Civil servants of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 125 I Want the Emperor's Woman

The inexplicable but unspeakable tacit understanding played a role again. Although Tang Cheng rushed all the way to Yangzhou this time for the tung oil business, Tang Cheng didn't even mention tung oil during the day he spent with Zheng Lingyi. .

The same is true for Zheng Lingyi, that is, she didn't say a word about the mutiny that happened in Beijing not long ago. The old story of catching butterflies and fighting grass before the age of 12.

Relatively speaking, Tang Cheng didn't say much, most of the time it was Zheng Ling who wanted to say, while he listened quietly, occasionally adding a sentence or two of innocuous comments.

Even a very common sentence can often attract bursts of heartless laughter from the two of them.

Zheng Lingyi's personal girl, Qing Xing, who was standing in the distance, looked at Zheng Lingyi who was looking up and laughing, as if he was going to hit Tang Cheng, a trace of worry crept up his brows.

The autumn wind is leisurely, in Tang Cheng's feeling, today's time seems to pass very fast, when he arrived at Zheng's Mansion, it was only in the afternoon, but it seemed that it was only in the blink of an eye that it was dusk.

Dusk has arrived, and the long day is sinking to the west. Looking at the scene in front of him where the sunset is infinitely approaching dusk, Tang Cheng suddenly feels a kind of sadness and regret similar to the end of the party after a feast, and he still has to leave after all!And from tomorrow onwards, the two of them will be busy with the tung oil business, and it will be difficult to be as unrestrained and careless as they are today, joking and joking.

As for the tung oil business...

His home is in Jinzhou after all!

Will there be another day like today?Even if there is, when will it be?

"Acheng, do you think the setting sun looks like a pigeon egg?" Although Zheng Lingyi's voice was still smiling, the bleak look in his eyes could not be concealed from others.

Tang Cheng followed Zheng Lingyi's eyes and set his eyes on the setting sun in the west, but his mouth lost the interest to speak.

After waiting for a while and seeing no answer, Zheng Lingyi turned around to look, then reached out and took Tang Cheng's hand, "Ah Cheng, recite another poem to explain my current mood."

As soon as Zheng Lingyi finished speaking, almost without thinking, Tang Cheng whispered a poem:

Xiang Wanyi is unwell,

Drive to the ancient plains.

Sunset is magnificent,

It's only near dusk!

Listening quietly to Tang Cheng's recitation, Zheng Lingyi didn't say a word of comment, but slowly fell into Tang Cheng's arms, "Let's live in the mansion tonight, and we'll go to Bridge 24 when the moon rises."

After finishing this sentence, Zheng Lingyi added another sentence: "There are some things that I need to talk about tomorrow morning."

Zheng Lingyi gave the reason for staying, and Tang Cheng didn't mention leaving at all. The time of entertainment was short, and even though he knew that it was bound to pass, it would be good to steal a moment longer.

After the two of them finished their meal, the sky was dark, and in the middle of October, a bright moon like a silver plate rose brightly.

Departing by car and revisiting the old place, this night Tang Chenghun seemed to have returned to the scene of going out with his roommates in the university in the later generations, thinking about nothing, letting go of all his thoughts and joking.And Zheng Lingyi is also extraordinarily eccentric, with unimaginable ideas coming out one after another.

This night, many Yangzhou people who passed by the 24th Bridge saw a shocking scene. Two luxuriously dressed young men and women ran hand in hand on the street without any scruples, singing and laughing wantonly, and climbing up the street beside the avenue. The willow tree squats wantonly on the tree and throws stones into the water, causing the reflection of the bright moon to shatter into dizzy ripples...

A passing scholar saw the tunic Confucian uniform worn by Tang Cheng on the tree, and he was dumbfounded and sighed: "The world is going down, people's hearts are not bitter, and the saints are humiliated, and the gentleness is exhausted!".

Most of the passers-by were not Confucian scholars like the one above. They only had two words to comment on the behavior of the young man and woman—crazy, or some people would add two more words—shame.

