Brother Donggong

"How about it, being the shopkeeper of a steamed stuffed bun shop is not necessarily easier than being a prince." Yu Lan tapped my wooden table lightly with her fan, "In this world, if you want to live, it seems that you have to bow your head and look at other people's horses." Your face is stared at by everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you are a royal or a peddler. The only difference is the number of people who dare to give you the supercilious look. If you don’t want to be humble and beg for life, then you have to go higher, the higher the better , in the end, those who dare to give you supercilious eyes are all dead, and the rest are slaves."

He turned his head back, "Jun Wuji, this is the former Prince Qi, who is now the East Bed of the Ministry of War Yin Mingyang Yin Butang. You can't even see through this person, so don't talk about yourself as the most intelligent person in the world." .”

The goatee was so disapproving, "People have mistakes, and horses have slippery hooves. For an expert like the eldest prince who hides in the city, it is inevitable that I can't see clearly with the naked eye. Third Prince, you brothers have something to say when you meet. Buying wine at the fish market, let’s take my leave.”

After finishing speaking, he didn't forget to pick up the letter of appointment, and left with the wine gourd on his waist.

Yulan looked at me and said, "What's your impression of him?"

"Who?"

"Jun Wuji."

"do not know."

"He is the strategist of my new snare, and he has secretly attracted many people for me."

Me, "Do you rely on selling officials to make a living? Third prince, I don't know when you fell in love with this. This is not a business."

Yu Lan laughed, "How about the Crown Prince Cui Bicheng annexing land in the south of the Yangtze River, manipulating grain and raw silk, and colluding with the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau?"

I didn't speak.

He said, "It's just fifty steps and a hundred steps. It's the same thing. According to the old saying of Yong Jingcheng, we all have big teeth and eat fat, so don't criticize anyone! But you are different, how noble you are , be content with poverty and happiness, but also help the weak, help kindness, even you marry a wife who is a rare and good wife. Pay for it yourself, buy medicine to make, and treat the refugees who came to Yongjing from the north, you know, You have poked the ribs of Dazheng officials."

I brought him a half-cold steamed stuffed bun, "Eat it, and go back after eating. This is not the place where the third prince should come."

"Pour me a glass of water, I have something to say to you."

Yu Lan sat over there, not moving the buns or fan, just looked at my bun shop a few times, I poured him a glass of cold water, sat in front of the counter, and looked at the accounts for the past few days.

"Chengyi, why have you always believed that I can't be the prince since you were a child?"

I glanced at him, "Don't call me that, that name is your own brother, the late First Prince's name, my name is Zhao Yu."

"But I called you by this name, and you agreed." Yu Lan tapped the fan in her palm, "Okay, let's stop playing tricks. Let's fight with the imperial throne, the Dazheng Throne, real gold and silver, I have dealt with you for half my life, and I have always been honest, so don’t play tricks at this time. I’m here to tell you that the prince’s position won’t last for a few days. If you still understand, don’t follow him to death. Oh , In fact, you have now put aside your innocence with him, and since you have withdrawn, it is a rare blessing, you must cherish it, don't go back, and follow Wen Zhan all the way to the dark."

I was overjoyed, "Third Prince, I didn't mean you. As far as you are concerned, I have heard it for ten years since I was a child, and it has never been effective for a day."

"It's different this time." Yu Lan pursed her lips and smiled, "This time, the emperor has changed his mind. Didn't you hear that His Royal Highness moved out of the East Palace to study? The emperor even assigned him Master Chu to serve him to study? Why is that? , that is to form a cabinet for him."

Me, "Are you kidding me, how old is Lao Qi?"

Yu Lan, "How old were the emperor's servants when he ascended the throne? How old were his brothers? How powerful were the powerful officials behind them? Where are they now? Shilipo outside Yongjing City, There is a dry water beach there, and the people buried in the soil are all those who were tortured to death by the pickaxe water back then. The elder brothers of the emperor, as well as those big and powerful families who used to be proud."

I coughed and didn't speak.

