Chapter 12 Chapter Eleven Beiming

The matter of King Zheng's refusal to marry the Xu family caused a lot of trouble in the city.The emperor naturally knew it well, and just ignored it on the surface.The nephew's memorabilia was sent to the desk, and the emperor played with it repeatedly for a while, and compared it with various informants, and he secretly thought about it.The emperor accidentally asked how the investigation of the Shenliutang case was going. The empress only reasoned that the empress dowager should not act hastily, and also said that she was busy with the marriage of the second son of the emperor, Yang Xi, and could not be distracted.So the emperor also urged her to die.

Three months passed in a blink of an eye, and the palace was preparing for the hundred-day banquet for the third son of the emperor. The Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Rites were also busy drafting the amnesty list.Xie Fengge, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, was timid, and secretly asked the Minister of the Ministry of Punishments to come forward to test the emperor's tone——the Qin Zongxian family who confiscated last year was pardoned or not.Originally, the emperor had a benevolent heart, so he let go of all the unimportant relatives and servants of the Qin family, those who migrated, those who sold, and those who pretended to be officials.Since it is a pardon by heaven's grace, it is not good to miss this corner of his family alone.When the list came up, the name of Qin Lingxian's only daughter was impressively listed. The emperor hesitated, and suddenly saw Li Yan's head dangling at the door.

"what happened?" Li Yan kowtowed heavily before saying in a trembling voice: "If you go back to the emperor, the official who was fined the day before yesterday hanged himself in the duty room that night." The emperor was stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly: "For a few taels of silver, can you hang yourself?" There is a reason for this, the emperor was ill and died in the middle of July.On July 20th, I felt a little better, so I was still listening to politics at Fengtianmen before sunrise.It's also because of this official's misfortune that the emperor had only been involved in the affairs of the Ministry of Industry's Du Shuiqing Bureau for eight hundred years, but that day he remembered to build the seawall. Four of the five principals were there, but one of them didn't come to the court.The emperor thought that he was the king of a country, and even though the cock crowed, he came to the court in a ignorant manner. He, a small seventh-rank official, dared to be lazy, and immediately flew into a rage. Narrative use.After being persuaded by Bachelor Gao, Fang changed to a one-year fine.

"These rotten scholars have always been narrow-minded, and it's his own fault." Li Yandao, "It's just that it's not easy to die, and the Yongding River is not covered, so they are going to be hanged in the value room. Now there are a lot of discussions in the court, I'm afraid those words The official is going to give a memorial again." "If there is such a memorial, I will block it for me, and I won't read it!" The emperor said angrily, "So what if he dies in the manor house, can he threaten me if he dies in the manor house? I still want to ask him about the crime of defaming the court." ! Pensions are not allowed!"

"Of course not." Li Yan said with a smile, "If you give it, those sour scholars think that those who cry, make trouble and hang themselves will get benefits, let alone His Majesty." The emperor was still angry, and suddenly said: "Is this what happened yesterday? Why did you say it today?" Li Yantuan smiled with a pale face, and said: "That is to say, a sixth-rank official died. The servants thought that these dirty things would be insulting to the saints, so they didn't mention them. It's just that the Li family took the corpse today. , crying on Qipan Street..."

He leaned down and said a word in the emperor's ear. "Kang Dang!" The small cup of doucai tuanhua was smashed to pieces on the gold brick floor, and the emperor's face turned pale with anger, "You Yang Lian, how dare you buy people's hearts under my nose!" "Long live grandpa calm down..." "I don't know what kind of sister this distinguished guest likes?" He Xiuzi covered her mouth with a silk fan, smiling winkingly. "...the smarter ones." Hearing this tone, she seemed a little impatient, and she couldn't help but glanced at the other party curiously, thinking that she was such a handsome young man, but she didn't know why she was so self-confident.He was about to say something more, but Feng Juefei laughed in his head: "The girls in Fenglai Pavilion are all good people. If you really want to call the smartest one, I'm afraid it will make your brain hurt from anger. "

Yang Lian's face was already a little angry.He Xiuzi's eyes are so shrewd, seeing this, he hastily said: "Young Master Feng is joking, I am the most stupid one, I only teach these few silly girls, and I never dare to talk back to the guests. You are so mad at me, son." Feng Juefei waved his hand and said with a smile, "You just ask Wanzi to sit outside and sing, nothing else is needed." He Xiuzi understood, put down the window panel, lit a burner of incense, and refilled tea for the two of them, then Tingting walked away gracefully.After a while, the door of the outer room rang, and someone began to play the pipa tinkling.

Yang Lian frowned and said, "Does it have to be in this kind of place?" "Your Highness, forgive me," Feng Juefei said with a smile, "Hai Ri Pavilion is certainly good, but recently Jin Yiwei has been moving around a lot, and the high commander went to Fengtai camp again, and there was no one to cover him there. The lower officials are from other provinces. I don’t know him well, but I know some of Qinlou and Chuguan, so I really feel sorry for Your Highness.” Yang Lian said in a low voice, "Why is Master Gao going to Fengtai Camp?" "General Xiao Lu brought back a new type of cannon. The Shenji Camp invited him to go and have a look."

"That General Xiao Lu," Yang Lian asked again, "Have you seen it before?" "We met once." Feng Juefei said, "This person's description is stern, and he seems to be very wealthy." Yang Lian nodded and did not ask any more questions.People like Feng Juefei and Gao Zhiting did not understand the true relationship between him and Lu Wenjin.Among the people living in this world, only he himself, Zheng Banshan and the old General Lu know that big secret. Yang Lian asked again: "The marriage between Yang Xi and Miss Xu San has almost been discussed. So how are you preparing?"

"I have made three or four appointments for Shizhong, and the memorials have all been written. Just wait for His Highness's east wind." Yang Lian sighed, "I still can't do it here." Feng Juefei thought about it carefully, and said: "It's really not possible, let's go to the memorial first. It's okay to take a step and watch it." "It can take a while now..." Yang Lian pondered for a while, then said, "It's better to wait for my news first. Let me have a look at the transcript first." After reading the memorabilia, Yang Lian mentioned several revisions, and Feng Juefei memorized them one by one, then he rolled up the manuscript paper and put it into the incense burner, and the quiet small copper burner suddenly glowed red.Neither of them said a word, staring at the flames and licking it, the paper roll turned into a small scorched black tube, Feng Juefei shook his fingers, and all the ashes of the paper flew away.The pipa girl outside still sang to herself: "The gate of hell is closed, sue a paper of lovesickness, only sue my Bo Xinglang. Blame him for his heartlessness, and tell it in front of the king of hell..."

