A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

After Ming Jinghai finished his meals at the third brother's house, washed and changed his clothes, the carriage sent by the palace to pick him up had stopped outside the gate of Ming Shilang's house.

Passing by the official office of the Ministry of Rites, Ming Jinghai saw that the gate of the Ministry of Rites was painted with vermilion paint, and the stone lions on both sides of the door were majestic and majestic, and asked the groom who was driving the carriage: Eight months ago, when I left the capital, the Ministry of Rites did not seem to be like this. appearance?

Sir, the Ministry of Rites is being repaired recently. The groom explained: The stone lion in front of the door and the floor are all new.

The wheel ran over the stone road in front of the official office of the Ministry of Rites, Ming Jinghai glanced at the newly built fence, and remained silent.

My lord is wondering why the Ministry of Rites has changed so much?

Ming Jinghai looked up at the groom sent by the royal family, and asked with a smile, This officer is indeed a little curious.

A few days ago, His Majesty King Chen was sent to the Ministry of Rites by His Majesty. Seeing that the Ministry of Rites was dilapidated, His Highness could not bear to be on duty in such a bitter and cold environment, so he asked His Majesty to repair the Ministry of Rites. The whip in the groom's hand, Gently patted the horse's back: It didn't take long for the official bureau of the Ministry of Rites to undergo earth-shaking changes.

Thank you for letting me know. Ming Jinghai put down the curtain and touched his chin that had been shaved. There are three ways to enter the palace from the third brother's house, only the farthest way will bypass the main entrance of the Ministry of Rites and finally enter the palace through the Suzaku gate.

This groom intends to let him discover the differences in the Ministry of Rites, I don't know if it is his own opinion, or is it His Majesty's intention?

After meeting Emperor Longfeng, Ming Jinghai handed him the secret evaluation list of officials, talking about his experiences along the way.

Aiqing has worked hard. Emperor Longfeng supported Ming Jinghai and sat down: With Aiqing and other humeral ministers, I have never been the faint-hearted king on the dragon chair...

Your Majesty's remarks will suffocate Weichen. Ming Jinghai's eyes were slightly red: If you can gain Your Majesty's trust, Weichen will never give up.

Emperor Longfeng patted Ming Jinghai on the shoulder movingly: Okay, okay, okay.

After saying three good words in a row, Emperor Longfeng turned to talk about family affairs, and asked how Ming Jinghai was in health and what difficulties he encountered on the way: I know that you and Mrs. Zun have a deep relationship with husband and wife, but Mrs. Zun has been gone for a long time. It would be inappropriate for Aiqing to have no one to take care of her house, why don't I choose a good wife for you and take care of your food and daily life?

Your Majesty's good intentions, Wei Chen's heart is leading, Wei Chen is now in the age of knowing what is wrong, and he is used to being alone, how can he delay a good woman from someone else's family? Ming Jinghai bowed his hands and refused: Women are like flowers and jade, marrying A man like me who has two sons in half a hundred is already wronged, how can I let her take care of my back house and take care of the whole family?

Aiqing is both civil and military, how can you belittle yourself?

Your Majesty. Ming Jinghai smiled and shook his head: Weichen and Zhuojing knew each other when they were young. When he asked to marry her, he swore that he would never give up on her. She passed away early, and Weichen was still alive. In violation of the original promise, after a hundred years, what face is there to see her?

Knowing that Ming Jinghai was not an excuse, Emperor Longfeng stopped persuading him: You and I, the monarch and minister, have not seen each other for so long. Tonight, you and I will have a drink and talk with me.

Ming Jinghai smiled and stood up and cupped his hands: Wei Chen leads the order.

Niangniang, Your Majesty has sent someone to tell me that I will be talking with Lord Ming Jinghai tonight, and I can't come to see you. Your Majesty also said that it's cold at night, Niangniang should not kick the quilt and go to bed earlier. Xiangxian walked over to Concubine Su Gui: What do you want to say to Your Majesty?

Ming Jinghai? Concubine Su swept her eyes: Has he returned to Beijing?

Xiang Su nodded: Eunuch Liu said that Lord Ming just returned to Beijing today.

He is Jiuzhu's uncle, that is, my son's uncle. Concubine Su thought for a while: Send some new cakes made in the small kitchen to Taiyang Palace, just say... Let your majesty and Lord Ming try it out. .

Xiang Xuan looked at Concubine Su Gui in surprise. In the past, when His Majesty entertained ministers, the empress would never give food.

The Ming family is different from other people. Concubine Su smiled: Just do what I want.

