Minister

146 [Jiankang Nine Years]

Ruyu Courtyard has been in the capital for quite some time, since it was funded by Huang Gui three years ago and the courtyard was rebuilt, it has become the most magnificent courtyard in Qujiang Lake.The update is the fastest, and the eyes are fast. Standing in the tallest building in this yard, you can overlook the whole picture of Qujiang Pond.The people who can enter this room are not ordinary benefactors. I don't know how many people regard this as a great honor.

But at this moment, Wei Chi didn't feel so grateful for Shi's little favor.Now even if I have basically lost contact with King Yan, how can this woman talk about him?Did she really know something, or was she just guessing and pretending to be mysterious?How could such a brothel girl have anything to do with the imperial court?

Huang Gui?

Wei Chi thought about it, and shuddered.Thinking back to the secret passages I walked through just now, I could smell something of Dongchang... What is the relationship between Shi Xiaoxiao and Huang Gui?

In this extremely extravagant boudoir, Shi Xiaoxiao left Wei Chi behind and went into the back room to change clothes by herself.Wei Chi touched the fabric of the brocade mat at hand - it was better than the clothes he made himself.Across the jade screen, Shi Xiaoxiao hums an out-of-tune tune, not knowing whether she is happy or preparing to be happy.

After a while, Shi Xiaoxiao changed her clothes and came out—I have to admit that, just because of her looks, Shi Xiaoxiao really has a taste that others can't match.Seductive, but not exaggerated, no wonder some men are circling around like flies, being ridiculed and even eaten honey.Regardless of her beauty, this woman's taste is indeed good, luxurious but not vulgar, simple but not artificial.

Seeing Wei Chi's flickering smile at the corner of Wei Chi's mouth, Shi Xiaoxiao eased her disgust.But it just passed away in a flash... This little man who was unique and independent quickly put on a serious face again.

Wei Chi didn't speak, apparently waiting for Shi Xiaoxiao to speak.

But the woman didn't open her mouth, she flipped her big cuff buttons smartly, turned the handle around, and the big blue and white porcelain vat in the middle of the room was slowly moved away.

It's not like we haven't seen Wei Chi in the dark room before, but it's still very strange to see it here.

"Very chic."

As Shi Xiaoxiao wished, Wei Chi spoke first: "What do you want me to call a small official like me here?"

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Shi Xiaoxiao curled her lips, "What a nerd who doesn't understand fun."

Wei Chi is glad that he can understand such teasing now: "Whether it's a fox demon or something else, which one didn't come out with a nerd? Don't you live up to the word nerd when you call me that?"

Shi Xiaoxiao sat down and waved her hands boredly: "Yes, you are right, you are more eunuch than eunuch... come here."

Wei Chi hesitated for a moment, then walked over - after the big vat was removed, it turned out to be a big hole, through which one could directly peek into the banquet hall downstairs.The opening is covered with a good layer of glass, and the curvature of the glass makes the people and things in the hall huge and clear.Wei Chi couldn't help but looked at Shi Xiaoxiao in surprise.

Shi Xiaoxiao focused on the distinguished guests coming and going downstairs: "Do you know that person?"

It is Qin Yao, the servant of the Ministry of punishment.

"He is a student of Mr. Zhou Yuan," Shi Xiaoxiao said slowly, "You know these things, right? Although your Shangshu is famous for being a fool, your mind is too hard to use. Since he wants to go to school with all his heart, Taifu's boat, I can't blame others for plotting against him."

Wei Chi was terrified, and looked at Shi Xiaoxiao in surprise.

Shi Xiaoxiao just smiled, turned around and lay down on the glass, her wide sleeves covered the people coming and going below: "Those are all important people's affairs, we don't care about them. I asked Mr. Feng to bring you here today, to be with you You are talking about a business. If it is done, I can give you some letter from Lord Yan. How about it?"

Wei Chi tried his best to calm the turmoil in his heart: "What do you want me to do?"

"Lord Wei also understands that not everyone can jump a rank and become an official. I know how many people envy you when you are an official. But you also know that from the seventh rank to the fifth rank, good things can happen. It's here. How about counting the people in front of you? What a coincidence, it's Mr. Feng. I remember that he is not an old man who is dozens of years older than you. Some of them have suffered." Shi Xiaoxiao Pretending to count on his fingers: "Tsk tsk tsk... In this way, Mr. Feng is very annoying."

Wei Chi has only met this woman a few times, but every time she meets, she can grit her teeth.

"I don't understand you."

"As long as Master Feng is free, Master Wei's future is still very good." Shi Xiaoxiao was kind and pleasant.

