Zhang Yuan, Zhang Dai and Shang Zhouzuo walked, Fu took his two daughters in the car, Wuling, Laifu, Wang Da Hammer, Mingyan, and Shang's male servants and maidservants followed the car, and the group turned around the corner, and saw not far from the courtyard in front of the golden pillar gate, Mu Zhenzhen and a military man who grew up was talking, this military man was wearing a five-color cloth scarf, wearing a large-sleeved shirt, wearing a cover armor, with soap-patterned military boots under his feet, a tallow leather belt around his waist, and a Yanling waist knife, followed by two border guards wearing uniforms Yong - I saw Zhang Yuan and his party coming, The tall and majestic military man strode up to meet him, and a few feet away from him, he bent his knees on the side of the road and asked: "The villain Mu Jingyan pays a visit to the young master of Jiezi, the young master of Zongzi, the old man of Shang and the lady of the lady. ”

"Uncle Mu, please get up."

Zhang Yuan hurriedly stepped forward to help Mu Jingyan up, smiled and looked at the yellow-bearded man in front of him, he hadn't seen him for two years, Mu Jingyan, who was nearly forty years old, looked younger than before, with a wide mouth, a high nose like a shave, a short golden beard under the chin curled, although there was a frosty color on his face, and his demeanor was still humble, but there was a kind of bloody and fierce air in his respectful and respectful, which was the temperament that Mu Jingyan, who was a fallen sedan chair man before, did not have, and only the temperament that could be sharpened in the army, and this army should not have suffered a major rout, If after the Chongzhen year, the Ming border army has been defeated repeatedly and is afraid of slaves like tigers, it will be difficult to see a sergeant with this temperament at that time - Shang Zhouzuo nodded and said: "Is this the real father, really a big man." ”

Zhang Dai said with a smile: "Old Mu is majestic, it's really impressive." ”

Jing Hui in the carriage whispered to his mother Fu: "It's strange that Sister Zhenzhen is so tall, it turns out that her father is taller." ”

Shang Jinglan looked at Qi Biaojia standing by the gate from the car window, and secretly rejoiced in her heart, Huzi Langjun hadn't been here for two days - Wuling and Laifu happily stepped forward to greet Uncle Mu, very enthusiastic, Wuling touched the handle of Uncle Mu's Yanling waist knife, and looked awe-struck.

Entering the foyer, Mu Jingyan took out the letter of the general juniper from his arms and presented it to Zhang Yuan, and a gift was placed in the corner of the hall, Juniper has been a general for many years, and knows the etiquette of officialdom, knowing that such a promising word forest official is unwilling to defile himself, so he did not dare to give a generous gift, but the specialties of Yansui and other places, such as Huanggui thick wine, Xifeng wine, beef hand ginseng, Yongzhou musk, Ankang green tea, etc., these are all precious local specialties, and the value is also very expensive - Zhang Yuan read Juniper's letter, was in a happy mood, and handed it over to Mu Zhenzhen to collect, He asked Mu Jingyan about his two years in Yan'anwei, and Mu Jingyan said that he had twice followed General Du Shen to pursue the Mongol Tatars who came from Dongtao to plunder Yansui, and he had made a gain, so he was promoted to the small flag and then the general flag...... When Mu Jingyan and Zhang Yuan spoke, Mu Zhenzhen stood on the side, radiant, this fallen girl wanted to smile out in her heart, she was really happy, Daddy was much more majestic, and his speech and demeanor were no longer the humble and cowering palanquin man before, Daddy had a heroic spirit, Daddy finally had a place to use - the sound of cars and horses in front of the door, and there were visitors, but it was the little waiter who came in. ”

Zhang Yuan got up and walked to the bottom of the hallway, and Xiao Gao approached and whispered: "My godfather is in the carriage outside the door, because it is inconvenient to come in because he wants to avoid people's eyes and ears, please ask Zhang Xiushu to talk in the carriage." ”

Zhang Yuan frowned slightly, Eunuch Zhong was in such a hurry to see him in person, there must be something important, he greeted Mu Jingyan at the moment, followed Xiao Gao out of the door, and Wu Ling hurriedly followed-Mu Zhenzhen hesitated, said to his father, and followed, Zhang Yuan turned around and said: "Really talk to Uncle Mu, Xiao Wu, Sledgehammer, follow me." "When you go out, you always have to bring people with you.