Yang Lian asked, "The Ministry of Industry's Du Shuiqing Officials Department Mr. Li—what's going on? Have you found out?" "He's not Xu Dang." Feng Juefei sighed. "I don't think so." Yang Lian said, "If this person is really relied on by everyone in the Xu Party, the emperor will not be so cruel for such a small matter. Which side is he on?" "Neither side." Feng Juefei said, "This person is the number one scholar in the ninth year of Wan'an." "what?" "But as soon as he came, he offended Mr. Du Ge, the chief assistant at the time. Now he has been an official for more than 20 years, and he is still squatting in the Ministry of Industry as a small sixth-rank chief. The emperor asked about the crime, so the other four No one is willing to cover it up for him...you can imagine it." It is a gentleman who does not form cliques, but how can there be a forest in the world without relying on big trees?If you are lucky, you can still beg for bones in low-ranking official positions. If you are unlucky, just like this man, if something happens, you will bear the brunt of it and become a victim.Even if he is as unremarkable as Qin Lingxian, he was able to make his way at the beginning with the support of the old loyal King Jing. Yang Lian said sadly: "Dushuiqing Officials Department... I only thought that the top and bottom of the place were controlled by the Xu Party, but I didn't expect such people to remain." "I don't think about progress, I don't know how to manage. Even if it's not Xu Dang," Feng Juefei sneered, "he's just a useless person." "The Dushui Qing official is in charge of the river and seawall, so he can get some benefits. He has been an official for many years, and it is said that he still lives in a rented house in Nancheng, which shows that he is poor." Yang Lian said, "Although it is useless, it is rare to be honest and honest. It is the duty of a reader." "Yes. If you don't live in a remote place like Heiyaochang, and you can't afford to rent a car or horse," Feng Juefei said, "Why can't you make it to the morning court?" "He can get up at three o'clock." Yang Lian said, "——how much is your current monthly salary?" "Five stones. For silver—three or four taels." This monthly salary is not enough for the two of them's table of wine today, Feng Juefei is currently at the seventh rank, and the hanged chief Li is a sixth rank official, about ten shi.On this point, Yang Lian also knows a lot, the salary in this dynasty is so thin, which is rare in the past dynasties.When he was young, he often heard his father say that the Taizu was frugal, and the salaries set for officials were only enough to barely support his family.Over the past 200 years since the founding of the country, the price of goods has risen so much, but the salary and silver have not increased slightly because of the ancestral system, and often because of the emptiness of the national treasury, there is no silver or rice, and pepper, sumac, silk cloth, etc. On the first floor, five shi's salary was exchanged for only one or two taels of silver.Officials from wealthy families don’t care about this little pocket money, but they have suffered for those poor officials. The way to support the family.Once the trend of greed has become a custom, it can no longer be dealt with, and everyone in the officialdom regards it as common sense, so rectifying the administration of officials in this way becomes empty talk.Prince Zhuang Jing also mentioned adding salaries to officials to combat corruption, but when he checked the treasury, he immediately dispelled the benevolence of this idea. This dead Mr. Li is really an anomaly, I don't know if he is too lofty, or he is too stupid to learn to stretch out his hand.Yang Lian sighed. "Your Highness..." Feng Juefei smiled and said, "Why do you want to meddle in this business?" Yang Lian shook his head and smiled: "I don't care, it just happened to happen. I didn't wear clothes that day, everyone was looking at me, how could I pretend not to see it? It's just a few words and a few taels of money. Orphans and widows should be mourned quickly. Even if those people continue to make trouble, they will lose the face of the court." When I came out of Zhengyang Gate that day, I saw the coffin parked by the roadside. The haggard woman was wearing sackcloth and filial piety, crying loudly: "My lord, I'm sorry that you have been so peaceful all your life, and you ended up like this..." He was momentarily curious and choked up. After getting off the horse, people immediately surrounded him, and the faces inside were vaguely a few small officials from the Sixth Division, such as senior officials, deputy envoys, etc., all of whom were saddened by the death of the rabbit. Although Master Li is poor, he may starve to death after a year of fined salary.But the more people who don't seek fame and wealth, the thinner their face becomes unbelievably thin.A few taels of silver is a small matter, and being humiliated by the emperor in front of all the officials is the despair colder than death.This is beyond the imagination of the person sitting high on the Fengtian Gate. "This time, Your Highness must offend the Emperor." Feng Juefei said. "Whether I offend him or not, does it make any difference? He just can't handle me." Yang Lian sneered, "I have made a statement to report this matter myself." "how?" "I got a commendation from him," Yang Lian said, "I'm called the imperial court's burden." Feng Juefei laughed straight: "Borrowing the donkey from the slope, the emperor's turn is really fast." Yang Lian shook his head and smiled lightly.According to Tian Zhihui's news, it