Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 454 Liu Xuewen’s reminder
"Then you, sir, should be more careful about the impact. The Madam is a person who responds to soft words but not to hard ones. If you say something that embarrasses the Madam, and then Princess Kang tries to stir up trouble, who knows what will happen." Minglan said.

For a family, reputation may take several generations to accumulate.

But if you want to destroy it, maybe just one thing is enough.

Li An thought about it and said, "Then I don't care. You can do whatever you want. But next time that Kang Wang comes again, don't let her in."

"Yeah, I know." Minglan nodded.

……

In the next few days, neither Madam Wang nor Mrs. Kang came to visit.

Minglan took time to inspect the farm and found many problems. After discussing with Li An, she did not investigate further and arranged for Cui Mama's two sons to take over the farm.

The servants at home also got on the right track after a simple training.

Minglan also contacted people to renovate the house given by the emperor, and it would take several months to move in.

After a period of preparation, the imperial army also set out.

On the day of departure, the emperor personally led civil and military officials out of the city to see him off.

The government has placed great hopes on this expedition.

The Queen Mother and some officials in the court suggested peace talks, but he strongly opposed them.

If he wins, he will be able to establish his prestige and use it to place his own confidants in the army to gradually gain control of the military power.

But if they lose, don't even think about being in power any time soon.

The emperor watched the army go away before returning to the city with his ministers.

……

"My dear, I went to see Sister Yanran today and saw that she had a poor appetite. I wanted to ask the cook at home to teach the cook over there to change Sister Yanran's taste." Minglan said.

"You can just handle this little thing yourself, no need to tell me. After all, Zhong Huai just left, it's normal for her to be worried, you don't have to worry." Li An comforted.

When Gu Tingye left, he was a little worried about Yu Yanran, so he came to tell Li An to ask Minglan to go and talk to Yu Yanran more often when she has nothing to do.

What Gu Tingye was most worried about was Xiao Qinshi. Now Xiao Qinshi had been released. Xiao Qinshi had never visited him when he was at home, but this might not be the case after he left.

Yu Yanran was of a soft nature, and he was worried that Xiao Qin would take advantage of his absence to embarrass Yu Yanran.

"Yeah, I know." Minglan nodded.

"By the way, I have a day off tomorrow. Let's go see the teacher in the morning." Li An said.

"Well, I have prepared the gifts. I wonder how Wan'er is doing now." Minglan said.

"Zi Lian is an upright person, and he doesn't have any parents-in-law or sisters-in-law to bother with. I wonder how comfortable Sister Wan'er's life must be." Li An said with a smile.

Yang Tao has only one grandfather, and after getting married, Liu Wan'er should stay at home to take care of her elderly grandfather.

But Yang Tao is the only child in the Yang family now, and he is newly married, so it is impossible for Old Master Yang to keep his grandson's wife.

……

The next morning, Li An brought Minglan to the Liu family.

When Zhang saw the gifts the two brought, she complained a few words and then took Minglan to the backyard to talk.

Leave Li An and Liu Xuewen to talk in the main hall.

"I haven't congratulated the teacher on his promotion yet." Li An said with a smile.

When Prince Yan rebelled, many official positions became vacant, and many of the officials who survived were promoted.

Liu Xuewen was also promoted to the next level and is now a fifth-rank official.

Sheng Hong was also promoted to the fifth rank of Zhongshi Daifu.

"Alas, the court has suffered such a disaster, what is there to be happy about? Besides, I don't have as much energy as before, and I am ready to retire and return home." Liu Xuewen sighed.

"Teacher, you are not old at all. I think you are in good health and can still serve the court for many more years."

Liu Xuewen is now in his sixties and looks much older.

"Haha, I know my own body well. After I finish my work this year, I will retire and return to my hometown next year to enjoy my old age." Liu Xuewen said with a smile.

Li An tried to persuade Liu Xuewen a few times, but seeing that Liu Xuewen was determined to leave, he stopped trying to persuade him.

Liu Xuewen is not a person who is greedy for power. At his age, it is a good thing for him to retire and return to his hometown.

"Teacher is a little worried about you." Liu Xuewen said.

"Teacher, the students are already so old, there is nothing to worry about. You don't need to worry about the students." Li An said with a smile.

"Although you have made a contribution by delivering the blood edict, you have also entered a vortex. You have a family now, so you must think twice before doing anything in the future." Liu Xuewen warned.

He wanted to retire and return home, partly because he was old.

On the other hand, it also revealed the hidden worries of the court.

After the emperor ascended the throne, he did not appoint a crown prince and asked the empress dowager to rule the country from behind the curtain. Both of these would be a huge hidden danger in the future.

