The kitchen in the small courtyard kept making the sound of hot oil being stir-fried.
The flames were rolling in the iron pot, and the iron spoon was constantly beating in Zhu Yunwen's hands.
The matter of Junzi's far away trip to the kitchen had long been forgotten because he was hungry and had no food in Zhongdu.
Qiuniang was wrapped in a thick cotton coat and stood at the door of the kitchen, looking at the man who was cooking food for her with a proud smile on her face.
Zhu Yunwen's hands moved quickly, and a plate of bacon and fried garlic sprouts was ready.
Putting all the prepared dishes on a tray, Zhu Yunwen kept moving.
While cleaning, he hurriedly turned back to look at Qiuniang standing at the door.
Zhu Yunwen frowned and said softly: "Just make another soup. There is heavy smoke in the kitchen. Go and stay in the house."
Qiuniang shook her head silently, placing her hands on her stomach as a habit: "I just want to stay by Erlang's side."
"Silly girl." Zhu Yunwen smiled bitterly: "After dinner, I will go out. You can stay at home and don't go anywhere."
Qiuniang nodded and whispered: "Are Erlang going to the third uncle's birthday party?"
Zhu Yunwen had already cleaned the pot and started pouring oil into the pot.
The oil is hot.
The big carp from the Fen River was eaten whole.
There was another sizzling sound.
Zhu Yunwen quietly paid attention to the doneness of the fish in the pot, turned to look at Qiuniang, and shook his head: "I can't go, I'm just checking the situation outside."
After saying that, Zhu Yunwen began to turn the fish over in the pot.
Turning over, one side of the fish had been fried to a golden color. Zhu Yunwen turned around and went to the stove, carefully arranged the firewood at the bottom of the pot, and then stood in front of the pot again.
Qiuniang hesitated and asked softly: "Is there any danger?"
"What danger can there be?" Zhu Yunwen laughed and comforted: "There are troops everywhere in the city and outside the city. There are dignitaries in the palace tonight, and the government will definitely arrange patrols in the city. Nothing will happen.
.”
Qiuniang looked at Zhu Yunwen, who was standing busy in front of the stove, with a worried look in her eyes.
Her face was full of hesitation, and she hesitated for a long time.
Qiuniang finally said: "The tunnel in the cellar..."
Zila...
After Zhu Yunwen fried the fish on both sides, he just poured a basin of water into the pot when a cloud of white smoke rose up with a sizzling sound.
He turned his head somewhat unexpectedly and looked at Qiuniang who looked nervous, his brows gradually furrowed.
Zhu Yunwen sighed softly, poured the tofu and a few slices of green vegetables into the pot, covered the pot, turned around and walked to Qiuniang.
"That is what saves our lives. With this here, nothing serious will happen to Taiyuan City."
Zhu Yunwen thought a lot, but in the end he still didn't tell everything.
Qiuniang didn't quite understand. The tunnel was so dark and long that she didn't have the courage to see where it would end.
She whispered: "It took you a long time to fall asleep last night."
Zhu Yunwen's eyes flickered and he held Qiuniang's hands: "Don't worry, after tonight, maybe we can go home before the end of the year."
"Really?"
Qiuniang was looking forward to it, but she was still nervous.
Zhu Yunwen nodded heavily: "I will definitely do it."
After saying that, he turned to look at the steaming stove.
"The fish soup is almost ready. Let's go back to the house and clear the table first."
Qiuniang nodded and walked towards the house with mixed emotions.
Zhu Yunwen rushed to the stove and opened the lid of the pot.
A burst of steam hit my face, and along with the scent of fresh fish soup and tofu, I couldn't help but penetrate my nose.
Sprinkle a handful of chopped green onion, hold the iron spoon against the chopsticks, put the fish into a bowl, and scoop up the fish soup and tofu one by one.
Zhu Yunwen finished everything and already had a tray full of food in his hands.
In the house.
Qiuniang let out an exclamation.
This is not the first time Erlang cooks, but Qiuniang is moved every time.
At this time, the sun was getting dark outside the house.
Faintly, the sound of drumming could be heard in the distance.
Thinking that she might be able to leave Taiyuan City and return home soon, Qiuniang had a touch of joy on her face.
This joy and expectation also infected Zhu Yunwen.
So much so that he drank less than half a kilo of northern soju tonight.
"I'll take care of the dishes and chopsticks. Erlang has to go out, so remember to go early and come back early. It's hard to walk on the road late at night, and the road is wet and slippery, so be careful where you step."
Qiuniang very gently but stubbornly stopped Zhu Yunwen, who was still trying to clear away the dishes, and pushed him into the back room.
The woman rummaged in the room for a while and took out a large cloak.
"Mr. Liu had this brought over when it was snowing a few days ago. Please wear it tonight."
Qiuniang carefully and tenderly put on Zhu Yunwen's cloak and tied his belt.
Then, she took out a sachet blessing bag from under the box and hung it on Zhu Yunwen's waist.
"I asked for this from Baoen Temple on the other side of Gongji Gate a few days ago. Erlang must not lose it."
