On the third day of the secret discussion between the Empress Dowager and Kangxi, Wei Dongting received a special order and went to the prison to release Cha Yihuang. In his mind, this surname Cha should be an earth-shattering great man, and when he met him, he couldn't help but be disappointed - it turned out to be just a thin old man in his sixties, and his two gray beards were very separated, which looked ridiculous. Coupled with the fact that he is unkempt and dirty, except that because of Wu Liuyi's care, he has a good diet in prison and a good complexion, but he really can't see anything surprising.

According to Kangxi's will, he quietly took out the people, hired a sedan chair and sent them directly to the Jiumen Admiral's Mansion, and the people on the door only glanced at him, and then said arrogantly: "Titai summoned the generals in the main court to discuss the matter, and the two honorable drivers will come back another day." He sat down and ignored him.

I have heard for a long time that the people in the Nine Gates Admiral's Mansion have a big shelf, and when I saw it today, it was really the case! Although Wei Dongting was not wearing official clothes, he was wearing plain clothes that were originally in the Internal Affairs Office, and he was never stopped from entering and exiting the yamen. He thought about it, changed his smiling face, took a small silver ingot from his arms, handed it over, and said, "As soon as the official of the door was tired, he said that Wei Dongting of the Internal Affairs Office asked to see him." ”

"I already saw that you were from the Ministry of Internal Affairs." The man didn't take the silver, just looked at them and smiled, "You're probably the first time you've come back, right?" We don't like this! There are many rewards and heavy penalties, and it is not counted as a woolen board for your little silver! ”

"It's been passed on!" Before Wei Dongting could speak, Cha Yihuang opened his mouth on the side, "It's okay for me to find someone surnamed Wu, and I won't go to you, I still have friends in Beijing!" He walked away.

"Mr. Cha!" Wei Dongting caught up in a few steps, and said with a smile: "Why bother to be like him, let's talk about it well, let's go to the house for a few days!" ”

Unexpectedly, when this Goshha heard the word "Mr. Cha", he jumped up as if he had been shocked, and rushed over a few steps to beat him, and asked, "Your surname is Cha?" Who are you, Lord Chai Juan? Cha Yihuang stubbornly refused to answer. Wei Dongting hurriedly picked it up and said, "This is Mr. Cha Yihuang, who has just been pardoned and released from the prison!" ”

"Huh?" As soon as the words fell, Na Goshha was shocked, and bowed down and said, "The little one doesn't know, he doesn't know Mount Tai with his eyes, you have to bear with it, master!" He got up and beat a thousand more people, and flew in. Wei Dongting was surprised and surprised, and only looked at this inconspicuous old man in amazement.

In a moment, only three cannon shots were heard, and the middle door of the Admiral's Mansion was opened in an uproar, and dozens of pro-soldiers rushed out in two rows like ink lines. Wei Dongting had never heard of the iron beggar's name, but he had never met, at this time he looked up attentively, and saw a person in the middle, with a short figure and a beard, in addition to the crown clothes, only wearing a large coat, wearing a dark belt and hurriedly greeted him, followed by five or six staff members and deputy generals, all of whom were smiling - this is the strange "iron beggar" Wu Liuyi, who is famous in Beijing.

Wu Liuyi grabbed it in a few steps, turned over and knelt down, and cried bitterly: "Benefactor! When do you have to get out of prison, why don't you tell me first? ”

Cha Yihuang hurriedly helped his hands up, and said with a smile: "If you didn't save me, how could I come out, it was this brother who took me out." ”

Wu Liuyi turned to Wei Dongting and said again, "Dare to ask your surname, Taifu?" Wei Dongting was so panicked that he couldn't return the courtesy, and said with a smile: "Don't dare, don't be surnamed Wei, the grass name is Dongting, and the cheap word Huchen is!" ”

"Look up for a long time!" Wu Liuyi smiled and said, "The Son of Heaven is close to the minister! So saying, he let the two of them in. The soldiers on both sides stood up straight one by one, with their hands down. Wei Dongting secretly praised in his heart: "I have heard for a long time that Wu Tieqi is strict in governing the army, it is really unambiguous, and in front of the Qianqing Palace, it is just so clean." ”

When Fang arrived in the second hall, he heard a person in it greet him with a smile and said, "Lord Titai is happy to come from heaven today, and I am not around!" As he spoke, he made a long bow to Cha and Wei in a chic manner. Wei Dongting returned the salute and thought at the same time: "All the sergeants are so clean, who is this person, but so presumptuous?" ”

Fang wanted to ask, so he heard Wu Liuyi introduce with a smile: "This is Mr. He, the guest of the house, and the inscription is the one." ”

"The thing that Titai can't let go of every day is Mr. Cha, today we are going to talk about having a good time!" He Zhiming said with a smile, and then instructed Goshha on both sides, "Hurry up and put the wine!" As if he was half a master, Wei Dongting looked more and more surprised and couldn't understand the point.

