Chiwuxing

Chapter Sixty-Fifth - Courtiers Host a Banquet and Follow Officials to Interrogate Officials, Meeting in Pavilions

The gong chips are staggered, and the cups are replaced.

Pedestrians are bustling outside the building, and there are endless laughter and laughter among the tables and banquets inside the building.

During the square long banquet, all kinds of precious side dishes are displayed side by side on the table, and several pots of official wine are placed in front of individual tables, and the copper carved pot body is full of low luxury.

All the waiters in the private room retreated, leaving only a qin girl sitting behind the gauze red plum screen.

At the banquet, a young man in regular clothes raised his glass and took a big sip. He met the glance of the middle-aged man opposite him, and the middle-aged man immediately looked away. He couldn't help laughing and said, "What's the matter, Mr. Feng, I've been here for a long time. Why don't you move your chopsticks, but you think the official wine tastes bad?"

Feng Rulue raised the corner of his mouth, looked back, and said, "Your Majesty Yuan was joking, but there is still business to be done in the afternoon, so I don't dare to indulge in drinking."

Yuan Libin only said: "Just one or two drinks may not make you drunk, Mr. Feng can't drink like that now."

The faces of the people on the side froze, and after hearing what Yuan Libin said, they gave him a wink, and then said: "Master Feng, originally today we are taking advantage of the rest of our colleagues to get together outside, and at the same time, we can also get together in private. Let’s talk about chores between the court and China, since they are all here in microservices, I also thought that there is no need to stick to so many etiquettes, and everyone can just meet as friends.”

"Master Zhang is right," Feng Ru continued, "Then I happen to have something to do, and I will take advantage of this private banquet to ask Master Zhang what he thinks."

Zhang Yanque nodded and said, "Please tell me."

Feng Rudao: "Previously, the Ministry of Households has been in charge of all the money collected by the Ministry of Households since the official operation of Yantiejiu. Later, I heard that the profits from the public lands after the Ministry of Industry collected idle land were also handed over to the Ministry of Households. Originally, I hereby I have no opinion, as long as there are officials in the household department to subdivide the account books, there will be no mistakes, but the current situation is that the soldiers of the Red Armor Army have just quelled the chaos caused by the barbarians, not to mention giving them a lot of money. Rewards are reasonable, even to appease the relatives of the soldiers who died in the war would be a huge expense. I sent people to the Ministry of Households several times to deliver letters. Two? Every time the people sent back to tell me the reason is that the officials under the Ministry of Household Affairs claim that the payment is fixed according to the income tax ratio, but what is the priority? Don't you know anything?"

Zhang Yanque choked, and Yuan Libin who was on the side took the opportunity to say in a strange tone: "Master Feng is now in the Privy Council, but he is really thinking about the army."

Sitting under Yuan Libin's subordinates were several young subordinates from the household department, and they all looked at each other when they heard the words, and one of them answered: "No wonder Master Feng doesn't drink alcohol, it turns out that the official wine can only smell the wine Fragrant, once you drink it, it will be unbearably spicy..."

Minister of the Ministry of War Zhao Xueming grinned and said, "Master Feng is conscientious and hardworking for the people. He is indeed an example for all of us officials."

Yuan Libin secretly gouged out Feng Ru's eyes.

Feng Ru's complexion did not change, his brows were straight, he still looked at Zhang Yanque who was facing him, and said: "Since your Majesty values ​​you, you must know what you are doing."

Ni Chengzhi, who was sitting behind the two people on Feng Ru's right, smiled and opened his mouth at this time, saying: "Mr. Feng is too busy with the case, and he may not know the specific situation. The public land office is under my supervision. Just now, Mr. Feng The said taxes were paid to the Ministry of Households, and there was no difference, but it happened that there were a few wine merchants in the capital who were in trouble, and they took a percentage of them to supplement them. When the decree is issued for the first time, a few leaders are always needed to set an example, so the household department is not much more generous than usual for the time being. We only need to wait until the decree is stabilized and the people have no objections, and then the subsidy will be abolished. That's it."

Feng Ru heard the words, looked at Ni Chengzhi again, and asked: "Then, Sir Ni, when the public land is collected from the public wasteland, is there any money subsidy for the people who cultivate the land?"

