Chapter 12： Light City

The prince didn't have the mood to look at the lamp anymore, and went straight back to the house. When I arrived in the study, I heard people say that the brothers and sisters of the Shen family actually went to see the lamp, and became angry for a while: the bear boy was making trouble, crying and crying, and could still go to see the lamp. Is she heartless or heartless? Deliberately mess with yourself

Seeing him frowning in contemplation, one of his staff asked: "What does your Highness think about that young girl?"

The eldest prince only felt a deep disgust surging from his chest, and remembered Shen Wen's sentence which was clearly childish and made the fourth princess and him lose face, and he hummed angrily: "A idiot! Let people make comments. Go, saying that she has no education, she is like a shrew at such a young age, and see how she will marry in the future!"

It’s easy for people to hate someone who has embarrassed themselves, and this kind of hatred can also provoke inner resistance: demeaning the other person for nothing. This leads people to make another mistake: underestimating their enemies.

The eldest prince took the four princesses who had always been grumpy tonight, just to make trouble for Shen Wen. He wanted to see Shen Wen's reaction. In his foresight, Shen Wen might remain calm, deal with it calmly or panic, be humiliated severely by the four princesses, and lose face. But he didn't expect Shen Wen to tear his face and start crying loudly. After all, the seven-year-old girl in the most powerful family has etiquette education. When in front of outsiders, she can't even cry or cover her lips when she laughs. Where can she be as shameless and shameless as Shen Wen? Up.

There was also a moment when he thought that perhaps Shen Wen had deliberately pretended to be a fool to scold him and the fourth princess, but he immediately denied it. Is there any clever person who would do such a stupid thing! He is the eldest prince, and if offending him is good for Zhenbeihou, anyone with a little brain will be polite with him. Shen Wen was only a few years old, if she was really smart, how could she do such a stupid thing, how could she have the courage!

If Shen Wen was really careful to deal with it calmly, he would still suspect that Shen Wen had scheming, but now he thought of Shen Wen's red and bloated face, like a monkey buttocks, and believed that Shen Wen was stupid and spoiled. The child who has no tutor, put aside other ideas.

He didn't want to get Shen Wen's reputation, she knew that if Bei Rong invaded, how many girls would be tainted and die, there is a good reputation for her return this time, carrying a thousand years of waiting, even her life It is not easy for her to keep her bottom line.

The staff thought for a moment, and said: "His Royal Highness reprimanded that girl in front of everyone. This matter will surely reach Zhenbeihou in the future, how will he treat His Highness"

The prince snorted: "My father disliked the town of Beihou the most. Back then, the old town of Beihou once called the old man surnamed Liu what kind of "blessed friendship", and the surnamed Liu publicly praised the emperor. Hou said several times, "Shen Jiajun in northern Xinjiang can guarantee no worries." Isn't this a threat? If there is no Shen Jiajun, Beijiang will be worried. My father suspected that the emperor had something to do with Zhenbeihou. The emperor died. After the father succeeded to the throne, the old town Beihou didn’t speak any more. Now Zhenbeihou married his son Liu, and his father said he’s "uninterested." I gave Zhenbeihou a face, father There are only happy ones, not unhappy ones."

The staff lowered their voice: "But Zhenbeihou has a heavy hand in hand, just in case..."

The prince twitched his mouth: "People like theirs always talk about loyalty to the emperor and serve the country. They are definitely not afraid to commit chaos. At most, they rely on the soldiers to respect themselves and want to point fingers at the government. His sons and their third brothers are leaving. It's close, maybe I want to play the trick in the old town of Beihou again. I want to be beautiful!" He has a relaxed tone, but the staff feels cold.

When Shen Zhuo and his party arrived at Dengshi, they asked a few people to follow Shen Xiang and Shen Wen on foot, and the others waited at the junction outside Dengshi.

Shen Wen got out of the carriage and saw bright lights: colored lights were hung on the doors on both sides of the street, and there were long bamboo poles or ropes along the street with lights hung on them. Lanterns of various colors are contending with each other, and I can’t help but say with joy: “It’s so beautiful! It’s much more beautiful than the one in Changle Houfu! Third brother, do you think you like the one in that mansion or the one on this street?”

Shen Zhuo naturally said: "I was just playing chess with someone, and I didn't look at the lights in the yard very much."

Shen Wen widened his eyes and asked: "The third brother won."

With some pride, Shen Zhuo said, "Everyone has their own winners and losers." Then he said: "He is four or five years older than me."

