A woman's voice came from a large huanghuali wood carriage. Her voice was not clear and seemed a little hoarse, but it also had a charming and carefree charm.--Net.
The sixteen or seventeen-year-old young chamberlain looked up eagerly and replied: "I saw someone on the canal boat who seemed to be Young Master Zhang from Shaoxing Prefecture in the south of the Yangtze River. He is the Young Master Zhang who has a good relationship with Eunuch Zhong."
"I know this guy—"
A young man's sharp voice suddenly sounded in the luxurious carriage, speaking very quickly, "His name is Zhang Yuan, courtesy name Jiezi, from Shanyin. He is talented and knowledgeable. He is a loyal minister. By the way, he can remember everything he hears."
Extremely smart."
"Brother, you're right." The woman riding in the car with the young man said with a smile, "Eunuch Zhong taught you these four-character words, right? You've made great progress in your knowledge."
"My slave has also heard from Eunuch Zhong that this Zhang Yuan is a talented man from the south of the Yangtze River. He ranks first in every scientific examination and is also very loyal."
The person who claims to be a slave is a chambermaid in his forties, wearing a headband and black braid. He has a long and narrow face, a pointed nose, slightly sunken cheeks, a sickly pale face, and a maroon horse under his crotch.
Follow this luxurious carriage.
"Wei Chao, go and call him. I want to see this Zhang Yuan." The young man in the carriage ordered.
"Isn't this good?" Wei Chao, the internal official riding the bay-red horse, couldn't help but hesitated and lowered his voice: "We are sneaking out of the palace, how can we let outsiders know, and Eunuch Zhong is not here, we and this young master
What else can you say!"
"No, I want to see what Zhang Zhongchen from Jiangnan looks like. Does he have a red face and a long beard like Prince Yi Boyuntianguan." The young man is very willful.
The woman in the carriage asked the young chamberlain: "Xiao Gao, have you seen clearly whether it is Mr. Zhang? Don't identify people randomly."
Xiao Gao affirmed: "You will never admit your mistake. That fallen girl with blue eyes also came with Mr. Zhang. She will never admit your mistake."
The woman then warned the young man: "Brother, please promise me that we will call Mr. Zhang over. You can stay in the car and don't speak a word. Just look at him secretly. Do you hear me?"
"Okay, I won't say anything." The young man agreed.
Wei Chao had no choice but to order: "Brother Wei, you and Xiao Gao go and ask Young Master Zhang to come over and show him. Don't mention that he is here, just say that Eunuch Zhong and his colleagues want to see him."
A chamberlain who was a few years older than the Wei Dynasty agreed and went to the dock with Xiao Gao.
…
As the New Year approaches, the Chaoyangmen Canal Pier becomes increasingly busy. All kinds of barges and plywood boats are crowded on the riverside. There are horse-drawn carriages, ox-carts, sedan bearers, donkey drivers, camel drivers, merchants, travelers, porters, and charlatans on the shore.
Coming and going, noisy and noisy, the cold air is mixed with a smell that is not found in winter in the south of the Yangtze River——
The warm winter sun was shining slantingly, and Zhang Yuan and his party of six boats were moored under the Chaoyangmen Pier. A group of coachmen, sedan bearers, and porters came up and enthusiastically asked where the guests were going. They knew the inside and outside of the capital, from Paozi River in the East City to Haidian in the West City, from
From Manjing in the North City to Marco Polo Bridge in the South City, there is no place they don’t know. They can transport guests quickly and safely. If the guests want to stay in a hotel, they can also recommend a clean, spacious and reasonably priced inn...
"Is this the ship from Shaoxing Prefecture? Has my young master Huzi arrived?"
A middle-aged servant squeezed among a group of porters and stretched his neck and shouted. There was also a tall and muscular servant beside him. He saw Zhang Dai on the bow of the boat and shouted happily: "Master Zongzi, Master Zongzi, how can I, the villain?"
Liang." He waved his hands enthusiastically.
This is the servant sent by Qi Biaojia's father Qi Chengshun and Zhang Dai's second uncle Zhang Lianfang to pick up the ship. The letter made an appointment to disembark at the Chaoyangmen Canal Pier. Qi's servant and Zhang Lianfang's servant Neng Liang have been at this terminal since the fifth day of December.
