痕書站

　　一腳邁出門檻，沈清軒欣慰地感覺到了世界的旋轉，轉得那麼快，那麼急，像是要坍塌一樣。他聽見了僕從的驚呼聲，丫頭的驚叫聲，以及身後，那個端坐在椅上的婦人發出的呼喊。
　　她喊：“軒兒！”
　　沈清軒想，不知誰贏了，怕是兩敗俱傷。就這樣想著，嘴角掛著微笑，滿身血跡的倒下。
　　跌地的一瞬間，被伊墨抱進了懷裡。
　　沒有人看清他是怎麼動作的，只知道原先與沈老爺並肩已經走遠的他突然出現在眼前，將大少爺抱在懷中。而後兩人一起，消失不見。
　　
　　沈清軒醒來，身上無一根棉絲，正泡在溫泉水裡，甚是溫暖。睜開眼看了看四周，他笑了一聲道：“你就這麼把我帶來，家裡人會擔心的。”
　　伊墨從背後摟著他的腰，淡淡道：“不會。”
　　沈清軒沉默了，扶在岩石站在水中，背上並無疼痛之感，反手摸了摸，肌理光滑，連疤痕也不曾留下。不禁轉過身來，抬臂攬住了伊墨的頸項：“事到如今，你該嫁我了。”
　　伊墨還是那句：不嫁。
　　拒絕的斬釘截鐵，不留餘地，眼底卻帶著一絲連他自己也不曾知曉的溫柔。
　　沈清軒歎了氣：“行，今日不嫁，明日嫁。一樣的。”
　　伊墨不認為自己會嫁給他，如果一定要給兩人一個嫁娶關係，勉為其難些，他可娶了眼前人。可人家，也是不願意嫁的，只想著娶。
　　這事就這麼擰上了。
　　
　　沈清軒知道，今天這事過後，再沒有什麼人能夠攔住自己的腳步，他要與妖相好，無人攔得住他；他要娶這妖，也無人敢攔他。他的父母已經認輸，僅剩下族中長輩親友，可是，那又怎麼樣呢？就是至親血緣的牽扯，也沒有阻得住他，剩下那些沒有至親血緣維繫的人，哪一個敢站出來，堂堂正正的站在他面前，光明正大的罵一句傷風敗俗！
　　不敢。無人敢。
　　沈清軒眯起眼，仰看著頭頂蒼穹，天空湛藍，萬里無雲。
　　沈家一族銀兩財錢，到今天，全部握在他的手裡。
　　誰敢攔他？誰能攔得住他。
　　一手勾著伊墨脖子，沈清軒貼過去親了親他的臉，“該回去了。這個時辰，小寶四處找我了。”
　　伊墨說：“好”。
　　相識一年零三個月，沈清軒掃盡一切阻礙，只等伊墨點頭，只要他點頭，便可將伊墨的名字，在沈族祠堂裡，在族人和長老的眾目睽睽下，記入族譜。
　　往後沈家不論興衰，但有後世翻閱族譜，便可在祖輩的沈清軒那一行邊，看見伊墨兩字。
　　他只等伊墨點頭。
　　可伊墨，從來不點頭。
　　沈清軒等了八年。
　　
　　又是一個初夏，窗外綠意盎然，屋簷下燕子呢喃，沈清軒坐在院中涼亭裡翻著書，十步開外的地方，一個男孩梳著童髻，在日頭底下跨步站著，背上綁著箭筒，手中挽了一把長弓，正從背後取出羽箭來，瞄上了屋簷下的燕巢。
　　“小寶。”沈清軒眼角瞟到，懶洋洋喊了一聲。
　　孩童連忙收回羽箭，顛顛跑步過去，拖長尾音喊道：“爹——”
　　“在家中無趣了？”沈清軒問。
　　“不如山林裡好玩，”小寶皺了皺鼻子，“爹爹就知道看書。”
　　放下手中書冊，沈清軒捏了捏他的臉：“你父親昨天剛把你送來，就想回山了，討厭爹爹了是不是？”
　　“當然不是。”小寶連忙解釋道：“家裡沒人陪我玩。”
　　“你父親就陪你玩了？”沈清軒想像不出伊墨陪著他玩鬧的樣子，頗為好奇。
　　“父親也不陪我。”小寶笑著露出兩顆虎牙，“山裡好多野獸，父親就讓它們陪我玩。”
