Do you know: I’m Xu Jiazi

Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Outside Daqing Hall

The first day of the Lunar New Year has ended.

The officials were walking out of the palace,

The officials went in different directions. Some went to the palace to meet their families, some went to the Yamen for duty, and some went directly to their homes.

During the great court meeting,

Zai Duan, who was standing behind the officials, came out very quickly. Zai Duan, who was wearing military attaché uniform, waited for a while at the entrance of the hall.

When they saw Gu Tingyu coming out, they walked towards the palace together.

Glancing towards Baiguan who was walking out of the palace, Zai Duan and Gu Tingyu said, "Da Lang, what are the envoys from Bei Liao and Jin State talking about when they are so close? They won't start fighting, right?"

Gu Tingyu also took a look and said: "The envoys from the two countries are discussing the exchange of prisoners. Previously, the envoy from Bei Liao asked our officials from the Ministry of Rites to match up."

"ah?"

Zai Duan's eyes were full of doubts: "Wouldn't it be more convenient for them to talk at the border between the two countries?"

Gu Tingyu shook his head: "The two countries are at war now. The prisoner exchange is not all prisoners, but only the noble children of Beiliao."

Zaiduan nodded.

"What did you two say?"

Zhang Fangyan, the eldest son of the British father-in-law, who was walking behind them, said.

Zaiduan explained.

The three of them walked towards the palace together as they talked.

The gate to the south of Daqing Hall is called Daqing Gate.

Exiting Daqing Gate is Xuande Gate, the south gate of the palace city. The two palace gates are in a straight line.

In front of Daqing Gate,

"Brother Sheng! Stay and wait for me."

After hearing this, Sheng Hong looked back, stopped with a smile, and said, "Brother Liu, what's wrong?"

The official behind Sheng Hong walked a few steps quickly and came to Sheng Hong. He looked around and said, "Brother Sheng, do you have free time after the court? Let's go to Panlou for a drink?"

"Brother Liu, we are in the same year. You can just say whatever you want. Why do you need to go to Panlou to drink?"

Hearing Sheng Hong's words, Mr. Liu smiled slightly, stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation and said, "We are in the same year, so we can't have a drink?"

Sheng Hong smiled and said: "Of course I can, then I will be the host!"

Master Liu waved his hands and walked out with Sheng Hong.

After leaving the palace,

As the two of them walked towards the carriage, Master Liu whispered beside Sheng Hong: "Brother Sheng, why do I see Master Shen looking a little unhappy during the court meeting today? Master Shen has been an official for so many years, which makes him frown. Not that often."

Sheng Hong looked around like a thief and whispered: "I heard from Li Shangshu that the Shen family brother contracted the cold in the twelfth lunar month. He invited several Beijing and Chinese medical officials but still nothing happened!"

"I have been on the sickbed for more than half a month!"

"hiss!"

Master Liu took a breath of cold air: "No wonder! It's really dangerous to get cold in this winter."

Sheng Hong nodded: "There was news before that the Shen family brother got married years ago, so this matter has been postponed for the time being."

Master Liu thought for a while: "Is she the daughter of General Zheng Jun?"

"right!"

Sheng Hong replied.

"By the way, is your eldest daughter following you into the palace now?" Master Liu asked with a smile.

Sheng Hong couldn't stop smiling, waved his hand and said, "Follow her mother-in-law in the palace."

"Alas! If I had gone to Yangzhou to find Brother Sheng in person, I might not have had such a good girl marry into my family."

Master Liu said with some regret.

The two of them left the palace while talking.

Since neither of them had to be on duty at the Yamen today and had nothing to do when they went home, they drank in Panlou until the afternoon.

Pan Building, second floor,

In the elegant room,

Beside the dinner table,

Mr. Liu had obviously drank a little too much at this time. He held up the wine glass and said with tears in his eyes: "When something happened to the Qiu family before, everyone who was my brother and sister stayed far away. It seems that their official positions are in danger."

"Yes, if it weren't for Brother Sheng who acted righteously, now I'm here. Brother Sheng, let's have another drink!"

