Those years when I climbed the wall

There was a new Persian dancer performing near Goulan in the south of the city. I heard that they are all excellent in character and skill. Mu Yunqi had long wanted to go there to appreciate it, but he mentioned it a few times, but was dismissed by Shao Jingheng. Private interview, as for Xuanjin Palace to perform art, he said "indecent", but in fact Mu Yunqi just said casually, and really called foreign entertainers into the palace, don't say that he will be criticized in the next meeting, maiko is also unavoidable Rigid, trembling, but what's the point?So I really wanted to wait for the opportunity to visit in person.

But this time came unexpectedly.

On this day, Shao Jingheng's three cousins ​​got a big wedding, and they married Guo Kai's fifth cousin, and both of them were going to have a drink. Mu Yunqi, but when he heard about it, he was ready to move: Shao Jingheng's words were justified, and there were so many people in Goulan. It is also difficult to appreciate it up close, so it is better to sit down in a nearby Xunjian restaurant and invite maiko to perform!It's lonely to just drink and enjoy alone, and I decided to bring Xun Miao (Guo Jian's mouth is not firm, in case Jin Fu tricks the truth, it will be troublesome).

Before dark, Mu Yunqi arrived in front of Guo and Xun's new house.Knocking on the courtyard door, I heard two dogs barking first, and it took a long time for the courtyard door to open.With a cursory glance, the person answering the door was a boy in coarse clothes, his face was stained, he was holding a spatula in one hand, and he was wearing an apron in front of him.Mu Yunqi frowned, thinking that the two of them are still in charge of cooking as a servant, it seems that they are really struggling!Immediately asked: "I have an appointment with your master, is he here now?"

"Your Majesty, I am Xun Miao!" Mu Yunqi was startled when the servant opened his mouth.Taking a closer look, it turned out to be him, and he asked in surprise, "If you have to go out at night, why do you need to cook at home?"

Swinging the spatula at the black dog at his feet, Xun Miao's eyes showed displeasure: "It's not this beast! I have to feed it before going out, otherwise it will be noisy all night. Akai will know that I have been out when he sees it." Got it!" Turning around and scratching his head: "The government issued a decree earlier that you should not know anything else about your trip tonight. I have to be careful. I cook at home and keep a few leftovers in the cupboard. When Akai saw it, he thought I was using it at home for dinner. meal."

If you are exhausted, be prepared!Cursing his lips, Mu Yunqi felt disdainful: "Is it because I have an order, or are you afraid that Guo Kai will know?"

With dry laughs, Xun Miao asked without answering, "Your Majesty avoids people, is it because you are afraid of outside discussions, or are you only afraid of one person's opinions?"

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and Mu Yunqi flicked his sleeves: "Don't talk too much! The Persian dancer is already waiting in the restaurant. It's only half an hour. Before it's ready, I will go."

"That's good, please be safe, Your Majesty." The opportunity is rare, how can we miss it?Xun Miao cupped his hands and hurried away.

A quarter of an hour later, the dog food was ready and the leftovers went into the cupboard.Xun Miao went into the room to change, spread the coarse cloth on the rack and moved it to the window, at first glance he thought it was a person.Mu Yun prayed that he felt strange, and asked why.

The man was proud: "This beast doesn't like to be alone at home, and it will make noise when it doesn't see me for a while, so it's a cover-up to keep it clean."

Mu Yunqi clicked his tongue: "Ordinary people keep a dog to watch the house, but Guo Xie keeps a dog to watch you, it's really ingenious!"

Touching the slightly hot ears, Xun Miao smiled like an idiot: "I heard that the back wall of Shao's mansion has been raised higher and higher in the past two years, and it has already surpassed the palace wall. I don't know why. I plan to impeach Shao Zhifu for trespassing, according to my opinion, if it is to prevent theft, it is better to keep two more dogs."

Meifeng jumped, and Mu Yunqi lowered his face: "What's the use of a dog? Even you can't stand it!" Turning around with a cold look: "It's already too late, don't hurry up."

When the two monarchs and ministers arrived at the restaurant, the maikos were already waiting. Immediately the host and guest sat down, and the orchestra played.