Zhang Yanque's eyes turned to Ni Chengzhi, Ni Chengzhi's eyes flickered, and he continued to smile: "The original plan did not give it, but later considering that it is not easy for farmers to farm at the border, they still gave a certain amount of subsidies when harvesting the fields, but the local private cultivation The farmers in the field also knew that they had committed a crime, so they didn't ask too much."

Feng Ru turned to the person opposite, and said: "How can the government's mandatory decree allow people to ask for prices secretly. What's more, the people in this kind of land are poor, and it's not unfair. Why are the rich in the capital so active?"

Yuan Libin saw Feng Ru's gaze on him, and said, "Master Feng, what exactly do you want to say? Didn't Master Feng always claim to be a man of the people and a threat to his body? Why? The poor are the common people, and some Doesn’t the family property count? I’m afraid it’s because of jealousy in your heart.”

Shao Qian, who was at the head of Zhang Yanque, listened for a long time, chewed the last bite of food in his mouth, and interjected with a crooked grin: "Master Yuan is young and has enough food and clothing on weekdays, how can he really know the size of this gold and silver?" What's the use..."

Zhao Xueming looked at Yuan Libin, couldn't help nodding towards Feng Ru a few times, and said with a smile: "Master Feng is in charge of the financial expenses of the army, so it must be excusable to use some things within his authority... ..."

Yuan Libin continued to sarcastically say: "When I was young and never worried about money, I really didn't know the uses of gold and silver, but it's not uncommon to think about other people's wealth. When I was a child, the little beggar at the door of the house was thinking all day about how to get some money from my house." He was so soft and broken, so he squatted outside the gate of the mansion every day, blocking it for a long time, afraid that others would not know how greedy he is..."

Feng Ru looked at him coldly, and said, "I just don't know where Master Yuan's family is located. So many people are thinking about it, and they can't leak a single point."

Yuan Libin continued: "Don't bother Mr. Feng to take care of it, and the parents in the family also have no time to spend. They are specially on guard against someone who is eager to get rich with vicious intentions."

"Master Yuan always thinks of holding on to his family's wealth. Is this prudence or greed?"

"It was Mr. Feng who applied for the benefit of collecting salt, iron and wine. Heh, you want to gain a good reputation while at the same time wanting to make money for your Privy Council. Who is more greedy?"

Yuan Libin refused to give in, picked up the wine glass on the table and downed it in one gulp.

The atmosphere between the two was stagnant, and the officials below all knew that one of them was high-ranking and the other was deep-rooted, and they were difficult to provoke, so they had to bow their heads to drink and eat food, not daring to speak.

Zhang Yanque said at this time: "What Master Feng said just now is indeed that I didn't think carefully, so let's do it, after all, the affairs of the military are related to the country and are more important, so for the time being, I will give it to the people who participated in the construction of the water conservancy project along the river. Misappropriation of his reward, Master Ni, what do you think?"

Ni Chengzhi nodded and said, "Yes, there must always be priorities."

"Master Zhang," Feng Ru interjected again, "I'm afraid it's not appropriate to withhold money from the people. The repairs after the floods took more than a year, so the embezzlement of money at this time will inevitably make the people feel bad."

Yuan Libin rolled his eyes in disdain, turned his head to the left, and said to a small official beside him: "...I'm used to being a saint, I'm afraid I don't know that he sympathizes with the people..."

Although the voice was not loud, the people around could still hear it clearly.

Without waiting for Zhang Yanque's answer, Ni Chengzhi laughed again: "Your Majesty Feng, you don't have to think about it. This is just a temporary arrears. The Ministry of Accounts has a turnover process, and the remuneration that should be paid will not be less."

Feng Ru nodded and said, "All right."

As soon as the words were uttered, several people at the table couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief.

There was a rare silence during the banquet, when a few strings behind the screen were startled and clank.

Shao Qian drank another glass of wine and said with a smile: "Bo Yong, you might as well try this wine, although the wines from this official brewing cellar are of a single variety, but the ingredients and formulas used are all good and have a special charm. "

Feng Ru said: "No, just drink it up, my lords."

Yuan Libin poured out the wine in the flagon at hand, which was not enough for a glass, and complained: "This pot of wine is dry again..."

