Emperor Yongzheng

Chapter Two
Wu Sidao has a very limited capacity for drinking, and he doesn't like this group of people, so he was very drunk after a while.Che Ming was so annoyed that he still had to put on a smile to please this unlucky scholar. Seeing that they were about to resign, he wished that they would leave, but he still pretended to invite them to stay.Wu Sidao smiled drunkenly and said: "There is no good feast. Don't dare to eat too much of this 'disaster water', so let's not live it." After finishing speaking, he staggered and dragged Dai Duo down the Tianguang Lake studio.

"Jingren," Dai Duo looked at the sky and was close to applying for the license plate. He walked around and said with a smile, "I thought you had suffered a big loss and your previous energy had been dampened. But it seems that you are still sharp! Che Ming is a person I I've heard that you are sincere at heart! Aren't you afraid that he will punish you when facing Jingshi?" According to Dai Duo, he wanted to elicit a conversation and test whether he would join Yin's family.Wu Sidao said with a smile: "You are still a worldly person under the emperor's feet, and you don't know how to throw a rat into a trap? Although I am no good, literary friends like Peng Peng and Shi Shilun are all officials - you don't know people's hearts, but being an official will bring you benefits and salary. His heart is getting heavier and heavier, so he won't touch his golden rice bowl with me, a bastard! In fact, this Che Ming is also a little talented, but he is too shameless, so I taught him a lesson. For this Yangzhou Prefecture's fat vacancy, he first called Mrs. Cao took Xu Qianxue's fourth concubine as her mother; Xu broke into trouble and fawned over Liang Qingbiao, the Minister of Household Affairs, and chose her godfather after recognizing him. Is this still a human being? If not, I still have poems - In the past, I worshiped my godmother in the prime minister's palace, but today my godfather's surname is Liang. The new household department of Heyi Gate, the old middle hall of Desolate Hall..." Before he finished chanting, Dai Duo stopped him and said with a smile: "Come on! You are so drunk. Sorry, I didn't say a word, but I brought out this conversation from you! You are so unforgiving, even I am afraid of you!" Wu Sidao was silent after hearing this, looking into the distance in a daze, and after a while he said: "... ...I have a dream every ten years, and when I wake up, the building is empty. Xiang Ling, no matter how high-spirited the person is, he has withered away. What hope do I have? Only my mind can be used, who can know? I only have the power of words, how can I even do it? Also seal your mouth?"

"Don't be sad," Dai Duo thought in his heart. Since he didn't get any clear instructions from Yin and couldn't make the decision, he just said, "Didn't you say you were going to Beijing just now? Why don't you tell our fourth master that we can go north together and we'll meet you when we get to Beijing?" Find a place for you." Wu Sidao sneered and said: "Even you look down on me! How difficult is it to make a living! What I learn is dragon slaying and the way of the emperor! If there are no talents, I am too lazy to teach!"

Dai Duo has been sending the drunken Wu Sidao back to the Peixin store on the other side of the Hongqiao, and he held his hand and told him many words before he resigned to the Qiaobei Inn.As soon as he entered the door, he saw Sibeile's personal chief come out with Gao Fu'er. Seeing Dai Duo, he forced his hands to stop, and said with a smile, "Daitou, where is the wine? Didn't you bring us a jar?" Asked: "Where is the fourth master?" Gao Fu'er said: "I saw you for a day today, and later on, Mr. Cao, the governor of Jiangning, brought a thousand Taoist platforms to the master. He is talking at the top, probably about grain adjustment. It’s too early for you to rest in my room first, and see you soon after the guests leave.” Dai Duo had no choice but to turn around and enter Gao Fu’er’s room, and made some tea. Take a break and chat your teeth.It wasn't until it was time to light the lamps that Fang heard a shout from the upper room: "Tea is served to see off the guests!" Then he saw two big lanterns leading from the upper room, a group of officials bowed and resigned one by one, and Dai Duo came in.

"You're back? I'm writing a letter to the Crown Prince. You can also read his imperial edict together to see if there are any omissions. Then copy it out and send it back later." Yin didn't even raise his head, and kept writing until he wrote. After finishing, Fang breathed a sigh of relief, handed the manuscript of the letter and a letter to Dai Duo, and paced Fang silently.

Dai Duo took the prince's imperial edict and Yin's letter. He only glanced at it briefly and understood the gist. He smiled and replied: "Long live my 54th holy birthday, I have decreed that the fourth master does not need to return to the capital." It was reported to the inner court half a month ago. There was a severe drought in Shaanxi last year, and there will be no harvest this spring. Long Live also has a purpose to ask the Fourth Master to collect grains here. The Crown Prince wants to ask me to return to Beijing as soon as possible, apparently because of the preparation for Long Live's birthday ceremony. The Fourth Master wrote this letter very well, Since I don’t want to go back, and the errand has not been completed, I can just say long live Christmas from a distance.”

