Although the rain has stopped, the clouds have not dispersed, the sky is still unclear, Zhang Yuan's eyesight is not good, only roughly feel that the short-shirted man riding the horse is a little familiar, just waiting to look closely, the short-clothed man riding a high-headed horse has seen Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhen Allah, turned over and dismounted, strode over and arched his hands: "How did Zhang Gongzi arrive, and he was about to meet Zhang Gongzi." He turned his head to the brocade guard and said, "Brother Bi, this is Gongzi Zhang who Xing Gonggong wants to see." ”

The Jinyi Wei Baihu surnamed Bi hurriedly got off the horse to greet him, and said: "Since Zhang Gongzi has arrived at the door, why don't you go in, Gonggong Xing has long been looking forward to Zhang Gongzi's arrival-by the way, it is these sergeants who don't report to Zhang Gongzi, right?" "Angry, I was going to go over to punish the four gatekeepers, which was naturally to give Zhang Yuan face.

The four sergeants were already stunned when they saw that Bi Baihu and Liu Zhangban were respectful to this young scholar, and at this time, when they saw Bi Baihu coming in a grand manner, they hurriedly knelt down and pleaded guilty - Zhang Yuan hurriedly said: "Master Bi, don't punish them, those who don't know are not guilty, and they didn't bring a name post here, so they can't be blamed." ”

Zhang Yuan just received the cold reception of these sergeants, and his heart must be unhappy, but he will never want to fake the prestige of Bi Baihu to vent his anger to these sergeants, this is completely unnecessary, in vain makes people hold grudges, a person yearns for the distance and the sky, if he is struck by a small pebble under his feet, he will stop stepping on it, it is really speechless - that Bi Baihu saw Zhang Yuan say this, and praised: "Zhang Gongzi is magnificent, which is admirable." He shouted to the four gatekeepers: "I haven't thanked Zhang Gongzi yet." ”

When the four gatekeepers saw that Zhang Yuan was still interceding for them, they hurriedly thanked them repeatedly.

Zhang Yuan arched his hand to the Liu Zhangban and said: "In the future, I want to return to the country to confront Mao Jiancheng, and Li Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites wants to inquire about this matter, so I will rush to see Gonggong Xing first." ”

The Liu Zhangban, who was dressed as a short-shirted servant, invited Bi Baihu to accompany Zhang Yuan in the foyer of Yimen, he entered the hall first, and walked out quickly when he didn't move, and said: "Zhang Gongzi, Gonggong Xing personally greeted him." ”

Zhang Yuan stood up, and saw Xing Long, the Nanjing garrison eunuch with a python and jade belt, out of the Yimen surrounded by a group of attendants. ”

Eunuch Xing smiled with a tattoo on his face, stepped forward to hold Zhang Yuan's hand and said: "Gongzi Zhang, the miscellaneous family has specially prepared a luncheon for you, but Xiaoliu replied that you can't come for the time being, and the miscellaneous family is planning to raise a glass to drink alone, but it has no intention of exciting, and I am happy that Zhang Gongzi has arrived, please, please." ”

Zhang Yuan said again that he was going to go to the Guozijian from time to time, and Eunuch Xing had already received the report from Liu Zhangban, and sneered at the corner of his mouth: "Does an eight-rank eunuch dare to be so powerful, relying on Song Shimian to support him-Zhang Gongzi rest assured, the miscellaneous family has a plan, and he will let Zhang Gongzi vent his evil anger." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Thank you father-in-law for your concern, I don't dare to bother my father-in-law to come forward in this matter." ”

Eunuch Xing didn't say much about the country's eunuch, took Zhang Yuan's hand, and welcomed Zhang Yuan into the dormitory, one side of the dormitory is the dining room, richly decorated, and there is really a table of wine in the small dining room on the left, especially sweets, because Eunuch Xing likes sweets, and asked Zhang Yuan diligently if he likes sweets?

