Xia Chunchao heard her report to her home, and she was also busy telling her about her origins. The two talked about one or two, Xia Chunchao knew that this woman's name was Fu Yueming, she was originally from Huizhou, married to a Hanlin at the age of sixteen, entered Beijing with her husband, and now has two sons, who are raised by the nurse at home. I also heard that he was also from a merchant family, and they felt more attached to each other, so they were called sisters according to their age.

The two talked for a while, and the conversation was in full swing, when a gong suddenly sounded on the stage downstairs, and it turned out that the play had already started on the stage. The two of them stopped talking and looked at each other. I saw that there were two benches on the stage, and two old men holding pipa and wearing dark robes came up in a moment, bowed to the stage together, and then sat on the stool, raised their hands to pluck the strings, and slowly twisted and hooked, only to listen to the jingling on the stage, like the sound of beads falling on the jade plate.

After a song, the two got up and bowed again, hugged the pipa and got off the stage, and a short-clothed boy ran up to the field and took the two stools down. When the music sounded on the side, there were a few little flower faces who came up and sang two acrobatics.

Xia Chunchao watched this play, but he didn't feel any special benefits, so he was a little impatient, and immediately said: "I heard that this Desheng class is famous all over the world, why did these children come up to fool people?" Isn't it a waste of fame? That Fu Yueming smiled slightly and said to her: "Sister, don't be impatient, this is just a string of scenes, and his family has serious shows in the back row." After speaking, he turned his head to the girl named Peach on the side and asked, "What kind of play did they arrange today?" Tao Hong replied: "It is the two plays of "Folding Willow" and "Yangguan" of "The Story of the Purple Hairpin". Fu Yueming smiled and said: "This is their family's specialty, since these two plays are arranged, then Liu Yuniang must be on it." ”

When Xia Chunchao heard her words, he asked, "Since my sister said this, she must have come often?" Can you tell me what is the benefit of this Liu Yuniang, who is so famous all over the world. Fu Yueming smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "This Liu Yuniang is fifteen years old this year, I heard that she is from Suzhou, her parents died when she was a child, and she was sold into the troupe by his uncle. Although this child is young, he is both beautiful and artistic, born with a good voice, and his temperament is extremely smart, and he has been taught by the main tune of the opera troupe for two years, and he has learned a lot about his body, singing voice, and posture. As soon as he took the stage, he was stunned, and the reputation gradually spread. The head of the class once gave her a flower name, called Lingguan'er. Who knows that this child is a little stubborn, and he refuses to change his name when he says anything, and still only uses his real name to sign up. Deshengban has traveled south and north over the years, and has really made a lot of money on this jade girl. The fate of this jade girl is also very good, and there are many dignitaries and nobles who praise her. Every time she takes the stage, the room must be full. Today's sister came by coincidence, and she ran into my half-bag, otherwise there would be no seat. If you talk about her benefits, you can't say it for a while, but my sister will know it when she sees it. ”

Xia Chunchao listened to her for a long time, but Liu Yuniang's ability was still half-understood, and when she heard Fu Yueming say this, she didn't ask much.

At this moment, the music downstairs started again, and the play was already on the stage.

I only listened to a group of singers playing and playing, and saw a small Dan on stage with a song. Xia Chunchao looked around, but seeing that this woman walked lightly, her figure was graceful, and she applied oil paint on her face, and she didn't distinguish between Yan Yuan, and secretly said in her heart: This must be the Liu Yuniang they are talking about, just looking at this figure, she is a wonderful person, but I don't know how her kung fu is?

When I was thinking about it, the little Dan had already opened his mouth, and when he first entered the ear, he only felt that he was listening to it gently, but there was nothing peculiar. Then the singer stopped playing, and only listened to the sound of Xiao Dan's cappella.

But when I heard the Kun dialect, it was like a spring breeze and rain, moisturizing things silently, and like a fairy sound in the ears, the limbs and eight bodies were all connected, the seven orifices and six veins were all ironed, and the upper and lower bodies of Zhou were indescribably comfortable. That Xiaodan sang and danced with him, the music was endless, his posture was fluttering, and the joys and sorrows in the play were all vivid, and he stood alive with Huo Xiaoyu in front of him. The parting feeling with Li Yi, the tactful state, is not moving. These two scenes happened to poke Xia Chunchao's heart, recalling that he was about to part with her husband, and the taste was naturally better than that of others, and she couldn't help but have some tears.