I'm on top. I come in early every morning and go back at night. I've been waiting for twenty days. This Nengliang is Nengzhu's brother——
Xu Guangqi took Jinni Pavilion and rushed directly to the Catholic Church in the east corner of Xuanwumen to meet with Pang Di'e and Long Huamin. He stated the interests and asked the two priests Pang and Long to write a book immediately to advise Wang Fengsu and others in Nanjing to be cautious in preaching and to live in seclusion in the near future.
, don’t cause trouble——
Zhang Dai invited Zhang Yuan to go with him to his second uncle Zhang Lianfang's place. Zhang Yuan said: "I am going to see my brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo, and I will come back to see uncle Baosheng tomorrow." Shang Zhouzuo said in the letter that he wanted Zhang Yuan to live with him when he arrived in Beijing.
There.
Qi Biaojia went to the official office of his father Qi Chengshun, while those who had no relatives or friends to vote for went to the Huitong Hall in their own provinces. The North and South Huitong Hall was located near the Liubu Yamen and was used for officials from various provinces who went to Beijing for business and for exams.
The building is provided with food and accommodation, and all the officials have made an appointment to gather in front of the Hubu Yamen tomorrow, and then write to the emperor to implore the emperor to issue an edict as soon as possible to exempt the six counties of Shandong from taxes and provide relief to the victims——
Qingmo Shanren took his beloved wife Dong Milk Tea to bid farewell to Zhang Yuan, thanking Zhang Yuan for his life-saving grace. There will be a time to repay Zhang Yuan. Zhang Yuan had given Qingmo Shanren five taels of silver as a gift a few days ago. At this time, he said:
"People from Qingmo Mountain, please stay at an inn near the Dongsi Archway. My brother-in-law's residence is southwest of the Daci Yanfu Palace in the Dongsi Archway. If you find a place to live, come and let me know. I will be able to find you if you need something in the future."
You, if you have any difficulties in Beijing, feel free to come to me. People from home, don’t go outside."
Qingmoshan people agreed repeatedly and went with Dong milk tea.
Zhang Yuan called two carriages and stood on the shore watching Wang Dachui and Lai Fu carrying luggage from the ship and getting into the carriage. Two palace servants squeezed over. The young servant crossed his hands and said: "Master Zhang, Master Zhang,
The little one is so tall."
Zhang Yuan turned around and recognized that this was Gao Qiqian, the godson of the eunuch Zhong Benhua. He had met him in Nanjing last year but had not seen each other for a year. Like Wu Ling, he had grown a lot taller. He said happily: "Hello, little Eunuch Gao, are you out of town on business?"
"Who is this father-in-law?" He looked at the tall eunuch next to Xiao Gao. He was about forty-five or six years old. He had a dark complexion, a high nose and a wide mouth, and two thick black birthday eyebrows. He looked very handsome.
, because those two long longevity eyebrows looked very friendly, he had already bowed down to salute and said: "Wei Jinzhong has met Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang is famous far and wide, and the name of Mr. Zhang is also spread in the palace.
"The tone is very enthusiastic -
"Wei Jinzhong!"
Zhang Yuan only felt his scalp explode slightly. He never expected that he would meet Wei Zhongxian as soon as he arrived in the capital. Wei Zhongxian was named Li Jinzhong when he first entered the palace. Now his surname is Wei Jinzhong. It seems that he is just a low-level chamberlain.
Who would have thought that a few years later this man would be able to dominate the world and start a brutal party struggle?
Xiao Gao introduced: "This Eunuch Wei and Eunuch Zhong work together as deacons in Ciqing Palace. Eunuch Wei also serves as an errand at Jiaziku——"
His surprised emotions were controlled instantly, Zhang Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Hello, Eunuch Wei."
"Mr. Zhang." Xiao Gao pointed towards the pine forest and said, "There is an Eunuch Wei over there who also wants to meet Mr. Zhang -" he explained: "There are two Eunuchs Wei in Ciqing Palace. This one is the Great Wei.
The one next to me is Xiao Wei, both are friends of Eunuch Zhong, and Eunuch Wei is the young eunuch of Ciqing Palace."
