The woman left her seat and saluted: "Mr. Cheng praises falsely, and I dare not be ashamed." It has been five years since Liang Sangu passed away, and the little girl was once loved by her old man, and she was regarded as a closed disciple. The master I started with is surnamed Xue, and Mr. must have heard of it. ”

Wang Zhixin broke through: "It's Xue Susu, who is famous in Gyeonggi." ”

"Famous teachers make high apprentices." Wu Changshi frowned and thought: "I have seen a side of the inkstone left by the respected master in Jinling, the inkstone is very fine, there is a slight rouge halo and fish brain lines, a gold line is faintly visible, coral red lacquer box, the upper right seal 'red face Su Xin' four words, the lower left 'Du Ling Neishi' small square seal, the box lid is engraved with fine dark patterns Xue Susu image, in front of the fence, the pen is extremely elegant, small and exquisite. The back of the inkstone is engraved with a famous scholar Wang Baigu Xing's cursive five unique poems: 'Investigate the floating clear shadow, chew the jade dew. Fangxin is at one point, and the afterglow is Laneige. 'Su Qing Fat Yan Wang Zhi Deng'. Alas! Everything in the world is gone, but the fragrance is like the old days. The beautiful hand is beautiful, and the hundred generations are fragrant. Listen to the gossip of the piano and recall the past. Seeing things and thinking about people, empty and melancholy! After saying a few words, the woman hid her face and wept, said rudely, got up and went out to clean her face and makeup.

Wang Zhixin looked at Wu Chang and said, "Why did you come here to have fun?" This is the territory we have been covering for several years. ”

Wu Changshi said sadly: "What kind of fun are you looking for, but it's just fun in suffering." ”

"We know your business, although the head of the Ministry of Rites can't do what you want, but even if there are many vacancies in the court, we can't help, it's a matter of the outer court after all. However, Xue Guoguan is really a little dark-hearted, although we don't know the inside story, but since ancient times, he has taken people's money and eliminated disasters with others, he actually swallowed the bait and got rid of the hook, is there still a bit of human taste? ”

"It's just that I'm blind and see the wrong person."

"Don't be discouraged, he may not be reliable! Xue Guoguan has become a foreign minister, and his life may not be easy, he has offended too many people. That day in the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Long Live Lord said that the wind of corruption in the imperial court was repeatedly banned, and he actually said that if Dongchang and Jinyiwei were led by capable people, the emperor would naturally have insight into the traitorous deeds of the courtiers, how could they dare to be so presumptuous! Listen to what this is? Isn't it intent on slandering and harming others? At that time, the sect master Wang Dehua happened to be accompanying him, and he saw that the gaze of the Long Live Lord was very sharp, and he was shocked into a cold sweat, and he was frightened for several days, worried that the Long Live Lord had blinded him. ”

Wu Changshi secretly thought: This Xue Guoguan can't eat and walks around, according to the old practice, the new prime minister or cabinet minister wants to visit the private residence of the prime minister and the eunuch of Dongchang, Xue Guoguan dares to say such things in person, which shows that he is suddenly a new upstart, and he does not put the factory guard in his eyes, Wang Dehua will definitely not be able to swallow this breath. Wu Changshi has dealt with Cao Huachun, Wang Zhixin and others for many years, and knows that their methods are very vicious and tricky, and he will definitely secretly send Dongchang Fanzi to spy around, and Xue Guoguan's every move will never escape Wang Dehua's sight. If you look at the right time, Xue Guoguan will not be able to sit in the position of the first person in the impeachment, and will even be expelled from the court. Wu Changshi suddenly had a hint of happiness in his heart, and nodded: "Fortunately, the student was not included in his door wall, this person is so unscrupulous, sooner or later he will be poisoned." Father-in-law, let's see what kind of ideas he has repeatedly given to Long Live Lord, and how many troubles he has caused! It's just that the fathers-in-law are generous, and those Qi Wan are afraid that they can't spare him, so they are deadlocked, and the emperor is also annoyed, see how he ends? ”

"We're not easy to mess with." Wang Xinxin smiled extremely conceitedly.

