Half past noon.
The warm sun in the sky shines brighter and brighter.
Layers of snow gradually melted into water under the warm golden sun.
For a while.
The already muddy official road became even more muddy.
Juyang City is ten miles away.
Several mediocre carriages drove swayingly on the muddy official road.
Dozens of "young servants" with swords hanging from their waists and riding tall horses tightly surrounded the carriage.
Merchants saw him along the way.
Everyone gave way.
Of course.
The carriage moved forward slowly for more than a hundred steps.
Then he suddenly stopped on the official road.
No matter how hard the driver whipped the horse pulling the cart.
No matter how hard the horse pulling the carriage was in pain, no matter how hard it worked.
The wheel stuck in the muddy official road has never moved forward at all.
"Sir, the carriage is stuck again."
In desperation, the coachman had no choice but to stop the whip in his hand, turned around and reported the report into the carriage.
The words are over.
A middle-aged man wearing a gray Confucian robe and a silk scarf with a tired look on his face poked his head out of the carriage.
After looking around, he was about to step out of the car.
The "young servants" who had always been wandering around the carriage immediately gathered around them.
"It's freezing outside the car, Mr. Wang, just wait for a while."
Seeing this, the leader stood up and dismounted, quickly raised his hands and saluted.
"I've got you, Mr. Yu."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar with a tired look on his face paused when he heard this and returned the courtesy with his hands in hand.
"You're welcome, Mr. Wang."
The young man known as Mr. Yu heard this and returned the favor again with great respect.
The Mr. Wang he spoke of was none other than the King of Yan, Taishan.
As the next head of the Yu family of the fifth family, how could Yu Liangcai not be respectful to him?
After Wang Wenqing returned to the carriage.
Yu Liangcai slowly waved his hand, and as if there were more than ten "young servants" quickly turned over and dismounted.
In a series of uniform trumpets and the sound of horses neighing in pain.
The carriage, which had been stuck in the mud, finally moved forward slowly again.
Wait until the carriage is slightly stable.
Wang Wenqing, who was sitting on the soft carriage, slowly took out a blue leather account book and a black and white wolf-brush pen from his arms.
"Madam, study the ink."
Wang Wenqing held the Langhao pen in his hand, slowly opened the account book, and gave instructions.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang, who was leaning on the soft bed opposite her, gently put aside her sleeping son.
Then he wordlessly took out an inkstone and an ink stick from the edge of the carriage.
The clear water enters the inkstone and the ink spindle rotates lightly.
Tens of breaths later, an inkstone of suitable thickness and lightness of ink was slowly placed in front of Wang Wenqing.
Wang Wenqing stretched out his wolf-hair pen and tapped it lightly on the inkstone.
Wait until it has absorbed the ink.
Wang Wenqing raised his hand and slowly wrote in the account book.
No matter how bumpy the carriage is on the muddy official road.
His hands holding pen and paper were always as steady as a rock.
After a while.
The ink is dry.
Wang Wenqing slowly closed the account book full of handwriting and then solemnly put it into his arms.
The account book is in my arms.
Wang Wenqing felt the heavy account book in his arms, and a smile from the bottom of his heart appeared on his tired face.
Mrs. Wang silently put away the inkstone.
He looked at Wang Wenqing several times and opened his mouth to speak, but for some reason every time the words came to his lips, he held them back.
Since the whole family left Chang'an City with Yu Liangcai.
Along the way, Wang Wenqing took out the account book from his pocket and wrote and drew from time to time.
Sometimes, in order to write account books, he would even stay with beggars for two or three days.
As for the number of times we have gone deep into rural villages, there are countless more.
It’s been a journey.
The thin account book that only had a few pages when leaving Chang'an City gradually became thicker.
But Wang Wenqing, who was originally a little rich, gradually became thinner.
His originally red cheeks were filled with a lingering look of tiredness.
Mrs. Wang did not know what Wang Wenqing wrote in the account book.
All she knew was that along the way, her husband valued the account book more than his own life.
Seeing that Juyang City is getting closer.
Mrs. Wang finally failed to suppress the doubts in her heart.
"master."
Mrs. Wang glanced at her sleeping son, then raised her head to look at Wang Wenqing, who was sitting in front of her with her eyes closed and concentrating.
"Um?"
Hearing the sound, Wang Wenqing let out a sound of confusion, then slowly opened his eyes and looked at Mrs. Wang.
"During this journey, the master has spent many hours writing and drawing in the account book, forgetting sleep and food."
"I don't know about the account book..."
Mrs. Wang hesitated for a moment, and finally asked slowly.
"You mean this?"
Wang Wenqing was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then slowly took out something from his arms.
