Wu Daonan asked the cook to cook several Jiangxi hometown dishes, leaving Yang Lian and Zhang Yuan to have lunch, bacon, fish head, tofu, green vegetables, earthen pot soup, home-cooked side dishes, unique flavor, the wine was the imperial Changchun wine given by the emperor during the New Year
, the food was fragrant and the wine was delicious, and the three guests and host had a harmonious conversation——
At the end of the afternoon, Yang Lian said goodbye to Zhang Yuan and walked on Taipusi Street. The sun was shining brightly. Zhang Yuan squinted his eyes slightly. When he came out of the relatively dark courtyard, he suddenly saw the strong light, and his eyes still felt a little uncomfortable——
Yang Liandao: "Meson, I'm not on duty today. You can come to my residence and have a long talk."
Zhang Yuan made an appointment with Eunuch Zhong to meet him at Shichahai and said, "Teacher, please forgive me, but the student is busy at this time. Please come back to the teacher's apartment in the evening to wait for teaching."
Yang Lian felt that he had nothing to say to others, and he asked others to do the same, asking: "What's the matter with you?"
Zhang Yuan could teach Xiao Jinghui that everyone has their own secrets, but he could not teach Teacher Yang. Teacher Yang would say that a gentleman is magnanimous, so he had to reply: "Zhong Benhua, the eunuch of Ciqing Palace, is an old friend of the student when he was in Hangzhou.
Let’s meet up at Shichahai today to catch up on old times. Students can’t break their promise.”
Yang Lian shook his head: "That's all, then you go quickly, I will wait for you at the Huitong Hall in the evening." He felt the need to remind Zhang Yuan, and said: "Jiezi, in the future you should avoid interacting with the eunuchs. This is not a good idea.
, you are no longer a Qingjin scholar, but an official."
Zhang Yuan said duplicity: "Teacher Yang's lesson is correct, but since we have made an appointment, we can't let people wait in vain." He bowed to Yang Lian, took Wang Dachui and Laifu out of the east side of Taipusi Street, and then walked along the root of the Imperial City.
Turning to the north, on the right side of the road, inside the high imperial wall is the Taiye Pool of Xiyuan. The wall is mottled with red paint, showing the age of the Ming Empire——
Because it was already late and they were afraid that Eunuch Zhong would wait for a long time, Zhang Yuan and the other three walked very quickly, passing through Huichang Street and West Street, towards Eunuch Zhong's outer house in Shichahai, when they passed the water pavilion behind the Fire Temple.
Seeing a small sedan with silk curtains walking slowly in front of him, and a palace attendant following the sedan, Zhang Yuan didn't pay attention and strode across the small sedan with silk curtains, but heard a low and charming voice in the sedan say: "The Number One Scholar"
Are you coming now? Eunuch Zhong has been waiting for you for a long time."
Zhang Yuan said "ah", stopped, turned around and bowed to the sedan chair: "Blessed are you, grandma, guest." This seemed to be a bit like a Qing Dynasty palace drama.
The carved car window was pushed open from the inside, revealing Ke Yinyue's bright and bright face. Her big and charming eyes looked at Zhang Yuan. She said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for three months. Mr. Zhang has become the number one scholar and has become a scholar."
I have become a sixth-rank official in the Hanlin Academy. It is really gratifying and congratulatory. Why doesn’t Young Master Zhang take a carriage?"
Zhang Yuan followed the sedan and replied, "I'm coming from Taipusi Street. It's not a long way, so you might as well take a walk and take in the scenery."
"There's still six or seven miles to go." Ke Yinyue glanced at Zhang Yuan with her charming eyes. She saw Zhang Yuan's tall and straight figure, his walking speed, and his strong legs. His heart was filled with excitement. It's rare to see such heroic spirit.
A scholar.
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Can Ke Yinyue, a deep palace nurse, be able to come in and out of the palace so freely? She seems to have a husband and son." He asked: "Where is Aunt Ke Yinyue going? Is it Eunuch Zhong's residence?"
Ke Yinyue nodded and said, "Yes. My son Hou Guoxing came from his hometown in Baoding and has been living in Eunuch Zhong's residence these days."