　　哈——沈清軒想，野獸和野獸玩一塊去了。
　　
　　父子倆正說著話，伊墨突然出現在庭院裡，問：“說什麼？”
　　“說你讓野獸和他玩。”沈清軒帶了些責怪地道：“還嫌他性子不夠野？”
　　伊墨不答反問：“你想把野獸馴成家犬？”
　　沈清軒辯駁道：“他現在是人。”
　　伊墨挑了挑眉，不答。
　　小寶圓溜溜的眼睛看了看兩位父親，終於忍不住插話，問：“我是野獸嗎？”
　　下一刻沈清軒抓了書冊，拍在他腦袋上，沉聲道：“長輩說話，你……”豈能多嘴。
　　“孩兒錯了。”小寶往下一跪，認錯的極為爽快，顯然是習以為常。沈清軒也不為難他，只沉默著將手中書冊遞過去。
　　“爹，”苦著臉看著那卷《法華經》，小寶可憐兮兮地問：“抄幾遍？”
　　“三遍。”沈清軒微微一笑：“抄完了給你奶奶送去。”
　　小寶起身，抓著伊墨袖口晃了晃，“父親，我抄完了你再來接我去山上好不好？”
　　伊墨想了想，搖頭道：“你先生病好了，明天你要回學堂聽先生授課。”
　　小寶的臉徹底耷拉下來，蔫蔫地走了。
　　一路上絞盡腦汁也弄不明白，為什麼爹爹和父親明明對如何教養他有分歧，卻又對上自己時，意見格外一致。離間都離間不開。
　　每次都是這樣，還不如爺爺對他好。要什麼給什麼。
　　
　　孩子走了，伊墨才坐下，望著對面那張已經萬分熟悉的臉，忍不住問：“你打算讓他抄多少書？”
　　“磨磨性子，邊抄邊看，有多少抄多少就是。”沈清軒喝了口茶，笑道：“你放養著，我圈養著，有什麼不好？”
　　伊墨想想，點頭：“好得很。”說著話，一把將人拉過來，沈清軒順勢歪在他胸前，仰著臉等他親。
　　兩人正擁成一團親的難捨難分，院門猛地被推開了，穿著道服的身影一路橫衝直撞，大嚷大叫地沖了進來，剛好撞見兩人這般姿態，頓時煞住腳，抬手捂了眼，憤然道：“光天化日，你們不要太過分！”
　　沈清軒坐起身，好笑地看著竹林旁跺腳的許明世，心想也不知道是誰過分。他這院子，原來就人煙稀少，自八年前與伊墨的事捅出來，就再沒有什麼人來過，除了兩個丫頭還在院中伺候著，原先的僕從們都分配到別處去了。這幾年，連沈老爺都沒有踏足幾次，沈夫人則一次都沒有，誰都知道，沈府的南院是禁地。
　　雖是禁地，好歹還是有主人的，這許明世一聲招呼不打就沖進來，還敢指責他過分，真是越來越不像樣了。
　　
　　沈清軒起身整了整衣袍走過去。
　　許明世捂著眼，仍在跺腳：“你們快停下，我有急事！”
　　沈清軒放緩腳步靠近，冷不丁在他肩上拍了一把，許明世被唬得一跳，放下手來只見面前沈家大公子正笑眯眯的，還伸了手指著東邊說：“內急，茅房在那邊。”
　　“我不上茅房！”許明世揮著手，“我真有事。”
　　“又惹事了？”沈清軒眯起眼來打量他，有些不信地道：“你這幾年懂事許多，應該不會惹事才對。”
　　許明世連忙擺手表示清白，“不是我不是我，是你弟弟。”
　　“嗯？”沈清軒聞言也沒了捉弄他的心情，“小楨怎麼了？”
　　許明世抹了抹額上的汗：“你給我點水喝。”
　　沈清軒白他一眼，回到涼亭。
　　許明世也跟進來，拿起桌上茶盞連灌三盞才停下，在石凳上坐好，這才一一道來。
　　