"How can a person like Qingshou Dian, who is so ignorant, take my turn? I'm afraid only the Eighth Master and the others can win!" Yin said coldly, "I'm not afraid of doing my best, but I'm afraid that even if I do my best, I'll be tabooed. A letter from the Thirteenth Brother, It was said that an Enke would be added next year, and the person in charge of the examination is Tong Guowei. Now everything is being managed secretly. It is private and public, so the prince called back because he just wanted me to recruit people for him. Think about the eighteen brothers 36 My eyes are all blood-red. I can't do such a thing that breaks my conscience, and I have to suffer for others. Now, I am Nezha, can I handle this trend well?" Dai Duo felt clear in his heart, this person The fourth master and the thirteenth master Yinxiang are "princelings". The eldest brother Yinxiang and the third elder brother Yinxiang are neither cool nor hot, and they have their own systems.The so-called "eighth prince" is actually the eighth prince Yinzhen, who together with the ninth prince Yinzhen, the tenth prince Yinzhen, and the fourteenth prince Yinzhen are a group of forces, and they are called the "Eight Wise Kings" in the court. , the most unoffending.These people hide when they see trouble, win over people when they see them, and seize benefits when they see them. Even the crown prince does not dare to provoke him, so he wants to transfer Yin to help.It's really chilling to think that Yin went about doing hard work and worked hard for the prince. Prince Yin didn't show any pity or pity at all.But Yin, the fourteenth elder brother in the "Ba Ye Party", was now a compatriot of Yin's mother, and Dai Duo did not dare to say anything.Dai Duo thought about it and said with a smile: "That's what the fourth master said! We have a clear mandate to supervise river construction and provide food relief, and we are already busy! I think this letter should be added with a clear statement of "Long Live Strict Orders to the River Workers" If the matter is not settled, you will not be allowed to return to the capital. The Fourth Master does not dare to act on his own. The Crown Prince is timid and may not dare to fight with the Emperor."

"Very good." Yin smiled and said, "I'm afraid they won't be able to control me and will try to bring bad luck to my thirteenth brother again. There was fraud in the examination room and the thirteenth brother's bad temper caused trouble. Unbelievable." The thirteenth elder brother Yinxiang is the most aggressive and bold among the elders. He lost his mother when he was young and was bullied by his brothers. He developed a wild and untamed nature. Only Yinxiang could not see it. Therefore, Yinxiang respects Brother Yan like a loving father and never disobeys him.Of course Dai Duo knew the whole story, so he comforted him: "Fourth Master, don't be anxious. The Thirteenth Master is only 17 years old. Long Live Master may not ask him to go on errands alone, or he may be sick at that time." Yin sighed: "I can only take one step and say it. One step forward - Mr. Wu, have you talked about it? I wonder if he is willing to come to my place to do business? "

"I didn't make it clear what I meant, so I didn't dare to take charge of my own affairs." Dai Duo said with a smile, "This man has excellent talent and character, but it's a pity that he is disabled. I know the rules of employing people, and I will never hire those who are not in trouble. So I don't Dare to mention it." Yin muttered disapprovingly: "He is not in trouble? The imperial court has been arresting imperial criminals for ten years, and the people in the world are useless! How can such a person be missed? Although you people are loyal, you can only comfort me, not Come and help me out. It's not like I asked him to run horses, bow, fly eagles and catch tigers, and care about other people's legs. Where does he live? I'll go and invite him in person right now!" After saying that, he walked out, and Dai Duo had to follow. , shouting to the boys: "Get your horse ready for Fourth Master, and put on your cloak to protect yourself from the cold night wind!"

Unexpectedly, just as he arrived at the second gate, Gao Fuler came in and said, "Fourth Master, the customs officer Chen Tianshun asked to see him. He said that he was following the Fourth Master's constitutional order and told him about the money to buy grain." Yin looked at Dai Duo with some embarrassment.Dai Duo said hurriedly: "Wu Sidao is drunk. Even if he goes here right now, he can't talk properly. Why don't I go with the master tomorrow and let the matter be settled after a while." Yin frowned and stared for a long time, but also That’s all.