Zhang Yuan thought: "Yes, Eunuch Zhong and Ke Yinyue hooked up."
After the Fire Temple, there was Eunuch Zhong’s courtyard. Wu Ling had been waiting here and looked at the time when it was past Zhengwei. He was waiting anxiously when he saw Zhang Yuan coming from the Fire Temple. He hurriedly looked at the people around him.
The young chamberlain stood up and said quietly: "Little Eunuch Gao, my young master is here."
Xiao Gao ran in to report the news. When Eunuch Zhong came out to greet him, Zhang Yuan and his guest Yinyue had already arrived in front of the door. Zhang Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Keep your father-in-law waiting."
Eunuch Zhong smiled and said: "The Za family have just arrived. Didn't our guest meet the number one scholar by chance on the way?"
Ke Yinyue got down from the sedan chair and said with a smile, "Yes. I'm very honored."
Eunuch Zhong smiled and said to Zhang Yuan: "Please Zhang Hanlin, the Za family has set up a banquet in the back garden just to congratulate the champion. Would you like to have a drink with me, grandma?"
Ke Yinyue said: "How can this be so embarrassing?" He glanced at Zhang Yuan——
Zhang Yuan didn't pay attention to Ke Yinyue. He saw two people standing behind Eunuch Zhong. One was a tall man in his thirties, with a long face and small eyes but very energetic. He had a kind of look when he stood there.
Power, the other is a boy with a flat face, thirteen or fourteen years old, a little timid--
Zhang Yuan asked Eunuch Zhong: "Eunuch Zhong, who are these two -?"
Eunuch Zhong looked back, but before he could answer, Ke Yinyue had already answered: "This is my brother Ke Guangxian, and this is my son Hou Guoxing - why don't you hurry up and pay tribute to the number one scholar? This year's new number one scholar is very popular."
The tall man and the flat-faced boy came over and saluted Zhang Yuan with their hands crossed. Zhang Yuan returned the salute and said: "It turns out that they are the younger brother and the younger son of the guest. Let's have a drink together."
Ke Yinyue's younger brother Ke Guang bowed first and said: "The number one scholar has defeated the villain. How dare I sit at the same table with the number one scholar?"
Eunuch Zhong had an important conversation with Zhang Yuan, not wanting to be disturbed. Ke Yinyue's younger brother was a farmer, so how could he be on the stage? He said, "Mother Ke Yinyue wants to reunite with her son and brothers for a talk, and the Za family has prepared another banquet for them to drink.
"After that, he took Zhang Yuan's hand and entered the inner hall.
Three years ago, at the Weaving Department outside Yongjin Gate in Hangzhou City, Eunuch Zhong took Zhang Yuan's hand and escorted Zhang Yuan to the car. At that time, Eunuch Zhong showed his kindness and invitation, showing his love and magnanimity from the superior. However, times have changed.
, now Zhang Yuan is no longer the little boy he once was, but a new top scholar who is famous all over the world. Eunuch Zhong’s friendship with Zhang Yuan is already a bit high. What makes Eunuch Zhong satisfied is that Zhang Yuan still values his friendship with him. Although the top scholar and the third
, but his expression is as humble as before, without a trace of arrogance. This is really a man of great ability——
The banquet was held in the small hall in the side courtyard, with a yellow rosewood dining table, two futons, a pot of royal wine on the dining table, and several Jiangnan-style exquisite side dishes. There were blooming crabapples outside the long window of the small hall, and the afternoon sunshine was strong.
Reflecting the blooming crabapples, the eyes are full of beauty and tender red, like the lips of countless girls——
Fengya eunuch Zhong Benhua sat on his knees on the futon on the right and said, "The Za family knows that Zhang Hanlin has already had lunch. Now he can have something to eat. The Za family has something to ask Zhang Hanlin for advice."
Zhang Yuan said: "I have always wanted to come over to express my gratitude to Eunuch Zhong, but I couldn't. The edict for disaster relief in Shandong years ago would not have come out so quickly without my father-in-law's contribution. My father-in-law's move has left countless people alive. Outsiders don't know the benevolence and righteousness of our father-in-law. Zhang Yuan
But I know it."