　　沈楨在邊南為官，本來家中富足，無須做些貪賄之事，又秉性耿直為官清廉，百姓愛戴。他少年習武，兵法也算通曉，邊南流寇匪徒也一一清剿，更是功績不凡。三年前得舉薦做了邊南太守一職，本該從此風調雨順，為國家守衛南疆。卻不料朝中天子遲遲不立太子，引得朝中重臣分了幾派，朝堂之上紛爭不斷，也不知有多少官員為此而獲益或獲災。朝中之事，離南疆太遠，本不該牽涉到他，卻因為儲君之位，火苗越燃越大，終於燃到了邊疆官員身上。不論文臣武將，官職高低，都被迫著，站向一方或另一方。
　　沈楨自然也被卷了進去，逃脫不開。
　　
　　沈清軒敲了敲自己額頭，道：“今年家書裡倒是聽他說過一些，不過這種事他也不會言明的。黨派之爭向來避免不掉，你只說，他站的哪一派？”
　　伊墨喝著茶，一直默不作聲，直到此刻才出言道：“現下朝中只有兩派人物，不過要倒楣的，好像只是老相國。”
　　沈清軒擰了眉，“你是說小楨無事？”
　　“怎會無事？”許明世急忙接過話茬道：“沈楨說了，上個月有官員連名參奏，說相國在位四十年，貪污銀兩數百萬，賣官鬻爵，考場舞弊云云，列了幾十條罪狀要參倒他呢。”
　　“也是。”沈清軒笑笑：“沈楨既然站在相國這邊，就是站在大皇子這邊。相國一倒，皇子失了左膀右臂，沈楨也會被牽連進去的。不如你替我傳個信，讓他趁著風暴還未來臨，辭官罷了。”
　　許明世搖頭道：“他才不會答應。再說我是去那裡除妖，正好想起你弟弟在當地做官，才去找他的，他跟我又不熟稔。”
　　伊墨看了許明世一眼，又看了看沈清軒，而後才道：“沈楨本意就是要你帶話的，如今他兄長已經發了話，你就再跑一趟又如何？”
　　沈清軒也點頭應和：“你就再跑一趟吧。”
　　許明世急得跺腳：“可之前他也說了，如果讓他辭官，還不如讓他等死。”
　　沈清軒聞言揮了揮袖子：“我也沒有法子，我又不是官員，就算手中有些人脈，也只可消些小災，哪裡有這個本事管這樣的事？”
　　說完起身，驅趕許明世，走到門口了，又想起來囑咐一句：“這事先不要告訴我爹娘。”
　　許明世被他推搡得歪歪倒倒，站都站不直，忙忙應了。
　　
　　許明世一走，沈清軒就垮了肩，長長地歎了一聲，握了伊墨的手，十指相扣著，兩人回了小樓。
　　晚間伊墨閉著眼將人抱在懷中，一手摩挲著他的後背，一邊問：“在想什麼？”
　　“在想我還能等你幾年，”沈清軒同樣閉著眼，咕噥著說：“你就嫁給我又如何。”
　　伊墨眼皮撐開一道細縫，看了看他的發頂，又重新閉上，淡淡道：“撒謊。你在想白天的事。”
　　沈清軒笑著在他鎖骨上啃了啃，動作像極了啃肉骨頭的小狗，齒印密密麻麻還不甘休，又啃上伊墨脖子，留了幾個紅痕泛著水光，才道：“瞞不過你。”又說：“只是我確實想不出辦法來。”
　　伊墨說：“那就慢慢想。”
　　“怕是想出來，我弟弟也死了。”沈清軒重新躺好，看著藕色床幔上的婉約花紋，想了一會，道：“你先睡。”說著起了身，撿了地上散落的衣裳，一件件重新穿戴好，最後套上鞋襪，才回身在伊墨唇上印了一吻，掉頭離去。
　　伊墨看他背影消失在門後，而後扯起被子蓋上，真的就睡了。只是睡到深夜，不自覺地伸出手來，將那被子摟緊了，仿佛懷中抱著一個人。
　　
　　沈清軒連夜寫了幾封信箋，以蠟封口，差人分別送出，三日後回信一一快馬加鞭取回來，沈清軒看完了信，終是想出了一個法子，只是自己都覺得前途叵測，計策歹毒。為難了半天，找了伊墨來商談。