Persian maiko is well-deserved of its reputation, with its graceful body and outstanding dancing posture.Especially the tallest masked woman at the head of the team, her gauze dress fluttered like a mist.It is said that she has long sleeves and is good at dancing, and she flies through the clouds and rain with her sleeves. She is really as graceful as orchids and emeralds, as graceful as a dragon swimming, and her soft parts are unbearably graceful, showing off her shadows.At the end of the song, he jumped in the air, as if he wanted to chase Feihong away.

"Okay!" Xun Miao sighed loudly when he got carried away.

The woman looked back and smiled, turned around several times, filled a glass and offered a toast.Xun Miao readily accepted.After finishing the cup, I met those eyes that were looking forward to Qingling, and suddenly felt familiar, but I couldn't remember where I saw it.At this moment, the woman stood up gracefully and turned to Mu Yunqi.

Thinking hard to no avail, Xun Miao felt his feet slip, looked up and saw that the woman had fallen down, was startled, and suddenly realized: I just stepped on the hem of her skirt!This sharp turn, don't fall down?

He reached out to help, but he was a step too late, his leg was heavy, and the maiko was already lying on his back!

How could a woman have such weight?Xun Miao was puzzled.

The wine cup on the table fell over and spilled on the woman's face, soaking the veil.Or the drink gets into the nose, and the maiko coughs.Hearing this voice, Xun Miao was startled, looked at Mu Yunqi, and was puzzled when he saw it——Hu girl is taller than the Central Plains woman, so could it be that her voice is much thicker?Suddenly, his eyes fell on the protruding feet of Maiko's skirt, and he was even more shocked: These natural feet... seem to be two inches bigger than his!

In the blink of an eye, a face flashed in my mind!Is that so? ?

Pulling off the drenched veil with her hands, Xun Miao gasped—the face at the moment was separated by the part covered by the veil, with heavy makeup on, eyebrows like distant mountains, yellow appliques on the forehead, but looking down, it looked like pink and black. Dipping, plain noodles in the sky!But no matter how you look at it, it's true and true, it's a man's face!

"Su Qing'an!" Mu Yunqi slapped the table and stood up.

"How dare you pretend to be a Persian dancer to deceive us!" Xun Miao was ashamed.

After finally recovering his breath, the person being scolded climbed up and wiped his face, not shy or impetuous, and nodded his chin to those Persian maikos who had retreated in a panic: "Guest officer wants to see Persian maikos. But it's not?"

The two were left speechless with one word: Actually, I only said that Persian dancers should perform, but I didn't say that the lead dancer can't be Han Jiaerlang...

Mu Yun Qilan talked to him too much, and immediately waved his sleeves: "Let's go!"

"Wait a minute!" Su Qing'an twitched her brows, and stepped forward to block the room: "Guest officer, the reward has not been paid yet."

Xun Miao was in a hurry: "How dare you ask for money to deceive people! Besides, the reward will be with you sooner, but you still open your eyes and talk nonsense, it's shameless!"

"What was given earlier was only a deposit, and there is still no reward!" Su Qingan objected.

Mu Yunqi had endured to the limit, and waved his hand: "Throw this shameless person out!"

Xun Miao hopped sideways: "Throw it farther away, don't teach this scum to dirty people's eyes under the lamp!"

Now that the matter has come to this point, the two of them have no interest in continuing to have a banquet, so they sent the maiko musicians away and returned in the moonlight.

It was still early when Xun Miao got home, Guo Kai hadn't returned yet, and Xi Fu was also lying obediently in the courtyard, he held his heart an inch, thinking that this matter was like a page in a book, just turn it over.Unexpectedly, God's will tricks people, and this matter is not over yet!

I had no dreams all night and woke up early in the morning.Guo Kai came back late last night and was slightly drunk. He was still sleeping soundly at the moment, so Xun Miao went outside to wash up. He was about to see if breakfast was ready, but when he stepped out of the door, he saw someone standing in the courtyard!At first glance, he thought it was his servant, but he turned around and glanced with a smile, scaring Xun Miao out of his body!