Sheng Hong's eyes were still clear at this time: "Brother Liu, I only made a small contribution, and the Huangfu family is the big one! And we are of the same age, so we should take care of each other!"

In fact, according to Sheng Hong's own thoughts, after something happened to King Yan before, the Liu family, who had a good relationship with the Qiu family, King Yan's retainers, had to stay away from the Liu family like everyone else.

But after he discussed it with the old lady and listened to the old lady's general analysis, he decided to continue to have good relations with this person of the same year.

The Liu family has been officials for generations and has many in-laws in the Zhou Dynasty.

Now that the emperor has a son,

The officials of the current dynasty did not need to take sides with a certain clan prince. The Liu family and the Qiu family had a good relationship, but they were far from being implicated.

Moreover, the Liu family and the Huangfu family were related, so even if they were implicated, there would always be people in the court who could help them speak up.

The sun sets in the west,

Sheng Hong and Mr. Liu left Pan Tower together.

At the door of Panlou,

Mr. Liu, who had drunk a little too much, was supported by his own boy and Brother Ermin from Pan Louzhong. He looked at Sheng Hong with drunken eyes and said: "Brother Sheng, let's take a look at your big sword again when we have the chance." !”

"That's easy to say! Brother Liu, it's cold in the afternoon so you better get in the car!"

Sheng Hong, who smelled of alcohol, said.

Watching the Liu family's carriage leave, Sheng Hong stepped on the carriage with the help of Dong Rong.

Arriving at Jiying Lane,

When Sheng Hong went to Shou'an Hall, he happened to see the maid of Shou'an Hall putting some gifts into storage.

The female envoy called,

Sheng Hong took off his warm cloak outside the Shou'an Hall, then lowered his head and walked through the cotton curtain into the inner room. Looking at the old lady who still had a smile on her face, Sheng Hong said: "Mother, the child is back!"

The old lady smiled and nodded: "Hong'er, sit down!"

Sheng Hong nodded quickly and sat down.

"Is the imperial meeting still lively today?"

Hearing what the old lady said, Sheng Hong smiled and said, "Mom, it's very lively! Your Majesty is very happy at the meeting today and has rewarded many people!"

The old lady smiled and nodded.

"By the way, mother, when I entered the Shou'an Hall, I happened to see the servants sorting out the gifts. Are there guests at home?"

"Yes, I married an old descendant of Zhuangzi who joined the army and made great contributions to your cousin in the west. Today he comes to our house to pay New Year's greetings."

Sheng Hong nodded: "I heard my mother say before that the younger generations don't seem to be very old! I used to help comment on merits and rewards, and I have seen a few people who have made great contributions in the battle reports."

"You're still young, but you have a promising future!"

After finishing speaking, the old lady looked at Sheng Hong's eyes turning as he thought about something, and continued: "Most of the elders of those children know the elderly at home, such as Fang's mother, so I left them to talk to the elderly in the courtyard. , I left in the afternoon.”

Sheng Hong nodded quickly. The old lady seemed to be able to see through what he was thinking at a glance.

"Daddy, drink tea!"

Minglan came over holding a cup of hot tea from Cui's mother who was making tea.

Sheng Hong smiled at Minglan: "Good boy."

After Minglan went aside, Sheng Hong told the old lady about the postponement of the weddings of the children of the Shen family and the Zheng family.

"This postponed the wedding. I don't know if it was the Zheng family or the Shen family's intention."

The old lady sighed with emotion after hearing this.

If it was the Zheng family, it would hurt this girl to the core.

If you are from the Shen family, you can also see that the Shen family has a very good family tradition. They always think about other girls and are afraid of causing other girls to become widows.

After drinking half of the tea soup in the tea cup, Sheng Hong had nothing to say and left the Shou'an Hall.

After leaving the courtyard of Shou'an Hall, I thought for a while at the intersection, and seemed to think of Minglan who had just served tea.

Sheng Hong did not go to Wei Ruixuan and walked in the direction of Jin'anzhai.

Jin'anzhai

"My dear, this slave saw the master coming this way at the gate of the courtyard!"

