On the morning of the first day of the first month of March, Eunuch Zhong came to the silver boat at Hushu Wharf to visit Eunuch Qiu, and after a while, he saw Qin Liangyu's sister and brother leading a team of native soldiers, forty native soldiers carrying twenty heavy thick wooden boxes, claiming that they were recovered 50,000 taels of official silver, and asked Grandpa Qiu to count it in person - Eunuch Qiu had to help with acting at this time, pretending to be a show, and said to Qin Liangyu: "Since the silver has been recovered, then our family will immediately send a post to inform the imperial court, as for whether the Zunfu Ma Xuanfu can be exempted from prison, it depends on the grace of the Long Live Lord." ”

Qin Liangyu said: "The silver has been recovered, and the people who robbed the silver without permission have been executed, if my husband still can't get the forgiveness, then I still have to go to the capital to plead to Yousi." "This is to warn Eunuch Qiu not to stir up trouble in secret.

Eunuch Qiu sneered.

Eunuch Zhong said: "The imperial court has always been kind to the various departments, and since the official money has been recovered, General Ma will of course be exempted from prison, and I hope that General Ma and Mrs. Ma will be diligent in the king's affairs in the future and serve the court more." ”

While talking, according to the inspector Zhang Qilian personally came to invite Eunuch Qiu to the luncheon, seeing that Eunuch Zhong was also here, as well as the people of Sichuan, he asked only to know that the official silver was lost and recovered, and hurriedly said hello to Eunuch Qiu, Eunuch Qiu only smiled and did not laugh at the snake and wronged the snake, and thanked Zhang Fenshou for the invitation, saying that yesterday he said that Gonggong Zhong was invited to the banquet on the West Lake, and he said that he wanted to invite back today - Zhang Qilian said: "Change to invite Gonggong Qiu again." Suddenly, he saw Zhang Yuan beside Eunuch Zhong, and said strangely: "Isn't this Zhang Yuan, the grandson of the Suweng clan, why is it here?" ”

Zhang Yuan forked his hands and said: "The kid went to Songjiang to celebrate his brother-in-law's birthday, passed through Hangzhou, and happened to meet Gonggong Zhong, so he stayed for two days. ”

Eunuch Zhong said to Zhang Yuan: "Don't be in a hurry, don't you hurry, let's go tomorrow, isn't my brother-in-law the seventh birthday, it's too late, let's go tomorrow, our family still has something to say to you." ”

According to the inspector Zhang Qilian, it was really a little strange to see that Eunuch Zhong and this young man fell in love like this, so he also joked: "Then I will invite Gonggong Qiu and Gonggong Zhong to the banquet, and Zhang Yuan, you will also come together." ”

Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "My lord, forgive me, the kid can't be delayed, when the kid comes back from Songjiang, he will definitely come to see Lord Zhang." ”

Eunuch Zhong said with a smile: "Zhang Gongzi is taking advantage of the interval between the county test and the government test to go back and forth to Songjiang this time, and he is in a hurry." ”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Qilian remembered it and asked: "Zhang Yuan, how did you do in the county exam?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "The kid was lucky to hit the head of the case. ”

Eunuch Zhong on the side said: "There are many talented people in Shanyin, and it is not easy to get the head of the case in Shanyin." ”

Zhang Qilian also said happily: "Sure enough, the young talent, it is not in vain that Gonggong Zhong should appreciate you like this." ”

Since Eunuch Zhong decided to leave Zhang Yuan Ming and then leave, Zhang Yuan had to obey his orders and return to the boat to wait, at noon Qin Liangyu sister and brother Qin Liangyu chartered a nearby restaurant, invited Zhang Yuan and the servants on the ship to the banquet together, Qin Liangyu and Qin Minping sisters solemnly thanked Zhang Yuan, and the ten-year-old Ma Xiangqi had to kowtow to Zhang Yuan according to his mother's order - Zhang Yuan asked: "Mrs. Ma, do you want to go back to Kuizhou or wait for the pardon in Hangzhou?" ”

Qin Liangyu said: "The little woman will go back to Kuizhou first, and let the second brother wait for news here." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "General Ma will soon be exempted from prison because he has been wronged. ”

Qin Liangyu said: "It's not that I met Zhang Gongzi, the little woman and her son have to go to the capital with her, the future is uncertain, and the little woman won't say much if she is grateful, she just hopes that she will have the opportunity to repay Zhang Gongzi in the future." ”

Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "Don't have such an opportunity, I don't want to be in trouble and ask for help." ”

Qin Liangyu and Qin Minping both laughed.