"Su——" the word "Su—" hurriedly covered his mouth, fearing that the person in the dream would be awakened.

"Morning Xun Shaoqing!" The visitor smiled maliciously.

The visitor is not good!Xun Miao stepped forward to block the door, glanced at the black dog Xifu who was taking a stroll in the yard, and frowned, "How did you get in?"

After taking a bite of the steamed stuffed bun that she brought with her, Su Qingan shook her head and sighed: "Your Excellency Xun Shaoqing is so forgetful. At the beginning, Su Mou lived under the same roof as you. Although the time was not long, your happy family did not eat less of my meat." Do it!" Throwing out the remaining small buns with a wave of his hand, Xifu jumped up when he heard the sound, swallowed the free food in one gulp, and ran to the feet of the giver, shaking his head and tail, his flattery was beyond words.

Suppressing his anger, Xun Miao stared coldly at the uninvited guest: "What are you doing here?"

The man looked frivolous: "Just now I said that the nobleman Xun Shaoqing forgets things, it seems true. Last night Xun Shaoqing still owed me a reward, so I forgot?"

There was a flash of fire in his eyes, and Xun Miao lowered his voice: "You were wrong about what happened last night, but you still dare to ask for a reward? Besides, the host is an official. If you think you are right, why don't you ask him for it?"

Scratching the tip of his nose and snorting, the man was disdainful: "If I could enter the palace, I would have gone early, and I still need to come here to talk to you?" He walked forward two steps with folded arms, obviously determined to settle this bad debt. End here, "To tell you the truth, since you have rewarded the dance, you must give the money, otherwise don't want me to step out of the gate of this house!"

Xun Miao looked back, but fortunately there was no movement in the inner room.Knowing that his weakness has been resisted by him, he had no choice but to appoint, cruelly: "How much do you want?"

Stretching out three fingers, the man showed the joy of revenge: "Three strokes!"

"Three strokes?!" Xun Miao gasped, "Why don't you grab it?"

With a sly smile, the other said leisurely: "Since someone is willing to offer it to you, why should I grab it?"

"You—" Xun Miao was in a hurry: in broad daylight, you actually allowed him to come to your door to carry out such blackmail, is it tolerable or unbearable?With a flick of his sleeves: "There is no money here, if you think you are right, go to Kaiping Mansion to complain!"

"No need," as if he had known that he would backtrack, the man just clicked his tongue, and unexpectedly raised his voice and complained: "Xun Shaoqing, Su respects you as a gentleman, so you left first last night, but why did you leave?" Can you turn your back on your promise, turn your face and deny it? You must know that the three pennies of money may not matter to your rich family, but my poor family..."

Xun Miao panicked, and stepped forward a few steps to cover his mouth, but the other person was more flexible than him, dodged and ran under the window, continuing to make noise.

With a sound of "squeak", the window of the bedroom suddenly opened, and the voice of the people in the room was three-pointed lazy and seven-pointed unhappy: "Who is making noise so early in the morning?"

Xun Miao's heart skipped a beat, and she cried out in secret, and hurriedly stepped forward to push the noisy people behind her: "It's nothing, but..." Before the sound fell, the more mournful voice interrupted.

"Guo Dianshuai, you have to understand this truth!" Leaning to the window, Su Qing'an bowed respectfully, "Last night Xun Shaoqing was watching me dance in a restaurant. It was originally an agreed price, but who would have regretted it at the end? You don’t want to pay. You know my situation, Tang Maoxiu is still studying hard, and now his family’s livelihood depends on me to go out to sell art to earn money, but Xun Shaoqing has contradicted what he said, which makes me a waste of time. Come back, I really can’t explain to my family!”

Glancing at him coldly, Guo Kai looked at Xun Miao: "You went out for a banquet last night and asked him to perform?"

"I..." Panicked, Xun Miao lowered her head and muttered.

