At the same time that Gao Pangshi was meeting with Liu Xian, two people from the capital were meeting at a rather elegant place called Bixiang Tower.
The name Bixiang Tower will be understood by anyone with a little knowledge of literature. It comes from Zhu Xi's "Recalling Qin E·Xue, Mei Erqian Huai Zhang Jingfu": The clouds are hanging down, the wind is bleak and the flowers are falling from the sky. The flowers are falling from the sky, thousands of trees are blooming, and the sky is full of orioles and cranes. The levy of the car is wading through the thin scenery, and the road is lost and the rope is lost. Zenglisuo, Yanxi landscape, and Bixiang pavilions.
Tonight, someone booked the Bixiang Tower and asked Zhou Xiangyun, a popular courtesan, to accompany one of Eunuch Feng's butlers, whose surname was Xu Mingjue. And Eunuch Feng was none other than Feng Bao.
Each of the eunuchs who served as officials in the Ming Dynasty had their own work team and were called "private ministers of each family". Each of these private ministers has a title and is in charge of his own affairs. Like the headmaster, he is actually the head of the household, responsible for handling food and cashiering money. The upper room manages the locks and keys of the cabinets, while the secretary is responsible for wholesale documents and transcribing documents and other matters that should be reported. These private ministers could be either eunuchs or normal people. For example, Xu Jue was a man with a wife, children, and children. In Feng's mansion, he served as the head of the family and won Feng Bao's trust.
The person who occupied this building was Cao Daye, the newly appointed household minister.
At this time, the Fenggeluan Towers in the south were all extremely exquisite and gorgeous, with carved railings, painted sills, and silk-screened windows, making them look like a fairyland. The style in the capital was originally different from that in the south. However, after the mid-Jiajing period, due to the frequent raids by Japanese pirates in the south, some famous prostitutes from the south went north, bringing the style of the south to the north. Now this area is famous for its ecstasy. The caves have also gradually added many beautiful southern styles.
Although there are more than a dozen Fenggeluan Towers near Rouge Hutong, in the past two years, the one with the loudest reputation is Bixiang Tower. It's all because the owner of this building is a famous prostitute from the south, who is good at sex and art, and whose skills surpass all other girls. When the princes, princes, grandsons and wealthy businessmen arrived in the capital, most of them wanted to pay a visit and have a kiss. Therefore, if you want to get her favor, you have to make an appointment in advance.
Just saying that the owner of Bixiang Tower is Zhou Xiangyun, and the date with her has been booked for more than a month. Fortunately, Cao Daye had a strong backing and great ability. He had something important to do today, so he had to squeeze in temporarily.
It was already dark, and bright palace lanterns were lit in Bixiang Tower. Cao Daye and Zhou Xiangyun were sitting in the hall upstairs, chatting with each other. After all, as a Ke Dao official, he still had to save some face. In order to conceal his identity, Cao Daye took off his official robe and changed into casual clothes. But from head to toe, he still looked like an official. Zhou Xiangyun is actually only seventeen or eighteen years old, with eyebrows like a crescent moon and skin like gelatin. Wearing a white coat and skirt made of Hu silk and Su embroidery, there is a plum branch embroidered on the left chest with several plum blossoms on it, which is particularly beautiful. Standing in front of the window, the weak willow supports the wind, and every smile is charming.
It was actually the first time that Cao Daye and Zhou Xiangyun met. When they started talking, they were still a little awkward, but after a cup of tea, the two of them talked freely.
"Mr. Cao, what is the surname of the man who is coming today?" Zhou Xiangyun asked delicately.
"Look at you, why did you forget what you just said?" Cao Daye deliberately pretended to be angry, "I'll say it again, please remember clearly, my surname is Xu, Mr. Xu."
"Mr. Cao, you are in the right place. You are a famous person. Mr. Xu is such a big official that he deserves to be fawned over by Mr. Cao."
Cao Daye frowned slightly: "How do you know that I fawn over him?"
"No need to ask," Zhou Xiangyun raised his slender eyebrows slightly and chuckled, "Everyone who comes to this little girl only cares about themselves, how can there be anyone like you? Ba Xin Ba Gan entered Bixiang Tower, but he occupied a seat for Mr. Xu?"
Zhou Xiangyun spoke sharply and smiled while talking. Perhaps it is the privilege of a beauty. After hearing this sarcasm, Cao Daye actually did not feel embarrassed and laughed along with him.
"Yue'er, refill Mr. Cao's tea." Zhou Xiangyun called to the little maid standing by.
