The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 457 Busy Zhu Xiu
Before leaving the palace, Zhu Xiu went to Daqing Gate to find out more about Zhao Kuangyin, and learned that Princess Shou'an Guo Qing did not stay in the palace today, but returned to the princess mansion to rest.

Zhu Xiu left the palace from Xuande Gate. Bi Zhenhai and others had been waiting for a long time. They all got on their horses and rushed to the Princess Mansion on Changqing Street.

After announcing his intention to come, the official of the mansion personally welcomed Zhu Xiu into the mansion.

Princess Guo Qing of Shouan is sewing bellybands and shoes under a pavilion in the garden of her back house. The style should be for unborn children.

Guo Qing was 22 years old. His biological mother was Guo Wei's second wife, Yang, and she was the fourth among the sisters.

Yang's family died early, and Guo Qing's other brothers and sisters all died in the bloody storm in Kaifeng City two years ago.

At that time, Guo Qing followed Zhang Yongde to take care of his parents-in-law in his hometown in Yangqu and survived.

For this only surviving daughter, Guo Wei naturally doted on her a lot. Over the past two years, she has given food towns under various names. Now, as the princess of a county, Guo Qing enjoys food towns no less than princes.

In view of the relationship with Chai Rong and Zhang Yongde, Zhu Xiu also met Guo Qing early. After Guo Qing and Zhang Yongde settled in Kaifeng, Zhu Xiu came to visit frequently.

"My little brother has met my sister-in-law!" Zhu Xiu bowed.

Guo Qing was busy with needlework in his hands, glanced at him and said: "You have something to ask for, the prince-in-law? It's a pity that he is not at home."

"May I ask my sister-in-law, where did Brother Zhang go?"

Guo Qing asked strangely: "Aren't you going to have a banquet at your cousin's house tonight? Why, don't you know?"

Zhu Xiu was startled, then hurriedly patted his forehead and said, "It's true, but I forgot about it in a hurry!"

Guo Qing said with a smile: "Why don't you go quickly? What are you doing here? You're late, be careful of those soldiers trying to make you drink!"

"No rush, no rush, business is important. I came here to ask my sister-in-law for help!" Zhu Xiu said with a smile.

Guo Qing smiled and said: "What can I, a woman, do for you? Could it be that you were punished by your father again and came to me to plead for mercy?"

Zhu Xiu spread her hands: "Sister-in-law has really wronged me. I am an honest person and have always been well-behaved. How could I be punished by the officials for no reason?"

"If you, Zhu Wencai, are an honest person, then there will be no truly honest people in this world." Guo Qing sneered.

Immediately her eyes lit up and she said with a smile: "I understand, you must have been unable to make up your mind among the three wives, so you came to me to find a solution!"

"Uh," Zhu Xiu resisted the urge to roll her eyes, saying to herself that you, with your long hair and short-sighted temper, had better not join in the chaos.

Of course, he would never dare to say such a thing.

Guo Qing has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He is lively and active, with a somewhat weird temper. He will dare to fight Zhang Yongde at home when he gets angry.

I don’t know how a woman with a bad temper like her could fall in love with the boring gourd-like Zhang Yongde?

Zhu Xiu quickly explained: "I heard that my sister-in-law often comes to the palace recently and takes care of the empress De Fei. I want to ask the officials to reorganize the harem, and I want to ask my sister-in-law to take charge of this matter."

Guo Qing was stunned for a moment and asked doubtfully: "You are so good, why do you want to reorganize the harem?"

Zhu Xiu said what he had prepared: "Sister-in-law doesn't know something. Concubine De is seriously ill recently. There is no one in charge of the harem, no one to restrain the palace people, and the atmosphere in the inner court is becoming more and more corrupt.

Even the Taiping Palace where the Queen Mother lived, thefts often occurred. The copper singing bowl used by the Queen Mother to chant sutras was stolen for no reason. A group of vegetarians in the palace bureau repeatedly pushed back and even dared to withhold the charcoal supplied to the Taiping Palace.

There are also eunuchs and palace maids who engage in promiscuous behavior in the inner court, which has made the palace a mess and has reached the point where it has to be rectified."

Zhu Xiu added some extra fuel to his words, which made Guo Qing blush, frightened and angry: "Are these situations true?"

Zhu Xiuxin swore: "My younger brother just came out of the Taiping Palace. The Queen Mother asked me to find a singing bowl and send it to the palace. Zhang Gui, who is serving the Queen Mother, can testify that these situations were all his reactions to my younger brother in person.