Seeing the wind, the small official from the household department next to him quickly gave the table a wink, and a jug of new wine was sent from the side of the table immediately. The young official filled the wine glass on Yuan Libin's table and said with a smile: "My lord, please!" use."

Yuan Libin accepted it with a smile, put his arms around the arm of the person next to him and leaned into his ear, said something, both of them burst into laughter.

Zhang Yanque looked around at the banquet table and said with a smile: "Today is full of wine, you can drink as much as you want."

The officials below all laughed and thanked, and the trivial laughter and laughter reappeared during the banquet.

Feng Ru felt bored, looked down at the jug on the table, hesitated for a moment, poured the official wine in the jug to the bottom of a glass, raised the wine glass to his mouth, just looked up and saw Yuan Libin and several young officials messing around In a mess, the descriptions of each other are messy, the clothes are disheveled, and there is no half-dignity.

"Snapped!"

Feng Ru raised his hand and knocked the metal wine glass on the table, the crisp sound suddenly alarmed the surrounding people.

Even though Yuan Libin was still squinting his drunken eyes and couldn't tell what was going on, he looked at Feng Ru blankly when he heard the sound, and the people beside him quickly helped him to sit up straight.

"What's wrong with Boyong?" Shao Qian said with a smile, "Why are you angry?"

"...Huh?" Yuan Libin said, half-drunk, with eyes dim, "...who is so bold...to provoke...uh...Master Feng to get angry?"

Feng Ru looked back at him and said solemnly: "Even if it's a private banquet, you shouldn't completely forget your identity."

Yuan Libin opened his eyes wide, leaned forward, and said in a loud voice, "... what? Mr. Feng, what did you just say... uh... what?"

The young official on the left grabbed him quickly, and smiled at Feng Ru: "My lord, Mr. Yuan drank too much, so he will inevitably become drunk. Please forgive me..."

Feng Ru glanced over coldly, and Ni Chengzhi said to another young official next to him: "Hurry up and get some hangover soup for your adults."

"Hmm...yes!" The junior official immediately recovered after hearing the words, got up and left the private room in a hurry.

"I still have something to do today, so I won't accompany you!"

Feng Ru suppressed his anger, and strode out of the room. In the corridor, the official who just went to call the waiter to sober up was bumped into. The official was shocked: "...Feng...Master Feng, are you leaving?"

Feng Ru glanced at him, didn't stop, and just crossed his body and said: "Good life, take care of your lord, be careful not to get drunk."

The junior official stood where he was, the displeasure in these words was palpable, he breathed and calmed down the sudden fear, and then led the waiter into the private room.

Ni Chengzhi put down the unfinished wine cup, raised his eyes and glanced at several people, stood up and cupped his hands and said, "My lords, what a coincidence, today Shen Shi's father has something important to discuss, and he called me home, so please take your leave."

Shao Qian replied from above: "First things first, since the Prime Minister has ordered, you go and do yours first."

Ni Chengzhi retreated according to the etiquette, with a graceful appearance.

The waiter put the hangover soup on the table, and the junior officer lightly helped Yuan Libin who was drunk leaning on the back of the chair, and said: "My lord, the hangover soup is here."

Yuan Libin narrowed his eyes, looked opposite, and said in a low voice, "Feng Ru... is gone?"

"Let's go," the subordinate officer whispered, and then leaned into Yuan Libin's ear and whispered to him what he happened to hear in the corridor just now.

"Tsk," Yuan Libin shook his head and sneered, reached out to take the hangover soup, and said, "Pass me another pot of wine."

"Yes."

Shao Qian shook his head and said with a smile: "Master Yuan is young, his drinking capacity is really not comparable to that of an old man like us..."

"It's true, every time you come out to attend a banquet, Mr. Yuan is the most drinkable among all the officials." The next official answered.

"My lords, please be polite." Yuan Libin replied with a smile, his eyes became clearer.

Shao Qian glanced at Feng Ru's vacant seat, and said with a smile: "Bo Yong is probably angry today, and it's no wonder that Master Feng seldom comes to this banquet place on weekdays, and he is always thinking about business, so it's hard to do that." Have fun."