was also thanks to the eunuch Zhou Lu who served in front of the imperial court that day. If it was Li Yan, the bastard who always made trouble, I don't know how the emperor would react.He asked Feng Juefei: "What do you think, how does the emperor handle this matter?" This you refer to those young Qingliu civil servants in the Imperial Academy.Feng Juefei said: "Now is the time to employ people..." Only half of the words are said, and the meaning is understood.Now is the time for employing people, so it is not appropriate to use such a heavy code, let alone attack a mediocre official who has no merit or fault.Now pinching soft persimmons squeezed out a lot of juice, and it was my own land that was dirty. Yang Lian nodded lightly, but said again: "This can be regarded as a combination of kindness and power..." Sitting for a while, I suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.Feng Juefei walked around the door, then came back and said, "My appointment has arrived, Your Highness can get up now." This was originally a trick he used to cover Yang Lian.In case of being discovered, he would only say that the visitor was the latter.Yang Lian nodded in praise, and curiously asked who he had invited. "It's the younger brother of Empress Xie in the palace." "Xie Tanhua? You brought him here?" "He doesn't get along with his new wife, I often bring him here to relax." Feng Juefei laughed, "He has a good skin, and he is very popular with little girls." Yang Lian remembered that Xie Jia was known for his strict family style, so he couldn't help but smile: "I want to see what he looks like." "Your Highness wants to see him?" Feng Juefei was shocked. Yang Lian waved his hand, walked to the door of the outer room, and lifted a small corner of the soft curtain.I saw He Xiuzi ushering a young scribe in light robes along the corridor.The man was indeed fair and elegant, but his eyes were slightly swollen and he looked dull, and his shoulders were drooping, and he had no grace at all.Yang Lian laughed in his heart, and was waiting to go back to his room, when he caught a glimpse of the woman playing the pipa stopped stringing, and looked at him in a dazed manner. "Why don't you sing?" He asked casually. The girl suddenly lowered her head, but when the stringed song played again, she changed the tune: "The sky is full of stars but not the moon, how can a group of crows compare to a lonely phoenix..." He flashed back to the room, hurriedly said goodbye to Feng Juefei, and went out through the secret door.I can still hear the singer singing so loudly: "...how can the people in front of me compare with my enemy's appearance. It's hard to say that he is the first beauty in the whole world, but he is really strong in my friendship. He can accompany others with his body, but he can take care of himself in his heart." he thinks……" Although he received the emperor's verbal praise, Yang Lian also knew that this time he must be hated by the emperor.Earlier, Zhou Lu sent a message saying that Qin Taiwei's name was already on the list.He then drew up the entry form, planning to report it to the clan's mansion when the pardon came out, and try to get a wife's title.Unexpectedly, the emperor changed his face when the hanging beam case of the Ministry of Industry came out.Although he couldn't reprimand King Zheng explicitly, he secretly asked for the list of amnesty and dropped Qin Taiwei's name. When Yang Lian heard Tian Zhihui say this, he was startled and laughed. Since he was rejected on the night of Qixi Festival, he stopped going to the empty room for several days.Occasionally, I went to the Tianlai Pavilion alone to study, and when I walked through the corridor, I looked into the yard and saw her either teasing the cats and feeding the birds, or reading and practicing calligraphy. She looked calm and demure, as if nothing had happened.Instead, he wondered if he was being too stingy. Now that this happened, I should go to her to explain it myself.When I think about it carefully, I haven't spoken to her for more than ten days, and it's not that I don't miss her. However, Qin Taiwei was not in the room, and even the two little maids, Zhun Zhun and Sheng Sheng, also disappeared. The gatekeeper said that they had gone to the back mountain to see the Guanghan Palace.Since she got his permission, she has been running around like a wild cat, climbing mountains today and visiting gardens tomorrow, there are such heartless people in the world.He got a little angry again.There was no one in her bedroom, and the sunlight in the early autumn swayed into pieces of gold in the rhombic mirror, making people's eyes full of laziness.He decided to take a nap in his clothes for a while, and wait for her to come back. There was a faint sweet fragrance on the pillow, which he had never smelled before when he slept here, probably the scent of hair.He smelled a little uneasy, and pushed it aside, unexpectedly a book fell out of his pillow. Thinking that she also had the habit of reading in bed, he smiled secretly, picked up the book casually and flipped through it. The manuscript did not indicate the author, but the familiar handwriting made him sit up suddenly, the blood in his whole body rushed to his head, and he shivered with cold for a while.He took a deep breath and quickly flipped through the booklet. The first day of this notebook seems to be very long ago, and the last day is February of the first year of Shenxi.Seeing this date, his high-hanging heart slowly relaxed.At that time, all the nightmares hadn't started... At least he himself was innocent. A small wind brushed against the