Chronicle of Emperor Jing

On the second day, there were various palace banquets again.

During the New Year, the emperor's relatives, civil and military ministers who can be received by the emperor, or the envoys of small countries who come to celebrate the new year will basically be given a banquet by the emperor.

Sometimes Wei Yan would accompany him, and sometimes when the emperor was busy, he would take some time to go back to the mansion to arrange some family affairs.

After this new year, his relationship with the emperor has become a well-known secret in the court.

Of course, the courtiers had been tossing around once before, but they were divided by the emperor without any effective results. During the New Year, no one touched the emperor's bad luck, made trouble for the emperor, and made himself uncomfortable. Whether it will come again depends on whether there is a suitable opportunity to attack.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Wei Yan changed into cleaner clothes, asked the emperor for a half-day leave, and left the palace gate.

"Hou Ye!" Zhao Shi and the others got the news that he was going out today, so they guarded outside Queyou's door early.

The right gate of Que is one of the side gates outside the Meridian Gate. It is for the princes to enter and exit. It is more convenient to enter and exit from here than through Chengtian gate. As a marquis, Wei Yan can naturally enter and exit from here.

"Go to Xiaozhai Street." Wei Yan got on the horse and ordered.

He led a group of people through the streets and alleys, and soon came to Li Dalang's house.

Li Dalang's house closed the door to thank guests for the past few days, not to disturb the neighbors during the New Year. Today, his house opened the gate for relatives to pay their respects.

When Wei Yan and the others entered Xiaozhai Street, they were like a few glamorous horses breaking into a herd of donkeys. Inside and outside the courtyard of the Li family, no matter whether it was the people who came to help or those who came to express their condolences, they all looked at them in surprise. .

Li Dalang served tea and water for the officials of the imperial court during his lifetime. Everyone in Xiaozhai Street knew this, but it was unexpected that there would be officials coming to offer incense to Li Dalang.

The patriarch of the Li family is a middle-aged man in his 40s. When he heard people from outside running in and saying that several officials had come to express their condolences, he hurriedly straightened his clothes, went out of the courtyard, and walked towards them.

"Which family does this lord belong to?" He bowed his hands before asking.

"My family's surname is Wei." Zhao Shi replied first.

"It turned out to be from the residence of the Marquis of Yongning, please come in." Patriarch Li had never met Wei Yan, so naturally he didn't know that he was the Marquis of Yongning himself, but he remembered that the steward of the Marquis of Yongning came to deliver the funeral a few years ago.

Now, after the end of the year, the Marquis of Yongning sent people to express their condolences again... Patriarch Li's mind turned, and he felt that although there were only orphans, widows, mothers, old and weak left in Li Dalang's family, the clan still had to take care of them, after all. There are noble people looking after them, if someone goes too far, Li Dalang's family will file a complaint and make the nobleman angry, it will be bad.

Thinking so, he followed Wei Yan into the courtyard.

Wei Yan entered the mourning hall, lit three sticks of incense, bowed, and put the incense into the incense burner. Li Dalang's family knelt aside with their children and returned the salute to him.

Wei Yan said "Sorrow", exited the mourning hall, saw Li Dalang's father sitting in the corner of the yard, and walked towards him.

"My lord!" Father Li still recognized him, when he saw him, he quickly stood up and offered to give up his seat.

"Old man, sit down, don't be busy, I'll do it myself." Wei Yan drew a long bench from the side and put it beside him, sat down, and talked to him.

"Old man, Dalang has gone, do you have other livelihoods at home?"

Li Dalang and his family were too innocent in this matter, Wei Yan couldn't turn a blind eye.The emperor has other arrangements, so that he is not allowed to impeach Wu Sheng and punish the culprit, he can only find a way to help the Li family solve some difficulties.

Years ago, he asked the big housekeeper to send a funeral ceremony of one hundred taels, which was enough for the Li family to finish the funeral, live a few years of prosperity, and help the children grow up. It is not an easy task to be the pillar.

Whether it's in the clan or in the neighborhood, those who don't have support in the family will inevitably be looked down upon by others. Once something happens, others will discriminate against them in various ways, and if they have benefits, they will be ranked last.

Wei Yan lived in the market back then and had seen many such things.Neighbors get along better than relatives. Once there are bad neighbors, if there is no male in the family, or if the male is weak and unable to support things, he will be bullied.He personally came to express his condolences today, and he also meant to support the Li family.

"My lord, my Dalang died unjustly!" Before Li's father could speak, the patriarch Li squeezed over, crying about his injustice.

"This case is up to Mr. Fu Yin to decide for you." Zhao Shi lit his incense, walked over, and continued this sentence.

"Yes, yes, the villain knows about this." Patriarch Li laughed with Zhao Shi, and then turned to Wei Yan and said, "Master, my Dalang has gone, and his errand is gone. Luo Luo, how do you say they will live as orphans and widows in the future?"

Hearing this, Wei Yan nodded slowly.

Many people would not pay attention to the servants of the Northern Dynasty House, but for these common people in the market, it was a very good job. Li Dalang was able to get this job, probably because he spent a lot of hard work.

Since it is a good job, there are definitely not a few people who want to fill this vacancy.Li Dalang has gone, if the Li family doesn't work hard, I'm afraid they won't be able to make up for this job.

