Outside the door, Zhang Shou, who had gone and returned, looked sideways at Zhang Chen on the side, and saw that the young man's face was blue and white, and his heart was so weak that he didn't dare to look at him directly, he couldn't help but smile, and then turned around and walked out. When he noticed that there seemed to be footsteps behind him, it was obvious that Zhang Chen was following, so he asked without looking back: "Now you shouldn't feel that Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are ungrateful, right?" ”

There was no answer behind him, just the sound of breathing seemed to be a little heavier. He didn't continue to stimulate Zhang Chen, but continued to move forward without hurrying. It wasn't until he was far away from the brightly lit lobby, surrounded by darkness like dark clouds that wrapped them tightly in all directions, that he heard a faint voice behind him.

"Mr. Xiao really thinks I'm suitable to go to Xingtai?"

Without waiting for Zhang Shou's answer, Zhang Chen's mood couldn't help but become more complicated. The capital was already cold in the first month, and it was even colder at night, but after a short moment out of the hall where the earth dragon was burning, he felt that his whole body was cold, and it seemed that even his teeth were chattering. However, he did not want to move.

"My father is just a son like me, and I am not as ambitious as Zhu Er's eldest brother, I have been able to get by since I was a child, so I can't do anything, everyone says that my Qin State Mansion is not as good as the generation. So little sir, you said before, you want me to raise my eyebrows in front of my father and say that you are not as good as me, and his father is better than my father, I am very happy. ”

"But I'm so capable, I went to find out what's going on with this thing for the sake of the spinning machine, and what kind of life are those weavers and spinning workers...... But I only thought that they would be better off with a new machine, but I didn't think it was that far-reaching. For a son like me, who has never experienced a hard day, is it useful to secretly cross Chen Cang to Xingtai? ”

You say so much in one breath and ask such a complex question, but I only want to ask you one thing...... Don't you think it's silly to stand in the wind and talk on this big night when the north wind is howling?

Zhang Shou touched his nose, which had been blown a little astringent or even itchy by the wind, turned around angrily, and said expressionlessly: "How do you know if you haven't done it?" People are self-aware, but you must know that people will win the day! ”

"Okay, let's stop talking nonsense, go to the study and talk!" As soon as Zhang Shou's words fell, he suddenly heard a voice behind him without warning: "Young master, lantern." ”

Zhang Shou turned around suddenly, but saw Ah Liu standing there, holding a festively colored red lantern in his hand. If it is in a large mansion with normal people, this scene is not unusual, however, in this mansion compound that has been empty for many years and only has people in front of it, a lantern bearer suddenly appears, it is really terrifying!

Especially the light of the red lantern on Ah Liu's expressionless flat face, it is simply a horror movie!

And Zhang Chen's reaction was more intense than Zhang Shou's-because he and Ah Liu were not that familiar-he even took four or five steps back in one breath, if it weren't for the smooth bluestone road under his feet, and there were no other obstacles behind him, he might have been so frightened that he sat directly on the ground!

It wasn't until Zhang Shou drank that he breathed a sigh of relief: "Ah Liu, are you trying to scare people to death?" ”

Ah Liu stood there calmly with the lantern and asked as a matter of course, "Young Master, do you know where the study is?" ”

Zhang Shou was suddenly choked and speechless. When Ah Liu turned around and led the way, he saw Zhang Chen tiptoeing over again, so he simply said honestly: "I have only been in this house for a few days, that is, I brought Yingying here once before, except for the untitled hall and the hundred-year-old peony garden, the rest of the place is just a glance, and I really don't know where the study is." ”

Usually see Zhang Shou in his hands, but today it is rare to see someone deflated in front of Ah Liu, and when he heard this explanation, Zhang Chen felt funny, but he still had to force the corners of his mouth to be upturned, and tried to pretend that there was nothing to do.

"It's not surprising that my family is so big, and I used to get lost when I was a kid." But I'm not that big and still get lost at home!

