Half a month later,

Zhao Shijiao recovered from his illness and went to Cining Palace to greet the Queen Mother, and stood aside silently after saluting.

Empress Dowager Guo carefully stared at her son's face, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Do you hate the mourning family in your heart?" The House of Mourners broke you apart? ”

"Erchen doesn't dare." Zhao Shijiao said a sentence expressionlessly, and then stopped talking.

What else did the Queen Mother want to say, seeing that the corners of her son's lips were pursed, her expression was indifferent, she sighed, and swallowed back what she was going to say.

With a wave of his hand, tell him to stand down.

The Queen Mother watched her son's figure disappear at the door of the dormitory, and said to herself: "Am I wrong? Shouldn't I care? He didn't even want to say a word to the mourners. "The Queen Mother is a little sad.

"Queen Mother, how can you say that, you are the mother of the prince, when will you not worry about the prince's affairs?" Cui Changhai said in his heart, stopping his son from marrying the girl he liked, and feeling sorry for his son's guilt, don't look at it as the queen mother, it is also the heart of a mother.

"Send someone to the uncle's mansion, spread the message of the mourning family, and let Xiao Enhou personally lead someone to find her, no matter where she is hiding, she will definitely find the mourning family." After the emperor ascended the throne, in order to repay the queen mother for many years of upbringing, he was gracious to the queen mother's family and was named a marquis.

Cui Changhai stole a look at the Queen Mother's gloomy face as if she was about to drip, bowed down and said, "Yes, the slave will go." ”

The Queen Mother leaned weakly on the chaise longue, her son called a name all night when she was unconscious, she was distressed when she heard it, her son now has a gloomy face all day long, and the mother and son are separated because of this matter, and the Queen Mother is not in her heart.

Shen Xuanzhen pretended to be an old woman, embroidered chrysanthemum two pretended to be young women, a group of six people out of the capital, did not dare to take the waterway, afraid of being too ostentatious, in case of something, there was nowhere to hide, take the dry road to the south, through the state capital and county, the prosperous towns were all bypassed, Xiaoxing stayed overnight, all the way to the road guide from the rich and wide flowers, without too much investigation, in one breath to the boundary of Hejian Mansion. The sky is warm, it is dark, the coachman is not ready to go, Qian Kuan calculated the car money, find an inn to stay, the inn is not big, there are few people, just a few of their guests, only the couple take care of the inn.

Shen Wanzhen asked for a table of wine and food, and the sister-in-law of the store was a middle-aged woman, who had all the wine and food in an instant, and said with a smile, "The guest officer is slow to use, what do you want to tell me." He withdrew with interest, and did not say much.

After coming out for a few days, I was in a hurry, and I didn't dare to stay too long, and the bustling towns were all detoured, and I didn't dare to stay until I arrived in Hejian Mansion.

When he went out, he couldn't say the rules, the master and servant ate at the same table, Qian Kuan took a sip of wine and said: "Master, are you walking for two days, the road is in a hurry, and people are sleepy." ”

"It's okay, rest for two days, and tomorrow will go to the street to buy dry food for the road."

The master and servant rested for the night.

The next day, after breakfast, and the shopkeeper asked about the nearby place to buy food, a few people went to the street, to the south the hot weather, the less to wear, Shen Wanzhen is obviously inappropriate to pretend to be an old woman, so Xiuju turned her black hair into a fallen horsehair, and made up a middle-aged woman, Shen Wanzhen raised the bronze mirror, and looked in the mirror with her eyebrows pulled down, the corners of her mouth drooped, and her face was greasy, which completely ruined her own image.

As soon as Mrs. Qian entered the door and saw it, she smiled and said: "This girl is clever, and she can be whatever she dresses." ”

Xiuju blushed, "Mom praised me, don't look closely, you can find flaws if you look closely." ”

Mama Yan answered: "The master is slender, and his walking figure can still be seen, wearing the old slave's wide coat and coat, which can slightly cover up a little bit. ”

Mama Yan had already found one, Shen Wanzhen changed into a green cloth coat, and said to Xiuju and Qiaoshan: "You two change into single clothes, I'm afraid you don't look like you're older, just dress up as a maid." ”

The two of them also changed into their own clothes.

