The moon is bright and bright.
Lin Yunyan stood in the corridor waiting.
When Wan Yue heard that she was going to enter the palace, she was quite surprised: "After this hour, the palace door will be closed."
"Today's thank you banquet," Lin Yunyan explained, "will be later."
Wan Yue nodded and helped Uncle Niu prepare the carriage.
Lin Yunyan glanced at the two of them, then turned her head to look at Chen Gui who was talking to Lin Xun in the other room.
Chen Gui's hesitant reaction just now...
Lin Yunyan also just wanted to turn around.
Her first attention was focused on the implication of the words Xu Jian handed over.
When I figured it out, I really couldn't help laughing.
It's really hard for Chen Dong's family to bring such "meaningful" words to Xu Jian.
Not long after, the carriage left the Chengyi residence.
In Cining Palace, the Queen Mother was quite surprised by Lin Yunyan's arrival.
"Why are you here now?" She smiled and asked Lin Yunyan to sit down next to her.
"I'm so greedy." Lin Yunyan said.
"What are you greedy for?" The Empress Dowager was happy when she heard this, "What does the Ai family have here that your uncle's house lacks? Tell it to the Ai family quickly, and the Ai family will send you more tomorrow. .”
Lin Yunyan pursed her lips and said in a low voice: "I am greedy for the Gu Yue tribute wine."
The Queen Mother was stunned.
Asking for a drink?
This was unexpected.
Yun Yan begged for sweets and snacks, but this was her first time asking for wine.
Sure enough, I have grown up and can drink a few sips of wine.
"You rewarded me last time, and I secretly gave half of it to the Duke of Fu." Lin Yunyan held the Empress Dowager's arm, "I just heard my father tell me that there is an important guest coming, and I have to let the guest know." Have a taste too...
It's gone. What's left doesn't even have a taste.
I had no choice but to come to you quickly for help. "
The Queen Mother couldn't help laughing when she heard this, and reached out to touch the tip of Lin Yunyan's nose.
When you grow up, you really grow up.
They will all think about good things to share with the people they love.
"It was the wine given to you by the Ai family, who should you share it with?" The Queen Mother deliberately teased her, "Just tell your father honestly, how can he still blame you for that sip of wine?"
Lin Yunyan buried her face in front of the Empress Dowager and said in a coquettish voice: "Oh, you obviously know that!"
The Queen Mother laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes, and she said "ouch, ouch" several times.
A little girl of this age is really adorable.
I have a sweetheart, but I still have a thin skin.
I couldn't help but want to tease her a few words.
The empress dowager was so amused that she waved her hand: "The Ai family will ask someone to get it for you."
On the side, Grandma Wang smiled and said: "My Lady, you divided all the food before, and there is nothing left in the treasury."
After saying this, the Queen Mother remembered and saw Lin Yunyan's bright eyes looking at her, and she said: "The Ai family has someone tell the Holy One, and it will be delivered in a moment."
"My father-in-law Yu and I are going to get some wine," Lin Yunyan stood up and said, "If I stay here, you will make a fool of yourself!"
After saying that, she turned around and ran away.
The empress dowager looked at it and smiled again.
Until she left the main hall and stood under the window outside, Lin Yunyan could hear the laughter of the empress inside.
She took a deep breath, the smile in her eyes was still there, but the coquettish and shy look faded away.
Whether it's pretending or coaxing.
She hoped that the Queen Mother would be happy.
What makes the old man happy the most is naturally the happy and smooth marriage. She and Xu Jian agree with each other.
Speaking of which, it is indeed quite satisfactory.
There is a common past, and there is a common future that must be forged.
We have been husband and wife for many years, and we can communicate smoothly with each other.
That's right, it's still not the same as the sticky, infatuated you and me that the Empress Dowager wants to see.
The happiness that the Empress Dowager wanted was probably what Chen Gui had been thinking about.
Thinking of "thinking about it" and the uncomfortable Chen Gui, Lin Yunyan couldn't help but laugh again.
Younger father-in-law got the order and came over in a hurry.
As soon as he saw Lin Yunyan's smile, his heart started pounding.
Oops, the princess must be thinking of assisting the Duke.
The most joyful thing for the empress these days is the marriage that the Holy One has pointed out to the princess.
After all, the princess likes it herself!
If the princess likes it, the empress dowager also likes it.
"Princess," Eunuch Yu came forward, "the wine is stored in the warehouse and cellar. The road is not easy to walk at night. You are waiting in the side hall. Can you go get it?"
"It doesn't matter," Lin Yunyan said, "father-in-law, please lead the way."
Younger father-in-law followed her and ordered another one to report to the Holy Emperor.
The Holy Master was having wine with Li Shao.
With the wine in his belly, he was in good spirits.
"The article written by the new top scholar is really good. I read his articles on the palace examination and the general examination. He has great ideas and I am very optimistic about him."
