Unexpectedly, Kangxi summoned Ao Bai with Zhang Wanqiang's decree early the next morning, and he summoned him alone. When Zhang Wanqiang came to Aobai Mansion by order, Aobai was using breakfast. Because he was on "sick leave" at home, Zhang Wanqiang passed the decree and exempted a set of ceremonies for receiving the order, and only stood and said slowly: "Long live the lord summons you to the palace." ”

Suddenly, Ao Bai was taken aback, immediately calmed down, put down the chopsticks in his hand and said, "Didn't the emperor tell what happened?" ”

"Yu Zhongtang," Zhang Wanqiang replied calmly, "the villain doesn't know. Ministers have always been reluctant to ask about foreign affairs, and this is not a joke. ”

"Come on! Give him fifty taels of silver. Ao Bai knew that Kangxi was close to him, so he couldn't ask anything, so he said, "You go first, and I'll be there immediately!" When Zhang Wanqiang came out of the gate, Ao Baifang turned around and shouted, "Come, go and invite Master Ban to come to the front!" ”

Last night, there was also an all-night secret discussion here, and they went to rest until dawn, and Bamburshan, Jishi, Nemo, and Ge Chuha were placed in the ear room of the flower hall in the back. So less than a bag of cigarettes, Bamburshan came. As soon as he entered the door, he asked, "Zhongtang, what's the matter?" ”

Ao Bai smiled: "You miscalculated last night, and the third child asked me to hand the sign in!" ”

"Really?" Bamburshan was full of suspicion, stunned for a while, and suddenly said, "He's just stabilizing his position, Zhongtang just rest assured, and won't mention anything that embarrass Zhongtang!" Seeing that Ao Bai hesitated and did not move, Bamburshan added: "He doesn't want to break his face with us, and we can't break his face with him now, isn't it good for two good things to make one?" ”

This is considered to be clear, Ao Bai said "good", then put on a robe and mend clothes, hung a string of wagtail incense on the neck carefully, raised his feet and stood in front of the stairs and shouted: "Prepare a sedan chair!" ”

This meeting was at the Qianqing Palace. Ao Bai came to the Danqi, and saw that it was Ge Chuha and Asiha standing on duty, only glanced at it, then lowered his waist and lifted the curtain to go in, and knelt on the ground. Only Zhang Wanqiang was waiting beside him with a scarf, and when he saw him come in, Kangxi covered up a yellow fold in his hand, and said calmly: "Please get up," and raised his voice to call, "Give me a seat!" ”

When the two little yellow men waiting outside heard the words, they hurriedly came in and laid a yellow dragon beard grass mat on a Taishi chair, and bowed down. Ao Bai sat down calmly, and then looked up at Kangxi.

The two have not seen each other for nearly four months, Kangxi's figure is more slender than before, his face is very good, he wears a bright yellow Luo-faced raw silk crown on his head, green satin cool soap boots, a blue satin brocade robe is covered with a stone Qingjiang silk and gold dragon coat, a copper inlaid with jewels and three tiles on the waist The thread belt is slightly exposed on the outside of the dragon coat, and he holds a string of beeswax pearls in his hand.

Just as he was looking, Kangxi spoke: "How are you doing lately?" ”

"Emperor Cheng asked," Ao Bai replied with a bowing in his chair, "the old minister has always had a head wind, and in recent years he has had attacks from time to time, and he has seen that it has become more and more unhealthy. ”

"You have to be good at cherishing yourself, there are too many major national events now, and we must always rely on you." Kangxi turned around and instructed Zhang Wanqiang, "When the ** lama made the pilgrimage before, the gastrodia that had entered the Tianzhu Kingdom and the old ginseng were brought to him to reward him. ”

This has been prepared for a long time, Zhang Wanqiang agreed: "Chick! He took down two bright yellow satin boxes from the table, turned around and offered them with both hands. Ao Bai thanked him first, took it and put it on the coffee table in front of him, and asked, "The emperor summoned his ministers, I don't know what to proclaim?" ”

"There is no important thing." Kangxi said lightly, "This is the excerpt of the governor of Zhejiang, yesterday the yellow box was handed over, and seeing that you had no comment, I want to discuss it with you, and there must be a purpose for handling it." ”

