Little by little, the snow on the corrugated cleared away, and the weather gradually warmed up.

The famous ladies of the imperial capital began to cut spring clothes, using light and thin materials to make the most complicated patterns, which can outline soft lines and set off their dazzling white complexion. The girls in the upper reaches of Xijing Lake stood at the bow of the boat, and the skirts blown by the wind swayed layer by layer, like colorful ripples.

At the beginning of spring every year, spring festivals are held in various places to worship the gods of the four directions, praying for good weather and no disease and no disasters in this year. The most important part of the spring festival is the "shooting spring", by the local famous and virtuous teenager shoots down the rattan ball on the high platform, the rattan ball falls and ignites the firecrackers, taking the meaning of "spring".

In the imperial capital, this person who shoots spring is undoubtedly the prince.

"Before the East Palace was abolished, he was the candidate for spring shooting every year. He was the unquestioned man from the moment he was fourteen years old. ”

Chu Zhixia flipped through the account book behind the table, which was the price of the Liuyunjin in the imperial capital that Jiang Qiao sent to investigate. From color to level, it is categorized and clear. Chu Shixia was used to picking and searching in the clouds, and at first glance at this account, he only felt that these people in the imperial capital were really rich.

Pei Zhang stood in front of her and talked eloquently, and when he saw that she was unmoved, he reached out and pressed it on the ledger, and his knuckles tapped on the table to signal her to look up.

"Is Pei's voice too quiet?" Pei Zhang asked with a smile, clenching his back molars.

"I know what you're trying to say." Chu Zhixia slapped his hand away and said expressionlessly, "You don't want the Fourth Highness to go down to fight for this candidate for spring shooting, right?" Not to mention that the East Palace was abolished, he was also the eldest son of the grandson, even if His Majesty remembered Huo Wenqing's incident, there were still three princes. It's not the turn of our four highnesses. ”

"If you take 10,000 steps back, he can only refuse if it falls on the head of the Fourth Highness."

Pei Zhang shook his head in disapproval, "The Spring Festival is not only for the imperial court officials, but also for the scholars of Hanlin, this is a good opportunity to make a name for yourself." Relying on us to gather forces in three or five places is too scattered. It's okay to be obscure, but it's not appropriate to be too restricted. ”

Chu Zhixia also shook his head, "That's not what it means." ”

"Our four highnesses have been raised in the painting academy since childhood, and we can't carry them on our shoulders or hands, with fine skin and tender meat. Don't talk about shooting spring, if I stand in front of him and let him shoot, he may not be able to pull the bow. Chu Shixia spread out his hand and said helplessly, "It's not appropriate to tie your hands and feet, and it's not necessary for me to be embarrassed." ”

The children of the family have to be taught the six arts of a gentleman since they were young, and Pei Zhang takes it for granted that Bai Ziche is proficient in this way, but he forgets what life Bai Ziche has lived since he was a child.

"Okay." Pei Zhang sighed faintly, "Then I can only let His Highness work hard and strive for next year." ”

Chu Zhixia paid attention to it, Bai Ziche had to go to the martial arts hall every day, he had to go to Taixue to listen to Mr. chanting, and he had to sneak into the Scarlet Jade Pavilion every once in a while to listen to Huo Wenbai's lectures and school homework, and now Pei Zhang added a weight to him.

Chu Zhixia couldn't help but think of the days when he moved a small table to sit next to Chu Mingyan to learn to read and write, only to feel a chill, and suddenly felt pity for Bai Ziche.

——

Crimson Pavilion.

"The caravan sent to Jiangnan received a reply, and the weavers were reluctant to leave their homes. But they are willing to sell me the craftsmanship of Liuyunjin at a high price. Jiang Qiao ordered tea skillfully, and his wrist as white as frost and snow carried a string of red musk deer bracelets, which were so delicate that people's hearts were hot.

"How tall?" Chu Zhixia asked.

Jiang Qiao compared the numbers.

