Chaoyangmen Wharf is the end of the northern end of the canal, the war at the end of the Ming Dynasty fell into disrepair, it was originally obliterated and silted up for a long time, and it was not a shape. When the rain is sufficient, the cao boat can still be moored in, and in normal years, the port is located in Tongzhou, which is also counted in Beijing. After 16 years of Kangxi, the national strength gradually became abundant, during which Jin Fu, Chen Huang, and Yu Chengchan were carefully repaired by the river officials, not only the old appearance was restored, but also the river was widened dozens of zhang, and the water was more than one zhang deeper, and it flourished again. The shops and shops on the shore are lined up one after another, and the dangerous buildings are winged and eaves are inserted into the sky, as if an independent small city outside Beijing, which is prosperous and lively.

The mansion of Babel Yinxi is on the north shore of the wharf. After receiving the report that Yinzhen was about to return to Beijing, he was very hesitant in his heart. According to the state etiquette, he cannot go to greet him without following orders; According to the status of brothers, the elder brother came back from afar and got off the boat at the door, and there was no reason to see it. Among Kangxi's many sons, Yinxi only cares about the three flags of red, blue and white, and sits as the prince of Xu'er, which is the most leisurely. But he was shrewd and skilled, generous and kind, and whether his brother or a foreign official had troubles or difficult things, they were willing to seek him to complain and ask for help. What can be helped, regardless of relatives and distances, no matter whether he asks for money to seek officials or grabs affection to avoid participation, Yinxi never stands by and watches people fall into the water and does not save them. Therefore, the "Eight Sage Kings" did their best to be self-sufficient and did not leave home, abiding by the ancestral precepts and not doing government affairs, none of the affairs of the six ministries could be hidden from him, and none of them had refuted his face. After thinking about it for a long time, Yinzhen decided to change into civilian clothes to greet Yinzhen. Nine Elder Brother Yinren came to the house yesterday, and he has learned about Jiangxia, and the Tenth Elder Brother Yinren owes the treasury silver, and is angry with Shi Shilun, the Internal Affairs Office has already revealed the wind, and Long Live is becoming more and more dissatisfied with the prince Yinren. Yinzhen Yinxiang is Yinren's left and right arms, and these things will be known as soon as he returns to Beijing, and if he doesn't meet him, the brothers will be more and more embarrassed. The courtiers have been secretly rumored that the eighth master of the crown prince has been abolished, although it is nonsense, but the brothers are suspicious, what gossip can't come out?

After playing chess with the Qingke for a while, until the sky was about to get dark, the people outside rushed in and said: "Eighth master, the official ship of the fourth master and the thirteenth master has arrived!" "What's busy!" Yin Yu said with a smile, "I'll go when they take me." As he spoke, he got up, changed into a moon-white poplin robe, did not wear a gown or hat, tied a sandalwood horsetail dragon belt around his waist, stepped on a pair of black chong mille-feuille shoes, and only took two little slaves to walk out of the gate with a fluttering and elegant pace.

The ceremony of receiving the messenger on the pier has just passed. It seems that Yinzhen Yinxiang has just gotten off the boat, and is holding hands with a few people from the Ministry of Rites to greet each other. At this moment, the singing and music in the reed shed stopped, and a group of brilliant officials under the twelve yellow gauze palace lamps hugged Yinzhen and Yinxiang in the middle to talk interestingly.

"Fourth brother, thirteenth brother, hard work all the way!" Yinzhen walked a few steps, and when he reached Yinzhen, he got up and held Yinzhen's cold hand and said with a smile: "It looks good." When you meet in Beijing every day, you don't feel anything, as soon as you go for eight or nine months, your heart will be empty, and you will always be in brotherhood! After that, he turned his face and said: "The thirteenth brother is still heroic, seeing that he has a little experience, he looks like he is a little old-fashioned." "I'm worried about the starling!" Yinxiang smiled and said, "We're really thinking about you outside!" Now that it's August 15, what good fruit have you prepared for me to eat? ”

Yin Zhen only smiled and listened, because he said: "Let's go, there are still many people kneeling on the side of the reed shed!" Yinxiang smiled: "The men have gold under their knees, so I can't wait for them to kneel for a while!" What does it mean to be promoted and get rich without kneeling down and asking for peace? "The thirteenth brother was not like this when he was young, but now he is smart!" Yin Yu smiled, "Only this mouth is too unforgiving." ”

The three of them walked past the reed shed with a smile. The people who took the driver on the shore were all officials above the rank of Lang Guan, and in the shed here were all officials of the Department of Science and Technology, and there were hundreds of people, and when they saw them coming, they all bowed their heads together. Yao Dian and Liu Xie, the officials of the Fourth Translation Hall of the Ministry of Rites, led the way and said, "The fourth master and the thirteenth master Ji'an!" "They are all people who walk around Yinxi's mansion, and when they get up, they just pay attention to Yinxi.