Whether it is true or not, my sister-in-law will find out after she goes to the palace and sends someone to inquire about it. "

Guo Qing gritted his teeth and slapped the case at hand: "This is really unreasonable!"

Zhu Xiu took the opportunity and said: "The Great Zhou Dynasty was newly established, and the officials were reorganizing the officials and the imperial army. They were busy reducing taxes for the people of the world, but they left out the harem and did not vigorously reorganize it.

Now that the harem has no owner and the concubine is seriously ill, only the sister-in-law can step forward to take on this important task and share the worries of the official family! "

Guo Qing likes to join in the fun, so Zhu Xiu found her a serious job. She was so happy that she immediately agreed.

"My sister-in-law doesn't like the imperial village in Liuzipo on the outskirts of the city. When this matter is successfully concluded, the officials will definitely reward my sister-in-law, and then I can ask the officials for that village."

Zhu Xiu gave her advice mischievously.

Guo Qingmiao's eyes lit up, he cast an approving look at Zhu Xiu, and said with a smile: "No wonder the prince-in-law said that you are a dog-headed strategist, you really have a lot of evil ideas!"

Zhu Xiu said proudly: "My little brother has a lot of wisdom in his heart. If my sister-in-law can use it, just come and ask me."

Guo Qing gave him an angry look and said quietly: "I'm not greedy. The reason why I want that imperial mansion is because I've been to that place with Brother Qing, Brother Yi, Fengchao, and Shouyun. Just leave some thoughts behind."

Zhu Xiu pretended to sneer: "I don't know what's going on. I'm talking nonsense. I hope my sister-in-law can forgive me."

Guo Qing put away his sorrow and said with a smile: "When I enter the palace tomorrow morning, I will ask my father for this job."

Zhu Xiudao: "My younger brother has a few acquaintances in the palace. Let them help my sister-in-law when the time comes, so that the old eunuchs in the harem will not fool my sister-in-law."

"Well, very good, you are thoughtful." Guo Qing agreed happily.

Zhu Xiu glanced at the children's clothes in the basket at Guo Qing's feet, and said with a smile: "When my sister-in-law is done with her busy work, she should go back to her house to take care of herself, give birth to a grandson for the official family as soon as possible, and let me, Brother Zhang, become a father as soon as possible. .”

Guo Qing's cheeks turned red and he spat in shame.

Zhu Xiu added: "The elder doctor said that men should not drink alcohol while preparing for pregnancy. My sister-in-law should remind Brother Zhang to be more careful."

"Shut up!" Guo Qing threw a short knitting needle at him in shame and anger. Zhu Xiu ran away with a smile, saluted from a distance and trotted away.

"This bastard boy!" Guo Qing cursed through gritted teeth.

Immediately he remembered what Zhu Xiu had just said, he hesitated and shouted: "Come here! Go to Li Chongjin's house quickly and tell the consort to let him drink less wine!"

~~~
After leaving the princess's mansion, the sky was already dark. Bi Zhenhai said: "Master Marquis, are you going to the Hanoi County Duke's mansion?"

Zhu Xiu got on his horse and said, "I'm not busy. I have to rush to the old master's house first."

Bi Zhenhai didn't say anything, but called all the brothers to mount their horses and continue to guard.

They were all strong men who could stand up with their fists. After waiting outside Xuandemen all afternoon, their bellies were already growling with hunger. Zhu Xiu turned to look at them, which made them scratch their heads in embarrassment.

Zhu Xiu was not hungry. She had eaten some snacks at the Taiping Palace before.

"Let's go, first go to the nearest Guanghe shop to buy some pastries to cushion your stomach. When we arrive at the Hanoi County Government House tonight, you all will eat with open stomachs for me. If you don't eat two taels of wine and food for each person, don't say it is... I am a Hexi hero from the Zhangyi Army!"

Zhu Xiu waved and shouted.

Bi Zhenhai and the brothers laughed, and a man with a strong Jingzhou accent said loudly: "Don't say two taels, even ten taels have to be eaten by the Marquis!"

"I'm so hungry now that I can eat a cow. A cow costs more than two taels of silver!"

Bi Zhenhai laughed and scolded: "You are a bunch of ignorant bastards, how can our Lord still starve you?"

Everyone laughed and clapped their horses and rushed along the street.

