Chapter 233: Relatives

Seeing Cao Tong listening to the queen's reprimand in frustration, the palace maids who vaguely heard the voice pursed their lips and laughed, but they didn't dare to laugh out of their voices, and endured it very hard, I am also thinking about the interests of the family, Cao Tong muttered in his heart, of course, he didn't dare to say it clearly, but fortunately, under the gentle words of Cao Yaxin and Cao Yuan, Cao Yi's anger gradually subsided.

"I'll talk to you about this later." Cao Yi snorted coldly and said indifferently: "Of course, there is also a way to atone for your sins, so I don't know if you are willing to do it." ”

Needless to say, I must be willing, Cao Tong nodded hurriedly, and said with a bright smile on his face: "If there is anything, even if you are told, how dare the subordinate brother disobey." ”

"I don't dare." Cao Yi's bright eyes flashed with a smile, and he said softly: "You immediately ask a matchmaker to go to the house of the first Jinshi Chu Qian, and ask him to make a post for Xin'er." ”

"That's easy to do." Cao Tong didn't think about it at all, and blurted out directly, his heart was full of joy to avoid the reprimand, and just after turning around and taking two steps, he immediately felt that something was wrong, matchmakers, posts, this seems to be a gift for relatives.

The marriage customs of the Song Dynasty, the first step is to be under the auspices of the matchmaker, the men and women make a grass post, or ask for a good reunion auspicious post, to see if the age of both parties, whether the birth date is auspicious, whether there is a place to restrain each other, if the two parties are satisfied with each other after seeing the grass post, and then tell the matchmaker to pass a more detailed post, also called the fixed post, which is written on the male great-grandfather, grandfather, father three generations of names, occupation, the first few men, when was born, the parents are not in the hall, how much wealth the family has, which elder is the main marriage, etc., The women's family also wrote down their situation one by one in the form of reciprocity, and the two families put the fixed post on a plate lined with colored satin or cloth, and chose a day to give to each other, which means that the matter can be discussed.

This is the so-called Nacai, Mingming, Najib, Cao Mansion has just held Cao Yuan's wedding, Cao Tong was naturally impressed by these procedures, and his forward steps immediately stopped, turned around and showed a smiling face, and said softly: "Queen, forgive the ministers for being confused, I don't know what you just said." ”

"Can't hear clearly?" Cao Yi said lightly: "Then the palace will repeat it again." ”

"Not really." Cao Yan hurriedly said, secretly glanced at the pink face and was shy, delicate like a peach blossom Cao Yaxin, and immediately guessed a few points in his heart, and the impression of Chu Zhen appeared in his mind, the nephew of Chu Ji, a bachelor of the Guanwen Palace, his father is Chu Luo, the chief official of the salt and iron division tea case, and he is the first jinshi, age, reputation, and teacher

"And what else do you not understand?" Cao Yi asked, interrupting Cao Yan's thoughts.

This son-in-law is good, and they have all been decided, wouldn't it be boring if he opposes it, and in an instant, Cao Tong immediately made a decision in his heart, and said with a smile: "What the minister means is that the case of Master Chu and Chu Zhi is in the official office outside the palace, why not discuss it with them first." ”

"Anyway, the matter has been handed over to you, what do you think is appropriate, then what to do." Cao Yi didn't have an opinion, and a smile was hooked between her lips: "Don't hold it for too long, so as not to wait for Xin'er in a hurry." ”

"People don't have it." Cao Yaxin said coquettishly, her beautiful and delicate face flew up and turned rosy.

Seeing this situation, Cao Yi retreated and left, and when he quietly walked outside the imperial garden, he couldn't help but wipe his forehead, glad that Cao Yi's reprimand was only thunder and rain.

"Chu Qian, why didn't you think of it before." Cao Tong muttered to himself, chuckled, raised his eyes to discern the direction, and walked towards the official office in front of the imperial city, with thousands of thoughts in his mind, it is not a simple matter to make a marriage, and it needs to be carefully considered

Looking at Cao Yan's disappearing figure, Cao Yi turned sideways and smiled at Cao Yaxin and said, "Xin'er, you should rest assured now." ”

Cao Yaxin hung her head shyly, as if she suddenly remembered something, blinked her eyes, and said softly: "Auntie, he, it has been a long time since the imperial court conferred the official position, and those jinshi have almost set off to take up their posts, but they don't know about him, whether the imperial court has already discussed it properly." ”

"What's the matter with him?" Cao Yi said confusedly, as if she didn't know what Cao Yaxin was talking about.