Zhang Yuan walked out of the gate of Jinzhu, and saw a carriage parked on the side of the road, Xiao Gao had already run over first, and said something to the people in the carriage, the curtain was lifted, revealing Eunuch Zhong's white and beardless face, nodding to Zhang Yuan, and putting down the curtain - Zhang Yuan went to sit in the carriage, and Eunuch Zhong said slightly: "Zhang Xiuxiu, the miscellaneous family has something important to say, let's leave here first and go to Chaoyangmen Street for a turn." ”

Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "That's good." "Tell Wu Ling to go back and inform his brother-in-law, and say that he has something to go out temporarily, and he will come back later-the carriage went east out of the Dongsi Archway Gate, except for the coachman, Eunuch Zhong only took his godson Xiao Gao, and now there are Wang Dazhui and Wu Ling next to the car.

Zhang Yuan couldn't stand the mysterious appearance of Eunuch Zhong, and said, "What is important to my father-in-law, I can say it now." ”

Eunuch Zhong also lifted the window curtain and looked out of the car, and then lowered his voice and said: "Zhang Xiu, then Concubine Zheng is going to challenge the prince——"

Zhang Yuanxin said: "What, the attack happened?" He said, "Father-in-law, don't worry, say slowly, what's going on?" ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "Just last month, when the miscellaneous family met you in Shishahai, Grandpa Banzai summoned the master to the Qianqing Palace to reprimand, and when the master came back, his face was colorless, and under the careful questioning of Father-in-law Wang An, he learned that Concubine Zheng Guifei slandered the Lord of Banzai again, saying that the master abused Lady Liu to death, and the master was very frightened——"

The matter of the deep palace could not be investigated deeply, and the wind on Concubine Zheng's pillow was strong, Zhang Yuan nodded and asked, "What else?" ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "Two years ago, there were Jinyi Wei hundred households Wang Yuqian reported that the Jingshi annihilated the apprentice Kong Xue, Zhao Zongshun, Zhao Sheng, etc., who were instructed by the imperial concubine Zheng to gather demons to murder the East Palace. Many of the inner servants of Ciqing Palace are cold because of the cold court, there is no oil and water to fish, some excuse illness, some excuse other things, have left, the huge Ciqing Palace is deserted, the master is very frightened, for fear that he will be killed by Zheng Guifei's people at any time, the master's worry is by no means groundless, then Zheng Guotai is the governor of the left army governor's mansion, Zheng Yang's surname is Yulin Wei Qianhu, if they plot to kill the master, it is really not a very difficult thing——"

Speaking of this, Eunuch Zhong stared into Zhang Yuan's eyes and said in a low voice: "Zhang Xiu is resourceful, and the case of the science field has turned the danger into a disaster, but there is a good plan to save the master?" That's what you and I have to do—"

At this time, Zhang Yuan seemed to be Stephen Chow in "Journey to the West" who found the mole at the bottom of his feet, and suddenly his heart was in his heart: "It turns out that this matter has to be on me." At the same time, he was secretly frightened, it was impossible for him to stay idle in the Hanlin Academy, the battle for the national capital back then was the resolute support of the ministers of Donglin, and even at the cost of his surname, he won the position of Prince Zhu Changluo, and he can't stay out of it now-"Gonggong Zhong mentioned me in front of the East Palace?" Zhang Yuan asked quietly.

