Tanhualang

In early November, severe winter is approaching.The court reached an agreement with the Tatars. The court provided Tatars with five thousand stones of rice, one thousand cattle and sheep, one thousand stones of cotton, and three thousand pieces of silk and satin. In exchange, the Tatars attacked the court with one thousand good horses; Yumen Pass opened to mutual market transactions.

In this way, the imperial court exchanged food and cloth for temporary peace this winter; all the endless debates in the court have come to an end for the time being.

However, some folks began to denounce the emperor as weak and incompetent, and the imperial court would only squander the blood and sweat of the people and live in peace.

It was the day to rest and take a bath. Zhao Heng had some free time these few days, and suddenly became interested, and mentioned that he wanted to go out for a walk.Shen Jing came out with Xiao You and Wei Zheng.

At this time they were sitting with Zhao Heng in the private room of a teahouse. When they heard someone outside started discussing the peace talks between the imperial court and the Tatars, Shen Jing couldn't help but go to see Zhao Heng, but saw him drinking tea with an uneasy expression on his face. He listened to all the discussions behind him with a changed face, and calmly looked out of the half-open window.

At the beginning of November, the weather was already very cold, and the pedestrians on the road had already put on cotton-padded clothes and walked back and forth in a hurry.

Hearing the louder and louder discussions outside, Zhao Heng frowned slightly, quietly put down his tea bowl, stood up, and saluted Zhao Heng: "Your Highness, please allow me to go out and say a few words."

Zhao Heng nodded.

Shen Jing opened the door and walked out of the private room.

After a while, I heard his warm and smiling voice, coming from outside: "... I just heard a few brothers discussing the peace negotiation, and I have some different opinions. I can't help but want to ask a few of you to give me some pointers... "

"...The court and the Tatars went to war, and the cost was too high... Qiushang used troops to quell the rebellion of the King of Han, and now if we go to war again..."

"To put down the rebellion of the King of Han, the court made careful arrangements in many ways to lock the rebellion of the King of Han in the territory of Shandong, so as to avoid harming the people..."

"... What you guys said is very true. However, we may not guess what the emperor is thinking. How do you know that the imperial court wants to exchange mere goods and wealth for a year's recuperation business, so that they will be shamed again in the coming year? It might be a good strategy to move later..."

A quiet voice came intermittently from outside.Zhao Heng caressed the tea bowl, lowered his eyes and listened carefully.After a while, Shen Jing rubbed her hands and pushed the door open.

Xiao You handed him a bowl of hot tea, and said with a smile, "You are eloquent. These scholars are so-called underappreciated, full of complaints and have nowhere to complain, and you can persuade them in an orderly manner."

"To tell you the truth," Shen Jing smiled and held the tea bowl, "If it was a year ago, I'm afraid I would have the same idea as them. As long as the court negotiates a peace, it feels that the court is weak and the officials are incompetent. But in the past year, His Highness Only then did I know that fighting or not fighting is not as simple as it sounds.”

After finishing speaking, he sighed: "A little bit of fighting will cost tens of thousands of lives and thousands of silver. The cost of compensation for injuries and illnesses in the future, and the reconstruction of the city will be countless. How can these powerless scholars move?" Is it as simple as saying something? But they don't necessarily know about it, and even if they do, they don't necessarily think about it."

Zhao Heng listened, lowered his head and smiled while holding a teacup, "Miao'an now has the heart to be a general."

Shen Jing listened with an embarrassed smile and said, "My class is messed up. People often say that 'scholars are wronging the country'. I didn't think it before. These young people are all young and vigorous, scolding Fang Qiu and pointing out the country. If they are allowed to talk empty words, they will only I'm afraid it will become a trend. However, after all, they are people who have read the book, and with a little guidance, they can listen to it and understand the good intentions of the court. I just think that Your Highness... since the court has abolished so much effort to fight with the Tatars If you want to work around and benefit the people, you must let them know. Only in this way can you win the prestige and hearts of the Holy One.”

Zhao Heng nodded when he heard the words: "That's right. You are quite right."

Several people discussed a few words about the situation of the court, and seeing that the wind outside was getting weaker, Zhao Heng put down the tea bowl in his hand: "The wind is getting weaker, let's go for a walk."

Several people put on big clothes and came out of the teahouse.

The winter sun is alienated and calm, falling on the bluestone slabs of the street, mottled and bright.The time sequence has entered winter, and the pedestrians on the street are not as lively as when the weather is warm, but the constant traffic is also interesting.

They came out of the teahouse, walked along the street, and went to the book market next door.Most of the people gathered in the book market were young people and scholars. Zhao Heng stood at the door of a store in the book market and listened to the scholars' discussions on state affairs.

