As July draws to a close, the weather in Aino Prefecture has begun to turn cooler, but Kyoto is stuffy like a steamer, and the slightest movement is full of sweat, and the will to clean up the fields has been made, and Kiyota Tsukasa is lit up every night, and countless letters are exchanged in the center of the capital, and a great storm is coming.

Yong'an Fang Shenguo Mansion, the door is closed, and the small door is open to enter and exit. The red lantern hanging in front of the gate of the mansion was blown by the wind and rain and faded a little, and it was combined with the mottled Zhu Gate to show the meaning of decadence. King Keming of Shenguo is the prince and the prince, the hussar general from the first product, according to the system when in front of the door of the halberd fourteen, guarded by the guards holding the gallop bow, the four banners, the sword guard, the halberd in front of the door has already been accepted into the house by the master, the door is closed, naturally there is no need for the guards to put on a shelf.

The Northern Desert campaign was lost, and Wang Keming, who was the commander-in-chief, was deeply shocked, and his beard was gray and grew old rapidly, and the punishment given by the prince was a fine of three years. Wang Keming said that he had won the guilt of the above, and asked him to remove the titles of the crown prince, Shen Guogong, and hussar general, but Shi Chongwei was not allowed. Wang Keming asked again and again, but Shi Chongwei had no choice but to get rid of his prince and concubine, and demoted from the hussar general of the first rank to the general of the Zhenguo of the second grade, and the title of Shen Guogong was retained.

Wang Keming felt that the crime was serious, and ordered, the door was closed, and he refused to visit, and he lived in the house and did not come out. The only appearance was when Jiang Anyi was imprisoned, and he was entrusted by Xinfei to find Queen Wang to intercede for Jiang Anyi, and Jiang Anyi was able to get out after giving up the shares of Jingzhong Perfume, although it was the role of money, but it was also the face of Shen Guogong. The master thought about it behind closed doors, and the servants at home lost their spirits, and many of the families who took refuge looked for a way to leave, and the Shenguo Mansion became quiet, and birds and birds jumped in front of the mansion looking for food.

There is a high-rise building "clairmiles" in the west garden of the house, Wang Keming often climbs high to drink here, and is accompanied by his third brother Zhao Wei, a boy in brocade clothes stands in the middle of the house, reporting to Wang Keming about the affairs of the house. Wang Keming began to make contributions at the border pass at the age of twenty, returned from the border pass at the age of thirty-four, and was promoted to Shen Guogong, Emperor Xuan married his wife Qin, Qin was the daughter of Qin Fengge, a scholar of Jixian Hall at that time, Qin's gentle and virtuous, show off his wisdom, Wang Keming was very satisfied with his wife. The two fell in love after marriage and had three sons and two daughters, the eldest son Wang Zhixiang is 22 years old this year, Wang Keming is not out of the door, and the affairs of the Shenguo Mansion are mostly attended by this young prince.

The second day of August this year is the 60th birthday of Shen Guogong, Emperor Su has passed away, the new emperor has ascended the throne, and the whole palace feels that they want to take advantage of this birthday banquet to wash away the decline and revive the prestige of Shen Guogong's mansion. As the eldest son, Wang Zhixiang feels that he is responsible for revitalizing the prestige of the family, his father is old, and Shen Guogong wants to pass it on to his own hands, he doesn't want to lie on the family's merit book like his cousins.

“…… There is no news in the palace that the Queen Mother is in Yanshan Villa, but the second uncle will bring his family to celebrate his father's birthday; The Taiwei Mansion sent a congratulatory gift, and Zhu Changshi said that the Taiwei was seriously ill and bedridden and could not come in person, so he would send his sons and nephews to congratulate him; The four major protectors all sent people to send congratulatory gifts, and the generals of the guards in Beijing all sent people to send congratulatory gifts, but they all said that they were afraid that it would be difficult to come to congratulate them; Xuanwu Hou said that he couldn't come to the door to congratulate his father and cause trouble......"

went out to deliver invitations, but it was cold, did the Shenguo Mansion lack those congratulatory gifts they sent? Wang Zhixiang thought indignantly. After the Northern Expedition failed and his father returned, Wang Zhixiang felt the malice around him, in the past, there were always people around him when he went out, the young prince and the young man patted the horse's ass, and those generals came to the door to invite themselves to ride horses and shoot arrows, and now even the Wang clan in the house does not come to the door. Many of the followers of the house made excuses to leave, and the father of these ungrateful fellows actually gave them gold and silver horses, wrote them letters of recommendation, and had to discount their legs in exchange for themselves. Mother said that this is because his father is very open-minded, let him learn more from his father, as the eldest son of Shen Guogong, he must have such a mind.

