Gao Qiqian, the young chamberlain, brought a carriage. Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhenzhen got on the carriage. It was about twelve or three miles from the Daci Yanfu Palace in the East Fourth Archway to the eunuch's residence in Shichahaizhong. The little chamberlain was worried about what to do.
Dad waited for a long time, urging the coachman to go faster. The two horses snorted and galloped hard, the wheels spinning rapidly. The carriage was speeding on the street, faster and faster, and the carriage was shaking. Zhang Yuan shouted: "Don't go too fast.
, don’t fight for this half moment. [This article comes from the Literature Museum.]"
The carriage slowed down. By the time they saw the frozen lake of Shishahai, the winter sun had already set over the western mountains, and the people hauling the ice beds were packing up their equipment and heading home one after another.
Shichahai got its name because there were ten famous Buddhist temples near this water area since the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. People in Beijing called the lake the sea, so it was called Shichahai. The water area of Shichahai is wider than that of Paozi River and is divided into Qianhai.
, Houhai and Xihai, Eunuch Zhong’s residence is just north of the Fire Temple on the east coast of Qianhai, less than half a mile away from the Bei’an Gate of the Imperial City. It is a large courtyard with four fronts and backs, with a front yard and a back yard.
The east courtyard, the west courtyard, the side courtyard, the cross courtyard, and there is a garden facing the front sea. It is more than twice the size of the courtyard house in Zuo of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
The nailed door is shut—
Gao Qiqian, the young chamberlain, jumped out of the carriage. When he saw that the door was closed, he shouted: "Ku Ye, my godfather has returned to the palace." He ran forward and knocked on the door. Soon the door opened, and Xiao Gao and the maid who answered the door
After saying a few words, he ran down and said to Zhang Yuan: "Mr. Zhang, my godfather left a message and asked Mr. Zhang to go in and wait a moment. I will rush back to Ciqing Palace to report the news." He turned around and told the maid: "This is the clock.
The distinguished guest invited by the father-in-law is well served." He saluted Zhang Yuan and ran towards Bei'anmen——
It is very close to Bei'anmen from here, only half a mile away, but it is at least five miles away from Bei'anmen to Ciqing Palace. How long will it take to get there?
Zhang Yuan couldn't help but shake his head. Eunuch Zhong was so eager to see him. He was impatient. Are you impatient to sit on the cold bench in Ciqing Palace?
A group of maids came out of the house, and with smiles on their faces, they invited Zhang Yuan and Mu Zhenzhen to sit in the front hall of the house. The lamps had been lit in the hall, and the heat rising from the floor was warm and pleasant. There were two and a half by the door.
The large square yarrow vase from Longquan kiln, which is as tall as a person, is decorated with large branches of plum blossoms. They are sparsely spaced and slanted, and they are in full bloom. Zhang Yuan recognized these two large square vase, which were brought back by Eunuch Zhong from the Hangzhou Weaving Department——
Zhang Yuan was looking at the gorgeous decorations in the hall. The rings were jingling and the fragrance was overwhelming. A group of eight maids came in. All of them were young and beautiful. They all saluted Zhang Yuan Wanfu. One of the maids with a pear dimple on his cheek said: "Master Zhang."
"My father-in-law ordered us to have a banquet as soon as it gets late, and invite Mr. Zhang to drink while waiting for him." While speaking, the beautiful maid looked at Zhang Yuan with her eyes for a moment, as if she was waiting for him -
Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "I met you at the Hangzhou Textile Department."
Liwo's lovely maid suddenly beamed with joy and said, "Young Master has a very good memory. He still remembers a servant like me. (--wang.)" He asked Zhang Yuan to sit down and said to Mu Zhenzhen, "I haven't seen you for two years.
Sister Mu has become a great beauty."
Mu Zhenzhen didn't know how to politely praise the beautiful maid back, so he just smiled and greeted her.
Zhang Yuan asked the beautiful maid Liwo: "When did Eunuch Zhong return to the palace?"
The beautiful maid said: "My father-in-law is waiting for Mr. Zhang to come. At the end of the period, he went back first because he was worried about something happening in the palace."
The banquet was quickly served, with all the famous dishes of the palace, such as bird's nest, shark's fin, wind duck, grilled clam, fish pot, donkey meat, peach blossom bream, fruit cake, etc. The table was filled to the brim, and the wine was the imperial wine.
