Winter in Yangzhou has a unique artistic conception. The snow willows of the cold river and the jade trees are completely different styles compared to the spring scenery of fireworks in March.

The time was about to enter the first month, and the fleet of the King of Guangping was in a hurry to go to Shanghai, and did not stay in Yangzhou for long. I only docked for one night, met with the prefect of Yangzhou, and set sail again the next day. However, the fleet slowed down slightly on the canal, so that everyone on board could have a glimpse of Yangzhou's winter scenery.

Zeng Shilang and several accompanying officials simply gathered in a boat, each holding a hand stove, wearing a thick hood and cloak, standing on the deck to admire the snow and chant poems. Behind them were handsome servants warming wine in a small red clay stove, and the king of Quang Binh ordered a few fine snacks to be brought from the main ship. The adults were blowing the cold wind, but they were in good spirits.

Zhao Xiu was naturally nested in his cabin. She put a big snow wave paper on the bookcase in the small hall, all kinds of paintbrushes and paints are available on the side, and Gao Zhen picked up a warm inkstone in Yangzhou yesterday, and there is a dark grid of hot water at the base, and the ink is warmed so that it does not freeze, which is a good helper for writing and painting in winter.

But Zhao Xiu just stared at the blank piece of paper in a daze, looking listless.

When Gao Zhen came up with a small suitcase, he saw her like this, and couldn't help but wonder: "Sister Zhao, what's wrong?" ”

Liu Lu, who was waiting beside her, hurriedly stepped forward to take the box and said with a smile: "The girl is in a bad mood today, and she didn't eat much early dinner." In the old lady's room, there was talk and laughter, but as soon as he came back, he stretched his face. After practicing calligraphy, I originally said that I would draw for a while, but I stared at the pen and paper in a daze. ”

Gao Zhen was a little worried: "But what do you think is wrong with you?" There is not much snow outside today, but the wind is a little strong, don't blow the wind, right? ”

Zhao Xiu reluctantly stood up with a smile: "I'm fine, didn't I just stay stunned for a while?" Don't make a fuss, if your grandmother hears it, she'll come and ask again. "Let's just let the willow green serve the tea.

Gao Zhen sat down at the kang table of the Luohan bed, stared at Zhao Xiu's face carefully for a while, and saw that Zhao Xiu was a little embarrassed, and turned his head with a red face: "What are you staring at me for?" ”

Gao Zhen didn't speak, only reached out to shake her hand, and put the back of his other hand against her forehead. Zhao Xiu hurriedly dodged and said with a smile: "You are crazy again, if you have something to say, don't move your hands and feet, what do people look like?" ”

Gao Zhen glanced at her, withdrew his hand, put it in his sleeve, and nodded with satisfaction: "There is no fever, and my hands are not cold, it seems that I am indeed not sick." ”

Zhao Xiu smacked him: "If you just want to know if I'm sick, just ask, what to do?" After spitting, she was embarrassed, sat down on the other side of the kang table, and said with a red face: "I'm really fine, it's just ...... Not in a good mood. ”

Gao Zhen thought thoughtfully: "Speaking of which, Brother Wei doesn't seem to be in a good mood today. In normal times, Zeng Shilang and they had a poetry meeting on the back boat, how could he go over to have a fun. Writing poems and essays horizontally and vertically can't make it difficult for him. But not only did he not go, but he also looked at Zeng Shilang and them coldly, and said a few mocking words to Dong Sheng. My father asked him if he was angry with him, and he said no. What's wrong with your brother and sister today? Could it be because of the news from yesterday? ”

Isn't it because of the news that came yesterday? Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu's brothers and sisters discussed, if Uncle Mi refuses to listen to their persuasion, insists on going his own way, and even puts an elder on them, then take some tough action, let Uncle Xu come forward and report him to the governor of Shandong, so as to give him a lesson that he will remember for a lifetime. Their brothers and sisters are also worried, Uncle Mi is not a smart person, and his ambition is rampant, rather than letting him continue to be an official, relying on the power of Jiannanhou Mansion as a disaster, and Zhao Wei will be affected in the future, it is better to let him go home and farm.

