Tanhualang

Recap:

In February, the emperor decreed to marry Zhao Heng.In order to separate Shen Jing from Zhao Heng, the emperor sent Shen Jing to follow Zhuo Dajiang to control the water in the south of the Yangtze River.

In April, not long after Shen Jing arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, the emperor died.Zhao Heng complied with the posthumous order as regent and supported the eldest son of the emperor, Zhao Ming, to ascend the throne. Zhao Heng's marriage was postponed due to a national funeral.

In September, due to another flood in the south of the Yangtze River, Zhuo Dajiang was impeached, and the allocation of mercury was suspended.Shen Jing was ordered to go to Beijing to deal with him and reunited with Zhao Heng.

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In quiet memory, Zhao Heng's hands were always warm.Because of galloping on the battlefield for many years, riding horses and archery, her fingers are slender and strong, the fingertips are a little rough, and the palms are always warm.

At this moment, his fingers are cold, perhaps because of the deeper dew, he has been sitting here waiting for a long time.

Zhao Heng put his elbows on the armrest, and his slender hands were half hanging outside the armrest. Shen Jing gently held his fingertips without holding them back or pulling them away. He only raised his eyes to look at Shen Jing, and said with a slight smile: "Don't worry, Gu can still hold on."

Shen Jing watched him hesitate to speak, and then gently let go of his hand for a moment.

Zhao Heng moved his fingers, but didn't move any more. He stood up while leaning on the armrest, wrapped his cloak tightly around his body, and looked up at the moonlight to the west: "It's getting late, it's time to go back to the palace."

After a pause, he turned his head, lowered his eyes and said to Shen Jing: "The world in Beijing is chaotic. Since the affairs in Jiangnan have been fixed, you should leave Beijing as soon as possible."

Shen Jing heard the words, lowered his eyes and cupped his hands in response: "...Yes."

At the end of September, when the weather in the capital turned cold, Shen Jing left the capital in a carriage.

Wei Zheng was still accompanying him, besides Wei Zheng, there were five or six guards accompanying him.

The carriage rumbled away for half a day, and it started to rain lightly in the afternoon.The road was muddy, and the two of them did not arrive at the post station at dusk, so they had to spend the night outside.

At dusk, Wei Zheng parked the carriage at a ruined temple.The guards lit a fire in the temple, Wei Zheng took out the dry food and heated it up, and shared the food with Shen Jing.

Shen Jing was absent-minded all the way, and at this moment she was still a little distracted, took two bites of the biscuit, put it down, and stared at the fire in a daze.

After eating, the guards took turns to be on duty, and the rest dispersed to rest.Sitting by the fire, Wei Zheng looked at Shen Jing: "You frowning, are you still making trouble for the money for water control?"

Quietly returning to his senses, he forced a smile and said, "There are a lot of rich businessmen in the south of the Yangtze River, and the people's aspirations for water control. There is always a solution for the gap of 30 to [-] taels."

Wei Zheng put down the biscuits: "That's for His Highness."

After a moment of silence: "I always feel..."

"What do you think?"

"It's nothing." Shen Jing shook her head, then said in a low voice: "...Your Highness has changed a lot."

In the past, Zhao Heng was majestic and dignified, but now seeing him again, he added a bit of depth.

...To be precise, it added a bit of gloom.

The day before, the two of them were sitting under the eaves of the small courtyard. Although they were sitting opposite each other, they could still feel that Zhao Heng was full of preoccupations and thoughts.

Wei Zheng didn't answer, and sighed for a long time: "Your Highness has had a hard time this year."

Shen Jing nodded and said softly: "Yes."

After the farewell yesterday, he lay on the bed at night and thought over and over again, and he couldn't help but feel that Zhao Heng's expression of happiness and anger, the silent but calm tiredness between his eyebrows and eyes, was somewhat similar to the Zhao Du in the past——

Thinking of this, his heart couldn't help sinking.

That majestic and majestic imperial city swallowed his most precious people like a cannibal.

Looking back on those passionate and lingering days now, it seems like a lifetime away.

There is not much leisure left for Shen Jing to worry about Zhao Heng.

Weary all the way to Suzhou, Shen Jing took Xue Yin's letter and ran between the state capitals to collect grain and silver from the rich households in the south of the Yangtze River.

It often takes a few days to go out and go around for "begging". Every time he returns to Suzhou, Shen Jing goes to Zhuo Dajiang's bedside to express condolences to his illness, and also tells him how he "begged for money" with the wealthy gentry.

Zhuo Dajiang gave him advice while listening, and also taught him some rules and etiquette in dealing with people, and how to deal with magistrates.

The two now have no distinction between superiors and subordinates, but their relationship has grown day by day. Occasionally talking about books and poetry, they have become rare friends who forget the years.

After being so busy for more than a month, when Shen Jing returned to Suzhou for almost two months, the 50 silver taels allocated by the household department also arrived belatedly.

Miao Shenjian, the servant of the household department, also came with him, with the intention of agreeing with Zhuo Dajiang to retire and return to his hometown.