Qiujiang, the little girl, shouted softly at the door of the house.

Wei Shuyi stood up in surprise.

When I walked to the door of the house, I happened to see Sheng Hong walking into the yard with a smile.

"Lord!"

Wei Shu smiled happily and bowed.

Sheng Hong smiled and nodded: "Where is Zhu'er?"

Wei Shu said: "Go back to the master, I am copying the calligraphy."

When Sheng Hong heard this, he looked in the direction of the sun and said, "The sun is going to set. It's so dark that it hurts your eyes!"

After saying that, he and Wei Shuyi entered the house.

"Father!"

In the room, Sheng Changqi, who was wearing a simple cotton coat, bowed his hands in a naive manner with a smile on his face.

Sheng Hong looked at Chang Zhu's smile and the dimples on his cheeks that were very similar to his, and he felt that his mood instantly became better.

His younger son was not as stern as his biological mother Wei. Every time Sheng Hong came to Jin'anzhai, he could see his smiling younger son.

"Zhang'er, I heard from your little mother that you were still copying copybooks just now?"

Sheng Hong asked with a smile while taking off his cloak and giving it to Wei Shu.

Sheng Changzhu nodded: "Yes, father. My mother said that my father's calligraphy is very good. I can only be like my father if I copy harder and work harder!"

Hearing this, Sheng Hong smiled and glanced at Wei Shuyi who was putting on his cloak and said, "Your little girl's calligraphy is also very good!"

"My lord, you are so complimentary!"

At this time,

Xiaodie came over holding a tea cup, and Sheng Hong, who had not drank much water in Shou'an Hall, took it into his hands.

Holding the tea cup in one hand, Sheng Hong reached out to Sheng Changzhu with the other hand and said: "Zhu'er, let's go and let my father see how you are copying!"

Sheng Changzhu nodded and walked to the window with Sheng Hong.

The table by the window is quite bright,

There were stacks of papers on top.

Sheng Hong put the tea cup on the table, holding the straw paper in both hands, and looked at the results of his youngest son's copying one by one.

After reading two pages, Sheng Hong stared at the back of the papyrus.

"Here, why is there writing on the back of this papyrus? Zhu'er, how did you copy it?"

After asking, Sheng Hong understood it himself. When copying, the front and back were misaligned so that he could write a few more words in the blank space.

"Father, my mother said that although our family is rich, we still need to be thrifty and frugal." Sheng Changzhu said crisply.

Looking at the look of the papyrus,

Sheng Hong thought of the scene when he was learning calligraphy when he was a child.

At that time, his father Tanhua Lang's concubine was still in charge of the family. He and his biological mother, Chun Xiaoniang, were living a very difficult life.

When he had paper to practice calligraphy, he and Sheng Changzhu had to write on both sides.

Sheng Hong, who was already a drunkard, had many childhood scenes flashing through his mind, which made him feel quite emotional for a while, and at the same time, his eye sockets were still a little hot.

"Good boy!"

Looking at the young and regular handwriting on the papyrus paper, Sheng Hong said with a sore nose.

Wei Shuyi, who had put away his cloak, walked over.

Sheng Hong looked at Wei Shuyi with a smile and said, "I'm sorry, you taught Manger well."

Wei Shuyi glanced at his son who was young and didn't know how to hide the proud look in his eyes and said, "It's because Zhang'er has a good father. He just follows his example."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong smiled even more happily.

He had long forgotten what Sheng Hong looked like as a child.

But the old servants of the Sheng family who had seen him when he was a child, including his aunt's mother Fang, would always say that Sheng Changzhu looked similar to him when they talked.

When Sheng Hong looked in the mirror, he found that his youngest son was very similar to Wei Shuyi in other places except his eyes.

Wei Shuyi looked at Sheng Hong and then at Chang Qiang.

What she said just now was all true, because she never told Chang Qiang that Sheng Hong was face-conscious and mean;

She only told Chang Qiang that Sheng Hong had good handwriting, was cautious, and was an honest official.

