Qin Xiao knew very well that there must be a reason behind Wu Tianbao's hospitality to him.
However, Wu Tianbao acted generously and had an aura of being a gangster. At least when he came into contact with him, he made himself very comfortable and did not feel disgusted with the second master of the Taiping Society.
Aunt Rong's face was extremely ugly, but he really didn't know the origin of the young man in front of him. How could he dare to offend him? He glanced at Qiuniang and saw that Qiuniang was looking at him with a strange look, but there was nothing sarcastic about it.
She seems to be thinking about something.
Yuanwailang Qian Zhao lost face and was quite embarrassed, but he did not dare to get angry in front of Wu Tianbao. He gave Qin Xiao a cold look, turned around and left. Upon seeing this, Aunt Rong and a few others hurriedly followed.
.
Aunt Rong and the others left in confusion. Qin Xiao glanced at Qiuniang, only to see Qiuniang looking at Aunt Rong's back, lost in thought.
"Mr. Qin, I will arrange a private room for you on the second floor." Wu Tianbao said: "It is a bit noisy with people coming and going downstairs. No one dares to disturb the private room. It will be cleaner."
Qin Xiao actually doesn't care where he eats.
However, he knew that Qiuniang was still a little uncomfortable with this kind of environment. She would leave Kyoto in a few days, and before leaving, he wanted to invite Qiuniang to have a meal here. If Qiuniang always felt restrained, that would be a big mistake.
It's against my own intention.
You will naturally feel much more comfortable when you go to a separate room on the second floor.
He did not refuse Wu Tianbao's kindness, and took Qiuniang to the private room on the second floor. He talked to Wu Tianbao for a few more words, and then smiled and said: "Second Master Wu, the Minister is still waiting for you to come over and greet you. Just go and greet me."
Don't worry about me."
Wu Tianbao then remembered that there was a group of people who wanted to say hello, so he didn't bother them at the moment and went upstairs first.
Since he is a very important guest to Mr. Wu, the kitchen can naturally prepare the dishes much faster.
Although Qin Xiao only ordered four dishes, the table was quickly filled with dishes. There were all kinds of hot and cold dishes. No matter the color, style or taste, they were all impeccable.
In addition, two jars of fine wine were specially delivered.
Qin Xiao secretly thought that Wu Tianbao was impeccable in his work, so it was no wonder that he got to his current position in a place like Kyoto.
It's just that Qiuniang looks worried. Ever since she saw Aunt Rong, she has never shown a smile on her face. Those two willow-leaf-like beauties have always been slightly frowned. Even after arriving in the elegant room, she faced all the people.
The delicious food on the table didn't mean to move the chopsticks, but just sat there, looking thoughtful. Qin Xiao called out softly, but Qiuniang was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even hear it. This made Qin Xiao a little surprised, and her voice became louder.
Some: "Sister Qiu Niang, what's wrong with you?"
"Ah?" Qiuniang looked up at Qin Xiao, and then she came back to her senses. She seemed to have discovered that the table was full of dishes at this moment, and said: "Why are there so many dishes? We...we can't finish them all.
.”
"Young Master Wu is so polite. Since you're here, it's hard to refuse." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Anyway, if we can't finish it, let's pack it back and let Brother Gu have a taste."
Qiuniang nodded slightly, thinking that Qin Xiao's idea was a good one. It was certain that the food on the table would not be finished, so packing it back was naturally the best solution.
"What are you thinking about?" Qin Xiao moved to sit next to Qiu Niang. This was a round table with an antique look. Qin Xiao was originally sitting opposite Qiu Niang. Now he came closer. Although he was not sitting next to him, there was a table in the middle.
He stood a chair away and said softly: "You have been obsessed with Aunt Rong ever since you met her. Is she a relative of yours?"
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Qiuniang shook her head and said: "No, but... I just knew him before."
"Oh?" Qin Xiao felt relieved when he heard that he was not a relative of Qiuniang. After all, he had ridiculed Aunt Rong in public before, which made Aunt Rong lose her face. As long as she was not a relative of Qiuniang, Qin Xiao would have nothing in her heart.
She was burdened and asked: "Then why does Sister Qiu call her aunt? I see that she looks arrogant and likes to be in the limelight."
"She is just like that." Qiuniang said mockingly: "The temperament that has been developed over the years cannot be changed."
Qin Xiao was very interested. He picked up the chopsticks and gave Qiuniang food, saying: "Taste the taste and talk while eating. By the way, who is she? The Yuanwailang named Qian Zhao called her aunt, and she
Are they family members of officials?"
Qiuniang hesitated to speak. Seeing this, Qin Xiao hurriedly smiled and said: "If it's inconvenient to say, let's not say it. It doesn't matter. Come on, it's cold. Eat it while it's hot. It won't taste good when it gets cold."
good."
Qiuniang sighed and finally said: "Actually, there is nothing inconvenient to say. She...she turns out to be from the palace."
"People from the palace?" Qin Xiao was startled and asked suspiciously, "Is it a maid from the palace?"
"She is from the Sixth Bureau of the palace and does not serve the nobles." Qiuniang said: "I remember that she has always been in charge of medicine in the Shangshi Bureau and is in charge of the medicine and witchcraft medicine in the palace. She also left the palace a few years ago.
She was released, but...I haven't seen her for many years."
Qin Xiao felt more and more strange. He looked at Qiu Niang and said curiously: "She is from the palace. Sister Qiu Niang, how do you know the palace...!" He suddenly realized something and said in surprise: "Qiu Niang.
Sister, could it be that... are you coming out of the palace too?"
Qiuniang forced a smile, nodded slightly, and said: "I just came out of the palace three years ago and stayed in Shang Palace Bureau Sicai for many years."
