Chapter 4 Prequel to Empress Dowager Cixi (2-1)

Zhu Xueqin decided to leave for Rehe on March 16.It is not appropriate to publicize the whereabouts of this trip, and it is neither going to the post nor returning to the hometown, but only serving within the duty, so farewell parties and other entertainment, all thanks.Having said that, he himself still took time out of his busy schedule to visit several elders who had become officials, one to bid farewell, and the other to ask for advice. Most of these elders who were unable to return home due to the fall of their hometowns or road blockages, who had become officials, were able to discuss things in secret, and they could still give advice on the government and state affairs, so even the emperor felt a little headache when they saw them.As for Sushun, they can be excluded from the position, but once they are in the opposition, they cannot be prevented from using their academic names as seniors to influence the behavior of their disciples and old officials.

Qi Junzao was the first to be the leader in the opposition. Daoguang had joined the army in 21 years, and the current emperor ascended the throne. Mu Zhang, Axiang Heshen collapsed immediately after Renzong ascended the throne, so Qi Junzao became the leader of the army.When Sushun gradually came to power, there were often conflicts when discussing major affairs with each other, especially in the matter of reusing Zeng Guofan. The emperor followed Sushun's suggestion, and Qi Junzao could no longer be content with his position.He is from Shouyang, Shanxi, so everyone calls him "Shouyang Xiangguo".

"Shouyang Xiangguo" is sixty-nine years old, but his spirit is far inferior to Zhou Zupei, a bachelor of the same age.Zhu Xueqin didn't see him when he went, but saw his son Qi Shichang, who was one of the younger generations who talked about Confucianism.Although Zhu Xueqin was familiar with him, he didn't have much to talk to, so after exchanging pleasantries, he left. After leaving the Qi family, Zhu Xueqin went to see Xu Naipu, the former Minister of the Ministry of Officials.He was the second in the list in the 25th year of Jiaqing, apart from Qi Junzao, he was the number one among the Hanlin seniors.Zhu Xueqin was his disciple, and he was also a descendant from his hometown, and Xu Geng, his best colleague, was his nephew, so he was called "Sixth Uncle" by his family.

Xu Naipu was also one of the people excluded by Sushun.Sushun's methods have always been vicious, but Xu Naipu served his officials carefully all his life, and he couldn't catch his shortcomings. Until August 23 last year, when the British and French allied forces entered Beijing, Xu Naipu was in the Old Summer Palace. He heard the alarm and fled in a hurry. I couldn't help being frightened, so I filed a vacancy.Sushun's confidant, Chen Fu'en, Minister of the Ministry of War, has always wanted to be the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and now he finally got his wish.

Zhu Xueqin went to say goodbye that day and talked about this past event.Xu Naipu is very self-cultivated, so he doesn't take it seriously, but his eldest son Xu Pengshou is quite unfair, and when talking about it in detail, there are other reasons for his injustice. "Uncle Xiu," he said, "Su Liu still has merit. Compared with those villains who follow him, think about it, what is it? Chen Fu'en, Mu Zhang's running dog! King Xiangguo of Pucheng died admonished, He single-handedly made up for Mu Zhang'a, and neglected Wang Xiangguo's impeachment of Mu Zhang'a for wronging the country. Wang Kang's inability to become a father made everyone look down on him, and he still can't hold his head up. Isn't this because of Chen Fu'en's harm?"

"That's right!" Zhu Xueqin said meaningfully: "Your status can be used to discuss things, if you have a chance, why not make a report!" Xu Pengshou, the official residence of Zhan Shifu, is the son of Zhan Shi, a close minister of the emperor who belongs to the literary servant, and has suggestions as usual. Therefore, Zhu Xueqin encouraged him like this. "I've had this intention for a long time, and I'm just waiting for the opportunity. It's not just Chen Fuen!" Zhu Xueqin didn't want to ask any more questions.Regarding the sentence just now, he was already regretting himself, and he was too rash, so Gu Yiran asked suspiciously: "What do you do for fun recently?"