"Auntie, on the day when the imperial court granted the new branch of non-commissioned officer, but for some reason, only Chu Gongzi was missed, and it has been almost half a month, and there is still no movement." Cao Yuan explained softly.

"There's such a thing." Cao Yi frowned and said, living in the deep palace, in order to avoid suspicion, she never deliberately inquired about the affairs of the court, so naturally she didn't know the ins and outs of this matter, but compared with this matter, Cao Yi seemed to be more concerned about other things.

"If you don't say it, I forgot." Cao Yimo's eyebrows frowned slightly: "If Xin'er and the Chu family Xiaolang get married, not to mention whether the time is in time, he still has to go to the local government to take up his post, a long journey, if he goes to a poor and remote place, how can Xin'er suffer with him, if he is uncomfortable because of the water and soil, then how can it be good." ”

"Then ask the official family to give him a Beijing official." Cao Yaxin blurted out subconsciously.

"You know how to push the boat down the river, the problem is that the rules of the imperial court are like this, the new science and technology scholars must first serve in the state and county, understand the people's suffering, how can they easily make an exception, and the prime minister starts from the state department, if you don't go through this step, how can you have any future in the future." Cao Yi smiled and said: "And according to what you said, on the day of the official appointment, since he was omitted, there must be some reason for it, and the imperial court acted like this, so it naturally has its intentions." ”

"What can I do, listen to my father, it's the Zhang family making an excuse." Cao Yaxin said angrily.

"Zhang's family." Cao Qingyi muttered, thinking of Zhang Guifei, who coveted the queen's throne in the palace, she was also a little unhappy in her heart, her willow eyebrows frowned slightly, and she said softly: "What happened to this matter, and tell it in detail." ”

"Xin'er doesn't know, listening to her father, things seem to have something to do with Fan Zhongyan." Cao Yaxin was puzzled: "I really can't figure it out, Gongzi Chu and Fan Zhongyan don't know each other, how did the two get involved." ”

"The more I listened, the more confused I became." Cao Yi shook her head and smiled: "Yuan'er, do you know the details?" ”

"Understand something." Cao Yuan smiled and said, "I heard that the official family intends to summon Fan Xiang back to Beijing. ”

As a queen, she is often exposed to it, and she is naturally no stranger to the tricks of open and secret battles between ministers of the imperial court, and after listening to a few words at will, Cao Yi immediately understood what was going on, and heard that Fan Zhongyan missed the opportunity to return to Beijing, but there was no regret in her heart, after all, Fan Zhongyan's reform in the Qingli period also directly damaged the interests of the Cao family, although Cao Yi secretly admired Fan Zhongyan's ambition in her heart, but she would definitely not support it politically.

"It turned out that there was a fire at the city gate, which affected the pond fish, you don't have to worry about this matter, with the temperament of the official family, I guess the arrangements have begun now." Cao Yi chuckled.

After all, he has served Zhao Zhen for many years, Cao Yi really did not guess wrong, at this time in the imperial study, Zhao Zhen, the son of heaven, picked up a book in his hand, and began to hesitate in his heart again.

"Yizhi, how many days have it been since the new science and technology officer was conferred?" Gently putting down the fold in his hand, Zhao Zhen asked in a harmonious voice.

Blinking his eyes, Zhang Ruoshui hurriedly pinched his fingers and calculated, and immediately bowed down and replied after a while: "Your Majesty, directly today, it has been seventeen days." ”

"It's been so long." Zhao Zhen's eyebrows jumped slightly, and he sighed and said: "The ancients often said, time is like a white horse, it is gone, it does not leave a trace, and it is sincere and not deceiving." ”

"That's because Your Majesty is so busy with every day that he concentrates on handling the affairs of the imperial court, so he naturally can't detect the passage of time." Zhang Ruoshui smiled and flattered.

"There's some truth to that." Zhao Zhen said with a smile in agreement.

"Your Majesty's dedication to governing the country is really a blessing for all the people." Such a good opportunity, how could Zhang Ruoshui waste it, the words of the slap were like the flooding of the Yellow River, gushing endlessly, and Zhao Zhen was in a good mood when he heard it, and his face was full of red light.