Zhang Yuan said: "When I was born in my later years, I had an eye disease, and a famous doctor told me not to eat too much sweet. ”

When Eunuch Xing heard Zhang Yuan say this, he wanted to order someone to remove the banquet to another table, Zhang Yuan was afraid of delaying time, so he hurriedly said: "You don't need to change it, just enter the table, I am really hungry in my later life." ”

Eunuch Xing laughed sharply, invited Zhang Yuan to take a seat, glanced at Mu Zhenzhen, who followed Zhang Yuan inch, and ordered a maid to lead Mu Zhenzhen down to eat, Mu Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yuan said: "You go down, I have something to talk about with Gonggong Xing." ”

After Mu Zhenzhen went down, the other waiters in the small dining room also retreated one after another, only Zhang Yuan and the old eunuch Xing Long, and there was a table of wine and food, the tableware was a gold plate, a double tiger cup, these gold and jade utensils, it is said that only the wine notes and wine cups of the princes and the first and second grade officials can use gold, and the eunuch Xing is only a fourth grade, and he has no right to use gold, but these rules in the late Ming Dynasty have long been broken, and even the merchants wear gold and jade when they are rich, and no one cares about this anymore - Eunuch Xing first introduced the dishes to Zhang Yuan, all of which are court dishes, and the wine is also the palace wine Golden Stem Dew, Zhang Yuan excused himself and said that he would go to Guozijian later, and he didn't dare to drink, but Eunuch Xing was gracious, raised his glass and said: "I have been studying in Guozijian in my later life, and I don't hear anything outside the window, but today I see my father-in-law's seal hall shining and happy. ”

Eunuch Xing put away his smile, looked solemn, raised his glass and drank it all, and avoided the table to salute Zhang Yuan: "If you have to be instructed by your son this time, I am afraid that the miscellaneous family will have been demoted to Fengyang to guard the vegetable garden." ”

Zhang Yuan hurriedly got up and said: "Father-in-law must not be polite, the late life is just a staff member for the father-in-law, how dare you take credit." ”

The guest and the host re-seated, Eunuch Xing told Zhang Yuan how to fight openly and secretly with the surname of the Nanjing Military Department in the past month, and rushed the post between the two capitals, there were several messages between the two capitals, and the eunuch Xing mainly went to two songs, the first was prepared by Zhang Yuan on behalf of him, and then the eunuch Lu Shou saw what the emperor meant, Emperor Wanli was worried about the king of Fu out of Beijing, Zheng Guifei said that she was talking at night, and she didn't care about the opening of the imperial tomb ten years ago———— if no one mentioned it, then Xing Long would not be in trouble, But the impeachment of the surname of the Nanjing Military Department of the Ministry of War arrived immediately, and the eunuch Lu Shouxian, the eunuch of the master of ceremonies, pressed the surname Lou, and under the instruction of Lu Shou, Xing Long went on the second note, which simply borrowed the name of Xuannu Feng Shui, saying that the white magnolia was planted all over the line of Xiaoling Case Mountain, so that the pattern of the jade belt lingering and the jade several horizontal qins could make the country long and the monarch increase his longevity, and said that this was the suggestion of the Jinling Feng Shui master, and whether it was feasible to ask Emperor Wanli for instructions?

At that time, local officials and village elders often offered auspicious rui to the emperor, what Hesheng double spikes, and sweet springs in the ground were auspicious, so it was not uncommon for Eunuch Xing to suggest that Xiaoling Mountain plant a line of magnolias, Emperor Wanli looked at Eunuch Xing's recital, and instructed not to disturb the feng shui pattern of the imperial mausoleum, and then said, Eunuch Lu read the surname of the Nanjing Military Department to Emperor Wanli, and the surname Lou accused Eunuch Xing of digging Jubao Mountain to hurt the emperor's mausoleum, which was extremely serious, and said that Eunuch Xing was a great rebellion and a great crime...... Xing Long had served Emperor Wanli before, Emperor Wanli still knew Xing Long well, believed in Xing Long's loyalty, and had Xing Long's performance first, and then saw the surname Lou This kind of music was very disgusted, and the instructions said that the surname Lou was alarmist, slandered the ministers, and ordered the surname Lou to be dismissed, and Xu Guandao was idle - this edict has not yet arrived in Nanjing, Lu Shou reported to Xing Long urgently, Xing Long's heart that had been hanging for nearly a month finally let go, think about if there was no Zhang Yuan's suggestion, but according to his own negligence, then the guilt would be confirmed, Even if the emperor Kaien will not cure him of the crime of great rebellion, he can't escape from sending Fengyang to purify the army, so he is very grateful to Zhang Yuan's virtue, and now he asked Zhang Yuan to tell Zhang Yuan about it, and said: "Zhang Gongzi's virtue, the miscellaneous family has a sense of guilt, and the miscellaneous family wants to express their gratitude to Zhang Gongzi, but I don't know what Zhang Gongzi likes, but where the miscellaneous family has, the son can speak." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "The father-in-law is too polite, what merit does the late life dare to be rewarded by the father-in-law, the father-in-law does the policy of relaxing business and benefiting the people, Nanjing Shishu is happy, and the late life is also happy, the father-in-law should not mention the word thank you again, it is the honor of the late life to be able to work for the father-in-law." ”

