Chapter 60 On a snowy morning, tiny sounds could be heard from inside the tent...
In the early morning, there were already tiny noises coming from the yurt. Dorji woke up and saw Maya and her daughter already busy at work, lighting the lamp oil, wiping the table. They spoke in low voices, considering that the guests were not awake yet.
Dorji sat up and saw that the princess was still curled up and sleeping, so he secretly kissed her on the forehead.
In the early morning of winter, the herdsmen have to collect snow to boil water. Maya was about to go out with the woolen bag, and Dorji hurried forward, took the bag, and whispered: "Let me do it, I have some strength."
What's wrong with being a guest at someone else's house? Not doing anything.
Dorji carried his bag and walked a little further to collect clean snow.
The sun had not yet risen completely, and the weather was so cold that his breath turned into white smoke. Dorji picked up a pile of snow and put it in his pocket.
He stared at the snow in his palm and felt that it was particularly crystal clear and lovely. The next moment he smiled at this thought.
It's strange. I've seen so much snow before, but I never felt anything special. Now, for no reason at all, I find a handful of snow cute.
It must be because of her? There’s a word “snow” in her name.
He smiled and shook his head, thinking that this was not bad. Because of her, the snow in winter every year had a new meaning.
After collecting almost a large bag of snow and selecting some beautiful snow, she was able to fill her pockets and return home to report. She didn't know if the princess had woken up yet. The living conditions of the herdsmen's home were naturally not as good as the fabrics she brought from the palace, so it was reasonable for her to go to bed later.
Just as he was thinking about her, he suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him, and something like a small ball of something hit him. Before Dorji could look back, he had already dodged nimbly and saw a small snowball hit the ground and scattered.
"Do you have eyes on the back of your head?" Mu Xue exclaimed not far away.
The man clearly didn't look back, but she was afraid that her footsteps would expose him, so she deliberately moved a few steps away and made a small snowball and threw it at him.
In the end, it was discovered.
Seeing that it was her, Dorji laughed and said, "Want to sneak attack me? That would be troublesome for you. Make another snowball and start over. I promise to cooperate."
"That would be boring."
Mu Xue walked towards him, and when she was in front of him, she suddenly realized, "So that time on the way to the wedding, you? Were you playing me??"
I heard all this, so it doesn't make sense that I was deaf at that time?
She hit him angrily: "Why are you like this?"
Dorji looked innocent and still smiled: "Oh, I was wrong." But his eyes clearly said "I will dare to do it again next time."
Mu Xue grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him unexpectedly. Duo Erji smiled and turned sideways, not dodging, letting her throw snowballs, and even said, "Give me a big one?"
The two of them were playing, and Maya's mother, who was far away, watched for a while. She was originally afraid that they would quarrel, but now they started playing snowball fights.
She smiled and shook her head. They were indeed a young couple, with such a good relationship.
After playing for a while, Muxue didn't feel cold at all and helped Dorji fill the last bit of space in his pocket with snow.
After finishing her work, she straightened up, shook off the snow on her hands, and said to Dorji: "Can I borrow one of your men, such as Monk, for a while?"
"Okay." Dorji agreed immediately.
"You? Don't even ask me what I want to do?"
Dorji put the tightly tied snow bag on his shoulder and said, "You have always been sensible. There must be something good going on."
Mu Xue pursed her lips and said, "Come here, I'll tell you quietly."
After whispering for a while, Dorji nodded: "It is indeed a good idea."
"I will also share the benefits with you, giving you 10% of the shares." Mu Xue said seriously. Worried that Dorji didn't quite understand the meaning of shares, she also emphasized some of the explanations.
Dorji said, "Compared to that, I want the ready-made benefits more."
As he spoke, he pointed to his right cheek, suggesting something.
Mu Xue's eyes rolled around: "Then you close your eyes."
Dorji closed his eyes obediently.
Mu Xue grabbed a small ball of snow and smiled as she threw it on his cheek. "Is this enough? I have many more benefits."
Dorji was not annoyed. He looked at her steadily and then glanced around.
Very good, no one noticed. It's convenient for you to take advantage.
Caught off guard, he leaned over and kissed her.
Before Muxue could react, the culprit had already fled with a snow bag on his back, leaving behind only a string of hearty laughter.
After the heavy snow, it was sunny for several days in a row.
It was almost the New Year's Day, and the weather was calm without strong winds or heavy snow, which was a perfect opportunity for the princes and magistrates of the various banners in Mobei to send their subordinates out to present holiday gifts.
"This box of dairy snacks? It's really beautiful."
Dorji's personal soldier Monk took a food box from Nanny Kang and exclaimed in admiration.
On the grasslands, there is a custom of giving newly made dairy products as gifts, but it is rare to see them in such an exquisite wooden box. It is obvious that the box was carved by the carpenter she brought from the capital at the request of the princess. It is actually carved into the shape of a plum blossom. When the lid of the food box is opened, each petal is a separate small compartment, which contains fruit preserves, milk cakes, bean paste milk cakes, milk candies and other dairy snacks, which are both beautiful and delicious.
Monk closed the lunch box and said, "It's so beautiful, I don't even want to give it away."
"You, little boy, I will miss you." Aunt Kang showed the multi-layered food box in her hand, "Here, this is specially for you. Save it for you to eat when you come back."
"Okay! I'll be back soon!"
Mengke jumped on his horse, led two soldiers, and galloped across the snowy plains, heading straight for the Left Front Banner of the Chechen Khanate. The banner leader, Zasak Taiji Demu, warmly received the envoy. This was the future Tushetu Khan's personal soldier, and he would definitely have a good future, so he should not be neglected.
