At the east end of Chang'an Street in Kyoto, the entire square courtyard is a Zhuang mansion. Look at it from afar, see that there are three doors erected, the door plaque on the door is inscribed with the gilt characters of "Zhuangfu", and the corners are on both sides. The mansion is towering, the red lights are hung high, the lacquered red door pillars, and the two stone lions are vividly entrenched in front of the door, which is prohibitive. When you get closer, you can hear the sound of firecrackers and pianos in the courtyard of the mansion, and sometimes laugh and drink, so unhappy. There are four servants squatting at the door of the corner gate, and in response to the grace of the old lady's birthday, a low and long table is set at the door, and all kinds of dishes and wines are placed on the table, and they are eating freely; The door was closed, except for a few rays of brilliant light from the left corner door.

Zhuo Yiting and Sanxi arrived with Mr. Yao, and they didn't dare to ask directly, so they first fiddled with their clothes in a dark corner not far away, so that they could show people neatly. When the three of them were about to take a step towards the door, they suddenly saw a team of people dressed by officials coming with lanterns, some holding eight treasure boxes, and four people picking gift boxes, so not magnificent.

Mr. Yao said coldly: "Look, this is the birthday reward given to the old lady in the palace. There are so many. ”

Zhuo Yiting said coldly: "Gu Youyun: prosperity and decline!" Seeing good is not necessarily really good. ”

Mr. Yao glanced at Zhuo Yiting appreciatively and said, "It's really rare for a girl to know this truth at such a young age. ”

I saw the doorman bow down and greet the palace people, open the door, and another servant led the officials and family members to enter. After the people in front of him finished entering, Mr. Yao beckoned Zhuo Yiting and Sanxi to go to the gate of Zhuo's mansion.

Zhuo Yiting knows that every step is a risk, if the bet is lost, the consequences will naturally be known, and he can't retreat, if he retreats, where will he have the face to see his parents in the future? As I walked, I thought about it, and tears fell involuntarily. Mr. Yao saw Zhuo Yiting crying, slowed down slightly, and motioned for her to pay attention.

Mr. Yao encouraged: "The girl thinks about it, if she wants to take revenge, when she goes in and gets the evidence, he will have the opportunity to flop the cards one day, and he is not afraid that he will not be able to revenge." The book says well: Everything in the world has antecedents, there are those who report now, and those who report later, isn't it not that the time has not yet come? I see, the girl can't go anywhere now, and she can't guarantee that the sea fishing documents have gone down to all the ministries and states, and tomorrow at dawn, she will look for you in the sea and the sky! It just so happens that if you can enter the Zhuang Mansion, they will also read your mother's love, hide in it, one is to settle down, and the other is to secretly investigate and take the evidence, no matter what the evidence, in case of his daily use. If your father is snowed one day, you will also send people under the fence and ask for everything, and you will live up to your parents to give birth to you. ”

Zhuo Yiting nodded secretly and held back his tears.

The three of them walked towards the gate of the Zhuang Mansion.

The doorman of the Zhuang Mansion was eating meat and drinking wine at the door, joking and laughing, and did not notice the arrival of the three people.

Zhuo Yiting and Sanxi were dressed as teenagers and embarrassed, and they were somewhat timid. Mr. Yao stepped forward and asked: "Say hello to a few masters, dare to invite a few masters to come in and report to your master, saying that Aunt Zhuo's family is here." ”

The doorman drank the wine, squinted at Mr. Yao, and raised his eyes to look at Zhuo Yiting and Sanxi not far away.

The doorman sneered: "Is it from Aunt Zhuo's house?" ”

Mr. Yao smiled and said, "Yes, yes!" ”

A servant took a bite of meat and stuffed a bowl of wine, Fang laughed, took a sip to Mr. Yao, and said, "You have eaten a few mouthfuls of wine with me, and you are still at my aunt's house!" Hahaha...... Knowing that our old lady is celebrating her birthday today, a few waves of people came in to please Xi'er before, and I never said which relatives came. The old lady * pawn, sent the reward silver. Now, when the feast is served, we will not be scolded when we go in and show it to the masters. Come early next year! ”

Mr. Yao said again: "Masters, look, that's the second girl in Zhuo's mansion!" Should have been here, should have recognized? ”

The doorman ignored it and raised his hand to let Mr. Yao leave.

