Fengmou in troubled times

"What? You said Ah Yi is missing too?"

Zhen Yi, who came to report the letter, was taken aback. He didn't expect that the pavilion master who didn't change his expression after hearing his report almost fell off the chair, "Pavilion master, please don't worry, but a brother said he saw it. Master Yun left with a woman, and there was no further news about him after that. Maybe Master Yun was delayed by something and forgot to leave a letter for you." He secretly glanced at the pavilion master, and couldn't help feeling sorry for the pavilion master. This veiled hat was very skillfully worn, and with such a big movement, it actually covered his face securely, making him even want to take a peek.

The remade Feng Yinran tapped the table lightly with her fingers, feeling a little irritable.The most lacking thing in ancient times is that communication is too backward. If it were in modern times, a phone call or a text message would be enough. Why is he worrying about Shao Surong's accident here. "Did you ever see which direction they were going?"

"It seems to be going out of the city." After Zhen Yi finished speaking, he was afraid that the pavilion master would not be satisfied with the answer, so he quickly added: "The one going out from the north city gate is probably in the direction of the imperial capital."

To make Ah Yi so impatient that he even forgot to report to someone, could it be that there is news about Ziyi... Feng Yinran thought about it to no avail, so he had to order Zhen Yi to continue to send people to pay more attention to the news of these two people, "You I just said that the cause of Fang Yizhen's death has been found out?"

"Yes, Pavilion Master." On the construction site where the embankment was being rebuilt, there were naturally spies from Qianxing Pavilion. It happened that Fang Yizhen's accident was recorded on the day of Fang Yizhen's accident, and then Feng Yinran asked him to find someone to investigate.Because Feng Yinran was busy with other things a few days ago, although Zhen Yi heard the report from his subordinates, since the pavilion master didn't ask, he didn't rush to talk about it, which has been delayed until now. "The fifth prince's body was secretly inspected by his subordinates. He was indeed drowned, but there was a black needle hole on his neck, which should be caused by poisoning before he fell into the water."

Feng Yinran also understood Fang Linyuan's original plan. This scene was supposed to be that the dam collapsed again, and the Fifth Prince, who was exhausted from patrolling, fell into the water, and even cut corners by the Ministry of Industry.However, it is unknown who is behind this change of events. "What happened on the embankment that day, tell me again."

Feng Yinran had mentioned this matter to Fang Linyuan in private, and she took the initiative to take it upon herself, and volunteered to investigate for Fang Linyuan, otherwise, with Feng Yinran's original intention, she would not care how strange Fang Yizhen's death was, but would instead A glass of water and wine is offered to the hero who eradicated violence and made good.However, disgust is nothing, Feng Yinran still listened to Zhen Yi's description seriously, and reorganized it again, only to find that she had missed a very important person. "When Fang Yizhen fell off the embankment, he was alone with his staff? What's the name of that staff?"

Zhen Yi, who was in a daze, nodded in a daze, and Feng Yinran in front of him lifted up the hem of the light gauze while drinking tea, revealing her snow-colored chin and those gorgeous lips inadvertently, causing Zhen Yi to lose his mind. .He couldn't help but think of that snowy night, when the cold wind blew the veil of the pavilion master's hat, he saw the astonishing side face in a daze. The true face of the pavilion master.Isn't their pavilion master really a monster here to confuse people's minds?Zhen Yi endured and endured, and then swallowed back the words that had come to his lips, and tried his best to put on a righteous and strict look, "His name is Zhao Shen, and he was personally assigned by the late First Prince to the Fifth Prince." The person." Seeing Feng Yinran finally closed the veil again, Zhen Yi breathed a sigh of relief, "Master, do you doubt this Zhao Shen?"

Feng Yinran didn't particularly like drinking tea at first, and she didn't have any talent for elegant things like tea tasting, but fortunately, she was influenced by her father, Feng Tong and Fang Linyuan, two refined scholars for many years. He has been able to deceive many people, and Zhen Yi, who is a brute, is among them.He picked up the chopsticks and poked the dim sum on the plate. The color was too fancy and it looked too sweet, which was not to his liking.Feng Yinran threw away the chopsticks in disgust, turned to Zhen Yi and asked, "Where is this person now?"

