The bitter fragrance mixed with mugwort leaves, calamus, and pomegranate flowers came up with the water vapor, and entered the nose, with a slightly drunken feeling, Zhang Yuan wiped the sweat on his forehead, and raised his head to Mu Zhenzhen behind him: "I am sweating profusely in the bath on this hot day, and any evil cold, dampness, poison, and filth are all gone." Saying that, he stood up, and the water in the bath bucket suddenly fell - a pair of clogs were placed on the side of the bucket, Zhang Yuan stepped out of the bath bucket, stepped on the clogs, took the cloth towel handed by Mu Zhenzhen to wipe his body, and raised his eyes to look at Mu Zhenzhen who was close at hand, Mu Zhenzhen also used a cloth towel to help him wipe his body, and there was a smile on the corner of his mouth, so he asked: "Zhenzhen, what are you laughing at?" ”

Mu Zhenzhen hurriedly shook his head and said, "The maid didn't laugh." Seeing a few mugwort leaves and pomegranate petals sticking to Zhang Yuan's chest and abdomen, he reached out and pushed them away, his eyes swept between Zhang Yuan's crotch, and he thought: "Will it soak up in the water, every time it is like this-"

Zhang Yuan smiled: "Where are your eyes looking?" ”

Mu Zhenzhen's face turned red in an instant, and he said half-ashamedly and half-angrily: "Where did you see it, it's not that you haven't seen it, it's so rare." "I have served Zhang Yuan for three years, and Zhang Yuan is easy-going, so Mu Zhenzhen sometimes makes a little joke to the young master.

A servant's voice came from outside the bathroom door: "Auntie, there are several guests visiting." ”

Zhang Yuan responded: "Okay, I'll be there soon, please wait." ”

Mu Zhenzhen hurriedly kneaded Zhang Yuan's hair, helped Zhang Yuan tie his hair, wear a good Zhongjing crown, and wear a good Zhongjing suit, which is the crown dress of the Jingguan Yanju above the seventh grade formulated by Jiajing, the Zhongjing crown is a black gauze hat, the gold thread is pressed above the fourth grade, and the light gray line is used below the fourth grade, and the robes are all dark cyan silk or leno, the third grade or above is clouded, and the fourth grade is below the plain ground, lined with jade dark clothes, which looks both refreshing and magnificent-Zhang Yuan sat on the stool and wore plain white socks, and said: "The matter of the Yuhe Bridgehead has been spread, It's good, it's good. ”

Mu Zhenzhen saw that the young master's forehead was still sweating, so he held a Shanxi pu fan to fan the young master, and the smile was on his lips again, thinking: "The young master is a humble gentleman, he has always been framed by others, but now he will frame others, great, Yao Zhu's cousin is very hateful, and he wants to use my father to accidentally startle his horse to embarrass the young master, and it is still light to pour him a few mouthfuls of water, and the young master is now the life-saving benefactor of Yao's cousin——"

Zhang Yuan put on his socks and stood up, and when he saw Mu Zhenzhen's smiling appearance, he reached out and pinched Mu Zhenzhen's sturdy porcelain white cheek, and said, "Don't laugh, be serious." He took the fan and went out with a smile.

In the front hall outside the second door, the lights were bright, Shang Zhouzuo accompanied Qi Chengjiao and Qi Biaojia father and son, Zhang Lianfang and Zhang Dai's uncle and nephew, as well as Wen Zhenmeng, Qian Shisheng, Ni Yuanlu, Huang Zunsu and others drinking tea in the hall.

Zhang Yuan looked very helpless, and said: "Thank you for your concern, I didn't know why Yao gave me a fierce questioning of arson and murder, and then interrogated my maid Mu Zhenzhen, but it turned out that at the beginning of the month, Mu Zhenzhen and his father were shopping on Dengshi Street, and accidentally startled the horse that Yao was driving, and the horse knocked down two people, and suffered some minor injuries, but the action was unhindered, and the two people were afraid of Yao's official authority, and they didn't dare to entangle Yao to do things, but they asked my maid for twenty taels of silver, how could my maid have so much silver, I was so frightened that I ran away with my father, this is what happened, but I didn't expect that after a long time, Yao Zhishi recognized Mu Zhenzhen at the bridge, so he used this incident to question me, and said that he wanted to impeach me for not being strict with the emperor and committing murder. ”

Mu Zhenzhen has white Hun blood, long blond hair, white skin and blue eyes, it is indeed easier to identify, Wen Zhenmeng, Qian Shisheng and others all shook their heads, and said: "Yao Zongwen is also making too much of a fuss, it is obviously deliberately making things difficult." ”

Zhang Dai sneered: "Yao gave something to ask for the people's life, what a crime of arson and murder, his cousin Yao Fu took over the lawsuit in Shanyin, forced the widow to death, encroached on people's land, and bought murder, he didn't say a word, only said that it had nothing to do with him, but some small disputes on the street, he was filled with righteous indignation!" ”

