Not long after, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, Li Guopu, Lai Zongdao, and Yang Jingchen came in and bowed to the ground together, Shi Fenglai said gratefully: "The emperor is coming, you can't welcome you from afar, you should wait outside the door, how can you be like no one else, still waiting for the emperor to summon you?" Forgiveness of the sins of dishonorability. ”

Zhang Ruitu also said: "The emperor summoned his ministers and others to play right, it is very convenient, how to easily work the respect of ten thousand times." Ah! W-How is this good? ”

Chongzhen waved his hand and said: "The spring is like a promise, the trees are germinating, my body is tired, I think of you watching the chapter all day long to discuss the vote, so I came to visit." Some people say that entering the cabinet is like being in prison, but in fact, there is a time to let go of the wind when you are in prison, but you are so busy that you only see the starlight at both ends and do not see the sun. Sit it all! Turning his head, Jin Zhong said, "Serve tea!" ”

Seeing that Jin Zhong was about to retreat, Shi Fenglai hurriedly got up and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister has a reluctant request, I hope you will be approved." The old minister has his own new tea in the room, and he wants to invite the emperor to taste it. ”

"But Tiger Hill's Tianchi tea?"

"Holy Broken Candle." In Chongzhen's words, Shi Fenglai was a little stunned.

"The minister has the rock tea of Wuyi Mountain, and the emperor can drink it?" Zhang Ruitu said.

Chongzhen said: "Wuyi Mountain rock tea has been a tribute since the time of the great grandfather, and it is also available in the palace. No matter what kind of tea, if you want to quench your thirst, you will take it, and now I will be a guest, and I will not be restrained by the courtesy of the monarch and ministers, but I will go to the courtyard to drink it slowly. ”

The tables and chairs were neatly furnished, Jin Zhong ordered the little eunuch to go back to the Wenhua Hall early to get a tea cup, a white clay stove, a silver cho and other utensils, burn charcoal and fry water, and the ministers each came over with tea cans of different sizes, Chongzhen smiled and said: "Do you all sit, sit down and taste slowly to have fun, how can there be a reason to stand and eat tea?" The ministers gave their respects one after another.

Just after mid-spring, the wind and the sun are beautiful, the sun is warm on the body, and a few clumps of catkins fly over the tall palace wall in the wind, fluttering and falling. Chongzhen said: "On such a good day, with a few companions, carrying wine and pulp, looking for fragrance, it is really a great joy in life." ”

"If you go to the south of the Yangtze River, it is even better, the sunrise river flowers are red, the spring river is as green as blue, and the scenery is very different from Beijing. Emperor Zhengde went to the south of the Yangtze River several times, and the mountains and rivers of the south of the Yangtze River were able to see the face of the sky, which was also the blessing of the subjects of the south of the Yangtze River. If the emperor tastes tea in the south of the Yangtze River at this time, it will be interesting to brew the new tea of Tiger Hill Tianchi with the water of the three famous springs of Huishan, Zhongleng and Hupao. "When it comes to tea, Shi Fenglai is extremely familiar.

Chongzhen nodded and said: "The style of eating tea has been flourishing since the Tang Dynasty, and all tea, water, utensils, etc. are all exquisite. Speaking of water products, the Tang Dynasty Lu Hong gradually took the mountains and rivers as the top, the river water was second, and the well water was secondary, while the secular people paid attention to the lotus dew, plum snow, and sencha must have no root water in the heavenly spring, thinking that the lighter the water and the better the color and taste, it was a little vain. In fact, the water of making tea should be in a movable word, endless, infinite vitality, the most appropriate to stimulate the tea nature, the so-called water is very tea is also very much. He glanced at the two ministers who had recently paid homage to the prime minister and said, "What kind of tea do you drink on weekdays?" ”

Lai Zongdao was about to stand up, thinking of the emperor's words of informality to the courtesy of the monarch and the minister, so he changed the situation to Gong and said: "The minister and Shi are equally good, they like green tea, and they often eat the dragon well of Lion Peak." ”

Yang Jingchen said: "The minister has been used to drinking oolong tea since he was a child. ”

Chongzhen said: "In this way, Mr. Li must be drinking flower tea." ”

