The little chamberlain took the carriage with him, Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhenzhen got into the carriage, from the Daci Yanfu Palace in the East Fourth Archway to the Eunuch Mansion of Shisha Haizhong There are about twelve or three miles of road, the little chamberlain is worried that the godfather has been waiting for a long time, and urges the coachman to hurry up the horse, the two driving horses snort, galloping hard, the wheels are spinning, the carriage is speeding on the street, the faster and faster, the carriage is shaking, Zhang Yuan shouted: "Don't be too fast, and don't fight for this half a moment." ”

Only then did the carriage slow down, and when it saw the frozen lake of Shichahai, the winter sun had already set on the western mountain, and the people who dragged the ice bed packed up their utensils and returned home one after another.

Shichahai got its name because there are ten famous Buddhist temples near this body of water since the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Yanjing people call the lake the sea, so it is called Shichahai, the waters of Shichahai are wider than the Baozi River, divided into Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai, the house of Eunuch Zhong is on the east bank of Qianhai Fire Temple to the north, it is only half a mile away from the Bei'anmen of the imperial city, it is a large quadrangle, four before and after, there are front yards, backyards, east courtyards, west courtyards, partial courtyards, cross courtyards, there is a garden near Qianhai, more than twice as large as the courtyard of Shang Zhouzuo, The gate is a bright gate, very magnificent, at this time, the gate of the copper nail of the Zhumen in the twilight is closed-

The little chamberlain jumped out of the carriage, and when he saw that the gate was closed, he shouted: "Kuye, godfather has returned to the palace." Ran up and knocked on the door, and soon the door opened, Xiao Gao said a few words to the servant woman who answered the door, and then ran down to Zhang Yuan and said: "Zhang Gongzi, godfather left a message, please Zhang Gongzi go in and wait, the little one will rush back to Ciqing Palace to report the news." He turned around and instructed the servant woman: "This is a distinguished guest invited by Gonggong Zhong, so I can wait for you." "I saluted Zhang Yuan, and ran to Bei'anmen-

It is very close to Bei'anmen from here, only half a mile away, but there is at least five miles to Ciqing Palace from Bei'anmen, and it will take a long time to go!

Zhang Yuan couldn't help but shake his head, Gonggong Zhong was so eager to see him, he couldn't wait, was the cold bench in Ciqing Palace impatient?

A group of servants poured out of the house, and with a smile on their faces, they invited Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhenzhen to sit in the front hall of the house, the hall had been lit with lights, and the heat rising from under the floor was warm and pleasant, and there were two half-person-high Longquan kiln yarrow large square bottles by the door, with large branches of plum blossoms, sparse and oblique, and bent blooming, Zhang Yuan recognized these two large square bottles, which were brought back by Eunuch Zhong from the Hangzhou Weaving Department-

Zhang Yuan was looking at the gorgeous arrangement in the hall, the ring was tinkling, the fat fragrance was attacking, and a group of maids came in, there were eight, all young and beautiful, all of them saluted Zhang Yuan Wanfu, and one of the maids with pear vortex on their cheeks said: "Zhang Gongzi, my father-in-law ordered that the banquet should be held first when it was late, and Zhang Gongzi was invited to wait for him while drinking." As she spoke, this beautiful maid's eyes looked at Zhang Yuan for a moment, as if she was waiting for something-

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "I saw you in the Hangzhou Weaving Department. ”

The lovely maid of the pear vortex was suddenly overjoyed and said: "It's good for the son to remember the surname, and I still remember the servant who is such a subordinate." Please Zhang Yuan sit down, and said to Mu Zhenzhen again: "I haven't seen you for two years, Sister Mu has become a great beauty." ”

Mu Zhenzhen didn't know how to praise that beautiful maid politely, but just smiled.

