The snow is sunny, the sun is extraordinarily warm, Zhang Yuan hired a carriage at the gate of the West Square of the East Fourth Archway, and Mu Zhenzhen took a car to Uncle Baosheng's mansion on the bank of the Paozi River, Zhang Dai just got up, wearing Uncle Baosheng's scarlet coat in front of the court to watch the snow, standing on the side of the maid Suzhi wearing a white fur, full of laughter, the old plum tree in the court has been unable to distinguish whether it is a red plum or a white plum, the snow is full of branches, countless long and short ice strips hang down, like a jade tree Qiongzhi -

Waited for about half an hour in Uncle Baosheng's house, Qi Biaojia, Huang Zunsu, Wang Binglin and other Zhejiang lifters more than ten people arrived, yesterday Zhang Dai asked people to go to the same hall to inform them to go to meet the master Qian Qianyi today, Qian Qianyi's house is near the Lu Gong Ancestral Hall, about a mile away from Zhang Lianfang's residence, at the end of the hour, Zhang Lianfang led all the people to step on the snow to Qian House, but only an old couple left in the huge house was there to guard, a question Fang knew that Qian Qianyi's father died, the obituary came, Qian Qianyi went to the Hanlin Academy to report to the dismissal, Yesterday, I left Beijing with my wife, concubines, and servants to mourn and return to Changshu.

Everyone sighed that they couldn't meet with Mr. Qian when they entered Beijing this time, and Mr. Qian would have to return to his hometown after 27 months before he could be reinstated.

The two banks of the Baozi River are covered with snow, the ancient acacia high willows, the cold and the sorrowful, the jagged garden, the lake shore is rugged, as if the painting of the Yuan people Ni Yunlin, Zhang Lianfang pointed to the east of the Baozi River and said: "That is the Lu Gong Temple, also known as the Yong'an Palace, the sacrifice is one of the eight immortals Lu Dongbin, the begging dream is extremely effective, every year before the spring, the scholars strive to beg for the dream." ”

Zhang Dai said: "Then we will also go and pray to Lu Xian for a good dream." ”

The crowd stepped on the snow to come to the Lu Gong Ancestral Hall, the ancestral hall is three, the main hall is a statue of Lu Dongbin, the expression is magnificent, there is a general view of the dust, the winter clothes of the worshippers are bloated, Lu Xian only has a Taoist robe fluttering, the contrast between the immortals is stark, Zhang Dai also wrote a prayer on the spot, saying: "From the chaos spectrum, don't open the world; In Huaxu country, I saw spring and autumn early. Dreams of two trees, dreams of redness, to people are not nothing; Dream banana deer, dream Xuanmian, idiot dare to say......"

After writing and reading aloud, it was incinerated in front of the statue of Lu Gong, and in the smoke, Ni Yuanlu smiled and said: "Zongzi will go to bed early tonight, and Lu Xian will tell you the first exam questions of the seven arts in his dream, haha." ”

Wang Binglin said with a smile: "Even if Lu Xian wants to leak the exam questions, he will not say it directly, and there will be some obscure proverbs, and when Zongzi guesses it, it will be the ninth day of February next year." ”

The crowd laughed.

Zhang Lianfang is hospitable, these Zhejiang lifters are also considered villagers, they all dine in his house at noon, during the banquet Zhang Yuan said to Qi Biaojia that he wanted to invite Jinglan and Jinghui sisters to come out to play on the ice bed, Qi Biaojia said happily: "Then go and invite them out now." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "There is thick snow on this bubble river, and there is no way to drag the ice bed. ”

Qi Biaojia came to visit Shang Zhouzuo with his father the day before yesterday, although the marriage was agreed, but he didn't see Shang Jinglan, he was very worried, and his heart was unstoppable, and he was very envious of Zhang Yuan's ability to meet Shang Ran often before marriage, and decisively took the head of the club as an example, and said: "I can't drag the ice bed, so it's good to come out and enjoy the snow scene." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "Okay, then we'll go later." ”