While talking, there were guests to visit, but it was Yang Lian and Hong Chengchou, talking about the Yuhe bridgehead, Zhang Yuan said: "I am also young and vigorous, so I argue with Yao Fu, and it is indispensable to mention Yao Fu's matter, that Yao is like thunder when he is on the matter, so he came to push me, and it was by the Jade River, there was that kind of accident, I rescued him, but he accused me of pushing him into the water, which really made me difficult to argue." ”

Yang Lian said loudly: "What's so difficult to distinguish this, Yao Zongwen was exposed by you, he was annoyed and angry, the cause and effect of the matter are clear at a glance, and I will impeach Yao Zongwen in a clear way." ”

Zhang Yuan said euphemistically: "Mr. Yang is a house tester in my township, and at this time, he took the lead in impeaching Yao, I'm afraid he will be criticized." ”

Yang Lian said: "Right and wrong, there is a judgment, is it because you were recommended by my township test, I have to avoid suspicion, what is the official, advise, make up, pick up the legacy, go up to the main morality, down the police officer evil, how can there be so many scruples." ”

The incident at the head of the Yuhe bridge made Yang Lian extremely excited, Yao Zongwen is the head of the Zhejiang Party, and he made the greatest contribution to the impeachment of Li Sancai in the case of destroying corruption and forming a party, and spared no effort to attack the Donglin party, but this time he was so out of shape with the young junior Zhang Yuan, presumably Zhang Yuan deliberately used words to provoke Yao Zongwen, so that Yao Zongwen was in a bad mood, and he fell into the river to make such a big ugly, Zhang Yuan rescued him, but he accused Zhang Yuan in front of the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Taichang Temple, and the General Political Division. A great opportunity to attack - Zhang Yuan said: "Then Yao said that unless I don't make any mistakes like a saint, he will impeach me, and say that I can be impeached if I form a society to discuss politics, gather people to discuss affairs, etc., etc., etc., are all impeachable by him." ”

Wen Zhenmeng, Hong Chengchou, Huang Zunsu, Ni Yuanlu, these colleagues of the Han Society were annoyed, Wen Zhenmeng said: "Although he is in the middle of everything, he has not yet covered the sky with one hand, he is not right, but he blames others in every way, which is ridiculous!" ”

Qi Chengjiao opened his mouth and said: "He is not the only one in the matter, there are six people in the matter, and there are two people on the left and right in each section, and dozens of people in the rest are given to the matter. ”

The late Ming Dynasty party is not distinct, a party often only has three or five core personnel, and then there are some peripheral forces gathered around them, these peripheral forces do not have a clear position, often on the matter, or see the wind to make the rudder, play a strong role, Qi Chengjiao, Shang Zhouzuo Although they were not the core backbone of the Zhejiang Party, they are also peripheral personnel, and now, they are completely on Zhang Yuan's side - when it is nearly a drum, can not be delayed for a long time, Qi Chengjiao, Zhang Lianfang, Yang Lian, Wen Zhenmeng and others comforted Zhang Yuan, Declined the invitation of Shang Zhou Zuo to stay for a banquet, rushed back to his apartment before the curfew, living in the inner city is so troublesome, and the outer city is generally not subject to curfew restrictions, there are many officials living in the outer city, fireworks and wine lanes, buy spring and get drunk are mostly in the outer city, convenient for doing business at night - after the guests go, Zhang Yuan used dinner, pacing alone between the two large lotus jars in the courtyard, the lotus pavilions in the jar are slim and elegant, secretly spitting fragrant, under the light of the east and west wings, like the ink lotus picture painted by Wang Wei, Jinglan stands on the steps, Jing Hui walks to the lotus jar, whispered, "Little uncle—"

"Well, what's the matter?" Zhang Yuan stopped, turned to look at Jing Hui, whose head was flush with the lotus pot, the little girl's eyes were dark and shining, and she was wearing a plain gown after bathing, with her hair hanging down, and her white little face lined with black hair, which was very cute.

Jing Hui asked: "I want to ask my uncle if he likes the capital?" "The little girl looked very serious.

