After staying in the imperial court for a long time, Zhang Tingyu watched coldly, and knew everything about the party similarities and differences between the crown prince and the princes, and the increasingly fierce struggle for the right to inherit the throne.

Among the more than 30 princes, they are roughly divided into three factions: those who support the crown prince Yinren are secretly called "***" by the government and the opposition, including the most shrewd and capable and the most courageous fourth elder brother Yinzhen, thirteenth elder brother Yinxiang, eighteenth elder brother Yinren and others; The eighth elder brother Yinyu, who is known as the "virtuous king", is the other faction with the most powerful power with the prince, with nine elder brother Yinyu, ten elder brother Yinyu me, and fourteenth elder brother Yinyu; The third faction is the lonely eldest brother Yinzhi, and there are two third elder brother Yinzhi and seventh elder brother Yinyou with ambiguous attitudes below him, and there is no sincere helper, but after all, he is the boss.

Since knowing the bold actions of the fourth elder brother Yinzhen and the thirteenth elder brother Yinxiang in the household department, the eighth elder brother Yinzhen was in cahoots with the ninth, tenth, and fourteenth elder brothers in the criminal department, colluding with each other, and corrupting the law to trick the emperor; Witnessing the emperor's anger and disappointment with Yinren and other princes, and his grievances against the crown prince Yinren's hatred of iron and steel, Zhang Tingyu knew that the future of the prince was confusing, and it would take time for the Qing dynasty to fall into whose hands.

Before the political situation was clear, Zhang Tingyu adhered to a golden rule he set for himself: sincerely assist the emperor, share worries for the country and the people, and never participate in any struggle between the "***", "Xianwang Party" and "Boss Party", and any struggle to avoid Kangxi's gang and faction to form a party for personal gain! He felt that before Kangxi died, no matter which faction he helped, it would only get more and more chaotic.

Although he was pulling and pulling outside, eating and drinking, and visiting the house was in full swing, there were also princes who went to his house to express affection, and the set was almost, and he was unmoved by the small favors of the official and made a wish, and he went to the study on time every day to enter the duty, and he was inseparable from Kangxi.

In Zhang Tingyu's mind, Kangxi is not as great as the "Ming Jun of the World", "Smart and Wise", and "Brilliant and Extraordinary" praised by some courtiers, he also has all the weaknesses of ordinary people - such as the corruption of life, greed for women, and too many concubines, so that he gave birth to more than 30 princes and more than 20 Gege, and now he has hundreds of children and grandchildren, even he can't recognize them all, and he can't figure out which of them are his own blood and which are wild seeds. No one is perfect, in the final analysis, Kangxi is still a relatively intelligent, loving and pragmatic monarch among the emperors of the past dynasties. Hearing and seeing, Zhang Tingyu felt deeply about this.

For example, in November of the 43rd year of Kangxi, Ding Youshuo had a solar eclipse. At that time, Zhang Tingyu accompanied Kangxi to inspect the Yongding River, and immediately drove back to Luan, returning to the Forbidden City, Kangxi boarded the observatory, and personally measured the eclipse with instruments that did not match the seven political calendars set by the Qintian monitor, and the Qintian supervisor had to ask for dismissal.

Then, Liu Dianheng, the governor of Huguang, built the Imperial Book Building, and happily went to the excerpt to show his merits, and Kangxi severely criticized the excerpt and said: Building the Imperial Book Building is a waste of money in vain, and it is strictly forbidden to encroach on the people by building it. His love for the people is beyond words. At that time, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, Bo Ji, was old and Wei Xun, the chief military officer of Liangzhou, and Kangxi asked Zhang Tingyu to reprimand him: "Wei Xun had military merits before, and he was an old minister with Shi Dibin, Mai Liangxi, and Pan Yulong. "For a general soldier in the border area, he knows so much about his merits and demerits, and loves him even more.

In the 44th, 45th, and 46th years, Kangxi, who was nearly 60 years old, spent most of the year patrolling the countryside, supervising and urging the dredging of the river control project, understanding the people's suffering, and promptly allocating grain to the disaster-stricken areas.