After lunch, Zhang Yuan and the people of the John Society said that they would visit the Dalongfu Temple in the afternoon, first look at the lecture venue, and then start the first lecture of the Han Society in Beijing, Zhang Lianfang heard that Zhang Yuan was going to borrow the temple of the Dalongfu Temple to give a lecture, and said with a smile: "There is an old monk in the Dalongfu Temple, it is the uncle of the abbot Xufan, called the Jinsu monk, it is said that he is an enlightened monk, you don't meet this old monk when you go——"

Zhang Yuan and Zhang Dai asked in unison: "Why is this?" ”

Zhang Lianfang said: "The old monk is holding a wooden stick, and when he sees someone, he beats him, and he is called a stick to drink, and he is hit hard, and his head is broken and bleeding." ”

Zhang Dai said with a smile: "The old monk's legal name is Jin Su, it seems that he is greedy for money, and he will definitely not fight if he gives money. ”

Zhang Lianfang couldn't help but smile and admonished: "You can't say such a joke in Dalongfu Temple, Jinsu monk is very prestigious in the Dongcheng area, and the people of Shishu respect the old monk as a monk, and many people would rather be beaten by the old monk, saying that it is to eliminate disasters and pray for blessings." ”

Zhou Menong touched his head and said: "I waited for the colleagues of the Han Society to line up for the old monk to drink, and then one by one the heads were swollen with a big bag, with a happy face, and went out to say to people that he was beaten by the old monk, and now Kebi is in high school." ”

Zhang Yuan and Qi Biaojia went out to get in the car, and they heard endless laughter in the front hall, and it seemed that the gimmicks were about to develop and grow.

When he arrived at the South Gate of the East Fourth Archway, Zhang Yuan hired two big carriages to prepare for Jinglan and Jinghui sisters to ride, and returned to the courtyard of his brother-in-law Shang Zhou Zuo.

Zhang Yuan knew that it was the little chamberlain who had sneaked in, and looked at the gift box, which was four bottles of imperial wine in the palace, a box of fragrant tea, a roll of sheep's brain notes, and two ingots of Qingqiu Zimo, which were all fine products made in the palace's inner library, and were much more valuable than the earthen instruments that Zhang Yuan gave to Eunuch Zhong.

Laifu came over to salute Zhang Yuan, saying that Wang Dazhui stayed on the boat and asked him to come over and kowtow to Master Shang.

Zhang Yuan said to Laifu: "When my brother-in-law comes back, I will take you to visit." Shang Jinglan heard that Qi Biaojia had also arrived, and she was shy and refused to come out, she was dragged out by Xiao Jinghui, Fu told her to come back early, called an old servant, two servants and two maids to accompany her, and took four carriages to Baozi River with Zhang Yuan and Qi Biaojia.

In the afternoon, the sun was shining, the snow was shining, and there were two ice beds on the narrow lake. ”

Mu Zhenzhen said: "There is no one on the ice bed, and the uncle who drags the ice bed wants to smooth the snow." ”

Xiao Jinghui said happily: "No one is the best, it's all up to us to play." ”

Mu Zhenzhen pulled Fanghua to sit on the ice bed to press the snow, Zhang Yuan taught Xiao Jinghui to use a clairvoyant mirror, Xiao Jinghui wore cashmere gloves, wore a sable fur, a white face, big eyes like black gems, both hands held the white copper telescope and looked excitedly, the small mouth "Ka Ka Gege" kept talking, like a little happy bird, her sister Shang Jinglan was much more restrained, because there was Qi Biaojia on the side, Qi Biaojia was fourteen years old, Shang Jinglan was twelve years old, the two knew that they would be husband and wife in the future, and it was very interesting to watch.

Qi Biaojia seemed a little at a loss at first, she didn't know what to say to Shang Jinglan, she was clumsy, but then she became lively when she sat on the ice bed, and she also talked and laughed with Shang Jinglan.