After a break and singing, the little Dan bowed to the audience, and the cheers sounded like thunder in the field. I don't know who threw a string of copper coins on the stage, and others followed suit, and the money on the stage fell like rain for a while.

Fu Yueming turned his head to Xia Chunchao and smiled: "How?" Sure enough, right? But seeing Xia Chunchao wiping his eyes, he couldn't help laughing and said: "My sister can listen to the play, is she crying?" Xia Chunchao also felt embarrassed, smiled and didn't accept this, and only said: "This Liu Yuniang is really good, but I can't see that she is not very old, but she has such kung fu." Fu Yueming smiled slightly and said, "If not, how can you be so famous?" This woman is also good-looking, and there are not a few people who are willing to please her. It's just that this class leader sees her as a cash cow and refuses to let her go. But when someone asked him about the price, he opened his mouth and scared the people away. ”

Xia Chunchao said: "If he wants to use this child to make a lot of money, how can he let her go?" This girl fell into his hands, and he didn't know how many torments he had eaten. Fu Yueming replied: "It's good, because of the popularity of Yu Niang, she is famous, and the owner of this class also praises her, and the daily supply of clothes and food is the best, and it will pass." Xia Chunchao shook his head and said: "People like the class master, the same as the original of the hall, the servants under his hands, the black ones are of course abused, and the red ones are strangled, and they must squeeze out the oil and water before making plans." If this child can be popular for a few years, it would be good if someone was willing to pay a lot of money to save her from this prison. If you don't have this blessing, the future will be difficult. ”

The two talked for a while, and their respective girls came up to add tea and eat some melon seed cakes, and then the play started again, and the two didn't mention it.

said that Lu Chengyong saw his wife go upstairs, so he found a seat at random downstairs and sat down. He doesn't like to watch dramas by nature, but today for the sake of accompanying his wife, he can't taste good or bad after watching it, and there are many people in the scene, and the smell is unpleasant, so he is a little impatient. Because the play was never sung, it was difficult to leave, so I had to endure it.

When I was bored, I was suddenly pressed on the shoulder. He hurriedly turned around, only to see a man dressed in jade standing behind him, looking at him with a smile on his lips.

As soon as he saw this person, Lu Chengyong hurriedly got up, bowed to him, and said with a smile: "Brother He has always been rare, and he also came to see the play today?" It turned out that this person was He Haogu who he talked about with Xia Chunchao yesterday.

He Haogu smiled at him, and said, "When will Da'an return to Beijing?" I didn't know. Lu Chengyong replied: "It's only been a short time since I came back, and I didn't have time to tell Brother He, so I was rude." ”

At that moment, the two exchanged pleasantries, He Haogu and he hadn't seen him for a long time, and they wanted to talk in detail, so they said: "This place is noisy, not a place to talk." The wall of this theater is a tea house, although it is not very good, it is better to be clean, how about you and I sit in the past? Lu Chengyong was worried about his wife, and he was afraid that he would not see him when he broke up for a while, so he hesitated. He Haogu saw that his face was embarrassed, his mind changed, and he immediately smiled: "Presumably Da'an didn't come alone today?" Lu Chengyong smiled at him and said, "Humble Jing saw that he was upstairs, and he was afraid that he would come out and get separated for a while." He Haogu smiled slightly and said: "It's okay, I often come to this theater, and I have my own number when I end the play, and I don't want your husband and wife to be separated." ”

When Lu Chengyong saw him say this, he had no choice but to nod his head.

At that moment, the two paid for the play and went out.

Out of the garden, He Haogu led him to the tea house on the left. When the two of them entered, they saw that there were few tea customers, and it was very deserted.

