The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 30: The matchmaking Sweet Grandma Zhou

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty. 《成化十四年》Chengnian Shisi Nian
The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 30: The matchmaking Sweet Grandma Zhou

This sentence was so powerful and overbearing thing that everyone stared at Sui Zhou in disbelief.


This is not Tang Fan's home turf, and he did not have a say in the beginning, but that did not stop him from using his habitual eye to analyze people's hearts. Sweep it over with such a glance. From the words and deeds of the people. You can see a lot of clues.

For example, Sui Zhou's parents were honest and non meddling people, otherwise Sui Zhou's sister-in-law, Jiao-shi, would have had to be stopped by Sui Zhou's mother when she spoke.

For example, Sui Zhou's elder brother was also a silent man, similar to Sui Zhou, but Sui Zhou was silent because he didn't want to speak, and he didn't mince words when he had to analyze the case.

Tang Fan shook his head darkly. He once heard Sui Zhou say that his elder brother, Sui An, wanted to take the imperial examinations, but even if he was lucky enough to get the exam, he would not be able to stay in the officialdom for long. What superior officer likes a subordinate who is silent all the times?

Compared to her husband, Jiao-shi is also very eloquent, too eager to get ahead, and her elders are too honest to reprimand her. I guess she usually does what she wants at home. No wonder Sui Zhou is finally moving out.

After Sui Zhou said these words, Tang Fan could no longer be silent. He stepped forward and bowed to old Lady Zhou: "My name is Tang Fan, the name is Runqing, old lady please me Runqing, I am an officer in the Shuntian Prefecture, and I am friends with Guangchuan. I brought my sister A-Dong to celebrate today. To the old lady I wish you good fortune is as boundless as the East China Sea and life as long as the South Mountain."

A-Dong also followed suit, saying "Good day, Mrs. Zhou" and presenting her congratulatory gift.

Old Mrs. Zhou smiled and said: "Good, good! Since this is a good thing for the family, there is no need to pay so much attention to it. My A-Zhou has come back with a friend, so he would like to wish me a birthday, so you must be a good boy. The little girl also has a good look. Not bad. Not bad!"

These days it's fashionable to open a gift in front of the owner's house, and the owner will be happy as long as the meaning is good, regardless of the price.

Jiao-shi received the gift box, reached out and unwrapped the rope wrapped around the box and opened it.

But inside was a jade peach carved from jade, warm and lovely, the size of a palm, suitable for holding in one's hand.

Old lady Zhou also got a gift for her birthday form the palace, but she was too diligent and frugal to spend too much money, so she just sent her daughter and her family over for dinner, and when she saw the gift, she loved it and was surprised: "I wish for you to only come, why would you spend so much money on a gift?”

Tang Fan laughed, "It doesn't cost much, so I can tell the old lady that I'm on a small salary, but if I really want to buy it, I can't afford to buy it, because it was passed down from my family. Then I took it out and offered it to a great woman. I hope the old lady doesn't mind!"

Although he said it modestly, Sui Zhou knew that the jade was worth a lot of money just by looking at the color of the jade, and that it was quite old.

The fact that Sui Zhou was the Empress Dowager, and that she had given such a gift was a sign of the gift-giver's heart. And it's quite a year. To be able to collect something like that. The Tang Family was not doing so badly in the past.

To be able to give something like that away. It also shows the heart of the giver.

Old lady Zhou was the sister of the Empress Dowager, and the Sui Family had seen many dignitaries over the years, and there was always a custom of respecting the elderly in the Great Ming Dynasty. The old lady scolded the officials in the street. It is also true that the officials' sedan chairs are things to be scolded so much that they go around the road for being expensive. So when Sui Zhou introduced Tang Fan as the Shuntian Prefecture's presiding officer earlier. The Sui Family people haven't really felt shocked. You should know that Sui Zhou's father and brother still have the Jinyiwei's titles.




But when the peach came out, even Jiao-shi also kept her mouth shut.

The old lady was still shaking her head: "Don't spend so much money in the future, it's good to see you. Just be happy from the bottom of your heart!"

