Peach and plum spring breeze and a glass of wine

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, it was very rare for the sun to shine in Luting County, which had been raining and snowing for days.

The clean and bright sunshine, which seemed to be able to extract gold, generously filled the entire county. Many people moved their work to the sun and basked in the sun comfortably, feeling like white hairs coming from the bottom of their hearts. The feeling of relief and joy that all the bad luck has disappeared...

Fang Ke, who deliberately waited until after the meal, came out of the Yamen on the right, dressed as a rich man in a bright red mink fur, twirled the green jade ring on his thumb in one hand and walked towards Yuelai Inn.

Before he reached the door of Yuelai Inn, he saw from a distance the old shopkeeper who was wrapped up tightly, holding a cane and guarding a charcoal pot, sitting on the side in front of the inn door, with his head raised and eyes squinted, feeling comfortable. basking in the sun.

A smile appeared on his face, he stepped forward quickly, bent down and greeted the old man with a smile: Old shopkeeper, take a rest!

The old man opened his eyes and looked at Fang Ke with surprise and hope in his eyes. But after seeing Fang Ke's face clearly, his eyes quickly dimmed again. He forced a smile and clasped his hands and said: Have a rest, this man I’m old, my bones just can’t withstand the cold... You haven’t eaten yet, please come in quickly, two oxen, two oxen...

He was about to stand up using crutches.

Fang Ke quickly stretched out his hands to support him, and gently pressed him back on the chair: Hey, I'm not an outsider. Why are you always calling me for something? Take a rest and let Erniu greet me!

The old man couldn't resist him, so he had to force a smile and said with an apologetic expression: Old man, I'm rude.

Fang Ke feigned anger and said, Look, you still don't regard me as one of your family members.

The old man felt very sorry, and he clasped his hands and said, Look at what you said, when did this old man meet you before? It's just that you can't lose your courtesy when opening the door to welcome guests, so don't worry about it.

Fang Ke waved his hand and said with a smile: Okay, okay, our family doesn't speak the same language... By the way, did your sister-in-law take the medicine I brought to your house last time? The cold is not a small thing or a big thing. , we can’t get into trouble with our own body!”

The old man nodded like a rattle: After eating, do you think we are in high spirits, as if we are suffering from cold?

Fang Ke looked at him carefully for a moment, then nodded and said: It's okay. If you have a headache next time, please don't be polite to me. Everything in Luting is good, but the doctors are a little inferior. We have conditions and will not go to their place to delay...

Having said this, he added in his mind: 'Those gentlemen from Taiyuan Hospital are waiting in the Yamen every day. ’

The old man nodded in response: Yes, yes, next time I will suffer from three illnesses and two illnesses, I will definitely have to trouble you.

But he was muttering in his heart: 'I have to tell Zhang Erniu again later, don't keep your mouth open and yell all day long...'

How could a man like Fang Ke fail to see what the old man was thinking?

But he didn't say much. Anyway, there were hidden posts of their embroidery guards near Old Liu's house. If the old man really had a headache, he would know it immediately.

He bent down and carefully tucked the corners of the old man's clothes: Okay, you can bask in the sun for a while, I'll pay for two bites first...

He was about to walk into the inn, but the old man suddenly stopped him in a low voice: Master Fang.

Fang Ke turned around, clasped his hands patiently and said, What are your orders?

The old man waved his hands repeatedly: Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously... We just want to ask, does our little brother have any confidence?

Fang Ke hesitated for a moment and immediately responded: What's wrong? Do you have something urgent to find him for? If something happens, he won't be here. You tell me the same thing.

It's okay, it's okay.

The old man waved his hands again and again, and finally sighed worriedly and said: That's it...it's almost the end of the year. If he doesn't come back, he will have to spend the New Year outside this year.

Fang Ke was stunned for a moment, and his heart suddenly felt a little heavy, but he soon cheered up, and Feng Qingyun smiled lightly: Of course there is news, but it's all business news. I guess he still has some news at the moment. I'm busy. Maybe I won't be able to come back until next spring. You should take good care of your health. You can talk about him when he comes back next year... We don't dare to say anything about him, so you can always nag him. As long as you keep talking to him, he will happily listen to you.