Yinyi didn't sleep well that night, Wu Sidao and Shen Min's eloquent and sharp wit kept lingering in his heart.Although he didn't talk to Dai Duo much, after a while in the restaurant, he had made up his mind to keep this Wu Sidao in his sleeve - the emperor's brother was so powerful and sophisticated that he needed such a strategist and think tank at his side. Planned.He didn't go to sleep until the rooster crowed. When he woke up, it was already three o'clock in the morning.Yin Yigulu stood up, washed up quickly, had some snacks, called Dai Duo and Gao Fu'er, changed into plain clothes and meandered to Peixin Inn in the south of Hongqiao.When the shop owner heard that he was looking for Wu Sidao, he clapped his hands and laughed and said, "It's such an unlucky time for you to come! Mr. Wu paid the rent this morning without knowing the weather, and called Xiao Mi Chuan. He said he would go to Guazhoudu for a few days and then go to Beijing to visit. A relative..." After a few words, the three masters and servants were stunned.Seeing Yin's gloomy face, Gao Fu'er said with a smile: "Same, sir. What kind of person do I think I am? The man named Wu is just a filial piety and incorruptible man. A husband like this would have five or two bamboo strips in his hand--" Before he finished speaking, Yin stared at him and suppressed the next words.Dai Duo hurriedly said: "Fourth Master, don't be angry. I will not do anything if you blame me. I'll tell you, if the monk runs away, he won't be able to escape from the temple. He'll be with me. When he gets to Beijing, I'll invite him to your residence!"

"How did you see it?"

"It's a long story. Anyway, it's okay now, let's go to the market with Fourth Master to have a look, and I'll tell you the story of Mr. Jingren." As the three of them walked west slowly, Dai Duo sighed He said: "You see, Wu Sidao treats people coldly, but he is actually an idiot! He has an uncle named Jin Yuze, who made up for the vacancy of Qianzong when he received donations at Hujuguan in Nanjing. Wu Sidao is a scholar, Mr. Wu thought, The township examination was going to Nanjing anyway, so I wrote a letter to Jin Yuze, asking Wu Sidao to go to his uncle's house to study and take the examination nearby.

"Wu Sidao disembarked at Yanziji. It was the first time he entered the land of golden powder in Nanjing during the Six Dynasties. He was in a daze, so he hurriedly swam first to Mochou Lake and then to the Confucius Temple. That day was the eighth day of April, Buddha's birthday. The Confucius Temple was crowded with people. , the good men and women who burned incense and made wishes were squeezed and crowded all over the street. Wu Sidao walked along the Qinhuai River, holding a bag of fried broad beans in one hand, and eating while watching the scenery. Because I don’t know which confused master is on Taoyedu A bridge was actually built, and Wu Sidao laughed when he saw it. He just said: "This snake's feet are so delicious!" Unexpectedly, he bumped into his arms with a person. Looking up, he was a young man of sixteen or seventeen years old. girl!"

Yin couldn't help but smile as he thought about the scene at that time.

"The woman just came back after offering incense, and she was devoting herself to the Buddha. In front of everyone, she bumped so hard with a young man, she blushed to her ears with embarrassment." Dai Duo laughed, "At that time, the idlers around laughed. This one said it was 'Blue Bridge Meeting', that one said it was 'Marriage to Heaven', 'Huanxi Bodhisattva', 'Merry Dojo'... There was a lot of gags and jokes. The girl was so embarrassed that she slapped Wu Sidao all over the sky. The flowers, squeezed through the cracks of people, slid away, and the fried broad beans were scattered all over the ground.

"Wu Sidao had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky. Clutching his feverish face, he went to Huju Pass. After searching for a long time, he found the place under Jin Yuze. After knocking on the ring of the shop for a long time, the door creaked halfway open. Wu Sidao Look, the one who opened the door was the one who just slapped me! Both of them were dumbfounded..."

Yin laughed loudly when he heard this and said, "Ganqing is his cousin?"

"It's my cousin." Dai Duo continued with a smile, "Wu Sidao was stunned for a while, and just said, 'Is this Jin Yuze's family? He is my uncle...' The girl covered her face with her hands and said, 'Emperor Bodhisattva 'Ran.

"Wu Sidao had no choice but to sneak in to see his aunt. When her aunt saw him coming, she held him in her arms, crying and laughing at the same time: 'Oh my God, you can see my mother-in-law's family! My son...he is like this now. ... Your uncle will be back after a while - Aunt Feng, Aunt Feng! Come here quickly and see who's coming...'" Yin laughed until tears filled his eyes, holding his belly and said: "Okay... okay! Is she coming? Come?" "How can she come?" Dai Duo laughed, and was about to continue, when suddenly there was a loud noise in the market in front of him, and there was also a boy crying loudly, which was so cruel that it made people's hearts tremble.The three of them immediately suppressed their smiles and followed the cry.

