In the sixth month of the lunar calendar, Kyoto ushered in the hottest period of the year - the Great Heat.
The cicadas' voices are cheerful and wanton, interpreting the hot summer heat.
In the imperial city, weeping willows are far away, and occasionally a breeze blows, swaying in a swaying posture.
A carriage with filial cloth around the corner came from a distance, and it was very fast, but it stopped at the Meridian Gate.
Then a servant wearing Cheng Ziyi and a white filial belt tied with a waist came down from the steward position, ran to the rear, lifted up the curtain of the carriage door and retreated to the side, and whispered: "Third Master, we are here."
It was noon at this moment, and the sun was hanging over his head like a fireball, making people feel panicked.
Zhang Juling put on a scorching official uniform and walked out of the carriage on the ladder.
He is tall and has black veil wrapped around his cuffs. He is about twenty-six years old, has outstanding facial features, calm eyebrows and eyes, and has an extremely handsome appearance.
The Meridian Gate is also known as Wufeng Tower, and is the main gate of the imperial city.
The east and north sides are connected by city platforms, with vermilion walls and double-eaved hip roofs.
Very solemn and strict.
Zhang Juling narrowed his eyes slightly, walked into the east gate alone, and headed straight to the direction of the Ganqing Palace.
He couldn't understand what the emperor called him over to do at this critical moment... As soon as he stepped on the white marble steps, the leader eunuch Luo Liu greeted him with a smile on his face, "Sir, you are here, the emperor is waiting inside."
Zhang Juling politely bowed and greeted Luo Liu.
The two of them are old acquaintances and are familiar with each other. When the current emperor was still King Yu, they worked together in Prince Yu's mansion.
Zhang Juling was a lecturer and a lecturer, and Luo Liu was a eunuch who served King Yu's pen and Mo.
A sharp-eyed eunuch gave Zhang Juling a quick greeting and went into the Ganqing Palace to spread the word.
After a while, a voice came from inside to let him meet.
Zhang Juling walked into the main hall, knelt down and kowtowed: "I pay homage to the emperor."
Zhu Gaodong sat on the dragon chaise long and put down the white jade bowl in his hand when he heard this, looked up at him and said, "Zhang Aiqing is exempt from courtesy and is given a seat."
Luo Liu brought the chair over.
Zhang Juling thanked her for being grateful and sat down with her body.
"I heard that my beloved wife died...how did the funeral be handled?"
Zhu Gaodong has some meaning.
"Thank you for your care, everything is right."
"That's good."
Zhu Gaodong coughed lightly, remembering the conversation with his mother last night, and the cousin An Ning who loved Zhang Juling... he tentatively said: "Do you have any plans to renew your string?"
Zhang Juling was stunned, and his wife's pale and haggard appearance appeared in her mind before her death. She frowned: "The foolish wife just passed away, and the empress was extremely heartbroken, and she didn't have any thoughts on this."
The emperor was anxious to tell him what it meant to enter the palace?
Is it just to talk about the re-string?
He pursed his thin lips.
Zhu Gaodong was a little embarrassed. He didn't expect Zhang Juling to refuse so neatly.
However, it was not good for him. His wife's body was not cold. It was normal for him to ask this question too much.
If it weren't for his identity, Zhang Juling would have been a gentle man, so he would have been annoyed long ago.
My mother is really like that. Even if she wants to point An Ning’s cousin to Zhang Juling as a reincarnation, she doesn’t have to choose this time…
The scene became cold for a moment, and Zhu Gaodong winked at Luo Liu.
Luo Liu understood it and immediately gave Zhang Juling a cup of tea, and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, this is the emperor's new Biluochun, you can try it."
Zhang Juling thanked him for his gratitude. He and Zhu Gaodong have been together for several years and know their personality and character.
Among emperors, they are rare good temper and honest.
I suddenly asked about his private affairs, but I was afraid there was something else.
When Zhu Gaodong saw Zhang Juling taking a few sips of tea, he changed the topic and prepared to turn over the page just now.
As for the mother and Princess An Ning... he would think of other ways to make excuses.
The two talked about the recent situation of the Yellow River flood. Zhang Juling stood up and said goodbye. His wife's mourning hall had not been settled yet, so he was really restless.
"A man cannot be resurrected when he dies, so you must mourn."
Zhu Gaodong sighed and comforted him. He and Zhang Juling were half-teachers and half-friendly, and there was still a relationship between them.
"Thank you for your guidance, please remember it."
Zhang Juling bowed and thanked him.
Luo Liu sent him out, but as soon as he arrived at the door, he was stopped by a beautiful girl wearing a golden peony and peach-red dress.
"Please treat Princess Anning."
Luo Liu's eyes were sharp, and in a moment, he pulled Zhang Juling to salute.
Princess An Ning didn't speak and stared at Zhang Juling for a long time. Her eyes were red, as if she had suffered a great grievance.