　　沈清軒將信箋一一取出展開，遞過去道：“這些日子我仔細打探過，相國此番是躲不過去了。參奏他的奏章裡列了十大罪狀，隨便一樁都是滅門殺頭之罪，只是唯獨少了一樁。”
　　伊墨翻看著信件，頗有興致的問：“哪樁？”
　　“謀逆。”沈清軒說，說著笑了起來。
　　伊墨看他一眼：“笑得這麼得意。這就是你想出來的罪狀？”
　　“天子賢明，唯獨在太子之事上做不出決定，顯然是不喜歡大皇子。朝堂之中老相國黨羽眾多自成一派，另一派則是擁護三皇子的聞親王，兩派皆是根深葉茂，天子不好剪除，除掉一方，就要看著另一方做大。皇帝是不會做這樣的蠢事的。”沈清軒取了紙筆，低聲道：“聞親王命人參本老相國，只想取了他的人頭，煞煞大皇子這派的氣焰，正合天子心意，所以相國很難保住了。但也不是沒有辦法……”
　　辦法就是，在那十大罪狀上，再加一條彌天大罪——謀逆。
　　謀逆之罪，罪大過天。
　　相國黨羽眾多，若是被扣上謀逆的帽子，朝堂將進行一次大清洗，這樣的清洗是天子不願意看到的。他只想除老相國，並不想將他身後勢力一次性連根拔起，否則大皇子一派徹底倒下，三皇子擁立為太子就免不掉了。到那時，天子不答應也得答應。一國之君是不會眼看著這樣的事情發生的，不可能讓一方勢力做大到威脅自己的位置。
　　只是需要有人在朝堂參上一本。老相國就能保住，老相國身後勢力，自然也能保住。
　　
　　“你看著我做什麼？”伊墨問。
　　沈清軒微微一笑：“你腳程快，替我把這信送給該送的人，如何？”
　　伊墨說：“我以為你不需要我幫忙。”
　　“任何時候，我都需要你。”沈清軒抬起眼，認真地凝視著他：“只要你在我身邊。”我就不怕。
　　伊墨靜靜望著他，桌上燭火輕微搖晃，烏黑的眼底有溫暖橘色在脈脈流淌。沈清軒伸手過去，握了他的手指摩搓，伊墨翻過手，交疊的手指糾纏在一處，沈清軒微笑的看著，又凝望著他的眼，滿眼情意從不掩藏。
　　抽了桌上墨蹟未乾的信箋，伊墨起身，消失不見。
　　
　　三月後沈楨家書寄回，老相國因貪墨舞弊被撤去官職，回鄉休養。聞親王植党營私，污蔑重臣，削去爵位，扣三年薪俸。
　　沈清軒披頭散髮臥在美人榻上聽小寶背書，扔了手中信箋，自言自語道：“與我何干，我只保我兄弟。”又看向小寶：“背到哪裡了？”
　　“瞻彼淇奧，綠竹猗猗，有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨……”小寶板起臉來：“爹都不認真聽。”
　　“小寶。”沈清軒突地坐起身來，道：“君子如玉，雙玉為玨，你往後就叫沈玨。”
　　“為什麼是雙玉？”小寶奇怪的問。
　　沈清軒又懶洋洋的躺回去：“不為什麼。”
　　“爹爹誑我。”小寶才不信他，想了想道：“因為我是爹爹和父親的孩子嗎？”
　　沈清軒橫眼瞪他，“想不明白就好好想，不要胡說。”
　　“爹爹，你耳根紅了。”小寶嚴肅地指出，然後自己下了結論，“一定就是這樣的。”
　　隨後被他爹一本書砸在腦袋上，趕出去了。
　　
　　沈清軒扯了薄毯蓋在臉上，耳根燒的通紅，心裡啐了無數遍，暗暗道：“我才不是什麼君子。”
　　門外小寶扯著嗓子在那喊：
　　……有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨……
　　……有匪君子，如金如錫，如圭如璧……

