I'm watching the gate in the jail

the seventh day of July

In the Ningqing Palace, all the maids, big and small, have been busy since the morning to prepare for tonight's Qiqiao.

Being a woman is bitter, and being a woman in the palace is even more bitter.Especially for them as maids, ever since they entered the red palace gate, they have been thrown into the circle of the imperial city all their lives.Not to mention the love between men and women, even family affection is an extravagant hope.

How many palace maids are there who fly up the branches to become phoenixes like Concubine Wan Gui?

Most of them worked hard all their lives in the palace, wasting their old age and youth to death in vain.

Throughout the year, except in the first month according to the rules of the ancestors, there is no need to use knives and scissors, and you can save a few days of female red work.Among the remaining 300 days, there is only Qixi Festival, which can make them live a little easier.

According to the usual practice, this day starts from dark, and the masters of the palaces basically don't order the maids to do things.

These court ladies can put on beautiful clothes and shoes and socks, wait for the moon to rise, and beg together in groups of three or four.

"Xiao Dezi, where's the water you gave me to dry?"

Huier, a court lady next to Empress Dowager Zhou, finished taking her nap, walked out of the bedroom of Ningqing Palace, looked at the row of water bowls drying under the eaves of the side hall, and asked a passing eunuch anxiously.

Those bowls filled with clean water were prepared by the maids of honor in Qingning Palace for the festival ceremony at night.

The girls in the palace celebrate the Qixi Festival, just like outside, except for worshiping the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, the most important ceremony is to "beg for cleverness" from the Weaver Girl Empress.

Girls usually throw embroidery needles into the water bowl and watch the shadows of the embroidery needles when they fall into the water.If the shadow is slender and delicate, it means that it is a "coincidence".If the shadow is thick and clumsy, it means that it is a rough girl, and the knitting is also thick and silly.

In addition to comparing shadows, they will also compete with each other, whose embroidery needle can float on the water for the longest time.

In order to prolong the floating time of embroidery needles, girls usually put bowls filled with water under the eaves to bask in the sun at noon on the Qixi Festival.

A layer of water skin will form on the water bowl that has been "baked" in the sun, and the embroidery needles will float on the water skin, and it will last for a long time.

It is said that such things are done by the girls themselves.Unfortunately today, Aunt Hui happened to be on duty, she couldn't run away, and she didn't have time to deal with these trivial matters.

The Empress Dowager Zhou was in a bad mood during this period, and a servant had to be ready to serve her at any time. Aunt Hui had no choice but to leave this matter to the little eunuch in the palace.

"Aunt Hui, don't worry, your water bowl is under the eaves here. I've checked it for you just now, and the thin layer of water has condensed. You should throw embroidery needles into it at night. When the time comes, keep it afloat and not sink. It will definitely make you come out on top.”

As Xiao Dezi said, he led Aunt Hui to the eaves graciously, and pointed to a peony flower bowl.

"It's really covered with a layer of skin."

Aunt Hui glanced at the water bowl, and the hot afternoon sun shone in the bowl, reflecting the figures of two people.A layer of vague, film-like things covered the surface of the water, with a layer of hazy gray.She didn't dare to pant a little more, lest the breathing force be stronger, and the water skin that had finally condensed would be blown away.

"Another aunt, in this tea bowl, I put a little red hi-spider into it this morning. At night, it will definitely weave a beautiful web."

As the eunuch said, he carefully took out a teacup with a lid from his pocket.

Aunt Hui took it with both hands, but she didn't dare to open it, for fear of disturbing the little spiders that were working hard spinning inside, and ruining the artifice begging ceremony at night.

This is also one of the customs of Qixi Festival.On the day before Qixi Festival, the girls will catch the small red spiders that represent the festival and put them in a bowl, cover them and wait for the web to be formed.

When the moon was rising, they opened the lid together and watched each other's spiders in each other's bowls make their webs.

If the net is dense and beautiful, it means that the owner is ingenious.If the web is broken or the spider web is sparse, it means that the owner's heart is as thick as the spider web.

However, Ningqing Palace was always clean, so it was difficult to catch a live spider.She had to go to the garden or a slightly secluded palace, which made it difficult for Aunt Hui who always followed the Queen Mother.

Unexpectedly, the little eunuch was so clever that he even prepared this for her.

"Good job, this is my aunt's reward."