"After the Fifth Prince's accident, he has been helping with the funeral affairs. He was very busy. He looked like a loyal servant. He accompanied Fang Yizhen's coffin back to Beijing with the funeral procession yesterday."

Speaking of Zhao Shen, Feng Yinran remembered that before Fang Linyuan was assassinated in the city that day, Zhao Shen used the opportunity of passing by to warn him.Later, knowing that the assassin was arranged by Fang Linyuan, Feng Yinran didn't take this matter to heart. Thinking about it now, I'm afraid Zhao Shen was trying to express his position at that time, and also secretly warned them to be careful of Fang Yizhen's petty actions.It's just that there is nowhere to collect evidence now, so I can't guess which faction this Zhao Shen is from.

Feng Yinran suddenly realized that she had generally been too leisurely during this period of time. Driven by Fang Linyuan, an idler who "does not seek to make progress", not only neglected to take care of the affairs in Qianxing Pavilion, but also I am becoming more and more lazy to use my brain, and when I encounter unsolvable problems, I unconsciously want to jump over them.This habit is very bad, and it must be killed in the cradle immediately... As he thought about it, he asked, "Besides, is there any news from Rong Shao?"

"Oh, that's right!" Zhen Yi hurriedly took out a bamboo tube from his bosom, inside which was sealed a letter written by the manager Mo Xi to the pavilion master, "Please look over it, the pavilion master."

At the beginning of Mo Xi's letter, he expressed how the people staying in the main pavilion missed the pavilion master. The four guardians headed by Suzaku and the 28 star envoys headed by Xinyuehu strongly condemned Feng Yinran for being irresponsible. The move and demanded that this year's year-end welfare bonus must be doubled in order to compensate for their spiritual loss.What makes Feng Yinran feel caring is that although Mo Xi agreed to pay the bonus on his behalf, he used the excuse that the New Year's Day is approaching and assigned a very heavy task, especially Xinyuehu was the busiest, barely touching Running around like a spinning top, Feng Yinran was deeply sympathetic but very satisfied.

If there is any major event in Rong Shaojing, the first thing is that the Gu family, the leader of the Wulin League, almost got married.Rumor has it that Miss Murong Jiu, who is well-known in the martial arts world, fell in love with Gu Qinghan, the young master of the Gu family. My God, I immediately let out the words that I will not marry you if you are not a king in this life. I don't know how many dreams of young knights who fell in love with her were smashed in a short time.The head of the Murong family was tortured by his youngest daughter to the point of being helpless, so he had no choice but to condescend to ask the matchmaker to go to the Gu family to talk about marriage. Who knew that the Murong family hadn't waited for a reply, and the Gu family had been pissed off by Gu Qinghan, who had run away from home. Flying dog jumps.Seeing Luohua's intention to be ruthless, Murong Daxia didn't have time to get angry, his pampered little daughter left a letter and left, saying that he wanted to ask Gu Qinghan himself to find out.After receiving this double blow, even the mighty Murong Hero couldn't help moaning on the hospital bed for two days.

Mo Xi took this matter as a joke, and wrote two pages with great detail and eloquence, which made Feng Yinran laugh out loud.The second story is about Shu Yan Ping Yu who was previously confined in the Prince's Mansion.Because during the martial arts competition under the eyes of everyone, a sword pierced a large transparent hole in the body of Fang Tingwu, the eldest prince of Cangjue Kingdom. In order to appease Cangjue's face, Emperor Yin Shu Yanrong had no choice but to order his son to be imprisoned first. stand up.This test lasted for three months, until a few days ago, people were released on the pretext of worshiping ancestors at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.Mo Xi mentioned it briefly in the letter, saying that the crown prince looked thinner and not in good spirits, and it is estimated that he will take care of him for a while.Feng Yinran didn't have a deep friendship with Shu Yan Ping Yu, so she hurriedly turned the page.

When it comes to the last thing, Feng Yinran is really happy.Emperor Yin Shu Yanrong's lineage is weak, apart from the crown prince Shu Yan Pingyu, there is only Shu Yan Pan'er, a princess, so tired that Feng Yinran's sister, the current queen Feng Mingyan, is also a little lonely at her knees.Mo Xi's letter mentioned that his sister Feng Mingyan was pregnant again. Although it was only two months old, Feng Yinran was sincerely happy.He counted the days, and there were still seven or eight months until Feng Mingyan gave birth.If everything goes well with Cangjue, he can go back to see his new nephew.

