Zhang Yuan came to the door and said: "Sister-in-law is fine." He straightened up and smiled at Shang Jinglan: "Jinglan is good." ”

Shang Jinglan blessed Zhang Yuan, a little shy, and her voice was very soft: "Uncle is fine." ”

Fu Shi was very happy: "Our family is looking forward to you coming, we have been waiting for many days, a few days ago, Xiaohui also followed Zhou's mother and Fanghua to Chaoyangmen Wharf to wait for you, I heard that the hungry people in Shandong rebelled, we were very worried, but the joy has finally arrived." ”

Zhang Yuan heard his sister-in-law Fu Shi say this, his heart relaxed, and he asked with a smile: "Where is Xiaohui going now, and I have prepared a gift for the two sisters, Jinglan and Jinghui." ”

Fu said: "A few days ago, I had a cold and fever, and I took two doses of medicine, but today I was just better, and I was still going to the dock to pick up my aunt and uncle in the afternoon, so I took the medicine and fell asleep again." ”

Shang Jinglan asked, "Is it true that my little aunt didn't come?" "Very disappointed.

Fu Shi glanced at her: "Didn't you receive a letter at the beginning of last month, your little aunt can't come." ”

Mu Zhenzhen, Wu Ling and Wang Dazhui came over and kowtowed to Fu, and Fu said, "It's hard work, go and rest first." "Led Zhang Yuan into the second door, only to see a large rectangular courtyard, blue brick floor, spacious and tidy, the courtyard is facing the door is the hall, there are some dwarf herbaceous flowers planted under the corridor steps, the branches and leaves are bald in winter, and I can't tell what kind of flowers are, there are two large lotus jars, there are half a person high, the caliber is very large, like two huge bowls, can hold a lot of water, it is prepared for fire fighting, raise water lilies in leisure time, of course there are no water lilies in the tank now, there is a layer of thin ice on the water surface, there are wings on the left and right sides of the yard, there are eight rooms each, the right wing room is high, is the master's residence, the left wing room is low, for the maid to live, there are a few low rooms after entering the courtyard, is the warehouse, kitchen and miscellaneous room, this is the common medium-sized courtyard in the capital -

Zhang Yuan followed his sister-in-law Fu Shi to sit down in the hall, the door of the hall hung a thick curtain to protect against the cold, the inside was obviously much warmer than the outside of the hall, but it turned out to be a pit dug under the floor tiles, burning charcoal fire, the heat was rising, and the room was warm, but this charcoal fire for heating was not something that the small people could afford.

Zhang Yuan asked Wuling and Wang Dahammer to bring up the gifts he prepared for his brother-in-law's family, all of which were specialties of Shanyin and Huiji, such as wine, fermented bean curd, salted mandarin fish, dried plum vegetables, fennel beans, Yue porcelain tableware, tea sets, as well as silk and cotton cloth from Shengmei Firm, as well as the study utensils in Jiangnan, full of a large load, and two mahogany boxes five feet square, which were gifts prepared by Tan Ran for his two little nieces, as well as a letter written by Shang Zhoude and Shang Tan Ran to his brother and sister-in-law, and Tan Ran wrote a separate letter to his two little nieces-

Shang Jinglan read the letter and gifts given to her by her little aunt, and said to Zhang Yuan: "Does my little aunt want to go to see Xiao Hui, when Fang Cai Fanghua coaxed her to sleep, she said that when she woke up, Zhang Gongzi's brother would arrive, so she hurried to sleep, otherwise she would not sleep." ”

Zhang Yuan looked at his sister-in-law Fu, Fu smiled and said, "When she wakes up, let her come out to visit." ”

"Ma'am, ma'am—"

Fanghua, the maid who served Xiao Jinghui, opened the curtain and came in, and when she saw Zhang Yuan, she was surprised: "Is Zhang Gongzi here?" After a blessing, he hurriedly said to Fu Shi: "Madam, Miss Jinghui seems to have a pain in her head again, and she is uncomfortable in her sleep." ”

Fu Shi frowned and said, "Why is it repeated again!" Said to Zhang Yuan: "Zhang Gongzi sit down for a while, I'll take a look." With that, he hurried out of the hall.

