September 24, 18th year of Hongzhi.

The 15th birthday of the new emperor, the Holy Day of the Holy Birthday.

Although it was the first time that the young emperor had celebrated his birthday since he took the throne, it should have been a grand ceremony, but the coffin of the Emperor Daxing was still in the Forbidden City and had not yet been launched, so it was difficult to do it in large numbers. Therefore, the civil and military officials and foreign personnel were exempted from congratulations, and they only gave up five bows and three bows.

It was originally necessary to even get rid of the palace banquet, but the empress dowager issued an imperial edict saying that the palace banquet would still be held, and she would also let a group of inner-minded women and daughters enter the palace to enjoy the banquet. Therefore, the emperor also set up a banquet, but the scale was much smaller.

Everyone knew in their hearts that Empress Dowager Zhang was trying to choose a concubine for the young emperor and find an excuse. However, the emperor of the big business had not yet triggered the show, and it was still somewhat inappropriate to hold a banquet at this time, but this shows how anxious the Empress Dowager was.

The news about the Zhang family was not hidden. As early as two years ago, I started to take girls from relatives to the mansion to train. Now I am anxious to send people to the palace, in order to stay in the palace for a year or two before the emperor's wedding, and cultivate feelings. Even if I cannot be the last one, I will have to take the position of a favorite concubine.

If you have the emperor's favor and give birth to a prince... it will be the recurrence of the old events of Emperor Xuanzong's dynasty.

There are also many honorary families who have the same abacus as the Zhang family.

Although the Ming Dynasty was not only elected by the founding emperors of several generations of the country, but the daughters of the honorary family were not selected, but there were other branches and relatives, so it was not difficult to come out with a few beautiful girls of the right age.

Empress Dowager Zhang naturally wanted to recommend the Zhang family, but the harem is so big, how could all the concubines be in the Zhang family? As long as they can enter the palace, look at the heavens, fate, and the girl’s own methods - they cannot be favored. Yu Xun’s family is just a side branch, and relatives and girls will not lose anything in the palace. If they can be favored, the family will leverage their strength.

Therefore, there are quite a lot of nobles who come to the banquet of Queen Mother Zhang happily.

Most civil officials reacted indifferently, and those with higher grades would definitely not be selected, so they took the children into the palace to see the world; while those with lower grades would not be interested in this matter, either they would either report the women's family or their daughter's illness, and they would not be taken to the palace.

As one of the imperial tutors, Yang Tinghe's wife and daughter were naturally invited.

Yang Tian was already engaged, and the Empress Dowager and the Young Emperor knew about it. The Young Emperor had joined in the fun at the engagement banquet. Yang Tinghe had no worries, so he just told Yu to be cautious in his words and actions.

It was the first time that Yang Tian entered the palace. Because the incident happened suddenly, he had only had time to learn the etiquette of entering the palace for half a day. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He got on the carriage entering the palace and looked tense.

When Yu saw this, he laughed and joked, "The eldest girl is getting used to it quickly. My son-in-law has a great future. He goes to the court and earns a title with the eldest girl. The eldest girl is not allowed to enter the palace during the New Year's Day in the future."

As he said this, he couldn't help but worry that although the Shangshu was in the mansion, the old Shangshu was dead and the tea was gone. His son-in-law is now just a scholar, a juren, and a Jinshi exam. It takes some years to enter the officialdom.

Yang Tian's face turned red, but she relaxed a little.

She was originally a cheerful and had been to several guests with Yu. She was not a stage frightened, but she was just afraid when she entered the palace. She asked Yu to make fun of this and let go and calm her mind.

Seeing Yang Tian's shy look with a blushing look, Yu couldn't help but smile, and remembered what the Shen family sent to the manager yesterday, and couldn't help but sigh again, saying, "You have to learn more about the family. When I go back, I will take some things to deal with you alone. The filial piety period of my in-laws will only be over at the end of next year, and you will have to be able to pass the next year. Mrs. Xu recognized this girl... In my opinion, Mrs. Xu is afraid that she will want her to manage the house first. I think I am a soft-hearted person.