Aunt Hui saw that these two important begging props were properly prepared by Xiao Dezi, and happily took out a piece of broken silver from her bosom, and stuffed it into Xiao Dezi's hand.

"Go, you are not needed here."

"Thank you, Auntie, for the reward."

Xiao Dezi took the reward and ran away happily.

Aunt Hui carried the teacup with the little spider in it, and walked into the shade of the side hall. She was afraid that the little spider would be sunburnt, so she wanted to find a corner to put it down.

Sure enough, there were not a few people who thought similarly to her, and there were already several teacups queuing up in the corner of the side hall.

It looks like tonight will be a "battle".

"Hey? Where's my water bowl? Why is my bowl missing? Did any of you see my bowl?"

She put away the tea bowl and was about to go back to the bedroom to serve the Empress Dowager when she heard the yelling of the little maid from outside.In the quiet palace this afternoon, it was particularly harsh.

"Which little hoof is making a fuss, I don't know if the Queen Mother just fell asleep?"

Aunt Hui hurried back and saw two girls standing under the eaves, looking at the drainage bowl in panic.

"If you keep yelling, you will wake up the Queen Mother, and ask someone to come over and slap your mouth."

Aunt Hui lowered her voice and said with displeasure on her face.

"Aunt Hui, the water bowl I put here to dry in the morning is gone. I saw it when I was watering the yard just now."

The little maid was so anxious that she was about to cry.

"How come, our Ningqing Palace hasn't lost anything for many years. It can't be that you didn't put it here, put it later..."

In an instant, Aunt Hui's face also turned pale.

Her water bowl, which I saw just now, was already covered with a layer of water skin... But when I turned around, it disappeared.

There are thieves in Ningqing Palace!

"Your Majesty, this is definitely a tribute, and it was made by Jingdezhen Imperial Ware Factory."

In the Wenhua Palace, an old eunuch over sixty years old held a bucket-colored peony flower bowl in his hand, turned over the bottom of the bowl, knocked on the bowl again, and said affirmatively.

This is Eunuch Zhang who is serving Eunuch Zhang in the Inner Mansion. He was the eunuch who was in charge of supervising the manufacturing of Jingdezhen Imperial Ware Factory, and He Langzhong's old partner.

This eunuch was originally from Beizhili, and when he got old, he couldn't help feeling homesick.So he wrote a letter requesting to return to Beijing, and the palace transferred him back from Jingdezhen last year, and he is currently serving in the inner palace.

After noon today, the eunuch Zhang was discussing with Eunuch Chen of the Shang Palace Bureau, what kind of utensils the palace would prepare to worship the moon on August [-]th, a month later.

Mainly for Zhaode Palace, especially for the empress dowagers of the two palaces, it is best to prepare two sets of exactly the same tributes, so that no one will feel unhappy when they get it.

In the end, before the discussion had any clues, Eunuch Qin Chang, who was serving in the Zhaode Palace, came over in person and brought them both to the Wenhua Palace.

A servant of his status would never be summoned by His Majesty the Emperor on weekdays.He was suddenly summoned, and Eunuch Zhang was flattered.

As soon as Eunuch Zhang knelt down in fear, Eunuch Qin Chang stuffed several cups of tea bowls and teapots into his hands, and asked him to see where they were made.

A bucket color peony cup, a red underglaze dragon pattern pot.

Eunuch Zhang looked at the eunuch Chen Gongzheng of the Shang Palace Ju who was kneeling beside him, and thought that something serious might have happened.

Sure enough, both of these utensils were made by the Imperial Ware Factory, and the underglaze pot with colorful dragon pattern was made by a craftsman he was familiar with, Xiao Yuan. Monogram, he recognized it at a glance.

Not to mention the bucket-colored peony-patterned cups, it seems that there was a problem with the book-making when entering the palace, and there is no record of this set of porcelain in the Shang Palace Bureau.

The key is the red underglaze porcelain pot with colorful dragon patterns. It is said that this set of porcelain, including the pot and the cup, is a total of eight pieces. It was specially ordered by His Majesty to be fired last year to celebrate the birth of the eldest son of the emperor. There should be only one set in the world. That's right.

But just now Eunuch Wynn brought two identical dragon pattern pots for him to identify.

