The old fox who married into a wealthy family

Why is this old sweeping servant in Tsing Yi besides two stone lions in front of the huge Prime Minister's Mansion, so empty and deserted?

Everything in front of him obviously does not match the information Zhang Zheng got about Brother Tang.

After knocking on the door of the Prime Minister's Mansion with red lacquer and copper nails several times, but no one came to answer the door, Zhang Zheng walked up to the old servant and called out: "Old man."

The old servant in Tsing Yi ignored him, and stood there sweeping the floor slowly. The bamboo broom made an even rustling sound on the stone-paved ground.

Zhang Zheng had no choice but to go around to the old servant again, bowed and said: "Old man, this room is polite."

The old servant raised his dizzy eyes and let out a slow "ah", obviously not good at communicating with words, but he just stopped sweeping the floor and stood there with his broom in a somewhat dull manner.

Walking closer, Zhang Zheng found that the old servant was really old.

He wears a dust-proof cloth towel on his head, his eyebrows and beard are all white, his skin is brownish-colored, his face is covered with folds, and there are few teeth left in his half-open mouth. A few age spots, loose skin and bulging veins, I'm afraid I'm already 90 or [-] years old.

The male servants used by the powerful officials in the capital are either strong and powerful with skills, or transparent and clever.An old servant like this who has been half buried in the ground should have been sent back to his children or to the Zhuangzi long ago, there is absolutely no reason for him to stay in the mansion.

Zhang Zheng looked at the old servant and was silent for a moment.

He and Brother Tang have not seen each other for 14 years, and have not received a reply from Brother Tang for seven years. All the news about Brother Tang comes from hearsay.

Brother Tang is a treacherous minister with a lot of money, he takes the young emperor to command the world, he would ransack the family and exterminate the family of those who disobey him, and he is cruel. He thought that Brother Tang should live a life of flowers and brocades and fire... …now it seems that is not the case.

But he didn't know that when Tang Li had just established herself as Prime Minister and Emperor Fuyou ascended the throne, many people and forces came to approach Prime Minister Tang, wanting to please him.

After all, no matter which world you are in, the strong are respected. As long as you occupy a strong position, people will naturally follow you.

But Tangli wanted to follow the plot to be an upright and lonely minister. All the beauties sent over were sent back to the original owners, and all the property sent over was taken away, and they were used to build embankments and dams for the flooded Yellow River, and then make noodles. A palm-sized pennant is given to the other party as a reward, and it is business-like, and there is no favoritism with anyone at all.

This kind of thing happened a lot, and after a while, everyone began to understand what kind of person Prime Minister Tang was——

No matter how hard you try to curry favor with him, no matter how many gold and silver gifts you give, and the Maid Maid, he will still oppose you when he should oppose you, kill your head when he should kill you, and still kill you when he should raid your house. Copy your home.

It is a resounding copper pea that can't be fried or cooked.

As a result, Prime Minister Tang's family became more and more indifferent, and there were no more close guests who came to give gift sets.

Zhang Zheng took out the greeting card from his sleeve, and handed it to the old servant with both hands: "This old man, in the lower Zhang Yueling, and the prime minister were old friends in the same discipline, come to visit the prime minister, please let me know."

The old servant's eyes and ears are not very good, and his reaction is quite slow. When Zhang Zheng's arms were raised to the point where he felt a little sore, he said "ah" again, put down the bamboo broom in his hand, and trembling from Zhang Zheng's hand. After receiving the invitation, Li tremblingly headed towards the corner door on the side of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Zhang Zheng was very skeptical, whether this old servant could deliver the greeting card to Brother Tang.But he had no other choice but to wait at the door.

After waiting for half an hour, the door of Xiangfu was opened with a "squeak" from the inside, and a boy servant about thirteen or fourteen years old walked out.

The moment Zhang Zheng saw the boy servant, he froze in place, his eyes widened, and he couldn't even breathe.

This boy servant has a handsome face, a thin and thin body, slightly yellowed hair, and looks a little soft and obedient.

Zhang Zheng seemed to see himself as a boy, walking towards this side.

But in fact, Zhang Zheng is a middle-aged man of 34 years old this year, and has been a poor county magistrate for more than ten years. Although he has not become fat and greasy, he has grown a beard, his shoulders have become much wider and thicker, and the corners of his eyes The years of hard work have been harsh, and even the yellowish beard and hair have added a little silver, and he no longer looks like this boy at all.

As if in a dream, Zhang Zheng watched the young man walk up to him, bowed to him, and said, "My Prime Minister invites Mr. Zhang in."

Then Zhang Zheng, as if in a dream, let the young man lead the way, and stepped into the gate of Xiangfu.

It was empty and deserted outside the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and there was not much excitement inside the Prime Minister's Mansion. Along the road, I saw only a gardener watering and pruning the branches beside the arch of the garden, and two rough servants were fetching water and scrubbing the corridor outside. They saw Zhang Zheng coming over. , also far away.

At this time, Zhang Zheng's mind gradually calmed down. Looking at the young man's back, his heart was inevitably ups and downs——

Although Brother Tang hasn't written to me for seven years, but in the past 14 years, he can't forget me in his heart, just as I can't forget him... Otherwise, why would he keep such a young servant by his side.

Little did he know, that was not the case.

Since Tang Li wants to follow the world line, she will naturally restore everything Zhang Zheng used to in detail, including the servants around him.

