Chapter 12 It's not easy to live in a big city in Beijing

After the wine tour, Zhang Fulong said goodbye to the Imperial Master and told him to send someone to look for him the day after tomorrow.

Zhang Fulong did not tell the Imperial Master where he lived because he was not sure, but he believed that with the other party's ability and means, he must know where he was, so there was no need to worry about it.

Half a roast duck and a pound of yellow wine cost a hundred coins. The prices in Shangjing were really expensive, two or three times higher than other places.

Fortunately, the Imperial Master ordered a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green, which cost thirty taels of silver. Seeing that the two knew each other, the store owner only charged the Imperial Master thirty taels and exempted Zhang Fulong from the food.

In the end, Zhang Fulong took advantage of the Imperial Master again. Not only did he drink the Imperial Master's good wine, but the store owner also gave him a free meal.

It was late at this time, so he could only find an inn to stay in and wait until tomorrow to find a house.

It can only be said that the prices in Shangjing are extremely high. After finding several inns, it costs at least three hundred coins to open a room for one night.

Zhang Fulong was really short of money, and he had to find a house tomorrow, so he couldn't afford such a big expense. Finally, he found an inn in a remote street that cost 100 wen a night.

At this time, in the palace, Yangji Hall.

The imperial master met the emperor and told him the conversation between him and Zhang Fulong word for word.

"He is unwilling to accept the imperial master's gift?"

The emperor's face was not very good, which was a bit difficult. Zhang Fulong did not accept the imperial master's gift, which meant that Zhang Fulong had a grudge against the royal family.

This was not a good thing.

However, there was still room for maneuver.

Zhang Fulong agreed to come to the meeting, which meant that the royal family, or the emperor, still had a certain status in the other party's heart.

"I will arrange the banquet, and then I will trouble the imperial master to go again, so as not to offend the guests."

After thinking about it, the emperor felt that it would be better for the imperial master to go and invite the other party to come in person, because the emperor was not at ease with others doing things.

The two chatted for an afternoon, and they could call each other old friends. The state teacher must have understood the other party's habits, and it would be safest for the state teacher to come forward.

"I obey your order."

The state teacher agreed without thinking, and then thought of something, and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I see that you like roast duck very much."

"Huh?"

The emperor was surprised, looked at the state teacher again, and then nodded, "I know."

"I'll take my leave!"

The state teacher left.

If Zhang Fulong heard what the state teacher said here, he would be depressed.

What do you mean he likes roast duck? He has no choice. Who doesn't like delicacies from mountains and seas, dragon liver and phoenix marrow? It's just that he can't afford it.

The next day, Zhang Fulong rented a small courtyard in Xixing Street, with a monthly rent of 800 wen, which is quite cheap compared to other places in Shangjing.

The environment is particularly bad, and the public security is the same, because the people living here are all poor families, and few government officials come here to patrol.

Xixing Street can also be called a refugee slum.

Zhang Fulong rented the place because he had no conditions. He had asked about other places. For example, a small courtyard like this one costs three taels of silver per month, and some are even more expensive.

The capital is big, and it is not easy to live here.

What he said is not without reason.

Since he is here, he should make the best of it. Zhang Fulong began to clean up the courtyard. He could not just deal with it casually because the conditions here are poor.

…

At the morning court today, the emperor personally ordered to invite officials above the third rank to a banquet tomorrow night.

Except for the imperial teacher, all the ministers present were stunned. Is tomorrow a special day?

The anniversary of the death of the previous emperor? The emperor's birthday? The birthday of someone in the harem or the prince? A festival? Or a general's triumphant return?

None of them. Why the emperor suddenly wants to hold a banquet is really puzzling.

Fortunately, the emperor said to them later that there would be a special person tomorrow, and told the ministers not to neglect him.

When the emperor said this, the ministers understood instantly that the emperor wanted to entertain others, but who was this person, and he had such a big face.

Thinking of this, they suddenly remembered that the servants in the mansion had reported yesterday that the national master went to see someone in the afternoon. They didn't know who this person was. As soon as they approached, they were stopped by the national master's people.

At first, they didn't care. Now thinking back, this is definitely not ordinary. They guessed that the person the national master met yesterday afternoon must be the same person as the person the emperor said he would invite to the banquet. They hoped that this person would not affect them.

...

Zhang Fulong rented the house in the morning and started cleaning the yard in the afternoon. It was not until the evening that he finished cleaning.

People in this era like to eat noodles. In the evening, Zhang Fulong made a bowl of noodles as dinner for today, and then began to meditate and practice until the next morning.

After washing his face, Zhang Fulong started to go to the East Market to buy some daily necessities.

It takes about an incense stick to walk from Xixing Street to the East Market, and it takes an hour to go back and forth, so it's better to go early.

It was not until noon that Zhang Fulong returned home from the East Market. Because he bought a lot of things, Zhang Fulong couldn't take it all by himself, so he spent some money to hire a donkey cart to pull it back.

After lunch and some simple work, it was afternoon in a blink of an eye.

At this time, there was a knock on the door. Zhang Fulong opened the door and saw that it was the Imperial Master. There was also a carriage not far away.

The carriage was decorated with extraordinary decorations, and there were four horses in front. Only the royal family could afford such a configuration when traveling.

It was too luxurious.

The carriage appeared here, which immediately attracted the attention of many civilians. They all stared at the small courtyard rented by Zhang Fulong, wondering which master was here to experience life.

Seeing that the visitor was the Imperial Master, Zhang Fulong wondered: "Why did the Imperial Master come in person and come so early."

"I had a good chat with you the day before yesterday. I happened to have nothing to do today, so I came here by myself. You can take a carriage or walk. The distance from here to the imperial city is a bit far. The time is just right, not too early." The national teacher explained to Zhang Fulong with a smile on his face.

Zhang Fulong did not believe a word of the national teacher's explanation. Did we have a good chat the day before yesterday? If he remembered correctly, the chat almost killed him.

And it happened to be nothing today?

It was such a coincidence.

After meeting Shi Heng in Donglin City and revealing his identity, he walked all the way. As long as he met someone from the court, he would do everything right. Are these all coincidences?

Zhang Fulong did not point out the national teacher's words.

The national teacher only said one thing that was true, that is, the distance from Xixing Street to the imperial city is quite far. If they walk now, it will be dusk when they arrive at the imperial city, and the banquet can just start.

Zhang Fulong originally wanted to walk, but he looked at the people watching outside and sighed.

"Take a carriage!"

Being surrounded by people, he still had to walk at this time, most of which was to show off.

He will have to live here for a while in the future, the national master will really find something for him to do.

The national master and Zhang Fulong got on the carriage together.

The national master saw that Zhang Fulong's face was not very good, and asked: "But I have caused trouble for you?"

"No problem, I am thinking about something, the national master does not need to care."

Zhang Fulong shook his head and told the national master that the matter had nothing to do with him, and asked the national master not to care.

Today's publicity, whether it was intentional or not, after today, Zhang Fulong will not be at peace.