It turned out that because of this, Ao Bai's heart couldn't help but feel relieved, and his restrained and vigilant expression was eliminated. This excerpt is about the former Ming Dynasty relics Huang Zonghan, Li Zhe, Wu Zhixun and others in Hangzhou to do something about the celebrity conference, and the poems they wrote are also attached to the fold. Although these poems are not like the wind and snow, the metaphors in them are quite contradictory. Even if they don't, it's worrying that these people often get together. Ao Bai did not comment, not because he felt unimportant, but because it was difficult to phrase, and it was not good to discuss this matter with Bambur, and after a few days in his hands, he finally handed over the yellow box that he had originally folded. Now that the emperor has inquired, he thinks it is better for the emperor to do it himself. Thinking of this, Ao Bai coughed dryly and said: "These people are the most difficult to cook, saying that they want to save face, but in fact, they look at the style, and the slaves have no good strategies." Since I entered the Guanding Dynasty, the former Ming Dynasty relics Sufu is the only one who is expected by Hong Chengchou. ”

"There is also Qian Qianyi, but their reputation is not good. Hong Chengchou's death has a residual smell. During the Chinese New Year this year, the Nanjing people posted a couplet on the door of his house, the upper one is 'one, two, three, four, five, six seven', and the lower one is 'filial piety, loyalty, courtesy, righteousness, and honesty', which shows how his popularity is. ”

Ao Bai was puzzled at first, and then he came to his senses, and laughed and said: "This really scolded him home, the upper union scolded him for being 'king (forgetting) eight', and the lower union scolded him for being 'shameless'." Suddenly, he remembered that he was "sick", so he lowered his head and said: "This matter is important, the emperor must have a good plan?" ”

"I don't have a good plan yet, so I thought of looking for you to ask!"

Ao Bai thought for a while before replying: "This kind of person was originally an old man of the former Ming Dynasty, and he was deeply gracious, and he wanted him to return to the dynasty plainly, and he really couldn't get down in face." For example, if two people are in a bad relationship, the winner should reconcile, invite the loser to eat and drink, and the loser will always take a shelf, pull him to sit down on the table, and treat him with courtesy. ”

"What kind of Rafa?" Kangxi pondered, but listened to Ao Bai continue: "Let them take the exam with the Shunmin boys, it is absolutely impossible, because they were already famous scholars in the former Ming Dynasty, or they had done lifters and jinshi, and now they are willing to condescend to the noble and start the re-examination from Xiucai?" If you stay in the mountains and fields with the wind and the moon, you will inevitably ridicule the imperial court. ”

When Kangxi heard this, he leaned forward and said: "This is what I am worried about - those who come are spineless and worthless, and those who have backbone and weight refuse to come, so what can I do?" ”

"So I want the overlord to have a treat!" Ao Bai turned over his horseshoe sleeves indifferently and said: "——Another Ternke, specially take the old man of the former Ming rank, the famous scholar Su Confucian, Anche Pulun welcomes him into Beijing, and the emperor personally tests it and rewards them with a big face." ”

When Kangxi heard this, he completely forgot that it was his old enemy sitting opposite, stared at the Yongdao in the north of the Qianqing Gate, and pondered: "I'm afraid that it will be difficult to recruit." ”

"The power is in my hands today, and if you come, you will come, and if you don't come, you will come!" Ao Bai said angrily, "If you pass the examination, you will be a pillar of the country; If the name falls to Sun Mountain, then sweep the floor out of Beijing, and the qualification to scold behind the back will be canceled by itself! ”

"Good!" Kangxi was so excited that he hit the dragon case hard, and suddenly the brilliance on his face faded, and he sighed, "It's just that it can't be done now." ”

Ao Bai stared at Kangxi, and suddenly felt regretful that he had said too much. But listening to Kangxi, he smiled faintly again: "Taiwan has not been appeased, the vassal country is not subordinate, the external troubles have not been eliminated, and the internal worries are there." These people can take refuge in the world, but it is difficult to say in troubled times. ”

From the ideal to the reality, both of them were silent. After a while, Kangxi said: "You are also tired, and you are not feeling well, let's discuss it calmly another day!" ”

Ao Bai sneered in his heart, and said in the seat: "In this way, the old minister has retired!" Then he got up and took his leave.