Seeing that the gate of the city was about to close, and the gate of the square was locked at the right time, Tang Cheng and his wife boarded the car and returned in high spirits.At this moment, Tang Cheng's regimental-collar Confucian uniform was already crumpled and covered with tree sap and water stains, which could not be washed out even after washing.

In comparison, Zheng Lingyi was even worse. Not only was her expensive clothes out of shape, her face was covered in green and white patches, which was very close to the image she had before the age of 12.

Both of them were honored, they couldn't get out of the carriage in front of the gate of the mansion, the carriage rattled all the way and drove directly into the back house of Zheng's mansion.

Under the bright light, seeing their own appearance in the high-quality Jiang Xin mirror, the two of them laughed for a while, but after washing up, Zheng Lingyi had no intention of going to sleep, and beckoned Qing Xing to serve wine.

Tang Cheng had already made up his mind to let Zheng Lingyi arrange it before dawn. If you want to go crazy, you can go crazy together, if you want to drink, you can drink together. For the [-] days of silent waiting, as long as she likes, she can jump into the canal in the city at night. Swimming, Tang Cheng would not say a word to stop him.

The bright moon is in the sky, the clay stove is warming the wine, and the night wind is gently shaking. This is an excellent artistic conception, but it is a pity... Zheng Lingyi got drunk too quickly...

"My lord, you are drunk." Qing Xing stretched out her hand to take the giant toast from Zheng Lingyi's hand.

Knowing that the drinking capacity is limited, why do you have to drink so fast?Knowing that the drinking capacity is shallow, why use such a huge wine cup?

The staggering Zheng Lingyi was supported by the blue grass and walked away. Tang Cheng raised his head to look at the gradually sinking Haoyue, leaned forward to take the huge cup, and drank the remaining wine in the cup.

This is a luxurious guest house in the back residence of Zheng's mansion. After Tang Cheng sat down on the side of the couch with a beautiful bedding in the guest house, he cast his curious eyes on Qing Xing, "It's not early, girl, go back to sleep earlier." ".

"My lord is afraid that the prostitutes in the mansion won't catch the young master's eyes, so he ordered me to come." Qing Xing raised her eyebrows and walked to Tang Cheng's side as she spoke, reaching out to help him change his clothes.

Tang Cheng glanced at Qing Xing in surprise, the little girl's gaze was a little dodged, and the tightly knit brows were obviously nervous.

At any rate, Tang Cheng traveled through these days and stayed in Yunxi and Jinzhou government offices. He still knew this custom of the big families in the Tang Dynasty.

In the Tang Dynasty, there were official prostitutes in government yamen, and these people had the same status as official servants and maidservants in the government, but the official prostitutes did not need to handle the work of sweeping and sweeping, but were responsible for welcoming the guests of the yamen, such as accompanying officials who were passing through the border, or When there is a banquet in the yamen, that generation is in charge of serving wine and playing music. Usually, these people are under the leadership of the local Jiaofang Secretary. If necessary, they come to the official's house to answer errands. of.

When it comes to the many responsibilities of official prostitutes, the most important of them is undoubtedly to accompany the guests of the yamen, mainly the officials who come and go. This kind of escort is not only for serving, but also for warming the bed at night.

Similar to official prostitutes, there were many domestic prostitutes in the homes of wealthy families in the Tang Dynasty, and their duties were similar to those of official prostitutes, which is what Qing Xing was referring to.

It's just that Qing Xing, as Zheng Lingyi's personal servant, is the most powerful servant in the mansion, so why would she be condemned to come if she wants to accompany guests, especially if she was sent by Zheng Lingyi?

After Tang Cheng looked at it carefully for a moment, he suddenly stretched out his hand and took Qing Xing, who was helping her untie the button, into his arms. Sure enough, the little girl trembled like a quail that had been thrown into its nest.

Although Qing Xing's body was shaking, she didn't dodge away after all. Seeing this, Tang Cheng put his arms around his waist and climbed up the little girl's bulging chest.

Just as Tang Cheng moved his hand twice, the whole body of Qingxing in his arms has been tightened into a bow. Tang Cheng let go of his hand with a smile, "What is it worth doing?".

