Survival countdown

The 80 night criminals were all released, and the crying crowd around the gate of the yamen went home happily with a bunch of copper coins.

Knowing that the so-called 'family members' at the gate of the yamen are all ordinary people hired by Zhao Baiyu to be the atmosphere group, the fifth prince was so angry that he couldn't eat.

Ji Zhifu: "You directly offended the crown prince and the fifth prince, and lost the chance to be promoted to the Ministry of Punishment."

Zhao Baiyu smiled: "Being transferred to the Ministry of Punishment is equivalent to falling into someone else's territory, and that's the end."

Ji Zhifu: "That's right. Now the court is very chaotic and there are many factions. Your Majesty is still in his prime, and the people below can't wait to stand in line. I'm really not afraid of being liquidated one by one." Shaking his head, he sighed: "It's better to stay in the yamen, Lots of things but quiet."

Zhao Baiyu: "Is your term coming soon?"

Ji Zhifu: "Quickly."

Zhao Baiyu: "I'm afraid I will let you out."

Ji Zhifu became curious when he heard this: "Do you have any evidence?"

Zhao Baiyu: "There are estimated to be about a hundred vacancies in the case of King Qin's cliques, and someone has to fill them up. Although this year Chunwei chose to recruit many disciples of the emperor, they are still immature and cannot fill the vacancies, so they have to be promoted. Come up, release those in Beijing. It’s a great opportunity to cultivate students and cultivate influence, guess how many people are staring at the hundred or so vacant vacancies?”

Ji Zhifu: "It's a fat piece of meat, you have to fight for it!"

Zhao Baiyu lowered his voice: "There are only a few good vacancies in the capital, and they are probably all robbed, but there are many vacancies in other provinces, especially the Jiangxi transfer envoy and Jiangdong pacification envoy who were dismissed. It is said that two Zhejiang provinces are also involved. The prefect of Yangzhou’s term of office is coming up soon, and that’s a big vacancy! One or two of the big men on top of us want to fill all the vacancies with people under them, but the biggest one is not easy to be fooled, nor is he I am willing to see a one-sided situation, so I will pick a few trustworthy people from Beijing to release."

"Master Ji, you don't make friends with cronies. You are neither a princeling nor a member of Zheng Guogong's family. It has nothing to do with several ministers, especially you are the most trusted disciple of the Ten Princes. You are not the most suitable candidate. Who is Woolen cloth?"

After this analysis, Zhifu Ji's mind turned around, and he couldn't help asking: "Hey, send the Buddha to the west, help people to the end, tell me quickly, which vacancy can I fill?"

"You don't need to think about fat or short."

"I don't even dare to think about it!" Ji Zhifu glared: "I don't dare to think about the fatness of Yangzhou, even if it gives me ten guts. I might lose my head if I don't get any benefits. But except for Yangzhou, I always go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. You can think about it more. The prefect of Quanzhi in Kyoto is lacking in the fifth rank, and it is also a Beijing official. It can’t be lower than this. Either Jiangdong will be appointed as a criminal department, and there is no shortage of criminal departments in Zhejiang and Zhejiang, I guess eight or nine are not far from ten?"

Zhao Baiyu smiled: "Maybe you can be bolder and look higher. After all, your proposal to open the night market will benefit the general public. It is a great achievement, and it would be shabby to only upgrade to one level."

"Don't tell me, don't bury me." Zhifu Ji said with a bitter face: "You and I know who wrote the proposal."

After a pause, Ji Zhifu said to Zhao Baiyu: "Let me tell you privately, in fact, before submitting the proposal, the king of Xiaojun added an extra name to the position of the writer under the booklet, and put it at the top."

Zhao Baiyu's eyes were a little strange: "What name did you add?"

"Zhao Mugui." The old god of Ji Zhifu said: "I don't want someone with real talent and learning to be buried, but also want to help him hide, so I took a nickname. Whatever you choose, call Mr. Mugui, old man Mugui It’s all good, it’s so mysterious. However, the king of Xiaojun added a surname in front, surnamed Zhao. There is a saying that goes, “Green coir, yellow ruo, clothes, red wine and white fish return at dusk”, Zhao Mugui, Zhao Baiyu, everyone who is not stupid Can guess who Zhao Mugui is referring to."

