The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very satisfied with Chen Gui's errand.He didn't expect that Chen Gui could actually save most of the power in Jiangnan's officialdom—he was already prepared for a strong man to sever his wrists, and he thought that at least half of his wings would be lost this time.But he didn't expect that what Chen Gui said was serious, but when it was time to do business, he turned around so beautifully.

Chen Gui heard His Highness the Crown Prince's continuous praise, and said with a smile: "Actually, the reason why I can achieve such a level is not that I have the ability and ability, the reason is just four words—"

"Oh?" His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard the words, and asked with great interest: "I would like to hear the details."

Chen Gui laughed and said, "It's just following the Sacred Heart."

"Follow the Sacred Heart," His Royal Highness repeated Chen Gui's words several times, and smiled thoughtfully, "What do you mean by that?"

Upon hearing the question, Chen Gui said with a smile in his mouth: "His Royal Highness is already as bright as a mirror, so why bother to take the exam for a minor official?"

Chen Gui paused for a moment, then continued: "The young sage ascended the throne and became famous for a lifetime. Now that he is in his destiny, he naturally cherishes his feathers even more. To put it bluntly, the two Jiang's official affairs are nothing more than unclear governance. This matter is not only related to the people's livelihood, but also related to His Majesty's reputation..."

"...Because most of Liangjiang's officialdom is under the prince's sect, what the sage considered before was that His Royal Highness's wings are getting richer, and these wings are connected with each other, deceiving the upper and lower, making the sage feel the crisis, so the sage will be very angry. Now the prince His Highness has shown the heart of a strong man to cut his wrists. Although he has lost his wings, it has also relieved His Majesty's Sacred Heart. Now that His Majesty's Sacred Heart is at ease, he will naturally consider his own reputation..."

When Chen Gui said this, he sighed meaningfully, looked at His Highness the Crown Prince with burning eyes and said, "In the end, it's just a sentence...the saint is old..."

When the last sentence was spoken, the voice was too soft to be heard.However, in the ears of His Highness the Crown Prince, it hit the heart immediately like a bell in the morning and a drum in the evening.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stared at Chen Gui with majestic eyes for a long while, before he smiled lightly and said: "I used to think that Chen Qing had the talent for practical work. I never thought that Chen Qing also had the strategy of a strategist. It really makes people look at each other for three days." Treat each other."

Upon hearing this, Chen Gui bowed deeply to His Royal Highness, and said in his mouth: "This humble minister has devoted himself to doing his best for His Highness the Crown Prince."

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked at Chen Gui for a while, then smiled and stood up, and went up to help Chen Gui himself, and the two of them chatted and laughed for a while.His Royal Highness asked Chen Gui about his evaluation of the Sixth Prince.

Hearing the words, Chen Gui couldn't help being solemn, and said seriously: "His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince is selfless, loyal, and seeks the country but not his own life. He is indeed a country's talent."

"Oh?" His Highness the Crown Prince said unconsciously, "Chen Qing thinks so highly of the sixth younger brother?"

Chen Gui then said: "Your Highness does not know, if His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince is not willing to make a black face and cooperate with my ministers this time when I go to the south of the Yangtze River for disaster relief and investigation, please forgive me for my offensive words - I am afraid that there will be a letter written by His Royal Highness in person. Old-fashioned corrupt officials will certainly not listen to what we say so easily. This matter will not be settled so easily. Therefore... I have to admire His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince."

As an aristocrat in Tianhuang, how can he be so upright, uphold justice, not afraid of the powerful, not afraid of connections, not afraid of favors... Chen Gui can't do this himself, but it doesn't prevent Chen Gui from admiring such a person.

His Royal Highness might as well, Chen Gui praised the Sixth Prince so much, he couldn't help but smiled curiously, because he said: "It seems that Chen Qing has changed his mind about the Sixth Brother during Jiangnan's visit!"

His Royal Highness did not forget that before the two left Chang'an, they were in the same situation as fire and water.

