In the yamen of the governor of Shaanxi, Luo Baiguan and Tietou accompanied Xu Liang to inspect the treasures in the house, and the two of them smiled.

Luo Baiguan sighed loudly and praised: "My lord, who dares to say that the northwest is poor? Who dares to say that the thieves in the northwest rebelled because they couldn't get by? Look at the money these big and small bosses have accumulated, they are much richer than all of us! ”

Xu Liang chuckled: "You can't say that!" The ordinary people who rebelled initially followed the rebellion because they could no longer survive. The rich are only those leaders who have a half-official position. ”

Luo Baiguan sighed with a sigh, suddenly sighed, picked out a phoenix hairpin made of gold from a box, looked at it for a while, and then said with a big change in face: "Look, my lord, this thing should be a tribute that can only be used in the palace!" ”

Xu Liang sighed, took it and looked at it, only to see that this golden hairpin was finely made, and it was carved with a phoenix, according to the regulations, it could only be used by the lady in the palace. After thinking about it, he also understood the reason, and said: "The things accumulated by the leaders of the people's army were not their own, but they were grabbed wherever they were hit. This phoenix hairpin, it seems that it should have been snatched from some royal relative. ”

Xu Liang instructed Luo Baiguan: "This reminds me. Luo Baiguan, you have to distinguish when dealing with these things, don't take out those prohibited things and cash them out, melt them that should be melted, and return them to the furnace, don't make trouble for yourself. ”

Luo Baiguan nodded and said, "Don't worry, my lord, the lower official guarantees that it will be done properly." ”

Xu Liang closed the box with a snap and asked Tietou, "By the way, have you sent the things I asked you to send to Beijing?" ”

As early as before returning to Chang'an, Xu Liang packed a few pieces of selected jewelry and asked Tietou to send them to Feng Suqin in the capital.

Tietou smiled: "Young master, you only think to ask now." I'm afraid the eldest lady would have put it on a long time ago. ”

Thousands of miles away in Beijing, Feng Suqin, the eldest lady of the Xu Mansion in the Dongjiang Courtyard, closed a brocade box, handed it to Yahuan Rou'er beside her, and said, "Rou'er, find a time, give this thing to Gonggong Du in the palace, and let him transfer it to Empress Yi'an." ”

Rou'er didn't understand. Surprised, he said, "Madam, where do you really want to send it?" ”

Feng Suqin pursed her lips, looking a little jealous, snorted lightly, and said, "Send it, why don't you send it?" This gift was sent by our master from Shaanxi, and the friendship in it is deep. ”

"Oh." Rou'er took the brocade box, looked at Feng Suqin's face, and hugged Feng Suqin on the side: "The master is really true." Such a good piece of jewelry should be given to an irrelevant outsider! I really don't know what the old man thinks in his heart! ”

Feng Suqin listened, tilted her head to look at Rou'er, and chuckled: "Rou'er shouldn't be blaming the master for not leaving you a copy, right?" ”

"I ...... How can I have! Rou'er blushed and argued.

Feng Suqin said with a smile: "I didn't care much about these bells and whistles, but I will transfer them to you after the master sent them." Feng Suqin said, taking the brocade box that Xu Liang had given him. Stuffed into Rou'er's hand.

"This, how can this be?" Rou'er exclaimed. Excuse yourself.

"Take it, I won't need it anyway, madam." Feng Suqin said with a smile,

When Rou'er saw that Feng Suqin really wanted to give it to herself, she couldn't help but be overjoyed, and leaned over and said, "Then the maid will thank Mrs. for the reward!" ”

Rou'er got a box of jewelry and hummed a small tune out of the Dongjiang Courtyard. I asked for a carriage to go to the noon gate, and handed over the things to the eunuch Du Gonggong in the side gate of the palace gate, and the errand was completed.

Du's father-in-law was holding a brocade box in his hand, and because it was something for Empress Yi'an Zhang Yan, he didn't dare to open it on the way. He didn't dare to slack off, so he left other things in his hand and went straight to the direction of Ciqing Palace.

Today's Ciqing Palace is much more lively than before, and now everyone in the palace can see that Zhang Yan, the former queen of the dynasty, still has a very heavy weight in the hearts of Emperor Chongzhen and the empress, and no one in the palace dares to snub Zhang Yan.

In Ciqing Palace, Zhang Yan and the big palace maid Rusu personally served the flowers in full bloom, Zhang Yan had nothing to do, walked slowly among a pile of flowers, and looked at the flowers and plants that she didn't know how many times again, and gradually got bored, so she said to the palace maid Rusu behind her boringly: "Aunt Ru, the palace is a little tired, let's go back to the palace." ”

If the aunt owes her, she stepped forward to help Zhang Yan and turned back to Ciqing Palace, and the four palace maids and eunuchs who followed behind her followed suit.

Soon after Zhang Yan returned to the dormitory of Ciqing Palace, she heard a report from the people below, and Du Fu, the celebrant and eunuch, asked to see her.

"Du Fu?" Zhang Yan said in surprise: "Isn't he the person who is the Si Li Bingbi Wang Chengen?" What did he come to do? ”

Zhang Yan said, looking at Rusu.

