far when he turned back and saw the Emperor hurriedly walk out of the imperial study and towards the harem.
Did something happen in the harem? Xie Qilin frowned.
"Master Xie."
Xie Qilin raised his head and met Shi Jin's eyes.
"Greetings, Lord Shi."
"Master Xie is too polite." Shi Jin stopped. "Master Xie has just returned to the capital?"
"Yes, I will leave in a few days." Xie Qilin saw that Shi Jin wanted to say something but stopped. "What is the matter, Lord Shi?"
"I wonder … if Master Xie has ever met my younger sister in the West Province?"
"No, I have never seen her." Xie Qilin's voice was calm.
"If you see my sister, please write me a letter and let me know. I will be very grateful." Shi Jin bowed deeply to Xie Qilin.
Xie Qilin took half a step back and avoided this bow. "Lord Shi, you are too polite. If I see her, I will definitely tell you."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Xie Qilin and Shi Jin brushed past each other. Shi Jin didn't see any emotion in Xie Qilin's eyes.
He didn't want to speak again when he thought that the little girl might have been buried in the icy water. He had exempted Shi Feixian from hard labor, but he had never thought of letting her return to the capital and live comfortably as a rich young lady.
Since he was a heartless person, he might as well do a few more heartless things.
This was enough.
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