When Liu's mother said this, Zheng Haizhu had already assessed the situation in Liu's house with his eyes and ears.
The chimney of the neighbor's house is so close, which shows that this courtyard is really not big.
The furnishings on display in the house are few in number, and neither the wood nor the paint are luxurious.
The one serving tea and water in front of me was a little maid.
From the east chamber, a faint sound of "oh, oh" could be heard from a woman coaxing her baby, which was quickly overshadowed by the sound of a baby crying with a thick milky sound.
And Liu's wife, who was still like a child herself, although she was dull when entertaining guests, when she heard the baby's crying, her face immediately showed a look of anxiety.
Zheng Haizhu looked at her chest. In early autumn, my clothes were still thin, and a small trace of wetness suddenly appeared on my tooth-white bra.
Breastfeeding mothers often secrete milk immediately when they hear their baby's cry.
It seems that unlike the Jiangnan Jin gentry family who hired wet nurses, this dignified fourth-grade governor's legitimate wife had to breastfeed the baby herself. The one coaxing the baby in the east chamber was probably just another maid from Liu House.
Zheng Haizhu said harmoniously: "Madam and the eldest lady, hurry up and ask the doctor."
Liu's mother and Liu's wife hurried into the east wing. When the baby met his mother, his crying quickly stopped.
After a while, Liu's mother led the doctor back to the small hall.
Zheng Haizhu didn't wait for Liu's mother to speak, then she stood up, gave up the small table and said, "Sir, please make a prescription here."
The doctor looked to be in his thirties, with a flat face and a flat nose, thin eyes, not a very good-looking face, but a kind demeanor.
He nodded to Zheng Haizhu, then sat down and started writing the prescription.
Zheng Haizhu sat on the wooden chair on the east wall and drank tea.
While the doctor was writing, Mother Liu asked. The old lady was not only literate in writing, but also very independent. She checked with the doctor several times whether the medicine was compatible with the medicine and whether it was too strong for children.
The doctor patiently answered them one by one.
When Zheng Haizhu turned his gaze from the two of them to the table, his expression suddenly froze.
The doctor's left hand was clearly resting on the table in the most relaxed state, but the curvature of his thumb was very twisted.
When ordinary people relax their hands, the joint of the thumb rarely pushes outward like this.
And that thumb is as thick as a carrot head.
Deja vu.
She recalled that after the Jurchen spy incident, Han Ximeng told her with regret: "Ah Zhu, when that Jurchen spy Ashan was making eight-spindle spinning machines in Chongming, I saw that his left thumb was strange."
The Jurchens are skilled in bow and horse, and the thumb with the antler ring on it is always in a state of exertion. Over time, the thumb will become obviously bent even when relaxed.
Zheng Haizhu took a few more sips of tea. After the doctor finished writing and speaking, he interrupted and said: "I would like to ask, sir, where is the pot hanging? My family has just arrived in the capital. If anyone has a headache or fever in the future, I would like to ask him." Please treat me sir."
The doctor said politely, "I will sit down in Min'an Hutong."
"His accent sounds like he's from another province like us?"
"I will come to Beijing from Shanxi next year."
The doctor calmly finished the prescription, stood up, and said goodbye.
Liu's mother ordered her maid to bring her medical supplies, and then ordered her to grab the prescription and get the medicine. Then she turned around and sat down opposite Zheng Haizhu.
There were no outsiders in the house, and Mother Liu said bluntly with a sense of worry: "Commander Luo approved the leave today for the Governor. He never thought that when the baby was crying the most, he would have to go back to duty. Madam Since you are coming from the commander, do you know what the situation is like?"
Zheng Haizhu said with relief: "The emperor's behavior is not unheard of in previous dynasties. Civil and military officials will act according to the rules. The royal guards are just busier than usual. Don't worry, old lady, when I said goodbye to Commander Luo just now, Their place is very orderly."
Mother Liu said "Oh".
Zheng Haizhu took out a brocade bag from his sleeve and calmly arranged a pair of small gold bracelets and two silver hairpins inlaid with red agate.
She temporarily modified her itinerary to come to the capital. Princess Guo of Zhu Yipai was careful and prepared a lot of baby bracelets, women's hairpins and the like for her. She said that of course, silver notes are the currency that men love, but Zheng Haizhu The advantage is that as a woman, she can often interact with the family members of big and small people, and she can handle gold and silver jewelry without being shabby or stiff.
Zheng Haizhu took some with him today in case of emergency, and he used them now.
"This is the first time I come to visit you. I'll give you some items from your own jewelry shop. Don't be disdainful to me, Madam."
Mother Liu was originally the golden lady of a wealthy family. Her family had fallen into disgrace in the past, and she was married to Jin Yiwei through the clan leader's agreement. However, she never lost her noble and self-loving spirit, and was quite strict in managing the household and raising her children. After Liu Qiao inherited his father's position as a royal guard, Liu's mother often told him not to take advantage of opportunities to extort money or make money for personal gain when on errands. Therefore, after Liu Qiao was promoted from Chief Qian to Governor, the Liu family remained frugal.
But towards Zheng Haizhu, although Liu's mother was a bit arrogant at first, after a few rounds, she felt that there was an upright and magnanimous air in the Zheng Haizhu's politeness, and her vigilance gradually faded away, and her temperament relaxed.
She then generously held up the bracelet and hairpin, praised it several times for its exquisiteness, and thanked her on behalf of her daughter-in-law and grandson.