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Where is there another Eunuch Wei?"
Zhang Yuan knew the level of the eunuchs in the Ming Palace. After being castrated and entering the palace, they could only do chores such as janitors, fetching water, chopping firewood, and running errands. They were called small fire eunuchs. The higher the level of the small fire eunuchs, the hand towels and ebony cards were given.
If you have a regular job, but you are not yet in the mainstream, if you do well and someone appreciates it, you will be promoted to the rank of errand, long follower, and Dianbo. This is the rank of the internal official. The cadre is the seventh rank, and the Dianbook is the sixth rank.
Further up is the fifth-grade eunuch, and above that is the young eunuch. From the fourth grade, the young eunuch assists the eunuchs. The eunuch is the fourth-grade eunuch, and usually supervises the treasurer of a supervisory bureau. This shows that he must be addressed with respect.
Hearing how difficult it is to be an eunuch, Xiao Gao pointed out that the young Eunuch Wei was the young eunuch, to remind Zhang Yuan not to neglect him. The fourth-grade Eunuch Wei was much more powerful than the seventh-grade Eunuch Wei in front of him -
—
It's not a bad thing to get to know more internal officials. Zhang Yuan followed Xiao Gao and Li Jinzhong to the luxurious carriage, followed by Mu Zhenzhen and Wu Ling.
The young eunuch Wei Chao had already dismounted, took a few steps forward, and saluted with a smile: "Master Zhang of Shanyin, I have admired my name for a long time, I have admired my name for a long time, Wei Chao, the deacon of Cining Palace in the Zajia family - what is the purpose of Mr. Zhang coming to Beijing? Ah, Mr. Zhang is already a great man.
Have you promoted someone? Congratulations——"
Wu Ling, who was on the side, heard that the young master only said that he was recruiting people, so he couldn't help but interjected: "How can I teach my father-in-law to know that my young master is the first Jie Yuan in the Zhejiang Provincial Examination." Seeing the young master glance at him, he chuckled and stepped back half a step.
In the Wei Dynasty, Wei Jinzhong stood in awe, and the Wei Dynasty said repeatedly: "It's amazing, it's amazing. Mr. Zhang will definitely go to high school next spring. As a young Jinshi, he has a bright future."
Zhang Yuan returned the gift, humbly, and said to himself: "I know this Wei Dynasty. Wei Zhongxian was the first person to climb up. Now Wei Zhongxian calls him brother and sister, and he will die in Wei Zhongxian's hands in a few years."
Zhang Yuan was about to ask Wei Chao about Eunuch Zhong's current situation when the luxurious carriage beside him suddenly burst into laughter. It was the crazy joyful laughter of a young man. He kept laughing, and the curtains in the wooden lattice of the exquisite windows were shaking——
"This is?" Zhang Yuan pointed toward the carriage and looked at Wei Chao.
Wei Chao was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to explain it to Zhang Yuan, but he looked at Wei Jinzhong. Wei Jinzhong smiled and said: "It's rare for a child to come out once, so happy, haha." The topic changed: "If Mr. Zhong knew that Mr. Zhang was coming to Beijing, he would be very happy.
I will definitely find an opportunity to meet Mr. Zhang. Does Mr. Zhang have a place to stay in Beijing?"
The young man in the carriage was still laughing, and he heard a woman scolding him softly. Before the young man's laughter stopped, there was a sudden "swipe" sound, and the curtain and the window lattice were pushed aside. Zhang Yuan saw the look of the woman in the carriage.
, even though he has always been calm, and Wang Wei has improved his once vast horizons, he was still surprised when he saw this woman at first sight. This woman was about twenty-six or seventeen years old. She was dressed as a palace official, with green gauze for hair care and a jade hairpin tilted.
Zhan, wearing a purple bordered Sunda coat, with a round collar and narrow sleeves, embroidered with small sunflowers with folded branches, the dress is extremely gorgeous, but the bright color of the dress does not cover up its beauty at all, the forehead is smooth and broad, and the eyebrows are thin and long.
The tips of her eyebrows flew into her temples, and the tips of her eyes were slanted, resembling the shape of phoenix eyes, but the phoenix eyes were narrow and long, but the woman's beautiful eyes were big and clear. Because the car window was suddenly pushed open, the woman was a little surprised, turned her head and twisted her body.
