These words were so domineering that everyone was speechless for a while, and all stared at Sui Zhou.
This is not Tang Fan's home court, and he didn't have the right to speak at first, but this did not prevent him from habitually using the eyes of the case to analyze people's hearts. A lot of clues came out.
For example, Suizhou's parents are honest people, otherwise when Suizhou's sister-in-law Jiao was talking, Suizhou's mother should have shouted;
Another example is that Sui Zhou's elder brother is also a taciturn man. This is somewhat similar to Sui Zhou, but Sui Zhou is silent because there is no need to speak, and he is not stingy when analyzing the case and need to speak. Words, and Sui Zhou's elder brother is more like a habit of character, and he is indifferent to words.
Tang Fan looked at it and shook his head secretly. He had heard Sui Zhou say that his elder brother Sui An wanted to take the imperial examination, but with such a character, even if he was lucky enough to pass the exam in the future, it would be difficult for him to stay in the officialdom for a long time. Which Shangguan would like a subordinate who can't get three words out of his mouth
Compared to her husband, Mrs Jiao was eloquent and too eager to get ahead. Her elders were honest people and she couldn't hold her back. It was estimated that she usually did whatever she wanted at home, so it was no wonder that Sui Zhou had to move out in the end.
After Suizhou said these words, Tang Fan could no longer be silent, he took a step and bowed his hands to the old lady Zhou: "In the next Tang Fan, the word Runqing, the old lady can call me Runqing, I As a push officer in Shuntian Prefecture, and Guangchuan are friends, today I brought my sister A-Dong here to celebrate her birthday, wishing the old lady a blessing like the East Sea, and her birthday is more than Nanshan."
A-Dong also saluted obediently, saying "Old Madam Zhou," while offering the congratulations.
The old lady Zhou laughed hard: "Okay, okay! Since it's good for the family, there's no need to pay too much attention to it. My Azhou rarely brings friends back, so I still wish you a birthday. It can be seen that your child must be Okay, the little girl is also beautiful, not bad, not bad!"
It is popular to give gifts these days, and to open the gift in front of the host, no matter how high or low, as long as the meaning is good, the host will be very happy.
Jiao took the gift box, stretched out his hand, took off the rope wrapped around the box, and opened the box.
But I saw that there was a longevity peach carved from jade. The jade color was warm, smart and cute, and the size of the palm was just right for playing in the hand.
On the birthday of Mrs. Zhou, the palace also sent a gift, but she has been diligent and frugal all her life and does not want to be extravagant, so the birthday banquet only called her daughter's family over for dinner. Seeing this gift, she was both fond and surprised: " It's fine if people come, why spend money on such an expensive gift!"
Tang Fan smiled and said, "It doesn't cost much, so I can teach the old lady to know that my salary is meager, and if I really want to buy it, I can't afford it. This birthday peach was originally passed down from the family, but now that the elders are gone, I will take it. Come out and borrow flowers to offer Buddha, I hope the old lady will not dislike it!"
Although he said it modestly, just looking at the quality of the jade, Suizhou knew that the jade peach was definitely worth a lot of money, and it was quite old. To be able to collect such things, the Tang family must not be far behind.
Being able to give something like this shows the gift-giver's intention.
The old lady Zhou was originally the queen mother's sister, and the Sui family has also seen many dignitaries over the years, and the Ming Dynasty has always had the custom of respecting the elderly. The old lady scolds officials in the street, and it is also possible for officials to take a detour in their sedan chairs. When Sui Zhou introduced that Tang Fan was the official of Shuntian Prefecture, the Sui family really didn't feel so shocked. You must know that Sui Zhou's father and brother still had the position of Jin Yiwei.
But as soon as the jade peach came out, Jiao Shi also closed his mouth wisely.
The old lady was still shaking her head again and again: "Don't spend so much money in the future, it's just fine when people come. I'm happy from the bottom of my heart when I see you!"