window screens, making him slightly cool, and he realized that in a short while, his jacket was soaked in cold sweat. A short note suddenly floated out from the pages of the book. There is no name, but a line of exquisite lowercase letters reads: "This uncle's old notes, I have kept them for my grandmother, and now they belong to the original owner. Wangmei is kind and cherishes herself, earnestly." He was thinking about Xie Yili's handwriting in a daze, and it seemed that this was not the case, this person used his pen in a formal and restrained manner.Suddenly, she remembered that there was still someone in this world who could call her "sister". He gradually remembered.Zheng Banshan once said that Princess Xining had betrothed her, and also how she secretly passed on the news in Huangshicheng... He knew all these things, but he never thought about them. Isn't it ridiculous? ? On the night of Qixi Festival, the characters she wrote with impatiens flower juice turned out to be Qian (Qian) instead of Xian (Xian). The picture in my mind gradually cleared up, but I couldn't see anything in front of my eyes, and the autumn sun in the courtyard turned into a hazy white frost.He flicked through the booklet distractedly, the handwriting in his eyes was all twisted into one piece, and Zichou Yinmao couldn't be seen.Suddenly, it turned into Xie Qian's skinny figure in white clothes.There were bursts of sneers in his heart. He put the note back in its original place, hid the booklet in the pillowcase, and left the empty room without a sound. Yang Lian returned to Qingfu Hall, wanted to be alone for a while, but saw Qin Taiwei standing in the Baosha with two young palace servants, who had been waiting for him for a long time.He stood for a while, only said "wait", and walked away.Qin Taiwei saw that he was not hesitant, and said that it was still the Qixi Festival lawsuit, so she had to keep her head down and wait.But seeing that person go straight to the study in the next room, he couldn't see what he was doing through the bead curtain. He sat in front of the desk, drank a cup of tea, regained his senses for a while, then copied the volume "Cefu Yuangui" on the desk and turned over ten pages, finally someone called Qin Taiwei in, Ask her what's the matter. Qin Taiwei looked around, but didn't say anything.He said impatiently: "Go back if you have nothing to do." "Something happened." He was about to throw the book, but saw her looking at him with resentment and anger. Only then did Yang Lian come to his senses, and immediately retreated to the left and right, saying, "What's wrong?" "The palace maid who led me to Shenliu Hall, I found her, she is in the first silkworm altar." "I just asked you to walk on Mount Penglai, how dare you go so far?" He said suddenly. Qin Taiwei didn't know what his nameless anger was aimed at, she simply didn't make any distinctions, and looked at what he had to say with a cold face. Yang Lian took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Can you see clearly? Did she notice it?" "I didn't show up. I earnestly bought a little servant over there to find out. That person has always served tea in Xianfei's palace. Last month, he offended and contradicted his second brother, and was demoted to the silkworm altar to guard the incense." Yang Lian was silent for a while, then Fang said: "I see, you can go back." Seeing his indifference, Qin Taiwei didn't intend to ask any more questions, and didn't say what to do next, feeling very disappointed in her heart.She thought that with all the effort she had put in, the quarrel on Qixi Festival could probably be resolved, but she didn't expect that the situation in front of her was getting worse.She was puzzled, but she refused to complain about it, so she bowed out and went back to the white room.For several days after that, Yang Lian never went to see her, she still wandered around on her own, but never went to the gate of Qingfu Palace again. After the third prince Yang Zhen landed, the emperor fell into worry again.The long-delayed matter of establishing a reserve will probably be brought up again because of this opportunity.In this dynasty, there are heirs and heirs, and no heirs and elders, but no matter how much the old master defends the orthodox, he dare not ask the emperor to appoint a foolish heir.Concubine Xian's mother's family was originally a member of the Xu family, and in the past few years, she has put more efforts to curry favor with the Xu family, so she violated the emperor's taboo.The Xu party in the court naturally urged the emperor to establish a crown prince.And the faction of civil servants who refused to cooperate with the Xu family agreed with the emperor and pinned their hopes on other concubines.Now concubine Shu has indeed made meritorious service, but the third son of the emperor is not the eldest son, so if he is to be established as the crown prince, unless concubine Shu is changed to be the queen.However, the emperor didn't want to see the Xu family any more, and he had to admit that Empress Xu had always been virtuous and benevolent, respected by the entire palace, and she couldn't find any faults. Yang Zhen is still young, but the two eldest sons are already fifteen years old, and there must be an explanation for whether Li Chu should leave the feudal clan.The emperor waited for several months, but Xu Dang was more calm than him, and there was no movement.At the beginning of August, someone finally made a memorial to discuss the establishment of the crown prince, and the emperor felt as if a stone fell to the ground.But it was not Xu Dang who entered the