Zhao Baiyu is not good at poetry, and he didn't know that Huo Jingtang had added an extra name in the column of proposal writers, but just hearing it now, he felt Huo Jingtang's exhausting thinking.

He didn't dare to stand out in the past because he was afraid of being shot out of the top. Later, when he knew the truth of the world and the fate of the future, he also had a death wish. He just wanted to die and didn't have much interest in getting into and climbing the officialdom. I don't even want to leave a name in history, it doesn't matter who gets the credit.

But some people remembered his hard work and hoped that he would get the rewards and honors he deserved. Zhao Baiyu was not untouched.

Zhao Baiyu curled his fingers hidden in his wide sleeves slightly, coughed twice and said in a muffled voice: "Talk about your business, Mr. Ji. I think you are most likely to make up for the lack of Jiangxi Transshipment Envoy. Jiangxi Water Transport Sitong It is well-developed, and Princess Changping is stationed in Hongzhou, the capital, which can help you get a firm foothold as soon as possible. The main waterway in the north has four canals for water transport, and Jiangxi is in the south. The previous dynasty opened a port in Guangdong, set up a city shipping department, and imported a large amount of foreign trade. If you want to transport gold into Kyoto, you have to go through Jiangxi water transport, which is the largest transportation hub connecting water transport and sea transport, and the gold flows into the reserve, so His Majesty will choose trustworthy people to go there."

If he did a good job during his tenure and was transferred back to the capital, he would probably be Emperor Yuanshou's confidant. Unfortunately, his predecessor Chen Zhizhou failed the trust of Emperor Yuanshou.

Ji Zhifu could guess what he hadn't finished speaking, and he was so excited that he pressed it down reluctantly, and said doubtfully, "Didn't Princess Changping have a tough fight with His Majesty when she was demoted—"

He stopped suddenly, and finally remembered that Princess Changping was Zhao Baiyu's biological mother.

Zhao Baiyu looked as usual: "There are no fathers and sons who have an overnight feud, and there are brothers and sisters who have no overnight feud. After all, Princess Changping and Emperor Yuanshou are brothers and sisters born from the same mother's womb. It was dangerous to seize the throne back then. Princess Changping was immersed in love and felt ashamed. To my mother and elder brother. I made a big mistake back then, and Emperor Yuanshou Gu Nian only relegated her to Hongzhou in the south of the Yangtze River. Jiangnan is a rich place, not a place where sinners should be. Princess Changping naturally appreciates it and replaces Emperor Yuanshou Operate Jiangxi water transport forces."

Although Princess Changping is in love and cruel, she is extremely intelligent, otherwise she would not be the most beloved first princess back then.

Of course, Princess Changping is a hidden game, and only when she is exposed later can she become one of Zhao Yuzheng's golden thighs.

Ji Zhifu patted his stomach and paced back and forth, thought over and over again, stabilized his figure, and said to Zhao Baiyu with a serious expression: "If you really guessed the release this time, Ji owes you a huge favor."

In the past, Zhao Baiyu was there to help, and Ji Zhifu Zhientu reported his promotion to his official position, and from time to time he mentioned some officialdom principles. After all, no matter how smart Zhao Baiyu was, it was impossible for him to be a duck to water when he first entered the officialdom.

But Zhao Baiyu's suggestion today is really good news that will help him and save his family's life!

If you don't know the depth, step into the boundaries of other provinces rashly, offend the local tycoon and Princess Changping, and fail to know your duty, you will end up in another Chen Zhizhou.

Prefect Ji bowed deeply: "Ji would like to thank you for your suggestion—"

"Master Ji, you are still my boss, and you are not suitable for etiquette." Zhao Baiyu quickly helped Ji Zhifu up.

Ji Zhifu reciprocated, and used his years of experience in the officialdom to remind Zhao Baiyu: "Once I leave, the new Shangfeng may not be able to accept subordinates who have more ideas than him. Remember to hide your clumsiness. Bear with me for a few months, I guess His Majesty will be promoted." Your position will be promoted. By the way, how is your marriage with the Xiaojun Wang?"

"As scheduled."

