Xuanping is located in Hedong County and is famous for producing plums. In the late spring and early summer, the plums are beginning to bear fruit. Every summer and April, the plums gradually bend the branches of the orchard, and the streets and alleys are full of old women peddling plums on their backs.

"It's sour." Zhang Yan tasted a plum, and suddenly her sour eyebrows and eyes wrinkled in one place.

"Huh." Sun Ning clapped his hands and smiled, "It looks like Ah Yan is very afraid of acid." ”

"Hmm." Zhang Yan nodded and threw the plum away, "I like sweets, and I don't have a taste for sour things." It seems that this Xuanping plum, I am not blessed. ”

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," Sun Ning shook his head with a smile, "Ah Yan, you don't know, we Xuanping have a legendary method of pickling plums, put yellow plums into a clean urn and marinate them for half a month, and then take them out sweeter than caramel sugar." Let's go pickle plums, okay? ”

"Okay."

As the old saying goes, "If you make a soup, you only have salt and plum." ”

In the early summer morning, pick the green and slightly hard plums and knead them with coarse salt to remove the surface fluff and wax. Sun Ning wiped the sweat droplets falling from his forehead with his sleeve, "It's more interesting to pickle the plums yourself." ”

"Hmm." Zhang Yan learned from her to scrub the plums, and then cracked them with a knife.

"Two ladies," Rong Niang, a descendant of the Sun family, bent down to pick up the plums and said with a smile, "Pickled plums are not ready for a while." You have to use a large urn to soak these plums for a day and a night, and change the water from time to time, so that the plums that will be stained in the future will not be astringent. This is all time-consuming work, and I don't dare to bother the two ladies. ”

The two looked at each other and smiled, "That's good," Sun Ning got up and said, "Please let Rong Niang bother." ”

"Don't move." Zhang Yan suddenly called, reached out and wiped a stain from the placket of Sun Ning's chest, and said with a smile, "It was probably stained when I brushed the plums just now." ”

"yes." Sun Ning also bowed his head. frowned and said unhappily, "There's a piece of wet here." It's really troublesome, even if it's cleaned, it won't be crisp to wear. ”

"You don't know that, do you?" Zhang Yan flicked her fingers and said proudly, "I have a way." ”

She remembered the irons of later generations.

"Rong Niang," she turned around and asked with a smile, "Is there a famous blacksmith in Xuanping?" ”

"Zhang Niangzi," Rong Niang was embarrassed, "the imperial court controls iron tools. Xuanping's blacksmith is just a shoddy farm tool, if you want to talk about good craftsmanship. There are only official families. ”

Zhang Yan frowned, "What do you mean, you still have to go to Chang'an Craftsman as a supervisor?" ”

It's not that it can't, it's just that from Xuanping to Chang'an, it will take a month to go back and forth at the post station. Young people are anxious, and their interests come and go quickly, and after a month, they are no longer interested.

"That's not necessary," Rong Niang said with a smile, "The craftsmanship of the vassal kingdoms is very good." ”

Changed to any other person. Naturally, she didn't have the ability to summon the craftsmen of the vassal states, Rong Niang looked at the girl in front of her, and sighed enviously. It's just that this Zhang Niangzi is the grandson of the Queen Mother and the nephew of the Son of Heaven, so she is naturally different.

"Well, that's right." Zhang Yan thought about it. said, "Xuanping is closest to Qidi. I'll just go find the craftsman supervisor of the Qi Kingdom. ”

After two days, the plums were soaked, and Sun Ning asked Zhang Yan to pick the plums at home, and the two of them dipped the plums in sugar while putting the plums into a clean urn and then covering them with starch sugar.

"Lady," Rong Niang frowned and persuaded, "You can also save some money." ”

Sun Ning was stunned for a moment, and said angrily, "Although my family is not rich, I can still afford to buy this plum." ”

Rong Niang sighed in her heart: What costs money is those plums, but it is really caramel candy. It seems that these two little girls who don't know the suffering of the world are so thick that they will almost throw away the living expenses of a poor family in Xuanping for a month.

Having said that, it was the first time she saw the good-tempered Sun Ning lose her temper and didn't dare to speak again.

So Zhang Yan and Sun Ning put a layer of plums, added a layer of starch sugar, ate a small half of the plums, pickled more than half, and finally sealed the lid and wrapped it in mud.

"I remember that my mother pickled plums in the past," Sun Ning said with a smile, "You can eat them in half a month, and after half a month, I will invite you to eat pickled plums." ”

According to Zhang Yan's drawings, Qi craftsmen created this hollow ship-shaped iron with wooden handles, and sent it from the post station.

