Cao Xuan was shocked, and hurriedly went out to watch, and saw more than a dozen brocade guards standing in the courtyard, wearing white boots in a one-color suit, carrying a scimitar at his waist, and wearing a brass Pisces waist card. Embroidered a monster on the complement in front of the first person, like a dragon but not a dragon, with fins on his body, in the midst of the infested water waves, it was a very high-grade flying fish suit, and he knew from the clothes that the official position of the person who came was similar to the brocade clothes Wei Qianhu, and he looked at Cao Xuan coldly.

The king of letters, Zhu Youzhen, went out of the Xuanwu Gate in the honor guard of the queen Zhang Yan, and did not dare to find Xu Yingyuan, who was waiting outside the Donghua Gate, and walked towards Wangfujing alone in the east. At this time, in the dead of night, the waning moon is faint, and it is dark all around, Zhu Youzhen walks along the street, looks far away to the south, and sees a lantern swimming faintly outside the east wall of the palace, knowing that it is the red shop forbidden army around the palace city is patrolling in turn, the copper bell is shaking, jingling, and can be heard faintly. Suddenly, a string of firelight floated and fluttered in the night, and then there was the sound of clattering horses' hooves, a team of men and horses came head-on, lantern torches illuminated half of the street, Zhu Youzhen was about to dodge, and was already discovered by the soldiers, and stepped forward to twist and push in front of a man on horseback, "Lord Cao, I caught a eunuch who violated the ban." ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at it, and a tall red lantern was written with "Wucheng Terracotta Division Yushi Cao" a few neat big characters, knowing that it was the Wucheng Terracotta Division patrolling the imperial city at night, and was about to argue, then Cao Yushi pointed with a whip and asked: "Which palace are you the eunuch, do you know that it is almost midnight time to clean the street?" ”

Zhu Youzhen woke up when he boarded, and replied in a sharp voice: "Let's serve the queen's mother in Kunning Palace, and then followed the mother to the Wansui Mountain Shouhuang Pavilion to worship the moon, and was separated for a while, lost his way, and did not deliberately violate the ban." ”

"Chen Derun? Take the tooth tag and check it. ”

Zhu Youzhen handed the double-sided relief moire pattern ornament yellow ivory waist card to the soldiers, the soldiers presented it with both hands, Cao Yushi saw it, and looked at Zhu Youzhen through the light, saw that his face was thin, white face was beardless, reached out and took out a roll of white paper from his arms, and the guards were busy holding the lantern high, Cao Yushi looked at the graphics on it and shouted: "Take it!" ”

Zhu Youzhen shouted: "Why did you arrest me? ”

Cao Yushi said: "This official was ordered by his boss to arrest the eunuch Chen Derun, who stole the treasure out of the palace, what else is Qu Lai?" ”

Zhu Youzhen said hurriedly: "It's all some villains who are jealous when they see us serving the queen, and maliciously make false accusations, please allow us to confess to the queen tomorrow." ”

Cao Yushi listened, his heart couldn't help hesitating, knowing that the palace was quite fierce with each other, and neither party could afford to offend, if he didn't know what to do, he would act rashly, and he would not lead to the disaster of killing himself, and he smiled at the moment: "Gonggong Chen, the lower official was also ordered by his boss, and he couldn't help himself, as for the affairs in the palace, the lower official didn't know and didn't dare to ask, so he asked his father-in-law to descend to the Yamen of the Soldiers and Horses Division for a night, and tomorrow morning he reported to the boss and decided to stay with his father-in-law." ”

Zhu Youzhen pleaded: "Staying outside the palace will be punished heavily, can the adults bear to teach us to leave the Kunning Palace and do those lowly servants who sprinkle and sweep, or be sent to Nanhaizi to grow vegetables?" ”

Cao Yushi shook the horsewhip and said: "The father-in-law said that his feelings are pitiful, the lower officials have the intention to let go of the father-in-law, but it is just the duty, the boss asks or is ginseng, it is not easy to explain, please don't open your mouth, don't bother to talk about it." Come on! Ask Gonggong Chen to go to the Yamen of the Soldiers and Horses Division. As soon as the words fell, two stout soldiers came up and picked up Zhu Youzhen and left.