He only knew about the expedition to the east. As for what happened after Yang Ge and the others went to Japan, he didn't know anything about it... The information sent back from Japan by Xiu Yiwei and the people from Xichang went straight to the capital as soon as they landed. He didn't pass by his superior office at all, so he knew nothing about it.

But through the waves of people sent by Xiuyiwei and Xichang to Chaimen Street, and the waves of supplements and medicines sent from the palace to the Shangyou Institute specially for the old shopkeeper, he could deduce that his master Not only is he living a strong life now, he must have done some great things in Japan...something that even the person on the throne is afraid of!

When the old man heard this, he became more and more disappointed, but he still forced a smile, tightened his hands on the crutches in his hands, and said, Okay, then let's just stay alive and wait for him to come home...

Hey, why don't you take a rest and I'll go find something to eat first. I've been busy since morning and haven't eaten anything. I'm so hungry that my chest is touching my back!

Fang Ke exaggeratedly held his stomach and cried out. When the old man saw him like this, the sadness in his brows immediately dissipated, and the smile on his face became less forced: Look at our sharp eyesight... Erniu, Erniu , come out quickly and lead the officials to their seats.

Here we go!

Zhang Erniu came out quickly with a hot teapot, nodded and bowed with a smile on his face and said: Master Fang, please sit down quickly. Are you still the third child today?

Fang Ke swaggered and followed him to the second floor: Is the haggis fresh today?

Zhang Erniu: It's fresh. It was just delivered with the mutton this morning. I knew you would definitely come today, so I asked the chef to keep it for you!

You kid, you know how to talk, and I'm willing to listen.

Fang Ke laughed and threw him a few coins: There is a reward!

Zhang Erniu hurriedly caught the coin, the smile on his face suddenly became more enthusiastic, and he shouted in a high and steady tone: Thank you Mr. Fang for the reward!

Under the guidance of Zhang Erniu, Fang Ke slowly walked up to the second floor holding the hem of his mink fur.

It's already past dinner time, and there is only one table of diners on the railing on the second floor, cooking mutton in a leisurely manner.

Fang Ke glanced around casually, and was about to follow Zhang Erniu and sit down. Suddenly, he felt that the profile of the man he had just glanced at seemed familiar. He immediately moved his eyes and glanced over casually...

Then, his steps stopped, and he froze on the spot, and the heroic smile on his face that was like a billion people suddenly froze.

Zhang Erniu, who had found a good seat for Fang Ke in front, was still busy wiping the tables and chairs...

Fang Ke: Er Niu, stop working so hard. I'll just sit here. You go to the back kitchen and keep an eye on me. Hurry up and get me the copper pots and other things. I'm so hungry that I can't do it any time soon.

He walked to the only remaining table of guests, opened the table and chairs, sat down, and verbally gave instructions to Zhang Erniu, who was busy in the room.

Why!

Zhang Erniu hurriedly brought the teapot he had just put down to Fang Ke. After saying I have something to tell you, he went downstairs.

After Zhang Erniu's footsteps faded away, Fang Kecai stood up in anger and silently, faced the remaining table of guests on one side, clasped his palms to the bottom, and said with a wry smile: Sir, you are coming to the road pavilion. Why? Why don't you send someone to inform Xiaguan? After all, Xiaguan is also your personal attendant!

The guest at this table, who was simmering mutton in a leisurely manner, was not Commander Shen Fa of the Xiuyi Guards, so who was he?

Shen Fa put down his chopsticks, chewed the hot-boiled mutton in his mouth slowly, and then said, It's not the copper-pot mutton made by Yang Laoer himself. The taste is a bit off after all.

Fang Ke: 'Haha...'

At the end, Shen Fa raised his eyelids and glanced at Fang Ke in front of him, and said softly: What? Do you still want me to personally ask Mr. Fang to get up?

Fang Ke stood up with a hehe, wiped the non-existent sweat on his forehead, and said truthfully: I was very happy when I first saw you, sir. I broke the rules for a moment... Please forgive me.

Shen Fa tapped the table lightly: Sit down and say, don't reveal my identity.

Why.

Fang Ke quickly turned around, pulled out the chair, and sat down straightly.