Yuan Libin took out a folding fan, and the blowing wind made him drunk again, and said disdainfully: "Master Shao, you are coordinating the affairs of the six ministries. , so he used official business as an excuse all day long, in the final analysis, it is nothing more than his arrogance and unwillingness to interfere with us..."

Shao Qian shook his head and smiled: "I am ashamed of what I said. Perhaps Mr. Feng is meticulous in his actions. Although there are not many military affairs, Mr. Feng was originally transferred, so it is inevitable that he is not very skilled in military affairs..."

A gust of wind blowing from the folding fan happened to dance to the right, Zhang Yanque said: "In other words, Mr. Feng has come to this point because of Jin Duo's resignation."

"Isn't it?" Yuan Libin followed with an official from the Ministry of Household Affairs, "Besides, it was also Jin Duo's interest in Japan, who took the lead in making excuses to resign from office, so that his life was saved after a series of family raids and accusations."

When it comes to this topic, the people below can't help talking about it, and they are surprisingly united in hatred.

Another official next to him said to himself: "I also heard a rumor that it was Master Feng who saved Jin Duo at the end, so he was saved from the original death penalty..."

Zhang Yanque said: "Many of you here are also court officials, so it's fine to spread rumors in private. It's better not to spread them, so as not to cause trouble."

Zhao Xueming, who had not spoken all the time, also continued: "Master Feng studied under the old censor Xie Zhixie, and was later promoted by Ni Xiang. He used to hate eunuchs the most. I'm afraid this rumor is not true. It's mostly because the people below are jealous. Rumors."

The officials who had just spoken looked at each other in blank dismay and fell silent.Here Shao Qian glanced at Zhao Xueming, and smiled again: "If we really want to go back to the source, it must be Jia Yun who played directly in the past and created this Privy Council alone. Logically speaking, it is your Ministry of War that suffered the loss." Nah."

Zhao Xueming squinted his eyes and said with a smile: "We are both working for the benefit of the people of the court, so we don't need to distinguish between them. After all, Admiral Jia also enriched the Red Army's strength. Now that he is gone and the achievements have been made, there is no need to pursue the past. It's..."

Yuan Libin leaned on the back of his chair, swallowed his drink, and said sarcastically: "If this is the case, Feng Ru is just taking over the work of two eunuchs who have ruined the country, so why should he be complacent all day long..."

The words became smaller and smaller, Shao Qian glanced at him and said with a smile, "Master Yuan is a little drunk again."

The official on the left stretched his elbow and stabbed Yuan Libin secretly. The latter also woke up and said on the steps: "...Yes, I am really a little drunk now..."

Zhang Yanque said to the seat next to him: "I heard that Jin Duo once submitted the remaining powers of the Ministry of War to the Privy Council. From now on, he will only focus on military affairs. I wonder if there is such a thing?"

Zhao Xueming nodded and said: "It is true, but Prime Minister Ni suppressed it. This matter was opposed by many officials at the time, so it was left alone."

Shao Qian sighed: "It seems that some people will really make an inch of it, Mr. Zhao, I will also seek justice for you..."

Zhao Xueming forced a smile, and then heard Shao Qian say: "Originally, the restaurant held a banquet today and sent people to the Chijia barracks to invite General Jiao to come over, but now there is no one coming, probably because there are too many things in the army, so there is no time to come."

Zhao Xueming said: "General Jiao didn't arrive, so didn't you say he sent his subordinates?"

Shao Qian raised his eyebrows and said, "Where?"

Zhao Xueming also raised his eyes and looked around. During the last banquet, there were whispers, and an official announced: "Master Tang, it's General Tang Shen who is here."

After finishing speaking, the man turned around and patted the people around him. Everyone turned their eyes to the end of the banquet, only to see the young man dressed in a crow blue military robe, who was recovering from his stupefaction, and turned to meet the eyes of the crowd.

Shao Qian said: "How can General Tang Shen sit so far back? Why don't you sit at the banquet?"

The officials who heard the words below did not speak. We all know that military generals have always been squeezed out by civil officials. It just became the tacit slander of everyone.

Tang Lan came back to her senses, just cupped her hands and said with a faint smile: "Your Excellency is sympathetic, but today happened to be lazy in my job and came late, so I sat at the end. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

"No problem," Shao Qian followed the young man's gaze and asked suspiciously, "Why is General Tang Shen just in a daze, can he still see the girl playing the piano through the screen?"