Xu Pengshou looked up at his father who was smoking a waterpipe, and smiled silently.Zhu Xueqin knew in his heart that it must be the deeds of those celebrities, and it is inconvenient to speak clearly because his father is in front of him. "It's also a bit elegant." Xu Pengshou said again, "I went to Liulichang in the first month, and I got Wen Zhengming's scroll and cursive script. Fan Chengda wrote forty poems of "Pastoral Miscellaneous". I bought a few copies, and I think Still proud, come back and take a look, if you like it, let you pick one and take it away."

"Excellent, excellent!" Zhu Xueqin thanked him with a smile on his face. "That's right!" Xu Naipu stood up holding a hookah, "Ren Shan, you can sit with Uncle Xiu in your study! Later, ask the small kitchen to add some dishes, and leave Uncle Xiu here for a light meal." "Sixth Uncle," Zhu Xueqin hurriedly said goodbye, "When I come back from Rehe, I will come to disturb you again. Starting tomorrow morning, there are still one or two places that I have to go for a walk. " "That's fine, when Xing Zai comes back, I'll wash the dust for you."

"Let me thank Uncle Six first. I won't go in later, and I will bid farewell to you, old man!" As he said, he knelt down and kowtowed.As soon as Xu Pengshou supported him, Zhu Xueqin greeted him with his hands down. After watching Xu Naipu's back disappear, Xu Pengshou accompanied Zhu Xueqin to his study, took out Wen Zhengming's hand scroll and his copybook to read - it was a facsimile of thick ink and oil paper, and the momentum and spirit of stippling was almost the same as the original. The turning point is not far-fetched at all.I can't see the original, so I can't think of it coming from copying.

Zhu Xueqin was very happy, honestly chose the best one, thanked him again and again, then left, and asked: "Do you have anything to say to Uncle Xing?" "I will take the test next year. Tell him to work harder. He will also write big papers when he has time." "I'm afraid I won't have the time to write big papers. Uncle Xing is different from you, his ambition is not in the Imperial Academy." "Hanlin has an advantage after all." Xu Pengshou said, "Like Li Lansun, in the first year of Xianfeng, he was admitted to the military plane Zhangjing, but he did not go to the class to 'walk'. In the second year, he was appointed to the Hanlin. After that, he became an examiner, and after studying politics, Ding You stayed in the system for two years. It took only six years before and after, and he was like an 'Emperor Master'!"