Ji Zhifu frowned: "I am a student of King Kang, and I know some secrets that outsiders don't know. That little county king is not ruthless. He has kept himself clean these years, and he doesn't have a close servant with a softer appearance, let alone a confidante. There are rumors in the capital that the king of the county is absurd by nature. In my opinion, he is more upright than the famous disciple of the sage. I ran into Zhao Silang that day, fought each other, and then entered the palace to ask for orders. I looked like I was taking the opportunity to beat Zai Zhi My lord, I ended up mixing you in."

Seeing that there was no one around, Ji Zhifu whispered: "Your Majesty and Prince Jing had an unpleasant quarrel because of the seizure of the heir, but they favored the Xiaojun Wang. I think His Majesty will be the one who can't sit still, and sooner or later he will find an excuse to cancel it." marriage."

"Can the imperial decree be withdrawn?"

"In a year or two, let's talk about your marriage for a reason, but it's actually a name only, and you can just marry each other in the future."

Zhao Baiyu has always been suspicious of Emperor Yuanshou's love for Huo Jingtang. After all, he took away the military power that Huo Jingtang had worked hard for more than ten years, and gave him the title of county king without real power. Emperor Yuanshou didn't hesitate at all.

But Emperor Yuan Shou handed over the case of fraud in the examination room to Huo Jingtang without hesitation.

If it is done beautifully, it is also a real achievement.

Afterwards, the establishment of large prisons and the investigation of cronies should not be handed over to people with too low rank and insufficient qualifications, for fear of being afraid, looking forward and backward, and the investigation is not thorough enough. , career is over.

As far as Zhao Baiyu is concerned, the best candidate is Huo Jingtang.

He has prestige but no real power, his reputation is mixed, he has enough qualifications but he doesn't have to be afraid of his official career ending abruptly. Unexpectedly, Emperor Yuan Shou would find a reason to save Huo Jingtang.

It can be seen that Emperor Yuanshou's favor and trust in Huo Jingtang is somewhat real.

In this way, Zhao Baiyu couldn't understand why Emperor Yuanshou agreed to grant the marriage. How could the truly loving elders tolerate the younger generation marrying a male wife?

"Soldiers come to block, water comes to cover." Zhao Baiyu smiled and said: "Master Ji remember to go to the house to drink wedding wine."

Ji Zhifu stroked his beard, noncommittal.

***

The date of divorce was getting closer, so Ji Zhifu specially gave Zhao Baiyu a seven-day marriage leave and let him go back to the mansion.

Zhao Baiyu also wanted to move the official affairs back to the government, but was suppressed by Ji Zhifu and a group of yamen servants, saying that marriage is the four great joys in life, no matter how absurd the marriage is, the murderous official affairs should not be allowed to collide with the wedding.

The backyard of the mansion was full of heat, but the front yard was silent.

Thinking that he is the young master of the Zhao family after all, and the marriage was bestowed by the sage, so he had to do some superficial work, so it was quite festive to hang lanterns and festoons in the front yard.

Wei Bo wiped all the weapons in his room every now and then, until the blades and swords were shiny. From time to time, he showed a murderous intent, which turned into an indescribable melancholy in an instant, as if the little girl in the boudoir was run away by a pig.

The Xie family sent an old nanny to help Zhang Luo's marriage matters, Yan Bing was not at ease, and followed up and followed up, paying attention to everything, especially the dowry and betrothal gift must be the same.

Aunt Xiu, Li Yiru and other girls in the small courtyard outside took care of all the embroidery, wedding dress, shoes, sachet, and the hundred sons welcoming blessings picture before they got married.

Small items such as shoes, belts, and sachets are easier to deal with, and they can be embroidered into men’s styles. Wedding dresses and auspicious embroidery are difficult for Nurse Xiu and the girls.

Men are unable to have children, so the Baizi Yingfu embroidery, which means many children, is not suitable at this time. Li Yiru suggested that four pairs of embroidery, Zhilan Yushu, Crane and Moon River, Fushou Yannian, Ruyi and Auspicious, can be used instead.

Aunt Xiu accepted the proposal, next is the wedding dress, should it be a man's or a woman's wedding dress?

Since ancient times, there have only been marriages between men and women. How can there be any precedent for marriage between men and women?

