Unknowingly, the summer heat faded quietly like that, there was still some sunshine in the daytime, but the coolness in the evening was just right, it was a good time for the sisters of each family to compete in skirts and dresses. Outside the city of Kangnan, there is a river that runs diagonally to the southeast. It is not wide, and the water is not very deep. A large area of Polygonum and reeds grows along the river.
As soon as the wind passed at night, it fell over, glowing red, like a blood-colored lake.
A seven or eight-year-old girl shuttled inside with a basket on her shoulders. The reeds were taller than her head, and she picked the red Polygonum in it while pulling it. There is a folk prescription in the village, which says that plucking the flowers of Polygonum rhizomata and boiling water to drink can cure stomach pains, and everyone knows it, big or small.
She came out to pick medicine for her sick father.
Far away, a young man in his late teens shouted hurriedly, "Xiaomei! Xiaomei! Where are you?"
She jumped up and waved: "Hey! Brother, I'm here!"
The young man took three steps and two steps at a time, and trotted over with his waist bent. Xiaomei was about to jump out to find him, but was pushed back into the flower field by her brother: "Get down!"
A series of rushing horseshoes sounded from a distance, at first it sounded like one or two travelers on their way, for a while, Xiaomei felt that even the ground vibrated, as if some huge object was crushing it from the ground When she came over, she was so scared that she plunged into her brother's arms.
She asked tremblingly, "Yes, what is it?"
The boy put his arms around her: "It's a pawn, hit us to cross the river. Hide and stay still."
The horse's hoof stepped into the river, kicking and kicking for a while, but the sound was uniform. It was not an ordinary pawn. The horse's hoof was wrapped in a layer of cloth, like a ghost soldier crossing the passage. After leaving the river, it walked quietly. up. It rang back and forth for a while before it slowly subsided. Both brothers and sisters squatted numb, stood up and cast their eyes away, and saw that a large piece of red Polygonum field by the river had been trampled down, and the black tail of the army could be glimpsed in the distance.
The boy picked up his younger sister and entered the house. His parents stood up anxiously and asked him what was going on. He bolted the wooden door from the inside, sat down and took a sip of water: "It's something from the mountains, don't go out for a while, it's going to cause trouble."
…
Generals from all over the country came and gathered in Chunan City.
In the evening, some food and wine were prepared in the small kitchen. In name, one was to clean up the dust for the supervising army and generals, and the other was to hold a swearing-in meeting. Everyone lives in peace.
But in fact, people on both sides ate absent-mindedly.
Vice General Wei opened his eyes like copper bells, and stubbornly gouged out the branch on the main seat, afraid of making a mistake, he poisoned Min Ji's cup. The little eunuchs under Lian Zhi's subordinates were also very vigilant, always ready for those rough people to throw up tables and make trouble.
There was a distance of one cubit between General Min and the company supervisor, and they exchanged cups.
Thinking of the afternoon, the two sneaked back to the prepared room to change their clothes and take a rest without their subordinates on their backs. Although they both remembered that there was still wine to drink in the evening, but with people in front of them, if they didn't do anything, they couldn't hold back , just a little trouble for a while. In fact, he didn't do anything too outrageous. Firstly, Lianzhi was thin-skinned, and his eyes and cheeks would blush when touched, and secondly, Min Xuefei still had a bit of a gentleman's character, so he really couldn't do things like publicity.
Therefore, he just dragged the person onto his body, kissed and hugged him, and kissed her nose and eyes. Min Xuefei was not as obedient as Ji Hong, and had tasted two bastard books with the children of those aristocratic families in the capital. Although he had no actual combat, he did not understand everything. The scent of sandalwood was very strong, and I couldn't hold back for a while, and reached in.
Just rubbing the unimportant place, which made people's eyes wet, and looked at him tremblingly, not daring to speak.
Min Xuefei thought he was unwilling to take out his hand, but he was in a hurry, put his arms around Min Xuefei's neck, grabbed his wrist and pressed it back, still didn't speak, lay on Min Xuefei's shoulder and hummed softly.
Seeing that his golden mouth was tightly closed, and he was unwilling to open his mouth, Min Xuefei pretended to sigh: "If you don't speak, then it's uncomfortable, and I offended you."
Lian Zhi raised his head and blinked his eyes urgently. After a lot of mental struggle, he said like a mosquito: "It's comfortable, it's comfortable..." He carefully looked at the man in front of him, afraid that he would get angry, and rubbed his cheek. Ear edge, whispered: "Xuefei..."