Zhang Yuan couldn't rest assured, followed his sister-in-law Fu Shi and the maidservant Fanghua to the left row of high base rooms, the second room from the left is Xiao Jinghui's room, the sky has darkened, the room is lit, the room is wide, separated by a screen, the outer room is two maidservants, inside is Xiao Jinghui's bedroom, a maid came out lightly and said: "Madam, Miss Jinghui is asleep again, do you want to wake her up?" ”

Fu Shi waved his hand, walked to Xiao Jinghui's bed, reached out and touched her forehead, there was still a little low-grade fever, the disease had not yet recovered, Xiao Jinghui's long eyelashes covered the eyelids, wet, as if he had a headache in his sleep, and he knew that it was his mother's hand when he was half asleep, and muttered in his mouth: "Mother, have the little aunt and Brother Zhang Gongzi arrived?" ”

Fu Shi stroked his daughter's delicate face, and said softly: "Xiao Hui, sleep well, sleep well, get well, your son-in-law-your uncle will arrive." ”

Xiao Jinghui said "oh" and asked again: "What about the little aunt?" ”

Fu Shi whispered to her: "Don't talk, go to sleep." ”

Xiao Jinghui fell asleep sideways.

Although Jing Hui is young, this is also a boudoir, Zhang Yuan is inconvenient to enter, just standing in the corridor outside the door and listening, hearing Jing Hui speak, there is no major illness, a little relieved, thinking: "Xiao Hui's voice has not changed much, and he is still as delicate as when he was six or seven years old." ”

At this moment, the servant woman came to report: "Aunt Zhang, my lord is back - and Master Qi and Master Qi of the Ministry of War." ”

Hearing Shang Jinglan in the room say "ah" softly, Zhang Yuan smiled secretly in his heart: "Qi Huzi is really impatient, he just arrived in Beijing to sit in the middle of the seat, and he came to meet his father-in-law." ”

Zhang Yuan walked out of the room, standing on the pedestal, the twilight in the courtyard was gloomy, there were two large lanterns hanging in front of the eaves of the main hall, and two lanterns were also lit in the second door, two officials wearing black gauze hats, wearing regimental collar shirts, and plain gold belts walked in together, and the young man who followed behind was Qi Biaojia-

These two black-hatted officials are of similar age, light and shadow, and they can't see their appearances clearly, and Zhang Yuan doesn't know which one is his brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo, so he stepped down the steps and said, "Brother Shang, brother Zhang Yuanli." ”

The official on the right, who was about forty years old and had a square face and beard, hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Brother Xian has a hard journey, just arrive safely." "This is Mr. Qi Erguang—"

Qi Chengjiao arched his hand and said: "Huiji Qi Chengjiao, Zi Erguang, the dog came to Beijing this time, and he was taken care of by Brother Zhang Xian, thank you, thank you." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Mr. Qi is polite, he and Ling Lang are just walking all the way, how to talk about taking care of them." ”

Qi Biaojia, who was following behind his father, heard his father and Zhang Yuan call him brothers, and he was inevitably a little depressed, his father Qi Chengjiao was fifty-two years old this year, just because Zhang Yuan married the sister of his father-in-law Shang Zhouzuo, making him a generation shorter, but fortunately, Zhang Yuan usually only talked to him on an equal footing-

Qi Biaojia turned his head to look at the wings on both sides, and saw that there seemed to be a girl in the room on the left who showed half of her face, and when she looked again, she was gone, thinking that it was my wife Shang Jinglan?

hasn't gotten engaged yet, but as soon as he said it verbally three years ago, the young Qi Biaojia regarded Shang Jinglan as his wife-