As soon as Shen Wanzhen and the others came out of the room, the shopkeeper saw her, was startled, and said with a smile: "It was dark yesterday, and Mrs. wore a lot, thinking that she was not young, but she was not old. ”

Shen Wanzhen lowered her eyebrows a few times, didn't say anything, and laughed when she walked outside, Shen Wanzhen admired the makeup skills of embroidered chrysanthemums.

Hejian Prefecture governs Hejian County, Hejian County is prosperous and lively, cautious all the way, are dark accommodation, have not been shopping during the day, can be regarded as seeing the day, embroidered chrysanthemum and Qiaoshan are the most excited, all the way to sell bits and pieces is needle thread brain stall to see, looking for a clean shop, bought dry food on the road.

was about to stroll until noon, and ate dinner directly outside before returning to the inn, suddenly, the front suddenly became chaotic, Qian Kuan was always walking outside, saw the signs, turned around and whispered: "It's not good, the front is probably the government checking passers-by, probably something happened again, hurry back to the inn." ”

When Shen Wanzhen heard this, she became nervous, Xiuju and Qiaoshan lost interest all of a sudden, and the group hurried back to the inn.

When they arrived at the inn, as soon as they entered the door, the lady of the store saw them and said, "The government came to check just now, and I said that a few of you have gone out, and it is estimated that you will come again." ”

Shen Wanzhen looked at Qian Kuan, Qian Kuan's eyes meant to go on the road as soon as possible, Qian Kuan went out of Lu to hire a car, Shen Wanzhen and others prepared enough dry food and water, calculated the store money, left in a hurry, got in the car and ran to the city gate, Shen Wanzhen lifted the curtain of the car, and saw that the city gate had just begun to check, it was not very strict, and the car went out of the city with the flow of people.

Although there is no danger, I don't dare to be careless, I don't enter the prosperous town, take a relatively remote route, and soon arrive at the boundary of Shandong Prefecture, Yanggu County is Shen Wanzhen's hometown, and the line did not dare to stay, Shen Wanzhen was afraid that her father and mother had already sent someone back to her hometown in Shandong to find her.

Shen Wanzhen calculated all the way, in ancient times, there were population registration account posts, registration of yellow books, recording of origin, current residence, place of residence, name, gender, age, relationship with the head of household, etc., the government made accounts every three years, and the household registration book was in triplicate, one was left in the county, one was sent to the state, and one was sent to the household department, for the sake of safety, it was decided to go to Wu Yulian first, she had the address of Wu Yulian's husband, near Qiantang County, a small place called Taoxiwu.

Shen Wanzhen and his entourage arrived near Qiantang County, it was almost dusk, and they inquired about Taoxi Dock, and an old man passing by pointed to the opposite side of a lake not far away and said: "Across the lake is Taoxi Dock." ”

Shen Xuanzhen waited for the sedan chair and paid for the sedan chair, the sedan car did not leave the state, and they had to hire another sedan chair if they walked for a while.

Jiangnan winter, just now still sunny day, a blink of an eye on the light rain, a few people go out, the north is winter, plus all the way in a hurry, no umbrella, at this moment, the sky is rainy and continuous, the cold rain hits the lake, there is no boat in the vast, there is no one nearby, the ancient land is sparsely populated, many places are uninhabited.

Suddenly, Qiao Shan pointed to the middle of the lake, "That's not a boat. ”

The lake is very wide, and in the drizzle there is a gallery boat on the lake, which seems to be very large, and there is a man standing in the bow of the boat, looking out at the lake in the distance.

The shore of Shen Xuanzhen and the others was not covered, and several people made their hands into a trumpet shape and shouted to the boatman.

The big boat didn't seem to hear it for a long time, and Xiuju shouted for a long time before the boat rowed over slowly.

Not far from shore, the boatman shouted; "Guest officer, do you want to take a boat?"

"It's a boat." Xiuju and Qiao Shan shouted.