Mr. Yao beckoned to Zhuo Yiting and motioned to come closer.

Mr. Yao said: "A few masters take a closer look to see if what I said is true or false?" Go in and report, I can't help but thank you for the lord and the old lady in the house. ”

The doorman looked at Zhuo Yiting, who was embarrassed and dodging, and laughed again, saying, "The girl from my aunt's family doesn't care about herself like this? You said that it was from my aunt's house, why didn't my aunt and my aunt come and send the three of you? Even if my aunt doesn't come, my cousin and my cousin are also together, so it can be seen that you are liars, if you don't leave, I will order someone to take you to the yali for questioning. ”

When Zhuo Yiting heard this, he pulled Mr. Yao, and Mr. Yao continued to beg. Zhuo Yiting was not happy, and when he saw that he couldn't pull Mr. Yao, he wiped his tears and turned his head and left. Mr. Yao watched Zhuo Yiting go, turned his head and sighed, and followed.

As everyone knows, the Zhuang Mansion at this time is very lively. A doorman came to report that someone had come to the palace, and the guests stopped in the midst of the noise and greetings. I saw a team of palace messengers carrying several large boxes and quickly entering the second and third gates, and went straight into the outer courtyard of the Zhongfu Hall.

The doorman, who had heard the noise, hurried through the guest room and walked to a sixty-year-old man. I saw that the old man was dressed in a dark red robe, with a gold chain hanging on his chest, and his watch was in his clothes, and under the candlelight, the gold chain looked solemn and rich on the dark red clothes. With a solemn face, he showed a happy smile, and greeted the guests, he was Zhuang Xi, the eldest master of Dongfu. The doorman attached to Zhuang Xi's ear and whispered: "Master, someone has come to the palace." ”

Zhuang Xi was shocked when he heard this, and the palace came to congratulate, and the whole house was greeted by kneeling outside the gate, and he was even more panicked when he learned that the palace people had entered the door; He quickly lifted the hem of his robe, hurriedly went up the steps and said to the second master Zhuang Lu and the third master Zhuang Qin: "Tell the old lady that someone has come to the palace." ”

Zhuang Lu has a fat head and big ears, a businessman with a fat appearance, a dark gold yellow coat with a purple robe, a black gold brimmed hat with a ring of jade, and a string of jade agate beads.

The third old man, Zhuang Qin, was dressed in a dark blue robe, and he looked like a weak non-commissioned officer, not as happy as Zhuang Lu, but calm and polite, and stretched out his hand to ask Zhuang Xi to go down the steps to greet him.

In the hall, Mrs. Zhuang talked and laughed with her grandchildren and daughters-in-law with the guests and their families. Zhuang Lu shook his fat body and came in suddenly, wiping his sweat and stammering to report the good news, causing everyone to laugh more than once. After Zhuang Lu finished reporting, the old lady got up solemnly, was supported by Zhuang Lu and welcomed out, and when she arrived outside the hall, she had already seen the palace people carrying things together.

Sent by the emperor to congratulate the great eunuch of the inner court, Father-in-law Yu, he smiled at the old lady. The old lady knelt down in front of the palace people and other things, and all the family members and guests around her knelt down. I saw the old lady exclaiming: "The slave Zhuang clan is in the mansion to welcome the grace of the saint." Father-in-law Yu hurriedly went up to help the old lady up.

Yu Gonggong said happily: "He has a long life, I wish you a long life than Nanshan and a blessing like the East China Sea." ”

Old Mrs. Zhuang hurriedly greeted: "Father-in-law Xie Yu, father-in-law, please take a seat." ”

Yugong said fairly: "Thank you for the kindness of the old birthday star, let's announce the words of the saint first!" ”

The old lady and the others knelt down again to listen to the commandment.