Kangxi stood up with the back of his chair, looked at the back of Ao Bai leaving, and suddenly felt an inexplicable melancholy: "This is also a talent!" It's a pity ......"

Kangxi sat in a four-person soft sedan chair to the weeping flower gate of the Yangxin Palace, and heard Su Malagu shouting from a distance: "The emperor is back!" I was amazed: What is this called? But when he saw Sun smiling and greeting him, he realized that it was the Empress Dowager waiting inside. - Since Su Malagu was ordered to serve Kangxi, Kangxi was afraid of the loneliness around the Empress Dowager, so he ordered the Sun family to serve the Empress Dowager, which was in line with the Empress Dowager's temperament, and the old man was fine during the day, so he ordered the Sun family to search for some wild foxes and ghosts and tell her stories.

Kangxi came in three steps and two steps, and he had to say hello to the Queen Mother. The old man hurriedly smiled and said, "My son, don't be free!" It's not a big deal for me to disturb you, I heard Sister Man say that you went to see him, I was a little relieved, come here to listen to a letter. - On a cold day, just wear these clothes, and you are not afraid of freezing! ”

Su Malagu heard this, and hurriedly held a crown of pearls with a velvet surface. Because of his age, Sun's hands and feet were no longer dexterous, so he only helped by the side, taking off his robe for Kangxi, adding a sea blue satin cotton robe, and a buttoned Baturu vest on his head. After being busy for a while, the grandfather sat down to talk. Seeing that Kangxi was sitting steadily on the side, completely looking like an adult, the Empress Dowager was both relieved and emotional, and turned her face to ask Sun: "Who do you look like the emperor?" ”

Sun's eyes were already old, and when he heard the Empress Dowager ask herself, she squinted for a long time, and said with a smile: "I look like the Grand Master." ”

The Empress Dowager sighed: "The three ancestors and grandchildren are all alike, this child is older, and when Emperor Daxing is at this age, I am afraid that he is not as tall as the emperor!" As he spoke, he remembered the sad things in the past, and he couldn't help wiping away his tears. Su Malagu hurriedly interrupted: "Long live the dress, at first glance, it looks like a person who has entered Beijing to take the exam!" ”

One sentence touched Kangxi's heart, remembering that Fang had just met with Aobai, he was stunned for a moment and smiled again: "Don't think that I can't succeed, if you really do a lift, you may not fail the test!" ”

After gossiping for a while, the Empress Dowager saw that Kangxi was in good spirits, not like she was shocked, so she got up and said: "Now it's not quiet outside, the emperor should be careful when he sees people, Sister Man'er said, 'The son of a daughter, you can't sit down' is true, you are the emperor, and your body is expensive." - Ming'er asked Xiao Weizi to take the golden self-striking bell from Qian'er Gong to reward Wu Liuyi; and Suo Etu's right match has passed away, and you, the master, must also be counted! While listening, Kangxi promised repeatedly: "I have given Suo Etu five hundred taels of gold." The Empress Dowager got up and said, "Let's go, we don't need to call outside for breakfast, Sister Man sent a few people to me to get it." I would like to persuade your master to eat an extra bowl of food! ”

As soon as the Empress Dowager left here, Kangxi smiled and scolded Aunt Su Mala: "What's the big deal, you ran to call the Empress Dowager again, and you made a show." Su Mala Gu saw that there was no one in the hall, so she didn't hesitate, and replied with a smile: "Long live Lord Chrysostom, but words don't count, I said that no one will see anyone today, and Leng Buding went out early in the morning to see the mourning god, think about whether I can be afraid?" ”

Kangxi looked smug and said with a smile: "Although what you said yesterday is reasonable, as the Son of Heaven, I am so scared that I dare not see my courtiers, won't it help his momentum even more?" "Then tell me too!" Su Malagu said, "It's good to have a precaution, Xiao Weizi is not in front of him, and there is no one who has to use it at hand...... The emperor is also reckless! ”

While the two were talking, Xiao Maozi came in with a tea tray. Kangxi took a sip of it, and suddenly remembered that Aunt Su Mala had told the story of this person fighting in the tea storehouse, so he asked, "What's your name?" Didn't you wait in the tea storehouse? ”