Although the brother and sister knew that the eldest aunt Zhao Yuanniang might not be really close to their family, but they had the foreshadowing before, and they had a good impression first, and if they wanted to do this little favor, Zhao Yuanniang should be willing to help.

Unexpectedly, the news that came back in the end, although Uncle Mi was punished, it was in this light form. Don't look at him, it seems that he is likely to lose his official position because of the poor evaluation, but it is also possible to continue to stay in his original position, and it is more likely that he will be demoted one or two levels and continue to be an official in another place, depending on how the governor of Shandong and the officials at the top are decided. The Shandong families he provoked were also secretly exerting their strength. If it weren't for them, Uncle Mi would have been punished more lightly.

This is a bit far from Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu's original plan, and they are even more dissatisfied with their aunt Zhao Yuanniang's appearance in this matter. Uncle Mi's matter was told by her brother and sister, and she also reminded them that the matter of the Mi family might be affected by the Jiannan Hou Mansion, but their brother and sister made a decision to kill their relatives in righteousness, and asked her to help with a word, but she retracted. What does she mean by that?

Zhao Wei has always been respectful to his aunt, and he has also thought about his uncle, cousin and nephews many times. But if the aunt is still lukewarm and has no sincerity towards their grandchildren, then he will only have a face-to-face affection for her in the future. He is a junior, but he also has self-esteem, so that the elders will not be unwelcome, and he is still in a hurry to post upside down.

However, the Zhang family still thinks that Zhao Yuanniang is doing this well, if they really follow their brother and sister's thoughts, the Mi family's relatives will really be extinct. In the end, it is their mother's mother's family, it shouldn't be too ruthless, and it should be talked about when it is passed out. Besides, Uncle Mi will lose his official position if he is convicted, but Mi's reputation will also be affected. The Zhang family was very satisfied with Mi's daughter-in-law, and couldn't bear to see her being implicated behind her, so he persuaded his grandchildren to forget about it and stop worrying with the Mi family.

This is called how Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu are not depressed? Zhao Wei went to read the official document, and Zhao Xiu went back to the room in a daze, and he couldn't even raise the interest to do the practice painting that he liked very much recently.

After listening to Zhao Xiu's complaints, Gao Zhen understood in his heart. He smiled and took the dim sum plate from Liu Lu's hand, put it on the kang table, and said, "Sister Zhao, don't be angry, look, this is the halva that I asked people to buy in the morning, I heard that it is their local specialty in Yangzhou, what is it called Dong Sugar, it is still interesting to eat." Do you like to taste it? ”

Zhao Xiu had also eaten Dong Liang, but when he saw Gao Zhen's kindness, he ate a piece very respectfully: "It's very sweet and crispy, this is just made this morning, right?" It's so fresh. ”

Gao Zhen was very happy when he heard this, and drank two more sips of tea.

After eating the sugar, Gao Zhen sent Liu Lu to collect the dim sum plate, and only he and Zhao Xiu were left in the house, so he comforted her: "Don't take your uncle's affairs to heart anymore." Although the result is not as good as your brothers and sisters, it is a safe solution for now. At least in this way, your brother and sister's reputation will not be affected by your uncle's family, and your uncle's career will be hindered, and he will be able to restrain a lot, and try to keep his official position wholeheartedly, and he will not cause any more trouble for a while. ”

Zhao Xiu lowered his head to eat tea, and when he heard this, his heart suddenly moved, and he looked up at him: "The prince seems to have made a package ticket at the beginning, right?" ”

Gao Zhen smiled silently.

Zhao Xiu hurriedly put down the tea bowl and sat up straight: "Did you also get involved in this matter?" The governor of Shandong only convicted my uncle of poor supervision, but ......"