The two of them entered the tea house, picked a window seat and sat down opposite each other, and Dr. Tea came up and handed over the tea list. Lu Chengyong is not good at tasting tea, so he pushed the tea list to He Haogu. He Haogu smiled, and didn't look at it, but only instructed Dr. Tea: "A pot of Pu'er, and a dish of dried tea." Dr. Tea left in response, and He Haogu turned to Lu Chengyong and said: "The tea here is coarse, but fortunately, you and I are just for chatting, so we can just sit down." Lu Chengyong waved his hand and said: "Brother He knows, I am a rough person, it's just a matter of dancing with a knife and stick, this fine thing has always been not good, just quench your thirst, and don't pay much attention to it." ”

He Haogu scolded with a smile: "You still have this rough temper, you haven't seen you for a year, and you haven't even changed a single thing. Lu Chengyong grinned and said, "I've been like this since I started, and Brother He didn't know it for the first time." When the younger brother first arrived in the northwest, he didn't know how many troubles he caused, if it weren't for Brother He's care, I was afraid that he had already seen the king of Hades, where would there be today's Antai? He Haogu waved his hand and said: "Don't mention these old things." It's just that I heard that you have been back in Beijing for a few days, and you have been awarded the title of Kyoto Hussar General by the imperial court, and I am a cavalry lieutenant, not to mention the marquis, which shows that the imperial court values you very much. You have survived all these years at the border, how many times you have been born and died, and you have almost lost half of your life, and now you can be regarded as surviving. ”

Lu Chengyong said with a smile: "Thank you Brother He for his good words, but my brother and I are very jerky in the officialdom, and I hope Brother He will mention it more in the future." He Haogu waved his hand and said, "You and my brothers and dearest, there is no need to be so polite." As he spoke, Dr. Tea had already brought the refreshments. Lu Chengyong came out for a long time, not a drop of water, he was already thirsty, he raised his glass and drank it dry, and then took the pot to pour. Seeing him like this, He Haogu smiled slightly, did not comment, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

At that moment, the two talked a little gossip, and Lu Chengyong asked He Haogu about the current situation in the imperial court. He Haogu paused, and then said: "At present, the court is still dominated by the Xiao and Li families. These two families must also be clear to you, the Xiao family is the maiden family of the Empress Dowager Xiao, and Xiao Dingren, the prince of Jingguo, is still the chief assistant of the dynasty, and his son Xiao Wei is also serving as a waiter in the military department. Although the Xiao family is not prosperous, and there are not many eunuchs in the court, they are all high-ranking and powerful people. In the future, when you enter and leave the court, if you can hear a Xiao word, you must pay careful attention, this family will never be offended. Lu Chengyong smiled when he heard this, and said: "Am I crazy, the queen mother's mother's mother's family, then naturally you have to stay away, where is there any reason to go up and provoke." He Haogu said: "This is not necessary, the Xiao family is very good, and there is no dominance." If you can hand over one or two, it will be a great help to your career. ”

Lu Chengyong laughed and asked, "This is the Xiao family, what does the Li family say?" But Empress Li's mother's family? He Haogu nodded and said, "Yes, it is Empress Li's maiden family." Li Shizhou, the head of the family, worships Xiao Dingren on the left and right, and is the enlightenment teacher on the pilgrimage, with a noble status and unusual status. This Li Xiangyuan was born in the imperial examination, the champion of the previous dynasty, and his original wife was the aunt and cousin of the Empress Dowager Xiao. When Lu Chengyong heard this, he couldn't help asking: "In this way, are the Xiao and Li families already in-laws?" He Haogu nodded and said, "Exactly." Lu Chengyong said: "As my brother said, now the court is actually a big relative. Wouldn't the emperor be disgusted by this? ”

When He Haogu heard this, his eyes couldn't help but flash, he glanced at him, and said lightly: "Da'an is thick and fine, but it is a rare benefit. However, these words should not be said at will, and they will be listened to by those who have a heart, but they are afraid that they will make a lot of trouble. Da'an Shi's journey is at the beginning, and don't get into trouble for your tongue. Lu Chengyong smiled and said, "What my brother taught me is that I am just talking in front of my brother." He Haogu didn't accept this, but said: "Today's saint advocates filial piety, and the queen mother is even more mother-son love, and the queen Li is also a good couple." At the beginning of this year, Empress Li gave birth to a son, the saint Longyan Dayue, and was immediately named the crown prince. This Xiao father and son are Li Xiang, both of whom are the emperor's ministers. Although he did not say this, the meaning of his words was already clear.