On the two southern tours, Zhang Tingyu accompanied Kangxi. At that time in the forty-fourth year, it was still early spring in February, and the northern land was still frozen in snow and ice, so Kangxi braved the severe cold and set off to patrol the river in the south. He instructed Zhang Tingyu to prepare an edict:

I paid attention to the river defense, and repeatedly inspected it, and was told that it was successful. The yellow water is flowing smoothly, and the situation needs to be examined.

That is, to patrol the south of the river. If you go to the palace, those who have a department to accumulate the people will be punished by military law.

In the fierce cold wind, Zhang Tingyu accompanied Kangxi to stand on the bow of the boat, looking at the rolling Yellow River and thousands of miles of embankments. At night, instead of staying on a royal boat, they go to the yamen, the nearby state capital, to stay overnight, and sometimes stay in a hotel in a small country town. This elderly emperor, no longer like a young man, nor like a middle-aged man, traveled everywhere on the grounds of cruising the river, entered the palace, talked about pomp, affected the state capital and counties, ushered in the send-off, and spent a lot of money and energy below. In March, when the royal car arrived in Shandong, Kangxi warned Fuchen:

"The people welcome hundreds of thousands of people from the left of the Dao Zuo day, counting the days to return to Luan, just as the wheat shows, and their crops will not interfere with the farmers."

Every day, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people welcome Kangxi along the river, and Zhang Tingyu knows that Kangxi's prestige is growing in people's minds. This old emperor, it seems that once he leaves the palace confinement, he forgets about the uncompetitive prince and the princes who are intrigued and make him unhappy. He and Zhang Tingyu, Chen Tingjing and several other close ministers and Xinjiang officials along the way discussed the national economy and people's livelihood. Zhang Tingyu took every opportunity to review the memoranda and submissions from the imperial court and from all over the country with thousands of miles of fast horses. Generally, he made a reply, submitted it to the emperor for his approval, and then forwarded it to all ministries of the imperial court and the yamen of the provincial and state capitals in the form of edicts or edicts.

In April, Kangxi arrived at Hangzhou, the last stop of his southern tour, where he inspected the Manchu and Han garrisons, and trained the will of the generals in the peaceful and prosperous era to boost the morale of the soldiers and the people. The edict pardoned capital crimes in Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and other provinces, and commuted the sentence to imprisonment. It also exempted 46 prefectures and counties in Zhili, Jiangnan, Huguang, Guangdong and other provinces, and exempted Huguang from the amount of the next year and the arrears of previous years.

At the end of April, he returned to Luan to stay in Jiangning, and naturally stayed in the "Grand View Garden" of Cao Yin of the Jiangnan Weaving Department, Kangxi still summoned Zhang Ying, a scholar of Zhixiu University, Zhang Tingyu and his son parted for many years, and reunited after a long absence, with indescribable joy and joy. Kangxi is getting older, which adds a bit of nostalgia.

Staying in the pavilions and pavilions of the "Grand View Garden" for several days is a rest after months of dusty inspections.

On this day, Zhang Ying accompanied Kangxi to play chess in the Green Jingxue, and Zhang Tingyu, Chen Tingjing and Cao Yin watched the battle next to him. Zhang Ying played a dangerous move, Kangxi mentioned a horse and asked for a "general", looked at the old Zhang Ying and said with a smile:

"Mr. Zhang, I didn't expect you to be old, but you are still scheming, and your brain is better than mine!"

"Where, where," Zhang Ying knew that Kangxi's "horse" would definitely "will" him die, and he would be happy for Bo Longyan, so he pretended to be confused and said, "The emperor is wise and discerning, and he is no longer able to do anything." ”

Kangxi really got off the "hanging wildebeest" and "checked" the old courtier to death. Zhang Ying pretended to be helpless, stroked his palms and smiled:

"Your Majesty, old decay is no longer useful, let young people accompany you!"

Kangxi pushed the chess table and said:

"No, I haven't seen you for a few years, let's sit down and talk about family life. Hey—" He seemed to remember something, "You Tongcheng are also outstanding people, prime ministers, literati, and some kind of Tongcheng faction leader." Ah, it's called Fang Bao! I have pardoned him, and he is still at home? ”

"The emperor pardoned Fang Wangxi?" Zhang Ying was a little surprised.

"Yes, it's still for the sake of your son Hengchen's face."

"He didn't go back to Tongcheng!"

"Didn't go back to Tongcheng?"