Cao Daye took a sip of tea and said sarcastically: "The female history of Xiangyun, you think I'm an official... Oh no, you think I don't have any compassion for you? Then you are wrong. Once I enter your door, I will I feel so disappointed."
Zhou Xiangyun pursed his lips and smiled: "Then why did you give it to someone else, Mr. Cao?"
"Since I am the master today, I should behave like a gentleman, right?"
"What a gentleman," Zhou Xiangyun said with a teasing smile, "You are always a good person. Although your rank is not high, you are a science and technology official... It is not too small to say that you are young, but today you use a little girl to curry favor with others. , is this considered a gentleman’s style?”
"You!" Cao Daye couldn't help but said angrily, "I have important matters to discuss with Mr. Xu today, so I won't let you talk nonsense like this."
"Hey, look, 'I' am not happy," Zhou Xiangyun said in a tone that was different from Cao Daye, but he stood up, walked to Cao Daye, bent down and gave a salute, and said, "My words are so offensive, I can't forgive you." .”
Seeing Zhou Xiangyun's shy expression, Cao Daye turned from anger to joy, and turned around and said: "You are a little devil, no matter how capable a man is, when you come here, your bones will not weigh the same."
Zhou Xiangyun pursed his lips and said, "Mr. Cao, I can't understand what you said. Do you think you are praising my family or derogating me?"
"Of course it's a compliment." Cao Daye said, turning to Yue'er maid and said: "Go downstairs and call my housekeeper up."
Not long after the moon went away, a half-aged man came up with a gift box in his hand.
Cao Daye took the gift box, put it in front of Zhou Xiangyun with both hands, and said, "These are some pieces of jewelry. They are considered as a meeting gift. Please accept them."
Zhou Xiangyun took the gift box and opened it. He saw a pair of jade bracelets, a pair of earrings, and a breastplate. They were all made of high-quality jadeite. Seeing such an expensive gift, even Zhou Xiangyun, who was accustomed to big scenes, was a little surprised.
"Master Cao, how can the slave family afford such an expensive gift?"
"I thought that the name of the female history building is Bixiang Tower, which is green, so I chose a few kinds of jade. It's a joke. There are also two hundred taels of treasure notes here, which are considered as cosmetic money for you."
Zhou Xiangyun was really moved by the fact that Cao Daye was so generous. She murmured, "Mr. Cao, you have spent so much on me, how can I repay you?"
Cao Daye waved his hand and the steward retreated.
"As long as you keep Uncle Xu company tonight and let him go back happily, you will repay me."
"Who is this Mr. Xu?" Zhou Xiangyun asked again. This time, she was no longer flirting, but inquiring seriously.
Cao Daye pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you know Eunuch Feng?"
"Eunuch Feng, who is Eunuch Feng?" Zhou Xiangyun shook his head blankly.
"That is Feng Bao, the current Eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, and the Headmaster of the East Factory."
"The Nu family has only been in the capital for a short time, but they don't know about this big shot." Zhou Xiangyun still shook his head.
Cao Dazhi felt a little angry, but then he thought about it, she was originally a brothel girl in Nanjing, and she had just arrived in the capital not long ago. It was normal for her to not know the important figures in the Beijing officialdom. So he raised his voice and asked: "You should know who the emperor is today, right?"
"This is not a problem for the slave family. The current emperor is Emperor Longqing." Zhou Xiangyun answered seriously.
"What about this Eunuch Feng? He is the eunuch Bingbi beside Emperor Longqing. He is a famous person."
"Ah, the people around the emperor!" Zhou Xiangyun's expression immediately became solemn: "Mr. Cao, you said he is the one coming tonight?"
"It's not him, I'm talking about Eunuch Feng. The one who comes up tonight is Mr. Xu."
"What is the relationship between Mr. Xu and Eunuch Feng?"
"Master Xu is Eunuch Feng's butler."
After hearing that Cao Daye had gone through a long round of detours to figure out this relationship, Zhou Xiangyun said in her heart: "In the end, it's just a shrimp hanging on the dragon's tail." But on the surface, she complimented: "I Why is Mr. Cao so cautious? It turns out he is a man who can shake the imperial city."
"It's good that you understand." Cao Daye took a deep breath and said, "At this moment, Mr. Xu should be here."
Zhou Xiangyun returned to her relaxed and lively demeanor, and she said: "Please don't worry, Mr. Cao. I want Mr. Xu to have fun at the slave's house tonight, but..."
At this time, I heard a shout from downstairs: "Master Xu is here!"