"I remember that he is your sister's husband."

"Yes, then what?" Shi Xiaoxiao waved her hand.

Wei Chi happened to be able to see Feng Shixun through the gap between Shi's small clothes, and he was a favorite on this occasion.Wei Chi began to recall the first time he met him - bohemian.And the first time I saw him - sitting upright.

The bits and pieces of the past year suddenly began to pour in, overwhelming the thoughts that should have been judging the pros and cons.

Childhood memories, the tragic death of the Tan family... and Qi Yuan, too many unbearable but mild sourness.As Qi Yuan said, he was just doing what ordinary men do.And Qi Yuan herself was just going through what this ordinary woman would go through.

But there was another impulse lingering in it, which made Wei Chi unable to explain clearly.

She has a pair of particularly dark eyes... I remembered it the first time I saw it, and it became clearer the more I thought about it.

That's why I went to talk to her, that's why I built a snowman for her, that's why I took the risk to find her maid for her, and that's why I lost my temper because of Feng Shixun's affairs. That's why I was confused in front of Shi Xiaoxiao's words.

Wei Chi looked away: "Is that what Eunuch Huang meant?"

"That's right." Shi Xiaoxiao said with a smile: "If Mr. Wei does well, there may be other rewards."

Wei Chi sneered: "I guess you don't know the prince's message, and Eunuch Huang didn't ask you to do this. You may have some other purpose, but I am not interested. If there is nothing else, I will leave first."

"What a smart boy, no wonder Mr. Wang likes you so much." Shi Xiaoxiao squeezed Wei Chi's chin: "But you underestimated my Shi Xiaoxiao's ability, I can do whatever I want, you Do you believe me? As long as I want to know about the matter of the prince, I will definitely know what Eunuch Huang means. As long as I think he has it, he will definitely have it. And you...Wei Chi, believe it or not, you just will in the end Follow my wish?"

Wei Chi patted Shi Xiaoli's hand away: "Master Feng and I, although not very good, are still friends, and there are still morals in the officialdom. If you told him what you said today, he would not agree You, I still believe him on this point. I believe that such a big court follows the king's law, not anyone's will. I also believe that no matter how capable you are, you will not be able to stand up to the current emperor, and the prince's affairs are not up to you It’s the final decision. It’s a good thing to get to know Quangui, but don’t think others are too stupid, if a generation of brothel women can’t even keep their duties as brothel women, then it’s not good.”

"Farewell." Wei Chi stood up and saluted, opened the door by himself, and left.

"What a brat who doesn't understand the rules! As long as you say a word, we guarantee that he won't be able to return home and will be skinned by our Dongchang!"

Shi Xiaoxiao lay on the ground and yawned comfortably, then looked back at the young eunuch behind the screen: "I'm so angry, if he just agreed, wouldn't it be boring, you just wait and see the good show later." Right. I understand this group of scholars who are officials. Don't talk nonsense to your godfather."

Wei Chi left Ruyu Courtyard angrily, only to find that he had forgotten his cloak when he came out, and he couldn't go back to get it after thinking about it, so let him go.The cold spring was coming, Wei Chi shrank his shoulders, walked two steps but didn't want to go back, thought carefully about every sentence Shi Xiaoxiao said today, and couldn't help feeling that this person was really scary.

If Lu Shengduo hadn't emphasized not to contact anyone back then, I would have been tempted just now.Why did Shi Xiaoxiao plot against Feng Shixun?Wei Chi found it incredible, and she said it so directly, as if it was a matter of course.If it was because of the old enmity between her and Xu Xiaonian, then after so many years, why choose now?She clearly knows that she and Feng Shixun are on good terms now, but she chooses herself... What is going on with all this?

Feng Shixun?When Shi Xiaoxiao mentioned this name, Wei Chi felt an uncontrollable impulse pop up in his heart. Although it only disappeared in an instant, it really existed.Wei Chi sighed towards the hustle and bustle of the street, but got lost on the way home. When she looked up again, she found that she had gone to a further place—that roof?

In fact, that night, with such a dim light, I should not be able to see clearly, but those black eyes were so clear.It was still the same roof, Wei Chi couldn't help but stop, looking at the quiet corner as if fascinated.

The smell of water, the noisy maids, the waiting umbrellas, the sparse wind.

"Is this gentleman going to buy something?" The shopkeeper saw that the customer neither left nor entered, so he came up to greet him.

"Oh?" Wei Chi smiled awkwardly, not even having the courage to reply, and fled into the dark in a panic.