Li Guopu was stunned and said: "What you see knows what you don't see, the emperor is sage." ”

Chongzhen smiled: "Then I can be regarded as a man of the Tao." ”

Zhang Ruitu praised: "The emperor is a Taoist monarch, how can he be compared with ordinary Confucian scholars?" ”

Jin Zhong came over and said, "Long live the water." ”

Chongzhen leaned his ears and listened, and said slightly, "Just now, the fish eyes are scattered, and it is time to make green tea." If you wait until the springs on all sides are piling up, it will be a little too much. Let's bring it up! Taste Longjing first, the new upstart in tea! ”

Chongzhen usually likes to be clean, meticulous in eating, Jin Zhong is a few ears and eyes, and the tea is also a little clear, but he has no bottom in his heart, and it is difficult to pass it on to the eunuch who specializes in tea affairs, and he has set up the blue and white porcelain cup of the Xuan kiln, and put a pinch of tea leaves in the porcelain cup with a small porcelain spoon in order, and the pot is high, just the tea is submerged, and he stops waiting for the water.

Chongzhen nodded and said, "Xiao Zhongzi knows hot and cold, and he can be regarded as a glimpse of the door." Brewing tea in spring and autumn should be in the middle of the investment. When I talked about water, I didn't mean anything. If it comes to the point of origin, the water is very tea is also very meaningful, the water is like a gentleman and the tea is like a minister, what kind of monarch will have what kind of courtiers, there are traitors, Tang Wu is virtuous, if I become the lord of Zhongxing, you are the ministers of Zhongxing. As a courtier, entering the cabinet to worship the prime minister, it is to have an opportunity, and it is not difficult to become a generation of virtuous ministers, which will be remembered through the ages. Governing the country is like a tea ceremony, and there will naturally be a peaceful and prosperous era when the monarch and the ministers are suitable, and they will not be able to make good tea. The crowd listened intently and nodded their heads.

Jin Zhong added water one by one, and a burst of tea fragrance spread out, mixing with the surrounding floral fragrance, refreshing people's hearts. Chongzhen looked at the tender yellow and slightly green tea, the leaves gradually stopped rolling, picked up the root spear, and sniffed lightly: "After all, it is new tea." Seeing that the ministers were all contemplative, they frowned and pondered, and said with a smile: "Several gentlemen are like puppet shows, where is it like tasting tea and gossiping?" Everyone saw that the tea was finished, the emperor beckoned to drink, and hurriedly took a cup of sip, the fruit felt refreshing and sweet, the lips and teeth were fragrant, and they knew that the brewing heat was just right.

Shi Fenglai said: "Jin Zhong has been on an errand in the Qianqing Palace for more than a month, so he has such extraordinary skills, and it is natural for famous teachers and apprentices to be high-level. The emperor's edict was earnest, and he expected Yin Yin, and the ministers were known to the emperor **, and they were inexplicably grateful. ”

Chongzhen put the tea cup down, glanced at everyone and said: "The ancients said that governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, but in fact, the way of sencha is the same. For example, green tea, the water is boiling hot, and no matter how resistant the brewed tea leaves are, they are afraid that they will be ripe, and the water will inevitably be scorched and bitter to quench their thirst and refresh themselves, let alone smell the fragrance? If the water is warm and cannot be swallowed, it will not stimulate the taste of tea, and no matter how good the tea is, it will be wasted. Governing the world is like making tea, in the fire, the water is cold and almost abolishing, and the water is hot and cool, and it is necessary to be lenient and fierce in order to promote the good and punish the evil, so that the ministers and the people know what to follow. I haven't been in the palace for a long time, I've been thinking about how to overkill the decadence, and then open the peace, now everything is in trouble, the grandfather said that the troubled times use heavy canons, should I be the same? ”

Li Guopu said: "Drinking tea is a small way, but the emperor uses this as the end, turning iron into gold, and deafening." The way of the saint should be neutralized, and the one who is in the middle is also the great foundation of the world; Those who are harmonious are also the way of the world. A few days ago, I also thought about how to brighten the new deal, prepare for a Chen, today's tea discussion, the emperor earnestly advised, the minister's eyes were opened, some ideas suddenly penetrated, the emperor worked hard, wanted to be peaceful, and the ministers were not excited, so they would play a hole privately. ”