Aunt Ru thought about it and guessed: "Could it be that the emperor has something to order?" ”

Zhang Yan shook her head and said, "No." If the emperor's brother has something to summon, it should be the big eunuchs who come to pass the word. Hey, let him in. ”

Zhang Yan and Rusu summoned Du's father-in-law in the front hall of Ciqing Palace.

"The slave Du Fu sees the mother, the mother is blessed." Du Gonggong greeted him in a proper manner.

"Du, father-in-law, please."

"Xie Niangniang."

Zhang Yan looked at Du Fu and saw that this eunuch was very young, and he looked like he was in his early twenties. After examining it, Zhang Yan asked lightly: "Why did Gonggong Du come to see the palace?" ”

When Du's father-in-law heard this, he hurriedly presented a delicate brocade box in his hand with both hands, and said respectfully: "Qi Niangniang, the slave was entrusted by someone to send a gift to Niangniang." ”

If my aunt stepped forward, took the brocade box, opened it carefully, and saw that there were several exquisite jewelry inside, she couldn't help but be stunned, and presented it to Zhang Yan, who was also stunned for a moment.

"Who sent this?"

Du Gonggong smiled flatteringly: "Back to Niangniang's words, this is given to Niangniang by Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, and Lord Xu." ”

Zhang Yan's hands trembled suddenly, she looked at Du's father-in-law with wide eyes, and asked in surprise, "Who?" Who are you talking about? ”

Du's father-in-law laughed and said, "Shaanxi Governor Xu Liang, where is Lord Xu?" Why, Niangniang doesn't know Lord Xu? ”

Zhang Yan suddenly felt that her heartbeat had missed a beat: Is it him?! Zhang Yan stared at the brocade box in a daze.

Du's father-in-law hung his head and waited for a while, and when he saw that Zhang Yan hadn't spoken for a while, he couldn't help but call out: "Niangniang? Empress? ”

Zhang Yan was still stunned, and the palace maid on the side waved her hand gently at Dugong Gong when Su saw this.

Seeing this, Gonggong Du respectfully owed himself and quietly withdrew from Ciqing Palace. strode out of the palace gate of Ciqing Palace, and a gossip heart began to be empty.

In Ciqing Palace, the palace maid Rusu saw that Zhang Yan was still staring at the brocade box, and couldn't help coughing lightly, waking Zhang Yan up from her imagination.

Zhang Yanqiao's face was slightly red, and she stroked the brocade box with one hand. Asked Rusu Dao: "Aunt Ru, you said that Xu Liang gave this person a box of jewelry to the palace...... What does he mean? ”

Ru Su looked at Zhang Yan's face, and saw that her cheeks were red, as if she was shy, and she seemed to be happy, she sighed lightly in her heart, and said lightly: "Maybe Lord Xu remembered that his mother had helped him a lot a year ago, and gave a gift to express his gratitude." ”

"Oh? Is it? Zhang Yan listened and said with disappointment. Then he handed the brocade box to Rusu and said, "Auntie, put it away." ”

Seeing this, Rusu took the box, saw the change in Zhang Yan's expression, and consciously persuaded: "Niangniang, the maid listens to the rumors in the palace that what this Lord Xu Liangxu is doing in Shaanxi is a bit out of line, and the emperor and the ministers of the court and the central government have quite objections. It is said that the emperor once sent Yu Huatian, the head of the Tsing Yi Guard, to personally lead a team to Shaanxi to deal with Xu Liang's affairs. It's just that it didn't work. Speaking of which, the relationship between the emperor and this Xu Liang is not particularly friendly. Empress. It's better for us to stay away from Xu Liang. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, her expression that she didn't care about it began to become solemn, she thought about it, chuckled, and said to Rusu: "Auntie, I see that you were also deceived by those rumors outside." Let's not talk about the emperor's attitude towards Xu Liang. This palace has heard that not long ago, Shaanxi won several battles in a row, and even the leader of the people's army, Wang Jiayin, and Shen Yikui were wiped out! What does this mean? It shows that Xu Liang can do things! Those old ministers in the court follow the rules all day long, but what can they do! The ministers have opinions about Xu Liang, which shows that Xu Liang is outstanding. Make people jealous! ”

When my aunt heard this, she argued anxiously: "But, Niangniang, Lord Xu is in the mansion of the Beijing Division, and the Dongjiang Villa is being monitored by the factory guards all day long, which is always a true fact!" What is the emperor's attitude towards Lord Xu, it can be seen from this. The maid still thinks it's better to stay away from Xu Liang. ”

Zhang Yan heard this, but she laughed, and said to Rusu: "Auntie, I don't understand." Since Hong Wuye founded the factory guard, which of those courtiers and adults in the capital has not been monitored by the factory guard? Being monitored by the factory guards, it was originally a means for the emperor to monitor his courtiers, Xu Liang as the deputy capital of the imperial history, the governor of Shaanxi, the official of the Sanpin Frontier, his mansion, if there is no factory guard to monitor, it is strange! ”

When my aunt heard this, she wanted to persuade again, but then she thought of Zhang Yan's servantness, so she closed her mouth.