~~~
In Taishi's Mansion, Feng Dao's family had just had dinner. When they heard that Zhu Xiu was visiting, Feng Dao went to the front hall to meet the guests with Feng Qingchan's support.

"Master Zhu is here at this time, isn't he just here to get some food?"

As the guests and hosts sat down, Feng Dao twisted his beard and joked.

Feng Qingchan stood behind him, with a cold face and lowered eyebrows.

Zhu Xiuniu drank the tea, wiped his mouth and said, "I disappoint the old master. I am not here to see the old master, but to ask Madam Feng for help." "Oh?" Feng Dao looked at him strangely. , glanced back at Feng Qingchan, stood up and walked out of the hall on crutches:

"In that case, the two of you can talk alone. The old man will go for a few laps in the garden after dinner."

Feng Dao walked swiftly and thumping away with a cane, ignoring even Feng Qingchan calling after him.

Zhu Xiu secretly laughed, the old man walked in a hurry, as if he was eager to create a chance for the two of them to be alone.

Feng Qingchan understood what Mr. Weng meant, lowered her head and wring her fingers, and quickly regained her composure, but her cheeks were a little redder.

"What do you want from me?" Feng Qingchan said calmly.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "That's right. In the afternoon, I went to the Taiping Palace to pay a visit to the Queen Mother. I learned that the Queen Mother has been suffering from recurring leg problems recently. The empress dowager had been treated by the respected senior doctor before, and the results were good. However, the senior doctor was already old after all. , has difficulty moving, and the Queen Mother is unwilling to trouble him.

So I boldly recommended Lady Feng to the Queen Mother, and wanted to invite Lady Feng to the palace to treat the Queen Mother's leg problems. "

Feng Qingchan said: "I heard from Master before that the Queen Mother has a tendon in her left leg, which is often caused by blocked Qi and blood and blocked meridians."

Zhu Xiu thought for a while, and it seemed like a symptom of varicose veins in the lower extremities, so she hurriedly asked, "Is there any corresponding treatment for Mrs. Feng?"

Feng Qingchan said expressionlessly: "Even my master can only use silver needle herbs and muscle and bone massage to improve this disease. There is no radical cure."

Zhu Xiu cupped her hands and said, "Please ask Madam Feng to use her wonderful hands to relieve the Queen Mother's pain."

Feng Qingchan said indifferently: "I will go to the palace tomorrow morning to treat the Queen Mother."

After a pause, she glanced at Zhu Xiu and said seriously: "My entry into the palace has nothing to do with you. If I had known earlier that the Queen Mother's old illness had recurred, I would have definitely asked Master to enter the palace to treat the Queen Mother."

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "That's natural. Madam Feng has great medical skills and a bodhisattva heart. If she had known earlier that the Queen Mother was ill, there would be no need for me to tell her. Master Feng would have brought Madam Feng into the palace." Went to see the Queen Mother."

Feng Qingchan wrinkled her nose, snorted, and turned her head away from him.

"That's why I came here, so I'll take my leave!" Zhu Xiu stood up, saluted, and left the hall.

A moment later, Feng Dao hurried over and asked impatiently: "Chan'er, why did Zhu Xiu come to see you?"

Feng Qingchan told the truth, Feng Daobai frowned and muttered in disappointment: "I just asked you to come into the palace to treat the Queen Mother? Didn't you mention anything else?"

Feng Qingchan shook her head.

Feng Dao tapped his cane on the floor tiles and sighed: "If he didn't say it, you wouldn't take the initiative to bring it up? The two of you should have made things clear earlier!"

Feng Qingchan kneaded the hem of her skirt, lowered her head and said, "Master Weng, wait a little longer, I don't think it's time yet."

"Alas~ It will be too late if you wait any longer! That old boy Fu Si is a shameless person, and the Fu family is like this. When it comes to face in such matters, he always falls behind others!~~"

Feng Dao sighed.

Feng Qingchan said coyly: "Master Weng, don't worry, I, I haven't thought about it yet."

