The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua

Chapter 27

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Suizhou's residence is a small mansion. If a large family lives, it will still be a bit crowded, but if Suizhou is only living alone, it is too spacious, and adding another Tang Fan is not too much. There are one main room and three wing rooms. In addition to the one main room where Suizhou lives and one wing room for storing sundries, the other two main rooms and wing rooms are all left to Tang Fan's choice.

Note: No rent is charged.

Tang Fan didn't think about living for free, but Suizhou didn't lack his rent. Anyway, even if Tang Fan didn't come, he would still live alone in such a large house.

Since Sui Baihu said with a cold face that he would not accept the money, Master Tang did not insist, but as long as he was free, he would bring some rice, noodles, and other ingredients to the house, which was equivalent to contracting the food expenses. No comments.

Tang Fan chose a wing room as his own room. It wasn't because he was being rude and didn't dare to live in the main room, but because the room faced east, the door opened to the yard, and the view and light were good. There are flowers and plants in the lining and under the colonnade.

After finding a rest day, he moved his things over.

Li Lin didn't expect that he couldn't handle Tang Fan, and the other party found a new residence so quickly.

A-Dong's matter was also resolved quickly, Tang Fan was not easy to come forward, but Suizhou had no such scruples at all.

He didn't even need to show his face. The people from Beizhen Fusi only had to stop at the Li's house and said that Li Man's case was not yet closed. Pull it away, put it back and bring it back, put it back and bring it back, the Li family can't bear it for a few times. Butler Li pulled Jin Yiwei and begged them to raise their hands and secretly stuff silver taels. People from Beizhen Fusi didn't do it. , In the end, the Li family had to offer the deed of prostitution with both hands, not only from A-Dong, but also from A-Chun.

Zhang Shi is gone, and A Chun is not willing to stay in the Li family anymore. Her biggest wish is to be able to regain her freedom and go out to marry. Li Lin wanted her to be a concubine before, but she didn't want to, but there was nothing she could do. Tang Fan was a good person. In the end, since he decided to rescue A-Dong, he brought A-Chun out along with him. A-Qiu was willing to stay at Li's house, so she could go.

In three days, things were done properly, and Tang Fan couldn't help but sigh that the Beizhen Fusi was really efficient, and what a person could do, no wonder everyone changed their color when they heard the words of Jin Yiwei.

A-Dong was sold into the Li family since he was a child. After leaving the Li family, he could only come to Tang Fan, with nowhere else to go.

However, Tang Fan did not hold A-Dong's deed of prostitution, but burned the deed of prostitution in front of her, and agreed with her to take her as a righteous sister, take her in before the age of fifteen, and if she was fifteen after the age of fifteen If she wants to marry, she doesn't force her to stay. Tang Fan will naturally pack a dowry and find a good family for her.

A-Dong is naturally very willing, and immediately changed her name to call Tang Fan the eldest brother. She didn't have a surname before, and from now on, she will have a surname before her name, Tang Dong.

The family originally lived in two big men who went out early in the morning and came back late. Usually, only part-time workers could be hired to do the housework. Even if Suizhou could cook, it was impossible to have time to do it every day. Hired, she burned the rice, and took the initiative to take on the housework. Although she was young, she was a bit greedy and fun, but she did the work neatly. In just two days, she was completely new inside and out, and she really planted Many flowers and plants, Sui Zhou and Tang Fan expressed their satisfaction.

Since then, Master Tang has lived a happy life without having to worry about cleaning and cooking.

The whereabouts of the woman Chen, who is probably related to the White Lotus Sect, is still being traced, but Master Pan is all anxious.

Without it, although the whereabouts of the white jade steed have been found, Wang Zhi also poses a problem for Pan Bin.

The white jade horse is clearly at Shang Ming, but Wang Zhi insists that it is something he lost, but can Pan Bin tell Wang Zhi the truth? If Wang Zhi said, "Shang Ming's white jade horse is not mine, but mine is exactly the same as his", then how can Pan Binshang conjure up another one for him

Pan Bin originally suspected that Wang Zhi was deliberately trying to correct himself, but later he went to inquire and found that it was not the case at all.

These days, the East Factory has robbed the West Factory of two "businesses", and has been in the limelight in front of the emperor. In addition, after Wang Zhi came out to run the West Factory, the relationship with Concubine Wan gradually became estranged, and Concubine Wan was no longer there. How to help him say good things in front of the emperor, without the effect of pillow wind, Wang Zhi was crushed by Shang Ming.

The fact that Pan Bin helped Wang Zhi to find the white jade horse was spread to Shang Ming, which would definitely make Shang Ming crooked his nose: What do you mean, this is obviously my thing, you have to say that you lost it, you dare to make me steal it !

After all, Wang Zhi is less than twenty years old, young and energetic, not as mature as the eunuchs who have been in the palace for decades, and it is not surprising that he would come up with such an idea to disgust Shang Ming.

The two eunuchs were fighting for their favor. This was not a matter of Shuntian Prefecture at first, but Wang Zhi made such a fuss and dragged Pan Bin into the water. Shang Ming was disgusted by Wang Zhi, and at the same time, he would definitely hold a grudge against Pan Bin as well. .

Thinking of this, Pan Bin felt as bitter as eating coptis, and his mood was like the cabbage in the cold winter and twelfth lunar month.

He felt that his life was particularly bitter: Who am I provoking? I finally made it to the third-rank official, but the mountains on the top of my head are as big as one, and I can't offend everyone. This time I am sitting at home, and the disaster is coming from the sky. At least the sky is high and the emperor is far away, there are no such bad things, comfortable!

It's too late to make these complaints now. The best way is to not offend anyone, and to expose this matter. The two dead eunuchs can fight whatever they like, and it's best not to involve Shuntianfu.

But how easy is it to find the best of both worlds

Pan Bin thought about it for a long time and couldn't think of a good way.

Tell Wang Zhi, "You can't find that white jade horse"

Of course not, Wang Zhi's incompetence is more than enough to impeach Pan Bin.

Tell Wang Zhi, "Your white jade horse is in Shang Ming's house"

No, it would be equivalent to offending Shang Ming.

Said to Wang Zhi, "Why don't you piss me off. If you don't like Shang Ming, go straight to him and fight to the death. Why bother me, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture?"

That's even worse. There is no such straight-forward approach in the officialdom. At that time, Wang Zhi's two will be pushed to five, and Pan Bin will not be the same.

Pan Bin was almost worried about his gray hair, and he thought of his junior brother again.

When Tang Fan followed him to a banquet last time, Wang Zhi seemed to have a good impression of him, maybe there would be a way.

Pan Bin called Tang Fan and said earnestly, "Runqing, you have a senior brother in Shuntian Mansion for a day, so I can take care of you a little more if I have something to do. If I am exiled and the Shangguan is replaced, you have to be more careful. , take good care of yourself!"

Tang Fan smiled bitterly, he knew that Pan Bin was trying to retreat to gain sympathy, and he didn't talk nonsense: "Brother, just give me an order!"

Pan Bin said: "It's not a big deal. It's the matter of looking for the white jade horse this time. Wang Zhi made it clear that he wanted to make it difficult. No matter how I replied, it would be inappropriate. Offending him is a sure thing."

Tang Fan pondered for a moment: "Actually, it's not that there is no way at all, it depends on whether senior brother has the courage to say it."

Pan Bin was overjoyed: "Good Junior Brother, Senior Brother knows that you are resourceful, and if you have any ideas, come quickly!"

A day later, in the same Xianyun Pavilion and the same private room, Wang Zhi sat on the seat and looked at Pan Bin with a half-smiling smile: "Master Pan came to me, presumably he has already found the whereabouts of the white jade horse?"

Pan Bin scolded the dead eunuch Zhiniang thief hundreds of times in his heart, but he still had a smile on his face: "Don't lie to Duke Wang, the white jade horse has not yet been found."

Wang Zhi raised his eyebrows: "Then why did you ask me to do it? Master Pan is not going to trick me on purpose!"

Pan Bin said, "Don't be impatient, Wang Gong, and listen to the next official. The next official inquired and found that there was actually a white jade horse in the house of the Dongchang Suchang Gong. You know, Duke Su loves that white jade horse very much, so he must be unwilling to give up his love, but for Wang Gong, the white jade horse is second, but your priority is a bigger crisis."

Wang Zhi laughed: "Master Pan is alarmist, is he just trying to escape his responsibility?"

Pan Bin shook his head: "No. Mr. Wang now has the trust of His Majesty, and now he is in charge of the West Factory. It looks like flowers are decorated with brocade, but in fact, the fire is cooking oil. I heard that Mr. Wang can win the eyes of His Majesty, except for Mr. Wang himself who is shrewd and capable. In addition, Concubine Lai Wan has made recommendations, but now that you are in control of the West Factory, and it involves foreign affairs, Concubine Wan is a person in the palace after all, so it is not easy to ask more questions, so it will be difficult to help you speak. On His Majesty's side, Shang Ming is someone who has been with him for many years. Compared with you, His Majesty is closer to Shang Ming. If Shang Ming slanders more in front of His Majesty, you will inevitably suffer."

Wang Zhi's heart moved, Pan Bin's words just hit his mind.

Why did he rush to take power, why did he expand his power after setting up the West Factory, and fight against Shang Ming? It is precisely because he knows that his favor in front of the emperor is not as good as Shang Ming, so he has to make more contributions to consolidate his position in the emperor's mind. In this regard, Concubine Wan is a person in the harem after all, so she can't help. Yes, only Wang Zhi works hard.

How to work hard? Wang Zhi couldn't think of any other way, the territory of the capital was almost divided between Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and he could only grab food from the two and compete for favor with Shang Ming.

But in any case, the West Factory has only been established for two years, and there is no way to compare it with the old spy agencies such as Dongchang and Jinyiwei with a long history. The emperor established the West Factory on a whim, so Wang Zhi must be more positive. Only by making more contributions can you completely consolidate your position, win the trust of the emperor, and go to the pinnacle of life from then on.

Under the situation of increasing competition pressure, everyone uses various tricks to compete for favor, and the pressure of Eunuch Wang is also increasing day by day.

Wang Zhi looked at Pan Bin: "So according to Pan's opinion, what should I do?"

Pan Bin was not too busy to speak. He dipped his finger in the glass of wine and wrote four words on the mahogany round table:

Military merit, East Palace.

Wang Zhi, among many officials holding great power, is considered to be very individual.

He is not just impulsive in his actions. He knows who can offend and who can't. He is very clear and is very good at winning the emperor's favor. However, because he is young and energetic, he likes to be in the limelight in everything, so he still wants to ask Pan Bin to help him find Bai Yu. The horse's idea of hurting others and not himself disgusts Shang Ming, which also makes it easy for him to set up enemies. Like now, although Pan Bin dare not do anything, he has already scolded him hundreds of times in his heart.

In addition, Wang Zhi also likes to get involved in the military. Although he may not be proficient in it, as long as he thinks of being able to gallop across the frontier like a famous general who has made a fortune in history, Eunuch Wang feels his whole body is full of blood, as if he has never Fewer parts.

Therefore, the "military merit" written by Pan Bin is easy to understand, and it is exactly what he wants.

Wang Zhi finally became interested in this topic.

But the last two words are a bit strange.

Wang Zhi asked, "What does the East Palace mean?"

Pan Bin said: "My ministers do not dare to discuss the matter of the inner palace, but I heard that the current Prince of the East Palace is eager to learn and diligent.

In this era, it is popular to say half of speech and half to hide, not to make the words clear, to deliberately let others guess, to shirk if something happens, and to pretend to be forceful by the way, showing the art of speaking.

Wang Zhi pondered the meaning of Pan Bin's words, as if asking him to support the prince.

Because now everyone knows that Concubine Wan is at odds with the current prince, and he is not pleasing to the eye everywhere, and even plans to push the emperor to abolish the prince.

But Wang Zhi himself was promoted by Concubine Wan, and asked him to support the crown prince. Under Concubine Wan's anger, his father of the West Factory Factory would come to an end, right

So he shook his head, feeling that Pan Bin had come up with a bad idea, and mocking Pan Bin: "Master Pan is the governor of Shuntian, and he only needs to take care of one-third of an acre in Gyeonggi. If you don't know anything about the court's affairs, don't point fingers!"

Pan Bin sighed: "Mr. Wang misunderstood, I have to let Kung-kun stand in line. There are long live emperors in the world, how can there be long live concubines? Wang Gong does not think about the present, but also for the future. If there is a chance, make a good relationship. , in the future, there may be another way of retreat. Proper advance and retreat is the surest way!"

Wang Zhi didn't think so at first, but when he heard the back, he became thoughtful.

Pan Bin is right, although it is said that the crown prince may not be able to become the emperor in the future, but the crown prince is now well-received and has a good reputation in the court. Some people even privately say that the crown prince will definitely be better than his father in the future, and he is still young, no matter what. For the future, if I can find an opportunity to sell well to the prince, maybe even the civil servants will not be looking for trouble for me in the future, and they will not be pleasing to the eye.

Wanting to understand this level, Wang Zhi finally said: "Master Pan has a heart, let's leave the matter of the white jade horse for the time being. If this thing is lost, it will be lost, and I don't want to find it again."

What Pan Bin was waiting for was his words, and Chang breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Zhi looked at him with a smile but not a smile: "With your personality, Master Pan, you don't look like someone who would give me such an idea. Could it be that Junior Brother Ling said these words?"

This dead eunuch is right!

Pan Bin smiled awkwardly: "Nothing, nothing!"

Wang Zhi sighed: "Junior brother is really a talent. Although the official position is not high, he has a rare vision but it is a pity that there is no precedent for a civil servant to enter the East-West Factory. Otherwise, I will definitely use him as my left and right arm!"

Pan Bin: "..."

I really thank you and the whole family on behalf of my brother!

Master Pan finally solved the headache of the White Jade Horse incident, and he was relieved.

The cohabitation life of this Master Tang was also quite pleasant.

He brought a lot of seeds of flowers, plants and trees from outside and planted them in the yard, and A-Dong took care of them. Some flowers were already blooming well when they were bought. In an instant, the empty yard was filled with various colors and became Colorful and colorful, the whole yard feels alive at once.

Although Master Tang himself is not good at cooking, he has collected a lot of recipes from outside, under the euphemistic name of teaching A-Dong to improve his cooking skills.

During the break, while A-Dong was cooking, Master Tang, who had nothing to do, began to read the recipe for A-Dong: "Sweep Mei Ying to wash, cook white porridge with snow water, wait for it to cook, and cook with Ying..."

A-Dong couldn't help covering his ears and wailing: "Brother, I'm illiterate, what are you reading, I don't understand!"

Master Tang is very innocent: "Isn't it difficult to understand? Come on, let me teach you to read first. The meaning of sweeping off Meiying is to wash the plum blossoms in winter, wait for the petals to fall, collect them, wash them clean, and wash them with snow. Add water to porridge and cook together…”

A-Dong: "But it's not winter now, where did the plum blossoms come from?"

Tang Fan: "One thing can be used for all things. Not only plum blossoms, but also pear blossoms can be used in porridge, and each has its own effect."

A-Dong blinked: "But what does the plum blossom porridge taste like, with your mouth full of petals?"

Tang Fan: "...You're really not interesting, okay, then let's do the same thing, uh... There is! This dish is called Sophora japonica Leaf Tao, which is to pick the leaves from the high places of the Sophora japonica tree, and then mash the juice into noodles and knead them into The thin noodles are cooked and soaked in cold water to become cold noodles. Then chop the garlic and pour it on with vinegar and sesame oil. By the way, isn't there a locust tree behind our house? It happens to be summer now. Why don't you try this next time?"

A-Dong drooled: "This sounds delicious, and the locust tree is not very tall, or I will try it tomorrow!"

Tang Fan said righteously: "No, you are too young, what should you do if you fall? If you have something to do with it, I will pick it up."

A-Dong: "Ah? Big brother, do you still climb trees?"

Tang Fan: "Of course I jumped up and down when I was a child, up trees and down rivers, why, don't you believe me?"

A-Dong looked him up and down and shook his head.

Tang Fan rolled up his sleeves and said happily, "If you don't believe me, I'll crawl to show you now. It's still early anyway. When I pick the leaves, we'll have this for dinner!"

A-Dong Wei: "But I've already put the rice in the pot, and you'd better not go. What if you fall and get scolded by Big Brother Sui?"

Tang Fan: "It's okay, he's still reading the files in the study, and he won't be able to control us for a while."