How did he know that this Wu Liuyi was extremely strict in governing the army, and if his subordinates violated the military order slightly, whether they had face or not, they would drag it down and beat him unconscious. Just because the punishment is also high, and it is often a thousand taels of silver, so people are afraid of him, respect him, and can't do without him. However, Wu Liuyi was extremely generous to the literati and scholars, and he was as respectful as a guest. There are more than a dozen Hanmo masters who plan for him. This He Zhiming is the first person he can use, and his treatment is better than that of those named lieutenants, which does not need to be detailed. At the moment when the banquet was arranged, Wu Liuyiqiang sat down on the top according to Cha Yihuang, and He Zhiming and Wei Dongting accompanied each other on the left and right. The first few tables were the adjutant generals, staff generals, and guerrilla generals sitting in order, and lined up in the courtyard in front of the second hall.

Wu Liuyi finished his seat, poured himself a large bowl of wine, his face was red with excitement, and he said loudly: "Everyone! I know everyone from Xunzhou, this is Mr. Cha, please drink this cup first, Mr. He is pardoned and returns! ”

All the generals got up and raised their glasses and said, "Please mention the table, Mr. Cha, please!" "Wu Liuyi has always hated sycophants, so drinking is drinking, and no one dares to come out and say a few words to welcome the scene.

"Iron Beggar General!" After three rounds of drinking, Wei Dongting said with a smile, "General Jiumu is a hero, when I see it today, it really deserves its reputation, and there are few opponents for this amount alone!" ”

The iron beggar laughed, "What is this! When I met Mr. Cha for the first time in Haining, the snow was as big as a palm, and the wine was like a madness, and I didn't try my best to drink more than 30 Ou in a row. Cha Yihuang smiled and asked, "Can it still be today?" The iron beggar said: "But it is not as good as it was back then." After saying that, the two looked at each other and smiled, and their emotions were very intimate. Wei Dongting sighed secretly: "This is called a friend!" ”

"Huchen," the iron beggar saw Wei Dongting thoughtfully, and asked with his hand on the wine bowl, "Didn't you fold it up seven times, and only saved Mr. Cha's life, this pardon must be protected by Huchen?" ”

"Where, this is from the Holy Judgment." Wei Dongting replied without hesitation. He Zhiming's whole body was shocked when he heard this, and he put down the chopstick. Wei Dongting was surprised when he saw that Cha Yihuang and the iron beggar were surprised, and hurriedly said: "It is also the mercy of the Empress Dowager." The saint knows that the general is loyal, and Mr. Cha is unintentional, and he does not want to disappoint the general with Mr. Cha's affairs. These words were said in a very strong voice, and the generals in the audience were shocked.

The iron beggar's face suddenly appeared solemn. Chai Juan, however, seemed to be nonchalant, drinking alone. Wei Dongting continued: "The Empress Dowager was kind and earnest, saying that the Zhuang case was handled a little harshly, but at that time, it was not long in the customs, and the people's hearts were undecided, and it was still reasonable. If it is decided today, talents should be pixied. When Cha Yihuang heard this, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "It's too late to know, people are old and yellow, what is the use!" ”

Seeing that Cha Yihuang was sad, the iron beggar hurriedly comforted: "Shengming is above, Ming'er is clear, please restore Mr. Fu's fame, and then try to forge ahead, it is also a feasible way." ”

"No, no, no!" Before he could finish speaking, Cha Yihuang hurriedly stopped and said, "After staying for a few days, I will still go back to Haining, I am homesick in my twilight years, and I will never be an official." Iron beggar, you know what I mean, you don't have to be polite. ”

"It's good!" The iron beggar smiled, "It's better to be respectful than to obey your fate, let's get drunk today!" As he spoke, he raised his glass to the wine: "Please, please!" Li Mazi, Huang Lao Wu, what's wrong with you? ”

This night drank until the second watch, and then dispersed happily. Since then, Wei Dongting has befriended Tie Beggar and He Zhiming, and they have a good voice. Occasionally, the iron beggar also made an exception to go to his Hufang Bridge apartment in plain clothes, and a few months later, he actually called him a brother.

