Epilogue Prosperous Zhumen

There is an inconspicuous side street at the root of the West Imperial City in the city of Nanjing, however, there are almost no locals who do not know about it. Although there have been repeated earthquakes in Nanjing since the early years of Xuande, since the noble man came to settle in Nanjing, the earthquake has miraculously disappeared. The owner of the big mansion on this small street was once called Dinghaishen Needle, but now the earthquake is gone, and there is no need for another nickname of Tai Sui. But no matter what, this ordinary Taiping Street has become the most legendary place in the entire city of Nanjing.

Everyone knows that the No. 1 family of Da Ming Zi is the Zhang family. The British Gong Zhang Fu is now ninety-two, but he is still in good spirits, and now he is no longer in charge, and his son-in-law Zhang Zhong is the governor of the right government and the left, and he only sits at home and enjoys the joy of family. Zhang Fu's two brothers-in-law are not well-known, but there are many famous brothers and nephews in his family. From his younger brother Zhang Xinguan to Sichuan, he commanded the affairs, and the two sons held the hereditary position, and the other went to the national prince to supervise the business, which can be said to be all the nobles and military positions; From the younger brother Zhang Youjue to Fengyang Wubo, now the title is inherited by the second son Zhang Qi, and the eldest son Zhang Chao has accumulated meritorious work and has been the commander. It's just that, in addition to the British Duke, the other most prominent branch is this Marquis of the Peace.

Occupying the entire side street is the Taiping Marquis Mansion. The gold lacquer plaque with the three words of Taiping Mansion is inscribed by Zhu Zhanji, the emperor of Xuande, and the imperial treasure is covered underneath. Therefore, the main entrance of these three rooms and five frames has naturally been blocked for many years, and even the princes and nobles often enter and exit through the side doors. The master here Zhang Yue Yongle entered the imperial examination during the period, and served as the official of the feudal territory for seven years, and entered the six departments for three years, and was named Taiping Bo when Emperor Xuande died, and he was only in his early fifties, but he entered the Taiping Marquis. Compared with the various high-ranking officials and dignitaries he has obtained, the protagonist is extremely fond of the title of Marquis of Taiping, and he has the nickname of a Taiping layman, and now everyone calls him Zhang Taiping.

To this day, the people still talk about Zhang Yue's legend. Zhang Yue went through the Yongle, Hongxi, Xuande, and Orthodox dynasties, and established numerous meritorious achievements, capable of literature and martial arts, and most importantly, he was a strong supporter of Jinling Academy, the largest private college in Nanjing. Not only him, but his teacher Du Zhen was almost invited by Jinling Academy to be the head of the mountain after he said goodbye to his old age that day. Although he politely declined, he often went to lectures and presided over student debates, but almost all those who visited the college had seen the demeanor of this cabinet minister. Now both Weng and his son-in-law are frequent visitors to Jinling Academy, which has also made Jinling Academy the first private academy in Jiangnan for many years.

"Abolish burials, open schools, develop trade, and promote colonization...... Compared with these, the wisest thing I have done in my life is actually to let Emperor Xuanzong live for ten more years...... I just didn't expect him to look at such a good body and leave earlier than me! ”

It was going to be early in the morning, looking at the letter from overseas brought by Fang Jing and Zhang Jing in the study, Zhang Yue couldn't help muttering, and then leaned lazily on the back of the chair, staring at the ceiling in a daze. I don't know how long it took for him to be awakened by the sound of small footsteps, and when he looked down, he saw a figure pounce on him, grinning and hugging his arm.

"Grandpa, grandpa!"

"Hey, Qiqi, when did you come?"

"Grandpa, I just arrived today, I'm going to see you first, I'm filial enough!"

Seeing the sweet-looking little granddaughter looking up and smiling at herself, Zhang Yue couldn't help but rub her head dotingly, and then breathed a sigh of relief thoughtfully. Before I knew it, even the youngest grandchild was ten years old, the same age as when I first arrived here. When he came back to his senses, he lowered his head and asked, and when he learned that it was his own daughter who sent the child over, he couldn't help but smile and asked, "What about your mother?" Did you go to see your grandmother first? ”

"I'm here, you only care about your grandson, where can you take care of me!"

