Lu Weirui brought a short hoe, and the two maids, Hairpin Huahua, went around to the Jiuqu River behind Wanshan Inn. Seeing four private soldiers of the Lu family following them, Lu Weirui ordered: "No need to follow, I will enjoy the okra on the riverside."
"The four private soldiers of the Lu family stood still and did not follow.
Short hoe saw Lu Weirui walking in a hurry with a happy expression. He really thought that there was really famous okra on the river bank, and thought to himself: "The little lady has cried sadly since that day when she parted with Lady Tongyun. She has not cried again in the past few days, but she often feels alone.
, she rarely speaks, which is really worrying, but fortunately, the little lady still loves flowers, and flowers can take care of her worries."
The short hoe and the hairpin flower looked at each other, secretly happy in their hearts.
The Jiuqu River has many twists and turns. Lu Weirui and three others walked downstream along the river bank. When they turned a corner, they saw two horses tied under an alder tree. The tall Ran Sheng came out from behind the tree, but Chen Caozhi was not there.
figure.
Short hoe was surprised and happy when he saw Ran Sheng, and asked hurriedly: "Xiao Sheng, why are you here? Where is Chen Langjun?"
Ran Sheng gave a salute, turned to look at the Jiuqu River with a smile, and signaled Lu Weirui, the master and the three maids to look over there——
There was a bamboo canopy boat more than two feet long moored by the river. Chen Caozhi stood on the bow of the boat and said, "Wei Rui, here."
Short Hoe and Hairpin Hua looked at Chen Caozhi, then at Lu Weirui, and looked at each other. Only then did they understand why the young lady was so happy. It turned out that Chen Langjun was waiting here!
Lu Weirui was radiant, half happy and half shy, and asked: "Chen Langjun, how did you get here?"
Chen Cao said: "I returned to Jiankang yesterday and wanted to see you, so I came."
Lu Weirui looked at Chen Caozhi, who was facing the wind on the bow of the boat, and it seemed that he was quite different from the past. In the past, Chen Langjun always had clothes as spotless as the willows in spring, but today, the hem of his robe was full of mud spots, and his lacquer gauze crown was exposed.
Her hair is messy, but she is still clear and energetic——
Lu Weirui felt that Chen Langjun was the most touching after she had known and loved him for more than three years.
Chen Cao said: "Wei Rui, come on board."
Lu Weirui held up the hem of her skirt and carefully walked down to the river bank. Chen Caozhi stretched out his hand to pull her onto the boat.
Short hoe, hairpin flower called: "Little lady——"
Chen Cao said: "The short hoe is also coming up, and the hairpin is waiting on the shore. When someone asks, they say that the little lady Wei Rui knows how to go boating for a while."
The man operating the boat was an old man. Looking at Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui, who were as good as men, he felt that they were a perfect match. The old man smiled and swung the oar upstream.
The short hoe was sitting on the bow of the boat. Chen Caozhi and Lu Weirui were in the bamboo canopy, kneeling facing each other. Chen Caozhi pulled up the rough ramie curtain to separate the two of them.
Lu Weirui stared at Chen Caozhi with her beautiful eyes and asked softly: "Chen Langjun, were you caught in the rain last night?"
Chen Caozhi held Lu Weirui's left hand, kissed the back of her hand, and said: "I prepared rain gear, and later I took shelter from the rain in Yanling Jizi Temple. I was lucky enough to get a treasure." He took out the rubbing.
Lu Weirui saw it, smiled very sweetly, reached out to touch Chen Caozhi's cheek, and said: "Chen Langjun traveled from Jiankang to Qu'a. You must have been very tired - I am so happy. I didn't expect to see you today."
.”
Chen Cao said: "When you return to Wu County, I will visit you when I have the chance. No one can stop us."
Lu Weirui nodded vigorously and said, "Yes."
Chen Caozhi unpacked the baggage around him and took out two paintings, both of which he painted in his spare time in Xifu. One was "East Garden Picture" and said: "This is the mansion built by the Chen family on the bank of the Qinhuai River. At the end of next year,
It can be built and we will live here from now on."
Lu Weirui looked at the exquisite pavilions and pavilions in the painting and whispered: "As long as I can be with Chen Lang, I can do it anywhere."