Outside the Chengtian Gate, a two-entry courtyard is the yamen of the imperial history of the city. The low door is only carved on the cornerstone of the left and right under the door frame, and the entrance to see the slightly taller house is the main hall of the office, turn a small hanging flower door, and there is a courtyard inside, which is the residence of the official family of the yamen. After the second watch, the main room facing north and south was still brightly lit, and the three women were playing cards. In the center sits an old woman in her sixtieth year, a woman in her early thirties on the left, with a white striped gauze shirt on her upper body, a red brocade armor all over the ground, and a muddy skirt with a dense colored yarn and a gold thread on her lower body. The woman on the right is a few years younger, the upper body is a light red armor with gold thread piping, and the lower body is tied with a tender green water drain long skirt, and the head is full of pearls and emeralds, and the phoenix hairpin is half oblique. Opposite was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old scribe, dressed in a black soapy green shirt with a black cloth scarf. The old woman yawned and asked the little scribe, "Huachun, it's almost three watches, right?" Why hasn't your second uncle come back yet? ”

The little scribe replied, "Grandma, there are still two moments to go, and the second uncle thinks he will be back soon." ”

The woman on the left also said, "Mother-in-law, don't worry, the officials do their routine every night, what's the matter with a little earlier and a little later?" ”

"I'm not worried, I'll just wait for the selection to come back, I can't change the old problem for many years!" The old woman laughed and played a card.

The young woman on the right greeted her obediently and said, "Mother-in-law's words and deeds are enough for a daughter-in-law and sister to learn for a lifetime!" ”

The old woman's eyes narrowed, the smile on her face became even bigger, and she said: "The so-called deep love for licking calves is inevitable when you get old. Besides, I only have one son left, and Huachun's father and mother died early, so I have to rely on him. As he spoke, he shed a few old tears.

"Which of you has the audacity to make the old lady angry?" With a laugh and asking, Cao Yushi strode in from outside the door with a curtain cage.

"Official!" Two young women rose to meet them.

"Second Uncle is back." The young man took Cao Yushi's cloak and hung it up, Cao Yushi came over to greet the old woman, and the old woman ordered him to sit down, while wiping her tears and smiling: "No one provokes me, it's my own family that thinks too much." ”

"What did my mother think again?"

The old woman said, "It's not your dead big brother yet!" ”

Cao Xuan comforted: "Don't be sad, mother-in-law, although my brother and sister-in-law have passed away, after all, they have left behind the flesh and blood of Huachun's nephew, and now they have received it in the capital again, and the family is reunited." Hua Chun became a scribe under his son, and also earned silver, with his cleverness, he will not worry about not having a good way out in the future, and his brother and sister-in-law will know and smile. ”

The old woman burst into tears and laughed, and said, "But worthy of them!" I don't know how much hardship and how much suffering you have suffered? Tonight is peaceful, right? ”

Cao Xuan said with a smile: "Don't worry, mother, what is unsafe about the Taiping Situation?" Tonight, he was ordered to arrest a eunuch who had violated the ban and locked him up in the front office. Tonight, the police in the imperial city strictly ordered the arrest of this person, and the child was lucky to meet it, I am afraid that it will be a lot of wealth! ”

"Second uncle, what is the eunuch like? My nephew hasn't seen it yet. Cao Huachun asked curiously.

Cao Xuan touched his beard and said, "You've only been here for a few days, so you can know everything!" The eunuchs are usually in the palace, and they don't come out easily, where will you see them? But as the days go by, they will always see them, and they often go to some bustling shops to buy some things for the palace. ”

"Isn't the palace huge? The Golden Luan Hall is very majestic, right? Cao Huachun asked unrelentingly.

