In the elegant room in the restaurant, after the Jiang family's father and son left, the atmosphere was a little strangely silent. After a while, it was Taohua who broke the silence first: "Thank you Lord Wang." ”

Shen Shu smiled and didn't ask her why she thanked her: "I should have thanked the girl." The pepper seeds were not available until autumn, but I first gave some dried peppers that I had harvested last year, and made them according to the method given by the girl, and it was really quite delicious. "That spicy energy was really exciting to eat in the mouth at first, and the butterfly clothes and cicada clothes were unbearable, but several men liked it more and more the more they ate, especially Wu Zheng, who has been a little spicy and unhappy recently. It's a pity that there are not many peppers planted in Xingjiao Temple, which is not enough for him to eat openly.

"The pepper came from the southern sea, and there must be other people who planted it, so the prince can send someone to collect it. It's not very difficult to grow, but it also stimulates the stomach and intestines, so you can't eat too much. ”

Wu Zheng touched his nose and said with a dry smile: "What the girl said is true." There are many refreshing things that will eventually make you sick, and if you are happy, you will be harmful, reasonable, reasonable. "With a little white eye of Dieyi, isn't he the most unrestrained?

Taohua couldn't help but smile slightly. Thinking about the Sichuan restaurants that opened all over China in later generations, the charm of chili peppers can be seen, and it is normal for some people to be unable to resist.

"As for the Golden Creation Medicine-" Shen Shu hesitated, "I want to ask the girl to make as many as possible." ”

"Yes." Taohua agreed, groaned for a while, and said, "I can give the prescription to the prince." "The biggest use of this simple Jinchuang medicine is still in the army, just look at the poor sales of the medicine she made before, this recipe is not of much use to the Jiang family if it stays, it is better to promote it to the army, it can benefit one party."

Wu Zheng's goatee moved slightly, and Dieyi's eyes widened in surprise. Everyone knows the preciousness of the secret recipe, every family is like this, the ancestral secret recipe is passed on to men and not to women, and daughters-in-law are not passed on to sons-in-law, how can anyone be willing to hand over the recipe casually?

Wu Zheng reacted quickly, and hurriedly asked, "I don't know how much the girl wants to offer?" ”

Taohua couldn't help but smile again: "What's the price?" I have already said that in order to be cheap, this golden medicine is not as effective as those good drugs, and this recipe is not particularly unusual. The Northwest Army is fighting hard in the border areas to defend the homeland and the country, we can neither contribute, nor do we have much money to contribute, so what is it to send a prescription? ”

Wu Zheng became excited: "Could it be that the girl is going to donate the prescription to the Northwest Army?" ”

"Let's donate, as long as the prince keeps it secret for us."

Wu Zheng stood up and raised his hand to Taohua: "Wu's generation of Northwest Army soldiers have thanked Miss Jiang." "That dog is almost as good as the wound is guaranteed to be clean, and in the battle, the cleaning conditions may not be completely guaranteed, but the effect of the Jiang family's golden medicine to stop bleeding has been clearly demonstrated, and it is really suitable for the army. If you buy medicine from the Jiang family, it is not as convenient as mastering the prescription system yourself anyway.

Taohua was also startled by his monkey-like jump, and hurriedly got up to avoid it: "Mr. Wu doesn't have to be like this. The prince is thoughtful for the Jiang family, and I just have a slight return. ”

Wu Zheng rubbed his hands excitedly: "This medicine may save many people's lives, and the girl's merits are immeasurable." ”

Taohua smiled, picked up a pen and paper and wrote down the prescription, and wrote down the matters that need to be paid attention to in medicine: "For injured people, wound cleaning is the most important thing, and salt water or spirits are very effective in cleaning wounds. "This is to stop bleeding, and the anti-inflammatory function is not very good," as for the medicine, it must be clean, and the same is true for preservation, otherwise it is not a medicine that saves people, but a poison that harms people. ”

Wu Zheng nodded again and again, put away the prescription and put it away, and sighed: "But a few flavored medicines have such an effect, and sure enough, generations of doctors have made extraordinary moves." ”

Taohua felt that this praise was a bit deserved, so she got up and said, "Regarding the purchase of medicinal materials, I will go back and discuss with my father." In a few days, we will go back to Wuxi, and we will finalize the required medicinal materials before departure, and then we can go back and start purchasing. ”

Shen Shu was slightly stunned: "You want to go back to Wuxi?" ”

"Yes. Originally, I went to Beijing to celebrate my grandfather's birthday, but now that my grandfather's birthday has passed, we should go back. "There are too many troubles in this place in the capital, so it's better to stay away.