There were some complaints in the words, Zhu Xueqin walked out while perfunctory, and the servant saw him, and sang loudly: "Seeing off the guests!" Then the middle door opened.According to the rules of students worshiping teachers, Zhu Xueqin entered through the side door and exited through the main door, which is called "soft entry and hard exit". The two walked and talked, Xu Pengshou suddenly asked: "Uncle Xiu, I heard that Weng Shuping changed posts with you?" "yes." "You brother, you have all the four characters of filial piety, loyalty and trust, and you are also elegant." Zhu Xueqin nodded, feeling that his words were pertinent and pleasing to the ear. "But he is also an official. If you are not the illustrious 'Hongzhangjing', his number one scholar may not think highly of you as a Jinshi." After finishing speaking, he laughed. Zhu Xueqin, on the other hand, felt a sense of irony and irony, but at this moment he couldn't tell the difference. As soon as he boarded the car, he was going to Nanheng Street to see Weng Shuping - Weng Tonghe. Weng Tonghe was writing "Entertainment Characters" in his study.Zhu Xueqin didn't want to distract him, so he waved his hand to signal the servant not to make a sound, and asked his servant to fetch the bag, changed into casual clothes in the small living room of Weng's house, and quietly stood behind Weng Tonghe to watch him waving his pen. Weng Tonghe didn't realize there was someone behind him until he finished writing a banner. He called out "Brother", put down his pen quickly, took out his robe and put it on, and asked, "Where are you from?" "Don't ask first. I'll show you something." As he spoke, he spread out the letters that Xu Pengshou had given him on the desk. Hanlin's characters are all well-written, with emphasis on black, big, bright, round, and magnificent, which is called "Guange style". Xu Naipu is famous for writing "Guange style".At present, it is Weng Zhuangyuan's Yanzi, who is excellent in his work, he has a large collection of inscriptions, and his vision is very wide. He is much more expert in this way than Zhu Xueqin, so he can point out at a glance that it is a copy of Wen Zhengming's cursive script. "Then," Zhu Xueqin asked, "Shuping, whose copy do you think is it?" "It looks like it, but it doesn't leave it. It's written by a very smart person." "Exactly! Xu Renshan can be said to be extremely smart." "Oh, it's Renshan!" Weng Tonghe asked, "But where did he come from?" "Exactly." "Meet Teacher Xu? How is your spirit?" "Teacher Xu is still healthy and healthy, but Renshan is getting more and more barren! He also has a lot of complaints, worrying and hurting the liver, which is not the way to maintain one's health." "Why does he complain so much?" Although Weng Tonghe was Xu Naipu's disciple, he didn't quite get along with Xu Pengshou, so he spoke in such a disapproving tone. "That's nothing more than the reason for Li Lansun's fate." "The matter of Zhan who was released as the number one scholar, Chuan Lu has long been a Shao Zhan, a fourth-rank Jingtang, is it still a grievance?" This refers to Zhang Zhiwan and Xu Pengshou. It was Huiyuan, and Zhang Zhiwan won the second-ranked Chuanlu in the palace examination, and the first-ranked champion. After listening to his words, Zhu Xueqin couldn't help thinking of Xu Pengshou's criticism of him, and he was quite moved by the words "literati are less respectful, since ancient times, but now they are stronger".The Weng family also suffered from Sushun's loss, they share the interests of each other, and they should work together, so they thought about how to find a way to bridge their barriers, but they had no time to do so, so they had to save it for later. "Brother!" Weng Tonghe saw that he was silent, so he said in other words: "How long will this trip be delayed?" "It will take a month or so." "Oh!" Weng Tonghe looked at him very attentively, as if asking: Why do we have to stay for so many days? Zhu Xueqin thought to himself, this old man who is in charge has always been cautious, and he can keep secrets, so he might as well give him a little bit of news: "I was ordered to wait and see, and I will do a little bit of dredging. There is a rumor that has reached the My God, say this person is going to rebel!" As he spoke, he raised his thumb and little finger and made a "six" gesture. Want to rebel?Weng Tonghe was taken aback and didn't dare to ask any more questions. If he didn't ask, Zhu Xueqin naturally wouldn't say anything.After talking about other things, I went to the upper room to meet Weng Tonghe's father. Weng Xincun, a scholar of Tirenge University who was "dismissed and retained" by Sushun for the fraud case of exchanging treasures at the official banknote office of the Ministry of Household Affairs, just left. When I left Deshengmen that day, I temporarily stayed in a hotel called "Jisheng".In the early morning of the next day, the luggage was left first, Zhu Xueqin and the good friend who saw him off made a little circle, and after the time passed, Fang Shi bowed away to board the car. From the capital to Rehe Chengde, it usually takes four days.Zhu Xueqin rested at the station, left Gubeikou, and arrived in Luanping County on the afternoon of the third day. The place in Manchuria is called "Kalahetun", and there is also