After visiting several shops in a row, Shen Jing realized that when Zhao Heng came out for a walk, he didn't just walk around randomly. In fact, while walking, he heard the voices of the people in the streets and alleys by the way.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help sighing in his heart: such a dignified and introverted prince who cares about the country, doesn't know where the rumors about Zhao Heng's tyrannical luxury and reckless behavior came from. ?

It can be seen from this that people's words are terrible, and their bones are destroyed.

After walking around the book market for a while, a few people walked straight along the long street, and saw the signboards of several Wenwan jewelry shops.I thought Zhao Heng wouldn't be interested, but as he was walking, he stopped in front of a jade shop, looked up at the signboard, and walked in with his cloak in hand.

At this time, it was approaching noon, and there were no customers inside. The shopkeeper was dozing off in front of the cabinet. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he raised his head and glanced lazily. Finally, he fixed his eyes on Zhao Heng, sized him up from head to toe, and then jumped up to greet him. When he came to Zhao Heng, he bowed flatteringly and said, "Dear guest, please come inside?"

Xiaoyou murmured softly behind her: "...What a snobby eye."

Shen Jing glanced at Zhao Heng, and laughed lowly: "It's no wonder he."

Although Zhao Heng's clothes were simple and plain when he went out, his demeanor was not angry and prestige, and his gestures had a Tsinghua nobility.The treasurer of the jade shop has seen countless people, and he still has this insight. Holding the key, he hurriedly brought out the genuine products in his collection: "My lord, please take a look. I'm not bragging. It's number one or two."

Zhao Heng glanced at it and frowned slightly.

Xiao You followed him up, looked around, and took off a string of beads on his wrist, and shook it in front of the shopkeeper: "What kind of good is this? It can't even compare to mine."

The shopkeeper's eyes stared at Xiaoyou's hand and turned around, looked carefully, then raised his head to look at Xiaoyou carefully, his eyes flickered and he muttered: "Oh, your bead...is really rare and rare. .”

Xiao You put the beads on, and said with a smile: "So don't talk big, the shopkeeper. If there is something better than this, just take it out. If there is no one, we can leave."

"Yes, yes." The shopkeeper looked at the people again, then turned around and took out another pile of things from a drawer at the bottom: "Then take a look at these. The big ones are at least mountains and rivers. Smaller ones Every piece, every piece is carved out of seed material, with leather on it.”

Shen Jing also took a look.

The small ones include pen tubes, paperweights, fan pendants, jade jues, etc., and the large ones are bracelets, jade hairpins, jade belt buckles, and jade-carved table screens.The quality of these things is indeed good, although it may not be as good as the string of beads in Xiaoyou's hand, at least it can be evenly divided.

Zhao Heng reached out and picked up a pair of fan pendants, looked at them in the palm of his hand, picked out a few more paperweights, and nodded to Xiaoyou, who immediately stepped forward: "Shopkeeper, wrap these up."

A few people came out of the jade shop, went to a nearby restaurant for lunch, and then leisurely returned to the mansion in a carriage.

After getting off the carriage, Zhao Heng called Shen Jing to stop: "Come to the study."

Shen Jing followed Zhao Heng to the study, and listened to him arrange to draft several memorials, all of which were related to the disposal of the officials and generals involved in the treason of the King of Han.After listening to the instructions, he recalled that Zhao Heng had ordered him to write a letter to intercede for Zhang Zhi's family, so he couldn't help asking: "The matter of Zhang Zhi... what is your wish?"

Zhao Heng was silent, and said: "Brother Huang is not sure."

That is the Zhu Jiu Clan.

Shen Jing was also silent for a moment, and said: "One is state-owned state law. Two, the Holy Majesty is also for the good of His Highness."

Seeing that Zhao Heng didn't make a sound, he saluted: "I'll take my leave first."

Zhao Heng called to stop him: "Miao'an."

"exist."

Zhao Heng played with the paperweight on the table and glanced at him: "Is your birthday also the seventh day of July?"

Shen Jing was slightly taken aback: "Your Highness... how do you know?"

"Xue Yin showed Gu your case file." Zhao Heng coughed lightly, "At that time in Nanjing, Gu accepted your gift, but he didn't know that you were born on the same day. Speaking of it, this is also a rare fate. .”

He picked up a fan pendant from a pile of jade on the table, got up and walked to Shen Jing: "This, let's take it as a congratulatory gift for you alone. It's a bit modest, so don't be disgusted."

Shen Jing looked at Zhao Heng, and took it without refusing: "Thank you, Your Highness... I wonder if Your Highness still remembers, that day, His Highness actually accompanied me to eat a bowl of birthday noodles."

Zhao Heng smiled slightly: "Why don't you remember?"

He seemed to be talking, but was interrupted by a light knock on the door.