This is recognized.Ignoring him, Guo Kai turned around and said, "Since that's the case, I have to give the money myself. It's just that the two of you are at odds, and you are at my house right now. In order to avoid talking too much in the future, it's better to find a witness." Seeing Su Qing'an Startled for a moment, he showed panic at first glance, then he understood in his heart, and waved his hand: "I think so, you go back and find your Tang officials, so as to be a witness, I will prepare the money myself, and pay at that time." How about Liangqing?"

"This..." Su Qing'an hesitated, and sneered and evaded: "Isn't that unnecessary? Can I make a written statement with you?"

"Yes!" Unexpectedly, Guo Kai nodded: "Then let's do it."

The other person, Luxi, hurried inside, studying ink and intending to make a statement.

"Presumably you come out to earn money, and Tang officials know about it." Guo Kai was still indifferent, as if asking casually, seeing the other person nod, and then said, "That's very good. How do you fix the remuneration for the dance last night? You have to discuss it in front of the Tang officials, so that he won't be dissatisfied when he finds out afterwards, but since you are willing to make written evidence, it doesn't matter. After a while, I will order people to send the documents to the mansion for the Tang officials to have a look at. .”

"Ah?" The pen that had just landed on the paper froze, Su Qing'an stared up and looked up, seeing Xun Miao covering her mouth and snickering, she felt annoyed, but she had no choice but to be held by Qicunjiao. Just now I thought about it again, since I live next to each other, I really shouldn't collect the money, otherwise Jiao Maoxiu will blame me for being ignorant of human feelings, so I will return this time and forget it." After speaking, without waiting for the two to answer, Smiling and bowing, he backed away, and as soon as he got out of the house, he turned around and ran away.

With a sigh of relief, Xun Miao smiled, but turned to see the dark clouds gathered on Guo Kai's face, his heart sank, his eyes drooped, and he thought hard about making up, while he said slowly: "Last night... I ate Feeling too uncomfortable, so I went out for a stroll alone, and saw a dancer from the Western Regions performing in... Goulan, so I sat and watched for a while, who would have guessed..."

"Goulan?" The man snorted, "But how can Su Qing'an say that he is in a restaurant? Besides, Goulan pays first when he enters, but he says the price he agreed with you, and he will ask you to open his mouth three times. What's the reason?"

"I..." In a hurry, Xun Miao gritted his teeth: "I've reserved the venue!"

Glancing at him sideways, Guo Kai sneered coldly: "Apart from buying snacks, it's rare for you to take money when you go to restaurants, so you still go to Goulan to book a restaurant?"

"I..." Making up a lie on the spot is not as easy as making a fuss in the examination room. If you don't pay attention, you will be full of flaws. Confidentially: "I happened to meet a friend on the way out last night, so we went to a restaurant and had a couple of drinks together. Unfortunately, the maiko who was summoned to perform was Su Qing'an pretending to be a funeral."

"Friend?" Guo Kai raised his eyebrows, "What's the name?"

"You don't know." Xun Miao looked at the sky and answered quickly.

After a little thought, Guo Kai showed all his contempt: "If you don't tell me, do you think I don't know?" After saying that, he pulled him away.

Xun Miao hurriedly asked where to go.

"Shao's Mansion!" The man answered simply without turning his head.

"Why—why?" There was despair in his heart, and Xun Miao's face was still ignorant: "What does this have to do with the Shao family?"

Turning his head, Guo Kai flashed a cold light in his eyes: "Do you have a lot of thoughts about whether you are doing something or not?" He called the boy to prepare the car, and seeing that the man was still struggling, he simply pointed it out: "You still dare to think that I am lying? I will warn you again and again. Don't mess around with the officials, why don't you listen? I went to the restaurant to watch the dance last night, in case something happens, let Shao Jingheng know that I can forgive you?"

Now that he had figured it out, Xun Miao stopped pretending to be stupid, and raised his head: "It's not that I'm going, it's the official's secret order to call me, how can I resist the order? Besides, he came out and brought the guards, and went. It’s also a restaurant in a busy city, so what could happen?”

I don't want him to be stubborn!Guo Kai became more and more angry: "Do you think that accidents only refer to catastrophes? I told you that the officials are young, unstable, or unable to withstand temptation, but you refused to listen, and even went to see maiko in the Western Regions with him. In case something happens, if it reaches Shao Jingheng's ears, you will inevitably be blamed for the crime, and it will be no wonder that you will be spared then!"