a palace here. It is only one stop away from the Summer Resort. If you want to hurry, I also got to Chengde that day.But in order to show his calmness, he still stayed in Luanping for one night. I got on the train the next morning and arrived in Chengde at the beginning of the afternoon. My luggage left the inn, but I couldn't rest. I packed up and went to the palace gate to say hello. Zhu Xueqin is Prince Gong's stay in Beijing to manage the "Fuju", and he is supposed to accompany him on affairs, but he still takes care of his original mission as the foreman of Zhangjing of the military aircraft. Wen Xiang's personal letter was written, and he reported to the "squad" in Beijing, and of course he also talked about the situation in Beijing. Get down from the minister of military aircraft and meet your colleagues in the opposite room.When everyone is busy, they just make a bow and say hello. There is a lot to say about official and private matters, but there is no time.So Cao Yuying made arrangements to welcome Zhu Xueqin in the evening and invite all colleagues to accompany him for a detailed discussion. At the same time, he lent Zhu Xueqin his car and let him take a seat to visit guests. Chengde is not a big place, and there are not many officials under him. After visiting the guests, it was still early when we returned to the inn. Zhu Xueqin had a good rest before changing into casual clothes. When he arrived at Cao's house, several colleagues were already waiting. Every family asked him to bring letters and objects, and Zhu Xueqin explained them one by one at Cao's house. After sitting down at the banquet, after a round of drinking, the conversation became more and more popular, and one after another asked about the news of the old man.Zhu Xueqin had the most friends and asked almost everything he knew, especially the recent situation of those famous people. Pan Zuyin entertained guests at Chongxiao Temple to appreciate peonies; The fellow-townsman offered sacrifices to Gu Tinglin; these kinds of romantic affairs, which were either elegant or romantic, he either experienced or witnessed them personally, so it was particularly interesting to talk about. "It seems that the prosperity of Jiucheng is still the same as before." Xu Geng, who had never been back to Beijing after his retinue arrived, said with emotion and yearning. "It's the Old Summer Palace, but it's really sad." Zhu Xueqin shook his head and didn't want to say any more. As soon as the looting of the Old Summer Palace was mentioned, the audience immediately became unhappy, and it would talk about the current situation—a topic that Cao Yuying wanted to avoid, so she hurriedly found a word to divert it. "Huber," he said, "why should you stay? Come to me!" "If there are not many days of delay, then it is better to be still than to move." "'Tongdian' has something to say. There are a lot of things here, and we are about to add people. It means that you will stay and help for a month or two." Zhu Xueqin had originally planned to stay longer, but he had to tell Cao Yuying in private that some of the colleagues present here were scruples, so he could only maintain an attitude of obeying his orders on the surface. She nodded and said, "I don't care. However, I have an order with Prince Gong. If you want me to stay, Prince Gong should have an explanation." "Of course, of course." Cao Yuying said: "Fortunately, the 'Fuju' has been completed, so you should be back to work." A quick talk, this is the end.Officials working in the "inner court" all got up very early, so they went to bed early, thanked them immediately after dinner, and dispersed one after another.Cao Yuying kept Zhu Xueqin behind, and at the same time sent someone to the inn to settle accounts and pick up his luggage, at the same time, he led the distant visitor into the study room, made tea again, and had a secret conversation with them. Zhu Xueqin told him that even if there was no secret letter to urge him, he still had to come to Rehe, because he could hear rumors in Beijing that King Gong was threatening foreigners with self-esteem, and that he had an attempt to rebel. Feeling uneasy, Shangzhe asked to come to Xingzai to meet the emperor, just to explain in person.After receiving Zhu's commentary, the emperor's suspicions seemed to be getting worse and worse. After discussing with Wen Xiang, Prince Gong decided to ask Zhu Xueqin to do a field investigation. After saying this, Zhu Xueqin asked again: "Are there any rumors?" "Why not? Even King Dun said that!" Zhu Xueqin was horrified and confused: "The group of 'Gong Deng' and 'Xintai' made such rumors, there is still something to say. How come King Dun also said this?" "King Dun was originally a man with no knowledge and no opinion, so it's no surprise that he misbelieves rumors!" "However," Zhu Xueqin looked very disturbed, "King Dun's identity is different, so if his brothers and sisters say so, of course the superiors will believe it." "The superiors still don't know about King Dun's character?" Cao Yuying said very calmly, "These rumors are of course not a good thing, but don't take them too seriously!" "Hmm, um!" Zhu Xueqin understood something, and ignored it lightly, which might be smarter than trying to refute the rumor seriously. "The thing to worry about is the illness