Zheng Haizhu further said a few sincere words: "We came here like this today, and the old lady must have found it strange just now. In fact, I, Mrs. Zheng, don't have any sinister thoughts. It's just because I not only do business, but also raise soldiers, and I treat military ministers I always want to make friends and ask for advice.”
Mother Liu nodded cheerfully, and then took the initiative to ask Zheng Haizhu about those legendary stories. As she listened, her face no longer just had a polite smile, but actually showed a bit of fascination with a broadened horizon.
Zheng Haizhu didn't mean to be overly friendly, and at the same time wanted to show that he had come here on purpose in the middle of a busy day. He quickly stopped talking and said softly: "I have other official duties, so I must leave."
Liu's mother came to her senses, got up hurriedly, personally escorted Zheng's master and servant to the door, and said goodbye politely.
After walking a few steps, Zheng Haizhu said to Hua and Li: "You were waiting in the courtyard just now and didn't see it. That doctor seems to have been drawing a bow for many years. Go back and have a look at the Min'an Hutong he mentioned. Doctor There is something strange about the museum. The neighbors are also asking about it."
"Yes, ma'am, where are we going now?"
"Go to General Pony's house. I have something to ask him."
…
Before the mule cart turned into Qipan Street, where Ma's Mansion was located, the servant of the Liu family driving the car shouted and reined in the mule, turned around and said, "Madam, look, the man coming out of that alley is General Ma."
Zheng Haizhu opened the curtain to take a look, and quickly ordered the driver to turn around and catch up with the group of knights.
"Xianglin! Xianglin!" Zheng Haizhu leaned out and shouted loudly.
Fortunately, there were people coming and going near Qipan Street, so Ma Xianglin and his subordinates could not speed up, and the mule cart quickly caught up.
Ma Xianglin heard the shouting, hurriedly reined his horse back, and trotted to Zheng Haizhu's car window.
"I'm going to the posthouse to look for you! I'm in a hurry to get out of the capital."
Ma Xianglin first blurted out with surprise, but then, hesitation flashed in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Zheng Haizhu asked.
Ma Xianglin knew that this woman was suspicious and good at reading minds, so he tried to look calmer.
He jumped off the horse, approached the carriage window, and looked at Zheng Haizhu: "The emperor passed away, and the vassal kings from all over the country are not allowed to enter the capital. I also received an urgent order from the Ministry of War to return to Shanhaiguan to lead troops to guard in case anything happens to the capital. These days. I don’t know if I can return to the capital in a month, and Fengyi is about to give birth again, can you stay with her more?"
"Ah?" Zheng Haizhu opened his mouth, a little dazed.
When she first heard the news, the first reaction in her mind was whether she was urgent enough to ask Xianglin about the strange things she discovered in prison.
Ma Xianglin thought that what he said meant that Ah Zhu was a mother-in-law. Thinking about it, she was now the one making plans and had many things to do all day long.
Ma Xianglin simply stopped hiding his sadness and said solemnly: "It's just in time for autumn, and the horses are fat and strong. If the Jianzhou Tatars and Mongolian Tatars take the opportunity to invade, Ji Liaobao is not allowed to mobilize our guest troops from Shanhaiguan." . Ah Zhu, swords and arrows have no eyes. If anything happens to me, Fengyi will definitely be sad if she stays in the capital. Please take them, mother and son, to the south."
"Bah, bah, bah, what are you talking about!" Zheng Haizhu frowned and scolded softly, "General Ma, back in Fushun back then, you almost picked the center of Huang Taiji. You don't know, all the storytellers in the suburbs of Beijing are in charge. Your name is Shanhaiguan Zhao Zilong. How could something happen to Zhao Zilong? Don’t think nonsense, don’t talk nonsense.”
The look of helplessness in Ma Xianglin's eyes was fleeting, and he grinned unnaturally: "Thank you for your respect, yes, I am Zhao Zilong, and no one wants to make me fall into trouble."
Zheng Haizhu narrowed his eyes and asked thoughtfully: "Xianglin, did you really go to Shanhaiguan to guard? Or did the Ministry of War actually transfer you to Liaodong? Is there an urgent military situation with General Zhang and Commander Mao?"
Ma Xianglin touched his nose and said repeatedly: "No, no, I just, cough, Ah Zhu, I didn't expect that I could be such a mother-in-law..."
Zheng Haizhu relaxed his brows and said with relief: "The love between husband and wife is what it is. Don't be impatient. Let's go quickly. I have nothing else to do now, so I will go to the house to talk to Fengyi."
"Okay, thank you, Azhu."
The young general got on his horse.
Zheng Haizhu said to his old friend's back: "I'll hug your big fat son when I get back."
Ma Xianglin turned around and waved to her.
Watching the men and horses disappear, the smile on Zheng Haizhu's face disappeared.
She took out the fine steel chisel she had carried with her all these years and touched the inscription on the handle.
She once curiously asked Ma Xianglin what this symbol was.
Ma Xianglin told her that it was the character of the Shili native people, which means red.
Zheng Haizhu was in prison today and saw the same symbol engraved on the wooden board where Ma Qiancheng had been lying.
But at the same time, there are two others, which are also like the native characters, twists and turns, not as straight as Chinese characters, and will indeed be lost in the texture of the old wooden boards.
Only the scratches are not shallow.
Luo Yangxing mentioned that the eunuchs used wooden cages and iron nails to torture Ma Qiancheng.
Zheng Haizhu immediately thought, could it be that Ma Qiancheng had hidden an iron nail?
Then engrave words to convey important messages to the outside world?
Wait until Xianglin comes back from the garrison and ask him in detail.