He continued, "You are not happy to see us making money, and you are not happy to see Prince Cui Bicheng and others making money. I remember you said that the emperor does not eat much or use much by himself. He usually takes ten sets every year. It's just rice, vegetables, and light wine, but let me tell you, being an emperor, you don't want to waste extravagance and light food.

All the conquests of ritual and music come from the emperor. When the emperor is angry, he bleeds and drifts away. Such a totalitarian power, let alone only eats rice and vegetables every day, even if people eat bran pickles and never sleep with women, many people still flock to it. "

He asked me, "Do you know why?"

I look at him.

Yu Lan said, "Just to stop begging for mercy from anyone."

After a long while, I said, "Third Prince, it's useless to tell me these things. Besides, even if the prince is no longer a prince, and His Royal Highness becomes a prince, you still can't be an emperor."

Yu Lan smiled lightly, but it was still like a pot of stewed porridge whose ingredients were not clear.

He said, "If I can't be, I can't be. I don't have to be emperor, I don't have that talent, I just want to live, that's all. Brother, can you help me to live?"

I looked at the street outside. It was so early in the morning, there were not many people, and it was estimated that it would not be until noon. Once the neighbors in the neighborhood passed on, my steamed stuffed bun shop would not be able to open.

Me, "Why should I help you?"

Yu Lan, "Because you are a good person and a good man. You don't want your newly married wife to die like this. If Wen Zhan ascends the throne, I guarantee that Miss Yin's family will get a grand funeral that all women in the world envy. She will enter the coffin with the golden phoenix crown of a first-class imperial lady. You think, don’t you?”

There is no way to do this business again.

At noon I closed the shop and went home.

As soon as I arrived at the alley in the new courtyard wall of my house, I saw a group of people blocking the way. I originally slandered a few words, why are there so many idlers in this world who love to watch others, but then I saw two people standing with the crowd behind their backs. Although the soldiers in the platoon were dressed in plain clothes, none of the common people wore such virtues. Not to mention black and white, every face was as serious as the Yellow River flooding, and the capital had been wiped out.

Oh, street ban.

Look at this posture, it is a great big man who is parading in the street.

Who should it be?

After a while, someone began to pour water on the street. Behind them was a row of imperial guards, and behind them was a chariot drawn by four horses decorated with gold thread. Each wheel was wrapped with leather, and it walked majesticly. Surrounding, yet almost silent.

The car stopped.

An eunuch wearing a fifth-rank official uniform jumped down from the car, with a neat expression and a handsome face, then he stretched out his hand carefully, and picked up a five-year-old child from the car, followed by a gentle person, it turned out to be Chu Qiangsheng .That rich kid is round and cute, like a fat duck, and is a zither.

Naturally, the middle door was opened to welcome me, because I was standing far away and couldn't see very clearly, but Cui Bicheng did come kneeling outside the gate with his crutch.Yuezheng seemed a little unhappy, the people around kept coaxing him, and finally coaxed him into the gate.There are no people outside the gate of my house, but the string of uniforms standing on the street outside are straight, like wooden tires and clay sculptures.

Got it!

It looks like I don't have to go home until the kite is gone.

Lao Qi has always disliked ostentation. Judging by this posture, it must be Donggong Wenzhan's idea. It seems that he has really made up his mind that he will never let me see Yuezheng until he dies.

I touched the inside of the sleeve, and there were some scattered silver taels. It is not a big problem to find a place to eat and drink tea.So as the gradually thinning crowd walked away, I turned around the gazebo, and when I looked up, I saw a man in gray clothes standing with twisted arms under the willow tree over there, looking at me with a calm face.

Well, still an acquaintance, Yin Wangchuan.

He said, "Come on, buy me tea."

So I left with him, to the old place, Guanzhilou.

I took out the silver in my hand, showed it to him, and said, "That's all, I can't afford any more."

He tilted his mouth slightly and found a clean teahouse.

The lobby on the first floor is bustling and lively, while the second floor is full of cubicles, which is much quieter.The money I gave him was enough to order a pot of jasmine on the second floor, so we picked a booth facing the street, sat down, and ordered several plates of dried fruit.