"No, the boat was chartered by this guest officer to swim in the lake."

On the shore of the boat, Shen Wanzhen looked at the carved beams and paintings of this boat, newly painted red, and the tables and chairs inside were elegantly furnished, looking at the man standing on the bow of the boat, enjoying the rain on the lake, it was so arbitrary, as if he was detached from the world, and completely ignored a few people.

Shen Wanzhen saw that the boatman couldn't be the master, so she called to the man; "Childe, it's convenient to go in case of rain on the road."

The man turned his head, only thirty or fifty meters away from the shore, and saw clearly the man's appearance, about twenty years old, delicate and elegant, gorgeously dressed, not like an ordinary poor scholar, and there were two or three people on the stern side of the boat, who seemed to be attendants, obviously protecting and taking care of this noble son.

Shen Xuanzhen had to bite the bullet, and said loudly to the noble son on the boat, and said: "Childe, if it weren't for the rain today, I wouldn't dare to disturb Gongzi Yaxing, if Gongzi feels really inconvenient, I won't be reluctant." ”

The young man looked at her and turned around, Shen Wanzhen thought it was no fun, but she didn't expect the boat to come to the shore.

Stopped, Xiuju and Qiaoshan helped Shen Juan to get on the boat first, and Shen Juzhen bowed down to the noble son, "It's convenient for Gongzi Xie." ”

The boy looked at her with a faint expression, only slightly necked, indifferent and expressionless, and suddenly, he cast a strange gaze at her.

Shen Wanzhen watched him staring at his face, then turned his head, and saw that the corners of his lips were raised, as if there was a hint of mockery.

Shen Wanzhen stretched out her hand and touched her face, not good, she touched a hand of greasy powder, this is her dressing up as a middle-aged woman, Xiuju specially gave her elaborate makeup, but the rain was poured, the makeup was spent, and her face was estimated to be very embarrassed, Shen Wanzhen smiled embarrassedly, her acting skills were too clumsy, and she was a goof.

Shen Wanzhen was recognized, and she didn't pretend to go down, so she took out a handkerchief and wiped the rain from her head and face.

The young noble man had no intention of looking at her again, his eyes showed surprise, this woman wiped a few times, the skin on her face was white and delicate, revealing innocence, but why was she dressed up as a middle-aged woman, he was in a light mood, and he was a little interested in vain.

Shen Wanzhen saw that this boy had a cold expression, so she stayed away, a little away from him, and stood on the side of the boat to watch the lake scenery in the rain.

Qian Kuan chatted with the boatman, the boatman rocked the oar, and talked to Qian Kuan about the customs.

Qiao Shan used to be idle, and chatted with the boy's subordinates on the side of the boat, and Shen Wanzhen listened to the little guy ask: "Where are you from?" ”

Shen Wanzhen couldn't help but look at Qiao Shan, afraid that she would leak her mouth, so she heard Qiao Shan say: "Shandong Mansion." ”

The little guy asked, "Go relatives." ”

Qiao Shan said quickly, "My aunt and grandmother are married here, so I will bring a letter to me." ”

Shen Wanzhen smiled secretly, this maid is quite clever.

Then I heard Qiao Shan ask, "Where are you from?" Doesn't look like a local? ”

The little guy was young, and when he saw Qiaoshanren looking delicate and smart, he had a good impression, and after a few words, he said enthusiastically: "We are from the capital, and my grandfather ......." As soon as he said this, the noble boy at the bow of the boat said in a deep voice: "Little Shunzi." ”

was so frightened that the little guy stuck out his tongue and didn't dare to talk to Qiao Shan.

Shen Wanzhen looked at the back of the son, only to feel a little familiar, and couldn't remember where he had seen it, but when he glanced at this son, he was no stranger, but he had seen it there, and he couldn't remember it for a while.

When the boat docked, Qian Kuan asked the boatman to inquire about the address written on Wu Yulian's letter, and the boatman was born and raised.

Shen Wanzhen went ashore, the town is not big in the drizzle, one hundred and ten households, all of them are a belt of white walls, the river is bent and twisted, flowing around the town, the stone arch bridge, criss-crossed, the smoke and rain in the south of the river, the scenery is picturesque.