————————————————

As soon as he stepped out of the door, Shen Qingxuan felt relieved that the world was spinning, spinning so fast, so fast, as if it was about to collapse. He heard the servants’ exclamations, the maids’ screams, and the shouts of the woman sitting on the chair behind him.

She shouted: “Xuan’er!"

Shen Qingxuan thought, I don’t know who will win, I’m afraid both sides will suffer. Just thinking this, with a smile on his face, he fell down covered in blood.

The moment he fell to the ground, Yi Mo hugged him in his arms.

No one saw how he moved, they only knew that he, who had been walking far away with Master Shen, suddenly appeared in front of them and held the young master in his arms. Then the two of them disappeared together.

Shen Qingxuan woke up, not a single cotton thread on his body, and was soaking in the hot spring water, which was very warm. He opened his eyes and looked around, then he smiled and said , “You brought me here like this, my family will be worried."

Yi Mo hugged his waist from behind and said calmly, “No."

Shen Qingxuan was silent. He stood in the water leaning against a rock. He felt no pain on his back. He touched it with his backhand. The skin was smooth without even a scar. He turned around and put his arms around Yi Mo’s neck: “Now that things have come to this, you should marry me."

Yi Mo still said the same thing: I won’t marry.

His refusal was firm and without any room for negotiation, but there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes that he himself was not even aware of.

Shen Qingxuan sighed: “Okay, if you don’t marry today, you can marry tomorrow. It’s the same."

he could marry the person in front of him reluctantly . But the person was also unwilling to marry and only wanted to marry.

This is how the matter got twisted.

Shen Qingxuan knew that after what happened today, no one could stop him. If he wanted to be with the demon, no one could stop him; if he wanted to marry the demon, no one dared to stop him. His parents had already given up, and only the elders and relatives in the clan were left, but, so what? Even the blood relationship could not stop him. Who of the remaining people who had no blood relationship dared to stand up and stand in front of him and openly scold him for being immoral!

No one dares.

Shen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky above his head. The sky was blue and cloudless.

Shen family is in his hands.

Who dares to stop him? Who can stop him?

With one hand hooked around Yi Mo’s neck, Shen Qingxuan leaned over and kissed his face, “It’s time to go back. Xiaobao is looking for me everywhere at this hour."

Yi Mo said: “Okay."

After knowing each other for one year and three months, Shen Qingxuan removed all obstacles and waited for Yi Mo to nod . As long as he nodded, he would record Yi Mo’s name in the family tree in the Shen family’s ancestral hall, in front of all the clan members and elders.

No matter whether the Shen family prospers or declines in the future, future generations who look through the family tree will see the words “Yi Mo" next to the line of their ancestor Shen Qingxuan.

He just waited for Yi Mo to nod .

But Yi Mo never nodded.

Shen Qingxuan waited for eight years.

It was another early summer. Outside the window was lush greenery and swallows were chirping under the eaves. Shen Qingxuan was sitting in the pavilion in the yard flipping through a book. Ten steps away, a boy with a bun on his head was standing under the sun with a quiver tied on his back and a longbow in his hand. He was taking out feather arrows from his back and aiming at the swallow’s nest under the eaves.

“Xiaobao." Shen Qingxuan glanced at him and called out lazily.

The child quickly retracted the arrow, ran over, and called out in a long tone: “Dad——"

“Are you bored at home?" Shen Qingxuan asked.

“It’s not as fun as in the forest," Xiao Bao wrinkled his nose, “Daddy only knows how to read."

Putting down the book in his hand, Shen Qingxuan pinched his face and said, “Your father just sent you here yesterday, and you want to go back to the mountain. Do you hate your father now?"

“Of course not." Xiaobao quickly explained: “There’s no one at home to play with me."

“Your father will play with you?" Shen Qingxuan couldn’t imagine Yi Mo playing with him, and was quite curious.

“My father didn’t accompany me either." Xiaobao smiled and showed his two tiger teeth. “There are many wild animals in the mountains, so my father let them play with me."

Ha——Shen Qingxuan thought, the wild beasts are playing together.

The father and son were talking when Yi Mo suddenly appeared in the courtyard and asked, “What are you talking about?"

“You let the wild beast play with him." Shen Qingxuan said with some blame: “Do you think his temperament is not wild enough?"

Yi Mo did not answer but asked: “Do you want to tame the wild beast into a domestic dog?"

Shen Qingxuan argued: “He is a human now."

Yi Mo raised his eyebrows and didn’t answer.

Xiao Bao looked at his two fathers with his round eyes, and finally couldn’t help but interrupt and asked, “Am I a beast?"