Zhang Yuan asked the pear vortex maid: "When will Gonggong Zhong return to the palace?" ”

The beautiful maid said: "My father-in-law waited for Zhang Gongzi to come, and when the time came, I would go back first if I was worried that there was something in the palace." ”

The banquet was soon put up, all of which were famous dishes of the palace, bird's nest, shark wings, wind duck, roasted clams, fish stew, donkey meat, peach blossom fish, fruit crisp, etc., full of a table, the wine was the palace wine "Hantan Spring", several beautiful maids came up together to persuade the wine, Yingying Yanyan, very enthusiastic -

These beautiful maids are all bought by Eunuch Zhong from Hangzhou and Yanjing, and they live in the courtyard of the deep house, not to mention that men can't see it, even eunuchs like Eunuch Zhong and Xiao Gao rarely see it, Eunuch Zhong is difficult to come out a few times a month, so now when I see the young and handsome Zhang Yuan, the beautiful maids can't help but have an inexplicable happiness, they talk a lot, they are very attentive, Zhang Yuan can smell the faint hormonal smell of the female surname in the fat and fragrant wine, which makes Zhang Yuan feel that it is not very good, he didn't see a manservant when he entered the house just now, This is Gonggong Zhong's daughter's country, the eunuch is small-minded, although he can't do things like men and women, he is possessive, he has a strong sense of possessiveness, he has to pay attention to it, this is not drinking flower wine-

Zhang Yuan waved to the beauties and maids: "Beauties, I'm really not used to being watched by others to eat, it's good for you to leave the hall for the time being, and then come in when I'm full of wine and food?" ”

The eight beautiful maids heard Zhang Yuan call them "beauties", which was very fresh, and the lovely maid with a pear vortex said: "Then let the maid stay and wait for Zhang Gongzi?" "Her eyes are bright, shy and timid, this beautiful maid feels that she and Zhang Yuan are old acquaintances, and they should be different from others-

Zhang Yuanxin said: "That's even worse. He smiled: "No need, just be really here." ”

A few beautiful maids knew that Zhang Yuan was trying to avoid suspicion, so they had to go to the side hall, so they were not depressed, it was rare to come to a handsome man, and they couldn't take a few more looks, and the beautiful maid with a pear vortex said in her heart: "This Zhang Gongzi is a fake serious, there are so many of us, who would dare to have an affair with you in front of everyone, but they want to drive us all here!" ”

……

Zhang Yuan really couldn't stand the hungry and thirsty eyes of these beautiful maids, he felt like Tang Sanzang in the Pansi Cave, as soon as these maids left, he suddenly relaxed, beckoned Mu Zhenzhen to sit and eat together, so uncomfortable, waited for about half an hour, and still didn't see Eunuch Zhong coming, he couldn't help but get anxious, there was a curfew at eight o'clock at night, and now it was almost half past six, Eunuch Zhong didn't come again, he couldn't wait, got up and went out of the hall, and said loudly: "But there is pen and ink, I want to leave a post for Gonggong Zhong." ”

The pen, ink, paper and inkstone were delivered quickly, Mu Zhenzhen grinded half of the inkstone, Zhang Yuan picked up the pen and left a message to Eunuch Zhong, and only after writing two lines, he heard the noise outside, saying that Gonggong Zhong was coming-

Zhang Yuan put down his pen, got up and walked out of the hall, and saw two lanterns shining, and the eunuch Zhong Benhua strode over, and said with a smile under the steps: "Zhang Gongzi, Zhang Jieyuan, congratulations, congratulations, Siyuan Lianjie, amazing." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Gonggong Zhong, the late birth Zhang Yuanli, today it is said that Gonggong Lao is running around, sorry, sorry." After that, he raised his head, but saw a tall and tall beauty standing beside Eunuch Zhong, this beautiful woman seemed to be taller than Mu Zhenzhen, plump and round, the palace skirt and embroidered jacket could not wrap the style, the slender eyebrows were curved and oblique, and a pair of eyes were big and clear, the big eyes were not the kind of round and wide, they were still narrow and long, charming and big, the nose bridge was high, the mouth was small, the chin was pointed, and the facial features had a strange charm-

Yesterday at dusk at Chaoyangmen Wharf, Zhang Yuan had seen this beautiful woman, guessing that it should be the nurse of the emperor's grandson Zhu Youxiao, but he didn't expect to see him again in Eunuch Zhong's outer house after a while!