Pushing the girl in his arms away, Tang Cheng even straightened her messy clothes, "Just tell me if you have anything to do."

"Tang Cheng, let's go," the little quail said, "It's impossible for you and my family."

Tang Cheng didn't say anything when he heard the words, but just looked at Qing Xing quietly.

"Even if Your Majesty is not good at women, my lord is still a talented bookkeeper in the Zongren Temple. She is the emperor's woman. You can't be together! If this continues, once my lord loses his body due to forgetfulness, return After the palace inspection, not only she, I, but also you all have to die, especially you and I, who want to kill the Nine Clans." Qing Xing lost her voice when she finished speaking, and her face was full of fear.

Cairen, the No.12 concubine in the palace, in terms of rank, it should be similar to the bureau rank of later generations.

"You think too much".

"No, Tang Cheng, you don't know my lord's temperament at all." At this time, Qing Xing spoke quickly and anxiously, "My lord is a lunatic, he would rather die in front of a moth lantern than in a thrush cage! My lord is really crazy this time, she won't hesitate about anything when she goes crazy."

"Qing Xing", Tang Cheng stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder, "I said, you think too much."

At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps coming from far and near outside the guest house. After hearing the footsteps, Qing Xing suddenly put her hand on her chest.

With the sound of silk tearing, Qing Xing has already torn off her upper body skirt and the lake green bellyband inside, revealing the girl's tender breasts at a glance, exuding a pink glow under the slightly flickering light. Run light.

At the same time as the chest was torn apart, Qing Xing, who jumped forward, jumped into Tang Cheng's arms, her two hands tightly hugging Tang Cheng's waist like pliers.

Qingxing must have been planning this scene for a long time, and the timing was really good. She just threw herself into Tang Cheng's arms, when the door of the guest house opened with a "squeak", and only Zheng Lingyi, whose face was still drunk, came in. , and a girl in light yellow clothes.

"My lord...Tang Chenghe..." Qing Xing's cry was truly heartbreaking.

"Acheng, you..." Zheng Lingyi, who was standing at the door, blushed almost instantly.

After the two came in, Tang Cheng's eyes fell on the girl following Zheng Lingyi. As expected, this girl didn't dare to look at him at all, her eyes flickered.

After seeing this, Tang Cheng smiled slightly, turned his head to meet Zheng Lingyi's eyes, he didn't say anything, and he didn't say anything at all, only the expression on his face and eyes were open and natural, Guangyue Feiqi.

Under Tang Cheng's gaze, the blush on Zheng Lingyi's face slowly subsided, replaced by a patch of gray, "Little Luo, what good did Qingxing do to you?".

"My lord, no...".

"Don't tell me, right?" Tang Cheng really didn't expect Zheng Lingyi to be so cold when he spoke, "It seems that you want to accompany those boatmen who smell like fish in the one-hundred-pence hook bar near Xishuimen." .

"My lord, I..." Xiao Luo, who knelt down in response, wept bitterly, "I really confiscated Qing Xing's benefits, I just wanted to help...".

"Even I dare to plot against you, you lowly maidservant is so courageous." Zheng Lingyi didn't listen to Xiaoluo's cries at all, kicked her to the ground, and went directly to Qing Xing who was squatting on the ground, " stand up".

Seeing that Zheng Ling intended to take care of family affairs, and it was still related to his family affairs, Tang Cheng didn't intervene, but the word she followed made Tang Cheng have to stand out.

After the pale Qing Xing stood up tremblingly, Zheng Lingyi only said this word:

"Take off!".

As Qing Xing got up, a layer of dazzling waves rose up on her tender chest. She was obviously stunned by the master's expression and orders, and she even forgot to cover it with her hands.

Seeing this, Tang Cheng sighed, stretched out his hand to take off the shirt that had just been unbuttoned, stepped forward to wrap Qing Xing who was stunned, and then stepped forward to stand between the two of them, "This matter is over." Well, she's doing it for your own good too."

