Chapter 649: A Son of Heaven and a Courtier

Compared with the mansions of dignitaries and dignitaries in Jingshi, who often occupied most of the streets, the former Jinyi guard commander made Yuan Fang's mansion look extremely cold and tight. The small Yuan Mansion only used a dozen servants, including four long-term attendants who followed Yuan Fang in and out of Jinyi Guard, two gatekeepers, and the rest were miscellaneous cooks up and down, etc., and the remaining two maids were already in their early forties, and they had already been married, but they were just hired to do the work.

Seven years as the commander of the Jinyi Guard, Yuan Fang is a lonely minister in the eyes of outsiders, rarely interacting with other officials on weekdays, diligent and thrifty, and even on the female color, it is difficult for anyone to catch the handle - but no one is perfect, at the beginning of the new monarch's accession to the throne, he found out that he had several bad deeds of greedy ink, but he was diligent and cautious every day, and when the news of Zhu Di's death came, he was also respectful and obedient and responded quickly, so Zhu Gaochi ordered Wang Jie to take over the Jinyi Guard, but he was promoted to Yuan Fang two levels and transferred people to Nanjing for retirement.

Since he is a powerful minister who has passed his anger, he is going to leave Beijing at this time, and the Yuan Mansion is naturally deserted, the two porters are dozing there at the moment, and the other subordinates are also lazy and can't lift their spirits. The news that my lord has been transferred to an idle position has been spread for several days, and it is not until today that there is finally an old sneaky visit, and it is really desolate for the official to be in this position!

However, the former commander of the Jinyi Guard, who should have been disheartened in their eyes, was now in the North House while personally sorting things out and talking and laughing with others. Taking out the clothes in the rattan box and stacking them on the kang, he said without looking back: "This time, the emperor has not touched the people of the East Factory, and you, who are in charge of thousands of households, are very trusted by Lu Feng, so you should take this opportunity to play well, maybe you can go further in the future." Why do you come to see me at this time? ”

"It doesn't matter if you fall into someone's mouth, anyway, I don't have great ambitions, and I said it to Lu Fengming, this is to use the previous friendship to ask for capable people from you, and it is too late for him to be happy. Besides, even if he rises again, can he still be the commander of the Jinyi Guard? Mu Ning looked curiously at Yuan Fang skillfully sorting out his things, and looked around at this ordinary clothes, and then sighed, "The people in Dongchang are all laughing at the place where the adults should be fishing for oil and water, but instead going to bribe those Qin criminals in Beizhen Fusi to make it convenient, confiscating a few dollars but putting their own future into it." Those stupid things! ”

"Well, you are also smart, and in that position, you don't have to be as cautious as I am, as long as you are the one above you. It's just that Lu Feng is too greedy to be a man, and one day he will have to fight. If I make a fortune like him, then this time I will be directly exiled to Jiaolu, instead of comfortably going to Jiangnan to retire! ”

Yuan Fang smiled, put a set of white-washed gray cloth clothes on the kang table, and turned around again: "Those people from Beizhen Fusi have been released now, Huang Huai, Yang Pu and others have now been promoted, and Xia Yuanji and Wuzhong are also reinstated officials." Although I received the benefits of their family, I took care of one or two, but after all, I took care of it, even if they may not be grateful to me, the original commander of the Jinyi Guard, but they will not fall into the ground. As for the emperor...... He won't use the number one dog leg of the old days again, but he will inevitably think that I am cowardly, otherwise how can he casually send me a good place? ”

"Also, although Nanjing is said to be an idle yamen, the Governor's Mansion of the Left Army is a leisurely one, no matter what military affairs there are, they will never work to the end!" Although Mu Ning was confused, he was a person who was used to seeing after all, so he approached with a smile and asked, "I am very curious about one thing, when will you and that Miss Lin become good?" ”

"A dog can't spit out ivory!" Yuan Fang glanced at Mu Ning angrily, and then changed to a positive color, "I don't need her now, but it's a pity that her talent is wasted." Since you tell people that you are going to see me today to do the last bit of affection from your former boss and subordinates, and you want to poach people from me, then I will entrust her to you, and she will definitely be able to help you in the future. ”

"Oh my God! Yuan Tou, you entrusted me with such a powerful character? ”

In a hurry, Mu Ning couldn't help but use his former name, and his eyes widened. He grabbed the celadon teacup next to him, and didn't care that the tea leaves in it were very ordinary, and didn't care that the tea was already cold, so he just drank bitterly, and then waved his hand and said: "This plan can't be helped, I have a powerful mother-in-law at home, you must know that I have such an aunt and grandmother as a subordinate dark line, I'm afraid I have to be eaten alive." Besides, her mind is all on you......"