Another painting is the chrysanthemum stand in Xinting, using small freehand brushwork to dye various chrysanthemums. A young man and woman stand hand in hand and watch the mountains and rivers -
Chen Caozhi said: "Wei Rui, I don't have any other gifts for you, so I just painted these two paintings, and -" Chen Caozhi took off a small jade pendant from his neck and held it in his palm.
, said: "This is what my mother left me, I will give it to you." Then he tied it on Lu Weirui, gently put the small jade piece into Lu Weirui's collar, and slid it between the raised breasts——
Lu Weirui's face turned red, and she leaned forward, lying on Chen Caozhi's chest, hugging her tightly for a while, looking up for Chen Caozhi's lips, their lips met, and she felt dizzy——
I heard the short hoe say from the bow: "The young lady is in the cabin." Then he whispered: "Manager Cai is asking questions on the shore."
Lu Weirui left Chen Caozhi's flaming lips, straightened her hair, touched her cheeks, smiled shyly, and bent down to the bow of the boat. She said to Manager Cai on the shore: "I'll take a boat ride for a while, and I'll be there soon."
Come back." He returned to the cabin and was so intimate with Chen Caozhi that he simply didn't want to be separated.
The old man slowly swung the oar, and the bamboo boat sailed against the current, neither advancing nor retreating.
About a moment later, Manager Cai called out again: "My dear lady, it's time to have breakfast. After breakfast, we have to go on our way."
Lu Weirui and Chen Caozhi were rubbing each other's ears. She sat up straight and looked at Chen Caozhi intently. Suddenly her eyes were full of tears and she said: "I really don't want to be separated from Chen Lang——"
Chen Caozhi kissed her hard and said, "Me too, we will definitely be able to be together. We will never break our three-year agreement."
The old boatman drove the boat back to the flat area on the downstream river bank. Chen Caozhi helped Lu Weirui ashore. Manager Cai and several Lu's private soldiers were stunned when they saw Chen Caozhi. They all recognized Chen Caozhi and knew the little lady Weirui.
I often had private meetings with Chen Caozhi, but I didn't expect that Chen Caozhi would appear here.
Lu Weirui took three steps and turned back, reluctant to leave. It was difficult to say goodbye when we met.
Lu's motorcade set off, and Chen Caozhi rode on horseback, watching the motorcade meandering away. Then he turned the horse's head and returned with Ran Sheng. In the evening, they returned to Jiankang's Gu Mansion. Chen Shang had been waiting for a long time.
Chen Caozhi went to see King Kuaiji.
Gu Kaizhi asked and learned that Chen Caozhi had met Lu Weirui in Qu'a. He was also very happy and said: "Xie Youdu and Zhu Yingtai came to visit yesterday afternoon, so I told you to go chase Miss Lu."
Chen Shang said to Chen Cao: "Yesterday I told the King of Kuaiji that you could not attend the banquet. The King of Kuaiji asked why. I had no excuses, so I told him directly——"
Gu Kai said: "Everyone knows what happened between Zizhong and Miss Lu, so why not say that Zizhong went to catch up and meet each other? This is Zizhong's sentimental and righteous act."
Chen Shang added: "After hearing this, the King of Kuaiji said that he would only invite the Minister of Mainland China and his sixteenth brother today to see if he could persuade the Minister of Mainland China to agree to the marriage."
Gu Kaizhi said happily: "If the King of Kuaiji is willing to come forward, there is hope for the marriage between Zizhong and Miss Lu."
Chen Caozhi smiled, knowing that it would not be that easy. After a quick bath, he followed his third brother Chen Shang to Situ's Mansion. He went straight to Yayan Tea House without any notification, but saw that Lu Shi had already arrived -
When Lu Shi saw Chen Caozhi, his expression immediately changed and he ignored him arrogantly. He said to Sima Yu, King of Kuaiji, "Your Majesty, I have nothing else to do. I take my leave." He stood up and left immediately.
Seeing Lu Shi's attitude, Sima Yu knew that he could not persuade him, so he said to Chen Cao: "Fuck it, I can't do anything about you and Lu's girl. There is nothing I can do to help you."
Chen Caozhi bowed and said, "I feel the great kindness of your Majesty, and I am deeply grateful."
Sima Yu no longer mentioned Chen Caozhi's personal affairs, and had a long and secret talk with Chen Caozhi about the matter of censorship and provincial affairs. He also said: "How about Cao Zhi returning to serve in the court next year? Or the prince washes his horse.
