"The old man was sluggish when he was young, and he was less in charge of the court, and he traveled far away. South to Huaisi and north to Cangbo, the traveling merchant has suffered from bumps for 20 years, and the only ones who are good are flowers and plants. It's just that at that time, I was running around for a living all day long, and I had no time to enjoy the flowers and plants. Now that he is old, he no longer has the strength to go outside, so he has to enjoy the blessings at home. Fortunately, my descendants are filial and know my preferences, so I look for flowers and plants to transplant here, which can be regarded as entertainment in my old age. ”

In the back garden of Zhang's house, Zhang Yunling and Li Zhi walked back and forth, wandering in the sea of flowers. Jindi is not as good as Jiangnan, and it is not a good place to grow flowers and plants. But the prime minister's house wants to do something is not limited by the terrain, this house is dug into the ground for the garden, planted with strange flowers and plants all year round, and it can also be regarded as a scene in Puzhou.

Li Zhi looked at these flowers and plants, and couldn't help nodding his head and complimenting him again and again. Zhang Yunling said again: "Although the flowers and plants are good, they are always dead things, the old man is old, the children and grandchildren still feel lonely around their knees, and the old wife is in the next life, there must always be a person around to speak." ”

"Exactly, the students also feel that the old lady lacks a few interpretive flowers around him, which is really a fly in the ointment." Although I know that Zhang Yunling is talented, although she is old and old, she has a lot of pets in her family, and I also heard that there is a maid hanging from Zhang Yunling's side. But here and now, he can only say good things in the way, and Li Zhi is not a stupid person, so he will not pour cold water at this time.

Zhang Yunling nodded and said, "Yes, what Ru Pei said is exactly what the old man meant." Wang Shengnai is a talent in our Puzhou, and his family is so poor that he can marry a beautiful lady like flowers and jade. When the old man went out in the green last year, he occasionally saw them traveling with his husband and wife, and he really regretted that the pearl was cast into the dark. As a result, Wang Sheng died violently within a few months, leaving behind such a little widow, which is also pitiful. His family has no overnight food, where is the property of the funeral, the entire funeral expenses are borne by the old man, and the debt owed by his family is more than ten stone of rice. Now that the benevolent and the beneficial are stacked, it is already forty stones of good white grain, where does a woman have the strength to repay her debts? You can't let a talented lady fall into the land of fireworks and damage the reputation of the reader. The old man had mercy and forgave her debts so that she could live a good life, she was not happy, and the clansmen of the Wang family had to sue, which was really chilling, they were all like them, who else in this world dared to be a good person? ”

Li Zhi said: "Don't worry, the old lady, since the students know about this, they will not sit idly by." The procuratorate will ask for this case to come over and judge it impartially, it is natural for her to repay the debt, and it is already lenient to allow her to pay off the debt with her body, how dare she be entangled? I must let them settle the knot in front of the court, and stop making trouble. It's just a good day for the old lady, but the students haven't prepared any gifts, which is a little embarrassing. ”

Zhang Yunling laughed and said: "Ru Pei said this, you don't have to be so angry with each other, and it's just a servant woman, what kind of happy event is it, it's just a reason to drink a few glasses of wine." When people are older, they are so lively, the more lively the better, and you can write a congratulatory note in a while. ”

Li Zhi agreed, pondered for a moment and said: "When Xiaosheng crossed the river from the Fengling Ferry, he listened to the conversation of several idle men in the rivers and lakes, and it seemed that the retreating monk Fang Jian was mentioned in his words. The people on the ground in Jinzhong are ignorant, they can't distinguish between drama and the imperial court system, and they retreat to Xuanda, how can they come to Puzhou? However, if the Wang family is so confused and goes to Xuanda to complain, the old lady is afraid that it will not look good. ”