Zhang Shou couldn't see Zhang Chen's struggling smile, so he simply laughed helplessly: "Ah Liu is good at everything, loyal, superior in force, on call, even if you don't call...... But the disadvantage is that you can do whatever you want, and the action is too strong, but when you want to talk about him, you find that he is not wrong! ”

Zhang Chen thought about the feeling he had when he got along with Ah Liu, and then thought about the great fright he had just received, and couldn't help but feel a sense of concern, so he nodded approvingly and said, "Such a servant is indeed a little unbearable. ”

With a smile, Zhang Shou said lightly: "I have been frail and sick since I was a child, and then after my health gradually improved, in addition to relying on my mother for my life, most of the time Ah Liu accompanied me to walk around the countryside and appreciate this different world." I don't have any siblings, but I've always treated them like family. ”

He didn't care about Zhang Chen's surprise, paused for a moment, and then continued: "Actually, I envy him, he is excellent in martial arts, riding a horse and archery and driving, it seems that there is nothing that he can't do." I don't know what to do without him one day. ”

Zhang Chen couldn't help but ponder deeply when he heard this. There are also a lot of small servants and subordinates around him who grew up with him since childhood, but he doesn't seem to have cultivated much deep affection with anyone. Seriously speaking, in fact, his relationship with Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu is the same.

He just helped a pair of bullied brothers at a birthday banquet of the Duke of Chu, and then gained two followers. His idea has always been very simple, since they trust him and are willing to follow him, then it is his person, since it is his person, how can he let others bully?

Even if it's their parents, brothers, and family, that's not good!

And Ah Liu, who walked in front, walked as light as a cat hunting at night, silently. In the cold wind of the night, the big red lantern he carried in his hand was steady, and only the candle flame inside flickered gently, reflecting the smile on his face. Although he didn't say anything about Zhang Shou's words, in fact, he was in a very good mood, very good.

When he stood still in front of the door of a small building, reached out and gently pushed open the two doors, he entered the house first. In a few moments, the room, which had just been pitch black, was brightened. Zhang Shou, who entered the house, only felt a warmth coming, and the chill that had just walked around in the wind outside was dispelled.

And Zhang Chen couldn't help but be surprised: "The earth dragon here is actually burned?" Little sir, the inner government is really considerate of you. ”

How did this mansion come about, of course Zhang Shou knew that he couldn't hide it from someone like Zhang Chen, so he said indifferently at the moment: "Don't say that the Son of Heaven gave me a gift that I dare not resign, the elder gave it, of course I dare not resign." So since the emperor wants me to bring you here to discuss these two things, I have come. And it would not be surprising if the inner government had known about it and made preparations in advance. ”

Seeing that Ah Liu was carrying the lantern and was about to go out, he immediately stopped him: "It's a cold day, there is Lu Sanlang over there, who doesn't think of himself as an outsider, you don't need to take care of it, and you don't have to blow the cold wind outside, just sit here." ”

Ah Liu's eyes flickered, and finally agreed silently. He went to lay down the lantern, but went to check the tea set and so on, but found a bamboo tube of spring water and a few pots of tea. Therefore, when Zhang Shou and Zhang Chen sat down to talk, he was already familiar with cooking tea on the side.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn't help but become more and more envious - envious that Zhang Shou could have such a servant who was proficient in all things. However, he soon lost this bit of reverie, because Zhang Shou said something to him that he had not expected at all. He was silent for a long time before he whispered, "Little sir, do you think I can really do it?" ”

"I think it works." Zhang Shou saw Ah Liu bring the tea tray and send the tea, so he stretched out his hand to take it, first gave one to Zhang Chen, and then took it himself, and then signaled the rest of Ah Liu to quench his thirst by himself, and then said seductively, "Of course, if you don't want to, I will change someone else." For example, my unobtrusive future second brother. ”

"Zhu Er, that guy will also be a fox and a fake tiger, besides, his eldest brother is back, and in the future, the Zhao Guogong Mansion will not be his turn to inherit, even if he goes out, he may not be able to control people!" Zhang Chen snorted from his nose and said contemptuously, "Does he think I don't know that he is tandem behind his back and wants to be the head of the Banshan Hall?" What if I give it to him? He really thinks he can hold the scene? ”

After muttering, he glanced at Zhang Shou, and in the end it was not too hot, and drank the tea dry in one go, and then grinned and said, "I'll go!" There is no grass at the end of the world...... Maybe I'll have an affair when I go out? ”

Zhang Shou couldn't cry or laugh, and for a while remembered the scene when Zhang Chen asked him to compensate him for his beauty last time. To say that Banshantang is not without people who are really messing around, but the few people he is most familiar with are really different personalities.

