"The gangsters come to trade silk. When bandits come to trade silk, they come to me." [The Book of Songs·Guo Feng·Wei Feng]
"It's a cold day, please get up quickly. It's just you and me, the monarch and my minister, so there's no need to be formal."
However, Wang Bin did not get up. He still bowed his head and pressed his forehead tightly on the back of his folded hands: "I'm sorry, old minister!"
The emperor, who was originally smiling, suddenly stood up and slammed the hot tea he was holding on the ground. The lacquer bowl was solidly made and did not appear to be broken. It just fell to the ground with a bang, frightening Mu Shun who was waiting outside the door.
I jumped, and cautiously poked my head inside, but didn't dare to enter.
Mu Shun was like this, and the other Zhonghuangmen standing under the eaves were even more silent. They quietly stepped back a few steps, trying to stay away from the center of the turmoil.
"What are you ashamed of? I think you look down on those good families!"
Whether in this life or before time travel, the emperor has always been very respectful to his uncle. This may be related to Liu Xie's lack of father's love since he was a child, and also to the fact that the emperor has no one to rely on. Now that the emperor is angry, he is letting him
Wang Bin was frightened more than afraid. He also knew that it was his own fault first, so he bowed his head again and again, intending to let the emperor calm down before he could say anything else: "Queen Linghuai was originally chosen as a son of a good family.
How dare I be disrespectful, veteran!"
Wang Bin tactfully mentioned the emperor's biological mother and played the emotional card. Even though the emperor had lived for two generations, he had to be speechless at this time.
"Humph." The emperor sneered, spread out his wide sleeves, and sat back on the table. Although his expression was still cold, it had actually softened a lot: "If I don't order my uncle to enter the palace today, I don't know when he will tell me.
My marriage?"
"I don't intend to recognize this marriage." Wang Bin said resolutely.
There was still no smile on the emperor's face, and he asked: "Why is this?"
Wang Bin was at a loss for words at this time, and said hesitantly: "Old minister... Mi family is a merchant after all. The so-called farmers eliminate the poor..."
"Fan Li in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Di Shi during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu were all merchants, and there was nothing shameful about them." The emperor said coldly: "I heard that the Mi family performed righteous deeds in the East China Sea and were generous and charitable.
Zhu is also a very well-known person. Apart from anything else, he is a perfect match for your family and is a perfect match."
Wang Bin was about to explain, but the emperor stopped him: "My uncle wants me to fulfill your wish, right?"
After saying that, the emperor looked at Wang Bin with bright eyes. Wang Bin tasted many complicated emotions from the emperor's eyes. He seemed to be aware that what he had to decide this time was not only the marriage of his son Wang Duan.
, and it also determines the direction of the general trend in the future.
"honestly."
The emperor's words made Wang Bin's heart tremble. Just as he was about to shake his head and continue to insist on his previous attitude, the haggard figure of his son Wang Duan suddenly passed before his eyes. Wang Fu's yearning for a high-ranking noble family... He hesitated for only half a moment.
Then he blurted out: "Mr. Mi, you are indeed a good match."
"Yes..." The emperor thought for a moment and suddenly asked: "When did my uncle enter the court?"
"In February of the first year of Chuping, at that time, your Majesty had newly buried the Emperor Xiaohuai, and issued an imperial edict to his mother's family. The old minister was ordered to take his wife to Chang'an, where he was given a house and land, and was given the title of Captain Che." Wang Bin didn't know that the emperor was the emperor.
I asked for no reason what this meant, so I had to answer truthfully.
"At the time of the meeting, the court wanted to follow the previous example and make you a prince and pay homage to the minister. After all, I succeeded to the throne at a young age. I don't have anyone who is considerate and close to me to serve me. I have my uncle taking care of me, so the ministers can rest assured."
The emperor talked lightly about a public case that happened at the time. This was something he remembered. Now that he thought about it, it might have been mixed with the temptation of the scholars who wanted to use Wang Bin to curb Dong Zhuo. It was a pity that Dong Zhuo at that time no longer cared about the rules: "Dong
The thief's unwillingness is only one of the reasons, but uncle, you yourself are unwilling, which is another reason."
"Wei." The emperor wanted to recall the past at this time, and Wang Bin had to follow suit: "When I saw that Dong was so powerful, I only wanted to protect my family and not be too public in the court. I was appointed Captain of Che.
It was an old minister who took the initiative to seek it, so that he could take advantage of this position to carry the bridle and chariot for the emperor at all times and travel with him. This can be regarded as being loyal to the emperor."