As the eldest son of Shen Guogong, Wang Zhixiang has studied martial arts since elementary school, Wang Keming and his wife are strict with him, and he is not allowed to make bad friends, cousins Wang Zhixing, Wang Zhizhi and others will send the housekeeper Wang Chengyi to stare at the door, and the son is not allowed to follow his cousins out at will. During the second northern expedition, Wang Keming intended to let Wang Zhixiang go with him, but Qin's heartache son did not let him go because he was still young, which made Wang Zhixiang feel very frustrated.

Zhao Wei saw Wang Zhixiang's unhappy face, and said with a smile: "Zhixiang, people are warm and cold, it has always been like this." Don't worry, when the country is in trouble, the Son of Heaven will be the first to think of your father, and when the time comes, the house will not be lively. ”

Wang Keming put on the face of his strict father and said: "Fighting in the north, hundreds of thousands of soldiers are buried in the grassland, their wives and children are struggling to live, what face does my father have to celebrate his birthday, if it weren't for your mother's best to persuade me, I would like to drink two cups from my family, they don't want to come better, I am happy to be quiet." ”

Zhao Wei stood up, handed the wine in his hand to Wang Zhixiang, and said, "Okay, big brother, Zhixiang is wronged enough, you still talk about him." Zhixiang, your father is right, the face of the Shenguo Mansion is not obtained by holding a birthday banquet, but by your father's fight with a knife and a gun on the battlefield. Your father is old, and the burden of the Shenguo Mansion will fall on your shoulders, and you must take Zhiyi, Zhiyi, and Weiguang (Zhao Wei's son), Xuechuan (Li Xuechuan, Wang Keming's second brother Li Yixing's son, Li Yixing's family was separated after the battle, and he was found and brought into the mansion) They inherited their father's business, and the foundation was obtained by swords and guns, and the face on the wine table can only be used on the wine table. ”

Wang Zhixiang drank the wine and said, "Third uncle, I understand." But my father's 60th birthday is a big event, and whether anyone else comes or not, we should celebrate our own birthday. ”

Wang Keming waved his hand and said, "Go get busy, don't affect me and your third uncle to drink." What do you want to tell your mother, don't delay the practice. ”

Zhao Wei remembered something, stopped Wang Zhixiang and asked, "Huazhou can send someone to send a congratulatory gift, what about the Jiang family?" ”

Wang Zhixiang knew that the third uncle was talking about Jiang Anyi's house, and his father had a close relationship with Jiang Anyi, who was imprisoned last year, and his father went to the palace to intercede with the queen mother.

"A few days ago, Fang Shishu, the original assassin of Huazhou, came to visit and sent five hundred jars of wine in the name of Huazhou, as well as two good horses. The horse was really extraordinary, and the child tried to ride it, and the speed was steady and fast, and it was a good horse. Speaking of horses, Wang Zhixiang's eyebrows danced and said, "Please give a horse to the child from my father, that horse is better than the flying yellow horse that my father brought from the Northern Desert." ”

Zhao Wei patted Wang Zhixiang's shoulder and said with a smile: "Good boy, yes, Shen Guogong's son should like sharp blades and good horses, like those sons and brothers who spin around women's skirts all day long." Go and move the wine sent by Jiang Anyi to two jars, his family's gold and jade liquid is enjoyable, Jiang Anyi, this kid is rich, he won't be so stingy when he shoots, what other good things are there? ”

Wang Zhixiang scratched his head embarrassedly, and said: "The child only said half of Ma Yi's happy words, Jiangfu also sent a lot of things, there are a few boxes of jade are very valuable, all of them are good mutton fat jade, and the carving is also outstanding. ”