I saw that Gonggong Yu was not in a hurry and said: "The Holy Lord said that the old lady of the Zhuang family is titled [Nanshan Shouren]. Three pairs of jade Ruyi, three hundred taels of gold leaves, six hundred and sixty-six pearls, three pairs of rolling gold inlaid jade night pearls, a box of Fu Lu Shou jade, a pair of golden longevity bowls, a golden Buddha, nine gold inlaid coral head hoops, nine palace yarns, nine silk horses, ninety-nine spinning worms, nine mink robes, and nine plates of turquoise pearls to give Mian blessings. ”

After listening to the announcement, Mrs. Zhuang kowtowed and said, "The slave Zhuang kowtows to thank the lord for his grace." ”

The girl Zhu'er helped the old lady up. The old lady politely said, "My father-in-law respectfully asks the Lord to go to St. Ann on my behalf." ”

Father-in-law Yu congratulated again: "The old birthday star has won the title today, and it is extremely glorious." Seeing this, everyone said that there was no need to elaborate on the congratulations.

The old lady was overjoyed, and greeted Zhuang Xi Zhuang Qin: "The eldest lord and the third lord have not invited their father-in-law to take a seat." ”

Zhuang Xi and Zhuang Qin obeyed orders and made invitations. Father-in-law Yu replied: "There are still affairs today, and the propaganda of the ladies in the palace is still waiting. Also, the Queen Mother said, there is still a reward! ”

The old lady smiled, her joy was indescribable, she trembled and took Zhuang Xi's hand and said, "Hurry up, look at the father-in-law." ”

Zhuang Lu handed the prepared silver tray to Zhuang Xi, and Zhuang Xi presented it to Father-in-law Yu, who was not polite, took the money plate, and handed it to his entourage, with the situation of leaving.

The old lady asked one more question: "The Queen Mother and the ladies in the palace are safe?" ”

Father-in-law Yu replied: "The Queen Mother is very good, but the old lady has not eaten much recently, and she has heard that the situation is not very good." The ladies in the other palaces are excellent, but ......"

The old lady asked, "Is Concubine Yuan's body better?" ”

Father-in-law Yu bowed his head and said to the old lady, "Didn't you get the master last year?" After being promoted, I heard that the saint was going to be promoted to the position of concubine again, but I didn't expect that the postpartum red would not be clean, and his body was not as good as before, and he happened to meet Zhuo Mansion......"

Zhuang Xi looked at the old lady's birthday, and Danyu's father-in-law said something unlucky and disturbed her heart, so he greeted her with a smile and added: "Father-in-law Cheng is taking care of his head in the palace." ”

When Father-in-law Yu heard this, he smiled and said, "The old birthday star Hong Fu." The eunuchs parked the gifts in the hall one after another, and then went out with the jade father-in-law in an orderly manner.

The old lady watched thoughtfully as the eunuchs left, and then smiled at the guests. The guests congratulated again and again, and at that time, the butler stepped forward and said to Zhuang Xi: "Master, it's time." ”

Zhuang Xi nodded to Zhuang Qin and Zhuang Lu, and the three of them said to the old lady: "Mother is sitting in the hall, it's time." ”

Then the butler stood beside the old lady and said, "Beat the drum——! The old lady was crowded into the hall by everyone, and everyone followed suit, and the door was crowded with guests inside and out.

Zhuang Qin was about to go in, when he suddenly turned around and beckoned the next person at the door and asked, "Is my aunt here?" ”

The next person replied: "I didn't see it." ”

Zhuang Qin said calmly: "Let's take a look, if you haven't come yet, send someone to his house to please." Si'er answered. Zhuang Xi rushed out, and when he heard Zhuang Qin's words to Si'er, he said, "The eldest sister and brother-in-law should have arrived, and it was this time." Let's go inside, and say goodbye! ”

Zhuang Qin nodded and said: "When the old lady asks, it's hard to say, the eldest sister has never been rude, so many relatives and friends are here, wouldn't it be ...... to spread it"

Zhuang Xi said: "The eldest sister's family has just entered Beijing, and I am afraid that the road is unfamiliar. Then they entered the hall.

At this moment, the drumming stopped, and the butler shouted, "Gong—"

The gong struck three times.

The chief butler said loudly: "Birthday wishes-"

The four brothers Zhuang Xi, Zhuang Lu, Zhuang Qin, and Zhuang Yao of the sons knelt together. Just as she was about to celebrate her birthday, the old lady suddenly remembered Zhuang Hui.

The old lady looked at Zhuang Lu and asked, "What about your eldest sister's aunt's house?" ”

The sons looked at each other without saying a word, and the guests inside and outside the hall exchanged words.