"I heard from his family, he is still in the prison of the Criminal Department!"

"No," Kangxi turned back to Zhang Tingyu and said, "Hengchen will go to the Criminal Department to check after he returns to Beijing." Is Wang Lao confused? I personally gave him a decree to release the 'Wenqu Star' in Tongcheng. ”

"Yes." Zhang Tingyu bowed down to receive the message, and comforted Kangxi again, "Since the emperor has an edict, Fang Bao must let it go." Literati and scholars do not return to their hometowns, and it is not necessary to stay abroad. ”

"Your Majesty," Zhang Ying invited, "If the emperor has Yaxing, the old man dares to invite the saint to visit Tongcheng. ”

"I want to go, but the road is far away, and taking a boat to change cars, costing people and money, is too much of a mess for you." Kangxi shook his head again and again, "No, no." Besides, I'm in a hurry to return to Luan, and I'm going to inspect the herdsmen outside the Saiwai. ”

"The emperor is traveling everywhere, and the saints are working hard," Zhang Ying said sincerely, "Take care of Sheng'an, there are some things for Tingyu and their young people to run." ”

"Yes," Kangxi saw Cao Yin's father and son sitting on the side, never spoke, turned his face and asked, "I heard that there is another little grandson in the house?" ”

Cao Yin smiled from ear to ear and replied:

"Yes, thank you."

"What's the name?"

"Cheap Xue Qin."

"Cao Xueqin, this is a good name." Kangxi thought for a while and smiled, "It's just a little more fat." Bring it to me! ”

"Yes." Cao Xueqin's father, Cao Fu, ran away happily, and after a while, he ran back with a baby who was just a few months old in his arms. Kneel on the ground and hold the baby up in front of the emperor.

Kangxi watched this little life with great interest, reached out to caress the round, red little face, and said with a smile:

"Hey, Xiao Xueqin, what are you going to do when you grow up? Like grandpa and father as Jiangnan weaving, or learn from the Zhang family father and son to be officials in the imperial court, or like Fang Hebao in Tongcheng, to be a writer, but don't write words that ridicule the imperial court! At that time, my emperor will be gone, and no one will be able to save your little head! Ahem, you little guy is lucky, I have a lot of my own little grandchildren, I haven't touched them like this yet! Heavenly family is ruthless, heavenly family is widowed! How can it be like Tian Shelang, a man ploughing and a woman weaving, children and grandchildren around their knees, enjoying the joy of family! ”

Speaking of which, Kangxi touched the scene with tears in his eyes. probably remembered his unfilial princes who were respectful on the surface, long live long and long live, and wished that he would pass on the throne with a stretch of his legs.

Cao Yin saw it in his eyes and immediately motioned to Fu'er to take Xueqin away. Although Cao Yin is a weaver, he is actually a literary person, and often drinks and sings with Zhang Ying, Chen Yuanlong, Yao Nai, and others. He wanted to fight Kangxi Yile, and said with a smile:

"Long live Lord, I have a coincidence, I don't know if I want to hear it?"

Kangxi Wu was stunned for a moment, unraveled the unhappiness in his heart, and said, "But it's okay to say it!" So Cao Yin said a coincidence:

I note myself to the scriptures and the scriptures note me,

People don't grind ink and grind people.

Kangxi smiled: "What kind of coincidence is this, I can make up a pair." So he said,

I begged for three years of medicine,

Thou art like a cucumber in May.

"The saint uses scriptures and music to form sentences, which is really wonderful." Zhang Tingyu interjected from the side, "The subordinates also have a couple, and they are playing with Yuefuyun. ”

Draw a map of the sky on the back, a sub-ephemeris;

The sun rises in the east, and the chickens are yellow.

"Good!" Kangxi became more and more interested, "Hengchen, is it okay for me to be in a hurry with you?" ”

"The saint is talented and fast," Zhang Tingyu gave in, "The subordinates don't dare!" ”

"Oh, I know," Kangxi smiled, looking at the father and son, "You're afraid that you can't afford to offend me, an old man." Then you and Ling Zun are anxious, it is the father who wins, the son wins, and I have a reward! ”

Cao Yin's father and son were cheering on the drums, and Zhang Ying and Zhang Tingyu had to get up and bow to Kangxi, and said in unison: "Then it's ugly." ”

Kangxi said: "Mr. Zhang is right, Hengchen is in a hurry, whoever comes quickly will win, and I will be the referee for you." ”

So, the father and son looked at each other and smiled, and then they "hurriedly" opened:

"After peace, you can think, and then you can get;"

"The foundation of the country is at home, and the foundation of the family is in the body."