After the last secret meeting with Bambur, Ao Bai was very careful to restrain his tyranny. Although he is still giving orders at home, when he arrives at the Qianqing Palace, he is meticulous in kneeling and worshipping on the big face, and he is also a little more friendly to Kangxi, as if he is a different person. Kangxi also felt much more comfortable. Wei Dongting submitted a list of more than 20 carefully selected teenagers, and asked Kangxi to look at it and make up for the errand in Yuqing Palace. He looked at it absentmindedly, and laughed with a "poof" laugh: "Donkey, what a good name!" Wei Dongting said with a smile: "This is the sworn brother of the slave when he was in Kanto, his surname is Jiang, his name is Lizi, because of his stubborn temper and stubborn nature, everyone gave him the nickname of Qiang Donkey, and he simply admitted it." ”

"Okay." Kangxi smiled, "From tomorrow, ask the three of them to come in and wait, and the rest of the people will be added every ten days." Wei Dongting took advantage of the opportunity to say, "I haven't been to school for two days, Mr. Wu is really thinking about the saint, it's better to go today." Kangxi nodded and smiled faintly: "It's okay." ”

Just after the noon card, Kangxi changed into a Qingluo shirt and did not wear a hat, took a small carriage, and took Su Malagu to the back garden of Suofu. Wei Dongting led two or three people to follow from afar, and he didn't see anything unusual.

Hearing that they entered the garden, Wu Ciyou came out of the curtain and said with a smile: "Brother Shi, I haven't been here for three days, I really miss it!" Kangxi said with a smile: "Why don't students want to come, it's just that the weather is hot, and my grandmother is afraid of getting hot, so she would rather do less homework than let her body lose." Wu Ciyou smiled and let their master and servant into the study.

"Although I haven't come these days," Kangxi said as soon as he sat down, "I have also read a few miscellaneous books, that is, in terms of spring and autumn, it is really inexplicable, why is the Zhou room messy to the point of being out of control?" ”

Wu Ciyou smiled heartily: "Brother Shi doesn't learn Shiwen, but he pursues the way of the emperor as much as possible, can he get out of the general and enter the prime minister if he doesn't enter the official career?" Kangxi laughed happily. Su Malagu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and she was also laughing.

Kangxi picked up the Song porcelain teacup on the table and looked at it and asked, "I have the ambition of being a general, doesn't Mr. have it?" ”

"I'm afraid I won't make it." Wu Ciyou waved his fan and said with a smile, "Learning is one thing, and doing is another." If you go back to 25 years, when the world is in turmoil, the day of the meeting of the wind and clouds may be the edict of the Son of Heaven. Today's clarification is made, and the reader will not dare to think further if he can look forward to Hanlin. Kangxi hurriedly said: "With Mr. moral articles, this is not too extravagant. ”

Brother Fang Cai asked about the reason for the chaos in the Spring and Autumn Period, "After a pause, Wu Ciyou turned to the topic, "People have always held their own opinions. In my opinion, the decree does not come out of the Son of Heaven, and the princes do not respect the Zhou family, which is the root of the chaos! ”

This sentence hit Kangxi's chest, and the mood that had just calmed down suddenly made waves again, and he reluctantly smiled: "Isn't it good that the decree is not out of heaven now?" Wu Ciyou sneered: "Now it has the shape of peace, it is really a sense of worry, there are few suspicions in the country, there are many crises, there are internal power and traitors to control the government, and the external feudal towns support the army and self-respect, where can we talk about what is 'very good'?" ”

Hearing this, Kangxi's face suddenly changed color. Su Malagu hurriedly covered up: "I heard that the Ao Bai Middle Hall is much more respectful now. Wu Ciyou turned his face to look at Aunt Su Mala and said, "Whether you are respectful or not, it is not about your words." Wei Zheng committed Yan criticized the dragon scales, but Taizong did not think it was a traitor, because he knew that he had no selfish intentions, Lu Qi was respectful and humble, and he was known as a traitor; How do you see this? Looking at the loyal traitor of Ao worship today, we can only see whether he hands over the power or not. The emperor has been in power for two years, why does he still take charge of the government and discuss the affairs of the military and the state in private? Is this what a loyal servant should do? ”

The more Kangxi listened, the more shocked he became, he couldn't sit still, and said with a smile: "I don't want to be in the picture, you just want to be a Hanlin, we can care about him as a loyal minister and traitor!" Then he got up and pulled Wei Dongting and said, "It's very hot, Wan Niang and accompany Mr., you and I will go out for a walk and come back." So they went out together.