"This lowly maid likes to take it off, so let her take it off." Zheng Lingyi reached out to push Tang Cheng, but how could he do it?

"Get out, get out of here." After Tang Cheng held both hands, Zheng Lingyi also slowly calmed down.

Qing Xing and Xiao Luo went away sobbing, for a while there were only two people holding hands in the guest house, "What did that lowly servant girl tell you?".

Tang Cheng didn't hide anything, "She said that you are a talented person in the palace and the emperor's woman, we can't be together! She also said that if I break your body, you, her, and I will all die. And I have to be punished by the Nine Clans."

Zheng Lingyi, who was still a little angry at first, fell silent when he heard the sound. After a long time, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Tang Chengdao: "What that slut maid said is true. Why, are you afraid?".

At this moment, Zheng Lingyi's face was full of rebellion, self-harm and stubbornness.

"I'm afraid, I'm holding the hand of the emperor's woman, so how can I not be afraid?" Zheng Lingyi's expression just changed, and Tang Cheng's words followed, "I'm really afraid, I'm afraid I can't find a way to take you out of the palace ".

"That's all you're afraid of?"

"Pseudo Linchao Wu's people are not docile in nature, and the land is cold. Xi Chong Taizong came to Chen, and used to change clothes to serve...The slanderous workers are slanderous, and the charm of the fox can confuse the lord." What Tang Cheng recited is the former King Luo Bin of the Chao Dynasty wrote for Xu Jingye's "Discussion of the Wu Family", "The talents of Emperor Taizong in the past could be the queen of Emperor Gaozong, and then he could ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor. Why can't you, a talented person, go out of the palace? I What I'm afraid of is that the palace city on Longshouyuan is surrounded by thousands of gates, and I can't find a way to bring you out."

"The name is Prince, but he is actually a prisoner. His Majesty has lost his health during the 14 years he was exiled in Fangzhou. Now he is getting worse every day. I once heard my cousin say that the Imperial Medical Office vaguely said something for three years. According to the palace As a rule, after the death of the first emperor, the concubines in the harem can invite themselves to become monks and become female crowns. Once they enter the Taoist gate, they will cut off the world and be reborn as human beings."

In Zheng Lingyi's eyes, stubbornness and stubbornness have turned into tenderness, "I have a custom of setting up family temples in the big families to support monks and Taoists. Ah Cheng, you have to be an official, and you can only be a very big official." Please take out the female crown from the royal Taoist temple to make offerings to your family."

"It turned out to be the old road of following the first empress." This road was walked by Wu Zetian and Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, and then Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan in the Xuanzong Dynasty would also walk on this road. Tang Cheng never thought that he would one day He would even go down this road.

But a woman who dares to want the emperor has to pay the price. No matter how difficult this road is, she will have to go through it.

Even if she is very powerful, Shangguan Wan'er, who is known as the "maid of the palace", can't get rid of her identity as "Zhao Rong". Today's Zheng Lingyi doesn't even think about it, as long as she doesn't get rid of this identity for a day, the original virginity will be lost. I can't move.The emperor's favor for the women in the harem has strict archive records.Just like checking the eunuch's cleanliness every year, there is also a routine inspection every year for all levels of concubines under 45 who have never been favored by the emperor in the inner palace.

Once an abnormality is found during the inspection, the consequences will be as Qing Xing said.

It was already late to go to bed, but after Qing Xing's episode, both of them fell asleep, but they couldn't do anything else, so they chatted in the guest house.

As they talked, the two naturally discussed matters related to the tung oil business. The mutiny that happened far away in Chang'an also deeply affected and even changed the situation in Yangzhou.

Chapter 126 I am the God of Wealth!

"How is Zhou Lirong now?" Tang Cheng picked up a preserved red apricot from the porcelain cup on the table and asked.

Seeing Tang Cheng's delicious food, Zheng Lingyi also grabbed one and put it into his mouth, and said vaguely: "He! Now he is squatting in the prison behind the Yangzhou government office."

"Huh?" Even though Wu Sansi was dead, the Yangzhou Mansion acted too quickly, which was unreasonable.

