Shamao Hutong, Zhang Juzheng Mansion.

Originally, Zhang Shunqing often went to Fan's house to accompany Fan's mother, and by the way, she helped Fan into the housekeeper, and she already regarded herself as the hostess, and the Fan family also felt that this was very normal. But since Fan Jin's return to Beijing is approaching, Zhang Shunqing is not good to go again. After all, the two have not yet married, and if they meet in the Fan family, it will inevitably cause discussion.

Sitting in the room with his hands on his cheeks, his eyes staring out of the window in a daze, the Siamese white cat that he snatched from Song's hand curled up obediently at Zhang Shunqing's feet. The new owner was far less kind of him than the previous owner, causing the cat to lose weight several times and not dare to be as lazy and lazy as before.

The cat suddenly jumped up and ran to the corner, Zhang Shunqing realized it, and was waiting to teach this meat ball that didn't know whether to live or die, and there was a knock outside the door, only to know that it was this thing that heard the movement. There was a hint of joy on her face, and her tone trembled slightly when she ordered her to come in, and she was a little disappointed when she saw that the person who entered the door was not Xia He but Agul.

Aguli smiled: "Miss, you are so anxious. I know that you arranged for Xia He to go to the city gate to pick up Fan Gongzi, and you will definitely not be able to borrow it. Although Fan Gongzi has arrived in Tongzhou, it does not mean that he can enter Beijing today. You also know that there are also nobles in the Jingshi, and they are still relatives of those nobles in Jiangning. They had already been greeted by relatives from the south to be friends with Fan Gongzi. The way those people are friends is nothing more than to eat and drink flowers, which is very time-consuming, and Fan Gongzi's itinerary will definitely be delayed. ”

Zhang Shunqing snorted: "Those noble children have nothing to deal with, and few of them are angry." It's either nonsense, or vassals and elegance, they are all gentlemen, and it's useless to associate with them. When you get to Jingshi, you should come to see your father first, it's really ......"

Aguli sneered, "Miss's tone has become more and more like that of a housekeeper. However, I want to remind Miss that although you will be in charge of the family business after getting married, the good memories of you and Fan Gongzi should not be completely replaced by life, you are for his good, and you must also consider his feelings. There are many women out there who can give him tenderness, and if you are too careless, you will lose to them. ”

"How dare he?" Zhang Shunqing said confidently: "He is my father-in-law...... Always, you have to listen to me. Aguli, you let Yao Ba go to Tongzhou to urge him, and bring him to the house to meet his father. Ying Tian's performance appraisal has already been sent to the ministry, and Dad has been looking at it for the past few days, and there must be a lot of things he wants to ask him, so let him hurry up. As for the sons and daughters of the nobles, I don't have much to do with them, especially the business. ”

She looked at the large pile of ledgers spread out in front of her, which was the bottom block of Yangzhou salt tax obtained from the household department through the relationship between the prime minister, "The Lianghuai Salt Administration is a muddy pond, even if you don't fall into it, you will get yourself covered in mud." Daddy paved a road for him, and he couldn't do such a thing. Really, I can't figure it out at all. ”

Having said that, she still sorted out the vast account books, holding a pen in one hand and pulling the abacus beads in the other, and tinkling the abacus. Aguli said: "Miss, you still go and try on the new clothes, those who are about to get married, don't always deal with these things." ”

"I'm not in a hurry about clothes or anything, even if he is messing around, I don't know how important it is, it's always my father-in-law. What he has to do, I, as a wife, can't help but help, and I can do as much as I can, which is the duty of a wife. ”

Compared with Zhang Shunqing, Yao Kuang is more aware of the matter of Xungui's children going out of Beijing, these people are the third son, second son or concubine son of Xungui's family, some of them have a brocade guard and a seal, and some are in the military guard or the three major battalions to eat empty salaries. Ping Suri does not hold power or do things, he eats and drinks without worrying under the shadow of his family, and no one cares about making trouble, but he can't make a fortune.

The noble family is rich and noble, but these families have a big business, and it is difficult to say how much each child can share below. This time, they cooperated with relatives in the south, obviously wanting to do a big deal and get a piece of the pie in the two Huai salt affairs. Behind this incident, I don't know how many hereditary princes who are hiding with the country, taking advantage of the matter of salt affairs, playing their own small abacus.

Yao Kuang didn't care much about the prince's opinion, just as he didn't care much about the salt merchants. Some time ago, a half-grown child came to Jingshili, who is said to be the son of a salt merchant in Yangzhou, who is very smart and likable. visited some people, and held two literary meetings in Beijing, and his hand was very broad, and many literati in Beijing had a good opinion of him. But before he could continue to do anything, Yao Kuang said hello to the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division and Yang Sizhi, the imperial historian under the Zhang family, and found trouble with this person before and after, and touched a few nails for him. The child was also very well-behaved, and when he saw that the limelight was wrong, he immediately left Beijing, and did not dare to continue to stay.