"An Ning, why are you here?
Don't be rude."
When Zhu Gaodong saw that his cousin washaved in a different manner, he scolded him.
An Ning is the little daughter of her aunt. She has been raised since childhood and is arrogant and does not take anyone seriously.
Unexpectedly, when I met Zhang Juling at the Mid-Autumn Festival Palace Festival last year, I thought I would marry him.
An Ning did not answer Zhu Gaodong's words and asked Zhang Juling directly: "Why don't you want to marry me?"
She knew that the Empress Dowager's aunt had discussed with the emperor's cousin about her and Zhang Juling, so she hid in the side hall and eavesdropped, but she didn't expect that it would be the result.
Zhang Juling looked cold and said, "My wife just passed away. According to secular etiquette, she needs to be mourned for three years.
During this period, Zhang had no intention of getting married with a man and a woman."
"Filial piety?"
It is rumored that you couple have been in a state of disagreement for a long time, why do you want to keep a filial piety for her?"
An Ning looked incredible.
"Since it's a rumor, how can you take it seriously?"
Zhang Juling suppressed the surging anger, ignored her, bowed to Zhu Gaodong, and left.
Princess An Ning turned around and wanted to chase her, but was stopped by Zhu Gaodong, "Stop! The royal face has been lost. Come and send her out of the palace."
"Cousin, I don't..." Princess Anning struggled to fight the palace people to pull her arm, begging: "Cousin, I must marry Zhang Juling, and it's okay to wait for another three years."
Zhu Gaodong didn't expect her to be so stubborn. After thinking for a while, he suddenly understood and asked, "Did you give your mother an idea last night?
Let her force me to point you out.”
An Ning said stubbornly: "...It's because my aunt loves me."
"...You are seventeen years old this year. Wait for another three years, and the best age for a woman has passed... Besides, he has no affection for you.
Why bother?"
Zhu Gaodong's face was depressed. Although he was filial to his mother, he did not allow women in the harem to interfere in the affairs of the ministers of the previous dynasty, let alone those with important officials like Zhang Juling.
He had just ascended the throne, and winning people's hearts was the most important thing.
Compared with the ever-green country, brothers and sisters must retreat three points, let alone cousins ​​who are one person who is one person three thousand miles apart.
Zhu Gaodong made up his mind, and there was no need for him to be displeased because of the marriage between Zhang Juling.
"No, cousin..." Zhu Gaodong always smiled, and An Ning was not afraid of him. It was the first time I talked to her in such a cold tone today, and I couldn't help but feel timid.
"An Ning, Zhang Aiqing is not your beloved person.
Think about it carefully, as the princess, you are the royal relatives behind you. He has no reason to refuse you. Wouldn't he want his own future?"
Zhu Gaodong rubbed his temples and continued, "Who does anyone in the world don't like power?
Unless there is a possibility that he truly loves her wife, even if she dies, he will not want to hurt her heart."
"Rumors..." An Ning suddenly spoke, stammering and couldn't speak.
"Most rumors are fake and not trustworthy."
"I will point you a good person, stop making trouble."
Zhu Gaodong stopped looking at her and ordered Luo Liu: "Send it away."
Luo Liu should have called the palace servants to raise Princess An Ning, who was crying.
Zhu Gaodong took two sips of tea and stood up and walked towards Cining Palace.
There are some things he still has to tell his mother clearly about.
The sun was scorching, and the heat was everywhere.
Three days later, a new tomb was erected next to the Zhang family’s ancestral tomb 30 miles away from the suburbs of Beijing. Two lines of words were engraved on the brand new marble tombstone - the tomb of his beloved wife Gu Han and the title of his husband Zhang Juling.
Seeing the people who were attending the funeral leave one after another, Xiaosi Shuming reminded Zhang Juling, who was kneeling in front of the grave, "San Master, let's go back too."
After a long time, Zhang Juling said, "...you all go back and let me be alone for a while."
Shuming served Zhang Juling since he was a child and knew his temper well, so he looked up and was shocked at that time: "Third Master, Third Master..."
"What's wrong?"
Zhang Juling reached out to touch the words on the tombstone without even raising his head.
"...You, your hair is snow-white."
"Snow-white hair?"
Zhang Juling asked back, and then said meaninglessly: "Nothing is wrong."
The woman he loved was left behind and left first.
During these difficult years, there has been only one thing left.
How could you care about anything else?
Shu Ming's eyes turned red and he retreated with the other servants.
Since the death of the third wife, the third wife has been calm and expressionless, and has handled anything calmly, as if she has never taken the third wife to heart.
But if you really don’t have any thoughts in your heart, how could you suddenly turn white?
The sky slowly darkened, and the thin moonlight fell without any obstruction.
It's cooler than the heat of the day.
Zhang Juling still kneeled and sighed calmly: "A lifetime husband and wife, do you actually hate me so much?
Do you dare to revenge me with your death?"