Only Aunt Su Mala and Wu Ciyou were left in the room, sitting and standing, and no one spoke for a long time. Su Malagu poured a cup of herbal tea and held it to Wu Ciyou with both hands, Wu Ciyou carefully took it and said, "Thank you." After pausing for a while, Aunt Su Mala said, "Autumn is coming, don't Mr. Wu go to take the exam?" Wu Ciyou was out of his mind for a while, and Fang muttered: "Ten years of cold windows, what happened?" Going. ”

Aunt Su Mala sat opposite, shook the gauze fan and said with a smile: "Sir, are you willing to listen to Wanniang's persuasion?" ”

Wu Ciyou saw that Long'er and Xiao Wei had been gone for a long time, leaving Wanniang alone, and he was already a little uneasy in his heart; Seeing that she sat down generously across from her, she felt even more cramped, and sweat oozed from her face. Hearing Wan Niang say this, she looked out the window, put the cup on the table and said, "Please speak." ”

Seeing that he looked like a Taoist, Aunt Su Mala felt funny, got up and wrung a handful of cold towels and handed it over: "I advise Mr. not to take the exam this time." ”

Wu Ciyou originally thought that Wan Niang would persuade him to deliberately make a name for himself and urge him to take the exam, but she didn't expect her to persuade him like this, and she couldn't help but be surprised, turned her face to look at Aunt Su Mala, and asked with a smile: "Why?" ”

It was the first time that she had sat alone with a young man like this, even though she was a well-informed and clever Manchu girl. Seeing that he was staring at him, Su Malagu couldn't help but blush, and mustered up the courage to reply: "Today, I worship the power of the people, the ambition of the gentleman is difficult to stretch, the way of the gentleman is difficult to do, and if you don't take the exam, you are afraid that once you enter the examination room, you will be imprisoned." ”

These words are true, Wu Ciyou couldn't help but be moved, and said with a smile: "There is no future trouble after the last scientific examination!" Aunt Su Mala said: "Last time, Su Zhongtang was there, but this time there was not, this is the difference!" Just tell sir, Ao Bai is still looking for you everywhere! Wu Ciyou was surprised: "How do you know this?" ”

Su Mala Aunt was stunned for a moment, and before she could think about it, she said, "I'm just listening to Lord Suo Etu and Mrs. Suo's chat." ”

Su Malagu's words were too wrong, and Wu Ciyou couldn't help but be stunned: "Why didn't she say 'our old lady', and even equalized her identity and called Suo Etu's name?" Fortunately, he never took this very seriously, and this thought flashed away, and without thinking about it deeply, he smiled and said, "You should never take the test?" Su Malagu also smiled: "There are two most intriguing lines in the poems chanted by Mr.: 'Borrow the bright moonlight of the Xijiang River, and often shine on the lonely sail in the middle of the stream!'" 'As long as there is my master, sooner or later you will be born. ”

"You mean—" The more Wu Ciyou listened, the more he didn't understand.

"There is no need to say much at the moment," Su Malagu said with a smile, "Mr. Gu Gao Gengjie, of course he refuses to seek fame in the song, we know it, how can it be difficult to be strong?" Wu Ciyou pondered and recalled these words word by word for a long time, and felt refreshed, so he smiled and said: "According to you!" Wait for the old thief to pass away and then take the test. ”

The two were talking lively, when they suddenly heard someone laughing outside the window: "Miss Wanniang is so talented, and she is obsessed with words!" Su Malagu blushed and said, "It's Xiao Weizi, this narrow ghost!" It's a hot day, where did you take the dragon to? Look at me telling the old lady, be careful! While speaking, Kangxi and Wei Dongting had already come in with a smile, and Kangxi smiled: "Wanniang, don't worry, it's the same reason as Mr. Don't worry, I asked Xiao Weizi to eavesdrop here." Su Mala bowed her head and was silent.

Wu Ciyou's heart moved, this young man seemed to have an indescribable temperament, hearty and simple with grace and luxury, which made people kiss and difficult to offend. Sitting down at the moment, Kangxi smiled: "I just went out and walked a few steps, only to know that the new autumn is coming, and the willow leaves in the garden have begun to fall. Wu Ciyou arched his hands and said teasingly: "Respect the order of the world brother!" ”

Kangxi looked up at the sky, it was almost over, and he smiled at Aunt Su Mala: "Wanniang, we can't always fall in love here, it's better to go, so that the old lady won't have to worry about it and send someone to urge." Wei Dongting couldn't stop laughing, and Su Malagu smiled embarrassedly: "Who is in love?" If the master doesn't say to leave, will the slave dare to go? ”