Seeing a young woman standing next to the door, a lotus-colored cardigan, a white silk thread-trimmed skirt, beaded flowers on her head, and not much pink between her eyebrows and eyes, but it looked fresh and refined, it was her own daughter Zhang Ying, Zhang Yue couldn't help but laugh and called Xiaoliu. As a result, it was okay not to scream, and as soon as this sound came out, the young woman suddenly pulled down her face.

"Daddy, it's too easy for you to give us a nickname, after the second sister called three three, the third sister became four or four, and I became a little six because I couldn't be a mother-in-law. However, when they are all in the third generation, you just gave my apple girl the nickname Qiqi! Our family, can't we do without those numbers? ”

"Isn't that good? Your mother-in-law is a little five, you are a little six, and now the apple girl is seven or seven, and these five, six and seven are all complete. ”

jokingly quipped, seeing that Zhang Ying's face was about to be unbearable, Zhang Yue raised his hands with a smile and said, "Okay, okay, I came up with this name just because I like girls." Look at it, counting from your second sister, there are only four girls in our family, even if I am full of children and grandchildren now, there are only seventy-seven girls among my grandchildren. ”

"That's nice, I think it's Daddy, you know how to be lazy!"

Father and daughter, you say a word, Qiqi next to him looked up at the two of them, but he was curious. After a while, Zhang Yue remembered that there was still a baby granddaughter, so he coughed dryly and said, "Okay, okay, don't let Qiqi see the joke." Xiaoliu, why did you come back without a message this time, what about my son-in-law? ”

"We just arrived today, and my parents-in-law also came. At this time, he went to see his grandfather with his father-in-law, saying that he would come to greet you later. My mother-in-law went to see my mother at this time, so I brought Qiqi over to see you......"

Before she finished speaking, a girl's voice came from outside: "Master, Madame, please change your clothes and prepare to go out." ”

Maybe it was a wandering around the world in the past, not idle for a moment, these two years of idleness at home, Zhang Yue was reluctant to move, most of the time was in the study to write and paint, Du Juan often accompanied by writing and painting. Therefore, when he heard his wife's words, he only felt that the second monk was confused, and he couldn't help but look at Zhang Ying.

"Don't look at me, I don't know anything, if there is a mystery, it must be my mother-in-law's idea!" Speaking of this, Zhang Ying couldn't help laughing, "My mother-in-law is old, but it's still the same as what I saw when I was a child, so there must be some new tricks at this time!" Daddy hurry up and prepare, if it's late, maybe something will be arranged! ”

How difficult it is for Xiao Wu to deal with, Zhang Yue's experience is much deeper than that of Zhang Ying, who is a daughter-in-law, and after smiling bitterly, he immediately got up and walked out of the study. As soon as he walked on his front foot, Qiqi dragged Zhang Ying's clothes and asked, "Mother, didn't you discuss it with your grandmother first, why did you tell your grandfather that you didn't know?" ”

"Say what? Who asked him to give us these unobtrusive names, this time it's a secret from him! ”

"However, I think the name Qiqi is very good......

Since Du Juan sent someone to say it on purpose, Zhang Yue naturally knew that this was an official outing, so he changed into a crow blue jacquard right collar shirt, and tied a four-finger-wide sprinkling thread embroidered two-color gold inlaid jade belt, which was the outfit for official visitors on weekdays. When he arrived at the main room, he found that the huge place was full of people, and many children and grandchildren had come, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

Seeing his stunned expression, Du Juan couldn't help but smile, and led everyone to come forward, and then said: "Since you came back, you have always been bored at home, and the children don't say anything, but they are all worried in their hearts. Now the weather is good, so they have discussed it a few days ago, saying that they are going to find a family to go out for a night out. It just so happened that Xiao Wu and his family got the grace to come back to save their relatives, and they collided together. Jing Guan also rushed back before, but not all of them were gathered! ”