Zhang Yunling sneered, "Ziwei has no class in accepting disciples, and the virtuous and foolish do not argue. Fan Jin's filial piety is worse than that of Ru Pei. It is said that Ziwei is not only his mentor, but also his matchmaker, he went to the ground in Shanxi but did not come to see me, only sent a letter of invitation, and there was too no one in his eyes! However, if the Wang family complains, this is not enough, Datong is close to the border pass, and recently there have been northern captives riding in chaos, and the ground is very chaotic. How many heads did the Wang family have, and they dared to go there to die? Besides, the second brother is in Datong to prepare for military rations, if there is a lawsuit, he will deal with it. ”

Seeing that Zhang Yunling was so determined, Li Zhi stopped talking and only accompanied Zhang Yunling to enjoy the flowers. Zhang Yunling pointed to the flowers and plants and said: "The flowers and plants here are actually not good, the really good flowers and plants are in the inner house, and they are taken care of by my granddaughter Meng'er." She is nicknamed the goddess of flowers at home, and she serves flowers and plants the most attentively, how about Ru Pei go with me to see? ”

Li Zhi hurriedly shook his head and said, "It's inconvenient...... There is a difference between men and women, and Xiaosheng will never dare. ”

"You are Ziwei's disciple and a fellow villager, in the eyes of the old man, you are like a child in the family, what is there to avoid, just let Meng'er see you, the world's brother, come with me."

While speaking, Zhang Yunling had already pulled Li Zhi to stride forward, his body was not inferior to that of a young man, and Li Zhi didn't dare to struggle, so he had to be dragged forward by him. Zhang Yunling said while walking: "Ru Pei moved to Yangzhou from my grandfather's generation, right?" Your grandfather ran a salt industry in Yangzhou, and he also met the old man, who said that although he had changed his nationality, his Shanxi native accent had not changed, and he knew that he was a villager when he heard it. Your Shanxi accent is very similar to your ancestors, it is simply the same, and it is a miracle that you don't have a Yangzhou accent. ”

Li Zhi hurriedly smiled and said, "What the old lady said is true." Although the original place has changed, the local accent is still the same, and this Shanxi dialect has not been changed by our ancestors and grandchildren for three generations. When my father was a feudal division in Fujian, my colleagues wondered how a master from Yangzhou spoke Shanxi dialect. ”

An old man and a young laughed loudly, laughed for a while, Zhang Yunling said: "It's also fate, the old man has not only seen Ling Zu, but also met Ling Zun back then. People can hear the local sound in a foreign land, and that kind of feeling you young people can't experience. That time we talked at first sight, it was a good friend to forget the year, but it was a pity that the sky was not a holiday, and the old bones were still there, but Ling Zun had passed away, and it was embarrassing to mention it. When Ru Pei passed through Shanxi, after the old man heard that you were an old man, he immediately sent someone to send a letter to Siwei, and he must not treat the old man badly. We Shanxi people do business by relying on two things, one is faithfulness, the other is unity, and it is difficult to move an inch if there is any difference. You also give us Shanxi people a lot of energy, and you win the second-class jinshi, and you also make your family glorious. ”

"The younger generation, thank you to the old lady for your creation, the great kindness is unforgettable!"

"Shanxi people should help Shanxi people, you don't have to be polite. Siwei also praised you in his letters, saying that you are smart, energetic, knowledgeable, and most importantly, your character is excellent. In the Inspectorate is known for being outspoken, which is good. The establishment of the Fengxian by the imperial court is to let you correct the lawlessness and visit the traitors for the Son of Heaven. Therefore, those who are virtuous must be bold, not timid and afraid, let alone pretend to be deaf and dumb. Whether it is a powerful minister or a favored minister, no one can let go of any misdeeds! This is the backbone of the Kashiwa typhoon. ”

The two of them walked while talking, and at this time they had already walked through the moon door hole and came to the inner house. After walking a short distance, I heard the sound of the piano, the melodious and pleasant sound, like the sound of heaven, Li Zhi's footsteps paused, Zhang Yunling turned around and said: "Ru Pei thinks this song may be in the ear?" ”

"The sound of this piano is ethereal, not stained with the red world, it is really a fairy method. Now when it comes to silk and bamboo, there are many words in the southeast, but Xiaosheng has never heard such a fairy sound in Yangzhou. ”

"The smell of Yangzhou copper is too heavy, and it pollutes the aura, so naturally it will not be an otherworldly sound. To tell you the truth, this is a dream of playing the piano with nothing, you can go with me to see it. ”

Zhang Yunling pulled Li Zhi all the way forward, and after walking a short distance, he saw an octagonal pavilion in the garden, two slender maids stood with fans, and a woman in a big red jacket skirt was playing a guqin in the middle.