In fact, as an eunuch, he doesn't know what it means to be comfortable, but as long as Min Xuefei gets close to him, touching here and rubbing there, he feels comfortable.
He is so soft, how could Min Xuefei pretend to be, and couldn't help laughing: "Is this comfortable? You are so delicate."
…
When he came back to his senses, the chef served purple magnolia cake. He said it was the pastry recipe of the young master at home. He kneaded the dough with eggs, purple taro, sugar and glutinous rice, and kneaded it into the shape of a budding purple magnolia. The "buds" are filled with the milk jelly made earlier, and the "flower cores" are sprinkled with chopped rose petals. When eating, use a spoon to dig out the custard jelly inside, and then eat the glutinous rice skin outside. It is both fragrant and sweet.
"This one is really pretty, young supervisor, try it out." Min Xuefei took one and handed it to Lianzhi's case. Lianzhi took off his official uniform and put on his embroidered blouse, looking a little younger, but also pretty. After a few minutes, he was referring to the purple magnolia cake, but he was talking about the person in front of him, and when he left, he secretly squeezed him under the sleeve, "I heard that this magnolia also has double flowers. It's late, the flowers should fall."
The corners of Lian Zhi's eyes were slightly red, knowing that he was making fun of himself with that cute word, but he couldn't say anything in front of everyone, so he could only return to him with a glass of wine: "General Min has a taste of this wine, it has a special flavor .”
He was only worried that Min Xuefei's small actions would not be seen by others, but he didn't notice that his sleeve was swept into the wine cup. Min Xuefei didn't remind him, and naturally accepted Lianzhi's toast, and gently put it to his mouth to drink: "It's really good, with a light sandalwood aroma."
The people below all gritted their teeth, Wei He and others lowered their heads and whispered hatred, what a dirty reputation that eunuch had, he had used some means in Beijing before, and almost ruined the reputation of Young Master Min's family! Today, this guy even gave a general to drink the dirty wine that soaked the sleeves of his clothes. He used such low methods to humiliate people, which shows how arrogant this eunuch is!
It's a pity that my master is forced by the overall situation, so he can only drink it with restraint. If it weren't for the uselessness of their adjutants, they never found a chance to put the eunuch to death along the way, otherwise how could he have entered Chu Nan City alive!
And the group of little eunuchs who came to serve Lianzhi were even more sensitive, they all had seven or eight tricks in their hearts, and Dang even felt that Mr. Min was scheming. Look at what he said, who doesn't know that the name of Lian Shaojian is derived from the good intention of "Bingdi Lianzhi", but he said "the flowers should fall", could it be an irony that even the young prison should "fall"
In a room, on the surface, they are friendly and friendly, but they are competing with each other in secret, as if they have begun to fight for power silently. Only the two on the main seat are really eating, but they also know every move of the people below, who is the real protector and who is fishing in troubled waters, they can see clearly.
Min Xuefei raised his glass to invite Lianzhi to have a drink together, and actually asked in a low voice in his sleeve: "Why don't you see Fusheng come with you?" Anyway, there is still someone to help Lianzhi.
Lian Zhi whispered: "There must be eyes and ears in the palace. If I bring all the capable people, wouldn't the palace be blind and deaf?"
That's true.
Min Xuefei smiled: "Young Prison Lian, please."
Lian Zhi also said, "General Min please."
Lian Zhi looked around and mentioned casually, "Why don't you see Master Ji?"
Finally got down to business! Wei He and the others immediately raised their ears and listened cautiously. The rumors of the scourge in the capital have long been in chaos, and people in the palace are even more panic-stricken. After leaving the Leng Palace, there were several layers of guards outside Duke Li's mansion, and he said that there was an order to put the eldest son of the Ji family in prison to appease the wrath of heaven.
Looking at it this way, I'm afraid the will is on Lian Zhi! I'm afraid it will be unfair tonight!
Min Xuefei's face did not change, and the curvature of his mouth did not change: "Shuluan's body has always been weak, and he felt that he had not done his job of fighting the epidemic well. For several days, he just closed the door in his room and thought about his mistakes. If Lian Shaojian wants to see him, he will wake up tomorrow. Then pass it on to him."
"Just asking." Lian Zhi had just eaten a purple magnolia cake, and now he reached out to get it again. He didn't know what to think of, frowned slightly, put it down again, and went to serve the wine, "General Min again. please."
Min Xuefei: "Even the young prison is invited."
