After Ma Xiaofang's death, Ma Mingyuan felt bad for the first time, and he found that no matter who became the queen, he would suffer losses. Even in the most powerful situation, Ma Ruyan came to be the queen, and he had to succumb to his eldest brother Ma Jiyuan and become the second-in-command of the Ma family's forces, which was completely unacceptable to Ma Mingyuan.

Ma Mingyuan was a talented man when he was a child, and he became a lifter in his teens, and he was a jinshi at twenty-five, and he was still the fourth in the country. And the eldest brother Ma Ji is far worse than Ma Mingyuan, and he was admitted to the Jinshi in his thirties, and he is still more than 200 in the top three. Even in Zhu Hongsan's forces, Ma Mingyuan's status is much higher than Ma Jiyuan. Ma Jiyuan has been working in the local area since he came to Guangdong because he has been a magistrate, on the other hand, Ma Mingyuan himself has been working in the central government to manage the financial work of the household department all the year round, and now he is the first vice premier, a veritable second assistant. If Ma Ruyan becomes the queen, the eldest brother Ma Jiyuan will definitely enter the cabinet, and his uncle, who is the queen, will be marginalized. People are like this, they can't extricate themselves at all after trying the addiction of power, at this time, don't say it's brothers, it's not easy to be as close as father and son.

In the past half a month, Ma Mingyuan has been at home like an ant on a hot pot, and now he has thought about several major forces in the cabinet. The Feng family, who is also in the same vein as Huguang, can't be counted on at all, for Feng Ziyong, who pursues a lonely minister, Ma Xiaofang and Ma Ruyan are almost the same as queens. And Tong Yangjia and his own death are not at the same time, so they can't talk about it at all. Then the Guangdong faction is left, Chen Zizhuang's daughter is not coming from the right way, and the Guangdong faction has no competent candidates in the harem, so the Guangdong faction has become Ma Mingyuan's first uniting object.

Just when Ma Mingyuan wanted to talk to Chen Zizhuang, the news came that Qian Qianyi had entered Chen's mansion at night. And seeing Chen Zizhuang coming out to send Qian Qianyi, it seems that some kind of agreement has been reached.

Ma Mingyuan regretted again and again, he forgot Qian Qianyi, an old guy, his daughter was born only below Ma Xiaofang, and she was also the side princess canonized by Emperor Hongguang at the same time, it seems that Qian Qianyi also thought about it.

Ma Mingyuan thought about it at home for a few days, and found that he was the weakest party, and the only one weaker than himself was Tong Yangjia. Thinking of this, Ma Mingyuan suddenly found that he and Tong Yangjia basically had the same views on the issue of who to appoint. I don't want to be a queen, and Tong Yangjia's cheap daughter, the Dong sisters, are a lot worse than Ma Ruyan and Qian Yuting in terms of identity and status and the forces behind them. This time, Qian Qianyi received the support of the Guangdong faction, and Qian Yuting immediately became the most favorable contender for the queen's throne, while the Dong sisters had no possibility of becoming queens at all.

Ma Mingyuan thought about it, there was no way but to contact Tong Yangjia, although he didn't deal with him, but at present, only the two of them could resist Qian Qianyi and the Guangdong faction. Ma Mingyuan is a man of action, and after thinking about it, he immediately gave Tong Yangjia a letter and asked his family to send it to Tong's mansion, and agreed to meet in the drunken immortal building in the city tomorrow night.

The Tong and Ma families did not deal with the Manchu Dynasty, and they both knew that if Ma Mingyuan recklessly went to the Tong Mansion, it would have too much impact, so it would be better to meet secretly.

The servants of the Ma family quickly sent the letter to the Tong Mansion, and the housekeeper of the Tong Mansion did not expect the Ma family to send a letter to the master, and his master and Ma Mingyuan did not do it in the court no less than three times, and the whole Guangdong officialdom knew that the Tong and Ma families did not deal with each other.

