Shen Yi was holding the gift he bought in his right hand and holding two pieces of cloth in his left hand. He looked like a businessman who was doing business outside and brought gifts home.
As soon as he stepped into the door of Shen's house, he bumped into the maid Qing'er.
When Qing'er raised her head and saw Shen Yi, she was stunned. Then she screamed in surprise, her voice breaking.
"Master!?"
Qing'er was surprised and happy. She ran up and directly grabbed Shen Yi's right arm.
"Sir, you are finally back!"
Shen Yi made a silent gesture to signal her not to speak loudly, and then he asked in a low voice: "Is Madam at home?"
"For those at home, it's in the backyard."
Qing'er whispered: "It's very hot in Jiankang this summer. Fortunately, Brother Xu brought a lot of ice cubes. Otherwise, it would be really unbearable. My wife can't bear it. She and Lian'er are in the backyard right now." Just enjoying the cool air."
Having said this, Qing'er reached out and took the things in Shen Yi's hand, and said with a smile: "I will keep these things for the young master. Please go and see the madam. I haven't seen you for several months. The madam misses the young master very much."
Shen Yi nodded, handed the things in his hand to Qing'er, and then quietly came to the backyard.
At this moment, under a pavilion in the backyard, Lu Ruoxi, who was already pregnant, was sitting under the pavilion, playing Go with Shen Yi's third sister-in-law. Mr. Shen lowered his head, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and then walked over.
At this time, Lu Ruoxi's back was turned to him.
Mrs. Shen, on the other hand, saw Shen Yi approaching. This sister-in-law who took great care of Shen Yi put down the white chess piece in her hand with a smile, then stood up, smiled at Shen Yi and said, "What a coincidence, Qi Lang. If I don’t come back, I will definitely lose this game.”
Lu Ruoxi raised her head and looked at Mrs. Shen, and said with some annoyance: "Why does the third sister-in-law want to cheat again? If she doesn't do it, she won't do it. What are you trying to do with him?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard an extremely familiar voice coming from behind her.
"I've met the third sister-in-law."
Mrs. Shen glanced at Lu Ruoxi with a smile, then walked towards Shen Yi, smiled at Shen Yi and said, "You two chat first, the third sister-in-law will prepare something delicious for you."
As she said that, she glanced at Shen Yi and felt quite distressed: "After being away for a few months, our seventh child has been exposed to the sun and has become a top-notch Jinshi. He looks like a warrior in a war."
After saying this, she walked away and said: "Third sister-in-law is going to prepare some Jiangdu dishes for you. If you have been out for so many days, you probably won't be able to taste the taste of our Jiangdu."
After that, she gradually walked away.
Lian'er, who was standing next to Lu Ruoxi, looked back at her uncle and then lowered her head knowingly: "Miss, uncle, I have something else to do, so I have to go and get busy..."
After that, she quickly left.
Lu Ruoxi held the table with her hands and slowly stood up from the stool. When she turned back to look at Shen Yi, tears were already streaming down her face.
Her voice was choked with sobs.
"Why don't you write a letter and tell me you are coming back?"
Shen Yi stepped forward, hugged her gently, and said softly: "You came back quickly and sent the letter back. I think I have arrived too, so I didn't write a letter."
Lu Ruoxi put her arms around Shen Yi's waist, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Are you still leaving?"
Shen Yi sighed slightly: "I don't know either."
He looked towards the imperial city and whispered: "You will know in a moment."
…………
Because Shen Yi was summoned back by the emperor, he needed to meet the emperor first after he came back.
But there was a reason why he came home first. After all, he had to come back and change into official uniform before going to the palace.
After spending some time with the pregnant woman at home, Shen Yi, served by his wife, put on the green official uniform, got on the Shen family's carriage, and walked all the way towards the imperial city.
He had the badge of the Diji Reporter, so the imperial city was passable, but he could not enter the palace. Therefore, after reaching the entrance of the palace, Shen Yi could only let someone notify him, and he obediently waited at the entrance of the palace, waiting for the emperor to summon him.
