In the cold winter and the twelfth lunar month, the snow was blowing, the Forbidden City seemed to be frozen in ice, and the cold wind stabbed people's necks like knives.
Mr. Li sat in front of the Linghua Mirror and looked at his face. The woman has given birth to a child, and she seems to be getting older faster. After only a few years, the corners of her eyes seem to be wrinkled, like the uneven folds on the silk of Lingluo, which is disturbing to see.
The palace maid Zhu Xia ran over and whispered in her ear: "Shen Changchen is here."
Glancing at the corner of his eyes, the heavy door opened in the corner of his eye, revealing a ray of light from the sky, and a tall man walked in in a blizzard, followed by a row of little eunuchs holding wooden trays.
That was the hottest man in the Forbidden City besides Weide. Three years ago, he took up the post of Admiral of Dongchang. He is also a very beautiful man, with thin porcelain cheeks, eyebrows drawn with ink brushes, and there is always a little smile on the corners of his eyebrows, but he can't reach the bottom of his eyes.
"Go, bring the Second Highness here." Li Shi ordered.
"Niangniang," Shen Jue came over, put Li Shi's hand on her forearm familiarly, and led her to the floor covering, "This is the new tribute fur, the empress has already selected it, you choose If it is very sweet, the minister ordered someone to make a scarf. The weather is cold and the ground is freezing, so you should be careful about the body and bones of the goddess."
He always speaks with the gentleness of a spring breeze, which makes people feel warm in the bottom of their hearts.
Li shi glanced at it a little, and the black fox fur and ermine fur are no different from last year's. The best silver needle sea dragon skin must have been picked by the queen. What can she choose? She casually pointed to one and said, "I have to trouble the factory minister to make a special trip for this trivial matter. What are the people doing?" She sat on the throne and looked up at Shen Jue. The red robe was white. The chin is like a flawless white jade.
Alas, what a hell. Obviously a man, what do you do with such a good-looking life
"Niang Niang is joking, running errands for Niang Niang is a blessing for the minister. If others can't ask for it, how can the minister be too tired?" It's ermine hair, and the color is a little too frivolous. The minister looked at it, but the dark cloud sable looked calm and airy, which matched the identity of the empress."
What he said was always very reasonable. Over the past few years, he has consciously or unintentionally mentioned her dress, speech and behavior. I don't know when, she has been given the name of gentle, polite and chaste. I heard that even those who are the most critical and demanding The scholar-officials were full of praise for her.
According to her usual style, this dark cloud mink is indeed the most suitable. But today, she had some doubts, and looked at Shen Jue sadly, thinking that this fellow thinks that she is not old enough to be worthy of this bright fur, right
Li nodded, Shen Jue ordered to go down, and a group of little eunuchs pulled out the door with trays in hand.
She didn't dare to relax until the door was tightly closed, and she collapsed on the throne like mud. Shen Jue didn't see it, and his brows didn't even move.
No one else knew that she was a paper tiger, and the names of "Xianfei" and "Shujing" were all created by Shen Jue. Her gentleness and obedience were actually timid and fearful, and her amiability was actually only giggling. .
"Changchen, I've been looking forward to you. Sigh, you're busy. I'm afraid that old thief Weide sees it and doesn't dare to send someone over to find you, so I have to hold back and wait for you to come over."
"Niangniang don't have to worry, if you have something to worry about, just say it."
"Do you know that the former emperor came to me?"
Shen Jue smiled and said, "It's a good thing, the maiden doesn't think she's happy, but is worried, what's the reason?"
"What a good thing!" Li threw the handkerchief on the table and said angrily, "As soon as the emperor left, the queen came to me for tea, yin yin yang yang said something that I didn't know, and I smiled with my face. I'm almost dead. I don't know what medicine the emperor took wrong, and he insisted on sleeping with me. The queen thought I used some means to regain holy favor, so I don't know where to scold me now."
