Wen Yan smiled very shyly, "The child takes care of the family's property and has recently made a small amount of money. On the way back, I saw someone setting up a stall to sell this jade chess piece, and the price was not expensive, so I thought that my father liked Go, so I bought it. ”

Elder Wen Ge listened, and asked in a deep voice, "What did you do to make money?" ”

Wen Yan knew that Wen Ge Lao had always been very taboo about his family accepting other people's property, and knew what he meant by asking this sentence. There was some grievance in his heart, but this chess piece was indeed bought by Wen Yan with money, but the person who sold him the chess piece was a businessman in the south and had some business dealings with Wen Yan.

Wen Yan replied confidently: "The cotton accumulated in the Zhuangzi on the outskirts of Beijing happened to meet a Jiangnan businessman who bought cotton a few days ago, and the price he purchased was one percent higher than in previous years, so the child sold all the cotton in the Zhuangzi and exchanged it for nearly a thousand taels of silver. ”

Wen Mansion has a farm on the outskirts of Beijing, and some cotton is stored in the Zhuangzi, although Wen Ge Lao does not take care of these things himself, but he also knows about them.

Since Wen Yanqian's source is normal, and Wen Ge Lao likes the jade chess piece in his heart, Wen Ge Lao didn't ask much, and praised Wen Yan a few words, and on the same day, the father and son killed four or five games in a row.

The news of the Shaanxi People's Army's attack on Gongchang Mansion finally reached the capital. Emperor Chongzhen Long Yan was furious, and summoned several adults from the cabinet, the military department, and the household department into the palace overnight to discuss the military situation.

The emperor was already very dissatisfied with Yang He, the governor of the three sides, and had already moved the idea of replacing people, but Yang Guodong, the secretary of the military department, tried his best to dissuade him, and the two cabinet ministers persuaded him on the side, so the emperor did not immediately order the arrest.

Yang He is the former cabinet minister Cao Yubian's person, although Cao Ge Lao had a good relationship with Zhou Shoufu and Wen Ge Lao before his death, now Cao Ge Lao is dead, and the so-called people go to tea and cool. Regarding the life and death of Governor Yang, neither of the two ministers had any special thoughts.

The reason why Emperor Chongzhen was persuaded not to change people was because the northwest was a mess, and if Yang He was replaced, someone should always go to the top cylinder, right? And Zhou Shoufu has no candidate in his heart for the time being. But for Wen Gelao, the military in the northwest is worried about Yang Guodong, the secretary of the military department, and Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet. Wen Ge Lao was happy to be idle, he persuaded the emperor, purely because he saw that Lord Shoufu persuaded the emperor, and he followed the wind to say two insignificant words.

The things that Wen Ge Lao cares about are still in Beijing, for example, how to pull out the thorn in the eye of Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple.

The lights of the Heart Cultivation Hall remained unturned all night.

Early the next morning, the two scholars and the military department, and the two scholars of the household department were about to leave the palace with panda eyes. He was surprised to see Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, walking towards the Heart Cultivation Hall with a smile.

Seeing a few adults, Xu Liang stepped aside and bowed with a smile. After the four adults passed, Xu Liang started again and entered the Heart Cultivation Palace.

Wen Ge Lao looked back at Xu Liang's back, and couldn't help muttering in his heart: What is this bastard doing when he entered the palace early in the morning?

When Xu Liang entered the Palace of Nourishing Hearts, Emperor Chongzhen was drinking millet porridge. Hearing that Xu Liang had arrived, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but put down the porcelain bowl. Sitting on the dragon chair in surprise, he watched Xu Liang walk in with a smile.

"Weichen Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang see the emperor. Long live my emperor, long live, long live. Xu Liang saluted solemnly.

Chongzhen yawned, waved his hand and said, "Xu Aiqing doesn't have to be polite. Flatten down. Hmm, Aiqing entered the palace so early, what happened? ”

Xu Liang got up when he heard this. took out a thick envelope from his arms, presented it to Wang Chengen, the secretary of the ceremony, and said with a smile: "Back to the emperor, isn't this already October?" This is the dividend of Xishan Coal Mine in September, a total of 3,600 taels. Wechen sent it to you. ”

Wang Chengen took it and carefully presented it to Emperor Chongzhen for inspection. Chongzhen glanced at it, with a smile on his face, looked at Xu Liang, nodded, and said with a smile: "Aiqing has a heart." Come, give a seat. ”

The reason why Emperor Chongzhen has always looked at Xu Liang is more pleasing to the eye is not unrelated to the bonus money that Xu Liang handed over to Xishan Coal Mine on time every month. Although Emperor Chongzhen didn't particularly value the thousands of taels of silver, the emperor still appreciated the courtiers who sent him money on time every month.

The little eunuch moved to Jindun, but Xu Liang didn't mean to sit down, but knelt down and kowtowed: "The emperor is honorable, Weichen entered the palace this time, and there is another thing to play." ”

"Speak."

