Do you know: I’m Xu Jiazi

The beginning of the Youshi hour (around 5pm)

The sun is setting,

Chai’s house,

Qiusheng Garden,

The rose-red pomegranate flowers in the courtyard under the corridor are in full bloom,

The warm summer breeze blows,

The flowers and green leaves sway gently together.

On the veranda beside the pomegranate tree,

A noble lady in a decent spring dress is walking hurriedly with her skirt fluttering, and she is passing by the pomegranate tree with a maid.

"Miss, please slow down! Didn’t you just say that there is nothing to listen to?"

After the maid behind Chai Zhengzheng finished speaking, the corners of the mouths of the maids following behind her all rose.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was walking in front, did not stop: "I heard that my eldest brother bought something for me."

"Oh! That's better to hurry up, so that Erlang won't snatch it away."

After the maid finished speaking, she smiled and followed Chai Zhengzheng's footsteps.

In Madam Chai's courtyard,

Chai Zhengzheng slowed down at the moon gate to the courtyard.

"Miss is here."

The little maid at the door saw the visitor and said.

The maid lifted the door curtain, and Chai Zhengzheng stepped into the house and bowed with a smile:

"Mother, brother."

Chai Bo sat on the chair with an interested face, listening happily.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng, Chai Bo smiled and nodded to his sister, and said with a turn of eyes: "Brother, I didn't hear clearly just now. Are you saying that you and Jing'er left the wing room and went to the courtyard where the stall was set up? That the accident happened here?"

Chai Jin smiled and nodded: "Yes!"

Mrs. Chai sat at the top and blew the steaming teacup in her hand, and glanced at her daughter who seemed uninterested and was sitting on the chair picking golden apricots to eat.

"Then what!" Chai Bo asked.

Chai Jin imitated Mrs. Chai and took a sip of the teacup, stretched for a while, and said: "Then, a few of us walked around in the courtyard and met someone."

"Who? Brother, tell me!"

Chai Zhengzheng held the golden apricot in his hand and looked at his second brother Chai Bo with admiration in his eyes.

Chai Jin put the teacup on the table:

"I heard that the man was an official of the Imperial City Department named Gao, and he looked anxious and sweating."

"We followed him, but when we got to the side door of the courtyard, Mr. Gao looked back at us and shouted for someone outside the courtyard to run!"

Chai Zhengzheng didn't bother to eat the golden apricots, and said in surprise: "Ah? Why is that?"

Chai Jin said: "We were also curious! We walked over and took a look. You have also seen that man's sister!"

Chai Zhengzheng looked confused: "Who?"

"The brother of the Zhang family in Beizhou who visited our house! He shot Brother Jing with a bow and arrow outside the city before!"

"Oh~ It turned out to be him!" Chai Zhengzheng nodded with a gloomy face.

"Seeing this man, Brother Jing beside me immediately walked out quickly!" Chai Jin said.

"Did he hit hard?" Chai Zhengzheng asked hurriedly.

Without waiting for Chai Jin to answer, Chai Zhengzheng continued: "That day, he and Gu Erlang were chased from the east to the north of the city, and they became enemies!"

Chai Jin shook his head: "Jing Ge'er didn't do it."

Chai Zhengzheng: "Ah? How could it be?"

Chai Jin said:

"Jing Ge'er had just walked out of the side door for two steps when Mr. Gao and his five or six men grabbed his arms, thighs and waist, and dragged him, allowing Zhang Jia Ge to escape."

"Sister, you didn't see it. Jing Ge'er dragged five or six big men forward by himself. He was really capable. If it were me, I would have a hard time!"

Chai Bo looked at his eldest brother and said: "Ahem!"

Chai Jin glanced at his sister embarrassedly and glared at Chai Bo fiercely.

Then, Chai Jin looked at the golden apricot in Chai Zhengzheng's hand, smiled and said:

"And I think if Jing'er wasn't afraid of hurting the imperial city clerks who were holding him tightly, Zhang'er would probably not be able to escape."

"Brother, why is that?" Chai Bo looked at Chai Zhengzheng and asked.

Chai Jin said: "Before Jing'er was hugged, he threw the apricot in his hand and hit Zhang'er's head."

