The daily life of the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty, thick black

Chapter 177 Bad Chess
Qiao Miaoniang has been selling noodles here for some years, and the craftsmanship has always been good.

Although she can't see with eyes, she can pull out good-looking noodles because of her practice makes perfect.

Now she can't see which guest is speaking, but it seems to be a lady with a lot of style, and her speech is different from others.

Qiao Miaoniang took up the conversation by herself, and said: "It's just that it's ripe, so it's not easy to knead the noodles. It often spoils the noodles, but with the help of Aunt Zhou, it's always better... Ma'am, do you want to add something else to your Yangchun noodles?" ?”

Gu Huaishu didn't come here to eat noodles, but just to see people, but it's not good not to eat anything.

She eats carefully, but she doesn't know if the Yangchun noodles here are good enough.

"Any eggs? Share an egg for me."

Ten fingers do not touch the spring water, Gu Huaixiu is actually a pampered person who does not know the sufferings of the world.

No, she actually knows, it's just that she hasn't lived like that for a long time.

Now she said an "egg" casually, it might be common in another place, but I'm afraid there won't be an egg here.

Fortunately, Gu Huaishu saw the opportunity quickly, and immediately changed his words: "Forget it... let's change some cabbage leaves, it's better to eat something lighter."

Obviously, this is being considerate.

Qiao Miaoniang could also tell that this person's status was unusual, although I don't know why people came at this time today, but after all, when business came, Qiao Miaoniang would not push it away.

After washing her hands, she skillfully grabbed the noodles that had been pulled before, and then almost as if she had memorized the location, she lifted the lid of the pot and put the noodles down.

As Gu Huaishu watched like this, she suddenly thought of Xiao Shifang, who hadn't seen Xiao Shifang cook for a long time.

In the past, when I had nothing to do in Gu's mansion, I liked to go to the kitchen and watch the kid choose and wash vegetables. The days around that time were boring, so it was a pastime...

But now, that mood is gone.

Gu Huaixiu thought about it, he was actually old.

After a while, the noodles were finally served, and Gu Huaishu saw that Qiao Miaoniang wiped her rough hands with some embarrassment, talking to the aunt over there.

The bowl of noodles in front of me is very simple, but when Gu Huaishu looked at it, his heart became complicated.

She picked up the noodles with crude chopsticks and took a bite. No matter the materials or craftsmanship, she couldn't compare with Xiao Shi Fang, which was natural.

She has developed a habit of comparing everything she eats with Xiao Shifang's.

However, Qiao Miaoniang's craftsmanship is not the best, but it is also considered a delicacy in the market.

At least one glance at Zhong Heng, who was like a hungry wolf, knew that this thing was quite powerful in the eyes of ordinary people.

Gu Huaishu didn't say anything, but slowly ate a bowl of noodles. The portion was so big that she almost didn't finish it.

After eating, he also drank some noodle soup, ignoring the rude eyes of Zhong Heng next to him.

After she finished eating, she dipped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, then slowly folded the handkerchief, and asked, "A cook once told me that sometimes it might not be good if you make something delicious. I still don't believe it." .Today I ate Miao Niang's noodles, and I realized that this sentence is true."

After speaking, Gu Huaixiu pursed his lips slightly, but said: "I don't even know what I'm talking about..."

Qiao Miaoniang seemed to understand, she squinted her eyes and said with a smile: "Of course, it's not just about making the best ones, you have to put your heart into everything that tempts you. If the people who make things don't put their minds to it, the things they make are not as delicious as they are. The feeling of aftertaste. The person who told you this sentence must be a good cook and a very caring person."

"He is a very caring person."

Gu Huaishu sized her up, and wanted to say something, when he saw two children, a man and a woman, running over from outside, huddled in front of the stove, and looked at the pot: "Sister, there is a lion dancer on the other side of the street. It looks good, do you want to see it?"

Qiao Miaoniang shook her head: "I can't see it, you go."

She has poor eyesight, so she couldn't see at all.

The boy immediately gave the girl a hand, "It's you who made my sister sad!"