"That's it, I'm going to bear you!" A smile flashed on Yin Zhen's face, and he raised his hand slightly and said, "Everyone get up." It's so late, and some of them are still living outside Xizhimen, so they're gone, let's meet another day. Song Wenyun, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, followed the waiter on the right side and said busily: "Fourth master, I have come back from afar, and I may not have had dinner this time." The minions prepared some water and wine, and then went again. ”

Yin Zhen glanced at it, and saw that there were more than 20 tables neatly placed under the shed, and the dried and fresh fruits were piled up like a hill of delicacies, so he couldn't help frowning, stood still and said: "There has been a will for a long time, Qin is sent to patrol, and Zhang Luo is not allowed in the field!" My thirteenth brother and I have already used it on the ship. This child is tired and painful, and he just wants to rest early. Muratake, you're an old man, you know my temperament, why do you still do this? I never take a seat from the magistrate outside, and when I go back, I don't need it. Besides, it's too extravagant to greet the honor guard tonight, and I can't afford it. ”

Everyone rushed to the scene like charcoal, thinking that even if they couldn't please affection, at least they wouldn't end up boring. After these few cold words, I couldn't help but look at each other, everyone's hearts were not good, and they scolded their mothers with a dry smile on their faces: Damn, let's use a hot face to rub a cold ass! Song Wenyun had flies in his heart, and said with a smile: "Fourth master, you are suspicious, this is not the money in the palace, it is the officials who stutter it." If you don't need it, how can the faces of the subordinates be down? Yinxiang was so hungry that he was cooing, and when he heard Yinzhen say "I have already used it", he was angry and funny, but he couldn't say anything.

"Use a little bit of it." Seeing that everyone was silent one by one, Yinxi smiled heartily and said, "Don't take it as an example." Now that it's done, it's a tyrannical thing not to eat. Count it on the brothers, I invited you, and my government originally prepared it, so I just called them. With that, he followed Yinzhen in.

At this time, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and rushed into the seat. After a while, the sound of the fist order gradually rose, and it became lively. Yinzhen is a heart: it stands to reason that the prince returned to Beijing from his tour, and there were only eight palace lamps to greet him, and there were only nine dragon flags. Now there are twelve palace lights and twelve dragon flags outside, and the royal music of Changyin Pavilion is used, singing the prince's triumphant song on tour, and there is no place without the prince's pomp, whose idea is this? If it is ordered, it should be explained, if it is not ordered, it is a circle for yourself to jump! Looking at the banquet, it is also a generic food specification, Yinzhen became more suspicious, but he groaned. Yinxiang didn't care about it, regardless of the meat and vegetables, he chewed and said with a smile: "This table doesn't have fifteen taels of silver, so it can't be done." Starlings have money to entertain, I'm going to feast! ”

"They did the banquet, and the thirteenth man must accept their affection." How alert Yin Xi was, as soon as he heard it, he knew that this old thirteen had bad intentions, and wanted to deduct the reputation of "treat" on his head, because he leaned back and said: "I want to be stingy with no money, you two will go away, it will be too much to sweep everyone's feelings." He persuaded Yinzhen again: "Why doesn't the fourth brother move his chopsticks?" You can't take things too seriously these days. Last year, I went to Fengtian, and Bahai Zhang Yuxiang invited me to this table. I didn't say a word to them, but they said, 'This recipe was given by Lord Banzai during his tour to the east!' If we don't call for food, what will we do? Tell me, isn't it clear that you're confused? "I'm a man who likes to be clear." Yin Zhen made up his mind never to eat, and said with a smile, "It's not that I don't dare to eat this meal." First, I am really not hungry, and secondly, I am thinking, such a meal costs three or four hundred taels of silver, and how much do you get in such a big place in the world and so many officials? Are we really that rich? I can do something with this money saved......"

