The western Qinhuai section of Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty was dotted with mansions and official residences of royal relatives and distinguished officials. The palaces and jade buildings everywhere reflected the prosperity of the Zhengtong Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty.

It's just that under the high wall of this rich gate, a somewhat old villa is located at the corner of the street, which seems a little out of place with the grandeur of the place.

On the wooden bed in the east wing of the villa, a boy who looked like a teenager was sitting on the bedside, looking at everything unfamiliar around him, his eyes full of doubt and confusion.

Unscientific!

These three words kept echoing in Zhang Ning's mind. He was obviously repairing cultural relics in front of the workbench, but he just took a nap. Why did he appear in this "antique" room, even with his body?

Have they all turned into a teenager?

As a highly educated materialist, Zhang Ning could not think of any other reason to explain all the changes in front of him, except for the word "dream".

Yes, I must be dreaming!

Thinking of this, Zhang Ning pinched his thigh hard without hesitation, even though he knew that pain can actually occur in dreams. But at this moment, Zhang Ning was already sick and rushed to the doctor, so he could only use this last resort.

Let’s experiment in a simple and crude way.

It's just different from what Zhang Ning thought. It's not just the pain that rushes into his mind, but also a memory that rushes into his mind...

My name is Shen Yichen, I am sixteen years old, I am a native of Jiangning County, Yingtian Prefecture, Ming Dynasty, and I am currently studying at a private school in Chengguo Gongfu.

At present, there are only two people in the family, Dingkou. Besides himself, there is also his mother Shen. They usually rely on weaving to barely make ends meet, so they have always lived in poverty.

As for his father...

When the memory came to this point, Zhang Ning was instantly awakened by the name that emerged, because this name was as incredible as his own appearance here. He was Zhu Yong, the top hereditary nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, the second generation Duke of Chengguo!

Is Duke Cheng Guo my father?

Zhang Ning suddenly felt like he couldn't laugh or cry. What kind of joke was this? It's not scientific. It doesn't even conform to historical facts. When did Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, have a cheap son named Shen Yichen?

Regardless of whether there are any omissions in historical facts, Cheng Guogong is still a first-class duke of the Ming Dynasty, and he is not the cuckold king of the Qing Dynasty in later cross talk. How can his surname be different?

Could it be that he traveled to a parallel world?

Thinking of this, Zhang Ning's mind suddenly opened up. In his previous life, he had watched a lot of science fiction movies and time travel novels, so he hesitated for a moment, and then shouted tentatively.

"Lord God?"

The slightly empty room was still dim, and no light spots appeared as expected.

Maybe the title is not right, please change it to something more common.

"system?"

After the words fell, there was a long period of silence, and nothing strange happened.

There is a problem! Is this not cheating on myself, or is the title wrong?

After thinking again and again, Zhang Ning's face became a little solemn, and then he gritted his teeth and shouted out those two words.

"dad!"

Anyway, I have the memory in my mind that even Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, can become an advantage. Maybe this is the evil taste of the system, and I can only do what it wants!

However, the system response that Zhang Ning was waiting for did not appear. Instead, a middle-aged female voice came from outside the door: "Chen'er, what are you talking about?"

Chen'er?

Suddenly hearing this title, Zhang Ning was stunned for a moment, unable to realize who this Chen'er was called.

"Chen'er, it's already past midnight. Hurry up and get something to eat and go to the church."

Hearing the female voice shouting outside the house again, Zhang Ning reacted. In his memory, his name was Shen Yichen, so the person Chen'er was calling was him.

"Well, I'll be fine soon."

The answer that came out of his mouth was not unfamiliar at all, but very familiar and natural, as if this kind of conversation happened often.

"Did I really travel through time?"

Zhang Ning finally realized that things were not as simple as a dream, and as the memory in his mind became clearer and clearer, he also had a clearer understanding of his current environment and identity.

It is no longer the year 2021, but the eighth year of the Ming Dynasty (1443). The urging female voice outside the house is her mother Shen. At this time, it is time to go to Chengguo Gongfu's private school.

As for the previous memory that Duke Cheng Guo was my father, it was not a systematic evil idea, but the fact!