Shang Zhouzuo welcomed Zhang Yuan and Qi Chengyi's father and son into the hall and sat down, instructed the kitchen to prepare for a banquet, looked at his sister-in-law Zhang Yuan from time to time, and saw Zhang Yuan's eyebrows and elegant bearing, although he became famous as a young man, but he was not arrogant, Shang Zhouzuo was very happy for his little sister, at this time, because Qi Chengzuo's father and son were there, it was inconvenient to ask more about the current situation of the little sister, and only asked about the August Township test during the banquet, Zhang Yuan said in detail how Dong Zuchang and Wang Ruqian spread rumors and slander, and Zhejiang according to the prosecutor blindly delayed the case, and when they passed through Hangzhou in Beijing this time, they heard that the case had not yet been judged-

Qi Chengyi said: "Yao Zongwen also impeached Qian Qianyi last month for accepting a large number of bribes such as rare books and famous paintings of the Song and Yuan dynasties, and Qian Hanlin is now in the criminal's home, waiting for the investigation and the cabinet to retain him." ”

Zhang Yuan raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is this Yao Zongwen Yao Chengli?" "Yao Chengli is Yao Fu's cousin, and he is in charge of the department.

Shang Zhouzuo nodded and said, "Exactly, Yao Zongwen, the word is sincere, and he has a close relationship with Fang Ge Lao. ”

Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Could it be that in the late Ming Dynasty, you can only be with the mud, don't do anything, and can't offend anyone?" It's just a downfall of Yao Tiezui, a talented show who has done a lot of evil, but he also implicated his cousin in the matter to disgust people! ”

Shang Zhouzuo saw Zhang Yuan's brows frowning slightly, and comforted: "Don't worry about the virtuous brother, just prepare for the exam with peace of mind, the relationship between Fang Ge Lao and Qian Hanlin is good, and the matter of accepting bribes will not have much impact." ”

Qi Chengjiao also said: "Don't worry, there are still forty days to be examined, and good results in the exam will be a reward for the township examiner." ”

Zhang Yuan and Qi Biaojia said in unison: "Yes." ”

At the banquet, Qi Chengjiao and Shang Zhouzuo agreed on the engagement of Qi Biao and Shang Jinglan, and the eighteenth line of the first month of next year will be a small appointment, and the twenty-sixth line of the first month will be a big appointment, next year Qi Biaojia will be fifteen years old, and Shang Jinglan will be thirteen years old, and they can get engaged.

Before the dinner was over, the old servant came to report, and Mr. Zhang Baosheng of Shanyin came to visit.

Qi Chengjiao smiled at Shang Zhouzuo and said: "This Zhang Baosheng is not easy to see now, and he is a generation higher than me out of thin air." ”

Shang Zhouzuo also smiled, and greeted Zhang Yuan to the second gate, and saw Zhang Dai coming with his second uncle Zhang Lianfang, Zhang Yuan no longer had any impression of this uncle, and now when he looks at it, he is six or seven points similar to Zhang Cao's appearance, and his demeanor is also similar, and his eyebrows are dancing-

Zhang Lianfang said again and again: "Brother Ming, don't be polite, don't be polite, my brother is ashamed." Looking at Zhang Yuan, who saluted him, he said with a smile: "Brother Ming's sister-in-law is so talented, my brother is envious." stepped forward to hold Zhang Yuan's hand and asked cordially, this nephew is famous.

Qi Chengfang's father and son also greeted out of the hall, and the greetings and entertainment were loud for a while, Zhang Lianfang's uncle and nephew had already had dinner, so they withdrew the banquet for tea and talk, although Zhang Lianfang was only a person, but he traveled extensively and was also quite famous in Beijing-

Zhang Dai whispered to Zhang Yuan: "Jiezi, do you know who I saw before?" Hey, that Dong Qichang actually lives next to my second uncle, both on the bank of the Paozi River, the second uncle likes calligraphy, painting and antiques, and he had dealings with Dong Qichang in his early years, and now, as usual. ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Our business has nothing to do with Uncle Bao Sheng, we do our business." ”

Zhang Dai smiled: "Then I'm embarrassed, Dong Qichang doesn't recognize me, then Dong Zu can often recognize me, the enemy is very red when they meet, I am ready to find another place to live, it is always uncomfortable to live with the elders, my second uncle has a lot of concubines, I am afraid of causing trouble, Jie Zi moved out and lived with me." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I still live here for the time being, if the gold list is named, then I will look for a house to live." ”