"Okay! If you only care about eating tea, I think you are afraid that you will suffer if you use less tea! Shi Xiang shouldn't be distressed about tea! Chongzhen's few jokes made everyone laugh, Shi Fenglai was anxious to argue, but he had a mouthful of hot tea in his mouth, swallowing or spitting, his expression was extremely embarrassed, everyone looked at each other and smiled, Chongzhen couldn't help laughing: "Shi Xiang is not an urgent person, don't be busy explaining, and listen to what Yuanzhi has to say." ”

Li Guopu listened to Chongzhen shouting his words, his heart was sour, and he said with tears in his eyes: "There are no less than 300 chapters every day, and the emperor has to read them every week, often until late at night, and the ministers dare not judge that they will get bored after a long time, but they just think that the emperor is too hard, can you follow the example of the Song people to paste yellow, and the ministers sign out the essentials, outline them, draft them, and then submit them to the emperor." ”

Chongzhen smiled: "I can still hold on." Go ahead and play! ”

"The world's financial resources are exhausted, and we should try our best to be thrifty, punish corruption to appease the people, and officials of all sizes should use their names to increase silver taxes and punish them indiscriminately, and we should pursue and convict stolen goods according to the law, and we should not worry that the inspectors are harsh and the punishment is too severe."

Chongzhen nodded and said: "What Yuanzhi said is more in line with my dynasty's accumulation, go down and make a detailed statement, and when I approve it, I will use the Di newspaper to send it, and the county government of the state will also know it." ”

At this time, the tea was already out of steam, Jin Zhong hurriedly took another set of small purple clay pots, replaced them with oolong tea, warmed the pot, and brewed tea, and a strong aroma spread immediately. Chongzhen said: "The cabinet ministers comprehensively check political affairs, such as my right and left hands, I follow the ancestral system and are commensurate with Mr., and I rely on a lot. Shi Xiang and Zhang Xiang are both on the handbook, and I have approved it. Zhang Xiang said that the matter of the friends of the party, said that in recent days, the scholars and doctors are what they are, each is not their own wrong, grievances and grievances are sought from each other, and the ice and charcoal are at each other's angles, and I am particularly attentive, and I have read the excerpt three times, and what I said is the truth, and the insight is indeed extraordinary. It's just about the previous dynasty, and I don't dare to say it directly. In fact, the root of this matter is in the Shenzong Dynasty, Donglin, Xuan, Kun, Qi, Zhejiang, and Chu parties are looking for grievances and fighting each other for personal gain, how many people think about the king's society and the people? The parties are more different from each other, it is a little like tea, the water and soil are different in various places, the endowment habits are different, Min Di is oolong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are green tea, Jiangbei is mostly flower tea, things are gathered by like, people are divided into groups, but tea no matter what north and south what green and red, are fragrant, not like friends and evil attacks, good and bad are not distinguished. Now the nine cabinet ministers, scattered in Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hebei, Shandong, many of them are places where the party is extremely prosperous, Yin Jian is not far away, the gentlemen are the heads of hundreds of bureaucrats, be careful. A remark swept away the harmonious atmosphere of Fang Cai, and everyone's hearts couldn't help but tremble.

Chongzhen saw that everyone was pale, and said with a smile: "It's almost noon, I've been bothering for a long time, you can't serve tea to send guests, I should also go back." If you miss the time to return home, you can't beat the horse hanging, and you don't know how to complain about me behind your back! Then he got up and went out of the courtyard.