Hearing the prince's joking words, Chen Gui couldn't help but smile and said: "That day, my humble minister acted aggressively. Although it was for the sake of the situation and His Highness, I had to do this. In the end, the sixth prince was in trouble. The Sixth Prince used his own way to deal with his own body... It is also the fault of the humble minister, no one else."

After hearing what Chen Gui said, His Royal Highness smiled and nodded Chen Gui.Instead of asking more about the sixth prince, he asked about the character and knowledge of the surviving officials of the two officialdoms.

When Chen Gui heard the question, he had to ponder for a long time before he said seriously: "In my humble opinion, even if someone slipped through the investigation of the case of ink corruption this time, his character and integrity, and his ability and ability cannot be reused. This humble minister has already sent these officials away. His name and background are all transcribed in the book..."

As Chen Gui spoke, he took out a booklet from the boot tuck inside the boot shaft, and handed it to His Royal Highness respectfully, because he said: "This is the official that I have been in contact with for more than a year in the south of the Yangtze River. Among them The people recorded with the ink brush are all those who slipped through the ink corruption case by chance. The people recorded with the ink pen are those who are unwilling to join hands with other officials, or they may act in harmony with others, but they can still be called conscientious. The common people also comment on officials who have a good reputation..."

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really did not expect Chen Gui to think about these things carefully.I don't feel moved.Reaching out to take the roster in Chen Gui's hand, he read it carefully.

Immediately realizing that Chen Gui was at his side with his hands tied, he smiled and put the roster aside for the time being, and asked Chen Gui warmly and with a smile about some details of Jiangnan's disaster relief, as well as the attitude of Zhen Yingjia and other old officials in Jiangnan regarding this investigation.Seeing that it was getting late, he ordered someone to prepare a table of meals to meet Chen Gui.

Seeing this, Chen Gui couldn't help but be grateful for Dade's thanks.

At that time, Chen Gui, who was exchanging cups with His Highness the Crown Prince in the East Palace, did not know that His Highness the Sixth Prince, who was accompanied by the Twelve Princes, entered the Changchun Palace of Concubine Shu, and had not had time to meet his mother, concubine, first wife, and youngest son. Share the feelings of parting.Emperor Yongjia, who had finished handling government affairs in Qinzheng Hall, also came here.And during the family banquet, he also asked the sixth prince about his evaluation of Chen Gui.

When the six princes heard the sage's question, they also responded respectfully: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that Chen Zizhang is a man with long sleeves and good at dancing. Forced to live in harmony. In the past, the emperor father commented on Master Yuan Yingxing, the magistrate of the three dynasties, saying that he was talented, loyal, and capable of creating advantages and eliminating disadvantages. Today, when I look at Lord Chen, I think that he has the ability to promote benefits but not eliminate disadvantages. courage."

Emperor Yongjia heard the Sixth Prince's evaluation of Chen Gui, and asked with more interest: "Oh? You said that Chen Zizhang only has the ability to make profits, but not the courage to eliminate disadvantages...Why do you say that?"

Hearing this, the sixth prince said, "It's probably because Chen Zizhang... pays too much attention to making friends with others, so he doesn't dare to offend them."

"...Too much emphasis on making good friends with people means that this person is very popular..." Emperor Yongjia pondered for a moment, then smiled suddenly: "Forget it, don't mention these. You are going to Jiangnan for a trip , I really suffered too. Quickly have a glass of wine and two mouthfuls of hot food to refresh yourself."

Seeing this, the sixth prince had no choice but to bow to thank him.

Now it is only said that Chen Gui went to the dust-cleaning banquet in the East Palace, and left the palace to return to the palace before the palace gate was locked.At that time, the whole Chen family had already arranged dinner and supper, but it was a pity that Mrs. Chen, Brother Bao and the three sisters couldn't wait so long and had already returned home to rest.

Seeing this, Chen Gui had no choice but to have supper under the service of Mrs. Feng, and was settled early at night.Nothing to say all night.