Tong Yangjia was also surprised when he saw Ma Mingyuan's letter, but he didn't expect Ma Lao Er to ask him out. Now Tong Yangjia is also worried about the queen's affairs, the Dong family sisters are much worse than those two, and he is also very distressed these days.

Tong Yangjia saw that there was nothing written on the letter, but said that he wanted to invite himself to a small gathering in the Drunken Immortal Building. After putting down the letter, Tong Yangjia thought about it, and finally decided to go, Ma Mingyuan would not look for himself for no reason.

The next night, Tong Yangjia sat in a small sedan chair for two people, and only brought one family member to follow.

Zuixianlou is in the south of Guangzhou, close to the bustling Nancheng Street, outside the south gate is the Guangzhou wharf, every day there are countless large and small merchant ships, naturally this is located in the prime location of the Zuixianlou is overcrowded every day. Of course, in a place like Nancheng, where every inch of land is valuable, it is not possible for anyone to do such a big deal, and the backstage boss of Zuixian Building is the second child of the Ma family.

When he came to the drunken fairy building, the Tong family stepped forward to find the shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, we belong to the Tong family."

The shopkeeper had already received instructions from the big proprietor, and hurriedly came out to lead the sedan chair to the back. Zuixian Building is divided into two courtyards before and after, the front is a three-story building, all of which are private rooms, the backyard area is very large, there are six independent courtyards, each courtyard is separated by a bamboo forest, very elegant and quiet. This is for the eunuchs in Guangzhou, after all, there are too many secrets of being an official, which is not good for people to see.

Tong Yangjia's small sedan chair came to the backyard Tianzi No. 1, got off the sedan chair, and saw that it was a two-story small building, surrounded by bamboo forests more than one person high, the bamboo forest was winding and deep, and there was a stream flowing in the bamboo forest to listen to the sound. Tong Yangjia couldn't help but say: "You Master Ma are so Yaxing, it's so atmospheric to get a restaurant!" ”

Ma Mingyuan, who got the news in the small building, had already greeted him, and he happened to hear Tong Yangjia's praise.

"There, there! The elegant residence in the north city is not inferior to mine! ”

Yazhiju is a private dish opened by Tong Yangjia in Beicheng, which only receives dignitaries and nobles, and the business is very hot.

Tong Yangjia saw Ma Mingyuan come out, and arched his hand and said, "Mr. Ma Er is here, won't it be to see your chef's skills?" ”

"There, there is naturally a big event to invite Mr. Tong to come, please come in first, say inside!"

Coming to the second floor of the small building, it has been prepared properly, four cold and four hot, all of which are the specialties of Huguang's hometown.

Although Tong Yangjia is a native of Liaodong, he has also lived in Huguang for more than ten years, and now when he sees the authentic eight Huguang dishes, he can't help but admire: "These dishes are really authentic!" ”

"There, there are a lot of Huguang people in Guangzhou now, and it's still very easy to find a few Huguang chefs!"

The two sat down, and the maid who was waiting on the side poured the wine and withdrew.

Tong Yangjia saw that there was no one in the house, and he was not polite to Ma Mingyuan, the two of them really didn't have any friendship.

Tong Yangjia asked straightforwardly: "Ma Er, there is no one in the house now, what do you say you are looking for me for?" ”

Ma Mingyuan heard Tong Yangjia call himself Ma Laoer, and he hated it when others called him that.

"Humph! Tong Yangjia, you are also a lifter now, and you still have no identity when you speak, I doubt that your fame was bought with money! ”

"Hey, hey! My fame was obtained by real skills, but you made a lot of money selling exam questions! ”

Hearing Tong Yangjia reveal his scars, Ma Mingyuan trembled with anger, if it weren't for Tong Yangjia's uncle and nephew, how could he be punished by the emperor, and his own nephew couldn't die in the Changhua Iron Mine.

But there are major matters to discuss today, and Ma Mingyuan doesn't want to fight with Tong Yangjia on these matters.

