Minister

84【Seven years of Jiankang】

At midnight, Chen Su walked out of the warm pavilion, shivering uncontrollably when the cold wind blew.The eunuchs hurriedly called the chariots and horses to wait on them. Chen Su got into the soft sedan chair and leaned on the cushions a little tiredly: "Raise the curtain."

The eunuchs were not familiar with him, so naturally they didn't dare to guess what he meant, they raised the curtain obediently, and a big gust of wind and snow swept in.Chen Su saw Chen Xing's personal maid standing on the stairs—the woman named Hui'er. She clasped her arms and silently looked in her direction, with an expression that had remained unchanged for decades, quiet and humble.

This is the familiar imperial palace. The palace is newly built every year, but the atmosphere inside is always the same.The sedan chair started off slowly, Chen Su closed his eyes, but the palace lantern was still shaking so disturbingly.

"It's New Year's Eve..." Chen Su slightly opened his eyes as the little palace maid from which palace was making noise.

The little eunuch smiled and said: "New maid, isn't it time to prepare for the spring election? They are all ignorant, they disturbed the prince, please forgive me!"

Chen Su remained calm, turned his head and looked around, but couldn't recognize which palace it was.

In the houses outside the palace, impatient children came out to play with the firecrackers prepared at home, and sporadic noises exploded on the street corners.It's just that the palace is still solemn and solemn. This is the last day of the sixth year of Jiankang, and tomorrow will be the [-]th day of the new year...

Chen Su was lying in the soft sedan chair, thinking of Princess Qin, thinking of Queen Wang, bright people entered the royal family like this, and then they would not be happy and natural for the rest of their lives.

...Wei Chi... What about you?

The 29th of the twelfth lunar month was a night of heavy snow. People in the capital opened their windows and doors and were very happy to see the whiteness of the city. The hardworking daughters-in-law were preparing for the New Year's dinner, and the children shuttled among them, grabbing preserved goods from the table to try new ones.The Imperial Academy where Wei Chi lived was completely deserted. Although Chen Hu was not from the capital, he also had distant relatives in the capital, so he bid farewell to Wei Chi early in the morning.Yiqing also went home on leave the day before.Chen Hu felt very unhappy when he thought that Wei Chi was going to spend the New Year alone, but he didn't want to invite him rashly, and after saying a few polite words, he had no choice but to leave.Wei Chi smiled and stuffed him a bag of things, but Chen Hu opened it and saw that it was six taels of silver, he couldn't even shout, Wei Chi didn't allow him to shirk, and rushed out the door.

Chen Hu shouted: "Master Wei!! I'll be back early on the first day of the new year!"

"Okay!" Wei Chi replied.

The gatekeeper's surname is Zhao, and he is also a loner. For 20 years in this job, he has been alone every year.After Mr. Xiao Wei was admitted to Hanlin, the two had been together for three years. Old man Zhao thought that Mr. Wei would not come back this year, and was feeling sad. He didn't expect that not only did he come back, but also years ago, so he was very happy Start preparing wine and meat.

Although Wei Chi is a woman, she has been a completely untouchable master all these years, and things on the stove can't be counted on.Old Zhao can make do with cooking a few side dishes, but that's all.Old Zhao brought out a sling of bacon, and was about to go to the kitchen to boil water. Wei Chi smiled and said, "On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Mr. Wu called me over and gave me this year's salary in succession. Hehe, I thought this year It’s the money of the leading military department, but I didn’t expect it to be double! Don’t boil the water, let’s go to a restaurant.”

Old Zhao said with a smile: "Master Wei, you should save your daughter-in-law's capital."

"How can a single meal hurt your daughter-in-law?" Wei Chi smiled: "What's more, the subsidy money from the Ministry of War has yet to be collected. Why don't you enjoy a good meal during the Chinese New Year?"

The Imperial Academy was indeed too deserted. Old Zhao didn't want to go, but he didn't dare to go. He was afraid that he would lose Wei Chi's identity. Everyone was familiar with each other, but that was also behind the crowd. Going to the street to have a meal together might cause trouble. OK.

Wei Chi didn't allow him to refuse: "At this time, only a few big restaurants are open, and we can only eat at noon. If you don't go, you won't be able to. Let's go! Let's go!"

On New Year's Eve, there was no way to hire a car, so the two of them put on their coats and went on foot.

Crossing the quiet street in front of the Imperial Academy, turn left and you will find the Imperial College. There are still a few students in the prison, either very rich or poor students who can’t afford the travel expenses. Wei Chi glanced at the door, and Old Zhao said with a smile: The doormen have all run away, and these students are enough to make trouble tonight." Wei Chi also laughed.

There are many bustling streets in the capital, and the closest one is Huanhua Road. There is a restaurant called "Side Village" on it. The chicken is good, the wine is not bad, and the decoration is good. Be tough.Wei Chi used to come here to eat crispy chicken, and he was familiar with the boss.Today is New Year's Eve, and there is no one in the lobby. The boy took the coats of Wei Chi and Lao Zhao, and the boss came up to say hello: "Master Wei! It can be seen that this is fate! I was saying that there is no one, so why don't you dare?" Close the door, it seems to be waiting for you."

