Although the emperor likes to make troubles nowadays, the reforms to strengthen the country have achieved extraordinary results. He has never failed in his expeditions from east to south. This national power is rising day by day and everyone in the world can feel it.
Today, another announcement was made to the capital. It was the good news that Gong Xian's army had easily defeated Thanh Hoa. The puppet emperor of Annan fled to Dongshan and continuously begged for mercy. He was willing to be demoted from the status of emperor to Annan to recruit envoys, which brought new talking points to the people of the capital. ——After the Tumubao Incident, we first guarded against the Mongols and then the Japanese pirates. The days when bandits and Jurchens were constantly intruding seemed like a world away. Now the world is peaceful and only the imperial court can fight outside.
Peace will inevitably bring prosperity, and at the feet of the Emperor of Taiping, people will be safe and secure. King Wu can't help it at night. The nightlife in Shuntian Mansion only begins when the lanterns come on.
"Qingyin Yayuan" is the most expensive restaurant in Shuntian Mansion, specializing in Yaoqin singing and dancing. Needless to say, there are pavilions, terraces and pavilions. There are only ten private rooms in the huge courtyard, and it follows the path of hunger marketing. You need to book one month in advance, and you may not be able to book it yet. ——The chef there is said to have retired from the imperial dining room due to old age. Not only is he an expert in Shandong cuisine, but he also developed new tricks in the palace and became famous in the capital with his new dish "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall".
The most expensive private room in the entire Yayuan is called "Changshengle". The main colors of the decoration are blue, green and gray. There are some high or shallow wood carvings on the wooden shelves. There are no gold or silver inlays elsewhere, showing simplicity and elegance. The antique furniture and screens from the Song Dynasty are also placed in a neat and orderly manner, making the whole room simple and elegant.
It's freezing cold outside, but inside the house is as warm as spring. There is a faint sound of water running inside the walls - it's exactly the "water heating" used by wealthy people recently. There is no harm from smoke and no feeling of heat from the previous wall.
Behind the screen, the music of the Yao Qin harmonizes with the sound of the cave flute coming from further away, and the word "elegant" actually highlights the color, fragrance and aroma - just like the delicacies on the table.
After eating, Buddha jumped over the wall, wiped the slight sweat on his forehead with a silk scarf, and Zhang Sixiu took a sip of the refreshing apricot white rinse to rinse his mouth.
Then he pointed with his chopsticks at a plate of fish meat spread on crushed ice on the table and said, "This cannot be eaten raw. It must be eaten in a small pot."
Today's guest is Ke Da, a doctor from the Ceremony Department of the Ministry of Etiquette. Hearing what Zhang Sixiu said, he smiled and said: "There is a poem from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce: 'Fresh crucian carp with silver threads, soup with parsley and blue green', the so-called 'snow falls and flies away' If you rinse it, it will change its shape, color and taste." The other guests at the table nodded in agreement.
Zhang Sixiu said with a smile at the corner of his mouth: "'Gold, Jade, Rice, Cooking Snow' is certainly delicious, but during the Three Kingdoms period, the prefect of Guangling, Chen Deng, died because of it. Hua Tuo once diagnosed him and said: 'There are worms in the stomach of the king, and they are about to become internal gangrene. That's what fishy things do - there are parasites in this thing, and it has been proven by medical schools."
"My father used to like to eat this food, but the doctor stopped him. Now he doesn't dare to eat it anymore. I have also seen the insects under the microscope, so the Han family no longer eats raw food."
Zhi Keda listened to what he said seriously and hurriedly arranged for the beauty who was serving dishes to get some small pots. Zhang Sixiu said: "Just take it out. Who can bother to rinse it?" Zhi Ke nodded in agreement, and asked someone to take the hard dish worth forty taels down, and asked Zhang Sixiu what he wanted to eat. Zhang Sixiu shook his head and smiled. Said: "A bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall has already clogged my throat. These are enough on the table."
A few people drank a few glasses of wine, and Zhi Keda asked about Zhang Juzheng's condition. Hearing that Zhang Sixiu said that there was no serious problem, he breathed a sigh of relief and said: "The Prime Minister is carrying a huge burden, and the Emperor can't live without him even for a day - alas, between them, the monarch and his ministers have met in the wind and clouds, and have enjoyed each other's lives, from ancient times to the present. , There has never been such a good story."
He also gave an example: "Song Shenzong also changed the law, how can he be like Wang Anshi?" After speaking, everyone nodded in agreement. Zhang Sixiu's face became pale and he smiled without saying a word.
Zhi Ke raised his glass and said, "I wish Premier Zhang good health with this glass, and I will take no medicine!" Several people present drank all the wine in the glass with the sound of blessing.
After drinking a few drinks, the atmosphere at the dinner gradually became warm. Afterwards, the sound of Yaoqindong's flute gradually became fainter, and there was some sound of silk and bamboo. Several dancers in light gauze and silk silk came in to dance in the hall to add to the fun.
Zhang Sixiu listened to the leading woman singing: "...Red Luan Cui Festival, purple phoenix and silver sheng. The jade girls come close to the colorful clouds. Follow them day and night to worship the Three Pure Ones. In order to pass down the golden record to the Queen Mother, I wish you a thousand years of longevity."