"Um."
Mrs. Wang looked at the thick stack of blue-covered account books in Wang Wenqing's hand and nodded.
"This is not an account book."
Wang Wenqing smiled dumbly when he saw this, and then shook his head slightly.
"If it's not an account book, what is it?"
Mrs. Wang was stunned for a moment, then looked at the thick "book" that was no different from the account book of a trading company and asked softly.
"Here." Wang Wenqing slowly raised the "account book" in his hand and chuckled, "This is Qiu Jin's belated dowry."
"Qiu Jin's belated dowry?" Mrs. Wang murmured in a low voice after hearing this.
The doubt on his face has not faded even a bit.
Instead, it became more intense.
"It's Qiu Jin's belated dowry."
Wang Wenqing nodded slightly, then slowly lowered his head and looked at the "account book" in his hand.
His eyes were filled with unspeakable fatherly love.
I do not know how long it has been.
Maybe a quarter of an hour.
Maybe dozens of breaths.
Wang Wenqing slowly raised his head, as if mumbling to himself, or explaining in a low voice to the people next to him.
"As the saying goes, when you get married, you should marry someone from the right family."
"Madam, do you think our Wang family is of the same family as Prince Yan?"
Wang Wenqing asked slowly while stroking the blue leather account book in his hand.
Mrs. Wang opened her mouth and was about to say something.
However, don't wait for him to speak.
Wang Wenqing smiled bitterly and shook his head, asking and answering himself: "How can a girl from a poor family and a high-ranking disciple of the Tian family be worthy of each other?"
"So what if that girl becomes a disciple of a great scholar of the time?"
"Even if the disciples of the Tian family were imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple for eight years because of their "crime", so what? "
"In the eyes of the real rich and powerful, that girl has always reached a high level... She has reached a high level!"
"What's more, later on, the children of the Tian family, relying on their own talents, not only got rid of the sinful body."
"He suddenly became the high-ranking one-word prince."
"Madam, what do you think the world will think of that girl?"
"Madam...what do you think the world will think of us, Qiu Jin?"
Wang Wenqing stopped caressing the blue account book, slowly raised his head, and looked at Mrs. Wang with red eyes.
"I don't know."
Mrs. Wang raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice choked.
Throat.
Whether you don’t know or you don’t dare to know, it will be obvious to those who know...
Wang Wenqing sighed deeply when he heard this, then slowly lowered his head and looked deeply at the blue leather account book in his hand.
After more than ten breaths.
Wang Wenqing once again seemed to be acting and talking to himself, but also seemed to be confiding to the people around him: "I have secretly read the letters Qiu Jin wrote to you..."
"I know that Qiu Jin and the prince have always been in love since they got married."
"I also know that the prince has always loved Qiu Jin."
"But so what?"
"He is the prince, a high-ranking prince, His Highness the Prince of Yan who guards the entire land of Yan!"
"Ordinary powerful people have three wives and four concubines. How dare you talk about a one-character prince who can control three wives on both sides according to the ancestral system?"
"He has already given the position of princess to our Qiu Jin."
"The position of concubine and wife will never be given to a girl from a poor family."
"Now Qiu Jin is pregnant."
"For reasons and reasons, the prince needs to marry another concubine, or wife."
"Whether it is a concubine or a wife, she must come from a wealthy family."
"Madam...I'm afraid...I'm afraid...I'm afraid that our Qiu Jin will be bullied."
"What's more... what's more, our Qiu Jin is soft on the outside and strong on the inside... if... if Qiu Jin fights with that person..."
"When...then...where will the prince stand..."
Two lines of turbid tears slowly fell from the corners of Wang Wenqing's eyes.
When his family was in danger, he was a weak scholar who stepped forward regardless of everything.
A frail scholar who never shed a tear even if he was seriously injured or in danger.
A frail scholar who shouldered a heavy burden of relief work and was so exhausted that he fell into coma several times and never shed a tear.
The tears in his eyes at this moment were like the Yellow River with no embankment. No matter how hard he tried, it was difficult to stop it.
"I don't know."
Mrs. Wang slowly lowered her head and shook her head gently in a hoarse voice.
Do you really not know this time, or do you dare not know... Those who know... will understand...
I do not know how long it has been.
Maybe a quarter of an hour.
Maybe more than a hundred breaths.
After Wang Wenqing wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, he slowly reached out and wiped the tears from Mrs. Wang's face with his sleeve.
"Ma'am, don't cry."
"Although we, Qiu Jin, do not have a distinguished background, we, Qiu Jin, have us."
Wang Wenqing said slowly with a solemn look on his face.