Xiao Maozi was about to retreat, and when he heard the emperor asking himself, he hurriedly put the tea tray under his armpit, took a step back and knelt down and said: "Slave Qian Xixin, but everyone calls me 'Maozi'." ——It turned out that I was working in the tea warehouse, thanks to the blessing of the Long Live Lord, and Sister Su promoted me to be the head now. ”

"It's better for you to call Xiao Maozi," Kangxi said, "It's much better than your original name!" ”

"Chirp-" Xiao Maozi hurriedly kowtowed and said loudly, "The slave will be called Xiao Maozi from now on, surnamed 'Xiao', called 'Maozi'!" ”

It was originally a very bland matter, but Xiao Maozi replied like this, and Aunt Su Mala next to her couldn't help but laugh "poof", and stopped busy. Listening to Kangxi ask again: "Is your mother's illness better?" I heard that you are very filial and have a good job, so I told the Ministry of Internal Affairs and asked them to change you to a good messenger, and the problem of not growing up will be changed. ”

"Long live the Lord is happy, reward a few more little hairs, and there will be a few. You can see Banzai Lord here every day, what better messenger than this! Xiao Maozi opened the eyes of the tiger spirit and said, "With the blessing of the gods and Buddhas, long live the great blessing and longevity, the prosperity of the four seas, the eternal peace, and the praise of all the people!" ”

Some of these words were seen by Xiao Maozi from the post of the vulgar family, some were heard from the storyteller in the teahouse, and some were grabbed from the chickens and dogs when the courtiers were performing, and they were forcibly pinched together, which sounded nondescript, but he spoke them extremely fluently. Kangxi couldn't hold back a mouthful of tea and squirted out, Su Malagu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and she also laughed so much that she couldn't control herself.

Xiao Maozi was stunned: "Long live Lord, didn't the slave say it?" ”

"Not bad, not bad!" Kangxi was very happy, "You said very much. Wan Niang rewarded him with fifty taels of silver! ”

After Xiao Maozi thanked him for the reward, Kangxi said to Aunt Su Mala: "This child is very interesting and useful, you have to take care of him more!" Su Malagu hurriedly bowed down and replied, "Yes." ”

"And." Kangxi hesitated for a moment before saying, "In a few days, you should take a look at Aunt Cui, ask her about her life experience, and what is wrong with Hong Chengchou." Come back and play me. ”

Since Baiyunguan burned down the Shangu store, the superficial relationship between Kangxi and Aobai Junchen has been greatly eased. Aobai is still called sick, so every three days and five days, Kangxi will order Zhang Wanqiang and others to send some precious medicinal materials such as ginseng, yarrow, mushroom, and cinnamon to Aobai; Ao Bai sealed the yellow box sent up, and the music in it was always accompanied by a sentence of "whether it should be discussed or not, Fu Wei Shengju" to express politeness.

But secretly, both of them already knew that the fate of the monarch and the minister was over, and they were stepping up preparations. Half a month after summoning Aobai, Aobai sent a memo to impeach Feng Mingjun, who patrolled the Yamen of the Five Cities, for dereliction of duty, which led to a fire in the Xihai Pavilion, and he was demoted by two levels to temporarily take charge of the military affairs of the Nine Gates Admiral's Mansion. Wu Liuyi, the commander of the Nine Gates, discussed separately.

"It's coming!" Kangxi saw this fold in the Qianqing Palace, and his heart was shocked and excited. Quietly, he folded his sleeve and went back to the Heart Cultivation Hall to discuss with Aunt Su Mala.

"Let's refute it first," Kangxi said, "Feng Mingjun is obviously his personal person, and he handed over the ministry of the Nine Gates Guards to him, so is it worth it?" ”

"Xiao Weizi said that Suo Etu and Xiong Cixu discussed this matter, why not ask them to ask?" Su Malagu looked at the fold and frowned and replied, "Or just hand over this surnamed Feng to the ministry!" Because of the proximity in front of him, Kangxi was surprised to find that there were already fine wrinkles on Su Mala's forehead.

