cabinet first lady

Chapter 48

Three months later, in the twelfth lunar month of the first year of Pingle, Shen Wei, who was sent as an envoy to the foreign race, returned, and reached a settlement with the foreign race.Since then, the Guanghua southwest is about to usher in peace.

Emperor Ling was overjoyed, and greatly praised Zhang Anyi, Shen Wei and the officials who went with Shen Wei.At the same time, it was announced that it decided to compile a masterpiece that collected all ancient and modern literature, named "Pingle Dadian".Zhang Anyi, the second assistant of the cabinet and a scholar of the Jianji Temple, served as the chief editor, and Shen Wei, a scholar of the Hanlin Song Dynasty and a scholar of the cabinet, served as the deputy editor. conduct.

The compilation project of "Pingle Dadian" is huge and takes a long time, which will consume a lot of manpower and material resources.

When Emperor Ling announced this decision in the court hall, Luo Jie and some censors from the Metropolitan Procuratorate opposed it.

However, Emperor Ling ignored the opposition and instead accepted Zhang Anyi, who was incompatible with Luo Jie, as the chief editor, which shows his firm attitude.

This decision cheered up the aspiring civil servants of the Manchu Dynasty, especially those who were obsessed with learning. If such a great book can really be published, it can be imagined how much repercussions it will cause.

And it was precisely because of this decision that Lingdi, who had no achievements in politics, left an indelible mark in history, covering up his shortcomings.

Zhang Anyi, who would have been famous in the annals of history because of his legendary experience, was constantly mentioned by later generations because of this grand ceremony.

After the compilation of "Pingle Dadian" is finalized, it will be the Chinese New Year.

On the 28th, Wang was diagnosed by the doctor as pregnant again, which was a great joy indeed.

In addition, it was Hu Yunxi's first year of marriage, so the Zhang family was very lively during the Chinese New Year this year.It's just that amidst the bustle, the old lady always had a sad look on her brows.Old Shangshu's illness has been procrastinating for several years, not only has he never recovered, but his health is getting worse and worse, probably within a few years.

Ever since Lao Shangshu fell ill, in the past few years Zhang Anyi would go to pay his respects whenever Lao Shangshu and the old lady were still asleep when he came back, rain or shine, which shows the deep relationship between him and Lao Shangshu.

Ruan Muyang saw it and sighed in his heart.In this big family, apart from the old lady, he is the one who cares about Lao Shangshu the most.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Shangyuan Festival.

Since Zhang Anyi and Ruan Muyang got married, they went to the Lantern Festival together to watch the lanterns very rarely, because every year at this time either something happened or Zhang Anyi was called to the palace.It was rare that he was relatively free at this time of year, so he brought Ruan Muyang to the Lantern Festival.

Starting tomorrow, after the new year, he will not only have to deal with government affairs as usual, but also start the compilation of "Pingle Dadian".

The carriage came out of Zhang's mansion and stopped at the end of the street.

Zhang Anyi led Ruan Muyang out of the carriage, and asked Mo Jian and Mo Wen to wait beside the carriage.

This time, Ruan Muyang only brought enamel out alone.Because when she said she was going to the Lantern Festival, Dian Cui hesitated and said that she might not be able to go because of something, so she didn't force her.It's just that she suddenly realized that her two maids had grown up and reached the age of marriage.

It is rare for Zhang Anyi and Zhang Anyi to go out to the Lantern Festival alone, and Ruan Muyang also hoped that there would be only the two of them, so he said to Fang Fang, "Fa Fang, you can wait here too, or let Mo Jian or Mo Wen accompany you around. .”

Afterwards, Zhang Anyi held onto her hand and led her into the crowd.

He was tall and tall, and whenever there were many people, he stretched out his hands to protect her, he was extremely considerate and gentle.

They stopped by the lake.The two stood side by side.

This is the lake where Ruan Muyang dragged Zhang Anyi into the water.The chilly feeling of the lake and the warmth of being rescued by him in the water can almost be remembered, and several years have passed in the blink of an eye.Ruan Muyang felt emotional in his heart.

On the surface of the lake are water lamps that are gradually drifting away, and the young master and lady next to them laugh and laugh from time to time.