The next moment Shen Qingxuan grabbed the book, slapped him on the head, and said in a deep voice: “The elders are talking, you…" How could he say too much.

“I was wrong." Xiaobao knelt down and admitted his mistake very readily, obviously used to it. Shen Qingxuan did not embarrass him, but just handed the book in his hand to him in silence.

“Dad," Xiao Bao looked at the Lotus Sutra with a bitter face and asked pitifully, “How many times do you want me to copy it?"

“Three times." Shen Qingxuan smiled slightly: “After copying it, send it to your grandma."

Xiao Bao stood up and shook Yi Mo’s sleeve, “Father, can you pick me up to the mountain after I finish copying?"

Yi Mo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Your teacher has recovered from his illness. You have to go back to the school tomorrow to listen to his lectures."

Xiaobao’s face drooped completely and he walked away dejectedly.

He racked his brains all the way but couldn’t figure out why his father and dad had different opinions on how to raise him, but when it came to him, they were so unanimous.

It’s always like this, he’s not as good as his grandfather. He gets whatever he wants.

After the child left, Yi Mo sat down, looking at the very familiar face opposite him, and couldn’t help asking: “How many books do you plan to let him copy?"

“Take your time, copy and read at the same time, and copy as much as you can." Shen Qingxuan took a sip of tea and said with a smile: “You let it go and I keep it in a cage , what’s wrong with that?"

Yi Mo thought about it and nodded: “Very good." As he spoke, he pulled the person over. Shen Qingxuan leaned against his chest, tilted his face up and waited for him to kiss him.

The two were embracing each other , kissing each other, when the gate was suddenly pushed open. A figure in a Taoist robe rushed in, yelling and shouting. He happened to see the two people in this posture, so he stopped immediately, raised his hands to cover his eyes, and said angrily: “Don’t go too far in broad daylight!"

Shen Qingxuan sat up and looked at Xu Mingshi who was stamping his feet beside the bamboo forest with amusement, wondering who was going too far. His courtyard was originally sparsely populated. Since the incident with Yi Mo was exposed eight years ago, no one has come here. Except for two maids who are still serving in the courtyard , the original servants have been assigned to other places. In the past few years, even Master Shen has not set foot here a few times, and Madam Shen has not set foot here even once. Everyone knows that the South Courtyard of the Shen Mansion is a forbidden area.

Although it is a forbidden area, it still has an owner. Xu Mingshi rushed in without saying hello and even dared to accuse him of going too far. He is really becoming more and more outrageous.

Shen Qingxuan stood up, straightened his robe and walked over.

Xu Mingshi covered his eyes and continued to stamp his feet: “Stop now, I have something urgent to do!"

Shen Qingxuan slowed down his pace and approached him. He suddenly patted him on the shoulder. Xu Mingshi was startled. He put down his hand and saw the eldest son of the Shen family smiling in front of him. He pointed to the east and said, “If you are in a hurry, the toilet is over there."

“I’m not going to the toilet!" Xu Mingshi waved his hands, “I really have something to do."

“Are you causing trouble again?" Shen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes and looked at him, and said with some disbelief: “You have become much more sensible in the past few years, you should not cause trouble."

Xu Mingshi quickly waved his hands to prove his innocence, " It’s not me, it’s not me , it’s your brother."

“Hmm?" Shen Qingxuan lost the mood to tease him after hearing this, " What happened to Xiaozhen ?"

Xu Mingshi wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “Give me some water."

Shen Qingxuan rolled his eyes at him and returned to the pavilion.

Xu Mingshi also followed in, picked up the teacup on the table and drank three cups in a row before stopping. He sat down on the stone bench and then told the story one by one.

Shen Zhen was an official in Biannan . His family was rich, so he didn’t need to do anything corrupt. He was upright and honest, and the people loved him. He practiced martial arts when he was young, and he was familiar with the art of war. He also eliminated the bandits in Biannan one by one, which was an extraordinary achievement. Three years ago, he was recommended to be the governor of Biannan. From then on, he should have enjoyed good weather and guarded the southern border for the country. However, the emperor in the court was reluctant to appoint a crown prince, which led to the division of the important officials in the court into several factions. There were constant disputes in the court, and it was unknown how many officials benefited or suffered from this. The affairs of the court were too far away from the southern border, and he should not have been involved. However, because of the position of the crown prince, the flames grew bigger and bigger, and finally burned to the officials in the border. Regardless of whether they were civil officials or military generals, and whether they were high or low officials, they were all forced to stand on one side or the other.