The adjutants below saw that Mr. Min was smiling so hypocritically, and the eunuch just put the wine cup in front of his mouth before putting it down. In fact, he didn't eat it. I felt even more resentful in my heart, I just felt that it would be more difficult to make a move in the future, and I couldn't help but secretly cursed at the eunuch for not choking to death!
In this way, as soon as you invite me, when the wine hall is gone, the two adults are only slightly drunk, but the people below are drunk, and a group of warriors are drunk, if not for the soldiers below. Rushing to the front of the hall, pointing at Lian Zhi's nose and scolding.
Lian Zhi and Min Xuefei both got up indifferently, and led them back to their respective yards.
At nightfall, the gatekeepers were all sleepy, Lian Zhi dismissed all the eunuchs, and poured hot water in the room before he took off his socks, and heard the creaking sound of the rear window, and a black Painted shadows rolled in. Lian Zhi was startled, and immediately put his hand under the pillow, before he could draw out the dagger for self-defense, he was dragged over.
The visitor said with a low smile, "Don't be afraid."
Lian Zhi heard the voice, and lost all strength in his hands: "It's midnight, what are you doing here?"
"If you don't want me to come, then I will go back."
Saying that he really wanted to leave, Lian Zhi grabbed his sleeve and muttered softly, "Everyone is here."
Min Xuefei was happy now, turned around and brought in a food box from under the window, took out a few plates and placed them on the low table in front of his bed: "You didn't eat anything at night, but the food here is not to your liking? I call the kitchen I made some Xiajing dishes, and a plate of purple magnolia cake, and I’ll bring them together.” He brought the delicate flower-bone cake to Lianzhi, “See, you like this, why don’t you eat more at the banquet indivual."
Lian Zhi held the plate, looking happy in his eyes, but muttered in his mouth: "I don't like it much either."
"Then treat it as supper and eat whatever you want." Min Xuefei saw that the water in the copper basin on his bed was still steaming, and his feet were also bare, so he rolled up his sleeves and hugged his feet into the basin, splashing the water on the back of his feet .
"What are you doing!" Lian Zhi was flattered, both ashamed and felt that this was humiliating him, "How can you do these things with your status, get up quickly."
Min Xuefei grabbed the back of his instep and held it in his hand: "What status do I have, a son of a noble family like Ji Shuluan also has to serve the little genius doctor to wash his face and sleep."
Lian Zhi curled up his toes subconsciously, "That's different..." He murmured, "I'm an eunuch."
Min Xuefei disagreed: "I'm just a eunuch."
"...Xuefei!" Lian Zhi hurriedly covered his mouth, looked around, "The walls have ears."
Min Xuefei looked up at him, stretched out her tongue to lick the palm of his hand, screamed Lianzhi in shock, and kicked the man's heart with a flick of her ankle. Min Xuefei took advantage of the situation to hold her, wrapped in the dripping water he kicked in, bent her knees and got on the couch, forcing him into a corner until there was really no way out, so she slowly teased his thin lips.
The young eunuch's ears were red from being teased by him, and he grabbed the skirt of his chest with both hands, and opened his mouth that was tightly squeezed like a clamshell.
He didn't care about anything, just felt satisfied with this, and almost forgot about the business in a daze.
Lian Zhi pushed him away, and asked in a low voice, "The intention of going to prison is on me, when will I read it?"
Min Xuefei said: "After tomorrow, the little genius doctor likes those festivals, let them make trouble again."
Lian Zhi pinched the days and suddenly realized: "It's time to pass tomorrow." He looked down and saw that his clothes were open, and he became a little sober all of a sudden, and abruptly pulled a few times from under Min Xuefei's arm, and got up, " You go too, it won't be good for the younger ones to come in and see you later."
Just as I was talking, a young lady outside listened and heard some movement inside, knocked on the door and asked, "Young Prison, what's the matter with you, but what went wrong? There is something strange in this courtyard, the young prisoner should be more careful."
"No, it's just a mouse scurrying over, it's all right now. You all go back and rest, you don't need to stay here to serve." Lian Zhi hid Min Xuefei under the quilt, and after a long time listening to the silence outside, Only then did he pick the person out, "Go quickly, and the food box will be taken away."
Where did Min Xuefei come from, and was stuffed back by Lian Zhi, and when he reluctantly returned to his yard with an empty food box, he suddenly stopped and said depressedly: "Why do I look like I'm cheating on you?" …”
—
At dawn, there were more tourists in Chunan City, and the children also came out to make trouble. Yu Jinnian leaned on the bed shapelessly, and heard someone selling melons outside the back window. Carve auspicious flowers of various colors and sell them, which are flower melons on the seventh day of July, which are very popular among girls and children.