The guess was right, and Eunuch Zhong introduced: "Zhang Gongzi, this is the nurse of the emperor's eldest grandson, and the emperor's eldest grandson can't leave her even if he says it." ”

Zhang Yuan gave another look: "Shanyin Juzi Zhang Yuan has seen the guest grandmother." "Mama is a nurse.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ke Yinyue smiled like a girl, twisted her waist and saluted: "How dare the little woman let Zhang Gongzi be polite, the little woman heard that Gonggong Zhong has a talented friend in Jiangnan, so she wants to come and take a look." ”

When it came to the three words "take a look", Ke Yinyue's big smiling eyes looked up and down Zhang Yuan carefully, her eyes flowing, and she looked very amorous.

Didn't you say that the queen and the imperial concubine should not be too beautiful and charming, I am afraid that the emperor will indulge in beauty and ignore the government and politics, why did he choose such a frivolous and bewitching nurse for Zhu Youxiao, Zhang Yuan didn't quite understand, and quickly glanced at Ke Yinyue's chest, well, the chest is very big, the embroidered jacket is held high, and the milk is enough, this should be the most important reason for being elected as the emperor's eldest grandson nurse-

Zhang Yuan asked politely: "Father-in-law Zhong, is this Mama Rong my father-in-law's right food, my father-in-law is really blessed." ”

It was common for eunuchs and palace people to match each other in the late Ming Dynasty, even if it was a eunuch with a very high status, someone asked him, "Who is Rucaihu?" "The eunuch will also tell the truth, Tian is not strange-

Ke Yinyue hid her small mouth and smiled, her eyes glanced at Eunuch Zhong, Eunuch Zhong was slightly embarrassed, and said with a smile: "The miscellaneous family does not have this blessing, Mama Rong is the vegetable household of Young Eunuch Wei." Changed the subject: "In such a cold weather, standing outside and talking is very good, please come in, please come in." When he entered the hall, he saw that there was no maidservant, so he asked loudly: "Where have all the people gone, why are you so snub to Zhang Gongzi!" ”

Outside the curtain, a maidservant answered: "Gongzi Zhang doesn't let the maids serve, and the maidservants dare not enter the hall." ”

Eunuch Zhong looked at Zhang Yuan and said with a smile: "Gongzi Zhang is too cautious, will the miscellaneous family be the kind of person who is narrow-minded, not to mention that you and I have been friends for many years——"

Ke Yinyue chuckled on the side, she sat on a small chair, sitting in a rather strange position, one leg hung down, but the other leg was sitting cross-legged on the chair, covered by a long skirt, not very eye-catching, just twisting her body slightly, looking at Zhang Yuan intently, it seemed that Zhang Yuan's caution made her more interested.

Zhang Yuan explained: "It's true that Wansheng is not used to being watched by people to eat-Father-in-law, Wansheng went out early this morning, so Xiao Gao and his father-in-law are very sorry to wait for a long time, so they came in a hurry, and they forgot to bring the gift they prepared for their father-in-law in Shanyin's hometown. ”

Eunuch Zhong was the same as the guest Yinyue, looked at Zhang Yuan carefully under the lamp and candle, and praised: "Zhang Gongzi is even more handsome, not to mention the advancement of knowledge, Zhejiang is a big province for scientific research, and he can win the top in Zhejiang, it is really like taking the head of a general in the army. ”

Eunuch Zhong is indeed very happy, Zhejiang Township tried to prove Zhang Yuan's extraordinary talent again, Eunuch Zhong instructed Zhang Yuan to go back to Beijing to burn the cold stove Although he was made fun of, he also felt a little stupid, but he still trusted Zhang Yuan in his heart, Zhang Yuan had no reason to tease him, Zhang Yuan's foresight and wisdom he had seen, but he still had a lot of confusion and wanted to ask Zhang Yuan for advice in person-

But Zhang Yuan quickly got up and said: "Father-in-law, it's the end of the unitary time, and the late birth has to rush back to the East Fourth Archway, and the father-in-law can call the late born at any time when he is free, and now the late life dares to ask the father-in-law's carriage to give him a ride-the guest grandmother won't be surprised." ”

Eunuch Zhong was also worried that Yin Yue was on the side, and he couldn't talk to Zhang Yuanshen, so he said happily: "Zhang Gongzi is thousands of miles away, and the miscellaneous family naturally wants to send it for a ride." Asked Ke Yinyue and said, "Will Mama Ke go back to the palace by herself, or will she wait for the miscellaneous family to send Zhang Gongzi back and then go back to the palace together?" ”

Seeing that Zhang Yuan was about to leave, Ke Yinyue was a little bored and said, "I'll go back." "I blessed Zhang Yuan and went out of the hall first.