Shen Zhen was naturally dragged into it and couldn’t escape.

Shen Qingxuan tapped his forehead and said, “I did hear him talk about this in his family’s letters this year, but he would never say it explicitly. Factional disputes are inevitable. Just tell me, which faction does he stand on?"

Yi Mo drank his tea in silence until this moment when he spoke: “There are only two factions in the court now, but it seems that the only one who will be unlucky is the old prime minister."

Shen Qingxuan frowned, “Are you saying that Xiaozhen is fine?"

“How can there be nothing?" Xu Mingshi quickly took over the conversation and said, “Shen Zhen said that last month a group of officials jointly reported the prime minister, saying that the prime minister had been in office for forty years, embezzled millions of silver, sold official positions, cheated in the examination hall, and so on. They listed dozens of crimes to bring him down."

“That’s right." Shen Qingxuan smiled: “Since Shen Zhen is on the side of the prime minister, he is on the side of the eldest prince. Once the prime minister falls, the prince will lose his left and right arms, and Shen Zhen will also be implicated. Why don’t you send a message for me and ask him to resign before the storm comes."

Xu Mingshi shook his head and said, “He would never agree. Besides, I was going there to exorcise demons, and I happened to remember that your brother was an official there, so I went to find him. He and I are not familiar with each other."

Yi Mo glanced at Xu Mingshi, then at Shen Qingxuan, and then said, “Shen Zhen originally wanted you to deliver a message. Now that his brother has spoken, what’s wrong with you making another trip?"

Shen Qingxuan also nodded in agreement: “Just make another trip."

Xu Mingshi stamped his feet anxiously: “But he also said before that if he was asked to resign, it would be better for him to wait for death."

Shen Qingxuan waved his sleeves when he heard this: “I don’t have any way either. I’m not an official. Even if I have some connections, I can only avoid minor disasters. How can I take care of such things?"

After saying that, he stood up, drove Xu Mingshi away, and walked to the door. He remembered to remind him, “Don’t tell my parents about this first."

Xu Mingshi was pushed by him and staggered, unable to stand straight, so he hurriedly agreed.

As soon as Xu Mingshi left, Shen Qingxuan slumped his shoulders, let out a long sigh, held Yi Mo’s hand, and with their fingers interlocked, the two returned to the small building.

At night, Yi Mo closed his eyes and held him in his arms, stroking his back with one hand, and asked, “What are you thinking about?"

“I was wondering how many more years I can wait for you," Shen Qingxuan also closed his eyes and muttered, “What if you just marry me?"

Yi Mo opened his eyelids a little, looked at the top of his head, then closed them again and said lightly: “You’re lying. You’re thinking about what happened during the day."

Shen Qingxuan smiled and nibbled on his collarbone, his movements were like a puppy gnawing on a bone , leaving dense teeth marks, and he didn’t stop there. He nibbled on Yi Mo’s neck, leaving a few red marks with watery luster , and then said, “I can’t hide it from you." He added, “It’s just that I really can’t think of a way."

Yi Mo said: “Then think about it slowly."

“I’m afraid that if I figure it out, my brother will be dead too." Shen Qingxuan lay down again, looking at the graceful patterns on the lotus-colored bed curtains . After thinking for a while, he said, “You go to sleep first." Then he got up, picked up the clothes scattered on the ground, put them on one by one, and finally put on his shoes and socks. Then he turned around and kissed Yi Mo on the lips, then turned around and left.

Yi Mo watched his back disappear behind the door, then pulled up the quilt to cover himself and really fell asleep. But late at night, he unconsciously reached out his hand and hugged the quilt tightly, as if he was holding someone in his arms.

Shen Qingxuan wrote several letters overnight, sealed them with wax, and sent them out separately. Three days later, the replies were brought back one by one. Shen Qingxuan read the letters and finally came up with a solution, but he felt that the future was unpredictable and the plan was vicious. After a long period of embarrassment, he asked Yi Mo to discuss it.