Zhang Yue only then learned what was going on, and when he saw a group of juniors looking at him with a smile, he only felt that his heart was hot, so he shook his head and said: "What a big deal, you have to hide it from me, don't I just want to relax in my old age at home?" Okay, it's up to you today, and have a good night! ”

Since it had already been prepared, the gate of the Taiping Marquis Mansion was naturally ready to stop soon. There is a total of eight sedan chairs, three four-person cars, and the rest are the cars used by the women's dependents, and the whole street is parked in a row. Although Zhang Yue is not young, he can't help but shake his head when he sees the posture of the canopy covering the street. Seeing that his expression was not good, Lian Sheng, who was now in charge, knew that he would be wrong, so he hurriedly waved his hand and ordered someone to replace it, and in the end, all the honor guards who were hugging each other were withdrawn, and only three carriages with Zhu Lun Huacanopy and green mantle clouds were used, plus more than ten guards to accompany him.

The splendid state of the south of the Yangtze River, the elegant serval gold of Jinling, and the Qinhuai River have always enjoyed the name of the ten-mile bead curtain. The gold powder tower, the painting boat Lingbo, the sound of oars and lights, countless well-dressed characters, and endless literary style. Although there is still a ban on officials not being allowed to enter and leave the Qinglou Chu Pavilion, since the business in the south of the Yangtze River has become increasingly developed, and since the curfew was lifted in Kaifeng in Nanjing in imitation of the Song Dynasty, the Qinhuai River is brightly lit every night, and I don't know how many rich businessmen and magnates have forgotten to return.

Now it is after sunset, and the ten miles of Qinhuai River is a scene of strong wine and singing, and the painting boat on the river has been drifting with the wind to sing bursts, and you can vaguely see the singers and dancers who sing and dance. On a willow and green wharf by the river, a two-story painting boat is moored, and wealthy businessmen have also gone to inquire about the price, but they were quickly sent back.

On the upper floor of the painting boat, a person was looking out from the railing, and when he saw the group of people coming not far away, he turned his head and smiled: "Father-in-law, they have arrived at the Yuan Festival!" ”

Most of the people who traveled to the Qinhuai River at night were literati and scholars who brought prostitutes to save their concubines, so when they saw a number of gorgeously dressed women getting off the Zhulun canopy car and getting on the painting boat, a purple-clothed boy who was watching from the side couldn't help but sigh: "I am familiar with the singers and dancers on the Qinhuai River, where did such a batch of elegant and goryeo come from?" ”

"Today, it is Master Du and Taiping Hou Wan's son-in-law's family You Qinhuai, Lord Wan is hand-picked to preside over next year's examination, if you dare to talk nonsense, you don't have to think about the imperial examination in the future!"

Zhang Yue naturally didn't pay attention to the discussions of outsiders, as soon as he boarded the boat and saw his old father-in-law and brother-in-law, he first saw them one by one, and then smiled at Wan Shijie: "If people know that you, the chief examiner who presided over the examination, are actually boating on the Qinhuai River, and you are not afraid that the Metropolitan Procuratorate will impeach you for a copy?" ”

Although he is now in a high position, Wan Shijie is still the same casual style as before: "If you want to impeach, you are also the Taiping Marquis, what is my small Ministry of Rites?" You will enjoy the blessings, but I couldn't do it if I wanted to intercede with someone when I was demoted before...... Besides, today's painting boat is our family's own, and we don't invite Kabuki, who dares to gossip? ”

Du Zhen, who had white hair and white beard, naturally showed a smile when he saw the younger generation coming up and was obsessed. When Du Juan and Xiao Wu saw his happy appearance, they couldn't help but think of the Qiu family who had died before, and they had to come forward to accept the joy.