table, but a few small officials from the Ministry of Rites—— Xu An followed their instructions, probably. The memorial will be left in the middle first.Sure enough, this was just the beginning. When the Ministry of Rites started, the Yushitai could not be idle. Immediately after, the six subjects responded one after another, and the memorials flew to the Qianqing Palace like snowflakes.At first, they implicitly urged the emperor to make up his mind early in order to reassure people's hearts; then some people directly asked when the eldest son of the concubine would enter the East Palace, and then some people impeached the Du family of Yang's mother's family for all kinds of abuses, saying that Yang's absurdity is absurd, and it's hard to be a fool; After the emperor spoke, he connected the second son of the emperor with the Xu family's marriage proposal, saying that all the courtiers who urged the establishment of the crown prince had ulterior motives. At this point, even Xu Dang had no choice but to speak out. Xu Gongye also made a memorial in Hangzhou. The elders advocated the relationship between sons and daughters, and finally it came down to the establishment of the prince, suggesting that the emperor respect the family law of the ancestors and not be disturbed by the discussions of his courtiers. The emperor sneered and threw Xu Gongye's memorial to the ground.Ancestral family law?It seems that the Du family and the Xu family have already blended together. According to the ancestral family law, who is the prince if he is not Yang Xi? Before the 15th day of the eighth month, Fengtianmen was in charge of the government, and the emperor ordered Lu Yi, the eunuch in charge of the seal, to read Xu Gongye's memorabilia. Please discuss it.At first everyone was apprehensive, the emperor put on a little prestige, and then gradually some people dared to speak loudly.They continued to yell like this until noon, and what they said was still those words.The emperor was overwhelmed when he heard this, he could not have surrendered to Xu Dang and appointed Yang Xi as the crown prince, but the few cabinet scholars he relied on could not come up with a strong rebuttal. The only thing that made him feel funny was that some young Hanlin insisted that the eldest son should be the crown prince, and the first one of this faction was the new champion Feng Juefei.Although it is a pedantic cliché, those who have no choice but to refute him have no choice. No matter how brave they are, they can only dare to say that the eldest son of the emperor is "chaotic". How can they just say that he is a hopeless fool.In this way, it seems that those who support the establishment of the reserve are divided into "the eldest son" and "the second son", which makes several hardcore Xu party dumbfounded. In the end, even peacemakers like Xie Fengge were dragged out to express their views.Xie Fengge, as the grandfather of the third son of the emperor, should have avoided this kind of discussion, but the emperor couldn't care less about it.Xie Fengge hesitated for a long time, and finally came up with a good idea: "Emperor Taizong thought about it for many years because of Renmiao's foot disease. Later, because the emperor's grandson was talented and intelligent, he corrected the East Palace of Renmiao. Your Majesty may as well follow the example of the ancestors. For the emperor's story, let's look at several generations. It won't be too late to make a decision after all the princes have given birth to grandchildren." Xie Fengge was nothing more than helping the emperor delay time.However, as soon as this remark came out, the court was in an uproar.Everyone knows that Emperor Chengzu did not establish a heir for a long time, which led to the later "Three Kings Rebellion". If it weren't for the clever emperor's grandson, who immediately quelled chaos and cut down the vassal after he ascended the throne, I am afraid that the one sitting on the dragon chair now It is the descendant of the King of Han.Hearing this insane words, the emperor almost turned his back in anger, and after a long time he said bitterly: "Xie Qing's idea is certainly good, I'm afraid I don't have the longevity of Emperor Taizong, and I won't wait until the day when my grandchildren are born! " As soon as these words came out, all the disputes had to stop, and all the members of the Fengtian sect knelt on the ground in unison, shouting long live and crying.This day's debate was nothing, and the emperor ordered the court to disperse and rest. Xie Fengge was so frightened that his knees trembled like sifting chaff, he knelt until the crowd dispersed, only then did he see the eunuch Lu Yishi approaching suddenly. "Your Majesty said, Mr. Xie, get up quickly, it's getting cold." After all, the emperor couldn't be too embarrassing with his cousin.Xie Fengge kowtowed towards the inner court to thank him, Fang shook his robe and got up.Lu Yifu whispered in his ear: "Your Majesty said, there are so many people today, he was very angry because of the quarrel, and he didn't hear your lord's opinion clearly. Please go home and write a notebook carefully. He wants to take a closer look. .” This is clearly asking them to make up their minds.Xie Fengge returned home with a very bad complexion.Mrs. Shen had already asked Xie Qian clearly, and now the mother and son came to the study together. Xie Fengge was staring blankly at a piece of blank manuscript paper. Madam Shen stomped her feet when she saw this appearance: "Master is usually so wise, how could he say such foolish words today? Our mother's child is still in its infancy, and