Wu Daonan instructed the cook to cook a few Jiangxi hometown dishes, leaving Yang Lian and Zhang Yuan for lunch, bacon, fish head, tofu, green vegetables, crockpot soup, home-cooked side dishes, unique flavor, the wine is the palace Changchun wine given by the emperor in the New Year, the dishes are fragrant and the wine is beautiful, and the three guests and hosts have a very harmonious conversation - at the beginning of the afternoon, Yang Lian and Zhang Yuan resigned, walking on the street of Taifusi Temple, the sun was shining, Zhang Yuan squinted his eyes slightly, came out of the relatively dark small courtyard, and suddenly saw a strong light, and his eyes were still a little uncomfortable - Yang Lian said: "Jiezi, I am not worthy today." , you and I will talk to you everywhere. ”

Zhang Yuan made an appointment with Eunuch Zhong to meet in Shishahai and said, "Teacher, forgive me, the student has something to do at this time, come to the teacher's apartment in the evening to wait for teaching." ”

Yang Lian felt that he had nothing to say to others, and he also asked others to do so, asking, "What's the matter with you?" ”

Zhang Yuan can teach Xiao Jinghui that everyone has their own secrets, but not for Teacher Yang, Teacher Yang will say that the gentleman is frank, so he had to reply: "Zhong Benhua, the eunuch of Ciqing Palace, is an old friend of the students when they were in Hangzhou, and they have made an appointment to meet in Shichahai in the afternoon to catch up with the old days, and the students can't break their promises." ”

Yang Lian shook his head: "That's it, then you go quickly, I'll wait for you in the Huitong Pavilion at dusk." I felt the need to remind Zhang Yuan again, and said: "Jiezi, in the future, you will have less contact with the eunuchs, so it is not good to discuss clearly, you are no longer a young scholar, but an official." ”

Zhang Yuan said duciously: "Teacher Yang has taught him a lesson, but since he has made an appointment, he can't let people wait." "Xiang Yang Lian, with Wang Da Hammer and Laifu out of the east of Taifu Temple Street, and then along the root of the imperial city to the north, on the right side of the road, the high imperial wall is the Xiyuan Taiye Pool, the wall is mottled with vermilion paint, showing the old state of the Ming Empire - because it is already the future, afraid that the eunuch Zhong has been waiting for a long time, Zhang Yuan and the three of them walked very fast, through the gray factory street, West Street, to the outer house of the eunuch Zhong of Shichahai, when passing the water pavilion behind the fire temple, I saw a silk sedan chair in front of the sedan chair, a palace person followed the sedan chair, Zhang Yuan did not care, strode over the silk drapery sedan chair, but heard a low and charming voice in the sedan chair said: "Is Zhuang Yuanlang only here now, Gonggong Zhong has been waiting for you for a long time." ”

Zhang Yuan said "ah", stopped and turned to the small sedan chair: "Guest Mama is auspicious." "This seems to be a bit of a Qing palace drama.

The carved car window was pushed open from the inside, revealing Ke Yinyue's bright and clean face, those big and charming eyes looked at Zhang Yuan, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for three months, Zhang Gongzi is already the champion and the first, and has become the sixth official of the Hanlin Academy, which is really gratifying, why doesn't Zhang Gongzi take a sedan car?" ”

Zhang Yuan followed the sedan chair and replied: "Come from the side of Taifusi Street, there are not many roads, it's good to take a walk and see the scenery." ”

"There are also six or seven miles away." Ke Yinyue glanced at Zhang Yuan with a pair of charming eyes, and saw that Zhang Yuan was tall, agile, and his legs were very strong.

Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Can Ke Yinyue, the nurse of the deep palace, enter and leave the palace so casually, she seems to have a husband and a son." Asked: "Where is Mama Ke going, is it Gong Zhong's mansion?" ”

Ke Yinyue nodded and said, "Yes, my son Hou Guoxing is from his hometown in Baoding, and he has been living in Gonggong Zhong's mansion for the past few days." ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "Yes, Gonggong Zhong hooked up with Ke Yinyue." ”

After the Fire Temple is the big courtyard of Eunuch Zhong, Wuling has been waiting here, looking at the time of Zhengwei, waiting anxiously, seeing that Zhang Yuan came from the Fire Temple, he was busy with the little attendant next to him: "Little Gao Gonggong, my young master is here." ”

Xiao Gao ran in to report the news, and when Eunuch Zhong came out, Zhang Yuan and Ke Yinyue had already arrived at the door, and Zhang Yuan arched his hand and said, "Let my father-in-law wait for a long time." ”

Eunuch Zhong said with a smile: "The miscellaneous family has only arrived for a short time, did the guest mother meet the champion halfway?" ”

Ke Yinyue got down from the sedan chair and said with a smile: "Yes, it's very polished." ”

Eunuch Zhong smiled and said to Zhang Yuan: "Zhang Hanlin, please, the miscellaneous family has set up a banquet in the back garden to congratulate the champion, do you want to have a glass of wine together?" ”

Ke Yinyue said: "How embarrassing is this. His eyes glanced at Zhang Yuan—Zhang Yuan didn't pay attention to Ke Yinyue, and he saw two people standing behind Eunuch Zhong, one was a thirty-year-old Angzang man, tall, with a long face, small but very divine eyes, and there was a kind of majesty when he stood there, and the other was a young man with a flat face, thirteen or fourteen years old, a little cowering - Zhang Yuan asked Eunuch Zhong: "Gonggong Zhong, these two are ——? ”

Eunuch Zhong looked back, and before he could answer, Ke Yinyue had already replied: "This is my brother Ke Guangxian, and this is my son Hou Guoxing-don't hurry up to salute Zhuangyuanlang, this year's new champion is hot." ”

The Angzang man and the flat-faced boy came over to salute Zhang Yuan, and Zhang Yuan returned the salute: "It turned out to be Brother Ling and Ling Lang of Mama Ke, then let's have a drink together." ”

Ke Yinyue's younger brother Ke Guang bowed down first and said: "The champion has tormented the villain, how dare the villain dare to sit at the same table with the champion prince." ”

Eunuch Zhong and Zhang Yuan said that they didn't want anyone to disturb them, Ke Yinyue's younger brother was a farmer, where could he get on the table, and said: "Mama Ke wants to reunite with her son and brother to talk, and the miscellaneous family has prepared another table of wine for them to drink." With that, he took Zhang Yuan's hand and entered the inner hall.

Three years ago in the weaving department outside the Golden Gate of Hangzhou City, Eunuch Zhong had held Zhang Yuan's hand to send Zhang Yuan to the car, at that time it was Eunuch Zhong to show his grace and invite the name, is the love and elegance of the superior, but time has passed, the current Zhang Yuan is not the child of the year, but the world's famous new champion, Eunuch Zhong befriended Zhang Yuan has been a little high, so that Eunuch Zhong is satisfied: Zhang Yuan still attaches great importance to his friendship, although the champion and the first, but the look is as modest as before, without a trace of arrogance, this is really a great person—— The banquet is set up in the small hall of the side courtyard, a yellow rosewood dining table, two futons, a pot of imperial wine on the dining table, a few kinds of Jiangnan-style fine side dishes, the small hall is outside the window is the blooming begonia, the afternoon sun is strong, reflecting the blooming begonias, the eyes are full of delicate and tender red, such as the lips of countless girls - the elegant eunuch Zhong Benhua knelt on the futon on the right and said: "The miscellaneous family knows that Zhang Hanlin has had lunch, now eat casually, the miscellaneous family has something to ask Zhang Hanlin for advice." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I have always wanted to come over to thank Gonggong Zhong, but I can't be empty, if the edict of Shandong disaster relief a few years ago is not so fast if my father-in-law does not contribute to it, my father-in-law's move, there are countless living people, outsiders don't know the benevolence and righteousness of my father-in-law, but Zhang Yuan knows." ”

Eunuch Zhong listened to Zhang Yuan say this, smiled from ear to ear, Shandong disaster relief will was issued, he did contribute to it, but this kind of thing can't be publicized to people, and it is very painful to be famous if he does good deeds, and now he listens to Zhang Yuan praise him, he is really overjoyed, and said modestly: "The miscellaneous family can't make any effort to burn the cold stove, and only said a few words to Lu Xiang." "The palace called the eunuch who was the master of ceremonies was the internal minister, and the first assistant of the cabinet was the foreign minister.

