While Jin Qiu Yinqiu was anxiously waiting, Zhang Erzhen and Xiangxiu appeared under the iron chain with bags full of things. This trip was a full load, Zhang Erzhen laboriously tied the two ** bags to the thick rope handed down, and commanded Jin Qiu to pull up. Xiangxiu unloaded the condiments on his shoulders and tied them to Yinqiu's rope. Jin Qiu and Yinqiu dragged the rope up with great effort, admiring that the two concubines were able to bring these things back, it was too heavy.

It took a few people a while to pull them all up. Zhang Erzhen sat on the fiery red plush carpet and panted, Jin Qiu looked up and down carefully, and only after confirming that the side concubine was intact did she ask: "Side concubine, did you really go out, did Mama You really take you out? ”

Zhang Erzhen took a few sips of the water handed over by Yinqiu, wiped her mouth and said: "I went out and brought back a lot of things, these things are enough for us to eat for several months, and you will go to clean them up later, especially those meats, they can't stink, everything that can be pickled will be pickled, I bought a lot of salt and came back." And be careful, a lot of jars. ”

"Concubine Fang, you ......" Jin Qiu glanced at the authentic and asked in a low voice: "...... There's no chance of escaping?"

Zhang Erzhen knocked on her head and said angrily: "Do you think I won't come back? ”

"If you really run away, the slave is still happy......" Jin Qiu only dared to think about it in his heart, seeing that Zhang Erzhen didn't want to mention more, Jin Qiu didn't ask anymore, shouting Yinqiu and Xiangxiu to seal the tunnel together, and several people either carried or carried the things that Zhang Erzhen and the others pulled back out of the room, and then put a few big locks on the room, and the key was still in Xiangxiu's hand.

"Let's have a barbecue this afternoon, the things are all fresh and the ingredients are sufficient. Zhang Erzhen saw Jin Qiu laboriously pull out a big white sheep that was shiny and slippery, Yinqiu grinned and covered her nose and dragged out the good fish, and Xiangxiu was very calm and carried a few chicken paws. In fact, Zhang Erzhen really wanted to get a few to raise alive, but the kid from You Gu disagreed, and while urging that there was no time, he muttered: You can eat these bags until next year, I won't help you carry the clouds. Then Yougu, who was full of disgust, also bought a lot of things to bring back, and there were words in his mouth, such as Mama's eldest brother, second brother, third brother, etc., of course he didn't help Zhang Erzhen carry things, because he also had a lot of things of his own, and he couldn't spare his hands to help others.

The three of them went on a shopping spree, like a big shopping event for the New Year.

When it comes to barbecue, Jin Qiu and Yinqiu are no strangers, and they happily began to prepare, the meat should be washed and cut and pickled, the dishes should be washed and cut on skewers, and charcoal should be prepared, this has to go to the kitchen to prepare, Jin Qiu ran into the kitchen, and Yinqiu continued to pack up the ingredients. Zhang Erzhen moved two bamboo chairs, pulled the busy Xiangxiu over and sat down, and said with a smile: "The two of us are working hard today, let them be busy, take a break for a while." ”

Xiangxiu hesitated for a while, but still sat on the chair steadily, she looked at Zhang Erzhen suspiciously, and then stopped, Zhang Erzhen looked at the clouds high in the autumn sky and sighed: "I went out today, and a lot of things have happened." I guess what you want to ask, Zhi Yaxuan...... That Han girl was my maidservant before...... , she has followed me since she was seven years old, ran away when she was thirteen, and now I see her in Anhui...... , a little surprised. ”

Xiangxiu listened very carefully, she could see the loneliness in Zhang Erzhen's eyes, it was difficult for her to describe this sadness, it seemed to be sad, and there was a faint relief in the sadness.

"I am happy to see that she is still alive today, and I see that she is doing well now, and she seems to be doing ...... Better than me. I can probably guess where she is now...... , but they are all ants, under different roofs. Xiangxiu, I'm glad she's still alive......" Zhang Erzhen said softly, smiling slowly. She is also haunted by the death of Lixing, and after Ruyue escaped, she also tried her best to find it, and things have become like this, and there is always a push hand in the dark to promote all this. Zhang Erzhen's hunch has always been very accurate, she and Ruyue still have a lot of entanglements, and ...... which step she will go in the future. Zhang Erzhen thought about many possibilities at this time, but she didn't think of one possibility, that is, the docile and kind little girl in the past would want her life one day.

Xiangxiu is a weak and affectionate person, and she can't comfort this girl. Xiangxiu mustered up a lot of courage to touch Zhang Erzhen's hand, silently conveying a kind of strength and support. Feeling the warmth in her hands, Zhang Erzhen lowered her head and saw the back of Xiangxiu's rough hand. It was a peasant woman's hand, neither slender nor white, and its original appearance had long since been changed by years of labor. Zhang Erzhen sighed faintly, "Xiangxiu, thank you." ”

Xiangxiu smiled silently and shook her head.

Before sunset, the golden and silver autumns are ready, and the autumn barbecue festival belonging to Fengyajian kicks off. Zhang Erzhen, who was dressed in men's clothes, rolled up his sleeves and flipped over the skewers, watching the curling white smoke drift out, and the sound of oil dripping on the carbon in his ears came to his ears, Zhang Erzhen took a deep breath of aroma and muttered: "It would be nice if that kid from Yougu was here, he definitely loves to eat this thing, but it's a pity that he doesn't have this mouthful." ”

Jin Qiu Yinqiu has already started eating, and his small mouth is bubbling with oil, choking on chili peppers and smoke, and he can't open his eyes. Xiang Xiu, who was in contact with this activity for the first time, was shocked at first, and then turned into satisfaction. She took a sip of the meat skewers handed by Zhang Erzhen, and then took a very comfortable sip of her daughter red brought back today, sitting on the chair with indescribable comfort.