Miao Shenjian and Zhuo Dajiang have always been at odds, and they can only get along with each other on the face of it.After arriving in Suzhou, he was accompanied by Ren Jinsong, the prefect of Suzhou, to visit Zhuo Dajiang, leaving a message, and then left.

At the beginning of November, Zhuo Dajiang set off back to his hometown in Jiangxi with his sick body.

Apart from his old friend Ren Jinsong, the prefect of Suzhou, the only one who sent him off outside the city of Suzhou was Shen Jing.

Zhuo Dajiang sat on the shaft of the car, very thin, but pointed at Shen Jing, smiled wryly and shook his head: "Miao Shangshu is going to inspect the embankment today, why don't you accompany him? I'm not afraid that he will come back to trouble you."

Shen Jing smiled, and it was rare for him to show off his quick tongue in front of others: "Miao Shangshu still wants to use me as a stepping stone to repair the water conservancy works in the south of the Yangtze River, and send him to the cabinet to be a great scholar. How can you be willing to crush me right now? gone?"

Zhuo Dajiang laughed loudly when he heard the words. After laughing, he said to Ren Jinsong: "Jin Song, you and I have been friends for many years, and I have never asked you for anything. Now I have a heartless request. After I leave, Yu Gong In private, please take good care of Xiao Shen."

Ren Jinsong responded with a smile: "Don't worry. Yu Gong should be. Yu Shi, my old eyes are not blind. Xiao Shen has a talent and education, and I am afraid that you and I will need him to take care of you in the future."

Standing silently on a plate with a smile on his face, after the two of them finished talking about the old days, they stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhuo Dajiang three times. Returning home smoothly, thank you Zhuo Laoquan for his teaching."

Hearing this, Zhuo Dajiang inevitably shed a few old tears, patted him on the shoulder, and instructed: "The journey of officialdom is full of ups and downs. You are smart, alert, knowledgeable, and considerate in dealing with people and dealing with others. Given time, you will be able to To become a talent. It’s just that when you climb high and look far, you must remember not to be disturbed by external things. Life is only a few decades, and the only way to stick to your heart is the right way!”

Shen Jing bowed deeply and saluted: "Jing remembers the teachings of seniors."

Miao Shenjian stayed in the south of the Yangtze River for nearly a month, looked at all the fortifications, and came forward several times to mediate with several local rich men to raise donations, and then set off for the capital before the twelfth lunar month.

Before leaving, he secretly instructed Shen Jing: "The 20 taels of silver from the donation must be properly preserved. Every expenditure must be clearly accounted for. Now that there is a lot of trouble in the court, and there is such a quarrel with the Ministry of Household Affairs in the middle, I don't know how many pairs of eyes are in it Keep an eye on this fortification in the south of the Yangtze River. If there is a mistake and someone catches you, I can't afford to take the blame for you. Look at Zhuo Dajiang now, it will be your fate!"

After finishing speaking, I probably felt that my words were too harsh, so I softened my tone and said, "This is just in case, as long as you are careful, nothing will go wrong. Xiao Shen, don't worry. When the water control work is over, I will definitely remember it for you." It’s a great achievement, I’ll listen to it, and ask for a reward for you! Such a great contribution, it’s definitely no problem to break the rules and seal Yuanwailang!”

Shen Jing has been mediating between local states and counties and wealthy businessmen all day for the past six months, and she is used to all kinds of faces. Seeing him like this, she just smiled slightly and lowered her eyes to listen. I will do my best, like walking on thin ice!"

"With your ability in handling things, I am very relieved of you." Miao Shenjian patted him on the shoulder, "If you have any difficulties or questions, please write to me in time."

"Yes." Shen Jing saluted again, turned around and waved to Xiao You behind her.

Xiao You came forward with two boxes, took them quietly, and said with a smile to Miao Shenjian: "Your Excellency has been in my hometown for nearly a month, and I work hard every day. I have never fulfilled my friendship as a landlord. Now that the end of the year is approaching, I will prepare for you." A little gift, please accept it with a smile."

"Don't worry, my lord."

Miao Shenjian twitched his beard and declined a few words, then accepted it with a smile.

After having a farewell drink at noon, Shen Jing followed Ren Jinsong and others to send Miao Shenjian out of the city, and each returned to the city.

On the road, Xiaoyou and Shen Jing sat in the carriage and complained to Shen Jing in a low voice: "Sir, I have never seen anyone who is an official treat you like you... While working hard every day, sweating on the construction site; at the same time, you have to pay for it yourself. , Hit the official above."

Shen Jing recovered from his contemplation, glanced at him, and reprimanded in a low voice: "Don't talk too much."

"……Yes."

On New Year's Eve in the first year of Qingping, Shen Jing spent it with her husband on the construction site.

At the end of the year, Miao Shenjian sent a letter to Shen Jing, saying that Qin Tianjian observed the sky and predicted that the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River would come earlier in the spring, and ordered Shen Jing to speed up the construction period.