Cao Xuan waved his hand impatiently and said, "I heard that it's very big!" I haven't been in before, so I'll know where to know. Children's house, don't ask around, be careful to teach the sittings of the East Factory to arrest you as a rebel! ”

"Well, an official as big as the second uncle has never entered the palace, but I don't believe it! Who are the sittings? ”

The old woman smiled and said, "Huachun, your second uncle is also tired from patrolling at night, and it's not too late to ask tomorrow if you have something." Rest early! ”

Cao Xuan nodded and said, "It's late at night, and it's time for my mother to rest." ”

In the west wing, a lamp is like a bean, Cao Huachun is lying on the bed, tossing and turning and difficult to sleep, always thinking about the eunuch who was caught, the more he thinks about it, the more curious he feels, so he simply gets up and quietly touches the outside office. There are two dead wind lanterns hanging high on the door of the lobby, it is very quiet inside, empty, look around, see the light faintly flashing in the hut in the southeast corner, Cao Huachun touched the door, looked in through the gap, and saw a handsome young man who was loosely tied hands and feet, curled up on a dilapidated wooden bed, and the clothes on his body were indeed different, wearing a black gauze inlaid thread rolled top inner phase hat, a rhino horn belt tied around his waist, a pair of red-faced gangster thin-soled boots on his feet, and an obscene old man dozing off beside him, absentmindedly watching. Cao Huachun saw that the young man was about the same age as himself, so he was even more curious, opened the door gently, and walked in. The old man heard the knock at the door, opened his eyes, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Young master, haven't you slept yet?" ”

Cao Huachun saw that it was Li Fu, the old official in the lobby, and said perfunctorily: "I can't sleep, and when I see the lights on here, I will come over to take a look." ”

Li Fu knew that he had not been in Beijing for a few days, and the young man was fresh and curious, so he persuaded: "It's pickled here, so let's go back to the room to rest!" ”

"The guards are also interesting, let's take your place, you can rest!" Cao Huachun laughed.

Li Fu was tired after a busy day, but he slept just right but was aroused by the eunuch who was guarding the ban, and he secretly hated the eunuch in his heart, lamenting that he was unlucky today, and when he heard that he was going to guard for him, he couldn't help but be surprised: "That dare is good!" It's just that those who are known by adults and leave their posts without permission will be punished. ”

"God knows, the gods know in the past, as long as you don't say it, how can the second uncle know? Go with confidence! ”

"But don't make any mistakes."

"Wordy!" Cao Huachun said angrily. Li Fu retreated with a smile, locked the door casually, and said with a smile: "Then there is Master Lao." As he spoke, he swept the key in his hand. Still don't believe us? Cao Huachun saw that he locked the door and took the key, he was angry, and he was about to scold, but Li Fu disappeared in a blink of an eye, and he was so angry that he kicked the low stool next to the bed away.

Zhu Youzhen was annoyed, calmed down and closed his eyes and thought hard about how to get out. Suddenly, he heard the knock on the door, opened his eyes slightly, and saw a thin young man come in, replaced the old guard, and then circled around himself twice without saying a word, just looking at it with a smile. Zhu Youzhen opened his eyes suddenly, Cao Huachun jumped back in shock, and said in a lost voice: "Huh! You haven't slept yet! ”

Zhu Youzhen thought he was the son of Cao Yushi, seeing that he was still childish, and he still had a bit of naughty and naughty wildness in a southern tone, and said coldly: "Sleep or not, what do you have to do with it?" ”

Cao Huachun saw him open his eyes and open his mouth to speak again, crisp Beijing rhyme, clapped his hands and smiled: "Oh! I can see the eunuch, such a handsome eunuch! As he spoke, he sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, "Is there any fun in the palace?" Zhu Youzhen glanced at him coldly and closed his eyes silently.