This is already the Hongqiao people's city, but it's actually not noisy.One street and two rows are staggered, and there are bunks built with sorghum stalks everywhere.Refugees who escaped from Baoying, Shanyang, and Longwangmiao areas were all yellow and thin. Some had three stones with boiled sweet potato spinach, some burned dry corn sticks, some caught lice in the sun, and some wrapped themselves in towels. Cold rice balls gnawed... It was smoky, exuding a musty smell that was not musty, and burnt but not burnt.Surrounded by a group of idlers against the wall, a dead body was wrapped upright in a straw mat, with only two feet exposed.Next to him was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child, unkempt and disheveled, lying on the mat, crying heartbreakingly: "Brother! You were fine yesterday and a while ago, what did you eat? ... You just went away without saying anything." What did you say when my mother died, you don’t remember...I asked you to take care of me!...You don’t care about me, just leave...Woo..."

Yin frowned. Before he could reach the wailing man, someone already thought he was the master. He dragged a girl of twelve or thirteen years old over and said while gesticulating: "Hey, this boss, I can tell at a glance that you are a Bodhisattva who accumulates blessings and does good deeds! Do you want to buy a child to take care of? You are wise, there is a way to buy people - the hair is blood, and the teeth are bone. The first thing is to look at the hair, and the second thing is to look at the hair. His teeth! Look at this girl who is yellow and thin, she is hungry! Look at her hair, hey! Look at her teeth again -" He opened the little girl's mouth and said, spitting everywhere: "Nuttinous rice, fine teeth, biting gold and breaking jade - how about fifteen taels? No? If the business is not done in a righteous way, I will be ruthless and lose all my money, and I have to send her to a good family! Ten taels! How about ten taels?"

Yin's mood, which had just been amused by Dai Duo's story, was completely washed away by the tragic scene of the human world here.Concerned about the crying over there, he lowered his head and looked at the girl. She still had an upright appearance, with a pair of big eyes flashing on her yellow and thin face. Her small mouth was curled up, and she was pinched by someone's teeth until she wanted to cry but didn't dare.Yin's heart sank, and he turned around and said to Gao Fuler, "Buy it." After that, he walked over to the group of people.The boy had cried so hard that his voice was hoarse. With black eyebrows and black eyes, he opened his hands and begged: "Masters! Who will buy me? Who will buy me? How much money do I have to sell to bury my brother... You guys?" If you have done this good deed, even if you have committed evil in this life, you will not go to the eighteenth level of hell after death..."

"Damn it," someone next to him scolded with a smile, "You ignorant hozen, how can you beg for help like this?" Another person asked, "Where are you from?"

The child wiped away his tears and said, "I belong to Baoying—Master...you have to be pitiful..."

"You are Baoying's uncle!" An idler laughed, "Then we are all Yangzhou's nephews..."

The group burst into laughter.An old man squatted next to the corpse, smoking a dry cigarette, and sighed: "Sin! It's really pitiful. If you have money, just help a few..." As he said this, he took out a few copper brothers and placed them next to the child. The rich man also threw some Kangxi copper coins.The old man consoled him: "My child, don't cry. I hope this little money can't send your brother away. Flooding in the Yellow River is a disaster. Thousands of people died. Are they all buried in coffins? Pack up the money, buy a few knives of paper and burn them." Buried in a mass grave - a person dies like a lamp going out, can you make your brother cry to death?" As he said that, he knocked his cigarette pot on the cornerstone of the wall to get up.Unexpectedly, before the cigarette ashes burned out, sparks burst out on the bare feet outside the mat. The "dead corpse" feet were so hot that they shrank suddenly!
Bomb!

Everyone was shocked and dispersed with shouts.Dai Duo panicked and stepped in front of Yin to protect him.Everyone was staring at the corpse, but there was nothing strange after looking at it for a long time. They saw the child collecting the money from the ground, making a naughty face at everyone, patting the reed mat and shouting: "Dog, dog! Come on!" Why don't you get up and thank me for the reward?"

The dog lying on the ground pretending to be dead jumped up like a carp, waved his hand and wiped the mud on his face, spat twice, and said with a playful smile: "He's alive, he's alive! Thank you for the reward!" Son, you're tired of crying too. I'm so hard up that I'm so hungry that I can't stand it anymore. I'll buy two sesame cakes to beat my teeth first." Only then did everyone realize that it was these two naughty boys who were begging for food. They were shocked. After calming down, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.Seeing everyone leaving happily, Yin turned around with a smile and said, "Dai Duo, these two children are very smart. Let me ask if they are willing to sell them to me."