Shen Wen clapped his hands and said, "Wow, the third brother is really amazing. I can defeat everyone in the future!"

Shen Zhuo immediately said sternly: "You can't say that. I just read a few books and can barely handle it. How can I defeat everyone and defeat..." He swallowed Zhang Yunming's name.

Shen Wen didn't notice that he only said half a sentence, and continued excitedly: "The third brother has only read a few books and he is so great. Then just read a few more books. There are so many books in our house. !"

Shen Zhuo smiled and said, "It has to be a book about Game. There are not many in our mansion."

Shen Wen stared and said, "Then let's buy it! Sister Wanniang, where should I buy a chess book"

Su Wanniang smiled, and said according to the words set by the two people earlier: "Look, miss, the Guanyi Pavilion over there is a place to play chess, maybe there are books for selling chess in it."

Shen Wen shook her hand and said, "Then you go take a look. If there is one, we will go over and pick the third brother. Now, we have to find Sister Zhang here first."

Su Wanniang bowed her head in response, and said to Shen Xiang, "Miss, I'll come as soon as I go."

Shen Xiang said: "Bring someone to follow you, we are around here."

Su Wanniang said: "No, just a few steps away, I'll take a look. There are not many guards, so stay with the lady."

Shen Zhuo also wanted to see, but when Shen Wen said that he wanted to find Zhang Yunjin here, he was afraid that he would miss it, so he said to Su Wanniang, "Just shout for something."

Su Wanniang nodded and walked quickly towards Guanyi Pavilion.

When I arrived at the Guanyi Pavilion, seeing the bright lights inside, Su Wanniang walked in, bowed to a young man, and asked with a smile: "Can you meet your host or housekeeper?"

She has a beautiful appearance, polite words and deeds, and makes people like it. The guy immediately said, "Please come here, girl." He took her to a small corner. Su Wanniang waited for a while, and the curtain was lifted, and a fat middle-aged man came in and asked with a smile: "What is the little lady looking for?"

Su Wanniang bowed and asked: "But it's a Baoguan person."

Guan Ren smiled and nodded, Su Wanniang took out the small bag from her sleeve and opened it, unfolded the chess game on the white silk, and handed it to Guan Ren. Guan Ren took it and looked pretty good. After a while, he exclaimed: "Is this Ji Wenzhao's game? I can't make ten steps...eight steps! Ji Wenzhao, the national player!"

Su Wanniang said hurriedly: "My master asks Baoguanren to do me a favor."

The official Bao asked without raising his eyes: "What's the matter?"

Su Wanniang said: "The officials are asked to hang this game on the wall so that everyone can watch and catch it."

The official Bao nodded and said, "Of course! This game must be exquisite, and it cannot be solved by one person."

Su Wanniang smiled and handed out a fan and a letter, and said: "If Mr. Ji Wenzhao comes to ask about this bureau, please pass the two things to him."

Guanren Bao finally raised his head and said in amazement, "Ji Wenzhao will come! That's a national player! My little Guan Yige He De can..." He immediately picked up the things and put them in his arms carefully.

Su Wanniang interrupted with a smile, and handed over fifty taels of silver and said: "This matter is annoying for officials to keep secrets. My master does not want everyone to know about it. After the official has determined Ji Wenzhao's identity, he will give him something in private. It's just for the trouble of rewarding officials." At the beginning, Shen Wen said that he couldn't give too much money, but it would lead to suspicion. Five taels are just right, which is considered a handling fee.

Bao Guanren hurriedly declined and said: "Why do you need a silver pair! When such a game comes out, my teahouse will definitely come to many people! The profit is already a reward, please don't spend money on your son!" He looked down at the game again.

He automatically thought of the master in Su Wanniang's mouth as a son. Su Wanniang didn't correct it, she put her silver on the table and said, "I dare not violate the master's order. Thank you for the help of the officials."

Guan Bao didn't seem to hear him, and he said: "Where..." He looked at the chess game and muttered: "If the black chess moves like this...you have to place it on the chessboard..."

Su Wanniang smiled and left. When she left the house, she saw that there was no shelf for selling books in the tea house, but there was a book stand at the entrance of the tea house. There were books like "Yili" and "Dan Yi" on it. The chessmen who came to the teahouse to play chess. Su Wanniang hurriedly left and returned to the place where Shen Wen and the others looked at the lights. From a distance, I saw Zhang Yunjin and Shen Xiang talking: "...Not long after you left, my eldest brother arrived and just came out."

