The flower viewing party of the lord of Nanhua was extremely successful, and all the flowers and trees were sold, among which, of course, a champion red peony more than one person tall sent by the emperor was sold for the highest price - a full eight thousand taels of silver!

According to what the emperor said beforehand, this silver was to be sent to Xingjiao Temple to pray for the queen mother, but even if the 8,000 taels of silver were set aside, the silver raised by this flower viewing party was as much as 106,200 taels.

"This silver is all raised by you, which is much more than the 50,000 taels donated by King Anjun." The lord of Nanhua looked at a stack of silver tickets, although he was tired, his spirit was very excited.

Jiang Junma was not looking at the stack of silver tickets, but at the lord of Nanhua. After a busy day in the summer, although there are ice basins in the house, but the flowers and trees are all placed in the courtyard after all, I have to go outside to watch, the fat powder on the face of the lord of Nanhua County has been washed with sweat A little trace, and the voice is slightly hoarse.

"The county lord has a cup of tea." Jiang Junma lifted the teapot and poured a cup of lukewarm tea, "All this silver is the credit of the county lord." "If it weren't for the lord of Nanhua, the flower viewing party might not have such a scale and results.

"What's yours and mine, it's not the same." The lord of Nanhua took the teacup, he was very happy, and suddenly remembered one more thing, and hurriedly added, "The silver will be donated to the Northwest Army, you are not allowed to go to the Northwest!" ”

Jiang Junma was a little helpless: "County Lord, the emperor's intention is to let me be responsible for buying some grain and medicinal materials with this silver......"

The lord of Nanhua stretched his face: "The emperor just asked you to buy it, and didn't say that you should go to the northwest." "When Jiang Junma was sent back to the capital by his boss to offer victory, he was favored by her and never returned to the northwest. The lord of Nanhua knows very well his attachment to the northwest and his yearning for killing the enemy on horseback, so he can let him live in Jiangnan for a long time over the years, but he is definitely not allowed to go to the northwest.

"I'm just going to deliver something, a treat."

"No way!" The lord of Nanhua raised his temper and said arrogantly, "I said that if I don't go, I won't go!" The emperor handed over this errand to you, just to prevent the king of Na'an County from being in the limelight, not really asking you to bother like this. Naturally, there are people who can do business in our shop, let them go out to buy, and then send them over, isn't it in your name at that time? ”

Jiang Junma's lips moved, and he finally swallowed the words of the argument, and only said: "If this money is bought by our people, it is inevitable that some people will suspect that we are enriching our own pockets, and the county lord has spent so much effort, but it is not worth being pointed out like this again." I think, it's better to let King Anjun find a grain merchant and a pharmacist, and we can just watch the accounts and pay, and then there will be nothing to say in the northwest. ”

"That's a good idea!" As long as the lord of Nanhua does not go to the northwest, he will be satisfied, "Dingbei Hou has been troublesome about military rations and military clothes every year, and now he is asking his nephew to buy it, whether it is good or not, it is none of anyone's business." ”

The lord of Nanhua County is a person who does not make any effort, since the silver is in hand, she doesn't care about the future, she only asks someone to send the silver ticket to Jiangjun Ma's study, and she only takes the eight thousand taels of silver for prayer, ready to call someone to Xingjiao Temple to make a law. Jiang Junma looked at the eight thousand taels of silver, and felt pity in his heart, so he asked casually: "How is the Queen Mother these days?" ”

The lord of Nanhua has true feelings for the queen mother, although during the preparation of the flower viewing party, he did not forget to enter the palace from time to time to ask about the disease, and when he heard the words, he said: "It is an uncomfortable spleen and stomach, and I often feel nauseated." The doctors have changed their prescriptions twice, but somehow it doesn't work. ”

Jiang Junma frowned slightly and said, "It's not that the Queen Mother's eyes are uncomfortable, why do you have more problems with the spleen and stomach?" ”

"That's exactly what I said. It's probably because of the bitter summer. Now that the cherry blossom viewing party is over, I will enter the palace tomorrow to see the queen mother. ”

Jiang Junma sighed softly: "It's good for the county lord to have filial piety, but the weather is hot, and the county lord must also be careful about his body." ”

The county lord of Nanhua felt happy when he heard his concern, and said with a smile: "I just entered the palace, and I took a carriage outside the palace, and there was an ice basin in the palace. ”

Jiang Junma smiled: "I'm just meeting King Anjun, it's not a tiring thing." ”

