The Jinbei Palace was where Pei Yuan stayed when he returned to Beijing. He didn't come here often, and it had been abandoned for more than half a year. It was overgrown with weeds, and many of the roof tiles had been corroded by wind and rain, making it somewhat dilapidated. He had hired a craftsman to repair it early. Although it was not exquisite, it was at least habitable.

Bao Ning told Madam Liu, "Remember to buy some sulfur powder and sprinkle it around the house from time to time to repel snakes."

Madam Liu agreed. Baoning smiled and said, "This mansion is big enough, and there are many courtyards. Let's assign one to Ah Huang and the others, right next to our courtyard. When I have time, I'll draw a blueprint and renovate their house."

"Ah Huang is a rich dog now." Nanny Liu also smiled and pointed at Ah Huang, who was running around with drooling, with a warm yellow jade plate hanging around his neck. "The emperor gave him a dog tag with his name written on it. It's the first one in the whole capital. Even the dogs in the prime minister's mansion can't compare to him." Baoning

said, "Okay, make him a set of clothes tomorrow, so he can look like a human being and look so impressive."

Everyone laughed.

Pei Yuan snorted and laughed, "Hurry up and arrange the marriage for Ah Huang, find a dog wife, and have a litter of pups soon. Make each of them a set of clothes and a jade pendant, and carry it behind you when you go out. Look how majestic you are, and the whole city will envy you for having a dog family army!"

Bao Ning glanced at him and whispered, "You can't say anything good."

She asked the servants to take Ah Huang and the others out to play, and she took Pei Yuan to visit the mansion. The Jibei Palace was built when Pei Yuan was the most favored. It was very large, a little larger than the Duke's Palace. There were pavilions and terraces interlaced inside, a large lake, and a three-story hexagonal building. Baoning walked downstairs and looked up. There were golden bells hanging on each corner of the small building. They swayed when the wind blew, which was very beautiful. It must be very comfortable to blow the wind in the attic in summer. Baoning

looked at Pei Yuan and said, "I didn't expect you to have such a refined taste and build such a small building. I will no longer say that you are vulgar and mean in the future."

"So this is how you think of me in your heart?" Pei Yuan frowned and repeated, "Vulgar and mean?"

Baoning fell silent.

She put her hand on her forehead to block the sunlight and asked with interest: "Do you want to go in and take a look?"

"It's always locked. No outsider has entered before. I'll find the key for you when I get back." Pei Yuan said, "This building is a replica of my mother's former residence in the palace, but the palace has four floors and this is the third floor. The furnishings inside are almost the same as those in her original palace. I had people renovate it the year she died. I haven't been here for almost ten years."

Bao Ning said: "Hasn't it been cleaned? Isn't there a lot of cobwebs inside, and there are also many rats?"

"Do you think I'm you? You're talking nonsense and have a pig's brain." Pei Yuan looked at her with his eyelids drooping. "Of course I hire someone to sweep the house every year and get rid of insects and rats."

Bao Ning stepped on his foot angrily. "Why are you like this? You scold me whenever you get the chance!"

"Why did I scold you?" Pei Yuan lazily hugged her shoulders and continued walking forward, "Don't you think that calling you like this seems to be doting?"

He hooked Bao Ning's chin and called her: "Little piglet?"

Bao Ning turned her face away from him and said unhappily: "Big flower pig, I am also calling you with love."

Pei Yuan looked down at his shoes: "You just stepped on my shoes and made them dirty. What should I do? Give me money quickly, I want to buy new ones."

Bao Ning glanced at him: "The soles of the fairy's shoes are not stained with dust, it is you who made them dirty, the dust on the ground All the dirt and dust will be carried away. What does it have to do with me? In other words, even if I step on you, there will be no mark. If your shoes are dirty, it is you who are covered in dirt! "

Pei Yuan grinned and said, "You are sharp-tongued, you have learned bad habits."

As he spoke, he held Baoning's neck and pressed her against his chest. His fingers were about to pinch her cheeks to make her open her mouth, and he said, "Let me feel it quickly. Are your teeth sharper now, or are they as sharp as Ah Huang and Jixiang's? Is there any thorn on this little pink tongue..."

...

Baoning thought that after moving to a new home, her status would be higher, and her life would be much more comfortable. At least no one would dare to provoke her without thinking. Moreover, the Jibei Palace is very close to Chang'an Street, the most prosperous street in the capital. There are many things missing in the palace. The place is too big, and there are not enough servants to clean the house. Baoning has been thinking about going to the market.

But such a simple wish was not realized until half a month later.