Gao Zhen said with a smile: "I sent someone to arrange it in advance, where did you think that your brothers and sisters were so decisive that they would kill their relatives in righteousness?" If I ruin your business, I hope Sister Zhao will not be surprised. ”

Zhao Xiu glared at him for a while, then he was deflated and said with a wry smile: "Forget it, what's so weird?" Your arrangement is also very good. He was a little curious: "When Dongsheng came back, he said that when my uncle saw them, he spoke very strangely, as if someone had scared him, and quietly put the letter in his study to make him restrain." This has nothing to do with us, could it be your handiwork? ”

Gao Zhen nodded: "I didn't expect that when he read the letter I ordered someone to put in the study, not only did he not feel afraid, but he misunderstood that Brother Wei was making trouble and drove your people out." Since he had to be confused, I had to ask his boss to teach him a good lesson. ”

Zhao Xiu was a little depressed: "In this way, my uncle has kept his official position, and he also has your credit?" It's not all my aunt and uncle who help. ”

Gao Zhen looked at her carefully: "I'm afraid that if things get bigger, others will gossip about your mother and your brother and sister." There's nothing wrong with that now. That's it this year, and when it comes to the spring of next year, with your uncle's evaluation, there will be no surprise that the officials will give an order to be dismissed or demoted. When the time comes, I will only see that your brother and sister are happy, and I will dispose of him casually. According to me, it's better to keep people under your nose and send some silver rice from time to time, although it costs money, you can earn some good reputation. The Mi family wants to make fun of your brothers and sisters and ruin your reputation, and no one believes him. Besides, no matter how foolish he is, he is also your relatives and elders, and you need to guard against someone using him to make things difficult for you. Put a man under his nose, so that he may always watch him, lest anyone hook him and make him do something bad and cause trouble to your family. ”

Zhao Xiu was silent for a while before he said, "Brother Shizi is thoughtful, and it is indeed safer to do this. It's just that in my brother and I's opinion, this relative is not as good as nothing, if you put it under your nose, they still have to rely on the status of elders to point fingers at us, I don't know how much trouble will be born. Our family has never suffered less from relatives in the past, and is more willing to keep them away. Without these relatives, the three of us have survived to this day. ”

Why didn't Gao Zhen understand Zhao Xiu's thoughts? Their brothers and sisters have been supporting the portal alone for many years, except for the three or five clansmen, no relatives and friends have to rely on, and they have long been used to it, so they don't pay much attention to their relatives and elders. But he is a person from the past, and he always has to persuade her to say something: "Don't underestimate your relatives too much." If something happens to them, they will be even more disgusting than outsiders. It's hard to talk to the elders. But after giving them a courtesy, they have to get an inch again, and they feel uncomfortable. Put it under their noses, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, everything depends on you, and they are in awe in their hearts, and they dare not make mistakes. If you put it far away, you don't know what they are doing, and you can't prevent it if you want to. ”

Zhao Xiu felt strange when he saw that he seemed to be quite touched: "You seem to have a good understanding of this kind of thing?" ”

Gao Zhen paused and sighed, "I'm not afraid to sue you." When I was in Jining earlier, I met the Zhong family. ”

The Zhong family? Zhao Xiu was stunned for a moment, and quickly reacted: "It's from your uncle's family?" Didn't they go back to their hometown? ”

"I did go back." Gao Zhen said, "But my second uncle's family resigned early, and he was not implicated by his uncle, and now although his family has no official position, his net worth is good." My second cousin took the Xiucai exam last year, and this autumn he failed to take the entrance examination in Jinan Prefecture, and he accidentally contracted a disease on the way home, so he stayed in Jining so far. I met him when I went ashore, and he greeted me very warmly, and said a little goodbye. He paused, "I didn't expect that there would be so many changes in the Zhong family." ”R1152