Xiao Jinghui smiled the most, fun, love to be close to nature is the child's surname, Zhang Yuan couldn't help but think of the emperor's eldest grandson Zhu Youxiao who made Eunuch Zhong very annoyed, Zhu Youxiao is playful, in fact, this kind of person who keeps the child's surname is very close, and sometimes he doesn't read much and sometimes his heart is simple, of course, in the last days when the chaos is coming, as an heir to the throne, this kind of surname is obviously inappropriate, so he will be deceived by Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family, and put the power of approving red into the hands of an illiterate old eunuch from a ruffian, It is inevitable that the broken car of the Ming Dynasty will accelerate to the abyss of destruction, and the years when Wei Zhongxian monopolized power were one of the darkest periods in Chinese history, which is already the definitive conclusion of historians.

What Zhang Yuan didn't know was that when he and Qi Biaojia accompanied Jinglan and Jinghui sisters on the skating bed in the Paozi River, Zhu Youxiao, the eldest grandson of the emperor, was also accompanied by Zhong Benhua, Wei Chao, Wei Jinzhong and others to build a snowman in Xiyuan to play, Zhong Benhua is Zhu Youxiao's enlightenment teacher, and he is also more serious, Zhu Youxiao is still a little in awe of Zhong Benhua, I didn't expect that Eunuch Zhong would accompany him to play in the snow today, Zhu Youxiao is very lively, Eunuch Zhong asked the little attendants to pile fifteen snowmen on the ice according to his instructions, representing the direction of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, And said that the provinces of rare birds and beasts, customs and customs, Zhu Youxiao in the snowman around, listened to it with relish, said: "I didn't expect my Ming territory to be so vast, there are so many interesting places, tsk, if I have the opportunity in the future, I will have to play everywhere." ”

Eunuch Zhong suddenly felt that his head was as big as a fight, he felt that his education had failed again, the emperor's eldest grandson still just likes to stay in the corner and be a carpenter, if he ascends the throne in the future, he will learn from Emperor Zhengde a hundred years ago to go down to the south of the Yangtze River and conquer the north, it will be bad!

In the evening, when he returned to Ciqing Palace, Eunuch Zhong received a New Year's gift from Xing Long, the eunuch of the Nanjing garrison, and the eunuch who was on an errand in other provinces should send someone back to Beijing to give gifts before the Chinese New Year every year, and take care of all the powerful eunuchs in the palace.

Eunuch Zhong said in his heart: "Zajiayuan and Xing Long have a general relationship, and last year the Zajia introduced Zhang Yuan to help Xing Long tide over the difficulties, Xing Long should be grateful to the Zajia for that matter." ”

Thinking of Zhang Yuan's request for him in the carriage yesterday, Eunuch Zhong asked his godson Xiao Gao to pick up the lantern and carry a box of West Lake lotus root powder, and the two of them went out of the north gate of Ciqing Palace to the Xuanwu Gate of the palace city.

As the head of the twelve eunuchs of the inner government, the ceremonial eunuch is not in the palace, it is behind the Wansui Mountain, not far from Bei'anmen, there are three or four miles from the Ciqing Palace, the south of the ceremonial eunuch is the seal ribbon eunuch, when the eunuch Zhong and his godson Xiao Gao walked outside the seal ribbon prison, they met the eunuch Qiu Chengyun, who was in charge of the seal of the silk eunuch, brought a few small chamberlains out, Qiu Chengyun "hehe" smiled and said: "Where is Gonggong Zhong going on the order of the emperor's eldest grandson?" "The tone is not very friendly.

Although Qiu Chengyun didn't know that it was Eunuch Zhong and Zhang Yuan who conspired with Zhang Yuan to force him to let go of Shizhu Tusima Qiancheng in Hangzhou, he knew that Shizhu Turen built a shrine for Eunuch Zhong, which made Qiu Chengyun quite annoyed, he didn't get any benefit from Shizhu Turen, but let Eunuch Zhong benefit from the middle, so Eunuch Zhong returned to Beijing last year and didn't go to Zhong Gusi Palm Print, but went to Ciqing Palace to teach the emperor's eldest grandson to read and write, Qiu Chengyun was the most sneering and energetic -

