Tanhualang

After seeing the ceremony and taking his seat, Ding Bao said with a smile: "We have met each other, so I won't say much. Mr. Xu is currently in charge of the household department. He happened to be in charge of the salt affairs before, so he is very familiar with the distribution of salt quotations." However, I have talked a lot with him just now, Xiao Xu, tell Shen Jing what we just said. "

Shen Jing hurriedly smiled and said, "Then please ask Mr. Xu for more advice."

"Don't dare to act, dare not act." Xu Wei had a smile on his face, "Grandpa Ding ordered, I will know everything without saying anything."

The three of them started discussing about Yan Yin in the study.

Shen Jing was originally surprised to see that the person who came was Xu Wei; but after talking about it, another surprise: Xu Wei is not an idiot, he is very proficient in matters related to the salt affairs of the household department, and can analyze everything , He said it clearly; even many things that are not humane in it, he did not shy away from it.

When it was almost noon, Ding Bao tried his best to keep the meal, but Shen Jing refused, so he had to stay; Xu Wei did not refuse.During the banquet, the servants came up to pour wine, Xu Wei smiled and avoided: "Grandpa Ding, I have given up drinking."

Ding Bao smiled and said, "Really quit? I heard from your father that you quit drinking not ten times, but eight times."

"This time it's a real quit." Xu Wei peeked at Shen Jing embarrassedly, "Drinking is really a waste of time."

"Quit. Your father often thinks that you are too fun-loving, and it's time to calm down now." Ding Bao said with a smile, "Then you can drink tea. Xiao Shen will accompany me to have a drink."

Shen Jing didn't talk much, and kept listening to the two of them, guessing that Ding Bao should have a good relationship with Xu Wei's father, Xu Peng; the last time Xu Peng and Xu Wei went to Zhao Heng to apologize, it must have been Ding Bao's lead.

Ding Bao is a seasoned and cautious man, shrewd but not glib, and Shen Jing respects him very much; seeing Ding Bao's kindness towards Xu Wei, and after spending half a day with him, even the estrangement towards Xu Wei has gone.

The three of them had dinner, and Shen Jing and Xu Wei said goodbye together; Ding Bao wanted to send someone to take Shen Jing back, but Xu Wei stopped him: "Why do you bother me any more? I have a carriage waiting at the door. Just send Brother Shen back."

Ding Bao half-smiled and half-seriously said: "You are very reckless. Don't lose Xiao Shen."

"Just don't worry." Xu Wei smiled, "Brother Shen, don't you mind?"

Shen Jing had seen Xu Wei's talkativeness before, so she didn't want to ride with him, but she didn't want to bother Ding Bao too much, so she nodded in agreement.The two of them left the town guard's mansion and got on the carriage. Xu Wei smiled and asked: "Yesterday, it was the prince's birthday. I went with my father to celebrate his birthday, and I paid special attention to it. Why didn't I see Mr. Shen? I only saw the one who had been following me all this time. The money manager next to the prince."

Shen Jing said: "Yesterday I had some business, so I stayed in the study."

"That's the case, so it's no wonder." Xu Wei looked enlightened, "I heard from Grandpa Ding that Brother Shen is smart and capable, and His Highness values ​​him very much."

"Where." Shen Jing said, "Young Master Xu is young and promising, and now he has achieved the master's job, and his future is truly limitless."

"Brother Shen, you don't need to praise me. I'm not a serious official," Xu Wei said with a big smile, "I didn't like reading since I was a child, and my father donated money to me for an identity before I was stuffed into the household department. Don’t point at me to support the family, just point out that I have something to do and don’t go out to make trouble. Most of the others who came with me have been promoted now, and I am the only one who stays in this position for three or four years. "

"..." With such straightforwardness, Shen Jing didn't know how to answer the question at all.

"However, in terms of salt affairs, there are not many people from the household department who are more familiar with me than I am." Xu Wei laughed, "Although it is just running errands, the so-called county magistrate should be in charge of things now, big and small, up and down. , I still know all about it. Although the money didn’t reach my hands when those big and small merchants came to do Yanyin, I still know who they gave to and how much they gave. If Brother Shen has any questions in the future, I will You don't need to go through Grandpa Ding, just come to me directly."

"Thank you in advance."

"Brother Shen, you're welcome." Xu Wei said again, "By the way, do you like to go to theatre? A friend's birthday is two days old, and he invited a famous troupe to reserve a place in the Xixin Pavilion on the Qinhuai River. Starting tomorrow Singing for six days. I heard that it is a new play, if you don’t mind Brother Shen, come and listen to it together. Then I will be the host and invite you to drink.”

Shen Jing declined: "I can't. You helped me a lot today, so I should invite you."

Xu Wei glanced at him, and immediately responded: "You invite me? Okay!"

"..."

Xu Wei said with a cheerful smile: "If Brother Shen invites me, I will accompany you at any time. How about tomorrow night? Just go to try something new and listen to the first show. I will drive to pick you up tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow... I'm afraid I may not be free."

"The day after tomorrow is also fine. Anyway, I don't have any serious business, I'm free every day."

Shen Jing felt that she had dug a hole for herself, and then jumped down.

Back in the mansion, Shen Jing supplemented and revised the memorial.Just as it was being transcribed, Wei Zheng from outside personally brought in the Shandong secret report: "Yesterday's secret report has just been delivered. It's half a day late, so please take a look."