Although Lu Chengyong is a martial artist, he is well versed in strategy, how can he not understand the truth, nodding silently.

He Haogu took two sips of tea, and suddenly said: "There is another person, the situation is quite delicate, Da'an should be careful." Lu Chengyong was surprised when he heard this, and immediately asked, "Who is it?" He Haogu said: "It is Situ Zhong, the Marquis of Xinling, this person has made great achievements and great deeds, in his early years, he helped the first emperor to quell rebellion, and made great contributions when His Majesty ascended the throne today. should have been a great hero, but he was mixed up with the former regent. If it weren't for the capture of the regent, he would have helped, and now he is a prisoner. Because of this, the Empress Dowager opened up on the Internet, and still left him in the court to receive an idle position and eat with his mouth. It's just that this Situ Marquis is not a peaceful person, and he has recently attracted many Qing guests, and he doesn't know what to do. ”

Lu Chengyong knows a lot about this person, and he has also explored one or two stories in the past. Now I heard that He Haogu had the meaning of admonition, so he smiled and said: "Brother's words are strange, I am a broken son of an official who has just become an official, what can I have to do with this Hou Mansion?" But my brother wants me to be careful, what? He Haogu looked at him and said lightly: "You rescued Miss Situ on the street, and the Hou Mansion sent you a rich thank you gift." Marquis Situ held a banquet on the 17th, and invited you again. Now there are rumors in the DPRK that you are under his command. When Lu Chengyong heard this, he raised his hand and slapped the table, and said loudly: "This is ridiculous, saving people that day was purely accidental." Do you want me to watch his chariot and horse trample to death innocent?! The gift was given by him, and the post was also under his own family, but it was not my own family that rushed to make friends. How can this person reverse black and white like this and open his mouth?! He Haogu said coldly: "Having said that, but people's words are terrifying, the three of them become tigers, and it is really common for everyone to make money." Da'an still thinks about how to deal with it. ”

Although Lu Chengyong is a master of strategy, he has been away from the Central Plains for many years, and when he first stepped into the court, he had no way to deal with it for a while, but he was worried.

Naga Haogu was also silent, and suddenly said again for a long time: "There is still one person in the court, but it should not be underestimated. Lu Chengyong asked casually, "Who?" He Haogu said: "This person's surname is Ji, he was originally born in the imperial examination, he was originally edited by the Hanlin Academy, and he became a bachelor in just a few years. The only one who rose so rapidly in the Manchu Dynasty was Li Xiang back then. Therefore, it is said that it is only a matter of time before he enters the cabinet. He is a good saint, a talented and highly educated, and an easy-going person, and he is well-connected in all aspects. In the future, if Da'an has a way, he must make friends with each other. Lu Chengyong smiled and said: "This is Wenchen, I'm afraid that I won't have the same temper as our general." He Haogu said: "It's okay, he doesn't have those sour tempers." I heard that his wife's room was actually a female student who used to be a professor in Xixi. This kind of debauchery shows that he is a human being. ”

The two talked for a while, He Haogu ate two more sips of tea, suddenly changed his words, and asked with a smile to Lu Chengyong: "I heard that Da'an was promoted, and he set up a wine at home to entertain guests, and invited relatives and friends from all over the world, but why didn't he invite him to be a brother?" Instead, he called him a brother and heard it from other people's mouths, so that he could know the good news of his brother. I haven't seen you for a year, but it turns out that this kind of life can't be divided? How could Lu Chengyong tell the reason, he just slurred, laughed again and again, and said: "It's a brother, it's not a brother, my brother will hold a banquet in the restaurant another day." He Haogu saw that he was speechless, and he was even more curious, and was about to ask, when he suddenly saw many people coming out of the wall, and hurriedly said: "We talked about speculation, but we forgot the time, the drama has dispersed, let's go quickly, don't miss the meeting between the two of you." When Lu Chengyong heard this, he didn't say anything, dropped the tea money, and hurriedly went out.

Xia Chunchao watched the play, came out with Fu Yueming, and the two pairs of master and servant walked to the staircase, only to see the crowds surging below, and it was not easy to go down, so they had to stop for the time being. Wait for the crowd to disperse before coming down.

