Since I met you, people are dying every day

"What time is it?" His Majesty suddenly raised his head and asked.

"Return to Your Majesty, just when the bowl was knocked." The emperor's gaze was still on the memorial on the imperial case, but Eunuch Feng still did not dare to relax at all, "Your Majesty didn't have much for dinner, the imperial dining room must have served dumplings, The servant serves His Majesty a bowl?"

The emperor looked at him gravely, and let out a short laugh from his nose, "Hey, it's still Feng Daban who understands what I mean." Eunuch Feng lowered his head and dared not reply. "Have a bowl, I'm a little hungry."

"Yes." Eunuch Feng bowed his head in salute, and stepped back slowly.

On New Year's Eve, even if you are respected as the emperor, you must watch the night.Theoretically, it should be the emperor and empress with the prince and princess accompanying the empress dowager, watching operas, listening to music, and keeping vigil together.However, His Majesty has been on the throne for many years, and the post is vacant, and the empresses are just decorations.The empress dowager passed away early, so the emperor didn't even have a night watchman with him. After the palace banquet was over, he was alone in the warm pavilion to approve the memorial.

Eunuch Feng bit the tip of his tongue lightly to wake himself up.Naturally, he didn't have to do the errands himself. As soon as he pushed to the door of the Nuan Pavilion, disciples and grandchildren came up to him, "Eunuch, what orders does Your Majesty have?"

"Go to the imperial dining room to get a bowl of dumplings, and then look at what soup is hot on the kitchen. It should not be sweet. Be quick."

After he gave the order, Xiao Huangmen quickly saluted, "Yes, I'll go right away." Eunuch Feng squinted his eyes and rested for a moment.

"Eunuch, Xu Jieyu is here."

"Eunuch Feng, is Your Majesty there?" Eunuch Feng opened his eyes as soon as the woman's jingling voice came, "This old slave has seen Jieyu."

"Eunuch Feng, don't be too polite." Xu Jieyu motioned for the maid to help him up.Xu Jieyu is one year older than His Majesty, she is the eldest daughter of the Xu clan of Bo Qingyun in the capital city, and the only daughter of the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War.The four surnames in the capital, Yao, Li, Wan, and Xu, marry each other, and they are intertwined. This generation, however, all want to marry their daughters into the royal family.However, when Xu Jieyu entered the palace, she was granted the title of Jieyu. Three years later, she has nothing to do, and her rank has not changed.

Eunuch Feng didn't dare to think too much, he lowered his head and asked, "Your Majesty will come here, but do you want to tell me something?"

Xu Jieyu put on light makeup, even if he didn't raise his head, he could still smell the faint fragrance. "I don't think there's anything used in His Majesty's palace banquet. I'm afraid it's because I'm hungry at night. I often cook at home, so I just made some snacks and presented them to Your Majesty as a good omen." With a food box.

Eunuch Feng sneered in his heart, since last year's selection of the harem, the empresses in the palace couldn't sit still, after all, His Majesty has nothing to show up to now, and the post is vacant, everyone is a bit calculating.Xu Jieyu will find a reason for this, but she just wants to watch the new year with His Majesty.Even though he saw it through, he still replied slowly: "My lady, please wait a moment, let me pass on the information."

Xu Jieyu had no choice but to wait obediently. Eunuch Feng felt a faint sense of revenge in his heart, so he entered the Nuan Pavilion without haste and knelt down. "Why, here are the dumplings?" the emperor asked without raising his head, still correcting the memorial.

Eunuch Feng replied: "Return to Your Majesty, please see Xu Jieyu."

The pen in the emperor's hand paused, "What's the matter with her?"

"Xu Jieyu said that she made a snack and wanted to present it to His Majesty."

"Snacks?" The emperor let out that short laugh again, "It's hard for her to think about me today, let's find a reason to turn back." Eunuch Feng took the order and slowly withdrew, but the emperor suddenly called him back: "Big companion!" , I don’t eat sweets.”

