There are many halls and places of interest outside the Xuanwu Gate, every year of the examination and the Zhili Township Examination, most of the students who enter Beijing to take the examination stay in this area, and most of the Han officials who cannot live in the inner city also rent in Xuannan, making this area the most lively in the capital and the favorite place for literati and ink writers.

As one of the few Jinshi among the Manchurians, Wenxiang also likes to come and shop in his spare time. The only difference between this and the past is that because of Jingcha, Rong Lu, who had to go to the Yamen every day for the past few days, came with him when he had nowhere to go after the shift.

Wen Xiang turned a few bookstores and calligraphy and painting antique shops, and found a few pen licking pen inserts that were not expensive but looked exquisite, and saw that it was not too early and was about to go home, Rong Lu actually pointed to the Dazhiqiao Hutong not far away and proposed: "Brother Bochuan, it's not interesting to go back at this time, it's better to go to the front to ask for a glass of wine to eat." ”

"Whose house are you going to beg for wine and food?" Wen Xiang asked with a smile.

"Han Zhixing, if I'm not mistaken, his house is in the alley in front of me."

"Empty-handed, and nothing, is it appropriate to come to the door so presumptuously?"

"Who said we were empty-handed, isn't this just a greeting gift?" Rong Lu pointed to the pen in his hand that was not worth a few pennies and licked the pen insert, and said with a wicked smile: "It's all at his door, why don't you go and say hello." ”

"It's not appropriate."

"What's inappropriate, besides, you don't have to slam the door."

Thinking that although Han Xiufeng was born as a donor, he was really called Jane in the emperor's heart, and he had already made a "small military machine" at a young age, it is said that the emperor and he really have a teacher, and the career is not so bumpy, but it is not much smooth, Wen Xiang feels that there are many friends and many roads, and it is not impossible to follow Rong Lu, who has no taboos because of his young age, to visit him.

I thought that Han Xiufeng might not be at home, but I didn't expect that the porter had just helped him go in and report that it would not be a good time, and Han Xiufeng actually came out to greet him with a smile on his face.

"I said why the magpie is chirping non-stop, it turns out that there are really distinguished guests!"

"Brother Jianchuan, I just said that Zhixing won't look down on us, right?" Rong Lu looked back at Wen Xiang proudly, and then arched his hand towards Han Xiufeng and said: "Brother Zhixing, I can't hide it, Brother Jianchuan and I are tired of walking here, thinking that your home is here, so my eyes lit up, and I took the liberty of coming to the door to ask for a glass of water to drink." ”

"Brother Zhixing, the foolish brother took the liberty to come to the door and make you smile." Wen Xiang bowed with a little embarrassment.

"See what you are smiling, you two can come to look down on me Han Xiufeng, please please, please two of you! Since I came, there was no water to drink, and when I was thirsty, I only had wine, so I asked my family to prepare the banquet. ”

"Excuse me!"

"The more we talk, the more we see outside, come and come, it's cold outside, let's go in and talk."

They are really happy to be able to come to Han Xiufeng, because these days are too boring.

Since he became a "small military plane", he can no longer run to the hall twice in three days like before, and fellow villagers such as Huang Zhongyin, Ji Yunfei and Ao Tongchen have never been here once to avoid suspicion. There are a lot of people who come to send Tan Jing and Don't respect, but they don't have any friendship with those people, so they come to the door in person to meet and chat a few words, and send their families to send silver directly to let Fei Erye go to receive them.

In short, I don't have many friends in Beijing, and I don't have classmates like others, so I only talk to people from the "Houyi Hall" such as Eunjun, Kyunghyun and Datou on weekdays.

Wen Xiang and Rong Lu knew that Han Xiufeng was a good person, but they didn't expect that he had already become a "little military machine", not only did he not have a little shelf, but he was also so enthusiastic, sat down and chatted for a while, and couldn't help asking: "Zhixing, did Yongxiang come to invite you last time?" ”

"Please."

"Have you go?"

"The people didn't go, but the ceremony was carried by someone."

Wen Xiang and Rong Lu glanced at each other, and said meaningfully: "It's the same for the two of us, the person hasn't arrived, but the ceremony has arrived." ”

Rong Lu had known Han Xiufeng for a long time, and he didn't treat Han Xiufeng as an outsider, so he said bluntly: "A few days ago, I met a friend who was also on an errand in the Yamen, the commander of the infantry army, and he didn't seem very happy when he heard that friend say that we didn't go. ”

How could Han Xiufeng not hear the meaning of their words, and said helplessly: "Loyal words, he is proud of the spring breeze at this moment, and he may think that the two of you are not close to each other, and even do not remember the friendship of the same clan." But if something happens in the future, you will remember the good intentions of the two of you. ”

"What's the use of thinking of our good intentions, the emperor is asking Lord Sushun to rectify the rule of officials, if Jingcha can't get through this time, I estimate that he will have to come to ask Brother Zhixing again!"