Tang Fan grinned: "The old lady is wrong. When you reach your old age in the future, you will not only spend money, but also spend a lot of money. Then I will definitely find a bigger birthday peach for the old lady!"
The old lady Zhou was amused and laughed: "Runqing's mouth is a hundred times sweeter than Azhou A'an and the others. It's hard for you to get along with the boring gourd in my Azhou. If he bullies you, you have to tell me, I It's up to you!"
Tang Fan felt that it sounded like he was going to marry Suizhou, but he thought that the old lady was so old that sometimes she could speak without thinking, so he smiled vaguely.
Although it was a family banquet, the dishes on the table could be seen to be carefully cooked. Although the Sui family was not good at words, Tang Fan was there, which also made the old lady lean forward and back together. Sui Zhou's sister Sui Bi was a few years older than Adong. Years old, but the two little girls get along quite well, and after a while they get together and talk in a low voice.
In comparison, Sui Zhou's parents and elder brothers were like escorts, they rarely spoke, and ate with their heads from beginning to end. Jiao wanted to interrupt, but the old lady didn't seem to like talking to her, and held Tang Fan's hand all the way. When asked, when he heard Tang Fan say that his parents died early, his eldest sister was married far away, and he was not married, he sighed again and again: "Poor to see, a person is an official in the capital, and there is no one who is warm and caring. With a character like yours, I'm afraid the matchmaker has already stepped over the threshold, what kind of woman do you like, come, tell me, and I will help you find it too!"
Tang Fan's scalp went numb when he heard this, so he quickly moved Suizhou out as a shield: "Old lady, I remember Guangchuan as if he was a few years older than me. He must be more urgent than me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt someone next to him glance at him lightly, and he was obviously very dissatisfied with his practice of bringing misfortune to the east.
"Runqing's eyes are high, don't give him a red line." Sui Zhou said, and finally turned the old lady's attention.
The old lady Zhou was very dissatisfied with his statement: "Nonsense, don't you need to get married if you have a good eye? The big deal is that I will go to the queen mother and ask the queen mother to help find it. If ordinary women don't like it, the princess princess is not bad. stop?"
Tang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he was about to stop him, but heard Jiao's sour and half-joking: "The old lady is really partial, you and Runqing haven't known each other for half a day, so I remembered to help others with fiber and media, no If you know it, it's like you have a new grandson!"
Old Mrs. Zhou laughed: "I have a relationship with the child Runqing, what's wrong with him being a matchmaker? Could it be that you want to do it too? I'd be happy to give A'an a county master, but then you'll have to stand aside?"
Jiao's voice was silent immediately.
Tang Fan said that the old lady gave up her mind. After dinner, A-Dong was kept for another half a day because he had a relationship with Sui Bi. He said goodbye to the old lady with Sui Zhou, and promised the old lady to visit her often. was released.
After coming out, Mr. Tang couldn't help but wipe his sweat: "Guangchuan, this old lady in your family is really difficult to deal with. It's a good thing that I didn't soften my heart for a while, otherwise the old lady might really want to go to the palace to find the queen mother. Tell me a princess!"
Suizhou: "Is the princess bad?"
It sounds like a joke, but his face is still cold, and his tone is also cold.
But Tang Fan was used to his dead face for a long time and didn't care, just shook his head and laughed.
Is it okay to marry a princess? No woman in the world is more honored than the arrogant daughter of the sky, which is naturally good.
But becoming a concubine horse means that you cannot participate in politics. Even if you are an official, you have to resign and go home, but this is only for civil officials, and it is not so strict with military officers. Jingyuan, the concubine Jingyuan who died in the line of duty to protect the late emperor, was a military attache, and he also went on expeditions with his squires.
But for the civil servants, it is miserable. Marrying the daughter of the imperial family means that there is no further career advancement in the future. Therefore, any man with a little ambition will regard marrying the daughter of the imperial family as a dreadful way. Although Tang Fan is not that kind of official fan, but Han Chuang studied hard. For more than ten years, the purpose was to stretch his life ambitions and do something for the people of the community.