On the shore, Shen Wanzhen looked back and saw that the noble son also followed ashore, and the little shunzi who had just talked to Qiao Shan caught up with them with two umbrellas in his hand and gave them to Qiao Shan, saying, "This is what my grandfather gave to you." ”

Shen Wanzhen looked back and saw that the man was walking on the shore, Shen Wanzhen smiled and said to Xiao Shunzi: "Thank you master." ”

The place is not big, as soon as I inquired, I found the place, and came to the door, hanging a banner high, "Zhang Ji"

Shen Wanzhen had no intention of looking back, the boy and the servants also followed, she wondered, seeing that the son entered the left side door, Shen Wanzhen laughed at herself, it was her own heart, people didn't follow them, they lived here.

Shen Wanzhen stepped into the shop, a guy was in the counter, saw the people coming in, and asked with a smile on his face: "Guest officer, do you want to buy snacks?" Our dim sum here is an exclusive craft, a must, and you can't buy it anywhere else. ”

Shen Wanzhen stepped forward and said politely: "Do you dare to ask where the shopkeeper is?" ”

The guy was a little surprised, instead of buying snacks, he went to his master and looked at a few of them, "The shopkeeper is out." ”

"The shopkeeper is there?"

The guy clicked his eyes, "It's looking for my grandmother, so he called a little guy back, saying that someone came in front of him to look for grandma." ”

After a while, the curtain clicked inside, and a woman walked out, petite and with clear eyebrows.

"Who's looking for me?"

Seeing Shen Wanzhen at a glance, she called out in surprise: "Sister." ”

Quickly stepped forward, grabbed Shen Wanzhen's hand, and shook with joy, "Why did my sister come suddenly and not say hello?" ”

"Sister, if you don't have an address, it's really hard to find."

Wu Yulian said excitedly: "Sister said in the house. ”

This is a front shop and a back house, two into the courtyard, Wu Yulian took her to the hall and beckoned a little maid to pour tea.

The little maid poured tea, and she instructed an old woman standing in the house, "Take a few of them down to rest, prepare wine and food, and be sumptuous." ”

A few embroidered chrysanthemums followed, drank saliva, and rested in the wing.

Shen Wanzhen and Wu Yulian recounted what happened after saying goodbye to each other.

Wu Yulian's husband, considered a distant relative of Wu Yulian's uncle, had been married, the first lady finger for marriage, the girl was sick and crooked, a few years after marriage, people died, her uncle intended to give his niece to him, Zhang Shao's shopkeeper saw Wu Yulian, very satisfied, he asked someone to come to the door to propose, Wu Yulian saw that his life was quite solid, and he was honest, that is, he was twenty-seven or eighteen years old, a little older, and agreed, and lived a good life after marriage.

After hearing about Shen Xuanzhen, Wu Yulian said happily: "It's just right, your sister-in-law is not at home, and I have nothing to do these days, and my sister is here to accompany me." ”

Shen Wanzhen was very relieved to see that she had good results, "I'll stay for a day or two and leave." ”

"Where does my sister want to go?"

"Wujiang County."

Wu Yulian shook her head and disagreed, "Sister went rashly, her identity is easy to be exposed, and people will find out, it's better for my sister to live in my sister's house for a while, and after a year and a half, when the prince establishes the princess, there is nothing to do, and my sister is leaving." ”

Shen Wanzhen was also worried, hearing her say that it was the truth, and her life was sparse, but when she thought about it again, Wu Yulian was newly married and lived in her house, which was inconvenient, so she hesitated a little, Wu Yulian saw her thoughts, and said: "My man's parents have long since died, and there are no brothers, the house is spacious, facing the shop is the main courtyard, and there are east and west partial courtyards next to it. ”

Shen Wanzhen thought that this was the best, so she said, "I pay according to the rent." ”

Wu Yulian took her arm and said angrily: "What does my sister say, my sister can ask for my sister's money, go, my sister will take my sister to see the house." ”

Wu Yulian took her to enter through the wall gate of the main courtyard, and the west courtyard was also the second courtyard, and several people lived very spaciously.

