"Brother Wang, let's not mention this matter for the time being, it will be Qingming in two days, you and I have been busy on the road, so we should relax and relax when the time comes." Han Lin said with a smile.

"Oh? Is Qingming coming, time flies so fast. Wang Fu was stunned, "Everything is up to Brother Han." ”

The three of them found the inn and prepared to stay first, but Han Lin heard a Confucian student next to him say: "Zhongqing, you and I have tried and failed repeatedly in the past few years, and we don't have much money left in our hands. ”

"I can only take one step at a time, if I don't hit it next time, I'll go back to Kunshan, I'm just sorry for the high hopes at home." The other replied with a bitter look on his face.

Chungcheong? Kunshan?

Han Lin frowned: Where do you seem to have heard of it, it seems that it is a historical figure? I can't remember!

Just as the two of them were about to walk out of the inn, a flash of inspiration flashed in Han Lin's mind.

"Slow down!"

The man known as Chungcheong turned around and said, "This brother, I don't know what you have to do to stop the two of us?" ”

Han Lin calmed down and slowly spoke: "Dare to ask Your Excellency, but it is Gu Jiang and Gu Zhongqing of Kunshan, Suzhou Prefecture?" ”

The two exchanged glances, and Gu Jiang immediately replied: "It's here, I don't know who Your Excellency is, you actually recognize me?" ”

Han Lin was extremely excited: Of course I know you, Gu Yanwu, who is as famous as the prince next to me, one of the three major thinkers in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, was named Gu Jiang when he was not renamed before the fall of the Southern Ming Dynasty, and his name was Zhongqing. Of course, Han Lin can't say this, the current Gu Yanwu is still on the road to the imperial examination, but it is not far from him categorically abandoning the study of the imperial examination, I didn't expect to be met by Han Lin so coincidentally.

"Under Han Lin, from Guangdong, I have heard of Brother Gu only to meet people under the conditions of chance, and today I saw that he was really a talent," Han Lin pulled Wang Fuzhi to his side, "My friend's name is Wang Fuzhi, and he is from Huguang Hengzhou Mansion." The big man was assigned to me at home. ”

Wang Fuzhizheng was very familiar with Han Lin's set of words, and thought for a while: Isn't this exactly what he said when he saw him! Caught off guard, Han Lin was pulled in front of Gu Jiang and the others, Wang Fuzhi didn't have time to think of anything else, so he had to smile again and again: "Fortunately, fortunately." ”

"Who is this?" Han Lin looked at the people beside Gu Jiang and asked.

"In Xiaguizhuang, I was a classmate with Zhongqing, and I came to Jinling from Kunshan."

At this time, Han Lin saw that many people around him were looking at himself and the others, so he suggested: "Brother Gu, brother Gui, it's almost noon, why don't we sit down and eat and chat, how about it?" ”

Gu Jiang and Guizhuang saw that Han Lin was very enthusiastic, and it was inconvenient to refuse, so they agreed.

A few people sat down, and Han Lin took the lead in speaking: "Listen to what the two people said, they came to Jinling to participate in the township test. ”

"Alas," Gu Jiang sighed, "I and my brother Gui obtained the qualifications of all students at the age of seventeen or eighteen, and became good friends, and then came to Jinling together. ”

"For the last time?" After Han Lin and Wang Fuzhi glanced at each other, he said meaningfully: "In my opinion, the two of you are still not very sure." ”

"Ashamed, ashamed." The two of them blushed slightly, which was considered to be an acknowledgement.

"Brother Gu, I'm afraid it's not what you want to continue to participate in the imperial examination, right?" Han Lin turned on the flickering mode, this Gu Yanwu couldn't let go.

"This..."Gu Jiang hesitated slightly, "It's not a secret, I think my generation should be erudite in literature, not dead in the eight strands of learning, I don't want to take this road if I fail the first township examination, but my family has always taken the imperial examination as the only right way, I can only go hard." ”

"Hahaha, what Brother Gu said won my heart, and I got straight to the point, under the command of the Guangdong capital, my father practiced day and night in the south, wanting to contribute to the country, I came out to travel thousands of miles, I wanted to see the current situation of the Ming Dynasty with my own eyes, and make friends with a great talent like Brother Gu. Now that the situation is turbulent, Brother Gu might as well cut off the heart of the imperial examination and walk with us to seek the great cause of saving the country. Han Lin went straight to the point.

"I don't understand what Brother Han means." Gu Jiang was silent for a long time, and then burst out with a sentence.

"There is no urgency in this matter," Han Lin said with a smile: "I don't have to look for another place to live for my brother and brother, I am willing to sponsor the two." ”

"It's not proper, it's useless."

"This is a mistake, I am an investment, as long as the two of you figure it out, you can go to Guangzhou to find me at any time, and the door of the Han family will be open for you at any time." Han Lin watched the guys in the store bring the food, and then said, "Let's eat first." ”

……

The next day, Han Lin got up early and found Wang Fuzhi, "Brother Wang, those two are busy reviewing, and they only promised to go out for Qingming to go out, why don't we go out for a walk?" ”

Gu Jiang and Guizhuang finally accepted Han Lin's favor.

"Okay." Wang Fuzhi naturally agreed.

"Zhumen's wine and meat stink, and there are frozen bones on the road, so let's go and see how luxurious the mansions of those princes and nobles, ministers and high-ranking officials are."

The confluence of the Yangtze River and the Qinhuai River is a key point of transportation, prosperous commerce, dense residents, and because of its proximity to the imperial city, the first residences of the ministers are also concentrated here.

