Qiushui City, the royal capital of Tanglin Tianqi Kingdom, is named "Qiushui" because it is located at the confluence of the six major rivers of Tianqi, taking the meaning of "autumn water arrives, and a hundred rivers irrigate the river" (1).

And now the people who have settled in Qiushui City know that in addition to the imperial palace where the Tianqi royal family has lived for generations in the center of the city, Yuhou Street in the east of the city is also easy to visit.

Originally, Yuhou Street was just a mansion of wealthy families, and because the road could only accommodate two horse-drawn carriages passing side by side, it was often easy to allow idle people to enter and exit in order for people to travel smoothly. But even so, it did not dispel the curiosity of ordinary people about the lives of the rich, and some people mixed in every now and then - listening to the corner of a high-ranking family, or admiring the luxury of the rich, anyway, there was no guard, so as not to hinder others from traveling.

But now it's a different story.

Not long ago, the newly appointed Lord Shangshu was given a mansion located on Yuhou Street, and he got the plaque at the main entrance of the emperor's handwritten imperial book, which was in the limelight for a while.

The powerful officials of the DPRK and China also moved when they heard the wind, and the mansion of Lord Shangshu was full of people every day, and Yuhou Street was also lively. But after such a coming-and-going, Yuhou Street is inevitably mixed, and thefts often occur, but because Yuhou Street welcomes too many people every day, and they are all either rich or expensive, the Wangcheng guards always have some scruples when handling cases, and they are tied.

After all, Lord Shangshu couldn't see it, and the Emperor Shangzhu asked for an order to send guards to set up a pass, and those who entered and exited must have relevant certificates, so as to clear the atmosphere of Yuhou Street. After this, Yuhou Street finally returned to calm, but ordinary people could no longer approach easily.

Zhao Kang is a long-term worker who is only listed in the dental store (2) today. Because he was quite loyal and honest, his family was clean and hard-working, and he was hired by the housekeeper of Shangshu Mansion. After handing over the helper agreement, he followed the steward all the way into this rumored Yuhou Street, and couldn't help but look around with curiosity, and saw the awe-inspiring momentum of the patrolling guards with guns and armor, and hurriedly lowered his head and no longer dared to look left and right.

It wasn't until he walked to the gate of a mansion that Zhao Kang dared to look up and glance at the plaque on the gate - "Ning Mansion", and his pen was very strong. Fortunately, these two words are not complicated, and Zhao Kang, who is not very educated, can barely recognize them.

The butler led him through the side door, and the pavilions and flowing water along the way made him feel like he was in heaven, and he was a little distracted for a while.

"Don't look around." The butler glared back at him, "What to do and what not to do, do you still need me to teach you?" ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, Lord Butler, please continue to lead the way." Zhao Kang hurriedly withdrew his gaze and only looked at the road in front of him.

Passing through the palatial garden, there are several courtyards, and the housekeeper took him into the most remote one, and pointed to the room on the left side of the door and said, "This is your residence here from now on, go in and have a look." ”

Zhao Kang took a look, although the room was not big, it was also complete, a set of tea sets had been placed on the table, and the clean bedding on the bed was also neatly folded. He suddenly felt that he could work in this Shangshu Mansion, and he was afraid that it would be a blessing from several generations of cultivation: "Lord Steward, what does that villain usually do in the mansion?" ”

"Seeing that you are an honest man, and you are quick with your hands and feet, you will serve outside the master's study in the future, and you will usually be responsible for cleaning the yard outside the study." The housekeeper handed him a sign and pointed in a direction, "Go out here and turn left, after passing a pavilion is the master's study, the master will often deal with government affairs in the study, you will take this sign to guard you will let you in, every day must ensure that the master cleans the yard before the next day, and then every two hours to clean it, until the hour, if it is not your turn to keep vigil that day, you can go to rest." ”

"Yes, I can still do these things." At this time, Zhao Kang heard that there was not much to do, and when he thought of the moon silver promised by the book at the time of signing the treaty, he was very satisfied with this errand.

The housekeeper nodded lightly: "Okay, now it's not long before the master goes down, you can go and clean the yard now." I remember that lunch was at noon and dinner was at unitary time, and they were all used in this courtyard with other people living in the courtyard, and if you missed it, you won't have it. ”

"Yes, yes, the villain understands." Zhao Kang put his baggage on the bed, "The villain will clean up." ”

"Hmm." The butler turned around and was about to leave, but he turned back as if he remembered something, "By the way, don't wander around the house for any reason, the master doesn't like servants who are curious or leave their duties without permission." ”

"Yes." Zhao Kang was shocked, but he also hurriedly responded.

After sending the housekeeper away, Zhao Kang took a broom (3) in the yard, and went to clean the courtyard of the master's study as the housekeeper said.

After showing his identity badge to the guards, Zhao Kang smoothly entered the courtyard.

The guard kindly reminded: "When cleaning, keep your hands and feet light, so as not to disturb the master in the study." Zhao Kang nodded in understanding.

Looking around, although the courtyard is not big, it takes a lot of effort to clean it. Zhao Kang didn't dare to slack off, and immediately started to clean up, so as not to miss lunch.

When he was about to sweep the fallen leaves by the window, he suddenly heard an angry man in the study shouting: "What a woman's kindness! ”

When Zhao Kang suddenly heard this, he immediately became a little curious. This is Shangshu Mansion, and the master of Shangshu Mansion is naturally Lord Shangshu, who is now highly regarded by the emperor. It is rumored among the people that this Lord Shangshu is kind and very organized, what is it that makes him so angry?

Thinking of this, Zhao Kang's curiosity was aroused, and he immediately threw the housekeeper's instructions out of the clouds, and squatted outside the window with his waist bent and gently held his breath and eavesdropped.

