The dream of "Tenderness of Iron Hands" begins in Tokyo

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The third year of Zhenghe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1113) was the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve.

The heavy snow that had been falling for several days finally stopped in the afternoon, and there was a snowy field outside Bianjing City.Unlike the usual hustle and bustle, there are almost no people on Beijiao Yulu at this moment. Because today is the New Year's Eve, people have already returned home early to prepare for the reunion.

It was nearly dusk, and Tie Shou galloped towards Xinfengqiu Gate in the north of the city, riding a fast horse alone. The black cloak on his body was rattling by the wind.When he was approaching the city gate, he reined in the horse to slow down his pace, raised his hand and pushed up his hat to look at the towering iron tower on Yishan Mountain. Although his handsome face was covered with dust, there was a warm smile on his face, "Finally here we are!" !"

He just came back from Cangzhou, although it is common for him to go out to handle cases, but this time the case was very difficult, he traveled to many places, and he hadn't returned to Bianjing for almost half a year, and he missed it a little.Fortunately, the case was finally settled two days ago, so he thought that he must rush back to celebrate the New Year with Uncle Shi and his brothers.

At this moment, the sky cleared up, and a faint sunset slanted through the dense clouds in the west and shone on the towering city wall. Suddenly, orange light appeared all over the white, which was really beautiful.Flags fluttered on the tower, but there were no soldiers standing guard.Tie Shou frowned slightly. Although it was a peaceful and prosperous age, it was too relaxed for the gate of the majestic outer city of Kyoto to be unguarded.Even if it is Chinese New Year, there should be rotations. Even if there is no foreign enemy invasion, fire prevention and theft prevention should not be lax.

After entering the city gate, there is Xinfengqiumen Street, with barracks of various squads of the Imperial Army for more than ten miles on both sides.It's very lively here, the ox carts carrying goods are delivering wine and food to the barracks one by one, and the soldiers are carrying wine with smiles on their faces.Tie Shou couldn't help sighing secretly when he saw it, and thought: "Since Lieutenant Gao became the commander of the front office last year, it seems that the military discipline has become more and more loose. It is not a good thing if the drinking trend in the army is getting more and more popular. After a while Talk to Uncle Shi and ask him to remind the next official."

Shenhou's Mansion is located in the alley of Guangfufang in the northeast of the inner city. It is close to Yanfu Palace in Da Nei. After all, Shenhou's Mansion is the royal family, and the Holy Majesty can be there whenever he is summoned.Tie Shou led the horse across the Qinghui Bridge into the inner city, and entered the mansion through the back door in the north.

A Liang, the servant on duty, saw that Tie Shou hurried out to lead the horse: "Oh, Second Master, you finally came back! That's great! Everyone is waiting for you to write Spring Festival couplets."

"Okay, I'll write it in a while." This has become a practice in the Fuzhong, and every year the Spring Festival couplets are written by iron hands.

"Mr. was called to the palace by the officials after lunch, and he hasn't returned yet. Everyone else is here. Your housekeeper Yan ordered it to be cleaned up in the morning."

"Okay. I'll go back and change my clothes first."

The old building of Tie Shou was at the southwest corner of the mansion, and he walked along the corridor all the way to the front.When passing by the corner gate of the garden, I suddenly heard a woman's "giggling" laughter coming from inside.

"Jiu'er, this carrot is for the nose, you can install it... Fourth Brother, go and fold two branches to make the arms. My two chestnuts are for the eyes. They look pretty! Hehe..."

Tie Shou couldn't help being surprised, there were only two female relatives living in the mansion, the housekeeper Yan Hunling and her six-year-old daughter Jiu'er, it was obvious that this was not the voice of Butler Yan, so he couldn't help but stood at the door and took a look inside.

I saw a strange woman in a crimson cloak modeling a snowman by the rockery with Leng Xue and Jiu'er.The man looked about eighteen or nineteen years old, of medium height, well-proportioned figure, fair complexion, and very handsome.A pair of smart eyes are full of innocent and mischievous smiles, and a few strands of hair hanging from the sideburns flutter in the wind, making them look charming and charming.

Tie Shou didn't recognize this woman, but seeing Leng Xue beside him, he was having fun like a big boy, and he guessed in his heart that this handsome junior had provoked an infatuated girl from somewhere.He shook his head with a smile, and thought, if Miss Xi Meihong found out, wouldn't she want to overturn the vinegar jar.He thought of Xi Meihong but also Xiaozhen, and suddenly felt a pain in his heart.I wanted to go into the garden to greet them, but suddenly I lost my mood, so I turned around and continued walking to my building.