The human voices during the banquet had already overshadowed the original coherent strings.

After a few rounds of drinking, the voice of guessing orders continued to increase, and everyone was a little open-minded, showing a little presumptuousness.

"Hey, I'm afraid this official wine doesn't suit our young General Tang's appetite," Yuan Libin glanced at Tang Lan with a smile, and said, shaking his fan, "I've heard that General Tang Shen doesn't often come to drink in this tavern on weekdays. I often go to the Hongxiang Pavilion at the end of the bridge to drink flower wine..."

The people around burst into laughter, and Tang Lan raised his glass while everyone laughed and said: "Your Excellency, you are laughing. The lowly job is just to go for entertainment in your spare time. You will never neglect business because of personal affairs."

Shao Qian said: "General Tang Shen, don't be nervous, it was just an ordinary joke just now... This is also human nature, and there is no meaning to blame."

An official on the opposite side laughed again: "Master Yuan is so familiar with it just now, but have you met him in the Hongxiang Pavilion?"

Yuan Libin folded his fan and said with a smile without any scruples: "I'm a regular visitor there, so I know a lot about the anecdotes and anecdotes. If you're interested, I'll tell you all about it later. , guaranteed to be all kinds of fresh anecdotes about the imperial capital, I am afraid that there is no place in this city where the news is better."

When it comes to women, everyone here will inevitably start to move around, as if a hook first opened a peel, eager to peek into the sweet gravy inside.

Tang Lan leaned on his elbow, drank a sip of wine with one hand, and looked at the shadow lightly outlined behind the gauze screen.

Shao Qian glanced around the banquet, and saw Tang Lan at the end of the banquet, and couldn't help saying: "If General Tang is interested in the geisha playing the piano behind the screen, why don't you call him out to have a look."

Everyone's eyes then turned to the end of the table, and after a moment of silence, Tang Lan was about to answer when he heard the woman behind the curtain strumming slightly, stepping out from behind the screen first, the visitor lowered her eyebrows and lowered her eyes, and those seated couldn't see her. It's true, only Wan Wan's pigmented dress is elegant and charming, with powder makeup layered on her face.

The woman gave a slight blessing to everyone on the table, gracefully curling up.

Yuan Libin squinted his drunken eyes and said with a smile: "General Tang Shen has shown great favor to you, why don't you go over to drink and thank you?"

Hearing this, the woman stepped forward a few steps, leaned over to lift the wine pot, and the wide sleeves swept across Tang Lan's chest.

Tang Lan lowered her eyes lightly and didn't look at the woman, she just sat there stiffly.

An official next to him looked at this side, squinted at each other, and smiled himself.

Yuan Libin looked at the end of the table a few times, then turned his head again, uninterested, raised his hand and took a sip of wine.On the other hand, several officials around Tang Lan stared at the woman.

One of them laughed and said, "Girl, why don't you help me fill a glass too?"

Immediately after several people laughed and begged, the woman went over to pour wine one by one with a slight smile on her face.

Shao Qian was chewing a peanut, and his mouth was greasy. He looked up and saw that Tang Lan stopped moving again, turned his head to Zhao Xueming, who was lowering his head on the left, and smiled: "Master Zhao, I heard that the Privy Council recently When the roster of personnel transfers and dismissals in the Red Armored Army was submitted, there seemed to be some rumors in the Ministry of War?"

The chopsticks protruding from Zhao Xueming's hand froze, then he drew them back and said, "What do you mean, my lord?"

Shao Qian said: "Master Feng left in a hurry just now, but he didn't have time to ask. It seems that a group of veterans have been discharged from the army, and a few young generals have been promoted... Well, it's General Tang Can, who was originally in the army. For some reason, the rumors about it spread to several officials in the court?"

Zhao Xueming frowned and said: "General Jiao has the procedure of reviewing generals in Chijia, and this matter is not only made by the Privy Council, let alone in the Ministry of War, so even if there are rumors in the court, it should not only be in the Ministry of War I think this may be rumors from people who don't understand the situation, my lord may worry too much."