Xu Liang paused, his voice was low, and said: "Weichen heard that the Northwest People's Army is getting stronger and stronger, and it is impossible to suppress it, and not long ago he actually captured Gongchang Mansion in Shaanxi Province and burned half of the city. The officials and soldiers in the city were killed and wounded, and innocent people were slaughtered by the militia...... The chaos of the people's army has caused the lives to be ruined to this point! After Weichen got the news, he didn't sleep all night last night, and every time he woke up, he cried bitterly! ”

Xu Liang said, a few bright tears really squeezed out of his eyes, knelt and wiped his sleeves and wiped them, and after wiping, his eyes turned red.

Speaking of the rebellious people's army in Shaanxi, Emperor Chongzhen's anger that had just been suppressed couldn't help but rise again. Hearing Xu Liang so sincere, worried about the country and the people, Chongzhen's eyes also turned red, sighed, waved his hand and said: "Aiqing has this heart of worrying about the country and the people, I am very relieved, very comforting, very comforting......"

Chongzhen looked at Xu Liang, and saw that tears in Xu Liang's eyes couldn't stop flowing down his face, and he couldn't help but be greatly moved: Look, this is my loyal minister! couldn't help but sit up, and Wen Yan comforted: "Aiqing doesn't have to be too sad. Today's situation in the northwest is caused by the dereliction of duty of the governor of the three sides, Yang He, and the soldiers of the northwest! I have the heart to reorganize the officialdom in the northwest, but there is no suitable candidate for the time being. ”

Xu Liang wiped his tears again, wiped his tear-stained sleeves on his official robe, kowtowed again, and said: "Your Majesty, before the minister served as the secretary of Guanglu Temple, he had been serving in Shaanxi, and for the minister, Shaanxi is equivalent to half of the minister's hometown." Now the soldiers of Shaanxi are panicked, the army is unstable, the people are displaced, the fields are barren, and the population is withering. ”

Emperor Chongzhen was even more moved, waved his hand and choked up: "Xu Aiqing, don't talk about it...... Everything is my fault. ”

"Your Majesty?" Si Li Bingbi Wang Chengen was shocked when he heard this, glared at Xu Liang, and secretly said What kind of famous hall is this Xu Liang doing today?

"No, Your Majesty, Weichen has a sentence buried in his heart for a long time, don't vomit and be unhappy today!" Xu Liang said in a resolute tone: "For the people of the northwest, for the eternal stability of the Ming Dynasty, Weichen is courageous." I am willing to go to Shaanxi to quell the civil unrest, appease the people, and restore peace to Shaanxi! Please allow the emperor! ”

As he spoke, Xu Liang kowtowed heavily and fell to the ground.

Wang Chengen listened. His eyes showed a look of astonishment.

Emperor Chongzhen woke up suddenly and looked at Xu Liang in amazement.

"Aiqing, you mean, you're going to Shaanxi?"

Xu Liang kowtowed and said, "Ask the emperor to fulfill it!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen gradually suppressed his sadness, his expression became serious, he stared at Xu Liang closely, and asked in a deep voice: "Xu Aiqing, the northwest is now in chaos, and the military aircraft are in a big deal. No child's play. If the magistrate in the northwest can't guard the pastoral side and calm the chaos and calm the people, I will definitely not spare it! ”

Xu Liang raised his head, blinked his red eyes twice, and said categorically: "Within a year, if the minister can't quell the civil unrest, I am willing to come and see you!" ”

Chongzhen listened. His eyes flashed, and he looked at Xu Liang fixedly. The eyes flickered.

Xu Liang also looked directly at Emperor Chongzhen, his red eyes full of determination.

After a while, Emperor Chongzhen retracted his gaze, chuckled twice, and waved his hand to Xu Liang gently: "Aiqing get up first, you dare to recommend yourself." I appreciate it. As for how to arrange it, I haven't thought it through yet. Well, you step back first. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he was slightly disappointed and stood up. resisted the urge to rub his eyes, bowed to Emperor Chongzhen and said, "Yes, Weichen retreats." ”

Xu Liang hurriedly withdrew from the Heart Cultivation Palace, and after coming out, he felt a hot pain in his eyes, blurred in front of his eyes, and swollen upper and lower eyelids. With difficulty seeing the direction of the Imperial Garden, Xu Liang lifted the corners of his official robe and trotted all the way to it.

I trotted all the way, and the tears in my eyes still kept flowing.

Xu Liang lamented in his heart: It's over, it's over, this time it's too big, and my eyes are going to be blind!

Hearing the sound of gurgling water in front of him, Xu Liang knew that he had run into the imperial garden, so he sped up his pace and ran, just bypassed a rockery, and suddenly felt a white shadow flashing in front of him, and he actually crashed into the arms of a man in white, his face was wrapped in two soft balls, and a refreshing fragrance penetrated into his nose.

"Ouch!" The woman in white screamed bitterly, stepped back a few steps, and then a palace maid exclaimed: "Niangniang! How daring! ”

Xu Liang naturally knew that he had hit someone, but he couldn't even open his eyes at this time, and he didn't care about apologizing at the moment, following the sound of the water, he barely stood on the edge of the steps of the pool, and then poked his whole head into the clear flowing water, rubbing his eyes vigorously in the water with both hands.