"Hantanchun", several beautiful maids came up to persuade them to drink. Yingying Yanyan was extremely enthusiastic——
These beautiful maids were all bought by Eunuch Zhong from Hangzhou and Beijing. They usually live in the courtyard of a deep house. Not to mention that men cannot see them, but even eunuchs like Eunuch Zhong and Xiao Gao rarely see them. Eunuch Zhong rarely comes out a few times a month.
So now when seeing the young and handsome Zhang Yuan, the maids couldn't help but feel an inexplicable joy. They were very talkative and extremely attentive. Zhang Yuan could smell the faint smell of female hormones in the aroma of fat wine. This
Zhang Yuan felt that something was not good. He had just entered the house and saw no male servants. This is the daughter country of Eunuch Zhong. The eunuchs are small-minded. Although they cannot do things between men and women, they are possessive. Please be careful.
, this is not drinking flower wine——
Zhang Yuan bowed to the beautiful maids and said: "Beauties, I'm really not used to being watched by others while eating. How about you leave the hall for now and come in after I've had my fill of wine and food?"
The eight beautiful maids were very surprised to hear Zhang Yuan call them "beauties". The lovely maid in Lidou said: "Then let me stay and serve Mr. Zhang?" Her eyes were filled with shyness and timidity. This beautiful maid felt that
He and Zhang Yuan are old acquaintances, so they should be different from others——
Zhang Yuan thought: "That's even more impossible." He smiled and said: "No need, as long as Zhenzhen is here."
Several maids knew that Zhang Yuan had to go to the side hall to avoid suspicion. They were very depressed. It was rare for a handsome man to come and they couldn't take a few more glances. The maid with pear dimples thought to herself: "This Mr. Zhang is a
You're so serious, there are so many of us, how dare anyone dare to have an affair with you in public, yet you want to drive us all here!"
…
Zhang Yuan really couldn't stand the hungry and fiery eyes of these beautiful maids. He felt like Tang Sanzang in Pansi Cave. As soon as these maids left, he immediately relaxed and invited Mu Zhenzhen to sit and eat with him. He felt very uncomfortable.
After waiting for about half an hour, Eunuch Zhong didn't come. He couldn't help but get anxious. There was a curfew at eight o'clock in the night. It was almost half past six now. If Eunuch Zhong didn't come, he couldn't wait any longer. He got up and walked out of the hall, saying loudly
: "If you have any pen and ink, I want to leave a message for Eunuch Zhong. - Net."
The pen, ink, paper and inkstone were delivered quickly. Mu Zhenzhen polished half of the inkstone. Zhang Yuan took up the pen and left a message for Eunuch Zhong. He had only written two lines when he heard the noise outside, saying that Eunuch Zhong was here——
Zhang Yuan put down his pen, stood up and walked out of the hall. He saw two lanterns lighting up the eunuch Zhong Benhua striding over. At the foot of the stairs, he cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Master Zhang, Zhang Jieyuan, congratulations, congratulations, four consecutive victories, amazing."
.”
Zhang Yuan bowed his head and said: "Eunuch Zhong, late-born Zhang Yuan is polite. My father-in-law is busy today. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." After saying that, he raised his head and saw a tall and beautiful woman standing next to Eunuch Zhong.
The beautiful woman seems to be taller than Mu Zhenzhen, plump and round, and even the palace skirt and embroidered jacket can't cover up the amorous feelings of a mature woman. She has slender eyebrows that are curved and slanted, and a pair of eyes that are big and clear. These eyes are so big
It's not the big round one, it's still long and narrow, charming and big. The bridge of the nose is high, but the mouth is small. The chin is pointed, and the combination of facial features has a strange charm——
Zhang Yuan had seen this beautiful woman at Chaoyangmen Pier yesterday evening. He guessed that she was the wet nurse of the emperor's grandson Zhu Youxiao who was visiting Yinyue. He didn't expect to see her again a day later at Eunuch Zhong's outer house!
The guess was indeed correct. Eunuch Zhong introduced: "Mr. Zhang, this is the wet nurse of the emperor's eldest grandson. The emperor's eldest grandson cannot live without her for a day."
Zhang Yuan bowed again and said: "Zhang Yuan, the son of Shanyin Juzi, has seen his guest, Grandma." Grandma is the wet nurse.