Okay, Niangniang. Xiangxuan went to the small kitchen to get some snacks and delivered them to Liu Zhongbao: Eunuch Liu, you have a lot of work.

You're welcome, auntie. Liu Zhongbao took the food box without looking at what was inside: Old slave farewell.

Father-in-law, walk slowly. After seeing Liu Zhongbao away, Xiang silk returned to the inner hall. Seeing that the lady was staring at the mirror in a daze, she stepped forward and gently kneaded her shoulders: My lady, do you want to understand the girl?

Concubine Su was amused by her: Don't tease me again, I'm afraid the Ming family suspects me of stealing their daughter.

The weather is very gloomy today. I remembered something from a long time ago. Concubine Su took off the phoenix hairpin on her temples and leaned gently on the soft couch: Do you still remember that eight years ago, I accompanied me to the ferry? Qing was fishing on the river in Lingzhou on a painting boat, and Du Qing rescued a little girl who was about nine years old?

Why did you think of this, Niangniang? Xiangshuang put the phoenix hairpin in the jewelry box, the little palace maid brought the embroidered stool, and she sat down beside the soft couch: Didn't you instruct Your Highness not to mention this to the outside world?

I don't know what's going on. Recently, I always think of the little girl who was rescued and cried silently without crying. Concubine Su laughed at herself: Could it be that Ben Gong is old?

Niangniang is not old, she is a young girl of twenty-eight, and she is not even half as good as you. Xiang Yan smiled: I see, it is the empress who is soft-hearted and sympathizes with that little girl.

I remember that day, I originally planned to take Du Qing to eat a famous local roast fish dish, but because the little girl was rescued, the Lingzhou roast fish was not eaten in the mouth. Su Guifei closed her eyes and smiled: However, it is very cost-effective to save the little girl's life with a roasted fish.

A good person has a good reward, and a good-hearted lady will have a good reward. Seeing that the lady was sleepy, Xiang silk took a quilt and covered it with Concubine Su, and sat quietly with her for a while.

beside.

Of course, she remembered what happened that year. His Majesty originally planned to bring His Royal Highness a private visit to taste the famous roasted fish in Lingzhou. However, there was an urgent report from Beijing, and His Majesty had to stay on the dragon boat.

Empress couldn't bear His Highness's disappointment, and accompanied His Highness on a painting boat to enjoy the scenery and fish. Who knew His Highness did not catch the fish, but caught a little girl with her limbs tied up.

The little girl is not thin, her face is white and her flesh is tender, as if she was carefully raised by the adults in the family. Perhaps it was because the little girl was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat and couldn't struggle with her hands and feet tied, so she did not sink to the bottom of the river.

When she was picked up, her whole body was frozen, her mouth was blocked by rags, and she couldn't even make a sound. It wasn't until His Highness took off the cloth from her mouth and put his fox fur cloak over her body that she began to shiver and cry.

After changing into clean clothes, His Royal Highness fed the little girl a few candies, and the little girl opened her mouth slowly, but she was reluctant to reveal her life experience.

She could not remember exactly what the little girl said afterward, but she only remembered that the little girl gave her and her a gift like a Taoist practitioner, saying that she would repay her kindness to her and Her Royal Highness in the future. When she said this, her eyes were astonishingly clear, as if she wanted to take the Empress and Her Highness in her heart.

Afterwards, Niangniang sent people to Lingzhou City to investigate secretly, and learned that there was a child abduction case in Lingzhou. The local officers and soldiers were tracking the kidnappers. Along the way, they found several children who were thrown by the kidnappers in a hurry.

Thinking about that little girl, she was also left behind by a kidnapper.

How does the little girl know that the world is so big that the empress is not an ordinary noble lady, and I am afraid that she will never see her again in her entire life.

If I had known that the little girl was just taken away by kidnappers, I wouldn't be so serious with her. Before the empress left Lingzhou, she was still worried that the little girl would listen to her and would not tell her family anything.

Thinking of these past events, Xiangxuan shook her head. At that time, the empress, who had just experienced the struggle between the princes for a few years, was terrified by various assassinations, conspiracies and tricks, and she acted extremely cautiously.

If it was the current empress, she would definitely send someone on the spot to conduct a thorough investigation, and by the way, she would go to His Majesty to complain.

Alas. She sighed and walked out the door to look at the exquisite and beautiful palace. How many people in this palace were victims of the struggle for imperial power?

Your Majesty, Empress, and other concubines in the harem seemed to be the victors after the struggle, but the haze left by the bloody struggle in those days never dissipated from this palace.

Maybe……

She retracted her gaze and turned to look at the sleeping empress.