"That's right, the border has not been peaceful in the past two years, and it has indeed worked hard for our soldiers..." Shao Qian nodded in agreement, and then raised his voice to where Tang Lan was sitting, "Why doesn't General Tang Shen drink anymore? I heard The soldiers in the army usually have a thousand cups that can't be poured, but the official brewing in the imperial capital can't compare with the dirty wine in the camp?"

Tang Lan was called again suddenly, and before he could react, an officer around him took the opportunity to push him up, and then he came back to his senses, and hastily replied to Shao Qian: "Master Shao made fun of it, it's really not good for a low-ranking officer to drink alcohol in the army. Just now I ran away for a while, but I also woke up drunk by the way, afraid that I would lose my manners in front of the adults."

Yuan Libin shook his fan and said, "General Tang Shen must have been staring at that girl in a daze."

There was another commotion around her, Tang Lan nodded slightly, smiled with everyone, raised the wine glass in her left hand to cover up the momentary embarrassment, when she lowered her eyes, a piece of thin paper and silk showed her arm and wrist, and the words were distorted:

The old place, waiting for you.

"Feng Shibo."

As soon as Feng Ru got into the sedan chair, a familiar voice came from outside. He lifted the curtain to see the visitor, pursed his lips and said, "What's the matter, nephew?"

Ni Chengzhi clasped his hands and said, "The younger generation has a few words to say to Uncle Shi. I wonder if it is convenient at this time?"

Seeing his modest demeanor, Feng Ru paused, and said, "Get in the car and talk."

Ni Chengzhi bowed into the carriage. The interior of the carriage was much darker than the exterior, with only a little light leaking from the gap between the two windows.

Feng Ru took the lead and said, "What does my nephew want to say?"

Ni Chengzhi straightened his sitting position, and said, "Shi Bo just got angry because the Ministry of Households procrastinated military expenses?"

Feng Ru sighed: "Half of them are for this."

Ni Chengzhi said: "The younger generation thinks that this matter is not entirely the fault of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Uncle Shi used to work in the Minister of Ministers, so he naturally knows that although the Minister of Ministers of Finance does not hold the real administrative power now, the correspondence between the various ministries and even the reports to the higher authorities , still centered on Shangshu Province. When the younger generation raised public land affairs, they had already handed over a letter to the household department to discuss the collection of taxes. Later, after many changes, this matter was shelved. Today, your table By the way, the younger generation has just remembered the previous incident, but Mr. Zhang’s expression just now does not seem to be false. After all, it is not a day or two since the national economy is in short supply, and Mr. Zhang is inevitably worried about Mr. Yuan’s situation. Face to face, I hesitate to solve it."

"You mean, it was Shao Qian who was secretly delaying the military expenditure," Feng Ru frowned, "He can't hold it for a while, but he can't hold it for a lifetime. What is he asking for?"

Ni Chengzhi said: "Uncle Shi should understand better than the younger generation, and the cost of the army is not comparable to other things. The border wars have not stopped in the past two years. Once the war broke out, wouldn't the Red Armored Army set off immediately? How can they afford to wait?"

With a deep gap on Feng Ru's forehead, he said, "The country is uneasy, so what good can he gain? Isn't the gain not worth the loss? Shao Qian doesn't want to dig his own grave."

Ni Chengzhi said vaguely: "This matter... this junior also doesn't know. Although the uncle was slightly dissatisfied with Yuan Shilang's behavior during the meeting just now, the junior thought that the uncle did not leave the meeting angrily because of such considerations. Mr. Yuan I'm about the same age as me, although I'm a bit more carefree, but I'm not ambiguous in major matters, so the younger generation wonders if there are some key points in it."

Feng Ru lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said: "If Shao Qian's problem is there, it must have something to do with Jiang Hua. After the crown prince supervised the country, Jiang Hua was left out in the cold. Could it be that he wants to do something?"

Ni Chengzhi shook his head and said, "This... the juniors don't know about it."

Feng Ru squinted his eyes and thought, the light in the carriage was not bright, and he could only see the silhouette of the opposite person in the trance, he paused for a long time, and then said: "I see, I'll think about it when I go back, my nephew has other important things ?”

Ni Chengzhi smiled and said: "No, besides, Wang Shibo can take care of his health, don't work all day because of business, and get tired."

Feng Ru nodded, and said: "Nephew Lao is caring, the banquet is only halfway through, and nephew came out just to talk about this matter?"