"Please?"

"If you don't ask for the rescue of this old official of the 'little military plane', can you come to beg me and Zhonghua?" Wen Xiang asked rhetorically.

Han Xiufeng subconsciously asked: "So Lord Lianshun is being targeted by Lord Sushun?" ”

"I don't know if Lord Lianshun has been targeted by Lord Sushun, but I only know that these days, all the ministries and courtyards are worried about the Shangshu and the pen and post style, and even I have to go to the yamen every day to order Mao. And our Admiral of the Nine Gates is not only ignorant of restraint on the cusp of this storm, but ...... Instead...... Anyway, I guess he's a little hanging. Rong Lu smiled gloatingly, and said: "If Lianshun is dismissed and arrested, Yongxiang can have a good time, and then he doesn't come to beg you, who else can he beg." ”

"Please, what use do I have?" Han Xiufeng sighed lightly, picked up the wine jar, pointed to a few dishes that Xiao Shandong had just served on the table, and said, "Don't talk about this, come, fill the wine first." The two of you are not only distinguished guests but also rare guests, it is rare to come to the cold house, we have to get drunk today! ”

"Brother Zhixing, pour less and pour less, you are massive, I don't dare to compare with you, I have already lost people once in the Chongqing Hall last time, and I can't lose it a second time." Rong Lu was really scared, and hurriedly got up and begged for mercy.

It was rare to meet two drinking friends who were sent to the door, how could Han Xiufeng let him go, and said with a smile while helping him pour wine: "There are no outsiders here, so naturally there is no shame, even if you are drunk, what's the matter." ”

"Zhixing, you know the amount of Zhonghua's alcohol, he really can't drink." Wen Xiang couldn't help laughing.

"You can't drink less, but you have to fill it up first."

……

Sure enough, a few bowls of wine were served, and as soon as two hot dishes were served, Rong Lu was already dizzy.

Han Xiufeng didn't feed him anymore, the poor baby who had lost his father very early, and asked curiously while beckoning Wenxiang to eat: "Brother Jianchuan, the Jingcha of the Ministry of Industry is almost there, right?" ”

"It's early, I don't think it will be finished until the end of the month."

"I don't know about others, you and I know, Shouqing, talent, and political diligence, Jingcha can't run."

"By the auspicious words of Brother Zhixing, if Brother Foolish Brother Jing can really get a first-class this time, he will definitely make Dongxing wine."

"I'm determined to eat this meal, don't forget where I was transferred from to the current general secretary of the council, although the Yongding River Yamen is subordinate to the Zhili, but in fact you have to listen to the Ministry of Industry! Listening to Wu Tingdong Master Wu and Master Shi Zanqing Shi said, there are so many people in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Yamen, and you have the best official reputation and the most diligent work. ”

"Really?" Wen Xiang will be skeptical.

"What are you lying about," Han Xiufeng smiled and raised the wine bowl again.

Whether the official reputation is good or not, it really doesn't matter in normal times. But once you arrive in Beijing, whether the official reputation is good or not is very important. Hearing Han Xiufeng say this, Wen Xiang was really a little fluttering, and hurriedly picked up the wine bowl and touched it.

In fact, in Han Xiufeng's mind, he is even better than Rong Lu, who has already drunk and dazed, even if he can fly in the future, it will be in the future, but now he is just an insignificant petty official. You don't need to worry so much about interacting with them, and you don't need to think about the meaning of each other's every word when you eat and drink with them.

Because of this, you can let go of the drink, and as a result, this drink is actually high.

Rong Lu was so drunk that he was lying on the table and falling asleep, Wen Xiang was also so drunk that he wanted to go to the toilet, Han Xiufeng wanted to help him go but couldn't stand steadily, so he could only ask Xiao Shandong to help him go.

As a result, they waited for nearly two incense sticks, and it wasn't until Xiao Shandong stumbled back and told with a sad face that Han Xiufeng realized that he was in big trouble.

"Why don't you pull him?"

"I pulled, but I didn't pull it," Xiao Shandong scratched his neck and said helplessly: "I said I made a mistake, Master Wen didn't say that he didn't go wrong, he didn't say that he said that it was the door, and then he shook me off and broke in, I couldn't pull it back!" ”

The whole house has a latrine, and it was newly built when the bookstore was renovated, and there is no place for the front yard, the inner courtyard and the inner house, so it can only be built in the back garden. Unexpectedly, Wen Xiang came out of the toilet and was dizzy, and he broke into the bookstore in a daze, and was taken down by the two guards on duty at night.

