Everlasting prosperity

In the seventh year of Wanli, Zongzheng Jin, King Jiuzhao of the feudal states, held a Xunchen celebration for his son Zongzhengyuan, and invited all the families and nobles of the feudal kings and families in Ling'an Academy to go to Jiu'an Palace to celebrate the ceremony on the first day of October.

By virtue of his four years of dormancy in Ling'an, Wu Zhang had already investigated the big and small matters of the Jiu'an Palace.He had already heard about the favor of King Jiuzhao Zongzhengjin on his eldest son Zongzhengyuan. He would definitely hold the upcoming Xunchen Celebration grandly. Therefore, Wu Zhang immediately notified Wu Zhong who was far away in the Great Wu Palace, Ask him how to plan.

For the past four years, Wu Zhangyuan has studied politics in Jiuzhao, but he has kept in touch with Wu Zhong all the time, and he will also ask him for his opinions in letters and words, but most of them are about people and things.But now, he wanted to know how Wu Zhong would arrange for the Xunchen celebration.

"Young Master, what did the Second Young Master say in the letter?" Shishu Hezi asked suspiciously. He saw Wu Zhang's frown slightly, and thought that the Second Young Master must have written something in his heart that made the Young Master feel puzzled. Things, that's why there are such expressions.

"In the past, when Zhong'er wrote me letters, they were either long-winded or concise, but today's letter, if the handwriting was not written by Zhong'er, I would almost suspect that this letter was not written by him." Wu Zhang said slowly .

Hezi felt even more puzzled, "Huh? The second son didn't write this letter, so who could it be?" He said while getting a glass of water for Wu Zhang.

"Oh, he just gave me four words, it's up to people." Wu Zhang smiled helplessly, picked up the water glass, took a sip, put down the glass, and handed the letter to Hezi.

Hezi took the letter and burned it with fire.

Wu Zhang looked at the flames, suddenly thought of something, then smiled, stood up leisurely, and walked out of the room.

On the first day of October, in the palace of Jiu'an, there was music everywhere, and hundreds of people celebrated their birthdays. The wine was fragrant and the table was full of melons and fruits.

The envoys of Ling'an, the nobles of the princes and the noble families of the princes, and the children of the Jiuzhao families raised their glasses and toasted to the princes sitting on the table, watching the dancers dancing in the seats, their skirts swayed lightly with their postures, and the silver bells around their waists swayed slightly .In their ears, silk and bamboo are wrapped around the beams, bells and drums are incessant, and Xuanqin is melodious.Beside them, from time to time, there are maids pouring wine and food, looking like they are enjoying themselves in the clouds.

Wu Zhang looked at this scene, but felt very irritable in his heart, quietly retreated from the banquet, thinking that there is a quiet spring in Jiu'an Palace, so he asked a small eunuch, and found it by himself.

I heard that the Jingyou Spring was specially built by King Jiuzhao Zongzhengjin for the princess, who is Zongzhengyuan's biological mother. The princess likes to be quiet, but Zongzheng Jin likes to be lively. For the princess, he spared no expense to build a different place in the palace. , just for his princess not to be disturbed by him, and to keep her mind at all times.

It was a good story, but the concubine fell ill due to Zong Zhengyuan's birth, and left within a year.This Jingyou Spring naturally became Zongzhengyuan's residence.

After walking for a while, Wu Zhang saw a pool of clear spring water pouring down from two small mountains, which was very beautiful against the backdrop of the moonlight.There is a pavilion next to the hill, and the surroundings of the pavilion are covered with silk, which flutters gently with the night wind.

He walked closer and saw a person in the pavilion half lying on a bamboo chair, and a small eunuch stood beside him, motionless.

Wu Zhang stepped forward, guessing in his heart that this person should be Zong Zhengyuan.

"Did Mr. Wu also come out for a walk because of the noisy palace banquet?" Zong Zhengyuan narrowed his eyes and asked lazily.In fact, he had seen Wu Zhang outside the pavilion a long time ago, but he didn't know how he found Jingyouquan.

Seeing that Zongzheng Yuan recognized him, Wu Zhang cupped his hands with a smile, and replied, "Yes, even though the palace music is pleasant to the ear, it will get boring if you listen to it too much. I heard that the Jingyou Spring in Jiu'an Palace is a Being in a quiet place, I curiously searched for the little eunuch to ask the way, and if there is something abrupt, please ask the prince to make amends."

Zongzhengyuan sneered, thinking, abrupt?You went out of the banquet talking to yourself, found Jingyouquan by yourself, and then ran to this pavilion, is it just considered abrupt?