Ni Chengzhi smiled and said, "It happens that my father has something to look for, so he took the opportunity to leave the meeting early."

Feng Ru said: "Then nephew, let's go get busy."

"Okay." Ni Chengzhi lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

The front of the curtain suddenly became dark again, Feng Ru stared at the front without moving for a long time, and after a long time, he ordered outside:

"Go home."

It was getting late, and the flow of people on the street gradually increased.

After Ni Chengzhi got out of the carriage, he also returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion in a sedan chair. As soon as he stepped into the gate of the mansion, he left the servants around him and walked straight to Ni Congwen's study.

"Deng Deng."

"Come in," Ni Congwen knew who was coming as soon as he heard the knock on the door, and he continued to write, "Didn't you go to the banquet? Why did you come back so early?"

Ni Chengzhi stood in the room and said: "We can talk about some serious business before the banquet, but after that, we just talk about our own private affairs, which is meaningless. If father is willing to go, maybe everyone can talk about court affairs. thing."

"Then I lost everyone's interest in the past," Ni Congwen continued to write at the desk, while smiling, "Why? We talked about political affairs today?"

Ni Chengzhi replied: "I was about to talk to my father about this matter. During the banquet today, everyone still laughed at Yan Yan. It was only halfway through Feng Ru mentioned the military use, and then the topic was transferred to the Ministry of Households."

"Speaking of this during the banquet, Feng Ru is really disappointing...and then?" Ni Congwen sighed with a smile.

Ni Chengzhi replied: "Then Feng Ru continued to criticize Zhang Yanque and the others, and even questioned the public land office that he brought his son to run... But father, don't worry, everything is still under the planning of his father, and nothing will go wrong. "

"Well," Ni Congwen nodded, then stopped writing, closed the memorial just written, looked up at his son, and said with satisfaction, "I am satisfied with your actions...but your sister is getting married soon, your mother is going to It’s too early, I need your help to take care of it.”

Ni Chengzhi said: "Father, don't worry."

Ni Congwen also instructed: "However, I have also entrusted the housekeeper before, so there is no need to make a big fuss. Xin'er's marriage has been delayed for two or three years, and she is not too young now. At this time, it is not too polite to be low-key."

Ni Chengzhi nodded, and couldn't help saying: "It's just... my son still doesn't understand why he has to pick someone from the army. It's a time of turmoil. If something happens, it's not to make Xin'er suffer for nothing..."

"You don't know your sister's personality yet," Ni Congwen said, shaking his head, "If she insists on forcing her, no one will be able to get her if she doesn't marry for the rest of her life... This stinky girl didn't like poetry since she was a child. It's not surprising that I have fallen in love with King Yu, and now I'm interested in people in the army... She lost her mother since she was a child, and what she owed her in the past, now she has the right to make up for it, so let her go..."

Ni Chengzhi pursed his lips and said, "It's just that for a moment I felt that the soldier ruffian had no family background, and was inconspicuous at the banquet. It would be a loss if he joined our family..."

Ni Congwen stroked his beard with a smile, and the meaning in his eyes was unclear: "People in the army are not necessarily bad things... At least Xin'er won't be bullied by him, that's all."

Ni Chengzhi responded.

The Hongxiang Pavilion has always been full of singing and singing every night, with endless laughter.At night, the streets were filled with laughter and banter, attracting passers-by to look sideways, wanting to see the scene of the number one joyous venue in the imperial capital.

In the embroidery room on the third floor of the pavilion, there is only a woman in Tsing Yi leaning against the window, her eyes stream to the passers-by outside the window, the noise on the road, transpiring from the mid-air, filtered out a layer of noise.

"Miss Chengzhe is in the house?" A female voice called out at the door.

"Yes, come in."

A girl in pink entered the room, put the mahogany box in her arms on the table with ease, and said: "The tailor's clothes have just been sent over."

"Hmm." The woman replied lightly.

Hearing the words, the pink clothes retreated, and the woman looked at the fragmented light from a distance, and Lin Yu's eyes were also shining.

After a long time, I heard footsteps outside the door again.

"How long have you waited?"