The twenty-seven-year-old Ke Yin Yue Xiang smiled like a girl. She twisted her waist and returned the courtesy and said: "How dare you ask Mr. Zhang to be so polite? I heard that Mr. Zhong has a man with eight talents.
My friend, a talented Jiangnan scholar, just wanted to come and have a look."
When the word "take a look" was mentioned, Ke Yinyue's big smiling eyes looked up and down at Zhang Yuan carefully, with flowing eyes that looked very affectionate.
Isn't it said that when choosing a queen or concubine, one should not be too beautiful or too charming? He was afraid that the emperor would be obsessed with beauty and ignore the government, so why did he choose such a frivolous and charming nanny for Zhu Youxiao? Zhang Yuan didn't quite understand, and took a quick look.
He glanced at Ke Yinyue's breasts. Well, her breasts were very big. She held her embroidered jacket high and her breasts were full of milk. This should be the most important reason why she was elected as the wet nurse of the eldest grandson of the emperor——
Zhang Yuan asked politely: "Eunuch Zhong, is this Aunt Rong my father-in-law's wife? My father-in-law is really lucky."
It was common in the late Ming Dynasty for eunuchs to pair up with palace servants for food. Even for a high-status eunuch, if someone asked him, "Who is your household?" the eunuch would tell the truth, and Tian would not be surprised -
Ke Yinyue covered her small mouth and smiled "geggily", and glanced at Eunuch Zhong. Eunuch Zhong looked a little embarrassed and said with a smile: "The Za family does not have this blessing. Aunt Rong is Shaojian Wei's apprentice." Changing the subject: "
Why are you standing outside talking in such a cold weather? Please come in, please come in." When he entered the hall, he saw that no maid was there, so he asked loudly: "Where have everyone gone? Why are you so neglectful of Mr. Zhang!"
A maidservant outside the curtain responded: "Master Zhang does not allow the maidservants to serve him, so the maidservants dare not enter the hall."
Eunuch Zhong looked at Zhang Yuan and said with a smile: "Master Zhang is too cautious. Will the Za family be that kind of intolerant person? Not to mention that you and I have been friends for many years -"
Ke Yinyue chuckled softly on the side. She was sitting on a small chair. Her sitting posture was quite strange. One leg was hanging down, and the other leg was sitting cross-legged on the chair. It was covered by a long skirt. It was not very eye-catching, but just slightly
She twisted her body and looked at Zhang Yuan intently, as if Zhang Yuan's caution made her more interested.
Zhang Yuan explained: "It is indeed because Wansheng is not used to being watched by others when eating - father-in-law, Wansheng went out early today. I am very sorry for keeping Xiao Gao and father-in-law waiting for so long. I just rushed here to give my father-in-law a meal in my hometown in Shanyin."
I forgot to bring the gifts I prepared, I’ll have them delivered tomorrow, they’re just some earthly gifts.”
Eunuch Zhong, like the guest Yinyue, looked at Zhang Yuan carefully under the candlelight and praised: "Master Zhang is even more outstanding, not to mention advanced in knowledge. Zhejiang is a major province in scientific research. It is really great to be able to win the title of leader in Zhejiang."
I have chosen the general's head among the ten thousand armies. We are old friends. The Za family is really happy for Mr. Zhang."
Eunuch Zhong was indeed very happy. The Zhejiang Provincial Examination once again proved Zhang Yuan's extraordinary talent. Eunuch Zhong told Zhang Yuan that he should return to Beijing to burn the cold stove. Although he was laughed at and felt a little stupid, he still trusted Zhang Yuan in his heart.
Yes, Zhang Yuan had no reason to tease him. He had seen Zhang Yuan's farsightedness, but he still had a lot of confusion and wanted to ask Zhang Yuan for advice face to face——
But Zhang Yuan quickly stood up and said: "Father, it's already the end of Youshi. Wansheng has to rush back to Dongsi Archway. Father-in-law can call Wansheng anytime he is free. Now Wansheng dares to ask for a ride with his father-in-law's carriage - guest
Auntie won’t be surprised."
Eunuch Zhong was also worried that guest Yinyue was by his side and he could not have a deep conversation with Zhang Yuan, so he said happily: "Master Zhang is coming from thousands of miles away, so it is natural for the Za family to send him off." Asking guest Yinyue, he said: "The guest is me."