The county lord of Nanhua was affected by the Queen Mother, so he naturally didn't like Shen Shu very much, and snorted: "If he hadn't started this incident, the county horse would not have been affected." Now the queen mother and the emperor have no face, and the court is also in chaos. ”

Jiang Junma smiled faintly: "It's time for the court to clean up, aren't these people greedy for the emperor's silver." If you build a county king's mansion, you can be greedy for tens of thousands of taels of silver, and if you think about other places, you don't know how much you are greedy. In the long run, I am afraid that all the money of the court will be moved to the pockets of these people. ”

Nanhuajun opened his mouth, but did not speak. Among the people who cleaned up this time, there was also the Yu family, so the Queen Mother was very unhappy, and her current discomfort was probably related to her poor mood. But no matter how biased the lord of Nanhua is, he can't say that embezzling silver is right.

Jiang Jun Ma didn't see her expression, and continued: "Among these people, there are even Yu clan people. These people borrowed the power of the Queen Mother to become officials, but they didn't want to earn face for the Niangniang, but they wanted to do something embarrassing. Niangniang is afraid that she will be angry with them, so she will feel unwell. ”

"This is also ......" The county lord of Nanhua hesitated, and finally had to admit that at least these things came out, and the queen mother was indeed very annoyed, "These people are really not worried, even the yellow father-in-law next to the queen mother is really embarrassing to the queen mother!" ”

"The county lord entered the palace to persuade the queen mother. In fact, it is not the queen mother's business to do wrong things these people, the emperor will deal with it, the queen mother should be enjoying Qingfu in the harem now, why worry about these senseless people. There are too many people in the Yu clan, and it is inevitable that they will not be successful, and if the Queen Mother is worried about the surname Yu, she really can't take care of it. Seeing that the Holy Birthday Festival is coming, these people should have dealt with it earlier, otherwise would they still let them affect the Holy Birthday Festival? ”

The lord of Nanhua felt that what her husband said was reasonable: "What you said is that I persuaded my mother when I entered the palace, and it was time to enjoy happiness at this time, so why bother." ”

On the second day, the lord of Nanhua really ordered people to prepare chariots and horses to enter the palace. Jiang Junma also instructed his subordinates to prepare the car, and when he walked to the door, he saw his youngest son smiling and coming from the side of the road: "Father, is this going out?" ”

Knowing his son Mo Ruo's father, Jiang Junma made a straight face when he saw Jiang Heng: "Didn't your mother let you study in the study?" ”

Jiang Heng smiled and said, "Father, the book has been read." Seeing Jiang Junma's face, he hurriedly added, "Father doesn't often say don't you want to die studying, you should also go out to see the world, my son has been studying behind closed doors for several days, and today it's time to go out to see the world." ”

Jiang Junma was funny and had to make a straight face: "Nonsense! It's time for next year, and it's not serious. Don't think that next year's autumn is still far away, you don't cherish the time so much, and the time will pass in a blink of an eye. ”

Jiang Heng has been favored since he was a child, and he is neither afraid of his mother nor his father, but he still came up and pulled his father's sleeve and said, "Isn't my father going out to see King Anjun?" The son also wanted to go. ”

Jiang Junma's expression softened slightly, and said, "What do you see King Anjun doing?" ”

Jiang Heng said seriously: "My son heard that he also went into battle to kill the Northern Barbarians in the northwest, and my son wants to hear him talk about the things in the northwest." There was no chance before, his mother didn't like it, and his son was afraid that rashly approaching him would cause trouble to the family, but now he ...... "When he was a child, he often listened to Jiang Junma tell stories about the Northwest, and he actually felt that the Northwest Army was very remarkable, but he followed the Lord of Nanhua into the palace for a lot, and he knew that the palace didn't like the Northwest personnel since the Queen Mother, so even if he had one or two yearnings in his heart, he didn't show it." Now that Jiang Jun Ma is going to see King Anjun, he can't help it.

Jiang Junma's expression was even more relaxed, and he raised his hand and touched the top of his head as if he was a child: "Then let's go." ”

Jiang Jun Ma and An Jun Wang met in a private room in the restaurant, and when Jiang Jun Ma took Jiang Heng in, Shen Shu was already waiting. After seeing each other, the two maids poured tea, and Jiang Junma took out a stack of silver tickets and said, "The accounts of the flower viewing party are here, so let's count them." ”

Shen Shu took it and looked at it carefully, and handed it to Cicada Yi: "Add the forty-six thousand taels found out by the Zongren Mansion to it." This is the money he recovered to build the palace.