"This...what does Si Cai mean?"
"There are six bureaus and twenty-four departments in the palace. Among them, the Shanggong Bureau has four departments: Secretary Zhi, Secretary Cai, and Secretary Weaving. Si Cai specializes in handling silk, that is, silk." Qiuniang explained: "I am here
The palace specially manages the silk treasury of the harem together with others. The nobles in the palace who need silk silk will come to us to get silk and satin with the list above."
"So that's it." Qin Xiao suddenly realized. At this time, he thought of Wu Tianbao's gift not long ago. Qiuniang was very interested in the silk and satin he sent. At that time, he thought it was a woman's nature to love silk and satin, but now it seems that it is not that simple.
.
I couldn't help but think of the wordless plaque in Qiu Niang's room, but I knew that I couldn't ask anything about it. I could only smile and said: "Sister Qiu Niang came out of the palace. I...I today
Just known."
Qiuniang thought to herself that you have only known me for a few days, should I let you know everything? But she still said: "You didn't even ask."
"So you and that Aunt Rong are both from the palace?"
Qiuniang said: "My father passed away early, and it was difficult to maintain the family. My mother became ill from overwork. Later, an old friend of my father came to us and said that he could send me to the palace. I would also get some money every month to supplement the family income."
I was only ten years old at the time and was sold to a wealthy family as a slave. I would be a slave for the rest of my life. If I could enter the palace, I would be able to come out of the palace when I was older and give me my freedom, so my mother agreed. However, I entered the palace.
After less than a year in the palace, his mother passed away. Fortunately, before her death, her mother sent Bai Yi to Zhi Ming Academy. Master Wei from the academy was kind-hearted and knew that Bai Yi was helpless, so he accepted Bai Yi as his adopted son. Therefore, Bai Yi was in Zhi Ming Academy.
He grew up in the hospital and studied with Master Wei to learn rationality. Later, because of Master Wei’s relationship,
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Baiyi just joined Kyoto Prefecture as an errand."
"Zhimingyuan?" Qin Xiao's body shook, his face changed color, and he whispered: "Sister Qiu Niang, you...are you talking about Zhimingyuan?"
Of course he will not forget Zhimingyuan.
When Hongye helped him escape from Kame Castle, he solemnly told himself that if he was really at the end of his rope, he could go to Kyoto to find Chimei-in, and he told himself never to forget this place.
Qin Xiao still remembers the three words Zhimingyuan.
However, when I came to Beijing this time, I really didn't think about Zhimingyuan. At this time, Qiuniang suddenly mentioned it, and the memories hidden in her mind were immediately released.
Zhimingyuan!
Hongye asked himself to find Zhimingyuan when he was at the end of his rope. In fact, he had always been puzzled about what Zhimingyuan was. At this time, when Qiuniang mentioned it, he finally understood that Zhimingyuan was actually an academy.
Gu Baiyi actually grew up in Zhimingyuan.
"Why, do you know Zhimingyuan?" Qiu Niang saw Qin Xiao's reaction was a little strange, and asked doubtfully: "Zhimingyuan is an ordinary academy in Kyoto. There are dozens of academies in Kyoto. Zhimingyuan is not eye-catching. It is one of the eight major academies in Kyoto.
, Chimei-in cannot be included. Many people know the reputation of the eight major academies in Kyoto, but Chimei-in is not well-known, and not many people know about it."
Qin Xiao nodded slightly but said nothing.
"After my mother passed away, Baiyi had Master Wei of Zhimingyuan to take care of me, so I felt at ease in the palace." Qiuniang explained: "I didn't enter the palace through a draft, I only entered the palace as a slave, so I still have a chance to leave the palace once a year.
You can send your savings to Bai Yi. Although Master Wei is kind-hearted, I can't let Bai Yi eat and drink for free at his place. Although the daily silver accumulated every year is not much, it can subsidize Bai Yi to some extent." At this point,
After a moment of silence, he seemed to recall many past events in the palace. Qin Xiao did not bother him, and looked at Qiuniang, thoughtfully in his heart.
After a while, Qiuniang finally sighed: "After the saint ascends the throne, there will naturally be no more drafts in the palace. Although there will be new people entering the palace every year, more palace people will be released every year, and the nobles in the palace will also be
Those concubines and concubines need fewer and fewer maids, but more and more eunuchs enter the palace every year. When the late emperor was here, the harem concubines and eunuchs accounted for half each. When I left the palace, the number of eunuchs in the palace was half.
Eunuchs account for 70% of the total, so there will only be fewer and fewer maids entering the palace in the future."
"Before you left the palace, Brother Gu was working as an errand in Kyoto Prefecture?" Qin Xiao finally understood Qiuniang's previous experience.
He was actually a little surprised before. Although Qiu Niang was in the market, her walking movements did not have the slightest sense of vulgarity and she was not timid. However, when she really saw high-ranking people, she felt a little shrunken and inferior. Now he knows that Qiu Niang
My mother used to be an errand in the palace, so she understood immediately.
Qiuniang has naturally gone through rigorous training in her words and deeds in the palace, and after all, she has met those noble people in the palace. When she goes out of the palace to face the ruffians, she will still be somewhat courageous.
It is natural to have an inferiority complex towards high-ranking officials and nobles.
This also explains why Qiuniang is still unmarried despite being in her thirties.
"He has been working as an official in Kyoto Prefecture for many years." Qiuniang said with a smile: "After I left the palace, I used my savings to buy a yard in Kushui Lane and lived with him. This way it was convenient to take care of him. He was all alone.
It has been almost twenty years, so as a sister, I naturally have to treat him well."
Qin Xiao sighed in his heart, thinking to himself that you have been alone in the palace for so many years.