Chu Zhixia hurriedly took a sip of tea to suppress his shock.

"This craft is so valuable?"

"In fact, the craftsmanship of Liuyun brocade lies in the raw silk material, the weaving technology, and most importantly, the loom. The loom used in Liuyunjin is very different from ordinary looms, but I don't know the specifics. If you can know the structure of the weaving machine, you can imitate the flowing cloud brocade of seven images. Jiang Qiao was very calm, "It's okay, I'll save up for a while......"

"No, we can't wait." Chu Zhixia interrupted her, "I don't know if you have noticed it, the price of Liuyun Jin continues to rise. ”

Liuyunjin was monopolized by the Jiang family from manufacturing to sales, and others had no chance to get involved at all.

The price of Liuyunjin has been speculated to the point where it is still high, it may be that the madmen in the imperial capital are sought after, and it is more likely that the Jiang family is crazy about accumulating money - after all, the insurance price of the blue-eyed snake gall is only high, not low, and the eldest son of the Jiang family has to deal with aggressive creditors, and he has to pay off his own relatives, if he wants to pay off this large amount of compensation, increasing the price of Liuyunjin is the fastest way.

When he raises enough money, the price of Liuyunjin will fall. There's no better time to do it. Chu Zhixia said.

"But where are we going to get so much money?"

Chu Zhixia pondered for a moment and came up with a bad idea. But wealth and wealth are in danger, and they are stretched thin, so they have to take risks. Chu Zhixia whispered to Jiang Qiao, and although Jiang Qiao was surprised, he nodded affirmatively after thinking about it.

Chu Zhixia patted her on the shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid, I'll go find Deng Mian." ”

"I'm not afraid." Jiang Qiaowen smiled softly and said.

Chu Zhixia also smiled, and asked instead, "How are you going to spend the Spring Festival?" ”

There are many particulars in spring, such as the person who shoots spring must be a teenager, taking the meaning of connecting the past and the future; For example, the family must get together for a meal, which is the beginning of the year, and if the beginning is unlucky, the result will not be good.

"It's just guarding here, how else can I get by?" Jiang Qiao looked at the amber tea, reflecting her charming and amorous eyes, so strange that she didn't know herself, and she was in a trance for a while.

"Don't worry, eldest lady, I and Huo Ergongzi will not be too lonely." Jiang Qiao blinked and said with a smile.

Although Huo Wenbai doesn't like to talk, he always keeps Jiang Qiao's qin, se, gonghou and flute in order, as if he is really a musician. On nights when there were no guests, Jiang Qiao played the flute under the eaves all night, and Huo Wenbai listened silently.

She played the minor tune of Jiangnan, and the guests in the imperial capital were not atmospheric enough, too lingering and flattering. Only Huo Wenbai knows that this is the hometown that neither of them can go back to.

Chu Zhixia suddenly reached out and grabbed a handful of Jiang Qiao's hair, making a mess of her hair that had been carefully smeared with rose flower oil.

"When you're facing me, you don't want to laugh if you don't want to." Chu Zhixia said.

Jiang Qiao didn't speak, just lowered his head.

"I remember when I first met you, I jumped from the window of the courtyard with you in my arms, and a whole street of pedestrians dodging our horses. We slept all night on the Mirror Lake, and you took off your coat and covered me. ”

"At that time, were you happy?" Chu Zhixia asked.

"Happy." Jiang Qiao replied softly, "That was the happiest day since I left Jiangnan." ”

Chu Zhixia's sudden appearance shattered the shackles of power, money, and threats. Although it was only one night, it was like a dreamlike night, but Jiang Qiao was also happy.

"I'll be so happy for the rest of my life, I promise." Chu Zhixia said.

After Chu Zhixia left, Jiang Qiao turned out a string of Buddhist beads from the bottom of the makeup. It was given to her by Chu Shixia when he first came to the Scarlet Jade Pavilion to see her. Jiang Qiao gently brushed away the dust on the Buddha beads, as if he didn't dare to touch them.