In a private room on the second floor of Zhenzhen Restaurant, Lin Shangli, the official of Dongchang Factory, stood at the door with his hands behind his back and looked down at the splendidly decorated restaurant.
Wearing a green gown, a clean face, and a square hat on his head, at first glance, he looks like a teacher.
However, in the capital, how can a teacher go to a high-end place like Zhongzhen Restaurant to spend money? Moreover, instead of sitting in the lobby, there is a private room on the second floor.
The second shopkeeper behind the counter had already written a secret letter and spread the news.
In the Zhongzhen Inn next door, Mr. Zhang still lives in the upper room with a jade name that is always reserved only for him.
Ever since Xiao Chen deliberately released Dean Cao Zheng of the Auditing Academy in Baoding Prefecture from Dongchang Prison to deliver a message to him, he stopped all "rebellious" activities in the capital.
For his apprentice and young master, Mr. Zhang wanted to continue to hone him, but he couldn't bear to torture him anymore. In the end, he simply stopped all affairs outside the Ming Dynasty capital.
Since Xiao Chen didn't want to see him continue to be an enemy of the imperial court, temporarily satisfying his wish would be a way out for him to avoid criticizing him when he got to know him in the future.
Without taking any further action and staying in Prince Zhao's Mansion, Mr. Zhang couldn't see why he didn't like Zhu Gaosui, the Prince of Zhao who was not very scheming but had a bad temper.
So I found an excuse to have something to do at home, took leave and left.
As I was leaning against the window, looking at the looming palace in the distance, there were three slight knocks on the door of the private room: "Bang, bang, bang."
This room with a jade name is never open to the public on weekdays, and no one is likely to knock on the door.
And the one long and two short knocks on the door were also the secret signals that Wang Zhongzhen had agreed with himself.
"What will happen now?" Mr. Zhang thought for a moment and whispered toward the door: "The door is open, come in."
The door was slowly pushed open, and Wang Zhongzheng, with a serious look on his face, hurried in with a confidential letter in his hand. He crossed the threshold, turned around and hurriedly closed the door again.
"What's going on? You look a little nervous?" Mr. Zhang frowned, left the window, walked to the table and sat down.
Pointing to the seat opposite: "Sit down and talk."
"Yes." Wang Zhongzhen responded, pulled out the stool under the table, put the secret letter in his hand in front of Mr. Zhang, and then sat on the stool.
Mr. Zhang looked at the secret letter on the table: "What is this?"
"Just now, the people in the restaurant sent this confidential letter to my subordinate's residence. After reading it, my subordinate did not dare to delay at all and ran over to tell you. In the restaurant, a scholar about fifty years old came.
The person who dressed up specially asked for a private room that could just observe the location of the restaurant lobby."
Mr. Zhang crossed his hands and placed them lightly on his lap. A trace of confusion flashed in his eyes: "Old scholar? What's so curious about this? Zhongzhen Restaurant is the number one restaurant in the capital. Who are the people in there?
No? Is a scholar worth making such a fuss about?"
"There are many scholars in the capital. There are many scholars who teach the children of rich families and earn a lot of money to come to our restaurant to revive consumption. But there are not many scholars of his age who are willing to spend money. The second shopkeeper
The secret letter emphatically mentioned that this person has thin skin and tender flesh, his speech is a bit girly, and he does not have any stubble on his chin." Wang Zhongzheng said, bowing slightly.
"Born without a beard?" Mr. Zhang glanced at Wang Zhongzhen, raised his hand and took the secret letter from the table, slowly opened it, read it carefully, then slowly closed it and placed it on the table.
He raised his head and looked at Wang Zhongzhen, who looked serious: "You mean, this person is a eunuch in the palace?"
"Yes. Eunuchs of this age generally have high-level positions and will not leave the palace easily. My subordinates suspect that this person is Dongchangchang Gong Lin Shangli." When Wang Zhongzhen said these words, he was breathing heavily.
A little hasty.
Mr. Zhang held his knees with both hands, leaned back, stared at the floor in front of him, and thought for a while.
"Mr. Dongchangchang? What does he mean by coming to revive the restaurant?"