After eating, they digested their food and walked in the direction of home, walking slowly and leisurely.
Tang Fan teased him with a smile: "But the old lady said it well, you are not too young, it's time to get married, but don't wait until a few years later, no one wants it."
Sui Zhou glanced at him: "You really want me to get married?"
Before Tang Fan could answer, Suizhou said, "I'm married, and you're going to move out."
Tang Fan nodded: "It makes sense, after all, we have to avoid suspicion."
Suizhou: "You have to find a house by yourself."
Tang Fan: "Hey, it's really hard to find a house in the capital."
Suizhou: "In a few years, A-Dong grows up and gets married, and you will have to cook by yourself again."
Tang Fan: "It makes sense..." After thinking about it, it seemed wrong, and then said, "Then I can also marry one."
Suizhou: "Then she found out that you were writing Fengyue Storybooks, and they were selling well?"
Tang Fan: "..."
Suizhou: "Or study with her and let her write together, so that you can subsidize your family."
Tang Fan laughed and laughed: "Isn't it?"
Suizhou: "With your current salary, you still have to pay for the expenses of going out to eat every now and then. When A-Dong gets married, you will save her dowry. After you get married, you will have another person to support. When the baby is born, there will be a few more mouths."
The more Master Tang listened, the greener his face became.
But Sui Baihu continued to analyze truthfully: "You are very likely to marry a woman like my sister-in-law, according to your parents' orders and matchmaker's words.
"Don't talk about it..." Master Tang was weak, "It's terrible to marry a wife, I'd better not marry it for now."
Sui Baihu hummed, his face serious, obviously feeling the same.
When the two were about to get home, they saw Xue Bing pacing back and forth at the door, accompanied by several Jin Yiwei.
One of them saw Suizhou and the others, and hurriedly stepped forward and said something to Xue Bing, Xue Bing raised his head suddenly, his eyes lit up, and strode up to meet him, obviously looking like he was still waiting.
"Brother, you are finally back!" His expression did not hide his anxiety, and he hurriedly said.
"What's the matter?" Suizhou said.
Xue Bing glanced at Tang Fan, but she didn't hide it from him, she just stepped forward and whispered to Sui Zhou, "Something has happened!"
Sui Zhou frowned, and immediately said, "I'll go in and change clothes and leave!"
As a special department, Xue Bing certainly wouldn't deliberately exaggerate. Tang Fan was from Shuntian Prefecture, which had nothing to do with their responsibilities, and his rank was too small to inquire about any information, so he didn't ask any more questions. , he said hello to Xue Bing, and was ready to go home.
On the contrary, Xue Bing was a little embarrassed and said to Tang Fan, "Brother Runqing, I'm really in a hurry today, I'll invite you to a drink another day!"
Tang Fan waved his hand: "With the friendship between you and me, there is no need to say these nonsense. You have official business, so naturally you can't delay..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Xue Bing lowered his voice and smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid this time things will be very difficult!"
Tang Fan was stunned for a moment, waiting to ponder the deep meaning of his words, but Xue Bing was silent.
Sui Zhou's movements were fast, and he came out of the back room in a blink of an eye. Before he could say a word to Tang Fan, the group hurried away.
The other party was in such a hurry, and he couldn't help but think about it. The thing that can make Xue Bing so sad, it must be no small thing, maybe it has something to do with the palace.
That being the case, Tang Fan couldn't make any more inquiries. These days, the less you know, the safer you are, and the smarter people die faster.
Tang Daren was kind-hearted, conscious of the inferiority of officials and small positions, and had nothing to worry about, so he also lay leisurely in the yard reading a book.
About an hour later, a servant from the Sui family came to the door, saying that A-Dong had a good relationship with their third girl, Sui Bi, and the third girl kept it again and again. Go to sleep and come back tomorrow.
The little girl is familiar with each other quickly and has a good relationship. Tang Fan can understand it, but if A-Dong doesn't come back, he is worried: How to solve dinner
Mr. Tang, who has been spoiled by the food for a while, just thinks about the only white porridge that he can cook, and feels that his mouth is dull and tasteless, and finally decides to go out to eat.