"I remember." Eunuch Feng's voice was as calm as an ancient well, "Since he ascended the throne, His Majesty has never used sweets."

A vague sigh came from the throne, "Apart from you, only he knows."

Eunuch Feng knew who that "he" was, but he didn't dare to speak out.

The bell rang, and the emperor issued the first imperial decree of the new year. "Make an order and call him to Beijing."

Ye Kuang had a very happy New Year.

There was no need to go to the academy, because it was snowing heavily outside, and Ye Sirui didn't let Zhou Yi take him out to practice. He just boxed inside the house every day.After New Year's Day, I even saved the effort of writing big characters.

Even my uncle and master, who have not been seen all year round, are always by my side.

While Ye Sirui and Zhou Yi were busy offering sacrifices to their ancestors and gods, Ye Kuang and his companions ran outside.Although the snow stops now and then, there is already a thick layer of snow outside, and you can beat it at will, let alone build a snowman or have a snowball fight.After Wang Momo and Zhou Yi persuaded him twice, Ye Sirui let Ye Kuang stay at home and allowed him to go out to play, but he had to be wrapped up as thick as a ball, and he was not allowed to wear single clothes to practice martial arts.

Even so, Ye Kuang was so excited that he wanted to fly every day.

There was a banquet on New Year's Eve, a brazier was burning in the yard, and firecrackers and fireworks were set off. Ye Sirui had Zhou Yi on one hand, Ye Kuang on the other, and Nanny Wang and Chaming on the other.Five people sat at a small table, but the food was crowded and crowded into a large table.As usual, there should be more than enough.

After the food was served, the firecrackers and fireworks were also lit, so Ye Sirui ordered the people to set up a table by themselves, to eat and play by themselves, without worrying about them.Ye Sirui and Zhou Yi drank Tusu wine, and poured out a glass of tea.Nanny Wang and Ye Kuang only poured the bottom of a shallow cup.Everyone made a toast to each other and carried out drinking orders, so it was very lively.

After the meal, Ye Sirui wrapped up New Year's money for Ye Kuang in advance, and everyone played poker games and hidden hooks, and it was lively.Right at midnight, the sound of fireworks reappeared, and it lasted for a long time. As expected, several people made a fuss until late at night before falling asleep.

In the early morning of New Year's Day, Ye Sirui and Ye Kuang paid homage to gods and ancestors again. After a busy day, they were completely sleepless, and Wang Momo brought Ye Kuang's servants to pay him New Year's greetings.Ye Kuang refused to accept, and dragged on for a long time, first kowtow to Ye Kuang by Wang Momo and the servants, and then Ye Kuang bowed to Wang Momo for a hundred years.Then the group went to the main house to pay New Year greetings to Ye Sirui and Zhou Yi.Both Zhou Yi and Ye Sirui gave Ye Kuang and Wang Momo red envelopes, and the maids and servants also had their own rewards.As usual, he ate dumplings for breakfast, Ye Kuang took every bite carefully, Ye Sirui suppressed a smile.Zhou Yi didn't know what to do.The servant girls were giggling and waiting to see, and finally Zhou Yi suddenly covered his mouth while eating.Ye Sirui asked him with a smile: "Are you done?" Zhou Yi really spat out a little golden scorpion.Everyone applauds him for good luck.

After the quarrel at home, Ye Sirui had to go out to pay New Year's greetings.Zhou Yi didn't like the excitement, so he stayed in the house, Ye Sirui took Ye Kuang out, first went to the Marquis of Anshun, and was forced by the Marquis to eat a bowl of dumplings.Then go to Ye Fu's house, Cen Guangji's house, and Ma Lu's house.Ye Kuang collected a lot of New Year's money, happily took it home and asked Mother Wang to save it for him.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Ye Sirui took Ye Kuang to the temple fair with Zhou Yi as he said earlier.There were so many people in the temple fair that Zhou Yi and Ye Sirui had to walk while holding Ye Kuang's hand.In the past, Ye Sirui was busy with scientific research or government affairs, so he never went there.In contrast, Zhou Yi appeared to be more proficient, leading them past the hawkers who set up stalls and squeezed inside to watch juggling.