"It stands to reason that Dongchang will not find out that the restaurant is our 'turf' so far. Otherwise, the young master will not be so careless when he comes to the restaurant. The subordinates are not worried about the restaurant being exposed, but
I'm worried that the young master once had a conflict here with the commander and commander of the Jin Yiwei. Lin Shangli has been staying in the palace recently. Will he be ordered to investigate the young master's problem?" Wang Zhongzhen stared, stunned.
Staring at Mr. Zhang.
"There is internal strife in the East Factory? Isn't this impossible?" Although Mr. Zhang waved his hand, his next tone was a little unconfident, "I heard that Lin Shangli is very protective of others, especially the young master. He values it very much. No.
Will he suddenly follow Zhu Di's wishes and come to investigate his proud subordinate?"
"Then why did he choose a private room that happened to be overlooking the lobby on the first floor, and stand at the door from time to time to look down? He has never been to Zhenzhen Restaurant, what is he observing?"
After hearing this, Mr. Zhang's expression became a little nervous: "If he really comes to check on the young master, it means that Zhu Di really wants to take action."
Mr. Zhang stood up, put his hands behind his back, and began to pace back and forth in the guest room.
Wang Zhongzhen's eyes began to flick from left to right following Mr. Zhang's steps. And the restlessness in his heart began to rise immediately.
"General, why don't you take advantage of Lin Shangli's arrival alone and kill him?" Wang Zhongzhen raised his right hand and made a gesture on his neck.
"Kill him?" Mr. Zhang stopped and looked back at Wang Zhongzhen, "Not to mention Lin Shangli's skills, he is now Zhu Di's vanguard officer. If something happens here, the entire restaurant will have to get involved. If Lin Shangli is killed
, Zhu Di will definitely not continue to tolerate it, and his butcher knife will be swung at the young master immediately."
"Then what should we do? Just watch him investigate the young master and we are indifferent?" Wang Zhongzhen looked anxious.
Since the last Li An's family dinner was held at Zhongzhen Restaurant, Wang Zhongzhen had not recognized Xiao Chen after meeting him, but in his heart, Wang Zhongzhen had silently called Xiao Chen "young master" countless times.
Thinking of the unjust case that year, and remembering that Xiao Chen, as a baby, was carried on Mr. Zhang's back and ran away overnight, Wang Zhongzhen felt the uncontrollable desire for protection in his heart, and he would never allow Xiao Chen to be in any danger again.
"You have people keep an eye on him first. If he is really investigating the young master and his acquaintance, we must move ahead. As long as the young master leaves the Dongchang, it will be the time for us to stir up trouble in the Yongle Dynasty. At that time, I
The first one to be killed is this old eunuch who looks like a protector but actually has the heart of a jackal." Standing on the spot, Mr. Zhang looked through the window of the guest room and looked at the looming Ming Palace in the distance.
.
"Okay, I will go back now and keep an eye on it myself." Wang Zhongzhen stood up and left in a hurry.
After reviving the restaurant, Dongchang Changgong Lin Shangli smiled and carefully looked at the transparent glass windows in the restaurant lobby, sighing in his heart.
Since he entered the palace, he has eaten and lived in the palace. Even if he occasionally goes out to do business, he comes and goes in a hurry.
Little did he know that the restaurants in the capital were now so luxuriously decorated.
The glazed windows that I had only seen in the emperor's study room were also installed in this restaurant.
No wonder Lee An would hold a full moon banquet for his daughter here, this place is really grand.
Especially this bright glazed window, I really want to go down and touch it with my hands.
Thinking of this, Lin Shangli took a few steps towards the stairs, and stopped again when he was still a few steps away from the stairs.
No, no, no, this kind of thing must not be done. If it spreads in the future, it will not be a shame.
It doesn't matter to me, I'm just afraid that others will laugh at him together with the emperor.
The dignified Chief of Ceremonies, the eunuch in charge of printing, and the owner of Dongjishi Factory, had never seen a glazed window before, and even rushed to touch it.
If this reaches the ears of the emperor, he will definitely vent his anger on this restaurant. It is possible that the restaurant will be demolished in an instant.
It's not easy for ordinary people to run a business. It must have cost a lot of money to decorate it so well. If you bring disaster to them because of your curiosity, that would be inappropriate.
Lin Shangli shook his head and retreated to the private room on the second floor.
If Lin Shangli knew that while he was thinking about revitalizing the restaurant, the restaurant owner was thinking of ways to deal with him behind his back, he would definitely rush to the first floor and personally smash all the high-end glazed windows.
