In the capital in late June, it was an unbearable dog day.

The sweltering heat made the leaves wilt on both sides of the road, and the dust in the air was even better, making people gray and abrupt.

No matter how hot it is, in the yamen, this official uniform must be worn meticulously, otherwise it will be unorthodox and shortened the official authority.

Sun Jue was in the yamen of the Arsenal Division of the Ministry of War, holding a handkerchief in his hand, and kept wiping the sweat from his head. It was already past the clock (1 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon), and it was still hot and pressing, and he only felt that his body was sweating, and his back clothes were already soaked.

Although the military department is not in charge of the army, it is also the real power of the yamen in the six departments, but Sun Jue, the fifth rank of Lang, is not as decent as he behaves in front of Li Nai.

In the capital, where the powerful gather, the officials of the six ministries are like cow hair, and they really have no weight.

Among these people, there are two kinds, one is the Hanmen scholars who passed the imperial examination and the carp jumped over the dragon gate; One is the children of the high family, through grace or donation, mixed with the top.

Invisibly, among the colleagues of the Yamen, the Chu River and the Han boundary were also drawn.

Sun Jue's identity is just a coat background, which is not a stumbling figure. In his heart, he also despises those who are scornful. He is a serious person, but compared to his colleagues who were born in Jinshi, he has no weight.

As a result, Sun Jue's situation is a little embarrassing, and both sides can't be posted.

It's just a nodding acquaintance, and there are very few colleagues who are good friends with serious contacts.

The military department is only divided into four divisions, but there are several people in each division, Manlangzhong, Hanlangzhong, there is a yamen and Menglangzhong.

Sun Jue, the arsenal of Shilang, is not an ornament, but it is not much stronger than the ornament.

Although Cao Hao was worried, but this birthday gift was indispensable, Sun Jue was bored, thinking of it, he only felt more and more upset. is also from Baoyi, why does his father only have a weaving title, but the dead Cao Yin can get an uncle's lordship.

Although the highest civil lord is the duke, followed by the marquis, and the uncle is only the third class, but in addition to the auxiliary ministers who made outstanding military achievements at the time of the founding of the country, most of the people who can be crowned princes are descendants.

Cao Yin is just a slave of the Son of Heaven, without half a point of military merit, he got a super-grade earl, how can he not make people's eyes hot.

He didn't want to think about it, if it weren't for Cao Yin's early years, his father would just be a pen post in the six departments of the capital, eating seven grades of Lu, where would he have the dignity of being in charge of a mansion today.

Last year's birthday gift for Cao Hao, Sun Jue spent 300 taels of silver and gave it a pair of black jade paperweights engraved with orchid bamboo. This year, Cao Hao has been knighted, not only his uncle and brother-in-law and cousin, but also the head of the Cao family. The gift of three hundred taels of silver also seemed light.

For a while, Sun Jue was a little stunned, where to go to exchange for silver? If it arrives at the end of the year, there are many military attaches who go to Beijing to meet with the court, and the military department can also get a lot of "carbon respect", and now that the holy car is not in Beijing, the military attache will also go directly to Rehe to meet him, and it is not easy to mix up "Bing Jing".

Sun Jue was thinking about it when he heard someone say, "Lord Sun? ”

Sun Jue turned around, but he was an acquaintance in the yamen, and he was in charge of Shen Qing.

Shen Qing was a Jinshi in the fifty-first year of Kangxi, selected Shu Jishi, entered Hanlin, and was assigned to the military department a few years ago, as the main officer, and was about the same age as Sun Jue.

He was born in Jinhua, Jiangsu, and moved to Hangzhou in his early years, and was half a fellow countryman with Sun Jue. For this reason, Shen Qing is one of Sun Jue's few "friends".

Pingsuri, the two of them are commensurate with each other, and because they have different grades in the yamen, they are sometimes called politely.

Seeing Shen Qing's refreshed appearance, Sun Jue also felt a lot of boredom, and said, "Looking at Lord Shen's appearance, is it a good thing?" ”

Shen Qing looked around, saw that there was no one else, lowered his voice, and said, "Yushu guessed correctly, there are new weapons in the warehouse today." ”

When Sun Jue heard this, his eyes lit up.

This Arsenal Division, the full name of which is the Arsenal Clearance Division, is the cold yamen in the military department. In addition to being in charge of the national military registration and military equipment, he is responsible for the triennial martial arts examination.

Only when the new equipment is put into storage, the imperial businessmen or small officials who are responsible for the military industry below will obediently offer filial piety.

Shen Qing only said one sentence, there was no follow-up, Sun Jue was a little impatient, "coughed", and was already thinking in his heart how much silver he could leave behind.