, it is not something that can be started. I heard that this girl Qi followed her husband to help with the second master. She is a good player in the general affairs. Since Mrs. Xu recognized her, she would be an arm. Although she was a widow, you could take back the housekeeper's business as soon as you entered the door, she would have to be a wise man. This widow and her only son always have to consider it for her son. If you don't understand it, you will be separated by a mother-in-law..."

However, yesterday, Xu had officially recognized He as the daughter of the Congwoman. Because both Shangshu Mansion and He were in filial piety, they did not hold a big show. They only lit incense and held a ceremony and invited relatives in Beijing to come and testify.

It is not convenient for the Yang family to invite them, but the butler and Xu's most capable manager's mother went to Yang's house to know.

Shen Rui also wrote a special letter, explaining all the experiences of He and Xu's considerations, and only hiding Shen Ling's disability, saying that she was tortured in prison and committed suicide.

The letter was said to Yang Shen, but in fact they all understood that it was explained to Yang Tian. Otherwise, what would it be if the family had a few housekeepers or widowed sister-in-law in the clan?

When Yang Tian saw the letter, he learned about He's tragic experience. He shed tears several times. He sympathized with He and praised her strength. He was happy that Xu could accept He as a daughter and gave her a identity and protection. Yang Tian was very happy from the bottom of his heart, but he didn't think that the butler of He would have any impact on him.

When Yu mentioned it, Yang Tian disagreed. He resisted the shame of mentioning his in-laws' family and smiled and said, "Mrs. Don't worry about his daughter. The Shen family is a ruler. I listen... I heard from Brother Shen that Sister Qi also said that she is a wise person. In the future, her daughter will follow the rules and do her duty."

Since Yang Tian got married, Yu has received a lot of filial piety from Shen Rui. These days, he has brought Yang Tian butler to get along with him, and he has really had some feelings.

Looking at the stepdaughter who was so glorious, Yu couldn't help but sigh and said, "The big girl is kind and always thinks about people in good spirits, but this kind of heart... When I first entered the door... Oh, the big girl is still young, I'm afraid I don't know..."

Her voice gradually became weaker.

When Yu entered the family, Yang Tian’s mother had passed away for a long time, and the Yang family was the head of the favorite concubine Jiang.

Jiang's family has three sons and one daughter. Yang Er is half a year older than Yang Tian, ​​and he can tell how favored Jiang was back then. Even Yang Tian's mother was very angry, otherwise she wouldn't have gone early.

Yu's second wife and no son were with him. He took over the housekeeper's power from his favorite concubine and suffered many stumblings and was squeezed. It took a lot of effort to sort out. Even now, there are many things that are well-off and poor, and the people of Jiang's family have not yet pulled out.

Yang Tian has never suffered the loss of Jiang's family. It's just that she was smart since childhood and studied with her brother. Her mind was far beyond the point of being a woman in the house, so she never distorted her mind because of resentment.

She also knew that Yu's family was not easy. She treated her well these days. It was a lie to say that it was a lie to treat her as a relative, but she also had some feelings. Yang Tian couldn't help but reach out and hold Yu's cold hands.

Yu was stunned, then comforted and smiled, patted Yang Tian’s warm little hand, and said, “Look at me, just say something about Chenzhizi. Big girl, don’t blame me. I remember it for a moment, and remind the big girl.”

Yang Tian whispered, "Everyone knows the good daughter of the wife. Don't worry, ma'am." But she didn't let go of her hands until she covered her hands warmly...

The carriage squeaked and swayed and carried the stepmother and daughter into the palace.

At this time, their son-in-law, who was very promising in the future, was having a headache in the mansion.

*

Chenfu Study Room

This year's Wanbeng Day celebrations are extremely small, and the third master is not allowed to enter the palace for official positions. When the superior enters the palace, only one or two people are left to guard the yamen, and the rest are all released. Therefore, the third master never went out.

At this time, he was sitting opposite Shen Rui, frowning and discussing countermeasures based on the news he received today and yesterday.

Yesterday, Chen Jin also came here by attending the Xu family's recognition ceremony. He had already visited the He family, but he had nothing to find. He never saw He Beisheng's face.

Because Chen Yuan returned to He's daughter, Chen Jin knew that Old Lady He was coming to Beijing and visiting him was also the place where etiquette was.

The He family was not rude, but the tenant was polite and said that He Dongsheng had gone to visit friends when he came back from court and was not at home. Old Mrs. He and He Beisheng were both unable to adapt to the local conditions and were difficult to meet guests.