"It's not a smell;"

"Whatever you gain, you will lose."

"The priest is in charge;"

"The hermit spoke."

"Xiu Qi Tianjue;"

"Teach humanity."

"We can not believe;"

"Everybody doesn't do anything."

"Wu Wang Lie;"

"Taijiaxian."

"Sub-Road;"

"Shen Fang."

"Wolves;"

"Tiger Ben."

"Six Feet Alley;"

"Seven Mile Bay."

"Rite;"

"Le."

"The Pentateuch;"

"Four Books."

"Tang Sijie, Wang Yang Luluo;"

"Song Wuzi, Zhou Cheng, Zhang Zhu."

"Spring and Autumn Biography;"

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas."

"Feng Nu";

"Wang Nan."

“……”

"Okay, okay," Kangxi stroked his palms and laughed, "Sure enough, if there is a father, there must be a son, Zhang Ying, Zhang Tingyu and his son will be rewarded!" ”

Zhang Ying and his son sat on the ground and bowed:

"Thank you, Holy Lord!"

Chen Tingjing, Cao Yin, and his son, who were seated, were already amazed, and they smiled at Kangxi. Kangxi was happy, and immediately issued a decree, giving the current university scholars Zhang Ying and Chen Tingjing a thousand taels of platinum each, giving the university scholar Ma Qi Huangyu Watch, and giving the late university scholar Gao Shiqi Wenke. And personally inscribed the "Holy Relics Emblem" plaque to Qingpu Kong, Yushu Jiza, Dong Zhongshu, Jiao Xian, Zhou Dunyi, Su Shi, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Hu Anguo, Mi Fu, Zong Ze, Lu Xiufu each plaque hanging its ancestral hall. As for the reward for Zhang Tingyu, it was after returning to Luan and arriving in Beijing, and when he was on duty one day, Kangxi asked Zhang Tingyu:

"Hengchen, I promised to reward you in Jiangning, what do you want to order?"

"Emperor Xie is Longen, and his subordinates have food and clothing, and they don't lack anything."

"You," Kangxi didn't want money for Zhang Tingyu, he didn't have good sex, and he had already heard about it, so he quipped, "I heard that Mrs. Ru wants to take a concubine for you, and you delay it again and again, haven't you?" ”

"Back to the saint," Zhang Tingyu said with a red face, "Mrs. is in charge, and in the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, I still accepted the concubine." ”

"Well, okay, if you don't accept it, I'm going to pick a beautiful woman in the palace and give it to you."

"The subordinates don't dare."

"Do you not want it, or do you not dare?"

"I don't want it, and I don't dare."

"Duplicity."

"Mrs. Xiachen is virtuous, she is enough!"

"Ah, that's right." Kangxi thought for a while and said, "Hengchen, the holy paper and the red pen are waiting!" ”

Zhang Tingyu didn't know what important thing the emperor suddenly remembered, and he wanted to immediately make an edict, so he hurriedly unfolded the yellow silk holy paper, milled cinnabar, and sent the vermilion pen to Kangxi.

"Hengchen, what's the name of your little concubine?"

"Don't dare, nicknamed Zitong."

"Okay, Zitong, Zitong." He groaned and wrote:

Fengtian carrier, the emperor edict said: Zhang Tingyu, the minister of the study and a scholar, is strict in governing the family. Rufu

The husband and son of the Wang family, gentle and virtuous, can be called exemplary, his concubine Zitong is empathetic, his wife and concubine are harmonious, and he has a family

The room is warm, and Zhang Wang's family is specially named as the second lady, inheriting three generations. Feng Zhang's Zitong is a three-grade lady, inherited

Continued second generation.

Chin this

Kangxi finished writing, put down his pen, read it with self-appreciation, and said to himself: "This is the most interesting holy decree I have made recently." He turned to Zhang Tingyu and said:

"Zhang Tingyu takes the order!"