The words are over.
Wang Wenqing solemnly raised the blue leather account book in his hand.
"This book was written after my husband spent two months traveling all over the cities and towns along the way and getting acquainted with countless people from all walks of life."
"This book not only records the real customs and customs of the counties along the way."
"It also records the local accents of the counties along the route in great detail."
"This book is Qiu Jin's belated dowry."
"Even if Qiu Jin really gets into arguments with the concubines and ladies in the future."
"With the love of this book, it is enough to make the prince prefer our Qiu Jin."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang slowly raised her head, her red eyes looking motionlessly at her husband and the blue account book in his hand.
Until then.
Only then did he understand why Wang Wenqing spent all his time writing "account books" on this trip.
I really pity the hearts of parents in the world.
Just as the couple looked at each other speechless.
Wang Qiu'an, who was sleeping soundly on the soft couch in the carriage, slowly opened his eyes.
"Don't worry, Mom and Dad, Qiu An will protect my sister."
After Wang Qiu'an opened his eyes, he sat up from the soft couch with a sudden movement, his young face full of determination.
"Oh?" Wang Wenqing couldn't help but feel happy when he saw this, and then asked: "Then how does Qiu An plan to protect her sister?"
Wang Qiu'an's face wrinkled when he heard this, and he stretched out his little hands to scratch his head and thought hard.
After a while.
Wang Qiu'an clapped her little hands suddenly, and then said with determination on her face: "Qiu'an can help big brother fight the Huns."
"The storyteller once said that the last King of Yan was a great hero who could stand up to the sky and the earth."
"It's a pity that the great hero died in the hands of the Huns."
"Now that the eldest brother is King Yan, that eldest brother will fight with the Huns sooner or later."
"When Qiu An grows up, Qiu An will help her elder brother fight the Huns."
"The more Huns Qiu An defeats, the easier it will be for my elder brother. When he is relaxed, won't he have more time to spend with his sister?"
"With big brother here, Qiu An will see who dares to bully my sister."
Wang Wenqing looked at Wang Qiu'an with a determined look on his face and smiled.
Then he looked down at the blue leather account book in his hand again.
Tens of breaths later.
Wang Wenqing and Mrs. Wang looked at each other and smiled.
"Qiu An has grown up and knows how to protect her sister."
Wang Wenqing chuckled and rubbed Wang Qiu'an's head with eyes filled with relief.
...
...
The wheels stopped and stopped on the muddy official road.
Finally, when it was almost time, he slowly approached the welcoming pavilion located five miles away from Juyang City.
Yu Liangcai, who was wearing a felt hat, a knife hanging from his waist, and riding a tall horse, rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
When the carriage between the group of soldiers was clearly seen, it was indeed behind the three-column green-covered carriage.
Yu Liangcai had a look of joy on his face, and then he clamped the horse's belly tightly, and after leaving the convoy, he quickly walked towards the three-column green-covered carriage.
When approaching the three-horse carriage with green awning, there were soldiers more than ten steps away.
Yu Liangcai quickly stopped the tall horse, and then quickly got off the horse.
"Yu Liangcai, the chief official, has returned from the capital and has sent a special message to the prince."
"I hope you will report quickly."
After Yu Liangcai turned over and dismounted, he quickly took out a small order from his arms, then faced the carriage with three green awnings and bowed his hands in salute.
"Wait a moment."
Upon hearing this, a soldier walked a few steps quickly and took the small order from Yu Liangcai's hand.
After the inspection is correct, it is confirmed that the small order is the order of the chief official of the palace.
The soldier quickly turned around and walked towards his team leader.
A small order passed through layers of circulation and finally fell into the hands of Yang Xian'an.
Next to the carriage with three green hoods.
Yang Xian'an held the small order of the Chief of Staff, raised his hands and saluted, "Sixth Master, everyone from the Wang family has arrived."
Inside the carriage with three green hoods.
Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes after hearing this, and then slowly walked out of the carriage.
at the same time.
The carriage that everyone in the Wang family was riding in also slowly stopped at the welcoming pavilion.
"My lord, the chief official, Yu Liangcai, is here to pay homage to the prince."
As soon as Xu Yifang passed through the layers of soldiers, Yu Liangcai, who had originally bowed his hands to each other, his back instantly became more curved.
"The Yu family has produced another outstanding son."
Xu Yi slowly walked a few steps to Yu Liangcai's side, raised his hand and patted Yu Liangcai's shoulder gently and praised.
"I am not talented."
Yu Liangcai felt the weight coming from his shoulders. Although he was ecstatic in his heart, he declined with extreme humility on his face.
"I have become quite tired during this journey."