Buxiao said that if a few officials want to lose the big head, they must at least share half of it, and the rest is the share of everyone in the department.

For a while, Sun Jue was a little resentful, why was he in the flag register, but he made up for the lack of Hanlang, and he couldn't be full of shortages like Cao Hao, so the oil and water were great. The palm print of the Arsenal Division is full of Langzhong.

"I quietly asked Master He beside Master Guan, Yushu's name is five hundred taels, and my name is one hundred and thirty taels." Shen Qing glanced at Sun Jue, like a roundworm in his stomach, and made up for this.

Sun Jue was overjoyed when he heard this, it seems that the Cao family's birthday gift has been settled, and this month there is no need to think about pawning it.

He didn't see the sarcasm flashing in Shen Qing's eyes.

"By the way, Yushu, I have a cousin who came from the south two days ago and said that he would invite me to dinner today. Yushu knows me, and he doesn't have a lot of alcohol, so he asked Brother Yushu to save me. Shen Qing was a little embarrassed.

"Cousin, from Jinhua?" Sun Jue was in a good mood and asked casually.

Shen Qing shook his head and said, "No, it's from Yangzhou." But a rich man is a member of the Cheng family in Yangzhou. Although he is only a side child, not the head of the family, he is also a person who can speak in the Cheng family's generation. ”

Yangzhou Cheng family, the first salt merchant in this dynasty, Sun Jue grew up in the south of the Yangtze River, so he is naturally thunderous.

He couldn't help but be surprised, and said, "Looking from afar, the Cheng family in Yangzhou is actually a noble relative?" ”

Shen Qing said with a smile: "Speaking of which, it is also a table of three thousand miles. I have a cousin aunt who married into the Cheng family in her early years, and this cousin who entered Beijing this time is the old son of this aunt. ”

When Sun Jue heard this, he hesitated a little and said: "Since your relatives invited you to drink together, wouldn't it be annoying for me to be an uninvited guest?" ”

"Oh, Yushu still can't see me, or do you think I'm a small official and lose your face? I pulled forward, and I also asked Yushu to help me support the scene. If my cousin knew that I could be a close friend of the eldest son of Sun Weaving in Hangzhou, it would be my dignity. Shen Qing said with a bit of sincerity.

When Sun Jue heard this, he only felt that he couldn't iron it in his heart, as comfortable as eating chilled watermelon, and said with a smile: "Since I am so sincere from afar, I will be cheeky......"

Because Shen Qing still had an errand on the side, the two made an appointment to see each other when they fell into the ya.

Sun Jue has already thought about it, before going to the banquet, he doesn't need to go home first and change his clothes. Even if they are members of the Cheng family, they can't be underestimated, and the new robe made a few days ago has not yet been put on. The clothes are worth eighty taels of silver, and they can get by when they are worn by outsiders.

At this time, there was a pen post style coming over, it was the person next to Lang Zhong who was ordered to send a silver ticket to Sun Jue.

Sun Jue was happy in his heart, his face was much calmer, and he took it from the man's hand.

The man smiled and said, "It's rare to get rich, Lord Sun is going to eat and drink at night?" ”

Sun Jue's heart trembled, remembered the rules, took out two taels of silver from his purse, stuffed them into the man's hand, and said: "I am entangled in trivial matters, so I won't join in the fun with you, and I will ask Lord Guan for me." ”

The man smiled and answered, and turned to the side.

Sun Jue pinched the silver ticket in his hand, thinking about running an errand in this post, I was afraid that there would be dozens of taels of silver, and I didn't know what it would be like.

It's just a dog fighting a human power, something!

After staying up until Luoya, hearing that Sun Jue wanted to go back to the house to change his clothes, Shen Qing hurriedly shook his head and said, "Yushu, let's just go over like this." I asked the housekeeper of the Cheng family, and I heard that it was a banquet booked on the side of Shichahai. I don't know how generous he is, and he still wants to use our skin to raise his value! ”

When Sun Jue heard this, he also thought of this.

Although in the eyes of the people in the capital, the fifth-grade and sixth-grade officials are really nothing, but in the eyes of outsiders, they are several grades higher than the county lords, and they dare not slack off.

Sun Jue responded with a smile and rode with Shen Qing to Shichahai.

Shen Qing glanced at the two long entourages following behind Sun Jue and asked, "When you go out for a drink tonight, won't Yushu send someone back to the house to tell his sister-in-law?" If my sister-in-law is to blame, I don't dare to bear it. ”

Sun Jue's expression showed a little arrogance, raised his chin and said, "But the woman is a woman, why should I report my deeds to her!" ”

Shen Qing just smiled, didn't say much, and walked side by side with Sun Jue.