"His cousin, one of Wu Sansi's sect's 'five dogs', Yushi Zhongcheng Zhou Yong, also died with his master in the mutiny." Zheng Lingyi picked up a candied fruit and stuffed it into Tang Cheng's slightly opened mouth. He said with a crisp smile: "Killing people in the street, last time Zhou Lirong did a terrible thing, and the influence in the market was too bad, which has already angered the Yangzhou government. Later, when the Yangzhou government asked him for questioning, this fatty Zhou was also very arrogant. Once the backer is gone this time, can the present be able to have a good relationship with the present? As soon as the news of the Chang'an mutiny came back, he was arrested. Judging from this posture, I am afraid that I will never think about it again."

Thinking about Zhou Lirong's style of contracting the entire Happy Building, this person is indeed too ostentatious. It is not wrong to be ostentatious in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, but if a merchant is too ostentatious, people will not be used to it, especially the despicable merchants. He is an official and scholar, not to mention he is so flamboyant that he doesn't take others seriously.

Thinking about the acquaintance and communication between the two, and thinking about Zhou Lirong's high-spirited and high-spirited spending when he came to Yangzhou last time, Tang Cheng couldn't help sighing, "It's easy to rise and fall! I didn't expect Fatty Zhou to be unlucky because of the Chang'an mutiny." No.1".

After all, this kind of exclamation was just an episode, and Tang Cheng's mind quickly turned to business, "Zhou Lirong used a market price higher than [-]% to attract many tung oil merchants from all over the world. Panicked?"

"It's been a long time ago, especially those tung oil merchants in Shannan West Road. After they promised to give the oil to Zhou Lirong, these people originally went back, but now they have to rush to Yangzhou. Although these people didn't say it clearly, in private But I scolded Zhou Lirong a lot, even the Yangzhou government office and Li Chongjun were brought in." At this point, Zheng Lingyi smiled and turned his face, "But this is a good thing. Once Fatty Zhou is arrested, Wu Yujun who came with you Now the market is on the rise. According to the reports from the people in the Shibo Department, he is now full of people. I don’t know how many tung oil merchants are waiting to visit him with famous cards. There are seven or eight days in the Happy Building, and the guests of honor at the banquet are all It's him".

"Now he's got what he wants." Seeing Zheng Lingyi's weird smile, Tang Cheng suddenly understood after thinking for a while, and stretched out his hand to pinch Zheng Lingyi's nose, "You don't know who I am, so start being careful!".

"It's not a joke." Zheng Lingyi grimaced, "Actually, it doesn't matter if you are just like him. It doesn't matter if it's a gathering of literati or businessmen talking about business, as long as men get together, can you miss this? Ah Cheng, you Now I’m in the yamen, and I’m going to take the imperial examination to enter Beijing in the future, and I’m going to be an official. If I socialize too rigidly, I’m not to be looked down upon! Especially after I’m in Chang’an.”

"Why is this?" Zheng Lingyi said these words, and Tang Cheng felt ashamed when he heard them, "I haven't reached that point yet! I'll talk about it later."

Hearing Tang Cheng's words, Zheng Lingyi turned serious, "Ah Cheng, there is something I really need to tell you, you are both talented and academic, but you just stay in the small place of Jinzhou, so it is inevitable that you will suffer from a lack of knowledge and vision." Due to limitations, there is always some restraint in words and deeds on weekdays. This is not a problem right now, but once you arrive in Chang'an, you will not be able to. The imperial examination, and even future officials, must be publicized when it is time to publicize. Seeing that you are petty, who else is willing to associate with you?"

This made sense, but it made Tang Cheng feel a little uncomfortable, "Why? Is it petty not to hang out with prostitutes?".

"Is it okay if I'm wrong?" Zheng Lingyi, who realized his slip of the tongue, held Tang Cheng's hand, but didn't stop talking, "I don't mean this one, but you have to let go of your whole body Talent. Not to mention Chen Ziang who was a "thousand gold throwing piano" in the previous dynasty, among the most famous Wuzhong Four Scholars, Zhang Xu is crazy, He Zhizhang is crazy, but the more crazy they are, the more famous they are, you should also see from them What kind of literati do you admire when you come out of Chang'an?"