The sound of the door opening behind her was accompanied by the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching, the woman leaned against the window without moving, and only said: "It won't be long, I have nothing to do today in Japan."

The woman's bamboo green underskirt just matched her hair, revealing a little jade neck, and the red curtain by the window was tilted, and the moon shadow entered the window, glowing with soft light.

With a sound of "bang", the young man who entered the door fell down on the chair beside the table.

The woman looked back by the window, frowned and said, "How much did you drink?"

The young man narrowed his eyes and said: "... How many pots? Drinking at banquets is a common thing, and it cannot be avoided..."

The woman said: "Being greedy for drinking will only cause trouble. Isn't that what you told me before?"

"You little daughter, why do you drink so much wine?" The young man shook his head while laughing, and said in a soft voice, "An'an, be safe, be happy...that's your life. In the past, there were entanglements and turmoil. Now that your wish is finally fulfilled, I feel relieved."

The woman got up, sat on the chair beside the young man, stared at the loose smile on his face with her elbows bent, and pursed her lips, saying: "I am very happy now."

The young man leaned on the back of the chair, his smile carried a little bit of fatigue, it couldn't get thicker or lower.

Seeing that he didn't speak, the woman leaned forward and nodded at his face. The young man was still in a daze, guessing that drunkenness delayed the reaction, so she held this posture, nose to nose, and exhaled: "You Are you happy now?"

The young man met her gaze, opened his mouth, and murmured.

The woman laughed, and when he agreed, she raised her left arm, revealing a white wrist, with a red gold silk-wrapped double-ring bracelet on it.She raised her eyebrows and said, "This bracelet or the person... Which do you want more?"

The young man's misty eyes gradually became a little turbulent. He grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled her into his arms. He patted her lightly and said in a low voice, "It's mine, and I can't escape."

The woman tilted her head, leaned on his neck affectionately, and said, "You are so greedy."

The young man let out a low snort, and slowly closed his eyes.

The faint fragrance of virginity dissolves in the breath, intoxicating and at ease.

After a long time, the woman raised her upper body lightly, looked at him, and said, "A few days ago, I found something at home, and I will show you."

Seeing her rare joy, the young man asked, "What?"

The woman got up from his arms, took his hand, and came to the small table in the room. She stretched out her hand and stroked the faded layer of wooden glaze a few times, then opened the virtual lock, and the contents of the box came into view.

The young man stared at the crimson ball inside the box, and without waiting for a reaction, the woman reached out to take it out, raised her hand and shook it down, and the red clothes hanging straight down were like flowers blooming suddenly.

"This is what my mother used to wear back then. I called the masters of the tailoring workshop and rushed to work overnight to repair the places where it was worn out." The woman smiled, and her right hand stroked the gold thread embroidery on it. , there was unknowing joy in the calm tone, "My mother is the only daughter in the family. When she got married, she invited a famous embroiderer in the imperial capital to embroider stitch by stitch. The materials are all high-quality products... How about it?"

The woman looked back with a smile, and saw that the young man was still in a daze, so she approached and said, "Huh? The wine is still not sober?"

The young man fixed his eyes on the intricate embroidery pattern under the neckline, and replied: "...It's rare to see you so happy, I'm afraid I can't give you the scenery like your mother back then..."

The woman's smile faltered, she changed her hand and put the wedding dress in the box, she took the young man's hand hanging aside with her backhand, and said, "I'm not as greedy as you."

The young man squeezed her palm and said nothing more.

The woman withdrew her hand, turned the young man's head away, and turned her eyes from the happy clothes to herself, and she saw herself shrinking into two tiny dots in his eyes.

The young man is facing the raging autumn water in the two bays.

"Do you know what I regret the most in my life?"

"...your parents?"

"No," the woman put her hands on his shoulders and leaned closer to him, "Your eyes are the most beautiful and ugliest I have ever seen. Just a little difference is the difference between heaven and earth."

The young man smiled: "Where is the difference?"

"A little pure."

The young man kept smiling: "Have you ever seen truly pure eyes?"

"I have seen."

The young man smiled nonchalantly: "If this is the case, even if the eyes don't die, people won't live long."

The woman didn't answer, she stroked his eyebrows with her right hand, and said softly:

"Close your eyes."

Youth do what they say.

The woman covered her gently, skin to skin.