After returning from Xiao's residence, Meng Zezhi moved out from the Xiao's yard. After all, Mrs. Xiao has already recovered. Although he is young, he is still a man. If he stays here, he will probably gossip.

But he didn't go back to the Wutong Courtyard where he originally lived, but moved into the Shi'an Courtyard, which was cleaned up by the new people of the Xiao family.

This Shianyuan was originally the residence of an old uncle of Song Guogong Zhao Lingwu. It is said that this old uncle had a meal for Zhao Lingwu, so after Zhao Lingwu became famous, he took him to his side.

It's just that not long after Zhao Yian was born, the old uncle went away. He probably felt that he saw things and missed people, so Zhao Lingwu ordered people to seal the yard.

After all, the yard has been vacant for nearly ten years.

The entire Song Guogong mansion is huge, with three entrances and nine courtyards, covering an area of ​​more than 300 acres and more than 180 houses.

The place is big, but Zhao Lingwu's backyard is bigger, with eleven aunts, fourteen concubines, and six concubine daughters.

There are a large family, Song Guogong and Xiao family live in Muyuantang, Zhao Yijing occupies Zhuyuyuan, eleven concubines are crowded in the third group of courtyards on West Road, and the seven-year-old concubines move into Wutongyuan and Tingyuxuan. , Six prostitutes live in Yingxue Pavilion...

If it weren't for the fact that there was really nowhere to go, the Xiao family didn't want Meng Zezhi to live in the World's Anyuan. In addition to the people who died in the Zhao family, it was unlucky, and it was close to the street, causing panic.

Meng Zezhi was very satisfied with this. It was a good thing to have his own independent space and not have to deal with those uneasy brothers.

Compared with Zhao Yijing's residence, the magnificent and magnificent Zhuyuyuan, the Shianyuan seems to be much more 'shabby'.

It covers an area of ​​less than six acres and has a total of thirteen houses, including three main rooms, front and rear corridors on the top of the mountain, two wing rooms on the left and right, three wing rooms in the east and west of the courtyard, and one outside. 's garden.

But in fact, the layout of the Shi'an Courtyard is no worse than that of the Zhuyu Courtyard. There are more than 30 kinds of supplies in the main room alone: ​​silver teapot cover, silver teapot, tin teacup cover, lacquer box, and gilded iron cloud bag corner table. ... are the best things, and most of them are Xiao's body.

These are not enough for outsiders, mainly to avoid causing suspicion from those who are interested.

In addition, the Xiao family also gave Meng Zezhi a sedan chair so that he could report to Xiao Deren every day.

Of course, this matter was also reported by the Xiao family in the communique of the Song Dynasty, and it was only speculated that he liked Meng Zezhi's talent and wanted to train him as Zhao Yijing's help.

Song Guogong had no way to refute, and he also knew the truth of using force in troubled times and using words to rule the world. Now that the world is becoming more and more peaceful, when the war in the north is over, the status of generals will only get lower and lower. Although the emperor is still kind, he should not be able to do things like the sly rabbits die. But for the sake of the future of the Duke's Mansion, he also has the intention of letting future generations abandon Wu Congwen. If Meng Zezhi is really as talented as Xiao's letter, he can indeed be cultivated well. What's more, he felt a little bit of guilt for Xiao's in his heart, and he also recognized Xiao's actions.

After four years in this way, it must have been a long time. Meng Zezhi, who was sixteen years old, suddenly reached 1.7 meters, half a head taller than Xiao.

In the Shi'an Courtyard, the wet nurse He Shi was honored to retire—actually, Shi Xiao thought she was too petty, so she simply gave her a sum of money and sent her home to take her grandson. In her place was the big maid next to Xiao Shi. Know the piano.

In addition, the Xiao family gave Meng Zezhi two servants, two guards, and a book boy.

The book boy's name is Ji Liang, the grandson of Mammy Zheng and the only son of Ji Guyang.

A year ago, the Xiao family returned Ji Guyang's family deed to him. In order to show his loyalty, Ji Guyang sent Ji Liang to Meng Zezhi to be a book boy.

In mid-August of the 19th year of Guangde, because Xiao Deren was going to Yue's house to celebrate his mother-in-law's birthday, he gave Meng Zezhi an early holiday.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to the house, he ran into Zhao Yikang who came back from a drink with his classmates.

Speaking of which, Meng Zezhi and Zhao Yikang still had some grudges.

Zhao Yikang was five years old, only two years older than Meng Zezhi. His biological mother was Concubine Xu in the backyard. Concubine Xu was originally the oiran of Manchun Courtyard, one of the four buildings in the capital. She was later bought and given to Duke Song. With his skills, he successfully became Song Guogong's favorite concubine, and then gave birth to two sons and a daughter for Song Guogong in one breath.

The son is as precious as the mother, and the chief Zhao Yikang has become the most favored concubine of the imperial government.

In the plan of Concubine Xu and Zhao Yikang, when Zhao Yikang reached his age, he begged the Duke of Song to clean up the Shianyuan and let the brothers live in it, so that they would no longer have to crowd with other concubines. .

Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin came out halfway, and Xiao Shi waved his hand and assigned the World Security Institute to Meng Zezhi.

Song Guogong was not there, and the servants in the mansion, including the concubine's body deeds, were all in Xiao's hands, which was equivalent to her holding the power of life and death in the mansion. Man with neck.

Therefore, after learning the news, although they were unwilling, their family only dared to curse a few words behind their backs, and then retreated to ask Song Guogong for a place in his name as a prison student.