Amidst the singing and dancing, Zhi Keda covered his face with wine, leaned sideways to Zhang Sixiu and whispered: "Brother Meng Daiyu helped me the day before yesterday. The Suzhou government settled the case of Jia Yue's family and gave me a share." Worrying!"
After he finished speaking, he sighed and said, "Oh, I didn't realize that I was a young official until I arrived in the capital. My family thought that I had become an official in the capital. I was so worried that I was so worried." After saying that, he laughed at himself and said solemnly. A toast to Zhang Sixiu.
After hearing this, Zhang Sixiu smiled and said: "It's a small effort, and my foolish brother can't stand the local cowards who use their power to suppress people and oppress good people. I can help with some small things, as I wish, brother Shikun, don't worry about it."
After hearing this, Zhi Keda had a strange expression on his face, and then he put on a smile and whispered: "Jia Yue won this lawsuit, and I can save my capital and profit for no less than ten thousand gold. I am willing to pay you six thousand gold as a thank you. Brother Yu has already exchanged all his money." Banknote, look at when-"
Zhang Sixiu frowned and said, "Am I doing this for money? Don't do this -" Before he could finish speaking, Xu An, his companion who had followed him from outside the hall, walked in quickly and bowed in salute.
Zhang Sixiu asked: "What's the matter?"
Xu An said: "Third Master, Second Master just sent someone to call, saying it is an urgent matter at home." Zhang Sixiu was startled, stood up and said: "But the master is in good health..." Xu An glanced around, He bowed and replied: "It's irrelevant, it's something else."
Zhang Sixiu couldn't figure it out, but he didn't dare to delay and left the table. After getting on the carriage, I asked Xu An carefully and found out that Wang Zhiyuan had arrived at the house. I don't know what he said. The second brother sent someone to call him.
When Zhang Sixiu returned home, Wang Zhiyuan had already left. Zhang Jingxiu's eyes were red and he called his third brother to the study. Zhang Sixiu asked what was going on. Zhang Jingxiu cried and said, "Today Chen Shigong checked his father and said he was afraid of 'losing his glory' syndrome."
Zhang Sixiu opened his mouth wide and shouted with fear on his face: "How could it be? Yesterday, my father said he was walking briskly and eating normally. He would be discharged from the hospital and go home soon."
Zhang Jingxiu glared at him and said: "Quietly! Wang Zongxian took care of the matter and told me. Do you want to make such a noise that the whole city will know?"
Zhang Sixiu said: "After Chen Shigong's diagnosis, why didn't you tell your second brother?" Zhang Jingxiu sighed: "My father is a very important person in the military. It's not surprising for you and me to find out later. Now that Wang Zongxian has informed us in advance, he is just letting us prepare in advance. What it means—father himself doesn’t know it yet.”
Seeing that he had listened, Zhang Jingxiu sighed again: "In the fifth year of Wanli, my father advocated the reform. I don't know how many people have been offended in these seven years. Although the emperor will definitely be able to protect our family, we brothers can't go on business trips." wrong."
Because Zhang Sixiu became a Jinshi earlier than his brother, he always thought that he was smarter and had a higher level of ability than Zhang Jingxiu. Now he suddenly heard that the pillar of his family was about to fall, but his heart was in a mess and he had no idea. When his brother said something, he nodded.
Zhang Jingxiu once again learned the dialogue between the monarch and his ministers in the Yangxin Palace, and said to Zhang Sixiu: "Today, the emperor first said that there are many things to do in the capital, and then asked about his father's condition - Wang Zongxian said that his father was seriously ill. How can Sun Long delay? Even if the emperor takes a nap, he will definitely wake him up and report. Therefore, according to the previous words, the emperor should be beating our family to prevent others from taking advantage of it, and it will not look good at all."
Zhang Sixiu opened his mouth, and after a while he said: "How can I, a small household manager, go up to heaven to listen to you! Besides, why have I ever done those things! It's just not for face, and sometimes I can't stand it. Then he opened his mouth and stretched out his hands."
Zhang Jingxiu stared into his eyes and said: "You really have some yamen style - you were admitted to the imperial examination earlier than me, you have already married and established a business, and your children are all grown up. On weekdays, my father is here, and I, as an elder brother, don't want to talk to you. Today Let me just say, if you don’t have the power and position of your father, what’s the use of opening your mouth and extending your hands?”
Zhang Sixiu's face turned red. Zhang Jingxiu smiled bitterly and said: "Don't go out to socialize these days - my father is ill, and you and I are staying at home to take care of him. This is what we should do."
"Tomorrow, recall what you have done over the years, write an entry and report it to your father. While the old man is still healthy, sort it out from beginning to end, so as not to let anyone take notice and embarrass the emperor and father."
Zhang Sixiu was so ashamed that he said in a hoarse voice: "Wang Zongxian came to report today. I wonder if there will be any interference? Then Mr. Shui Lian asked to stay in the right place. I wonder what he is thinking about?"
Zhang Jingxiu sighed: "These people are all immortals. Why should we worry about their work? As for Mr. Shui Lian, Wang Zongxian said that he had softened his words before, and it should not be detrimental to the Zhang family - if not Even if his father recommends him, he cannot join the cabinet, and he is a firm reformer, so keeping things right should have nothing to do with you."
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