It's not right to say that they are "exactly the same". Although these two pots are both made by Xiao Yuan, one is full of brilliance and the glaze color is flowing. It is beautiful and wonderful.Even the little red dragon with its head on top looked very energetic, as if it was about to fly out of the pot in the next moment.

The other one was unremarkable, even a little dull, with a touch of craftsmanship.

What made eunuch Zhang feel terrified was that, among the two porcelain pots that looked like twins, the inscription on the underside of the more brilliant one had been worn off by someone.

What does this mean, he, the eunuch who has worked in the imperial kiln factory for almost his whole life, really understands it very well-this pot is likely to be lost outside the palace.

In order to prevent people from recognizing that this is a royal property, the logo was specially erased.

The inscription can be worn away, but it cannot be denied that this is indeed a royal exclusive.

After all, only the emperor and prince can use the five-claw golden dragon pattern, and even the prince can only use the four-claw python pattern.

As for ordinary folk kilns, when using dragon patterns, the dragon claws will not be exposed at all.Instead, water patterns or cloud patterns cover up most of the dragon's claws, leaving only a scale and a half of claws to avoid the majesty of the royal family.

"Eunuch Zhang, tell me, why did this happen?"

Zhu Jianshen looked worried, and even his voice was chilly.

Last night, the guy he sent to protect Uncle Lang hurried back to the palace from Jiangxi, accompanied by Beizhen Fusi Xiaoqi Gaohui.

After seeing Gao Hui's memorial and Qiu Xun's handing over, Zhu Jianshen felt both ridiculous and sad.

The Royal Armor Factory was actually missed by others, and the people who missed it might even be his "relatives".

Daming's imperial relatives... have they fallen to this level?

"Your Majesty, when the Imperial Ware Factory burns tribute porcelain, in order to ensure the quality, it will not only fire one batch. Instead, it will be fired many times, and finally only the best set will be sent to the palace. The rest, They will be smashed and buried on the spot to prevent the royal use from flowing into the people."

Eunuch Zhang said.

"Then how to explain these two sets?"

Zhu Jian asked with a cold face, "This dragon-patterned pot is even more stunning than the tribute set."

"This set...should be a 'Kiln Transformation' thing. Not turning it in as a tribute is a rule set by the servant and the pottery supervisor He Langzhong."

Then, Eunuch Zhang explained to the emperor the reasons why he did not offer the "Kiln Change" porcelain, and the agreement he had made with Langzhong He three years ago.

In order to show that this move is entirely for the sake of sympathy for the kiln workers, and it is not intentional to offend the emperor, shoddy.

"So that's how it is... Langzhong He is really a good official."

Zhu Jianshen had just succeeded to the throne two years ago, so he didn't know that there was such a talent in the Royal Kiln Factory.Now, listening to Eunuch Zhang explaining to him one by one, I can't help but be impressed by this little doctor's love for the people like a son.

"Since this is the case, this kind of 'kiln transformation' should be sealed in the warehouse. How could it flow to Kyoto?"

Moreover, it flowed into the belongings of King Chong who was rushing to the fiefdom.

As for King Chong, since he left the capital at the end of June, he has been away for nearly seven days.

According to the reports from the East Factory spies, the mighty convoy has set off for so long, but it only went to Huairou County, and didn't even leave the suburbs of Beijing...

It is said that this was ordered by the Empress Dowager Zhou. She said that the young prince is thin and the carriage is too hot during the day. The prince can't bear it and is not allowed to drive.The convoy will not be allowed to move until the sun goes down and the weather cools down.

But not long after the convoy traveled, they had to stop to rest again, because the prince disliked the bumpy carriage and couldn't sleep at night... So at the end of the day, the convoy only traveled for two or three hours. No wonder it hasn't left Gyeonggi until now.

Fortunately, it took only one night for "that person" to "smooth" the things in the convoy back.

Eunuch Zhang and Eunuch Chen couldn't answer Zhu Jianshen's question, so they could only prostrate themselves on the ground.

"There's also this colorful bowl. In the entire Zhaode Palace, I'm afraid you can't find such a wonderful porcelain bowl. It was actually used by the little maids of Ningqing Palace to beg for cleverness and dry water... The empress's palace people are magnificent. .”

He picked up this exquisitely carved water bowl and was amazed.