The two of them were very calm.

"Speaking of which, it's because of this lake that I was able to marry my wife." Zhang Anyi looked at the lake with long-distance eyes and a gentle tone.

The original marriage was calculated, and this has always been a dark secret in Ruan Muyang's heart.Suddenly being mentioned, she still felt a little guilty.

"Yeah, that was the first time we met." She suppressed her emotions and said.

Hearing the words "the first time", Zhang Anyi did not agree, but turned to look at her, with a cryptic smile flashing in his eyes, which was meaningful.

The preoccupied Ruan Muyang didn't notice.

After standing by the river for a while, Zhang Anyi pulled Ruan Muyang and said, "Madam, do you want lanterns?"

When she was a child, did she still like lanterns?
Ruan Muyang, who followed her lead and turned around, suddenly saw some unusual people in the crowd not far away.The reason why it was unusual was that most of the people who came to the Lantern Festival were strolling leisurely, but those few people were running, so they looked particularly abrupt, as if two people were chasing one person.

And she recognized the figure being chased at a glance, it was Shen Wei.

At this time, Zhang Anyi was about to pull her away, but she suddenly pulled him back and said, "Is that Master Shen?"

Zhang Anyi looked in the direction she was looking at, and there was no change in his expression.

"Madam is wrong, how could it be Shen Sikong?"

Zhang Anyi is much more familiar with Shen Wei than she is. Could it be that she really got it wrong?Ruan Muyang wanted to take a closer look, but the three figures disappeared around the corner.

She thought it was really Shen Wei, but Zhang Anyi's reaction made her suspect that she was wrong.And Shen Wei, Shen Wei's cabinet bachelor, how could he be so embarrassed that he was chased by others?
Zhang Anyi took Ruan Muyang to a small stall with many and exquisite lanterns and said, "Ma'am, what do you like?"

Because of the episode just now, Ruan Muyang was a little absent-minded, fiddling with those lanterns casually.The more she recalled, the more she felt that that figure resembled Shen Wei.Shen Wei is someone she always cares about and broods on, she can't be wrong.Could it be that Zhang An Yi didn't see clearly?
After all, Shen Wei is a woman, Ruan Muyang sympathized with what happened to her, and didn't want her to be in trouble, when he was about to turn around and talk to Zhang Anyi, Zhang Anyi's voice came from his ear: "Madam, watch first, I have something to do, just go back as soon as you go. "

Ruan Muyang turned his head suddenly, and found that Zhang Anyi was no longer behind him, and his figure disappeared into the crowd.

He suddenly left in such a hurry, what is the rush?She couldn't help thinking of Shen Wei who was being chased just now, hoping to be different from what she thought.

"Madam, do you want to buy this lamp?" The lamp vendor asked after seeing Ruan Muyang holding a lamp in his hand for a long time.

Only then did Ruan Muyang realize that what he was holding was a rabbit lamp.

"I'll buy."

After paying the money, Ruan Muyang stood in the crowd with a cute rabbit lamp that didn't match him at all, feeling a little at a loss as to what to do.Loneliness and loneliness welled up in her heart, the fiery trees, silver flowers, fish swimming and phoenix dances seemed to be isolated from her, and most of the surging crowds had nothing to do with her.

She tried her best not to think wildly, but she still felt extremely cold in her heart.

At one end of the long street, the deputy commander of the Nancheng Military and Horse Command Department is leading people to guard the entrance and exit.This person is from Luojie.

"Is there someone guarding the other side of the alley?"

"Go back to my lord, there are people."

The deputy commander nodded in satisfaction, then looked at some older people beside him, with a smile on his face, and said obsequiously: "Mr. Luo, I have been guarded by someone, and I promise that it will be difficult to fly. Please also ask the manager to help me in Luo Say a few nice words in front of adults."

This person is the head housekeeper of the Luo family, and he has been with Luo Jie for decades.Everyone in the capital knows that Manager Luo is a person Luo Jie trusts very much, and if he wants to please Luo Jie, he must go through Manager Luo.

Some people say that Director Luo is like Gao Yan, the eunuch who was in charge of the seal of the emperor's side.Comparing Luo Jie with the late emperor, these words are really rebellious, but the meaning is that.

