Prime Minister

Chapter 291
Wu House.

Today there are two distinguished guests.

One is Wen Jifu, the sixth son of Wen Yanbo, who was sentenced to Henan Prefecture, and the other is the fifteenth mother who returned home.

Wu Anchi happened to be receiving the reception at home. After Wen Jifu and Shiwu Niang were seated, the servants served tea.

Wen Jifu laughed and said: "This time, I have brought a lot of pots of peonies from Luoyang. I know that the mansion likes to appreciate peonies, so I hurried all the way for fear of missing the flowering period."

Wu Anchi smiled and said, "It is said that the most peony in the world is in Luoyang. You people in Luoyang don't name peonies, you just call them flowers. The so-called true flower in the world is the only peony. My brother-in-law really has a heart."

Fifteen Niang first asked, "Why don't you see your mother and the two sister-in-laws?"

Wu Anchi said: "Brother-in-law and younger sister just came back from Luoyang, so I don't know anything about it. Today's palace examination results are announced. Mother, your two sister-in-laws, and Seventeen have all gone to the palace to watch the ceremony."

Wen Jifu laughed and said, "It's a coincidence for us."

Wen Jifu and Shiwuniang looked at each other.

Fifteen Niang said: "It is said in the family letter that Mr. Zhang's family won the second place in the provincial test, but is it true?"

Wu Anchi smiled slightly.

Shiwu Niang said displeasedly: "Why is my brother still playing tricks on me?"

Wu Anchi smiled and said, "I don't dare, but is my sister here to ask her mother how she is, or to ask Shi Qi's husband-in-law?"

Fifteen Niang said angrily: "Okay, my brother has grown up now, and has learned to bend the corner and swear."

Wu Anchi hurriedly said: "Don't dare, Mr. Zhang Jialang is indeed the second in the provincial examination, but it's hard to say in the palace examination."

Fifteen Niang's eyes brightened and said: "Since the provincial examination is second, the palace examination has the hope of being the top three."

Wen Jifu said: "Nowadays Jinshi is becoming more and more important. If you get the top three tripods, it will be difficult for you not to be a minister."

Wu Anchi smiled wryly and said: "How can there be such good luck, I just hope that I don't fall to the top three."

Fifteen Niang said: "I'm so lacking in ambition. Mr. Zhang's family can't say that. It's too short-sighted."

Wen Jifu said: "Mr. Zhang's family may be modest, but it may not be that his vision is shallow and he has no ambition. Besides, even his father read his articles and repeatedly praised Zhang Sanlang's future as unknown."

Wu Anchi couldn't help being moved, even Wen Yanbo praised Zhang Yue in this way.

Just at this time Wu Anshi stepped in, Wu Anchi, Wen Jifu, and Fifteen Niangs all stood up and saluted.

Wu Anshi laughed and said, "Seeing so many peonies outside the greenhouse, I know my sister and brother-in-law have returned to Beijing from Luoyang."

As soon as the fifteen niangs met, she asked, "Brother, what happened to the seventeenth marriage? Did Mr. Zhang Sanlang come to propose marriage?"

Wu Anshi smiled slightly. The fifteenth mother and the seventeenth mother did not like each other when they were at home, but now that they are married, they are more concerned about their younger sister's marriage.

Wu Anshi sat down and drank a bowl of tea calmly.Seeing that the impatient younger sister was about the same, he said slowly, "Well, almost."

"Why almost?"

Wu Anshi said: "The Zhang family has entrusted Mrs. Zhuang to come and talk to me as a matchmaker. Now that the negotiations are almost over, we will wait for the Zhongjinshi to make an appointment."

After hearing the words, Shiwu Niang breathed a sigh of relief, and then said: "It's all settled? How much is the dowry? How much is the dowry? It's all settled?"

Wu Anshi sighed: "How much dowry do you guys have when you get married? It's also the same as the seventeenth year. Even if you are a concubine, there is no reason to treat one more than another. As for the dowry, how much money can the poor family give? We don't care."

As soon as Shiwuniang's face changed slightly, Wen Jifu grabbed Shiwuniang's words and said, "The children of the Han family are good, and the Han family has many outstanding talents. Besides, when Shiqiu gets married, he doesn't have to worry about the family's comments."