While eating, everyone listened to his lesson, and they were all so angry that they were helpless. After a while, this one said, "How did this chicken do it?" Fade! The one said, "Ouch, the thorn is piercing!" Yao Dian slapped himself for no reason, and Liu Xie asked, "What's wrong?" Yao Dian smiled and said, "This mosquito bites!" Song Wenyun smiled dryly and just persuaded: "Fourth master, the food is cold, please ......"

"I really can't eat it." Yin Zhen's heart was bright, so he just said, "When Han Chunhe crossed Luoma Lake, Han Chunhe invited me, and a roast pig was more than a hundred taels of silver." I said to him, 'Look at my two companions, one is called a dog and the other is called Kan'er, and both parents are starving to death.' I bought a maid, worth only five taels of silver, this is all folk anointed blood! Yinxiang gnawed on a chicken leg, thinking of biting off a lump of tendons inside, and said with a smile: "Fourth brother, you can save it, you can use it too!" ”

Yin Zhen's face suddenly changed, and he stood up and went by himself. Yinxiang burped, got up with a red face and said, "I'm full, I'm full!" Just eat slowly. "And I came out. Seeing that Song Wenyun and a large group of people were red-faced and embarrassed, Yinyu hurriedly got up and comforted: "The fourth master has this temper, look at my face, don't go to my heart!" "I said goodbye and went out.

As soon as their brothers left, the officials here immediately opened the locks and became presumptuous. Liu Dian knocked the dish bowl with chopsticks and said loudly: "Please!" Mura Zhugong, eat! What's in a daze? ”

"Muratake's shot on the horse's hooves this time!" Liu Xie poured wine for Song Wenyun with a smile and said, "My face is called white!" Afraid of what? But admit it, don't talk about us, the brothers still make chickens and dogs jump! ”

A general raised his glass and said with a smile: "What a bad luck, eat a ** hiccup, a breath!" Everyone laughed for a while, and this one said: "My father-in-law crossed the river with his daughter-in-law on his back, and his efforts were thankless!" The one said, "It's good to be a faction!" What's the problem? Is there a ditch in the world that can't be done? Ten incomplete lists of officials in debt were opened to the emperor, the first one was Cao Yin, and the second was Mu Zixu, all of whom were nobles who were born and died! Wait and see, who can't get over the ditch?! Yinxiang hadn't left because of Xiao Jie, and when he came back, he saw that the dog and Kan'er were waiting for him outside the shed, so he said, "Why haven't you left yet?" ”

"Listen!" The dog gritted his teeth and said, "What maggots are chewing in the mouths of these donkeys!" ”

Yinxiang listened attentively, it was really gossipy, not cold or sour, pointing at Sang and scolding Huai, vaguely there were people saying that "there are nine kinds of dragons and phoenixes, and rats will make holes from generation to generation", but it was very much like insinuating and scolding himself, and he couldn't help but be so angry that his face turned white, and he walked out with the two children, and said: "I have to rectify them!" At a glance, Kan'er saw more than 20 horses tied to the bank of the river, all of which were ridden by the officials in the shed, all eating and drinking, and unattended, blinking his eyes, and muttering a few words to Yinxiang's ear.

"Good idea!" Yinxiang's eyes lit up sharply, and he smiled, "It's really yours!" Just do it, if something happens, it's the thirteenth master! Kan'er nodded, took out a firecracker from his waist, smiled silently, walked up to a horse, and tied it firmly to the horse's tail. The dog had already understood, and was busy stepping forward to untie the reins, laughing with a fire: "Thirteenth master, it's a little indecent, as soon as the firecrackers go off, we have to run away!" As he spoke, he took it over. Yinxiang saw that he lit the twist, and kicked the horse's ass ruthlessly, and said with a smile: "Give your master to make fun, and ask them to scold again!" ”

The horse was kicked and ran forward a few paces, and just as he came to his feet, the firecrackers behind his tail "crackled". The beast jumped high in shock, and rushed to the shed with a long neigh, and suddenly the old turtle inside turned against the pond price, the sound of people screaming, the sound of tables turning, the neighing of horses, and the noise of cups, and I don't know how to make a fuss. Yinxiang smiled smugly and said, "Let's go!" The three of them went straight to the Babeile Mansion to find Yinzhen.