One time less, when I arrived at the sea, I looked at it, the weeping willows on the shore were still clinging, and the lotus flowers by the river were reflected, which dispelled a lot of heat and made people feel a lot more comfortable.

Shen Qing followed the post and came to a house, but he didn't see a plaque on the door.

Sun Jue was a little surprised, he thought that since the Cheng family had a treat, they would definitely be in a few well-known halls by Haizi, but he didn't expect it to be a nameless place.

There were two servants in Tsing Yi waiting at the door, and after dismounting Shen Qing and the others, they stepped forward and bowed down and said, "Dare to ask, but the young master?" ”

Shen Qing laughed when he heard this, turned to Sun Jue and said, "Look, I can still get the title of 'young master' when I am in my old age, I really feel a lot younger." ”

Sun Jue didn't say anything, so he dismounted, but looked at the two servants out of the corner of his eye.

Looking at these two people, they are very good-looking, and they are very well-behaved, they are really the descendants of a big family, and they have their own regulations.

At this moment, I got the news inside, and I heard a sound of footsteps.

"Is my cousin here?" As he spoke, he saw a man come out of the gate.

The man was no more than twenty-three or fourteen years old, tall and tall, with fine eyebrows, and he looked like a Confucian scholar, without the slightest merchant.

It is very different from the appearance of the children of the Cheng family that Sun Jue thought in his heart.

Shen Qing didn't greet him first, but said to Sun Jue with a smile: "Yushu, this is my cousin Cheng Mengxian. As he spoke, he said to the man: "Cousin, this is my best friend in the capital, the eldest son of Hangzhou Sun Weaving." ”

When Cheng Mengxian heard this, he had already clasped his fists and saluted, and said very respectfully: "It turned out to be Grandpa, but Mengxian has seen Grandpa." ”

Seeing him so respectful, Sun Jue was a little embarrassed, stretched out his hand to help him, and said, "Since you are looking at my brother's cousin, you don't have to be so polite." ”

Shen Qing continued to say: "Yes, what is the grandfather or not, my cousin can be called Yushu's brother." ”

Cheng Mengxian was like a stream, and he had already called "Brother Sun" in his mouth.

Seeing him so warm and close, Sun Jue thought of several brothers in Hangzhou, and his earlier feeling of strangeness suddenly decreased a lot. The three guests and hosts entered the courtyard together.

This house was "rented" by the Cheng family, and it was said to be "rented", but it was actually the Cheng family's property.

It's just that because there are regulations, only flag people can buy property in the inner city, so this house falls on the surface of a cousin in the banner of the Cheng family's capital. The contract in the hands of the Cheng family is the words "lease" for decades.

Cheng Mengxian did order a table from Tangkou, but it was a takeaway.

Here, Cheng Mengxian invited Sun Jue and Shen Qing to sit in the living room, and casually asked the steward to inform Chef Zhuangzi to send the banquet.

Cheng Mengxian is quite eloquent, and in his speech, he does not leave Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but it arouses Sun Jue's thoughts about the south.

The tea on this is a first-class dragon well before the rain, there is no price on the market, Sun Jue drank a few cups in a row, but the guests and hosts chatted happily.

At one o'clock, the steward came in to give an offering, and the table was delivered, and it was set up in the gazebo in the garden.

Sun Jue drank a few teas in a row and was about to go to Xiaojie, Cheng Mengxian ordered a teenage boy to lead him there, and he took Shen Qing to the garden by himself.

"I heard that my cousin brought a lot of Yangzhou skinny horses this time, and if he wants to set up a 'beauty bureau', isn't it going to be cheaper?" Shen Qing said with a smile.

Cheng Mengxian "snorted" and said: "These are all specially trained by my cousin to be used to honor the major kings in the capital, and Sun Jue is also worthy of it?" ”

Shen Qing was a little surprised, hesitated for a while, and asked, "Although Sun Nerd is stupid, he doesn't look like a bold man, where did he offend his cousin?" Can you talk and make peace, although his grade is not high, there are also a few relatives of high-ranking families in the capital, and it is best not to tear his face. ”

Cheng Mengxian said with a smile: "The left and right cousins have already been released, and they don't stay in the capital anymore, so why do you care about him?" He didn't offend me, he offended others, I just returned my favor. Don't worry, cousin, I will do a thorough job and will never drag my cousin down. ”

Hearing that he had no intention of returning it, Shen Qing stopped being verbose, and could only bless Sun Jue with less crimes.

At this time, Sun Jue has come back and was let sit on the top seat.