It is said that the often-visited wonton stall was moved to Suizhou, and because A-Dong and Suizhou were feeding regularly, Tang Fan has rarely been there recently, and the owner of the wonton stall still recognizes him. As soon as he saw Tang Fan, he greeted him with a smile on his face: "Master Tang, is there no one in the family?"
Tang Fan smiled bitterly: "Yeah, I'm not here to eat here!"
The boss said, "Is it still the same?"
Tang Fan: "The old way!"
After a while, the steaming wontons were served. The boss knew that he liked coriander, and he sprinkled some more. The bowl was full of lush greens, which was mouth-watering. Tang Fan was delighted to see it. He held up his chopsticks and was about to As soon as I spoke, I heard someone say: "Good, you Tang Runqing, you are stealing here for half a day!"
Tang Fan looked up and laughed, "I said why the magpies were chirping on the branches early this morning, it turned out to be brother Yu Qiao, come here, sit down, I'll treat you to wontons!"
The person here is Xie Qian, the champion of the eleventh year of Chenghua, the same year as Tang Fan, and he has just passed the year. He is also a handsome and unrestrained demeanor, not inferior to Tang Fan, just because Tang Fan was too much for the trial of the top three. The young and the champion passed by, but Xie Qian won the crown in the end. This rumor spread all over the world, so many people thought that the two of them would definitely have some trouble with each other, but in fact their private friendship is still quite good. of.
Neither Tang Fan nor Xie Qian were such narrow-minded people.
Xie Qian smiled, not being polite, he flicked his long coat, and sat down directly opposite Tang Fan.
Tang Fan teased: "Having a break today, why don't you hang around in the study, but are willing to run out to go shopping?"
He turned his head and asked the boss to add another bowl of wontons.
Xie Qian rolled his eyes at him: "I should be on duty today, how can you be as leisurely as you?"
Tang Fan patted his forehead: "Yes, it's been less than a year since I left the Hanlin Academy, and I even forgot the rules!"
The wontons were quickly served, and Tang Fan pushed the bowl in front of Xie Qian: "Try it, the wontons here taste good!"
Xie Qian said nothing, and took a sip of the soup with the spoon first, with a casual expression, which showed that the relationship between the two was harmonious, not as outsiders had guessed.
"It's good, refreshing!" Xie Qian praised and shook his head again: "As I said, you really shouldn't leave the Hanlin Academy. Although it's a bit boring there, it's the most convenient to enter the cabinet and participate in politics in the future!"
Tang Fan smiled: "I can't be idle. If I were to calm down and stay in the Hanlin Academy like you did, then I would probably suffocate to death."
Xie Qian rolled his eyes at him again: "Come on, I'm a lot more anxious than you, but I'm not struggling there, but then again, you're willing to put down your body and work in Shuntian Mansion, this mind alone is enough to make you People are convinced.”
After a pause, he sighed: "If I hadn't robbed you of your number one spot three years ago..."
"Okay, stop!" Tang Fan raised his hand to stop him, and said sincerely, "Xie Yuqiao is such a handsome character, how can he learn to behave like a mother-in-law? When we entered the temple, the ranking was already announced, but we just went to go. It's a cutscene, those so-called hidden rumors are just like what others say. When did you believe this kind of rhetoric? You won the first prize with Brother Qiao. say no more."
Xie Qian chuckled: "Okay, if you don't say it, don't say it, I just mentioned it, and it attracted your long speech."
He approached Tang Fan and lowered his voice: "I'm afraid something happened in the palace."
First Xue Bing and Sui Zhou, and now Xie Qian said these words, Tang Fan shuddered, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you say this?"
Xie Qian said: "Zhong Xueshi was originally ordered to enter the palace to present poems for the occasion, but not long after he entered the palace, he came back early. I also heard that several cabinet ministers entered the palace in a hurry. Today is the holiday day. So unusual, there must be something strange."