Li An was rewarded for delivering the blood edict, and when these hidden dangers erupt in the future, it will be difficult for Li An to stay out of it.

"Don't worry, teacher. We understand," said Li An.

"What are your plans for your future?" Liu Xuewen asked.

"As a student entering officialdom for the first time, I should focus on studying and don't have any plans for the time being." Li An said after thinking for a while.

"You still don't understand."

Liu Xuewen shook his head and said, "The qualification of the Hanlin Academy is certainly important, but it is not so important after entering. Although you can learn some things in the Hanlin Academy, there are also some things that you cannot learn in the Hanlin Academy.

You are now a sixth-rank Hanlin Academy editor. Once you are sent out, you will at least be a prefect of a state, or directly serve as an official in various places. You seem to be in a high position, but you lack foundation.

Generally speaking, it is best to study in the Hanlin Academy as a scholar for one or two years and then be sent out. After staying in the local area for a few years, you can enter the six ministries as an official and become a prime minister in the future.

"My teacher's suggestion is that you should be sent out to serve as an official in a local government within the next one or two years, preferably as a prefectural magistrate," said Liu Xuewen.

The reason why he suggested that Li Ang be transferred to a new post was, as he said, that Li Ang lacked basic experience in being an official.

Secondly, he also wanted Li Ang to leave the vortex of Bianjing.

In the future, when Li An has gained sufficient experience as a local official and returns to Bianliang, the struggle between the emperor and the empress dowager will have ended.

This will also be of great benefit to Ang Lee's future.

Li An did not understand the deeper meaning of Liu Xuewen's words at first, but now he understood what he meant and looked at Liu Xuewen in surprise.

Liu Xuewen smiled and said, "This is just a little advice from your teacher. It's up to you to decide whether to listen to it or not."

"Teacher, I will consider it carefully." Li An stood up and bowed deeply.

In fact, he has been thinking about these things recently. The current situation is not suitable for reform in a short period of time.

Next, there will be a power struggle between the emperor and the empress dowager.

If it is true as Minglan guessed, that Lady Anyang was reminding him, then if he continues to stay in Bian Jing, he will definitely not be able to escape this vortex.

Being sent to a rural area can not only help one escape from this vortex, but also help one understand people's livelihood and prepare for future reforms.

"Yeah." Liu Xuewen nodded with satisfaction.

……

At noon, after having lunch at the Liu family, Li An and Minglan said goodbye and left.

In the carriage, Minglan saw that Li An was a little absent-minded and asked with concern: "Sir, are you okay?"

"fine!"

Li An came back to his senses, grabbed Minglan's hand, and said with a smile: "My lady, what do you think of me being sent out to serve as an official?"

"Outside?"

Minglan was stunned and smiled, "It's pretty good. Although Bianjing is prosperous, I have been here for many years. I also want to go somewhere else to see different scenery." "If you were to be sent away, is there any place you would like to go?" Li An asked.

"The transfer is arranged by the Ministry of Personnel. How can you go wherever you want?" Minglan said.

"It is still possible for me to ask King Huan for help. But it is definitely not possible in Yangzhou. I am from Yangzhou and cannot be an official in Yangzhou." Li An said.

"If possible, I want to go to the beach. I have never seen the sea in my life." Minglan said with some longing.

"The beach?" Li An thought for a moment and said, "Maybe there is a chance."

"Sir, please don't try to make me happy. You haven't even married the Princess of Anyang yet, so how could the emperor allow you to be exiled?" Minglan shook her head.

"I'm not talking about now." Li An shook his head.

He naturally knew that it would be impossible for him to be released this year.

The couple talked all the way as the carriage drove out of the city and stopped outside Shilin's martial arts hall.

He hasn't visited his master for some time. He doesn't have time during normal times and can only come over in the afternoon.

When I walked into the martial arts hall, I saw Shi Lin teaching martial arts.

More than twenty young men were standing in the yard.

Shi Lin was stunned when he saw Li An and the others coming in. He said a few words and then went to greet them.

"Master, I brought my wife to see you." Li An bowed and said with a smile.

"Uncle Shi!" Minglan bowed.

"No need to be polite."

Shi Lin was a rough man, and Minglan's proper manner of greeting made him feel a little helpless.

"Master, where is Zhuzi?" Li An asked.

"He's watching his wife in the backyard. You guys go sit inside and I'll go call him." Shi Lin said.

"Uncle Shi, I want to go see Sister Cai'er. Let me go with you." Minglan said.

"Well, then come with me."

Shi Lin led Minglan and several maids to the backyard.

Li An stayed in the main hall and waited.

"Brother Aniu!"

