swear not to be concubine

Chapter 94

Shen Chuo sat in a chair facing the window in the private room on the second floor of Zuiyue Building, holding a teacup in his hand, looking sideways out of the window.

It's snowing heavily today.When I woke up in the morning, the sky was covered with clouds, and it started to snow and sleet at noon.But now it's time to hold the lamps, and the snowflakes of the whole day are already falling outside the window.

Yesterday he had already posted a post asking Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai to meet at Zuiyue Tower today.But now the two of them hadn't arrived yet, so he was sitting in the chair by the window, opened half of the window, and looked at the thin and fluttering snowflakes outside.

That day, he had a gathering with Jian Yan in the Shijin Pavilion, but Xu Zhongxuan had arrived before he had time to say a few words to Jian Yan.Then the two of them left one after the other, but none of them looked at him directly.

At that time, he could only smile wryly.

Thinking of him, Shen Chuo also thinks that he is suave and handsome, with a beautiful appearance, no matter where he goes, he is always the one who will be noticed by women.But that would be in Jian Yan's eyes, I'm afraid he can't compare to Xu Zhongxuan's one finger.

It was the first time I was ignored like this.That feeling is actually very bad.

He admitted that he wanted to get close to Jian Yan at first, just because he felt that Jian Yan was really talented in business.And I don't know what's going on, there are many things in her mind that he doesn't know, and there are big valleys in her chest, her gaze does not let a man's eyebrows, it is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary boudoir girls.He thought that if he could marry her as his wife, having her behind him to advise him would be of great benefit to his Shen family's various businesses in the future.Only later, he didn't know when it started, he found that he really started to care about Jian Yan.

Such a woman, I am afraid that there is no second one in the whole world, right?Obviously one moment she could still be shy like a little girl, but the next moment she could be graceful, responding to him with neither humble nor overbearing manner.And it is such an evenly matched existence...

It's just why Xu Zhongxuan also likes her?And looking at the situation that day, Xu Zhongxuan already meant to her that she must win.

Shen Chuo seldom admired anyone, but Xu Zhongxuan had to be counted as one.

He achieved such a high position at such a young age, and there is no trace of flaws to be found, even if he wants to bring him down, there is no way to start.

But if Xu Zhongxuan is not toppled, and he is bound to win over Jian Yan, what can he use to fight for Jian Yan?

No matter how rich he is now, no matter how much money he has, he also knows that these are nothing in Xu Zhongxuan's eyes.If Xu Zhongxuan really wanted to punish him, I'm afraid that the foundation of several generations of the Shen family would be destroyed.

This is the tragedy that businessmen cannot compete with officials.

But he can't beat Xu Zhongxuan, naturally there is someone who can beat Xu Zhongxuan.

For example, the first person who is currently brought in by the shopkeeper himself.

Shen Chuo put the teacup in his hand on the table next to him, stood up and went forward, the corners of his lips curled up in an incomparably elegant arc, bowed and saluted, and said with a smile: "Master Zhou, Lord Du, you finally It is here. But it will be a long time to teach Shen to lean on the cold window alone."

A young man came forward to take the cloaks of Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai and hung them on the hangers beside them, and then came forward with tea.

Shen Chuo raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "This is the Pu'er scented by jasmine, two adults, try it?"

What kind of good tea has Zhou Yuanzheng never tasted?Immediately, he just took a sip casually, and then said lightly: "Okay."

But Du Dai smiled and said: "This tea contains both the richness of Pu'er and the aroma of jasmine. It's really good tea."

"Since Brother Junqing thinks it's good, I still have two jars here, and Brother Junqing will take them back to drink later."

Du Dai was not polite to him either, but he accepted it after a few excuses.

After the three of them talked for a while, Shen Chuo ordered the shopkeeper to prepare the meal.

Today he invited Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai to eat hot pot.Not to mention, there are as many as six or seven white porcelain blue-and-white lotus-leaf plates containing sliced ​​meat, and all of them are neatly placed with thin slices of rabbit meat, mutton, venison, etc. sliced ​​meat.As for other dishes, it goes without saying that there is not enough space for a table.

The pot used to boil the meat is already placed in the middle.The red peat stove below burns high-quality silver charcoal without a trace of smoke.The water in the pot was milky white and looked ordinary, but it was a broth that had been boiled for several hours with deer bones.The meeting was humming softly, and the white mist filled the room.