But Wu Anshi said: "My Wu family doesn't choose a son-in-law based on family background, and I don't know how to be self-sufficient. It's just..."

"It's just what... Could it be that Mr. Zhang Sanlang hooked up with some fireworks girl outside?"

As soon as Shiwu Niang said this, Wu Anshi, Wen Jifu felt a little unnatural.

However, Wu Anshi and Wen Jifu also have their own reasons. They think that they are not womanizers. It's just that with his status and personality charm, they can't stand being thrown into the arms of others.

As for those from the Han family, it is a serious moral decline.

'Only state officials are allowed to set fires, and the common people are not allowed to light lamps' is also the practice of wealthy families.

Wen Jifu said: "Mr. Zhang Sanlang, I think he has strict rules, and he will never do this."

Fifteen Niang asked with a little deep meaning: "Is that true?"

Wen Jifu smiled and didn't answer.

Wu Anshi said: "Sister, there is no one in this world who does not eat fireworks in the world, but it happens that he is not hungry. But I am not saying that, but Mr. Zhang's temperament is too stubborn. The previous test is in the article. Talking about politics, talking about Fangtian's average tax law, touching the court, almost being dismissed by my old Taishan."

Wen Jifu and Fifteen Niang were all taken aback: "There is such a thing."

"Whether it's fake or not, Chunfu told me about it. No wonder there was no name on the list of provincial exams before."

Wen Jifu said: "Fan Gong is too upright, he doesn't even sell this bit of face."

Wu Anshi thought to herself, this is of course an official trick, the emperor likes lonely ministers, the more Fan Zhen is like this, the more he will leave the impression that the emperor does not form a party.

Wu Anshi said: "Brother-in-law, don't you see what Hebei has done to Fang Tian's average tax law? People have surrounded the three envoys' yamen so far. Mr. Ouyang is riding a tiger. If Lao Taishan agrees here, won't he be trapped in a mud pit?" "

Fifteen Niang asked, "What is Fang Tian's average tax law?"

Wen Jifu explained a few words, and then said: "Father said that the tax law on land equalization is a good law, but it's too aggressive, but it's not a safe move, and you need to figure it out slowly. Mr. Ouyang... is too impatient."

Fifteen Niang was hesitant to speak when she heard the words, many things in this world were broken by Xu Xutu?But Wen Jifu was her husband who couldn't refute in person.

Wu Anshi said: "It's not the first time Ouyang Gong is like this. Ouyang Gong is Yan Xiang's student, and Yan Xiang praised him as Han Yu's second. One year, the imperial court was in a hurry to use troops against Xixia. Ouyang Gong paid a visit to Yan Xiang, but saw that the mansion was having a banquet. Ouyang Gong wrote a poem and satirized, "The master shares weal and woe with the country, and he is not only happy that there will be a good harvest. I have to pity that the iron armor is cold to the bone, and there are more than [-] frontier soldiers."

"Yan Xiang was furious when he heard the poem. In the past, Han Yu could also write words. He went to the home of Prime Minister Pei Du, but he said: 'The garden is poor and the music is clear', and he never played tricks like this."

"Duke Ouyang has been in the court for many years, but he doesn't know the principle of restraining his words and deeds, and misfortune comes from his mouth. I think Mr. Zhang Sanlang is quite similar to Ouyang Gong."

From then on, Yan Shu and Ouyang Xiu became enemies.After Yan Shu's death, Ouyang Xiu wrote in his elegiac couplet that he spent 50 years traveling in wealth and honor, and has always been wise and safe.

It means that you haven't done anything since you became an official, and you have always been wise and safe.

Wu Anshi said something, dissatisfied with Zhang Yue for this and that.

After a while, Wu Anshi got up to change clothes, and Wu Anchi went to see if the person who inquired about the announcement of the palace examination had returned.

Fifteen Niang said to Wen Jifu, "Why didn't you say anything at the end?"

Wen Jifu said: "After all, this is an internal matter of the Wu family. Even though I am a son-in-law, it is not easy for me to open my mouth."

"Then Mr. Zhang's family..."

Wen Jifu smiled and said: "If you care about it, you will be chaotic. Think about it, if it wasn't for my brother-in-law who really took Sanlang as his sister-in-law, how could he choose one or the other. The reason he talks like this now is because Sanlang is not easy to play with. "

Fifteen Niang said: "I heard that this person is a bit arrogant."