Zhang Tingyu was stunned, couldn't figure out what kind of purpose was descended, patted the horseshoe sleeves, and knelt in front of Kangxi's knees. Kangxi handed him the "holy decree" rolled into a scroll and instructed, "Go home and unfold it." ”

"Yes, yes!"

"You still don't thank me!"

"Thanks, long live."

"Go ahead!"

Zhang Tingyu carried a holy decree given to him by Kangxi on a whim, walked out of the forbidden palace, sat in the car and thought: What kind of holy decree is it? Do you want to be promoted to the rank of Weichen? is already the prime minister and scholar of the dynasty, what do you expect to be promoted? It's not a royal clan, not even a flag person, can you still seal Beizi, Baylor, and the prince? He shook his head again and again, muttering to himself: "That's impossible, you shouldn't even think about it." But in my heart, I was like a cat's paws scratching around, and I just wanted to unfold it to see what the holy decree was written. But the emperor said that he had to go home to read it, of course he didn't dare to disobey the holy order, so he had to urge the coachman:

"Quick, quick!"

"It's been soon." The old coachman turned his head and was surprised at what was wrong with the old man today, but he chattered faster than the horse's pace, "Old mule and old horse, you can't be faster." Master, I said a long time ago that the house would change a few young and strong horses, but Mrs. is too economical to spend money. ”

"It's not that Mrs. is reluctant to spend," Zhang Tingyu explained to the old coachman, "Now that there are many adults in the family, it is all up to the lord to give silver, and it is difficult for Mrs. to be in charge of this family." Be considerate of your subordinates. ”

"Yes, sir. Then you-"

"I'm not rushing."

"Then let the horse be on the reins—drive!"

The four-foot-long chariot, which had two lame legs that should have been resting a long time ago, finally stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Palace. When Zhang Tingyu got out of the car with his robe, he casually instructed the old coachman:

"It seems that it is time for the two old horses to retire. Well, you'll have two horses tomorrow. ”

"That won't do! How can four yuan be changed to two yuan? ”

"Why not?" Zhang Tingyu was walking towards the gate, staring back at the old coachman and asking.

"The lord is the prime minister, how can he take a two-wheel carriage? Look at the six squires and scholars, which one is not a four-foot-long cart with four tall horses? This is a royal custom, sir, you can't break this rule...... If the house can't take out the silver, the slave can take half of his life savings and buy a horse first. The horizontal and vertical slave raised his mouth with one shoulder, and it was useless to keep the silver, and he stretched his feet, and he was afraid that the lady would not reward the slave for a piece of timber board......"

The old coachman was still nagging, and Zhang Tingyu burst into tears. This old coachman was found from his hometown of Tongcheng after his father became the prime minister, and when he came, he heard that he was only in his twenties, and now he is an old man who is close to the age of six. He lived a frugal life, and he was reluctant to spend any of the silver he was given to him on weekdays, but now he wanted to use his savings to buy him a horse, in order to gain face for his master. What a kind and simple old man! Tell everyone in the family to treat him like an uncle and uncle of the Zhang family. Thinking all the way, I walked into the second gate, and saw Mrs. and Zitong, the nurse leading the seven-year-old son Ruoyu, the fourteen-year-old Ruo Ai, and the ten-year-old Ruocheng, and the lady still holding the two-year-old daughter Ruohong in her arms, playing in the courtyard. Several young maids, with three children, play hide and seek, giggle, run crazy and laugh, a harmonious and happy atmosphere at home.

Zhang Tingyu was infected by the atmosphere in front of him, he suddenly remembered the holy decree awarded to him by the emperor's prosperity, and his head lit up: It must have been awarded to Mrs. and Zitong, didn't the emperor ask the name of the concubine before he started writing? Yes, it must be. As soon as he stepped into the second door, he shouted at the top of his voice:

"The decree has arrived—"

Mrs. Wang was born in a scholarly family, and her father Wang Shizhen was an official in the court, so she was naturally accustomed to seeing this kind of scene, and when she heard the holy decree, she immediately handed Hong'er over to the wet nurse, and took the lead in kneeling on the ground paved with pebbles, and kowtowed again and again and shouted:

"Hooray, hooray, hooray!"