"There is an examinee from Shu. His performance in the general examination was average, but he showed his performance in the palace examination. I heard that he arrived in Beijing only ten days before the exam started, and he was a little acclimatized. It seems that the long journey has affected him a little."
"From this point of view, it is very important for the court to provide subsidies to candidates years ago."
"This time it was finalized a little late. If the local officials had been notified early, many candidates would have less worries and come to Beijing in advance."
"On this point, I still have to praise Xu Jian. At that time, the Ministry of Rites and Shuntian Mansion were following the procedures step by step, each with their own reasons. It was Xu Jian who came into the imperial study room with the documents."
"Shao'er, the rules are the rules, and you have to be able to make decisions at critical moments."
Li Shao's sip of wine was stuck in his throat.
Tonight, he was having a drink with his father and talking about the imperial examination. He was only interested in it, but after all, he watched the government in the Ministry of Rites every day, so he could speak fluently.
Even when asked about his views on several articles, Li Shao could answer them.
Although he doesn't like those formal scientific examination articles, he can definitely understand them if he looks at the thoughts and stories.
Therefore, it can be said that they had a very happy conversation between father and son.
Unexpectedly, Xu Jian's name suddenly appeared again.
Li Shao was very "convinced" that Xu Jian could make the final decision.
Can someone who dare not make a decision be tied up without saying a word?
Li Shao couldn't swallow his drink when he thought of being kidnapped by Wu Hua Da that day.
Outside the palace, Eunuch Cao was guarding.
From a distance, he saw a little chamberlain running towards him, so he walked over to meet him.
When he saw that it was someone from Cining Palace, Eunuch Cao asked, "What's the matter? Does the Queen Mother have something to explain?"
"The princess wants to ask for more Gu Yue tribute wine. There is nothing left in Cining Palace. The empress wants to ask the Holy One if she can go to the treasury to get some more."
Eunuch Cao turned his head and looked inside the palace.
The Lord and His Highness were having a drink, which was a time when they were in high spirits.
The Empress Dowager wants some tribute wine, how can the Holy One not give it to her?
Why go in and make trouble about this matter?
He just makes up his mind.
After receiving the reply, the waiter hurried outside the warehouse and met Lin Yunyan and Eunuch Yu who were walking slowly.
In the warehouse, the few eunuchs in charge who stayed behind were also drinking and having a lively fistfight.
After hearing about Eunuch Yu's visit, he glanced at the princess behind him...
The great eunuch, Eunuch Mao, quickly took out his handkerchief and wiped the grease from his mouth: "Princess, how can you stay in this shabby place? If you want wine, I will bring it to you."
Lin Yunyan looked at Eunuch Mao and said, "It doesn't matter. I haven't seen the wine cellar in the palace yet. I'm here now. Let me take a look."
The princess said so, and Eunuch Mao couldn't help but refuse.
With a roll of his eyes, he quickly called to another young eunuch beside him: "Zhuo Zi, why don't you introduce it to the princess in detail? Princess, let him talk to you, and I will get you some wine."
Uncle Yu helped Lin Yunyan down to the cellar.
Eunuch Zhuo followed beside him.
"This shelf is all tribute wine sent from Shu. The big wine jar in the corner is from Yu Gong's daughter red. It is quite old."
Lin Yunyan looked left and right and asked, "Where is the one Gu Yue sent?"
Eunuch Zhuo pointed to the depth on the other side: "Have you seen those big wooden barrels? Those are the ones where they hold wine differently from us."
Lin Yunyan walked over and pretended to be surprised: "Such a big bucket?"
As she spoke, she rapped her knuckles on the bucket.
The sound was muffled, but it was still full.
"I heard there aren't many left," she said.
Eunuch Zhuo replied: "Less than three barrels."
Lin Yunyan nodded slightly.
Eunuch Mao came over with an empty wine jar and said, "Don't worry, they are all clean jars. I will fill a jar for you and seal it."
The jar was made of pottery. Lin Yunyan saw a lot of them piled on the ground not far away, and asked, "Are those already pretended?"
Eunuch Zhuo did not doubt that he was there: "Yes, the Holy Spirit will reward the new scholars today."
"Then don't bother Eunuch Mao, I'll just take what's ready." With that said, Lin Yunyan walked over, bent down and picked up a jar from the ground.
Seeing this, Eunuch Mao's face suddenly changed and he said hurriedly: "The jar has not been wiped with dust. Princess, please don't dirty your clothes. Previously, Qiong Lin came to pick it up and left it behind without loading it into a cart. They won't have enough for a while." If you drink it, you have to come and get it.”
The wine cellar was large, and it was only when they entered that they lit up the torches on the wall.
Under the bright firelight, no change in expression could be hidden from the eyes of others.
Eunuch Mao's nervousness was written on his face.
Lin Yunyan saw this in her eyes and did not expose him immediately. She only said: "They have one more jar and one less jar when they drink wine? I asked for two jars, just this one and that one."