Wu Changshi saw that his demeanor was a little hideous, and secretly called luck, his career was sinister, and his future was unpredictable, if he became Xue Guoguan's henchman, wouldn't he offend the big guys? Even if there is any wealth, it is only a flash in the pan. Thinking of Tian Guifei, who favored the harem, it was originally the internal aid that Zhou Yanru had climbed many years ago, but now she lives in Qixiang Palace. He said tentatively: "Is Tian Niangniang okay?" ”

"Can there be any? Not to mention the cold palace, the five princes are seriously ill and anxious all day long, where is there still the scenery of the old days! Wang Zhixin lowered his voice and said: "Everyone outside knows that she has fallen out of favor, but do you know the reason for her fall from grace?" ”

"It's not due to the fight with Empress Zhou."

"That's just lip service." Wang Zhixin said to the guqin nunu on the long table: "It's all for this." ”

"Jean ......?" Wu Changshi was puzzled.

Tian Guifei plays the piano well, Queen Zhou is far inferior, catch up with the Lord Banzai asked her if she had practiced when she was a child, but the queen replied: The concubine is a Confucian, and she has never learned the skills of prostitution fireworks. Long Live Lord originally heard that Tian Niangniang was born in Yangzhou Thin Horse, not Tian Hongyu's own child, and he became suspicious when he landed, and this time he lived in Qixiang Palace, but Long Live Lord took the opportunity to attack. Tian Guifei has been planted at home now, and if she can't clean up such stains, I'm afraid she will never be favored. ”

Qinglou Goolan is the most discerning temperament, and these words are not heard in the yamen and wine shops. Wu Changshi secretly felt that this trip was not worthwhile, and he actually knew a lot of inside information, these things were disturbed in one place, and he couldn't help churning in his heart, and he suddenly came up with a clever plan. He pondered for a moment and said to the king's heart: "Congratulations to my father-in-law, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" If the father-in-law can mediate in the middle, the wealth will naturally go to the next level. ”

"What chance?"

"Punishing the concubine, whether it is deposed or given death, is to cut off the title first, but Tian Niangniang is unscathed except for changing a palace, which shows that the emperor is just angry because of suspicion. If her father-in-law thinks of a way to wash away her grievances, Tian Niangniang doesn't know how much she will miss her father-in-law's kindness, and the emperor will remember it in his heart. ”

"You think we're three-year-olds, just looking in front of you, not thinking about what's behind you. Aren't we offending Queen Zhou by doing this? ”

"My father-in-law is too worried. Now that Queen Zhou's grievances have come out, she naturally won't have a deep grudge with Tian Niangniang, who are you sad about when they fight like this? Not only the two of them, but also the emperor. After Tian Niangniang lived, the emperor was bound to have a lot less joy. He wanted to forgive Tian Niangniang, but the emperor couldn't say this first, so he had to borrow the donkey from the slope to save face for the emperor......"

Wang Zhixin clapped his hands and said, "Hey...... We see, this is a clever plan to kill three birds with one stone! gave the Long Live Lord steps, fulfilled the queen's holy virtue, and burned Tian Niangniang's cold stove. However, your kid slandered Banzai as a donkey, but it shouldn't be. ”

"The father-in-law is more guilty, you scolded the emperor and the concubine as birdmen." Wu Changshi laughed. Wang Xin was stunned for a moment, and then leaned back and laughed.