Zhao Wei glared at him and said: "What are you afraid of, you just have to accept the things sent by Jiang Anyi, that kid gave up all the shares of the Jingzhong perfume shop in order to get out of prison, you know how many dividends the perfume shop has a year, at least more than two million taels, a few boxes of jade just want to send away the eldest brother, this kid is not authentic." ”

Wang Zhixiang was secretly speechless, he knew that his father's income was 30,000 taels a year, and the family still had the income from real estate, shops, and family farms, plus the income brought back by several caravans to the Western Regions was no less than 400,000 taels per year, but there were many generals in the family, and those who followed his father to die in the war needed to be funded, and there was not much money left in the accounts at the end of the year. In addition to the prince of the Zheng Dynasty, he is the prince of the country, and his own family is considered a top magnate, and he has been thrown far away from the Jiang family, and the Jiang family is rumored to have many financial roads, no wonder people in the world call Jiang Anyi "gold hand".

Wang Keming put down his wine glass and explained: "You might as well accept the things sent by the Jiang Mansion, I have a very good relationship with An Yi for my father, but I am not afraid of what others say, his family also has money, this thing is really nothing to him." However, if someone else gives a generous gift, you should pay attention, or return or make up a considerable return gift. ”

"The child understood. People from Jiang Mansion also said that on her father's birthday, Mrs. Jiang would bring her son to the door to congratulate her. ”

Wang Keming said thoughtfully: "Back then, Jiang Anyi said that he wanted to write a birthday greeting for his old man, but he handed it over to his wife. These things are just that, this birthday greeting is a rare thing, in May, Fan Fuzi's 80th birthday, his proud disciple wrote 'banquet exhibition, cheering, Rui Palace fairy around, jade brick lai Yi play' but the world sings, I and Fan Fuzi Wenwu are different, and Fan Fuzi is 80 years old, I am only 60 years old, I don't know what An Yi will write to me? ”

Picking up the cup and taking a sip, Wang Keming's eyes lit up and said, "I'm really looking forward to it." ”

…………

On the second day of the first month of August, the Shenguo Mansion was lit up, and the vermilion gate was repainted, shining in the sun. The servants of the house were all beaming, dressed in red satin, in front of the door to greet the guests who came to congratulate them.

...... "Ming Yibo, the son of the former Guogong, Li Jianzhao, came to congratulate with his family", "Cheng Xiquan, the Marquis of Wenguo, came to congratulate with his family", "Wei Menggang, the son of the Hou of Korea and the general of Mingwei", and "the general of the right guard sent an envoy to congratulate......

The steward shouted loudly in front of the door, Wang Zhixiang, Wang Zhiyi, and Wang Zhiyi, the young princes, were all dressed in new clothes, and greeted the guests in front of the door with a smile on their faces, and Wang Zhixing, Wang Zhizhi and other cousins who came with their parents early were also helping to greet the guests, and the Shenguo Mansion was full of joy.

There is a hidden worry in the smile of the housekeeper Wang Chengyi, and there are many important roles missing from the seemingly beautiful scenes, first, the birthday greetings of the Son of Heaven and the Queen Mother have not yet arrived; Second, it is not known who Taiwei Zhu's mansion will send; The third is who the family will send to the front door to congratulate, and the general of the Sixteenth Guard does not know who can come in person.

Several carriages stopped in front of the mansion, and a woman dressed in costume got out of the carriage with several children, and it was someone from Jiang Mansion who came. Grandpa Guo had already instructed him to let himself receive the congratulatory guests of Jiangfu, and the steward beside him shouted loudly: "The Marquis of Pingshan and the wife of the Huazhou Economic Strategy have come to congratulate their families!" ”

Tong'er walked up the stairs, Jiang Chenyi (10 years old) led her younger brother Jiang Chenyi (6 years old) to her left, and Jiang Yunjing (8 years old) and Jiang Yunting (7 years old) walked on the right side. Tong'er was slightly nervous, Jiang Lang, Xinfei and Dong'er were not in Beijing, today she was going to show up in front of everyone with her four children, and the performance of herself and the children represented the face of the Jiang family, and she must not make a mistake.

Tong'er is lively by nature, but in this scene, she has to make a gentle and virtuous appearance, which seems a little restrained, lest people see jokes.