In the past, these young eunuchs in the inner school went home from school just like modern office workers going to work on Monday. They had no sense of relaxation at all as they were about to have a rest. They felt equally heavy at work and at the graves.
This was because the teaching Hanlin would give them random questions and test them on poetry - which were seldom taught in class. Classes mostly focused on classics and legal systems such as "The Great Learning", "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Great Ming Code". Poetry training was just a minor subject among minor subjects, just like the physical education classes in the third year of high school. Study time was severely squeezed, so they could only figure it out on their own after school.
Lack of training naturally made them slow to react. The Hanlin scholars did not have high requirements for the poems of these young eunuchs. They only needed to pay attention to parallelism and rhyme, and did not require them to use allusions or textual research. Even so, when they were just starting to line up to write poems, many people could not do it and were beaten and ridiculed by the whole row - insults were disrespectful to the gentleman, and the Hanlin scholars claimed to be noble and did not allow swearing.
So in the past, at school time, the alley would always be filled with the sound of slapping, one after another, like firecrackers.
After being beaten, these young eunuchs went back to study hard after school. It was not uncommon to see them studying hard. They were smart people with sharp minds who had been selected through layers of screening. This experience of humiliation stimulated their fighting spirit. Studying was their life, and they tried their best to seek a future, otherwise they would have to do odd jobs in the palace all their lives.
Many young eunuchs and older eunuchs are unable to enter the inner study hall, which is a valuable learning opportunity.
Day after day, the devilish teaching training paid off. Half a year later, the young eunuchs went home from school at dusk, which was a normal and relaxing scene.
They lined up to write poems. It was now late autumn, with continuous rain and falling maple leaves. The Hanlin scholar used maple as the rhyme, starting with the first young eunuch, passing the parcel like beating a drum, when one finished, another quickly took over.
Hu Shanwei is a book lover. Today he happened to come across the scene of students lining up to write poems in the inner study hall, so he was very interested in listening.
Although the poems composed by the young eunuchs were childish and crude, and sometimes they were just made up just to make the rhyme sound, they were not artificial and occasionally contained good lines.
No one could not answer the call, and the scene of being beaten and humiliated by a group of people no longer existed.
When these young eunuchs graduate in the future, they will first go to the inner study hall to "write" and copy official documents.
Hu Shanwei was also a copyist in his own time, and he used up countless pens in a year. Seeing them, he seemed to see himself back then. When all the eunuchs finished writing poems and dispersed on the spot, Hu Shanwei came to his senses and headed towards Xi'an Gate.
A sharp-eyed eunuch recognized her back, fished out an oil-paper umbrella from somewhere, followed her, bowed to her, and held up the umbrella attentively, "I will escort Consort Hu to Xi'an Gate."
All official slaves in the palace, regardless of gender, called themselves slaves.
At dusk, the autumn rain was like thick fog, silent and far-reaching. The black gauze hat on Hu Shanwei's head was wet. She looked back and felt that the face looked familiar, but she couldn't remember the name.
The young eunuch smiled awkwardly, holding his umbrella high, "I am Wang Zhen, serving in the Eastern Palace, and was selected to work in the inner study. On that day, I was on leave in the Eastern Palace, and I accidentally passed on the wrong message, causing Lord Jie to mistakenly enter the prince's study. I was tied up and taken to the Ministry of Punishment for punishment. If it weren't for Hu Shanggong summoning me, I would have been beaten to a pulp."
Wang Zhen, when Hu Shanwei heard this name, he suddenly remembered that such a big incident happened in the East Palace that day. In order to understand the process and find out the truth, Hu Shanwei asked the Palace Administration Office to go to the Ministry of Punishment of the Twenty-Four Prisons to pick up the person - the eunuch system is the Twenty-Four Prisons, led by Zheng He, the eunuch who holds the seal of the Silijian, and serves the emperor.
The female official system consists of six bureaus and one department, led by Hu Shanwei, and serves the queen, the master of the harem. Currently, Concubine Zhang is in charge of the harem.
The two systems are independent of each other, and their overlapping functions work together.
For example, the emperor's 24 jade seals were kept by Huang Wei De, a female official in charge of the Six Bureaus and One Department. When the Silijian needed to use the seal, they would send a eunuch to Huang Wei De to ask for the seal, which was called "asking for the seal". The female official was responsible for keeping it, while the Silijian was responsible for stamping it. The two powers were separated and supervised each other.