When Populus euphratica went to find Wei Chi, he heard that the lord was sick at home again.Because I still have some things to do, I had to postpone my visit to his house for a day.Wei Chi was wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes and trousers, leaning against the stove, with an expression out of place for this season.Populus euphratica laughed heartily while holding the chestnut paste he bought.

Wei Chi sniffed in surprise: "Hey, hey? Why didn't anyone report it?"

"Do I still need to report?" Hu Yanglin dragged a chair and sat down: "What's the matter? I heard from Chen Hu that you came back very late a few days ago, and you lost your cloak, and..."

"Cough cough cough..." Wei Chi said indignantly, "Could it be that he only cared about complaining to you, so he forgot to notify you?"

"Well, he has a lot of resentment." Hu Yanglin also leaned against the stove: "Actually, it's still very cold, why didn't you pay attention?"

"Ah..." Wei Chi ignored Populus euphratica's accusation, and opened the snack bag on his own: "Oh! It's chestnut paste!"

"I bought it early in the morning, and it's just out of the pot. You can try it."

Wei Chi ate a big piece: "Mmm! Mmm! Why did you come to see me so early in the morning? You shouldn't be on vacation today, right?"

"Well," Hu Yanglin looked at the bright and dark fire: "My master will send me to Jiangnan, and I will leave tomorrow."

"Shen Yang?" Wei Chi was very surprised, because Jin Yiwei in the capital usually would not be dispatched abroad: "..."

"Don't think about it too much. For some reason, Mr. Shen seems to have a preference for me. He sent me to the south this time because he knows the people there."

"How long?" Wei Chi didn't believe that the old fox had good intentions. Hu Yanglin always thought of the bad things, and then thought of the good.

"Over a year."

"More than a year..." Wei Chi suddenly felt a little lonely: "After all, I am the only one in the capital."

"A person should also comb his hair well." Hu Yanglin helped Wei Chi straighten the untied hair around his ears: "Have you encountered any unpleasant things recently?"

Unpleasant events?Shi Xiaoxiao?Huang Gui? ...these are not unpleasant things.

"Do you know Huang Gui?"

"Eunuch Huang? Everyone in the palace still thinks he's good. You...offended him?"

After thinking about it, Wei Chi couldn't answer.

"Hahaha," Hu Yanglin laughed, "The people in the palace don't like ministers, but you don't think about it, Xu Wei and you have a friendship, he is the second in command, and the people in the palace have to give each other some face. What's more, you have a good relationship with General Wang, and you're not one of those gangsters, so he doesn't hate you as much as you think. There are many people he hates, and you still can't rank up."

Wei Chi swallowed the snack in his mouth, feeling that this is not what he actually wanted to say.

Seeing Wei Chi's sour face, Hu Yanglin became curious: "You don't want to ask Lin Yuzan, do you?"

"Huh?" Wei Chi almost choked: "Why should I ask her?"

"At your age, you should ask such things to me as a big brother, right?"

"Of course I didn't ask these things! Do you think I'm the same as your stupid brothers? Go to the south quickly, so you don't miss it."

"Then I'll take my leave first." Hu Yanglin saw the big cotton ball on his back loosen.

"Hey..." Wei Chi poked his head out without disappointment.

"Well, tell the elder brother."

"Brother, why are you still meddling in your business when all your younger brothers are married?" Wei Chi looked at Populus euphratica fiercely.

"Because...there is no suitable one yet." Hu Yanglin smiled awkwardly.

"If this continues, you will never be able to marry a wife. You don't like Lin Yuzan, do you?"

"Huh? Why should I like her?"

"Yes, then why should I like her?" Wei Chi buried his face back in his sleeve.

"..."

"Ah... If you find out after many years that it was because I didn't give you a gift that you killed...Tan Shi, will you be so angry that you want to kill me?"

"……No way."

"Ah! You really have no sense of justice!"

"How can there be no sense of justice?!"

"The sense of justice as a man! You just don't have it!"

"Huh?" A layer of cold sweat broke out on Hu Yanglin's forehead—why did it become full of... such a strange tone when he was arguing with himself: "That thing wasn't your fault, right?"

"What if it's my fault? Will you kill me in anger?"

"Won't……"

"Is it because you and I are good brothers?"

"..."

"Then what if your relationship with Mrs. Tan is better than my relationship with you?"

"I said Master Wei, why do you still think about such strange questions when you are so ill?"

Wei Chi looked away angrily - such a question really shouldn't be asked to a kind-hearted person like Hu Yanglin, he should be asked his master!That old fox will surely describe how to cut his opponent to death with relish.

"……you."

"Ok?"