Feng Dao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You silly girl! When Zhu Xiaozi and Mrs. Fu make an appointment, you will regret it~"

Feng Qingchan just lowered his head and remained silent. Feng Dao leaned on his cane and sighed, muttering: "I have foreseen that I, Mrs. Feng, will soon miss out on my good son-in-law!"

~~~
When Zhu Xiu led Bi Zhenhai and others to Li Chongjin's house, dusk was already deep, and several large night markets near Yu Street, Restaurant Street, and Tianshui Lane were busy early.

Kaifeng City, which has no curfew, seems to be the most noisy and prosperous at night.

Bi Zhenhai and others were arranged in the front hall, where they ate wine and food with the entourage of Chai Rong, Zhang Yongde and others.

Before Zhu Xiu had time to appreciate the decoration of the mansion, he was dragged by Li Chongjin to the middle hall, a banquet hall with bright lights and luxurious decoration.

Chai Rong, Zhang Yongde and others had been sitting at the table for a long time, and had been drinking for a few times. They all looked drunk and talked and laughed freely.

The civil servants Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, and Xue Juzheng were more restrained and slowly tasted Taihelou's famous wine Shao Bai Dao, exclaiming from time to time at the mellow and spicy taste of the wine.

Before Zhu Xiu could speak, Li Chongjin grabbed him without saying a word and drank a bowl of Shao Bai Dao into his stomach.

"Li Chongjin, please stop messing around. Hiccup!"

Zhu Xiu couldn't break free, so he was forced to drink a large bowl of wine. He immediately felt a fire rising in his chest and abdomen, and he opened his mouth and let out a melodious wine burp.

"You bastard! This is Shao Bai Dao, the best liquor in the world, how can you drink it like this!" Zhu Xiu, with a red face, pointed at him and scolded him.

Li Chongjin laughed loudly and poured a full bowl to him. Zhu Xiu was so frightened that he hid behind Chai Rong and Zhang Yongde.

Zhang Yongde pushed it away with his arm and said calmly: "We agreed that when Zhu Xiu arrives, we will invite the wife to come out to see her. Why, your wife is not visible to others? Or are you afraid that we, the big bosses, will scare the beautiful lady?"

Chai Rong also smiled and said: "Chongjin, why don't you go and invite Madam Sister-in-law!"

Li Chongjin drank a bowl of wine, wiped his mouth and shouted: "Wait!"

The black man slipped away from the back door of the living room, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

After a while, I saw Li Chongjin supporting a petite and beautiful woman wearing a palace shirt and skirt slowly walking out from behind the screen.

The woman was not even taller than Li Chongjin's chest. She put one hand on Li Chongjin's hand and protected her waist with the other. She moved lightly, looking cautious.

There was tenderness of motherly love between the woman's brows, and her eyes met with Li Chongjin's. She smiled tenderly, showing the love between husband and wife, making others envious.

Everyone stood up in a hurry, and the eager atmosphere in the banquet hall was paused. Everyone stared in disbelief with their eyes wide open.

Such a gentle and lovely lady from a small family, is she really Li Chongjin's wife?

Li Chongjin shouted triumphantly: "This is my wife Dong, her maiden name is Wan'er!"

Dong Waner was so shy that she slapped Li Chongjin's big black hand gently and scoldingly, making the black man laugh proudly.

"I am the Dong family, and I have met all the gentlemen!" Dong Waner bowed softly and bowed.

He had the order of the county's wife, so everyone did not dare to neglect and hurriedly returned the courtesy.

"Madam, this is the Duke of Taiyuan, my cousin Chai Rong! This is the Duke of Shangdang, Prince Consort Zhang Yongde! This is the Zhu Wencai I often tell you about. They are all my best Brother~!”

Li Chongjin introduced them one by one.

Zhu Xiu, Chai Rong, and Zhang Yongde bowed in unison, while Dong Waner nodded with a smile and blessed her again.

"Madam, I will send you back to your room to rest. The brothers will gather together tonight and drink all night long. You should rest early and don't wait for me." Li Chongjin spoke in a gentle voice that he had never heard before, which made Zhu Xiu get up. Goosebumps.

Dong Waner nodded gently and warned softly: "Drinking is very harmful to your health, husband, please don't drink too much."

"I know, I know." Li Chongjin chuckled and helped Dong Waner leave through the side door.

In the banquet hall, everyone sat down and started singing and dancing again.

Fan Zhi praised: "You have a good wife, everyone!"

Xue Juzheng twirled his beard and said: "The officials have good vision and found such a good match for Du Dian Kao. No wonder Du Dian Kao looks like he has been reborn."

Zhang Yongde took a sip and smiled rarely: "The Black King is really a blessed man."

Chai Rong was also happy that Li Chongjin had found a good wife. He raised his glass and said, "I wish Chongjin will have a son soon!"

Zhu Xiu muttered with emotion: "A talented man and a beautiful woman, a jackal and a tiger and a leopard."

(End of this chapter)