Walking to the gate of the garden, the Ji family had already put off the carriage and waited. Fu Yueming smiled at Xia Chunchao: "There is no one at home, let's go first for the time being." When I have free time another day, I will definitely visit my sister. Xia Chunchao replied with a smile: "Sister's family affairs are important, please go first." Fu Yueming finished saying goodbye and got in the car and left.

Xia Chunchao stood on the gate of the theater, looking left and right, only to see the crowds of people everywhere, and he couldn't see where Lu Chengyong was.

Just when he was anxious, Xia Chunchao suddenly heard a person shouting loudly: "I'm here!" I saw Lu Chengyong hurrying over, but there was still a person behind him.

Lu Chengyong squeezed in front of her and said to her: "I'm late, don't blame the lady." Xia Chunchao said angrily: "Where have you been, but let the two of us stay here." Zhu'er also said on the side: "The young master is so unreasonable, leaving grandma and my two women here, but his family is gone." So many people, coming and going, touching and crowding for a while, how can it be good? Lu Chengyong smiled and said: "It's all mine, I'll be shocked with my lady later!" ”

While the couple was talking, He Haogu stepped forward slowly and said to Lu Chengyong: "Da'an, this is my brother and sister?" As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but look at Xia Chunchao, and he secretly said in his heart: It turns out that Da'an begged such a lady to be at home, and he took precautions against me like a thief. I didn't feel funny and said: Although I am lustful, I also know that my friend's wife cannot be bullied, am I so afraid of people?

Xia Chunchao also looked at this He Haogu when he heard this, but when he saw that this life was tall and handsome, radiant, graceful, and Pan An's character, he lowered his head after looking at it twice, and said nothing.

Seeing this, Lu Chengyong was helpless, so he had no choice but to say: "It's clumsy." Then he said to Xia Chunchao: "This is my brother." When Xia Chunchao heard about it, he guessed that it was what her husband said yesterday, and he bowed slightly to the man at the moment, and was silent.

He Haogu returned the salute and said with a smile: "In Xia He Haogu, Tongda'an is a friend of life and death. Usually when I was in the barracks, I often heard Da'an mention his younger siblings. It turned out that my younger brother and sister were so good, and I blamed Dao Da'an for being so stingy that he didn't even let me go to the door. When Xia Chunchao heard this, he had no choice but to laugh.

Lu Chengyong said hurriedly: "Brother He, where is it, it is really that the brother can't be arranged that day, and it is not that he deliberately did not invite his brother." You and I are brothers, how can we have these suspicions! He Haogu was still waiting to talk about it, and a short-clothed guy suddenly walked out of the theater garden, and when he saw him, he ran forward, made a gesture, and said: "The third lady asked me to send something to Master He!" As he spoke, he handed over the contents of a handkerchief.

He Haogu didn't push it, Dafang took it, touched another piece of silver and handed it to him, and said: "Buy snacks for you to eat, go back and cover your lady, I will come to see her when I have time." The man took the money, but he didn't leave, and said: "The third lady also asked the little one to ask the master, she is on stage today, why didn't the master come?" It's not that I'm tired of listening. He Haogu said with a smile: "Your lady loves a lot, how can there be such a thing." Today I met a friend and went out for a sitting. So saying, he sent the little man away. Seeing that Lu Chengyong and his wife were still standing in place, he said: "There are some trivial matters in the next place, and they need to be cooked, so don't pass it for the time being, and visit again another day." ”

That Lu Chengyong wished that he would leave immediately, and hurriedly said: "Brother has something, please take care of yourself, don't worry about us." ”

He Haogu smiled, said goodbye, and glanced at Xia Chunchao again before leaving, seeing that she was just standing beside her husband, bowing her head silently, and secretly said in her heart: Although this woman was born well, her temperament is inevitably a little boring, but she has lost a lot of color. Thinking about it, he shook his head and went.