Qiao Miaoniang's despondency was only fleeting, but then she reached out to touch the heads of the two children, and the two children immediately rushed to put their heads under her hands.

Qiao Miaoniang said: "Go and play, I will guard the stall and wait for you to come back and serve you a bowl of fragrant noodles."

"Big sister is the best!"

The two little guys jumped up and down and ran away again.

Gu Huaixiu said in his heart, but there are two clever little guys, they both depended on each other for their lives, and there was no intrigue among the big families.

Think about the royal family, think about Zhang Tingyu's family, and finally think about the Gu family...

Gu Huaishu suddenly laughed, she asked Qingdai to leave five Wen coins, and said: "Thank you Miao Niang for the hospitality, the noodles are very delicious, next time I have a chance, I will definitely invite my family to eat."

Qiao Miaoniang was flattered, knowing that this lady came with a maid, and she didn't know what the wives of rich and noble families were thinking, but they also came to eat noodles at such a corner noodle stall like her.

She sent Gu Huaishu away with good words, and then went back to rub her face.

Zhong Heng watched the back of Gu Huaishu helping the maid's hands into the sedan chair, holding the big noodle bowl, but suddenly understood why Master Shen always misses this woman...

At the beginning, he thought it was just seductive beauty, until today when he was eating at a noodle stall with Mrs. Zhang Er and listening to her say those strange words, he felt a little bit clear.

Perhaps Master Shen was indeed bewitched by the beauty at the beginning, but Zhong Heng always felt that even if Gu San's face was slashed to pieces and turned into an ugly monster that everyone hates, his boss would still be willing to make Gu San's face look ugly. Woman holds pain in palm.

It's amazing.

Zhong Heng lowered his head, thinking of fetching his brother, Gu Huaishu, Zhang Tingyu, and his boss.

This relationship is really messy.

After all, his boss was also a third party who intervened, so he deserved to end badly.

Zhong Heng let out a long sigh, "Eating a bowl of noodles can make you sick!"

"Hey, why are you talking nonsense! What makes you sick from eating?!"

Aunt Zhou on the side was not happy, she got up and put her hands on her hips, and pointed at Zhong Heng's nose and scolded.

Zhong Heng was unlucky, so he just cupped his hands and said, "Don't get me wrong, ma'am, I'm thinking that I haven't finished my work, so don't you sigh? The noodles are delicious, really..."

After all kinds of explanations, after a lot of talking, Zhong Heng settled Aunt Zhou, led a tired horse, and headed towards the Wanqing Guild Hall of Liulichang.

I'm afraid Master Shen's heart is anxious, right?

The Salt Gang was waiting for assignments and couldn't leave. Fortunately, they had already arrived in the capital, so Zhong Heng went to Tianjin.

In the distance, Zhong Heng led Ma Lu past the gate of the Zhang Mansion.

Inside and outside the door, there are two worlds.

Gu Huaixiu's sedan chair fell by the side door, and after pressing the sedan chair, she went in. When she returned to the room, Zhang Tingyu was holding a few brushes, setting up a painting jar, and playing with throwing pots.

"Are you so bored now? Seeing that you will be able to try it in less than half a month, you are free."

She sat down as soon as she entered the door, feeling fuller.

Zhang Tingyu said: "In two days we will go to Ganlu Temple to pray for rain, you don't know, they found a wonderful place to please the emperor, it's amazing... You will be able to open your eyes when you go back. "

"I don't know about your trickery. All I know is..."

Gu Huaishu suddenly stopped talking, she didn't want Zhang Tingyu to know about Lin Jiashi.

What's more, I don't know what kind of sweets fourth master is going to give her.

She just said: "I went out and ate a bowl of noodles, it tastes good."

"Better than your little Shi Fang?" Zhang Tingyu laughed, "Seeing that you are enjoying your meal."

"Third Master's matter..."

She looked at Zhang Tingyu, and sure enough, she saw Zhang Tingyu stop.

Zhang Tingyu turned around and said, "How did you see it?"

"It's right this time, it's just that the background is lower... But the third master doesn't care, what do we care about?"