It can only refer to the marriage of men and women. One of them is a woman, so naturally it cannot be the king of Lin'an County, let alone Zhao Baiyu married in the past, but wouldn't it be a joke to let Zhao Baiyu wear a wedding dress to walk through the door?

They were not sure, so Aunt Xiu came to ask Zhao Baiyu.

Zhao Baiyu said: "Listen to the king of the county."

For him, there was not much difference between men's and women's clothing styles.

The Prince's Mansion of Lin'an County quickly sent people back and forth to inform: "Just wear men's wedding clothes like the King of the County." After saying that, he took out a dress style, saying that it was the wedding dress personally decided by the palace, so that Nanny Xiu and the others could do the same. Just embroider a set.

Then moved out jade crowns, jade belts, jade pendants and other accessories to replace the bridal tiara and other accessories. Aunt Xiu and the girls felt that the county king was quite careful, thinking that they were here, and just wanted to greet the people of the Lin'an county prince's mansion to sit down. After drinking some soup, Xiao Huangmen continued to say: "There are ten BMWs with sweat and blood outside Saiwai. The county king specially entered the palace, and asked for them from His Majesty, and gave them to Mr. Zhao Xiaolang."

Aunt Xiu and the girls were shocked. It must be known that horses are the foundation of marching and fighting, and they cannot be easily used for military equipment. The king of the small county is so generous, which shows that they attach great importance to their young master.

Xiao Huangmen continued to talk about the other gifts, all of which were rare treasures, but for everyone in the mansion, it was difficult to stimulate their emotions with jewels and jade in front of them.

"Finally—" Xiao Huangmen coughed twice, and seemed to feel ashamed and flustered, and said embarrassingly: "A red sandalwood carving of Guanyin Bodhisattva, carved by the county king himself, and presented to Mr. Zhao Xiaolang."

Aunt Xiu took it, and the girls leaned over to look at it, and saw that it was the Guanyin Bodhisattva with the length of an adult man's forearm, carved lifelike, and the sandalwood was purple and black, obviously it was a piece of high-quality sandalwood.

The well-informed Li Yiru immediately recognized the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's dharma: "It is the sight of Avalokitesvara, which means that everything goes well, longevity and peace."

Hearing the words, Xiao Huangmen raised his head and stared wide-eyed. It really was Takimi Guanyin. Why did Adjutant Cui keep on talking all the way and insisted that it was Songzi Guanyin?

It made him think that it was really Guanyin who gave away his son, and he still had trouble how to give it away!

Aunt Xiu had a smile on her face: "The king of the county has a heart. Father-in-law has worked hard, sit down and have a bowl of hot soup."

She first asked Yan Bing to send the red sandalwood carvings into the study, and then invited people to sit down, Xiao Huangmen couldn't refuse, so she had to stay.

***

In the study, Zhao Baiyu leaned on the couch by the window to read travel notes.

"Goro! Goro!" Yan Bing rushed in excitedly, put down the wooden box, and gesticulated to describe the majestic scene of the county palace giving gifts. "You don't know that the front yard is dumbfounded. I have been laughing at you for having to marry the violent county king a few days ago. Now I am envious and jealous! At the banquet at Xinke Jidi, you were humiliated by Chen Fangrong's Jinshi for saving your benevolent teacher, and when you came back, you fell ill, and you insisted on holding your wife back, preventing her from organizing the wedding for you."

Zhao Baiyu didn't want to know anything related to Zhao Yuzheng.

Zhao Baiyu glanced at the wooden box under Yanbing's feet and asked, "What is that?"

Yan Bing immediately picked up the wooden box and said, "It's Guanyin Bodhisattva. The county king carved it for you with his own hands. It is a bodhisattva that can bless you."

"Let me take a look." Zhao Baiyu lifted the lid and was shocked by the lifelike wood carving. His eyes were firmly stuck to the wood carving as if glued to it, and his fingertips gently stroked every notch on the Bodhisattva's body. "You said, this was carved by Huo Jingtang himself?"

Yan Bing: "Yes."

Zhao Baiyu couldn't help laughing, and said to himself: "Unexpectedly, he is still an artist." He picked up Guanyin Bodhisattva and walked to a brighter place to watch carefully, and asked, "Why did you think of sending Guanyin Bodhisattva?"