I haven't seen him for a few days, but Xiao Yin hasn't changed much, except that there is a thin scar next to his left eyelid, which seems to have just scabbed over and hasn't healed yet. It seems to be scratched by a cat. If you don't know what he is Man, I thought such a wound could only be scratched by their Hedong lion.

Xiao Er brought over a big antique teapot and made a big pot of strong tea, with two cups beside it.

I pointed at his face, "What did you do here?"

Xiao Yin glared at me, with a girlish air, and didn't speak.

Me, "It's not that I want to find out something. If you don't want to say it, don't say it. I'll just ask. It looks like a woman scratched it?"

Xiao Yin, "Fuck that woman, it's Tang Xiaoxie."

"Xiao Tang?" I picked up a ginkgo fruit, threw it into my mouth, and said while chewing, "It's not that you wanted to sleep with him, and he was angry, so he hit you."

Xiao Yin, "No."

I was taken aback, and asked tentatively, "Then, you two are fighting for a woman..."

For some reason, I always feel that he likes women. Although no one told me, I just feel that way.However, Yin Wangchuan didn't answer, but he was a little confused, as if he was thinking about something, but he seemed to be thinking about it and couldn't figure it out. Then he said, "He said, either let him leave or let him die. I don't understand... ..."

"I think he must have been cursed and lost his mind, so we fought, and he hurt my face with a hidden weapon, and I..."

I was taken aback, "You won't kill him, will you?"

Yin Wangchuan, "No, I just cut off his arm, and then told him, don't let me hear such strange words in the future. He will be punished by God if he breaks the door and leaves the church. He is my good brother. I don't want him to die. Afterwards, you will go down to eighteen layers of hell, and you will be forever tumbling in the knives and oil pan, and you will never be reborn."

I couldn't laugh or cry, "Don't worry about things after death. I thought, after death, people must live a hundred times better than they are now. Otherwise, think about it, who has died for thousands of years?" Then came back again? It must be that there is food and drink there, and there are not so many troubles in the world, so the dead are happy to leave and don’t want to come back. What kind of knife mountain oil pot is all the people in the world. , Hell only eats fresh fruits and vegetables all year round, and there is no firewood at all! Besides..."

I glanced at him, "I chopped off his arm just because of this stupid thing, who would dare to get close to you again in the future? Do you really want to spend your whole life with swords and daggers?"

Xiao Yin's fingers caressed the scar on his eyelids, his pale gray eyes were foggy, like glass that had not been wiped clean, with dust falling on it, but the original sharpness was restrained.I asked Xiao Er to come over, and put out a few side dishes, a bucket of fragrant rice, pot cakes, and some fresh fruits.In the evening, if you can't just drink tea, why don't you turn your stomach upside down?

Xiaoer had just made it, and gave us a teapot of new tea, saying, "This is the new tea that our shopkeeper just brought in from Yunnan. Because no one in Yongjing City recognizes this, it has been unable to sell, and I stocked some in the back warehouse. Our shopkeeper’s love for such a good thing is useless, so let the little ones brew it for the guest officer. It doesn’t cost money, just to let everyone taste something new. If you think it’s good, you can order it when you come back. If you don’t think it’s good, Just splash it."

As soon as I heard it, I don't want to give away something for nothing, "Okay, you are the shopkeeper, you are also good. Where is the little brother, he really knows how to do business, and he will definitely have a future in the future."

Xiao Er's face smiled like a flowering steamed bun, "Master Cheng said auspiciously, the younger one is from Zhili."

"Where is Zhili?"

"Ran Zhuang."

Me... "Little brother, do you recognize Cui Bicheng?"

"Hey, the young master of the Cui family can recognize him, that is, the young one knows him, but he doesn't recognize the young one. After all, how can the young one be climbed up? The small ancestral grave is well buried. The cemetery of the Cui family is next to each other, so there are some relatives. According to seniority, the youngest should call the eldest son of the Cui family uncle."

Hiss... Turning around, I had to talk to Old Cui, why did he get such a big grandson behind my back?

Over there, Xiao Yin took a sip of the free tea, must have gotten anxious, scalded his mouth, and said, "It's hard to drink!" Then he poured it out through the open carved window on the second floor, and then let go of his fingers , The teapot floated out like a flower whose root had been broken.