After a while, Shilin and Shizhu came in, and Shizhu ran to Li An happily.

"I'm busy lately and don't have time to come over. Are you and the master okay?" Li An said with a smile.

"Very good." Shizhu nodded.

"Why don't you go and get your brother Aniu a glass of water?" Shi Lin said.

"Okay, I'll go right away." Shizhu scratched his head when he heard that and ran away in a hurry.

"Alas, he's almost going to be a father, but he still has no stability at all." Shi Lin shook his head.

"Master, I think Zhuzi is much more sensible than before." Li An said with a smile: "Master, didn't Zhuzi get two imperial manors as a reward? Why didn't he buy a few servants back?"

"We have hands and feet, why do we need servants? Besides, we won't be used to it." Shi Lin shook his head.

"Master, you don't need it, but Cai'er needs it. Her belly is getting bigger and bigger, we can't let her cook every day, right? Besides, when the baby is born, someone will need to take care of her during the confinement period. Zhuzi is clumsy, how can he do this?" Li An said.

After hearing what Li An said, Shi Lin also fell silent.

Shizhu really doesn't know how to take care of people, let alone take care of children.

As a father-in-law, it is not convenient for him to take care of the child.

Since this matter concerned his grandson, Shi Lin was persuaded and said, "I'll ask someone later."

"My family recently bought some servants. I'll have someone send two over later." Li An said.

"Don't bother you. I'll find two people with children nearby so I can have some experience." Shi Lin said.

Li An didn't insist after hearing that, and said, "Master, how are your disciples doing? I want to hire a few to be guards."

"Did something happen? I'll let Zhuzi go." Shi Lin said seriously.

"It's okay. The government has awarded me a big house. But the house is too big and we have to have guards." Li An said.

"They have only been learning from me for a short time and their martial arts skills are average. Do you want me to help you find some?" Shi Lin asked.

There were many people from all walks of life in Bianjing. Shi Lin had run the martial arts school for more than a year and had made many acquaintances.

"Okay, as long as they are trustworthy, please help me find seven or eight of them, even if it's a little more." Li An said.

"Have you really not encountered any problems?" Shi Lin said solemnly when he heard Li An wanted so much.

"Really not." Li An shook his head and told Shi Lin that he would be sent out in the future, so he wanted to recruit more guards.

He was not deceiving Shi Lin about this. If it was just for simple guarding, Shi Lin's disciples would be enough.

Even though his martial arts skills are average, he is no worse than ordinary soldiers in the army.

After all, there hadn't been a war for decades, and the soldiers in the army had never seen blood.

Besides, they were in the city of Bianjing, so no one dared to act recklessly.

The reason why he wanted to find some good players was to prepare for future external assignments.

The world was only peaceful on the surface, there were still some bandits and robbers.

Moreover, at the local level, if one offends the local landlords or powerful people because of some things, who knows if someone will take the risk and hire someone to kill someone.

Finding some good players now will allow you to get to know them in advance, which will provide a guarantee for future external performances.

.........

Towards evening, Li An and Minglan left the martial arts hall and took a car back to the city.

On the way, Minglan suddenly said, "Sir, I think Sister Yanran might be pregnant."

"Ok?"

Li An was stunned and asked in surprise: "Why did you say that suddenly?"

"I just asked Sister Cai'er about her reaction after becoming pregnant. She said that she had a poor appetite at first, and then she felt nauseous and wanted to vomit." Minglan said with a blushing face.

She and Li An have not been married for long, but it has been two months.

It's rare to meet a pregnant woman, so naturally I can't help but ask her some questions.

After listening to Cai'er's story, she found that Yu Yanran seemed to fit the description.

"Just because she has no appetite?" Li An said with a bit of a smile: "Zhong Huai went with the army to fight, she was worried about her husband, so naturally she had no appetite, isn't this normal?"

"But Sister Yanran said that she has had no appetite recently." Minglan said.

"That's normal. After all, she knew that Zhong Huai was going to join the army, so she was worried and had no appetite. It's normal." Li An said.

"But Sister Yanran is still sleepy, which is very similar to what Caier said." Minglan said.

"That's a good thing. Why do you look worried?" Li An said.

"Sir, Sister Cai'er said she is pregnant and this situation will only occur after more than a month." Minglan said.

Li An was stunned and knew what Minglan was worried about.

If Yu Yanran was really pregnant, then the child was most likely conceived during the period of national mourning.

This matter could be a big thing or a small one, and it would be hard to judge after the child is born. After all, the mourning period in the previous empire was relatively short.

But if people knew about it now, it would be troublesome to make a fuss about it.

(End of this chapter)