Xu Youtang looked embarrassed and shook his head: "No. My father said...please ask Mr. Marquis to take the gift back."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "That's right, your Majesty is not willing to accept the salary for nothing. I have to take it back." He turned around and ordered the servant who followed him: "Go back and take the things away, so as not to dirty the Xu family's house.
Hahaha."
The servant turned the horse's head and drove away. Xu Youtang lowered his head and whispered softly: "Master Zhang, I'm sorry, my father... he is indeed a bit stubborn. Don't blame him. He is just that kind of person."
Zhang Yanling said: "I don't blame him. Helping me is out of love, not helping is out of duty. I have no reason to blame him. Miss Xu, you don't have to worry. Go back and tell your father that I still admire him and he is still a good friend."
If he comes to me for something in the future, I will definitely try my best to help him."
Xu Youtang nodded, but hesitated and did not leave. Zhang Yanling looked at her with a smile, not knowing what to say. Xu Youtang suddenly raised his head and asked: "Is the matter of improving firearms important to Mr. Hou?"
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said: "Of course, otherwise why would I come to your father to help me? This matter is my wish, maybe... it is of great significance. In short, I attach great importance to this matter."
Xu Youtang nodded slightly and said as if he had gathered enough courage: "How about... I try? Help you... try to improve this firearm?"
Zhang Yanling was stunned, jumped off the horse and said: "You? You also know these things?"
Xu Youtang pouted and said, "I know everything my dad knows. He always discusses with me what he does. Maybe I don't have as much experience as my dad, but of course I know these things. I've been learning from my dad since I was a child."
Zhang Yanling was very surprised. He was really surprised that Xu Youtang actually knew about smelting. But then he thought about it, Tan Ruqing could learn medicine from her grandmother, why couldn't Xu Youtang learn craftsmanship from his father? Even if he didn't learn it deliberately,
But it can be learned by being influenced by ears and eyes. It may not be so sophisticated and may not be useful, but Xu Youtang is willing to help me, which already makes me a little touched.
"Miss Xu, are you really willing to give it a try?" Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Xu Youtang said: "Of course, I am not a court official. I can do whatever I want. But you can't let dad know about this, and you have to promise not to make it public. Otherwise, my dad will definitely not let me do this."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Okay, then please help me. Let's do this. I'm afraid it won't be convenient for you to study at home, and your father-in-law will know about it. Is it convenient for you to go out?"
Xu Youtang said: "I can go out, but I can't go out every day. Maybe I can go out every other day. My mother won't control me too strictly. I go out to play, as long as I go back before dark."
Zhang Yanling said: "Okay, then I will ask someone to pick you up in a carriage every other day and take you to my mansion. My mansion is large and I can equip you with a dedicated courtyard and manpower. What do you think?"
Xu Youtang nodded and said: "Okay. From tomorrow on, I will go to your house every other day. However, if I don't get any results from my research, don't blame me."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Why do you blame me? It's a surprise if you can create it. It's natural if you can't create it. I can't create it too, right? Then that's settled."
Xu Youtang was about to nod when he saw Mrs. Xu looking out from the door of the courtyard and calling: "Tang'er, Tang'er, what are you doing? Aren't you coming back yet?"
Xu Youtang stuck out his tongue and said: "Master Hou, it's settled, I'm leaving."
Zhang Yanling smiled and nodded, and Xu Youtang turned around and ran back with her skirt in hand. Zhang Yanling looked at her back and thought to herself: You are afraid that I will annoy your father, so you volunteered. I don’t have any hope for you, I just hope that you will
It’s all about being more balanced in your mind.
…
The next morning, when Zhang Yanling was having breakfast with Axiu in the back house, Huang Si suddenly broke in in a panic. Huang Si and the others generally did not enter the back house. This was the rule of the Marquis Mansion unless there was an emergency.
"It's amazing, it's amazing, Lord Marquis, Lord Marquis."
Huang Si's voice changed, and he shouted as he trotted into the patio.
"What's wrong? You look panicked? Is the sky falling?" Zhang Yanling scolded with a frown.
Huang Si came out of breath and panted heavily to report: "Master Marquis, there are many...many guards and horses in golden robes coming in front of the mansion. They look menacing. It seems that the people who come here are evil. I have ordered people to close the door of the mansion."
Lord Marquis, please think of a way quickly, why don't you leave through the back door first."
Zhang Yanling frowned and stood up and said: "Guards and horses in brocade clothes?"
"Yes, Lord Marquis. What good things can come of the Jinyi guards coming to your door? The emperor's relatives will do the same thing. Lord Hou, hurry up and leave through the back door." Huang Si shouted...
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and suddenly laughed. Huang Si wailed: "How long has it been? Mr. Hou is actually still in the mood to laugh."
Zhang Yanling scolded: "Idiot, why don't you hurry up and open the door to greet me? That's a good thing for me. Do you think you are here to cause trouble? Xiu'er, hurry up and help me change my clothes. I'll go see the guests."
When Zhang Yanling finished dressing up and came to the front yard, the front yard was already filled with dozens of guards in uniforms. Although they were tall, short, fat and thin, they were wearing green robes and red crowns with long swords hanging from their waists.
His face was serious and indeed a bit scary.
A tall, middle-aged official wearing a python robe, a black cape and a dome-shaped armor was sitting on the Grand Master's chair in the hall. After hearing the movement, the man turned around with a purple face.
But he smiled.
"Hahaha, Mr. Zhang Hou, Mou Bin is polite."
The person who came was none other than Mou Bin, the commander of the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty. The leader of the Jinyiwei general office, the number one figure who was frightened by the officials and the people, the general commander of nearly 30,000 captains and cavalry of the Jinyiwei, and the god of death who was frightened by the soldiers and civilians in the world.
level person.
Of course Zhang Yanling knew him. As the commander of the Jinyi Guards, Mou Bin often appeared beside the emperor to accompany him. Zhang Yanling came in and out of the palace very frequently, and he often saw Mou Bin and the eunuchs in the palace. But Mou Bin didn't talk much, and Zhang Yanling
I had no intention of dating him before, so the two of them didn't interact much, but they recognized him at a glance.
"Oh, Mr. Mou, what brought you here? Why didn't you inform me in advance? I'm sorry, so disrespectful. Huang Si, why haven't you served tea yet? Don't you know the etiquette?" Zhang Yanling stepped forward quickly and cupped his hands.
road.
Before Huang Si could speak, Mou Bin laughed and said, "Master Zhang, don't blame him. I am on official business and have no time to drink tea. So I taught him not to serve tea."
Zhang Yanling said hurriedly: "Master Mou is here. Is there anything you can do?"
Mou Bin smiled and said: "Don't you know what's going on? Don't you know what's going on? No more gossip, Lord Zhang, please kneel down and listen to the order."
Mou Bin reached out and took the brocade box from the hand of a Jin Yiwei official beside him, took out the yellow silk scroll from the brocade box, unfolded it and shouted loudly: "Jianchang Hou Zhang Yanling listens to the decree!"
Zhang Yanling hurriedly knelt down and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yanling, kowtows to listen to the imperial edict."
"I found out that Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang, had meritorious service in rescuing the victims and acted wisely. He was a talent that could be used by the Ming Dynasty. He was still young and strong, so he should serve the imperial court. Therefore, I specially awarded Zhang Yanling the post of Fusi Governor of Jinyiweinan Town in the Ming Dynasty.
I will take up my duties today. I hope that I will serve the country diligently and fulfill my responsibilities with loyalty. I will not slack off and live up to my expectations. This is my purpose!" Mou Bin read loudly.