Zhang Ruitu didn't know whether the emperor intended it or not, but when he thought that he was fighting at home last night, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, panicked, and didn't have a taste for lunch. Shi Fenglai was also difficult to swallow, always savoring the meaning of Chongzhen's words, and wanted to know how to criticize the red, and his heart was uneasy. Chongzhen had a very good lunch, and after the meal, he took a nap with his clothes together, took the chapter of Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu and read it again, threw it aside, and secretly sneered: "The corpse has been in place for a long time, do you think that you will take the initiative to beg for rest and I will continue to warm up and stay?" How can Tianwei be unpredictable! ”

Li Shi has been locked up in Beizhen Fusi Prison for more than three months, and the trial of the three law divisions has been completed with Jiuqing Kedao, and Su Maoxiang, the secretary of the Criminal Department, Cao Sicheng, the left capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Yao Shishen, the acting secretary of Dali Temple, were busy trying the five tigers, five biao and other eunuch party criminals, so they had to withdraw from the trial. Chongzhen took a closer look, and took the excerpt of the impeachment of Liu Chongqing, the imperial history of Shanxi Province, and Ye Chengzhang, the imperial history of Jiangxi Province, and Li Shi's confession was mutually examined, and couldn't help frowning, the next day coincided with the Great Dynasty, Chongzhen asked Ding Qirui, the waiter of the Criminal Department: "Su Maoxiang left his post and returned to his hometown, and you acted in the affairs of the ministry, have you participated in the trial of Li Shi's case?" ”

"Ministers are always involved."

"Is there any doubt about this case?"

Ding Qirui said: "The Three Law Divisions have been instructed to ask the Jiuqing Kedao Meeting, and Master Su has already responded according to the truth. ”

"I've seen it, but there is still something vague about it, why doesn't Li Shi wait for the time?"

Ding Qirui said: "Li Shi and Li Yongzhen fabricated charges and killed seven people, Zhou Qiyuan, Gao Panlong, Miao Changqi, Zhou Shunchang, Zhou Zongjian, Li Yingsheng, and Huang Zunsu all died because of him. ”

Chongzhen snorted: "It's unreasonable to punish yourself, unless he doesn't want to live." I once saw Li Shi in the Hutong of Donkey City, very arrogant, arrogant, and majestic! Someone impeached him for his first appointment as a weaver in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and ordered the local priest to pay a salute. Wang Yongguang, as the head of the six departments, you also participated in it, are you really guilty of self-punishment? Didn't you beat a board? ”

Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the ministry, said respectfully: "The saint has clearly investigated, and he has indeed been punished. ”

"What kind of punishment is used?" Chongzhen looked at Ding Qirui coldly.

Ding Qirui hurriedly replied: "I only ordered the soap in the hall to lift the clamping stick, shouted, and threw the clamping stick towards the entrance of the hall. ”

"Still arguing? The stick is a great punishment, how can the flesh and blood bear it? I once saw the flail made by Wei Zhongxian, who was a rebel, weighed more than 100 catties, and the prisoners were often crushed to death, which was extremely cruel. Under the heavy punishment, who can bear it? Why can't you ask for such a trial? ”

"Li Shi has a bad record, and he is here, and the ministers have not wronged him." Ding Qirui was not discouraged and spoke bluntly.

Chongzhen unconsciously felt a trace of annoyance, and said solemnly: "Whether there is any wrong, you take a closer look at Li Shi's recital, and you will naturally understand." Li Shi put the blank recital book with Wei Zhongxian, and Li Yongzhen filled it in, but in fact, because of his power, he had to do it as a last resort, how to ignore the laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty, convict him vaguely, and hastily close the case? "Throw Li Shizuo and Ding Qirui," "Do you see if it's Zhu Yin on the ink, or if the ink is on Zhu Yin?" ”

When Ding Qirui heard this, his heart beat wildly, he bent down to pick it up, examined it carefully, and saw that several places of Zhu Yin were covered by ink, and he knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "The minister is like a blind man, with eyes without beads, negligent and negligent, and the sin is not forgiven." The emperor's analysis is extreme, the minister's mouth is broken, and the five bodies are thrown to the ground. Weifu came out of the imperial court, and relied on the holy judgment. ”