"Give me a little too. Zhang Erzhen handed over a small bowl, Xiangxiu poured her full of wine very angrily, Zhang Erzhen leaned on the tip of her nose to smell the faint aroma of wine, and slowly tasted and drank it, "It's really happy!" The wine from the corners of his lips flowed down his face and into his chest, and seemed to flow into his heart again, and it was very hot.

"I am born to be useful, and I will come back when my daughter is gone...... Come on, golden autumn, silver autumn, cheers, celebrate all the good things, celebrate that we are all alive!" Zhang Erzhen held up the bowl full of wine and muttered to the moon: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, celebrate this eventful year......"

Xiangxiu put down the wine glass, and unconsciously touched his face with both hands, but his hands still trembled uncontrollably. She looked up at the bright disc under the black curtain, and seemed to see herself many years ago, as wanton as this girl, and as free and easy as her. At this time, the passion and blood that had been immersed in her heart for a long time seemed to be gradually awakening, even if it was only for a while, she was very content.

"Concubine Fang, you can't drink anymore, you seem to have drunk too much, and it will be very uncomfortable to get up tomorrow morning. ”

"Oh, I think I've drunk a little too much...... , Jin Qiu, you don't know who I saw today, Jin Qiu, do you know Ruyue...... She grew up, she grew taller, and she became prettier to look at...... , you're all gone, one by one...... Ruyue, Mingyue...... "And Zhu Youji, Prince Zhu, I'm so glad that you didn't go to southern Yunnan...... It's so dangerous, if you don't come back, I'll be widowed......

"Concubine Fang, put down the cup quickly, you can't drink anymore, the slave knows that you are in a bad mood, let's think of another way, isn't it?"

"Who said I'm in a bad mood, I'm in a beautiful mood, Yinqiu, you can also drink a little, this wine is really good, I missed tonight, but I don't know when I will be happy again......"

Jin Qiu Yinqiu still worked together to send Zhang Erzhen back to the bed, Yinqiu stayed by the bedside, and Jin Qiu went to the garden to find Xiangxiu, "Have you gone out to meet the problem today, the side concubine rarely drinks, let alone drink so much......"

Before Jin Qiu finished talking, Xiangxiu smiled and handed over an empty bowl, then poured half a bowl of wine, and motioned Jin Qiu to drink it with a smile. It was rare to see such a happy Xiangxiu, Jin Qiu sighed and didn't ask anymore, drank with him for a while, and Xiangxiu, who was unsteady in his footsteps, was also sent back to the room, "I knew that I should have stopped the side concubine from going out." Jin Qiu muttered again, "Like the moon, like the moon...... How does it sound so familiar......"

Feng Yajian returned to calm and peaceful, every day the mute father-in-law came to deliver the meal, Zhang Erzhen gave him a dish, watching the dumb father-in-law leave with a smile, Zhang Erzhen beckoned the girls in the courtyard to come and eat, soaked in a bowl of dried lotus root flour, fried a dish, and feasted with the meal sent by the dumb father-in-law. After repeating this for a few days, Zhang Erzhen crossed out the day of August 14 on the calendar and ushered in the Mid-Autumn Festival of the 23rd year of Chenghua.

The Mid-Autumn Festival of Fengyajian was peaceful and stable, and on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the capital, the emperor who had been sick for a long time got up and went to court.

The emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe sat straight, his eyebrows and eyes were majestic, if it weren't for the bruises and blackening under his eyes, and his lips were white and colorless, the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty should be full of joy. The fact is that the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were silent, and none of them spoke, and they all hung their heads and shrank back to reduce their sense of existence. At the top stood a prince dressed in the same bright yellow, and behind the prince was a dark blue prince Zhu You, and behind him were the princes who were now adults. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, but there is no joy in the hall, Zhu Youzhu looked up at the emperor, and the emperor's eyes were opposite, his calm eyes drooped, and his heart was cold.

"Today's Mid-Autumn Festival, the whole world celebrates, have you received the fragrant cakes from me? I haven't seen Aiqing for a long time, and now I see that Aiqing is still healthy, and I have little heart. My Ming Dynasty is still prosperous, and now ...... Do you have anything to do?"

The hall was silent, and no sound was heard.

"Does the prince have something to do?"

"Back to my father, my son is fine. Zhu Youzhu took two steps forward and replied.

"Shizi, do you have something to do?"

"The emperor is sage, and the ministers have no play. Zhu Youyao took two steps forward and replied.

"Well, it's good......" There was no smile on the emperor's face, a little irritable and a little depressed, and then he waved his hand: "...... Wynne, proclaim the decree......"

Hearing that the decree was announced, the ministers bowed their heads and began to talk, all puzzled. Zhu Youzhu lowered his head again, his knobly segmented fingers were tucked in his sides, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Zhu Youfang saw the corner of the prince's lips smiling, his heart sank a little, he hooked the corners of his mouth disdainfully, and heard several princes behind him whispering,

"What does the father want to say, will it be the matter of abolishing the crown prince......

"The fourth brother is still in southern Yunnan, isn't it already ......?"

"Do you want to congratulate ...... first?"

The chaos below was like a big gathering, and Wynne unfolded the holy decree to clear his throat without hurrying, and the hall was quiet, and everyone in the hall clearly heard the shrill voice of Grandpa Wynn: