Xie Yilu sat awkwardly in the corner, and Qu Feng kept picking up food for him beside him: "Eat more, and leave after eating."
Xie Yilu was very embarrassed: "Your father's banquet, I will come to eat and drink..."
"It's not his food." When mentioning his father, Qu Feng didn't show much respect. "It's all the money from the ministry." .”
What he said was that there is only salted fish and pickled vegetables at home, and when they come out, there are big fish and big meat. Xie Yilu is so arrogant, and he is eating in secret. It was carefully prepared. Seeing the nodding and bowing appearance, it was obvious that the person who arrived with him was a big shot.
Xie Yilu didn't take it seriously, the people at the nearby tables put down their chopsticks and stood up in unison, then he looked towards the door, first he saw a corner of the purple gold scatter, then a jade belt inlaid with gold and embroidered lion patterns, this man Xie Yilu didn't walk very smoothly, but with that gait, Xie Yilu immediately recognized that it was Liao Jixiang.
There were so many tables, so many people in similar clothes, but Liao Jixiang saw him at a glance, and they looked at each other in just a short time, and they staggered their eyes tacitly.
Qu Shangshu accompanied Liao Jixiang with a smile, and invited Liao Jixiang to the seat of honor: "Duke Gong loves you, the villain is lucky, and should have knelt down to greet him, but the old man can't bend his legs, so I invite Du Gong Haihan!"
Xie Yilu was surprised at his flattery, a second-rank official who kept claiming that he was a "villain", which was very different from the majestic look he had when he saw him last time.
Qu Feng obviously didn't expect that his father invited Liao Jixiang, he lowered his head and couldn't lift it up, Xie Yilu chewed two mouthfuls of vegetables without taste, and pushed his arm: "I'm almost done, let's go first."
Qu Feng immediately put down his chopsticks: "I'll be with you."
Qu Shangshu saw the two of them as soon as he sat down. He saw Qu Feng first, and then Xie Yilu. When he saw him, his scalp tensed up, and he hurried to observe Liao Jixiang's expression.
Liao Jixiang couldn't see any displeasure, he was always like this, cold, not as friendly as Zheng Mi, Qu Shangshu beckoned behind him, someone came over immediately, he explained a few words, let Xie Yilu get away.
The man slid to the corner, leaned over and whispered to Xie Yilu, they were going to leave, and got up happily, Liao Jixiang saw it in front of him, it seemed like his own person was being bullied, and also like his own baby His things were underestimated by others, he slapped his palm on the table, and the table fell silent.
Qu Shangshu was so frightened that he held the cup and didn't dare to move it. Zhang Cai came with Liao Jixiang today. He walked out, held a knife and walked around all the people. He saw Xie Yilu and was about to speak when Liao Jixiang said tenderly behind him. One sentence: "Since you are here, don't leave."
A subtle and friendly word, but everyone present took it as a threat. Those pity and kind eyes pierced Xie Yilu's body like a needle. To his surprise, he didn't feel any pain at all. As long as Liao Jixiang The sentence, "Since you are here, don't leave", it seems that as long as there is this sentence, it is enough for him.
The sound of clinking glasses resounded again, and Qu Shangshu was the one who was most afraid of being left alone. He held the cup eagerly, and toasted ten times more enthusiastically than before: "Duke Gong, the villain toasts you!"
Liao Jixiang was different from before, his face was still cold, but now it seemed to be cold to the bone, and he didn't even want to take a wine glass.
Qu Shangshu's old face was so stiff that it turned blue, he couldn't hold his breath anymore, and said eagerly: "Duke, the villain is sincere and sincere, this time Yongshe is making trouble among the officials, the villain must..."
Liao Jixiang really didn't give him any face, he didn't let him finish his sentence, he stood up and left the table.
Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, only Xie Yilu dropped his chopsticks and ran out, he didn't know what to do with him, surrounded by so many people, he might not even be able to see Liao Jixiang's face, but he was so stupid, Just can't help it.
Qu Feng didn't know what he was thinking, so he chased him away, but was stopped by Qu Shangshu at the door: "Idiot, stop!"
He clenched his fist and let go, but he didn't chase after him, watching Xie Yilu walk away.
Liao Jixiang was walking in a sedan chair, Xie Yilu didn't dare to follow blatantly, and ran to the other side of the road, pretending to be on the same road, parallel to the ranks of the Weaving Bureau.
This street is along the Qinhuai River, and there are river houses on both sides. Red candles are held on the terrace of the river house, and the bead curtains can be seen at a glance. After the bath, all the young and old girls sat on the water tower, and the river breeze was blowing, and suddenly they were all fragrant with jasmine. Amid such ecstasy and beauty, Xie Yilu is guided by merchants carrying lanterns (7), and looks towards Liao Jixiang as he walks.
Liao Jixiang pushed aside the sedan chair and was also looking at him. The sedan chair was shaking and his heart was trembling slightly.
The girl's giggling laughter came from the river bank, listen carefully, there is also the slight sound of cracking melon seeds, they must be holding on to the round fan, slowly tilting their temples, joking with meat and vegetables, it really makes the bones of men crisp, Xie Yilu felt that his bones were crisp, not because of the woman, but because of this early summer night, because of some inexplicable feelings.
He walked in a trance, and walked to the next shop. This was a paper clothes shop. Maybe it closed early, and the owner had already fallen asleep. Now he got up with his shirt on, and dimly lit the lantern. Xie Yilu was in a hurry, afraid that he might not be able to keep up with Liao Jixiang's sedan chair, the way he scratched his head was really funny.
"Stay here." Liao Jixiang ordered from the side of the road, he was also afraid that he would not be able to keep up with him.
The sedan chair stopped immediately, no one knew why their duke stopped, and who he was waiting for, anyway, who wouldn't want to stay longer on such a quiet night.
Zhang Cai circled the sedan chair, and through the small gap pushed away by the sedan chair, he saw Liao Jixiang's eyes, such gentle, watery eyes: "Grandpa," he asked inadvertently, "What are you looking at? "
Maybe it was because the night was so beautiful, or maybe Liao Jixiang was too tired to play the role of that lofty Da Dang again, quietly, he said, "That person on the opposite side."
"What's so good about him," Zhang Cai muttered, "Don't look at it."
"Why?" Listening to the voice, there seemed to be a lazy smile.
"He died once, Lord Yan confiscated him, he just didn't deserve to die."
Liao Jixiang was stunned for a moment, and soon realized that the child had misunderstood him, and he laughed lightly, like a big brother teasing his younger brother: "I think I want to kill him again?"
"Why don't you see him," Zhang Cai said hesitantly, with his head down, "Grandpa, why don't we do more good deeds? Didn't you always teach us to worship Buddha and do good deeds..."
Kill him again? Liao Jixiang frowned, and his mood at this time seemed to be similar to that, a strong emotion of wanting to do something to him, or... He boldly speculated, what would he like to do with him
Without allowing him to think about it, the lanterns in the paper clothing store were lit, plain white, without a single word, Xie Yilu walked up again, Liao Jixiang stamped his feet immediately, and ordered: "Let's go!"
This night, Xie Yilu couldn't restrain himself, he wrote a letter overnight and sent it to Shi Deng, and he would meet Liao Jixiang once in Xiaolaoquan in three days, but he couldn't bear it in panic. Most of the letters are still trivial gossip, but for some reason, there are more sentimental meanings between the lines, for example: the year is full of cold and long-lasting, Feng Bo Yu Shi Ling lures.
Although the cloud is full of emotions, can the king of chaos be rectified
The word "chaos" and the word "whole" don't scare people, but if it's so out of the ordinary, Liao Jixiang actually wrote back. Using pine smoke and small ink, he wrote: Xia Yue has forgotten the scorching heat, and loves a cup of wine and a chess game .
Why should the wind and rain come together, disrupting a few clumps of fresh green.
Xie Yilu messed up, and he messed up too. Who messed up who? It's hard to tell the difference. Under the full moon, Xie Yilu was standing next to Lingfu Temple and beside the white stone lamp, holding the piece of sandalwood-scented rice paper. His heart was beating hard. Qu Feng had an appointment, so he hastily put the letter in his bosom and hurried to Xiaoqicang in the south of the city.
Qu Feng was waiting for him in Xiaoqicang. Three hundred steps to the south was the West Garden, where the opera of Yongshe was tonight.
The two met, talked and walked towards the West Garden, walked to the new bridge, saw a group of people at the head of the bridge with willow branches, the leader was Tu Yao, not wearing a flying fish suit, but a flower hood A, they surrounded a eunuch who was alone, and that thin and thin figure was Jintang.
"Get out of the way!" Jintang was alone, but he did not lose his momentum.
Probably because he was not wearing official uniform, Tu Yao sat on the railing of the bridge chicly, letting his people tease Jintang like a cat. To them, he was indeed a cat, one with two legs, more noble It's just a cat.
"Tu Qianhu," Jintang understood the truth that little ghosts are difficult to evade, and pointed directly at Tu Yao, "The 'play' of Yongshe is about to start, but you are here to bite me."
"Bite", he didn't scold anyone, but the meaning was reached, Tu Yao chuckled: "If the Yong Society wants to do it, your Weaving Bureau will do the same."
"Don't mess with me," Jin Tang laughed with him, "What am I, you go to our governor," he raised his charming eyebrows, "Why, don't you dare?"
Tu Yao was arrogant and conceited. Hearing this, his face immediately changed color, and he jumped off the bridge railing: "Don't think that I, Tu, is soft!"
The relationship between Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang is not good, but it can't be so bad. It's all caused by the people from the bottom, which spoiled it. Xie Yilu thought, he has to take care of this matter. Liao Jixiang's people have something to do. He couldn't just stand by and watch, and was about to make a sound when Qu Feng beside him caught up first and shouted, "What are you doing!"
He has always been wise and safe, Xie Yilu stared at the back in surprise, seeing him walk in front of Tu Yao.
"Oh, Mr. Qu." Tu Yao called him "Young Master", mocking his low official rank.
Xie Yilu walked up behind Qu Feng, and found that Jintang was a little different today, as if he had drunk wine, his face was not as dull as usual, when the lantern was illuminated, he was flushed, a bit beautiful and delicious, but his body There is no alcohol smell, and the pink on the cheekbones and earlobes seems to be rouge.
He immediately thought of Liao Jixiang, thinking that if he could have such a bit of color, it would be much more pleasing to the eye.
"Aren't you scholars the most noble?" Tu Yao looked at Qu Feng: "How can you speak for a husband?"
That's right, Xie Yilu also looked at Qu Feng, seeing him with a calm expression, he put on a serious face like a son of a son, not serious, and only said one sentence: "He is your husband, isn't your master?"
How can I describe Jintang's expression at this moment, it's unbelievable, flattered, he has been ridiculed and insulted too many times, and no one has ever spoken for him, today Qu Feng said, although it was only a few words, He is content.
Tu Yao raised his hand abruptly, it was an order to arrest people, he caught a glimpse of Xie Yilu at the side from the corner of his eye—the red man in the eyes of Dugong Zheng, after thinking about it, he told his subordinates to withdraw and stand in a line Going northeast along the Xinqiao, when passing by Xie Yilu, he left a sentence: "The 'play' of Yongshe is not very good, if you want to watch the 'play', you know who to look for."
He left, Xie Yilu thought that Qu Feng would say something to Jintang, but it didn't, he didn't even look at him, he just pushed Xie Yilu with his elbow, and hurriedly said: "Let's go."
After walking a long distance, Xie Yilu looked back, Jintang was still standing on the bridge, motionless, like a dull stone statue, if it was a stone, it seemed to have a little vitality, it was pitiful.
"Hey, did he put on rouge?" Xie Yilu asked suddenly.
Qu Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he answered vaguely, "Ah? Maybe."
Xie Yilu foolishly asked again: "What rouge, where can I buy it?"
"Why?" Maybe it was embarrassment, maybe it was a guilty conscience, Qu Feng's voice sounded irritable, "You don't look good, you waste money."
"No, I don't..." Xie Yilu stuttered for a moment, stroked his fingers, and said, "I'm giving it away."
Qu Feng turned his head to look at him: "Purple stalks from Lingnan are sold at the rouge shop at the corner of Youfang Lane." At the end, he added, "Small clam shells, twenty-five taels of silver each."
