…

Marrying the daughter of the Zhu family?

Cai still immediately weighed the pros and cons of marrying the daughter of the Zhu family in his heart.

On the positive side, Cai should still be able to get Zhu Boliang's help immediately, and then be able to recruit suitable civil and official talents from Biyong, and in addition, he can also get some help from the princelings at some moments, after all, because of Zhu Lian's relationship, the Zhu family is a princeling with a clear banner.

But—

This help is far from being comparable to the help that Tong Guan, Wang Hao, Gao Yu, and Liang Shicheng can bring to Cai Ying.

The key is that after marrying the daughter of the Zhu family, he has to get involved with the princelings, which may bring trouble to himself, and the princelings will not be able to take power until at least Zhao Huan ascends the throne as emperor.

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, Cai still refused euphemistically on the grounds that "the marriage is a major event, although Cai is still absent, Cai still has an uncle, and when Cai still goes home to ask his uncle and his old man for instructions, and then give you an answer", he politely refused, and then found an opportunity to smear oil on the soles of his feet.

Seeing that Cai was still running away, Zhu Lian's beautiful eyes narrowed, Zhu's lips curled, and then he went to the back hall without saying anything.

As soon as Zhu Lian came in, the two girls stood up and greeted Zhu Lian.

These two girls are somewhat similar to Zhu Lian, especially the girl who is only eleven or twelve years old, and she is seven or eight points similar to Zhu Lian.

And the older girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, in addition to being four or five similar to Zhu Lian, on the whole, is even more beautiful than Zhu Lian, who has always been known for being "beautiful" and "pretty", and this is not the most important thing, the most important thing is that she also has the gentleness, elegance and calmness unique to girls, giving people a feeling of not being impatient and steady.

These two girls are Zhu Lian's two younger sisters - the younger one is Zhu Lian's sister-in-law Zhu Fengying, and the older one is Zhu Lian's cousin, Zhu Boliang's daughter Zhu Shen.

Zhu Lian asked Zhu Shen straight to the point: "How is it, is the husband my sister chose for you still satisfactory?" ”

Without waiting for Zhu Shen to speak, Zhu Fengying preemptively said: "Satisfied, he is much stronger than those ugly monsters who came to our Zhu family to ask for relatives before." ”

Zhu Lian glared at Zhu Fengying and said, "It's not for you to choose a husband, what are you robbing?" ”

Zhu Fengying is not afraid of Zhu Lian at all, she said: "You don't know, the second sister has a weak temperament, what you say is always what you say, if I don't take care of her, you sell her, and she counts the money for you." ”

Zhu Lian poked Zhu Fengying's forehead with his index finger and said, "You think that you are shrewd, and your second sister is great wisdom." ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Lian looked at Zhu Shen and said, "Your second sister is indisputable everywhere, so the world can't compete with her, she has her own world." ”

After a pause, Zhu Lian continued: "Don't look at this Cai is still young, he is both civil and military, the key is that he has powerful political means, knows how to form a party for personal gain, and it is not an exaggeration to tell you that the political power he can control now may be greater than His Royal Highness." ”

Zhu Fengying said in disbelief: "His power is greater than that of the prince? ”

Of course, Zhu Lian can't say that Zhao Huan's situation is embarrassing, and he doesn't have much power, so he can only avoid the important and say lightly: "It's not that his power is greater than His Highness, but the power he can control may be greater than His Highness." ”

After a pause, Zhu Lian explained: "First of all, he is a member of the Cai family, and he has a very good relationship with Lao Cai (Cai Jing) and Xiao Cai (Cai You), and secondly, he has a very good relationship with his top boss Gao Yu, in addition, he has a relationship with Liang Taiwei, Li Bangyan, Zhang Bangchang, Bai Shizhong, Tan Zhen, Liang Fangping, and many powerful ministers. ”

Zhu Fengying said in disbelief: "Isn't he a small military attache of the sixth grade, how can he be involved with so many people?" ”

Zhu Lian sighed and said, "In addition to his extreme ability and political means, he also has a huge advantage that others do not have. ”

Zhu Fengying asked, "What is the huge advantage?" ”

Zhu Lian said sourly: "He has money." ”

Zhu Fengying was puzzled: "Rich? ”

Zhu Lian said: "Well, you all use soap, right?" ”

Zhu Fengying nodded, and even Zhu Shen nodded.

Zhu Lian said: "The Baixiang Pavilion that sells soap is his industry. Someone calculated for him that his Baixiang Pavilion could earn five or six million yuan a year. ”

Zhu Fengying's face was full of shock: "So many? ”

Zhu Lian said: "It's just a little more...... However, I heard that Xiao Cai, Gao Yu and many others have shares in Baixiang Pavilion, so it may be more than one million yuan in his hands. ”

Zhu Fengying said: "That's a lot." ”

Zhu Lian said: "There are a lot, and the crystal pavilion that has been particularly famous on the royal street recently seems to have something to do with him." ”

Zhu Fengying said: "Is it the crystal pavilion that bought the glass mirror?" ”

Zhu Lian said, "Do you still know about the second Crystal Pavilion?" ”

Zhu Fengying said: "Wow, then he is so rich, I heard that the daily turnover of the Crystal Pavilion is more than 100,000, and sometimes there are even hundreds of thousands." ”