She opened her eyes wide and met Zhang Yuan's gaze. Her snow-white face suddenly turned rouge. She gently pushed the boy who was leaning on her body. She pursed her red lips and spat: "Sit down."
Straighten up." He glanced at Zhang Yuan outside the window again, but did not close the window immediately -
The young man's eyebrows are also thin and long, his appearance is pretty, and he looks like he is in his teens. His eyes were originally darting around, but when Zhang Yuan looked at him, his eyes instantly looked dull, pretending to be stupid——
An idea flashed in Zhang Yuan's mind: "Are these the emperor's grandson Zhu Youxiao and his nanny guest Yinyue?" He bowed respectfully, said nothing, and stopped looking out the car window.
Wei Chao hurried over and pushed up the car window from the outside, but the curtains inside could not be pulled up. The beautiful woman in the car watched Zhang Yuan and Wei Chao talking through the fine window lattice. After a while, Wei Chao stepped on
On horseback, a group of servants gathered around the carriage to return to the city. The woman then closed the curtains of the carriage and scolded the young man softly: "I told you before to keep quiet——"
The young man's eyes became lively again, and he argued: "Mommy asked me not to speak, not to make a sound, but I didn't say a word."
The beautiful woman in palace attire couldn't help but laugh, shook her head and said: "How elegant are you? You are -" She stopped talking and changed her question: "Brother, do you think this Mr. Zhang is a good person? I think he is very polite.
"
The young man said: "I don't have a red face, I don't have a beard, I'm not impressive, I'm just a white-faced scholar."
The beautiful woman smiled and said, "I'm a scholar by nature. Did you hear that I'm taking the provincial examination to solve the Yuan problem? I'm really very talented."
Wei Chao, who was riding next to the carriage, thought to himself: "Zhang Yuan, whom Zhong Benhua befriended, seems to be a real person. He has won four yuan in a row. It is not simple. Zhong Benhua resigned from Hangzhou as a weaving eunuch and returned to Beijing last year. He could have gone to the Bell and Drum Department as a palm sealer."
The eunuch, however, took the initiative to come to Ciqing Palace to teach his brother how to read. The people in the palace laughed at him for "burning the cold stove", but he remained calm. Could it be that he wanted to wait for his brother to take the throne in the future and take charge of the ceremony?"
Thinking of this, Wei Chao smiled, thinking that he was still a timid prince, and it would be his turn to take the throne. It would have to wait until the Year of the Monkey, and he was not close to Zhong Benhua, and he was most compatible with Old Wei, and
——
Wei Chao frowned slightly and stopped thinking about it.
…
Zhang Yuan watched the group of eunuchs surrounding the carriage go away. Pedestrians on the road showed no surprise when they saw the group of eunuchs, they just gave way a little. There must be a lot of eunuchs in the capital and they are often seen, so it is not surprising. Who is it?
He also knew that the person sitting in the carriage was the eldest grandson of the current emperor.
Zhang Yuan thought: "That young man must be Zhu Youxiao, the eldest grandson of the emperor. Zhu Youxiao was born in the thirty-third year of Wanli. He is eleven years old this year, which is consistent with the age of this young man. The young man is Zhu Youxiao, and that beautiful woman is
It must be her breasts that protect Ke Yinyue, and only Ke Yinyue has such beauty."
Zhang Yuan was deeply impressed by the beauty of the woman in the carriage. Zhang Yuan had a strange feeling: this woman did not look like a Han woman. Her complexion was as white as Mu Zhenzhen, like the ice and snow of the North. But Shi Zaike's
He is from Dingxing County, Baoding Prefecture, Hebei Province. Baoding is still southwest of Beijing and does not border Mongolia and Jurchens. How come this Hakka family looks like a foreigner?
——Zhang Yuan knew in his heart that as long as Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne, this beautiful woman would become the most powerful woman in the palace. This seemed difficult to change because Zhu Youxiao relied on her. What Zhang Yuan wanted to change was Wei Zhongxian and the Hakka family.