Lu Chengyong was really relieved to see him leave. was about to speak, but heard Xia Chunchao say: "I don't think you're a good person, brother." How can there be such a thief with eyebrows and rat eyes, and he is bent on ignoring his younger brother's wife? There is no reason even between relatives, let alone just a godfather. Shicai is a miscellaneous worker in this theater, so it must be a drama that sent something to him. He wanted to, about hanging on his shoulders. Stealing chickens and touching dogs, not doing anything clean, how can you get along with such a person? Lu Chengyong saw her arranging He Haogu, and his heart became happy, and he said: "He is such a romantic temper, he has been punished by the marshal a lot when he was at the border, and he has never seen him repent." I had a good relationship with him, and I was well taken care of by him when I arrived in the army. If you don't like it, I won't call him to come home in the future. Xia Chunchao glanced at him and said, "You make friends, I won't stop you." It's just that things gather like people and divide people into groups, so it's good that you don't be polluted by this person. ”

Lu Chengyong laughed loudly: "The lady is strict, how dare I disobey?" You can rest assured that I will never do so. After that, he looked at the sky and said, "It's not too early, let's find a place to eat." There is a restaurant on Qianmen Street, although the door is not big, the roast duck is excellent. I heard that even the prince loves to eat, let's try it. Xia Chunchao said: "Go home and eat, why bother and spend silver in vain." Lu Chengyong said: "Let's go back at this time, and the family won't accept it." What's more, it's just a meal, and you can ask for it. Xia Chunchao saw that he was insistent, so he was no longer strong.

The three of them were about to take the car, but when Zhu'er was about to board the car, she glanced back and said strangely: "Huh? Seeing this, Xia Chunchao asked, "What's the matter, what is the fuss." Zhu'er pointed to the east with her hand and said, "There is only one person over there, just like Liu Xiaoer who is talking at the door of our house." What did he come here for? Xia Chunchao looked at her hand, and saw a few vegetable vendors squatting on the side, and some children playing noisily, and there was no Liu Xiaoer, so he scolded: "I guess you are wrong, you are suspicious, don't get in the car quickly." Zhu'er pouted and said: "It's really Liu Xiaoer, that body and clothes, I think it's good." I just ran over, and my grandmother didn't see it. When Xia Chunchao heard this, he only remembered it in his heart, and he didn't mention it on his lips, but only urged him to board the car and gently brought this section over.

At that moment, the three masters and servants arrived at the restaurant that Lu Chengyong said, and only returned home after eating, and there was nothing else to do.

A few days passed in a blink of an eye, the Lu family had nothing to do, Lu Chengyong went to the yamen every day to order an errand, and Xia Chunchao took care of family affairs at home, without saying a word.

In the afternoon of this day, everyone in the Lu family had lunch and rested separately. Xia Chunchao was also crooked on the kang in the room, Zhu'er came up to pack up the needlework basket, and when she saw her lazy look, she quipped: "Presumably grandma talked late with the young master last night, so I am so tired today." Xia Chunchao glared at her, and reprimanded: "It's getting bigger and smaller, and you dare to say anything." After a word, he said: "I don't know what's wrong, my chest is very tight, and I feel flustered, and my eyelids also jump twice, I don't know what the sign is." ”

Bao'er stepped forward and said, "Grandma is relieved, it must be just because of the hot weather, I don't think Grandma Shicai has a good lunch." Zhu'er also said on the side: "This person has to sneeze a few times a day and cough twice." If you are as suspicious as your grandmother, you can pay it back. Grandma put her heart in her stomach and made sure it was okay. ”

The three masters and servants were talking in the house, and the little maid on the second door suddenly ran over and said under the window outside: "Sister Zhu'er, is it convenient for grandma to speak?" The shopkeeper Xia in the shop came. When Xia Chunchao heard this, he hurriedly sat up and asked outside, "What didn't your Uncle Xia say?" The little guy said, "Uncle Xia didn't say anything, just told grandma to go quickly." ”

Xia Chunchao didn't know what had happened, so he got up and down, changed his clothes, and went up to the front hall.

When I walked to the hall, I saw that Xia Ming was like a grinding plate, spinning around underground. As soon as he saw her come out, he didn't have time to salute, so he hurriedly greeted her and said, "Grandma, it's not good." The shopkeeper of the three stores refused to agree, and only said that he would not want our goods in the future! ”。