Wei Chi exchanged some pleasantries, and chose a seat by the window on the second floor: "I'm comfortable today, I can sit anywhere, come here for a puff pastry chicken, a plate of squirrel fish, and some good rabbits crossing the river." Just, do you still have that pumpkin porridge? Make it hot and serve at the end, and the seasonal cold dishes are up to you.”

Old Zhao had never been here before, so he was a little cautious, especially when the guy glanced at him a few times, he felt a little uncomfortable.Seeing that the dishes were ready, Wei Chi said, "Boss Zhang, go and do your work. I'm sorry for delaying you during the Chinese New Year."

Boss Zhang declined several times with a smile, and dragged the guy downstairs.

The boy stuck out his tongue: "My lord Wei, treat a poor old man to dinner."

Boss Zhang gave him a hateful look: "You are good, what is your identity, anyway, let you talk about it? Why don't you go to work soon?"

The guy was so ashamed, he smiled and hid.

Wei Chi took a sip of the warm wine, feeling warmed up immediately, and poured another glass for Old Zhao, who thanked him: "Master Wei, you are so kind."

The two of them had three glasses of wine and were about to move their chopsticks when they suddenly heard the dog downstairs barking.It was a young man in brocade clothes who was yelling at a child, and the child bumped into him for some reason, and was being pulled up by the collar at the moment, it was pitiful.

"Who is it?" Wei Chi saw from a distance that the young man was about the same age as himself, and his appearance was also very handsome.

"The third young master of the Shao family."

"The Shao family?"

Old Zhao said with a smile: "It's okay if Mr. Wei doesn't know. His family is just a merchant in the capital. They sell silk and satin. They have a lot of money. They haven't produced a scholar in decades, so they don't have much reputation."

"Quite arrogant." Wei Chi curled his lips, watching the boy quarreling with the child's parents, his attitude was very domineering.

"That's not it," Lao Zhao pointed, "His sister was selected as a show girl this year. After the Chinese New Year, she will enter the Imperial City draft on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. His sister is also born well, and she may have bought some silver taels as well." , count yourself as a relative of the emperor earlier."

Draft?Wei Chi watched the bustle, and thought of that incredibly beautiful Ms. Lin, and thought that with such a peerless beauty in front of her, your sister might not have a bright future in the palace.

"How many beautiful girls are there this year?" Wei Chi was simply looking for something to talk to.

Lao Zhao has been on the errand for so many years, these things are the most clear, he smiled and said: "No matter how many or how few, these things can't be counted... Counting from top to bottom, there is a daughter in the Wang family, who is the queen's younger sister. Those who can go in, the daughter of the Lin family, the niece of Concubine Lin, this is no exception, the granddaughter of Shi Shangshu, the granddaughter of He Zhizi Yin, the granddaughter of the deputy envoy of Qian Jingfu... and Guanglu Shaoqing Ma My lord's daughter, the daughter of Master Xuanfu Tong Zhiwu, the daughter of Master Shan, a member of the sect in the temple... plus there are all kinds of officials from various prefectures and counties, at least there are more than 300 people." Old Zhao also curled his lips: "I'm afraid it is Why can't someone from his family be special?"

"Can't ordinary people's daughters do it?" Wei Chi knew very little about it, so he was very curious.

"It's not impossible...it's just...without an arm...which one is not as beautiful as a flower? How can you pick it out?...But," Lao Zhao laughed again: "Even if these girls are not selected in the end, the official media We also need to find a good family for them. In the past, many elders made plans for their children? Master Wei also pay attention this year?"

Wei Chi hid his dumbfounding expression and pretended to be serious: "It's true, it's true."

The noise downstairs became more and more lively. Third Young Master Shao's voice was very loud, as if he was singing an opera.The child's father was timid, and dared not make a sound when he hugged the child, but the child's mother was not easy to provoke. She rolled up her sleeves and poked her neck to greet the Shao family's eighteen generations of ancestors.

The child was crying, and the dog was barking.

Wei Chi and Lao Zhao were bored, so they leaned on the window sill to join in the fun.

Suddenly the dog was kicked, and shrank to one side with a whimper.Boss Zhang shook his robe and stood up: "What are you arguing about?"

Third Young Master Shao opened his robe, and there were several yellow-orange dots at knee height, with sugar slag floating on them, a candied gourd stuck to the top one, half of the hawthorn was missing, and the tooth marks were clear.Boss Zhang looked at the boy, the candied haws in his hand was indeed missing one.

The third young master Shao sang that matter again, Boss Zhang waved his hand impatiently: "Change to another place to make noise!"

Obviously, Third Young Master Shao expressed dissatisfaction with Boss Zhang's attitude, and wanted to sing again.Boss Zhang said coldly: "There is an adult upstairs, don't you believe me, go and have a look? It's not good to disturb the fifth rank of the Imperial Academy."