Of course, after hearing too much flattery, Zhao Zhen naturally had some immunity, and after a while, he put his attention back on the recital, frowned slightly, and muttered: "This thing is not easy to do, no matter how you say it, it is a disadvantage to others, and he has made some contributions, how can he pass things away at will, besides, Chu Qing's face still has to be given." ”

The reason why Zhang Ruoshui has been favored by Zhao Zhen for a long time and stayed by his side is because he is very self-aware, puts himself in a correct position, and often reminds himself that unless the emperor asks questions and does not commit taboos, he must not interfere in the affairs of the imperial court, so now he clearly hears Zhao Zhen muttering to himself, but Zhang Ruoshui ignores it and retreats back obediently, without the slightest intention of answering the words.

"Yizhi, what do you think of Chu Qian?" After a while, Zhao Zhen suddenly asked.

Chu quality? Confused, Zhang Ruoshui immediately woke up, don't think that life is easy by the emperor's side, when enjoying the majesty of the fox and the tiger, you naturally have to pay some price, not only to understand the rules and regulations in the palace, the changes in the trend of the court, the basic situation of officials, local folk customs, historical allusions, etc., etc., can be described as all-inclusive, otherwise when the emperor asks, but he can't answer, it won't greatly affect his status in the emperor's mind.

Fortunately, Chu Zhixiao is also a celebrity, of course Zhang Ruoshui has some impressions, but this question is not easy to answer, ask yourself what you think of him, I can't figure out the emperor's thoughts, how can Zhang Ruoshui reply hastily, muttered, his eyes quietly turned, and he said lightly: "Chu Jinshi's poems and articles are indeed excellent works, and recently there is a new song that has been sung by the palace musician Gong E." ”

"What's it?" Zhao Zhen asked with interest.

"I heard that it was Chu Jinshi who was touching when he sent his friend Shen Bangyan, and specially wrote this parting poem." Zhang Ruoshui didn't dare to sell Guanzi, so he recited directly: "The water is the eye waves, and the mountain is the gathering of eyebrows. ”

"I started to send spring back, and I sent you back. If you go to Jiangnan to catch the spring, you must live with the spring. Zhao Zhen read softly, his eyes swept over the meaning of appreciation, but he said in his mouth: "The words are good words, but the last two sentences seem to have a depressed meaning, and I don't know whether to sigh and parting with friends, or to vent my heart." ”

Zhang Ruoshui didn't dare to respond to this question, but just grinned, bowed down and said: "The little one is shallow in learning, but he can't understand the meaning, I only think that Chu Jinshi's word is ingenious and chic, different from other parting poems, which is hard to forget." ”

"One sentence points out the wonder of this word, and says that he doesn't know what it means." Zhao Zhen chuckled and reprimanded, pondered for a moment, picked up the red pen, wrote on the fold, and said with a smile: "That's it, since he wants to live with Chun, then I will be as he wants." ”

In the courtyard of the west house of Chu Mansion, it is May, the sun is like fire, fortunately, there are a few leafy trees in the courtyard, the sun shines through the shade of the tree, it will only feel warm, it makes people feel lazy, do not want to move, and Chu quality is exactly like this, gently lying on a bamboo couch, enjoying the sun's shower, even if there is shade blocking the light, if you stay for a long time, you will feel stuffy and unbearable, fortunately, there is an understanding of the first child by your side, Chu quality will not feel bored, of course, if it's okay, Chu Zhen will not be bored enough to bask in the sun outside in this summer weather.

"Childe, is this comfortable?" Chu'er asked delicately, but a pair of dexterous little hands were not ambiguous, holding a delicate comb, gently following the same direction, carefully combing Chu's thick black hair.

"Well, that's it." Chu Zhen's eyes were slightly closed, and he muttered, if Chu Zhen was dissatisfied with anything after the crossing, it was the long hair that was difficult to care for, and I don't know when it began in ancient times, there was that sentence about the hair and skin of the body, and the parents should not be easily damaged.

And Chu Zhi naturally will not be interested in challenging such traditional customs, although he feels a little uncomfortable with thick hair, but after getting used to it, the breeze blows, the long hair is blowing, and there is really a bit of a vulgar and fluttering wind seat, which is an unattainable pursuit for many artistic youth.

With such an idea, Chu Zhen is also much more comfortable in his heart, and in ancient times, the head and hair are the most important appearance of people, so they must be carefully protected and constantly modified, and the people's homes do not need to be said, even officials have a day of rest, although it is not as frequent as modern bathing, but there is also the habit of washing hair every three days and bathing every five days, but this habit also varies from person to person, the rich family or people with cleanliness habits naturally do not care about the time, and Chu Zhen has become accustomed to nature, and the hair can be washed every few days, but it must be bathed every day.