As he was talking about this, a long voice suddenly came from outside: "Master, the leather goods store on East Street sent someone to deliver the news, saying that the leather goods you bought have arrived, either go and pick them up now, or three days later, please show the small ones, do you go and get them back now, and then you won't miss the journey?" ”

"You go get it now!" Yuan Fang commanded without thinking about it, and when the outsider agreed, he stood up and changed his tone in an unquestionable tone, "Lin Sha's matter is so decided, she is a smart girl, there is no need to waste her mind on a person like me." You also heard it, Zhang Zhuo over there wants to see me, I have to go out. What should be said today has been said, in the future, we will be separated, there will be no chance to meet, you take care, don't worry about me anymore, I will let people try to strip out your share of the property to you. ”

Mu Ning, who was originally going to joke, heard the last sentence, and the smile on his face suddenly faded without a trace. He first got up from his seat, then suddenly fell to his knees and kowtowed three times in succession. Yuan Fang, who was caught off guard, was stunned for a while before he helped the person up, and just opened his mouth to blame, but he saw that the person in front of him suddenly raised his head.

"Yuan Tou, it was you who rescued me from the pile of dead people who were homeless, and then we worked together to earn a living on the streets, one to be a captain in Jinyiwei, and one to find a way to do business...... I can have today's care of you, no matter what you do in the future, as long as there is a word to come, no matter whether you go up the knife mountain or down the oil pot, I will definitely follow! Mu Ning gritted his teeth as he spoke, and then took a deep breath, "You don't have to peel it out for me, I can trust the people you trust, if you break off this connection, won't you and I really be the same passers-by in the future?" I don't lack money, and even if I do, I'd rather find you in person later. ”

Seeing that Mu Ning broke free of himself, he turned his head and left after a deep blow, Yuan Fang stood there for a while, and only sighed again after a while. There is no feast in life, even if he and Mu Ning have been in love for many years, it will be difficult to resist the change of situation.

Jingshi's Dade Silk Village is doing very well now, after all, such as Cheng Guogong's top noble mansions are designated to deliver goods here, and the rest of the second-class rich and noble families are naturally not a problem. At present, the mourning period of the 27th Emperor Daxing has passed, and the officials still have to wear black gauze hats and black horn belts in the court, but others can already dress as they usually do.

There are also gold and silver shops, shoe and hat shops, teahouses, restaurants and restaurants near the Jingshi branch of Dade Silk Village, and the whole street is lined with shops, and it is very lively everywhere.

However, at this time, a two-story restaurant next to Dade Silk Village only sat a small half of the customers, and the business was much lighter than usual. After all, even if the day of the mourning period and the prohibition of alcohol have passed, the ban on slaughter has not yet been lifted, so most of the food that can be served is vegetarian, but what is in those private rooms is not enough for outsiders. Compared with those private rooms separated by screens, there are double-layer plywood boxes everywhere, which are the most soundproof and private.

Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Yue were sitting in one of the private rooms at this moment, but there were only some candied fruits and pastries on the table. Even so, the two of them had no intention of using this, until the door of the box creaked open and someone came in from outside, and the father and son both raised their heads and stood up after seeing the comer.

As soon as Yuan Fang entered the door, he saw that there was a Zhang Yue in addition to Zhang Zhuo, which was not trivial. After stepping forward and sitting down, he couldn't help but reproach: "At this juncture, you father and son should also be more restrained, why did you come to me together?" Zhang Yue returned to Beijing, shouldn't he be very busy? And you, you don't know my current situation, and you don't persuade your son to blindly let him do anything! ”

Although he was complained about as soon as he came up, Zhang Zhuo didn't care, glanced at Zhang Yue with a wry smile, and said: "Yue'er has taken care of you more over the years, and he insists on coming, can I still stop it?" Besides, we have known each other for so many years, you are leaving, and you may have been living in Nanjing in the future, and I don't know when I miss it this time. ”

Hearing this, Yuan Fang couldn't help but freeze. Looking at this pair of father and son with unusually similar eyebrows and eyes, his heart was wide, and then he sighed: "You father and son still remember me, I am grateful, but the two of you are the most important thing at the moment." When the emperor was giving grace to the Zhang family, Zhang Zhuo, you were worrying, there was no way, but Yue'er was different, he was still young, and when the emperor employed people, he was on the rise. ”

Since he lost his wife, Yuan Fang has given up the intention of continuing, and he has no children under his knees, so he has always been alone. Even though I had plans to adopt a child, I was so busy all these years that I didn't take care of it. Just watched Zhang Yue grow up day by day, he helped from the side, almost equivalent to a father, so he brought it out unconsciously in his tone.