"Is it because of Cheng Enbo?" Shen Shu asked keenly, "If it's for him, I can think of a way." "For example, let Yu Sirui fall off a horse and break a leg or something. He didn't have the right people before, but now that Yin Zhongxing has a few people, any one of them can do this without a trace.

Taohua smiled: "It's not for him." She laughed a little sarcastically, "If Cheng Enbo is still indulging in wine as before, it won't take him a month or two to fall down." ”

"What's that for?" Shen Shu subconsciously asked, "The medicine hall concocts the golden creation medicine, and you don't have to go back in person, right?" ”

Taohua hesitated: "The capital is eventful, I don't want to stay for a long time." The prince also knows that my father is just a showman, but there are many powerful people in the capital, even if there is no Cheng Enbo, there may be others ......"

Shen Shu frowned: "Could it be that something happened to Miss Jiang?" "What Taohua said is the truth, but the Jiang family can be regarded as keeping to themselves, what are they afraid of for no reason?

Taohua smiled bitterly, didn't answer, only got up and said goodbye: "I'll go back and discuss with my father what kind of medicinal herbs to buy." "What does she say? said that his cousin pushed her out in order to curry favor with the emperor, maybe she would cause some trouble in the future? The ugliness of the family should not be publicized, and she and Shen Shu have not yet become acquainted with that kind of Cheng dù.

Shen Shu also got up to see him off, and only after watching Taohua's carriage go away did he let out a long sigh: "Let's go back too." All the silver given by the emperor was sent to the northwest? ”

This refers to the treasures obtained from the homes of several eunuchs in the palace, and all the treasures obtained from the houses of the eunuchs in the palace were sent to the northwest army according to the emperor's promise, and the soldiers were paid silver.

"It's already on our way." Wu Zheng sat in the same carriage with him, stroked his goatee and smiled, "This time I have gained a lot." ”

In addition to the fields, the family property of several eunuchs also copied out antiques and other things worth tens of thousands of taels, some of which were returned to the original owners, and some were attributed to the emperor's village, and the antiques were not available to the Northwest Army, and they could not be exchanged for cash for a while, so Shen Shu simply dedicated them to the emperor. It is said that the emperor was angry in the dormitory because of this, saying that King Anjun was "rampant when he got his will", and disguised the face of the underground emperor, so he simply ordered Neku to discount these antiques into cash, and all of them were "thrown on the face of King Anjun".

In short, this time the Northwest Army received about 200,000 taels of silver, of which a quarter was used for salaries, and the remaining three-quarters were purchased.

"It looks like a lot of money, but it's just a solution to an urgent need. And with this money, I am afraid that this year's household salary will have to find an excuse to be in arrears. "There are 100,000 troops in the northwest, and the average person is two taels of silver, what is it?

Wu Zheng smiled: "It's always better." "Even if you don't have this money, won't the household department be in arrears? So having is always better than nothing.

"Besides, with the prescription, you can save a lot of money on Jinchuang medicine in the future, and the sergeants can also have more medicine available. When the peppers are planted, the winter will be better. Wu Zheng shook his head and stroked his mustache, "Thinking about it like this, my subordinates are also very reluctant to Miss Jiang." ”

"Also?" Shen Shu glanced at him. Wu Zheng pronounced this word very seriously, and Shen Shu couldn't hear it if he wanted to.

"yes." Wu Zheng looked at him with a smile, "Isn't the prince also reluctant to return to Wuxi for Miss Jiang?" ”

Shen Shu was stunned: "What nonsense are you talking about!" ”

"The subordinates are not talking nonsense." Wu Zheng was still smiling, "Miss Jiang is proficient in medical skills, and she is extremely smart, if she goes to the northwest, she ......"

Shen Shu felt a little hot in his ears for no reason: "What is Miss Jiang going to the northwest for!" She grew up in the south of the Yangtze River, how can she get used to it in the northwest. ”

Wu Zheng almost burst his belly with laughter, and said forcibly: "Lord Wang, Miss Cui also grew up in the south......"