Open the door and enter the house, warm and harmonious.The house was very clean. The charcoal basin, hot water, hand towels and comfortable bedding were all ready, and Tie Shou immediately felt relaxed and comfortable.

For the four of them, the butler Yan Hunling is like a big sister, and it is also indispensable.This woman and Wuqing, Iron Hands, and "Fighting General" Lu Pozhi have been working with Mr. Zhuge since their early years. Not only are their martial arts not weak, but their ability to handle affairs is even stronger.Externally, the daily operation of the Shenhou Mansion's business; internally, she manages and arranges the affairs of the mansion, the daily meals and meals of the men, and takes care of every detail.

When Yan Hunling was young, he dared to love and hate. When he met the handsome man he loved, he went with him, but he couldn't cultivate to stay together for a long time. He either died or found out that he was cheated. People call her "Yan Jiujuan" behind her back.Later, when she got older, she realized that the person who really treated her well was always waiting by her side, so she finally settled down and married Lu Pozhi, and soon gave birth to her daughter Lu Jiu'er, and the family also lived in the mansion.

Someone knocked on the door: "Second brother, are you there?"

"Come in, Miss Yan."

A tall, middle-aged beautiful woman came in, about forty years old, with slender eyebrows and thin eyes, and a refreshing appearance, especially shrewd and sharp eyes.She was wearing an emerald green long brocade gown with wide sleeves and a raccoon fur collar, looking very graceful and luxurious.She smiled at Tie Shou: "It's been hard work for you this time, it's been almost half a year. Fortunately, I came back in time, otherwise who would write Spring Festival couplets without you. Hehe..."

"Eldest brother and uncle Shi can both write."

"Then your handwriting is the best. Is everything done?"

"Well. The criminal has already been taken to the Cangzhou Prison. I brought back the confession made by the prisoner. I will send it to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for sentencing in a few years."

"Okay. You can go to listen to Fengxuan after you have a break. The paper and pens are ready. The dinner is also over there. I will go to see if the set meal from Huixianlou has been delivered."

"Got it. You're busy."

She stepped out the door as if she had thought of something, turned her head and said to Tie Shou: "Since the matter of Xijiazhuang has been decided, don't think too much about it. Why should a man have no wife, maybe a better one is already waiting."

Tie Shou knew what she was talking about, so his eyes darkened, and he gave a low "hmm".

"Alas... What the gentleman said is that your temperament is your fatal flaw, you really need to change it." She shook her head and sighed softly, and left the courtyard gate.

When Yan Hunling mentioned it, Tie Shou's mind reappeared in Tie Shou's mind looking at him with sad and sad eyes.It's been almost a year since we saw each other again, and he left on his own initiative because he couldn't bear to see his beloved woman in a dilemma.After all, Xi Qiuya treats her with sincerity and the two are already engaged. Now that the family has suffered from hysteria, Tie Youxia really can't do such a thing of taking advantage of others' danger and stealing love with a knife.But forgetting love is not that easy, so he tried to keep himself busy, traveling, handling cases, arresting criminals, interrogating, and falling asleep as soon as he lay down so tired that he could escape the pain of longing.

Tie Shou stood at the door blankly for a while, seeing that the sky was getting dark, he pulled himself together to wash up and change his clothes.Today's New Year's Eve, it would not be appropriate to wear black clothes. He deliberately chose a ochre-red round-neck robe, tied a belt of the same color inlaid with golden spider patterns, put on thick-soled leather boots, and went into the garden.

Tingfengxuan is on the west side of the garden, not far from the old building.When Tie Shou entered the door, he saw that the candles were brightly lit, and the round table in the middle hall had been set, but no one else had arrived yet.The side room is the study, the big desk has pens and ink ready, and a stack of red paper banners is waiting for him to write Spring Festival couplets.After not writing for a long time, he tried a few strokes and began to write one by one.

Tie Shou was writing to the point where suddenly a woman's praise sounded in front of the case: "The writing is so beautiful!"

He looked up, but it was the strange girl whom he had glimpsed in the garden when he came back just now.Now she took off her cloak, and she was wearing a pink satin wide-sleeved long beige, with small crimson plum blossoms embroidered on the cuffs and collar.Inside is a wrapped crimson brocade jacket paired with a pink floor-length pleated skirt, the skirt is embellished with the same plum blossom pattern, and a crimson ribbon flutters around the waist.Her jet-black hair was coiled into a bun, with only a plum-blossom-headed gold hairpin inlaid with red agate inserted.

Tie Shou laughed and said, "Hehe... Congratulations, just scribble a few strokes, just to join in the festive fun."

"It's really good!" The girl said earnestly: "My father always said that writing big characters is the most difficult thing. I can't always write well."

"Writing big characters depends on the strength of the wrist, just enough strength, just practice more."