With a smile on his face, Zhu Yunwen silently stared at the woman who had done all this for him, and reached out to stroke her hair.
"Don't worry, rest early. If I come back late, you don't have to wait for me."
Qiuniang nodded, but she didn't wait for the man, but he couldn't make the decision.
Zhu Yunwen walked outside the door and looked back at Qiuniang with a smile on his face: "Let's go."
"Go ahead."
The woman stood under the door, her face full of tenderness and expectation.
…
Boom, boom, boom.
Bang bang bang.
As night falls, red lanterns all over the city have been lit up.
When the lanterns first came on, the sky was already filled with singing and dancing.
The street in front of the Jin Palace was overcrowded. If it were not for the government servants and the palace guards who had set aside passages on the street for people to pass, I am afraid that the place would have been blocked and it would be difficult to move.
Those families in the city who could only be regarded as small families in front of the Sansi Yamen and the wealthy Shanxi merchants entered the Jin Palace early with congratulatory gifts.
These people could not enter the palace, but had a place in the seats arranged in front. The deputy ceremonial officer of the palace stood in front to greet people.
When night falls and the stars shine brightly.
That's when the big names in Taiyuan City arrived.
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Shi, the head of Prince Jin's palace, had a red face and stood in front of the palace with his hands clasped together, welcoming everyone who came to congratulate Prince Jin to enter the palace.
"The lower official welcomes the governor respectfully. I have met the county honorary."
Palace Chief Shi looked at it with the same smile on his face, and Song Shenggui, the magistrate of Taiyuan Prefecture, came hand in hand with Yue Xinghui, the magistrate of Yangqu County.
Song Shenggui quickly stepped forward and arrived in front of the Chief Historian of the Prince's Palace: "The Chief's words are very important. Our Taiyuan Prefecture is also within the vassal state of the King of Jin. Many places in Taiyuan Prefecture must rely on the Chief's good words and help in front of the prince."
With a smile on his face, Palace Chief Shi glanced at Yangqu County Magistrate Yue Xinghui, who looked a bit off: "Your Majesty is already in the main hall. You two should go over quickly. I still have to wait here for the Sansi Yamen.
Shangguan, come here."
Song Shenggui nodded: "Chang Shi has been working hard today. Before the New Year, Taiyuan Mansion will be the host. I invited Chang Shi and everyone from the Royal Palace to celebrate the New Year together."
Although he knew that something big was going to happen tonight, the Chief of the Jin Palace, Shi, still had a smile on his face, nodded and agreed to Song Shenggui's invitation.
When Song Shenggui and the other two entered the palace.
Soon after, Li Wenxiang, the leader of Shanxi merchants and the helmsman of the Li Mansion Courtyard, took Li Benqian out of the carriage and walked to the front of the palace.
"I would like to ask Chang Shi'an, I am here today with my son, and I have prepared some small gifts, especially to congratulate the prince on his birthday."
As he spoke, Li Wenxiang turned around to signal the servants at home and delivered a gift list to the clerk in charge of recording in front of the palace.
If it were placed in the past or elsewhere, those responsible for recording the gift list would definitely have announced the congratulatory gifts on the gift list loudly.
It's just that today is the birthday of King Jin, so some rules still need to be followed.
The clerk in charge of recording took a look at the gift list sent by the Li family, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. He couldn't help but look up at Chang Shi.
Prince Jin's Palace Chief Shi just glanced at the document, and then looked at Li Wenxiang with a smile on his face: "Mr. Li's family has worked hard on the border for so many years and contributed a lot to the taxation of Taiyuan Prefecture. It is the prince who should reward Mr. Li. Hurry up.
Please come in, please come in."
Chang Shi nodded sideways, led Li Wenxiang into the side door of the palace, and then turned back to the door.
But the clerk in charge of recording already had some uneasiness on his face, and his eyes never left Chang Shi for even a moment.
Shi, the chief minister of the Jin Dynasty, was puzzled. When he arrived, he whispered: "What's wrong?"
There was some embarrassment in the text, so after thinking about it, he pushed the gift list from the Li family in front of Chang Shi.
Prince Palace Chief Shi looked down, with a look of surprise on his face as well.
I saw that the gift list Li Wenxiang brought did not contain the dazzling array of congratulatory gifts, but only a few paragraphs.
There are Fu Lu Shou rice cakes worth not much, a Shoushan stone sculpture ornament, eighteen pieces of Sichuan brocade, and eighteen pieces of Suzhou embroidery.
If it were someone else, this kind of gift bill might be considered a big deal.
But if you put it over the Li family, it's just a drop in the bucket.
In other words, it can be said that the Li family did not take it to heart at all when it came to King Jin's birthday this year and just dealt with it.
"His heart is so clear!"
Palace Chief Shi whispered twice, then calmed down and looked at the document: "Put the gift list away, don't let it be passed around!"
The clerk didn't dare to say anything, nodded repeatedly and carefully stuffed the Li family's gift list into his arms.
Only then did Prince Palace Chief Shi return to the door.
It was precisely at this time that the car and sedan of the chief officer of Shanxi Province's Sansi Yamen appeared in front of the Jin Palace at the same time.