Then he suddenly remembered that today is already the seventh day of the lunar new year.
Because of the rumors during this period, Chunan has gone through a catastrophe again, and everything is waiting to be done. This year's July 7th is much deserted. Usually, the Qiqiao Market will open on the first day of the new year. Today, when the sun rises, I saw someone pushing the stall Let's go shop. If it weren't for the diligent voices of the dan lang who walked around the streets, Yu Jinnian might not be able to think of this until late at night.
Lian Zhi and a group of people were discussing important military affairs at the Yamen, and Ji Hong was also called. He couldn't disturb him, so he got out of bed, strolled to the medical center to check on Jing Zhong's injuries, worked for a while, and then Then I went back to the kitchen and made some Xiaoyaner and candied fruit. It's a pity that Sui Sui Qinghuan and the others are not around this year. This Qiqiao Festival is originally a favorite of girls. They are not here, so much fun is lost.
Molasses oil noodles, milk and sesame seeds, knead into balls, put them on the side of the stove to let the dough rise slightly under the temperature, press out the auspicious shapes of tuanhua, koi, golden lotus, concentric water chestnuts, etc. in the scorpion, and then deep-fry in the oil pan until golden brown. All kinds of fruits are placed on the plate, which is called Xiaoyaner or Qiaobobo.
Or knead the sugar oil dough, knead it into a round dumpling size, roll it out in the syrup boiled in hot oil, and take a string of bamboo sticks, like candied haws, and it has become the favorite of children. candied fruit.
He made a lot of clever festive fruits and told the soldiers to share them for fun. The last lively festival before dispatching troops must be passed happily.
A few people in the yamen spoke up, and people from Min Xuefei's faction looked unlucky, but the eunuchs brought by Lian Zhi were refreshed. As soon as they came out, they saw Yu Jinnian and a group of low-ranking adjutants squatting at the door eating fruit.
They were arguing in the room, their faces were red, these people were lucky, and the young man used a few fruits to win them over without seeing them. If this was on the battlefield, they would have been poisoned to death many times! Min Xuefei was so angry that she had nowhere to vent her anger, but she still had a smile on her face: "You're so tired after the big battle, why don't you go back to practice?"
"Lian—" Yu Jinnian stood up, with a food basket full of smiles hanging on his elbow, and when he saw Lian Zhi wearing a noble and purple official uniform, he quickly changed his mouth, took out a bunch of candied fruit and said with a smile, "Mr. Try it? Xiao Yan'er and sugar oil fruit, sweet."
The eunuchs snorted, glanced at the things in Yu Jinnian's basket, and said with a sneer, "Bring any shabby things to our young eunuch." He couldn't say anything, so he flicked his sleeves and led the person away.
Yu Jinnian ignored them, looked at the few people he could see, but Ji Hong was alone: "Where is Ah Hong?"
Min Xuefei said: "I'm sorry, little genius doctor. I was thinking about today, but someone suddenly made trouble..." He turned sideways, letting out a half-open door behind him, and a little eunuch was waiting at the door with his head bowed Beside, seeing Yu Jinnian looking over, his head lowered even lower.
In the slightly dim room, the man was tall and tall, holding a bright yellow thin will in his hand, and smiled back at him. The wind in early autumn gently plucked his snow-white shirt, lifted the corners of the clothes, revealing a black and blue chain between the ankles, when the wind stopped, the ferocious chain disappeared again.
Yu Jinnian's heart skipped a beat, he ran in and grabbed the hem of his clothes to have a look, knelt down to feel it, and asked distressedly, "Is it heavy?"
Ji Hong: "Not sinking."
"What's in your hand?" He lifted Ji Hong's sleeve to look.
"No." Ji Hong moved his intact wrist at him, and said, "It's for my dignity."
Min Xuefei came over and said: "You don't have to go to the big prison, you can just send someone to guard it. It's a pity that this is a begging festival, and you may not be able to get out in the future." He turned his head and glanced at the little eunuch who was in charge of guarding Ji Hong in front of the door, and looked down. He said to Yu Jinnian, "Don't worry too much, Lianzhi."
"My family is delicate, please take care of it." Yu Jinnian touched the silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into his hand.
"Don't dare," the little eunuch lowered his eyes to accept the money, and said calmly, "Little Wu Ji, I have seen the little genius doctor."
Yu Jinnian turned around and supported Ji Hong to walk back slowly. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't be able to see that he was wearing shackles from the outside, but the chain fell to the ground and made a rattling sound, which was a bit ear-piercing. The adjutants outside the door didn't know that it was Ji Hong's invitation, but thought he was being framed. Seeing him like this, they couldn't eat any good things, and watched him go out silently.