Chai Bo picked up a hard apricot from the fruit plate in front of him, touched it on his forehead and took a breath of cold air: "Hiss! It hurts a little."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled at the pit under the apricot flesh that he had bitten open.

The Great Zhou Palace,

Under the palace city,

Outside the wing where the attendants and guards lived,

Gao Yunqing stood in front of Zhaomei Peak with a gray face and dejected look, and behind him was a row of subordinates who were also covered in dust and stood with their heads down.

"Ugh~"

Listening to the sound of someone vomiting in the room,

Zhao Meifeng stretched out his hand and pointed at Gao Yunqing angrily: "Gao Yunqing, have you spent more than ten years in the Imperial City Division in vain? You can't even do such a small thing as letting your caregiver? Ah!? How could you let him meet Jing Ge'er."

"Master, it's not that Gao Tou is not dedicated, we..."

The subordinate behind him just said a word, Gao Yunqing turned his head and scolded:

"Shut up!"

The subordinate shut up embarrassedly.

Zhao Meifeng glanced at the embarrassed clerk, and said to Gao Yunqing: "Fortunately, you are smart and used your body to hold Jing Ge'er together, otherwise if the person in the room was really disabled or dead, you will have a hard time!"

"Squeak~"

The door opened,

Yu Huguang walked out with a medicine box on his back.

Zhao Meifeng hurried over: "Doctor Xiao Yu, how is Mr. Zhang?"

Yu Huguang looked at Zhao Meifeng and bowed, "Master Zhao, Mr. Zhang has a scalp abrasion and brain vibration, but nothing else is serious. He will recover after taking medicine and resting for a while."

"That's good, that's good!"

Zhao Meifeng breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Doctor Xiao Yu!"

Yu Huguang nodded and hesitated, saying, "That's right."

"That's it?" Zhaomeifeng asked.

"The medicine you take may be a little bitter." Yu Huguang said.

"I know, I know." Zhaomei Feng nodded repeatedly.

Yu Huguang said goodbye and left. Looking at Yu Huguang's back, Zhaomeifeng looked at the side room and shook his head: "The medicine is bitter? How bitter can it be?"

"Okay, go back to the Yamen! Change your clothes."

"Yes, sir."

Gao Yunqing and others bowed in response.

Watching subordinates leave,

Zhao Meifeng shook his head, turned around and walked towards the palace.

In Concubine Rong’s bedroom,

The emperor frowned and sat behind the table with food, listening to the chief minister's report.

"That's it? Just bruises and brain shock?"

"Back to Your Majesty, that's all."

"Huh, how audacious! My personal guard will beat him whenever he says! How can this be unreasonable?"

The chief minister bowed to the side and said nothing.

Concubine Rong on the side smiled and smoothed the emperor's back:

"Your Majesty, please calm down! The Xu family's brother, Hou Menguizi, is young and energetic. He was chased and shot so far before. It is inevitable that there will be resentment in his heart."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty, you know that when Brother Jing was at Bai Gao's place, no matter how difficult the situation was, a team of people would chase Bai Gao and kill tens of thousands of people. How could he have ever suffered such injustice?"

After Concubine Rong finished speaking, the emperor took a deep breath and tilted his head: "Humph!"

Concubine Rong smiled and gave the emperor food with chopsticks, and continued: "With Brother Jing's ability, if he really attacks without any scruples, I don't think the pawns from the Imperial City Division can stop him! "

The emperor glanced at Concubine Rong angrily, and his heart softened for no reason.

Concubine Rong is similar to Concubine Zhang, the emperor's former favorite concubine, but Concubine Rong and Concubine Zhang are completely different people.

Concubine Rong was born in the middle of the market, she was smart, quick-witted and fierce.

Concubine Zhang was born in a high family in the Zhou Dynasty, and she had the air of an innocent and reserved noblewoman.

But after Concubine Rong entered the palace, under the influence of gold mountains and silver seas, her demeanor became more graceful and luxurious, and the combination created a unique style.

"Hmph! If I hadn't seen his father and brother serve the country, I would have given this boy some color."

"Your Majesty is kind."

"Somebody come!"

The chief minister bowed and said, "Your Majesty."

"Send someone to warn the boy from the Xu family. Before the provincial examination, he is not allowed to go anywhere except to go to school in the Sheng family!"