At this point, Han Xiufeng could only ask Xiao Shandong to bring a basin of cold water to wash his face, take the lantern and walk through the back garden to the backyard of the bookstore.

When I came in, I was made ridiculous.

Wen Xiang was tied up by two guards in civilian clothes, tied up like a zongzi in front of the archives, Qingxian came out, Lin Qingyuan and other translators all came out, and even the big head came running in a cotton jacket.

Wen Xiang became a prisoner in a daze, and suddenly sobered up a lot, staring at the crowd watching him and cursing: "I scared your dog eyes, dare to tie up the master, do you know who the master is?" ”

"Who the hell are you?" One by one, the guards put the knife on his neck and asked coldly.

"Ye is a member of the Ministry of Labor, Wailang Gua Erjia Wenxiang!"

"The staff member of the Ministry of Labor is amazing, do you know who the master is?"

"Who are you?"

"Take a closer look, show it carefully." The guard showed his waist card and said proudly: "Don't say that you are just a foreigner, even if you are a waiter of the Ministry of Works, you can't break in!" You stay here tonight, and tomorrow you will be tied up and sent to the palace to be handed over to the emperor. ”

Wen Xiang was dumbfounded, and muttered, "Your Majesty...... Where is this, isn't this Old Man Han's house? ”

"Master Han's house is over there, what kind of place is this, you are a small member of the Ministry of Labor, Wailang is not qualified to know, anyway, you have a big problem, a big problem!" Every day is on duty in this inconspicuous courtyard, and it is not easy to catch one and send it to the door, not to mention how excited the two guards are.

Han Xiufeng couldn't stand it anymore, and came out of the shadows and said, "What are you doing here, didn't you see Master Wen coming from my house, and I don't know that Master Wen is my honored guest?" ”

The guard was stunned for a moment, hurriedly put away his knife and stepped forward and said, "Fourth master, humble ...... The lowly thought he had climbed over the wall from there. ”

"Zhixing, what's going on?" Wen Xiang struggled to ask.

"Brother Jianchuan, don't worry, it's okay." Han Xiufeng motioned to the big head who had just relieved himself to help loosen the tie, and said to the two guards: "Master Wen is a guest I invited, and I will ask the emperor for tonight's matter, so you don't care." Brother Qingxian, Qingyuan, you all go back to the house to rest. ”

"Fourth master, that's not what I mean......

"I know, I don't blame you for this, let's disperse."

Sending everyone away, Han Xiufeng leaned over and helped Wen Xiang, who had just loosened his ties, and looked at him with a helpless wry smile: "Brother Jianchuan, I'm sorry, I can only wronged you to live here tonight, I will send someone to say it to my sister-in-law, and I will also send someone to help you take leave early tomorrow morning." ”

Wen Xiang rubbed his wrist that was strangled by the rope, and asked nervously: "Zhixing, what's going on." ”

"Speaking of which, blame me, I didn't entertain you well and let you break into a place where you shouldn't have come by mistake, but it won't be a big deal, and it won't affect your Jingcha test language this time, and the emperor will be fine when he plays the Ming."

Thinking that someone looked familiar just now, and then thinking that the guard just now seemed to mention Qingxian, and Qingxian should have been imprisoned in the prison of the Zongren Mansion, Wen Xiang asked in surprise: "Zhixing, do you mean ...... here?"

"I didn't say anything, don't ask anything, if you come, you will be safe, I will send someone to help you find a clean house to live in."

"Zhixing, I don't know anything, I really didn't want to come here."

"I know, believe me, it's a misunderstanding, it's going to be fine."

"Then please."

"What a pity, what kind of friendship do you and I have. Big head, Fu Wen went to rest, Master Wen had just eaten wine, remember to make a pot of strong tea. ”

"Oh," the big head reacted, and hurriedly helped Wen Xiang and said: "Master Wen, please, Master Wen, you put a hundred hearts, my fourth brother said that it would be okay." ”

The emperor not only sent four additional guards, but also asked Enjun to draw up a charter according to the rules of the palace, no matter who broke into the "Houyi Hall" without permission, he had to take it. Han Xiufeng, as the big shopkeeper, couldn't take the lead in breaking the rules, so he could only go back and wake up Fei Erye, who had just laid down to rest, and drafted the fold overnight.

As for Rong Lu, who was drunk in a daze, let Xiao Shandong and Feng Xiaowhip send him home first, and by the way, go to Wen Xiang's house in the inner city to report a message, so as not to worry Wen Xiang's family.