After saying this, he turned around and saw the person standing behind him.

Tang Fan snorted, "Brother Guangchuan, why are you so busy so soon?"

Suizhou nodded: "I heard that Master Tang is going to climb a tree, so I came here to watch."

Tang Fan sweated: "What's so good about climbing a tree? I'm here to let everyone eat something better. Don't you want to eat it?"

Sui Zhou's expression was flat: "Who said last time what to do to make a sacrifice? He insisted that I get a rabbit and fiddled around for a while according to the so-called ancient recipe, but the result was sour and astringent, and I couldn't even enter my mouth."

Tang Fan wiped his sweat silently: "That was an accident, I forgot to marinate it with wine first."

Suizhou: "Then who volunteered to make bamboo shoot soup last time, and ended up boiling a pot of soup?"

Tang Fan: "..."

A-Dong stuck his head out from behind and betrayed him mercilessly: "It's Big Brother!"

Master Tang was so trained that he couldn't raise his head. The latter counted his previous convictions and took him away: "So you should be responsible for eating. The kitchen is not suitable for you to come in."

As soon as the final decision was made, Master Tang's rice bucket title was crowned.

The expressionless Sui Zhou taught him as he walked: "In the future, when A-Dong is cooking, don't go in and disturb her."

Master Tang knew that he was wrong, and was quickly taught: "Yes yes yes!"

Suizhou: "A-Dong can eat whatever he does. Don't keep making some strange tricks and let A-Dong try it out. If you want a good view, you can eat in a restaurant outside."

Master Tang nodded as if pounding garlic: "Yes yes yes!"

Suizhou: "Also, you should eat less at night. Occasionally eating snacks is indulgent, and you shouldn't do it every day. Once A-Dong said that when he was cleaning your room, he found pastry crumbs under the table. At first, he thought there were rats infested. "

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Master Tang is very helpless: I used to live like this when I was alone. Why do I now recognize a girl and have an extra friend, but it seems that I have found two old women for myself in an instant

After a long time, he and Sui Zhou were under the same roof, and he found that the other's life was so simple and boring.

During normal working hours, Sui Zhou and Tang Fan came out at about the same time, and they came back at different times, but most of them could still have dinner together.

After dinner, they chatted for a while, and then went back to their rooms to read a book. Sometimes the two of them would play some chess games, but Sui Zhou's chess skills were not very good. .

More often, Beizhen Fusi always has unfinished business, unfinished dossiers, unfinished prisoners, unfinished investigation secrets, and is several times more busy than Tang Fan. They should take care of things outside the palace, too.

At the position of Suizhou, sometimes it is common to stay home all night, but Suizhou is strict and solemn by nature, and he does not occasionally go to eat, drink, prostitute and gamble like other people. His life trajectory is simpler than that of Tang Fan. High cadre son.

Master Tang felt that as a friend, he was obliged to change Suizhou's boring life, so in his spare time, he would also think of some ideas, hoping to enrich the other party's spare time.

Like this moment.

"Come on, brother, these are the books that I have treasured for many years. You can read them when you have time. Don't always bury your head in business. This will lead to premature aging. Although the responsibilities are very important, you have to have your life, right?" Tang Fan piled a large stack of books on his desk and said with a smile.

After getting along with Master Tang for a long time, Suizhou can be considered to have learned the occasional inconsistency under his gentle appearance. Hearing this, he had to put down his pen, and reluctantly flipped through the book he brought, and then said: "The Story of Collecting Treasures, I have read "One Branch of Flowers", "Biography of Yingying", "Following Poems from Scriptures", "Wu Wang's Attack on Zhou Ping", "Golden Jade Love", "Love in Love", I have read them all."

"Have you seen it all?" Tang Fan was taken aback, he couldn't see it!

Suizhou said: "Some time ago, the white lotus demons borrowed books to express their aspirations, spread rumors, and deceive people. Therefore, Beizhen Fusi needs to thoroughly investigate the storytelling books on the market, lest people with intentions borrow words to conspire in the name of the truth."

He flipped to the bottom book and pulled it out: "What is this book of "The Story of the Pear Blossom"?"

Master Tang snorted and was a little embarrassed: "I wrote that."

Suizhou: "..."