Tian Guifei has been living in Qixiang Palace for more than two months, and Empress Zhou has seen that the emperor has been depressed these days, and she has become more and more smiling. Sometimes he stayed in Kunning Palace, and more nights he stayed in Qianqing Palace, and every day in addition to going to court and summoning ministers, he was immersed in reading documents. Gradually, the number of times I came to Kunning Palace became rarer, and I went to Yikun Palace two or three times in the middle. Empress Zhou suddenly felt uneasy, she understood that the emperor was still worried about Tian Guifei in his heart, and it was only because no one interceded on his behalf that it was difficult to recall Tian Guifei. Wang Zhixin's words are good, his magnanimity and generosity make the emperor and Concubine Tian reconcile as before, not only the emperor will be happy, but Concubine Tian will also be grateful. What kind of steps do you find? She thought that during breakfast, Wu Wanrong said that the flowers in the palace garden, Yonghe Palace and other places were ready to bloom, and secretly thought: "Yonghe, this name is auspicious, so I invite the emperor to Yonghe Palace to enjoy the flowers together." She called Liu An, the eunuch in charge of Kunning Palace, and ordered him to go to the front to take a look, if the emperor is free, please go to Yonghe Palace to enjoy the flowers in three days. Liu An has been working in the palace for a long time, and he has already become a human spirit, so he understands the meaning of the emperor's leisure, and agrees repeatedly.

Chongzhen is immersed in joy, just received Hong Chengchou, Sun Chuanting joint worship of the good news, Tongguan ambush battle, a complete victory, Li Zicheng only led eighteen horsemen to flee into Shangluo Mountain, is leading the army into the mountain search, must be captured, sacrifice prisoners. The frustration caused by his donation since the New Year was swept away, and when he heard that the queen had come to invite him to enjoy the flowers, he agreed without thinking.

There was a light rain at the right time, and the Forbidden City was full of spring and the weather was fine. Queen Zhou took the phoenix, and the palace maids with feather fans, group fans and Huangluo umbrellas, holding food boxes, and surrounded the queen's phoenix chariot to the Qianqing Palace. Yuan Guifei wore a Tianshui blue cicada wing gauze palace shirt, and was already waiting outside the Rijing Gate, Queen Zhou got off the phoenix, she stepped forward to greet her: "No wonder the emperor praised Niangniang for being a white-clothed monk." This white gauze dress is worn on Niangniang, it is really a living Bodhisattva of Jade Guanyin from the South China Sea! ”

"What a clever mouth! The sky and water and the cicada winged yarn palace shirt on your body, isn't the emperor full of praise! I'm not a twenty-eight beauty anymore, and I can't compete with those spring flowers to be more beautiful than beautiful, so I simply dress plainly. The two laughed and entered the Qianqing Palace, Chongzhen had also changed his clothes, wearing a black gauze folded scarf, wearing a plain Ge straight jacket, and thin-soled soap boots on his feet, which was very energetic. The three of them rode to Yonghe Gate together, and the eunuchs and palace maids had not seen the emperor and queen so happy for a few days, and they all hugged each other with a smile on their faces. After the Yonghe Gate was under the chastels, Chongzhen slowly paced into the garden, followed by Empress Zhou, Yuan Guifei and a large group of eunuchs and palace maids. Because it has not yet reached the season of full bloom, the flowers of Yonghe Palace are very scarce, but they are particularly eye-catching when scattered among the green bushes. The eunuchs and palace maids of Yonghe Palace have put a lot of effort into decorating them very exquisitely, moving out the exotic flowers and plants raised in the flower room, dotting them in the green, as well as a few tanks of goldfish and several bonsai, adding some vitality. In one corner of the garden, there is a wisteria with crooked branches and green leaves, and a bamboo table and four bamboo chairs are placed under the wisteria trellis. There is a large bin pot and four delicate and small teacups on the table, which are set off by the rich yellow tiles and red walls around it, which makes it even more frugal and leisurely, which is quite interesting in the mountains. Under the ancient pine beside the flower wall, there is a guqin on the red sandalwood table, ambergris incense is burned in a Xuande furnace, and a blue and white porcelain embroidery pier is placed behind the table, and the sun in the blue sky is sprinkled on the qin through the pine branches, and the light and shadow are mottled.