"What the Northwest Army needs most is nothing more than three categories: food, clothing, and medicinal materials, where does the prince plan to procure it?" Although Jiang Junma said that he was reluctant to use the people under the lord of Nanhua County, there were still a few people in the Jiang family who were accustomed to buying, "I have lived in Jiangnan for a few days, whether it is rice or silk, the price is cheaper than that in the north, but it is too far to be transported, and it is inevitable to wear and tear." As for medicinal herbs, I don't know much about them. ”

Shen Shu nodded and smiled: "I also intend to purchase from Jiangnan, but wait a minute, I also made an appointment today to discuss medicinal materials." ”

As he was talking, there was a gentle knock on the door of the elegant room, first slowly knocked twice, and then hurriedly three times, Shen Shu smiled, and got up to open the door himself: "People are coming." ”

Taohua didn't expect that it was Shen Shu who came to open the door, so she was stunned for a moment, and heard two voices in the room in a row, one slightly older one sighed, and the other younger one called out directly: "Miss Jiang? ”

Jiang Heng didn't expect to see Taohua here, he first called out and then heard his father's voice, and couldn't help but be stunned: "Father? ”

"Sure enough, it's a girl from the Jiang family." Jiang Junma also stood up, "Does Miss Jiang still recognize me?" "That day, Bailu recognized Jiang Xi in Xingjiao Temple, and then Jiangjun Ma asked her to inquire about Taohua's identity, but Taohua never went out, and Bailu couldn't stay outside Jiang's mansion all day long, but I didn't expect to see him here today.

"Oh, it's at the mouth of the Jiujiang River-" Taohua couldn't say that she had already guessed the identity of Jiangjun Ma, so she could only pretend to be confused.

"Jiujiangkou?" Jiang Heng's eyes widened, "Father, could it be that you said that it was Miss Jiang who could see that you were suffering from gout?" ”

Shen Shu smiled: "It turns out that they are all acquaintances? That's even better. Jun Ma, I invited Miss Jiang to discuss the purchase of medicinal materials. ”

Don't say that Jiang Junma and Jiang Heng didn't expect to see Taohua here, even Dieyi and Cicada Yi didn't know beforehand, Dieyi's eyes widened, and she barely held back an exclamation that rushed to her mouth, and lowered her head to pour tea.

Taohua herself didn't expect it. The letter sent by Shen Shu was vague, and she thought she was going to ask about Jinchuang Medicine or Pepper, but she didn't expect to talk about purchasing medicinal materials. However, there was a lot of uproar about the flower viewing party, and now that I think about it, I know that I want to use this batch of money to buy medicine.

Although everyone has actually met, Shen Shu still introduced the identity of Jiangjun Ma to Taohua: "I am not very familiar with Jiangnan, and the purchase of grain, rice and cotton cloth has to worry about Junma, just a matter of medicinal materials, you need to have an expert palm, and it is best to make some medicines, which are easy to use in the army." ”

Taohua understood as soon as she heard it, it was true that she wanted an expert to help with the palm eye medicinal materials, but it was more to add the 10,000 packs of gold to the medicine, so as not to let outsiders know that the Jiang family had sent a batch of medicinal materials to the Northwest Army.

Shen Shu's consideration is extremely thoughtful. He came forward to let the Jiang family buy medicine, and when outsiders knew about it, they would only say that the Jiang family was guilty of treating the virtuous concubine unfavorably, so the king of Anjun called the Jiang family, and the Jiang family did not dare not listen. The cost of the Jinchuang medicine made by the Jiang family is cheap, and it can also be denied that it is the king of Anjun who is desperately reducing the price. In short, the cheapness is taken by the king of Anjun, and the Jiang family just runs errands for nothing and suffers, even if the queen mother knows, she has to say that the Jiang family is unlucky, and it is not good to think that the Jiang family is too hardworking.

In short, with this approach, Shen Shuhui pulled away most of the hatred of the Hou Party, not only obtained cheap medicinal materials, but also protected the Jiang family to the greatest extent.

Taohua coughed lightly: "Since the prince believes in the Jiang family, we should serve ourselves." At this time, she was a little ashamed of her previous hostility towards Shen Shu. Although Concubine Xian's death was the result of a battle in the harem, and his eyes should not be caused by a mistake in the use of drugs during pregnancy, in the eyes of people who do not understand medical skills, Jiang Fanghui is inseparable. In this case, it is already rare for Shen Shu to think about the Jiang family.

Returning the favor, Taohua naturally had to think more about Shen Shu: "I have to go back and discuss with my father about the medicinal materials." "There is also the second uncle Jiang Jun, who has been trading medicinal materials for many years, so he should have more channels, but Jinchuang Medicine must be concocted by the Jiang Family Pharmacy itself, so that the formula can be kept from leaking.