Even though he thought so, Wu Zhang was invited by his father, and he was a guest, so naturally he couldn't be rude to him.

"It's not a crime. Since Mr. Wu also feels that the palace music is noisy, why not stay here with me and enjoy a moment of silence, okay?" Zong Zhengyuan replied.He knew that Wu Zhang was the eldest son of Wu, and he heard that this talent was outstanding in learning, so he no longer cared about the "abrupt" incident just now, thinking about keeping this person to see what kind of knowledge he has.

Wu Zhang smiled when he heard this, and responded, "Your Majesty is magnanimous, and I am willing to do so."

Hearing his reply like this, Zongzheng Yuan felt a little relieved for no reason.He ordered Xiaohuan to pour tea for Wu Zhang.Seeing Wu Zhang sit down, pick up the teacup to drink tea, and then put it down, he felt an indescribable comfort in his heart. He felt that Wu Zhang had a kind of innate charm in his body. This feeling was very pleasing to the eye.

"Mr. Wu has been in Jiuzhao for four years, what do you think of me?" Zong Zhengyuan asked suddenly.

"Jiuzhao's folk customs are simple and honest, and the officials and the people are harmonious." Wu Zhang glanced at Zong Zhengyuan, feeling that this question came a bit suddenly.In his opinion, Zong Zhengyuan, the eldest son of Jiuzhao, was only a ten-year-old child, but now, the tone of his question was a bit like his old brother Wu Zhong.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help laughing "puchi".

"What are you laughing at?" Zongzheng Yuan felt a little baffled by his smile, is this a funny question?

Wu Zhang came back to his senses and replied, "My son, the way you asked the question just now reminds me of my younger brother in the old country. Although he is young, his heart is like an old man who has gone through vicissitudes."

Hearing this, Zong Zhengyuan changed into a half-lying position in embarrassment, pursed his lips, and responded, "Mr. Wu was joking."

Seeing Zongzheng Yuan's reddish ears, Wu Zhang realized that his words were a bit inappropriate, and said again, "My son just asked me what I think of Jiuzhao. From my point of view, the Jiuzhao family is very powerful. I'm afraid that I will be afraid of you in the future." It’s a dangerous road to take.”

As soon as these words came out, Zong Zhengyuan's heart was hit directly, and he said, "What Mr. Wu said is very true, but now I have no real power in my hands, so I can't do anything."

Hearing this disappointed tone, Wu Zhang frowned slightly, looked at his immature face, and couldn't help but think of his younger brother, so he comforted him involuntarily, "Sooner or later, Jiuzhao will belong to the prince, so why should the prince be mediocre?" ?”

"Oh... Mr. Wu is right."

Zongzhengyuan heaved a sigh of relief when Wu Zhang said this. What he said was correct, and Zongzhengyuan still has the final say on Jiuzhao's future.

Thinking about it this way, he suddenly felt that Wu Zhang was a rare confidant. Although he was the eldest son of Great Wu, if he could befriend him, it meant that he had a connection with Great Wu.

The two have their own concerns and think about what they will do in the future.

Jiuzhao Border——

A young man in Tsing Yi was holding hands with a woman with disheveled hair. He ran quickly through the crowd with a package in his arms, with a nervous expression on his face. He bumped into passers-by repeatedly while running, but he didn't stop at all. He was still running wildly forward. .

Behind them was a group of fierce men with sticks, chasing them crazily, with hideous and terrifying expressions, like desperadoes crawling out of the underworld to claim their lives.

"Run...quickly...get out of Jiuzhao and you'll be fine..." the woman said while running.

The boy gasped for breath, but did not answer.

This young man is Rong Chizi, and the woman is his biological mother.And the thugs from Ling'an No. [-] Gambling House chasing them behind them.

His father, who was a heavy drinker, took up gambling a few days ago. Not only did he gamble all his family savings, but he was beaten to death by the people in the gambling shop because he could not repay the debt he owed, and they put their mother and son in custody go out.

In this way, Rong Chizi and his mother had no choice but to escape from Ling'an. As long as they escaped from Ling'an and crossed the Jiuzhao border, they would be in the territory of Great Wu, because this vassal state without gambling houses would never let people with sticks The people in the gambling shop have entered Dawu half a step.

The two parties didn't know how long they ran, probably the gambling house gave up tracking, and Rong Chizi found that there was no one following them behind them, so he stopped and took his mother to a tree to rest.

"Mom, let's take a break."

"Chizi, let's go to Gao'an."

"Gao An? Is there any mother or relatives there?"

"There is a distant cousin of mine in Yulin Palace, we can try to find an errand."