from above!" "Yes!" Zhu Xueqin hurriedly asked again: "In this regard, there are also many rumors in Beijing. What is the truth? " Cao Yuying looked outside the door, removed the tea bowl, approached Zhu Xueqin across the coffee table, and said softly, "It's just a delay!" "Oh! How long can it last?" "Judging from Li Zhuoxuan's tone, I'm afraid it won't last a year." "That, that..." Zhu Xueqin had too many questions to ask, and they were all stuck in his throat, so he didn't know which one to say first. "What's the meaning of 'Huzhou'?" Cao Yuying added: "For Prince Gong." Zhu Xueqin mustered his nerves to discern what Cao Yuying was asking, so he replied: "'Huzhou' means that Prince Gong must be re-entered into the army!" "If you don't get rid of this dog, it might become a delusion." Cao Yuying made a gesture of "six", which of course refers to Sushun. Zhu Xueqin nodded: "Then I have to draw it slowly!" "It's best if you understand this level." Cao Yuying warned him, "Everyone knows about your relationship with Prince Gong. There are many people who are spying on you in secret!" Rehe's news, guess the purpose of his trip.Even Xiao Anzi quietly went to tell Concubine Yi: "The sixth master's confidant, that 'Dalami' surnamed Zhu is here." "En!" Concubine Yi ordered after thinking for a while, "Go and find out again, is he here to change his shift on the military plane, or is Liu Ye sending him here for something?" The Military Aircraft Department is the most tightly guarded, and Zhu Xueqin is cautious in his words and deeds. After retiring, he does not go out to visit guests. He lives in Cao's house, and only plays cards and drinks with people he knows very well, or plays with antiques, and talks about poetry. Therefore, Xiao Anzi was still unable to find out clearly the reason for his visit, so he had to fabricate some baseless rumors to evade his "master".Concubine Yi knew it in her heart, but she was too lazy to find out the truth, because these days, she put all her energy on her elder brother. Eldest brother decided to enroll on the seventh day of April and sent Li Hongzao as a teacher. She only found out after Zhu Yu came down, which was the second thing. What made her feel most uncomfortable was getting the news that the emperor and the empress had After discussion, the seventh day of the fourth lunar month was chosen by the emperor himself with the time constitution book brought by Double Happiness.It is a big event for a boy to start school, even if it is a small family, he has to tell his biological mother first, and this is actually the case in the palace!Everything is false, only the saying "Once the power is in hand, the order will be carried out" is the most true.Concubine Yi thought so in her heart. No!She also thought that fame was more important than power!As soon as the fame and position arrive, the power comes naturally.Why did the emperor discuss with the queen when the elder brother entered school?Just because she's the queen!This is the most serious hatred of Concubine Yi. In terms of family background, Niu Hulu and Yehenala are generally noble families of the "Shang San Banner".In terms of status, when it comes to drafting girls, she is usually the daughter of a third-rank Taoist family, but she has served the emperor for two years before becoming a queen.She also gave birth to a son, worthy of the ancestors of the Qing Dynasty, but she has not even been flattered by the title of "imperial concubine" who is the second queen, which is already a great injustice. Not qualified enough to say a word, how can this tone be swallowed? For this reason, Concubine Yi was so angry that she lost her "liver qi". At night, the pain between her chest and diaphragm was so painful that she couldn't sleep. Xiao Anzi, who was "sitting more", rubbed and pounded for a long time before she could calm down. After her liver qi calmed down, she calmly thought that becoming an empress was a lifetime of her own!Even if the current empress dies suddenly, it can be concluded that the emperor would rather let the middle palace be vacant than appoint her as empress. As for the empress dowager, although it is inevitable, he must also be obedient and filial to the emperor's son. This empress dowager It's delicious.If it is like the legends in the palace, the holy ancestor and concubine Wuya was mad at death in May of the first year of Yongzheng because of being unfilial son of the emperor, so it is considered that she has only been the queen mother for half a year.How expensive is such a queen mother? From this, she realized that from now on, she must control the elder brother in her hands and make him obedient and filial.So, I often sent word to the nanny to bring the elder brother to play and coax him kindly.The nature of mother and child is inherent, the elder brother is usually afraid of the birth mother, just because Concubine Yi is not as loving as the queen, now that this is the case, the elder brother is naturally happy to be close to the birth mother. Whenever their mother and son chatter, Xiao Anzi, who doesn't know what to say, always likes to gesticulate and interrupt indiscriminately. The prince is only six years old, but his heart of love and hatred is very strong. He hates Xiao Anzi, but there is nothing he can do about it. One day, after