Originally, Li Zhi didn't dare to look at it because of the difference between men and women, but he hadn't seen such a strange scene in his life, so he couldn't help but turn his gaze away, and then froze.

Beauty! A true beauty.

Li Zhimei, who was born in Yangzhou since he was a child, doesn't know how many people he has seen, not to mention that he is talented and has a good family, and there is never a shortage of beauties around him. He is also a well-known high-roller in the Chu Pavilion of Qinlou, and I don't know how many Oiran leaders are willing to recommend their own pillow seats. But compared with the woman in front of him, the woman he has experienced has become a local chicken and tile dog, and even the lady in the family who is dignified and well-born has become an unsightly yellow-faced woman.

Her skin as smooth as porcelain, her extremely delicate facial features, and her fairy-like temperament that does not eat fireworks in the world made Li Zhi's heartbeat suddenly quicken. This cheerful prodigal son, who was accustomed to seeing wind and snow, turned into a hairy young man at this time, with beads of sweat rolling on his forehead, and his throat was dry, and he didn't even swallow a few mouthfuls of saliva.

The woman also saw the two of them at this time, and the sound of the piano stopped as soon as she was chaotic, got up and lifted the hem of her skirt and walked this way, as she got closer and closer, Li Zhi's heart beat faster and faster. She's not too young, but she's not more than eighteen, not too old. Judging by her dress, she shouldn't be married yet, but she should have a mother-in-law when she is so old. But when did the Zhang family have such a stunning appearance, why hadn't she heard of it, and I don't know whose children she promised...... Was she looking at herself? You must have seen yourself at such a close distance. Damn, why didn't I come in an official robe today, so that she could know that she was an official of the court and not a fallen scholar.

But the woman's gaze only swept over Li Zhi's face, and then she came to Zhang Yunling and bowed down: "I don't know that the master is coming, and my daughter has not greeted her, which is really a sin." Now that there were guests, the daughter retired. ”

Zhang Yunling pulled up the girl, "Meng'er doesn't have to see outside, this is Li Rupei, but our new patrol in Shanxi, the famous Li Qingtian, the first-class good official of the national dynasty, is also the disciple of your righteous brother, your junior." It's all a family, don't be so shy. Ru Pei is rich and proficient in music, you can play another song, and let your nephew in this world give you some pointers. ”

turned around and said to Li Zhi: "This is our Zhang family's flower god lady, the old man's righteous daughter." If there is no explanation flower around the old man, it is not true, this dream is the first flower in my Zhang family and even the whole Shanxi. On that day, the prince of Xiangyuan County had hired Huzhu, and the old man did not agree. So far, I haven't found her in-laws, I just want to see her for a few more years. You see, these birds were bought and raised by her and then released. Birds are also human, as long as they hear her piano, they will come to accompany her, which is also a scenery of my Zhang family. Come on, get closer and listen to her piano. ”

The maid had already brought a stool and asked the two of them to sit down in the pavilion. The girl was a little shy, turned her head sideways and refused to look at Li Zhi, only gently moved the strings, and after a while, she played again. Li Zhi listened to the piano in his ears, but his mind was on the beauty in front of him, and for the first time in his heart, he had a trace of resentment towards Zhang Yunling: Could this kind of fairy also be this old and decrepit forbidden belly? If that's the case, this old thing really deserves to die!