"I don't understand either." Yan Bingzhang Er was puzzled: "Who will send Guanyin Bodhisattva to his partner before getting married? Or the blessing Bodhisattva, like an elder giving a handwriting to a junior."

"Ah!" Yan Bing clapped his hands fiercely and said, "Could it be that His Royal Highness regards you as a younger brother?"

Zhao Baiyu: "He has no shortage of brothers."

"You can't tell. Everyone in the capital knows that His Royal Highness and his brothers in the palace can't get along, and meeting them is like an enemy. That's right, Wu Lang, believe me, he must regard you as a brother, or as a son—it can't be Do you really want to be your father?"

"The more you talk, the more outrageous it is." Zhao Baiyu collected the wood carvings and asked if the people in the county palace had left. When he learned that he hadn't left, he took out a small box the size of a palm from the bookshelf and opened it. Exquisite gold and jade dice. "Tell them to bring it to Huo Jingtang, and say it's a gift in return."

Yan Bing was surprised: "Don't you like this gold and jade dice the most? Back then, it took half a year of hard work to win it back. Even if I touched it, you felt distressed. Now you just give it away as a gift in return?"

Zhao Baiyu: "How dare you not give the most precious thing in return? This is a basic way of life. Stop talking nonsense and send it over quickly."

Is this the way of the world?

Yan Bing thought: the price is too high, he should not have any human relations in the future.

***

When the adjutant heard Zhao Baiyu's servant saying return the gift, he finally knew who Huo Jingtang was talking about and who often returned the gift.He personally handed Zhao Baiyu's return gift to Huo Jingtang, seeing that it was three gold and jade dice, he couldn't help frowning, with question marks all over his head.

why?

For a couple, before marriage, one will send Guanyin to give birth, and the other will give gambling dice?Although the materials are precious, we cannot ignore their unconventional nature!

Huo Jingtang cherished it very much, and said: "Dice is good. Give the dice."

If it hadn't been stopped by the emcee from the palace, he still wanted to dig into the treasury to search for gifts for Zhao Baiyu.

The adjutant couldn't get used to that kind of virtue, felt tired, and found an excuse to hide outside, out of sight.

***

In a blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of June, and I was busy before dawn.

The front yard was dim, but a corner of the back yard was brightly lit. The Zhao residence had less than ten servants to help, so Aunt Xiu had to ask Li Yiru and other girls to help, and the county prince's residence sent over twenty people to help. hold on.

In the room, Zhao Baiyu put on the newly made groom's robe.

The dark red gauze robe made his skin look like fat jade, and the jade belt with dark pattern Suzhou embroidery was buckled up, easily stretching out his thin waist. There was a jade and sachet around his waist, which contained vanilla. His eyebrows were picturesque under the candlelight, and his black hair Trapped in a jade crown, it reveals a smooth and full forehead, and the eyes are full of brilliance, like Zhilan Yushu, and the bright moon in the bosom.

"Yueluo shirts and sleeves welcome the spring breeze, and jade-carved unicorns have red belts." Li Yiru praised quite intentionally: "Wulangyuan is full of jade catkins, the breeze is clear and the moon is clear, the young master is graceful, and his ingenuity is like a god."

Zhao Baiyu smiled: "Sister Li, please let me go. You have praised me countless times in one night. You have awakened the shame that has died a long time ago. I am almost dying of shame now."

"Hahahahaha..."

Everyone in the room laughed loudly.

***

At this time, other courtyards in the mansion.

In the main courtyard, Mrs. Xie lit the candles and asked her husband, "Shall we go to Zhao Baiyu's courtyard?"

Zhao Boyong was silent for a while, and flatly refused: "I can't go there!" Then he sneered: "I think that rebellious son is not happy to see us either."

Then he said in a soft tone: "Don't worry about it. His mother was like that back then, and he should suffer any evil consequences. It is only natural that the mother's debts be paid. You have not treated him badly all these years, and you are enough to be kind and righteous."

Xie pressed her heart unconsciously, and for some reason she always felt flustered, as if a big hole had been opened in her heart, and a piece of flesh was forcibly cut off, and she couldn't figure out why.