Ma Mingyuan drank a glass of wine and said, "Tong Yangjia, you are also restless about the queen's affairs, right?" ”

"What? Ma Er, what do you have to say? ”

"Mr. Tong, do you know that Qian Qianyi went to Premier Chen's mansion the night before yesterday, and Premier Chen personally sent it out, don't you think there is something wrong here?"

Tong Yangjia is also an expert in fighting in the nest, and he knows that Qian Qianyi and the Guangdong faction have reached an alliance with a turn of his eyes.

"What do you mean, Mr. Ma?"

"If Concubine Qian becomes the queen, then the Guangdong faction will surpass our Huguang faction. What's more, Concubine Qian has a son, what if His Majesty wants to change the crown prince? ”

Tong Yangjia's eyes rolled, this has nothing to do with himself, Zhu Hai is not his nephew and son-in-law Tong Yangjia, that is, the first unlucky person who has passed the Guangdong faction over the Huguang faction should be his Ma family, and the second can be his turn, what did this Ma Mingyuan do by himself?

Thinking of this, Tong Yangjia said righteously: "Mr. Ma." It is the king's business to set up who is the queen, let's be a courtier, let's not interfere! ”

Seeing Tong Yangjia's appearance, Ma Mingyuan smiled secretly in his heart, this Tong Yangjia hadn't discovered that his own crisis had arrived.

"Mr. Tong, I heard that when Concubine Qian first arrived in the palace, the two concubines Dong were very oppressive to her. And even if our Huguang faction is no match for the Guangdong faction, but my uncle Feng Ruoshu recommended Chen Zizhuang to give way back then, my Ma family is at most to go back to the hometown to farm, there should be no problem in saving your life, and Feng Ziyong will have nothing to do, but you are not good. In the past few years, you, Mr. Tong, have been arrogant, and I heard that in this Guangzhou incident, you took advantage of your friendship with Xingbu to attack local officials in Guangdong, and Chen Zizhuang and other Guangdong officials have great opinions about you. If the prince is in a different position, I'm afraid your Tong family will not die well! ”

Ma Mingyuan's words were really like an enlightenment, and Tong Yangjia only remembered now that the old man Feng Ruoshu had a deep relationship with Chen Zizhuang, and he also gave him the position of first assistant. And after he brought down Ma Mingyuan a few years ago, he was a bit arrogant, and he had already greatly offended the Guangdong faction. But what does Ma Mingyuan mean in front of him? Do you want to support Ma Ruyan? It's simply not possible.

"Humph! What does Mr. Ma mean by this? Do you want me to support you horses? Then I might as well go to Chen Zizhuang and surrender! ”

Ma Mingyuan shook his head and said, "Mr. Tong, instead of supporting Ma Ruyan as the queen, but following the example of Emperor Taizu Gao, the position of queen is vacant!" ”

Tong Yangjia was stunned, and Ma Mingyuan didn't agree with Ma Ruyan to be the queen? However, Tong Yangjia was always cunning and cunning, and immediately thought of why, it turned out that the Ma brothers were dirty.

"Haha! I didn't expect you Ma family brothers to also cause trouble to Xiao Wall! ”

After being told by Tong Yangjia, Ma Mingyuan's old face turned red and said, "You don't have to worry about our Ma family, do you agree with my method?" ”

Tong Yangjia thought about it, Ma Mingyuan's method is beneficial to himself and harmless, first of all, the queen's position is vacant, then his power cannot be affected, and the Guangdong faction cannot overpower the Huguang faction, and if the queen's throne is vacant for one day, then the second concubine of the Dong family has the hope of becoming the queen, and Zhu Huai has the hope of becoming the prince.

Thinking of this, Tong Yangjia can't help but admire Ma Mingyuan's old scheming, no matter which one becomes the queen, it is a threat to Ma Mingyuan, and only when the queen is vacant can Ma Mingyuan get the greatest benefits. Now that Ma Mingyuan and Zhu Hai have been firmly bound together, only by keeping Zhu Hai's position can he Ma Mingyuan's power be guaranteed, of course, it is his Ma Mingyuan's power that is kept, not the power of the Ma family.