I yelled, "Hey, you are really splashing!"

Now that the lights have just been turned on, the street is bustling with people coming and going, it would be bad if someone was smashed.The ground in Yongjing was evil, and he was afraid of something coming, so he heard a scream from outside, like boiling water rinsing a black-haired pig, his big feet pressed down on the male duck's neck, and with a tsk sound, like a very thin wire, it rose up inhumanely ,——"Which son of a bitch doesn't have eyes? Are you the ancestor whose grave was dug up by a dog and dared to pour water on me? I call you your ancestor for eight generations!"

As the scolding continued, Xiao Yin's eyes became colder and colder, but his face was smiling, and he was actually a little glamorous, as if he was standing on an ice peak overlooking the world of mortals.He twisted a peanut bean on the table, lightly pressed it with two fingers, and the peanut bean was broken into powder.

I was afraid that his head would heat up and kill people in the street, so I quickly jumped up and pressed his shoulder, "Don't move around, I'll go out and have a look."

But the eldest grandson of Cui Bicheng looked out through the window frame, "Oh no, you two, you have caused a lot of trouble. I said this young man, you are not good at splashing water, but you just splashed it on him. He is from us." He's a bully. Usually he can score three-pointers without reason."

My scalp was numb after hearing what Grandson Cui said, and I secretly looked downstairs, feeling relieved, "Hey! Who am I? , the one who is known as the third master? It is not a big deal to collect taxes and extort money, but it is not a big deal."

The one who was splashed with water is still swearing inhumanely, I have to get down quickly, otherwise, he can live his life with all the women in Xiao Yin's family in his mouth.

Xiao Er, "That's not what I said. The common people say 'Miemen magistrate', you don't even think he is an official, but behind him is the tax office. He is in charge of this land, so you can't beat him. Besides, People don't fight with officials, I think you should spend money to eliminate disasters. But I don't think there is a tael or eight taels of silver for this money, you will not be able to get through this hurdle."

I thought to myself, yes, just the money I gave to this man, all the hard-earned money from the steamed stuffed bun shop I opened for a few days went into it.This is not waiting for the rice to go into the pot, so don't be afraid. If you really rely on this to make ends meet in the future, and you can have a mouthful of rice porridge to drink after a year of hard work, it will be considered good.

I nodded, "Sure, I'll pay the money now."

When I turned around from the window, I heard another scream from outside, but it stopped abruptly, like a pig that was running around was suddenly decapitated, and it didn't even have the strength to hum, and fell into the mud , died.I was taken aback, looked back at Xiao Yin, and said to myself, I haven't seen this guy make a move. Could it be that he has the ability to chop off a pig's head beyond his potential?

I rolled my eyes, meaning to ask, did you do it?

Xiao Yin glared at me, raised her nose and turned her face away, then snorted out of her nostrils, and looked at me extremely dismissively.

Apparently it wasn't him.

I hurried downstairs, and the outside was already surrounded by spectators.The people of this dynasty have an enthusiasm comparable to that of eating, sleeping, and women giving birth to watching the commotion and booing.Everyone stretched their necks and looked in, as if whoever missed a glance would suffer a lot.

"What's going on here?"

What happened?

Everyone was chattering, saying everything.Those who didn't squeeze in couldn't tell why.However, after a while, there was the sound of gongs to clear the way in the distance, and people from the Jiucheng inspection yamen came.Everyone dispersed quickly, I stood on the steps outside the teahouse, and I could see clearly that Jia Laosan was curled up on the ground, his hands and legs were twisted, one of his hands was still inserted in his crotch, his face was pressed to the ground, and his face was full of embarrassment. Mud, with tears, snot and everything on it, it seems that the mouth is still moaning, "The egg is broken... the egg is broken..."

A few aunts and uncles who were lucky enough to stand in front of the crowd and watch the fun enthusiastically said to the people in the Nine City Patrol Yamen with an ambiguous expression, "Just now there was a boy, who was eighteen or nineteen years old, who rushed over The crotch of this person kicked indiscriminately, and everyone ran away after kicking, and no one knew what was going on."