Jinyang Wang Shu Yanmao has rarely been at peace in the past few years, but it seems that everything is going well for Rongshao.Feng Yinran read Mo Xi's letter carefully again, and then wrote a reply letter, and sent it back to Rongshao's Zongge.

……Dividing line……

Xuexiao palace garden Meifang, Xiao leak towering late to build a chapter.When the weather is cold and the twelfth lunar month, agarwood is fried and given to the houses.

Because the weather was fine and there was nothing left and right, it was rare for Fang Shou, the king of Gaoshan, to sleep until midnight, so he got up and finished washing up under the service of his maid.Stepping into the hall, Fang Shou saw the housekeeper ordering two bowls of colorful and fragrant Laba porridge, and then Fang Shou remembered that today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The so-called Laba Festival, also known as La Ri Sacrifice or Wanghou La, is a sacrificial festival that has been passed down from the prehistoric times to celebrate the harvest and thank ancestors and gods.On this day, no matter the imperial court, government, monasteries or common people's homes will cook Laba porridge one after another, also known as "seven treasures and five flavors porridge".After the porridge is cooked, it is necessary to worship the gods and ancestors first, then present it to relatives and friends, and finally the whole family eats it.With Fang Shou's status, there are countless people who send Laba porridge to him, but the only one who is really qualified to pass it to him in the past is the one given by the county magistrate Song Dian. Gift from the prince.

There are many kinds of Laba porridge, and the competition represents the status of each family. Like the ones given to the ministers in the palace, red dates, lotus seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, pine nuts, longan, hazelnuts, Grapes, gingko, water chestnut, black silk, roses, red beans, peanuts, etc. total no less than [-] kinds of materials.Even if it was sent by the Song Dian mansion in front of Fang Shou, it also used glutinous rice, pearl rice, Yiren rice, sticky yellow rice, sticky rice, barley kernels, red beans, mung beans, kidney beans, chestnuts, lotus seeds, peanuts, and ginkgo. , lily, red dates, longan meat and sweet-scented osmanthus, the most meticulous cooks were selected, and they started to prepare last night. They began to cook carefully from midnight, and simmered overnight, which can be described as very painstaking.

Fang Shou stirred it with a spoon. Although his family was not exempt from customs, every year Laba would cook porridge and present it to relatives and friends as rewards, but he himself didn't like to eat this food, most of it came from the housekeeper or his concubine in the backyard get together.Every year, I only taste the porridge made by Song Dian's family. Firstly, it is suitable for the occasion, and secondly, because he is greedy for the porcelain bowl that Song Dian uses to hold the porridge. He must have fired it himself.

But this year was a bit of a surprise... Fang Shou only glanced at the Laba porridge sent by the Seventh Prince, and couldn't move his eyes away.The Seventh Prince in the backyard was originally staying temporarily, and the matter of making porridge was nothing more than a whim of Ah Yin, who is an excellent cook, and he presumably had a spare, so he sent a bowl to himself, the host, meaning.The ingredients used to make porridge are nothing new, but they are also common japonica rice, barley, longan, lotus seeds, lilies, red dates and chestnuts, but they are boiled until they are sticky and soft, and they melt in the mouth, which is very delicious.But what caught Fang Shou's attention even more was the little fruit lion lying on the porridge bowl.

To make Laba porridge, it is indeed a custom in some places to put fruits carved into various shapes in the porridge to add color.And this fruit lion uses the crispy dates that have been removed and dried as the lion's body, half of the walnut kernels are used as the lion's head, the peach kernels are used as the lion's feet, and sweet almonds are used as the lion's tail, and finally glued together with sugar. Put it in a porridge bowl.If it is done vividly, it can make the whole bowl of porridge interesting.

This is not the first time Fang Shou has seen such a cute fruit lion.In his childhood memory, Laba every year is a more joyful day than New Year, because every year on this day, his mother would make a fruit lion for him.