Shen Jue squeezed the corners of her mouth and lowered her head and smiled, "The emperor is here, and the empress will serve you with peace of mind. It is the empress' duty to accompany the king, and even the empress is blameless. Empress must remember. , Keeping a low profile is to recharge your energy, avoid the edge for a while, rather than forbearance everywhere, but let others think that we are weak and can be bullied. The empress just keeps the etiquette, so that the queen has nowhere to provoke. It is a good thing that the emperor is here, so that the queen knows whether the emperor is still With you in her heart, she can't easily touch you."
"Is that so?" Li Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said sullenly, "The imperial concubine is really not a job done by human beings, I am afraid that the queen will hold a grudge against me again, and I have been so nervous these days that I dare not eat or drink anything. Even the incense in the house has to be checked by Zhu Xia several times."
"Niangniang was bitten by a snake once, and she was afraid of the rope for ten years." Shen Jue laughed, "There are ministers on the left and right, those unclean things can't enter the Chengqian Palace. These things have to worry about the empress, shouldn't the ministers It is by taking the stick and apology."
"Then it's up to the officials of the factory." Mrs. Li smiled happily, the haze in her heart dissipated for many days, and it suddenly loosened up a lot.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Xia led the Second Highness in.
It was a child who was carved in pink and jade. At the age of three, he still stumbled while walking. It was cold in winter, and his whole body was wrapped into a snowball. He walked in and took a look. When he saw Li Shi and Shen Jue, he didn't call his mother concubine first, but shouted "Shen Changchen" happily, like a gun battle. rushed into Shen Jue's arms.
Li scolded the Second Highness for not understanding the rules and stretched out his hand to pull him. He stayed in Shen Jue's arms and refused to move. Li shi had to give up and said to Shen Jue, "Chen Chen, look at this child, although he was born like me, he has no brains. Yes, but I also know who treats him with sincerity. He treats the factory officials so kindly, and the factory officials are like him like a sub-father. We mother and son are lonely. In this deep palace, the only one who can rely on is you, the factory minister. I also hope that the factory officials will take more care.”
The dim light reflected Shen Jue's drooping brows, and Mrs. Li saw a slight smile appear on the corner of his mouth, but the smile was too shallow, a cool arc. Shen Jue carefully hugged the Second Highness, holding his soft little hand like a ball of cotton, "His Royal Highness, Long Zhangfengzi, has a limitless future, this minister is just a humble servant, why dare to call yourself Your Highness, Yafa, Niangniang Don't say that again."
Li Shi said yes, Shen Jue took the cape from the little eunuch's hand and put it on his body, closed the gilt button, gave Li Shi Xu a bow, and walked into the wind and snow. Li shi watched him step out of the palace gate from a distance, and sighed softly.
"Niangniang, what do you mean by him?" Zhu Xia pouted and asked, "Aren't our Second Highness worthy of him? Really."
"Men's heart, sea needles!" Li Shi said quietly, "Especially beautiful men."
Zhu Xia smacked his tongue and said: "Indeed, Shen Changchen's beauty is really speechless."
"Damn girl, you probably don't like him!" Li Shi squinted at her.
Zhu Xia's cheeks were flushed, and she hurriedly said: "Niangniang, what nonsense are you talking about! You are shameless, and the slaves still need them!"
Li hilariously scratched her armpit, "I will give you to him, and we will become in-laws, so we won't be afraid that he won't help us!"
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The wind and snow were boundless, Shen Jue sat in the carriage holding the stove, closed his eyes and rested. He can't stop for a moment now, like a spinning top, after dealing with Li, he has to deal with Weide, and after dealing with Weide, he has to deal with the emperor. Underneath, there are bureaucrats big and small who are scheming with each other in line to talk to him, but they can't refuse them all.
Shen Jue lifted the curtain with dry brows and looked at the goose feathers and flying snow outside. The snow was thick and solid, and the mountains far and near were all white. Shen Jue leaned against the back of the car, remembering that when he was still in Xie's residence, he and Xia Houlin were punished to kneel, and Xia Houlin carried him back to Qiuwuyuan. That day was also full of heavy snow, and one after another.