"Daddy said the same thing, but I'm lazy. Hehe..." She covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Why isn't fourth brother Leng coming?" Tie Shou asked her while writing.

"Fourth Brother Leng?" The girl wondered, and then she seemed to wake up and said, "Oh...I see, you are...Senior Brother Iron Hand, right?"

Tie Shou saw that it was very strange for her to call him senior brother, he straightened up and said, "It's Tie Youxia, dare I ask the girl who is...?"

Just as she was about to answer, a burst of hearty laughter came from the door: "Haha... You Xia, you are the only one in this house who doesn't recognize her." An old man with a handsome appearance came in, but it was Mr. Zhuge.

Tie Shou hurriedly put down his pen and came to meet his teacher: "You Xia sees Uncle Shi." Mr. Zhuge was also his teacher and father, and he hadn't seen him for almost half a year, and he missed him a lot.

"Hi Uncle! Ayun wishes you an early year, old man!" The woman also saluted Mr. Zhuge gracefully.

"Okay! Okay! You don't need to be too polite." Mr. Zhuge said with a smile: "You Xia, let me introduce. She is the youngest disciple of your uncle, Miss Lu Mengyun. She used to be a policeman in the Xinzhou Yamen, and now she is a master. She has come to us to practice, and she has been here for more than three months, right?"

"Well, it's almost four months." Lu Mengyun replied.

"Your senior brother Tie is busy this time, and it's true that he hasn't been back to Beijing for a long time, so you haven't seen him yet."

It was only then that Tie Shou realized that they were junior sisters from the same school, and the two met again.

Mr. Zhuge said to Lu Mengyun: "Your Brother Tie is quite proficient in the criminal law of the Song Dynasty, interrogating suspects and reviewing case files. You can learn from him when you have time."

Lu Mengyun bowed to Tie Shou again: "I also ask Brother Tie Shou to give me some advice."

Tie Shou hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Little Junior Sister, you're welcome, I don't dare to teach you, let's study together."

They were talking here, and others came one after another.Tie Shou hadn't seen his fellow apprentices for a long time, so they greeted each other cordially and chatted enthusiastically.

After setting out the tableware sent by Huixianlou, Yan Hunling greeted everyone to take their seats.In the past, the family banquet consisted of Mr. Zhuge, four apprentices and Yan Hunling's family of three. This year, with the addition of Lu Mengyun, there are nine people.

The rule in the mansion is not to talk about official business during family dinners, so the atmosphere is more relaxed, and we just chat about some household chores and interesting anecdotes that everyone saw outside.Lu Mengyun was a guest, so everyone asked her to talk about the Chinese New Year customs in her hometown of Suzhou in order to avoid restraint.

Lu Mengyun said frankly: "The New Year's customs are similar. Although Jiangnan is also rich, the scale is far from comparable to that of Bianjing. The past few months can be regarded as an eye-opener and a long-term experience."

Tie Shoudao: "Actually, it's better to be quiet. The capital is a place that sometimes feels too noisy after living for a long time."

Yan Hunling jokingly said: "The second child always likes to be quiet, so I will take a vacation and go to Suzhou Lu's house for a while."

Everyone laughed, and Tie Shou blushed.On the contrary, Lu Mengyun generously stated that the family is very big, and everyone is welcome to visit Suzhou.

Let's talk about it, when it was midnight, the sound of firecrackers and cheers came from the nearby inner palace.Another year starts from the beginning, everyone congratulates each other on the new year, and the banquet is coming to an end.

Mr. Zhuge said: "I was invited by the officials during the day to discuss the arrangements for the Liao Kingdom's envoys to have a banquet in the Southern Royal Garden on the third day of the first lunar month. It is still the old rule that our country sends out ten accompanying shooters. You all went in previous years, so this year will be the same."

Yan Hunling said: "Sir, I haven't been feeling well these few days. This year, Junior Sister Lu is here, why not let her go."

Lu Mengyun repeatedly waved her hands and said, "No, no. I haven't been through that kind of scene, and besides, I haven't used bows and arrows for a long time. It's a big mistake."

Wuqing said: "Junior Junior Sister, I have seen your hidden weapon kung fu, archery should be no problem. It's good to open your eyes."

Mr. Zhuge pondered for a moment, and said: "Ah Yun, this opportunity is rare, so it's good to experience it. In the past few days, let the fourth brother explain the specific process to you. There is a bow at home, so it should be no problem for you to pick the one that is convenient for you to practice. Besides, they will all be there when the time comes, so nothing can go wrong."

Everyone echoed.But Lu Mengyun was still a little nervous, but she couldn't take away everyone's kindness, so she had to agree.