Except for the first day after moving in, there was an endless stream of people coming to visit the palace, such as the wife of this minister and the daughter of that scholar. Baoning had seen many of them before, at the full moon banquet of the Duke's Mansion, those faces that were originally arrogant and disdainful were now smiling shyly.

When you first arrive, you can't put on airs and drive people away. You have to make friends with people. Therefore, although it was the guests who came to visit with gifts, the host was more tired than the guests. They had to invite them to have tea and chat, greet them with a smile, be friendly, and take them to visit the garden. After a few days, Baoning's face was stiff from smiling, her legs were sore, and she wanted to vomit when she saw the flowers in the backyard.

She was most afraid of such a relationship that was neither close nor distant. If they were close, there would be no need to be polite. If they were distant, there would be no need to force a fake smile. The other party came to see her because they wanted to get the power behind Pei Yuan and rushed to curry favor with him. Baoning was embarrassed to hear those unreasonable flatteries and didn't know how to respond.

Such waves of visits gradually stopped until ten days later. Fortunately, the gifts piled up half of the warehouse, and the hard work was rewarded.

Pei Yuan had been allowed to enter the court, and he became busy. He brought news that the eldest son of Chongyuan Marquis Jia Ling had been killed, the Marquis's title was reduced, the mansion was taken away, and the hereditary lineage was stripped. Chongyuan Marquis Jia Daogong was prudent and resigned from his official position. He and his second son Jia Xian went south to settle down in the Sishui area

. The eldest sister was betrothed to the newly crowned military champion, and the wedding date was chosen. The night before the second sister was to go south, the sisters made an appointment to have a meal together in the restaurant of the third sister Ji Anlu.

Baoning last saw Ji Anlu four or five months ago. At that time, Pei Yuan was still ill. They lived in a courtyard outside Beijing. A poor scholar named Feng Yongjia was seduced and had evil intentions. Baoning was captured. After escaping, he happened to meet his third sister and took refuge in a restaurant for one night.

Baoning remembered that the restaurant was called "Gujing Restaurant" at that time. The food tasted good and the environment was quaint and simple, but there was nothing special about it.

Today, it has changed dramatically. The name has also been changed to "Huayuan Feitian Tower". Even the handrails of the stairs are inlaid with jade. The vases on display look like antiques from the previous dynasty. Inside are jade-carved orchids, which are colorful. The third brother-in-law Zhang Heyu came to greet him. He was wearing a black wide-sleeved robe and a golden belt. He was fat and smiled kindly, just like a wealthy businessman.

He saluted Pei Yuan, smiling shyly: "Please come this way, Prince and Princess. The place has been cleared and everyone is here. They are all on the third floor."

Pei Yuan said calmly: "Family gatherings, no need for courtesy. Please lead the way."

Walking up the stairs, Baoning was even more surprised at the luxury of the decoration. She pointed to a lotus candle base that was about the size of a person's arms and asked: "This, this is pure silver?"

"Where is it from? It's made of copper and nickel mixed together. It looks big, but it's actually very light. It's disguised as silver." Zhang Heyu was a little embarrassed, "I showed it to others to look richer."

Baoning asked again: "When did the restaurant change its name?"

Zhang Heyu replied: "A-Zheng changed it three months ago. He said that the name sounded noble and that it was a place where rich people would come. It sounded rich."

Pei Yuan also became interested: "Why did you suddenly want to change the name and get so many fake things?"

Baoning asked puzzledly: "Besides the copper candlestick, what else is fake?"

Pei Yuan said: "Everything you see, except the people, is basically fake. This staircase looks like rosewood, but if you tap it with your fingers, the sound is not right at all. It is just an ordinary old wood. And the jade on the handrail, if you touch it, it is actually a piece of green stone. . Well, that antique vase, judging from the pattern on the mouth of the vase, is deliberately made to look old, and it was probably made only half a year ago. And that one..."

Pei Yuan pointed at the flowers in the vase: "Don't touch these flowers, your hands are sweaty, and they will fade if you touch them. They are all dyed stones."

Zhang Heyu was surprised and said: "Your Majesty has a good eye! This winery has changed its name for so long, and no one recognizes it."

They walked to the last flight of stairs, and Pei Yuan asked: "Who came up with these ideas?"

Before Zhang Heyu could answer, a refreshing young voice came from above: "Of course I came up with it!"

Baoning looked up in surprise: "A-Zan?"

"Sister!" Ji Yan trotted down, first grabbed Bao Ning's wrist, and wanted to go upstairs with her. Pei Yuan glared at him unkindly. He insisted for a while, and finally let go of her hand awkwardly, "I've been waiting for you for a long time, and you're finally here!"

Pei Yuan sneered, said nothing, and followed her into the house.