In fact, this matter was not Zhang Juzheng's intention, or even Zhang Shunqing's intention, but Yao Kuang's decision to help this young man because of Fan Jin's equal attitude when he befriended him and the twists and turns of the emotional journey between Miss and him. To deal with such a businessman's son, his Yao Ba's words are enough.

Now the power of the Zhang family is in full swing, and Zhang Juzheng's power has not diminished after the marriage of the Son of Heaven, and it is still the embodiment of the highest will of the entire empire. People are more afraid of him than the Son of Heaven, whether it is the authority of the nobles or the wealth of the salt merchants, they can only be regarded as ants in the face of such huge power, and Yao Kuang can't look down on them at all. He seems that Fan Jin can't think about it a little bit, if he wants money, he just needs to say a word, and the person who sends the money doesn't know how much, so he can't make a living. He should take a good look at his career now and lay the foundation for the future.

Ma Ziqiang was sent to Shi not long ago, and the cabinet returned to the state of a troika, Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing were Zhang Juzheng's echo worms, and they did not dare to disobey Yuan Weng's orders, and no one could stop Zhang Juzheng from doing what he wanted to do. Although the Ming Dynasty civil officials had a strict internal and external promotion system, Fan Jin decided that he would not be able to enter the cabinet in his life without entering the Hanlin Academy, but this was not a red line ban, but a rule that everyone abided by. Just as Zhang Juzheng broke Ding Wei's rules, if he had to break the rules and let Fan Jin become an internal official, I am afraid that no one would dare to stop him.

Weng's son-in-law and his uncle's two bachelors...... Yao Kuang had already imagined in his mind that scene that could be called a good story in the world. The goal of the third prince Qiu Yu is the champion, as for the battle: the exam questions are actually Zhang Juzheng's questions, Zhang Maoxiu knew what to take the exam half a year ago, and Zhang Juzheng personally guided the article, such a reason is sufficient. When the time comes, Zhang Maoxiu will take the Hanlin route to become a scholar, Fan Jin and him will be each other's cousins, and the third son will take over the master's class as the first assistant Fan Huisi will be the group assistant, and the Zhang family will be rich and noble, and the glory will be unparalleled, and his face will also be bright.

This kind of promising future is far more attractive than the few broken money earned from selling salt, and from Yao Kuang's point of view, Fan Jin will not be allowed to go to Yangzhou to engage in salt again. As soon as people entered Tongzhou, they saw a large number of horses, chariots, sedan chair classes, and female musicians invited from Beijing, which made Tongzhou a miasma. Yao Kuang shook his head secretly, these noble children are really good, how can they make a big deal?

Before he could wait for the pavilion, he saw some noble children riding on tall horses and walking back, they knew Yao Kuang and greeted Yao Ba from afar. Yao Kuang asked, "Where is Master Fan Jin Fan now?" I have an urgent matter to find him. ”

A noble disciple on the opposite side said with a smile: "Mr. Yao is afraid that he is late, so a carriage has just come and has already picked people up." ”

"Carriage? Where's the carriage? ”

"In the palace, the car of the saint is driving."

Yao Kuang was stunned, of course he wouldn't believe that it was the Queen Mother who recruited Fan Jin, but someone could only borrow the Queen Mother's Luan. The biggest suspicion is naturally the Li family of Wu Qingbo, and then referring to the noble conduct of the Li family, it is most likely that Fan Jin wants to engage in salt, which attracted the attention of the Li family, and called Fan Jin to talk about cooperation? If the Li family is involved, I am afraid that this matter will be a little troublesome.

Anyway, the face of the Queen Mother's family always has to be given, Yao Kuang had to go to the pavilion post first to pass the message, and after Fan Jin came back, he immediately rushed to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Zheng Chan, who was sorting and inspecting the congratulatory gifts sent by the noble children in the post station and was worried about how to properly dispose of these things, couldn't help but scolded in a low voice in the room:

"This person has just returned to Beijing, why can't he survive one by one? First Mrs. Li, this is Miss Zhang again, and when you become a kiss, the two of you are tired of being together, why don't you give me such a little while? Really, there are few kind-hearted people in this capital! ”

That's right, it was not Wu Qingbo Li Wei who took Fan Jin, but Mrs. Li, who borrowed the Empress Dowager Luan. Lovesick women no longer care about grace or dignity, and desperately only want to reunite with their sweethearts. Her appearance was not much different from that of the Queen Mother, and she was in the Queen Mother's car, and doing a meeting of goddesses here made Fan Jin feel an indescribable stimulation. Although he will not die enough to let Li Cailian really wear a phoenix crown and play role-playing, after all, he has the ability to make up for his brain and make up for his regrets.