"Go back to Beijing early!" The big cotton ball finally said sadly.

Seeing Wei Chi's dry lips and pale face, Hu Yanglin felt a little distressed, but he was very calm. According to what he knew about him, something must have happened to him, right?Just like myself a few years ago?But in the end, it will return to tranquility like I am now.The year I went to the south was only one year, and when I came back, I could bring a lot of interesting stories, right?

The next day, Wei Chi insisted on getting up to bid farewell to Populus euphratica, but the typhoid fever worsened. This time, he was sick for ten days and took a lot of medicine.After missing the spring exam hosted by the Ministry of Rites and Feng Shixun's poetry meeting, Wei Chi finally recovered from his illness.During the period of illness, only Mei Yue came to drop by every day, and Madam Qi may also know about it later, and the dim sum brought by Mei Yue became more delicate and the portions increased.As a result, except for Wei Chi, the rest of the family got fat.

Now that he has been released for more than ten days, Master Lin simply released Wei Chi for this month, since he is also an idler anyway, and if he is released, he will be out of sight and out of mind.

The breath of spring became stronger, and the idle Wei Chilai became even more idle in the yard. Mei Yue suggested that he should let someone take care of the yard, but Wei Chi was too lazy to move, and was finally pushed too hard, so Yiqing and Chen Hu went to hire some people to do it.

"Your Majesty Wei isn't going to take a look, either?" Mei Yue came over with a food box again: "Whose yard is it? I need to worry about it."

Wei Chi took the initiative to take the food box, choosing the same ones: "...this is delicious!"

"Master Wei, you've gained weight again... you don't even participate in my master's poetry meeting, are you too lazy." Mei Yue was very angry.

I'm really lazy, the younger sister of the Geng family is not here, so I don't need to think about going out, Hu Yanglin has gone to the south, I don't need to practice swords, I'm sick, I don't need to worry about the affairs of the yamen, and by the way, I also dismissed sister Yang, Master Feng's poetry meeting ?It's still free.

"How is your wife recently?"

"Of course it's good, how can I make you dim sum, hum!" Even Mei Yue was jealous, as her master had never eaten dim sum made by his wife herself.

Wei Chi happily enjoyed the patient's generous treatment: "Hehehe, I won't give it to you either."

Mei Yue was angry at Mrs. Wei's complacency: "Have you met Miss Lin?"

"What Miss Lin?"

"Pretend you don't know? It's the Lin who was supposed to be engaged to you, Mr. Li, but ended up getting engaged to Mr. Li! Miss! Mother!"

"He boasted that he was well-informed. When did I plan to get engaged to her? It's just because her relative is my sister, so I know her."

"Hey! Hey! Is she really beautiful?" Mei Yue didn't bother to ask about her relationship with Wei Chi: "A few days ago, I heard from a girl in another yard that Lord Li invited her family to the capital. The newly built house is full of 88 tables. Not to mention Miss Lin's clothes, just the outermost clothes, the material was given to Mr. Li by the emperor before, and there are only a few horses in total. Which one? Are you willing to make clothes? Only Mr. Li is willing to do so! People in the capital say that Miss Lin's appearance is worthy of such clothes. I don't know what kind of beautiful person she is. If she is engaged to you, Mr. Lin, Then I can still take a look, it's a pity." Mei Yue gave Wei Chi a contemptuous look, with an expression of hatred for iron.

"Isn't it? How can I handle someone like that?" Wei Chi laughed.

"Really beautiful? Tell me!" Mei Yue couldn't stand Wei Chi's trickery.

"How should I put it, it's really beautiful, even if I try to find it, I can't find the flaws."

"This is that kind of beauty!" Mei Yue felt that Wei Chi was teasing her again: "I heard that she is more beautiful than princesses and queens, isn't it?"

Wei Chi thought for a while: "Your wife is prettier than Miss Lin, really."

Lin Yuzan's exquisite face is indeed a stunning effect, which is unforgettable for people to see, but it seems that just thinking of Madam Qi's eyes will make Lin Yuzan's appearance eclipsed.

"Your wife also knows how to read the account books, right?" Wei Chi ignored Mei Yue who was chattering, and directly stuffed a piece of snack into her mouth.

"Woo...dang...sticky...fly."

After the young Lord Li got the emperor's support again, his power to control the empire became stronger.Many of his methods made Wei Chi think of Chen Ang, so Wei Chi once again ignited his desire to explore.

"Good Meiyue! Help me to ask your wife if she is free. If she is free, please teach me to read the account book!"

The author has something to say: Sorry for the inconvenience caused to everyone before.