He was talking to himself, but he scared another person.
In fact, he is not a human being, only a wisp of soul that has not dissipated is Gu Han.
"I don't."
Gu Hannuo spoke, but couldn't make a sound.
Yes, she is dead.
But his soul had not dissipated. He watched his body be buried deep in the ground, and the moment Zhang Juling was buried in her coffin, his temples were snow-white.
How could a couple who have been having six years have no fluctuations in their mood?
Sadness and helplessness filled my chest, and the fragrance was mixed.
The rustling night wind was blowing and waves, and the whimpering sounded like a whine.
The world is lonely, and the night is silent.
Zhang Juling was silent for a while and said, "I didn't kill Zhou Haobo, and he was not dead."
While speaking, a man walked out of the woods across the road, his face full of scholarly aura.
He wore a black straight skirt, was thin and slim, and laughed loudly, "Of course I can't die."
When Zhou Haobo appeared in front of Gu Han alive, she was stunned... Didn't he die a year ago?
The news was still what my cousin Gu Qing asked someone to tell her, saying that it was murdered by Zhang Juling... My mother also confirmed this.
"What are you doing?"
Zhang Juling stood with his hands behind his back, his voice hoarse.
“Why can’t I come?
My cousin Han has always been pleased with me.
Now that she has gone, I should come to pay tribute.”
Zhou Haobo glanced at the tombstone.
Zhang Juling closed his eyes. He hated Zhou Haobo's words for no reason, but he had no way to refute them.
His wife's heart is indeed not in him.
"Zhang Juling, do you know how cowardly you live?
Yes, you are more talented than me, and your career is better than me, and you have almost reached the top in the officialdom... But what's the use?
The person you love will never love you, she would rather die than stay by your side.”
Such words were mean and cruel, and they hit people's hearts. Gu Han was incredibly shocked.
In her memory, Zhou Haobo is humble and gentle, as gentle as jade.
The two are childhood sweethearts, and when she was young, she had also loved him.
Good fortune makes people.
Later, she married Zhang Juling with her grandfather.
Although she was indifferent to Zhang Juling at that time, she followed her husband by marrying her. The secular influence she had received for many years was enough to make her live with him wholeheartedly.
Later, she was not pregnant for many years, and her mother-in-law was harsh and reluctant to forgive her. Zhou Haobo died. She heard that Zhang Juling secretly kept an outdoor room... She gradually developed a diaphragm in her heart, and the couple fell in love, and eventually she died of depression.
Zhang Juling turned around to look at him indifferently without saying a word.
"Why don't you speak?
I'm guilty, tell you Zhang Juling, I've been suppressed for too long... We are Jinshi of the same period, so why can you be promoted to the title and be smooth... I have to be rubbed and rubbed in the Hanlin Academy.
Aren't you living a good life?
I'm going to get in."
Zhou Haobo's voice was sharp and weird and crazy because of his pleasure: "You love your cousin so much. If she dies, wouldn't you be heartbroken..." He smiled for a while and said: "My cousin has been very thoughtful since childhood, weak and cannot think deeply. I will use her to find people everywhere to spread the tragic situation of you raising an outdoor room, and then deliberately committing a false death..."
...
Gu Han could no longer listen, and his mind was blank.
She couldn't shed tears, but she felt even more sad and sad.
Is this the person she fell in love with in her youth?
It's really a joke.
Gu Han couldn't help but recall the life he had with Zhang Juling. He was really good to her, and eating, drinking and having fun all followed her thoughts.
Especially in the second half of the year when she was seriously ill, he personally served her... It was only because she was deeply knotted and her eyes were blinded. She blindly ignored her, which created a tragedy that appeared.
While she was disappointed with Zhang Juling, how did Zhang Juling think of her?
I'm afraid it's disappointing.
All disappointment is not caused by temporary reasons, and the source of disappointment is distrust.
The biggest taboo between husband and wife is distrust.
How sad she is, she has mistrusted others, and has harmed herself and those who love her deeply.
Gu Han was obviously dead, but his heart was still so real... She took a look at Zhang Juling for the last time.
Forget it, I have lost you in this life. If there is a next life, I will repay you twice.
As soon as the heart energy dissipated, a wisp of ghost immediately dispersed.
What Gu Han didn't see was that Zhang Juling stabbed Zhou Haobo with a dagger, and then kicked him into the turbulent river not far away, "...You have said so much, wouldn't it be a pity if you haven't died in my hands?"
No matter how you assassinate him, it should not affect his wife.
How could he tolerate this?
The shadows of the trees are swaying, and they are so lonely.
Zhang Juling walked up to Gu Han's tombstone and whispered: "Han'er, I'm sorry.
Don't blame me..." He didn't seem to know how to speak appropriately: "Because of my reason, Zhou Haobo made plans for you like this..."
"It's really damn."
I don’t know if this last sentence is about Zhou Haobo or himself.
Chapter completed!