"Yes." Dai Duo agreed, stepped forward and patted the dog's head, asking: "How old is it? Where is your home?" The dog wiped his nose with his sleeve and said, "You are fourteen and you didn't listen to me. , I am Baoying's uncle?" Yin looked at Kan'er, but he was not as lively and clever as a dog. His cheeks were slightly bulging, as if he had just woken up, so he asked with a smile: "Are you Baoying who escaped from famine? Yes. Where are the adults at home?"

Kaner glanced at Yin, his eyes shining brightly. In this moment, Yin could see that this child was not as smart as a dog, but he was just smart but not exposed.Kan'er didn't turn around, looked at Yin and said, "You probably want to buy us, right?"

The more Yin watched, the more he fell in love with these two children. He nodded and said, "You're right. Come with me! Not to mention sesame cakes, you can have everything you want!" "I've been begging for food for three years, but I won't do it for a county magistrate!" The dog glanced at Gao Fuler and said with a smile, "I won't be a lap dog with you - look at his appearance, does he show off his face in front of others?" Gao Fuler turned pale with anger and cursed: "Look Do you think you are worthy of being our master, Habaer?"

"Did you fart? It stinks so much!" The dog covered his nose and said, "The more bullshit it is, the harder it is to smell - what are you talking about with them, Kan'er, let's go find Cui'er."

The two children were giggling and happily going, when the girl behind Gao Fuer timidly cried, "Brother Kan'er, I'm here... I'm selling..." Two lines of tears came out like a spring.

"Tui Er!"

Kan'er and Gou'er suddenly stood still as if locked together, and walked to the girl's side, the look of joy on their faces gone.Kan'er was just lost in thought with a blank face. Gou'er glanced at Yin, took Cui'er's hand, gritted his teeth and said: "I asked Wang Sanfa to sell you! I said I would give him four taels of silver in half a year to redeem you! - He is the eighth generation of his ancestors, and I have to ask Lu Lu to bite him to death!" Cui'er looked at the two brothers with tears in her eyes, then looked up at Gao Fuler, and said with a choked voice: "He sold me for ten taels of silver... We can't see each other anymore... Brother Kan'er, one day you can go back to Weijiaying and kowtow in front of my mother's grave for me..." As he spoke, he sobbed and let out a sigh of relief.

When Yin saw the three orphans who depended on each other for life and death, his heart suddenly felt sour and hot, and he no longer smiled.Thinking of the friendship between relatives, friends and neighbors in Xiaojiazi, I am a group of flesh and blood brothers, but I wish you would pick my nose and I would gouge your eyes!Thinking about it, he said: "Gou'er Kan'er, listen to me. Don't you want to go back to Baoying? Today is the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. After the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, I will leave for Tongcheng. How far is it from Baoying? I want to go back to Tongcheng. Stay for a year, maybe two years. You guys come with me and I leave Tongcheng. You can follow if you want. If you don’t want to go back with the three of them, okay?"

"Really?" Gou'er's eyes lit up and he said, "You lied to us!" Yin said nothing, stared at the three children for a long time, and said, "I never lie. If you don't want to go back to your hometown, leave now. Bar."

The three children all raised their heads in surprise, staring at Yin with flashing eyes, Yin's bottomless black pupils flickering faintly.The three children moved to leave, then stopped. Kan'er said with a smile: "That's it, let's go with you! Keep your word, you are not a bastard!" Jian Yin nodded with a smile, and the dog put two fingers in his mouth "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" they were screaming, "lulu!"Gao Fuler couldn't help but smile: "Such a dog has a name?"

"By the way, it's called Lulu." Kan'er looked like he had just woken up, with sleepy eyes, stroking the dog's head and said coldly, "You are bold, try to provoke me!"

Yin looked at the sun and saw that it was almost noon. He suddenly remembered that the afternoon meeting at Yangzhou Liangdao had been announced, so he smiled and said: "Let's go back - today is both disappointing and exciting, and there are not many good fortunes." After that, he went to six places. People walked back step by step.Yin pondered as he walked, and asked Dai Duo: "What happened to Wu Sidao and his cousin?" "The servant didn't ask in detail, and Sidao didn't say much. He only said that they were engaged." Dai Duo said, "Now the Jin family is No longer in Nanjing. Jin Yuze arranged for an emissary from the Chaoyangmen Gate Commander in Beijing. Wu Sidao said he wanted to go to Beijing, so I'm afraid he went to him. Alas... Wu Sidao's crime has not been solved yet, and he has not shown up for ten years, and then Now that she has become disabled, that woman is no longer looking for someone in her thirties. It’s hard to say what will happen next..." He shook his head and did not go on.

(End of this chapter)