Eunuch Zhong looked at Zhang Yuan's face, shook his head and said, "No, how can the miscellaneous family be so reckless, just asking for a plan, and there is no intention of letting Zhang Xiushu get involved in the palace dispute." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "My father-in-law knows that I am resolutely supportive of the East Palace, I can offer advice, but I must not come forward, my father-in-law must know the stakes-"

Eunuch Zhong said: "The miscellaneous family knows that you are just a word forest official with no real power now, and you are the first to raise hope." ”

Zhang Yuan thought for a while and asked, "What year is the demon book case?" ”

Eunuch Zhong replied, "It is the thirty-first year of Wanli. Eunuch Zhong is familiar with this matter, and when the demon book case occurred, he was still an errand boy in the internal official and eunuch - Zhang Yuan asked: "What is the result?" ”

The demon book case was a pamphlet that was widely circulated in Beijing at that time, accusing Zheng Guifei of wanting to abolish the prince, at that time the prince Zhu Changluo had just been canonized, and his status was very unstable, after the demon book case, the strong public opinion between the government and the opposition forced Zheng Guifei not to abolish the prince and Lifu Wang, and Zhu Changluo's position stabilized - Eunuch Zhong understood what Zhang Yuan meant, and said in surprise: "Zhang Xiu is saying that there will be another demon book case?" ”

Zhang Yuan shook his head and said: "I can't tell what happened to the demon book case back then, it's a mess, reflecting the worries of the government and the opposition about the precarious status of the East Palace, the demon book case can be said to have come into being, but many things can no longer be done, just like the empty city plan can only be used once, and it will be over if it is used again——"

Eunuch Zhong asked, "What do you think Zhang Xiu should do?" ”

Zhang Yuan said in a low voice: "Although the East Palace has been treated coldly, there are still many effective people, and the father-in-law can offer a plan to the East Palace, arrange for a man who is not very clear to break into the Ciqing Palace, and then catch this person and hand over the Jinyi Guard, saying that this person broke into the palace in a vain attempt to kill the prince." ”

Eunuch Zhong listened with bated breath, thinking that Zhang Yuan had something to say, but Zhang Yuan shut up and couldn't help asking, "Is that it?" ”

Zhang Yuan nodded and said: "That's it, don't say anything, this matter is just a flame, there are foreign officials who will cheer and add salaries, and then the edge will point to the Zheng family, and the East Palace will naturally be safe." ”

Eunuch Zhong hesitated: "This doesn't seem credible, Concubine Zheng wants to kill the master, and she won't send a half-crazy and half-stupid person." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Madness is not dementia, many madness is madness at the onset of the disease, and it is normal to look at it usually, this is not so easy to distinguish, I have seen a lot of things about a normal person being accused of being crazy and locked up, and the matter of breaking into the forbidden palace to murder the prince is not trivial, and the officials and imperial historians who support the East Palace hold on to it, so whether others believe it or not, I believe it anyway." ”

Eunuch Zhong was dumbfounded, thinking carefully about what Zhang Yuan said, the more he thought about it, the more wonderful it became, this plan seems to be clumsy, but in fact it is very good, this is a clever plan that can only be thought of by accurately grasping the hearts of the people and the current situation, even if some people don't believe that the Zheng family will be so stupid to send someone to break into the palace to assassinate, but they will not believe that the prince will arrange someone to assassinate himself, which will be as confused as the demon book case back then, but in the end it must be the prince who will benefit - Zhang Yuan advised: "Even in the face of the East Palace, Gonggong Zhong should not say that this plan is out of his own mouth, so it is not good for you and me." , the father-in-law is a smart person, so he naturally understands the subtlety, not to say, the credit is the father-in-law's, but if he says it, he is jealous. ”

Eunuch Zhong nodded and said, "The miscellaneous family understands. ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Father-in-law can first discuss with Father-in-law Wang An, and then propose to the East Palace, the person who breaks into the palace must be found well, and the person who comes forward to contact must be reliable." ”

(To be continued)