The two of Wei and Zhao were having a good time, but when they saw the people downstairs cheering and dispersed, Lao Zhao said with a smile: "It can be seen that the boss went to persuade him, and the noise and noise during the Chinese New Year is also annoying. This person is also, and he has not been selected yet. Such a thing really happened! Who knows how many nobles there are? How could it be their turn? Hmph..."

Wei Chi thought about the appearance of the third young master Shao. His sister must be a beauty, but she is just a beauty. Old Zhao is right, if there is no help, he cannot be selected... But what Old Zhao said is not all right, he has never seen it before. The one named Lin Yuzan, Wei Chi felt, even if her father was a beggar, she could still choose her.

Give yourself to the most noble person in this country, and then exchange for supreme glory.It seems that there is no difference between myself and these women, but there seems to be a slight difference - apart from glory, has that Miss Lin also fantasized about the love of husband and wife?Looking at the imperial palace from a distance, Wei Chi could only see the upturned eaves in the distance, bright and beautiful but extremely dim, he felt mixed feelings for a while.

Before leaving, I asked Boss Zhang to pack some beef and braised meat to prepare for the boring evening.Then I counted my fingers: Thirty, the first day, the second day, the third day, it's not a bad rule to visit after these few days, isn't it?Thinking of the foolish scholar, Wei Chi couldn't help but sneered, and then walked towards the deserted street.

New Year's Eve is a deserted and lively festival. The excitement is surrounded in the courtyards of each family, and the streets are separated by desertedness.When Wei Chi and Lao Zhao were eating cold beef in this corner, the flavor of the new year was already very strong in each family.It was even more lively inside the palace.According to the usual practice, all relatives and relatives of the emperor in Beijing must enter the palace for reunion, and there will be a grand "Nuo Dance" after nightfall, and everyone must observe the New Year's Eve.Adult men and their family members have to divide the banquet, and prepare double portions for everything. The palace people are very busy tonight.

But there is still hope. If you are busy, the rewards will never be small. In addition to the rewards from the masters of each family, the palace also uniformly distributes yearly silver. Small items like rouge, so it is festive from top to bottom.

The little palace maid Bracelet sat on the edge of the threshold and rubbed her ankles. Seeing Hu Po hurriedly carrying the tray and running out, she smiled at the silk flower beside her, "Look at this little girl, she never stops after being tired all day, just waiting for the silver reward." Woolen cloth."

Juanhua burst out laughing: "She is a newcomer who has never seen the world, so she doesn't know that tomorrow will be the real master? The first day of the new year is the princess's birthday, so we don't spare the energy to serve our master, but we still post it upside down." ? Is it a profit or a loss?"

The two silk flower bracelets took a moment to leave the yard, but they were accidentally bumped into by a nanny. How could the nanny not know what these girls were thinking, so she was about to scold them severely.

"Slow down," a voice spoke softly, but it was clearly audible: "Don't teach people on the road when it's Chinese New Year, and worry about it after the year."

The girl who spoke also looked very young, and these two thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls were carrying all kinds of things beside her, and they must have passed by.

Juanhua heard the familiar voice, she was overjoyed, she looked up and saw that she was indeed from Hede Palace.The old mammy curtseyed and retreated silently.The woman didn't say much, and went in the direction of the main hall.

"Yo, is this that one?" Bracelet'er saw that the girl was also about sixteen or seventeen years old, and she looked very beautiful, especially her eyes, as if she could speak, let alone a man, just like her When a woman sees it, she will inevitably like it in her heart.

Juanhua was very proud: "You don't know that, this sister is the leader of Hede Palace."

"Could it be that Tangtang?" Biao'er was taken aback.

"Candy or not?" Amber ran over panting, "The two sisters are easy to find."

"Oh," Bracelet'er sincerely sighed: "It's only sixteen or seventeen years old, but to be such a high-ranking palace official is really incomparable!"

Juanhua snorted: "How can you compare to her? The princess has been with her since she was born, and the two grew up together. How can you and I have such a good fate?"

Amber realized who she was talking about, so she also spoke up: "It's strange, why is it called such a strange name?"

Juanhua covered her handkerchief and smiled: "It was Her Royal Highness who shouted it out. The elder sister's real name is Qingliu, and it was the name given by the empress dowager, but the princess got used to shouting like that, so she really changed it later."

"It's a good fate..." Bracelet sighed very much.

"You are short-sighted," Juanhua disdainfully said, "The majestic Hede Hall, the seven hundred people, are not really capable, how can they bear it? Even if I only worked there for a year She can still remember the girls in the outer courtyard, so it can be seen that there is no one who does not care about all kinds of people. She is kind and magnanimous, does not find faults in others, and has the most foresight and regulations in doing things. The princess likes her, but the concubines are very fond of her. His praise, we, even if we have this fate, we can’t compare to it.”

The three little girls sighed for a while.

"I just don't know... what kind of husband the princess will marry." Ming'er is both the princess's birthday and the princess's gift. The first emperor is only this daughter. Woolen cloth?Bracelet sighed: "Then sister, what kind of good life will it be?"

The author has something to say: Tangtang, you have finally appeared.