Therefore, from a young age, Shen Jing simply lived and ate on the construction site.

Although Jiangnan is not as severe as Shuobei, the end of the year in Suzhou and Hangzhou is also very cold. The folks on the construction site are digging and digging in the severe cold, and they complain for a while.

Shen Jing had no choice but to try her best to appease her, and specially set aside money to let the cooks on the construction site improve their diet, regularly cook soup to dispel the cold, and distribute it to everyone every day.

Even so, there are still three or two peasants who catch cold every day.

Fortunately, there is a local gentleman named Su Wenshui in Wusong County. He was rich in business in his early years, and he was kind and charitable in his later years. He was quite famous and generous.Thirty thousand silver has been donated for water conservancy works.

In desperation, Shen Jing went to find Su Wenshui again.Su Wenshui was also refreshing, and immediately came forward to collect money and cloth, hired people to make thousands of cotton-padded clothes and shoes, and distributed them on the construction site.

In this way, despite public grievances, the fortifications are proceeding smoothly.

On New Year's Eve, Cao Xiaoyu prepared several food boxes and a jug of good wine, and specially asked Xiaoyou to bring them over from Suzhou City.It's just that when they were delivered to the construction site, the food and drinks were already completely cold.Wei Zheng took the food box to the kitchen, reheated the food and brought it back, and then brought the huge jug of wine down from the carriage.

Shen Jing and her husband hid in the newly dug river to avoid the wind.People in the river channel were in groups of three or four, and each lit a fire to keep warm. From time to time, people or family members of the peasants would come to the construction site to comfort the peasants with prepared meals and drinks.

Seeing Wei Zheng getting off the carriage carrying a big wine jar, Shen Jing couldn't help laughing and said, "Eldest sister has a heart, and made such a big jar. Xiaoyou, you can scoop it out and share it around."

Xiao You said with a smile: "Because Eldest Sister has already expected that you will not drink alone, sir. Such a big pot, with so many people on the construction site, I'm afraid that none of them can get a cup."

Before the words were finished, there was the sound of a carriage coming from the dirt road of the construction site. Wei Zheng looked back and said with a smile: "Someone brought wine again."

Shen Jing also got up and looked around, and saw that it was Su Mingyi, the second son of the Su Mansion, who got off the carriage, walked to the edge of the river, cupped his hands and smiled at Shen Jing: "Master Shen, my father ordered me to bring some jars of wine for everyone to get rid of the cold." .There are also a few food boxes, add something to your New Year's Eve banquet, Mr. Shen, don't be disgusted."

Shen Jing hurriedly stepped forward to express her thanks, and asked a few foremen to distribute the wine jug to everyone.

Although the food was simple, but with the wine, the construction site suddenly became lively.

After sending Su Mingyi away, Shen Jing had time to sit back, but the hot food had already gone cold again.Xiao You wanted to take it to reheat it, Shen Jing waved his hand and said: "Don't bother, just eat like this."

Xiao You took the food and ran to the kitchen: "No, the eldest sister told you that you must never let you eat cold food."

When Xiaoyou was far away, Wei Zheng poured a bowl of wine for Shen Jing, and said with a smile: "This Mr. Su, it seems that you are the son-in-law of the real man. Let his son brave the cold wind to come to you on New Year's Eve Serve wine and food."

Shen Jing reprimanded in a low voice: "Don't talk nonsense. Mr. Su understands righteousness and is just willing to do good."

Hearing this, Wei Zheng smiled and said nothing, stood up and walked to the kitchen: "I'll help Xiaoyou serve the dishes."

Time flies, and it is March in a blink of an eye.

After four or five months of busy work, Shen Jingren has lost a lot of weight and darkened a lot, and his originally delicate face now has edges and corners, which is quite clear.

Fortunately, the rush was not in vain. By the end of March, the new channel of the Wusong River had been basically completed, and the stone embankments on both sides of the channel were about to be closed.

Most of the folks have returned home, and now there are only a thousand people left to build the embankment on the river embankment. After another ten days of busy work, the project will be completed.

In the two small earthen houses beside the river embankment, Shen Jing carefully dried ten sheets of white paper full of words, sealed them in envelopes, and handed them to Wei Zheng: "Ask someone to give it to Lord Ren for review."

Wei Zheng took it and nodded in response, and came back after a while: "It has been delivered."

"Yeah." Shen Jing nodded, leaned on the chair and looked out through the window opening without a window frame, "I'm used to being busy every day, but I'm not used to it when I'm free at first."

Wei Zheng said angrily, "If you've been injured for a hundred days, you should take a rest for a while. If you are left with some disability, who will take care of it?"

A few days ago, I was quietly carrying soil on the river embankment. I accidentally stepped on the gravel and sprained my ankle. I didn't feel much during the day, but at night it started to hurt so badly that I couldn't even stand upright the next day.

After Wei Zheng invited a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, he ordered him to rest for a month.

Only then did Shen Jing relax.

But still worried, every day on the construction site guarding.