Seeing that Rusu did not continue to defend herself, Empress Zhang Yan of Yi'an carried her hands behind her back, like a winning rooster, and went into the palace to rest proudly.

A few days later, in the morning, Zhang Yan got up and sat in front of the bronze mirror under the service of Rusu and other palace maids, and when she was wearing the ornaments on her head, Zhang Yan suddenly stopped, and in the face of the puzzled eyes of several palace maids in Rusu, Zhang Yan looked at Rusu and said: "Aunt Ru, you go and bring the brocade box sent by Lord Xu again, and the palace wants to pick two pieces to wear." ”

Rusu was taken aback, looked at Zhang Yan, and said, "Niangniang, you are the queen's honor, and these accessories are exquisite." If you wear the folk jewelry given by Lord Xu, it will be bad for the emperor and Queen Zhou to see it. ”

Zhang Yan waved her hand and smiled: "Auntie, you have so much heart." This palace told you that we will not stay in the palace today, and I have decided to leave the palace. ”

"Out of the palace?" Rusu was taken aback, "Niangniang, where are we going?" But go back to the country's mansion? ”

As Su said, the national zhang refers to Zhang Yan's father. After the death of Emperor Tianqi and the accession to the throne of Emperor Chongzhen, Zhang Yan has not been out of the palace for many years. And Zhang Yan is outside the palace, that is, Zhang Guozhang's relatives.

"Nope." Zhang Yan said with a smile: "Today, the palace is going to take a trip to the Dongjiang Courtyard and see Feng Suqin, the eldest lady of the Xu Mansion, with my own eyes." ”

"Huh? ……”

Rusu was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time.

Since Zhang Yan planned to leave the palace quietly and couldn't make a noise, she only took Rusu alone to accompany her. The two of them ate some breakfast casually, then changed into the clothes of ordinary palace maids, avoided the main road in the palace, and prepared to leave the palace.

The two turned left and right like thieves, and no one noticed that they went around to the main road out of the palace, as long as they walked along the road, they would soon be able to get out of the palace smoothly.

Zhang Yan and Rusu pretended to be palace maids, and walked out cautiously with their heads down. Suddenly, Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren, Xu Guangqi, Liang Tingdong, Luo Yangxing and other important ministers of the court came to meet him.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan and Rusu hurriedly bowed to the side, waiting for a few adults from the court to go first.

"Three elders, what is the emperor calling me for?" Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the military department, whispered to the three cabinet ministers who walked in front.

Shoufu Zhou Yanru said: "According to the old man, most of it is for the war in Shaanxi. ”

Liang Tingdong said: "Didn't you come down in the court yesterday and promote Cao Wenzhao to the deputy chief soldier of Shaanxi?" ”

Zhou Yanru sighed lightly: "Cao Wenzhao's reward is not controversial. It's just that about the reward of Shaanxi officials, Lord Xu Guangqi still doesn't agree with it. ”

"Alas, the old man still thinks that even if he wants to suppress the officialdom in Shaanxi, he still has to do appropriate rewards. If he blindly only rewarded Cao Wenzhao, the old man was worried that the other generals would be unconvinced. ”

Several court ministers whispered and passed by Zhang Yan and Rusu. After a few people passed, as soon as Su pulled Zhang Yan, he hurriedly walked towards the noon gate.

In the distance, Luo Yangxing, the governor of the brocade clothes who accompanied the cabinet ministers into the palace to face the saint, looked back at the two ordinary palace maids in the distance, looked at them for a while, and suddenly realized.

Zhang Yan and Rusu successfully checked the palace gate waist card at the noon gate guard, and left the palace smoothly. The two called a carriage at the corner of the street, asked about the mansion of Lord Xu Liang Xu in Dongjiang Mixiang, and went straight to the Dongjiang Courtyard.

When he arrived at the Dongjiang Courtyard, Rusu stepped forward and knocked on the door, and after a while, he poked his head out from the side of the door on the open side, looked at Zhang Yan and Rusu, and asked, "What's the matter with the two girls?" ”

Rusu looked at Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan thought that she had arrived at the door of Xu's house, and there was no need to hide her identity anymore, so she said directly to the doorman: "You go to report to your eldest lady, and say that the person who received the gift from Lord Xu is now coming to thank you." ”

Menzi listened, looked at Zhang Yan and Rusu suspiciously, nodded and said, "Wait a minute, you two." ”

After a cup of tea, the main entrance of the Dongjiang Courtyard suddenly opened, and two rows of Tsing Yi guards rushed out of the courtyard, and a roll of red carpet went straight to the feet of Zhang Yan and Rusu.

Feng Suqin, the eldest lady of the Xu Mansion, led the steward of the Dongjiang Courtyard and others towards Zhang Yan, five steps away from Zhang Yan, Feng Suqin bowed down: "Xu Feng's greetings to Yi An Niangniang!" The mother is coming, and if she misses the welcome, please forgive her sins. (To be continued.) )