Shen Shuwei was a little displeased: "How can this be compared." Sir, don't talk nonsense, lest you ruin Miss Jiang's reputation. ”

Wu Zheng hurriedly wiped his face and made his expression stricter: "Lord Wang, it's not that your subordinates are talking nonsense, Miss Jiang is really outstanding." Forgive your subordinates for saying a word of transgression, the prince's marriage was determined by the first emperor, and he must marry the Cui family as the main concubine, but if it is as the prince sees, the Cui family is really not enough to preside over the northwest. ”

Shen Shu was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "It's not enough to preside over the northwest, I'm afraid that she won't go, even if she reluctantly goes, it's probably a lot of complaints......" He no longer wants to be as harmonious as his uncle and aunt, as long as the family can be calm and thoughtful, and he won't have any worries, but even this may not be able to be sought.

"What about the prince looking at Miss Jiang?" Wu Zheng said seriously, "The prince is the king of the county, and he can accept a side concubine according to the rule, and his subordinates think that if the prince accepts Miss Jiang as a side concubine, not only can the back house be paid for by him, but it will also be beneficial in the army." ”

Shen Shu's heart moved, and he remembered Taohua's serious side face when he wrote the prescription, and he was a little excited. However, after thinking about it again, I couldn't help but shake my head: "With Cui's concubine pressing on her head, how can she be allowed to perform?" ”

"That's why I said that the prince wants to promise to be a side concubine." Wu Zheng is confident, "The side concubines are also of grade, not compared to the idle concubines, and their status is low, which is neither enough to preside over the middle feed, nor can they be in diplomacy." If you go to the northwest, it is not as good as being in the capital, if the Cui family is unwilling to deal with the prince, then the side concubine is also competent. ”

Shen Shu was silent, and said after a while: "Master Jiang San loves his daughter, and I am afraid that he does not want his daughter to be a concubine." ”

Wu Zheng said disapprerovingly: "The side concubine is not comparable to an ordinary concubine." He looked at Shen Shu's face and said, "After all, Miss Jiang's background is still a little lower......

Shen Shu frowned slightly, and retorted: "Her two uncles are both officials, and their backgrounds are not low. ”

Wu Zheng sighed: "But Master Jiang San has not been out of office, if it is not for the fame of show talent, it can only be attributed to medicine or business." However, now it is not about Miss Jiang's background, but about the Cui family in the past, and Miss Jiang can only be a side concubine. However, the prince can ask for employment and respect his position as a sign of respect. ”

Shen Shu's eyebrows moved slightly, and the carriage was quiet. Dieyi opened her mouth, but finally swallowed her words back. Wu Zheng looked at Shen Shu's face with some interest, waiting for his reply.

The carriage had gone a long way, and Shen Shucai slowly shook his head. Wu Zhengwei was a little surprised and said, "The prince is unwilling? He felt that his eyes were like torches, and he had already seen that Shen Shu was quite tempted by Taohua, so he offered this strategy.

Since he came to the capital, Cicada Yi Dieyi has told him about visiting Cui's house several times, although one is calm and the other is angry, but the meaning of his expression is the same: Cui Xiuwan is very cold to Shen Shu, and it seems that she is not enthusiastic about this marriage.

If he changed to another family, Wu Zheng would have to build yì Shen Shu to withdraw from the marriage, but the relationship with the Cui family was set by the first emperor before his death, even the current emperor, and he could not violate the wishes of his deceased father, so he had to retreat to the second best, so that the prince could marry a side concubine he loved. Of course, Taohua's medical skills are also of great benefit to the Northwest Army, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Unexpectedly, Shen Shu actually disagreed, could it be that he couldn't look away?

"Isn't the prince dissatisfied with Miss Jiang?" Probably not. Miss Jiang is both beautiful and capable, and she also cares about the northwest, and the piles and piles should be in line with Shen Shu's intentions.

"At the beginning, didn't my father respect my mother's throne?" Shen Shu didn't answer Wu Zheng's question, but asked him a question.

Wu Zheng's face suddenly became stern: "The Cui family is different from the Queen Mother, and her mother's family can't manage the northwest. ”

Shen Shu smiled faintly: "But the main concubine is the main concubine, and the side concubine is just a side concubine." ”

Wu Zheng was silent.

