Emperor Kangxi: Yuyu Chengxiang

Chapter 20
Mingzhu's Xinci mansion is located in Huaishu Xiejie, which was originally the former vassal office of King Mingfu in Beijing.Prince Fu's mansion is far away in Luoyang, and according to Ming law, kings are not allowed to enter the capital without permission, so this house has actually been idle.In terms of its regulations, it is magnificent and stately, and it is hard to compare with the eight iron hat palaces in the capital.

Eight years ago in Kangxi, because Oboi was in power, everyone was afraid that the tree would attract the wind, and no one dared to care about it.Ten years after Kangxi, several princes wanted to invite the edict to live in it, but they started haunting for no reason.Looking at the pavilions, pavilions, painted beams and carved buildings, the trees are shady and lush, but no one dares to want them.But Mingzhu is not afraid of ghosts. After playing Ming Kangxi, she lived in it.Strange to say, since he moved in, there have been no ghosts.

Knowing that Kangxi was coming to see Gao Shiqi, the first thing Mingzhu did when she returned home was to order someone to decorate the mansion, storing things such as the large glass full-length mirror, the gold-plated chime bell, the jade ruyi beads, the golden Buddha and the jade horse in the warehouse in the back garden, and went to Liulichang randomly bought dozens of boxes of old books and put them in the vestibule, and they didn't stop until the next day.Only then did Mingzhu remember that Gao Shiqi hadn't been seen since she came back, so she sent someone to the study to ask her son Xingde to come up front for questioning.He sat wearily, and just after taking a sip of tea, the old Wangtou of Mengong came in with a letter of greeting, and said: "Master Zhongtang, Jin Fu Zhongcheng is here to see you!"

"Come in, please!" Mingzhu pressed the table and stood up. As soon as she reached the courtyard, she saw Jin Fu had already entered the second door.Mingzhu put on a smile all over her face, arched her hands, and said, "Brother Zihuan, it's been a long time! It's been five years since we left Fengyang Mansion in the 12th year of Kangxi, and my brother is very concerned." Followed by a woman dressed in plain clothes and two young boys with chief horns, he asked again, "Are these two—"

"Let's go in and talk about it." Jin Fu replied. When Mingzhu saw Xingde approaching, she signaled with her eyes to wait in the corridor, then turned to Jin Fu with a smile and said, "Brother, why are you so dazed? Please, please—give me the Holy Spirit Brew four cups of Dahongpao tea, and pack another bag for Mr. Jin!"

"Zihuan," Mingzhu said while serving tea to Jin Fu and Li Xiuzhi in person, "I'm not at home when you come several times, I'm really sorry, I didn't dare to accept the post, so I had to return it. But your brother is too old-fashioned. Your place of residence, can't I run a few steps to see you? Did you see that the Holy Spirit is here—what are the orders?" Then, he cast a glance at Li Xiuzhi, and said with concern, "You only need to drink tea, don't be restrained and polite. .”

Seeing Mingzhu being so hospitable and hospitable, Jin Fu felt relieved and said with a smile: "The Holy Majesty has summoned me three times, but because I was busy, I didn't speak clearly. He ordered me to stay in Beijing for a few days..." As he spoke, he described his situation since he entered Beijing. He made a rough idea and reported to Mingzhu about Li Xiuzhi's mother and son.

"Ah... yes, yes!" Mingzhu agreed vaguely, sat down, held a cup of tea in both hands, lost his mind for a while, and asked Xiuzhi, "What are you planning now?"

"I don't know..." Xiuzhi lowered her head and wiped her tears.

Jin Fu was silent for a while, and said: "Jin Qing refuses to recognize her, and she has no evidence in hand, which is very tricky. If the emperor is alarmed, it seems to be too harsh on Jin Qing, and Xiuzhi can't bear it—truly No, I have to send it to my mother for now..."

"Brother Zihuan doesn't need to worry about this matter, Mingzhu will handle it all by himself!" Mingzhu said with a sigh of relief after making up her mind, "What kind of evidence do you need for this kind of thing? Isn't Li Xiuzhi's testimony a witness? Isn't the poem written by Jin Qing a physical evidence? ——Look at these two children, poor ones, they are just like two little Li Guangdi!" Before he finished speaking, Li Xiuzhi couldn't hold back her tears, and sobbed unceasingly.Mingzhu didn't pay any attention, and just shouted: "Old Wangtou, call the butler!" Jin Fu and Xiuzhi looked at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what Mingzhu was going to do, and when he was about to worry, the butler ran in , please Ann, and asked respectfully:

"What are your orders, master?"