Chongzhen sat on the bamboo chair and called for tea with great interest, Wu Wanrong hurriedly ordered someone to bring hot water, Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Is this tea?" Grab a full set of tea sets! ”

Everyone saw that he was so interested, they were happy, Queen Zhou hurriedly ordered someone to take the snow water of the winter, Yuan Guifei lit the stove with her own hands, boiled water to cook tea, and after a while, the fragrance of tea wafted all over the courtyard. Queen Zhou saw that Chongzhen was eating soundly, and took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, on such a good day, you must enjoy tea and flowers, you must listen to the music, the concubine has ordered Fan Xuanzhi and Xue Xuanzhi to wait, they are Tian Niangniang's disciples, specializing in pipa." ”

"Call and listen."

The two palace ladies in light and bright spring shirts hugged the pipa, the ceremony had been completed, and they sat on the edge of the Taihu Lake stone, playing a song "Yangchun Ancient Song", Queen Zhou saw that he was absent-minded and whispered: "But they don't play well?" If the concubine summoned Tian Niangniang to a song. I heard that she has been in Qixiang Palace for many days, and she is quite remorseful, how can such a lively thing be so rare for her! The emperor hopes that when such a happy event occurs, it is time to grant amnesty to the world and rejoice with all the people. ”

Chongzhen smiled and said nothing. Empress Zhou smiled and glanced at Yuan Guifei and said, "Borrow your chariot, our sisters are complete, so that we can share the joy of peace with the emperor." "How should Yuan Guifei not, Wu Wanrong saw it, so she took the palace maid to pick up Tian Guifei.

After half a cup of tea, Tian Guifei, who was dressed in a plain dress, entered the Yonghe Gate, walked forward like a flower and a willow, saluted the emperor and the empress, and exchanged salutes with Yuan Guifei. Tian Guifei was haggard and cleared a lot, and Chongzhen secretly felt distressed, but it was not easy to show it in front of everyone, so he only looked at her twice, with a hint of a smile in his eyes. Tian Guifei avoided his gaze and lowered her head, she was afraid that she would see it for a long time, and she couldn't help but cry bitterly. Empress Zhou had the heart to resolve the grievances, so she hurriedly took her hand and said with a smile: "Tian Guifei, do you know why the emperor came to Yonghemen to enjoy the flowers today?" ”

"The concubine doesn't know."

"The great victory in Tongguan and the almost annihilation of the thieves are really a great joy that has not been seen for many years. As soon as the emperor was free, he wanted to come to Chengqian Palace to see the pear blossoms, but he remembered the wrong day, and the pear blossoms were going to bloom for a month! The emperor is clearly a person who wants to inherit the palace, and he doesn't know what to say. ”

Tian Guifei glanced at Chongzhen secretly, but when she saw him staring at herself, her face was hot, and she disguised: "Congratulations to the emperor." ”

Seeing her delicate and lovely appearance, Queen Zhou sighed to herself: The fox can confuse the master, if I am a man, I can't control it. He ordered her: "Congratulations can't be without gifts, you can play a song and think it's a celebration!" Everyone is also in full bloom. ”

Tian Guifei bowed down and replied, "Obey Yi's order." The concubines have been introspecting for a long time, and the fingering is rusty, so the emperor and the queen are fortunate not to blame. The great victory before the army, it is reasonable to play "Ambush on All Sides", but the killing atmosphere of this song is too heavy, and it is not suitable to be called congratulatory. The concubine asked for a song to play the song "Fisherman's Q&A" to celebrate the peace of the country in the future and the people to live and work in peace and contentment. She saw Chongzhen nodding slightly, then walked under the pine tree, sat upright on the blue and white porcelain embroidery pier, tuned a few strings, contemplated for a moment, and played with a bang. Her jade fingers are light, or rolling or whisking or or note, flying up and down, the towering of the mountain, the ocean of water, the ding ding of the axe, the sound of the oar, all give her the wonderful finger to pop out, the sound of the piano, frustration and suppression, a moment of subtlety like hair, like turning low back, and suddenly five fingers rolling, the strings are tornado thunder, it seems that a Danqing master depicts a picture of fishing wood, everyone feels that they are wandering in the mountains and forests, and they have broken off the idea of fame and fortune. Tian Guifei sang while talking: "The rise and fall of ancient and modern times are like a rebellion, and the green mountains and green waters are solid." Thousands of years of gains and losses, pay for the words of the fisherman. After the song was finished, all the eunuchs and palace maids who were accompanying him knelt down to Chongzhen and shouted: "Long live!" Banzai! ”