Changsun Gong, Zhou Yunkun, Liu Liang, and Guo Yuchuang appeared in front of the palace at the same time as they had agreed.
The four of them climbed the steps together and arrived in front of Chang Shi.
"Today is a happy day. Prince Jin is born, and the whole city of Taiyuan is congratulating him. I'm waiting to come here tonight to ask for a few drinks."
As a vassal in Shanxi Province, Changsun Gong was the first to speak and spoke politely.
The Chief of the Palace, Shi, bowed down and said: "The feudal lord is very polite. The Prince is waiting for a few of you to come over now. I will lead you into the palace now, and we will welcome the grandson into the city together later."
Changsun Gong nodded.
In previous years, on King Jin's birthday, the banquet could begin after a few of them arrived.
But this year is different.
Zhu Yunxi was the grandson of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. After leaving the capital, he had the authority of the emperor himself. Tonight, as long as Zhu Yunxi entered Taiyuan City, everyone including the Jin Dynasty had to walk out of the palace and open the main gate of the palace to welcome Zhu Yunxi into the palace.
, and then the seats can be opened.
Several people entered the palace.
The palace has already been bustling with excitement and drumming.
Even the Taiyuan gongs and drums prepared outside Taiyuan City a few days ago in order to welcome Zhu Yunxi on his way north, several sets of Taiyuan gongs and drums were prepared in the Jin Palace today.
Not to mention the troupe that is a must-have for any palace banquet in Yingtian Emperor's city.
The Prince of Jin's Mansion did not have a theater troupe, but among the Shanxi merchants in Taiyuan City, none of them had a theater troupe.
In the square in front of the main hall of the palace, several theater troupes were showing on the same stage.
Tables of Eight Immortals were lined up from the palace gate to the steps in front of the main hall.
The main hall of the palace.
Today, Jin King Zhu Fan, who has changed into a bright red dress, is inserting one hand on the jade belt around his waist and using the other hand, he is constantly greeting those who come to congratulate him.
When Changsun Gong and others walked into the hall, greeted by the royal palace chief, everyone looked at them with concern.
Zhu Fan opened his hands and laughed loudly: "I've been waiting for you guys! Come here quickly, I will make sure you don't get drunk tonight."
Changsun Gong and others hurried forward.
Liu Liang glanced at the environment in the hall and said from the side: "No one in Shanxi knows about the prince's huge amount. Even if I and several other people put together, they can't even compare to the prince's."
Zhou Yunkun laughed out loud at the side, pointed at Liu Liang and joked: "I still remember last year, you were the first to be defeated by the prince in the army."
Liu Liang's face turned red: "I was not prepared."
Changsun Gong smiled and said nothing.
Zhu Fan grabbed Liu Liang and said, "Let's compete again today. Let's defeat our brother first."
Liu Liang immediately echoed: "Xia Guan is determined to be the forerunner of the prince, and he will overthrow Zhou Jitai!"
Zhou Yunkun's face was stunned: "Didn't I agree to knock the prince down today? How come you, Liu Liang, have rebelled against the enemy now?"
"Who asked you to settle old scores?"
Liu Liang moved his mouth and rolled his eyes at Zhou Yunkun.
The atmosphere was extremely good at this moment.
Changsun Gong turned his head and looked outside the palace: "I think His Highness Taisun should be coming soon."
Zhu Fan immediately laughed and said: "Look at my memory, I almost forgot about the business. Let's go outside and wait together."
Having said that, he took the first step.
In the palace, there were officials from the Taiyuan City Si Yamen, and leading Shanxi merchants and Jin gentry followed them one after another.
Outside Taiyuan City, under Zhenyuan Gate.
Zhu Yunxi, dressed in bright yellow uniforms, rode his horse slowly and was guarded by soldiers and horses on the left and right.
The officers and soldiers of the camp guarding outside the city gate, as well as the officers and soldiers of the Taiyuan garrison station inside the city gate, have already cleared the road.
"The general will respectfully welcome His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun into the city!"
Officer Qianhu of the Yuanmen Guard Station in Taiyuan Town, leading a group of his subordinates, stood under the Zhenyuan Gate, shouting loudly.
Zhu Yunxi remained silent and walked past these people without changing his expression.
Go through the city gate.
My eyes suddenly brightened up, and there were bright red lanterns everywhere.
On the street ahead, some government servants and royal guards saw Zhu Yunxi's team entering the city from a distance, and immediately turned around and rushed towards the Jin Palace to report the news.
Zhu Yunxi looked at Taiyuan City with a smile.
"Your Highness, the officers and soldiers in the camp have begun to enter the tunnel one after another at this moment. The first ones will be waiting in the small courtyard where the crippled people are.
As long as you give an order, the army can rush into the city and go to capture the rebels according to the list and location given by the cripple."
Jingchuan Hou Cao Zhen was wearing heavy armor and a sword on his waist. He glanced at the alleys in the surrounding corners with gloomy eyes.
Zhu Yunxi nodded.
"Then let's take advantage of Third Uncle Wang's birthday to put on a good show for Taiyuan City."