At the invitation of Dali Siqing, he went to his house for a light meal, and the fat-brained man at the dinner table spit all over, talking about the righteousness of the family and the country for a long time, and the world is harmonious, and boasted that Shen Jue was the minister of the humerus and the pillar of the country. A meal tasted like chewing wax, Shen Jue's face was wooden, his left ear went in and his right went out.
The dinner was finally over, Shen Jue rejected his invitation for dinner and the next meeting, and greeted Shen Wenxing, who was standing beside him, to go out. Dali Siqing followed behind with a waist, grabbed the umbrella in Shen Wenxing's hand and supported it for Shen Jue, Shen Jue stepped aside without a trace, half of his shoulders were exposed, and half of his body was covered with snow.
Walking to the bottom of the patio, Shen Jue was about to say a few words of courtesy so that he didn't have to send it. A girl with unkempt hair suddenly slammed open the corner door leading to the side courtyard and rushed in. Everyone was stunned. Several servants stood at the door and were about to stop her. The girl caught a glimpse of Shen Jue under the patio, stopped, and threw herself at Shen Jue's feet.
"Father-in-law save me! Father-in-law save me!"
"Who is this, pull it down quickly! Don't disturb the Yaxing of the factory owner!" Dali Siqing sank as he saw this change, and shouted to the left and right.
Several servants were about to come to arrest him, and the girl hurriedly hugged Shen Jue's feet and cried, "The little girl Zhu Mingyue is the fiancée of Situ Jin, the captain of the fifth army camp! She was kidnapped by the eldest son of Dali Siqing at noon! The little girl's fiancé My son-in-law is in the camp on the outskirts of Beijing, begging Chang Gong for help, and asking Chang Gong for help!"
Shen Wenxing was terrified. Shen Jue is known for being obsessed with cleanliness and never lets others get close to her. The little eunuchs who were accompanying them had to take a bath three times a day, and even if they were sweating a little, they didn't dare to lean beside Shen Jue. The girl hugged Shen Jue's feet as soon as she came up, and it was strange that Shen Jue didn't split her.
The eldest son rushed over from behind, saw Mingyue holding Shen Jue, and suddenly lost all three of his souls, and hurriedly said: "Don't listen to this girl's nonsense, she is the daughter of my family, a crazy woman, I didn't take care of her today, and I disturbed the factory master for nothing, so I will take her down. If you don't come, drag this crazy woman away!"
Mingyue panicked, shook her head and said, "He's talking nonsense! He's talking nonsense! He bullied my father and died of illness, and his fiancé-in-law lives in the barracks again, and he kidnapped me into the mansion! Mr. Chang, you are a good person, please save me! Please!"
This is her only chance. She managed to escape from the firewood house. The mansion was heavily guarded, and she was only a few steps away from the gate. As long as Shen Jue was willing to help her, she would be able to escape.
He raised his head with hope, but saw the gloomy man with cold eyes, and said coldly, "You stained our boots."
It was as if he had poured a basin of cold water on his head, and it had been cold from head to toe, Mingyue let go of her hand in a daze. Shen Jue frowned deeply and stepped onto the carriage at the door. The eldest son was overjoyed and winked at the servants. The two servants grabbed Mingyue's feet and dragged her to the backyard.
Mingyue cried and struggled, clutching the ground with both hands, her fingernails were all broken, but only ten lines of black and red bloodstains snaked like snakes in the snow.
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Situ Jin is walking down the street. Today is Mingyue's birthday. As early as last month, he filed a petition to ask for a leave of absence. Today, he saved three months' salary and bought a silk from the palace in Liulichang. Gilt hairpin as a dowry. The matchmaker is also ready to go, and he plans to propose a marriage today.
His Second Highness was born three years ago, and the emperor pardoned the world. But that year was a nightmare for Mingyue. That year, Dr. Zhu died of illness, and Mingyue had no relatives. She lived alone in the capital. She went out of the city to collect herbs and sold them to familiar medical centers, and lived as a rough female worker.
She is good-looking and is the famous herbal medicine Xi Shi, and there are often rogues knocking on the door in the middle of the night. Mingyue was frightened. Every night, she would block the door with tables, chairs, ladle, and pots. Matchmakers often come to the door to say kisses and persuade her to marry. She always refuses on the grounds of keeping filial piety. Everyone knows that she is waiting for a man who will not come back until the year of the monkey.
Situ Jin still remembered the day he came back, Mingyue looked at him from a distance, leaning on the threshold with the medicine basket on her back. He walked over, she couldn't hold back, and she burst into tears. She lost a lot of weight, with a small face that was originally the size of a slap, and her chin was so thin that she seemed to be able to poke people.
"Master Situ, my father is gone." Mingyue looked at him crying, "I have no father, and I will be alone from now on."
Situ Jin was stupid. After hesitating for a long time, he carefully comforted him: "It doesn't matter, I am also one person. Together, we are two people."
She wiped her tears with the back of her hands, cried and cried, and burst out laughing.
In fact, he really wanted to say that if she wanted to, it would be three, four, or five in the future.
At the beginning of this year, Mingyue finally had a period of filial piety. Situ Jin has been preparing for a long time. He has no relatives, so he can only arrange the marriage by himself. The most important thing is the dowry, Mingyue is the best girl he has ever met, and he must give her the best he can give.
The winter sun is warm, the snow on the ground is glowing with lingering light, a pear tree blossoms at the entrance of the alley, and the white petals fly off, flying several feet away, landing on the snow, and it is impossible to tell whether it is a flower or a snow. Situ Jin was very happy, and his usually expressionless face was filled with joy for the first time in the world. Several people who passed by him couldn't help but look back.
Turning around the alley, I saw the matchmaker spinning around the door, looking anxious and anxious.
"Oh, Lord Situ, you've come!" The matchmaker raised her eyes to see Situ Jin, and hurriedly greeted him with a bitter face, "Ms. Mingyue was kidnapped by the eldest son of the Dali Temple Palace, you must think of a way!"
As if a Jiao Lei hit the top of the head, his scalp suddenly slumped, and there were still golden flowers falling all over his eyes. Situ Jin steadied himself against the wall and asked, "When did it happen?"
"It's noon today, it's been almost an hour now!"
Situ Jin didn't say anything, pursed his lips and returned home, taking a knife on the altar.
It was the knife he got when he was a blacksmith apprentice in Shuobei. The unique slender blade of the Shuobei knife was slightly curved, like a crescent moon. The matchmaker followed closely behind him, watching him draw out the knife, and she was shocked: "What are you doing? Are you fighting with him!? No way! They are too many and you will be arrested by the government!"
"There is no other way, it will be too late if you don't go."
He didn't dare to say, maybe it was too late.
With a sullen face, carrying a knife and full of suffocation, he walked to the official residence of Dali Siqing. The matchmaker sighed and stomped her feet anxiously, looking at Situ Jin Shafa's back, but didn't follow.
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Shen Wenxing helped Shen Jue into the carriage, waved the whisk and rushed back, shouting in a shrill voice, "Slow down!"
Dali Siqing hurriedly stepped forward and said, "I don't know what other orders the factory master has?"
"The governor said that this woman has soiled his boots, which is very disgusting. He must take them back to the East Factory, and he will not be allowed to come out without washing the boots."
"This..." The eldest son smiled, "It's better for the villain to send a pair of factory masters. Xingyun Pavilion's goods are the most comfortable to wear!"
Shen Wenxing gave him a sideways glance, anger came out of his nose, and sneered: "The Governor still lacks a pair of your shoes? Why, this woman offended the Governor, you still want to hide it?"