Zhang Yuan did not take credit for it, and his attitude was humble, which made Eunuch Xing very happy, and sighed: "Today, I know that the words of Gonggong Zhong praising you are not half a lie, you are young and virtuous, and there are too few of them." He raised his glass and said: "The miscellaneous family respects Zhang Gongzi with a cup, just this one." ”

A young prisoner and an elderly eunuch talked for a long time, quite speculative, Zhang Yuan saw that the hour was not early, got up and said: "Father-in-law, the late student will be driven back to the Guozi prison, and Li Shangshu will come to the prison to inspect." ”

Xing Long didn't stay long, sent Zhang Yuan out of the door, and said: "It's in a hurry today, and I'll invite Zhang Gongzi again." ”

Mu Zhenzhen was already waiting in the courtyard of the dormitory, and followed Zhang Yuan out to Yimen, Zhang Yuan remembered what Fang Cai Wuling said, so he asked Xing Long: "I want to ask my father-in-law one thing in my later life, is there still a royal family living in this Nanjing city?" ”

Xing Long said with a smile: "King Fu is all in the domain, how can the two of them be willing to keep the royal clan!" ”

Zhang Yuan nodded and said goodbye to Eunuch Xing, who wanted to send a carriage to see him off, but Zhang Yuan politely refused, saying that he would have to wait for someone at Tongji Bridge.

The two of them went out of the inner garrison mansion, and when the guards saw Zhang Yuan coming out, they hurriedly sang a promise, Zhang Yuan nodded with a smile, and left quickly with Mu Zhenzhen.

At this time, it was about the end of noon, the sky was overcast, Mu Zhenzhen saw Laifu and Wuling standing on the Tongji Bridge from a distance, and hurriedly said to the young master, the master and maid two quickened their pace, and Wuling and Laifu also ran over, and Wuling gasped when they got closer: "Young master, Li Xueyi-the girl is under the bridge, on the boat." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Okay, I know, Xiao Wu, you hurry up and hire a carriage to wait by the bridge, I will rush back to the Guozijian later." ”

Zhang Yuan walked to the edge of the bridge and saw that a small bow boat was moored on the side of the bridge pier, and the haired boy standing at the bow of the boat was Xue Tong, Xue Tong shouted: "Jie Zi Xianggong-"

As soon as the words fell, Li Xueyi poked his head out of the small cabin, the name of the old courtyard was light and elegant, and his complexion was bright, and he first blessed Zhang Yuan, and said softly: "Zhang Gongzi, please come on the boat and talk?" This Li Xueyi spoke very gently, always with a consultative tone, which made people unbearable to refuse - Zhang Yuan said: "Girl in Xueyi, I will rush back to the Guozijian soon, I can't delay, why don't I go with the girl in the car, and say in the car, how about returning with the car when I get to the Guozijian girl?" "There is no waterway to go to Guozijian here.