Zhang Zheng knew his final outcome, he had no friends or party all his life, no marriage, no children, no offspring.But in ancient times, the concept of "there are three kinds of unfilial piety, and having no descendants is the greatest" was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and he still regretted it somewhat.

So he happened to pass by the market once and saw this boy who looked similar to himself being bullied, so he bought the boy and named him "Zhengping" and kept him with him.

Although he is a master and servant in name, he is actually treated like a son. Whenever he has spare time, he teaches Zhengping to read some characters and understand some principles of human ethics, so as to alleviate his regrets a little.

After Zhang Zheng was convicted and sent to prison, all the servants in the family were dismissed, including Zhengping.

In short, Zhengping could write, calculate and be polite, so no matter where he went, he deserved to be valued by the master, and he lived a good life.

Since this illusion revolves around Zhang Zheng's life, no one knows what happened to Zhengping and where he ended up after Zhang Zheng was executed.

Zhang Zheng was led to the study by Zhengping, and Tangli was waiting for him inside.

Zhengping was indeed taught to be very polite. After serving tea to the two people who were seated, he quietly withdrew, leaving room for Zhang Zheng and Tangli.

Before Zhang Zheng saw Tang Li, he wanted to see his brother Tang, but after he actually met him, he didn't know what to say for a while, but looked at Tang Li with greedy eyes.

Tangli's official age in this illusion has already reached 38 years old, which is approaching.

Although he can never grow old, it is obviously unrealistic and not in line with the laws of the world to maintain a young appearance as an ordinary human being.

But the old man has always been particular and narcissistic, so in the past two years, he reluctantly added two shallow lines to the corners of his eyes, which can only be seen when he smiles, and he also grew a short beard on his chin.

In this way, it will not look too old, and it will add the mature charm of a man, which is considered so-so for Tang Li.

This appearance should be able to be maintained until he is 50 years old, and it will not look too abrupt when the illusion ends.At most, wait until his official age is over 45, and add silver strands to his beard and hair year by year.

Looking at Tangli like this, Zhang Zheng remembered that he was four years younger than brother Tang, yet he could already see the obvious wrinkles around his eyes and white hair on his temples in the bronze mirror every day, he couldn't help but feel ashamed and dejected.

14 years ago, when I was preparing for the exam with my cousin in the inn for half a year, I slept and bathed together, read and ate every day, it was really the happiest and carefree period of my life.

Even if the two love each other, they can't go back after all.

Zhang Zheng obviously wanted to say so many things to Brother Tang in his heart, but in the end it turned into an ordinary greeting: "Brother Tang... How have you been all these years?"

"Thanks to Yue Ling, it's not bad." Tang Li smiled, looking at his little vixen.

Although there are some slight differences in the plot, the world line generally goes smoothly.

Zhang Zheng nodded, and finally felt a little relieved when he heard Tangli's familiar voice, and said with a feeling of inferiority, "I'm old, but Brother Guantang is still as handsome as before."

"Yue Ling is not considered old, but has a different style and charm." Tang Li replied, "I like Yue Ling's current appearance very much."

It sounds like comforting people, but it is actually Tang Li's sincere words.

Speaking of old age, Prime Minister Tang lived over 1000 years old, counting all human beings in this ancient world, who can be older than him?

Besides, this place is a fantasy, in Tangli's view, it's the same as playing cospy with Ji Xiuyuan who grows a beard and pretends to be an old man, it's not interesting.

Zhang Zheng didn't take Tangli's words seriously, he just thought Tangli was comforting, and shook his head with a smile, but he really felt the warmth and comfort in his heart.

Anyway, he knew Brother Tang had him in his heart, and he was willing to coax him like this, half a lifetime of infatuation was enough.

"I'm in other places, and I've heard some rumors about Brother Tang." Zhang Zheng organized his words a little bit, and then turned to the topic, "But I don't know if it's just copying what others say, spreading rumors?"

"Is it the words that I used the young emperor to order the world, ransacked the family and wiped out the family at every turn, and killed people like hemp?" Tang Li was quite self-aware, and looked at Zhang Zheng, "I heard that the name Tang Huo can stop children from crying at night? "

Zhang Zheng closed his eyes with difficulty: "...Yes."

Tang Li thought for a while: "Actually, out of curiosity, I also sent people to inquire and collect various rumors in the market. Although some of the rumors are deliberately fabricated, [-]% to [-]% of them are basically true."

Hearing Tang Li's relaxed answer, Zhang Zheng felt that he did not realize the seriousness of the situation, so he continued: "Brother Tang, you are also a person who has read the scriptures and history, don't you know what will happen if this continues? ?”

"I know." Tang Li hesitated a little, "In the end... it should be broken into pieces."

The plots of this world occasionally go out of control unexpectedly, so although Tang Li knows that she will die, she cannot guarantee that her final death will be exactly the same as that of Zhang Zheng.

"Life is precious. Brother Tang clearly knows the consequences, so why continue on this dead end?" Zhang Zheng looked at Tang Li with burning eyes after hearing the answer.

Tang Li remained silent——

If it wasn't for you, a little vixen, do you think I'd be willing to go this way?

"Brother Tang, stop." Zhang Zheng stood up from the armchair, walked to the opposite of Tangli, bent slightly and looked down at Tangli, speaking earnestly.

Tangli felt that the little vixen had to pretend to be serious, but couldn't help worrying that he looked so cute.

So Prime Minister Tang raised his face, stretched out a slender and powerful arm from the sleeve of his robe, wrapped around the back of Zhang Zheng's neck, and licked his lips.