Eunuch Zhong arched his hand and said, "There is a little trivial matter in front of you, but Gonggong Qiu is busy, so I won't bother." ”

Eunuch Qiu said with a smile: "Where is Gonggong Zhong busy, Gonggong Zhong is the teacher of the emperor's eldest grandson, he is highly respected, and he has all the opportunities." ”

The power of the seal ribbon eunuch is not small, in the middle of the ranking of the twelve eunuchs in the inner government, with the current identity of Eunuch Zhong, there is no way to turn his face with Qiu Chengyun face to face, he doesn't talk to Qiu Chengyun at the moment, laughs dryly, walks quickly, and hears Qiu Chengyun and several eunuchs behind him laughing weirdly-

Eunuch Zhong walked away with his head bored, and asked, "Dive, do you feel wronged by following your godfather?" ”

The little chamberlain replied cautiously: "No, the godfather is good to his son." ”

Eunuch Zhong asked again: "Do you think your godfather is very cowardly?" ”

Gao Qiqian replied: "Godfather disdains to be knowledgeable with those people, and Godfather has lofty ambitions. ”

Eunuch Zhong laughed, raised his hand and touched Xiao Gao's hat, patted it, and said, "Good boy, follow your godfather to study and read well, and you will get ahead." ”

Xiao Gao responded: "Yes, godfather, the child understands." ”

A few lanterns came over, and it was the eunuch Lu Shou and the two eunuchs who were going to go to the Hongde Hall of the Qianqing Palace to report to the grandfather of the long live that the ministers were going to take the annual leave tomorrow, and some important pieces were to be read to the grandfather of the long live, and the grandfather of the long live dictation was red-

Eunuch Zhong followed Lu Shou and others to go back, talking about today's snow and cold, Eunuch Zhong said that he had an old man from Hangzhou who came to Beijing some time ago, because the hungry people in Shandong robbed the Linqing banknote pass, which caused the canal traffic to be interrupted for several days, and he was almost about to change to the land route, it seems that the disaster in Shandong is very serious.

"yes." Lu Shou was also quite annoyed, and said: "The governor of Shandong, the supervision of the imperial history of Shandong, the household department, and the household department asked for disaster relief one after another, and yesterday there were hundreds of people who jointly requested relief for the victims of the disaster in Shandong and exempted the six counties of Shandong from taxes, and also painted the "Picture of the Hungry People", which was miserable, and now there is a household branch to Yang Lian's strong tone in the matter, and the miscellaneous family dare not read it to the grandfather of Long Live for fear that Grandpa Long Live will be angry, there have been many natural disasters in recent years, and disaster relief must be provided here, and there must be exemption, and Lord Banzai will not be happy when he hears these songs——"

Eunuch Zhong said: "My father-in-law can talk about the looting of Linqing Banknote Pass, the canal traffic is blocked, affecting the transportation, the relationship is not small, this Shandong disaster relief is really urgent, not more than others." ”

Lu was appointed as the master of ceremonies for several years, only looking at the emperor's face and acting, not seeking merit but seeking no fault, listening to what Eunuch Zhong said, nodded and said: "That's right, it's a big matter to block Caoyun, and I'll mention it when I see Grandpa Banzai." Only then did he remember and ask, "Xiao Zhong, where are you going?" ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "The old people of Hangzhou sent some earthen instruments, all of which are worthless things such as salted fish and tea, and there are West Lake lotus root powder in them, which is said to cure lung fever and cough, so I sent a box to my father-in-law, and my father-in-law can use the hot soup to make a paste to eat." ”

Lu Shou spoke with phlegm in his throat, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your heart, this cough of the miscellaneous family has not been better since the Zhongyuan Festival, and the false fire-"

While walking and talking, they parted ways at Xuanwu Gate, Lu Shou and a few people went to Qianqing Palace, Eunuch Zhong and Xiao Gao returned to Ciqing Palace, the weather was very cold, Eunuch Zhong put his hands in his hands, looked up at the heavy sky, and said in his heart: "Zhang Gongzi, the miscellaneous family has done their best, and the pitch is worthy of it." ”

(To be continued)