Chongzhen didn't order him to get up, and sighed softly: "If everything has to be judged, where will you put the big and small ministers?" There are Ming laws in the trial and inference cases, and they are the embodiment of countless me, so why do you need to bow down to everything? Confucius said: It is too much, and the aim is moderate, which is really the eternal truth, which is profound and inexhaustible. The intention of the great grandfather to set up the laws of the Ming Dynasty is not to be lenient and severe, but to uphold the law in a fair and fair manner, and to investigate the violation of the law, not to abuse it at will. The usage is moderate, and the ordinary people know the majesty, and they will know how to follow it, otherwise the law enforcement will be violated, how will the world be convinced? How many years have you been an official, have you not heard that the officials are not afraid of my strictness, but of my integrity, and that the people are not afraid of my ability, but of my father? The public does not dare to be slow, and the honest officials do not dare to deceive. Gong Shengming, Lian Shengwei? Yes, I don't look down on Li Shi, and I have promised justice to the unjust soul who is still resigned to death, but I don't want to break the rules of my ancestors, and I don't allow you to look at the wind and figure it out, flattering yourself, and invite merit and favor. There was silence in the hall, and everyone stood with their hands down and listened with their ears pricked up.

Chongzhen took a bite of tea and asked, "Ding Qirui, I ask you which is more culpable than Li Shi and the Five Tigers and Five Biao?" ”

"Naturally, there are five tigers and five biao."

Chongzhen's tone was raised, and he scolded: "Since I know that the five tigers and five biaos are extremely evil, how can I only cut Wu Chunfu and Ni Wenhuan to take their lives, Tian Ji and Li Kuilong are dismissed, Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun are imprisoned, Yang Huan, Sun Yunhe, and Cui Yingyuan are cut down, and they will not wait for the time without asking them?" I have repeatedly urged me to ask strictly, you Shang Qu added protection, sent Wu Chunfu, Ni Wenhuan, Tian Ji, and Li Kuilong to the guard to fill the army, Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun to behead the prisoners, Yang Huan, Sun Yunhe, and Cui Yingyuan with a hundred rods, flowing 3,000 li, and sent the border guards to fill the army. The original hometown is 3,000 taels of stolen silver, Wu Chunfu is 3,000 taels, Ni Wenhuan is 5,000 taels, Tian Ji and Li Kuilong are 1,000 taels each, compared to Zuo Guangdou chasing 20,000 taels of stolen goods, Zhou Qiyuan is 100,000 taels, and Zhou Zongjian is 13,500 taels. Is there a love in it, or is there a friend? ”

Ding Qirui's legs trembled, kowtowed to the ground, banged, and said urgently: "The minister did not preside over this matter, and I don't know the inside story." There are many interrogation yamen, and the criminal department is also powerless to control it. ”

"Can't hold it? Questioning the case and determining the sentence is originally a duty within the criminal department, and the failure to enforce the law is ineffective, corrupting Wang Gang, and the crime is unforgivable. I don't want to be too crowded, and I will dismiss Su Maoxiang and return to my hometown, which is to warn you. For more than half a year, I have inevitably had the criticism of luck, how do I know that I must use the core, not once selected, I will not abandon it for life, but use the core with the core, with the nuclear with the elimination, and there is no room for people who are vegetarian and corpse. Su Maoxiang was ungrateful for his duties, and I resigned him to his hometown. Chongzhen glanced at Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu who were standing in the column, and said sharply: "Cabinet ministers Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu have not presided over the affairs of the cabinet for a long time. ”

"Heaven is unpredictable! Wait for Shane! Zhang Ruitu secretly helped Shi Fenglai, who was shaking, behind his back, leaned close to his ear and sighed softly.

Shi Fenglai didn't look back, smiled sadly, and whispered: "It's okay, you don't have to work hard every day, the old man also learns to play horse hanging." ”

Ding Qirui pleaded: "Li Shi is coerced by Li Yongzhen, although he is an accomplice, but he is willing to flatter Wei and rebel, with sinister intentions, if there is no blank chapter of Li Shi, Zhou Qiyuan and the other seven people may not be dead, Li Shi's crime is unforgivable, but it is not the same as the main culprit Li Yongzhen, it seems that it can be slightly reduced by one level, and it can be changed to beheading, and he will be executed after the autumn." ”

Chongzhen said: "There is a master and a slave to the crime, and there should be a difference according to the law, and the beheading of the prison is still heavy." This case is naturally Li Yongzhen's mastermind, the fox is fake and the tiger is mighty, misappropriating authority, Liu Ruoyu, the head of the middle study, was appointed as the main writer, how to frame Zhou Qiyuan's seven people, Li Shi does not know, according to this, Li Yongzhen will never wait, Liu Ruoyu is second-class, beheaded and waited, Li Shi is first-class again, the border guards are in the army, and the stolen silver is chased. ”

After the court meeting, Chongzhen was extremely tired, and only drank a bowl of white fungus soup, so Concubine Tian Li sent her personal chief to follow Wang Ruifen over and invited him to watch the swing.