Eunuch Zhong listened to what Zhang Yuan said. He smiled from ear to ear. He did contribute to the issuance of the disaster relief order in Shandong, but this kind of thing cannot be publicized to others. It is very painful not to be famous for doing good deeds. Now
Hearing Zhang Yuan praise him, he was really elated. He said modestly: "The Za family can't do much if it's a cold stove. I only said a few words to Mr. Lu." The palace called the eunuch who held the eunuch's seal as the internal minister.
The first assistant is the foreign minister.
Zhang Yuandao: "Some people do not seek political power in their positions, but if you keep your composure, sooner or later you will have time to seek political power."
Eunuch Zhong said: "The Za family is quite calm. It's just that there are open and secret fights in the palace. The Za family just wants peace at the moment." He suddenly asked: "I heard that Zheng Yangxing, the son of Zheng Guojiu, Yulin Wei Qianhu, has a relationship with Zhang Hanlin?"
There were only two people in the small hall, Zhang Yuan and Eunuch Zhong, and two maids stood outside the corridor. Laifu and Wang Dachui stood in the courtyard. It was very quiet in the afternoon——
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "When I first came to Beijing, what friendship did I have with the Zheng family? On the day of the Chuanlu ceremony, Zheng Yangxing visited me at my brother-in-law's house and said that he would give me a courtyard house. Mr. Zhong, tell me, I will give you that house."
Do you want it? Of course I refused."
Eunuch Zhong laughed. He felt relieved and said bluntly: "What the Zajia want to ask Zhang Hanlin for today is that there are recent rumors in the capital that uncle Zheng Guo and his son and Concubine Zheng are planning to murder the East Palace. Everyone in the East Palace is in danger. Do you think so?"
If something unexpected happens in the East Palace, then King Fu will be the crown prince. How should we deal with this?"
Zhang Yuan frowned and almost blurted out the words "Castle". He remembered the three major cases in the late Ming Dynasty very clearly. The Massacre occurred in the 43rd year of Wanli, which should have happened last year. Has history changed?
Quietly changed, the attack case was postponed. The situation is changing, are you waiting for me, Zhang Yuan, to participate?
After making some innuendo to Eunuch Zhong, it turned out that only the demon book case had occurred before and not the assassination case. Zhang Yuan nodded secretly and said, "Don't worry, my father-in-law. Although the emperor does not like the East Palace, he cannot tolerate such things. My father-in-law pays careful attention day and night and reminds me.
Just be careful when entering and exiting the East Palace."
Eunuch Zhong said: "The Miscellaneous family knows that I am also very cautious now. Unless Long live the Lord summons me, I stay in the Ciqing Palace and live in seclusion." Seeing Master Zhang frowning in thought, he asked: "What did Zhang Hanlin think of?"
?”
Zhang Yuan was thinking about the ins and outs of the assault case in the history of the late Ming Dynasty, and always found it incredible. Was the man who broke into Ciqing Palace with a stick and wanted to kill the crown prince Zhu Changluo ordered by Concubine Zheng and Zheng Guotai and his son? What if it was the Zheng family?
Zheng was too stupid to instigate such a crazy and stupid person to rush in and beat Zhu Changluo to death? Where are the martial arts masters who fly over the walls and where are the fierce and brave Jiangyang thieves? Why not?
Find two people to assassinate the prince?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan laughed at himself. This is not a martial arts novel. When Eunuch Zhong asked him what he was thinking about, of course he couldn't tell Eunuch Zhong what would happen in the assault case. He changed the subject and said: "I'm thinking about Auntie Ke's brother.
, are you really a farmer from Baoding Prefecture?”
Eunuch Zhong didn't understand why Zhang Yuan suddenly mentioned Ke Guangxian, and replied: "Of course he is a farmer. Grandma Ke's husband Hou Er is also a farmer, and they both work in agriculture."
Zhang Yuan asked: "Where is Hou Er?"
Eunuch Zhong said: "He is dead. The second year after Ke Yinyue entered the palace, her husband Hou Er died. The palace was looking for a wet nurse to provide for her husband and children. Otherwise, she would not have them. If Hou Er died a year earlier, Ke Yinyue would die."
I can't enter the palace anymore, and it's precisely because Hou Er died that Ke Yinyue stayed in the palace all the time. My brother is also attached to her, otherwise he would have been sent out of the palace back to Baoding."
Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "What a coincidence." He said, "I think Grandma Ke's brother has an extraordinary appearance, and he may be able to become famous in the future."
Eunuch Zhong smiled and said: "Ke Yinyue must be very happy to have the number one scholar praise her younger brother - Mr. Zhang also knows the art of fortune-telling?"
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "I understand a little, I understand a little, but my father-in-law can use my words to please my mother-in-law." He asked: "My father-in-law, can I have a meal with my mother-in-law today?"
Eunuch Zhong said with a slight embarrassment: "A gentleman should not take advantage of others. The Wei Dynasty has a good relationship with the Za family. Besides, the Wei Dynasty is younger than the Za family -"
Zhang Yuan thought: "It's just a meal, they are not husband and wife, they are both eunuchs. It doesn't matter whether they are young or not. Besides, Wei Jinzhong is older than you and Wei Chao. When the Hakka family and Wei Jinzhong have a heated fight, what about you, Old Zhong?"
There's no chance." It was difficult to say this to Eunuch Zhong, so he had to say: "That's all, Eunuch Zhong just needs to have a good relationship with Auntie Zhong. Eunuch Zhong must not take it for granted. This is indeed very important."
Of course, Eunuch Zhong didn't dare to turn a deaf ear to Zhang Yuan's repeated instructions. He followed Zhang Yuan's suggestion and came to Ciqing Palace to burn the cold stove. He said, "The Za family knows that the Za family has become much closer to the guest recently."
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "That's good, that's good."
Eunuch Zhong slapped his forehead, raised his wine glass and said, "I've been busy talking and haven't congratulated the No. 1 Scholar yet. Come on, let's toast the No. 1 Scholar with a drink."
The two raised their glasses, drank it all, looked at each other and laughed.
Eunuch Zhong remembered something and said: "Mr. Zhang, the Za family has been spending more time with guest Yinyue recently and found that she is probably literate. But when the Za family asked her, she said she was illiterate. She is just a peasant woman and has never read a book -"
At this moment, I heard guest Yinyue's voice coming from the small door of the side courtyard: "Eunuch Zhong, can the young lady come and propose a toast to the Number One Scholar?"
Zhang Yuan whispered to Eunuch Zhong: "My father-in-law, please pay more attention in the future, ask less and look more - please invite her in."
Eunuch Zhong nodded, stood up and told the maid standing under the corridor: "Please come in, grandma."
In late spring in the capital, the weather has obviously warmed up. Ke Yinyue, who is tall and beautiful, walks in. She wears a high bun and a purple sunflower palace skirt. The snow-white lining is exposed in the collar. The purple and white contrast, it is really beautiful. She lowers her clothes.
The figure in the winter skirt is even more plump and attractive——
As soon as Ke Yinyue entered the small hall, Xiao Gao ran in and shouted: "Godfather, please come back to the palace immediately if there is something urgent."
Eunuch Wang was the eunuch Wang An who accompanied Prince Zhu Changluo. He was loyal and the eunuch Zhu Changluo relied on the most. Therefore, when Eunuch Zhong heard that Wang An had something urgent to do with him, he did not dare to delay. He bowed to Zhang Yuanzuo and said, "Mr. Zhang, I'm sorry.
Sorry, the Za family has something to do and has to go back to the palace first - does Auntie Ke want to go back with the Za family?"
Ke Yinyue said: "I'm not in a hurry. My father-in-law, please come back quickly. Don't keep the prince waiting for a long time."
Eunuch Zhong left in a hurry. Zhang Yuan said to his guest Yinyue, "Please sit down, I'm going back."
Ke Yinyue's charming eyes were full of water and she said: "The little woman hasn't offered the champion a glass of wine yet. The champion won't be disrespectful."
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "This woman has a pretentious attitude like Pan Jinlian. She really doesn't look like a peasant woman. It is impossible for her to learn to be so charming in the palace. Is she hungry and thirsty for a long time or does she have other motives?"
Zhang Yuan had a strong feeling that the identity of Ke Yinyue was not simple. It was probably not the truth that Ke Yinyue was a peasant woman in Baoding.
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