The sky is gray and the wind is howling. I don’t know whether it will turn sunny or rain or snow after the dark clouds pass.
Bian Yuanheng stood silently outside the steward's house. After hearing what the bodyguard conveyed, he couldn't help but sigh.
Naturally, he knew that his request to see him now was likely to be rejected.
However, wait until tomorrow, other envoys will also ask to see Zhang Yangquan, and everyone's goal is gunpowder, so the possibility of completing the mission will be reduced to the minimum.
Recalling that when we were at Beimen Qianhu Office, the two parties could still be friends, but now in the past few months, this personal relationship seems to have faded.
Bian Yuanheng sighed again, turned and left.
He was supposed to return to Guanyi, but for some reason, he walked towards Bian Mansion.
The streets of Jiangdu are always so lively. Even though it is winter, there is still an endless stream of pedestrians and motorcades. The drinkers at the wine tent are chatting lively while drinking.
Along the street, Bian Yuanheng came to the familiar mansion. As soon as he reached the door, he happened to meet his younger brother Bian Yuantong walking out of the house, followed by a young girl.
"Brother! You're back!" The girl was less than twenty years old, wearing a purple cloak, with bright eyes and white teeth, and two pear holes on her face when she smiled.
Bian Yuanheng felt a warm current in his heart and couldn't help but smile: "Little sister, are you finally back? Are you still used to living at home?"
The girl's name is Bian Wenjun. Because she was spotted by a Mongolian nobleman in Jiangdu the year before last, Bian Ying sent her to her cousin's house in Jiqing to hide. She recently returned to Jiangdu from Jiqing.
"Of course I live comfortably at home! It's a pity that you're not at home, brother!" Bian Wenjun jumped over and took Bian Yuanheng's arm.
Bian Yuanheng smiled and turned towards Bian Yuan: "Second brother, how are you at home?"
"What's good? Why are you coming back?" Bian Yuantong said with a dark face.
Bian Yuanheng said: "I came to Jiangdu to do something on the order of King Cheng, and I came back for a visit."
Bian Yuantong had a serious face and said unceremoniously: "Since you are still working for Zhang Shicheng, you shouldn't go home. It will only cause trouble for us!"
When Bian Wenjun saw his two brothers arguing, he covered his mouth with his hand and wanted to persuade him, but he didn't dare.
Bian Yuanheng sighed and said: "I don't want to quarrel with you now, where is my father?"
Bian Yuan said: "He is in the study, let me take you there!" He turned to Bian Wenjun and said: "Go to Daming Temple by yourself, remember to come back before noon."
Bian Wenjun nodded and said softly to Bian Yuanheng: "Brother, how long will you stay here this time?"
"I can't say for sure, maybe a day or two."
Bian Wenjun said: "Okay, I'll talk to you when I get back." After saying that, he walked towards the carriage not far away.
The corridors, flowers, plants, and courtyards of the mansion are still exactly the same as before. Bian Yuanheng, who never paid attention to these things before, actually developed a sense of intimacy with every plant and tree in his home this time.
Walking along the corridor to the study, after knocking on the door, the two brothers entered the study.
Bian Ying was reading the account book. When he saw his eldest son coming back, he stood up suddenly and said happily: "Why did you come back so suddenly? You didn't say anything in advance!" His face was full of joy.
Bian Yuanheng sat down on a chair, leaned back heavily, and said with a smile: "I also received an order suddenly and came back. How could I have time to tell you in advance?"
Bian Ying stared at the eldest son for a few times, then slowly sat back on the chair and advised: "If you are unhappy there, just move back. The last time I met with Manager Zhang, he also mentioned
It’s too late for you!”
Bian Yuantong listened and stared at Bian Yuanheng closely.
Bian Yuanheng sighed in his heart, knowing that his emotions could not be hidden from his father.
It has been more than half a year since he took refuge with Zhang Shicheng. From the beginning, he was high-spirited and gradually became depressed.
Especially after the failure of the Tongzhou strategy, Zhang Shicheng's attitude towards him changed greatly. He rarely called him over during meetings, let alone asked for his opinion. He would only think of him when Jiangdu was involved.
"Father, making achievements is not doing business. Once you choose a monarch, you cannot return it, otherwise it will only make the world laugh at you!"
Bian Yuantong sat down opposite him and snorted coldly: "Yes, you only care about your own reputation and don't care about the good or bad of others at all!"
Bian Yuanheng frowned and said, "What do you mean by this, second brother?"
Bian Yuantong said angrily: "Aren't you asking questions knowingly? Our family is living in Jiangdu, but you go to work for Zhang Shicheng. When Zhang Shicheng and Jiangdu Army fight, how do you want us to deal with it?"
Bian Yuanheng lowered his head and said: "I think Mr. Zhang is an open-minded person, so he shouldn't embarrass you!"
Bian Yuantong became even more angry and stood up and said: "He will not make things difficult for us, but he will not trust us either! Do you know what day it is today?"
"I know the wedding date of General Manager Zhang and Chief Qin..."
Bian Yuantong walked up to him and said word by word: "Do you know that both Shen Qianqian and Cai Heng received invitations, but only our family did not receive them! This is all because of you!"
"That's enough, second child!" Bian Ying scolded.
Bian Yuantong said angrily: "You know how to protect him!" With a bang, he slammed the door and left.