Should we go back to the palace, or should we wait until the Za family sends Young Master Zhang back and then go back to the palace together?"
Seeing that Zhang Yuan was about to leave, Ke Yinyue felt a little bored and said, "I'll go back on my own." She gave Zhang Yuan a blessing and left the hall first.
Eunuch Zhong said: "Master Zhang, why don't you stay here for the rest of the night and send someone to Dongsi Archway to inform the Shang Yushi."
Zhang Yuandao: "How does this make it possible, Eunuch Zhong, let's go to the carriage and talk."
Eunuch Zhong did not force Zhang Yuan to stay and went out with Zhang Yuan in the same car. Of course it was not easy for Mu Zhenzhen to ride in the car as well. Eunuch Zhong wanted to send Mu Zhenzhen off in his sedan chair. Zhang Yuan knew that Mu Zhenzhen could still ride in the car and the sedan.
She would never sit down, so she said, "Let her go, she has big feet." Mu Zhenzhen is a martial arts practitioner, so it's good to run around, otherwise she will gain weight easily.
As the carriage rumbled along, Eunuch Zhong looked at Rong Yinyue's sedan heading towards Bei'anmen from the window, and whispered: "The guest has big feet too, but the Za family doesn't like it."
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Eunuchs also like small feet." He said: "Small feet are harmful but useless. Father, please don't be fooled by bad habits——"
Eunuch Zhong then remembered that Zhang Yuan's wife Shang was also said to be unsatisfied. He had heard someone mention it in Hangzhou the year before last, and quickly agreed: "Young Master Zhang is right, Young Master Zhang is right."
Zhang Yuandao said: "My father-in-law is one of the top ten talented officials in the imperial family. Needless to say, he is talented. He is also the chief eunuch, and his status in Ciqing Palace is higher than that of Wei Shaojian. Why doesn't this guest mother-in-law eat with my father-in-law?"
Eunuch Zhong didn't understand why Zhang Yuan asked about this, and said: "Before the Za family returned to the palace, Ke Yinyue was the counterpart of the Wei Dynasty. Recently, the great Wei Dynasty was Wei Jinzhong, the eldest companion of the emperor's eldest grandson. The one you saw outside Chaoyang Gate yesterday
This big man seems to have an affair with guest Yinyue, how can the Za family compete with such people for food!" His tone was full of disdain.
Eunuch Zhong is still very aloof, and has a lot of literati habits. This is not good. There is intrigue in the palace. How can eunuch Zhong's aloofness be compared with Wei Zhongxian's gangsters? Now that the emperor's eldest grandson has not ascended the throne, there is no power to fight for. Once there is a fight, eunuch Zhong will be like this
People will not even know how they died, just like Wang An and the Wei Dynasty who were killed by Wei Zhongxian without any reason. If Eunuch Zhong can eclipse the guest Yinyue, then he will not be afraid of Wei Zhongxian. The reason why Wei Zhongxian can win over Zhu
You are so favored in front of the school, mostly because of Ke Yinyue. This is a matter of life and death for the eunuch Zhong in the palace. It is also the key to whether Zhang Yuan can realize his ambition. The carpenter emperor is very good. Such an emperor is rare in a thousand years.
, it would be terrible if it was Emperor Chongzhen who worked hard to improve himself——
Zhang Yuan asked: "Why did my father-in-law willingly serve the emperor's eldest grandson in the cold shoulder?"
Eunuch Zhong curled his lips and said: "This cold stove was cooked by Mr. Zhang under the guidance of the Miscellaneous Family."
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Of course I hope that Eunuch Zhong will one day be able to command a hundred thousand eunuchs and be proud and proud. I will also be honored if I am late -"
Eunuch Zhong had a smile on his face. He had no feeling for beauty anymore. Everyone said that Ke Yinyue was a great beauty, but he regarded her as dirt. Money was enough for him. He had no offspring and there was no point in buying land. Now he just
Passionate about power, he wants to surprise those who make fun of him for burning cold stoves. Moreover, Eunuch Zhong is also proud of his talent and is fully capable of assisting the emperor in drafting decrees and approving the emperor. He wants to be a eunuch who will go down in history——
But Zhang Yuan changed the subject: "But if father-in-law wants to achieve that step, he must try his best to please the guest nanny."
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