"Then this 'iron'", Sun Kou repeated very awkwardly, asking, "can you really make clothes flat?" ”

"If you don't believe it, you just look at it." Zhang Yan said.

Add the red-hot charcoal to the belly of the iron, stand for a while, and the iron will be burned to show a little red. Zhang Yan sprinkled a few drops of water on her clothes, and then scalded them with an iron, and where the iron passed, the clothes really became smooth and restored.

"It's amazing." Sun Ning was dazzled.

"Naturally," Zhang Yan said with a smile, "but the iron that burns up is very hot, and you can't touch it with your hands." ”

Sun Ning chuckled, "Am I such a stupid person?" ”

"By the way, Ah Yan happened to come today, the plum has been pickled for more than ten days, and it should be ready to eat. Let's unpack it and have a look. ”

"Naturally." Zhang Yan was also in high spirits.

They opened the lid of the urn with joy and took out the pickled plums.

Zhang Yan's complexion changed, "Ah Yao," she hesitated, looking at the plum in her hand, "Are you sure this plum can be eaten?" ”

The plum in the palm of the hand has a strange black-purple color and grows fine fluff.

"But that's how pickled plums are pickled." Sun Ning was not convinced, plucked up his courage, and took a small bite.

"Phew-" She hurriedly spit it out, and hurriedly picked up the tea and rinsed her mouth, "sour." "It's a little more sour than before it wasn't pickled.

"Maybe it's because," Rong Niang couldn't help but let herself laugh out loud, barely kept her face, and said seriously, "The two ladies are too anxious, so they didn't drain the plums." ”

Seeing the two dejected lower faces, he hurriedly comforted again, "It's okay, anyway, Xuanping has a lot of plums, just pickle it again." Only this time, you will listen to me. ”

The second batch of plums has been pickled for seven days, and Zhang Yan has not eaten the legendary sweet and crisp pickled plums in this season after all.

On this day, Zhang Ao called Zhang Yan into the study and said, "Yan'er, your mother wrote yesterday that she still can't return to Xuanping this month. ”

Zhang Yan let out an "ah", although she was expected, she was still a little disappointed.

"Sigh," Zhang Ao touched her forehead. Said with a smile, "Your mother also said that the Queen Mother's fiftieth birthday is coming, and she mentioned you a few days ago, and she asked our father and daughter to return to Chang'an as soon as possible to celebrate their birthdays." ”

"Ah," this time the tone was raised, "so Daddy, are we going back to Chang'an to see Grandma?" ”

"This," Zhang Ao muttered, "is how it should be." It's just that the county should have calculated the rent recently, and last year we returned to the announcement that the usual calculation has passed, this year. As a father, I hope to see the above plan before doing it. ”

"That," Zhang Yan was slightly disappointed, but she had been separated from Lu Yuan for nearly a year, and she didn't realize it on weekdays, and suddenly knew that the meeting was close at hand. But I miss it very much.

"Daddy," she blurted out, "Shall I go back to Chang'an first?" ”

"Grandma said in her letter," she said, "Grandma said that she missed me, and I would go back earlier." You can also go into the palace to explore her. When the Queen Mother's birthday is approaching, Grandma is busy and may not have time to see me. ”

"If Daddy is worried about my safety." Zhang Yan smiled like a flower, "I can take more followers, from Xuanping to Chang'an, all the way is an official road, and there is a house to rest." It's going to be fine. ”

"Ah Yan," Zhang Ao suddenly called solemnly.

"Huh?"

Zhang Ao stared at her for a while. "Why don't you always look like a girl of your age?" ”

"What did Daddy say," Zhang Yan was taken aback, stuck out her tongue and laughed, "Did I kill someone or set fire, or did I make you naughty and mischievous?" ”

"None of them. It's just," Zhang Ao sighed, "Forget it, your mother also misses you," he lowered his eyes and said, "according to your will." The family is capable, and his father asked him to send you to Chang'an, be cautious on the way, and listen to him. ”

"Thank you, Daddy." Zhang Yan was overjoyed. After receiving the promise, she was in a brisk mood, her eyes looked left and right, and she saw a roll of bamboo slips with red tassels on her father's case, and asked curiously, "Daddy, what is this?" ”

"Oh," Zhang Ao replied nonchalantly, "the newspaper that the imperial court just sent down." ”

She untied the bamboo slip, and when she saw the news on it, she couldn't laugh anymore.

"In May of the first year, King Zhao Ruyi died of a violent illness, and he was childless, and moved Huaiyang Wang You to King Zhao."