Not long after, a carriage drove towards the pass they had set up.

"I think that carriage is very suspicious." The deputy conductor said, "Come here, ask me a good question."

When the carriage approached, they realized that this carriage was not an ordinary carriage.

This carriage looks very simple from the outside, but if you take a closer look, you will find that it is different from ordinary carriages. It is exquisite in workmanship, especially in the details, and there are two bronze bells hanging on the front of the carriage. "Zhang".

Anyone with a little discernment would know that this carriage belonged to Mr. Zhang Anyi, Zhang Ge's second assistant to the cabinet. Who would dare to stop it?
The deputy commander looked at Director Luo and hesitated.

"My lord, even Mr. Zhang Ge's carriage can't be let go." Mr. Luo said.

Neither side could be offended, so after a quick balance in his mind, the deputy commander decided to offend Zhang Anyi, so he asked someone to stop the carriage.

"Do you dare to stop Zhang Ge's carriage?" The driver was Mo Jian.

Seeing that the curtains of the carriage were not moving, the deputy commander said bravely, "I have seen Mr. Zhang. Mr. Luo's house was attacked by thieves tonight, so I sent an officer to interrogate at the intersection. Please cooperate."

A moment of silence followed.

Just when the deputy commander was about to speak again, a hand finally stretched out from the carriage, half lifted the curtain, just enough to expose Zhang Anyi.

There was no trace of anger on Zhang Anyi's face, but a warm smile on his face. From the perspective of others, the old god was there.

He first looked at the deputy commander, then looked at Director Luo beside him, and said, "What kind of thief bothered Director Luo to come and arrest him himself at night."

Manager Luo bowed to Zhang Anyi and said, "This thief is a habitual offender. He offended Master Luo, and Master Luo ordered him to hunt him down."

"Should I also check my carriage?" Zhang Anyi asked.

Manager Luo looked at the half that was not lifted up, frowned slightly and said, "Who is the other person sitting in the siren's car?"

"It's my wife."

The deputy commander and Manager Luo immediately said, "It turns out to be Mrs. Zhang."

"I don't know that Mrs. Zhang is sitting in the car. I'm negligent, and I ask Mrs. Zhang to forgive me. I wonder if Mrs. Zhang can lift the curtain and give the old man and the deputy commander a chance to make amends in person?"

In fact, who is to be arrested, Manager Luo knows very well.

The relationship between Shen Wei and Zhang Anyi is so good, he naturally suspects that Zhang Anyi is here to leave at this time to help Shen Wei escape.

The smile in Zhang Anyi's eyes slowly disappeared, and the majesty came out calmly: "Today I took my wife to watch the Lantern Festival. She caught a cold and felt unwell. Now I have to go back, so it's not appropriate to blow the air." His hand With a slight movement, the car curtain was raised higher.

The deputy commander and Manager Luo saw the exposed embroidered shoes and skirt.

Such small feet are definitely not men's, so they must not be Shen Wei.

The two looked at each other, and the deputy commander made a gesture of "letting go" to his subordinates, and then said flatteringly: "I have offended my lord and Mrs. Zhang, and I will make a special trip to ask for forgiveness some other day."

"No need." Zhang Anyi put down the curtain without saying a word.

Mo Jian drove away in a carriage.

"Have you ever been injured?" After the carriage drove away, Zhang Anyi asked the woman beside him.

The woman next to him pretending to be Ruan Muyang is Shen Wei.

Shen Wei, who had never worn women's clothing since the accident at home, felt that the clothes were extremely awkward to wear at the moment, and her speech became coy: "No." Only in women's clothing can one tell that she is a cold-looking woman.

Zhang Anyi suddenly sighed and said, "It's too dangerous for you to do this."

Shen Wei was also a little scared when he remembered just now.If they were caught, they might have killed her as if they didn't recognize her as Shen Wei.

But she has a strong temper, and she doesn't want Zhang Anyi to look scared, so she changes the subject.

"You really met me by chance when you went out to watch the Lantern Festival with Mrs. Sister-in-law today?" She teased, "Where is Mrs. Sister-in-law? Could it be that you left me on the street?"