Maybe it will continue.

At dinner time, the palace people set up the food, and Liu Zhongbao put the snacks on the table: Your Majesty, this is a new-style snack from the imperial concubine's palace. The goddess asked the old slave to bring it to you and Ming-sama to try it out.

Concubine Ai has a heart. Emperor Longfeng looked slightly surprised, then returned to normal, and said to Ming Jinghai: Aiqing, the dim sum of Mingyue Palace has always been delicious, Aiqing, try it?

Thank you, Your Majesty. As soon as Ming Jinghai picked up a snack, he heard a report from the palace staff that His Royal Highness King Chen had arrived.

He glanced at Emperor Longfeng, put down his chopsticks and prepared to salute.

Hey. Emperor Longfeng held him down: This is a private banquet between me and you, and there is no need to pay attention to the etiquette of monarchs and ministers.

Ming Jinghai noticed that His Majesty was holding down his hand and used seventy percent of his strength, knowing that he was not joking, and sat down with sincerity.

Royal Father. King Chen walked into the inner hall, bowed his hands to Emperor Longfeng, and gave Ming Jinghai a junior salute: Master Ming.

Your Highness is safe. Ming Jinghai bowed his hand in return.

It's all my family, sit down and eat. Emperor Longfeng beckoned to let King Chen sit down, Your uncle Ming traveled all over the Dacheng rivers and mountains, Wenneng settled the people, and Wuneng arranged troops. You should learn more from him.

Ming Jinghai looked at Emperor Longfeng silently, seeing what His Majesty said, he would have a prince and nephew if he disagreed, even if His Majesty dared to say so, he would not dare to recognize it.

King Chen nodded, his chopsticks had already reached out to the food on the table.

Father, how is this pigeon soup made? It seems to be extraordinarily delicious? King Chen took two more sips: You ask the royal chef to write the recipe to Erchen, and Erchen asks the cooks in the palace to learn how to make it.

I remember that you didn't like these soups and waters before. Emperor Longfeng raised his eyebrows: The taste has changed recently?

Pigeon soup for the brain. King Chen said confidently: My son has been struggling with reading and writing recently, so I want to make up for it.

By the way, I will also make up for Ming Xiaozhu. He is so embarrassed that he eats his fiancee's food every day.

His Royal Highness is so wise and wise, there is no need for these foreign objects. Ming Jinghai saw that the royal father and son did not pay attention to the rule of not saying goodbye, put down his chopsticks and said, ?? There are several military books in Wei Chen's house, and these military books are all Wei Chen. When you are idle and bored, you can think about the things that you have made blindly, if your Highness does not dislike it, you can choose a spare time and take it back to watch and play.

Not long ago, Ming Jingzhou also told him the same.

King Chen tried his best to smile: Thank you sir, the younger generation will come to your residence tomorrow to borrow books and read them.

It's just a personal act. Your Highness doesn't have to be so solemn.

It is an honor for the younger generation to borrow the master's calligraphy to see it. King Chen continued to smile hard: With the talent of the master, every word is the essence, how can it be a mere work.

They are all elders of Ming Xiaozhu, Ming Xiaozhu's elders, be polite, be polite.

It is the luck of Wei Chen to be valued by His Highness. Tomorrow morning, Wei Chen will be waiting for His Highness in the humble house. Ming Jinghai smiled slightly and said to Emperor Longfeng: Your Majesty, Wei Chen looks at the appearance of the Highness. , looks a bit like His Majesty when he was young.

Emperor Longfeng listened

At this, he burst out laughing.

With your Ming family looking at this worry-free boy, I will feel more at ease. Emperor Longfeng patted Ming Jinghai on the shoulder: Aiqing, he will be your Ming family's son-in-law in the future, you should pay more attention to it. .

Ming Jinghai got up and bowed to the end: Your Majesty's intention, Wei Chen understands.

After standing up, he looked at King Chen, showing a loving smile unique to his elders.

It's just that his thick eyebrows and big eyes, the way he smiled, made King Chen's heart beat a little slower. The last time I felt this way was when he gave Ming Xiaozhu silver and was discovered by Ming Jingzhou on the spot.

The next morning, after Ming Jinghai returned home, he changed his clothes and practiced Wu Qin Xi in the yard. Ming Cunfu, who woke up in the morning, yawned and walked to the main courtyard in a daze. He was startled when he saw Ming Jinghai: Father, why did you come back from the palace so early?

The plan of the day is in the morning. Ming Jinghai saw that he was well-dressed: Where are you going?