In contrast, it is simpler to buy rice grain and cotton cloth, and the main thing to consider is how to transport it conveniently and quickly and reduce loss. Jiang Junma lived in Jiangnan for a few months almost every year, and he was very familiar with these situations, as long as he set the purchase quantity, he could immediately send his subordinates to do it.

Shen Shu finally pushed someone out: "For future matters, please ask Junma to send someone to negotiate with Mr. Wu." It is also not appropriate for the county horse to appear in person. "Although this flower viewing party is the appearance of the lord of Nanhua County, it is caused by the fact that Jiang Jun Ma also wants to donate silver, it is difficult to say that the Yu family does not hate Jiang Jun Ma.

Jiang Junma smiled, wanted to say something, saw Jiang Heng, swallowed back the words, and only nodded to Wu Zheng: "I will send someone to contact Mr. Wu." If Miss Jiang has any inconvenience, she can also send someone to look for me. Seeing that the time was not early, it was estimated that the lord of Nanhua was about to come out of the palace, so he got up and said goodbye.

Jiang Heng originally wanted to say a few words to Taohua, but because of the discussion of medicinal materials, he couldn't interject, so he could only listen to the side, but the more he listened, the quieter he became. It wasn't until Jiang Junma got up to say goodbye that he hurriedly said a few words to Taohua and followed his father.

Jiangjun Ma took a carriage when he went out because of his bad legs, and Jiang Heng kept pestering him to talk when he came, but it was quiet in the carriage when he went back. Jiang Junma sat for a while, then turned his head to look at his son: "Why don't you speak?" I said before that I wanted to meet King Anjun, why didn't I listen to you when I saw King Anjun? ”

"Father-" Jiang Heng also turned his head to look at him, "Did King Anjun say that his father should not come forward to avoid his mother and the Queen Mother?" ”

Jiang Junma was silent for a moment, but still nodded: "Yes." "Jiang Heng is a young son, he has been smart and handsome since he was a child, and he loves to read, and the youngest son is not more responsible for building a family than the eldest son, so not only does the lord of Nanhua County love him like meat in his heart, but he also loves him a lot. Jiang Heng is suitable for calligraphy and painting on weekdays, but he doesn't know much about the political affairs of the imperial court.

Jiang Heng was also silent for a moment, and then asked: "It is said that the Queen Mother is jealous of King Anjun, so should she also squeeze out the Northwest Army?" ”

"The Marquis of Dingbei is the uncle of the King of Anjun."

"But the Northwest Army has been guarding the Northwest for many years, even if Concubine Xian passed away, Dingbei Hou didn't say anything."

Jiang Junma pondered for a moment: "Maybe if the Marquis of Dingbei is willing to give up his military power, the Northwest Army will not be excluded." ”

"But can anyone in the court lead the Northwest Army better than Dingbei Hou?"

Jiang Junma said with certainty: "No." "Not to mention my ability to lead the troops to fight, just to talk about prestige, Dingbei Hou has guarded the northwest for several generations, and how many children are killed and wounded in front of the two armies to Weizhen Northwest, just on this, even if General Lu Da, who is famous in the southeast to resist the Japanese, cannot replace Dingbei Hou, not to mention the so-called generals in the Yu clan now, most of them have not been on the battlefield at all, and leading the troops to suppress a bandit is considered a brilliant record.

"That mother-" Jiang Heng said three words, and swallowed back the words that followed.

Jiang Junma touched his son's head: "Your mother doesn't understand political affairs, she was raised by the Queen Mother, so she is naturally close to the Queen Mother." ”

"But the Northwest Army is a ...... to resist barbarians and defend the country" should always be understood.

Jiang Junma smiled: "Look, didn't your mother host the flower viewing party this time to raise so much silver?" ”

Jiang Heng was silent. The lord of Nanhua County presided over the flower viewing party, not for the Northwest Army, which he could still see.

"But Miss Jiang knows how to ......," Jiang Heng involuntarily slipped out of such a sentence.