At the beginning, Shen Shu's biological mother was born in Dingbei Hou Mansion, and her mother's father and brother held military power, and she was the fourth concubine in the palace, second only to the middle palace, and was extremely favored by the first emperor. But in the end, the first emperor failed to protect his favorite concubine, and still let her die after giving birth. The Cui family is indeed inferior to the Yu family of the descendants, and the northwest is also the territory of the Dingbei Hou, but can this be guaranteed? There is a difference between concubines and concubines, and once the name is determined, the concubine is naturally a dwarf, which cannot be changed no matter how much you respect her position.

"Miss Jiang is an arrogant person." Shen Shu said lightly, "Otherwise, she wouldn't be so stubborn in front of Cheng Enbo, I don't think she would be willing to be a concubine." ”

Wu Zheng said unrelentingly: "How can the prince know if he doesn't try?" If the prince is not good at coming forward, his subordinates will go down to meet Master Jiang San and test one or two? Otherwise, is the prince - "Do you really want to guard the Cui family for the rest of your life?"

Shen Shu waved his hand a little upset: "Sir, don't say it, it's the most important thing to hurry up at the moment, the night is long and dreamy, take advantage of the fact that the Queen Mother is not ready to do this soon, don't go on a business trip again." ”

Wu Zheng could only agree, but secretly thought in his heart that he still had to find a chance to talk to Master Jiang San, anyway, if he wanted to buy medicinal materials, he always had to meet.

was the "side concubine candidate" Taohua girl who was worried about by Wu Zheng, and the carriage broke down on the road at this time.

Originally, there were only two carriages in the Jiang Mansion, and if there was no major event, there was only one for the wives and girls to go out. Taohua didn't want to let Xiaoshi know that she went out to see Shen Shu, so she simply asked Sanqi to rent a carriage in the carriage and horse shop to use it. As a result, the carriage was a little old, and on the way back, in order to take a shortcut, he rolled a stone on a street that was not very flat, and the wheel fell off with a clatter.

The coachman was sweating: "Girl, it's really a little careless, this, this--or the girl will go to the teahouse next to her to sit down, and the little one will go back to another carriage to pick up the girl?" ”

Taohua saw that it was still early, so she agreed. If she had changed to Wuxi, she might have walked back by herself, but she would still be in the capital.

Most of the people in this area are inhabited, and the people come and go more lively. Taohua and Mint sat down in the teahouse, and saw a woman wearing a hat coming down the stairs, supported by a maid beside her, and she also lowered her head and walked out quickly.

"Girl, isn't that the maid of the Cui family?" Mint had sharp eyes, and he could see it at a glance, "It seems to be the one named Yinzhu." ”

Yinzhu is Cui Xiuwan's personal maid, she is here, so the woman wearing a hat next to her is Cui Xiuwan eight out of ten. How could these two masters and servants appear in such a commoner's house?

Taohua coughed lightly: "Don't look at it, just don't know it." ”

Peppermint lowered her head as she said, but out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but follow, seeing Cui Xiuwan's master and servant quickly get into a carriage and leave, she couldn't help but look upstairs: "Girl......"

In fact, Taohua herself couldn't help but look at the stairs: "Don't say anything." ”

Although this teahouse is also divided into two floors, there are also some elegant rooms and the like, but because in the civilian area, the people who come in and out are naturally some civilians, so people with different identities and temperaments are easy to attract attention when they come down the stairs.

Momoka and Mint's eyes invariably fell on a young man wearing a straight jacket. The straight jacket on his body was made of green cloth, and the boots on his feet were very ordinary, but he had an azure purse hanging from his waist. The peach blossom and the mint came from the land of silkworms, and both of them could see at a glance that the purse was inconspicuous, but it was a precious dark pattern brocade, which was sandwiched with silver threads, and if it was in the sun, when a little silver star flashed, it was very beautiful, and the man's clothes did not match.

This person is about 20 years old, born with a face like a crown and jade eyes like a crosshair, and even more red lips and white teeth, but he is a very handsome young scholar.

Mint was so curious that she didn't dare to speak. Taohua couldn't help but think: It turns out that Cui Xiuwan likes this, no wonder she doesn't want to marry Shen Shu. This scholar is polite and polite, but Shen Shu has a bit of a fierce spirit, and his temperament is very different, since Cui Xiuwan admires such an elegant man, she will naturally be displeased with Shen Shu.

The young man also quickly went out and walked in the other direction, and Mint couldn't help but whisper: "Girl, is Miss Cui a-" went out to see a foreign man?