He is straight-minded, has a good relationship with Tang Fan, and knows that he is not someone who can go out and talk nonsense, so he said his doubts smoothly.
Tang Fan thought for a while, and said, "I have a humble position, and it is useless to speculate more. If there is really a big event, I'd better go home early and don't stay outside too much, lest I be caught and impeached by the censor."
Xie Qian nodded: "You're right, after eating your bowl of wontons, I'd better go back as soon as possible, lest there be anything right or wrong."
Tang Fan smiled and said, "Yes, let's go home and accompany Mei Jiao Niang!"
Xie Qian's relative who just got married last year is also a late marriage in this era, and it is when the love is strong.
Xie Qian chuckled: "Envy? Then let your sister-in-law find one for you too. With your personality and appearance, I'm afraid you'll be confused by then!"
Tang Fan shook his head: "Don't, I'm afraid that before I get too fancy, everyone's daughters will not marry me!"
Xie Qian sneered: "You are really not ashamed!"
The two chatted for a while, finished the wonton soup, and then each said goodbye and went home.
When Master Tang returned home, he flipped through the book leisurely, and finished the ending that he didn't read last time. At the end, he sighed at the fate of the heroine, then washed and undressed, ready to go to bed.
It was completely silent outside, and the sound of playing watch drifted from afar. Seeing that Sui Zhou had not returned, it must be that things in the palace were rather difficult.
At this moment, there was a loud slamming on the door outside the yard, bang bang bang, making people's ears buzzing and hurting, and it was particularly harsh in the silent night.
Tang Fan frowned, and put on the coat he had already taken off. He knew that the person who came here could not be Suizhou, and he didn't know who was holy who came to the door in the middle of the night. After thinking about it, he walked towards the courtyard door. go.
He lifted the latch and opened the door, only to see several factory workers in high hats and gray clothes standing outside, with lanterns in their hands and knives slung around their waists, all of them were indifferent and expressionless. .
The man in the lead asked coldly, "Are you Tang Fan?"
Tang Fan's eyes passed the word "West" embroidered on their sleeves, and nodded, "I don't know who you are?"
The other party said: "The West Factory has been ordered to handle the case, and immediately follow us into the palace!"
Tang Fan asked, "Dare to ask you why?"
The other party's tone was stern, and he did not allow him to ask in detail, and he was not interested in chatting with him. With a wave of his hand, the two behind him stepped forward, holding Tang Fan from left to right, as if escorting the prisoner.
Tang Fan smiled bitterly to himself, wondering what kind of hole Wang Zhi had dug for him this time: "Then I have to go back and change into the official uniform? How can I lose my temper when I enter the palace."
The other party's dead fish-like eyes rolled on him, and he said coldly: "Then go quickly, don't delay the time!"
Dongxi Factory is really arrogant, not to mention Tang Fan and other junior officials from the sixth rank, even if Pan Bin comes, they will not get a good face from them.
However, although they work for the two factories, they are not eunuchs themselves, but the people who were dispatched from Jinyiwei to help in the past. They are all normal men, but they have been in the two factories for a long time. Jin Yiwei is even more arrogant.
People like this group simply don't make sense, and Tang Fan didn't bother to talk nonsense with them. He turned around and put on his official uniform, but he came out in about a quarter of an hour: "Okay, let's go."
Seeing that he was cooperating very well, the people in the West Factory didn't put on a semi-coercive posture like before: "Can you ride a horse?"
Tang Fan nodded slightly.
A fan servant immediately brought a brown-haired horse, and Tang Fan turned on the horse.
The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and the group quickly disappeared into the vast darkness, with only a few lanterns swaying in the distance, as if they were on or off.
From the moment the people from Xichang came to the door, Tang Fan began to think about their purpose.
Suizhou has not returned since he entered the palace in the afternoon. Xie Qian also said that something unusual might have happened in the palace. Now it seems that things are far beyond their imagination. What's the use of calling people into the palace
[Volume 3: The East Palace Case]