Hearing his words, Xun Miao felt reasonable at first, and Shao Jingheng's fierce face appeared in front of his eyes, and he couldn't help shivering: "This...so, you still want me to see him?"

The person stared back at him: "This is called planning ahead! You go and tell the truth now, so that he will know the truth, and if something happens, he won't blame you for the past. Let me tell you to remember this time, and in the future Only then can we be warned!"

Originally, he wanted to make himself ordained in front of others, but Xun Miao didn't want to. The car was ready, but he struggled not to leave, for fear of losing face.

Guo Jie sneered coldly: "You know it's embarrassing now, but last night in front of the dancers from the Western Regions, you gave Xifu all the etiquette, righteousness, honesty and shame you learned from sage books?"

Early in the morning, Shao Jingheng was surprised when he heard the two people's visit, but when he heard the whole story, he didn't show any emotion or anger, but he taunted Guo Kai with his words: "I always thought that Guo Dian was handsome and brave, but unexpectedly, not only the dog at home couldn't see Wait, can't even look down on a literati who has no power to restrain a chicken? Could it be that the commander-in-chief's kung fu is all used for ordinary things?"

Affected by this humiliation, Guo Kai was neither ashamed nor impetuous, and said lightly: "Guo is incompetent, so I am ashamed. But I thought that Shao Zhifu's culture and martial arts strategy, far-sightedness, watching people and dogs, can do with me. You are a role model, but unexpectedly the source of this matter is still with you, it will inevitably disappoint people!"

After speaking, seeing the other person's complexion changed slightly, and he turned his back: "I know the situation, and I will do my best to advise when I get the opportunity. Only Xun Shaoqing must also discipline himself, and don't forget the words of the sages. Obedience is said to be obedient, and obedience is not beneficial. You call it flattery! But if you are by your side, you must be cautious in your words and deeds!"

Xun Miao bowed his head in dejection: "Xun has taken it as a warning and will not repeat the same mistakes."

After sending the two away, Shao Jingheng drank two cups of herbal tea before summoning the butler, and ordered: "Today, we will call craftsmen to raise the wall of the west courtyard by three feet!"

The housekeeper was stunned: "Think twice, Mr. Lang, don't say that you have never seen such a high wall, but now the wall in the west courtyard is almost higher than the height of the palace wall. If it is added, it will inevitably attract criticism! Besides..." Chui Mou pondered, "If someone climbs and falls down, something serious will happen!"

It makes sense to think about it.Shao Jingheng hesitated for a while, walked around like a trapped animal twice, and came up with a new plan: "Then raise the height by half a foot, then put away all the guns in the mansion and burn them, and then dig ditches under the wall and fill them with water—" He paused every word : "Raise—frog!"

The butler takes command.

I have exhausted my mind and been busy here, but I don't know that in the palace wall on the other side, Emperor Daxi has just made up his mind: after the surprise last night, the obsession he had been thinking for a long time ended, and since then , I don't want to see any masked maiko anymore!After the light gauze, if he encounters a face with heavy make-up and beards, his heart palpitations will be triggered, and he will be able to avoid eating for a whole year...

postscript

Xun Miao felt uncomfortable all day, not because of the accusation, but because of that person's words, which made him despise himself.

When it was time to go to bed, I couldn't let go, seeing that the person next to me was about to fall asleep, and I didn't want to carry this feeling of chilling to and fro all night, so I patted it away with one hand: "Akai, you said in the daytime that you are afraid that the young officials will not be able to withstand the temptation, What about me? Don't you ever worry?"

"You?" The man was half asleep and half awake, and sneered lightly: "You are poor and sour, stupid and pedantic..."

Xun Miao jumped up and sat up: "You really despise me!"

"Disgusted, I'll keep you..." Turning around like a raving, the man's tone was still dull.

Dazed for a moment, a flash of inspiration flashed, the haze in his heart dissipated, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, he lay down against the back of his predecessor, and fell into a dream with a smile.