While Ye Kuang was excitedly grabbing a handful of coins to reward, Ye Sirui asked, "Have you ever visited a temple fair before?"

The case of Shen Tang's death was hastily settled by Ye Fu, which seemed to have no effect, but when the two of them came back, Zhou Yi's words and Ye Sirui's reaction were unforgettable to each other.Although he didn't show anything because he was busy with the Chinese New Year, he still felt a little grudge in his heart.

"I used to go shopping with my senior brother when I was young, but it was many years ago." Zhou Yi replied.

Ye Sirui thought of Zhou Yi's senior brother named Xia Shu again.How did he die?

The theater troupe thanked Ye Kuang a lot, and the two men leaned on their upper bodies, beat the gong and spun around, and then played a special trick for him, shouting: "Thank you, this generous young man! "

Ye Kuang blushed with excitement, and ran out a little embarrassed.Ye Sirui bent down and hugged him. "What, is it fun?"

Ye Kuang nodded and shook his head again, "Uncle Rui, it's really not easy for them. It's such a cold day, and they have to perform without clothes, and I give them such a small amount of money, which makes them excited. It seems that it is really hard to support a family. It's not easy."

Ye Sirui didn't expect that he could think of this level, touched his scarf, wanted to say something, touched it again.Ye Kuang thought the tiger head hat was too childish, so he refused to wear it when he came out today, so he changed it to a headscarf.

Zhou Yi said: "They are not the hardest."

Ye Kuang really raised his face and asked, "Then who is the hardest one?"

"Naturally a farmer."

Ye Kuang asked stupidly: "Why? Do farmers have to come out to perform without clothes in winter?"

Ye Sirui said: "Didn't you learn the two poems of Compassion?"

"Of course I have." Ye Fu said puzzledly, "But I still don't understand why they are said to be working hard."

Ye Sirui thought about the words, "Sowing in spring, harvesting in autumn, you have to work in the fields in three seasons, spring and autumn are all that matters, summer is scorching sun, sweating profusely, is it hard?"

Ye Kuang nodded ignorantly.Zhou Yi suddenly followed his words and asked: "According to the imperial court's pricing, one tael of silver can buy four shi of rice. Just now those people performed a juggling show for you, and what you gave away was hundreds of dollars. Farmers worked hard for a year, and an acre The land only collects one or two stones of rice, which is not considered a tax, so who can you tell is working harder?"

Ye Kuang doesn't know how to calculate such a complicated thing, but it just sounds staggering, "Why is food so cheap?"

It will get deeper and deeper.Ye Sirui was helpless, and Zhou Yi calmly asked the question: "Making a living is nothing more than being a scholar, farmer, businessman, or businessman. If you want to become an official, you must first take the imperial examination. Isn't studying a lot of money?"

Ye Kuang looked at Ye Sirui blankly and nodded.

"All craftsmen are craftsmen. Does it cost money to learn a craft?"

This time Ye Kuang nodded quickly.

"Not to mention doing business. If a merchant wants to sell the goods, he must first buy the goods. Do you need to spend money to buy the goods?"

Ye Kuang opened his small mouth halfway, and Zhou Yi concluded: "But as a tenant, you only need to work hard. If you have ancestral land, you don't need to spend money, and the income from farming is so little that your sons and grandchildren can't afford to read. , I can’t afford to learn crafts, and I can’t buy goods, so I can only farm.”

Ye Kuang couldn't help feeling: "That's too tragic!" Ye Sirui listened from the side with serious eyes.

The three of them were walking vigorously, when suddenly a woman screamed sharply in the crowd: "Huzi? Huzi, where have you been?!"