those two are both It's the age to discuss marriage. When the empress has a grandson..." "What do women and Taoists know!" Xie Fengge shouted, "Is this something you can talk about?" Mrs. Shen blushed and argued: "I don't know how to be a woman. I only know that my daughter is having a hard time in the palace. The master only knows how to protect himself and keep giving in. How could you know that if you give in, others will let you go?" .As soon as the third prince was born, our family..." Xie Fengge waved his hands irritably. Mrs. Shen said loudly: "Master, our family is the first one with no way out!" Xie Fengge was stunned: "It was you who let my daughter enter the palace back then, and taught me to be ridiculed by my colleagues for being greedy for wealth and treachery. Now it is you who say there is no way out. If I had known today, why did you come here in the first place!" "Am I forcing my daughter?" Mrs. Shen burst into tears, "Which mother is willing to send her sweetheart to that deep palace..." Seeing his mother crying, Xie Qian quickly helped her to sit down, beat her back and poured tea.Xie Fengge also felt embarrassed, so he turned around and asked his son: "You are also in the court today, have you ever understood the context?" Xie Qian pondered and said: "Your Majesty's intentions are needless to say. But now that the two princes have reached the crown, there must be a solution." "What do you think?" Xie Qian said: "Why don't you...be crowned king first?" Xie Fengge thought for a while, then nodded slightly. Mrs. Shen is also a lady from a family who has seen the world, so she figured it out after a little calculation in her mind.The same is "dragging", this idea is much more grandiose.She said angrily: "Since you have a good idea, why don't you tell it to the court, so that you can help your father." Xie Qian blushed and said, "But it wasn't my son's own thought. It turned out that after the imperial court was over, I heard a few colleagues from the Imperial Academy muttering a few words in private. Xie Fengge smiled wryly and shook his head.But no matter what, with the idea of ​​conferring the king, it is easy to write memorials.He frowned and wrote two lines, and said: "Madam, please go back first, Qian'er stay and help me read the text." Mrs. Shen walked to the door, turned her head and said, "Today King Zheng sent a letter from my niece and daughter, saying she wants to come back." In the rush of the previous period, Xie Yuanyao got married in a hurry.Qin Taiwei still remembered her aunt's promise, and as soon as she got the news, she immediately went home and asked to visit the princess. "At this juncture, what is she coming back for?" Xie Fengge frowned and said, "Your Majesty is not very happy, if you suspect that I have something to do with Xiyuan, wouldn't it add fuel to the fire?" Mrs. Shen nodded and said: "That's what I mean too, I've already returned her." Xie Qian looked at his father, then at his mother, but said nothing after all. The proposal to establish a crown prince has come to fruition for the time being. The emperor personally drafted an edict, saying that the queen is virtuous and healthy, and is expected to give birth to another son. He also said that the condition of the eldest son of the emperor has gradually improved over the years, and a father cannot bear to see him give up.Now the eldest son, Yang Tan, and the second son, Yang Xi, have reached the age of the crown, and they are named King Kang and King Fu.After the edict came out, some of the ministers still murmured, but at last it was a result that everyone could reluctantly accept. For a while, no one from Xu Dang and Qingliu continued to write the letter.The emperor felt that he had won a game, and he couldn't help being satisfied. However, Kang Wang was weak and unable to support himself, so he naturally stayed in the palace to live with his mother, and there was another Zheng Wang who lived in the imperial city for many years, so the emperor could not ask Fu Wang to go to the vassal alone.Concubine Xian also wanted Yang Xi to stay in the palace, and sooner or later she would flatter Empress Dowager Xu.The emperor naturally thought of this level, so he pointed out a mansion outside the Donghua Gate, and taught Fu Wang Yang Xi to move out of the imperial city to live.Concubine Xian didn't dare to talk to the emperor, so she had to go to the Empress Dowager Xu, and wanted Yang Xi to follow the example of conquering the king and live in a palace in Xiyuan, as long as she didn't leave the imperial city.Empress Dowager Xu smiled when she heard this, and pointed her out: "Princes are young, and they temporarily lived in the palace outside the Donghua Gate. It's different, he's already been a feudal clan, and now he's living in Beijing, so it's inconvenient to open another mansion, so he'll live in Xiyuan. Why does Yang Xi have to compare with him?" Concubine Xian didn't understand for a while, but she still told how Yang Xi couldn't bear to part with her grandmother, and that Miss Xu San would also move out of the palace after she got married, so it would be inconvenient to serve the queen mother... "If you are married, you will serve her husband well. What do you do when you come back to serve me?" Empress Dowager Xu retorted. Only then did Concubine Xian sense the Empress Dowager's impatience, and she stopped her voice in fright. Empress Dowager Xu sighed, and said slowly: "Living outside also has its advantages. In this deep palace, only women and children are slaves, and the rules are also strict, and actions are not cheap. After Yang Xi goes out, he