"When this is over, Liangcai will rest for a few days."
Xu Yi changed the topic and said with a caring smile.
"It is the duty of a minister to serve the prince."
Yu Liangcai's face straightened and he bowed deeply again.
"Have a good rest for a few days. If you don't take good care of your body, how can you withstand the next heavy burden?"
Xu Yi chuckled and patted Yu Liangcai's shoulder again, then slowly walked towards the Wang family.
After Xu Yi's figure gradually faded away.
Yu Liangcai, who bent down and bowed his hands, could no longer conceal his joy.
He took the initiative to take over the post from Yang Xian'an and traveled to Chang'an, the capital thousands of miles away, regardless of the wind, sun, rain and frost.
Isn't this the scene pictured?
...
...
Outside the welcoming pavilion.
Xu Yi was walking slowly towards the Wang family, old and young.
The Wang family, young and old, were also walking quickly towards him.
Tens of breaths later.
The young and old of the Wang family were the first to stop and bowed to Xu Yi: "We pay our respects to the prince."
Xu Yi paused when he heard this, slightly arched his hands and returned the greeting: "You're welcome."
The words are over.
Xu Yi stood up slowly and then saluted Wang Wenqing and the old man of the Wang family again: "My son-in-law has seen Mount Tai and the old man."
Seeing this, Wang Wenqing and Mr. Wang hurriedly raised their hands and returned the greeting: "Your Majesty, please get up quickly, please get up quickly."
Although the etiquette is complicated, it is indispensable in this era.
Etiquette is complete.
Xu Yifang opened his mouth to speak.
Wang Qiu'an, who had been waiting for a long time due to the instructions of his elders, jumped forward quickly.
"Big brother, when Qiu An grows up, can I help you fight the Huns?"
Wang Qiu'an jumped up to Xu Yi's side, hugged Xu Yi's thigh, and then looked up at Xu Yi with an innocent look on his face.
On the face full of innocence, there is a pair of bright eyes full of determination.
Xu Yi was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then he gently rubbed Wang Qiu'an's little head, smiled softly and said: "Qiu'an is still young, the top priority is to study hard and fight against the Huns. When Qiu'an grows up and succeeds in school, Let’s talk about it later, okay?”
Wang Qiu'an thought for a few seconds after hearing this, and then said firmly with eyes full of determination: "Qiu'an can learn martial arts while studying, so that when Qiu'an grows up, she can directly fight the Huns for her elder brother."
Xu Yi didn't know why Wang Qiu'an was so obsessed with fighting the Huns.
However, at this time when the snow is melting, the temperature is naturally extremely cold.
It's not a problem to stand in the cold wind for several hours.
But the already old Mr. Wang couldn't bear it.
After hearing this.
Xu Yi could only chuckle and nodded, and agreed casually: "Okay, okay, when we return to Juyang City, eldest brother will invite some more gentlemen for Qiu An."
Wang Qiu'an grinned when he heard this, nodded repeatedly and said, "Big brother is so kind."
Xu Yi smiled and then put the matter aside for the time being.
Facing Mr. Wang and Wang Wenqing, he slightly cupped his hands and said, "The weather is very cold. Mr. Taishan, please follow your son-in-law to the palace for a chat."
After a while.
The young and old of the Wang family boarded their carriages again.
Just when Xu Yifang was about to turn around and leave.
Wang Wenqing left and returned from the ordinary carriage.
"Your Majesty, please stay."
Wang Wenqing walked quickly to Xu Yi's side, cupped his hands and saluted.
"What's wrong with Taishan?"
Xu Yi paused when he heard this and said with a little doubt.
Wang Wenqing looked around and saw that there were some merchants on the official road secretly looking at the guest pavilion.
"Qiu Jin has a dowry that has not yet been handed over to the prince."
"Please, Your Majesty, find a quiet place to talk."
Wang Wenqing bowed his hands with a solemn look on his face.
"Qiu Jin's dowry?" Xu Yi was slightly startled when he heard this, and couldn't help but murmured in his heart.
But Wang Wenqing looked extremely solemn.
Xu Yi had no choice but to suppress his doubts for the time being.
"Taishan, please follow my son-in-law to the carriage for a chat."
Xu Yi calmed down and then extended his hand to say goodbye.
"Okay." Wang Wenqing agreed, and then extended his hand to invite you as well: "Your Majesty, please."
…
…
After a while.
Several carriages were guarded by more than a hundred cavalry and dozens of "young servants".
Driving slowly on the muddy official road again.
Inside the carriage with three green hoods.
Xu Yi and Wang Wenqing sat opposite each other.
"I wonder what the dowry in Taishan's mouth is?"