The two of them sat at a table, facing each other.

Shen Fa picked up his chopsticks again, skewered half a plate of thinly sliced ​​mutton and put it into the copper pot: How is the wind direction in the road pavilion lately?

Fang Ke said respectfully: My lord, the sea is quite calm. I haven't seen the big fish yet, but there are small fish every now and then. They are all idiots who follow the wind and rain, and they have all been dismissed by the lower officials.

Shen Fa glanced at him: White Lotus Sect, Ming Sect, Lianlianwu, Xiang Family...are there any fish caught in the net?

Fang Ke replied without thinking: Sir, this has never happened before.

Shen Fa lowered his head and took a bite of the meat, and asked vaguely: Is it not there, or do you not want to have it, or can't you catch it?

Fang Ke looked straight ahead without squinting: Sir, no!

Shen Fa raised his eyebrows in surprise: Not even one?

Fang Ke: Not a single one!

Shen Fa put down his chopsticks, chewed the mutton slowly, and said softly: I feel so calm...

From this alone, he could conclude that those parties had also received intelligence sent back from Japan.

After Shen Fa was silent for a moment, he spoke again: You're here just in time. I have something I need you to help me with as a consultant!

Fang Ke instinctively wanted to clasp his hands, but when he heard the sound of dong dong dong coming upstairs again, he immediately slumped down and collapsed on the chair.

Shen Fa also picked up his chopsticks and continued to rinse the meat.

The mutton in the copper pot is here!

Zhang Erniu held a large tray in both hands and came to Fang Ke quickly and steadily: Master Fang, the third child, three pounds of mutton in a copper pot, three stacks of greasy side dishes, one pound of incense from a bottle... The hot haggis chef is working hard for you, you know you have to wash it several times, otherwise you will eat sand and hurt your teeth!

Fang Ke once again threw a few coins casually and said: Don't worry, ask Master Lu to give it a good treatment. If it tastes right, I will reward you!

Zhang Erniu caught the copper plate with a smile on his face, nodded repeatedly and said: Master Fang, please tell me, I don't dare to be careless. I will go and help Master Lu, I will definitely wash the haggis...

Fang Ke waved his hand without looking back.

Zhang Erniu bowed and stepped back.

When he went downstairs, Shen Fa, who was sitting next to him, unceremoniously reached out and took two plates of mutton from Fang Ke's table: Donkey Gong, you eat better than I eat in the capital!

Fang Kezan smiled and turned over the two glasses, filled Shen Fa with a glass of wine and handed it over with both hands: Try this again, take a big sip of meat and a big sip of wine. When you're done, have a mouthful of side dishes to relieve your tiredness. That's a good thing. Awesome!

After hearing this, Shen Fa grabbed the wine bottle on his table without hesitation: Are you teaching me how to do something?

Fang Ke just laughed and didn't dare to answer.

Shen Fa followed his words and took a big sip of meat and a big sip of wine. He then put a pickle cut into thin strips with chopsticks into his mouth and chewed it for a while. Then he suddenly let out a long breath of wine: It's exciting, it's really exciting!

Fang Ke picked up the wine bottle with great discernment and gave him a refill. Finally, he poured a glass into the wine glass in front of him and secretly took a sip.

Shen Faquan didn't notice his little move, leaned back on the chair and said calmly: The eldest princess is here too.

Fang Ke picked up a large piece of meat with chopsticks and asked indifferently: Where is the eldest princess?

Shen Fa: Chaimen Street.

puff.

Fang Ke turned his head and sprayed all the meat in his mouth in another direction: Where are you talking about?

Shen Fa picked up his wine glass and drank: Are you deaf?

Fang Ke threw down his chopsticks, stood up, and said with a mixture of surprise and laughter: You're still here? Aren't you afraid...

He didn't say the second half of the sentence, but both of them knew clearly: 'Aren't you afraid that that guy will come back to Beijing and beat you up? ’

Shen Fa's eyelids twitched and he was silent for a long time before he helplessly spread his hands: You think I want to do this? If I don't do this, the official and that guy will have to fight again!

Fang Ke was puzzled: Why? Mr. Yang has not even returned home. He has gone to Japan and will not be able to come back for the New Year. Do you have to have another grudge? Do you have to do it again? He forced...

He couldn't speak anymore, but Shen Fa still understood what he didn't say: 'Do I have to force him to rebel in order to feel comfortable? ’

Why……

Shen Fa sighed softly, stretched out his hand to him and said softly: It's a long story. When you know it in the future, you will naturally know why. Now is not the time to talk about this. We have to think about it now. How to bring Yang Laoer and the eldest princess together.

Fang Ke's brows were furrowed, and his expression changed uncertainly for a while, before he smiled bitterly and said: Sir, you cultivated Xianguan with your own hands. You are kind to Xianguan, and you won't follow him if he has anything to say. You're hiding it and going around in circles.

From the perspective of the lower officials, this matter is extremely difficult. Mr. Yang is smarter than you think. Take the eldest daughter of the Xie family as an example. Although Mr. Yang did not know her identity early on, the first thing Mr. Yang did when he saw her was You can tell from the first glance that her background is not simple. Her personal maid has been shamelessly trying to get close to Mr. Yang all day long, but she has not been able to enter Mr. Yang's house. Now you invite the eldest princess here. The dragon aura of a heavenly and noble person can... Can you hide Master Yang’s tricks?”

What's more, you have used the same trick before...

From what I know about Mr. Yang, if you insist on doing this, it is very likely that Mr. Yang will go home, open the door, take a look, then turn around and go to the capital to look for you.

Shen Fa's eyelids twitched again, but then he knocked on the table hard and said with a straight face: I also know that this is difficult, but it is precisely because it is difficult that I want you to give me some advice. , if this matter is accomplished easily, what else do I want from you? What else do I want you to do?

Anyway, I don't care. You've been with that guy for the longest time. You have to find a way to make things right for me. You can't let that guy discover the flaw, and you have to bring that guy and the princess together, and you can't let that guy You will cause trouble for me in the future...

Don't complain yet. I have no other solution. Do you think you can think of a better solution than me?

Even if it's the worst option, it's better than watching that guy fight with the court again, right?

Do you really want to meet that guy in battle?

Fang Ke was speechless and his head was as big as a bucket. He took back his wine bottle in frustration and drank half of the wine in one breath before asking: Sir, where is Princess Feng?

Shen Fa glanced at him inexplicably and replied: Didn't I tell you everything about Chaimen Street and Yang Laoer's house? We have trained the eldest princess in these days and made up a desperate refugee status for her. Isn’t that guy the most kind-hearted and the most shameless of being homeless, hungry and cold...

Fang Ke rubbed his forehead speechlessly, stood up and said, Sir, let's go. It should be too late for us to rush to Master Yang's house now!

Shen Fa stood up doubtfully: What are you going to do?

Fang Ke: Go and invite the eldest princess out. No outsider can touch anything in that house... I don't think you need me to tell you who was the last person who touched that house?

Shen Fa felt a chill in his vest, and subconsciously shrank his neck. Finally, he whispered worriedly, What should we do? We don't have much time, so we can't figure it out!

Fang Ke sighed softly in his heart and said feebly: Your Excellency, you are just too impatient. Otherwise, with your wisdom, you would not have thought that the key point in this matter is not Chaimen Street, but...here!

He pointed to the ground towards Shen Fa.

Shen Fa was stunned, a spark suddenly flashed in his mind, and the thoughts that had been stuck in a dead end suddenly came to life.

He slapped Fang Ke hard on the shoulder and said overjoyed: Good boy, this hall did not cultivate the wrong person. The seat of Qianhu in the right house is yours, I said so!

The dreamed opportunity of being transferred from one thousand households to another was close at hand, but at the moment, Fang Ke's mind was filled with the image of Yang Ge swinging his legs out and riding Juechen to the capital.

He knew that if this matter came to light, he would not be able to escape with a beating...

When he thought of this, he couldn't help but shudder, clasped his fists and said, If your Excellency can trust me, please leave this matter to me!

Shen Fa: I can trust you, I can trust you. You were once my personal attendant and the confidant of Mr. Yang in your family. If you can't trust me, who else can I trust in this matter?

Fang Ke: ‘Then I really thank you! ’