Chang Qiang could not see his cautiousness and integrity in the backyard,

but he could see his good handwriting clearly.

Therefore, Chang Qiang admired Sheng Hong as his father.

Seeing Sheng Hong rubbing his forehead again, Wei Shuyi whispered, "Master, why don't you take a rest here with me first."

As she said that, Wei Shuyi looked at the recliner in the room.

Sheng Hong, who was in a good mood, thought about it, and Lin Qinshuang flashed in his mind.

But seeing the expectant look in Sheng Changqi's eyes, Sheng Hong nodded.

"You have been busy since this morning. For the meal, I will give you a massage, my lord?"

Wei Shuyi continued.

Sheng Hong was stunned: "Shuyi, do you know how to massage?"

Wei Shuyi smiled: "Before, Xiaodie went to the Zhu family and asked Ni Da Ni for advice when chatting. After returning, she told me."

"Oh! That's it!"

Sheng Hong said and lay on the recliner.

"I let Xiaodie massage it and felt very comfortable, so I also learned it."

Wei Shuyi took the embroidery cushion from Qiu Jiang and put it next to the recliner.

After Sheng Hong stretched on the recliner, he put the fingers of both hands on Sheng Hong's head.

Before,

whether it was Wang Ruofu or Lin Qinshuang, they would massage Sheng Hong.

The difference in their skills was not big, but the feeling of chatting while massaging was very different.

Sheng Hong could naturally feel the difference between women's fingers.

"Shuyi, do you have calluses on your fingertips?"

Sheng Hong asked with his eyes closed.

"I only know some needlework. If I put it down, it won't be easy to pick it up again."

Wei Shuyi replied.

Thinking of the exquisite fan covers and handkerchiefs embroidered by Wei Shuyi for him, many colleagues were very envious after seeing them, Sheng Hong smiled and said, "I always have to take a break."

"If the relatives of the Wei family saw and touched the calluses, they would think you were suffering in my house!"

Wei Shuyi smiled and said nothing.

Feeling the different comfort, Sheng Hong whispered: "Shuyi, your craftsmanship is really extraordinary. Huh!"

Sheng Hong breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's Madam Ni who taught me well. I heard from Xiaodie that Madam Ni has a deep relationship with her master!"

When Wei Shuyi spoke, he glanced at his son not far away.

Wei Shuyi's embroidery can also be sold at a good price in the shops in Bianjing.

Another reason why she is so busy making embroidery is that she wants to save money for her children.

No one can predict what will happen to Minglan and Changzhang when they grow up!

With money in hand, she can always help Minglan and Changzhang.

When Wei Shuyi went to Shou'an Hall to serve,

she heard from the old lady and the eldest sister of the Xu family that women in the backyard should have money in their hands and loyal people around them.

With these two things, life will not be too difficult.

Lin Qinshuang also spent a long time with the old lady, and was a faithful practitioner of the old lady's words: having the property given by Sheng Hong means having money, and having a housekeeper like Zhou Xueniang means having people.

After staying up all night for the New Year,

and drinking wine,

Sheng Hong was massaged comfortably and fell asleep soon.

After dark, Sheng Hong ate the food sent by the kitchen and slept in Jin'anzhai.

Two hours later,

The starry sky was dotted in the middle of the night,

The whole Bianjing was quiet, and the sound of dogs barking could be heard from time to time.

At this time,

A carriage with a fast speed stopped at the door of Sheng's house, and someone got off the carriage quickly and knocked on the door of Sheng's house.

Shou'an Hall

In the warm bedroom,

The old lady, who was already shallow in sleep, sat up on the bed: "Suqin, Suqin! What's going on outside?"

Mother Fang came over with a candlestick: "Old lady, the master is asking someone to harness the carriage! The relatives of the Kang family sent someone to ask the master to come over!"

"Kang family? What happened to the Kang family?" The old lady frowned and asked.

Mother Fang hesitated and said: "Old lady, the Kang family said that someone was killed! The aunt of the Kang family beat the maid in the room of Kang's Jin'er to death, saying that she seduced Jin'er!"