Chongzhen bowed his head and said: "Concubine Ai's piano skills seem to have improved again, and the meaning of the song has become more profound." I remember that there is a song "Linjiang Immortal" in the "Twenty-one Historical Bullet Words" written by Yang Shen in this dynasty, which can be used as a wonderful explanation for this song. ”

"Emperor Shengrui, that word is indeed better than the original words sung by the concubines. The rolling Yangtze River is passing away, and the waves are sweeping away the heroes. Success or failure turns empty, the green mountains are still there, and the sunset is red several times. On the white-haired fisherman river, accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. A pot of turbid wine is happy to meet, and many things in ancient and modern times are laughing and talking. ”

Chongzhen praised: "Your current realm of piano skills has surpassed fingering skills and has a deep understanding. The emotion is in the middle, and the sound is sound, the feeling is sad and happy, and the fate is very different from before. ”

"Or the emperor knows the concubine's heart......" Tian Guifei burst into tears, choked up and couldn't continue.

Queen Zhou's jealousy darkened, and she smiled lightly: "She has worked hard and committed adultery for many years, and there is naturally no one in the palace." ”

"Yangzhou Skinny Horse." The doubts in Chongzhen's heart came up again, he couldn't help frowning, his face was a little gloomy, he paused for a moment, and finally couldn't help asking, "Who taught Concubine Ai's piano skills?" ”

"The concubine's mother is the master who learned the piano."

Empress Zhou asked, "Who taught her?" ”

"One of her cousins used to be a thin horse in Yangzhou, who was excellent in both color and art, and later ransomed my father, and has been living in the concubine's house, in order to repay the grace of redemption, she passed on her skills to the concubine's mother." Tian Guifei secretly rejoiced, fortunately, there was the arrangement of the eunuch king's heart, otherwise I don't know how to answer, if I tell the truth that my mother was born in Yangzhou thin horse, I am afraid that the royal dignity is not good-looking, the emperor is rarely disgusted, when will he be able to see the light of day?

Chongzhen was suspicious for the most part, and said: "Find a suitable day and invite her to the palace, so that I can see the level of your master and apprentice's piano skills." ”

"The concubine thanked the emperor for her mother." Tian Guifei was ecstatic, it was a rare honor for her relatives to enter the palace, and it was also a special grace from the emperor, and there was no one in the harem who did not dream of suspense. She thanked her and said, "The concubine wants to go back to Qixiang Palace, but she can't worry about Huan'er's illness." ”

Chongzhen said with concern: "Can Cihuan's illness be light?" ”

"The child's illness fluctuated from mild to severe, and the medication never worked. The concubines fasted and prayed for him every day, asking for mercy from God. Tian Guifei's voice was a little choked.

Chongzhen said angrily: "This class of mediocre people in the Tai Hospital is really damned, Huan'er was just a little frightened, there was no serious illness, and he couldn't be cured as soon as possible!" ”

"Tai Hospital asked Wu Yiru to personally lead two imperial doctors to diagnose Cihuan every day, and to consider the pulse prescription, it is not unsatisfactory." Empress Zhou saw that Tian Guifei's eyes were red, and she was afraid that a good pleasure would disturb her, so she smiled and said: "The emperor has not heard of a few proverbs in the capital, which are known as the four ridiculous: the article of the Hanlin Academy, the sword and gun of the arsenal, the tea soup of Guanglu Temple, and the prescription of the Tai Hospital?" ”