Seeing that Zhang Anyi's eyes moved, he didn't intend to answer the conversation, and the two of them were sitting very close to each other in the carriage, but he rarely looked at her in women's clothing, and kept his eyes on her.

She has known him for more than ten years, and it can be seen that although he seems to be normal at the moment, he is actually a little worried.She smiled indifferently, hiding the loneliness in her eyes.

With her current situation, there are some things that cannot be expected.

"It's safe now, how about I get out of the car and you go back to Mrs. Sister-in-law?" She suggested.

"I've let Mo Wen go." Zhang Anyi's tone was emotionless, as if he was just explaining the facts, "If you go out like this, if people recognize you, you will implicate many people."

Shen Wei thought about it too.It would be hypocritical to hold on any longer.

Instead, taking the opportunity of sitting in the carriage, she talked about the affairs of the imperial court: "Luo Jie is a cunning and cunning man, and he doesn't leave any excuses at all. Although there are many people who impeach him, there are very few who can have real evidence. Your Majesty Although she is dissatisfied with Luo Jie, she still respects him very much. Most people still want to save their lives, unless someone is willing to risk their life to impeach him, so that the Holy Majesty can pay attention to him." Even in women's clothing, she still had a heroic look on her face.

Zhang Anyi didn't speak.Obviously he acquiesced to Shen Wei's words.

"Don't act impulsively in the future." Having experienced the turmoil of the court at a young age, he has cultivated a calm and deep personality, and the dark tide surging in those eyes is like the changes in the court in the future. It is frightening, "Now we still have to wait for the opportunity. Maybe we can cooperate with other people and seek skin from tigers."

Shen Wei didn't understand what he said at first.Now besides Luo Jie, who is powerful and powerful, he is the only one in the court, where is he going to cooperate with others?
After carefully thinking about all the people she could think of, she showed a surprised expression and looked at Zhang Anyi in disbelief.

He is so brave!

The old god Zhang Anyi smiled on the ground.

Shen Wei's mood could not be calmed down: "A lot of wisdom is close to monsters, a lot of benevolence is close to deceit. Zhang Er, sometimes I look at you and get scared." So much wisdom is close to monsters, so much benevolence is close to deceit.

This is Shen Wei's evaluation of Zhang Anyi, and it fits him very well.

On the other side of the street, Ruan Muyang was walking slowly with a rabbit lantern in his hand, he was preoccupied, and suddenly he was stopped by two people.

"Whose wife is this, why are you going to the lantern festival alone? Could it be that the husband ran away with other women?" One of them said in a frivolous tone.

Ruan Muyang took a step back and frowned.

She still knew one of these two people - Xia Xuanlin.

Ruan Muxi is his concubine.

Logically speaking, he would still call her Fourth Sister.

Xia Xuanlin and another friend who usually molested young girls from good families had been staring at Ruan Muyang for a long time.They used to think that a girl with a yellow flower who had not left the court was irresistible, but they didn't want to find a young woman tonight to be even more itchy.Especially this young woman looked dignified and inviolable, but her expression was lonely.

"Madam, if my husband ran away with someone, I will teach you a way to retaliate against him, and that is to follow us. Keeping it will make you happier than before." Xia Xuanlin rolled his eyes on Ruan Muyang.

Ruan Muyang hated what they said so much, his tone became cold: "Do you know who I am?"

With so many people at the Lantern Festival, she didn't believe that Xia Xuanlin and the others dared to kidnap her directly.

Xia Xuanlin and his friend looked at each other, and looked at Ruan Muyang again, seeing her extraordinary clothes and unattainable appearance, he hesitated, and asked: "Who is it?"

Ruan Muyang didn't want to reveal his identity so as not to cause trouble.

Just when she was about to fabricate an identity that could bluff people, a voice came from behind him: "Then do you know my identity?"

She turned her head and saw Yin Ji walking over with two servants.Meeting her gaze, he smiled at her, and then looked at Xia Xuanlin and the two of them and said, "I am from Shuntian Mansion. People from Shuntian Mansion are here to arrest people tonight, you dare to mess around, how brave you are!" !"

There are indeed people from Shuntian Mansion tonight.