Zhao Boyong quickly talked about the sick Zhao Yuzheng, and worried about Mrs. Xie, she thought it was because of the bond between mother and child, so she stopped thinking about it.

Partial hospital.

Zhao Changfeng wields his spear alone, his marksmanship screeching like a shooting star, and a cold light suddenly appears in the night, as if it is about to cut through the night sky.

Suddenly there was a sound, Zhao Changfeng stabbed over vigilantly, and heard a familiar voice, "Brother is me!" Only then did he quickly stop his moves, looked sideways, frowned and said, "Sanlang?"

Zhao Sanlang hesitated, scratched the back of his head and said, "Brother, I'm so worried that I can't sleep."

Zhao Changfeng understood: "It has something to do with Zhao Baiyu."

"Yes!" Zhao Sanlang said annoyedly: "He is going to marry into the county prince's mansion today. After all, he is also our brother, and he also blocked this disaster for Shiro. Is it unreasonable that he has no brother to send him off when he gets married?"

Zhao Changfeng asked back: "Father will not agree."

Zhao Sanlang felt sad and irritable: "I'm just worried about Dad—"

"But my mother is soft-hearted." Zhao Changfeng said: "From now on, he has nothing to do with our Zhao family. This time, we have given him enough benefits to take the calamity for Shiro, and the old and old grievances will be cleared. So It’s okay to give it away, it’s the last grievance.”

Zhao Sanlang's eyes lit up: "Then I'll go!"

***

According to the etiquette of marriage, you need to get started first, and the relatives and friends of the woman set up checkpoints to make it difficult for the man. After the man breaks through many obstacles and enters the door smoothly, drink tea and chat with the woman's father and brothers until the woman is brought out.

Because Zhao Baiyu is a man, his relationship with his parents and brothers is not very good, so Huo Jingtang skipped the traditional etiquette of getting started, and went straight to the small courtyard where Zhao Baiyu lived in the backyard.

Nanny Xiu opened the door, Zhao Baiyu came out, Yanbing was on his left, Wei Bo was in front of the right, Li Yiru and other girls scattered in the courtyard, watching the scene silently.

Huo Jingtang was not allowed to enter the courtyard, so he was a little far away. He was standing in the sunlight with his hands behind his back, wearing a crimson gauze robe and a jade crown. The Bodhisattva glanced over, and it seemed that he was not a person in the dust.

Zhao Baiyu's heart beat twice suddenly, and when he was about to take a step, he saw Zhao Sanlang appear at the door, looked at Huo Jingtang and walked in front of him.

"You must keep your feet on the ground during the journey out, and I will see you off," Zhao Sanlang said.

Zhao Baiyu smiled, pressed Zhao Sanlang's shoulder and said, "No need." He knew what Zhao Sanlang meant, which meant that the two would settle and reconcile from now on.

Zhao Baiyu doesn't want to have any more involvement with the Zhao family, but clearing the two doesn't mean reconciliation.

He straightened his waist and walked forward, passed Zhao Sanlang and left only one sentence: "I have settled with the Zhao family long ago."

From then on, one life and two cleansing.

Zhao Sanlang was full of joy and was extinguished by the cold water poured on his head. He stared blankly at Zhao Baiyu's back as he walked further and further away, feeling melancholy soaring for some reason.

Huo Jingtang stretched out his hand, wearing a white jade wrench on his thumb, and a familiar old handkerchief on his wrist, with many calluses visible to the naked eye on his palm.

"I'm here to welcome you, Xiao Lang."

Zhao Baiyu's heart trembled and burned, and the hand that was put into Huo Jingtang's palm trembled, subconsciously wanting to retract, but was firmly held and led forward.

Xiaolang means husband and brother, a general term for young people, and little husband.

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The author has something to say:

Lao Huo: "Linglong dice and red beans, you will know who you are when you are deeply in love."

Xiaoyu: "I really didn't think about it that much, it's just such a common blessing that everything goes well."

PS: The sleeves of the Yueluo shirt welcome the spring breeze, and the jade-carved unicorn belt is red. ——Li He.

One life and two cleansing, literally means, but it has an idiom, the idiom means that both brothers are upright and honest officials.