Chapter 623 Hidden Word Couplet
Shuntianfu Yamen is located in Xicheng District, about a mile away from Beibingmasi Hutong. Zhu Pingan and the others walked for more than ten minutes to the Yamen Gate.
This place is both familiar and unfamiliar to Zhu Pingan. He is familiar because he has been here before when he was traveling in Beijing. It is on the modern Jiaodaokou Donggong Street. He is unfamiliar because at that time, only the Shuntian government officials were left. After leaving the lobby, everything else has become the teaching building of Dongcheng District Education College.
Of course, this is a standard Shuntian government office now. It is grand and grand, with a small square in front of the door. The street next to the government office is dotted with businesses that "eat government offices", such as inns, restaurants, and drug stores. , teahouse and the like. The inn is for people who come to the Yamen for business, the restaurant provides meals, the pharmacy provides medicine for bruises, and the teahouse is a place for business meetings. There are people coming and going in front of the shop, and business seems to be very good.
Zhu Ping'an ordered two tables of wine and food at a restaurant near the Yamen. One table was for Liu Mu and Liu Dadao to catch the wind and wash away the dust, and the other table was for Zhang Captou and others, waiting for them to finish their meal. The eight people were put into prison and had to go through the formalities before eating.
"Thank you, sir." Zhang Captou and all the government officials thanked Zhu Ping'an profusely.
"You're welcome. You've worked hard all morning. Let's have a few glasses of wine and express my feelings." Zhu Ping'an slightly arched his hands, then stuffed the money bag into Liu Mu's hand and warned, "Brother Liu, please wait a minute. generation I’ll entertain Zhang Baotou and the others and order more wine and meat.”
After the arrangements were made, Zhu Ping’an followed Zhang Baotou into the Shuntian Yamen and passed through the vestibule to the second gate of the Yamen. in front of the door. The Yimen is closed, and there are two corner gates on the east and west sides. The Yimen will only be opened on the first day when the prefect takes office and when superior leaders inspect. It is closed at other times. You can only use the corner gates on the east and west sides.
The corner gates on the east and west sides are also very particular. The east is noble and the west is humble. The corner gate on the east side is called "human gate", which is used for the magistrate's daily access; the corner gate on the west side is called "ghost gate", which is for escort. The passage used by prisoners.
Captain Zhang arranged for other detectives to escort the gangsters through the ghost gate in the west and to the prison; Captou Zhang led Zhu Ping'an through the "human gate" in the east to visit Magistrate Zhou.
Because Magistrate Zhou was still working in the lobby at this time, Zhang Captou led Zhu Ping'an to the lobby.
The lobby of Shuntianfu Yamen is the most magnificent building in the Yamen, but the hardware facilities look like they are in disrepair.
"Since Mr. Zhou took office, all the repairs in front of the yamen have been reserved for disaster relief and poverty alleviation." Zhang Captou explained with some embarrassment.
"Mr. Zhou is really devoted to the people." Zhu Pingan nodded and praised.
There are two couplets on both sides of the Shuntian government office lobby that caught Zhu Pingan's attention. The couplets were carved and dyed on black wooden boards with cinnabar and hung on both sides of the lobby. The couplets are "It is not honorable to be an official." , Losing an official is not a disgrace, don’t say that an official is useless, the place depends on an official; eat the food of the people, wear the clothes of the people, don’t think that the people can be bullied, you are also a common people.”
"The handwriting on the couplets on both sides of the lobby last year was unclear. These were newly written by adults." Zhang Captou saw that Zhu Pingan was more interested in the couplets and explained at the side.
"Well, very good, very good" Zhu Pingan looked at the couplet and nodded in appreciation.
"Very good? Hahaha, let me comment on what is so good about this couplet." While Zhu Pingan was admiring the couplet, a hearty voice came from the lobby.
"I've met you, sir."
Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Zhou Houjie, the prefect, walking out of the lobby with a smile, and couldn't help but bow his hands in salute.
Zhou Houjie smiled and waved his hand, and walked to Zhu Pingan, "Zhu Pingan, we meet again."
"Your Excellency, please call me Zi Hou." Zhu Pingan smiled sheepishly.
"Okay, then let Zihou comment on this couplet. If you are flattering, the lunch promised by me will be gone." Zhou Houjie smiled and nodded jokingly.
"Then Ping'an is showing his disgrace." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hands and saluted, and then his eyes fell on the couplet again. After a pause for a few seconds, he pointed at the couplet and commented, "Mr. Zhou, this couplet shows everything. Friendly to the people and a sense of responsibility, major cases, important cases, and murder cases in the capital are all tried here. You are the parent and official of the people, and you have a heavy responsibility. "Don't say that an official is useless. The local government depends on an official. The common people can't be bullied. You are also a common people." This couplet is no less than a mirror hanging high in the court. I have informed the people that your Excellency handled the case fairly and honestly.”
It is very valuable to be able to see that you are close to the people and fair. Zhou Houjie nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Zhu Pingan's comments.
Zhu Pingan noticed Zhou Houjie's expression, raised the corners of his lips slightly, pointed at the couplet and said, "Of course, actually, Pingan discovered that there is another mystery in this couplet."
"Oh? Tell me about it. " Zhou Houjie said with a smile.
"My lord, in this couplet, the word 'official' is a little less, and the 'surname' of the common people is a little more. If Ping An is not wrong, my lord means to be more considerate of the people and less official." A little, a little more people." Zhu Pingan pointed to the words "official" and "surname" in the couplet, and added with a smile, "This is a hidden word in the couplet. The ancients used it to be subtle and tortuous. Quiet, implicit but not revealed; Your Majesty uses it in the opposite direction, using hidden words to emphasize that it is mostly for the sake of the people. Your Excellency, this couplet is really well-intentioned, and you have been taught safely."
" Zihou has such a good look, it seems that I have to add another dish to be worthy of Zihou's comments." Zhou Houjie couldn't help stroking his beard and smiled, a red light appeared on his face, and he looked at Zhu Ping'an and teased.
Meeting a close friend in high mountains and flowing water is probably how Zhou Houjie felt at this time. At this moment, when he saw Zhu Ping'an, he was probably like the harpist Boya meeting the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi on the banks of the Weishui River. A thousand pieces of gold are easy to come by, but a close friend is hard to find.
"I don't dare to refuse the gift. It seems that Ping'an will be blessed today." Zhu Ping'an cupped his hands and smiled without refusing.
"Oh...that's it. When I hung it up, I thought the craftsman had carved it wrong, so I went to find the craftsman, but the craftsman took out the original couplet of your Excellency and said it was It was engraved exactly as the adults wrote it. I looked at the original couplet and it was indeed exactly the same. I thought the master had written it wrong. Unexpectedly, it turned out that the master had written it like this on purpose. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Zhu’s explanation, I would have been kept in the dark.” At this time, Zhang Captou realized. It was like an enlightenment, and I suddenly realized that I didn't expect that there were so many details on just two points.
"You, you are such a rotten tree..." Magistrate Zhou looked at Zhang Captou and shook his head and smiled, then waved his hand and said, "Go tell the kitchen and add another dish to save the money last time." The dish I ordered lasts for today. I want to treat you well. Zhang Baotou, don’t leave. Let’s have lunch together at noon today.” (End of Chapter)