The Zhang family didn't need to marry anyone to gain political benefits, and Zhang Tinglu married a second wife...

Gu Huaixiu liked that Miao Niang quite a lot, maybe because she was good at talking.

Very heartwarming words.

Zhang Tingyu naturally saw whether Gu Huaishu was satisfied with this future sister-in-law, but he also said: "Let's write a letter to father about this matter first, and father doesn't care about family status, as long as the third brother I like it better than anything else. You and I..."

Zhang Tingyu's act of a villain at the beginning snatched away Gu Huaixiu, it was not an act of a gentleman.

Although he said he was brave enough to act, he would never feel guilty about this kind of thing, but now, after all, it is related to his younger brother's life-long event, and with the lesson of Xiao Chen in front, he can't be sloppy.

Now it's hard to meet someone my third brother likes...

but……

"It's good that the third brother likes it, but is the girl interested in him? This is still a continuation..."

Gu Huaishu was not sure about this either.

But she said: "Let your third brother toss about it by himself, we've already seen it here, and it's up to the father-in-law and the third master himself."

That's all they can do.

Even if he ran fast, it would take a long time to go back and forth. Zhang Tingyu simply let go of the pigeon and wrote the matter back, but it is expected that Zhang Ying would not have any unwilling thoughts.

The third child has been wandering outside for so long, so it's time to settle down.

So, in fact, Zhang Tinglu went to the stall alone to propose marriage after getting the consent of her second elder brother and second sister-in-law.

No one expected that Zhang Tinglu would play such a beautiful trick.

It was only later that Gu Huaishu and the others heard about it.

It turned out that when the third master just returned to the capital, he was very hungry. He looked very down and down, and he didn't look like a son of a rich family. He went in and ate a bowl of noodles, and he didn't see Qiao Miaoniang feeling disgusted. I ate a bowl of noodles when I was most hungry, and I remembered it.

Occasionally, when I went out, I went there to eat noodles.

So I ate it day by day, and finally it became a habit.

He went out alone with a jade pendant, and sat in front of Qiao Miaoniang's noodle stall.

Zhang Tinglu called: "Come have a bowl of noodles."

Qiao Miaoniang heard the familiar voice, so she knew that it was the one everyone called "Zhang San", and she didn't know what he did, and he would come to eat noodles someday.

She made a bowl of noodles as usual and asked Aunt Zhou to bring it up.

Unexpectedly, Zhang San didn't leave after eating the noodles today. He actually put down the jade pendant and entrusted Mrs. Zhou to pass it on.

Aunt Zhou was completely stunned. How could she have thought that such a thing would happen?

She looked around and didn't know what to do, so she could only say to Qiao Miaoniang: "Miao Niang, this... this piece of jade pendant that the third master wants to give you... This, this tangled branch..."

Qiao Miaoniang was completely stunned, even at a loss.

What does this mean, how can she not know?
At that time, Qiao Miaoniang wanted to leave, but Zhang Tinglu wanted to embrace the beautiful woman back home today, so she stopped her and said, "Marry me, and I will take care of you and your younger brothers and sisters. I will ask the doctor to treat you." Eyes. Maybe I'm taking the liberty, maybe the girl still thinks I'm an apprentice, but I want to ask you to marry the girl from the bottom of my heart...but..."

Qiao Miaoniang didn't speak, she listened.

Zhang San's conversation is natural, calm and has a sense of vicissitudes: "It's just that I divorced a wife once, and she killed my child... so now I marry Xu Xian. I have been with the girl for so long. , I want the girl to make noodles for me for the rest of my life."

Later, Gu Huaixiu said to Zhang Tingyu in private: "Look at your brother's mouth. He speaks so eloquently. He is shameless when he says this to the girl. Is the girl shameless? It's good to be married. This is a good story. If If you don’t marry, the girl will have to throw herself into the river to prove her innocence.”

Zhang Tingyu said casually: "Isn't this kid forcing other girls to marry him?"

When he said this, Gu Huaixiu thought, isn't this forced?