The youth in the sky is fleeting, and the dream in the world is separated by the west wind.
Thinking about how lively Xin'an County was at this time last year, but now he is a prisoner of others. Fortunately, Wu Ji, who is in charge of guarding the prison, is open-minded and did not make things difficult for them. The teenagers who came in and out turned a blind eye.
Since he couldn't go out, Yu Jinnian brought back all the delicacies and fun outside. In the room, he set up a red clay stove, sliced thin meat and roasted it, and cooked red bean yuanzi, which was fried before. Xiao Yan'er warmed a pot of sake again, and the two cuddled up at the table and talked.
Yu Jinnian fed him the sliced meat dipped in sauce, as if his hands were also shackled.
Ji Hong said helplessly: "If you know, I'm in prison; if you don't know, you think I'm in confinement."
"If you want to have a baby, you have to have that ability." Yu Jinnian bent down and touched the heavy lock on his ankle. It was a heavy piece of old iron, and the lock was a little rusty. I don't know how many years it was used. How many people said, "Whether it is heavy or not, put it on my feet. I will find an old cloth to wrap it around for you, so that the skin will not be worn out."
A flying red-footed pigeon broke into the yard, landed on the old locust tree in the yard, and cooed. Hearing the sound, Duan Ming jumped up the tree to catch the pigeon, took the letter from the pigeon's foot, burned it immediately after a glance.
Then he walked quickly to the door, saw the little eunuch guarding the door, gave him some money and silver, but didn't go in, stood on the porch facing the half-open window, and said cryptically: "My lord, the things in the mountains come out." gone."
"It's time." Ji Hong nodded, "I'll also inform Xuefei and the others."
Duan Ming walked quickly.
After recovering, Ji Hong looked at the dishes on this table, and Yu Jinnian pulled out the sleeve pockets of various objects like a bottomless pit, and couldn't help but be speechless for a while: "...It's really hard work for you."
Yu Jinnian carefully wrapped his ankles, put a thick soft cloth between the shackles and the flesh, so that the cold iron object would not hit his bones, and then said: "If you can really catch Yan Chang back, Only when I send him to Xia Jing to plead guilty, can I feel at ease."
"Sooner or later." Ji Hong said, he paused, "I will also avenge Erniang's revenge with you."
Yu Jinnian glanced at him: "Are you sure it's him? Is there evidence?"
Ji Hong: "It's not far behind. You will know when you are arrested at the first trial."
Duan Ming flew to Min Xuefei's place, but his courtyard was so tightly guarded by Wei He that not even a mouse could slip in, so he had to pass the same words to Wei He who was guarding in front of his courtyard, and let Wei He Help pass it in.
Min Xuefei was in the couch, inside the curtain, nodded and replied: "Understood. Send an order to repair for three days, and set up camp."
Just as he was about to leave, Min Xuefei suddenly ordered: "Lian Jianjun thinks it's time to rest, so there's no need to go. There's no need to go over there to deliver water or food."
Wei He thought that he was going to start punishing the eunuch, so he also said passionately: "That's right! Let's set up that eunuch and show off his majesty! After we clean up those muddy legs under his hands, I will See what that bastard who is neither male nor female has to rely on. The emperor is far away from the sky in the south of the Yangtze River, and his ancestors can't save him. Isn't that little eunuch going to be manipulated by you, the general! When the time comes, you will be put in prison... "
Min Xuefei interrupted him: "Okay, tell the kitchen to bring over a cup of stewed milk, you go and rest too."
"Ah? Stewed milk?" Wei He wondered, "Since when did you like this kind of sweet stuff?"
Min Xuefei looked at the person under the quilt who was blushing like rouge, and said impatiently: "I told you to go, just go, so many words."
Wei He retreated in confusion, went out and ran to the kitchen to pass the breast milk, how could he know that the eunuch he scolded so much just now was lying under the quilt of his own general! There is no need to wait for the future, the famous eunuch is already following Min Ji's decision.
Min Xuefei squeezed his face: "Listen, did you say that you are going to cut off your wings and put you in a prison. Are you afraid? It will be dark in the prison and no one will be able to see it but me. The person who hides a knife in his smile and speaks a sword in his belly must torture you as much as he wants, and will not give you food or clothes, so you have to beg me."
Lian Zhi shrank softly into his arms: "There is such a good thing..."
In front of the army, Min Xuefei was amused by his foolishness.