Tang Fan said with a smile, “The old lady you are wrong. When you reach your old age, I will not only have to spend money, but also spend a lot of money. I'll be sure to look for a bigger birthday peach for the old lady by then!"

Old Lady Zhou was amused: “Runqing's mouth is a hundred times sweeter than A-Zhou's and An's. It's hard for you to get along with A-Zhou's boring gourd at home. If he bullies you. You have to talk to me. I'll give you the pointers to bully him back!"

Tang Fan thought it sounded like he was going to marry Sui Zhou, but he thought that the old lady was so old that she sometimes said things without thinking, so he smiled and ambiguously passed it on.

Although it was a family dinner, the food on the table was well prepared. Although the Sui Family was not good with words, the presence of Tang Fan also amused the old lady, and Sui Zhou's sister Sui Bi was a few years older than A-Dong, but the two little girls got along quite well, and soon came together to whisper.



By comparison. Sui Zhou's parental brother was like a chaperone. He said few words. Eat from start to finish. Jiao-shi tried to interject a word, but was ignored. The old lady, on the other hand, didn't seem to like talking to her very much. She took Tang Fan's hand and kept asking him about his life. When she heard Tang Fan say that his parents had died early, that his eldest sister had married far away, and that he was not married yet, she sighed and said, "Poor thing, even if you are an official in the capital, you don't have a warm and caring person to look after you, I'm afraid that a matchmaker would have broken the threshold long ago. What kind of woman do you like? Come on. Talk to me. I'll help you with your scouting too!"

Tang Fan's scalp went numb from hearing this, and he quickly moved Sui Zhou out as a shield: "Old lady, I remember Guangchuan is a few years older than me, he must be more urgent than me!”

As soon as the words fell, he felt a faint glance towards himself, Sui Zhou was clearly displeased with the way he was leading the way.

“Runqing has a higher requirements, don't give him a red herring." Sui Zhou opened her mouth and finally diverted the old lady's attention.

Old lady Zhou was not happy with his statement: "Nonsense, you don't need to get married because of your high requirements. I'll just go to the Empress Dowager and ask her to help me find one. If you don't like an ordinary woman, the princess will be fine."

Tang Fan, who could not stop himself, heard Jiao-shi jokingly saying, "Old lady, you have not even known Runqing for half a day, but you remembered to help him pull the marriage thread, and you even think you have a new grandson!”

Old Mrs. Zhou smiled, "I'm closer to Runqing, why? Do you want to be his matchmaker? I'd be happy to give him the title of county master, but then you'll have to step aside."

Jiao-shi was silent at once.

Tang Fan's good words made the old lady put off. After the meal, A-Dong stayed for half a while because of his friendship with Sui Bi. He left the old lady with Sui Zhou and promised her to visit her often. That was like a saving grace.

When he came out, Tang Da-ren couldn't help but sweat: “Guangchuan, this old lady is a tough one, if I had been so soft, she might have gone to the Empress Dowager to talk about finding the princess.”

Sui Zhou: "Is the princess bad?"

It sounded like a joke, but his face was still cold and his tone was cold.

But Tang Fan was used to his dead face, and didn't care, just shook his head and laughed.

How about marrying a princess? There's nothing nobler for a man than to get to marry a princess, so it's good.

But to become the emperor’s son in law, it means you can't take part in politics. Even if you are an official, you have to resign and go home. But this is only for civil servants. It's not as strict for military officers. For example, an emperor son in law harnessed by the emperor's side to serve, Jing Yuan, who was killed in the battle to protect the emperor, was a military officer. And escorts to the expedition.

But for the civil officials, marrying the daughter of the clan is the same as not making any progress in the future, so any man with some aspirations will be afraid of marrying the daughter of the royal clan. Tang Fan is not that kind of official though. But he has been studying hard for over a decade. It's all about stretching your life's aspirations. Do something for the people of the country.

They consumed food after meals they walked slowly and leisurely in the direction of their home.

Tang Fan laughed and teased him: "But the old lady has a good saying, you're never young enough to get married, don't wait for a few more years before no one wants you."