Qin Liangyu said: "Zhang Gongzi is auspicious, there will never be any embarrassment and danger, the little woman said that Zhang Gongzi said that he will be useful to my Shizhu Turen in the future, although he opened his mouth, it is my Shizhu Turen to be able to serve Zhang Gongzi." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "There will be no private affairs to ask for in the future, and this help is the loyalty of General Jing Ma and Mrs. Ma." ”

Qin Liangyu and Qin Minping were greatly moved, and they were both grateful and respectful to Zhang Yuan.

Qin Liangyu said: "The little woman on Zhang Gongzi's side doesn't dare to thank her with vulgar courtesy, Zhang Gongzi's great kindness is inexhaustible, but how can Eunuch Zhong thank her?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Internal officials love money, and Eunuch Zhong is no exception, let's send silver, if you want to send more, send five thousand taels." ”

After Ma Qian went down to Yunyang Prison, Qin Liangyu asked people to send five thousand taels of silver to Eunuch Qiu, but Eunuch Qiu didn't accept it, of course there is no need to send silver to Eunuch Qiu now, and it is more willing to send it to Eunuch Zhong, so Zhang Yuan opened his mouth and asked her to give Eunuch Zhong five thousand taels, she didn't think it was excessive, and said, "Okay, let my second brother send it later." ”

After lunch, Zhang Yuan, Mu Zhenzhen and the others returned to the Sanmingwa white canopy boat, Lu Dayou was very energetic in drinking, and then remembered the birthday of the master, rubbed his hands and said anxiously: "Young Master Jiezi, I'm afraid it's too late to hurry today, and I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up if I leave tomorrow." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "There must be a beginning and an end to saving people in distress, today Eunuch Qiu returned to invite Gonggong Zhong, there should still be something to say, I will go to see Gonggong Zhong early tomorrow morning, and then we will go on the road, and we should still be able to catch up." ”

Qin Minping of the red-headed camphor boat took six foreign soldiers to carry the real silver box to weave the yamen in the afternoon, and did not come back in the evening, Zhang Yuan was determined in his heart, practiced Xiaokai in the cabin, looked at the sunset, heard the sound of Qin Minping on the shore, and put down his pen and walked out of the cabin, and saw the burly Qin Minping jump on the boat, and said: "Zhang Gongzi, I waited in the weaving department for half a day before Gonggong Zhong returned from the lake, but Gonggong Zhong refused to accept a penny of silver, how is this good?" ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "I'm saving you money, if you give five hundred taels, one thousand taels, or spend a lot of money to buy some gold and jade calligraphy and paintings, Eunuch Zhong may accept it, and you carry this big box of silver over, of course Eunuch Zhong is embarrassed to accept it - Eunuch Zhong has Qiu Chengyun to give him a gift." He said with a smile: "Zhong Gonggong is righteous, there is the style of an ancient sage, he refuses to accept money, you will build a shrine for him in the stone pillar, he is an internal official, he is afraid that no one will sacrifice after death, and he prefers the ancestral hall." ”

Qin Minping said: "But with Zhang Gongzi's orders, I will immediately go to Gonggong Zhong to make it clear, this time regardless of Gonggong Zhong's resignation, it must be built." He said, "Then Gonggong Zhong said that he wanted me to transfer the silver to Zhang Gongzi——"

Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "Don't say more, if I accept the cash, then we will break off." ”

Qin Minping didn't dare to say more, and suddenly knelt down and bowed to Zhang Yuan, and when Zhang Yuan was about to kneel down and return the salute, Qin Minping had already stood up and supported him, and said: "Zhang Gongzi, you must accept this worship, otherwise I will go to Shanyin to worship." With that, he jumped ashore and strode towards the weaving office outside the Yongjin Gate.