A few days ago, I was still discussing with Minister Wan, saying that I wanted to imitate the Song Dynasty's "Picture of a Chicken and a Hen" to make a set of chicken bowl cups.Minister Wan was also worried that with the current level of the Imperial Equipment Factory, it would be impossible to show every detail and restore the spirit of the painting itself.

Seeing this bucket-colored peony bowl now, the little emperor felt that Chief Minister Wan must be worrying too much.

Hearing the emperor's words, Eunuch Gong Zhengchen was already too frightened to control himself.

It is said that when all the tribute porcelain from the Imperial Ware Factory enters the palace, it will be registered in the Shang Palace Bureau, and then sent to each palace for use according to the regulations.

This bucket color porcelain bowl is obviously a product of the Imperial Ware Factory, and it was also assigned to the Ningqing Palace of the Empress Dowager Zhou, but the Shang Palace Bureau could not find any record of it entering the palace, which made it hard for him to argue.

After thinking for a long time, Eunuch Chen finally found an excuse to exonerate himself.

"Your Majesty, in addition to firing porcelain for the palace, the Royal Kiln Factory also burns porcelain for the palaces and relatives of the princes. If it is a palace, or if it is presented outside, it is normal that the Shanggong Bureau has no records."

Besides, he really couldn't explain why this unregistered porcelain appeared in Ningqing Palace.

"The palace, the royal family... makes sense."

Zhu Jianshen smiled faintly, "For example—Uncle Guo, right? After all, my little Uncle Lang also likes to send things to his sister in Zhaode Palace."

Although they are all bamboo dragonflies, clay dolls, beauty kites, Jiangnan bamboo wares and other things to deceive children, but they can't stand the likes of Chief Servant Wan and Ah Zhi.

As for what his mother likes, as a son, how could he not know.

Gold and silver jewelry, Suyang silk, and ceramic jade...

"They're all uncles of the country, and a gift can make so much difference."

Zhu Jianshen stood up slowly and walked outside the Wenhua Hall.

It was time for dinner, and although the stars hadn't come out yet, a thin moon had gradually climbed onto the golden glazed tiles of the Forbidden City.

"Today is the Qixi Festival. It is rare for Cowherd and Weaver Girl to get together. It is a good day for couples to reunite."

Zhu Jianshen squinted his eyes, trying to find the Milky Way in the sky.

However, it was still early, and the sky hadn't completely darkened yet, so there was no trace of the milky Milky Way for the time being.

"In a while, I'm going to Zhaode Palace to accompany Minister Wan to celebrate the festival. Wynn will accompany you..."

"The slave is here."

Wynn stepped forward.

"Go, give Commander Yuan a driving note. Let the Jinyi guards go to Uncle Qingyun's mansion and take my uncle to the imperial prison. It is too hot today, and there is no cooler place in the whole capital than the imperial prison." .Let him enjoy and enjoy."

"That lady over there..."

Wynn asked carefully.

"My mother is in a bad mood these days. It's a rare holiday, so don't bother her."

Zhu Jianshen felt that he was still a "filial son", and as a "filial son", he naturally had to be considerate of his mother's body, and she must not let her worry about her natal family anymore.

Uncle, brother, mother...

No matter what, they are all "relatives" for others. It's fine that these people don't share state affairs for me like Uncle Xiaolang, but they spend all day thinking about how to plot against me and the things in my hands.

Could it be that one day, even my entire "world" will be calculated and taken away?

The little emperor raised the corners of his mouth slightly, but his eyes were filled with coldness.

"What should I do? Do you want to tell Xiao Qiu?"

Several days have passed since the day when it was discovered that Miss Rong might have given Qiu Zijin a cuckold.

Watching Mr. Qiu rushing in and out every day, running between the imperial equipment factory and the county government, Wanda really couldn't tell him the truth that he might want to "become a father".

And in the past two days, another conflict broke out between Qiu Zijin and his mother.

Not for anything else, but for how long the wedding will be delayed.

On the one hand, Qiu Zijin insisted that he would not consider getting married until the theft case of the Imperial Equipment Factory was solved.

On the one hand, Qiu's mother didn't think that the marriage would disturb her son to solve the case.

The Rong family sent their daughter over early in the morning, but the wedding was delayed, which made the woman think about their Qiu family.

The mother and son faced each other tit-for-tat, not giving in to each other.

Poor Papa Qiu was caught between the two of them.It is not good to persuade anyone, and it is useless to persuade anyone.