Zhang Dai smiled and asked, "What if the name falls to Sun Mountain?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Even if it is the name of Sun Mountain, I have to stay in this capital." I thought: "I really don't love this fame, if I don't get in, I want to pat my ass and go back to Jiangnan, but unfortunately Jiangnan doesn't last long, we have to worry about the world first, and look for opportunities to save the country in Beijing——"

Zhang Dai said: "If I fall behind, I will go back to my hometown, I am not used to this north, or the small bridges and flowing water in the south of the Yangtze River, the beautiful scenery and delicious food are to my liking." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "There are also magnificent and wonderful scenery in the north, big brother don't be confined to the twenty-eight girls singing the willow bank and the waning moon, but also be able to appreciate the copper pipa and iron plate singing the great river east." ”

Zhang Dai smiled and said suddenly: "Jiezi, if my uncle and nephew go to high school in the spring next year, will it be a beautiful conversation?" ”

Zhang Yuan smiled: "Of course, it is a good story of the imperial examination. ”

Hearing a drum from the bell and drum tower in the distance, Qi Chengjiao's father and son and Zhang Lianfang's uncle and nephew got up to say goodbye, and when the drum was struck for the third time, the inner city would begin to implement a curfew, although the curfew was not very strict with officials, but it was better not to violate the ban-

Sent off the guests, Shang Zhouzuo and Zhang Yuan returned to the study to sit down, and had a long talk, Shang Zhouzuo asked Zhang Yuan about the recent situation of the little sister, Shang Zhouzuo entered Beijing five years ago as the Shaoqing of the Taifu Temple, and has not seen the little sister since, the little sister lost her father at the age of three, and lost her mother at the age of five, and was raised by his eldest brother, saying that it is a brother and sister, in fact, it is more like a father and daughter, and now I heard that the little sister is six months pregnant, I am very happy, and said with a smile: "I only hope that the little sister can be taken to Beijing for reunion next year." "This is Hope Zhang Yuan Chunfu High School.

Speaking of the fact that Ming Yue jointly wrote a letter requesting the emperor to issue an edict for disaster relief, Shang Zhouzuo said: "Since the Longqing Dynasty, the imperial court has not allowed the exemption of taxes for general disasters. ”

Zhang Yuan showed Shang Zhouzuo the "Hungry People's Map", and said that he had seen and heard on the road, Shang Zhouzuo sighed and said: "Ming said that I went to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to ask if there was a disaster report from the imperial history of Shandong Province, and the disaster situation in Shandong was so serious, and the disaster relief should not be delayed. ”

Shang Zhouzuo and Zhang Yuan talked a lot, from the history of the study to the world, Shang Zhouzuo was secretly surprised by the knowledge and knowledge of this sister-in-law, the more they talked, the more they were like-minded, and the second drum was missed, Shang Zhouzuo got up and went back to the room, let Zhang Yuan rest earlier, and the bedroom arranged for Zhang Yuan was in the ear room on the left side of the main hall, with a new decoration, heating, beds, and bedding were originally prepared for Zhang Yuan and his wife, and now only Zhang Yuan lives alone, and Mu Zhenzhen has a small bed outside-

The first day in Yanjing passed like this, and at the moment before going to bed, Zhang Yuan was thinking, from the high-ranking officials of the emperor and grandson to the pawns of the peddlers, the characters he had seen were like marquees, and it seemed that opportunities were everywhere-

……

In the winter of Yanjing, the sun sets early and rises late, at three o'clock, Zhang Yuan woke up habitually, and saw that it was still dark outside the window, Mu Zhenzhen shared the bed with him, so that the cold winter should hug each other for warmth-

Mu Zhenzhen woke up a moment earlier than Zhang Yuan, but he was afraid of disturbing Zhang Yuan, so he still lay still, the young master leaned sideways, and put an arm on her waist, and then saw that Zhang Yuan was awake, so he asked softly: "Young master, do you want to get up?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "It will take at least half an hour to light up this day, strange, why didn't the bell ring?" ”

Mu Zhenzhen pursed her lips and smiled, knowing that the young master was teasing her, so she cooperated: "Young master, this is in the capital, not Shanyin, four thousand miles away." ”

Zhang Yuan put his head behind his head with his hands, and said leisurely: "Yes, the home four thousand miles away-", he was silent for a moment, sat up and said: "I am going to start working hard in the capital again." "Take a deep breath and feel energized and confident to face any difficulties.