Shen Xiang said: "Let's watch the lights together."

Shen Wen said to Su Wanniang, "It's great, you're back, and you happen to be leaving together."

There was a smile on Shen Zhuo's face, although Zhang Yunming was standing between him and Zhang Yunjin. When Shen Zhuo saw Su Wanniang, the expression on her face was a little nervous. Su Wanniang knew that he didn't want Zhang Yunming to know that he was looking for the book of Gaming, and smiled, as Shen Wen followed Shen Xiang and Zhang Yunjin in front of him.

There are people coming and going on the streets, and there are many men and women with rich clothes. They are not eye-catching as a group of people walking down the street. In the warmth and brightness, Shen Wen was in a good mood, and took Su Wanniang's hand and said, "Sister Wanniang, I'm so happy!"

Su Wanniang and Shen Wen have been together for a few months, and she has probably figured out Shen Wen’s real and fake smiles. Now seeing the smile on Shen Wen’s crying face, she knows that she is really happy, and she feels a little bit sour: she didn’t see this seven. The year-old girl was so happy several times. She worked hard every day to plan, and she often went out at night. Why can't she tell her parents and brother to do something? Although she obeys Shen Wenyan, she still has doubts in her heart. She really couldn't wait to see Ji Wenzhao to find out the cause of her father's death, to see if it was framed by others, as Shen Wen said.

As they were walking, a few people greeted us. The young boy's clothes in the middle were extraordinarily luxurious. The auspicious moire embroidered with silver thread was inlaid with the edge of the dark blue brocade, faintly shining under the light, and he walked over step by step. There seemed to be dazzling light lingering all over. His eyebrows are clear, his face is extremely handsome, but his expression is gloomy, his brows are slightly frowned, his mouth is tight, as if he is angry.

He glanced at him. Shen Xiang and Zhang Yunjin, who were chatting enthusiastically in front of him, did not notice, but Shen Wen felt that their eyes were dazzling and bright as a knife. She was surprised that a teenager could have such sharp eyes, and felt that He looked familiar and couldn't help but stare at the young man and pass him by.

The teenager glanced at Shen Wen with contempt, then slammed into Zhang Yunming, who was walking alongside Shen Zhuo behind Shen Wen, and knocked Zhang Yunming back two steps. The teenager raised his face, "I'm sorry, this young man." His tone was arrogant and rude, and before Zhang Yunming could speak, he went on walking without looking back.

The few people behind him kept chattering, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He ran after the young man.

Although Shen Zhuo was uncomfortable with Zhang Yunming, when he saw him being hit, he couldn't help but say: "Why do you want me to talk to him in the past?" It feels good to help people who usually look down on him.

Zhang Yunming shook his shoulders and said with a smile: "Why don't you do anything, I am not hurt."

Shen Zhuo looked back at the boy who was far away, but Zhang Yunming said: "We have gone down a street, and my mother said that I can't go shopping in the lamp market for a long time, so I should take my sister back home."

Shen Zhuo frowned and looked at Zhang Yunming, hoping that the person just knocked Zhang Yunming to the ground.

Zhang Yunming smiled at Shen Zhuo and said, "It's a pity that we can't play against the third brother today. We must have a good discussion next time." After speaking, he went up and said a few words with Zhang Yunjin, who had stopped and looked back. Zhang Yunjin glanced at Shen Xiang. , Cheeky, but she followed the rules, and immediately said goodbye to the Shen family brothers and sisters. Just about to leave, she heard someone say: "Isn't this Shen San Gongzi? Oh, Zhang Da Gong is also there, it's a coincidence." A group of people on the street. Three princes and five princesses in casual dresses stood in the middle.

The last time Shen Wen saw the three princes was the flower fair last spring, less than a year apart, but the three princes have grown more than two or three inches tall. It seems that the boy was really tall at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Although he is wearing civilian costumes today, he is also exquisite in workmanship, gorgeous in style, and a decent youthful young man.

Shen Zhuo and Zhang Yunming hurriedly walked over and took the girls to salute. The third prince smiled and said, "Don't be too polite. It's a lot of people."

The fifth princess also returned the gift. She was about the same age as Shen Xiang and Zhang Yunjin. After speaking a few words with them, she turned her head and smiled and said to Shen Wen: "This little sister still remembers me."