Jiang Junma smiled bitterly: "Miss Jiang - is different from your mother. ”

"The Jiang family is still guilty of being convicted of the ancestral concubine...... Jiang Heng muttered again, and then he was □□ with great interest, "Father, it turns out that it is Miss Jiang who sees that you are suffering from gout, I have already said that her medical skills are excellent." Sister Bao has been unwell before, but she has been getting better in the past few days, also because Miss Jiang gave her sister-in-law an idea. She hadn't even seen Sister Bao'er's face, but she was able to cure Sister Bao'er's illness, and her sister-in-law was very grateful. ”

"It turns out that Sister Bao'er has been getting better in the past few days, is this the reason?" Jiang Heng was also surprised, "You can cure a disease without even seeing Sister Bao'er's face, it's really extraordinary." How is it treated? ”

"It's said that the nurse is too greasy...... Jiang Heng didn't know very well, because Wen was embarrassed to say anything like milk in front of the adult brother-in-law, and he only said a few vague words at that time, and Jiang Heng didn't delve into it.

"My father didn't see it, but on the night the Mochizuki Bridge collapsed, she saved several people." Jiang Heng gestured, "Picking up the bones is accurate and fast, someone is injured and the flesh is blurred, I look at it with some palpitations, but she is not afraid of ...... at all" After saying something, she finally sighed, "Mother always says that the noble girl in Beijing is good and that is good, I look at it all the same, which one has her ability?" ”

Jiang Junma's eyes flashed, he looked at his son, and said, "The noble girl in Beijing has never studied medical skills, so naturally she can't do it." ”

Jiang Heng shook his head: "It's not that I haven't studied medicine, but - hey, I don't know what to say, in short, these noble girls, even if they are asked to study medicine, they don't dare." ”

Jiang Junma pondered for a moment and asked, "You are very familiar with Miss Jiang?" But I don't think Miss Jiang has said anything to you today, as if she is just a general friend. ”

This Jiang Heng can only admit with some regret: "Miss Jiang has a cheerful temperament, but there is always a difference between men and women......"

The corners of Jiang Junma's mouth twitched slightly. Men and women should be treated differently? If Miss Jiang was confined to the difference between men and women, she would not have studied medicine. It was also very natural to see the conversation she had with King Anjun just now, and after she said goodbye, she still stayed in the elegant room to discuss the purchase of medicinal materials with King Anjun. It can only be said that this Jiang girl is different from the Jiang family.

Thinking of the lord of Nanhua, Jiang Junma couldn't help but ask: "At the flower viewing party, the girl from the Jinghai Marquis Mansion also came, I heard your mother say that she is more outstanding now, and she knows how to be courteous, if anyone marries her as a daughter-in-law, it will be blessed." ”

Jiang Heng said indifferently: "Really? She is the daughter of the Marquis of Jinghai, so she naturally does not worry about getting married. ”

Jiang Junma looked at his son, groaned and said, "I see that your mother also likes her very much." ”

Jiang Heng reacted at this time: "Father, didn't you say that mother wants-"

"You're sixteen too." Jiang Junma touched the top of his son's head, "Your eldest brother is already married at your age." However, your mother is only looking for it now, and it is unknown whether the Marquis of Jinghai Mansion will agree. "To be honest, although the Jiang family has a county lord, they have no real power, and the county lord can't bring a title, so it's not certain whether someone like Jinghai Hou can take a fancy to Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng didn't care about this, and said busily: "Father, I'm still young." Besides, it's going to end next year, where do you have the heart to talk about family affairs. ”

"Naturally, your mother is worried about this, and I don't need you."

Jiang Heng was dumbfounded: "But, but, since it's for me to marry, why do you want me to take a fancy to myself?" Isn't the sister-in-law the eldest brother who chose it himself? ”

Jiang Wu married at that time, but after a long time, Jiang Junma suddenly had a premonition that his second son might not be able to live in peace, so he had to say: "Do you have someone you like?" ”

"No-" Jiang Heng denied it, but his ears were a little red, and when he saw his father looking at him with a smile, he finally turned his head and muttered quietly, "I want to find a ...... with a cheerful personality and a calm attitude."

"I heard that Miss Cao has a very cheerful temperament."

Jiang Heng immediately retorted: "But when she was a child, she squeaked when she saw a caterpillar, and she definitely couldn't be surprised!" ”

"You also said that it was when she was a child, and she naturally won't be like this now."

"Not necessarily." Jiang Heng said unconvinced, "Now let her see the insects, she will definitely scream." Otherwise, I heard that last time in Xishi, someone deceived King Anjun with a fake black snake, or the Jiang family saw through it, if I also took a dead snake to show her, I promised to make her cry and scream in fright. ”

"How can there be such nonsense!" Jiang Junma couldn't cry or laugh, "Is marrying a wife just to see if you are afraid of snakes?" If this is the case, then the women who gather medicine and hunt in the mountains, or the women in the fields, they are not afraid of snakes, and you must marry them? ”

Jiang Heng lowered his head and stopped talking......