Zitong and the three little guys stood there in a daze. What Zitong thought in his heart was that when the holy decree arrived on weekdays, it was the lord who knelt on the ground to receive the decree, what is the lord standing there doing now?

Zhang Tingyu shouted:

"Zitong, don't kneel down to accept the order yet!"

Zitong said:

"It's you who should kneel, sir!"

"Get on your knees!" Zhang Tingyu shouted solemnly.

"Okay, kneel if you want to!" Zitong pulled Ruo Ai, Ruo Cheng, and Ruo Wei to kneel, and a few laughing Yahuan also knelt aside.

At this time, Zhang Tingyu unfolded the holy decree and read aloud word by word:

Fengtian carried the emperor's edict and said: Zhang Tingyu, the minister of the study and a scholar, is strict in governing the family. Rufu

The husband and son of the Wang family, gentle and virtuous can be called exemplary, his concubine Zitong is empathetic, and his wife and concubine are harmonious.

The family room is warm, and Zhang Wang is specially named as the second wife, inheriting three generations. Feng Zhang's purple tong is a three-pin Shu

people, inheriting the second generation.

Chin this

After reciting the holy decree, Zhang Tingyu still stood there in a daze, as if he didn't believe it, and read the holy decree again: Mrs. Wang was named a second-grade lady by the saint, and even Zitong, who had taken a concubine for less than a year, was also named a third-grade lady? He didn't believe his eyes, and he couldn't believe his mouth. Obviously it was written in the decree and read out of his mouth. The emperor's grace was so great that he bathed his family in this way, and he was grateful to tears......

I heard Mrs. Wang shouting over and over again:

"Thank you to the emperor for his grace, and the courtiers wish the emperor a long life, long live, long live, long live!"

But I didn't see Zitong thanks, Zhang Tingyu came over and said:

"Zitong, don't thank you Haohao Huangen!"

"Master, you're mistaken!" Zitong knelt up straight, smiled so that the willow slender waist leaned forward and backwards, swaying left and right, and said, "The emperor made a joke on you and treated you as a eunuch, didn't he?" ”

"Treat the master as a eunuch?" Zhang Tingyu was stunned.

"Exactly!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"When you come to the house to upload the holy decree on weekdays, it's all the old eunuch Li Dequan, isn't it?"

"yes." Zhang Tingyu seems to have an enlightened understanding.

"Why does the emperor ask you to write your own decree today? Is it that there are no eunuchs in the palace? Of course not......" Zitong laughed breathlessly, "Why does he want you, he wants you...... Hahaha......"

"He took me for a eunuch?"

"The emperor's joke is that you will be as honest and obedient as a eunuch in front of your wife in the future...... Hahaha......"

Mrs. Wang also knelt there and pursed her lips and smiled, she also understood that this was indeed a joke made by the saint. All dynasties and dynasties have been passed on by the eunuchs of the Internal Affairs Office, how can there be a prime minister who comes to the door with a scroll of holy decrees.

Zhang Tingyu also laughed in his heart, no wonder the emperor ordered him to review the holy decree after he went home, and the emperor drafted the decree and rolled up the yellow silk to send him away, so treacherous and hurried, obviously Kangxi gave him a very friendly and intimate joke. changed to a courtier with a little bit of life, even if it was his own prince, he would not make such a joke that violated the "rules of the ancestors". A kind of love of the monarch and the courtiers of the sky and the earth, and a kind of grace of knowing the deep sea, made Zhang Tingyu unable to himself. He suddenly wiped away the hot tears that overflowed, and said loudly to Zitong and his wife:

"Today's saint does not treat his subordinates as outsiders, and Weichen makes this kind joke, and you will teach your children and grandchildren from now on, you must keep in mind the great emperor's grace, cultivate your family, teach your husband and children, support Weichen's late meal, and serve the emperor in the imperial court. Mrs. Wang's second grade and Zitong's third lady are not ready to accept the order! ”

Wang and Zitong both stretched out their hands and took the holy decree together. Zitong gently wiped the tears that came out of laughter, rolled up the holy decree, and bowed down again with his wife:

"Long live Ron! Long live Long En ......"