People say that Concubine Chen has a gentle and sweet temperament, and her daughter Fifth Princess wants to imitate her behavior. Although it can be seen deliberately, after all, it is more arrogant than the fourth princess. Shen Wen also smiled and said: "Remember, my sister gave me beads, do you have them today?"

Shen Xiang smiled and pulled Shen Wen: "Little money fan."

The fifth princess smiled and untied a jewel from the belt. The net under the jade was embellished with a pearl, and she handed it to Shen Wen, "Take it, as long as the little sister likes it." The royal figures wore all of them. It is an exquisite and precious thing, this piece of jade shines brightly under the lantern at night.

Shen Wen looked at Shen Zhuo, and the three princes smiled and said to Shen Zhuo: "Don't be polite. It is a good sign to give gifts or win prizes in the first month."

Shen Zhuo nodded, and Shen Wen happily took it, and handed it to Su Wanniang, "Take it for me. I'll go back and make a sachet for this sister."

Shen Xiang laughed: "Don't do it. I haven't seen you take the needle and thread for more than half a year, and it may not be as good as last time." Everyone laughed: this business is too worthwhile.

Shen Wen put his chubby index finger on his face seriously, and said thoughtfully: "But you have to pay the gift."

The fifth princess said like an adult, "What did the little sister say? This is what the elder sister gave. What kind of gift is it? You can remember me next time you see me." Although she is a nine-year-old girl, But already can speak pretty. Maybe she did it with her mother's instruction, maybe she did it to build up the town of Beihou, but Shen Wen is a small-minded person, thinking that because of her today's bead, she will not let her marry to Beirong in the future. , Marry the four princesses.

The third prince asked Shen Zhuo: "Darling Shen and Young Master Shen, I beat the fox together with them a few years ago, and I haven't seen them during the Chinese New Year."

Shen Zhuo said: "I am showing my sisters to watch the lantern show today. Maybe the two of them will come out to watch the lantern by themselves. Maybe they are in the house. I really don't know."

The third prince asked Zhang Yunming again: "Master Zhang is interested in riding the hunting month. At the end of the month, the Shen family and I will go to the mountains outside the city. I want to go together."

Zhang Yunming smiled and said, "Thank you..."

The third prince said: "Just call me the third prince."

Zhang Yunming said in a sincere tone: "Thank you for your invitation, but my riding skills are poor, and I'm afraid it will cause trouble if I go." Shen Wen pursed his lips at Zhang Yunming: this person lied and didn't blink. He rode a horse at the age of four and archery at the age of five, but Ping Yuan Hou never let him show up in front of others. Such a cover is really comparable to me.

Zhang Yunming was in a daze for a moment when she saw Shen Wen's smile, thinking that the girl knew she was lying. Fortunately, the three princes obviously didn't see through, and said with a smile: "People say that Zhang's article is wonderful. It seems that Zhang is going to abandon Wu and Congwen."

Zhang Yunming hurriedly replied with a smile: "I didn't have much martial arts at first. My father always said that the position of military commander should be in his generation. Let me study more and take the exam for a talent this year." Shen Wen knew that Zhang Yunming was doing his father's job. Handing over.

The third prince nodded solemnly and said, "I wish Mr. Zhang will be successful all the way, and maybe I will see Mr. Zhang on the palace exam in the future."

Zhang Yunming humbly said: "Where do I have such a high level of talent? My father said that if I can be a talented person, my family burned a high incense." Everyone laughed at the scene, and Zhang Yunming immediately took out the original rhetoric and said goodbye to everyone. Then took Zhang Yunjin and his servants away.

As soon as Zhang Yunjin left, Shen Zhuo also took the opportunity to say goodbye, saying that the sisters should not stay long. Although he was young, he knew that in such a public place, he still shouldn't interact with royal people too much. The two sides saluted again, and the third prince smiled and said, "Say hello to the old lady and the lady for me." Shen Zhuo thanked him eagerly.

They left the three princes and his party, and Zhang Yunming's brother and sister have also gone far. Shen Zhuo's expression was a little depressed: that Zhang Yunming just ran away with Zhang Yunjin, and he didn't even wait for us.

Su Wanniang then whispered to Shen Zhuo: "There are books about gaming outside Guanyi Pavilion, and there are still a lot of them."

Shen Zhuo said to the middle-aged guard behind him: "Lao Guan, you heard that you didn't wait for them to get back in the car. You sent someone to buy me a copy of everything. I don't believe it...huh!"

That Laoguan had the face of a farmer with deep wrinkles, and he responded with a hurried smile.