Zhang Yuan said: "Some people do not seek their own politics in their positions, and their father-in-law is calm, and sooner or later there will be a time to seek their own government." ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "The miscellaneous family is calm, but the palace is fighting openly and secretly, and the miscellaneous family only wants peace at the moment." Suddenly, he asked: "I heard that Uncle Zheng Guo's son Yulin Wei Qianhu Zheng Yang has a relationship with Zhang Hanlin?" ”

There are only two people in the small hall, Zhang Yuan and Eunuch Zhong, two maids and maids stand outside the corridor, Laifu and Wang Dazhui stand in the courtyard, and the afternoon time is very quiet - Zhang Yuan smiled: "I first entered Beijing, what kind of friendship do I have with him Zheng's family, and the Dadian said, Zheng Yang's surname visited me in my brother-in-law's house, and said that he would give me a courtyard. ”

Eunuch Zhong laughed, relieved, and said bluntly: "What the miscellaneous family wants to ask Zhang Hanlin for advice today is that it has been rumored in Beijing recently that Uncle Zheng Guo's father and son and Concubine Zheng Guifei will murder the East Palace, and everyone in the East Palace is in danger. ”

Zhang Yuan frowned, the three words "Attack Case" almost blurted out, he remembered the three major cases of the late Ming Dynasty very clearly, the Attack Case happened in the forty-third year of Wanli, that is, it should have happened last year, could it be that history has quietly changed, the attack case has been postponed, and the wind and clouds will meet, waiting for me Zhang Yuan to participate?

Knocking on the side of Eunuch Zhong, sure enough, there was only a demon book case and no attack case before, Zhang Yuan nodded secretly, and said: "Don't worry, father-in-law, although the emperor doesn't like the East Palace, but he can't tolerate such things, father-in-law is diligent day and night, and reminds the East Palace to be careful when entering and exiting the door." ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "The miscellaneous family knows that the young master is also very cautious now, it is not summoned by the long live master, the young master is staying in the Ciqing Palace. Seeing that Zhang Ye was frowning and pondering, he asked, "What did Zhang Hanlin think of?" ”

Zhang Yuan was thinking about the causes and consequences of the attack case in the late Ming Dynasty, and he always felt incredible, the person who broke into Ciqing Palace with a stick to kill the crown prince Zhu Changluo was instigated by Zheng Guifei and Zheng Guotai father and son? If it was instigated by the Zheng family, then the Zheng family was too stupid to instruct such a crazy and stupid person to break in recklessly and kill Zhu Changluo? Where are the martial arts masters who fly the eaves and walk the walls, where are the fierce and brave Jiangyang thieves, why don't you find two to assassinate the prince?

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan laughed at himself, this is not a martial arts novel, listening to Eunuch Zhong ask him what he thinks, of course he can't tell Eunuch Zhong what will happen in the case, and changed the topic: "I'm thinking about Mama Ke's younger brother, is it really a farmer in Baoding Mansion?" ”

Eunuch Zhong didn't understand why Zhang Yuan suddenly talked about Keguangxian, and replied: "Of course it's a farmer, and Mama Ke's husband Hou Er is also a farmer, and they are all farmers." ”

Zhang Yuan asked, "Where is Hou Er?" ”

Eunuch Zhong said: "It's dead, Ke Yinyue's husband Hou Er died in the second year of entering the palace, and the palace is looking for a nurse to have a husband and children, otherwise don't, if Hou Er dies a year early, Ke Yinyue will not be able to enter the palace, and it is precisely because Hou Er died, so Ke Yinyue has been staying in the palace, and her brother is also attached to her, otherwise she would have been sent out of the palace and back to Baoding." ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "This is really a coincidence." said: "I see that Mama Ke's younger brother is extraordinary, and he may be able to get ahead in the future." ”