"The Imperial Physician was on duty day and night, and Dongyu gave them a place to consult prescriptions and rest. In order to facilitate their medical inquiries, the concubine placed Huan'er in the west outside the second gate, and asked ** to accompany her with four palace maids who served closely. Tian Guifei secretly wiped away a handful of tears and replied: "Huan'er was really well the day before yesterday, but last night she suddenly had a fever, her head and body were as hot as fire, but her hands and feet were cold, she was frightened, and she kept talking nonsense...... This child has been sick and weak for a long time, and it seems that he has encountered some kind of ghost......"

"What did he say?"

"Please forgive the concubine for the sin of delusion."

"Say it!"

"Huan'er took a few words over and over again: 'I am the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, I am the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva. The emperor treats outsiders meanly, and I want to make his princes die one by one. Concubine Tian couldn't hold back any longer, and fell to the ground and cried bitterly.

"Do you hear me?" Chongzhen's face was like the color of earth, and the Empress Dowager Xiaoding appeared. This must have been the work of the dead Li Guorui, who went to the Empress Dowager Xiaoding to complain about the evil situation. He shook his head helplessly, got up and said, "I'll go to Qixiang Palace to have a look, you guys go together!" ”

Cihuan lay on the bed, unconscious and dying. Chongzhen leaned over to take a look, touched the sick child's forehead with his hand, and turned to the ** and a few palace maids who were kneeling on the ground: "What did you all hear?" What do you see? ”

"Nine Lotus Bodhisattva! Nine Lotus Bodhisattva! ** and the palace maids did not dare to look up, their bodies trembled, as if they were extremely afraid. He sighed and cried out: "I'm sorry for the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, I'm sorry for the Empress Dowager Xiaoding!" Then it was announced that the court would be exempted tomorrow morning, and the more than 100 monks and female Taoists of the Dagao Xuandian who built Jiao in the South Palace recited the scriptures for the five princes, and then hurriedly went to the Fengxian Palace, knelt down and prayed in front of the god of the Empress Dowager of Xiaoding, and returned to the Qianqing Palace. Wang Dehua was waiting there for a long time, holding a few copies of the music in his arms. After he sat down in the imperial case, he saw that the top recital was actually the impeachment of the first assistant Xue Guoguan for accepting bribes, which was quite detailed. Without raising his head, he asked Wang Dehua, "Who is Wu Changshi?" How did he know so well? ”

"Long live the lord, Xue Ge Lao's bribery is self-evident, this year's Beifu, he and Cai Yichen are the chief and deputy chief examiners, and there are 300 scholars, why do you put Zou Shijin and Yang Qiong in front? It was found that a lot of money was collected. Fortunately, Long Live Lord is wise, and during the court examination in March, the first 48 people were called together. Wei Zaode was promoted as the champion, Zou Shijin was suppressed as the second grade, and Yang Qiong was suppressed as the third grade. ”

"What other bad deeds does he have?"

"He once counted silver tickets in the study at night, no less than 150,000 taels. I heard that I bought hundreds of hectares of fertile land in my hometown, and I am still preparing to build a big house. ”

"He failed me!" Chongzhen looked at the following twists and turns, most of them were impeached by Xue Guoguan, and just as he was about to take a closer look, a palace maid ran in in a panic and cried: "Long live the lord, the five princes are not good!" ”

Chongzhen's whole body was cold, thinking that his most beloved son had died because of his donation to Qi Wan, and he couldn't help but feel sad, and immediately lifted the zhu pen and wrote a handwritten message: Xue Guoguan is the first assistant, greedy for selfishness, what to say! Wufu, Jiuqing, and Kedao are heard! He suddenly felt that the disposal was light, and it was difficult to explain to the Empress Dowager Xiaoding, so he threw away the paper ball, and re-approved a few words: Xue Guoguan returned home to listen to the survey!