When Sun Ning visited the Xuanping Marquis Mansion, the maid led her to the back garden, and saw Zhang Yan worshipping something by the lake from a distance.

"What's wrong with your lady?" She blurted out.

"I don't know." The maid shook her head, "In the morning, the Hou Ye and the lady talked to the lady, and the lady looked very sad when she came out of the study. ”

She then approached and watched Zhang Yan throw a roll of handwriting into the brazier, and in an instant, the tongue of fire engulfed, and she could vaguely see the handwriting on it.

"I have a very good friend," Zhang Yan gathered his clothes, turned around, and smiled, "I just heard that he is dead." So I wrote a sacrificial essay and wanted to sacrifice it from afar. ”

Sun Ning opened his mouth for a while, not knowing what to say, and said for a long time, "Life and death are fate, and this is also something you can't do." Or don't be too upset. ”

"Nope. That's not true. Zhang Yan said excitedly, "If I am willing, maybe ......"

Maybe what?

Perhaps, there is still nothing that can be done.

In addition to knowing the direction of some things, she is actually very limited in what she can do.

Changle Palace is the world of Empress Lu, no matter how favored she is, she is just a guest there. All the honors she received, in the final analysis, were given by Empress Lu. If she wanted to do something that was not in line with Empress Lu's heart in that place, half of the people would not listen to her at all.

And how important she is in Empress Lu's heart, she actually doesn't dare to bet. The reason why she has always been loved by Empress Lu is not only because she stood in front of Empress Lu and denounced Emperor Gao and Mrs. Qi for her, but also because she has been doing things that suit her heart in front of Empress Lu all these years.

So, if one day, she goes against Empress Lu's wishes, how will Empress Lu treat her?

Zhang Yan shuddered.

She really didn't dare to bet.

Years of lonely and difficult life have tempered Empress Lu with an iron-like will, such Empress Lu, in addition to treating a pair of children as more important than the root of life, even her grandson can be slaughtered without blinking, let alone her granddaughter?

And Empress Lu's hatred for Qi Yi is too deep, because because of all the humiliation and suffering that Qi Yi has brought to him over the years, once he has gained power, no one can stop Empress Lu from taking revenge on his former long-cherished enemy.

The best revenge for a woman is to kill her son. Because, no one knows better than Empress Lu that the son is the biggest backer and hope for the women in the harem.

Therefore, whether it is for Liu Ying or for herself, it is impossible for Empress Lu to let go of Ruyi.

Therefore, even if she tries her best, she may not be able to save Ruyi.

But no matter how good the reason is, it can't hide the fact that she has done nothing in the matter of wishful thinking.

"Ah Kou," Zhang Yan cried in Sun Kuo's arms, "You don't know, what a beautiful boy he is, his mind is kind, clever and transparent, but unfortunately, at such a young age, he is gone." ”

Sun Ning didn't know who she was talking about, so she had to take out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, "If that friend of yours has a spirit, he doesn't want to see you sad." ”

"Let's go back."

"Hmm."

A gust of wind blew while speaking, raising the ashes in the basin and blowing towards the sky, Zhang Yan looked back, but somehow her eyes were sour, and she hurriedly held back and turned around.

"Next month, I will invite Ah Yan to watch the ceremony. I also hope that Ah Yan must appreciate her face. ”

"Ahh It's just that my grandmother's birthday is approaching, and I will return to Chang'an in the near future. But I couldn't go. ”

“…… It's not a coincidence. Sun Ning said disappointedly, "Can't you stay for a few more days?" ”

"They're already packing. It will take place in two or three days. ”

"Ah," said the suffocating voice, "isn't that even too late to taste our pickled plums?" ”

“…… There will be a chance. Wait for me to come back to Xuanping. ”

- Wait for me to return to Xuanping.

****************

Note: When I found out that there was an iron iron in the Qin and Han dynasties, I was simply amazed.

After all, this thing is full of modern times, and it's hard to imagine that it existed at that time.

Today, I am flipping through Zhou Yi and want to give Comrade Liu Ying a word.

In fact, I couldn't find his words on the Internet. Maybe it's because he's already the emperor and no one will call him anymore, so there's no need to take it? But no matter what, I still need to die for him.

So, if there are children's shoes that know the words of Huidi, please let me know.

If not, then I'll pick one I like from Zhou Yi.

Exhale, it's finally time to go back to Chang'an. Let's use the pink ticket as a fare.

Sauvignon Blanc, in Chang'an.

The sky is long, the soul is far away, and the dream soul is difficult to pass the mountain.

Sauvignon Blanc, heartbreaking!