After a while, the boat set off. At this time, the sky is getting late, the water surface is reflected by the lights shining brightly, a large group of people sit around a large round table on both sides, and there are maids who send tea, wine and fruits, and sit and drink and chat, sit and watch the lake and water. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Du Juan lost a look at Zhang Ying, and Zhang Ying immediately pulled Qiqi to stand up.

"If there is wine and no music tonight, it will be boring, Qiqi learned another song, so let her play a song to cheer everyone up!"

Zhang Yue held the wine cup and looked out the window, thinking of his parents who were a lot older but traveled the world together, but when he suddenly heard such a sentence, he immediately turned his head in shock, and saw Qiqi sitting upright in front of him, and his index finger lightly picked up the first note. In an instant, the famous piano "Dragon Yin Qiushui" made by Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji burst out with an incomparably beautiful timbre.

Du Juan is good at chess, three or three good books, small six paintings, seven or seven is the eleventh year old to play a good piano. At this moment, I saw her squeezing and kneading, although her technique was still immature, it was enough to make everyone present marvel. More than half of the spring on the stone is a song, and many of the painting boats passing by next to it have rolled up the gauze curtains and bamboo curtains, and some people poked their heads out to look at this side.

At the end of the song, Zhang Yue couldn't help but praise it, and was about to praise his granddaughter a lot, but he saw Qiqi running over with difficulty holding the qin, tilting his head and saying, "Grandpa, this is specially prepared for your birthday, is it good?" ”

Because in the past, when he was an official, there would be outsiders disturbing him every birthday, so Zhang Yue, who was tireless, gradually formed the habit of not having a birthday except for the whole life, and this year he left this matter behind. Hearing this sentence at this time, he suddenly realized, and before he could answer, he saw that the table in front of him was full of all kinds of gifts.

What caught him off guard even more was that the old father-in-law Du Zhenwan smiled, stood up and opened a long box of rosewood. Xiao Wu next to him hurriedly stepped forward to help unfold it, but only to see that it was a colorful picture of a hundred birds' birthday, and only the surrounding blank space was stamped with the seals of one party after another, and there was not even a trace of space.

"This was given to you by those students you taught at Jinling Academy."

And Wan Shijie also unfolded another picture scroll at this time, but it was a map of ten thousand sails going to sea, but there were many names written on it densely and neatly. Zhang Yue couldn't help but laugh when he saw that the first name was Fang Rui. Needless to say, this is a congratulatory gift from those maritime merchants who have made a lot of money.

Du Juan gave a hand-made cool hat, Jingguan sent a newly made quick gun from the imperial court, Sansan was a newly produced cotton curtain in Songjiang, and Xiaoliu was a pair of hand-sewn mille-feuille shoes...... Although when he spent his fiftieth birthday in the capital, Emperor Zhu Qizhen and the noble ministers gave countless expensive gifts, they were not as ordinary as today.

With this hint of emotion, Zhang Yue naturally drank one after another in the persuasion of everyone. When he was drunk, he only felt that the painting boat suddenly stopped, and then he heard someone shouting below.

"On the orders of the old marquis, the old lady and the master of the family, I wish the Taiping Hou a birthday!"

As soon as the words fell, a loud explosion suddenly sounded outside. Everyone in the painting boat looked up, and they saw the Qiongzhan jade platform in the night sky, which was brilliant. What are the eight immortals holding longevity, the bead curtain hanging upside down, and the jade girl coming to the east...... Countless fireworks burst into the night sky, but I saw the lights and candles, and the sound of splashing water, I don't know how many people were amazed.

Seeing Zhang Yue standing against the railing in a daze, Du Juan stepped forward and said with a smile: "It seems that not only do we remember your birthday, but also my father and uncle Yuan haven't forgotten it!" ”

Zhang Yue looked at the boat full of people, and saw that everyone's faces were rippling with happiness, and his heart was extremely warm, so he nodded and gently grabbed his wife's hand, looking up at the night sky like day.

In the prosperous era, Zhumen is looking for romance, and wealth also needs to be steady. But the family and the country are in the world, and he takes his wife and children on a light boat.