Li Zhi was fascinated, his mind was on the girl, and he never noticed that a pretty maid came to Zhang Yunling's side and whispered a few words, and then Zhang Yunling quietly got up and left the pavilion, all the way to the inner house study. Pushing the door in, Zhang Siduan, the second young man of the Zhang family, had been waiting there for a long time, and first saluted his father and then said:

"The uncle asked the child to come back and deliver a letter to the master, and it was enough to have the fourth and fifth brothers to help over there. Meihua Lao Jiu's side has been arranged, as long as Fan Jin enters Datong, she will immediately sue. ”

Zhang Yunling motioned for his son to sit down, and he sat down too, but the expression on his face was extremely serious, and his eyes were full of light and very different from Fang Cai's idle appearance.

"Your second uncle has a straightforward temperament and has momentum, but he is not careful enough. Your fifth brother and your second uncle are the most compatible, both of them are pioneers, your fourth brother is resourceful and can be a military advisor, and he is a little soft in decision-making, he can only be a counselor and cannot be in charge of the overall situation, and you are the only one who can be a handsome person in the middle of dispatching and commanding. This time, you have to be in the middle of the plan, so you have to hurry back. Besides, your second uncle is a person who can't control his belt, and he has long coveted Plum Blossom Lao Jiu, if no one looks at it, he is only afraid of ruining our big things. ”

"Don't worry, sir, the beauty sent by Xin Aihan is very good for the second uncle, so he hasn't made any old mistakes recently. It's just that...... The child doesn't understand a little, Fan Jin is just a junior, and he has a mentorship relationship with our family, it is enough to give him a plum blossom Lao Jiu, why bother to take Aunt Meng. ”

Zhang Yunling's eyes were cold, "What?" Not only is your second uncle and his children in love, but you also made a mistake, and you are reluctant to be a flower lady? ”

"No, no, that's not what the child meant. It's just that the old man took in that evil seed, and it was nothing more than because of the art of appearance, and he concluded that she was a stunning beauty. Since she was a child, she asked someone to teach her piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, silk and bamboo, and she was only a ...... master."

"You want to keep it for yourself, right?" Zhang Yunling interrupted his son's words and sneered: "Smart one, confused for a while!" If the father just wants her body, why keep her until now, you can take her a few years earlier. Although everyone loves beauty, a woman who is too beautiful will bring disaster to the country and the people, and bring disaster to herself. The way of heaven is more than enough to make up for the shortcomings, my family now has the word rich, if you put such a little goblin into the room, you will be retributed. I raised her, just to make her use at a critical moment, to repay the grace of our family to raise her over the years, you think too much. Whether it's Plum Blossom Lao Jiu or Menggu, it's just a chess piece, do you still care if this chess piece is made of jade or coarse porcelain? ”

"What the master taught me was that the child wanted to be bad. But Zheng Fanxi has always been respectful to our family, and Fan Jin is also the protégé of the eldest brother, this time let Meihua Lao Jiu sue Zheng Luo, no matter whether we win or lose, it is not good for us, and it is even more unnecessary to pay for a dream aunt. ”

Zhang Yunling shook his head and said, "Confused! Your eldest brother is confused in reading, don't learn from him. The way of Confucius and Mencius is a stepping stone to seeking officials, and we don't have to pay attention to it if we are dedicated to business and do not seek fame. The Zheng family has three soldiers, Fan Jin is making trouble in the southeast, can these two have a fuel-efficient lamp? At the beginning of the year, the imperial court awarded the New Year's reward to the nine sides, those Qiu Ba had a few surplus wealth in their hands, and as soon as we raised the price of rice, Zheng Luo sent a letter to the door, asking us to be sympathetic to the cold and suffering of the border army. Deferential? He is nothing more than a false promise to us, and he is not necessarily satisfied with us. What's more, if the water in Shanxi is not mixed, how can we touch the fish? . ”

He paused, and then said, "Fan Jin came with Shang Fang's sword, and Zheng Fanxi planted a thorn in his heart first. Now if we set another fire, we don't believe it can't be burned! To deal with a person, you must first understand him. For my father, I have seen Fan Jin's bottom, this person is brainy and unscrupulous, if he is in charge of our family, I will recruit him to be his son-in-law, but if it is an opponent, it will be difficult to deal with. The good thing is that everyone has weaknesses, and he is no exception. ”

"His biggest problem is that he likes women, and he is so bold that he dares to play with the female toast on the sea, and what other woman he doesn't dare to touch? Another problem is that he is young and vigorous, and likes to be a hero and a clean official. This time, we will prescribe the right medicine, if we like women, we will let him meet beauties, and if we like to be a clean official, let him be Qingtian! If he ignores the state of Plum Blossom Lao Jiu, the name of Qingtian will be self-defeating. If it's right, you have to deal with Zheng Fanxi, no matter what, it's a good thing. ”

"That Aunt Meng?"