After receiving the holy decree, the husband and wife, father and son, and family returned to the flower hall together. Zhang Tingyu sat down, and the maids waited for him to clean his hands and face, and as soon as he picked up a cup of hot tea, he listened to the commotion outside the hall. It turned out that more than 50 stewards, domestic servants, servants, and girls in the mansion had heard the good news, since the lady had been named the second lady, and the second grandmother had been named the third lady, this was a great joy.

"The lord is meritorious, the lady is virtuous, and the blessings are all over the sky; The second grandmother has a good heart, and she has a good reward, and the servants wish Mrs. Erpin and Mrs. Sanpin to be merciful forever, and the master's family is harmonious, and everything goes well! ”

"Get up, get up!" Mrs. Wang said with a smile on her face, "This big family cooks so well, and you have a share of the credit." Her second grandmother - go to ......"

Zitong interrupted and said:

"Madam, you still call me Zitong, how awkward this 'second grandmother' sounds." She turned to the crowd again, "It's you, just call me whatever you called me at the beginning." Don't call it a lady, okay? Zitong please! ”

"You, don't mess up." The lady said, "Go, open my powder box, the lower layer is inside, there are dozens of taels of silver in the suede bag, or the gift money that my parents gave to my four little grandsons to wash the three dynasties, and I have brought them to reward them." ”

"Madam," Zitong hesitated, wanting to go back again, "Let's take my dozens of taels of private money." ”

"Don't be verbose, go!"

As soon as Zitong left, the old coachman fumbled in the pocket of his robe, took out a black cloth bag, carried it, took a step forward, handed it to Mrs. Wang, and said in a rambling voice:

"Hostess, the slave knows that your hands are tight, and life is not easy. But the old man's carriage is indeed going to be replaced by one or two horses. One of them was so thin and ugly that he refused to eat even the night's food. Sixteen horse legs, four lame, if the master is turned upside down, the slave will not be able to explain...... This is the old slave's savings, you take them all, and make do with some money, so that you can buy a good horse or two. ”

With tears in her eyes, Madame excused herself and said:

"No, no, no, how can I collect your old man's money?"

Zitong came with a suede bag, and was about to distribute the silver to the family, when all the family members knelt down again, and said in unison:

"Madam, lady, the reward is in your hands first, and buy a horse for the master!"

"yes, buy a horse first!"

"When you have the silver, it's not too late to reward it."

Zhang Tingyu has a clean breeze on his sleeves and a strict family, but he is so embarrassed in front of his subordinates, he helped up the old and young family members one by one with a ashamed face, and said while helping:

"Rise, everybody, and take the money! You don't have to take out your savings, old officer. Sir, I have the money to buy a horse! ”

"Master," Zitong smiled, "When did you also accept other people's ice and charcoal respects?" ”

Madame Wang also looked at him with a look of disbelief.

"No, no," Zhang Tingyu said in a heartfelt manner, "In Jiangning, the emperor gave his father a thousand taels of platinum, and his parents spent so much money on coarse tea and light rice in the countryside?" He lamented that his sons were in Beijing, and he was afraid that his life would be too poor, so he divided each son equally between two hundred taels. ”

He said the truth, but he still lacked confidence in his heart. Because the two hundred taels of platinum that his father gave him was because his grandson was growing up, and he asked him to ask for a chair for the three little ones. Now that he has spent the money, he can't get a chair, so he can only work hard. I was on duty every day and taught my son for two hours at night.

He was embarrassed to say this, and his wife, lady, and family were all happy when they saw that the lord had money.

However, I didn't expect that in the forty-sixth year of Kangxi, he accompanied the emperor to the south to tour the river, and when he saw his father again in the Cao Yin Office in Jiangning, his father, who was seventy years old, was not as good as before. That time, in order to show his outstanding achievements and old and strong physique, Kangxi shot and killed a finless porpoise weighing more than 200 catties in the wind and waves of the Yangtze River.

However, his seventy-year-old father was no longer able to accompany the emperor on a trip to Taihu Lake and Hangzhou. When Jiang Ning said goodbye to his father, his heart was empty, and he seemed to have some kind of premonition, and he felt that it would be difficult for father and son to get together again on the day of his life. He instructed his family to send him back to his hometown as soon as possible.

Sure enough, this time Emperor Kangxi visited Luan, Zhang Tingyu returned home, and heard his younger brother Tingyao, who had just returned from visiting relatives in Tongcheng, say that his father had contracted a small illness.