The longevity festival is approaching, and this year, the subject countries have sent envoys to congratulate His Majesty on his longevity, and many guests have poured into the capital, making Shangjing more lively than the New Year.

The Ministry of Rites took a lot of effort to receive them, lest they snub the envoys and damage the emperor's prestige.

The Shangjing Prefecture is in charge of Gyeonggi, and the courage on his shoulders is also not light, and in addition to routine business and city patrols, Mei Xiaoren has recently often discussed with the Ministry of Rites and the forbidden army.

The Ministry of Rites is responsible for preparing and presiding over many matters of the Halloween Festival, and what she and the forbidden army have to do is to assist the Ministry of Rites in handling this crucial errand.

The positions of the forbidden army have been vacant so far, and the affairs of the forbidden army have fallen to the deputy commander. There were originally two deputy capitals, but the other one seemed to be willing to live in the people, and pushed Ye Zhi out of the council, which can also prove that Ye Zhi has the final say in the current forbidden army.

The Ministry of Rites asked them to come to discuss matters, Mei Xiaoren brought officials including Fu Cheng to come with them, and Ye Zhi also brought a few subordinates, and they gathered in the hall of the Ministry of Rites to listen to the errand of the Ministry of Rites.

Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhi sat face to face, as long as she raised her eyes, her gaze would inevitably pass over Ye Zhi.

She found that Ye Zhi was sitting there in armor, his words and deeds were like a natural general, as if he had grown up in Jiangmen since he was a child, and he was no longer the weak scholar he was back then.

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu said: "Major General, Meifu Yin, once there is an incident in the city, the Major General and Meifu Yin should calm down as soon as possible, don't let the matter become big." ”

Mei Xiaoren nodded.

Ye Zhi arched his hand, "Lord Shangshu rest assured." ”

"As for how to arrange the people and horses, whether the forbidden army can enter the city during this period and help the Beijing Government to maintain order in the city, the two of you will discuss it again." The Ministry of Rites Shangshu politely said, "Please let the two of you keep an eye on the city, don't have any accidents." ”

Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhiqi said yes.

After coming out of the Ministry of Rites, Ye Zhi abandoned the horse and did not ride, Mei Xiaoren also put the sedan chair and did not sit, and the two took their respective subordinates and walked along the street to the east of the city.

The first thing Ye Zhi said was: "Rare." ”

Mei Xiaoren glanced at him and couldn't help but smile, Ye Zhi meant that it was rare for them to walk side by side on the street in a bright and bright manner. Today they can, because they have a common errand and will not be left behind.

She sighed: "Actually, it's not completely safe, and people with ulterior motives will still think it's a cover." She saw that Ye Zhi was even walking with a straight waist, his steps were steady, and he was already an out-and-out soldier, so she quipped, "Major General, you are really like two people in the past." ”

"Adults think I've changed?"

Mei Xiaoren nodded and replied unabashedly: "It has changed a lot." ”

"Actually, for adults...... No. Ye Zhi raised his eyes and looked at a shop on the side of the street, "For example, I have never forgotten what adults like." ”

Fu Cheng behind her immediately came up to answer: "My lord, I also remember my humble position." ”

Then, the sound of sycophants in the back came and went, and the subordinates all said that they remembered her preferences.

She looked back at them, helpless and couldn't help laughing, when she retracted her gaze, she wanted to talk to Ye Zhi, but saw that Ye Zhi was gone. She searched everywhere and eventually found him in Qingfuzhai.

She followed in, and the shopkeeper had already taken some bird's nest cakes, and was sprinkling sugar on them, and sprinkling less was her preference.

"Lord Mei, Lord Ye, the two adults haven't been here together for many years." The shopkeeper greeted with a smile, wrapped the pastry and put it directly in front of her, "This is what Lord Ye bought for Lord Fu Yin." ”

Mei Xiaoren stretched out his hand to take it and smiled at Ye Zhi: "Thank you." ”

He also smiled, "You're welcome." ”

"Shopkeeper, bring me some bird's nest crisp and less sugar."

As soon as the two of them walked out of the shop, a man passed by them.

Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhi invariably stopped and glanced back, because although the person was a man, his voice was shrill and piercing, not like a normal man.

The abnormal men in Shangjing are all from the same place, and she is curious: "The people in the palace also eat things from the market?" ”

Ye Zhi looked at the man: "This person is like the prince next to the concubine." ”

"Lao Ye, do you still know the father-in-law next to Niangniang?" Mei Xiaoren asked with a smile.

"I just saw the people around the Queen Mother and the Imperial Concubine in the Guogong Mansion."

"Then who do you say he bought bird's nest crisp for, concubine Niangniang? That concubine Niangniang may be a Jiangnan person, as light as our taste, and she doesn't like it too sweet. ”

Ye Zhiyan: "The concubine is from Shangjing, and she is from a young lady, so he shouldn't buy this thing for the concubine." ”

Mei Xiaoren retracted his gaze and didn't take this matter to heart, a father-in-law just bought pastries, nothing strange.

The night before the Wanshou Festival, the capital was stormy.

As soon as Mei Xiaoren fell asleep, she was woken up by a thunderbolt, which seemed to explode in her ears, making her heart pound.

She has always been not afraid of thunder, but she feels that the thunder tonight is a little terrifying.

Wind and rain are prone to disasters, tomorrow is the birthday festival, she prayed thousands of times in her heart, don't make a mess, but the more she prayed, the more uneasy she became.

The heavy rain continued until the second half of the night, Mei Xiaoren tossed and turned, until the thunder became less and the rain slowly stopped, and he fell asleep, and the next day he got up early in the morning, freshened up and changed clothes, and prepared to enter the palace.

From the time she woke up to the time she left the Prime Minister's Mansion, no subordinates came to report anything, which shows that Shangjing was peaceful last night.

The stone in Mei Xiaoren's heart fell to the ground and followed Chu Yu to board the carriage.

Her eyes were dark, and people could tell that she hadn't rested well.

Gu Chuyu gently hugged her waist and asked, "Didn't sleep last night?" ”

She leaned on Chu Yu's shoulder, closed her eyes to recuperate, and responded: "Sort of." ”

"Why?"

She smiled, "Do you believe me when I say I'm afraid of thunder?" ”

"How did I not know that you were afraid of thunder?" He took her hand and kissed it on the lips, "I'll remember later." ”

"Joked, as an official of the imperial court, how can you even be afraid of thunder, it rained heavily last night, I was just worried that something would go wrong in the capital, and I couldn't sleep."

Gu Chuyu said: "I have business matters tonight, I leave the banquet early, I will leave the car to you, and come back early after the banquet." ”

Mei Xiaoren nodded.

In the past, there was only a luncheon on the Wanshou Festival, and the dinner was a family banquet for the relatives and concubines of the emperor, which was set up in the harem.

After nightfall, the main hall sings and dances. His Majesty went to the harem, leaving Jiang Ei here to preside over the banquet.

Soon after the banquet, Chu Yu left first on the grounds of official business, and none of the other officials dared to come and go as freely as the Prime Minister, so they all sat in their seats and enjoyed the singing and dancing.

Jiang Rong sat alone on the main seat of the hall, and his eyes were not on the singer and dancer, but at the side of the main hall, and when he saw her sitting there drinking alone, it seemed a little lonely.