When Wang Zhen was interrogated that day, he had been slapped in the face more than ten times, his lips were swollen, his face was covered in dirt, his face was stiff with fear, his thin body was as thin as a shrimp, and he curled up on the ground with his head in his hands, trembling.
Xie Jin fell into the trap, but he was able to save his life and was exiled to Jiaozhi, where he continued to serve as an official. How could he have known that the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate would actually deceive a small eunuch in order to set a trap for Xie Jin
In Lord Liu's eyes, the little eunuch was like an ant on the ground. He could be stepped on or killed at will. Who would care about the life or death of a little eunuch
Hu Shanwei was moved with pity for the child, who was only twelve years old, the same age as A Lei, and ordered his men to send the young eunuch back to the Ministry of Punishment and not to beat him again.
The Ministry of Punishment had to give face to Lady Hu, and everyone knew that he was being used innocently, so they did not continue to torture him and instead applied medicine to his swollen mouth.
Now the young eunuch has recovered and looks like a smart and handsome boy, very different from the day when he was frightened.
Hu Shanwei bowed his head, "It's you, you came out of the Ministry of Punishment."
Wang Zhen bowed in the direction of the East Palace, full of gratitude, "It was the Crown Prince who sent someone to get me out, and told the eunuch Sanbao to continue studying in the inner study hall, which is how I got to where I am today."
Hu Shanwei thought that the prince's move was very clever. From then on, this little eunuch was loyal to the prince even more than to the Twenty-Four Eunuchs, and he slowly won the hearts of the people.
Hu Shanwei asked casually, "What books were discussed in the inner study hall today?"
The young eunuch said respectfully, "Emperor Gaozu's 'Huang Ming Zu Xun' and 'Wen Xian Tong Kao'. 'Huang Ming Zu Xun' must be memorized, and there will be a random recitation test tomorrow morning."
This is similar to when Hu Shanwei first entered the palace.
Hu Shanwei asked, "Are you tired of studying?"
"Tired." The young eunuch continued, "Not studying is even more tiring. I am always bullied, deceived, and cheated. I swear that I will never let myself get into such a predicament again. It's all caused by ignorance."
Hu Shanwei felt deeply moved. She was forced to remarry, abused by her stepmother, and gossiped by neighbors, who laughed at her for being an old maid who couldn't get married. When she was in despair, it was the books she had read that gave her a way out. She passed the examination and became a female official, and from then on entered a new world.
When they arrived at Xi'an Gate, the Jinyiwei and the carriage were already waiting at the gate to take Hu Shanwei home.
The young eunuch was so busy holding an umbrella for Hu Shanwei that his robes were soaked. Before getting on the carriage, the young eunuch said, "Wang Zhen will repay Hu Shanggong for saving my life."
Hu Shanwei looked at the suppressed ambition in the young eunuch's eyes, just like looking at himself when he first entered the palace. The road ahead was still long, and no one knew whether he would be greeted by a coffin or an official position in the future.
When she first entered the palace, Concubine Cao was arrogant and domineering, making things difficult for her. Concubine Fan was cautious and careful, and cultivated her.
More than 30 years have passed. The two green pines next to Fan Gongzheng's tomb have grown very tall. Cao Shanggong is still living in Yangzhou, enjoying her retirement. Every time she writes to Hu Shanwei to report her safety, the strength of her pen seems to be able to pierce through the letter, as if she can live another 500 years.
Things are unpredictable. After the capital is moved, I will retire. Hu Shanwei sighed in his heart, looked back and smiled, and said: "Okay, if you become rich and powerful, don't forget me."
Hu Shanwei returned home under the escort of the Jinyiwei. Mu Chun was waiting at the dinner table, but Arei had not come back yet. Since Arei became fascinated with sailing and shipbuilding, she often did not return home until the second watch, and had dinner at the Baochuan Factory.
Mu Chun was very disappointed. When he was having dinner with Hu Shanwei, he ate his favorite ham but found it tasteless. He put down his chopsticks and sighed:
"Shanwei, am I getting old? A Lei no longer worships me and is no longer willing to play with me like before. The nautical charts and logbooks in Zheng He's room are far more attractive to me. She often takes them home to copy them, but I can't understand them at all."