But to be precise, this father-son relationship only exists by blood, not in name. The reason is that Shen Yichen was the son of a maid, which is commonly known as an illegitimate son.

Children in the Ming Dynasty include children from wives, concubines, maids, and adulterers. Children from wives and concubines are equivalent to modern legitimate children, which is nothing more than dividing legitimate concubines. Children from maids and adulterers are equivalent to modern illegitimate children. It is also commonly known as an illegitimate child.

However, in ancient times, there was no special discrimination against maids giving birth to sons. As long as the father agreed and the subsequent clan agreed to enter the genealogy, he could also obtain the status of a bastard.

The reason why Shen Yichen and Cheng Guogong have no nominal father-son relationship is that Zhu Yong doesn't want to admit his fault, and as the top Duke of the Ming Dynasty, he doesn't want to join the genealogy, so he can only give birth to a son through a maidservant. His identity takes his mother's surname.

But after all, he is the bloodline of Duke Cheng. Even if he is not recognized in the genealogy, he will not live on the streets. So in the Xungui residential area in the west section of Qinhuai in the Ming Dynasty, there is such a slightly run-down villa, and it also gets You will have the opportunity to attend a private school in the Duke's house, so that you don't become illiterate and lose the face of the Duke.

"Chen'er, why haven't you come out yet?"

Another urging came, interrupting Zhang Ning from falling into memory again.

"Coming."

Zhang Ning responded, then took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and confusion in his heart, and planned to take one step at a time.

Pushing open the door and walking out of the house, what caught the eye of "Shen Yichen" was a small courtyard. The layout was very simple. Apart from a well, there was only one sycamore tree. Although it looked a bit crude, and there were many floor tiles. It was damaged, but it was cleaned very clean, without even a fallen leaf.

The door to the side room on the north side of the courtyard was open, and Mrs. Shen was placing breakfast on the small table. Shen Yichen took a look at it. His "mother" was wearing a short shirt with a vertical collar and a high-top hair, and her face was gentle and dignified. , a typical Jiangnan women and children look like in ancient paintings.

"Why are you still standing? Come over and eat quickly. Master will punish you again for being late later."

Seeing Shen Yichen coming out of the room and just standing there blankly, Shen waved to him. In this era, teachers are the absolute authority and the punishment for being late is very severe.

Moreover, the son's status was special. Only by working harder than ordinary people could he be recognized by Duke Cheng and join the family tree to get rid of his illegitimate son's status. This was also Shen's extravagant wish.

Upon hearing the greeting, Shen Yichen hurried over and sat in front of the dinner table imitating the way he remembered, trying his best to behave naturally and calmly.

There is a bowl of white porridge, a plate of pickles, a few multigrain steamed buns, and a hard-boiled egg placed on the dining table. It looks simple, but the wafting fragrance makes people move their index fingers.

Shen Yichen happened to be a little hungry, so he picked up the white porridge on the table with the steamed buns and pickles, and started eating and drinking.

Looking at Shen Yichen eating happily, a smile appeared on Shen's face, but she still warned: "Chen'er, the weather is about to turn autumn, and in a few months it will be time for the county examination, you You must seize the time to study and remember not to procrastinate.”

County exam?

Hearing this strange yet familiar term, Shen Yichen paused in his hand movements.

The so-called county examination is the most basic entrance examination in the imperial examination system. Only by passing the county examination and the government examination can one obtain the status of a child student and be regarded as a serious scholar.

Theoretically, it is not difficult to get a child, let alone receive an "elite" education in a private school in Chengguo Palace. The starting point is much higher than that of many children in this era.

But the "Shen Yichen" of this world may not really be good at studying. He just took three county exams and failed to pass the exam as a child. He is really a bit weak in IQ.

So this is why Shen used the word "you".

In my previous life, I studied hard for more than ten years and finally graduated with a master's degree. I didn't expect that I would have to start from scratch in this world. Sometimes life is so unpredictable...

Of course, it was a sigh of relief. Shen Yichen nodded calmly and replied: "Mom, I will work hard."

Shen Yichen's casual reply made the smile on Mr. Shen's face even bigger. As a parent, he was naturally pleased that his son was sensible and understood the importance of reading. Not to mention that in this era, everything is inferior, only reading is high.