Sui Zhou looked at him, "You'd love for me to get married?"

Without waiting for Tang Fan to answer, Sui Zhou said, "You are going to move out when I get married."

Tang Fan nodded, "Good point, after all, to avoid suspicion."

Sui Zhou: "If I get married you would have to find another house yourself."

Tang Fan: "Hey, it's hard to find a house in the capital."

Sui Zhou: "In a few years, when A-Dong grows up and marries someone, you'll be cooking for yourself again."

Tang Fan: "Makes sense..." It didn't seem right to think about it, and said, "Well, I could go marry one."

Sui Zhou: "And then she found out that you were writing a book of romance words, and it sold well?"

Tang Fan: "..."

Sui Zhou: "Or study with her, let her write for her, it can subsidize the family expenses."

Tang Fan snickered, "Not so much good thing out of that, huh?"

Sui Zhou: "With your present salary, you still have to meet the expenses of going out to eat from time to time, and when A-Dong gets married, you will have to save dowry for her.

The more Tang Da-ren listened, the greener his face became. After you get married. There will be one more person to feed. Wait until the baby is born. There will be a few more mouths."

Tang Da-ren listened more and more. The gruesome the face.

But General Sui Baihu continued to analyze the matter matter-of-factly: "By the rank of your parents, by the word of a matchmaker, you are likely to marry a woman like my sister-in-law, and if your wife is not virtuous, your family will be unhappy and your children will suffer.

"Stop it..." Tang Da-ren was breathless, "It's terrible to get married, I'd better not."

General Sui Baihu let out a hush, his face serious, obviously feeling the same way.

When they were about to arrive home, they saw Xue Ling pacing back and forth at the door, followed by several of the Jinyiwei.




One of them saw Sui Zhou and said a few words to Xue Ling, who raised his head, his eyes lit up, and greeted him in a big way, clearly looking like he was still waiting.

"Big brother, you're back at last!" With a look that didn't hide his anxiety, he spoke out in a hurry.

"What is it?" Sui Zhou said.

Xue Ling looked at Tang Fan for a moment, and didn't hide his intention, but took a half step forward and whispered to Sui Zhou: "Something big has happened!"

Sui Zhou frowned, and immediately said, "I'll go in and change my clothes and leave!"

As a special department, Xue Ling would not deliberately exaggerate the words. Tang Fan was a member of the Shuntian Prefecture, his duties were not related to theirs, and his rank was too small to ask for the information. So I didn't ask too many questions. He said hello to Xue Ling. So I'm going home.

On the other hand, Xue Ling was a bit embarrassed and said to Tang Fan, “Runqing, I'm in a hurry today, I'll treat you to wine some other time!”

Tang Fan waved his hand: "I don't need to talk about this because you and I are friends, you have official duties, you can't be delayed..."

Before he could finish, he saw Xue Ling lower his voice and laughed bitterly, "I'm afraid this time it's going to be very difficult!"

Tang Fan was stunned, waiting to ponder the meaning of his words, but Xue Ling was already silent.

Sui Zhou was very quick, and came out of the inner room in no time to say a word to Tang Fan, and left in a hurry.

The other party was in such a hurry that he couldn't help but think that the matter that made Xue Ling look so miserable must be no small matter, perhaps it was related to the palace authorities.

The less he knows, the safer he is. Those who think they are wise die fast.

Tang Da-ren, who is a lenient man, feels he has nothing to worry about, so he lies down in the courtyard and reads.

About an hour later, a servant from the Sui Family came to the door and said that A-Dong was very close to their third young lady, Sui Bi, and that she had stayed overnight with the Sui Family and will come back tomorrow.

Tang Fan said it was understandable, but if A-Dong didn't come back, he was worried: What about dinner?

Tang Da-ren, who has been spoiled by the food these days, feels tasteless when he thinks about the only white porridge he can cook, and finally decides to go out to eat.

The owner of the noodles stall still recognized Tang Fan, and upon seeing him, he greeted him with a smile: “Tang Da-ren, no one's cooking there?"