"Eunuch Liang is said to be returning to the Imperial Ware Factory soon."

Yang Xiuxian received a tip from Jin Yiwei that this eunuch Liang went directly south by boat, without the slightest idea that he was being targeted by Jin Yiwei.

Tomorrow when the boat he was on entered the Xin'an River, Jin Yiwei's troops would arrest him and escort him over.

"Speaking of which, this 'Eunuch Liang' has a relationship with you once."

Regarding Qiu Zijin's matter, even Yang Xiuxian felt that there was nothing he could do.

It is true that every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and it is difficult for an upright official to decide on family affairs.

What's more, they are just Jin Yiwei.

Kill people, do it.

I can't manage housework.

He could only direct the topic to business matters.

"Do I know the father-in-law surnamed Liang? Is there such a person in Zhaode Palace?"

Wanda fanned her fan annoyedly, raised her eyes and thought for a long time, but couldn't think of anything.

"It turned out that he was serving in the Imperial Horse Supervisor, and later he worked with Zhang Min, Eunuch Zhang, who was next to His Majesty for a while. Did you forget?"

Yang Xiuxian reminded, "In the case of the White Lotus Sect. At the gate of Guangji Temple, the 'Liang Fang' who handed you the little horse."

"Oh, it turned out to be him. It turned out to be him!"

Wanda slapped his head and finally remembered.

This happened at the end of the year before last. At that time, he felt that this young eunuch was so good at flattering people, and he was completely different from the honest and quiet Eunuch Zhang Min.

After the case was over, he also mentioned something to Eunuch Wynn, saying that such a person should not be placed with His Majesty and Empress.

Unexpectedly, this person actually left the palace and became the supervising eunuch of the Jingdezhen Imperial Ware Factory... This is too coincidental.

"This eunuch Liang Fang has tricks. Because of your words, he was driven away from Eunuch Zhang, and Zhaode Palace doesn't want him, so he is about to fall out of favor. But this man is too good at cheating, and he got into the sixth game." 24 divisions."

Yang Xiuxian can only lament that man is not as good as God.

"Exactly two years ago, Eunuch Zhang, who was in charge of supervising the construction of the imperial equipment factory, was transferred back to the capital. This kid worked up and down, and he didn't know how much money he used, and how many relationships he used. He actually got the fat job of supervising the eunuch."

The eunuchs in the palace, like Huai En, Qin Chang, Zhang Min, Xia Shi, and Niu Yu, are eunuchs who are very respectable in front of the imperial court and have power like the chief executive of the inner palace.

There are also servants who can't even get enough to eat, and can only clean the courtyard and clean the toilet.

In addition to luck and ability, it depends on whether the individual will drill.

This eunuch Liang is young and only in his early twenties this year. After he came out of the deep palace, he was sent to a fertile place like Jiangnan. in the tank.

"It's really 'destined to meet thousands of miles away', he deserves to fall into my hands again."

If it was that naughty kid who secretly sold kiln-transformed porcelain, then Wanda would not be surprised at all.

He grinned grimly and squeezed the fist of his left hand with the palm of his right hand, with an expression of eagerness to try.

"My lord, my lord, it's not good."

At this moment, a captain of Jinyiwei rushed in and shouted at the two of them, "Someone is making trouble."

"Did you dare to make trouble with Jin Yiwei, are you crazy?"

Wanda stood up excitedly, "Did eunuch Liang come back early? Go, go, I'll meet him."

"No, I didn't make trouble with Jin Yiwei."

The captain shook his head, "I'm looking for the Qiu family."

"Hey! Could it be that Miss Rong came to force the marriage?"

Wanda's expression froze.

I thought to myself, could it be that Miss Rong's stomach is going to swell these days, and it will be too late if she doesn't find someone to take over the order?

"It's a forced marriage, but it's not Miss Rong."

"Who is that?"

"It's the Wei family in She County! The Wei family that was engaged to Mr. Qiu called to ask for an explanation! It is said that nearly a hundred people have come, and they are almost at the entrance of the village. My lord, go and have a look."

"Almost forgot about her!"

When Wanda heard this, she almost died of anxiety for Qiu Zijin.

How to do?

Here is the "Original Match" killing, and there is the "Green Cloud Cover"...

How did that sentence come from? It's a golden sentence 600 years later - stay safe if you don't get married and infertile!