When they returned home, they naturally went to see Yang's good night. When I arrived at the main hall, I found that the old lady was also there, obviously waiting for them. Yang's face was stern, and he said to Shen Wen: "You can tell the story again."

Shen Wen immediately showed a pitiful look and stammered: "Me... Sister Wanniang and I are looking at lantern riddles, that, that's that..." Tears welled up in his eyes. The old lady relented again: "Wen'er, come over, speak slowly, don't be afraid."

Yang sighed, looked at Su Wanniang, and Su Wanniang saluted, and said: "Miss and I are looking at the lantern riddle, and the lady will guess it soon, and the riddle will be picked up by one person..." She spoke clearly and said the matter well. Again. Shen Xiang added something to what happened after she arrived, and Shen Zhuo finally talked about what he saw.

Yang frowned upon hearing this, and asked the old lady: "What do you think of mother?"

The old lady swept around and sighed: "It's just a kid's joke, don't take it seriously." This is an irony.

Yang nodded, knowing that he could not discuss the matter in front of everyone here, and said to Shen Wen: "You have to learn the rules in the future, how can you cry in front of others like this?"

Shen Wen's tears were streaming down, and he cried and said, "I didn't do anything. Why do you say that I am not disciplined enough? I obviously have been educated..."

Yang gritted his teeth and said that his daughter hadn't been disciplined! When this word spread, wasn't he hitting Hou Mansion in the face? The old lady was also angry about how his daughter would behave in the future, but he patted Shen Wen on the back and said nothing.

Yang Shiqiang smiled and said to Shen Wen: "Don't cry, and watch the lamp. Don't think about those things, go to bed."

Shen Wen stopped crying immediately, hugged the old lady to say goodnight, and then ran over to greet Yang's arm. Shen Zhuo and Shen Xiang didn't bother to be so coquettish and salute them. The three children went out.

The Yang family continued to stay in the hall with the old lady. Yang said to the people next to them: "Go and prepare some supper. It's late. The eldest son and the second son will come back soon. They will definitely be hungry."

Seeing everyone walking away, Yang asked the old lady in a low voice: "Mother, what's going on is that Wanniang's girl is talking to Wen'er, but we all know Wen'er's temperament. She is slow in her mind and knows if she has nothing to do. Crying, I will definitely not cause trouble. Why do the four princesses find Wen'er's fault?" She usually fights with the old lady, but she is really embarrassed. If she doesn't go to the old lady, she can discuss with whom

The old lady sighed and whispered: "Write this to Master Hou, don't say anything, just write what the fourth princess and the eldest prince said about Wen'er." Then she stood up and shook her head: "I'm old! I'm going to rest first."

Yang bowed and sent the old lady away, and sat in a seat with a daze. This matter is said to be big or not, but not small. Think about the position of the grand prince, no matter how you look at it, he will be a prince. If he is so impolite to Wen'er, does he mean he is impolite to Zhenbeihou Mansion, then his attitude, the emperor's attitude... the more he thinks about it, the more guilty he becomes, but he is born in the home of a military attaché, and only stays in Beijing for his husband The central steward, who can neither contact the court officials nor enter the palace for activities, what can he do

Someone reported that the eldest son and the second son were back, and the Yang family sat upright. When Shen Yi and Shen Jian came in with ease, Yang looked at their young faces and hesitated for a while, and ordered them to put on a supper. After the two children used it, they asked about the lantern festival, but didn't tell them about it. Anyway, Shen Zhuo will tell them, let them have a happy Lantern Festival first.

After fifteenth, the year has passed completely. Yang personally held the pen and wrote a long letter to Zhenbeihou, including the Changlehou Mansion, the encounter with the three princes in Dengshi, and so on, so they were sent to Beijiang.

The day after the letter was sent, a copy of the letter was placed on the book case of the eldest prince. The prince read it, but just smiled. His happy event is approaching and he is in a good mood.

Shen Wen's mood is also very good. A few days later, she went to Ciguanyi Pavilion at night, and saw that the chess she drew was hanging high on the north wall of the largest tea room. There were chessboards on the surrounding tea tables. Although it was night, many people were still there. Game or research. The Baoguan man walked between the tea table with a smile, and sometimes pointed to the chessboard to say a few words of his own opinion. Although he was always sneered at, he didn't take it seriously.

Shen Wen came back and told Su Wanniang that now he only had to wait for Ji Wenzhao to enter Beijing.