The words have been said so plainly, and they are still said in front of people, how does it seem to give the girl a way out?
In the end how Qiao Miaoniang agreed, I am afraid that only Qiao Miaoniang knows.

As soon as the matter was finalized, the entire Zhang Mansion immediately became busy again.

Gu Huaixiu is also going to the Ganlu Temple to pray for rain with the emperor "Let the Lord and the People Enjoy Together". She even thinks about the rare kindness of the fourth elder brother.

But presumably there must be a reason for this, how could Yinzhen let go of a pawn for no reason?
Zhang Tingyu also helped the emperor draft the documents for worshiping heaven and the emperor's speeches on various occasions, as if he was already a "professional gunner", writing these specifically for the emperor.

Zhang Tingyu, who came out of the Hanlin Academy and entered the South Study Room, was all ruthless.

How many low-ranking officials can't even see the emperor's face at all, but the Imperial Academy can see the emperor every day, serve as the emperor's think tank, and can easily influence the emperor's decision with a single sentence.

Except for the Hanlin, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty did not dare to offend the Hanlin, for fear that the Hanlin would act as a ghost on the emperor's side. Most of the Hanlin went out were censors and speech officials. Even if they said something wrong, the emperor would not kill him.

If the Hanlin people form a Qingliu, they will join a certain party with a pen every day, no matter how big your tree is, there is only one person who will admit it.

It's just that the current Imperial Academy has been disintegrated into a mess by various factions and cannot be gathered together. Zhang Tingyu now wants to slowly grasp the entire Imperial Academy in his hands.

If you seize the Hanlin Academy, you can say that you have controlled half of the ruling and opposition parties.

Zhang Tingyu has great ambitions.

He gained a firm foothold by working beside the emperor. At the same time, he also gained fame in the Imperial Academy. There are hundreds of Hanlins in the Imperial Academy, and Zhang Tingyu is the leader.

Matters related to praying for rain this time were also due to Zhang Tingyu's hard work and busy work.

On February [-]rd, a lot of people went out from Zhang's mansion.

Because this matter was not kept secret, many people wanted to go to the Ganlu Temple to pay their respects to the emperor's demeanor. When this day came, the streets were really full of people.

The altar for praying for rain was set up very high, and no one went up it before noon.

When they all arrived, they realized that the emperor's Luanjia was still on the way.

Gu Huaishu scanned around and knew that most of the brothers hadn't come yet.

Zhang Tingyu didn't come with the Zhang family, he wanted to go with the emperor, this time he might still accompany him.

As for Gu Huaixiu, Mrs. Peng followed, followed by a servant girl, and Xiao Shifang also came today. He heard that the three nectar tea in Ganlu Temple is a must, so when he heard people say it before, he He took the initiative to tell Gu Huaishu that he would come.

In the final analysis, as soon as Xiao Shifang comes, the most important thing for Gu Huaishu to come here becomes...

eat.

As a family member of an official, Gu Huaishu and the others were arranged to rest in the meditation room at the back. After that day, Mrs. Peng was still a little uncomfortable, and only said that she would go to the courtyard to see the peach blossoms.

The peach blossoms here have just bloomed, Gu Huaixiu had seen it once in Dianchan Temple, and it is not uncommon for her to go to the tea room to ask for three nectar teas with Xiaoshi Fang.

Huamei, Qingdai, and Xiao Shifang all followed behind her.

Gu Huaixiu habitually covered half of his face with the fan in his hand, walked halfway up the road, paused, and looked back at Shi Fang: "Little Shi Fang, what do you say if the monks from the Ganlu Temple ignore us?"

"You can just say that you want to drink San Ganlu tea, and give Shi Fang a sip when you turn back, and then pour back the tea and tea leaves, and you can get a general idea."

Shi Fang has always been confident in his tongue.

He vaguely remembered that it had been a long time since he had talked to Gu Huaishu because of eating.

Gu Huaixiu only said: "You are still such a narrow-minded ghost..."

Fat brother was playing with Buddhist beads in the meditation room and didn't want to come out. He was with Mrs. Chen and sister Hui, so Gu Huaixiu didn't take him with him.