Cheng Mengxian clapped his hands, and a few Graceful girls hugged the pipa, guzheng and other things, walked near the pavilion, blessed everyone, and then hid far away, plucking the strings and playing the piano.

The music is melodious, which does not affect everyone's speech, but also looks elegant, which is really a unique taste.

In addition to those musicians, three more cardamom maids came up, standing in front of the wine table, holding the lamps for the three of them.

Sun Jue's family also has several wives and concubines, and many of them are a little beautiful, but compared with the beautiful maid in front of her, it has become a baked cake roll.

Smelling the faint fragrance coming from around him, Sun Jue only felt crispy all over his body, and his face was still the appearance of a decent gentleman, and his face was tightened.

Shen Qing's side, it seems that he has been fascinated by beauty, and his hands are already a little dishonest, he touched the little face of the beautiful maid next to him, and said to Cheng Mengxian with a smile: "My cousin is so enjoyable, he is so smart in conditioning people." ”

Cheng Mengxian said: "Cousin, don't underestimate them, they are all picked out by my cousin and want to enter the palace to enjoy happiness." It was the arrival of the distinguished guests today that they were asked to show up and come over to serve the wine. ”

Sun Jue listened and couldn't help but be disappointed.

I thought that Cheng Mengxian asked them to come and wait, and they had the heart to give beauty, but they didn't expect that they had a master, so they could only get by.

I heard Shen Qing say: "Since you want to enter the palace, maybe you will become a noble person in the future, isn't this killing me and Yushu?" The cousin didn't add a few stools, so that a few girls also sat down. ”

When Cheng Mengxian heard this, he called two servants and sent a few stools up.

Sun Jue, looking at the wine cup, felt that the knee of the beautiful maid on his right was gently on his lap, which made people feel distracted.

He stole a glance to the right, and just happened to see this servant looking at him with a pair of beautiful eyes, which was watery and full of weakness, which made people feel pity.

Shen Qing, on his side, had already continued to ask, "Which royal mansion is this going to honor?" ”

"Prince Heshuozhuang's Mansion. The cousin received the favor of the palace in his early years, and when he heard that the prince planned to enter the Ji people, he deliberately looked for a few good ones. Cheng Mengxian replied casually.

"Ah, Prince Zhuang's Mansion? Zhuang Wang Ye is seventy years old this year! This is really a pear blossom pressed begonia! Shen Qing said regretfully.

Sun Jue glanced at the two beautiful maids sitting across the table a few times, and still felt that he was sitting next to him in the best posture, but he was blushing and wanted to accompany the white-haired old man to bed.

In this way, Sun Jue couldn't help but feel more pity.

Cheng Mengxian was here, chatting with his cousin for a few words, and then holding a wine cup to salute the two of them.

Sun Jue only felt that the wine was mellow and fragrant, and knew that this was a first-class wine. It's just that he came out as a guest, it's not good to drink to his heart's content, he has the heart to push two cups, but when he sees the beautiful maid next to him holding the wine cup with both hands and bringing it to his mouth, he can't say anything if he doesn't drink.

Cheng Mengxian and Shen Qing glanced at each other, their eyes showed a little disdain, but their mouths were hot and gossiping.

This wine is soft to drink, but it is full of stamina.

Sun Jue drank a few cups in a row, only to feel that his body was hot, his courage was already bigger, and the hand under the table was not honest, and fell on the lap of the beautiful maid, with a little drunkenness, and said in a low voice: "Tell the master, what is your name?" ”

The beautiful maid's face was flushed, she lowered her head, revealing a snow-white neck, and replied softly: "The slave is called Xia Chan......"

Through the sari clothes, Sun Jue pinched the thighs of the beautiful maid, only to feel that the beautiful maid's body was trembling, but it was becoming more and more seductive, and said: "But Chanjuan's 'Chan'?" ”

The beautiful maid Xu was pinched, raised her head, glanced at Sun Jue faintly, her small mouth was slightly upturned, and she replied in a low voice: "If you return to your master, no, it's the 'cicada' of the cicada." ”

At this time, she didn't put the cup down, but because Sun Jue's hand rested on her lap, there was nowhere to put it.

Seeing this, Sun Jue reached out and grabbed her left hand, which was really smooth and tender. He only felt that his lower abdomen was hot, but fortunately he was sitting and others could not see it, otherwise there would be a "mistake".

Cheng Mengxian sat on the right side of Cao Hao, bowed his head and drank, and saw Sun Jue's "small movements" out of the corner of his eye, and he only felt very bored.

He is not very old, and he has also heard the scenery of the three major weaving in the south of the Yangtze River in his early years.