Han Lin, Wang Fuzhi, and Yilong walked all the way through Zhengyang Gate, Shicheng Gate, Zhongfu Gate and other places, and saw that Xu Da Mansion was more than 100 meters from north to south, east and west, covering an extremely large area, and Zheng He's Mansion and Chang Yuchun Mansion were not weak.

In front of these mansions are huge stone lions, and the gates are wide and high, painted with expensive red paint. The honeycomb bucket above the gatehouse, the various bucket arch components are closely connected with each other, layer upon layer, densely packed, the eaves of the feet on both sides of the forehead, and the two layers of flowing water. The entire gatehouse resembles an ancient official hat.

There are a lot of wood carvings that can be seen only from the outside, and their textures are simple, the craftsmanship is exquisite, the details are exquisite, and the shapes are realistic. Most of them reflect popular folk stories, as well as auspicious patterns and symbols. It is a metaphor for peace and auspiciousness, happiness and yearning for a better life.

In and out are dignified dignitaries, and ordinary people will be driven away by domestic servants and guards even if they get closer.

"Brother Han, these important ministers of the court don't see the slightest concern for the country and the people, and some even have Fengyue women in and out of the mansion, which is really my Ming's misfortune!" Wang Fuzhi was deeply saddened.

"Throughout the ages, which dynasty has experienced the first hard work, and not all of them have become like this in the end?" Han Lin's words changed, "Speaking of Fengyue, can Brother Wang accompany me to see and see, yesterday I already asked Yilong to inquire, Rouge Hutong, the highest grade Qinglou in Jinling is there." ”

Wang Fuzhi's eyes widened and looked at Han Lin, who was smiling a little dirty, "I thought Brother Han, but I didn't expect it..."

"Let's go!" Han Lin didn't explain, and left with Wang Fuzhi, who just struggled and compromised.

In fact, at this time, literati and tourists abounded in Fengyue places, and the high-level Qinglou also disdained to do the skin and meat business, and the Qing people in it were proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, which attracted countless talents to compete for it. Many so-called great poets and lyricists specially created for the Qing people, allowing people to sing their own works, so as to compare and sell their reputation.

Wang Fuzhi's compromise was also because of curiosity, and he didn't reject it much, and Han Lin's proposal to go to Qinglou was naturally for the famous Qin Huai Bayan in history.

Yilong followed Han Lin's instructions and heard that Liu Ruyi, the head of Qin Huai Bayan, was already free, but he was still in a green building, and Han Lin couldn't wait to meet this strange woman.

"Luo Yitang, why does Brother Han only fancy this Luo Yitang?" The three of them walked through many green buildings and saw the destination, and Wang Fuzhi was puzzled.

"I'm naturally here for the number one brand here."

"Oh? What kind of woman can make Brother Han like this? Then I want to see and see. Wang Fuzhi was very curious.

"This woman's name is Liu Ruyi, taken from Xin Qiji's "He Bridegroom", 'I see how charming Qingshan is, and I expect Qingshan to see me like this', also known as Hedong Jun, talented, and now it should be a double decade."

When the three of them came to the door, they saw the dragon flying and the phoenix dancing above with three golden characters "Luo Yitang", which was particularly eye-catching. There were no prostitutes selling meat at the door, but two turtle dukes, plus a few sturdy guards to welcome the distinguished guests.

"Yo, a few masters look at the noodles, this is the first time to come, please come inside." A slightly hunchbacked turtle man saw Han Lin and the three of them immediately greeted him, with a smile on his face.

"We came here from elsewhere, and we made a special trip to see the beauty of Hedong Jun, and I don't know if we can get what we want." Han Lin expressed his intentions.

"Those few people are really coincidental, this Hedong Jun has already redeemed himself, although he temporarily lives in the main hall, he is not affected by us at all, and often does not come out to meet guests for ten days and half a month. Today, there is a big man named Qian or something, and he also wants to meet him by name, and she is interested, saying that she wants to consider a few people like several masters, so as to invite people into his boudoir, tsk..."The hunchbacked turtle obviously thought of some pictures that were not suitable for children.

"Ahem!" Han Lin interrupted the hunchbacked turtle man's obscenity, and frowned again: The old man surnamed Qian, could it be that Qian Qianyi who thinks "the water is too cold"? This old guy is now over half a hundred years old, and he still wants to be a concubine like in history, and there is no door!

Han Lin threw out a few taels of silver, showing an impatient expression, and urged the hunchbacked turtle male: "Less ink, quickly lead the way." ”

The hunchbacked turtle took the money to do things, and immediately took Han Lin and the three of them up to the third floor, there were only a few spacious private rooms on this floor, and one of them belonged to Liu Ruyi.

The hunchbacked turtle man led Han Lin and the three of them to a door, and more than a dozen people dressed as domestic servants and guards stood outside the door, thinking that they were the entourage of the master inside, and in addition to this, there was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old little maid leaning on the table, which was full of gold, silver, jade and other belongings.

The humpback turtle said with a dry smile: "Several, one person must pay fifty taels or other equivalent before entering." ”

"Fifty taels for one person!" Wang Fuzhi gasped, "Brother Han, I still won't go in." ”

As soon as these words came out, Han Lin and the others were immediately met with the white eyes and contempt of the people around them, and the smile of the hunchbacked turtle boy also froze.

"It's all here, how can you not go in?" Han Lin sneered and took out a piece of mutton fat jade, "Is there any more questions?" ”

The little maid took the jade piece, and after only one glance, she immediately changed her face and invited Han Lin and Wang Fuzhi to enter.