"I don't know who it is, isn't that the third boy from the Zhou family on the street?

For some reason years ago, he actually fell in love with the widow of the Li family and insisted on proposing marriage. His father is considered a respectable person here, and he would not let him die, so that kid was in trouble.

Every day, I wandered around in front of the widow's house, helping with the work without speaking.

Carrying water and chopping firewood, and helping fight injustices.

If anyone offends that little widow, he will definitely make trouble with him.Master Jia San must have offended Li Jia's little widow, and that's why he was beaten..."

Gossip and talk about everything.

After everyone gloated for a while, a gray-faced, hunched-backed man, holding a cigarette stick in his hand, looked like an old man who had eaten his last meal and kept shaking his head. Everyone asked, he was smoking a cigarette Gancai said, "Although Jia Laosan is not very good, he has a good life. His mother gave him a younger sister who is as beautiful as a flower, and now this younger sister of Jia's family is Huanhou's ninth aunt."

My ears just move.

"Which Marquis Huan?"

"Huanhou, Lord Jianghou of the main town of Jingji? You don't know this? The old man is now a nobleman, and the young lady of the Jiang family is the favorite concubine of the crown prince in the East Palace. Now she is pregnant with a child. She is very precious. After this, the crown prince If she is in power and Miss Jiang gives birth to a big fat boy, she will be the mother-in-law, and Master Jiang will be the head of the country. Tell me, isn’t that youngest son of the Zhou family causing trouble for his parents? Who do you think is wrong to hit? , you beat up the future father-in-law’s brother-in-law, aren’t you waiting for bad luck?”

"Oh, it's quite unlucky. But, how did I hear that our prince likes men?"

"Who said that?"

"My aunt's niece's sister-in-law's uncle's daughter sent tofu to the palace, and I heard people chatting about it."

"Hey, nowadays these high-ranking officials like men, they are elegant. Isn't that the same as liking flowers, birds, fish and insects? Didn't you see, Mr. Fan Rulin from the back street is the one who draws well, isn't he also Do you like men? On the stage, you will praise the boy, and when you see the boy with white teeth and red lips, you will stare straight at him, and you will dare to smash all the pearls and emeralds on the stage! But what's the matter, isn't his family full of wives and concubines? There are three small things, and nothing is the big thing. The crown prince will be the emperor in the future, can he cut off the roots of their ancestors by himself? Like men? That's a fart!"

Hey, why can't I hide everywhere?

The customer of my steamed stuffed bun shop, the best friend of Widow Li in the back street, and the mistress of the Zhou family, took the prince's father-in-law's brother-in-law in the street, what is this?

If there's a mess down here, we'll be fine here.

At least no one is looking after Xiao Yin for pouring tea to scald people.

Xiao Yin thought about the thing he was confused about (that is, Xiao Tang wanted to break the door and go out to teach), and he was going to think about it for a while. He wanted to go back to heal Xiao Tang, so he didn’t bother me. He just slipped away when he was full. .I paid the bill, and saw that it was really a willow tree on the moon outside, thinking that my little ancestor had also left, so I walked back.Unexpectedly, there were still uninvited guests at home.

Yuezheng left, but Yuezheng's attendant bachelor did not leave.

When I went back to wait, I saw Chu Qiangsheng and Cui Bicheng standing at the door, one on each side, like two door gods.No choice but to let it in.I asked Cui Bicheng to make tea, and he brought over a catty of large tea leaves bought for a copper on the street, but Chu Qiangsheng didn't care, but he didn't drink it either.

In front of Old Cui, I couldn't touch his hand, so I could only ask without pain, "You're back?"

"Ah."

"Are you used to it?"

"Well, it's fine."

"Is Yuezheng obedient?"

"Alright."

"Hey, let me say, can you say a few more words?"

"it is good."

I……

"Chengyi, I have nothing else to do. I just came over to have a look and send you an invitation. My son will be serving wine at the full moon, and there are no outsiders. I invite you to drink."

I was overjoyed, "Okay, where's Cui Bicheng?"