"Confused! Have you forgotten what is the most important place in Shanxi? It's not a poor stick, it's a clan, it's a phoenix son and a dragon grandson of the Heavenly Family! Acting King Chitose, Xiangyuan Wang Shizi...... You don't know how many Tianhuang nobles are thinking about Meng'er's body. I asked Menggu to go to Datong, and the worst result is that our family and the king have become relatives, what is the loss of our big event? If you can let this little goblin provoke Fan Jin and his wife to turn against him, let the clan and Fan Jin be enemies, and make Shanxi a miasma, it would be the best. The clan, the governor, and the governor can involve the royal family, Zhang Juzheng, and even the emperor behind them. Let them fight, the more lively the fight, the better, and wait until the iron horse of Xin Ai Khan breaks through the barrier, so that they can know that they are powerful! ”

Zhang Siduan said: "Xin Ai Khan wants to emulate the story of Gengxu, but now Zhang Juzheng is in power back then, and there is Qi Jiguang in Jizhen, I'm afraid he won't be able to please him." Moreover, the sword and gun have no eyes, in case Fan Jin's life is injured, who else will go to Yangzhou to help us deal with Hui Shang in the future? ”

"They're too short-sighted, you don't pay attention. Fan Jin is a disaster star, and something will happen wherever he goes. Throwing such a person to Yangzhou is not to steal business from Huizhou people, but to smash the whole pot. Zhang Juzheng's whip was originally unenforceable, but since Fan Jin became his son-in-law and dedicated this method of redefining the yellow book, things have become tricky. If he is made to become a climate, our family will not have a good life. has been a businessman for many years, and his greatest ability is vision. Back then, I was called God's Eye because I saw the truth of things and judged good and evil with the most accuracy. Fan Jin is definitely not a character who can be restrained or befriended, and on the premise of not exposing us, it is the best policy to kill him at all costs. As for Xin Ai...... The frog at the bottom of the well of the Tartar chieftain has little knowledge. If he wants to die, we don't have to stop him, as long as he can enter Shanxi. As a father, I can't run anymore, so I have to leave you a sufficient family business to close my eyes with peace of mind. This time, I borrowed the hand of Beiyu to wash Shanxi, and it was enough to add more industries to our family, as for whether Xin Ai died or not, what does it have to do with us. ”

Zhang Siduan nodded, and said with some hesitation: "If Fan Jin really dies in Shanxi, the eldest brother will ...... there."

Zhang Yunling said with a smile: "Li Rupei's fake Taoist is sent to the door, and when the time comes, throwing Menggu's broken shoes to him is enough to make him a loyal dog of our Zhang family, and it is enough for him to be responsible for the black pot in the wind and rain." Are you also afraid of Zhang Jiangling and don't dare to do it? ”

"The child is not afraid of him, but I think that Fan Jin has not attacked us yet, and it seems a little ...... for us to do it before we know who we are friends or foes."

"By the time he does, it's too late. The first strike is strong, and the second strike suffers. Just because he never thought that we would take the initiative to deal with him, this blow will be effective, tonight our family will have a reunion dinner, tomorrow you will return to Datong, and act according to your father's orders. It's best to solve this Fan retreat in Datong first. Shang Fang Sword...... White bread ...... As a father, I don't want to see such a person appear in Puzhou, so it is good for everyone to solve him as soon as possible. ”

A few terrible women's cries drifted down the wind again, and they could vaguely hear a heart-rending curse, "Zhang Yunling, if you harm my husband and conspire with me, you can't die a good death!" None of your Zhang family will die well! ”