When they arrived at the gate of Babeile Mansion, the three of them slowed down, and the chief entourage at the gate of the mansion all recognized Yinxiang, so they went straight to Yinxi's study. But I saw Yinzhen's three sons Hongshi Hongli all waiting respectfully at the door of Zhai, because the eldest was only eight years old, and the younger was only five years old, all of them were children, and there were a large group of eunuchs and girls behind them. The eldest son, Hongshi, hurriedly took a step forward, knelt down on his knees and said, "Uncle Thirteen is back?" Just now, Daddy asked you to come. Hongli kowtowed, and threw himself into Yinxiang's arms, twisting the candy like a coquette. Yin Zhen had already heard it inside, so he paced out and said, "Let go of your thirteenth uncle." Gao Fu'er took your three princes back, and told Fujin, I am Qincha, Ming'er can only go home when he sees the emperor, and also bring a message to Mr. Wu Wenjue. Yinxiang picked up Hongli Hongli, put it down with his left and right relatives, and said with a smile: "The fourth brother is really, the father can do home for the son, so he will train the child to avoid cats and mice." Although a gentleman hugs his grandson but not his son, without this family happiness, what is the taste? He turned around and said: "Dog Kan'er, you also follow the three masters back and give them the clay figures, folding fan incense bags, and bamboo weaving gnatfish cages I bought from Wuxi." After teasing for a while, he went into the study to eat tea and talk to Yinzhen Yinzhen.

"Fourth brother," everything settled down, Yinxi personally set up the snacks, Fang shook the bamboo fan of Xiangfei and sat down, and said sincerely, "Brother has a word of persuasion." Don't say it's panicked, but if you do, I'm a little afraid of you; I don't know what to say? Yinzhen's pitch-black pupils stared at Yinzhen for a long time, and then laughed and said, "I'm so powerful?" That's it. Yin Yu smiled and said: "The fourth brother is naturally angry, strict and coercive, although the group is angry and does not dare to be disrespectful, this is rare." Only the ancients said that the radial is easy to break, the strong is not weak, and the soft can last for a long time. Combining rigidity and softness is the way to be perfect. I was very happy to hear about Tongcheng's fundraising, but Beijing City is so big, what villain doesn't have it? It's inevitable ......" He glanced at Yinzhen and didn't say anything further. Yin Zhen smiled: "Oh? What do you say? Just talk about it! ”

Yin Yu leaned over slightly and said, "I have a copy of the unveiling post here, which is extremely bad, and it was taken by the Criminal Department, and I asked to hold it and not hand it in." As he spoke, he picked out a piece of yellow paper from under the desk and handed it to Yinzhen. When Yinzhen took it, it was written:

The complainant salt merchant Liu Xiajiao, swallowed blood for the sake of power: the two brothers of the extremely evil Boyi Shuqi, relying on the momentum of their father and grandfather, excavated Xu You's grave, and connected with Liu Qi and Chen Yankang, the minister of Anhui Province, to extort people's money, exhaust their fishing, and be extremely vicious, forcing them to sacrifice 300 acres of Weitian in Shouyang Mountain, and there is no deed. Chonghou Tiger saw it. The supreme king of weeping Siwu, Shang Rong knocks on the horse and admonishes, just ants, encountering the world of Yao Shun, is there no sound of horses? Eager to complain!

Yinzhen just smiled when he saw it, handed it to Yinxiang, and said: "The writing is not bad, I don't know how much silver I bought it - look at it." Then he asked, "What else do you have to say?" ”

"Nothing else." Yin Yu groaned, "It's like Fang Cai's thing, the fourth brother is not bad, but I think it's a little too much." In the end, everyone is kind, and Xingxing is too embarrassed to catch the wind. Yinxiang secretly snickered, pretending to be a stuffy gourd, and said in his heart: "You haven't seen the embarrassment later!" ”

Yin Zhen rubbed two pine nuts in his hand, and said after a while: "If the sky is loved, the sky is old, and the moon is always full if there is no hatred!" I want the horses to be good, and I want the horses not to eat grass, how can there be such a beautiful thing in the world? He paused for a moment and changed the subject, "How is Huang Ama's body and bones?" ”

"It's sturdy." Yin Yu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "In the summer of this year, his old man did not leave Changchun Garden. But the spirit seems to be sometimes unable to help, and I love to forget things. Feng Shengyun, who was recommended by the Caoyun Governor's Department, had already agreed, and summoned the people from the Ministry and said: 'Why hasn't Feng Zhiren, the Governor of Xinhe, entered Beijing to introduce him?' It made the people in the official department stare dryly and didn't dare to reply, but Zhang Tingyu reminded that it was Feng Shengyun, the disciple of the eldest brother, that he remembered. He pursed his lips and smiled. Yinxiang fanned the wind with his arms, took tea one after another to quench his thirst, and said with a smile: "Feng Shengyun, this old dog, has come out of the camp in the end!" The fourth brother has never seen this person, with a big chin and a shovel like this—" He cocked his chin as if chewing something, "That's it!" It made Yinzhen laugh.