Eunuch Mao smiled coquettishly, his mind was spinning rapidly, and he winked at Eunuch Yu: "Hey, brother, please say a few good words for me. Those who guard this warehouse and wine cellar don't see a noble person on weekdays. . It’s rare that the princess comes here today. I’m so focused on trying to please the princess that I can fill two jars of wine. The princess won’t give me this chance.”
Younger than the father-in-law laughed, his smile was genuine, but he didn't care at all.
It's not like he entered the palace on the first day. Just by looking at the comings and goings, he knew "there was a fraud in it."
Although I don’t know the specific scam, there is always something wrong with the drink.
And as the father-in-law of Cining Palace, he must be right to listen to and protect the princess.
"Then just pretend," Yu Yuanggong said, "If you add a jar of wine, will your reward be reduced?"
Eunuch Mao should be neither, nor should he be.
The jar that the princess held in her arms did not contain Guyue tribute wine at all.
If he puts another jar in it and compares the two jars of wine tomorrow, won't something go wrong?
Thinking like this, Eunuch Mao's eyes fell on one of the barrels again.
Or, pretend to be fake again?
The fake ones are also good wine.
People like them would be reluctant to buy such good wine with their own money.
The princess's little girl's family probably couldn't taste the difference, so she just passed it off.
As for the princess taking it back and giving it to the rest of the Lin family to drink...
Even if the drink was different from last time, no one would be so shameless as to say "the drink is wrong" to the emperor, right?
I'm not afraid of what I said. I'll clean up all night tonight and empty out all the fake ones. I'll report the damage more or less and let's make things right...
Thinking like this, Eunuch Mao was heartbroken and walked towards the barrel containing the fake wine.
Open the bolt on the bucket, and the wine flows out along the pipe and falls into the jar below.
The aroma of wine spreads out, making people take a deep breath involuntarily.
Eunuch Mao is also inhaling.
It smells so good!
Such a good wine can definitely fool you!
Eunuch Mao was thinking in his heart when he suddenly heard Eunuch Zhuo's call.
"What are you doing, Princess?"
Eunuch Mao quickly turned his head and looked over.
When he saw that the princess was holding her golden hairpin to draw the altar, Eunuch Mao's eyes suddenly widened.
"Give me all the wine. I'll open it and take a look." Lin Yunyan said and used her hands harder.
The mouth of the altar is opened.
The rich aroma of wine hits your nostrils.
Eunuch Mao winked at Eunuch Zhuo.
The back of Eunuch Zhuo's neck was covered with sweat, and he said: "Look, it's a full jar, no less, no less. You hand it to the younger one, and he seals it up for you?"
Lin Yunyan said, "Bring me a wine cup."
Eunuch Zhuo: "This..."
Without saying a word, Uncle Yu saw a porcelain bowl upside down on the shelf next to him. He reached out to take it, wiped it carefully with a handkerchief, and handed it to Lin Yunyan.
Lin Yunyan poured a bowl.
Just looking at the color and smell of the wine, she really couldn't tell the difference, but she trusted Xu Jian's judgment.
The so-called tribute wine Xu Jian drank at the thank-you banquet was not the previous tribute wine.
And the jar she took was the wine that had been stored in the warehouse for the thanksgiving banquet.
Judging from the reactions of father-in-law Mao and Zhuo, there is also something wrong with this jar of wine.
Picking up the bowl, Lin Yunyan took a sip.
It tasted soft and mellow, but it was different from what she drank with Xu Jian that day.
"It's weird," Lin Yunyan curled her lips deliberately, "Isn't it the wrong wine? Why is it not the same as the one my queen gave me last time?"
Eunuch Zhuo looked uncomfortable.
Eunuch Mao's face turned pale.
Could it be that the princess really has the ability to distinguish wine? Does she really know how to drink?
"Look, what you said is wine coming from these big wooden barrels. How can it be different?" Eunuch Mao said with a dry smile, "If you think the taste is wrong, I'll refill it for you."
Lin Yunyan handed the bowl to Eunuch Yu: "Eunuch, try it."
At this time, is there anything else you don’t understand about your father-in-law?
It turns out that this medicine is sold in the gourd.
The princess' request for a drink was false, but she found something wrong with the drink and wanted to find out if it was true.
To be fair, Uncle Yu felt that it was difficult to navigate this muddy water.
If he had known it in advance, he would have given the princess a few words of advice, true or false, it would be a thankless task.
Relations in the palace are complicated, and who knows who is stirring up trouble behind the tribute wine issue.
The affairs of the previous dynasty were taken care of by the Holy Emperor, and the affairs of the harem were presided over by the imperial concubine. After all, it was not the Cining Palace that came forward to take care of such messy matters.
But now that he is here, it is impossible for him to dismantle the princess.
After taking a sip and tasting the completely different taste, Father-in-law Yui became confident and said, "It does taste different from the one the empress rewarded."
Thanks to book friends Xu Bicheng’s official girlfriend and Shi Gandangdang for the reward.
(End of chapter)