"Alright, then let's start tomorrow."

"Ah."

Rong Chizi had never heard of this cousin before, and he didn't know if he would take them in.

And this Yulin Palace might not be that easy to get into. After all, this is the land of the nobles of the royal family.However, since it was my mother's words, it's just a matter of luck.

Without a carriage, Rong Chizi, mother and son traveled across the entire Great Wu for a whole month before finally arriving in Gao'an.

But this month, because Mrs. Rong couldn't bear the fatigue of the journey, and the Rong family had entered the cold winter and didn't have thick clothes, she finally fell ill. However, Rongchi was penniless, so she couldn't see a doctor and buy medicine for her mother. He had no choice but to carry his mother on his back and speed up his journey, arriving in Taiyuan as soon as possible, to find the so-called cousin in Yulin Palace.

After many inquiries, Rong Chizi finally found the location of Yulin Palace.

At noon that day, Rong Chizi planned to inquire about his cousin's whereabouts behind his mother's back, and saw the red curtains hanging outside the palace.

"Mother, wake up, wake up, we're here." Rong Chizi called softly in Rong's ear.

Rong opened his eyes with difficulty, and gave a soft "hmm" to express his understanding.

Rong Chizi took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Who is who?"

A bright female voice came from inside.

The person who opened the door was a woman who was about the same age as his mother, and Rong Chizi was inexplicably moved by her kindness.

"This lady, Xiaosheng Rong Chizi, my mother said that she has a cousin who works in the Yulin Palace"

"Looking for relatives? That's it, you tell me the name of your relative, and I will help you to ask." The woman replied enthusiastically.

"Thank you ma'am! Thank you ma'am!" Rong Chizi thanked him with a cold, then turned to ask Rong's softly, "Mother, what's the name of your cousin?"

Rong raised his head slowly with difficulty, and said softly, "His name is Song Weiren, so tell him that it is Jiu Zhao Rong who came to look for him."

When the woman heard this, her heart tightened, she looked up and down the Rong family's mother and son, Song Weiren is the chief steward of Yulin Palace, how could there be such relatives?However, it is not easy for her to refuse directly now.

"Okay, I'll ask now, but our palace is currently celebrating the birthday of the empress, and it's busy inside, why don't you wait?" the woman responded.

"Then please trouble Madam, let's wait here." Rong Chizi said.

The woman nodded and turned to close the door.

Rong Chizi was a little worried, and said, "Mother, do you think this Song Weiren will recognize us?"

Xu Shi Rong was about to lose her hold, she did not answer Rong Chizi's question.Rong Chizi sighed softly, put Rong Shi down, let her sit against the back door frame, then hugged her tightly, warming Rong Shi with his body temperature.

Inside Yulin Palace——

Thinking of the boy's sincere eyes and his gentle attitude towards his mother, the woman couldn't help feeling a warm current in her heart.She has been in this palace for more than ten years, but she has never experienced the love for his biological mother here, let alone the filial piety like that young man.

"Mr. Song, someone told the mother and son at the back door that they are your distant relatives, the Jiu Zhaorong family."

When Song Weiren heard this, his eyes froze suddenly, but he recovered immediately, and he replied, "I'll come back as soon as I go, help me watch here."

"Eh! Good."

Yu Linyuan, who was originally watching his servants work, caught a glimpse of his housekeeper leaving the banquet setting out of the corner of his eye, so he quietly followed.

The housekeeper, Song Weiren, was originally a cousin of Rong's family, but because she objected to marrying Jiuzhao, she broke off contact. Now she came to the door by herself, and it happened to be on the princess's birthday.

The prince Yu Linyuan has always been at odds with the princess, but because of the king's unfilial words, he took the princess to the palace to celebrate her birthday for the first time. Such things, these servants are also panic-stricken, and they dare not neglect them at all. I know what the prince is thinking.

And at this moment, his cousin, whom he hadn't contacted for many years, suddenly came to the door and brought her son?I don't know what happened, but I was able to find Gao An from Jiuzhao all the way.

The back door was suddenly opened, and Rong Chizi saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe standing behind the door.

"Are you the son of the Rong family?" Song Weiren asked.

When Rong Chizi heard this, he thought, this must be the relative of Song Weiren.So he hurriedly stood up, arched his hands forward, and responded, "It's Xiaosheng, sir, is Song Weiren cousin?"

"What's the matter with you?" Song Weiren didn't want to get involved with them too much, after all, there are so many rules in this palace.

Hearing Song Weiren's voice, the Rong family held on to the door frame majestically and stood up.Rong Chizi hurried forward to support her.