Here they had just arrived at the opening of the tea room when they saw young monks putting tea cakes under the big bowl.

She winked at Xiao Shi Fang, Shi Fang understood, and started talking to him.

Gu Huaixiu came out with Qingdai and Huamei, she also wanted to go out for a stroll, but she had sharp eyes, and saw Xiao Shengzi carrying tea from the front into a meditation room inside, and suddenly understood.

"Humei, I suddenly remembered that there is no one to take care of Fat Brother, you go back and take a look, I will take Qingdai outside to see the second master."

Huamei bowed: "Yes, this servant will come back right away."

After finishing speaking, Huamei backed away and walked the path in the garden. When she thought that Master Shi Fang was still indifferent to her, and thought that Shi Fang's apprentices were all hesitant when talking about the purse, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

As soon as she turned her back, Thrush couldn't help shedding tears.

She didn't even look at the road, and when she turned the corner, she bumped into a noble person.

The woman in front of her was wearing a cheongsam and a luxurious gold hairpin tortoise shell on her head. After being bumped by her, she raised her foot and stepped on the bottom of the tall flower pot on the ground: "Where did you come from without eyes?" Your maid? Even dare to bump into me!"

"Blind your dog's eyes, this is His Royal Highness's side concubine!" Bi Xiu spat at Thrush as soon as she came up, her words were vicious.

Lin Jiashi looked at the thrush with tears all over her face, lost her mind, and suddenly rolled her eyes: "I remember, you are... the maid next to Mrs. Zhang Er? What's your name?"

When Huamei heard that she was the crown prince's side concubine, she panicked and didn't know what to do.

"Slave, slave..."

"Forget it, it's nothing serious." Lin Jia's handkerchief covered her lips, and gave her confidant Bixiu a wink.

Bixiu understood, and hurriedly took out her handkerchief to wipe Huamei's face, and said, "So it's Mrs. Zhang Er's maid, but I was the one who was abrupt just now... Why were you crying just now?"

It's okay not to talk, but once I talk about thrush, I can't stop.

She whimpered and cried, and both eyes were swollen.

Lin Jiashi thought it was a good opportunity, and the calculation in his eyes never diminished by half.

The last time Gu Huaishu escaped, she almost made the crown prince unlucky. Now she will never believe what the fourth elder brother said. If the fourth elder brother wants to bring down the prince, she just needs to be obedient to the fourth elder brother.On the one hand, he must not offend the fourth elder brother, and on the other hand, he has to win over the crown prince. Lin Jiashi is also very busy recently.

She raised her finger, touched Huamei's face, and only sighed: "You are really a beautiful maid, you are pitiful, why don't you come and talk to me for a while."

As she said that, Lin Jiashi coughed twice, and entered her meditation room with a posture of a weak willow supporting the wind.

Although Huamei didn't know why, she felt that the side concubine was a good person, so she didn't even blame herself. She forgot for a moment that her finger was so painful from being stepped on by the bottom of Lin Jia's flower pot, and she stumbled and was helped into the room.

Behind is the tea room, Shi Fang turned his head and saw this scene, his eyes turned cold.

He didn't speak, but poured tea into the teacup, and counted slowly, paying attention to the movement of the thrush from the corner of his eyes.

The other end was far away, and after going through countless corridors, Gu Huaishu finally saw Xiao Shengzi standing at the door.

When Xiao Shengzi saw Gu Huaishu, he immediately slapped a thousand sons: "My servant greets Mrs. Zhang Er."

Gu Huaixiu raised his fan and said: "They are all slaves, why are you being polite to me?"

After finishing speaking, she turned to the door and said, "Fourth Master."

The fourth elder brother came early to fight the front line and arrange things for Kangxi, and now he has time to rest in the meditation room after he is done with work. He heard people say that Zhang's mansion is coming, so he called Gu Huaixiu out.

Hearing that Gu Huaishu was already outside, he stepped down and said, "Come in."

Gu Huaishu opened the door and came in, and Xiao Shengzi closed the door behind him.

Seeing Yinzhen, Gu Huaishu squatted down again.