The Hakka family alone cannot make trouble, so how should we proceed? Wei Zhongxian, the Hakka family and the future emperor Zhu Youxiao all met together on the first day he entered Beijing. Although it was just a quick glance, they
We can still figure out some of the temperaments of the three of them. Wei Zhongxian is smooth, Hakka is frivolous, and young Zhu Youxiao, although he keeps laughing, his dull eyes at that moment are obviously depressed...
"Master, are you leaving? The coachman is impatient with waiting." Wu Ling came over and urged.
Zhang Yuan left Lai Fu and the boatman and his wife to guard the boat. Wang Dachui, Wu Ling and Mu Zhenzhen followed him to the East Fourth Archway to find the residence of his brother-in-law Shang Zhouzuo. The coachman drove across the stone bridge on the moat and entered Chaoyang Gate.
It is one of the nine gates in the inner city of Beijing. Previously, Zhang Yuan's ship passed the Guangqu Gate in the outer city. The walls of the outer city are not as tall as the walls of the inner city. The walls of Chaoyang Gate are eight feet high, with a base seven feet thick, and the towers are even more towering.
It is majestic, dotted with enemy towers and parapets, and looks impregnable, but if the hearts of a city are scattered, copper and iron walls are of no use——
Zhang Yuan did not take a car. He wanted to see the city of Beijing on foot. The streets in Beijing were wide and straight. The buildings on both sides were also tall and magnificent, but not as exquisite as the pavilions and pavilions in Jiangnan. The snow on the streets was cleanly swept away, and the cars and horses
Pedestrians are constantly passing by, it is already dusk, and dusk is about to fall on the capital of the Ming Empire——
Chaoyang Gate is less than two miles away from the east gate of the Dongsi Archway. Two carriages passed under the four-column and three-bay wooden archway, heading towards the Daci Yanfu Palace. The houses on both sides were cramped, there was almost no open space, and the streets were not large.
At this time, Zhang Yuan got into the car and drove for more than half a mile. The Daciyanfu Palace with red walls and black tiles was on the south side of the road. Daciyanfu Palace is a Taoist palace that worships heaven, earth and water.
God, commonly known as Sanguan Temple. It is said that fortune-telling is efficacious and the incense is very popular. Zhang Yuan's carriage went around to the southwest of Sanguan Temple. According to Zhang Yuan's instructions, the coachman asked passers-by where the Shang Yushi of the Duchayuan lived? He asked one after another.
After asking three people, the coachman drove the carriage quickly to the house of the Shang Yushi. It is a courtyard, facing south, with a golden pillar gate. This kind of gate is not luxurious, but it also shows that the owner is a high-ranking official -
—
The red lacquer door was closed. Wu Ling went to knock on the door. When a servant opened the door, he was surprised and said: "Is this Mr. Zhang from Shaoxing? Please come in. I have been waiting for many days. I haven't come back from the Yamen today."
." He turned around and told a certain maid to go in quickly and report that Uncle Zhang had arrived.
Zhang Yuan entered the Jinzhu Gate. This is the front yard. The front yard is shallow in depth, only two feet, and is rectangular. There is a small vestibule on the right and a wing on the left. From the vestibule, walk a few steps to the west to reach the main entrance. Zhang Yuan has not yet
When we reached the main entrance, a maid ran out first and said happily: "It's really Mr. Zhang, madam, madam, it's really Mr. Zhang." This maid came to Beijing from Kuaiji three years ago with Mrs. Fu from Shang.
Recognize Zhang Yuan——
Zhang Yuan smiled and greeted the maid, and walked quickly to the gate. He saw his sister-in-law Fu, surrounded by several maids and maids, walking towards the gate. The girl following Mrs. Fu was Shang Jinglan.
We haven't seen each other for three years. Shang Jinglan, who will be thirteen in a few days, has grown much taller and looks like a slim girl. But what about little Jinghui? Why didn't little Jinghui rush out?
Zhang Yuan still clearly remembers the first time he went to the Shang family's door in Kuaiji that winter. When the wooden door opened, a group of people came out. The one who rushed at the front was the six-year-old Xiao Jinghui. The maid Fanghua wanted to
He held her back to prevent her from running so fast, but was dragged down by such a small person like her -
What happened to Xiao Jinghui?
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I haven't recovered from my cold yet, so I tried my best to code 5,000 words and submit this.