Shen Wanzhen saw that Wu Yulian's husband's family had a solid background, opened her own dim sum shop in front, rented an idle house, got some money, and had more than enough livelihood, and thought to herself, although Wu Yulian married into a small family, she had no in-laws, and her life was comfortable, which was better than being a concubine in Wu's house, although she was not rich and expensive, she could also get by.

Shen Wanzhen repeatedly said that she was bothered, Wu Yulian was very happy, she could help Shen Wanzhen, and slightly replied to Shen Wanzhen for saving her that day.

Xiuju and Qiaoshan sprinkled the house, busy and happy.

Mama Yan boiled hot water, poured it into a wooden bucket, and waited for Shen Wanzhen to take a bath, after Shen Wanzhen took a bath, she changed into a thin cotton dress with white and carved silk, and embroidered chrysanthemum was busy, Shen Wanzhen put a slightly damp black oily hair in a loose bun at will, and while thinking about his brother to settle the account, he still took out five taels of silver from the burden, about half a year's rent, and went to send it to Wu Yulian.

The rain stopped, the air was fresh after the rain, and the sky was bright, Shen Wanzhen walked out of the flower wall door, along the washed bluestone road, and walked to the upper room of the main courtyard, and suddenly saw the young man coming out of the east courtyard, seeing that she was obviously stunned, looking her up and down, Shen Wanzhen understood, she changed her clothes, not like a middle-aged woman.

Shen Wanzhen was grateful for the boat, he sent an umbrella, squatted at him, and the boy's neck went out.

In the evening, Wu Yulian prepared wine and food, and several people were full of wine and food, and rested contentedly.

Taoxiwu has beautiful mountains and clear waters, clear springs around the house in front of the house, crisscrossing small stone bridges, this is the place she dreamed of coming.

Lived for three or five days, the situation of the young noble son in the East Cross Courtyard knew a little bit about it, it turned out that his surname was Xiao, a native of Beijing, he traveled through the mountains and rivers, and inadvertently traveled here, this inconspicuous town in the south of the Yangtze River, beautiful and quiet, picturesque, and lived.

Xiao Gongzi lived in the East Cross Courtyard with five or six entourage, and he had seen him a few times, and he never talked to anyone when he went in and out, and nodded when he saw Shen Wanzhen.

Shen Wanzhen is a maiden relative of the grandmother of the Zhang family, and Wu Yulian is indeed a cousin.

At dusk on this day, Shen Wanzhen walked alone to the stream outside the town, the stream slowly flowed to the north, and the winter in the south was not very distinct, not as dry and cold as the north.

A leaf fell, it was falling at her feet, she squatted, another leaf fell to the ground, she picked it up, and saw that the two leaves were strikingly similar, she was melancholy, she cared about the person, squatted on a stone by the stream, put the two leaves side by side and gently put them into the water, let it float away along the current, she kept watching, those two leaves, never abandoned, never separated, always drifted away from her sight.

Not far from her, a person also stood beside the stream, the evening afterglow sprinkled on the water, sparkling, he saw inadvertently, a woman squatting on the stone by the stream, holding two leaves in her hand, put them in the water, the woman's expression was sad, under the scattered light and shadow, it seemed to be shrouded in a faint sadness, he breathed paused.

He recognized it as the woman who lived next to him, the strange woman, who did not know what to hide.

The Imperial Study

The king of the governor returned to the emperor's words.

"Shen still hasn't believed it?"

"Back to the emperor, I checked around the ministers, but I didn't find any trace."

"This is strange, is it that the heavens and the earth are gone, without a trace." The emperor paced back and forth, thinking about it and suddenly said: "For so many days, I won't be near the capital, and I will send an edict to all states, prefectures, and counties to find her. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The Shen family is a female streamer, and they won't run too far to find it along the waterway to the south." The emperor wondered, as soon as Shen ran away, he disappeared without a trace.

"Also, this matter is hidden from the Queen Mother and is carried out in secret."

"Obey."