Tang Fan laughed bitterly: "Yeah, is your place open to eat!"

The boss said, "Same as always?"

Tang Fan: "Same old!"

Tang Fan was so pleased that he picked up his chopsticks and was about to take a sip when he heard someone say, "Good for you Tang Runqing, you've stolen half a day's leisure here!"

Tang Fan looked up and laughed, "I wonder why the magpies are chirping on the branches early this morning, so it's Brother Yuqiao. So come and have a bowl.”

Xie Qian was the 11th year of Chenghua reign examinee, the same year as Tang Fan, and now he had just passed his age, but he was not inferior to Tang Fan, because Tang Fan was too young to be the top scorer of the examinations, and his top scorer title was finally awarded to Xie Qian. The rumor was rife. So many people feel that the two must have some bumps in the road with each other because of that, but they actually have a pretty good relationship in private.

Both Tang Fan, and Xie Qian, are not such narrow-minded people.

Xie Qian laughed, and with a flick of his long coat, he sat down directly opposite Tang Fan.

Tang Fan teased: "Why don't you hang out in the study today, but why do you want to go shopping?”

He turned his head and asked the boss to serve another bowl of noodles.

Xie Qian gave him a blank look: "How can I be as leisurely as you are when you're supposed to be on a shift today?"

Tang Fan tapped his forehead: "Yes, yes, I've been away from the Hanlin Academy for less than a year, and I've forgotten the rules!"

The noodles were quickly served, and Tang Fan pushed the bowl toward Xie Qian: “Try it, the noodles here are good!"

Without saying a word, Xie Qian took a sip of the soup with his spoon first, looking casual, so that the two of them were on good terms, not as outsiders might have guessed.

"It's good, it's delicious!" Xie Qian gave me a shout of approval and shook her head: "You shouldn't have left Hanlin Academy, it's a bit boring, but it's more convenient to join the government in the future!”

Tang Fan laughed: "I can't be bothered, if I stay in the Hanlin Academy as quietly as you do, I'll be bored to death."

Xie Qian gave him another glance: "Come on, I'm much more anxious than you are, and I'm not there for the long haul, but after all, you're willing to put down your body to work in the Shuntian Prefecture, and that alone is enough to convince your heart."

After a pause, he sighed, "If I hadn't robbed you of your title three years ago..."

"Gotta, stop it!" Tang Fan raised his hand to stop him and said, "How can a man like Yuqiao, who is so handsome, learn to act like such a granny? When we entered the Palace, our ranking was announced, but we were just going to go through the motions, and all those rumors were just a rumor. When you won the first prize, it was well-received and convincing, and so was I. Don't say such things in the future."

Xie Qian snorted: "Fine, fine, don't say it or not, I just mentioned it, and then I brought you into this long-winded discussion."

He approached Tang Fan, lowering his voice: "I'm afraid something has happened in the palace."

First Xue Ling and Sui Zhou, and now Xie Qian said this, Tang Fan was in a state of shock and asked in a low voice: "Why did you say that?"

Xie Qian said: "Maester Zhong was originally ordered to enter the palace to present poems for the occasion, but he came back early after entering the palace just a short time ago, and I also heard that several cabinet ministers had hastily entered the palace for a meeting. This is a rest day in government. So unusual. Something must be wrong."

He was a straightforward man, and he knew Tang Fan well, and knew that he was not someone who would open his mouth and talk nonsense, so he let his doubts out.

Tang Fan thought about it and said, "We are of such low rank that it is useless to speculate much, if there is a big matter, we should go home early and do not stay outside, lest the Imperial Censor catch us and impeach us.

Xie Qian nodded, "You're right, I'd better go back as soon as possible after I finish your bowl of noodles, before anything goes wrong."

Tang Fan laughed and said, "Yes, yes, go home to be with Aunt Mei!"




Xie Qian was just married last year, which is also a late marriage in this era, just when the love is strong.

Xie Qian laughed: "You're envious? Then let your sister-in-law find you one too, because of your character and appearance, you'll be very lucky!"