"Cousin, I know I haven't contacted for many years. It's really wrong to interrupt me suddenly now, but I'm also at a loss, please help me, please help me..." Rong Shi said this, with some Choked up, actually knelt down.

Song Weiren was taken aback, and stepped forward to support her, but finally couldn't bear it, and said, "What's the matter? You said it."

Rong raised her head, her eyes were red, but she didn't let the tears flow, "I just ask my cousin to accept the pool and give him a livelihood so that he can live."

"Did something happen to you?" Song Weiren asked, was it just a livelihood?Why not keep yourself too?

Rong Chizi wanted to open his mouth to tell Song Weiren about the changes in his family, but just as he was about to open his mouth, he was held back by Rong. He didn't understand why he couldn't speak up. If he didn't explain things clearly, how could people believe them.

"Cousin, I beg you, don't ask me again...cough cough cough...!"

Xu was too anxious, while Rong Shi was talking, she suddenly had a dry cough, and a dazzling red was printed on her chapped and white lips. She thought that she might not be able to accompany her son anymore, so she only asked for him to be alone. Find a shelter.

"Song Steward, not everyone accepts my palace."

Suddenly, a cold and stern male voice came from behind Song Weiren.

Hearing this, Song Weiren couldn't help but get goosebumps all over his body, and his heart was mostly cold.This prince has a weird temper, sometimes gentle, sometimes stern, always doing whatever he wants, sometimes with a smile on his face, but his hands are torturing the servants who don't know where they come from, and sometimes his mouth is sarcastic, but his hands are holding He put medicine on the small animal with the wound medicine, completely unaware of his current temper.

"Master, they are..."

"I heard it all just now, but right now the mansion is preparing for my mother's concubine's birthday celebration, and I'm busy, Steward Song, it's better to return to my position, other things..." Yu Linyuan said quietly, and suddenly stopped, Glancing at Rong Chizi's mother and son, then turned to Song Weiren, and said, "It doesn't matter."

Hearing this, Song Weiren felt as if he was in a cold cellar, and a gust of cold air spread from the soles of his feet to his heart.

Hearing this, Rong Chizi also knew the identity of this person. He raised his head and looked at Yu Linyuan stubbornly, with a hint of begging in his unbelievable eyes. He knew that begging others was a lowly thing, but For the sake of his mother, he can forgo his dignity.

Looking at the young man in front of him, Yu Linyuan couldn't help but feel a little funny. From their conversation just now, he learned that the two parties hadn't contacted for many years, but they asked others to do something for him as soon as they came. This kind of person is simply shameless and unreasonable.

Thinking of this, Yu Linyuan raised his foot and wanted to walk back.

Unexpectedly, this stubborn young man suddenly knelt down.

Rong Shi and Song Weiren were taken aback, and hurriedly tried to help him up, but he blocked them with his hands.Out of the corner of Yu Linyuan's eyes, he caught sight of Rong Chizi who was kneeling, and he was taken aback, standing still, he wanted to see what he would say to this young man.

"Prince, Xiaosheng only asks you to save my mother. I know we came abruptly, but we were forced to come all the way to Gao'an to find relatives. I don't want to be able to enter your mansion to make a living, but I just want to save her. Save my mother, save her!" Rong Chizi raised his head, looked at the tall Yu Linyuan, and pleaded bitterly.

"Save her? She has nothing to do with me, why should I save her?" Yu Linyuan smiled lightly.

A joke, save a person whose origin is unknown?Does he seem to have good intentions to this extent?

After saying that, Rong Chizi couldn't help becoming angry, he just wanted to save his mother, why is this young man so cruel and unreasonable?

"Prince! You also have a mother, don't you...!" Rong Chizi yelled, but before he finished speaking, Song Weiren stepped forward and nervously covered Rong Chizi's mouth, forcing him to shut it temporarily Mouth.

Hearing this, Yu Linyuan's eyes suddenly became fierce, and he stared at Rong Chizi like a tiger preparing to get angry.Rong Shi realized that his son might have said something that offended the prince, and he was anxious, but there was nothing he could do to help.

"You reminded me that I also have a mother."

Saying so, Yu Linyuan turned around and wanted to walk away.

Song Weiren and the others breathed a sigh of relief.But Yu Linyuan didn't take a few steps, and stopped again, which made the three of them raise their breath to their throats again.

"Song Butler, many matters in the mansion are still waiting for you."

"Yes, I'll be right here."

Saying this, he took out some silver from his pocket and stuffed it quietly into Rong Chizi's hands, then quickly turned around and walked into the back door, shutting Rong Chizi's mother and son out.