Early the next morning, the recital that was drafted overnight about Lang Wenxiang, a member of the Ministry of Labor, who had strayed into the "Houyi Hall" when he was visiting the bookstore, was handed over to Eunjun, who had just rushed from home, and asked Eunjun to play on his behalf.

By the afternoon, there was finally a letter.

After reading the recital, the emperor found that Wen Xiang, who strayed into the "Houyi Hall", was not only one of the few Jinshi among the Manchurians, but also a member of the Ministry of Labor, and he was still so studious, and he felt that he was a manufacturable material.

Han Xiufeng finally breathed a sigh of relief, and came to the backyard of the bookstore with Eun Jun, and was about to tell Wen Xiang to go back to the yamen and then go on an errand, but he didn't expect Wen Xiang to sit in the exhibition hall and read a book, and read the "Atlas of the Sea Kingdom", while looking up, he looked up at the globe at hand, the gunboat model on the shelf and the map chart hanging on the wall, as if he was verifying something.

Han Xiufeng coughed dryly, stood by the door and said with a smile: "Brother Jianchuan, it seems that you seem to like this place, and it seems that you don't plan to leave?" ”

"Zhixing, you've come just in time." Wen Xiang relieved himself, stood up and said excitedly: "I vaguely guessed what kind of place this is, it was an eye-opener, it was really an eye-opener!" ”

"An eye-opener?"

"If you hadn't strayed into this place, the foolish brother really didn't know how big the world was!"

Han Xiufeng was surprised, and subconsciously asked: "Brother Jianchuan, do you say that you have finished reading Wei Yuan's "Atlas of the Sea Kingdom"?" ”

"After reading it, it was an eye-opener, but there are still many things that I don't understand," Wen Xiang put down the book, pointed to the exhibits on the shelf, and asked curiously: "Zhixing, can you tell me what these are and what they are used for?" ”

"Brother Jianchuan, do you really want to know?"

"Zhixing, don't pretend to be confused, Xiyi's gunboats have arrived at Dagukou, we are deeply favored by the emperor, and we should serve the imperial court, but we can no longer know anything about Xiyi. Tell me, please. ”

These utensils in the house were all sent back by Wang Naizeng, who had never seen anything in the world before, and when he arrived in Shanghai, he opened his eyes and wanted everything, and Han Xiufeng even wondered if Wang Naizeng had moved all the samples and ornaments in Qichang Foreign Bank.

Thinking that orthodox scholars like Wang Naizeng and Wen Xiang are really rare, I couldn't help but smile: "Brother Jianchuan, I can arrange someone to explain to you, and even let you know more about Xiyi." But these things, especially everything here, you can only keep in your heart, and you must never tell outsiders, not even Ronglu. ”

Wen Xiang then remembered that he seemed to be a prisoner, and said with an embarrassed face: "I know, I understand." ”

"It's good to know, that's what the emperor meant," Han Xiufeng smiled, and continued: "But before that, I have to eat lunch first, I patronized and drank wine last night, and I didn't eat a few mouthfuls of food, let alone eat." ”

"I'm not in a hurry to eat, I'm not hungry, find someone to tell me what these things are."

"Let's eat first, it won't take much time to eat."

"What to eat, Zhixing, people are self-aware, I know that this is not a place where I Wenxiang can come, as long as I walk out of that door, don't expect to come in again. Don't miss the opportunity, you should find someone to talk to me about! ”

Han Xiufeng didn't expect his curiosity to be so strong, so he simply agreed: "Okay, I'll let Qingxian and Jilu talk to you and accompany you around." ”

"Thank you."

"What's so thankful for this, you get busy first."

Walking out of the bookstore and returning to the back garden of his own house, Han Xiufeng stopped and said to Enjun who came over: "Our 'Houyi Hall' has no shortage of saints, no shortage of people, and no shortage of silver, what we lack is friends, especially like-minded friends!" ”

Enjun paused, and immediately reacted: "What the fourth master said is true, if those Jinshi are so enlightened as Master Wen, we don't have to worry as much about being Qin Tianjian, Guozijian and even Hanlin Academy if they know about it, they will come to us for trouble." ”

"So if we have the opportunity to make more non-pedantic Jinshi Hanlin friends in the future, everything will be difficult at the beginning, so start with Wenxiang!"

"The humble job understands, the humble job Ming'er went to the Internal Affairs Office early in the morning to help Master Wen carve the waist card, as long as he can keep the secret, the door of our 'Houyi Hall' will be open for him, and he will come whenever he wants!"