Tang Fan shook his head: "Don't, I'm afraid that before I can pick my eyes, all the girls will be married to me!”

Xie Qian laughed: "You're so shameless!"

They chatted for a while, finished their wonton soup, and left for home.

Tang Da-ren returned home, flipped through his book, finished the ending of the last time he hadn't read it, sighed over the fate of the heroine, washed and dressed, and got ready for bed.

There was silence outside, and the sound of the night watch was far away, and Sui Zhou had not yet returned, so it must have been a difficult matter in the palace.

At this moment, the door of the courtyard was ringing with a loud bang, so loud that one's ears were buzzing with pain, and in the silence of the night, it sounded very harsh.

Tang Fan frowned and put his jacket back on, knowing that it could not be Sui Zhou, and he did not know who was coming to the door in the middle of the night. The mind pondered. One side walked towards the courtyard door.

He lifted the latch and opened the door, but there stood a few grey-clothed men with lanterns in their hands and swords at their waists, all cold and expressionless.

The man at the head asked coldly, "Are you Tang Fan?"

Tang Fan's eyes glanced past the "West" embroidered on their sleeves and nodded, "I wonder who you are?"

He said, “The Western Depot has been ordered to have you come with us to the palace at once!"

Tang Fan asked, "What is it that you are doing?"

The two men behind him came forward and held Tang Fan hostage, one left and one right, as if they were escorting the prisoner.

Tang Fan smiled bitterly, wondering what kind of a hole Wang Zhi had dug for him this time: “Then I have to go back and change into my official uniform? One mustn't be disrespectful when you're in the palace."

The opponent's dead fish-like eyes rolled over him, coldly drinking, “Then go, don't waste the time!"

The Western and Eastern Depots are really arrogant, do not say Tang Fan such as the Lower Sixth Rank small officials, even if Pan Bin came, he will only get a sneering look from them.

However, they although working for the two depots, but they themselves are not eunuchs, but they are from the Jinyiwei there to send help, all of them are normal men, but after working in the East and West two depots for a long time, they mannerism are even more arrogant than normal Jinyiwei by a few points.

Tang Fan didn't bother to talk to them, so he went inside and changed into his official clothes, but he came out in a quarter of an hour: “That's enough, let's go."




The men of the Western Depot, seeing how well he was cooperating, did not make the same semi-coercive pose as before: "Can you ride a horse?"

Tang Fan nodded.

A soldier then brought a brown-haired horse, and Tang Fan turned and mounted it.

The horse's hoofs sounded, and the group quickly disappeared into the night, only a few lanterns swaying far away, as if bright as day.

From the moment the men of the Western Depot came to the door, Tang Fan began to ponder their intentions.

Sui Zhou has not returned since he entered the palace in the afternoon, and Xie Qian has said that something unusual may have happened in the palace, and now it seems that things are far beyond their imagination, but what is the use of calling in a man who is not involved in the palace?

The author has something to say:

Note: 1:

1. The above chapter is wrongly understood, it was not meant to say that the Tang Family is good, but to say that the two families are good friends, and that the Tang Da-ren, whose parents are dead, can represent the Tang Family. 2.

It seems that there was once a princess in the Ming dynasty, and some of my friends thought that it was even worse for a princess in the Qing dynasty to be married out of wedlock. From the law determines that after marrying a princess the husband cannot be an official, family relatives cannot be an official, that is, the interrogation ordinance, and the interrogation ordinance, is praised by everyone during the reign of the Emperor Xuanzong. This ordinance was intended to be good, to prevent the princess husband riding on coattails and relatives to interfere in government matters, but in this way, no one wants to marry the princess, the princess is married to some wealthy families, in order to increase the status of the status, take money to bribe eunuchs, so the Ming Dynasty princess is very worthless, as long as you have money, whether consumptive or inhumane or not, you can marry a princess or royal clan daughter home to play, and by the way to show off to future generations →_→

The End of the Second Volume the Living with the Jinyiwei

Volume 3: The Eastern Palace Case













- The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty -



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