Shen Jing also turned her head, only to see a slender maid push open the door and walk in with tea with her face half down.The maid had a soft face and an elegant posture. She put the tea on the table, bowed low and then quietly retreated out.

Shen Jing glanced at it for a while, then hurriedly withdrew her gaze, looked at her nose, nose, nose and heart, folded a volume of documents and stuffed them into her sleeves, and asked Zhao Heng to leave: "Your Highness, I'm taking my leave."

Zhao Heng stood by the desk, paused before responding, "Go."

Coming out of Zhao Heng's study, Shen Jing walked along the corridor to the west courtyard, and after walking a few steps, he saw the maid walking in front of him, and slowed down to avoid suspicion.

Seeing the distance between the two, Shen Jing saw a plain embroidered brocade handkerchief in front of her.This handkerchief could be seen as a girl's thing at a glance, Shen Jing hesitated for a while, then raised her head and shouted: "Girl!"

The maid turned her head when she heard the sound, took two steps back Shen Jing, turned sideways and lowered her eyes and cupped her hands and said, "I think the girl's veil fell off."

The maid hurriedly walked back after hearing the words, bent down to pick up the handkerchief, bowed low to Shen Jing: "Thank you, sir."

"You are welcome."

Shen Jing only waited for the maid to leave before he could go, but the maid did not leave, she secretly looked at him a few times, and asked softly: "Listen to the accent, sir...is he from Suzhou?"

Shen Jing raised her eyes in surprise, and before he could answer, the maid lowered her eyes and lowered her body to bow: "I'm also from Suzhou. I didn't expect to meet a fellow villager here. Thank you sir for returning the veil."

After speaking, he left in a hurry.

However, even with a glimpse, Shen Jing can still recognize that although this woman is just a maid, she has a national beauty and a graceful voice.

... Probably only this kind of woman can be regarded as worthy of humiliating Zhao Heng's appearance and identity.

While thinking about it, Shen Jing returned to the west courtyard along the corridor.

Shen Jing received a letter from Xi Wei unexpectedly before he was busy implicating officials for treason.

The letter stated that Sun Ping was promoted to the Ministry of War in the capital because of his meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, and served as the left servant of the Ministry of War.Invited by Sun Ping, he will also come to Beijing together for a few days, thinking of stopping by to visit and quiet down.

Shen Jing was naturally overjoyed, and Dang even wrote back to express her welcome.

Xi Wei is alert, but honest and honest, and Shen Jing is very willing to make friends.It's just that it's inconvenient for him to live in the palace now, and he will have to take leave with Zhao Heng and Xiaoyou, and go out to invite Xi Wei to drink and have fun.

Thinking of this, Dang even warmed up the good wine, cooked a few dishes himself, and invited Xiaoyou over.

Xiao You came, but only took a few bites in a hurry, and was in a hurry to leave: "Oh, oh! Such a good dish - let's forget about the wine, but it's a pity that this is good wine. I have to go to serve His Highness later , you can't smell of alcohol on your body."

Shen Jing wondered: "There is no one there anymore, why do you want to go every day recently?"

"Don't mention it, His Highness is still used to looking for me for anything. Since that girl came to His Highness, His Highness has disliked her several times."

Shen Jing listened, and couldn't imagine Zhao Heng's disgusting expression: "...Why does Your Highness hate it?"

"I've actually seen it twice. Your Highness doesn't say anything, just frowns." Xiao You sighed, "Your Highness doesn't like to talk about it, we all know it. Frowning means that you are already unhappy. But he The girl didn't know, and she didn't know where she was wrong, and she was thrown out of the room by His Highness at every turn. She was trembling all day long."

Shen Jing: "...Maybe it's timid."

Does this have any technical content? Zhao Heng's frowning means that he is unhappy, he is hesitating if he doesn't speak, and he is examining and thinking with his eyes.Is this thought... hard to guess?

"Probably so." Xiaoyou said, holding up the glass of wine reluctantly and smelling it, taking a few mouthfuls of food with the aroma of the wine, "It's all trivial things, maybe I'm not used to it yet. Yes Now, you have good wine and good food, what do you want to tell me?"

"I want to ask you what interesting places to go in the capital, delicious restaurants." Shen Jing brought him a bowl of tea and said with a smile, "I received a letter from Xi Wei two days ago, saying that he would come to the capital. I want to give him Have a welcome party."

"So it's because of this. Then you don't have to worry about it." Xiao You said with a smile while holding up his chopsticks, "Did Xi Wei come with Sun Ping? Your Highness has also received the letter, and it will arrive in about two days. Call me Arrange to welcome him in the mansion. Tell His Highness to call Xi Wei together. Anyway, we all know each other, and there are many people and lively."

Then he winked at Shen Jing and smiled, "His Highness specially ordered that Cao Feng be invited in at that time. Just watch, this is to avenge you for what happened last time!"