In the early morning of the next day, the husband and wife had finished grooming and went to the room to greet the old lady.Because Chen Gui met Brother Rong and Sister Wan who were also talking to his grandfather and grandmother in the room, he thought of Brother Rong's studies.Yin said: "You are also 17 years old this year. This year, Qiu Wei will end up in the court. Are you sure that you will come back from the exam?"

When Chen Wei heard the words, he hurriedly bowed and said, "My son will do his best."

Chen Gui smiled and said, "You really have to do your best. Back then, I bragged to your uncle Zi Chuan, saying that when you pass the exam, you will go to his family to hire and marry the eldest girl of their family back. You come from home. You have to earn some money, don't make your daughter-in-law wait until she becomes an old girl."

When Chen Rong heard the words, his face flushed with shame, he still cupped his hands and said, "My son will definitely do his best."

"What are you trying your best for? Marrying a wife or taking the exam?" Chen Gui joked with a smile.

One sentence made Chen Wei's ears turn red.Everyone in the Chen family even laughed out loud.Old Mrs. Chen pointed at Chen Gui and cursed with a smile, only saying that he was not serious.Feng Shi also said with a smile: "Brother Rong is only 17 years old this year, so it's not in a hurry. The eldest girl of the You family is going to get married in September. As a family, we should get ready."

Hearing this, Chen Gui smiled disapprovingly and said, "These are things that you women should prepare for. After all, it has nothing to do with us men. At that time, all we need is entertainment and entertainment."

In this room, Chen Gui was happy to stand on dry shore.As the mother of the aunt, Mrs. Chen was too busy to hit the back of her head.Because the eldest girl's wedding date was set on the sixth day of September, the You family was in a hurry every day, but they never even had a good time during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It will be the fourth day of September, which is the day for the bride to put on her makeup.The relatives, friends, and colleagues of the You family all came to the door early, and Mrs. You, Mrs. Chen and her second and third sisters entertained the women and girls from each family to sit in the hall.

The eldest girl's dowry was placed in the yard of Mrs. You's upper house.They were all dowry boxes and cages made of the best wood and painted with a beaming red lacquer on the outside.The cage is either tightly fastened and tied with bright red silk or satin, or it is wide open, and gold and jade vessels, dowry jewelry, silk and satin, and antique ornaments are placed inside. The embroidery is brilliant, very dazzling.

When the female family members met, they all praised her, and only said that the eldest girl's dowry was generous.Someone even held the eldest girl's hand in front of Chen's face and praised with a smile: "The eldest girl is very lucky and lucky, that's why she can meet such a kind-hearted and compassionate aunt who considers for you, and now she can still marry her." Go to Ningguo Duke's Mansion to be the Duke's wife. I really envy us."

When the eldest girl saw her, she had to bow her head, but she smiled and said nothing.

Before saying a word, someone echoed: "... No wonder people say that the Chen family's daughter is well-bred. Now it looks really good. Look, this wife of the You family has only trained the eldest girl for a few days, and then she is the daughter of the Chen family. The whole body style of training..."

This man only cared about flattering Mrs. Chen, but he never thought that Mrs. You would feel very uncomfortable after hearing these words.Just as he was about to smile and change the subject, the person on the second door hurried forward and whispered a few words to Mrs. Chen.

With the same smile on Chen's face, he still sent the man away.Looking at the gaps in the crowd's inattention, he walked up to Mrs. You and said, "Old lady, the boy at the door reported that someone from the Wu family has come... He said he was going to add make-up to the eldest girl."

Hearing this, Old Madam You immediately turned pale.

The so-called Wu family refers to the natal family of the wife of Mr. You Ziyu, the serious family of the elder girl.It is said that after Wu's death, there was a quarrel with You's family for Wu's dowry, but it didn't work out, and the two families were almost torn apart.

Because of this old incident, Mrs. You looked down on the Wu family.Therefore, the eldest girl never communicated with the Wu family about the matter of accepting the appointment period, and she never sent invitations when she put on her makeup today.

Unexpectedly, if the mountain does not come, I will go to the mountain.The You family didn't send invitations, and they didn't invite them.