Although Tang Cheng didn't want to agree, he had to admit that what Zheng Lingyi said was indeed true. Hu Feng was very prosperous in the Tang Dynasty, and the social atmosphere was already open. In addition, the current national situation was on the eve of going from the early prosperity to the peak. Together, they created the high-spirited and vigorous character of the people of the time, especially the literati. The people of Tang Dynasty in this era did not have the modest and prudent self-consciousness of the literati of later generations.And this kind of character is manifested in daily life, that is, it is informal and unrestrained.

And often the more flamboyant and unrestrained, the more respected and liked by the people of the time. For example, the bold and unrestrained Li Bai was regarded as one of the three wonders of Chang'an by the people at the time of Kaiyuan; The representative is Du Fu, who claims to be from a family of "following Confucianism and guarding officials".

The poet saints of later generations were only regarded as second-rate poets in the prosperous Tang Dynasty where he lived. This was not only related to the style of his poetry, but also had a lot to do with his daily interactions. Not many people are interested in him. Since then, not only has no one helped to promote his poems, but even few people in his official career are willing to quote them.

Li Bai is a master of poetry in the same era, and his friends are all over the world.The poor generation of poet saints has been reduced to living in Chang'an for ten years without being able to hold an official position. In the end, they want to "detain the rich from the door and chase the fat horse dust" to make a living by fighting the autumn wind.

Character determines destiny, not to say that Du Fu's character is not good. If his character and words and deeds were placed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, he would definitely be the object of respect for scholars. Unfortunately, he was born in the Tang Dynasty and lived in the prosperous Tang Dynasty for most of his life. Since then, his personality has not matched the atmosphere of the times, especially the extremely open atmosphere of Chang'an Shilin.Character determines destiny, and Du Fu's failure in life may have nothing to do with it.

Tang Cheng understood what Zheng Lingyi meant by these words.In short, in this era, at least in the literary world where poetry is the mainstream, especially in the Chang'an literary world, publicity is advocated, and low-key is not liked.And the evaluation of someone in the Chang'an literary world directly determines whether he can be named on the gold list.

"Well, I understand what you mean." Tang Cheng didn't go into details when he understood the matter. After all, he is not in that environment now. What happened to the person you sent?"

"Zhang Liang from An Guoxiang's mansion, and Xue Dong from Zhen Guo's princess mansion both came to visit with famous assassins, but let me deal with it haha." Zheng Lingyi raised his eyebrows, "Didn't you say that when you left last time, The two will be handed over to you to deal with."

"You did a good job." The big fish finally showed its head, and Tang Cheng was excited for a while. He waited for so many days, and it was just for this. up".

"It's not because of this, the key is that Wu Sansi fought too hard with the prince a while ago, and neither side wanted to get involved rashly."

"Yes, it makes sense." After Tang Cheng laughed and praised Zheng Lingyi, he asked a question that he was most concerned about, "Who will be in charge of An Guoxiang's Palace for things like these?".

"The prince of An Guoxiang is a simple person, he doesn't like to worry too much, and it's not worth his face. The five sons of Xiangwang, the eldest son Li Chengqi, disdains business affairs, and the other sons are mostly fond of rhythm and temper. He is very close to Prince Xiang. Speaking of it, the most likely is Li Longji, the shrewdest and capable third son of the concubine." Zheng Lingyi pondered for a moment, and said in a very firm tone: "Yes, it is Li Longji, I remembered, This time, it was Zhang Liang who was sent to Yangzhou by the Prince Xiang's Mansion, and Zhang Liang's older brother, Zhang Wei, is Li Sanlang's confidant."

"It's fine if it's Li Sanlang, it's really God helping me." Excited, Tang Cheng picked up Zheng Lingyi and walked around a few times on the spot. "Everything is ready, it's time for the city's shipping department to express its attitude."

……