These few words were very practical, and the emperor was a little moved. Wang Bin had never been a selfless person. From the beginning, he tried his best to protect his family while taking into account the emperor's safety. At this time, he was between his family and the emperor.
During this time, he also tried to make a balanced move, but unfortunately at this time, Wang Bin thought too simply. Therefore, the emperor stared with burning eyes and could not say a word for a long time.
"My uncle has been loyal and dedicated to me. I have seen everything he has done for me over the years." The emperor unknowingly expressed his feelings and said in a slightly negative tone: "I am not that kind of mean and ungrateful person, and neither are you."
You don’t have to compromise, as long as your uncle keeps his mind unchanged, so what if he has some thoughts for himself and the family? Since Mr. Mi is a good match, you can’t do without a good matchmaker. This time, it’s up to me.
Come and be a good matchmaker for your family."
Nowadays, public opinion is already riding a tiger. If the emperor were to forcefully beat the mandarin ducks, not to mention whether the Wang Duan brothers would have a rebellious mentality, it would also be very detrimental to the reputation of the Wang family and the emperor. Since it can't be done, it can't be done.
It is better to show the beauty of a generous adult and leave some sympathy between the emperor and his ministers. Just now the emperor recalled the past friendship between the emperor and his ministers. Wang Bin must be able to understand the meaning of this.
Wang Bin gasped and was stunned for a long time, then he said calmly: "Your Majesty..."
At first, his father Wang Zhang lived in poverty and was not an official, and his family was poor, so Wang Bin and Wang Rong, brother and sister, depended on each other. Even when Wang Rong later entered the palace and became the concubine of Emperor Xiaoling, he did not get the honor because of the great power of the He family.
Any favor. It can be said that the Wang family has endured a lot of hardships. It was only in these years that he followed the nephew emperor and lived a life of courtesy and resistance. Now that he thinks about it, why is the emperor not the same?
He suddenly felt regretful for his momentary softness. Maybe if he retreated like this today, it would be difficult to stand by the emperor's side again in the future, and there would no longer be anyone around the emperor.
But now that the matter was settled, after the emperor agreed to Wang Duan and Mi Zhen's marriage, he returned to his usual affectionate manner towards Wang Bin. After greeting Wang Bin for a while, the emperor stood up and helped Wang Bin out of the door. Not only did he
He ordered Li Jian to escort him carefully, and also asked Hua Tuo, the newly recruited imperial doctor to enter the court, to visit Wang Bin's house regularly for consultations.
In the eyes of outsiders, the uncle and nephew are still the same pair of uncles and nephews, but the monarch and his ministers are no longer the same pair of monarchs and ministers.
The emperor stood at the door and watched Wang Bin's rickety and thin body slowly go away. Until the other person's body disappeared from the field of vision, he suddenly sighed and stretched out his left arm to Mu Shun, who had been standing silently by the door.
.
Mu Shun seemed to have his eyes lowered, but in fact he had been observing the emperor's actions. When he saw the emperor extending his hand to signal, he quickly stretched out his hands to support him. This was an extremely ordinary move, and Mu Shun did not take it seriously, but there was only a trace of it.
I wonder what happened to the independent and strong emperor who never asked him for help in the past to be so tired.
The emperor was served by Mu Shun and walked back to the palace. The lacquer bowl that the emperor had thrown to the floor at first was still lying half sideways on the floor, and the tea splashed everywhere on the floor.
When Mu Shun saw this, he was about to help the emperor back to his seat and then clean it up with his own hands. Unexpectedly, the emperor stood beside the lacquer bowl, stared at it for a while, and then slowly bent down and took the cloud-patterned lacquer bowl with his own hands.
Picked up the paint bowl.
The emperor held the oval lacquer bowl, gently stroked the surface of the bowl with both hands, and called softly: "Mu Shun..."
Mu Shun didn't know why, so he responded: "My servant is here."
The outer surface of this lacquer bowl seemed to be intact, but in fact, a finger-sized hole was broken at the bottom. The emperor's eyes showed rare regret and sadness, and his tone did not sound like he was distressed for this one. This one is everywhere in Weiyang Palace.
The visible lacquer bowl seems to be distressing for a treasure that can no longer be desired:
"I thought this bowl would not be broken."
The aroma of Hengwu in the palace had long since faded away. The emperor shook off Mu Shun, held the lacquer bowl in both hands, slung it behind his back, and walked slowly to his royal couch.