The price is eye-popping, Xie Yilu was still amazed at the figure when he entered the West Garden and sat down among the people in the Yongshe, the surrounding silk and bamboo orchestras were noisy, and the little actors sang on the stage the story of foolish men complaining about women, A few high-ranking old guys sat together and smoked something called "tobacco leaves". They were from Guangzhou, and I heard it was very expensive.
Many of them were from the Ministry of War. Xie Yilu saw Ye Langzhong with a heavily made-up Xiaodan in his arms, drinking and punching with a group of people from the Ministry of Finance.
This is the so-called Qingliu, Xie Yilu complained to Qu Feng: "They are like this, what is the difference from eunuchs?"
"It's all the same," Qu Feng said hello to a few friends he was acquainted with, and sat down to pour a cup of tea, "Yongshe and Eunuch all eat a bowl of rice, who is more noble than the other."
He seems to be used to it, and he doesn't care about the smog: "Nanjing is like this." He stretched his body comfortably, slowly coiling a pair of small walnuts in his left hand: "It's fine if you come, and you won't be considered a eunuch if you come."
This is a strife between the same party and against dissidents. Xie Yilu understood that it was not the eunuchs who chanted the society's rebellion, but officials who were not in their circle, and the eunuchs were just a flag they raised.
"Liao Jixiang... can't..."
As soon as he heard the name, Xie Yilu's scalp tensed immediately, he straightened his body slightly, and heard the whisper from behind: "How did his leg get broken, it was broken alive by ordinary people in Gansu!"
After the words fell into laughter, Xie Yilu clenched his hands tightly on his knees, and the group were elated, discussing like three aunts and six wives: "I can't stay in Gansu anymore, how did I get to Nanjing?"
"Not yet... support him..."
Xie Yilu couldn't hear the babbling voice so loudly, he leaned back and accidentally heard this sentence: "...when he was in the palace, he slept on the old ancestor's bed every night..."
This was an unprecedented scandal, and the voice of discussion suddenly increased: "It's fake! How could the eunuch..." When it came to the important point, it weakened, "Who did you listen to..."
"Guo Xiaozhuo heard it from Zheng Mi, can it be true?"
Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang stayed in the palace together, if the news came from him, it would undoubtedly confirm the affair.
"Not to mention, that slapped face... is a bit painful..." Xie Yilu laughed obscenely, and looked back, three old people in their forties and fifties, stroking their beards and winking, "It's just too old Big!"
The most secret and softest place in my heart seemed to be ripped apart alive and trampled on mercilessly, Xie Yilu resisted the cramping pain in his chest and closed his hot eye sockets.
They stayed all night, just to prove that they were not eunuchs. When they left each other in the morning, Qu Feng wanted to invite Xie Yilu to have breakfast, but Xie Yilu refused, and went to the corner of Youfang Lane as he said yesterday. A rouge powder shop, probably because of the beginning of summer, the purple stalk was a tael expensive, so he bought it after scraping together twenty-six taels.
Carrying the rouge, and the reply letter with the word "random" last night, he wandered aimlessly in the city, turned around, and turned to Xuanzhen Lane, where Liao Jixiang's private house was, and the biggest liquor store in the city... The workshop was across the street, and he tiptoed into the high wall, but of course he couldn't see anything.
When Liao Jixiang was a teenager, did he really spend every night in his ancestor's bed
Like a madman, he couldn't stop imagining that scene, but he couldn't think of anything. He always thought that Liao Jixiang was as ignorant as a child about those things in the room. He was so humble and trembling in the rain, he once committed himself to the arms of an old man, and he felt that his heart and lungs were about to be ached.
"Who's so mean-spirited!" Ruan Tian just came out of the house, saw Xie Yilu who was in a daze, got excited, rolled up his sleeves, grabbed him and beat him.
Coincidentally, Jintang also went out at this time, seeing Ruan Tian beating someone, she frowned and walked away, he didn't like to care about such things, but within two steps, Ruan Tian pulled Xie Yilu's front, and The text message fell out with a clam shell, and landed at Jintang's feet rolling and rolling. He just glanced at the paper and was stunned. He hurriedly turned around and shouted, "Ruan Tian, stop!"
(7) The Ming Dynasty stipulated that when officials go home after drinking at night, the merchants and shops along the street should be sent by lanterns.