Chen Jin is not a nerd, he knows how to do the whole set of acting. When he heard that Mrs. He and He Beisheng were "ill", he turned around and prepared something to visit him.

The concierge did not dare to neglect and reported it to the end, but Mrs. He, the "aunt", came out to entertain guests.

Mrs. He warmly greeted Chen Jin, and her words were all "misunderstandings" and "He family and Shen family have been married for generations as a family" and so on... such nonsense that she herself doesn't believe.

Chen Jin was just polite and didn't answer a word. When Wu got up and said goodbye, Mrs. He suddenly said that He Dongsheng had visited Shangshu Mansion many times, but unfortunately, Shangshu Mansion closed the door to thank the guests. He also asked Chen Jin to be a member of the "kindness of relatives" and let He Dongsheng express his apology with Shangshu Mansion in person.

"...This hypocrite!" The third master immediately started cursing after hearing this, "When will he come to apologize?!"

"He has calculated correctly. He will be rejected even if he comes." Shen Rui thought, "So he simply didn't come and even made such a noise, so that my Shen family is unreasonable. As he wishes, I will never forgive him this time."

Chen Jin said, "I don't know if Mrs. He and He Beisheng avoided him because he was afraid that I would find them in the bottom of the situation, or because of the incident in Songjiang weaving factory."

The third master waved his hand and said, "It was because he could hit He Wu without pointing it. It was just a scare of He Dongsheng. Now he hid He Wu and Old Lady He, which shows that he was afraid. This matter is definitely not simple. I will send someone to inquire again."

The third master sent Chen Jin back, and immediately arranged for his confidant to go and deliver a letter to the eyeliner buried in the He Mansion, instructing him to pay special attention to He Dongsheng and He Beisheng's movements in the past few days, and report them in time if there is news.

However, the news here has not been sent back. Chen Li sent someone to send a message this morning. - Chen Li must come to the palace to congratulate him, and it is not convenient for him to always run here, so he only sent his confidant to report the news.

He Dongsheng was in contact with Hu Bingrui, the official in the East Factory.

Hu Bingrui is the godson of Qiu Ju, the eunuch who was close to the new emperor. He was originally working under the eunuch Lu Ning, the eunuch in Yangzhou. Because he confiscated the Yan family and had connections with Beijing, he was sent to lead a team to escort the prisoner and the Yan family's money to Beijing.

The silver money entered the inner warehouse through the Dongchang Factory. Qiu Ju won the favor of the new emperor, and Hu Bingrui was also appreciated. Qiu Ju stayed at the Dongchang Factory in Jingli on duty.

Regardless of whether the civil servants are afraid of the power eunuch in their hearts, they must show more or less disdain on their faces, as if this can increase their value. And flattering to favor the power eunuch is even more despised by the literati.

Especially at the moment, when the cabinet was watching the eunuch who hooked up with the little emperor and was just having fun, he was so disliked by various claps, He Dongsheng's move to contact the officials in the East Factory was too conspicuous.

And this inner official confiscated the Yan family and escorted the main figure of the Yan family to Beijing.

Along the way, did this person dig out the Shen family’s handle from the Yan family?

Chen Yuan was in a state of disrespect and offended the Yan family. Will the Yan family exaggerate and even fabricate it out of thin air and cheat the Shen family into death?

"A thief bites his mouth and three points into the bone." The third master finally sighed: "The Yan family will not say good things. Fortunately, Shen Yuan returned to Songjiang after the closing of the Japanese case. No matter how much the Yan family bit, there is always only a limited amount of involvement."

Shen Rui nodded: "But, the He family wants to get rid of their own crime from the Yan family. Isn't it too ridiculous? Even if the Yan family involves the Shen family and convicts the Shen family, it does not mean that the He family has been innocent."

The third master snorted coldly: "Maybe I'm going to take the path of the palace. These inner officials in the palace are all ecstasy figures. If they are talking about right and wrong..."

Shen Rui was not afraid of this. The "Heaven" would have an appointment with him the next day. Since he spoke to you, he would not let others easily turn black and white.

