"But, I didn't come to Beijing for you."

When I heard this, I was not disappointed, and I didn’t even feel angry or dissatisfied. The emotion that almost made my chest burst open was still surging like a tide. I even knew the answer, but I still asked, even if it hurts, I had to cry clearly; even if I cried, I had to cry happily.

I looked at him and said seriously: "Why are you here?"

He also looked at me and said solemnly: "Speaking of it, maybe you won't believe it, but I-I-" He looked at me, as if he blushed: "I always feel that I seem to have a responsibility to Jiangnan."

“…”

"You might find it funny," he said softly with a shy face, "I was just a mud-legged person at the beginning."

I felt a stinging pain in my heart and subconsciously grabbed his hand.

His palms were wide, long and rough, and he could feel thick calluses covered with fingertips. This was a pair of "mud legs" hands. He did the most tiring work, received the lowest reward, and was stepped on the bottom. I have seen with my own eyes how corrupt officials sucked the people and how they oppressed good people like them.

But such a person would not live in such a silent life.

"But I'm glad I'm a mud-legged," he said, his eyes darker and his voice became a little darker: "Because, I can really see more dark places and learn more dark things than people standing on high places."

"Qinghan..."

"Your Qingying, you haven't grown up in Jiangnan. You don't know what you have experienced there, nor how hard it is for the 'unfamiliar people' to live. Corrupt officials, powerful and powerful people, what these people have done in the south for the sake of fish and meat. You may have heard of it, maybe seen it, but you have heard, seen, and experienced it, it is definitely not the same."

My heart sank slightly.

He was right, empathy is actually a hypocritical word. You may be able to see others' pain and understand it, but it is impossible to truly experience it out of thin air. If you see a person trapped in a cold pool, you will not understand how deep the cold pool is and how cold the water is. I only know that harsh policies are more powerful than tigers, and only know that the untouchables live a hard life, but how hard it is, it is just an illusory imagination after all.

People who do not suffer from pain.

Now, I really seem to understand why in the fishing village at that time, he was so eager to learn, think about it, and even discuss the way out of the south with Huang Tianba.

Because only those who are truly trapped in such a quagmire will find a way to rescue themselves and those who are in desperate situations like themselves.

"So, I always have that feeling, I feel that I can't lift my responsibility to Jiangnan. Even before I save you, it seems that that feeling is strong."

“…”

Before I jumped from Huyue Gorge, that is, Lord Liu Yi was assassinated and died of illness.

Is this really the nature of father and son? It is the family affection and habit that cannot be cut off from his bloodline? He embarked on the same path as his father and brother. Even though he was wandering among the people, even though he had been so difficult over the years, he did not wear down the righteousness in his nature at all, and he was worthy of the pride of heaven and earth with the Liu family.

Is all this really destined by God?

But what about his ending?

I will never forget what Huang Tianba told me, how miserable Liu Shizhou died, and that I will never forget the tragic situation after Lord Liu Yi was assassinated and his persistence before his death.

What about Liu Qinghan? What will happen to him?

He embarked on the same path as Liu Shizhou and Liu Yi, so will the same be true at the end of this road?

When I thought of this, I felt like my chest was pierced by millions of steel needles. The pain made me almost breathless, and my eyes immediately turned red and hot. Qinghan thought I was wronged because of his words, so he hurriedly reached out and held my face with difficulty: "Qingying, you-don't cry, I-I won't say anything, I-"

My cheeks were held in his palm. The rough texture and warm body temperature made me feel a slight trembling fear.

I was afraid that these hands would disappear, become cold, and would make me straighten my hands and not be able to catch them. After I woke up, I could only face a short time. What should I do that day?

Thinking of this, I gritted my teeth and looked up at me: "Qinghan, I understand you."

He seemed to have never expected that I would suddenly say these three words, and just looked at me for a moment: "Little and Qing..."

"But Shin Gongyi is finished."

He was stunned.

"Shen Gong, it's over."

I repeated it again and looked straight into his eyes: "The emperor spent so much effort to get rid of him this time, not only because the power of the Taifu Shen was in power and threatened the imperial power, but also one thing was that with their old ministers, the new policy in the south could not be implemented smoothly. The uneasiness of the south would be affected by the entire Central Plains."

Qinghan nodded: "I understand."

"And now, Shen Gongyi has fallen. Following his old ministers, many of them were given up during the imperial examinations before. This time, the emperor will definitely not be ruthless. After returning to the capital, he is afraid that he will start a major purge."

Qinghan didn't say anything, and a sharp feeling appeared in his clear eyes.

Of course he knew that he, Fu Badai and Pei Yuanhao had been waiting for this day until now.

I continued, "That is to say, after this time, the emperor has no big obstacles to implementing the new policy in the south. I - I have already submitted some of your previous conceptions of the southern tax system."

Qinghan looked at me with wide eyes slightly, and immediately seemed to understand what was coming: "So, it turns out that you told him!"

I nodded.

"No wonder..." he murmured: "No wonder we hit it off at that time."

I didn't ask when they had talked and how they hit it off. Since Pei Yuanhao trusted and reused their master and apprenticeship, it was naturally because the path they were going to take was consistent with the goals they wanted to achieve. Now I just kept looking at his eyes focused and asked seriously: "In this way, do you want to give up on me?"

"..." He was slightly stunned and looked up at me.

"The overall situation of the court has been decided; and your idea will soon be realized in the south. You have known what kind of emperor Pei Yuanhao is, but now, I am afraid that he will know more clearly. His idea of ​​the south is exactly the same as you. Without the obstacles of those people, the future of the south will definitely be realized according to your ideas."

“…”

"The south will get better and will become the same as you think."

“…”

"The only difference is whether you do these things yourself."

“…”

"Even so," I said, grabbing his hand: "Can't you choose me?"

Qinghan seemed to be shocked, and couldn't say anything for a moment, but she just sat there stiffly, her rough fingers in my palm, and it became cold by the way.

Can't you choose me?

I never knew I would be so weak, so I could almost retreat, but I really wanted to try it once.

Holding his fingers hard, I was already a little stuttering when I spoke, and it seemed that I had never had such a difficult "negotiation", because what I bet was something I had been looking forward to for half my life, and the right to judge was only in his hands-
Chapter completed!