Yinzhen only said: "A girl from the Han family, why do you want to learn from the Manchus? You can't be a dog if you paint tigers on the left and right."

This is the beginning of scolding Gu Huaishu again.

Gu Huaixiu knew that this old man's words were not pleasant, so she took it as the wind blowing past her ears, and said with her head buried in the air, "What kind of show did you invite the servant to see?"

"Whoever you hate the most, the Lord will show you his play." Sure enough, Yinzhen said so.

Really Lin Jiashi?
Gu Huaishu narrowed his eyes, "It must be this move, this chess piece, which is no longer at your command, that's why you want to find a servant to watch the show."

Yinzhen looked up at her and said, "He's a smart one. Serve tea."

This is to give her tea, Gu Huaishu went up to hold a cup of tea in his hand, and took a small sip.

There were chess pieces on the chessboard, which Gu Huaixiu felt very familiar with. After staring at them carefully, he realized that it was Zhang Tingzan's favorite "siege" game during his lifetime.

At that moment, for some reason, she felt a chill in her heart: "... Does our uncle have an accident, does it have anything to do with Lin Jiashi?"

"I told you not to ask."

"How does the servant know? Throw away the pieces if they break, and you too..." Gu Huaishu suddenly stopped talking.

But Yinzhen knew what she was going to say, so he took the initiative to answer: "One day you will not obey this chess, and the master will not be polite."

He dropped another son, and then said: "My lord remembers your loyalty, so don't push yourself too far."

Gu Huaishu also smiled lowly: "Yes, this slave is your dog, don't dare to bark."

As soon as the words were finished, a white curly-haired puppy really came out from the side, whimpered and stretched out its two front paws to rest on the edge of the Arhat's bed, as if it was very close to Yinzhen.

Yinzhen scooped it up with one hand, and let it lay beside his cross-legged legs, while continuing to play chess, he said to Gu Huaishu: "You said you are my dog, why don't you bark twice? "

Gu Huaishu smiled and said: "The servant also said that there is no difference between a human and a dog, why don't you bark too?"

After finishing speaking, she didn't take it seriously. She felt thirsty, so she took a sip of tea with her head buried.

Yinzhen held a chess piece with his fingers, looked back at her drinking tea, and said expressionlessly, "Wang."

"puff--"

Gu Huaixiu was about to squirt, she choked for a while, almost dropped the teacup she was holding in her hand, and looked at Si elder brother with an extremely messy expression: "Is there still time for the servant to leave now..."

This this……

Was Yinzhen bitten by a dog? !
Of course Fourth Master wasn't bitten by a dog. Seeing Gu Huaishu's panicked appearance, he only touched the chess pieces...

"Master is really the most idle person in the world... It's too boring, I don't have time to talk nonsense with you, damn slave, get out!"

Gu Huaixiu couldn't wait to leave immediately, she thought to herself, Si elder brother is planning to say "the most idle person in the world" all day long?
The most hypocritical person in the world is almost the same, right?

Anyway, Fourth Elder Brother was moody, she would come out as soon as she wanted to, she didn't dare to stay longer, if in the future Fourth Master looked back and remembered that "Wow" sound...

After exiting, Gu Huaishu felt that the back of his neck was covered in cold sweat, and his vest was soaked.

Seeing that her complexion was not right, Xiao Shengzi hurriedly asked, "Are you all right?"

Gu Huaishu waved his hand in a daze: "No... I'm fine, Xiao Shengzi, turn around and find a good imperial physician for your father..."

Her voice was very soft, and she pointed to her temple lightly, hinting at Xiao Shengzi.

Xiao Shengzi looked at her with terrified eyes, and didn't dare to move.

After Gu Huaishu finished speaking, he left the meditation room with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

It wasn't until the wind outside that she barely regained consciousness...

but……

Wang?
Gu Huaishu pondered, "Woof? Wang! Wang? What do you mean..."

Qing Dai finally waited until Gu Huaishu came out, but when she heard her wife standing under the eaves imitating a dog barking, she suddenly trembled and her face was disillusioned...

"Ma'am, what's the matter with you?"

(End of this chapter)