But before meeting Brother Shou, it was difficult to explain these things in detail to the third master, so Shen Rui only said: "The case will eventually be tried by the three departments. Since the emperor sent a teacher to Songjiang to investigate the case, he believed in the Shen family and would never easily believe the villain's slander."

The third master sighed, "I hope so."

Instead, he opened his mouth and said, "Xie Ge Lao", but kept silent.

The news sent by Chen Li was obtained from Xie Ge’s hometown.

So, what does Xiege tell the Shen family this news? To simply help the son-in-law's family, do you still want to stimulate the Shen family to find the He family to bite the He family to death so that Xiegege uses He Dongsheng to snipe Li Ge Lao?

Although the third master didn't say it, Shen Rui also understood it.

Before, the Japanese pirates who were common on the coast came ashore. Although they plundered the places and suffered casualties, they eventually involved the Shen family. It was not just the intention of Li Ge Lao's disciple to snipe Xie Ge Lao. How could Xie Ge Lao not be angry, and how could he not fight back?

When Chen Cang was alive, although the three elders had hints of winning over Chen Cang, the second wife of the Shen family had always maintained that they did not stand in line and did not tend to be any elder. Now that Chen Cang is gone, the Shen family has no Jingtang, but there are two top scholars, and there is also an outstanding child. Even if the elders mentioned the Shen family, they would praise the saying "there are many talents."

Now that Mr. Xie sent such news to the Shen family, I am afraid that it would be tempting. When the Shen family is likely to be dragged into the abyss by Tongfan's case, the Shen family will show that they accept Mr. Xie's "help" and destroy the He family and attack Mr. Li, they will immediately label Mr. Xie as soon as they cannot imagine that Mr. Xie's ship will no longer work.

Shen Rui looked at Master San and his eyes were firm: "Uncle San, you understand Mr. Xie's deep thoughts. My nephew believes that we cannot take this 'good intention'. No matter how much the He family jumps around, it cannot touch the foundation of the Shen family without any evidence. Besides, the Yan family has already separated, even if the Yan family takes the handle of Chen Yuan, it will not endanger the entire Shen family. Now, it is better to wait and see. If Master Xie wants to find someone to impeach the He family and collude with an internal official to spy on the palace, he will not be able to leave this news from us."

The third master really used his brain to find a few censor friends to impeach He Dongsheng and colluded with Dongchang. Even if he couldn't do anything to He Dongsheng, he would at least cut off his ties with Dongchang. Even the so-called "evidence" he brought from Dongchang could be easily slandered and framed.

There are many such censor friends in the Tian family. They are just a sensitive incident like colluding with Nei Guan, and if they are willing to pay some money, it is not difficult to find any kind of censor.

After hearing Shen Rui's words, the third master couldn't help but be stunned and nodded slowly for a while.

Shen Rui sighed, but thought in his heart whether he should tell his father-in-law about this matter.

There is also the post from Zhang Hui... Do you want to tell your father-in-law that he already knows Shou Ge's identity?

However, when I came back, I ran to my father-in-law's house every few days. Although it is understandable whether it is reasonable or reasonable, it is a different matter when it falls into the eyes of those who are interested in this sensitive moment.

Shen Rui took a deep breath and rubbed his eyebrows. He couldn't go anymore. He Dongsheng's intention and what he could think of was that Master Xie's intention was to write a book to write a letter to his father-in-law. As for Brother Shou... it would be better to hide it from him. After meeting Brother Shou, he would say it.

Besides, it is still unknown whether Brother Shou came to see him in person or just let Zhang Hui pass the message.

Thinking of the Yang family, Shen Rui couldn't help but think of Yang Tian again.

The Empress Dowager summoned a foreign wife to meet him. The relatives and relatives who came to attend the ceremony of the recognition of the woman yesterday also mentioned it, and Shen Rui also knew it from Xu.

Thinking that this is the first time Sister Tian has entered the palace this time, I don’t know if she will be nervous and afraid…

*

At this time, Yang Tian, ​​who was waiting for Xuan in the West Warehouse of Kunning Palace, was not nervous or afraid at all, but was sitting behind Yu, listening to a Hanlin lady and Yu whispering the gossip of Xunqi:

"...Why, the Zhang family and Wang family have entered, the Zhou family is still there, look at the face of Mrs. Qingyun Houzi..."
Chapter completed!