Shen Jing has long had a quasi-mountain in her heart;彡; Xibei, but I can't help but jump up and down.He took a look at the secret papers, then found the ones from the previous few days and put them together, hurried to Zhao Heng's place, entered the door without paying attention, handed the secret papers to Zhao Heng, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, the King of Han has raised troops !"

Zhao Heng received the secret report from Shen Jing, without the slightest surprise on his face, and even smiled: "Brother Huang expected it to be exactly the same."

He took a glance at the secret report, then sneered again: "Even the days are not much worse."

On the seventh day of the seventh month of the fifth year of Hongzhao, on the birthday of King Yu, the King of Han rebelled.

At the same time, Fang Tingxiang, Cao Feng, and Sun Ping sent news from Yanzhou, Guide, Huai'an and other places to King Yu of Nanjing that the counter-insurgency troops had already taken their positions and were setting up camp.

There was also news from the spies in Shandong that the King of Han played the banner of "the side of the Qing emperor" and demanded that the ministers in the court who proposed to "reduce the vassal" be punished.

Shen Jing Yanyin's report was finally completed, Shen Jing copied it, and sent it to Zhao Heng along with the secret reports from various places.After Zhao Heng read it, he was very satisfied with the Yan Yin Zou Bao, and immediately reported it to the capital, and then took a glance at the secret report: "Uncle Han Wang hates Master Dai so much. Do you know why?"

Shen Jing said: "I don't know."

"Back then, the emperor didn't like his father. He wanted to make Uncle King of Han the heir apparent, so he asked Lord Dai Lun's opinion." Zhao Heng said with a smile, "Dai Lun said bluntly that Uncle Han Wang was a poor soldier, he was rude and uneducated, and he was the king. , I am afraid it is not the blessing of the world. Therefore, the emperor changed his father to be the prince."

"Lord Dai knows the real dragon with his eyesight."

"True dragon?" Zhao Heng smiled, put the secret report in his hand on the table, and stood up, "Do you also think it is a good thing that the former emperor was kind and generous?"

Shen Jing hesitated for a while: "When the first emperor was in power, he pardoned the world several times and reduced the taxes of the people. He opened up his voice in the court and made all the officials dare to speak out. Everyone praised him."

"I don't know if people in the world think him good or not." Zhao Heng stood under the window, looking out, with an indistinguishable expression, "I only know that he can't even protect his own son."

"..."

"Miao'an, do you know why you don't eat longevity noodles for your birthday?"

Shen Jing was stunned for a moment: "I heard from Butler Xiaoyou that His Highness doesn't like noodles."

Zhao Heng turned around and smiled: "There are reasons why I don't like to eat. When I was eight years old, my father gave me a bowl of longevity noodles. Because I was dissatisfied with my father at that time, so I don't want to eat it. Brother Huang hadn't opened the mansion at that time, and lived with me in the mother's harem, so he ate that bowl of noodles for me because he was afraid of spoiling the mouth.

Listen quietly.

Zhao Heng's eyes were heavy: "As a result, he was poisoned after eating the noodles, and he vomited and had diarrhea for a few days. Although he managed to get rid of it later, his health has not been very good since then."

"This may not be the late emperor—"

Zhao Heng sneered: "Of course it's not him. But who can be blamed? You can't suppress the courtiers before, and you can't restrain the harem later. The ruler is weak and the officials are strong. That’s why today’s calamity has been brought about. So much so that now, the emperor’s elder brother is holding back, making it difficult for him to move forward.”

"..."

"Even if the emperor's health is poor, he still sleeps long and sleepy. He never dares to slack off in government affairs. For what? It's nothing more than to eradicate the ups and downs and leave a smooth road in the future, so that he can give his descendants a clear and prosperous life. I joined the army when I was young, and I was bathed in bloody storms. , and for what? It’s nothing more than to be able to share some hardships for the emperor’s brother.” Zhao Heng looked into the distance with far-sighted eyes: “If a person lives for a lifetime, he can’t even protect the people around him. What's the use?"

Listening to Zhao Heng's words, Shen Jing was speechless for a while, lifted the teapot and added half a bowl of hot tea for Zhao Heng, and said slowly: "That's why Your Highness must take care of yourself. Your Highness's Kangtai is the support of those around us." .”

From Zhao Heng's tone of voice, he vaguely understood why Zhao Heng was so unhappy as the King of Yu: Others were princes, enjoying the splendor, wealth and honor brought by power; He started to devote himself to the army at the age of [-], fighting north and south, just to be able to share half of the burden of the world from the shoulders of his brother, who is not very good at Kang Jian.

"You're right. I'm so lonely." Zhao Heng caressed the tea bowl and smiled slightly, "The rebellion of the King of Han is like a stone, which has been pressed in Gu's heart. Since I arrived in Nanjing, I have been looking forward to it falling to the ground, but also afraid of it." It fell to the ground, and today it finally fell to the ground. I just couldn't help being annoyed and complained to you so much, don't pay attention."

"Your Highness, you are welcome." Shen Jing smiled, "No matter how strong a person is, he will inevitably be tired after a long time."

"Yes. There is always a time when I want to take a break. Whenever someone can support Gu Gu, even for a while." Zhao Heng sighed up to the sky, and smiled at Shen Jing again, "Fortunately With you, Xiaoyou, and Wei Zheng, I can always share the burden for Gu. Otherwise, I don’t know how to get through these days.”