After a simple breakfast, Shen took a small cloth bag and handed it to Shen Yichen, which contained pens, inks, papers and inkstones, as well as textbooks such as "Thousands of Poems" and "Primary School" that are currently being taught in the Mongolian School.

After taking the "school bag", Shen Yichen said goodbye to Mr. Shen, then turned and walked towards the courtyard gate. To be honest, apart from fear and confusion, he also had a curiosity in his heart, wanting to see the Ming Dynasty's eight orthodox works in history. What will it look like next year?

Faced with Shen Yichen's "quick" movements to go to school, Mr. Shen was greatly surprised. You must know that this kid usually goes to school in a hurry, just like he had to be urged several times in the room before.

The sun is rising in the west today, and you are so active in going to school. Do you think you are really sensible?

In an alley outside the Shen Family Courtyard, with the rising sun, many small vendors carrying burdens have begun to sell, mostly local specialties and food and snacks. If the difference in clothing is put aside, Shen Yichen seems to see himself Scenes of going to the rural market when I was a child.

After walking out of the alley, a spacious avenue appeared in front of us, which was the official street of the Ming Dynasty. Compared with the small vendors carrying burdens in the alley, the official street was lined with shops dedicated to business, and the items sold were even more exquisite. .Buzhuang Fadui, tea playthings, painting powder and so on, it can be said that everything is available.

As Shen Yichen continued to move forward, the noisy and bustling streets gradually decreased, and entertainment and leisure venues such as theater stages and teahouses began to appear. Moreover, among the various magnificent corridors, courtyards and lofts, there were also the building boats staying on the Qinhuai River. Painting boat.

Jinling old courtyard?

This name came to Shen Yichen's mind. This was the most famous place of fireworks and romance in the Ming Dynasty. And unlike the ordinary prostitutes who relied on the door to sell jokes, most of the people who could live in the old courtyard were talented and well-known brothel names. trick.

In addition, across the river is the Jiangnan Gongyuan, a holy place for scientific research in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Therefore, many romantic affairs about talented scholars and beauties in later generations were spread here, such as the famous Eight Beauties of Qinhuai.

It's just that the brothel usually only opens in the afternoon, and the atmosphere reaches its peak in the evening. But now only the boatman Xiaosi is doing the purchasing and cleaning work, and there are not even a few maids in sight, let alone the famous Qinhuai actress who is the most beautiful in the world.

What a pity...

Shen Yichen sighed. It seemed that he wanted to experience the bright nightlife of Ming Dynasty, but now was not the time.

Just when Shen Yichen was about to continue walking towards the Chengguo Palace, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a woman in white standing on the bow of a boat next to the river. The river breeze was gently blowing her skirt. There is a different kind of beauty under the warm morning sun.

Facing this picture-scroll-like scene, Shen Yichen couldn't help but murmur in his heart. It's no wonder that famous Qinhuai actresses were sought after by many literati in ancient times, and even formed a unique brothel culture. Sure enough, temperament determines class, and you can't feel the mediocrity. Fatty powder smell.

But the next scene made Shen Yichen feel a little baffled. He saw the woman in white standing on the bow of the boat, slowly stepping forward, and even stepped onto the more dangerous side of the boat, as if she was planning to jump into the river and commit suicide. appearance.

No, how could I happen to be dancing in the Qinhuai River during a live broadcast?

Shen Yichen looked at the scene in front of him, and his heart was full of doubts. But before he could slowly figure out what was going on, the woman in white who stood on the side of the ship had already moved her feet out little by little, and even completely The body has begun to lean forward.

At this moment, Shen Yichen didn't care about judging what was going on. If he continued to watch, he might really have to go to the river to fish for people. So he threw the book bag on his shoulder, rushed to the river embankment quickly, and then jumped into the river. Yue jumped directly onto the bow of the boat, stretched out his hand and grabbed the woman in white.

Even because of the excessive force, Shen Yichen pulled the woman in white into his arms, and then the two lost their balance and fell heavily on the bow deck. However, Shen Yichen was even worse, and it was in vain. It hit a flesh pad, and he gasped in pain.

"Are you okay?"
To be continued...