"Speak! What about you? Cao Huachun couldn't help but feel anxious.

Zhu Youzhen still closed his eyes, shook his head and said, "You are a little hairy child, what do you know?" What's the use of knowing? ”

Cao Huachun pursed his lips and said unconvinced: "Hmph! Didn't you just come to the capital a few years earlier! What's the big deal? Sooner or later, I'll know what you know! Do you say it or not? Don't say I'm tickling you. He gestured with both hands to grab Zhu Youzhen's armpits. Before his hand touched it, Zhu Youzhen couldn't help but itch all over his body, and he almost couldn't help laughing, his heart was on fire, and he hurriedly shouted: "If you have something to say, just ask, don't mess around!" ”

"Well, isn't it fun in the palace?"

"Yes." Zhu Youzhen is no longer stubborn.

"Lots of people, huh?"

"There are 150,000 eunuchs, and there are more than 100,000 palace maids."

"Good boys, so many people! More than one state capital. How many wives does the old emperor have? ”

Zhu Youzhen saw that he was ignorant, and secretly felt funny in his heart, and couldn't help but think of the imperial brother who was immersed in the bed, his eyes were red, and his heart felt sour, and he said gloomily: "Where is the old emperor, he is still young!" ”

"What are you crying about? I think it's the emperor who bullied you for being young, which is not good for you? Cao Huachun was a little uneven.

Zhu Youzhen smiled bitterly: "No, he is very good to me." ”

"How many wives he has, you haven't said yet!"

Zhu Youzhen said: "There are seven queens, imperial concubines, and concubines. ”

"Huh! Isn't it seventy-two concubines in the three palaces and six courts? Why are there only these few people? It's boring, it's boring! Zhu Youzhen saw Cao Huachun shaking his head and puffing out his tongue with a disapproving look, turned his body slightly a few times, and said with a smile: "The Book of Rites says: 'After the Son of Heaven, he set up six palaces, three ladies, nine concubines, twenty-seven women, and eighty-one royal wives, so as to listen to the internal governance of the world, and to follow the women of Mingzhang, so the world is harmonious and the family is organized. 'It's not counting, the emperor's wives can be more or less, not necessarily that number. Emperor Xiaozong of my dynasty only set up one queen, and did not accept a concubine or a concubine. ”

"What kind of book is "Zhou Li", did you bring it? Lend me a look. ”

Zhu Youzhen felt even more amused, and said: "I see that you haven't studied for a few years, "Zhou Li" is all about the family and the country, the temple, you don't understand, but it's useless to read it." ”

Cao Huachun seemed to be a little disappointed, and said impatiently: "What shrimp fruit cat candy?" It's not interesting, I'm a manly man, and I'm not a child anymore, what's the use of asking for those things? Then he rolled his eyes and asked, "You haven't seen the emperor either, have you?" What you said just now must have fooled me! ”

Zhu Youzhen saw that Cao Huachun was so cunning, he was very interesting, and said conceitedly: "In the whole world, there are people who have seen the emperor more times than me, and I am afraid that there are not many people." ”

Cao Huachun saw that there was a pride hidden in his words, and thought in his heart: It doesn't seem to be fake, if it is false, he will not dare to say it so full. His face showed infinite admiration and admiration, and he said, "Since my brother can eat so well, why don't you take me to the palace for a walk?" ”

Zhu Youzhen felt even more amused and asked, "What are you doing in the palace?" ”

"Look at how handsome the emperor's wife is? How magnificent is the Golden Luang Palace? When I return to my hometown in the future, I can talk to our partners. Cao Huachun became proud, as if he had returned from the palace, and the person on the bed opposite was not Zhu Youzhen, but his hometown partner.

"It's okay for me to take you there, but I'm afraid that you will go to the palace and talk nonsense, which will affect me." Zhu Youzhen looked at Cao Huachun with two eyes.