The eldest sister, the second sister and the third sister were all there, with their families. Jia Xian was also there, and his two sons were running around.

There was no strict etiquette for a private gathering. After a few pleasantries, they sat down. Zhang Heyu went out to order the dishes to be served. The situation changed. Bao Ning felt mixed emotions when she saw her sisters again. Everyone talked together. Ji Yan watched from the side with his eyes wide open, unable to get a word in. Pei Yuan secretly observed him for a while, then suddenly sat down next to him: "Hey, kid——"

Ji Yan's eyes widened when he heard this, with an insulted look on his face: "I'm already thirteen years old!"

"Oh, then I'll call you by your name." Pei Yuan called him, "Ji Yan."

Ji Yan frowned and responded reluctantly: "What's the matter?"

They have always been at odds. Ji Yan has basically given up the idea of ​​snatching Bao Ning away, but he is still not friendly to Pei Yuan. He looked at Pei Yuan defensively, not understanding. They had a fight last time they met, so why did he come over so enthusiastically this time? It must be something bad!

Pei Yuan poured him a glass of wine and raised his eyebrows: "Let's clink glasses?"

Being treated with the courtesy of an adult, Ji Yan felt much more comfortable. After clinking glasses and drinking the wine, his face turned slightly red and he said: "What do you want to say? Just say it!"

Pei Yuan asked: "Did you open this wine shop together with your third brother-in-law?"

"Yes." Ji Yan nodded, "My third brother-in-law is a good cook, and he is famous in half of the capital. I can't bear to see him buried, so I have to lend a helping hand!"

Pei Yuan propped his chin on his hand and asked him again: "How did you come up with such a bad idea to fill a room with fake goods? Do you really think there is no one with good eyes?"

Ji Yan looked at him with a little contempt, but Pei Yuan was not angry. He even smiled at the corners of his lips and listened to Ji Yan: "I heard that you did a lot of business before, and I thought you were a smart person, but I didn't expect that you didn't understand much. Who is my restaurant for? For the rich? Of course not, it is for those who want face but don't have much money. Ordinary people have little money and can barely make ends meet. A big restaurant like Fengxiangju , they can't afford to go there in their lifetime!"

Pei Yuan nodded: "You continue."

Ji Yan said: "Although they can't afford to go, don't they want to go? Then what to do, we need a businessman like me, to open a seemingly luxurious restaurant with a compromise in the price of dishes, neither expensive nor cheap, so that they can have face and afford it. When guests come, they eat for face and have a hearty meal. Besides, although I used some fake silver, fake jade and fake vases, when did I say that those were real? People with discerning eyes see through it but don't say it. I make money and you are happy, isn't that good?"

Pei Yuan laughed: "Wrong logic."

He looked at Jia Xian and asked: "Did your second brother-in-law teach you?"

Ji Yan was really old. After drinking a glass of wine, his face turned red and his speech was not clear: "Prince, don't be too proud and arrogant. Although my Rongguo Mansion has declined, it is still a family fortune. Besides, I am not someone who is easy to bully! My second brother-in-law is moving south, and I will take over all the money houses and shops under his name. In terms of financial resources, although I am not as good as you now, in another two or three years, I will not be much behind. Don't take advantage of your power and bully my sister, otherwise... if you ask me for help one day, I will not help you!"

Pei Yuan smiled and raised his hand to touch Ji Changping's head: "Yes, Ji Changping has raised a good son."

Ji Ji Yan shouted loudly, "Don't touch my head!"

He shouted so loudly that Baoning was attracted and hurried over: "Why are you quarreling again?"

She whispered to Pei Yuan, "You are so old, don't always quarrel with children."

Pei Yuan spread his hands and said, "I didn't do anything. If you don't believe me, ask my second brother-in-law." Jia

Xian was watching his two sons play. Hearing this, he quickly distanced himself from it: "I didn't know and didn't see anything."

Pei Yuan tapped the table with his index finger, looked at Ji Yan and said, "I saw it. This is the nature of a businessman, greasy and slippery. You are too sharp and a little green. You need to experience it well."

While they were talking and laughing, the dishes had been served. The table was full of colorful food and the room was filled with fragrance.

Everyone started eating. After three rounds of drinking, everyone was tipsy. Pei Yuan seemed very happy and accepted all the drinks.

When everyone was tipsy, Jia Xian said, "Good wine cannot be enjoyed without music. Why not invite some singing girls to liven up the atmosphere?"

His wife glared at him secretly.

Bao Ning frowned. She didn't want to do this, but she didn't know how to refuse. Suddenly, she heard Pei Yuan say, "Go borrow a pipa. You don't need singing girls. I can do it too."