Zhu Lian could no longer hide the jealousy in her heart, and said: "Yes, otherwise, where would he get the money to make friends with the powerful, if His Highness also has so much money, why is the situation so difficult." ”

Zhu Fengying had an idea and said, "You let the second sister marry him for his money, right?" ”

Zhu Lian glared at Zhu Fengying fiercely, blamed Zhu Fengying for being too talkative, and then turned his head and explained to Zhu Shen: "Your Highness has the intention of borrowing some money from him, but if it is just like this, Your Highness can't make so much effort to marry you, the key is that he is an excellent person, if you can marry him, it will not only allow you to have a happy marriage, but also allow us to have one more cadre here." ”

Zhu Shen said softly: "I understand, thank you, sister, sister also helped me, thank Your Highness." ”

Zhu Lian nodded and said, "The family doesn't talk to each other, as long as you can be happy, all that your sister and I have done will be worth it." ”

Zhu Fengying suddenly thought of something, and said: "No, I heard that the Crystal Pavilion is Taiwei Liang, Wang Xianggong, Xiao Cai, Gao Yu, Zhang Di, and Li Yan...... Ah, I see, did Cai still let them take shares? ”

Zhu Lian said: "You are not too stupid, so I said that the power he can influence may be greater than that of His Highness." ”

Zhu Fengying said: "In this way, this Cai is really a good husband who is difficult to find with a lantern." ”

Zhu Lian said: "Then what do you think, that's why I said that your second sister is a person with great wisdom, she doesn't fight for anything, but what awaits her is the best." ”

Zhu Fengying, who was originally facing Zhu Shen, was a little apprehensive when she heard this, so she said a little unscrupulously: "Then Cai is still good, but why do I think he doesn't seem to be willing to marry the second sister?" ”

Zhu Lian listened, smiled confidently, and said, "This can't help him." Then he said to Zhu Shen: "Sister, you just need to be ready to marry Cai Zhen, and the rest will be up to His Highness." ”

……

There were roughly three types of court meetings in the Northern Song Dynasty:

Daqing Hall Dynasty Meeting - generally held when the New Year and the state has major events;

Vertical arch hall to see the court - allow the prime minister below the important officials to participate, often important affairs to play, the vertical arch hall is a kind of daily court meeting, the emperor accepts the book, the Privy Council, the three divisions, Kaifeng Mansion, the trial court, please the official recital, like Cai still such a small military attaché, unless it is the emperor's permission, otherwise is not eligible to participate in such a court.

Wende Hall Chang Dynasty - Wende Hall Chang Dynasty is a permanent staff meeting held in Wende Palace, and the emperor does not attend, just a formality. Generally, after the end of the court meeting in the vertical arch hall, the prime minister went to the Wende Hall to announce the edict, and the ministers lined up. If it is announced that the emperor will not sit in the court, the court will be released immediately, that is, the court will end.

In addition, because the Northern Song Dynasty was relatively stable, and the frequent dynasties were too tired, the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty secretly changed to the odd and even number of the dynasty, and the lazy emperors only held a court meeting on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days of the first month every month, which means that, Zhao Ji is the latter one, and only holds three court meetings a month - this court meeting refers to the Wende Hall Chang Dynasty, and the vertical arch hall is still held every day.

After Cai still returned to Beijing, he also participated in the Wende Hall Chang Dynasty several times.

It's just—

Zhao Ji didn't appear at all, every time Wang Huang came out and said, "Your Majesty will not sit in the court today", and then let go of the court.

In other words, it has been more than a year since I came to this era, and Cai still hasn't seen Zhao Ji once.

The day after Liang Shicheng's promotion banquet, that is, October 25, there was a court meeting.

Therefore, before dawn, Cai still got up from Zhao Fujin's bed early and slipped back to his residence.

Not sooner, no.

Because the morning pilgrimage time is generally from five to seven o'clock in the morning.

Officials who were far away had to go in the middle of the night, so that there were tragedies in which officials drowned in the river in the middle of the night.

Ouyang Xiu once had a poem: Ten miles of long streets, five drums, mud and rain, hurry and go late. Listening to the sound of the bamboo house, I remember when I slept in Chuzhou.

From this, it can be roughly inferred that Ouyang Xiu had already gotten up and washed up at least at the fourth watch - before the reign of Emperor You of the Song Dynasty, the irregular time system was implemented. The irregular system is adjusted according to the sunrise. The fourth watch is from 1:19 to 3:58 on the winter solstice, and from 0:50 to 2:31 in the morning on the summer solstice.

Cai is still temporarily living in Mingluan Hall, not far from the palace, which is a little better, but he has to set off before dawn, otherwise he will not be able to catch up with the early dynasty.

Under the service of the maids, Cai still put on his court clothes, took the square heart curved collar, picked up the wat board, and rode away from Mingluan Hall - officials generally rode horses in the court. In December of the third year of Zhenghe, the snow was heavy, and the road was frozen and the snow was deep, so in order to prevent the occurrence of traffic accidents, the officials were allowed to take a sedan chair to the court. But making a sedan chair is slow, so many ministers still like to ride horses to the court.

As soon as Cai still hit his horse and came to the main street, he met a person - Zhu Boliang, the student of Biyong Foreign School.

……