The palace maid Ruyun supported Zhang Yan, the mother of Yi'an, and saw that the young red-robed official bumped into the mother, and even apologized, but squatted in the pool to wash her eyes as if no one was around, she couldn't help but be shocked and angry, protected Zhang Yan behind her, put her hand on her waist, and scolded Xu Liang: "Where are you an official?" collided with Yi'an Niangniang, why don't you come over and apologize quickly?! ”

Zhang Yan's face was flushed, ashamed and angry, the part of her chest that was hit was crispy and numb, and she couldn't tell whether it was pain or itching. Standing behind the palace maid Ruyun, she glared at the red-robed official angrily, seeing him pouting his ass and poking his head into the pool, he couldn't wait to step forward to make up for it and kick this reckless and reckless guy into the pool.

"Hey! Say what about you! Ruyun screamed.

At this time, Xu Liang finally rinsed the chili powder that Fang had just scattered into his eyes in the Heart Cultivation Palace, although there was still a little residue, but at least he was able to open his eyes and see things clearly.

Xu Liang got up, took off the official hat on his head, wrung out the water, and held it in his arms, then turned back to the two women in front of him and bowed deeply, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." There was sand in the eyes of the lower officials, and he was in a hurry to find water to rinse his eyes, and he accidentally bumped into the mother, please see ...... Belch? ”

Xu Liang was stunned as he spoke, and looked at Zhang Yan, who was also stunned and her cheeks were flushed, and said curtly: "Why are you ......?"

The palace maid Ruyun shouted angrily when she heard this: "Bold, I saw Queen Yi'an, and I still don't see the courtesy?!" ”

"Ahh......h Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, has seen Yi'an Niangniang! Xu Liang immediately bowed his hand.

Zhang Yan looked at Xu Liang with shame and annoyance, secretly saying that every time she saw Xu Liang, there was nothing good?!

Ruyun, the palace maid next to her, was already screaming, pointed at Xu Liang and said, "You, you are Xu Liang of Guanglu Temple?!" The one who framed the mother's innocence! ”

"Uh......" Xu Liang looked at Ruyun very innocently, and said secretly, I am also a victim!!

Zhang Yan's face turned a little redder, glared at Ruyun, and shouted, "Ruyun, don't say it." After Ruyun stopped, Zhang Yan looked at Xu Liang, bowed slightly and said, "Lord Xu, I really didn't expect to meet you here." ”

Xu Liang said embarrassedly: "Yes, it's a coincidence." ”

After Xu Liang finished speaking, he felt that the water droplets on his face were about to flow to the corners of his mouth, so he wiped his sleeves and wiped it, and then saw Zhang Yan and Ruyun looking straight at him, so he smiled wryly.

Xu Liang's image at this time was really not very good, his hair was almost completely wet, his official hat was crumpled into a ball and pinched in his hands, the clothes around his neck were also wet with water, and his eyes were red and swollen, and he blinked twice from time to time...... This kind of appearance is really not a good match for the officials of the court and the third grade.

The corners of Zhang Yan's mouth pulled, and she handed over a silk handkerchief, and when her hand reached out to Xu Liang, she was shocked that it was inappropriate: this was the silk handkerchief that Zhang Yan carried with her, and when she was wandering around the imperial garden with Ruyun, she also used it to wipe the sweat on her face.

Ruyun's eyes widened.

Zhang Yan was just about to take it back, and grabbed the corner of the silk handkerchief with one hand. Zhang Yan looked up, saw Xu Liang smile, took the silk handkerchief with one hand, and then wiped it on his face.

"Thank you, thank you."

Zhang Yan withdrew her hand in embarrassment, her face flushed.

Xu Liang wiped it back and forth twice, and was about to return it to Zhang Yan, when he suddenly saw Zhang Yan's expression of shame and anger, staring at him with shame and anger. Look at the silk handkerchief again, it is already dirty at the moment, and it is crumpled into a ball, in Xu Liang's hands, like a rag!

"This ...... This handkerchief is dirty, I, I'll go back and wash it and return it to you. Xu Liang's face turned red, and he withdrew his hand in embarrassment, and stuffed the silk handkerchief into his arms.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan's face turned red to the root of her ears, she stomped her feet heavily, and said in a panic: "Yes, it's okay." With that, he pulled the shocked palace maid and fled like a cloud.

Xu Liang stood stunned for a moment, and suddenly stomped his feet, beat his chest and screamed: "It's really over now, how can you offend this woman!" ”

Xu Liang left the palace in embarrassment, and in the Palace of Nourishing Hearts, Emperor Chongzhen fell into a long period of contemplation since Xu Liang left. Si Li Bingbi knew that Emperor Chongzhen was thinking about the problem, so he stood quietly aside, waiting for the emperor to wake up.

After a long time, Emperor Chongzhen turned his head and asked Wang Chengen: "Chengen, do you think it is appropriate to put Xu Liang in Shaanxi?" ”

Wang Chengen seemed to have expected Emperor Chongzhen to ask this question, and replied calmly: "The old slave doesn't know either. Your Majesty, this is a big matter, if you can't make up your mind, you might as well listen to the opinions of the two cabinet lords. (To be continued.) )