Eunuch Zhong said: "Zhang Gongzi might as well stay here and send someone to the East Fourth Archway to inform Shang Yushi." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "How does this make Gonggong Zhong, let's go to the carriage to talk." ”

Eunuch Zhong did not force Zhang Yuan to stay, he went out in the same car with Zhang Yuan, of course Mu Zhenzhen was not good at taking the car, Eunuch Zhong wanted to use his sedan chair to send Mu Zhenzhen, Zhang Yuan knew that Mu Zhenzhen's car could still sit, and the sedan chair would never sit, so he said: "Let her go, she is a big foot." "Mu Zhen is really a person who practices martial arts, it's good to run, otherwise it's easy to get fat.

The carriage was rolling around, and Eunuch Zhong looked at Rong Yinyue's sedan chair heading towards Bei'anmen from the car window, and said in a low voice: "Mama Ke is also a big foot, but the miscellaneous family doesn't like it." ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "Eunuchs also like small feet." Said: "Little feet are harmless and useless, father-in-law should not be confused by bad habits-"

Eunuch Zhong then remembered that Zhang Yuan's wife, Shang, was said to be unshoeous, and he had heard it in Hangzhou the year before last, so he quickly echoed: "Zhang Gongzi said yes, Zhang Gongzi said yes." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "My father-in-law is among the top ten talents in the internal officials, needless to say, he is also the chief eunuch, and his status in Ciqing Palace is higher than that of Wei Shaojian, why doesn't this guest grandmother eat against his father-in-law?" ”

Eunuch Zhong didn't understand why Zhang Yuan asked about this, and said: "Before the miscellaneous family returned to the palace, Ke Yinyue was the opposite food of the Wei Dynasty, and recently the Great Wei was Wei Jinzhong, the eldest companion of the emperor's eldest grandson. The tone was disdainful.

Eunuch Zhong is still very high, the literati are very strong, this is not good, intrigue in the palace, how can Eunuch Zhong's high fight against Wei Zhongxian's hooligans, now the emperor's eldest grandson has not ascended the throne, there is no power to fight, once you want to fight, people like Eunuch Zhong will not even know how to die, just like Wang An and Wei Dynasty were killed by Wei Zhongxian in vain, and if Eunuch Zhong can eat with Ke Yinyue, then he is not afraid of Wei Zhongxian, the reason why Wei Zhongxian can be so favored in front of Zhu Youxiao is that most of it is because of Ke Yinyue, This is a matter of life and death for the eunuch Zhong in the palace, and it is also the key to whether Zhang Yuan can realize his ambitions, the carpenter emperor is very good, such an emperor is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if it is Emperor Chongzhen, who works hard, it is terrible-

Zhang Yuan asked: "What is the reason for my father-in-law to serve the emperor's eldest grandson in the cold?" ”

Eunuch Zhong pouted and said, "This cold stove was burned by Zhang Gongzi's instructions. ”

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Of course, the late life hopes that Gonggong Zhong will one day be able to command 100,000 eunuchs, raise his eyebrows, and he will also have honor in his later life——"

Eunuch Zhong smiled, he didn't have any feelings for beauty anymore, they all said that Ke Yinyue was a great beauty, but he regarded it as dung, money, he also had enough, he had no offspring, and it was not interesting to buy land, he was only keen on power now, he wanted to surprise those who made fun of him for burning the cold stove, and Eunuch Zhong was also conceited and talented, and he could fully assist the emperor in preparing the decree to approve the red, he wanted to be a eunuch who went down in history-

But he heard Zhang Yuan's words change sharply: "But if my father-in-law wants to do that, he has to try his best to please that guest mother." ”

(To be continued)