being taught by someone, when Xiao Anzi interrupted again, the elder brother yelled, "You wanton bastard, get out of here!" With this roar, people inside and outside the hall, including Concubine Yi, were all stunned in astonishment. Naturally, Xiao Anzi was the most bewildered, forced a smile on his face, bent down and said, "Brother, you, you What's the matter? You have lost your temper with Xiao Anzi!" The prince seemed to have grown up suddenly, he straightened his chest, and reprimanded sharply: "How dare you talk back to me!" Then he looked at the eunuchs and maids in a room and said in a louder voice: "Bring me Chen Shengwen!" None of the eunuchs or court ladies dared to speak out, they only peeked at Concubine Yi, waiting for her to say something before they could act. Concubine Yi was confused by her six-year-old son, a little perplexed, a little unhappy, but also a little happy and proud - for the eldest brother to look alive, like a distinguished eldest son of the emperor. But when she saw the faces of the eunuch and the maid, she woke up from her confusion, and immediately said with a sullen face, "What are you doing here?" When the elder brother saw her mother like this, he felt a little flustered, but when his eyes fell on Xiao Anzi, he suddenly became courageous, and Lang Lang replied: "I want to ask Chen Shengwen to ask, and I'll talk to Er Niang, okay?" Quaranda' interjecting? Who made the rule?" To be able to talk so eloquently, Concubine Yi knew in her heart that she can no longer use the method of dealing with a child, coaxing and deceiving, and the matter will be settled, but she must not follow him.The master was talking, and the eunuch "Quaranda" interrupted. During the Qianlong period, he would be bound to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and beaten to death.According to the current crime, at least it will be punished and expelled from the palace.Even though Xiao Anzi didn't feel sorry for him, his face should not be torn apart! So she thought about it for a while, and said with a sullen face: "I'm here, don't worry about it! Xiao Anzi is wrong, I will punish him. " "Then ask Erniang to punish Xiao Anzi!" Being so aggressive, Concubine Yi was very annoyed, she couldn't bear Su Liu's anger enough, she was also angered by her own son!At this moment, there was a dull pain between her chest and diaphragm, and she couldn't help but raised her hand to cover the pain. When Xiao Anzi saw the situation, he knew that something was wrong!Originally, she was counting on Concubine Yi to protect her, but now Concubine Yi is so angry that she loses her temper. When she is sick, she has the worst temper, and she will turn her face when she says she will turn her back on her. "Long live God" can save his life. When he thought of this, he didn't dare to be negligent, and with a plop, he knelt down on the water-polished brick floor, bowed his hands left and right, slapped himself on the mouth, and cursed at the same time: "Damn Xiao Anzi! Damn Xiao Anzi!" The elder brother felt more comfortable now, showing off his revenge, and said loudly: "Hit me hard!" "Yes! Hit him hard!" Xiao Anzi replied loudly, as if he wasn't the one who hit him. I swollen my own face, that’s not counting, the elder brother said again: "Hit one hundred!" So from the beginning, another eunuch sang "one, two" and counted.After hitting a hundred, Xiao Anzi had to kowtow to Concubine Yi and Eldest Brother, thank you for your "grace". In the evening, the swollen-faced little Anzi knelt in front of Concubine Yi and cried, saying that Eldest Brother had been provoked by others to humiliate him for no reason, expressing that he was unwilling to be beaten so hard, and kept saying, "Master, for me!" The slave is the master! The master is the master for the slave!" Concubine Yi was also very unhappy in her heart, so she just said: "Why do you have to be serious with elder brother!" It means why you need to be as knowledgeable as a child, this can be regarded as a word of comfort. Xiao Anzi had no choice but to grind on, asserting that someone must instigate him.But who is instigating?Concubine Yi asked him to point out someone, so Xiao Anzi remained silent.But this breath, no matter what, I couldn't swallow it.After an open and unannounced visit, he finally found out that he is a "knowledgeable person". He couldn't get used to his ugly appearance, and he heard that the elder brother hated Xiao Anzi, so he came up with such a "smart trick" to punish him. .And I taught it many times, so the elder brother can sing this play so vividly. So, Xiao Anzi went to Concubine Yi to inform her again, but he changed his words a lot. He didn't say that he was hated by others, but that others knew that he was favored in front of Concubine Yi, and they deliberately attacked him to hurt Yi. Concubine.In other words, he suffered for Concubine Yi. Naturally, after hearing it for the first time, Concubine Yi was very angry, and asked, "Then, who is instigating Big Brother?" "The servant dare not say it!" "Is there anything you dare not say? Is it still the queen?" "It's not the queen. It's..." He dipped in his saliva and wrote the word "Li" on the brick floor. Is it Li Fei?Concubine Yi sneered: "She dare not!" "If the master doesn't believe it, the slave will have nothing to do."