should gradually learn to be with others. There is no need for you to plan everything for him anymore. Take advantage of the few years before you leave Beijing to gain more knowledge and make some contacts. If the emperor really calls him a vassal in a few years, you won’t be caught off guard..." Concubine Xian only heard the meaning of "a feudal clan in a few years", and asked blankly: "Did the empress say that he still has to leave?" Seeing that she was so dull, Empress Dowager Xu couldn't help throwing her teacup on the table, and said, "At his age, Ah Lian already has a large group of famous ministers and good generals who are willing to die for him!" Concubine Xian opened her mouth and couldn't speak, so she had no choice but to promise, but she thought that even if someone was willing to die for Yang Lian, it was because of Zhuang Jing's crown prince, and although Yang Xi's father was the emperor, she was the only biological mother who made him live and die. Keep the future in mind.Empress Dowager Xu seemed to see her thoughts, and sneered again: "What do you want to do so much, as a concubine, as long as you serve your mistress well, you have done your duty. You are the queen's dowry girl, and now Does she rely more on you, or on Concubine Li and the others? Think again, the queen is just A Lian's aunt, how kind she is to him? She is Yang Xi's real aunt, but how often has she put him in her eyes? ?” Concubine Xian never dared to say that the empress was jealous, blushing and unable to speak. Dead wood cannot be carved.The queen mother sighed, the queen's son is useless, if the virtuous concubine is loyal to the queen, wouldn't Yang Chi's chances of winning in the East Palace increase by 20-30%?But she couldn't even do that. Even so, Fu Wang's marriage went on in an orderly manner.The Supervisor of Rituals hastily drawn up a list of a dozen or so people, for the emperor to choose a girl with a clean background and a virtuous character to be Princess Fu.The cutscenes are going back and forth, and everyone knows that the real princess candidate has already been decided by default, and the ten or so girls who accompany the selection may be named side concubines, and it is more likely that they will not have any relationship with the royal family. The list was sent to the emperor, and he read it over and over several times, still hesitating.Li Yan is a smart person, seeing this situation, he said softly at the side: "It only took less than a month for the ceremonial supervisor to select ladies. The candidates selected in a hurry may not be as good as His Majesty's wish?" The emperor shook his head, and said softly, as if mocking himself: "As the king of a country, can't I be in charge of the marriage of my own flesh and blood?" As the emperor's personal internal official for many years, Li Yan looked at the dangling cinnabar imperial brush that refused to fall off the paper, and knew that the emperor wanted to use the word "drag" again.Li Yan saw that his confidantes were all around him, so he took a step forward, squinted his eyes and smiled: "Your Majesty is joking, not only is the marriage of King Fu to be decided by His Majesty, even Miss Xu San also hopes that His Majesty will make the decision. .” "How?" "I heard people close to the old lady of the queen mother say that after the news of the proposed marriage came out, Miss Xu San knelt outside the queen mother's bedroom for a whole night. The queen mother got angry and sent someone to send her to Xu Anzhao's residence. After a meal, she was escorted back to the palace by her brother and sister-in-law to plead guilty. Now, it is said that she hides in her room and does not go out all day, with disheveled hair, no tea or food, and she refuses to flatter the Queen Mother... ..." "It's so ugly?" The emperor snorted coldly. "Uh... this servant also thinks that Miss Xu is not the best candidate for Concubine Fu because of her strong temperament." Li Yan said, "The empress dowager also has a lot of headaches, and she just hopes to marry her off quickly." The emperor smiled and said, "I want to type the list back and teach Lu Yi and the others to draw up a new one, carefully selecting some more people." "Has Your Majesty ever asked the Empress what she means?" Li Yan asked suddenly. The emperor curled his lips and said: "She never cares about her natal family's business, so I can point her to persuade the queen mother for me?" "Your Majesty, everyone in the palace is talking about the happy event of King Fu accepting the concubine, but they forgot that this time, His Majesty's two sons were conferred at the same time." Li Yan blinked his eyes and said, "My brother's festivities are coming soon. However, the elder brother is cold and quiet, and no one cares about it. This kind of favoritism, I am afraid that the empress will feel resentful. Also, the king Zheng has been widowed for a long time, but the choice of the second concubine has been pending. He was delayed by the people of the Xu family... " "——I have my own plans for Ah Lian, and now is not the time. But... you mean to choose a concubine for Yang Tan?" However, it is said that the Weiguo Duke's mansion is due for the imminent levy, and as soon as he is busy with his grandson's marriage, he invites all relatives and friends in Beijing for a three-day farewell banquet.At this time, the autumn wind picked up, and the hibiscus flowers in the garden of the mansion had already bloomed, so the banquet was held in Jinyun Building, and a famous troupe from central Beijing was invited to set up a stage and sing continuously for three days.The Weiguo Duke's Mansion is a founding hero with a military background, and now he is in charge of the military again.Upstairs, on the side of the women's family, the eldest grandson's mother, Xie Shen, sat in the chief seat. Although she was only a third-class gentleman, she was half a step behind those wives in the government house, but she was the grandmother of the third prince today, and no one could help her. to sit in front of her. 