Or someone from Zhongshushe——"
Prince Xima and Zhongshu Sheren are both seventh-rank officials, which are noble positions.
Chen Caozhi said: "Your Majesty, Cao Zhi would like to practice in the military mansion for a few more years, so that he can serve the imperial court better."
Sima Yu understood what Chen Caozhi meant and nodded with a smile: "Then I will return to the court in a few years and start as a county or county magistrate."
Chen Cao said: "This earth-breaking operation requires the king's full support. If the soil-breaking process is successful, the country will be rich and prosperous, and peace in Jiangdong can be guaranteed for thirty years."
Sima Yu, who was in charge of all internal and external affairs, often felt that the treasury was empty. The Taicheng Palace had been in disrepair for a long time, and it was difficult to rebuild the main hall of the court. If the destruction of soil could increase the national tax revenue, he would be happy to see it happen, and this was initiated by Huan Wen.
To see how Huan Wen would compete with the Sanwu gentry, he immediately said: "The imperial court has given Tuduan Division great power this time. Anyone who violates the ban, regardless of whether they are princes or nobles, can immediately apply to the court to investigate and deal with it."
It was already midnight when Chen Caozhi left Situ's Mansion. He and his three brothers, Chen Shang and Ran Sheng, were looking back at the Mansion. Gu Kaizhi said: "Zizhong, my uncle wants to see you, and Zhang Shizhong is also here. He has been waiting for you for a long time."
Chen Caozhi then went to visit Gu Kaizhi's uncle Gu Minzhi, and also paid homage to Zhang Ping and Zhang Changzong. These two people respectively represented the two major families of Wu County, the Gu family and the Zhang family. They were also appointed as Shizhong and Yushi Zhongcheng.
The order was very strict, and for the sake of the family, it was natural to pursue advantages and avoid disadvantages. Now Chen Caozhi could be said to be Huan Wen's confidant, and he was also the Zuojian of the Tuduan Division. The two of them wanted to ask Chen Caozhi for details.
Chen Caozhi knew well that after the reconciliation between the Gu family and the Lu family, the relationship between the four major families in Wu County, Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang, became closer. Gu Minzhi and Zhang Ping must have met Lu before meeting him.
After discussion at the beginning, although Gu Minzhi and Zhang Ping both admired him, the interests of the family came first. As for the matter of checking the status of the country, the Gu family and the Zhang family were on the same page as Lu Shi. Lu Shi also
Gu Minzhi and Zhang Ping naturally followed Lu Shi and invited him to ask questions late at night. Wei Shi did not come to inquire about his intentions on Lu Shi's behalf because Huan Wen was behind him, otherwise Lu Shi would not have been able to speak.
Dismissive of him.
Gu Minzhi learned from Gu Kaizhi that Chen Caozhi had chased Lu Weirui all night just to meet him, but at this time he did not mention anything to avoid embarrassment to Chen Caozhi, and only asked about Tuduan's registration.
Chen Caozhi told Sima Huan that he was determined to cut off the country. If he hid more than five households, he would severely punish the head of the household.
Zhang Ping sneered and said: "So, all the Jiangzuo gentry have been wiped out in one fell swoop. I wonder which gentry in Sanwu has not sheltered the refugees in their houses!"
Chen Cao said: "That's why Duke Huan extended his grace until the end of this month, so that the major families can clean up their household registrations and hand over their hidden households."
Gu Mingzhi said: "Cao Zhi and my nephew Kaizhi are close friends. Let me put it bluntly. This big inspection has little impact on the common people of poor families and the inferior nobles. Even if there are ten or twenty hermit households,
Just hand it over, register it with the government, and then pay taxes and serve in the military. But for wealthy families, there are hundreds and thousands of hidden houses, and I will not hide them. I have more than ten manors in the Gu family, and tens of thousands of servants.
It would be unbearable if all of them were handed over to one of the five."
Zhang Pingdao: "What Brother Gu said is absolutely true. This Da Tu Duan wants to compete with our Sanwu clan for profit. People from the north cross the river to ask for land and ask for houses. The interests of our Sanwu clan have been damaged. If this time
Da Tu Duan is so severe, I am afraid that things will change suddenly."