"Don't dare!" Dali Siqing glared at the eldest son, pointed at the servant and scolded, "Don't let her go!"
The servants looked at each other in dismay, and let go of their hands in panic, Mingyue kicked them away, and ran behind Shen Wenxing. Mingyue's light-white hands were all stained with blood, and her apricot eyes were filled with tears, which were about to drip.
Sure enough, it's a good color, no wonder the godfather wanted to save her.
During the years when Shen Jue was in power, many Yingying and Yanyan were presented by the people below. But Shen Jue didn't like a single one, and they all refused to go back. Later, everyone figured out that it was an eunuch with a missing piece in the crotch of his pants. Isn't it poking people's hearts to put these things in front of people? So it died down.
Shen Wenxing originally thought that Shen Jue was not good at this, but now it seems that he just didn't meet the right person. Smiling soothingly at her, she led her to the side of the carriage, and Mingyue wiped her face and said, "Thank you for your help."
There was no movement in the carriage, only a cloak was thrown.
Shen Wenxing picked up the cloak and muttered in his heart that the governor was awkward at home, and it was as if others were forcing him to save a girl. He handed the cloak to Mingyue and said, "There are no women's clothes in the carriage, so the grievance girl will use the cloak to deal with it first."
With tears in her eyes, Mingyue said, "Thank you, Mr. Chang, Mr. Chang, he is really a good man!"
Shen Wenxing said with a smile, "It's just fine for the girl to keep it in her heart, and she will serve the Governor properly when she returns to the mansion."
Mingyue froze for a moment, "What... what do you mean?"
"What's the point of it, how could our lord save people in vain?"
As soon as the voice fell, a shoe was thrown out of the car window and hit Shen Wenxing's forehead. Shen Wenxing raised his head in fright and met Shen Jue's gloomy eyes.
"You have a mouth in your name, I should have picked it."
"Godfather, spare your life!" Shen Wenxing covered his mouth.
Mingyue and Shen Wenxing walked beside the carriage, and there were people coming and going on Andingmen Street, Mingyue wrapped her cloak tightly to cover herself tightly. Her hair was messy, her clothes were dirty, and she was really embarrassed. Walking to Haizi Bridge, a man with a suffocating spirit walked towards him, Mingyue's heart jumped fiercely, and shouted: "Lord Situ!"
Situ Jin was stunned for a moment, looked up, and the girl he was thinking about, wrapped in a cape, ran towards him. There was an unremarkable plain car parked behind her, and the first eunuch-like person was smooth-faced, with a natural smile.
"In the car is the Admiral of Dongchang, and he saved me." Mingyue whispered.
Situ Jin stepped forward and bowed, "Thank you for your help, the humble Situ Jin. If there is something useful for the factory, just give me orders, and the humble officer must die."
The door curtain was lifted in sight, and Situ Jin heard a cool voice.
"Situ Jin, Xuanhe's champion in martial arts in the 18th year, I heard that you opened your bow from left to right, pierced through Yang at a hundred paces, and received the emperor's golden eagle bow to serve as the right guard of Yulin Guard. It's a pity that three years later, because of Qiye Jialan's assassination Concubine Xian, you left your post without permission and were demoted for dereliction of duty, and went to the Fifth Army Camp in the suburbs of Beijing. But you shot your Highness's mount, causing His Highness to fall from the horse and lame. If you say that you are unlucky, your luck is really good. You were exiled for three years, returned to court when you were pardoned, and the official resumed your post. However, after six years of officialdom, you are still a little colonel with no name."
Situ Jin lowered his head and remained silent.
"Head up."
Situ Jin raised his head and saw a familiar face on his white horse. A few years ago, he was a little eunuch between a teenager and a young man. Now he is sitting on the carriage, and he is a young man of Zhilan Yushu.
"Our family owes you a life." Shen Jue said, "There is still one person missing from a hundred households in the East Factory. If you are interested, come to the East Factory tomorrow to respond."