Bian Ying slowly walked to the door, closed it, sighed, and said: "Don't blame your second brother. He has always regarded Cai Heng as his opponent. He wanted to use his relationship with Manager Zhang to overwhelm the Cai family.
The result... alas!"
Bian Yuanheng frowned and said: "The Cai family originally supported Huang Boyan, and the Cai family's daughter was the Princess of Zhennan. Manager Zhang will never forget it, right?"
Bian Ying glanced at him and said: "In the past six months, under the management of Cai Heng, the Cai family has cooperated with the General Manager's Office at all costs. Just on the matter of dividing the land, the Cai family lost nearly 40% of their wealth, and finally changed the control of the General Manager's Office.
Their attitude!"
Bian Yuanheng said in astonishment: "I didn't expect this person to be so courageous!"
Bian Ying added: "Cai Heng's tricks don't stop there. He first rescued his sister Cai Han, and then Cai Han and Guo Niansheng's son got married! More than two months ago, he had an affair with Jia Ban, the new supervisor of the Ordnance Bureau.
We became close friends."
Bian Yuanheng was speechless. After a long time, he said in a low voice: "If King Cheng can repel the Yuan army's attack, I will resign from him and leave the Gaoyou army."
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Bian Ying said in surprise: "Okay, okay! With the relationship between our family and the General Manager's Office, if you join the General Manager's Office now, you can still be reused!"
Bian Yuanheng lowered his eyes and said: "My child plans to go home to take care of business and no longer wants to be an official!"
Bian Ying was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly and said: "That's okay, it's better than staying over there."
After making the decision, Bian Yuanheng felt a sense of relief. After going to the inner courtyard to greet his mother, he had lunch with his family and then headed towards Oriole Garden.
According to the notice he received, Zhang Yangquan would come to Oriole Garden with his wedding team and officials from the General Administration Office around Youshi. It was just after Shenshi, so it was still early.
However, when Bian Yuanheng came to the gate of Oriole Garden, he found that the guests attending the wedding banquet had already crowded the gate.
These guests were of all kinds, some riding ox carts, some riding mule carts, and some riding donkeys. Listening to them talking to each other, it seemed that they were all mayors or village chiefs on the outskirts of the city.
When Bian Yuanheng was feeling surprised, he suddenly heard a low shout from behind. He turned around and saw Shen Qianqian walking over in a cloak and smiled at him: "Master Bian is also here to attend the wedding banquet?
”
Bian Yuanheng nodded and saw that there was only one attendant following Shen Qianqian, so he asked: "Miss Shen is here on foot?"
Shen Qianqian stretched out her hand and said, "Yes, my home is right next to it, which is very convenient!"
Bian Yuanheng silently glanced at the Shen Mansion not far away. This mansion was less than a hundred steps away from the Oriole Garden, which fully demonstrated the status of the Shen Mansion in Jiangdu!
Moreover, when the two of them met along the way, the wedding guests they met would take the initiative to come over and greet Shen Qianqian affectionately, with extremely respectful words and deeds.
Seeing Shen Qianqian's glory, he could better understand the bitter loss of his father and brother.
When the two of them lined up to go in, Bian Yuanheng suddenly saw Cai Heng.
I saw him walking side by side with a middle-aged man, talking and laughing as they walked. Cai Han and Cai Yuanwai were following behind them. From the way Cai Yuanwai looked at the middle-aged man, he knew that the other man's status was not low.<
/p>
Bian Yuanheng said: "Miss Shen, who is the person next to Cai Heng? Do you know him?"
Shen Qianqian glanced at it and said with a smile: "That's Jia Ban, the newly appointed right supervisor of the Ordnance Bureau!"
Bian Yuanheng remembered that his father had mentioned this person, so he looked away and asked: "Do you know why General Manager Zhang invited the nearby mayor and village chief on his wedding day?"
Shen Qianqian covered her mouth and smiled: "They are all old residents of Longtan Village. I thought you recognized them!"
Bian Yuanheng was startled. After Zhang Yangquan captured Jiangdu, he went to work for Zhang Shicheng. He didn't know that all the old villagers were appointed to important positions.
After thinking about it carefully, I realized that no one was more loyal than them, and I felt relieved.
Shen Qianqian glanced at him and said, "Is Mr. Bian coming here on behalf of Gaoyou this time, or on behalf of the Bian family?"
Bian Yuanheng felt very uncomfortable and said calmly: "I came here on orders."
Shen Qianqian observed the words and expressions and said nothing more.
When it was their turn to queue up, they each presented congratulatory gifts. Shen Qianqian presented a "white jade gift to Guanyin", and Bian Yuanheng, on behalf of Zhang Shicheng, presented a "bronze peacock lantern" as a congratulatory gift.
After the two entered the house, they separated due to their different identities.
Shen Qianqian was led into the back garden, and after walking a few steps, she suddenly saw Qin Lingsi coming with a group of maids, each holding some decorative porcelain in their hands.
Last night, Qin Lingsi accompanied her sister back to Longtan Village, and this morning she accompanied her to the General Manager's Mansion, and then returned to Oriole Garden first, where Zhang Luo was in charge of the wedding banquet.
She had a good relationship with Shen Qianqian, so she let the other maids go first, took Shen Qianqian's hand, and said with a smile: "I will take you to find the He family sisters and others, so that you will not know the other female villagers. ”
Shen Qianqian smiled and agreed, quietly looking at Qin Lingsi.
Today she wore a pink cotton robe, a bright red floral jacket, and an orange fur cloak, looking very festive.