But he thought about the members of the Li family, old and young, only Li Dalang's wife was in her prime.

Thinking of this, he said with some embarrassment: "It's just that the Beichaofang has never used maids."

The Beichaofang used male servants, even if he came forward, there was no way to get Li Dalang's wife to serve in the Beichaofang.

"My lord, the Dalang family has to take care of the family. Even if you have a way to let her go, she can't go, but there are other men in our Li family!" Patriarch Li took a pony and sat next to Wei Yan , and talked to him carefully, "I think about it, our Li family has another person to take on this job. The executive's monthly salary will be divided into [-]% for Dalang's family, and she will help the child grow up. Your lord Look at this arrangement, okay?"

"Twenty percent is too little, I think at least half." Zhao Shi interrupted again.

The monthly salary of the Northern Dynasty Fangfang is not much, at most one tael of silver a month, but these people serve the court officials, as long as they are active with their mouths and winks, all kinds of silver rewards are the big ones.

"Half is half." Patriarch Li gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.

He also knew that the monthly salary of the Northern Dynasty House was not enough, what was really used was reward silver.

"Since this is the case, let's set up a contract, so as not to be unclear, you will come and go, and you will keep talking. Who do you plan to let take this job, have you already discussed it?" Zhao Shi dealt with these matters. , very sophisticated, let them write it down in black and white right away.

This matter does not need Marquis Yongning to come forward, he can do it, but he is working for Marquis Yongning, his Marquis is ashamed of Li Dalang's family, not Li's family, this point, Zhao Shi is very clear, Naturally, the matter must be cleared up beforehand, lest others benefit from it, but Li Dalang's family does not, and this matter will not be handled properly.

Patriarch Li saw that he was not easy to be fooled at all, and he didn't dare to have other thoughts, so he immediately called a young man.

"My lord, look, this is my second son, I'm not boasting, this child has been able to do things since he was a child, his eyes are lively, and his heart is also righteous. If he makes up for this deficiency, he will never disgrace you." Patriarch Li Pull the young man in front of Wei Yan and let him take a closer look.

Wei Yan raised his head and looked at the young man seriously.

The young man bowed to them, introduced himself clearly, stood aside, and listened to what they said. No matter in his expression or actions, he did not feel frivolous or unstable. Obviously his father was not boasting, this child can indeed Handy.

"Okay, just him." Wei Yan looked satisfied and nodded.

"Have someone send you pen and ink, and after the contract has been written, someone will notify you after the New Year." Zhao Shi took a few glances and thought it was okay.

Besides, it's just a replacement servant, so there's no need to pick and choose carefully.

Li's family is having a funeral, so there are naturally pens and ink in the yard.

The brush and ink were delivered, and Zhao Shi took the pen and wrote a deed in duplicate, and asked the young man and Father Li to press their fingerprints respectively. As for the middleman, he was himself.

"Come on, keep a copy each." Zhao Shi handed the deed to the young man and Father Li, and said to Father Li, "Old man, I am a middleman in this matter. If there is any dispute, let someone come to the guard camp Find me, and I will make the decision for you."

Patriarch Li took a look at the deed in his son's hand, seeing that it was inscribed "Zhao Shi, the third-class guard of the Jinwei Camp", he couldn't help but secretly startled.

The person with him is an adult, so what is the identity of this adult sitting on the bench?

In any case, the Li family is leaning on a big tree, and there are noble people to shade them. Even if Li Dalang goes, the Li family can live well.

Patriarch Li is not the only smart person in this yard. As for the unintelligent people, these people's greatest ability is to bully the weak and fear the strong. They don't have the guts to provoke someone who has backing.

Father Li held the contract and understood that it was not just a contract, not only half of the monthly salary, but he could go to the lord if he had other matters, and quickly asked his wife to call out his daughter-in-law and grandchildren to give Wei Yan kowtowed.

"You're welcome!" Wei Yan felt ashamed and refused to allow them to salute.

"Thank you, sir!" However, Li Dalang's wife still took the children and kowtowed to him three times from a distance.

Regarding the Li family's affairs, Wei Yan has done everything he can do, and the rest will depend on the future. In his heart, he can let go of this matter.

He bid farewell to everyone in the Li family, and returned to the palace with Zhao Shi and others.

"You guys go back first, pack up your things, and go to the Xishan Palace tomorrow to stay for a few days." When he arrived at Que You Gate, he told Zhao Shi and the others a few words before entering the door.

He returned to the emperor's bedroom and found that there were many strange decorations in the outer hall.

"Your Majesty, what is this for?" He asked with some doubts.

"Do you like any? Some I want to take to the Xishan Palace, and some can be placed in your house. How about this vase?" Seeing him coming in, Jing Li beckoned and let him go.

"I think it's okay, the quality of the porcelain is fine, the pattern is simple and elegant, and it's a rare and good product." Wei Yan searched his brain and came up with a few words of praise.

"Okay, if you like it, I can put it in your house." Jing Li waved his hand, motioned for someone to put it in another box, took out another brush washer, and asked him, "How about this one?"

"That's right, the color is like rippling blue waves..." Wei Yan continued to praise.

"Hey, are you talking casually, or have you really become an expert?" Wei Yan suddenly became so knowledgeable and interesting that Jing Li was almost surprised.