Muchun was also experiencing the mid-life crisis. His wife and children all had jobs, and he was the only one at home doing nothing. The first year was fine, and he felt comfortable and happy. But in the second year, especially when A Lei went to Baochuan Factory, Muchun was "staying alone in the boudoir" and was almost becoming a "resentful father".
Hu Shanwei also put down his chopsticks and said, "Let's go to the Baochuan Factory together to pick up A Lei and take him home. I have a day off tomorrow. Where do you want to go?"
"Okay!" Mu Chun immediately revived, "Let's go hunting as a family of three. Autumn is the time when wild animals are juicy and plump in the mountains. I haven't ridden or shot for a long time, and my skills are getting rusty."
Hu Shanwei was a doting husband. She looked at her husband lovingly and said, "Okay, whatever you say."
Before leaving, Mu Chun took out a large woolen coat that he only wears in winter from his box. "The autumn rain brings a chill. Now the nights are no different from winter. It's damp and cold to the bone. Let Aledo wear some clothes."
Hu Shanwei deliberately kept a straight face, "What about me? A Lei is cold, but I am not cold?"
Mu Chun laughed and hugged his wife, "I am your big woolen coat."
The combined age of the two is almost ninety, yet they can still speak cheesy love words.
The couple went out through the back door in a low-key manner, and the carriage drove into the Baochuan Factory, where the keel of a large ship was being built. In the night of drizzling rain, the keel looked like the skeleton of an ancient dragon, with the flesh peeled off to reveal the skeletal structure, which had a sense of inviolable majesty.
This was Hu Shanwei's first time to come to the Baochuan Factory. He was very shocked. If you know, you will know that it is a ship, but if you don't know, you might misunderstand that a palace is being built here.
Mu Chun said: "I heard from A Lei that this ship is big enough to run horses and grow vegetables, just like a mansion with several entrances."
Mu Chun sighed, as if admitting defeat, but also somewhat unwillingly, "Alei has grown up, and those little toys from the past can no longer attract her. She has reached the age where she wants to achieve something. I think I have completed my mission of playing with her, and it's time to let go."
After he finished speaking, a wave of sadness came over him. Fortunately, Hu Shanwei held his hand in time and comforted him, "When children grow up, they all have to fly out of the nest and build their own nests, branch by branch. In the end, it is the old couple who accompany each other until the last moment of their lives."
Mu Chun held Hu Shanwei's hand and suppressed her sadness. "I want to let go before A Lei despises me. I don't want to be that annoying parent who only knows how to control his children and only cares about his own pleasure."
Mu Chun said a little aggrievedly: "I will never wait for A Lei to come back to eat together again, humph!"
Even at this age, Mu Chun still had a stubborn temper. Only Hu Shanwei could tolerate him and coax him. "Okay, okay, I won't wait for her either. We'll eat together. If she wants to go home for dinner, she can ask the kitchen to start cooking separately."
Mu Chun raised his hand to show his agreement. After thinking for a while, he added, "Four dishes and one soup must be guaranteed. A Lei is still growing."
After all, I can't bear to leave my daughter.
Hu Shanwei knew Mu Chun's little thoughts but did not expose them. The couple walked hand in hand towards the study where A Lei worked. The lights were on inside, indicating that he was probably working hard.
When they were almost at the door, Mu Chun shushed Hu Shanwei, "Let's keep our voices down and surprise her."
Only Mu Chun, at her age, could do such a shameless thing. However, as long as it did not involve the bottom line, Hu Shanwei was willing to pamper her husband, "Okay."
The old couple tiptoed to the door like thieves. The autumn wind and rain were freezing cold. The doors and windows were all closed, and the wooden house was soundproof, so they could clearly hear the sounds from inside.
"No, no, I say no." It was Are's voice.
"How can this be enough? You have dinner and supper together. Here, try to add more food." It was the hoarse voice of a man in the voice change period.
Mu Chun's expression changed immediately. He clenched his fists and pushed his strong body inside. The door opened. "Who is it?"
Hearing the noise at the door, the man inside quickly pulled out a ring-handled sword and protected A Lei behind him, "Who—Uncle Mu?"