The so-called Jiansheng is the abbreviation of Guozijian students, and Guozijian was the highest institution of the Dayang Dynasty. According to the regulations, only Gongsheng or Yinsheng are eligible to study in Guozijian. Among them, Gongsheng refers to outstanding talents or juren, and Yinjian refers to the students who are the children of officials of the third grade or above or the children of honorable relatives. There is no scholar and fame, but he can directly take the township examination.

Guozijian is good, on the one hand, you can make friends with noble children, and on the other hand, there are famous teachers to teach you. Are you afraid that he will not be admitted to the jinshi?

Just when Zhao Yikang was dreaming of being named on the Golden List and honoring the prime minister, the news that Meng Zezhi worshipped Xiao Deren as a teacher came out.

Who is Xiao Deren, the head of the century-old Xiao family, the No. 2 in the Enke list in the first year of Guangde, and the sacrifice to the Imperial College.

What a network of people this must be, he instantly compared Zhao Yikang.

Zhao Yikang has always been the one who overpowered others, but now Meng Zezhi has been asked to climb over his head. Zhao Yikang can't help but feel a little out of balance.

Furthermore, it was fine in the past. Seeing that Zhao Er, Zhao San and Zhao Si, who have also lived with him in Tingyuxuan for the past few years, have become biological children one after another, a bunch of children are crying and wailing all day long. Just get angry.

If it wasn't for Meng Zezhi's occupation of the Shianyuan that should belong to him, he wouldn't need to suffer such a crime.

But Meng Zezhi was standing behind Xiao Shi, and the evil fire in his heart could only be simmered.

But it's different now-

Zhao Yikang didn't smile: "Yo, isn't this the ninth young master?"

It could be seen that Zhao Yikang had bad intentions, but Meng Zezhi didn't want to pay any attention to him at all, and continued to move forward.

Zhao Yikang immediately sneered: "The people who recognize the cheap mother and the cheap uncle are different, and they even forget the basic etiquette."

Afraid of Ji Liang's presence, Meng Zezhi had to react. He stopped, turned around, and frowned slightly: "Fifth brother, has anyone ever said that your mouth is particularly stinky."

Zhao Yikang was not annoyed, he just said with a sneer: "You have a good temper, but Zhao Jiu, don't you really think of yourself as the son of your wife, the direct son of the prince's mansion! I heard that the battle in the north is almost over. , Father and Zhao Yijing will soon return to the court!"

Meng Zezhi's face sank, as if he was holding back something, and said in a deep voice, "Zhao Wu, instead of caring about me, it is better to take care of yourself. I heard that my father has been away for several years and has hired several young servants. Concubine, one of the twins, Orchid, is particularly favored by his father. I remember that in a few years, Concubine Xu will be celebrating her 40th birthday. You are also a scholar, so you should know what it is to serve as a servant of Israel, and you will love to ride when you are fading. ."

After speaking, Meng Zezhi walked away.

"You—" Zhao Yikang's face turned blue and white for a while. He gritted his teeth and said angrily, "I want to see how crazy you, a concubine who occupies a magpie's nest, can be when Zhao Yijing returns."

Hearing this, Meng Zezhi's expression darkened a little.

Ji Liang said immediately: "Young master, what the fifth young master said, don't take it to heart. We all see the goodness of Madam to you, that's not a little fake."

"Yeah." Meng Zezhi replied absent-mindedly, looking gloomy.

When he arrived at Muyuantang, he barely recovered himself, bowed and saluted: "Mother."

With just one look, Mrs. Xiao could see that something was wrong with Meng Zezhi, she kept her face down, took out a handkerchief and wiped the hot sweat on Meng Zezhi's forehead, and said, "Why is it so hot, Mammy Zheng, Go get a bowl of crystal ice."

"Yes, ma'am." Mammy Zheng responded and pulled Ji Liang away by the way.

The crystal ice in Xiao's mouth is actually a common ice bowl in later generations, an ice bowl with fresh almonds, walnuts, lotus seeds, yogurt, ice cream, and jam.

Since the year before last, many novel things have been added to the capital one after another, such as hot pot restaurants, underwear stores, matches, soaps...

Xing Xiaoya hasn't been reborn at this moment, it's more obvious who these things came from.

Meng Zezhi saw it in his eyes, but did not smile.

Halfway through the meal, Meng Zezhi remembered the business, and immediately put down the spoon and said, "By the way, mother, my uncle said that my time is up, and I can leave this year."

Meng Zezhi went to Liuyuan and Di. In addition, he was still young a few years ago, and Xiao Deren was also worried that he would not be able to survive in the examination room, so he simply let him read for a few more years.

"Really?" Mrs. Xiao's eyes lit up, then frowned slightly: "Our family's ancestral home is in Jiangxi, it will take two months to travel from the capital to Jiangxi, and the county test will be in February next year, isn't it? Saying that you had to leave the capital a few years ago, no matter how well you pass the exam, you will get the next September when you pass the rural exam. This time you go back once a year, so when have you been out so far?"

Xiao Shi looked worried.

Hearing this, Meng Zezhi's face immediately showed a touch of emotion, and even the sadness hidden in his eyes was swept away, he couldn't help but curled the corners of his lips: "Just this time, wait for my son to take the test. When the champion comes back, he will stay in the capital, stay with his mother, and will not go anywhere."

Xiao Shi saw the change in Meng Zezhi's expression, her face softened, and then she seemed to think of something, her eyes darkened, and she said softly, "My mother likes to hear this."

After talking for a while, Meng Zezhi got up to leave and returned to the World Security Institute.

As soon as he left, Mammy Zheng said immediately, "Madam, I've found out, just now the young master has met the fifth young master, and the fifth young master said some unpleasant things..."

Xiao Shi sighed in his heart, if his An'er knew the truth, he probably wouldn't be disturbed by these things.

It's a pity, alas!

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#Congratulations to Meng Zezhi for the Academy Award#