Wen Jifu smiled and said: "talented people are arrogant, and they can't be manipulated at will. I think such people are worthy of deep friendship. Besides, a 17-year-old Jinshi as a sister-in-law can take care of Wu's family for at least 30 years. Brother-in-law It’s really cheap and good-looking.”

Shiwu Niang said with a smile: "My brother is just talking casually in front of his own people, he doesn't treat you as an outsider."

Wen Jifu said: "If I had such a brother-in-law, I would never say that about him, even in front of my own family."

Fifteen Niang said: "I will send peonies hundreds of miles from Luoyang to you, and I will know."

Wen Jifu couldn't help laughing when he heard the words: "We give Sanlang gold and silver, and he may not accept it, but it's different if the elder sister gives to the younger sister. As long as this line is held, everything will remain the same."

Fifteen Niang wondered: "When will our literary family rely on a Jinshi?"

Wen Jifu said with a smile: "It's not relying on it, but Daddy thinks highly of it, otherwise I wouldn't have put in so much effort. Daddy once said that in a person's life, it is not difficult to get one of money, power, and fame, but it is not difficult to get the second." If you get the third one, you have to suffer a lot, and if you get the three, you will not have enough life, and you will suffer disaster instead."

"Daddy was the prime minister before, so he has all three. Now he retreats to Luoyang to avoid the disaster, and to support young heroes in the court is the way to keep wealth forever. Of course, I also do it for myself. Daddy has eight Son, how can I stand out if I don’t make more capable friends.”

At this time, Wu Anshi changed her clothes and returned to the hall and asked with a smile, "What did you guys talk about just now?"

Wen Jifu laughed and said, "I'm discussing with my wife, thinking about what to give to Mr. Zhang's family after he has been awarded the scholarship?"

Wu Anshi laughed and said, "The whole family doesn't talk about so much politeness."

At this time, I saw Wu Anchi rushing into the lobby in a hurry, and shouted at the first sight: "Brother, sister, brother-in-law! Hurry up, it's terrible!"

"What's the matter? Yujie praised the officials so soon? How many have you won?" Wu Anshi pretended to be careless, and picked up a teacup to drink tea.

"I heard it's No.1 in Yijia!" Wu Anchi said with an expression of disbelief.

…………

Wu Anshi took a sip of tea and couldn't help but spit out: "It's too hot, what did you say?"

Wen Jifu and Shiwuniang froze in place.

Fifteen Niang suddenly thought that one day when none of the sisters of the Wu family were married, the elder sister and the second elder sister married into the prime minister's family, and a fortune teller came to the door. His mother happened to be at home that day, and asked the fortune teller to meet them. There was no words behind the pictures of the sisters.

Mother asked the fortune teller how?
The Xiangshi said: "All the officials and eunuchs marry are rich and prosperous, so why talk too much."

Several sisters are very happy.

The fortune teller looked at Seventeen again: "It's even more expensive."

One sentence was too much to say, and one sentence was unspeakable, which made Shiwuniang feel that the fortune teller was a little unreliable. Later, several sisters all married into the prime minister's family, so they forgot about it.

Could it be that all of their sisters were married to the prime minister's family, and the seventeenth married to the future prime minister.

Wen Jifu was also shocked at the beginning, but now he said with a smile: "No.1 in Yijia is the number one scholar, and he will definitely wear a goldfish bag in the future."

Fifteen Niang heard this, her face was pale, and she was so depressed that she couldn't speak.

Wen Jifu guessed it right away when he saw Shiwuniang's face.

Wu Anshi said: "It's such a happy event, why didn't the Zhang family send someone to deliver a word?"

Wen Jifu said: "I must have just got the news."

Wu Anshi said: "Second brother, you go to the palace to pick up your mother yourself. At seventeen, you will also send your servant to ride a fast horse to Huaidong, and tell your father that your sister-in-law has won the first prize."

Wen Jifu secretly laughed in his heart, you Wu Anshi don't despise others now.

Wu Anchi agreed and asked, "Brother, where are you going?"

"I'll change my clothes first. You can see that the robes are all wet."

Wu Anshi said it was to change clothes, so of course she hurried to Zhang's house, firstly to congratulate her, and secondly to urge the wedding.

(End of this chapter)