Cao Huachun said urgently: "No! No! I know the number of rites. ”

Zhu Youzhen seemed to have some faith and said, "Okay, I'll teach you to do something to see if you are reliable?" If you do it well, enter the palace and wrap it on me. ”

"What do you want me to do? I'm not going to let you go! That's not good, you're going to be beaten by the second uncle. Cao Huachun shook his hand wildly.

Zhu Youzhen laughed and said, "Oh! It turned out to be Cao Yushi's nephew, disrespectful! Then I'll call you a little brother. You can rest assured, how can my brother teach you to be embarrassed? I just want you to do me a small favor, and then someone will naturally come to release me, how can it affect you! ”

"That's negotiable. Say, what's the matter? ”

"You take out the thing that is tied around my waist first."

Cao Huachun touched the inside of his waist with his hand, and took out a jade pendant half the size of a palm, which was tied with yellow silk threads, and the whole body was crystal clear and shining with a faint light. Zhu Youzhen said: "It's late at night, do you dare to send this jade pendant to a place not far ahead?" ”

Cao Huachun's chest straightened and said, "What don't you dare?" We also walked more than ten miles of mountain roads at night. Tell me where it is? “

"Do you know the Zhou Mansion southeast of the Yamen of the Terracotta Division in Nancheng?"

"Know, I've seen all the big and small places around here in a few days."

"You quickly send this jade pendant there and hand it over to the deputy commander Lord Zhou Kui, and he will naturally reward you with silver."

"What's your name? If he asks, I'll answer. ”

"My name is Zhu You...... No need. When he sees Yu Pei, he will know. ”

"Lard? You don't have a few taels of oil on you! The capital is really big, and it has such a strange name! Cao Huachun muttered to himself puzzled.

Zhu Youzhen looked at his innocent appearance and asked, "What is your name?" When you enter the palace, I will call you. ”

"Our name is Cao Huachun, and the imperial history that captured you is my second uncle. When my uncle returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, he saw that I was born smart, and took pity on my parents for the death, so he took me to Beijing, and wanted to teach me to enter the palace to make a good errand. ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and said: "I know this person, he is the head of the palace, the number one person in the sky, and he has a great background." Looks like your uncle really has some way. ”

Cao Huachun saw Zhu Youzhen praising his uncle so much, and he secretly felt that he was useful, and he couldn't help but be so excited that his face lit up, and asked, "Then he is extremely powerful?" ”

"That's natural. In addition to the emperor, concubines, and princes in the palace, tens of thousands of eunuchs and palace maids have to listen to him, do you say that the power is not great? If you encounter a big traitor and a big evil, and they all want to approve Zhu Gai's holy decree for the emperor, those big pavilion elders in the court are not comparable! ”

"Grandma's, there is such a powerful person!" Cao Huachun's cheeks were crimson, and he looked out in a daze, as if he wanted to see the long-awaited imperial city through the night sky, and then his eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice: "What way?" It's just a little more money. If my uncle can get acquainted with the old eunuch Wang, it is not a matter of one sentence, so why spend all these troubles. Alas! It's all my life, the old eunuch had already agreed, he could enter the palace in the next year, and he also recorded me under his door, but who knew that he was suddenly sent to Nanhaizi to do something to clean the army, and he died of illness inexplicably in a few days. Speaking of this, he had a look of remorse, as if the gold ingots in his hand flew away without covering the heat.

"He didn't get any disease, he taught people to die."

"Who is so ruthless?" Cao Huachun's eyes were both frightened and confused.

"Naturally, it was the one who took his place. Alas! You don't understand, the things in the palace are complicated and abnormal, where did you save it? Wait for you to have a chance to enter the palace, and then slowly experience! Zhu Youzhen couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly a few times, and was silent.

"Then don't forget to promise to lead me into the palace!" Cao Huachun nodded again and again, turned around and wanted to leave, but asked again: "Aren't you afraid that we will give us your jade pendant, do you really rest assured that you will hand it over to us?" ”