Xu Yi picked up the teapot on the small wooden table and slowly poured two cups of tea. After slowly bringing one of the cups of tea to Wang Wenqing, he asked.
Seeing this, Wang Wenqing hurriedly stood up and took the tea from Xu Yi.
Then he slowly took out the blue leather account book that he regarded as a treasure.
"This book is Qiu Jin's belated dowry."
"Please have your Majesty take a look."
Wang Wenqing handed the blue leather account book to Xu Yi with a solemn expression on his face.
Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then took the blue leather account book from Wang Wenqing.
The paper was turned slowly.
Ripples gradually appeared in Xu Yi's eyes, which had always been calm.
The book submitted by Wang Wenqing recorded in detail the customs and people's livelihood in the counties, counties, towns and villages along the way from Chang'an City to Yandi.
When Xu Yi set out on the road to become a vassal, he spent more than two months conducting on-the-spot inspections of the people's livelihood and customs in the counties and counties along the way.
However, due to different identities, different attention received, and other factors.
During Xu Yi's inspections, he mostly used the excuse of visiting local scenic spots and famous buildings to conduct secret inspections.
This also destined that the people's livelihood and customs that Xu Yi saw were limited to the places he passed along the way and around famous scenic spots.
But Wang Wenqing is different.
Along the way, he went deep into towns and villages several times. In order to be precise, he even did not hesitate to associate with beggars.
It is precisely for this reason that the book submitted by Wang Wenqing recorded in detail the most authentic people's livelihood and customs in the counties, counties and even towns and villages along the way.
The taxes that have been imposed layer upon layer on the people are breathless.
Landlords who run rampant in the countryside and dominate.
The people at the bottom who were wronged but were imprisoned because they had no money and no power.
The little officials who hold great power, but show off their power all day long.
A local official who holds the power of one place, but lives a life of drunkenness and dreams.
The dudes from the aristocratic family have a big family and a big business, but they are so arrogant that they regard the lives of ordinary people as trivial.
In the blue account book presented by Wang Wenqing, the unusually neat lines of handwriting seemed to have transformed into scenes of the most real scenes, constantly pouring into Xu Yi's mind from between the lines.
For a while.
Xu Yi seemed to have seen a more real Zhou.
This Great Zhou was far more corrupt and unbearable than the original Great Zhou in his mind.
From those lines of unusually neat handwriting.
Xu Yi seemed to hear people living at the bottom of society sighing helplessly and full of resentment in their miserable lives.
I do not know how long it has been.
Xu Yi's eyelids drooped and he slowly opened a new chapter.
In the new chapter, there are no ordinary people at the bottom who suffer great hatred, and no more officials, aristocratic families, wealthy families, and landlords who are above all living beings.
In the new chapter, some are just the most native accents of the counties along the way.
Inside the carriage with three green hoods.
Xu Yi, whose eyelids drooped slightly, making it difficult for Wang Wenqing to see clearly the truest thoughts in his heart at this moment, shook his head slightly.
It was as if he wanted to throw away the countless blood and tears in his mind.
After counting the interest.
Xu Yi forced himself to calm down and turned his attention to the blue account book again.
Throw yourself into a clumsy or weird written dialect.
I do not know how long it has been.
When the carriage with three green hoods gradually stopped bumping.
Xu Yi slowly closed the blue leather account book in his hand.
Then he half stood up, faced Wang Wenqing and bowed his hands deeply, saying, "Yi, thank you, Lord Taishan."
The first half of this blue book contains the most authentic people's livelihood and customs in various places.
The second half is the most native dialect of each place.
This book seems useless, but in fact, to Xu Yi, it is no less than a priceless treasure.
Only by knowing people's livelihood can we prescribe the right medicine.
Only if you know the dialect can you handle everything in detail.
Although there was Mandarin in the Great Zhou Dynasty, except for the people who were born and raised in Chang'an, except for the scholars and officials who were dedicated to their studies, except for the merchants who had to travel all over the country, and the children of the aristocratic families who had been educated in Mandarin since childhood.
How many people can speak authentic Zhou Mandarin?
Even in the land of Guanzhong under the feet of the Emperor, there are still different pronunciations and customs.
Are you even trying to talk about the whole world?
It is precisely for this reason that the "belated dowry" presented by Wang Wenqing is indeed very important.
And why did Wang Wenqing submit this book at this time?
Although he didn't say anything, Xu Yi could guess a thing or two.
The so-called pity for parents in the world is probably nothing more than this.
It was because Xu Yi was unwilling to make a promise to Wang Wenqing at this moment.
But he deeply understands that any promise is empty and nothing before something happens.