Chongzhen came to Yongning Palace by shoulder, only to enter Yongning Gate, and saw that the courtyard was set up with a cross swing frame more than one zhang high, and the rope full of colorful silk ribbons was pulled up all around, and two huge fiery red lanterns were hung on the top, and a high beam was erected in front of the swing frame, and a semicircular bamboo basket was tied on it, which was full of large peonies. A palace maid wearing a sea and sky xia luo robe and a golden moth wrapped in grass on her head had just gone down, and another palace maid in a lilac dress flew lightly on the swing, like a light milk swallow through the flowers, swinging in the soft spring breeze, and a cheer sounded everywhere. Concubine Tian Li sat sweatily under the small green gauze umbrella and watched, the two little palace maids gently slapped their palms, and the crimson palace dress was like a colorful butterfly looking for fragrance to spread its wings, seeing that the purple-shirted palace maid gradually slowed down, and said hurriedly: "I haven't picked up the flowers yet, why did they fall." ”

The palace maid didn't hear it, and came down suddenly, Concubine Tian Li knew that there was something wrong, looked back, and hurriedly bowed down, and said coquettishly: "Long live the Lord came quietly, and the concubines don't know." It's all these playful minions, and they don't know how to wait for the messenger anymore, and they only care about their own happiness, and they don't know how to say a word! ”

Chongzhen said with a smile: "I don't blame them, it's because I don't teach them to be polite, I'm afraid that when you see me, you'll become a fake trick." ”

"Long live the Lord, Niangniang's swing is very good, the slaves and maids are all Niangniang's, that Chunping in a purple shirt has just studied for more than ten days, and it is said that it is good, but compared to Niangniang, there is a difference between cloud and mud!" Wang Ruifen glanced at Concubine Tian Li with infinite admiration, and said in a crisp voice.

"I want to see what kind of good method the concubine is, I was busy with state affairs a few days ago, so I didn't come to see it, and now I have fulfilled my old wish."

Concubine Tian Li said faintly: "Before the Qingming Festival, the fire was banned, and the swing was also tied to the mulberry." The emperor said that the first few days were more than that! Now that the Qingming Festival has passed, if it weren't for the concubines ordering someone to invite them, I can't say that the emperor is still reviewing the chapters! ”

"As usual, the swings in the palace will not be dismantled until the day before the beginning of summer, and there are still days! Are you afraid that I won't be able to see it? I'm with you today. ”

"Your Majesty, Emperor. If the emperor doesn't think the concubines are profligate, the concubines will make a swing and look at the emperor. As he spoke, he took off the crown of beads, tied the silver and red trousers tightly, revealing a pair of small feet like pointed jade shoots, wearing a pair of red soft-soled palace shoes, jumped on the drawing board, held the color rope with both hands, and turned around and said: "Your Majesty, come and send one for the concubine." ”

Chongzhen looked at her slender white ankles and said, "Slender self-pity is timid, and the swing frame is more graceful." Jin Lian, who is less than three inches, standing on the drawing board, is really difficult for you. "With both hands pushing, the swing swings, only a few times and then flies in the air, between the ups and downs, a soft and light spring shirt floats up, spreading pieces of pale red smoke, that is the most exciting touch of spring evening, bright, bright, fluttering, like an epiphany moment of opening. Suddenly, Concubine Tian Li swung hard, almost flew to the level of the crossbar, her lips could touch the peony in the bamboo basket, but her feet slipped and almost slipped off the drawing board, Chongzhen exclaimed, and suddenly held her breath in her chest and couldn't get out, her eyes looked straight up, and she exclaimed urgently: "Be careful!" Don't laugh so that your legs are weak, and you can't play if you slip. Concubine Tian Li ignored it, laughed softly, bent her legs, hooked them on the drawing board, let go of her hands, and couldn't stop swinging her head and face down, suddenly twisted her body, held the color rope with both hands, stood firmly with her feet, and swung towards the flower basket leisurely, Chongzhen only felt a flower in front of him, and looked at it again, a red peony had been held in the mouth of Concubine Tian Li. Chongzhen praised and shouted: "Good, good! Concubine Tian Li jumped off the drawing board with a slight pant, handed the peony to Chongzhen and said, "The concubine and the Pope are frightened. ”