Mu Zhenzhen got out of bed first, lit the paper medium in the brazier, lit the lamp, wore a jacket and skirt, opened the door and saw that it was cold and dark outside, so he didn't rush out to wash up first, and wound the bow under the lamp.

Zhang Yuan came to half of Wang Siren's teacher's Xiaokai "Luo Shen Fu", the window lattice only showed a faint light, Mu Zhenzhen went to the kitchen to bring hot water, Zhang Yuan finished washing, and practiced Tai Chi between the two big lotus jars in the courtyard, the sky was half bright, the eaves of the square cut out the light green skylight, the courtyard was quiet, only the backyard kitchen had a voice, Yanjing's Layue people would not get up so early for nothing, save lamp oil-

Zhang Yuan was engrossed, without distractions, practiced once, and was about to practice for the second time, when he glanced at a small figure standing on the high steps of the left wing, wearing a six-sided boy hat and a sable cold fur, only showing a white little face, and those bright eyes looked at him intently-

"Brother Zhang Gongzi."

The little girl screamed happily, although she was wearing a bloated cold coat, she jumped down from the steps, her calves were weak, and she was about to fall down when she staggered, Zhang Yuan hurriedly reached out to hold it, the little girl raised her pink baby fat face, her eyes blinked vigorously, her mouth was full of white gas, and said: "It's really Brother Zhang Gongzi, can Brother Zhang Gongzi recognize who I am?" ”

Seeing the lively little Jinghui, Zhang Yuan felt very relaxed and happy, and said with a smile: "You should ask this, can Brother Zhang Gongzi recognize who my little Jinghui is?" ”

The laughter like a silver bell suddenly resounded throughout the courtyard-

The maid Fanghua ran out of Jing Hui's bedroom in an untidy dress, and exclaimed: "Miss Jing Hui, why did you get up and run out alone, this body is just a little better, how can it be good if you catch a cold again!" ”

Xiao Jinghui said proudly: "I wear my clothes and hat well, I won't catch a cold, I'm all well." ”

Xiao Jinghui slept early yesterday, so she woke up very early, heard the movement in the courtyard, and wondered if it would be Zhang Gongzi's brother who had arrived, and did not wake up the maid Fanghua to help her dress, she quietly found her clothes and hats and got up, opened the door and stood on the steps to watch Zhang Yuan play Tai Chi, her eyes were wide open, and she was extremely surprised-

The maid Fanghua's hair was messy, and she was embarrassed to give Zhang Yuan a blessing, came over and touched Xiao Jinghui's hand, it was cool, and hurriedly pulled Xiao Jinghui back to the room, and said, "Why do you have to freshen up to come out." ”

Xiao Jinghui looked back and asked while going up the steps: "Brother Zhang Gongzi, is the little aunt really not here?" ”

This sentence is exactly the same as what Jinglan asked yesterday, although the two little sisters knew that Aunt Ran might not come, but they still had illusions-

Zhang Yuan smiled apologetically and shook his head.

Xiao Jinghui held his hand on the side of the door and refused to go in, and asked again: "When will my little aunt give birth to a baby?" Do you come to the capital after giving birth to a baby? ”

Fu's voice came from the room next to him: "Xiao Hui, don't be verbose, hurry up and go into the room, don't catch a cold, and besides, you have to call your uncle." ”

Xiao Jinghui smiled sweetly at Zhang Yuan, blinked his eyes, and went into the room, and the curtain hung down in the door.

(To be continued)