The boat lady cooked the meal, fish, vegetables, fresh soup, and Shaoxing wine, which was prepared for Zhang Yuan alone, although the others also had meat and vegetables, but obviously not so exquisite, Zhang Yuan didn't say anything to let Wuling, Mu Zhenzhen, and Lu Dayou eat with him, respect and humility are universal values now, he doesn't want to challenge this, he still has a lot to do - Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged, eating fresh fish, drinking wine, watching the afterglow of the sunset disappear from the canopy window, after dinner, Qin Minping came back, and came to see Zhang Yuan, followed by Eunuch Zhong's godson Xiao Gao-Qin Minping said: "Gongzi Zhang, Gonggong Zhong has repeatedly refused to build a shrine, I insist on it, Gonggong Zhong can't push it, so he said that if you want to build it, then find a quiet place to build a small shrine on the shore of this West Lake, maybe the Hangzhou people feel that he has not disturbed the people, and there will be some incense." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled secretly in his heart: "Eunuch Zhong will choose a place, I think the stone pillar is poor and remote, and the ancestral hall will be built on the shore of the West Lake." said: "Okay, Brother Qin is going to stay in Hangzhou for a while anyway, so let's build a shrine for Zhong Gong as soon as possible." ”

Xiao Gao, the godson of the eunuch Zhong, waited on the side, and waited for Zhang Yuan and Qin Minping to talk for a while, and then stepped forward and said: "Zhang Gongzi, my father-in-law has important matters to discuss, and I originally wanted to invite Zhang Gongzi to go, but I was afraid that it would delay my son's trip, so I asked Zhang Gongzi to meet now." ”

On the shore, the carriage of the weaving bureau was waiting, and two snow-white horses pulled the lavishly decorated four-wheeled carriage, like a living room.

Zhang Yuan went ashore and took a carriage to the Weaving Bureau, Mu Jingting and Mu Zhenzhen followed on foot and came to the Weaving Bureau, Zhang Yuan got off the car and followed Xiao Gao to the study in the inner courtyard of the official office to see Eunuch Zhong - Eunuch Zhong saw Zhang Yuan coming, and asked: "Zhang Gongzi, that Ma Qiancheng's brother-in-law insists on building a shrine for our family, but your idea?" ”

Zhang Yuan forked his hands and said: "Qin Minping went back first, saying that his father-in-law refused to accept gifts, so they were very upset, and they were worried about where the etiquette was not good, so they came to ask me, and I proposed that they build a shrine for their father-in-law in the stone pillar, which is not much, and can let the people know the kindness of the father-in-law, and I think the father-in-law will not blame." ”

Eunuch Zhong laughed, shook his head again and again, and said: "You are so transparent about people at a young age, and in a few years, you will be able to pay it back, do you think our family should like you or should we be afraid?" ”

Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Gonggong Zhong said, you and I are forgetful friends, even if I am a little smart, if I don't have friends to help, then what can I do." ”

Zhang Yuan's answer was both humble and clear, Eunuch Zhong was in a happy mood, and said: "Our family has been in Jiangnan for several years, and I recognize you as a friend, you are very good, and you are not greedy for money, our family asked Qin Minping to transfer the five thousand taels of silver to you, you don't want it, it's rare - to tell the truth, our family is happy to build the Jiansheng Temple, I am embarrassed to build it, wouldn't it be a beautiful thing for someone to build it on behalf of me, it is not interesting to build it on the stone pillar, is it possible that our family has to go to the mountains in the east of Sichuan to see how it is built, it is best to build it by the West Lake, our family likes the West Lake, and I also said to Qin Minping." , let them pay a thousand taels of silver, and the excess money will be paid by our family, and this is what our family wants. ”

Zhang Yuan said: "My father-in-law is the merit of West Lake, and he is already famous. ”

Eunuch Zhong was happy, his voice turned low, and said: "This time I calculated Qiu Qiancheng with you, it is really interesting, that Qiu Qiancheng also gave me three thousand taels of silver today, if I don't accept it, he is not at ease, so he has to laugh, this silver will wait for you to take a thousand taels, do not refuse, otherwise our family will not recognize you as a friend, and also, you will rush to Songjiang for fear that time is pressing, right, our family will borrow you to hand over the card, waterway, land have a post station for rest and meal, it is convenient to ask for a car or a horse, and then return the card to our house when you return." ”

(To be continued)