Although Xia Xuanlin had some doubts about Yin Ji's identity, he was reminded of him.Seeing that the two servants next to him looked like they knew martial arts, they didn't want to suffer.

The other person smiled awkwardly, wanting to calm down the matter, and said: "Excuse me, sir, we ran into madam in a moment of confusion."

"Why don't you go quickly?"

Seeing the two of them leave, Ruan Muyang heaved a sigh of relief.Just as she was about to thank her, she heard Yin Ji's frivolous voice: "Why does Mr. Zhang Ge feel at ease leaving his beautiful wife on the street?"

How did he know that Zhang Anyi came with her?Had he seen them before?

These provocative words made Ruan Muyang, who was already thinking wildly in his mind, uncomfortable to hear, especially his tone was extremely unserious.

She frowned, and when she was about to speak, Yin Ji changed his attitude again, and said with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "There are so many people here, why don't you know how to call someone? If I didn't show up, you What are you going to do?"

Ruan Muyang really didn't think of calling someone, and she wouldn't do it unless it was absolutely necessary.

At some point, she had completely cultivated the ability to remain calm when encountering problems. Her first reaction was not to ask others for help, but to solve it by herself.

"Thank you. Fortunately, you showed up in time." She is not a person who does not know what is good or bad.Although Yin Ji's attitude is frivolous, unlike Xia Xuanlin, he is not offensive.And he also helped her, otherwise she might have to call someone in the end, and then make a big noise, maybe everyone will know about it the next day.

Yin Ji smiled.

This thank you all had a sullen face and a calm attitude, as if he came to collect debts from him, but he just received it, and he was actually very happy in his heart.In particular, she was holding a cute rabbit lamp. The contrast was great, and it was a little different from the usual one. It was a little more delicate, which was even more pleasing to the eye.

He didn't have anything to do in the official residence tonight, so he came to the lantern festival, and saw Zhang Anyi and Ruan Muyang as soon as he arrived.Seeing how Ruan Muyang was being led, he panicked and left out of sight and out of mind. After walking around for a while, he came back and saw the scene just now.

"lady!"

Mo Wen and Fang Fang ran over. "Just now the second master sent someone to tell us, what happened to you alone on the street?" Fang Fang asked.Originally they were waiting by the carriage, but when they saw Zhang Anyi coming back alone, they were puzzled.Just as she was about to ask, she saw him get into the carriage in a hurry, and ordered Mo Jian to drive, and asked the two of them to find Ruan Muyang.

They also looked puzzled.After finding the place according to what Zhang Anyi said, they didn't see Ruan Muyang. They became anxious and looked around.

When she saw Yin Ji, she was surprised.But with Mo Wen present, it was difficult for her to act as if she knew him.

Ruan Muyang looked alienated: "I encountered some small troubles, but I happened to meet Lord Yin."

"Thank you, Mr. Yin." Mo Wen said.

Mo Wen was always by Zhang Anyi's side, they had seen each other before.

Yin Ji smiled and said: "It's just a little effort. But when you go back, you still have to remind Elder Zhang Ge not to let Mrs. Zhang go out on the street alone, with no one around." He neither revealed what happened to Ruan Muyang, nor revealed his I have met them a long time ago, and I know that Zhang Anyi will leave first.

"Thank you, my lord. It's us servants who have neglected their duties." Mo Wen also answered impeccably, "Master Yin, take your leave."

Under the escort of Fang Fang and Mo Wen, Ruan Muyang disappeared from Yin Ji's sight.

Back in Zhang's mansion, Ruan Muyang found that Zhang Anyi hadn't come back yet.

After Mo Wen went down, Ruan Muyang asked Fang Fang: "But the second master told you to find me?"

Enamel nods.

"Second Master got into the carriage alone?"

Fang Fang didn't know why Ruan Muyang asked this, but replied truthfully: "Yes."

"Did he not tell Mo Jian or Mo Wen where he was going?" Ruan Muyang continued to ask.

Fang Fang said: "No, just ask Mo Jian to drive and Mo Wen to find you with me. Ma'am, did something happen today? Why is Mr. Yin with you?"

Ruan Muyang didn't want to make things public and worry them, so he said, "I just met by chance."

(End of this chapter)