Shen Qingxuan took out the letters one by one, unfolded them, and handed them over, saying, “I have carefully inquired these days, and the Prime Minister can’t escape this time. The memorial against him listed ten major crimes, any one of which is a crime punishable by extermination of the entire family, but there is only one missing."

Yi Mo flipped through the letter and asked with interest, “Which one?"

“Treason." Shen Qingxuan said, and laughed.

Yi Mo glanced at him and said, “You are smiling so smugly. Is this the crime you came up with?"

“The emperor is wise, but he can’t make a decision on the matter of the crown prince. It’s obvious that he doesn’t like the eldest prince. The old prime minister has many followers in the court and has formed his own faction. The other faction is Prince Wen who supports the third prince. Both factions are deeply rooted and it is difficult for the emperor to cut them off. If he gets rid of one, he will have to watch the other grow stronger. The emperor will not do such a stupid thing." Shen Qingxuan took a pen and paper and whispered, “Prince Wen ordered people to report this old prime minister, just to take his head and put a stop to the arrogance of the eldest prince’s faction, which is exactly what the emperor wants, so it is difficult to keep the prime minister. But there is a way…"

The solution is to add one more heinous crime – treason – to the ten major crimes.

The crime of treason is heavier than heaven.

The prime minister has many followers. If he is accused of treason, the court will be purged, which is something the emperor does not want to see. He only wants to get rid of the old prime minister , and does not want to uproot the forces behind him all at once. Otherwise, the eldest prince’s faction will fall completely, and the third prince will inevitably be supported as the crown prince. By then, the emperor will have to agree. The king of a country will not watch such a thing happen, and it is impossible to let one side grow to threaten his position.

It just requires someone to make a report in the court. Then the old prime minister can be saved, and the power behind the old prime minister can naturally be saved as well.

“Why are you looking at me?" Yi Mo asked.

Shen Qingxuan smiled slightly: “You are fast, how about you deliver this letter to the right person for me?"

Yi Mo said: “I thought you didn’t need my help."

“I need you at any time." Shen Qingxuan raised his eyes and stared at him seriously: “As long as you are by my side." I’m not afraid.

Yi Mo looked at him quietly, the candlelight on the table swaying slightly, and a warm orange color flowing in his dark eyes. Shen Qingxuan reached out and rubbed his fingers. Yi Mo turned his hand over, and their crossed fingers were entangled together. Shen Qingxuan looked at him with a smile, and then stared into his eyes, his eyes full of affection that he never concealed.

Picking up the letter with wet ink on the table, Yi Mo stood up and disappeared.

Three months later, Shen Zhen sent a letter home, saying that the old prime minister was dismissed from office for corruption and returned to his hometown to recuperate. When the prince was found to have formed a clique for personal gain and slandered important officials, he was stripped of his title and his salary was withheld for three years.

Shen Qingxuan, with disheveled hair, lay on the beauty couch and listened to Xiaobao reciting. He threw away the letter in his hand and said to himself, “What does it have to do with me? I only protect my brother." He looked at Xiaobao again and asked, “How far have you recited?"

“Look at the Qi River, the green bamboos are lush and green , there is a gentleman, sharpening his sword, polishing his sword…" Xiaobao frowned: “Dad doesn’t even listen carefully."

“Xiaobao." Shen Qingxuan suddenly sat up and said, “A gentleman is like jade, and two jades are called Jue . From now on, you will be called Shen Jue."

“Why are there two jades?" Xiaobao asked curiously.

Shen Qingxuan lay back lazily: “No reason."

“Daddy lied to me." Xiaobao didn’t believe him. He thought for a moment and said, “Because I am Daddy’s and my father’s child?"

Shen Qingxuan glared at him , “If you can’t figure it out, think about it carefully, don’t talk nonsense."

“Daddy, your ears are red." Xiaobao pointed out seriously, and then came to his own conclusion, “It must be like this."

Then his father hit him on the head with a book and kicked him out.

Shen Qingxuan pulled a thin blanket over his face, his ears burning red, he spat countless times in his heart, and secretly said: “I am not a gentleman."

Outside the door, Xiaobao was shouting at the top of his voice:

…There are bandit gentlemen who are as sharp as a knife, as polished as a stone…

…There are some gentlemen who are like gold, like tin, like a jade , like a jade …