Fang Shou's biological mother was a sweeping maid who didn't even have a proper name and came from a humble background. She was raped by the old prince after drinking, and she became pregnant after being favored by the old prince.The biological mother was too humble, and he was not a scoundrel who was highly regarded by the old prince. Even before he was ten years old, the old prince didn't even remember that such a son existed.In such an embarrassing situation, even the servants in the mansion looked down on their mother and son, so even though Fang Shou was the son of a prince when he was a child, his life was more miserable than the servants in the palace.

But looking back now, Fang Shou often feels that although his childhood was difficult, it was actually the happiest time in his life.At that time, happiness was too simple, ordinary, clean and simple, just like the Laba Festival that I look forward to every year.In Fang Shou's impression, there is no warm clothes, and there is not enough charcoal fire. Every winter is very cold. It is not an exaggeration to say that the breath turns into ice. Just look at the hard-to-heal chilblains on his mother's hands and feet. Know.

But every winter, the Laba Festival is getting closer and closer.On this day, the county king's mansion and the whole family will give a bowl of hot Laba porridge according to the head, as well as new clothes and cakes and fruits prepared for the New Year, even the lowly and insignificant existences like their mother and child will not be missed.Although others would definitely look at him coldly when receiving things, Fang Shou's mother never complained.She is an ordinary woman who is so pure and kind that she is almost stupid, quietly and silently accepting the mercy of fate, but she has a pair of skillful hands, even rags and grass stems can make some gadgets for her son.Even if it's just a pair of old clothes that have been mended and mended again, they must be tidy and tidy.When she came back with Laba porridge and New Year's goods, she would take Xiao Fangshou to pick out walnuts, crispy dates and other things from the meager dried fruits, and make two fruit lions, one large and one small, and put them in the porridge.If there are spare hawthorn cakes or bean paste cakes, it is also a sight to make lifelike birthday men and put them in their humble huts.

Later, in Fangshou, he met Song Dian who was visiting as a guest, and fought his way through all the thorns and thorns, until he inherited the position of the county king and became a happy prince.Fang Shou never cared about the Laba Festival anymore, because his biological mother, a weak woman who had been cautious all her life, had already broken her vow to protect him for the rest of her life and left him early, leaving him alone with a humble background. Earn a future for yourself, and earn a name for her.

He walked this difficult road, but it was smooth. Not only did he sit on the throne of the county king, but he also wrote his mother's name into the genealogy.It's just the little fruit lion that he looked forward to every year when he was a child, and he never touches it anymore in his heart.But today he saw the long-lost fruit lion lying on the Laba porridge again, and Fang Shou realized that those past events, even if they were sealed, could not really be erased from his memory.

Fortunately, he Fang Shou is not a person who likes to blame himself and feel sorry for himself.Picking out the small and exquisite fruit lion from the bowl and putting it on the side plate, Fang Shou ate up the bowl of Laba porridge in an abnormal manner, leaving the housekeeper who was waiting on the side dumbfounded. "In the future, when we celebrate Laba in our house, let the kitchen make some fruit lions and put them in. It seems to be in a good mood." Fang Shou put down the empty bowl, wiped his mouth and told the housekeeper.

"Yes, my lord." After ordering the servants to clean up the bowls and chopsticks, the butler stood aside and reminded Fang Shou: "The seventh lord said that he will return to Beijing tomorrow, and he will hold a small banquet in the courtyard tonight, and I have invited Mr. Song and you alone." Go. You promised yesterday, my lord, so don't forget it."

to dinner?Fang Shou was stunned, yesterday when he agreed to this matter, he was drinking with Ah Dian, he drank too much and was a little confused, it seemed that the one who was dazed was the one who received the invitation, but it turned out to be His Highness the Seventh.The seven princes hosted a banquet, and Ah Yin must have cooked the food himself. If Fang Shou had remembered this earlier, Fang Shou would have starved for a whole day, and he would open his belly and have a full meal in the evening.

"Old Xu, tell me, if this king is going to Beijing, how much time in advance will he have to start packing?"

Suddenly hearing his master's nonsensical question, Steward Xu was stunned for a while without answering, but saw Fang Shou talking to himself and had already left, "The weather is about to change, it's better to prepare early."

Steward Xu, who was in the clouds, looked at the sky outside. The sky was cloudy and low, and the wind was as cold as a knife. It seemed that the sky was about to change...