"Didn't Tongzhou buy a new house?"

"Yes, the deal has already been made. There are three entrances and three courtyards, and there is a small garden behind..."

"Okay." Mingzhu interrupted him, pointing at Xiuzhi and said, "This is Li Butang's wife. I will give her the house to live in. You assign twenty maids and three mothers to take care of her. Every month Allocate 40 taels of silver according to Madam's monthly rule—be careful, let others know about this, and I will expose you, a slave, first!"

Jin Fu opened his eyes wide and looked at Mingzhu who was full of smiles. He had long heard that Mingzhu was free and easy, generous and generous, but when he first saw her, was it too much to treat her so favorably?Li Xiuzhi raised her tear-filled eyes, looked at Jin Fu in astonishment, got up and said, "Ming Zhongtang, how can this be done? I'm here to join Li Guangdi. These two children are his flesh and blood, so he can't ignore them. I I came from a humble background, not a life to enjoy a blessing, and nothing will break my lifespan..."

"Sister-in-law, don't say that. Mingzhu has also begged for food. It's not a good feeling to be under the fence." Mingzhu sighed and said, "Guangdi is not a heartless person. He must have difficulties in not being able to recognize your mother and son. He is about to As a bachelor, you can’t make somersaults on this matter—in this way, this house and people are regarded as the pearls that lent you, and you didn’t take advantage of me. In the future, Brother Jinqing and I will settle this account. But just don’t Impatient. I waited for the opportunity to speak slowly. He was young and new, and when he was trying to save face, he made a big mess when he was in a hurry! Brother Zihuan is also here, I explained what I said, you guys Take care of both."

These words were eloquent and sweet, covering up for Li Guangdi, taking care of Li Xiuzhi's mother and son, and declaring that he had no other intentions. Hearing this, Jin Fu's heart felt hot, and he nodded, "I never thought Ming Xiang would be so warm-hearted!" The child fell to the ground, crying like a tearful person.

"Brother Zihuan can't be left in vain." Mingzhu looked up at the sky. It was already past noon, and she was afraid that Kangxi would drive over suddenly and bump into something bad, so she said with a smile, "You go back first. After two days, I will go and see You, I have to bother you for two cups! I heard that you were charged 200 taels of silver at the door. I have investigated this matter-these dog slaves are really nothing! My brother should take it back, there are many places in Beijing to use silver Let's go!" As he spoke, he handed back a bank note.Where would Jin Fu be willing to pick it up? Seeing that Mingzhu still had something to do, he smiled and said, "Give me some tea."

After placing Li Xiuzhi, mother and son, Mingzhu heaved a sigh of relief, then asked Xingde, "Where's Uncle Gao?"

It was not long before Nalan Xingde was born, and he had a pink face and red lips, and he bowed and stood neatly dressed.Since Gao Shiqi came, Xingde pestered him every day to talk about poetry and ancient prose, and the two of them seemed inseparable as if they had forgotten each other.He looked up at his father, and said softly: "Uncle Gao Shibo and Xu Shibo took their son to see the flower market yesterday. Later, Uncle Gao Shibo asked Xu Shibo to take me back in a sedan chair. He said that he had to spend a day outside because he had something to do, and he wouldn't be back until later today!" "

It's not unusual for Gao Shiqi to do this often, and Kangxi may not come anytime soon.Mingzhu didn't ask any more questions, just said: "What's there to do in the flower market? I want to go there for a day?—Where's Xu Shibo?"Hearing his father's question, Xing De hurriedly said: "Xu Shibo was ordered to visit Gu Yanwu and Fu Qingzhu at the Great Buddha Temple. When he came back, he asked Mu Zixu to go to meet Shi Runzhang and Du Na together, saying that he would be back soon... "

"Oh, Mingxiang!" The father and son were chatting one after another, when Xu Qianxue's hearty laughter came from outside the second door, "Why did the house change so much overnight? If it weren't for the two big white marble lions at the door The late student is still suspicious that he has stepped on the wrong threshold!" As he spoke, he pulled out the curtain and came in, while bowing his hands and looking around, "Hey! The shelves are full of books, the room is full of calligraphy, it's really fascinating..."

Xu Qianxue's appearance is very ordinary, with goldfish eyes, a hooked nose, a pair of barbed teeth, black and yellow from the smoke, a pair of tortoiseshell glasses hung by the side of the lapel with a silk thread, and the mouse's mustache trembles up and down when he speaks , No matter how you look at it, it's awkward.When people see his face, they will think unexpectedly: "How can he be the number one scholar with such a virtuous appearance?" The article has nothing to say.

(End of this chapter)