It was Zhu Zhanhe, the Prince of Han.
"Your Highness?" Mu Chun asked, "Why is Your Highness here?"
"Send dinner and supper to Sister A Lei. The food at the Baochuan Factory is not tasty." Zhu Zhanhe put away his knife, chuckled, and moved out two chairs in a very familiar manner, "Uncle Mu, Lady Hu, please sit down. There are also red bean dumplings here. Would you like a bowl to warm yourself up?"
Mu Chun was stunned: "What's wrong with this kid? He acts like a host entertaining guests. This is my daughter's territory."
A Lei filled a bowl of red bean dumplings and handed it to Mu Chun, then filled half a bowl and handed it to Hu Shanwei - she knew Hu Shanwei was afraid of getting fat and didn't dare to eat more.
Hu Shanwei asked Zhu Zhanhe, "It's so late, why hasn't Your Highness returned to the Han Palace yet?"
Zhu Zhanhe said, "My father is lecturing me again. I am tired of listening, so I ran away. I will find a place where my father can't find me to spend the night. When the palace gates open tomorrow, I will hide in the palace. My father can't pull me out of the palace."
Emperor Yongle led the army in person, and without his grandfather's protection, Zhu Zhanhe's life became obviously difficult.
Mu Chun was not as gentle and soft-spoken as Hu Shanwei, and said coldly: "So His Highness is hiding here with A Lei?"
You still have the nerve to say you can just stay here for one night!
Did Arei agree
Did I agree
This bastard! He deserves to be beaten and scolded by the King of Han. Good beating! It would be better if he could not leave the King of Han's palace.
Zhu Zhanhe shook his head and pointed at the drawings all over the room. "This place is too messy. How can we sleep here? I'll sleep in Eunuch Zheng He's room later."
Oh, you're still complaining. The girl-protecting maniac Mu Chun came online and said, "Why is it so chaotic here? I can clearly see that there is order in the chaos, and it's very good."
These words made Arei feel embarrassed, and he obediently emptied the pile of waste paper baskets in the house.
A Lei pointed at the counting sticks, compasses, rulers and other items on the table and said, "Sister and brother-in-law, I have to calculate a few numbers tonight. Tomorrow I will give them to the carpenter to make wooden objects according to the size to reinforce the keel. There is a bed here. I will sleep in the Baochuan Factory tonight and will not go back. I was just about to send someone home to deliver a message, and you just happened to come to see me."
Hu Shanwei was about to speak when Mu Chun held her hand and said, "You like to do this, and we all support it. Since time is so tight and the work is due tomorrow, just sleep here to avoid running back and forth."
"Your sister will have a day off tomorrow, so the two of us will stay here with you. We can go hunting together in the mountains tomorrow."
A Lei looked embarrassed, "But... I only have one bed here."
Mu Chun said, "You and your sister can sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."
Mu Chun glanced at Zhu Zhanhe from the corner of his eye and said, "I'll protect you."
The author has something to say: Hahaha, all of you who want to see it are online today.
In addition, Zhou's pre-collected work "Mu Mansion Storm" has released the second version of the text and cover, everyone go collect it and touch it, hurry up and obey the order~
"Mu Mansion Storm" copywriter
Emperor Zhengde! Emperor Zhengde! He's dead! Dead!
Stealing! Female doctor Bai Shu! She stole the emperor's fresh corpse and ran away! She ran away!
Rabies! Rabies! He is afraid of light and chews his face. He bites people. Not, not, not a human!
Jinyiwei! Jinyiwei! Mu Chaoxi! Catch Baishu by order! Catch Baishu!
One sentence introduction: Plastic couple solves the zombie crisis in Ming Dynasty
Thank you to the little angels who cast their votes for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~
Thanks to the little angels who cast [mines]: Rongrong loves to make small stools, when will Guan Da update daily? 1;
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68 bottles of pounce; 20 bottles of He Sijia; 10 bottles of cheetah; 5 bottles of f.wm and Xiaoyou's master; 3 bottles of yuki; 2 bottles of Qingxuanzhubaizhou19; 2 bottles of Honghuang tree demon, Fanfan sleepwalking, either endure or be cruel or go away, Xixi who is chasing books, Xiaomiao Sanqian, Xiaoxiao 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!