谢远遥是新妇，连府门朝哪边开都不太摸得清，跟着婆母威国公世子夫人应酬了半日，已站得腰酸腿软，头晕眼花，少不得躲到母亲身边来偷一会儿懒。自三朝回门之后，这还是沈淑人第一次与小女重聚，因嫌外间人杂不便说话，母女俩索性相挽着离了席，找了间清净的花厅慢慢坐着吃茶。 还未讲过三句话，沈淑人便道：“前日我进宫看你大姐姐，瞧着精神渐好，脸上也不似先时那般蜡黄了，还千叮咛万嘱咐地叫你也进宫去看看她。” 谢远遥嘟着嘴道：“如今不比在家时，能不能出门不由母亲说了算。” “傻孩子，你婆母是个和善人。”沈淑人道，“再者，你进宫觐见娘娘，她还能拦着不让？” 谢远遥刚想说说威国公世子夫人，忽然想起一事：“母亲此番进宫，可曾见过琴姐姐？” 沈淑人摇头道：“她又不在内廷，哪里说见就能见到呢？” 谢远遥默了一会儿，道：“娘和姐姐……是再也不管琴姐姐的事情了吗？” “她早已是天家的人，娘也无能为力。再说，她在徵王身边过得挺好。”沈淑人拍拍谢远遥的手背以示安慰，忽道，“……莫不是你哥哥又和你说了些什么？” 谢远遥哼了一声，不置可否。昨日谢迁前来赴宴，遣了他的心腹侍妾晓霜到内院来问安，特意向二小姐提起琴太微不能回家之事。谢远遥心中了然——以谢迁的立场，又碍着沈端居在中间，自不好开口乞求父母，他便将主意打到了出嫁的妹妹身上。谢远遥一时血勇，当下就拍着胸脯向晓霜保证，一定求得母亲松口接琴太微回家。然而沈淑人还未等她深说下去，立刻埋怨起来：“你也嫁了人了，怎么还这般不知轻重？当初你哥哥和琴姐儿在皇史宬闹的那一出，几乎将你爹爹和我吓死，这中间也有你的错！——亏得皇上不计较，这可是杀头的罪名！到现在你还替他俩穿针引线，真是不知死活了吗？” 谢远遥被娘亲一通劈头盖脸数落，倒也没泄气，立刻回击道：“原是皇上都不计较的事，母亲又何必如此斤斤计较呢？” 沈淑人一时没反应过来，只听谢远遥连声道：“去年琴姐姐忽然被抓入宫中，本就莫名其妙。抄查琴家的时候，皇上既没有找我们家麻烦，就不可能非要和琴姐姐一人过不去，实际上皇上根本就不知道她被抓了啊。如果当时咱们就以祖母的名义向皇上求情，大约琴姐姐早就放出来了。可姐姐千推万阻就是不肯向皇上开口，一拖再拖，直到琴姐姐被皇上撞见，事情才不可收拾。我就是不明白，娘和姐姐到底在计较什么？姐姐在皇上面前那么得宠，却连自己表妹也不肯施救，说出来真令人心寒。” “胡说！你怎敢这样说你姐姐？”沈淑人板着脸喝道，当初淑妃到底在怕什么，沈淑人亦不甚了然，然而——“宫中的事情岂有你想的这么简单！” 谢远遥拧过头，心中郁闷犹未平息。她也是嫁过来这几天，隐隐听到夫家妯娌背后议论，才起了这些心思。威国公府娶了淑妃的嫡妹做世孙夫人，那些眼红心热的旁支亲族，少不得将谢家的是非拿出来搬弄一番。谢远遥初为人妇没有几天，亦尝到了几分冷暖，又想起娘家那本难念的经，索性一并吐了痛快：“嫂嫂今日也没过来，我听晓霜说她有一个夏天没能起得来床了。连我听着都难过，娘就不心疼吗？当初若早做决断，又何必弄到如今这样，谁都不好受。” 这话生生戳到了沈淑人的痛处。沈端居与谢迁亦是青梅竹马，沈淑人只道换了这个媳妇谢迁纵有不足，总能夫妻和睦。沈端居入门之后又一贯贞静柔顺，房中从未听见吵闹声。直到谢迁收了琴太微留下的丫鬟晓霜，沈淑人才觉出有点不对劲儿来。自初夏入宫觐见之后，沈端居便一病不起。沈学士的夫人登门看望女儿，出来的时候直掉眼泪，口口声声要带女儿回家。沈淑人这才明白过来，原来自己儿子娶亲半年还不曾圆房呢。 倘若沈端居当真含恨而亡，这就不是结亲而是结仇了。谢家虽然势盛，却也不能随便得罪山阴沈氏。沈淑人少不得跟学士夫人百般赔罪，守在媳妇房里劝慰了一整天。然而谢迁自做了官，愈发不是她能支使得了的。沈淑人一狠心，把晓霜锁在自己院中的小黑屋里不让见人，逼得谢迁在沈端居房中一连留宿了半个月，沈端居亦不得不跟着求情，晓霜才放了出来。 谢家后院这些鸡飞狗跳的事，都还是在谢远遥备嫁期间发生的。这大半年来沈淑人为偿儿女债，累得两鬓白发多添了几茎，只道等眼前要紧事情忙完，要好好教导一下儿子和媳妇。然则事情一桩一桩涌到眼前，似也没个完结的时候。虽然勉强圆了房，谢迁和沈端居的夫妻情分，只怕也尽了，将来如何是好呢？ “母亲，”谢远遥含泪道，“让琴姐姐回一趟家，不会出什么事的。哪怕是看在祖母的面上，我听家里来的人说只怕就是这个月了。” 沈淑人微微地点了点头，却道：“别再折磨你娘了。不是我不管琴姐儿，实在家里再不能出什么乱子。我实跟你说，就算我们去接，徵王也未必肯放她出来。” 谢远遥却没想到这个，一时哑然无语。 沈淑人揉着太阳穴，又忍不住数落道：“我是你娘亲，你这样对我说话也无妨。倘若在你公婆面前还是这个腔调，娘可要为你担心死了。” 谢远遥点点头。 “世孙待你如何？”沈淑人忽然问道，“——别只顾说没相干的。回门那一日他竟不曾陪着你来，我原是有点生气的，只怕他待你不好。你若有委屈，千万别藏着不说。” 谢远遥愣了愣，一时也不知该说什么：“他……也还好吧。只是连日都在丰台大营忙着，是真没有空闲，母亲休怪。” 细数起来，自那稀里糊涂的洞房夜之后，她一直没有机会与夫君独处，甚至近看几眼都不能。男人忙得整天不回家，只是不停地派人回来问安，她自己则忙于敬奉婆母结识妯娌熟悉家务，迅速陷入大家族的网罗中。依稀记得枕边男人的身体白而冰凉，似乎有些瘦弱，灯下看来面貌颇为矜贵秀雅——但如今想起亦是一团模糊，几同路人。她年纪尚小，又不似琴太微那样聪敏早慧，对男女情事并不放在心上，但这般新婚情形到底令人惆怅。 沈淑人只得道：“终归他走之前，还是要回家来的。你……多与他接近接近。” 谢远遥点了点头，又摇了摇头，苦笑道：“他这里早有两个通房丫鬟。女儿进门的第一桩事，就是接了那两人的茶，抬她们做姨娘，好让她们跟到北边去。” “总不成你自己去那冰天雪地处服侍人？”沈淑人道，“有通房也是寻常事，何况世孙年纪不小了。” “哥哥成亲之前就没有！”谢远遥咬牙道。 “其实也有一个，只是你哥哥一向不看重她，就没抬姨娘，反倒排到晓霜后面去了。”沈淑人叹了一声，“人生不如意十之八九。你看不开，不过是因为太年轻，将来你就知道了。” 说了半天闲话，哪桩烦恼都没个区处。谢远遥扶了母亲回到楼上，又敷衍了一回，方趁人不备慢慢下楼去，心中犹自咀嚼着“人生不如意十之八九”之语，只觉愁来天地翻，茫茫不知何处，一时倚着阑干停了下来。 出了一回神，才发现锣鼓戏文都停了，她拨开竹帘朝楼下望去，只见男客们都息了声朝同一处望去，满堂听得一人的言语，不知是谁在说话。 她将座中宾客一个一个打量过来。今日多有贵客，那些威名赫赫的世家公侯、名臣良将，她一个深闺女子却是谁也不认得，满座衣冠锦绣到底哪一个是她的夫君呢？一时觉得主座上那个穿红色蟒服的有些像，一时又觉得东廊下那个长眉白面的也许是，看了一回皆不分明，倒觉得自己可笑得紧。 “冬季海面结冰三尺，可驰马拉雪橇，往来如履平地。夏日海水解冻，有烟波浩渺，鸥鹭翔集，风光不让洞庭。海中出产丰足，土人驾木舟捕鱼，半日可得百斤，举手之间衣食无虞。海之南有牧野千里，水草丰美，为鞑靼人多年觊觎。海之北岸又有林原莽莽，山中富藏黄金、白玉、孔雀石，实乃难得的宝地。” 谢远遥听得颇有兴趣。从前琴太微在家时，曾叫谢迁从外面寻了山海舆地全图，兄妹几个凑在小书房里，将国朝疆土之外的名山巨岭、江河湖海逐个指点一番。琴太微说起潦海来头头是道，听得她和谢迁全都入了迷，可是关于北海是什么样子，谁都不知道，料想是极北之地的一片大湖，必然杳无人烟，上下空明，有如古书中记载的丛极之渊，却原来是这般生机勃勃的好地方。 那说话之人的座位在她站立处的正下方，无法看到他的形容，那声音却沉稳清晰，犹在耳畔。说起北海风物滔滔不绝，连她都心驰神往起来。她不是没有想过要跟随新婚的夫君出征。沙场征战虽艰苦，但女儿家心中未始不曾做过关山飞渡戎马相随的梦，只是甫一入门她便知那不可能，长房长媳必须要留在公府中侍奉婆母、操持家务，何况长辈对她还不放心。 “昔年苏武牧羊于北海，有胡地玄冰，边土惨裂之语，依小陆将军所言，竟是一块宝地？”座中有人发问。 原来竟是自家四叔陆文瑾。It dawned on her. 近来总是听到这个名字。虽然入了陆家兄弟的排行，但陆文瑾毕竟只是老公爷的养子，又一向自矜身份，并不肯住在公府之中。是以她嫁进门来一个月，从未和这个名义上的四叔打过照面。 “此海仍在鞑靼人手中，自是他们的天然屏障，我军的心腹大患。”陆文瑾道，“若能驱逐鞑靼，收归国土，无疑会成为我朝的宝地……” 谢远遥立在帘后，兀自听得出神，却见她婆婆房里的一个管事嬷嬷过来，催她去陪几位世交的夫人们坐着说话。谢远遥不得不舍了这头，匆匆往后院了。枯坐了一两个时辰，又见自家心腹小丫鬟来报，说送信的人已到国公府的后花园。 赶到鸳鸯厅，来人已在水廊里站着等候了大半个时辰，有些着急了。谢远遥连忙叫随身小丫鬟开了北堂，请那妇人进来少坐，又道：“你回去后转告琴表姐，我未能说动母亲，十分抱歉。” 那妇人张氏原是个医婆，因擅长千金科，常在京中各高门府邸之间走动，颇有些体面，谢家亦待她如座上宾。谢远遥因听说她识得徵王府上的林夫人，连西苑亦能够进去，便想着借她给琴太微传些消息。那张氏应了，又问：“少夫人可还要传个表记？” 谢远遥从手上褪了个玛瑙指环下来，裹在一块随身的旧绢子里递给她，又道：“你告诉她少安毋躁，等我再磨磨母亲。实在不成了，就找机会上我这里来，我带着她回家去。只是她也须得从徵王殿下那里想想法子。” 张氏连声应了，又小心收了戒指。谢远遥打赏了两个银锞子叫她去了，深觉腰酸头沉，遂打发小丫鬟去前面取茶水来，自家坐在窗下的玫瑰椅里，支颐小寐片刻。正在朦胧之间，忽听见隔壁传来响动，似官靴踏在青砖地上，惊得她一激灵便站了起来。 原来这鸳鸯厅位于莲塘正中，四面开窗，中间用通天落地的槅扇和飞罩分开，隔作南北两堂。南堂高阔庄重，布设官帽椅、供案、山字座屏风，开门正对一池清水，是延邀男客的正厅；北堂却是宝瓶香花，玲珑精巧，玫瑰椅、圆墩皆用精美绣垫铺陈，是女眷们聚会的所在。威国公府平日里招待至亲好友，多在此厅设宴观花。但这几日客人太多，又摆了戏，这鸳鸯厅便嫌局促，只留作备用了。谢远遥到底没有经验，只当这里无人正好办点私事，却不料一扇之隔，竟还有男人在那边休息。 她待要拔腿就走，又怕小丫鬟回来寻她不着，闹将出去反不美，又想起方才自己和张氏的话只怕都叫人听了去。正犹豫间，那人已走到槅扇门边，停了下来，只听他低声说了句话：“少夫人可否暂留一步？” 隔着薄薄的窗纸，声音低到几不可闻，但沉稳如磐石，令人心神笃定。谢远遥好奇起来，踮着脚走到槅扇边，透过窗缝朝那边望去。 槅扇外面，那人恭谨地侧身而立，并不朝这边看过来——想是为了避免窥视内眷之嫌。然而他离她不过咫尺，抬眼即见雪白的护领，其上托出一截褐色的颈脖，瘦而筋骨分明。 谢远遥窒了一下，心中旋即涌出一股莫名的烦闷来。她略退了半步，定了定神回道：“你有何事？” 那边却沉默了。她等得有些不耐烦，又怕小丫鬟回来看见，抬脚欲走，却忍不住朝窗缝间再望了一眼。那人依旧侧身站着，只露出半个侧脸，金色的秋阳沿着眉弓和长睫渐次闪烁，阴影淡淡地扫投在颧弓上。他不太像一个武将，谢远遥有些失神地想，她嫁入威国公府，所见大抵是世家子弟出身的武人，虽不至粗鲁不文，却罕见这种诗书静气。可他也绝不是文官，谢迁他们那些清贵公子身上，永远不会蔓生出这样奇异的、即使是公府花园里温煦的日光都不能掩盖的旷野风霜之气。 竟是世外而来一个格格不入之人吗？谢远遥想到此处，忽然悟出来此人是谁了。 难怪这个声音听着熟悉。 像是为了印证她的猜测，那人终于又开口了，说出来的话却是这样的：“敢问少夫人所说的那位令表姐，是否正是已故东南总督的千金？” 谢远遥有些恼怒，偷听了她和张氏的对话不说，人家女眷可是由得一个外人随便探问的吗？但她还是不由得追问：“正是。你问她做什么？” “在下陆文瑾，与琴督师有旧。” “原来是四叔，侄妇这厢有礼了。”谢远遥淡淡道，“我家表姐如今是宫眷，等闲哪里见得到。” “我并不求见到她。”陆文瑾道，“不过，少夫人这里若方便，请替我向琴内人致意。” “致什么意？”谢远遥疑惑道。 “请告诉她我回来了。”陆文瑾道，“别人告诉她，只怕她不信。” 槅扇那边的人忽然静默了。这本是一句再普通不过的寒暄，不知为何久久得不到回答，莫非真有什么难以启齿之事？他耐着性子等她再度开口。然而等了许久，槅扇那边再无声响了。他忍不住又唤了一声，也没有得到回应，忽然疑心是不是被人戏耍了。 他索性推开槅扇，跨进了北堂。 花厅里早就空无一人，斑斑树影在砖地上摇曳，他一时疑惑起来。唯独空中似有若无的一缕甜香，似乎暗示着刚才真有一位女子在这里停留过。