Zhang Yuan pondered for a while and replied: "I don't like it very much, I prefer our hometown Shaoxing, Shanyin and Huiji, this side of the Fuhe River is Shanyin, and the other side is Huiji, which is Jinghui's home, it's really good." ”

"That's it." Jing Hui was happy all of a sudden, and nodded like a chicken pecking rice: "My sister and I don't like the capital, I really want to go back to my hometown, I used to spend the summer with my sister and my little aunt in White Horse Mountain, and we can also take a boat, there are many places to play, and my little aunt also taught us to recite poetry and play the piano——"

Jing Lan on the steps said: "My little aunt will come to the capital in a few months." ”

Jing Hui sighed and said, "My little aunt also came to the capital, so we can't go back." ”

Zhang Yuan put his hands on his knees, bent down to look at Jing Hui, and asked, "Why is Xiao Hui in such a bad mood today?" ”

Jing Hui said: "I just think that the capital is not good, Zhang Gongzi's brother was framed as soon as he arrived in the capital, and he almost fell off the list, today, this happened again, and tomorrow who knows what will happen, so this is not a good place." Seeing that Zhang Yuan was smiling, he asked: "Little uncle, what do you think is the reason for working hard to get the champion and become an official?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "In order to one day be able to return to Shanyin and enjoy the blessings under the forest." ”

Jing Hui opened his eyes wide and said: "Didn't Brother Zhang Gongzi enjoy Qingfu in Shanyin before, visiting the garden, taking a boat with my aunt, and going to the Sea Dragon King Temple to watch the competition club, how happy he is, why did he work hard to become an official but to go back?" The little girl was confused.

Zhang Yuan laughed, remembering a short article he had read before, a tourist went to the beach and saw a fisherman napping in the warm sun, so he asked the fisherman why he didn't go out to sea to fish, the fisherman said that he had caught fish yesterday, enough to spend these days, the tourist envisioned a good future for the fisherman, said that if the fisherman fishes every time, he can save money to change a big boat after three years, and then the big boat will change to a big boat, and after a few decades, he can have a fleet, and the fisherman asked what about having a fleet. The tourist said that then you would be able to bask in the sun without doing anything, and the fisherman said, "Am I not basking in the sun at this time, why wait until decades from now?" ”

Zhang Yuan told this story to Jinglan and Jinghui, Jinglan pursed her lips and smiled, Jinghui smiled "Gege" and said, "Yes, why did my little uncle go around in such a big circle." ”

Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles, and only after a big circle outside did you know that it was better to be in your hometown." ”

Jing Hui nodded, felt reasonable, and said very seriously: "Then one day my little uncle is tired and wants to go back, bring me with me, I'm tired here." ”

Jinglan said: "What are you tired of, there are still many famous places in the capital that you haven't played, Xiaohui has not gone out for a long time, and I just want to go out to play." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "I see, don't worry, when your little aunt comes, let her take you out to play." ”

…… Yao Zongwen's house is near the Yaowang Temple outside the Chongwen Gate, not far from the mansion of Zhou Yingqiu, who has been hanged, when Qi Chengyi, Zhang Lianfang and the people of the Han Society visited Zhang Yuan, Yao Zongwen's house also came to four visitors, namely Liu Tingyuan, the imperial history of Shaanxi Province of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Hu Shixiang of Langzhong of the Criminal Department, these two are the core figures of the Zhejiang Party, and the third visitor is Zhou Yongchun in the Like Capital, Zhou Yongchun and Qi Shijiao are both the leaders of the Qi Party, and the other is the surname of Yulin Wei Qianhu Zheng Yang.

Yao Zongwen was sent back to the outer city house after a simple diagnosis and treatment by the medical officer of Tai Hospital, at this time he was half-leaning and half-lying on a bamboo couch, a small case next to the couch, and a bowl of sour jujube kernel soup was placed on the desk, which was prescribed by the medical officer, which was used to suppress the shock and calm the nerves, Liu Tingyuan, Hu Shixiang, and Zhou Yongchun were still wearing the civil official clothes of sitting in the hall to watch things, and Zheng Yang's surname was the Xiong Zhen official uniform of the Wupin military attaché, and the four of them sat on the bamboo couch, and watched Yao Zongwen drink sour jujube soup, Yao Zongwen still cherished his body very much, and the medicine should be drunk while it was hot, and the body was cured early. Only then did he have the energy to deal with Zhang Yuan's kid - the medicinal soup burned his mouth, Yao Zongwen drank it in small sips, Liu Tingyuan and the three of them were very patient, although they were anxious, they still waited silently, Zheng Yang's surname was impatient, and said: "Yao Zhishi, you have always been thoughtful, how can you be provoked by Zhang Yuan today and do such an undignified thing!" ”

Yao Zongwen didn't speak, continued to drink the soup, drank so much that his face was flushed, his head was sweating, he put down the bowl, wiped his sweat with a sweat towel, and said slowly: "Do you also think that I, Yao Zongwen, will be stupid enough to push and fight with Zhang Yuan in public?" ”

Liu Tingyuan whispered: "Brother Yao, what is going on, tell me, I don't believe that Brother Yao will be so unwise." ”

Yao Zongwen said: "I did have a dispute with Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yuan's slave was rampant, I stepped forward to accuse him twice, he brought out some old things of my brother to slander me, these are all things I expected, but I never expected him to push me into the river and pick me up and pretend to be my benefactor, so that Zhang Wenda and others believe it——"

Speaking of this, Yao Zongwen's voice trembled a little, with bitter hatred and deep jealousy, and said in a deep voice: "This person is not only cunning, but also contemptuous of law and etiquette, and actually used this kind of scoundrel means to frame me, if this person is not removed, he will be a thief of the country." ”

Liu Tingyuan and the four looked at each other.