On this night on the first day of the first lunar month, some people are having a troubled life, some people are having a good time, and some people are sleepless in the middle of the night, sitting and talking desolate - naturally, this kind of cold, desolate and miserable scene, the palace people of Kunning Palace have really seen a lot recently. And the previous steward brand was sent to Langxia's house, and the new steward brand queen was too lazy to send, they were all careless.

As the eldest prince who has another courtyard outside the palace, he should not stay in Kunning Palace for the night in order to avoid suspicion, however, he insisted on not leaving for a high-sounding reason that he was about to leave Beijing and wanted to accompany his mother for a few more days, but no one dared to chase him. After all, if the emperor didn't say anything after he found out, what else could anyone else do?

At this time, he poured himself a glass of wine again, and then drank it all with his neck up, and when he saw the queen's stunned face, he wiped his mouth and sneered: "My dignified eldest son took the initiative to invite Ying to go to Jiangnan, but was sent to Cangzhou by my father." And Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are just two concubines of the Houmen, and they haven't even married the princess and county lord, but they have been entrusted with the important task of going to Xingtai. ”

"Huh! What does this mean? Do you want to say that I'm just like two Houmen concubines? ”

The queen, who was originally in a daze, suddenly woke up, lowered her face and shouted, "Shut up!" ”

The eldest prince was angry in his heart, he didn't expect to be scolded by his mother, and he just felt that he couldn't figure it out for a while. But he was about to say something, but when the words came to his mouth, he was glared back by the queen's cold gaze.

"What do they compare to you? You are an upright prince, your father sent you to Cangzhou, but he didn't say that you would go alone, you wouldn't choose a capable but biased leader among those well-known officials in the capital? Once you go down to Cangzhou, can't you impress them with your ability and measurement? ”

The eldest prince was aroused by the queen's words, and immediately held the wine glass heavily, and said word by word: "The queen mother said well, although this is not as good as going to Jiangnan, but it is also an opportunity!" Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are just small characters, how could I be afraid of them? But ......"

He gritted his teeth, and finally said the words from the bottom of his heart: "But Zhang Shou and Lu Sanpang have caused me to lose both people and money this time, and they have become the laughing stock of others, I really can't swallow this breath!" ”

"I can't swallow it either." The queen took a deep breath, and then laughed and said, "I thought that Zhu Ying had chosen what kind of noble son-in-law, but it turned out to be an insatiable and sanctimonious person!" Moreover, he is still the kid born on the same day, the same year, the same month and Zhu Ying and Yongping! Zhu Ying's mother had a deal with Concubine Yu at the beginning, who did she think she could hide? ”

The eldest prince's eyes suddenly froze. In his current anxious position, he really doesn't want any more accidents.

Especially Zhang Shou, who was born on the same day and month in the same year, and Princess Yongping have problems with their backgrounds, and so on...... If Zhang Shou is Xiucai's widow, it doesn't matter if his father favors him, even if he marries Zhu Ying or even Princess Yongping.

However, if it is rumored that Zhang Shou and Princess Yongping are wrong, then his situation will be terrible.

That means that in addition to the second prince, he has one more competitor!

Therefore, he coughed very uneasily and said, "If the queen mother wants to deal with them, please be careful and don't ......"

The queen immediately raised her eyebrows unhappily: "You don't have to worry about this, I have my own measure!" Of course, I won't let Zhang Shou become your father's son, but Zhu Ying's mother and Concubine Yu's little bit of sympathy and mercy of Emperor Bo, I can't tolerate it! They should have died in those chaos in the first place, and there would be no such mess now! ”

Although the eldest prince knew that he shouldn't say it, he couldn't help but sneer: "Zhang Shou Zhu Ying is hateful, and Concubine Yu's mother and daughter deserve to die, but doesn't the queen mother think that the situation of our mother and son is all caused by the second brother now?" If he is willing to be honest, if he is willing not to fight with me, how can I be so embarrassed! When did he treat me as a brother and you as a mother? ”

"That rebel! I gave birth to him for nothing! The queen was so angry that she almost broke her slender nails, but she quickly forcibly suppressed her anger and said word by word: "He still has the forty rods to suffer when he turns back, and he will take care of his injuries for this time, so don't think about doing anything, don't care about him for now!" The Zhu family thought that mixing the water would bring down those imperial histories? Dream! ”