When Zhao Kang heard this, he found that there were two people in the room, because at this time, another voice was persuading this Lord Shangshu: "Your Excellency doesn't have to be angry, you are bent on the good of His Highness, you should be moved by his affection and reason, how can he disobey you?" ”

"Humph!" Lord Shangshu's anger still did not diminish in the slightest, "Fei Fei, do you think I haven't analyzed the pros and cons with him properly?" It's just that now he is like a ghost who has lost his mind, and threatens to spread the word if I don't stop! Obviously, it will be done in less than a year, but he just wants me to stop there, and I will fall short! ”

"Your Excellency, maybe Your Highness has other considerations?" The man who was called Fei Fei still patiently persuaded, "And sir, why did Your Highness know about this?" There is not even a single rumor in the palace, and His Royal Highness is in a hurry to let you stop? ”

"It's not that the official didn't think about it, I'm afraid that the one noticed it and told him directly. After all, there is still the Shi family standing behind that one, so naturally these can't be hidden for long! At this time, Lord Shangshu was already quite gnashing his teeth, "It's just that the official didn't expect that the red face and calamity could affect His Highness to such an extent!" ”

Fei Fei seemed to be silent for a moment, and asked, "My lord, what should we do next?" ”

"What else?" Master Shang Shu said angrily, "Tell the dark line to stop." Now the one in the palace has become suspicious of the original incident, if he has a handle at this time, wouldn't he dig his own grave. ”

"Yes, my subordinates will deliver the message tonight."

"Ugh." Lord Shang Shu sighed fiercely, "I, Ning Zhong, the person who taught me single-handedly, is still so kind to a woman, if something big happens in the future, won't there be endless troubles!" ”

"Your Excellency, you will have great power in the future, why can't you clean up these obstacles?" Yu Fei's tone was indifferent, "Now it's just a matter of letting it go for the time being." What's more, if His Highness is friendly with that one, he may still use that person's identity in the future! It's just a life, and I guess I can't set off any waves. ”

"You're right." Lord Shangshu seemed to think for a moment, "If it is safe at that time, this official does not have to kill them all." ”

"Your Excellency is wise, your subordinates will retire and pass the message." It's not the way.

"Go ahead."

Hearing that the man was about to come out, Zhao Kang hurriedly tiptoed away, pretending to be cleaning seriously.

I don't know if he was too well disguised or if he didn't care if anyone outside heard their conversation, he just glanced at him and left the courtyard.

Zhao Kang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and was still immersed in the excitement of eavesdropping on the corner of the master's wall.

At this time, he didn't know what the master and Yu Fei meant in their words, what His Royal Highness was in the palace, what dark lines in the palace, and the so-called "big things".

As everyone knows, the news he heard by chance contains a shocking secret, and it will become his most powerful life-saving talisman in the future.

……

Luo Liyao was a little distraught and fiddled with the chess pieces in the jade box, and asked Wanhua to the side for the umpteenth time, "Hasn't Yue Zhen come back yet?" ”

Bang Hua was also very helpless: "Your Highness, Miss Shi hasn't returned to the house for a few days, and she will definitely stay for a while." ”

"I understand." Luo Liyao messed up the chess pieces on the board, "Today, the queen mother said that my father's cough has worsened again, I don't know what the master said." ”

"Your Highness, don't worry too much, the medical skills of Master Shi and Miss Shi are obvious to all." Bang Hua cleaned up the messed chess pieces one by one and comforted her.

"Hmm." Luo Liyao responded casually, but gradually had some ominous premonitions in her heart.

It just so happened that Bang Yue's voice came out of the hall: "Your Highness, Miss Shi is back." ”

Hearing this, Luo Liyao immediately got up and prepared to go out, just when she saw Shi Yuezhen's face a little dignified, she lifted the curtain and entered.

Luo Liyao's heart sank: "How?" ”

"Not so good." Shi Yuezhen seemed to be in a hurry, his breath was a little uneven, and he took a sip of the tea that had been cooled on the table, "My father said that in recent years, His Majesty's body has been a little empty, and he doesn't pay much attention to maintenance on weekdays, and he ......" Shi Yuezhen blushed, "Anyway, I can only live and raise." ”

"Master Shi means that my father's days are numbered?" Luo Liyao sat down again and motioned for the hot tea to come up.

"That's a big disrespectful thing!" Shi Yuezhen was taken aback by her, "But I only dare to tell you, I read His Majesty's pulse case today, and I'm afraid it's only been a few years." ”

"There's no more chance?" Luo Liyao stared at her, as if she was about to stare a hole in her.

"This is an unusual disease, a weak body like you can still be recuperated, Your Majesty was too indulgent a few years ago, and he has no skills to recover." Shi Yuezhen spread his hands, "But with my father here, there will be at least half a year." ”

"Half a year." Luo Liyao sighed and closed her eyes, covering the wetness in her eyes, "You have to prepare early." ”

Shi Yue was really silent, silently giving her time to accept all this.

At this time, the slanting sun was close to the westernmost direction, and it was powerlessly sprinkling its last light.

Everything will sink into the endless darkness.

……

Related Notes:

1. From "Zhuangzi Autumn Water Chapter" "When the autumn water arrives, a hundred rivers irrigate the river." The stream is so big, and there is no debate between the two Zhuzhu cliffs. ”

2. [Ya Shop] A firm or middleman who negotiates and introduces trades or domestic workers (sometimes even slaves) between buyers and sellers, and receives commissions. It also refers to the peer organization of dental dealers. The middlemen in the Han Dynasty market were called "驵会" (or "侩"). From the Han Dynasty to the Sui and Tang dynasties, middlemen were given monopoly rights by the government, which gave them the name of "Yayu". After the Song Dynasty, it was called "Yaxing".

3. [Broom] is also known as "broom".