Eunuch Zhong said with a smile: "If she can get the champion to praise her younger brother, Ke Yinyue will definitely be overjoyed - Zhang Gongzi also understands the art of Xiangren Bingjian?" ”

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "I understand a little, I understand a little, but my father-in-law can use my words to please the guest grandmother." Asked: "Is my father-in-law eating with my grandmother today?" ”

Eunuch Zhong was slightly embarrassed and said: "Gentlemen don't take advantage of people, the Wei Dynasty has a good relationship with the miscellaneous family, besides, the Wei Dynasty is younger than the miscellaneous family——"

Zhang Yuanxin said: "It's just food, it's not husband and wife, they are both eunuchs, how much does it matter if they are not young, besides, Wei Jinzhong is older than you and Wei Chao, and when the Hakka and Wei Jinzhong fight hotly, then you will have no fun with the old bell." This is not good to say to Eunuch Zhong, so he had to say: "Okay, Gonggong Zhong and Mama Ke just need to have a good relationship, Gonggong Zhong must not be regarded as idle, this is indeed very important." ”

Zhang Yuan repeatedly told him, of course Eunuch Zhong didn't dare to be the wind in his ears, but he followed Zhang Yuan's advice to come to Ciqing Palace to burn the cold stove, and said: "The miscellaneous family knows, hasn't the miscellaneous family been much closer to the guest grandmother recently." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "That's good, that's good." ”

Eunuch Zhong patted his head, raised his wine glass and said: "Patronizing and talking, I haven't congratulated the champion yet, come, the miscellaneous family respects the champion with a glass." ”

The two raised their glasses, drank them all, and looked at each other and laughed.

Eunuch Zhong remembered something and said: "Gongzi Zhang, the miscellaneous family has been getting along with Ke Yinyue a lot recently, and found that she is likely to be literate, but when the miscellaneous family asked her, she said that she was illiterate, she was just a peasant woman and had never read——"

At this moment, I heard the voice of Ke Yinyue from the small gate of the side courtyard: "Gonggong Zhong, can the little woman come and toast to Zhuang Yuanlang?" ”

Zhang Yuan whispered to Eunuch Zhong: "Father-in-law will pay more attention in the future, ask less and see more-please let her in." ”

Eunuch Zhong nodded, got up and instructed the maid standing under the corridor: "Invite Mama in." ”

In the late spring of the capital, the weather has warmed up significantly, and the tall and sturdy Ke Yinyue walked in, combing a high bun, wearing a purple sunflower palace skirt, revealing a snow-white lining in the collar, purple and white, it is very good-looking, and the body of Ke Yinyue in the winter skirt is even more abundant and attractive - as soon as Ke Yinyue entered the small hall, Xiao Gao ran in and shouted: "Godfather, the prince has something urgent, please return to the palace immediately." ”

Wang Gonggong is the eunuch Wang An, the companion of the crown prince Zhu Changluo, who is loyal and is the eunuch that Zhu Changluo relies on the most, so when Eunuch Zhong heard that Wang An was looking for him urgently, he didn't dare to delay, and said to Zhang Yuanzuo: "Zhang Gongzi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, the miscellaneous family has something to go back to the palace first-does the guest mother want to go back with the miscellaneous family?" ”

Ke Yinyue said: "I'm not in a hurry, my father-in-law should go back quickly, don't let the prince wait for a long time." ”

Eunuch Zhong hurriedly left, and Zhang Yuan said to Ke Yinyue: "Ke Mama sits less, and she will go back next." ”

Ke Yinyue's eyes were full of water, and she said: "The little woman hasn't given Zhuangyuanlang a glass of wine yet, Zhuangyuanlang won't be unappreciative." ”

Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "This woman has a pretentious attitude like Pan Jinlian, she really doesn't look like a peasant woman, it is impossible to learn so foxy in the palace, is she hungry and thirsty for a long time or has other intentions?" ”

Zhang Yuan had a strong feeling that the identity of this guest Yinyue was not simple, and it was probably not the truth that Shi Zaike Yinyue was a peasant woman in Baoding.

(To be continued)