"According to the order."

Quyuan Street,

Lanterns are hung at the entrance of Zou’s courtyard.

Under the lantern,

Chu Zhan scratched his head in embarrassment and said to the woman opposite: "Ms. Zou, this is the big fish I bought at Qiao's aquatic products store. Do you think you can pickle the dried fish?"

After saying this, Chu Zhan glanced at Miss Zou, who looked unconvinced and looked at him arrogantly.

Mrs. Zou looked at the fish with a smile and said, "Just leave it to me."

After speaking, Madam Zou pushed Little Sister Zou beside her: "Go aside."

"Sister~"

Zou Xiaomei said coquettishly.

Chu Zhan secretly smiled, handed the big fish on a skewer out and said, "Thank you, madam. I will bring you the salt later."

Mrs. Zou nodded.

At this time,

"Boring~"

There is the sound of gongs,

Chu Zhan hurriedly looked towards the street entrance.

Zou Xiaomei also stepped over the threshold and looked out at the group of golden-armored guards, asking, "What are you doing?"

"The internal officials in the palace should have come to the Hou Mansion." Chu Zhan replied.

"Oh!" Xiaomei Zou and her sister carrying the big fish nodded.

soon,

"Squeak~"

The main door of Yongyihou's mansion opened,

A group of people from the palace entered the Hou Mansion.

The front hall of the Hou Mansion,

In the bright yellow candlelight,

The chief minister from the palace looked at Xu Minghua with a smile, cupped his hands and said: "Hou Xu, madam, this is your majesty's oral order, please get up."

"I/I, my concubine, receive the decree."

Xu Minghua and Sun, together with their son and daughter-in-law, bowed down and said.

He helped the couple up,

Xu Minghua said: "Father, are you just going to let this traitor go to the Sheng family to study and not wander around?"

As he spoke, Xu Minghua glanced at Xu Zaijing at the back.

The chief minister smiled and nodded, saying: "Yes, that's it, nothing else."

"Concubine Rong knows that Brother Jing feels aggrieved, but Concubine Rong said that your Majesty is doing this for Brother Jing's good!"

"The empress has also selected some good yarn and silk materials from her private treasury that can be used in summer, and let the embroiderers in the Hou Mansion watch and make some of them!"

Xu Minghua and Sun said: "Thank you, empress."

Xu Zaijing, who was behind him, bowed.

The eldest official helped Xu Hou and his wife.

He looked at Xu Zaijing with an even brighter smile and said: "Wu Lang, before I left the palace, His Highness stopped my slave and told her that it would be hot in a few days. He ordered me to send this note from Bingjing Service to Brother Jing. If you need ice, just go to Bingjing Wu to pick it up.”

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xu Zaijing bowed and cupped his hands.

The chief minister shook his fly whisk and bowed slightly.

"Okay, Mr. Xu, madam, I will take my leave now."

"I'll send it to the officer."

The chief minister waved his hand and said: "Hou Xu is too polite, just ask Wu Lang to send me off."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zaijing stepped forward, bowed and said:

"Internal officer, please."

The chief internal officer smiled at Xu Hou and his wife, Xie Shi, Hua Lan and others, then turned and left.

On the way out of the house,

The chief internal officer looked at Xu Zaijing, who was half a step behind him, and said in a low voice: "Wu Lang, His Highness said that you should give priority to the imperial examination. Brother Zhang Jiapan's official career can be seen at a glance. Why do you have to be angry with him to make His Majesty unhappy?" ”

"Save it for me, my dear. Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, the officer."

The chief minister smiled and nodded.

night,

In the palace,

Under the imperial city,

Guards barracks,

The attendant came in with a bowl of medicine: "Sir, take the medicine."

His head was dizzy and someone helped him up. Zhang Shipan looked at the medicinal soup in the bowl in front of him and felt the smell of medicine coming to his face.

Zhang Shipan frowned to suppress the nausea in his throat, endured the discomfort and took a sip, and then his whole face was squeezed into a ball in pain: "vomit~"

"Water! Water! Vomit~"

After gargling several mouthfuls, Zhang Shipan felt his mouth was numb with bitterness. He looked at the medicine bowl in the attendant's hand and said, "Here, what is this? Is it for people to drink!?"