"I came to Uncle Yuan today, firstly to say goodbye, and secondly, to do this." Zhang Yue was stunned when he saw Zhang Zhuo and Yuan Fang, hesitated for a moment and then said, "The uncle in the hall told me that he is now a prince, and he is in charge of the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army, and he is good for others with the glory and wealth of the Zhang family, but it is a bit of an obstacle for me. I took the lead from the military department to the Ministry of Rites, which is enough to see. It's just that almost everyone in the Zhang family has been promoted, even the eldest brother and the second brother have been promoted by one level, and I naturally have it. Since the middle of the year when the Jinshi was released to foreign office, although I often go out, I have never served as a foreign official, but this time I will be released to Tianfucheng. ”

The spacious room was silent for a while, even Zhang Zhuo, who was his father, had never heard of it beforehand, the expression on his face was a little stiff, and Yuan Fang's brows were twisted into a big pimple. After a while, Yuan Fangcai shook his head, picked up a candied fruit on the plate in front of him and played with it for a while, and then threw it away.

"There is no news about this outside, and Mu Ning didn't mention it when he came to see me just now, so you are so sure of this?"

"Naturally. This is what the crown prince told me. ”

When Yuan Fang came in just now, Zhang Yue felt that there was a dull twilight on the other party's body, but at this time, he regained the sharpness of the past, and he was happy in his heart: "Once a son of heaven and a courtier, the emperor has been on the throne these days, and many Yongle old policies have been eliminated. Some of these measures are good, but some are overkill. The Western Ocean was completely abolished, and the city was attacked by many sides, even the troops in the north. Although the last two items have not yet been moved, they may not be a matter of time. In that case, even if it wasn't for the sake of the uncle, I wouldn't be able to use it. ”

Zhang Zuo has always pinned his hopes on his son, but at this time, he had just learned about it, and he couldn't help but complain softly after being shocked: "When Emperor Taizong was still there, because you were young, you made a lot of contributions, but you were promoted very little. I thought that after the emperor ascended the throne, he would definitely discern the reward...... If it turns out to be as you might expect, the previous seed will be in vain. ”

Although Yuan Fang had already thought that he would be driven to retire on this day, he was also a no-brainer in front of people, but after all, he was not yet fifty years old, and it was the season of being in the prime of life. At this time, Zhang Yue said that he might not be able to use it, thinking that he had worked hard all his life, and it was very likely that he would be empty, he couldn't help but feel nervous.

"If Uncle Yuan doesn't want to go to Nanjing as a pension, I have a few words to say." Zhang Yue thought last night that it must be uncomfortable for a person who had been immersed in countless crises to rest all at once, so he had an idea, and at this time he calmly explained, "Although Nanjing officials used to be idle, as soon as the emperor ascended the throne, Nanjing dispatched a lot of important personnel, and it is inevitable that he will have other thoughts. Nanjing, the national capital for decades, is by no means an idle place, and we have a lot to do here. Besides, if someone turns it around, it can be pulled back in the future! ”

Before Zhang Zuo could speak, he saw Yuan Fang's eyes shining all of a sudden, and he was as sharp as before. After a while, I saw his brother, who had known each other for many years, get up from his seat and walked a few steps, and then turned around and asked Zhang Yue like a cannon, and Zhang Yue also answered fluently. Looking at it, he only felt as if he had become a superfluous person.

Half an hour later, when Yuan Fang left in a hurry, the father and son had the opportunity to speak again. Seeing Zhang Yue's happy face, Zhang Zhuo couldn't help but ask: "Your Uncle Yuan can easily live a leisurely life, you say this, he is energetic again!" ”

"Dad, I also hope that Uncle Yuan can have a peaceful birthday, but the premise is that the world is too peaceful and there is no unpredictable crisis. Besides, you should know that Uncle Yuan just had the appearance of spirit again, and he was not reconciled, so he was not willing to rest so early. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Yue added in his heart - they are not people who are indifferent to fame and fortune, and it is not time to rest now. It is much better to provide for the elderly in the future than to provide for the rest of the pension at present.