Li Xueyi's eyes rolled on Zhang Yuan's face, and she nodded, "Okay." ”

Xue Tong jumped ashore first, stretched out his hand to help Li Xueyi get off the boat, this Li Xueyi's bow shoes are narrow, and the willows swing in the wind between the steps, but it is indeed very beautiful, but these feet should be half-crippled - Zhang Yuanxin said: "On the boat to Jinling, I occasionally saw Wang Xiuwei's feet not seem to be big, but they are walking like flying, it should be the same as Senior Sister Wang, wrapped in Yangzhou small feet, and the big toes are not broken, so it does not affect the action." ”

A little maid came down from the boat and followed Li Xueyi, and Xue Tong asked, "Sister Xueyi, should I go with me?" ”

Li Xueyi's eyelashes flashed, glanced at Zhang Yuan, and said, "Let's go with us, maybe Zhang Xianggong has something to ask you." ”

Zhang Yuan asked Li Xueyi and the little maid to get in the car first, and let Mu Zhenzhen also sit on it, Mu Zhenzhen said: "Young master, just follow the car." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Get in the car and talk to Miss Li Xueyi." ”

Mu Zhenzhen got into the car, Zhang Yuan then sat cross-legged by the door, the carriage drove on the streets of Jinling City, Laifu, Wuling and Xue Tong followed the carriage quickly, Zhang Yuan said to Li Xueyi: "Miss Xueyi, please tell me, what is going on with the royal family?" ”

Li Xueyi's eyes were very bright, she knelt and sat with her hands on her knees, and asked tentatively: "Zhang Gongzi won't be angry with Xiuwei, right?" ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "In the eyes of the girl in snow, is Zhang Jiezi so stingy?" ”

Li Xueyi smiled and said: "The little woman said to Xiuwei like this, but Xiuwei refused to ask Zhang Gongzi for help, I really couldn't guess her thoughts-" I was afraid that Zhang Yuan would be unhappy when he heard this, so he quickly began to talk about the royal family, but it turned out to be the descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang's seventh son, Zhu Yuanzhang named the seventh son Zhu Rong as King Qi Gong, Emperor Jianwen was deposed, and the throne was restored after the Battle of Jingjing, Yongle was abolished in four years because of rebellion, imprisoned in Nanjing, and the descendants were all concubines, there was grain, and the nameless seal ———— for two hundred years, The descendants of the king of Qi have reproduced a lot, this group of people has no other way to make a living, they are all idle waste, in groups, rampant in Nanjing, shops, museums, temples are deeply affected, these have become the descendants of the king of Qi, the name is also according to the royal family, according to the words of the radical of the five elements to name, such as "smoke lock pond willow" and the like, in order to show that they are royal blood, these waste queens have no money to spend, in front of the shops set up a few cases said that it is the north thanksgiving, three worship and nine knocks, make endless trouble, People can't do business, but they don't dare to drive them away, they are Xie Huangen, sue the government, the government can't help them, and it's not a big crime, and these abolished kings and people are quite cunning, they don't dare to provoke bureaucrats and big businessmen, they only bully monks, girls, small businessmen and hawkers, they learned that Wang Xiuwei has not yet been combed, and Ma Xianglan is dead, bullying Wang Wei is young, so they want to occupy the Youlan Pavilion and make Wang Wei their cash cow - the carriage keeps moving forward, Zhang Yuan quietly listened to Li Xueyi and asked: "Where is Wang Xiuwei now?" ”

Li Xueyi looked at Zhang Yuan's face and replied: "Take refuge in the Xiangzhen Pavilion of the concubine's body, the Youlan Pavilion is now guarded by Uncle Yao and several other male servants behind closed doors, those people threatened to accuse Xiuwei of stealing their ancestral ritual vessels if they don't show up, Zhang Gongzi think, if Xiuwei is an official, he will be humiliated no matter what, these people are extremely difficult, Zhang Gongzi, if you can, please help Xiuwei." As she spoke, tears filled her eyes, I wonder if she thought of her own sadness?

Zhang Yuan comforted: "Don't worry, I'll find a way." Then he asked, "What is the name of the person who was sent to me yesterday by the girl in the snow coat but was arrested in the Guozi Prison?" ”

Li Xueyi said: "The surname is Xu, and the concubine calls him Third Uncle Xu." ”

(To be continued)