Yin Yuyin said: "I asked you to come back, or to clear the arrears." Shi Shilun has taken office, this person is strong-minded, and the emperor also values it. Now that the accounts that should be repaid have been repaid, there are only ten of our brothers, who have not been paid off for a while, and there are still one or twenty in the foreign office, like Cao Yin and Mu Zixu, some of whom can't afford to pay it back, and some of whom are generals who have followed the emperor several times to send troops and release horses. These credits are divided, and it is difficult to start. The last time I saw Lao Shi, I was so anxious, waiting for the two of you to come back! As he spoke, he stood up and paced with square steps, as if he was overwhelmed with emotion, "Lao Shi is a two-five-eyed character, in fact, it's easy to say." Cao Yin and Mu Zixu are all old guards of the Long Live Lord, and from the first year of Kangxi to the present, they have been rolling over with the emperor through the ups and downs of life and death. On the surface, it was the treasury silver they borrowed, but in fact, it was all spent by the master, millions of silver, and they couldn't afford to pay it back by smashing the pot and selling iron and boiling oil! ”

"I don't think it matters." Yinzhen figured out Yinzhen's intentions, as if interceding for these people, took a sip of tea and said: "We know what we can't pay off, and the emperor also knows." is in a hurry, the emperor has his own regulations to protect them. As for Lao Shi, Su Ri listens to the words of the eighth brother the most, you persuade him, don't hurt his dignity for a few dollars, even if I am poor, I can help him a few. The predecessors scattered the dirt and deceived the eyes of the future, and I cannot ignore justice or selfishness. Yin Yu didn't expect that he would be blocked tightly just when he tried to intercede, and he couldn't help but be stunned, and then laughed dumbly: "Fourth brother, you have such a heart, people can't be unconvinced." The old nine, the old ten, and the old fourteen are just in charge of the Huangzhuang, and they are more close to me. In fact, they respect you, but they are also a little afraid of you. Even when I saw you, I had a belly full of jokes, and I held it back. ”

Yinxiang didn't seem to hear the two brothers' fighting thoughts, and flicked the cup with his fingers and smiled: "As soon as we meet, we will talk about official business, and I won't be tired and panic!" Starling, I have a request for you! ”

"What's the matter?" Yin Yu turned his face and smiled.

"I beat up a slave of Brother Jiu, and I want to ask Brother Starling to mediate a few words in front of Brother Jiu." Yinxiang put away his smile, "I heard that Brother Jiu asked the minions to buy them for you, I look good, Brother Starling is a generous person, how about giving it to me?" ”

As soon as Yinxi heard it, he knew that it was Ren Bo'an's case, and he was deliberately stunned for a while, and said, "What are you talking about?" I don't understand at all. There are no servants in my house to go out, and I don't buy plays! He turned his face to Yinzhen and said, "I don't like to watch dramas the most." Fourth brother, you know, the old ten got a few people who insisted on sending them over, but I accepted them. When I asked, they were all daughters of good families, and they were sold all the way to Beijing. Poor man, I sent them all back at once—afraid that someone would do this in my name? Check it out! Only then did Yinzhen tell about the big fight of Yinxiang in Jiangxia Town, and said: "I didn't want to care." It's really unseemly to hear them cry and howl, I asked the thirteenth brother to discipline this minion. ”

"It's so wonderful to be a hero to save a beauty!" Yin Yu laughed, "However, people, it's really not mine." Since this matter is concerned by the thirteenth brother, and it is connected to my reputation, I will definitely be able to find out. There is a little more time to spare, let me do it, if it is the ninth person, the thirteenth brother can rest assured, it is wrapped up in me. ”

Yinzhen got up with a smile, took out his pocket watch and looked at it, and said: "It's time, we have to go to the post house, when the words are not finished, keep it for later-Ming'er still has to see the emperor!" Yin Xi didn't stay with each other, and sent them out of the gate.