Emperors are very busy.
Normally, if Shen Yi wanted to see the emperor, he would have to wait for an hour or more at the palace gate. Even so, it was still his privilege in the emperor's heart. As an official, he could not even see the emperor's face.
But this time, the efficiency in the palace was surprisingly high. Not long after Shen Yi reported his name, he was led into the palace by a little eunuch. The little eunuch led Shen Yi all the way to the gate of Ganlu Palace, and then bowed to Shen Yi. waist, turned around and left.
Shen Yi didn't wait long at the door of Ganlu Hall when he saw a familiar purple figure walking over with small steps. He walked up to Shen Yi, glanced at Shen Yi, and frowned: "Isn't it time to arrive in Jiankang in the afternoon? What? Why are you here just now? Your Majesty has been waiting for you all afternoon."
Shen Yi cupped his hands in front of the eunuch, called Eunuch Gao, and then said with some embarrassment: "Eunuch, after the official returned to Jiankang, he didn't dare to delay. He only went home and changed into official uniform, and ate in a hurry. Order something and hurry into the palace."
Gao Ming looked at Shen Yi, not bothering to expose his lies. He just turned around silently and said lightly: "Come in with our family. If you come here a little later, His Majesty will be angry with you."
Shen Yi nodded quickly and followed Eunuch Gao into the Manna Hall.
As soon as he entered the Ganlu Hall, a cool breeze hit his face, dispelling a lot of the heat in Shen Yi's body.
The two people walked in the Manlu Palace and soon came to a side hall. In the side hall, His Majesty the Emperor, wearing only a single uniform, was sitting on the bed. Two little palace maids knelt beside him, using fans to He fanned the wind.
In fact, it's not particularly hot in the Manna Hall.
After all, it is the emperor's study, and there is enough ice here. After all, the royal family has its own cellar, and the palace is not short of ice most of the time. Even if the palace is short of ice, the emperor himself will not be short of ice.
The two maids who fanned the wind were just Jing'er who responded to the summer.
After Shen Yi arrived in front of the emperor, he knelt down, kowtowed to the emperor and said: "I report to the Secretary General, Shen Yi, to kowtow to Your Majesty."
The emperor originally had a book in his hand. After hearing Shen Yi's voice, he casually waved away the two palace maids, then threw the book aside, stood up, stretched, and looked at Shen Yi: "I'm not giving you a promotion. Are you in the seventh rank? Why are you still wearing the official uniform of the eighth rank?"
The official uniforms of the eighth and ninth ranks are the same, but when you reach the seventh rank, the style of clothing changes.
Shen Yi raised his head and replied: "I think I'm away on business, and the officials didn't have time to measure my clothes."
Seeing Shen Yi raise his head, the emperor glanced at him and said with a smile: "You have become a lot darker during your trip south, and you look a little more mature than before."
After saying this, he didn't wait for Shen Yi to reply, and then said: "Shen Qing did a very good job on this errand. You are very smart. Bring Shen Qing a chair."
Eunuch Gao quickly brought a chair to Shen Yi. Shen Yi held up his hand and shook his head and said: "It's all thanks to your majesty's great blessings, coupled with the crown prince's leadership and the soldiers' hard work, that we can defeat the Japanese pirates. I just follow some chores and don't dare to take credit." ."
"Okay, you and I are of the same age. There is no need to say these high-sounding empty words in front of me."
His Majesty the Emperor patted Shen Yi on the shoulder and looked at Shen Yi seriously: "Shen Qing, you previously submitted a letter saying that you wanted to build ships and artillery along the coast?"
Shen Yi was shocked and quickly lowered his head and said: "I just mentioned it casually. If your Majesty is not happy, just pretend that I didn't say it..."
The emperor shook his head.
"I have been thinking about the matter you mentioned for more than a month."
"I'm still hesitating."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi and said with a very serious expression: "I called you back because I want you to convince me."
"After you convince me, I will take you to convince my queen mother."