Son, my son will give Miss Zhou a book of poems. Ming Cunfu lowered his head reddened.

Well, I know how to please my future daughter-in-law, like a man. Ming Jinghai took out a silver note for him: Go, don't be stingy in front of the little girl.

Ming Cunfu looked at the denomination, forty taels!

Father is so generous!

Uncle Fu, Brother Fu Liu. Jiuzhu leaned her head outside the courtyard and came in: Mother asked me to send a hot message to Uncle.

The courtyards of the two brothers are next to each other, separated only by a courtyard wall. Ming Cunfu glanced at the courtyards of the two families: Sister, did you climb the wall again?

No wonder he didn't hear the servant's report.

My family doesn't talk about false etiquette. Jiu Zhu smiled embarrassedly. The courtyard wall between the two families is so short, isn't it easy for her family to climb?

Zhuzhu, come in. Ming Jinghai greeted Jiuzhu into the yard. After washing his hands, he picked up a snack and tasted: You also like to climb walls?

Ming Cunfu: ...

As an elder, is it inappropriate to add the word also to this sentence?

The uncle and nephew walked to the stone table and sat down, Ming Jinghai greeted Jiuzhu to eat dim sum with him: When your father is at home, I don't like to take a detour to the main entrance.

No wonder there are traces of people climbing over the wall for a long time. It turned out to be the uncle. Jiuzhu had just finished eating the morning meal, and could barely accompany Ming Jinghai to eat two dim sum: This will save a lot of road.

If it wasn't for the fear of outsiders talking gossip, I would still like to build a door directly on the wall. Ming Jinghai shook his head: It's a pity that people's words are scary. Even if we are not afraid of gossip, we have to think about others.

It doesn't matter if there is a door or not, anyway, with such a low wall, you can come over by just flipping it over. Jiuzhu took two sips of tea: My mother said that the uncle has been to many interesting places, is it true?

Of course. The older elders, in front of the younger ones they love, will inevitably get a little bit of the fault of bragging about the past. Seeing Jiuzhu asking this, Uncle Ming suddenly came to the spirit.

When Ming Cunfu saw these two people, one of them was so excited, the other listened intently, completely forgetting his existence, and sighed silently.

Master, His Royal Highness King Chen is visiting.

His Royal Highness? Jiuzhu, who was on her head, was stunned when she heard the words of His Royal Highness King Chen, then stood up and ran to the gate of the courtyard with her skirt in hand: Where is Your Highness?

Seeing the appearance of his little niece, Ming Jinghai stretched out his hand to call his son to his side, and asked quietly, Zhuzhu likes King Chen very much?

Ming Cunfu nodded: Not only do I like it, but I also hate when others say that King Chen is wrong.

Ming Jinghai thought for a moment, then nodded and said: With the appearance of King Chen, he can also have the ability to confuse women.

No, can you say that?

When stepping into the gate of Mingjinghai, King Chen's heart was heavy, but when he saw Jiuzhu on the steps of the courtyard gate, he quickly came to her.

Ming Xiaozhu, why are you here?

I was listening to the uncle talking about the customs outside. I never thought that I would wait until Your Highness. What a coincidence. Jiuzhu asked with a smile, Are you here to find the uncle?

King Chen nodded silently.

I'll take you in. Uncle tells a good story. Jiuzhu pulled Chen Wang's sleeves and put them into the yard. Just two steps away, Ming Jinghai and Ming Cunfu came up to them.

Participating in His Royal Highness King Chen, the lower official has lost his way, please forgive me.

Sir Ming is very polite. King Chen stretched out his other hand to support Ming Jinghai: It was this king who disturbed me.

Ming Jinghai stood up and looked at his niece grabbing King Chen's sleeve, and King Chen handed the sleeve to his niece. Then he looked at his son who blushed when he mentioned the Zhou family girl, silently disgusting in his heart.

That's the difference.

Ming Cunfu was seen inexplicably, what does father mean?

His Royal Highness, please sit down and talk. Ming Jinghai greeted King Chen to sit down at the stone table. He saw King Chen sweeping the stone bench twice with his wide sleeve robe and letting his niece sit down.

And his niece, in the food box, took a plate of dim sum and put it in front of King Chen.

Everything is fine, but he seems to be a little redundant.

Uncle. Jiuzhu held her face and looked at him with burning eyes: Just tell me the story just now.

Ming Jinghai and Chen Wang's eyes met in the air, looking a little embarrassed.

You know, men, occasionally when telling stories, there will be a little bit of fiction and exaggeration in it. In case of being exposed by King Chen, wouldn't his tall image in front of his niece be affected?