"I'm really scared, I shouldn't have allowed you to mess around. If I miss it, I can't regret it, won't I regret it for the rest of my life? Chongzhen sniffed the peony on the side of his nose and said, "But it was folded from the Flower Viewing Palace?" ”

"The peony of the Flower Hall will not bloom until April, and the concubines can't wait, and they teach people to buy it at Fengtai Caoqiao, and a branch costs three dollars of silver!"

Chongzhen exclaimed: "Just after March, there are peonies on the market, which is really rare, no wonder it is so expensive!" ”

"It's nothing, there's something even more bizarre!" As he spoke, Chongzhen sat under the umbrella, Chongzhen was wondering, Han Cui'e was holding a palm-sized bamboo basket, and walked over and put it on the low table. Chongzhen took a closer look, and saw that the bamboo basket was made of green bamboo, scattered into a lotus shape, and the weaving was extremely fine, Concubine Tian Li smiled lightly, and reached out to remove the white satin covering the basket, Chongzhen couldn't help but be stunned, the basket was a big red cherry in the shape of a spire, full of particles, crystal color, like a shining gem, and asked: "Where did this come from?" May is only when there are cherries, how can it be two months early? ”

Concubine Tian Li smiled: "Is it rare or not? It was not for any money, but it was picked from his own tree. ”

"The palace garden and the west garden are not planted, how can they be picked?" Chongzhen was suspicious.

Concubine Tian Li said: "It's not in the palace, it's planted in the courtyard of Yangzhou, the concubine's hometown." Yangzhou is located in the south, and the yang energy was born early, and a greenhouse was built, which was naturally much earlier. How about tasting cherries from North Orchard? Slender fingers picked up a purple-red cherry and sent it into Chongzhen's mouth.

"Sweet, so sweet! Its flavor is not beneath the North Orchard cherry. ”

"Then I'll taste a few more, even if I visit Yangzhou."

"I want to tour the south, but I can't get out of it."

Concubine Tian Li was afraid that he would mention political affairs, so she couldn't help but be annoyed, and hurriedly said: "It's almost time, the emperor will have dinner in Yongning Palace!" If you want to rest here, the concubine ordered someone to arrange for the lower vessel to play the Qing offering according to the style of Jiangnan, and the emperor does not have to travel thousands of miles to feast his eyes. ”

She bowed her head and lowered her ears, a faint red glow flew on her face, and slowly snuggled to Chongzhen's side, a burst of fragrant fragrance came faintly, Chongzhen's heart fluttered, and nodded: "It's okay, take off the lantern outside the door!" Then ordered Wang Chengen to go to the Wenhua Hall to get the unapproved recital. ”

"Does the emperor still want to approve red?" Concubine Tian Lifei muttered, turned her body away, smiled shallowly, closed her eyes, and flushed slightly.

Chongzhen smiled and said, "It's still early!" But he took her in his arms and put his other hand around her waist.

It was getting late, and a few clouds were hiding the sunset, leaving only a few remnants of the sun. The twilight became heavier, the sky became reckless and blue, and countless stars flashed in an instant, and the bronze wall palace lamps everywhere were filled with oil and lit fires. Chongzhen and Tian Lifei had not finished their dinner, Wang Chengen came in with this chapter, looked at Tian Life, and whispered in Chongzhen's ear: "Long live Lord, Li Ge Lao please Long Live Lord to move, he is already waiting in the Wenhua Palace!" ”

"What's the urgency of entering the palace at this time?" Chongzhen looked at Concubine Tian Li, who was angry and angry, and couldn't help but feel a little anxious and angry.

"A demon book was found in front of the Wufeng Tower."

The ivory basket in Chongzhen's hand shook, and the slightly purple bamboo shoots fell back into the Panlong bowl, and he stabilized his mind and asked, "What is written in the book?" ”