Xue's residence happened to be closed for bathing today. Xue Hong originally wanted to have a good rest. After all, he had been running back and forth these days and was very tired.
Xue Hong moved a wicker chair and placed it in the yard, lying on it lazily basking in the sun and blowing the breeze.
Xue Hong covered her face with the Baopuzi book and enjoyed the tranquility of this moment.
"What are you two doing sneakily? Come in!"
Xue Hong knew that someone had entered his yard without even raising his head or opening his eyes.
Baochai said: "Let me tell you, no matter how light your steps are, you can't deceive Brother Hong!"
Xue Pan touched his big head and said doubtfully: "It's strange, my steps have obviously been very slow. How can I still hear it?"
Xue Hong: "No matter how soft or slow you play, there will still be a sound. Tell me. Why did you two come to me suddenly?"
Xue Pan: "Oh! It's Eunuch Xia from the palace who came to announce the decree."
Xue Hong took off the book covering his face and had a flash of doubt: "Normally, unless there is something important or Xia Shouzhong, a senior official of the Marquis, will not announce the decree in person. How come today..."
Xue Hong thought about it and realized that perhaps Emperor Longqing sent Xia Shouzhong to announce the decree in order to show his kindness to him.
Xue Hong got up from the recliner and went to the front hall with Xue Pan and Baochai.
As soon as he entered the front hall, Xue Hong held up his hands and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, father-in-law."
Xia Shouzhong said with a smile on his face: "Master Xue, there is no need to be polite, our family will declare the decree right now."
Everyone knelt down to listen to the order.
The general meaning of the imperial edict is: After the Xue family was originally a meritorious official, now a great talent Xue Hong was born and made many meritorious deeds. And I heard that his younger brother Xue Pan was also talented at a young age, so I specially awarded him Ziweishe Ren as a token of his meritorious service.
After Xia Shouzhong handed over the imperial edict to Xue Pan, he said to Xue Hong: "Master Xue, your Majesty will keep all your achievements in mind. And because you are still young and have relatively low qualifications, it is not easy to seal you. I can only seal you.
My brother."
Xue Hong said with a smile: "Of course Hong is unaware of His Majesty's love and care. I'd rather trouble my father-in-law to make a trip this time. It's not respectful to be petty."
This is an unwritten rule and something the emperor acquiesces to.
As Xue Hong spoke, he put a purse containing silver into Xia Shouzhong's hand. As soon as he touched it, he felt something was wrong.
Xue Hong: "My father-in-law has been feeling unwell recently??"
Xia Shouzhong said in surprise: "Huh? How did Mr. Xue know?"
Xue Hong: "Hong roughly understands the art of Xinglin. I wonder if Eunuch Xia has ever sought medical advice?"
Xia Shouzhong sighed: "Oh, it's all an old problem, and the imperial doctor can't do anything about it. It's like this every autumn, and it will pass if you tolerate it."
Xue Hong: "How about I diagnose and treat Eunuch Xia?"
Xia Shouzhong didn't have much hope. He just thought of making friends with Xue Hong, a new celebrity in the emperor's eyes, so he let Xue Hong take a pulse.
As a result, within a moment, Xue Hong listed all the symptoms accurately, prescribed a prescription, and carefully warned him to pay attention to matters.
Xia Shouzhong was stunned for a moment when he saw that Xue Hong's face was full of seriousness and responsibility, and the clarity in his eyes did not mean any contempt or flattery.
Xue Hong: "Eunuch Xia, have you written down the precautions I mentioned?"
Xia Shouzhong came back to his senses and said sheepishly: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xue, our family is old, so our memory is indeed a bit..."
Xue Hong smiled: "No problem, I will write down the precautions. Father-in-law, remember to take the medicine on time. It will take less than seven days and he will get better naturally."
Xia Shouzhong held the prescription carefully in his hand, fearing that he would accidentally crush the rice paper. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but eventually swallowed it.
Xia Shouzhong raised his hand to Xue Hong and said, "Master Xue's kindness today will be borne in mind by our family."
Xue Hong: "What does it matter about these little things?"
Xia Shouzhong shook his head, said nothing, and left again.
Xue Hong looked at Xia Shouzhong and several young eunuchs leaving, and sighed in his heart: "They are all miserable people..."
The eunuchs in ancient times suffered tremendous mental torture, and their bodies also suffered from various diseases due to inadequate medical treatment at that time.
The double physical and mental torture has made the eunuchs miserable. The contempt of eunuchs by civil servants and officials, and the pressure of accompanying the emperor like a tiger, make the world of eunuchs dark.
The reason why these eunuchs like money is because they can't own anything except money. They have no family, friends, or heirs. They are people without roots, people without family, and people without heirs.
What eunuchs often long for most is a look without disgust and a trace of recognition. For ordinary people, the most ordinary things are treasures that they cannot exchange for with their lives.
After Xia Shouzhong left, Aunt Xue could no longer suppress her happiness.
"My son, you have made a difference. Even if your mother and I go down to the bottom, I still have the honor to meet your father."
Xue Pan was very sober: "Mom, didn't you hear Eunuch Xia say that this Ziwei Sheren was given to me because of my eldest brother's meritorious service, and it has nothing to do with me."
Aunt Xue said yes again and again, and looked at Xue Hong with a look of shame on her face. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't open her mouth.
Xue Hong didn't say anything when he saw this, he just smiled, turned around and walked to his yard, continuing to bask in the sun.
Baochai held Aunt Xue's arm and said, "Mom, you don't know how much Brother Hong has done for us. Even when he left home, did he ever say anything bad about you to the outside world?"
Aunt Xue felt ashamed and ashamed: "How could I not know that Hong'er is a good person? It's just... alas! That's all, it's just that my mother is narrow-minded. I hope Brother Hong won't blame her."
Xue Pan threw the imperial edict on the table, which made Aunt Xue's eyelids jump. Because Xue Pan was influenced by Xue Hong since childhood, his fear of imperial power was far less than that of others.
Xue Pan leaned on the chair and crossed his legs and said: "Mom, does your son know about your thoughts? Aren't you just afraid that your eldest brother will steal the family property left by your father?"
"Let's not talk about it for now. How good is the Xue family's property that my eldest brother treats me and Baochai?"
"Just because he is the eldest brother and the eldest son in the family tree, what's the problem if the Xue family's property is given to him?"
Aunt Xue: "But your aunt said..."
Xue Pan stretched out his hand and said, "Stop it! She can say whatever she likes! Anyway, I know in my heart that I have such a fairy-like elder brother that no one can envy. Right Baochai?"
Baochai responded: "Yes."
"But, if Brother Hong... is not in the family tree..."
Xue Pan said again: "Mom, favors need to be reciprocated. From now on, don't listen to other people's nonsense. If you are cold to me, my son will not listen to you."
Aunt Xue had no choice but to agree again and again.