cloud temple phoenix hairpin

Chapter 23

Chapter 20

Xie Jingzhu and Pei Wenying lived together in a large house specially packed out in Xie Mingrou's courtyard, with an open layout.Against the wall is a black lacquered bookshelf inlaid with mother-of-pearl landscape and flower patterns, beside it is a screen with a pear wood maid viewing treasures, and a vase of colorful flowers and butterflies stands in the corner, elegantly arranged.It can be seen that Mrs. Xie took good care of these two nieces from Beijing.Because it was still early, Xie Mingrou didn't go back to the room, the three sisters were sitting together under the lamp, Pei Wenying was reading, Xie Mingrou and Xie Jingzhu were fighting for cards.Hearing his girl Yuandie say that Xie Zuiqiao is coming, she hastily called to come in.

"Brother came just in time. I heard that you went to Mengcheng to visit sister Ruan's grandfather two days ago? What's new? Let's hear it, you just happened to be bored to death at home."

Xie Mingrou went up to meet her and said with a smile.

Xie Zuiqiao laughed dumbly, and said: "There is nothing new, but I just received a letter from Jingzhong." He looked at Pei Wenying who had put down the book, "Wenying, it was written by your brother, let me ask you Ann."

"Tai's cousin!"

Xie Jingzhu yelled.

Pei Wenying raised the corners of her mouth and said with a smile: "Isn't he the busiest? When Jing Zhu and I left Beijing with you last time, he didn't even have time to see us off. Now he's writing to ask our An , I don't care about it!"

Xie Zuiqiao chuckled: "Little girl, please be careful when I tell him what you said, he will pull your cheek when he comes over."

"Brother is coming too?"

Pei Wenying seemed a little surprised this time, her eyes lit up, and she cried out.

"Yes, but not now. It will be a few months after the year. It's still undecided. He asked me to ask you, and said that since the Chinese New Year is here, if there is anything missing, he will send someone to bring it to you."

"There's nothing missing, it's just that there is one more person. If my elder brother can help me take Nanny Ding back, then I will remember his favor."

Pei Wenying seemed a little disappointed, and leaned back on the Arhat bed with curly grass pattern and rattan heart, and said lazily.

As soon as she said this, both Xie Jingzhu and Xie Mingrou secretly laughed.It turned out that Nanny Ding was very strict and well behaved, Madam Xie liked it and treated her as a guest of honour, and asked her to discipline her daughter and niece by the way.That's all for Xie Jingzhu, Xie Mingrouping is a carefree person in Japan, and secretly complained to the sky, wishing that this nanny would go back sooner.Hearing Pei Wenying express her heart, she was naturally happy, blinked her eyes, and said: "I have never met Wenying's brother, but I only heard my mother mention it occasionally. He said that he was destined by the Lord Long Live since he was a child. In the palace, he was studying in the upper study with the princes and princes. Long live Lord even taught him horseback riding and archery. You are only two years older than your brother, and now you are the commander of the imperial guards. I have long wanted to see you. I wish for this brother Come earlier, so that I can see what it looks like with my own eyes. By the way, Wenying, since your brother is two years older than my cousin, you should have a sister-in-law long ago, why have you never heard of it?"

Pei Wenying let out a groan, and said: "At the end of last year, my grandmother and my mother were summoned into the palace by the queen mother, saying that the emperor was a matchmaker, and she pointed out the daughter of Gong Hai's family, the governor of Gyeonggi, to my brother. They were originally scheduled to get married in March this year. I don't want that Gong The lady suddenly fell ill, which was delayed."

Xie Mingrou let out an ah, repeatedly calling out what a pity.Gossip comes naturally, and I keep asking questions.

Xie Zuiqiao touched his chin, left a few girls behind, and went to the bookshelf to look at the sand clock on it.Just at this time, the hourglass in the glazed cover was exhausted, and it was Zhengxu time. The small door popped open, and the wooden drummer walked out to beat the drum to tell the time.

Xie Zuiqiao looked at it carefully for a moment, turned around and coughed, interrupted the conversation of the girls behind him, and asked: "I heard from you last time that this sand clock was brought from the Ruan family in Rongyin Hall. Do you know who made it? "

Xie Mingrou glanced at it, and said triumphantly: "Cousin, don't you want one too? If you really want one, I'll ask sister Ruan's family, she must know, just ask that person to make another one."

Xie Zuiqiao shook his head and smiled, "What do I want this thing for, I'm just curious about the person who made it. I understand, you don't need to ask. You guys rested earlier, so as not to be beaten by Nanny Ding again, I'll go first It's gone." Xie Mingrou and the others rushed him to the door.

As soon as Xie Zuiqiao returned to his courtyard, he saw the girl Yuzan looking at the door. Seeing him coming, a pear smile appeared on his face, and he complained softly: "Why didn't you even eat and left on an empty stomach? Fortunately, I always It’s hot, so I’ll bring it to you.”