"Childe, something strange happened in the workshop recently." Chu'er said softly, and a pair of delicate little hands carefully parted and straightened Chu's long hair, so as not to entangle and knot the soaked hair.

"What's the matter? Some people are lazy and don't work or run away with the money. Chu Zhi asked lazily, his eyes seemed to be closed, and he seemed to be a little tired.

"Where did Childe go?" Chu'er said angrily, now the villagers who are helping in the workshop are basically the villagers of Yang Mao and Mao Villages, but it is Yang Zhenzhong and Mao Ge who are responsible for managing the accounts, so knowing that Chu Zhen is joking, she is also a little unhappy in her heart.

"It was my mistake that I would like to make amends to the kind first child." Chu Zhi said with a chuckle, stretched out his hand to hold Chu'er's soft wattle, gently pulled it to his mouth and kissed it, and then played with it carefully, delicate and silky, warm as jade, and felt very comfortable.

With a hint of sweetness in her heart, and then she found that there were a few maids nearby, Chu'er hurriedly pulled her hand shyly, and said with a slight anger: "Don't move, son, otherwise your hair will be scattered again." ”

Sighing regretfully, Chu Zhen smiled and said, "Say, something happened in the workshop that made Chu'er so worried." ”

"I heard Uncle Eleven say that in recent days, there have been many strange merchants in Yang Village, who are not here to ask for fans, but to buy tough paper for making fans." Chu'er said softly.

"Hey, I almost forgot about it." Chu Zhen slapped his forehead and sighed.

Bianliang City is the capital of the country, widely accept merchants from all over the world, see the folding fan so popular in the capital, get the clerical Confucianism, dignitaries and dignitaries like, these shrewd businessmen will not see the hidden business opportunities, and after Chu quality carefully planned the brand effect has been highlighted, some people have identified the folding fan made by Fengyuefang, disdain for other fans, after doing some market research, businessmen naturally understand who should be chosen as the object of cooperation, have to Yang Village to pick up the order.

It is in the interest of the promotion of businessmen, the folding fan also began to Bianliang as the center, slowly spread to the surrounding cities, there is no sales channel in ancient times, and with the current strength of the workshop, it is not realistic to open a chain store, Chu quality naturally to proceed from reality, appropriate adjustment strategy, while not giving up the Bianliang market, but also strive to be a folding fan supplier.

Facts have proved that Chu Zhen's idea is not wrong, as soon as the news of the supply of folding fans came out, businessmen from all walks of life immediately flocked to the second half of the year, and Yang Zhenzhong and Mao Gemei smiled, and hurriedly expanded the workshop with Chu Qian, thinking about it for a few days, seeing that the market was not saturated so quickly, Chu Zhen naturally would not object.

Due to the rolling financial resources, Chu Zhi forgot to make an article on the fan paper, and chose to take over the Maocun papermaking workshop, although there was a desire for convenience, but Chu Zhi also learned that in the Song Dynasty, because of technical constraints, some high-quality paper was very expensive, and Chu Zhi was willing to take advantage of the trend.

Of course, the raw material is the bamboo all over the mountain, after the guidance of Chu quality, the craftsmen and craftsmen specifically executed, smooth as snow on the good bamboo paper immediately appeared in front of the world, it is said that the Song Dynasty has also tried to make paper with bamboo, but unfortunately it is not the way, the bamboo paper made is relatively fragile, the quality is poor, and it will crack when touched, and because of the point of Chu quality, the bamboo paper that should have been mature in the Southern Song Dynasty appeared nearly two hundred years in advance.

As one of the four treasures of the study, paper is naturally particularly loved by the literati, and when they inscribe poems and paint on the folding fan, they also find that the paper on the fan is different, not only the writing is simple, but also the quality is excellent, it seems that there is a little light fragrance, and naturally the heart of buying, since there is a market, the businessmen who see the profit of course have to take action, and they have run to the workshop to inquire about the details, and Yang Zhenzhong and Mao Ge did not dare to take the idea, so they asked Chuer to ask Chu Zhi how to deal with it.

"What can be done, of course." Just when Chu Zhi pointed out that Chu'er should take advantage of such an opportunity to make bamboo paper sell well all over the world, there was a sudden movement outside the courtyard.

"Hostage." Mrs. Hui's soft voice came, and it seemed that she had walked to the door of the courtyard, Chu Zhen stood up and took two steps forward, but found that the family members had all walked in, and her heart sank slightly, and she hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Uncle, third uncle." ”