Zheng Yang's surname said: "Yao gives things, I and a few others naturally believe you, but I'm afraid that most of the people in the government and the opposition don't believe you, and you have to try to defend yourself." ”

Yao Zongwen had a calm face and was silent, he now regretted that he was in a hurry to defend in front of Zhang Wenda and others that it was Zhang Yuan who pushed him into the water, Zhang Wenda and others obviously did not believe it, but thought that he would take revenge on him with contempt, the only feasible way at that time was to pretend to be unconscious, and say some intermittent words in a coma to expose Zhang Yuan's sinister intentions, only in this way could Zhang Wenda and others suspect Zhang Yuan, but at that time, things were in a hurry, he was angry, he really couldn't think so much, he was only anxious to defend, But he fell deeper and deeper into Zhang Yuan's trap - thinking of this, the sweat on Yao Zongwen's head became denser, Zhang Yuan came up with such a poisonous plan in a short period of time and quickly implemented it, this kind of decisiveness is really chilling.

Hu Shixiang of the Criminal Department asked: "Brother Yao, since Zhang Yuan pushed you into the water, there were people coming and going on West Chang'an Street at that time, how could there be no one who saw the truth?" ”

Yao Zongwen said: "At that time, Zhang Yuan looked east with a surprised look, and attracted the attention of the onlookers at the bridge, so he started to pull me, but I hated my two stupid servants, and under Zhang Butang's questioning, they said that they didn't see it clearly, and they didn't know how to try their best to defend the master's truth regardless of whether they saw it clearly or not, alas! ”

Hu Shixiang also knew that it was difficult to justify this matter, even if a passer-by saw Zhang Yuan dragging Yao Zongwen down the river at that time, but he did not come out to testify at the scene, and he could not testify afterwards, and he would only be recognized as Yao Zongwen fabricating and framing Zhang Yuan, this matter can no longer be cleared, and sighed: "Brother Yao is also in a hurry, Zhang Yuan's servant hit and injured someone, Brother Yao went to accuse Zhang Yuan in person, it is enough to startle the snake and be bitten by the snake." ”

Yao Zongwen frowned and was silent, and admitted in his heart that his surname was in a hurry, Zhang Yuan's victory in the trial fraud case made him very angry, and now he found that it was Zhang Yuan's servant who shocked him in the Dengshi Street at the bridgehead of the North Bridge of Yuhe, and he couldn't hold back for a while, and he wanted to refute Zhang Yuan's face in front of Guo Shu, Zhou Yanru and other word officials, a confrontation came down, Zhang Yuan's face was not damaged at all, but he was embarrassed, and he also ended up with a bad year of revenge, if this reputation cannot be recovered, then he should be the end of the official, and he can foresee it without pinching his fingers, There will be no shortage of impeachment of him, and the case of his cousin Yao Fu will also be reopened, and the Donglin Party has been waiting for this opportunity - the glass lamp on the case is dim, and the room is very quiet, but everyone's mood is extremely uncalm.

Yao Zongwen said: "Zhang Yuan is cunning, I underestimated the enemy and was sloppy, but the matter has come to this point, how to remedy it?" ”

Liu Tingyuan, the imperial historian of Shaanxi Province, said: "Brother Yao will temporarily recuperate from illness for a few days, see how the situation changes, and then make a decision. ”

Hu Shixiang shook his head and said: "This Zhang Yuan is simply my Zhejiang Party nemesis, he is Zhang Rulin's grandson and Shang Zhouzuo's sister-in-law, but he fell to Donglin's side to deal with us, a single Zhang Yuan is actually nothing, whether he is the champion or not, Hanlin, the key is these complex relationships behind him, originally Shang Zhouzuo as the Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is my Zhejiang Party cadre, and he also contributed to the Xiong Yanbi case, but now he is estranged from us." ”

"Nemesis?" Zheng Yang's surname disagreed: "A new Ke Hanlin with no foundation dares to be called a nemesis, Liu Yushi is too long, others are ambitious to destroy their own prestige, the wind is guided by people, Yao has already made it clear that Zhang Yuan pushed him into the water, how can he suffer a dumb loss and just admit it, I will let my subordinates spread the truth everywhere, Zhang Yuan's pretentiousness is flawed, and smart people will see through it - and Lord Yao, if you are healthy, you should go to the Sixth Branch Corridor as usual, and you must not be soft to Zhang Yuan." ”

(To be continued)