Demu ordered his men to slaughter a fat sheep and make a handful of meat to eat with boiling hot mare's milk.
To show respect, he personally picked up a piece of lamb leg and placed it on the plate in front of Monk. "Good brother, it's hard for you to come here in such a cold weather to deliver a New Year gift for the young prince. Eat more meat! Drink more wine!"
Monk was also very generous. He clinked glasses with Demu and drank a bowl of kumis.
After finishing the wine in the glass, he let out a "tsk".
"It's really good wine! Taiji's winemakers are really skilled. But good wine should be paired with snacks. Among the New Year gifts I brought to you this time, there is a box of special dairy snacks. Why don't you take it out and try them together?"
Demu smiled and asked someone to get it. He turned to Monk and said, "You have worked under the young prince for so long and followed him to the capital. I don't know how many good things you have eaten. Why are you still thinking about this? I want to see what good thing it is."
"Taiji, you're right. During this trip, I actually thought about secretly hiding this box of milk products."
These words made Demu even more curious. When the servant brought the box of milk food over, he couldn't help but exclaimed at the appearance of the box: "This box is beautiful."
"Isn't it beautiful? This was made by our princess, who specially ordered the Han craftsmen to make it. There are only a few of these on the entire grassland." Monk said while cutting the flesh on his hand. "Alas, I went to the capital and saw a lot of things. I also experienced the prosperity, but I also made a lot of jokes."
When Demu heard the word "joke", his heart skipped a beat. According to the annual arrangement of the Mongolian princes and taijis issued by His Majesty, he would have to prepare for going to the capital in the spring. He had never been to the capital before, and he had heard that the Manchus had added many rules after entering the pass. But he had never heard of the various things, which made him feel uncertain.
At this moment, Monk mentioned this matter casually, which made Demu realize that the man in front of him had been to the capital and might be able to tell him some accurate information.
He asked hurriedly: "Why do you say that? After the New Year is over, I have to rush to the capital. You must tell me the way here."
"Oh, you are going to the capital in the spring." Monk put down the silver knife he was using to cut mutton with concern, sat up straight and said to him, "Then may I ask if Taiji is ready? For example, have you exchanged some of the cattle and sheep for silver? In the capital, people buy things with silver, gold or copper coins, not cattle and sheep."
"Is there still such a trouble? On our grassland, we have always exchanged cattle and sheep. Oh, or tea bricks are also fine." Demu frowned.
"Every place has its own customs. Since you are there, you must abide by their rules." Monk said seriously, "There are really many rules in the capital, more than the heavy snow in winter. When I first went to the capital, I was ignorant. A young eunuch came to deliver a message. I thought he was done after delivering the message, but he dragged his feet and refused to leave. I was surprised at the time, but later I realized that the young eunuch wanted you to give him a reward."
"There's a saying there, 'It's easier to get over the King of Hell than to deal with the little devils.' These are all unwritten rules, people don't talk about them openly, but if you don't do them, then your work will definitely be delayed. I've suffered this before. Didn't the Lifanyuan want to give us things? But because I didn't reward the eunuch, the eunuch deliberately put me at the end when delivering the message. When I received the notice and went to the Lifanyuan to pick up the things, I saw that the rest were all leftovers by others. He didn't break the rules, but you just feel aggrieved."
Monk said: "Taiji, you must be careful. Whether or not you receive the gifts is a small matter. The important thing is those Qing nobles. If they are not considerate in their actions and offend others, they will not know where they went wrong when bad things happen."
Demu felt a headache after listening to this. Why were there so many twists and turns? He asked hurriedly: "Then how did you figure it out at that time?"
"What's there to figure out? I don't know how I made mistakes and how I offended people in the early stages." Mentioning the sad things, Monk sighed and poured wine for himself and Taiji respectively.
"It was a bumpy ride until the wedding of our young prince and the princess. The princess sent the eunuchs around her to teach us how to deal with the masters, how to use money to avoid being cheated, when to give rewards and how much to give... all these trivial matters, fortunately they reminded us, so we were able to get it done smoothly."
At this point, Monk was a little proud: "We don't have to worry about the cattle and sheep. There is a pawnshop in the princess's dowry. We just need to take the silver from the pawnshop..."
He suddenly stopped talking, with a look of annoyance on his face: "Oh, let's not talk about this anymore. Come on, let's drink."
Sure enough, there is a shortcut! This kid must have let it slip.
Demu leaned forward and whispered, "Brother, look at our relationship. Who is with whom? If we argue, my wife's sister's cousin is also a relative of your family. You are so capable and have a say in front of the young prince and the princess. You should help your brother and use this relationship for me. This way, I can save a lot of trouble!"
Monk shook his head like a rattle: "No, no, how can I say this? It's easy to ask, it's all because of the princess's relationship."
"Why can't it work?" Demu was a little anxious. Seeing that there was a way that could save him so many troubles and avoid so many pitfalls, this guy still refused to agree to intercede for him to the princess. Isn't this going to ruin his plans!
Thinking that he still had to ask for help, he took a sip of wine, suppressed his temper, and personally picked up the wine jug to fill Monk's bowl with wine.
"I mean, although she is not your mistress, she is also your mistress. Besides, you also said that when you were in the capital, the maids and eunuchs around the princess took good care of you. Then you can talk to these maids and eunuchs first, and then ask someone to talk to the princess."
He had to use some tricks to take down this stupid boy.
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