"Sir, this is a prescription prescribed by Jin Zi, the most powerful medical officer in the palace. Please take another sip."

Zhang Shipan: "The thieves are here!"

A few days later,

Guanghuafang

Shen family,

The wedding of the legitimate son of the Shen family is approaching.

The entire Shen family house was filled with joy.

Shen's backyard,

In the courtyard,

Shen Hezhen, who had been in Beijing for a while, was like a little grown-up, chatting and laughing with the girls from the visiting civil servants' families who were their father's colleagues.

"Ouch! That evil boy from the Xu family was ordered by His Majesty to study. He can finally live a peaceful life in Bianjing City."

Shen Hezhen put down the fruit in his hands, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and looked at the noble lady who was speaking doubtfully.

The fifth lady of the Li family, who was eating bubble snails, stopped her gentle chewing movements and continued eating without saying anything.

Hai Chaoyun, who was sitting next to Shen Hezhen, tilted her head behind her, and the female envoy behind her, Zhu Jian, leaned into her ear and said:

"Girl, the speaker is the third daughter of Mr. Shen Zhi, the prefect of Jiangling. The eldest daughter of the Shen family is related to the Han family of Zhennanhou. The Zhennanhou and the Han family have the same seniority."

After Zhu Jian finished speaking, he checked with Baoxiu in a low voice on the other side. Baoxiu came over and said, "Miss Shen, like the Shen family girl, has been in Beijing not long ago."

Hai Chaoyun nodded lightly and said with a smile: "Third sister of the Shen family, where did you hear about the 'evil boy'?"

Shin and Jin nodded.

Most of the other officials and noble ladies were whispering to each other.

Miss Shen San smiled and said:

"Sister Chaoyun, I heard what the Korean father-in-law and several cousins ​​from the Zhongshan Hou family said!"

After speaking, he added:

"Hezhen, you don't know because you have only been in Beijing for a short time. The other sisters must have known it because they have been here for a long time! This evil boy from the Xu family is doing evil in Bianjing. He is either fighting with noble children in the capital or fighting with foreign envoys. , How dare you provoke the Jin people."

"I heard that something bad happened at Shenbaoguan two years ago, and this evil boy from the Xu family was the instigator!"

"Two days ago, didn't that evil boy beat others at Daxiangguo Temple? The news spread all over the capital! But this evil boy didn't expect to encounter a tough problem, so he was ordered to study by His Majesty."

Listening to this girl's words,

Although Yu Yanran said nothing, she still scratched her eyebrows uncomfortably: This girl made some lovely money by imitating Xu Zaijing's works and creating some lovely embroidery paintings!

Therefore, Yu Yanran came to Hai Chaoyun's ear with a guilty conscience and whispered: "Sister Chaoyun, what this sister said is wrong. Moreover, fortunately, the fifth sister of the Zhang family was not invited here today, otherwise..."

Hai Chaoyun nodded with a smile, looked at the third wife of the Shen family and said, "Third sister, listening to both sides will make things clear, and listening to one side will make things dark. Sometimes you still have to inquire more."

Shen Hezhen nodded in agreement: "I heard from my father that my brother will ask Wulang of the Xu family to be the best man when he gets married! It seems that my sister's relatives in Zhennanhou's family didn't say so, right?"

The third girl of the Shen family had a look of disbelief on her face and looked at the people who were talking: "Huh? But, my relatives are okay! Well, cousin Han Jiyun, the Marquis of Zhennan, he never gossips about others."

"By the way, I heard at home that the second son of the Gu family, Marquis of Ningyuan, and the young prince of the Duke of Qi both studied in Zhili. Have you sisters ever met them?"

A girl said: "Sister Shen, these two you are talking about are classmates of that evil boy you talk about!"

"Ah? Then they won't be led astray by that person, right?"

Hearing this,

The official family members in the courtyard all held up their fans and laughed.

I don't know whether to laugh at the girl's naivety or at what the girl said.

"Sister, let's wait until you see that 'evil boy' before talking about it."

The laughter in the courtyard was even louder,

"Ouch!"

A girl exclaimed,

It turned out that after the girl who spoke just now finished speaking, she whispered something to her best friend beside her, and was pushed in shame and anger.