Old Cui was drinking good tea by tapping on Erlang's legs. When he heard this, he said quickly, "Sure, just go. But don't expect me to give you a good gift. I'm poor now and have no money."

"No money?" Chu Qiangsheng said plainly, "How did I hear that a few days ago, Mr. Cui won 1000 taels of silver at the Lucky Gambling Shop outside. He said he won money, but it was actually just a few businesses. The dividends for you, to be honest, anyone in the world can have no money, but you, Mr. Cui, don't even think about it in this life. Well, come over for a drink, and I won't let you spend money."

Cui Bicheng put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, "How do you know?"

Chu Qiang smiled calmly, "What do you think?"

"Okay, okay." I hastened to smooth things over, "Qiangsheng, Lao Cui is just such a dog, don't care about him like him."

Cui Bicheng snorted, Chu Qiangsheng also laughed, a little cold, and did not speak.

Me, "Qiangsheng, don't be like this. Old Cui is ignorant, and neither are you? Cui Bicheng is a small businessman, and you, you are a minister of the cabinet. Ship, don’t be as knowledgeable as him.”

Chu Qiangsheng put down the teacup, and it was regarded as tea farewell, so I sent it out.Outside the gate, Chu Qiangsheng asked me suddenly, "I heard that you still have contact with His Highness Third?"

Me, "Why did you become a god and witch? You know everything by pinching your fingers and watching the sky at night?"

"Tell me the truth."

I nodded, "Yes."

Chu Qiangsheng said, "It's not as simple as drinking and eating when he came to you."

I nodded, "It's still those things. He, in this life, he may eat whatever he likes or do whatever he wants. Nothing else, don't worry."

Chu Qiangsheng had already opened the car curtain, but stopped again. He thought for a while, turned around and let the people around him wait here. He said to me, "Come with me." We walked to a tree in the back alley. Under the old locust tree, he said, "Chengyi, stay away from him, you despise him too much, I'm afraid you will fall into his trap."

"Him? Yu Lan? Why do I underestimate him? Isn't he just a, what?

"Yes, according to the decree is according to the decree, but did he reflect at home?"

I said, "Well, he is wandering around the capital of Manyong. The emperor doesn't know about it. If the emperor knows, he will definitely be arrested and released to the clan's mansion. He will never be reborn forever."

Chu Qiang sneered, "How could the emperor not know what he did, but has the emperor asked?"

Me, "I don't quite understand what you mean."

Chu Qiangsheng, "The Third Highness is different from you. He is very talented, and because of his grandfather, those officials and Qingliu in the south of the Yangtze River treat him differently. Such a person has the support of the powerful and the Qingliu. Be kind, do you think he is a superficial person who can only recruit charlatan warlocks and singers and dancers as spies?"

Me, "Then he is still defeated?"

Chu Qiangsheng said, "What he is studying is not dragon-slaying art. At first, Mr. Du Ge didn't think about letting him fall into it. He thought about opening up a clear world for him. He just needs to do nothing to cure it. But none of them thought that the prince So strong, this waiter, as long as anyone who still has the power to bind a chicken will be pulled out, he can barely do it, so he was upset at first and panicked, but now he seems to have done something. Change. Moreover, behind the Third Highness, there is always a faintly visible person, in fact, it is the emperor. So, leave these people and don't get involved again. You are soft-hearted and can't deal with any of them. "

Me, "Qiangsheng, thank you for your heartfelt words. I understand what you said today."

He sighed, "It's good to know, it's even better if you pay more attention to it."

After speaking, he just left.

Cui Bicheng has been sitting in the living room, and when I sent Chuchu back, he smiled maliciously, held a cane in his hand, tapped on the floor, and said, "I said, you have opened the bun shop for two days, what did you cause?" Merry debt back?"

I was taken aback, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

He laughed loudly, "A little lady surnamed Li is looking for you. Just now because of Chu Xiang's presence, I can't say anything. She seems to be crying and wants to ask you for help."

Miss Li?

No... it's Widow Li...

Me, "Where are people?"

Cui Bicheng, "Don't worry, she'll be drinking tea in the back." Then he added gloatingly, "Siblings are accompanying me!"