When the long-absent woman was finally appeased, she took Fan Jin's face with her hand and looked at it carefully, her eyes were confused. "Little scholar, you have charmed Mrs. Ben, and you have gone away, and you have made me suffer so much. Now that I'm back, I'm going to see you marry another woman, what do you think you should do? How do you have to compensate me? ”

"Isn't that enough? Madame still has the energy to spare? ”

"Then I don't care! Anyway, I don't want you to go away like this again, and even writing a letter is so sneaky, and you have to use cryptic language. Mrs. Ben is a relative of the emperor, and it is too unpleasant to steal such a sesame official from you. You are still my man when you get married this time, when I want you to come out to accompany me, you have to come out when you want, and you are not allowed to disobey. Zhang Shunqing thought that he could be domineering and dreaming! Her father is just the first assistant, and the surname is Zhu in this world! Now that the emperor has grown up, Zhang Juzheng has a few more years to live? ”

Fan Jin hurriedly asked, "What?" If today's son already has a complaint against Taiyue Xianggong? ”

Li Cailian hadn't recovered from the pleasure just now, and said in a non-formal manner: "Look at what scared you, you are now his uncle, do you still need to be afraid?" Even if Banzai is really angry, with me, he can still cut you? When the time comes, you will wait in the Huang'en Temple, and you will be safe and sound. I don't think anyone who doesn't open his eyes dares to come to my territory to arrest people! ”

"That's not what I said, it's a matter of great importance, and it can't be taken lightly. Tell me what Your Majesty thinks now. ”

Li Cailian saw that Fan Jin was in a hurry, her heart was sour, and she turned her body back, leaving only a back for Fan Jin not to speak. Fan Jin then grabbed her fragrant shoulder and couldn't stop saying good things, and finally coaxed her to joy before continuing: "Although Your Majesty is young, but her mind is deep, although I am an aunt, I dare not say that I can see through his thoughts. But I could tell that he had something on his mind but didn't say it. As for who this matter is about, I don't dare to say nonsense. It's just that in my opinion, His Majesty may not be as kind to Taiyue Xianggong as he was in the past. First, when giving lectures in winter, Banzai no longer specifically instructed the eunuchs to wrap felt on the feet of Taiyue Xianggong; Second, Zhang Xianggong was sick some time ago, and the Son of Heaven no longer went to serve the sick. Although it seems to be a trivial matter, it is always necessary to take precautions. Besides, since Jiangling was restored, the people under him have also gone too far, and those who are not officials in the ministry dare to scold the minor officials of the six ministries, as long as everyone is under the Jiangling sect, they dare to take care of the affairs of his yamen. Although I am a woman, I also know that this thing is foolish. Zhang Juzheng didn't bother to care about these trivialities, but if someone told the emperor about this, Banzai might not be comfortable. ”

Fan Jin also knows that now that Zhang Juzheng is in the cabinet, and the six ministries are also widely planted with cronies, these people want to promote the new policy in Beijing, and their ideas are extreme, and they will inevitably take the road of either/or, and equate the implementation of the new law with not wanting the old rules, and even ignore the minimum rules. Moreover, Zhang Juzheng is only one person after all, and he can't manage so many things, so he naturally lets it go, and the people below can do whatever they want if they borrow Zhang Juzheng's tiger skin to protect themselves.

The son-in-law of the Zhang family is not easy to be. Fan Jin muttered in his heart, and said in Li Cailian's ear: "Cailian, do you know what those people asked me to do?" Are you interested in getting rich? ”

"Nope. I'm not my uncle, and I don't lack money or take it that seriously. and thou shalt mingle lessly with the things that are led by the salt. Song Guofu's gang is not easy to mess with, don't look at how many families are united by Xungui's sons, it is actually useless. The noble family is not the same heart, as long as Song Guofu finds the right person, it will be effortless to disintegrate this group of stragglers. You give me a good life to be an official in Beijing, and you are not allowed to go to Yangzhou to get salt! I know that Miss Zhang is pampered and spends money like running water, if you can't afford to support her, come to me, I will help you find money, but you are not allowed to leave my side. ”

Fan Jin smiled: "Of course I know that you raised me, and I don't want to leave your side." But I'm always a man, and it's only natural for a woman to raise herself. Besides, if this salt thing is done, it will also be good for you. Sooner or later, people will know about our affairs, and I will have to do some more work. What's more, Song Guofu can't get along with me, I don't clean him up a few times, how faceless? ”

Li Cailian said: "If you have to go against him, then I will help you, but not for money, just for you." Song Guofu's son entered Beijing some time ago, but was driven away by Yao Ba's faction, and it is still our world in Beijing, don't be afraid of those businessmen. With me, I don't have to suffer from you. ”

The two of them got tired of it for a while before Li Cailian began to serve Fan Jin and dress, and when he cleaned up, he hugged him from behind and said: "I have prepared a gift for you to go up and worship Zhang Juzheng tonight, you remind him for me, now that Banzai has grown up, let him care about some measure." Making more friends and making fewer enemies is good for others and for yourself, and if you end up with an enemy, you are afraid that it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for your children and grandchildren. ”