"No!" Kangxi said categorically, "Suo and Xiong are too conspicuous, and it is not appropriate to be called into the palace in front of everyone." The Ministry of Communications is even more not, the Ministry of Officials is there for the world, and the discussion is also this, and it is not discussed here! ”

"Then stay in the middle!" Su Malagu thought about it and felt reasonable, but Aobai's question was too awkward, and she couldn't think of any good ideas for a while, "Let's press for a few days." ”

"In less than three days," Kangxi got up and wandered around the room, "Ao Bai must ask what it means to stay in China, why do I answer correctly?" ”

"I'll go look for Xiao Weizi to see what they say, and by the way, take a look at Aunt Cui." After Su Malagu finished speaking, she went to the west pavilion to change her clothes. When he came out, he said to Kangxi: "Mr. Wu said: 'Mount Tai collapsed in front of him and his color remained unchanged because his heart did not move. "The excerpt has just been delivered, don't worry, don't worry, all of them are buckled, and they say that they are fasting today, and Ming'er will enter the incense with the Queen Mother, and they will not look at the excerpts. This is not a military report, what's the hurry? I'll go see what the people outside them have to say. As he spoke, he called for someone to order the car to be prepared. Kangxi hurriedly said: "It's very cold, take that plain fox fur, and ask Xiao Weizi to transfer it to Mr. Wu!" ”

Leaving the palace from the West Corner Gate and bypassing the bustling vegetable market, Su Malagu saw that the pedestrians on the road were not too crowded. In recent years, there had been no snow in the winter, and it seemed dry and cold, and there were still a few dead leaves occasionally hanging on the branches of the trees beside the road, struggling in the howling north wind, which added a bit of solemnity. But because there are no trees in the Forbidden City, what I see every day are yellow glazed tiles and green bricks, which makes me feel annoyed. Suddenly out of the Forbidden City, Su Malagu still felt an indescribable broadness and pleasure. The little eunuch who had changed into civilian clothes also happily raised his whip and shouted, and the four horses trot lightly, and the voices of people, cars and horses, and shouts were intertwined, which was very harmonious, and Su Malagu felt safe. Suddenly, a dead leaf was blown into the sedan chair by a sharp cold wind, she picked it up and put it in her hand to play with it repeatedly, and suddenly remembered the long and short sentences of "Concubine Bo Life", and read softly in her mouth:

The autumn leaves fall, and the red face withers and falls into the dusty wind. Just believe in Yinxi, the concubine's life is intolerable! Why can the mud be smeared in the rain and the ditch turn to zero? The eyebrows are frowning, and the green and blue are gone: but the rain is ruthless, and the wind is ruthless!

She is a Manchurian girl, even if it is a major marriage event, she is so simple and hearty that Han men are beyond the reach of manhood. In the past few years, she has followed Kangxi to read a lot of books from Wu Ciyou, and has increased her knowledge, but I don't know when her temperament has changed. Suddenly I felt that I was really ...... It's not like a girl. Now, if there is another matter of hiring a teacher, she will not show up to "learn" with a strange man no matter what. Thinking of this, she smiled secretly, and tightened her lips as if she was afraid of someone stealing. ——The carriage stopped steadily, and it had arrived at the door of Wei Dongting's house.

Wei Dongting was not at home, and the new housekeeper on the door, the donkey, insisted on refusing to leave the guest because he didn't know the little eunuch who was driving the car, and the two of them blushed and almost quarreled. Su Malagu listened impatiently inside, waved off the curtain with a "brush", leaned out of the car and said, "Big housekeeper, it's me!" Don't you know each other? ”

The donkey was stunned for a moment, and said with a haha: "He said that Wan Niang was here, so how many tongues can be saved." It's just that Su is so confused! Su Malagu laughed while getting out of the car: "I can't blame him, I didn't explain it clearly!" So saying, he came in with the donkey.

He Guizhu came out early, and while he was busy pouring tea, he said, "It's unfortunate that you came." Today, Wei Ye and a few guys went out early, first, to send Mingzhu to a Langzhong who specializes in treating bone injuries to see the disease, and second, to meet a Master Wu. He laughed as he spoke, "The villain is a head, and he can't remember these many things anymore." ”

"Where's Mr. Wu?" Su Malagu took a sip of tea and asked lightly.

"Mr. Wu is unwell, lying in the back!"

"I've never been here, you can take me to see it." Aunt Su Mala stood up as she spoke.