"If you see it, you should not see it, let alone talk nonsense." Momoka looked around, because they were sitting in the corner of the room, but no one could hear them.

"But-" Mint endured and endured, and still said, "Miss Cui is going to marry King Anjun, how can she still ......?"

Taohua sighed: "It's none of our business. ”

Mint didn't quite agree: "But is it just for King Anjun to be deceived like this?" Recently, she has been in contact with Shen Shu a lot, and she has almost forgotten the unpleasant incident that happened in the Wuxi Medicine Hall, but she is a little upset for Shen Shu.

"And what do you want?" Taohua asked in a low voice, "Do you want to sue the king of Anjun now, so that he can make trouble with the Cui family?" ”

Mint was a little confused: "But-" Of course, King Anjun's face was lost, but it didn't seem appropriate to let him know nothing like this.

Taohua pinched her eyebrows with a headache. It's already annoying to hear that secret at the Shangsi Festival, why let her meet it! When she heard that secret, she could still pretend that she didn't know, because after all, she didn't have any contact with King Anjun. But now the situation is different, she and Shen Shu are at least partners, if you want to sue him about this, there are many opportunities.

It's a good question to say or not to say that the other half of your friend is cheating.

Not to mention, it seems that he can't get over it on his conscience, although Taohua thinks that Shen Shu is not a friend, but a young man who can guard the border in the northwest should not let him wear a green hat.

But is it necessarily good? The Cui family's family affairs were determined by the first emperor, and Cui Xiuwan came out to meet with people, there may not be any further moves, and it may not be that she will really not marry Shen Shu in the future. Judging from the current practice of this world, she may toss for a while, but in the end she will marry obediently. Then it doesn't make much sense for her to break this matter.

When Taohua was extremely entangled, Cui Xiuwan's carriage had already returned to Cui's mansion.

Mrs. Cui took Cui Youwan to Jiang's house to visit the Wen family today. A few days ago, Cui Xiuwan was ill, and many acquaintances in Beijing were unable to visit, but there has been a great improvement in the past few days, and Mrs. Cui has relaxed a little and began to go abroad, and she has not yet returned.

Yinhong happily came over and continued: "The girl is back." "This Jiang girl's prescription really worked, the girl used medicine, went out to evacuate twice, and looked much better, except for a slight cough, she didn't vomit or vomit.

Cui Xiuwan responded indiscriminately, took off her hat and rushed to the bed, frightened Yinhong, and hurriedly grabbed Yinzhu and asked, "What's wrong with the girl, why don't you even change your clothes - but you're sick again?" She has always been not as happy as Yinzhu and Cui Xiuwan, and since she came to the capital, she is even more to blame, and now she doesn't dare to talk to Cui Xiuwan.

Yinzhu actually didn't know what was going on. When she was in the restaurant, the girl did not allow her to enter the cubicle, so she could only stand guard at the door, listening to the movement inside. When the girl came out, her sideburns were a little messy, which had already made her heart tense, but she didn't dare to ask. At this time, after listening to Yinhong's words, he had to say vaguely: "The weather is hot, and there is a slight heat stroke, you can go to the kitchen and ask for a bowl of sour plum soup." ”

Yinhong couldn't help but worry: "The weather is indeed a little hot, girl, otherwise don't go to the street......" muttered while being pushed out by Yinzhu.

Yinzhu closed the door before whispering, "Girl, what's wrong?" ”

Cui Xiuwan turned over after a while, her lips were still slightly red, and she whispered: "Yinzhu, he, he kissed me......"

"Huh?" Yin Zhu half-opened his mouth before he could react, Cui Xiuwan had already said in a trembling voice: "Yin Zhu, do you think I will be pregnant?" ”

Yin Zhu's mouth opened wider: "Pregnant? ”

Cui Xiuwan nodded, half excited and half scared: "That's what is said in the book, do you remember that the nurse also said that year, becoming a kiss is kissing, giving birth to a baby ......"

Yinzhu was stunned. Of course she remembered it. Cui Xiuwan's original big girl Yinbai married a servant, Cui Xiuwan was still young at the time, and asked the nurse what it meant to be married, and the nurse was driven out by Mrs. Cui because she answered this sentence, saying that she had taken the girl badly.

"But, girl......" Yinzhu felt that her legs were weak, "if so, if you are really pregnant, then how can you marry King Anjun!" ”