"Contact is related, one is prosperous, and one is lost"? What a joke.

Cao Hao, the current head of the Cao family, although he has never seen it, is also like thunder, and he knows that he is a good person. The second generation of the Li family is only a mediocre Li Nai, but there is "Li Buddha" on it, and the little young masters below are also older; Unexpectedly, the eldest son of the Sun family, is not only talentless, but also virtuous, and is a lascivious straw bale without eyes.

Sun Jue "rubbed" it twice, and Cheng Mengxian took the wine cup to toast again.

Shen Qing and Sun Jue are not good drinkers, perhaps because "wine is less than a thousand cups of confidants", everyone drank from dusk to dusk, and from dusk to palm lamp, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Sun Jue drank, his tongue was big, and he only felt a little unable to sit still, but the movements of his hands were greater.

Xia Cicada was rubbed so hard that she couldn't stand it, and sometimes she made a "hum" sound, which made Sun Jue's heart itch more and more.

Shen Qing was even more drunk, his face was flushed, he lay on the table, and his mouth was turning over and over: "No...... Not drunk...... I'm not drunk......"

Cheng Mengxian muttered: "My cousin is still so drunk, obviously he is already drunk like this, and he is still so hard-mouthed." ”

Sun Jue also felt that he couldn't drink anymore, but he was really reluctant to let Xia Cicada go down the wine table. Otherwise, it's time to say goodbye and leave.

Cheng Mengxian didn't seem to have drunk enough, and personally filled the wine pot for Sun Jue.

Seeing that Xia Cicada hadn't moved yet, he couldn't help but pull down his face and scolded: "What are you doing in a daze, don't wait for grandpa to drink!" ”

When Xia Chan heard this, his body was excited, and he hurriedly pulled out his hand from Sun Jue's hand, and brought the wine cup to Sun Jue's mouth.

In a panic, his hand was not steady, the wine cup was crooked, and all the wine was poured onto Sun Jue's clothes.

"Huh?" Xia Chan was surprised, got up from the stool, and a pair of small hands reached into Sun Jue's arms, wanting to wipe him, but the wine had already seeped into his clothes.

Sun Jue only felt wet and uncomfortable on his body, and looked down, but a pair of white little hands were busy on him, and all the discomfort turned into a soft snort in his throat.

Seeing this, Cheng Mengxian hurriedly said: "Oh, such a faux pas, what a stupid woman!" ”

Xia Chan's eyes flashed, and her little face was full of panic. Sun Jue couldn't bear it when he saw it, and thought about how to intercede, so he heard Cheng Mengxian say: "What are you still doing?" Help grandpa to change clothes! As he spoke, he said to Sun Jue with a little guilt: "Brother Sun, this servant is young and ignorant, please don't blame Brother Sun." ”

Sun Jue's heart moved, and he said: "Don't get in the way, don't get in the way." ”

While speaking, he pushed the boat down the river, stood up, leaned on Xia Chan with the help of wine, and let her lead him to the guest room.

Behind him, in the gazebo, under the lantern, Shen Qing slowly got up from the table, and glanced at Cheng Mengxian with bright eyes.

Cheng Mengxian chuckled, called a servant, and ordered: "Go and pack up a set of your master's new clothes and send them to your grandfather." Then ask my grandfather if he wants to take a bath and use hot water, so he told the kitchen to prepare. ”

The little guy answered, and Cheng Mengxian waved his hand and sent the other two maidservants on the table away.

There were only two brothers left in the pavilion, Shen Qing rubbed his forehead, and asked with some doubts, "Aren't you reluctant?" Why did you still ask Xia Chan to accompany you? ”

Cheng Mengxian picked the corners of his mouth and said, "My cousin has been in Beijing for a few years, why has his vision dropped?" I just repay the favor of others, and I don't dare to use the thin horse sent to the palace to set up a set! The one next to Sun Jue was sent by someone else. The other two are the maidservants next to the younger brother, who came to make a show. ”

Shen Qing listened, his face was a little uncomfortable. If it is a thin horse in Yangzhou, it is just a thing to raise, and it is nothing to touch it twice, if it is the maid next to his cousin, maybe he will be the person in his cousin's house in the future, and his behavior will be a little rude.

He cleared his throat, not knowing what to say.

Cheng Mengxian had already spoken: "The person waiting next to my cousin is called Liu'er, fourteen this year, although he is not a child of the family, but he has also been a family for ten years, and he is a child of his duty." Cousin goes to Huguang, this Liu Er will send my cousin to wait for the pillow seat......"

* In the guest room, the fog is up.

From the huge bucket, there was a man's gasp and a woman's moaning......

(To be continued)