Yuhan used to be the eldest girl next to Xie Zuiqiao's late mother, two years older than him, because she was a prudent person, she was sent to serve him by his side two years ago, and she has been very attentive.This time Fu Ling went south, he didn't even think about bringing her here, but she asked to come with her, and agreed to take care of the young master and the young lady.Xie Zuiqiao knew that she was careful, and he was used to her. In the past, she used to tidy up everything from money transfers to purses, clothes and towels. She was really not used to having less, so she called to follow her.At this moment, I was still thinking about the mechanism just now, so I responded casually.Yuhan hurried out to serve dinner.After a while, he and a little girl brought the food box over, and quickly put it up.

Xie Zuiqiao smelled the aroma of the food, and then he felt hungry, and he felt full like a storm, and said: "When I came out, I asked you to pack up the wound medicine, did you bring it?"

"Bring it."

"Well, wrap it up for me alone." Xie Zuiqiao put down the bowl and said.

"Okay," said Yuzan in response.

"By the way, I remember that Jingzhu has Yufu ointment to protect the cold, go and ask for a box, and wrap it up together."

Yuzan was slightly taken aback, and tentatively asked: "I don't know who to send it to?"

Xie Zuiqiao said nothing, just looked at her and smiled slightly.Yuzan immediately responded with a smile: "Yes, let the girl ask for it."

After everyone in the room was gone, Xie Zuiqiao sat under the lamp and took out the letter and quickly read it again. The candlelight cast light on his face, reflecting a bit of solemnity.

This letter is just like what he said to his younger sisters before, it was indeed written by Pei Taizhi of Jingyong Houfu.It's just that in addition to greeting the younger sisters at the end, there are two things mentioned earlier in the letter.

The first thing is to ask him to pay attention to whether there are craftsmen who are good at making organs in the Jiangnan regions.In fact, he knew about this matter a long time ago.The reason why Pei Taizhi was looking for craftsman skills was none other than that he wanted to use them to improve weapons.

Xie Zuiqiao was born as a general, so he is no stranger to military weapons.Pei Taizhi also served as a military inspector before becoming the commander of the bodyguards.When the two of them had nothing to do together, they had studied together many weapons mentioned in "Wu Bei Zhi" written by an unknown craftsman, among which there were many hidden organs, artillery and firearms.It's just that this book is incomplete, and the narrations about the secret establishment of institutions are vague, so Pei Taizhi has been looking for a craftsman who is proficient in this way.Knowing that Xie Zuiqiao went to the south, and knowing that the people here are outstanding, that's why I asked him to keep an eye on them secretly.Xie Zuiqiao immediately thought of the sand clock he saw in his sister's room last time.Those who can design such utensils must be able to be used to great effect.Only then did I ask a few more questions.

As for the second matter... Pei Taizhi didn't say it clearly, but only mentioned it slightly.It is said that Emperor Zhengde has been on the throne for [-] years, and he intends to ascend Mount Tai to enshrine Zen in the next year, and he will take the opportunity to drive to the south of the Yangtze River.If it happened, he would go south with the emperor and take Pei Wenying back to Beijing along the way.

Xie Zuiqiao and Pei Taizhi grew up together and have a close relationship. He also respects this cousin who is two years older than himself.The old lady of Jingyong Hou's mansion gave birth to three sons, and the old prince passed away a few years ago, and the big house took the title.Although Pei Taizhi was only the son of the third house, he was favored by Emperor Zhengde since he was a child, and was called into the palace to be educated. He received almost the same treatment as the prince.Pei Taizhi's father, Pei Shizheng, was a first-rank senior official, and his mother, An Shi, was granted imperial orders.I don't know why, the old lady Wang, the head of the Hou's mansion, is a little alienated from the grandson who brought glory to the Pei family, and even more indifferent to An's.Xie Zuiqiao remembered that when he was young, he had the impression that his cousin was very high-spirited, and even possessed a natural domineering, like a radiant sun wherever he stood.It's just that after getting older, especially in the past two years, his temperament has turned a little silent and cold, and he doesn't go back to the Marquis Mansion much, let alone mentioning the marriage. It is said that the previous marriage was also done because of the emperor's mediation .

Xie Zuiqiao remembered that once when he and he rode along the Jingshi Avenue, he joked casually that the world was jealous of his youthful success.He looked back at the high wall of Zhuwa in the imperial city to the north, and said calmly: "I would like to join the northern frontier camp and never return. Even listening to the Hujiao Qiang flute for a long time is better than here. At that time, I thought he was just talking casually, but within a few months, I heard that he had resigned from his post as a bodyguard and voluntarily joined the Northland military camp.In the end, he was suppressed by his uncle Pei Shizheng.It just so happened that the original position of commander of the guards was vacant, but the emperor ordered him to fill it up instead, thus becoming the youngest commander of the guards since the dynasty opened.

"My lord, the wound medicine and Yufu ointment are packed."

Xie Zuiqiao heard the sound of the jade hairpin coming from behind, folded the letter in her hand, looked back, and saw a box wrapped in flannelette in her hand.

Xie Zuiqiao took over.

(End of this chapter)