Du Dai laughed and said, "It's really a great pleasure in life to sit around in front of the charcoal stove and eat sliced ​​meat on a snowy day."

While speaking, he took another piece of rabbit meat and rinsed it in the broth in the pot, then took it out, dipped it in the seasoning bowl in front of him, and put it in his mouth.

Compared to his excitement, Zhou Yuanzheng seemed much calmer.He just slowly picked up a piece of mutton and rinsed it in the broth, then picked it up and slowly dipped it in the sauce to eat, without saying a word in the middle.

What kind of person is Shen Chuo easy to deal with?There are probably more eyes in a heart than lotus seed eyes on a lotus pod, so why did they suddenly invite them to eat hot pot?There must be something to say.

At this time, Shen Chuo signaled the shopkeeper to refill the half-empty wine glasses in front of Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai.

The wine is Qiulubai, made by the Ouchi Imperial Wine House, I don't know how Shen Chuo got it.

"This wine is clear but not bitter, and the taste is strong but not hurtful. Lord Zhou and Lord Du might as well drink two more glasses." Shen Chuo smiled, and then signaled to the young man to bring two brocade boxes and put them in the Zhou Yuan was in front of Du Dai.Then he laughed again: "The last time the matter of the sea ban was brought up thanks to the two adults, this is Shen's kindness, please accept it."

There was no need to open the box, Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai knew that there must be a bank note inside.And the number is certainly not small.

Shen Chuo has never been stingy in this regard, and he has done much better than his old man in collusion between officials and businessmen.

Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai did not lose money from Shen Chuo in these years.Otherwise, one is the chief minister of the current court, and the other is the right councilor of the Secretary of General Administration. Why do you want to make friends with a businessman?In the final analysis, each takes what he needs.So the two of them didn't refuse at the moment, they took the box away and handed it over to the confidant family who followed behind.

Seeing this, Shen Chuo raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly.

In fact, it was people like Zhou Yuanzheng and Du Dai who were good friends.Since they want the money in his hands, they naturally have to open the door to him.And no matter how much she despises him in her heart, she still has to make false claims with him on the surface.

He didn't say anything after that, he just kept persuading him to drink, and for a moment it seemed that the atmosphere was very harmonious.

After a few rounds of drinking, Du Dai became drunk and easy to talk.And Zhou Yuanzheng's eyes under his half-drooped upper eyelids were still as clear and as cool as snow.

Shen Chuo himself drank another cup of Autumn Dew at this time, and because he continued the topic just now, he said cleverly and without any trace: "The Longevity Festival last time was well organized. Who wouldn't praise it? At that time, the Holy Majesty For the foreign guests and ministers of the night banquet, the fireworks at the end were so colorful that they shot straight into the sky, which really made people feel excited. Those foreign guests who came would not be dumbfounded, and they would say with admiration that we are the first place in the state. The country's weather? But I don't know which minister presided over the Longevity Festival? This person is really talented."

"Who else could it be? It's Xu Zhongxuan." Du Dai said with a big tongue, a little inarticulate, "It's because he managed the Longevity Festival well that the sage then transferred him to be the left servant of the Ministry of Officials. At the age of 25, he sat in the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials, and he has been the only one since the founding of our dynasty."

The jealousy in this statement is also self-evident.After all, Du Dai and Xu Zhongxuan were classmates back then, and he was a few years older than Xu Zhongxuan, but now he is just a fifth-rank right counselor of the General Administration Department, and it was only because he relied on Zhou Yuanzheng to climb to this position all these years Yes, but Xu Zhongxuan didn't depend on anyone, and took the position of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Officials by himself.

"Oh? Is Xu Zhongxuan actually the left servant of the Ministry of Officials now?" Shen Chuo came out with a look of extreme surprise, and said, "This Ministry of Officials is the head of the six departments, and it is in charge of the assessment of all officials in the court. And he also has the right to appoint and dismiss officials below the fourth grade. I don’t want Xu Zhongxuan to sit in such a position at such a young age, wouldn’t he have a bright future in the future?”

"Naturally, the future is boundless." Zhou Yuanzheng said slowly from the side, "The Ministry of Officials is the head of the six ministries and the leader of all officials. It can compete with my cabinet. However, the current Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Mr. Zhao, has a temperament that cannot be more upright and modest. He is already old, and he has long had the heart to ask for resignation and return to his hometown. The Holy Majesty's move, I am afraid that I want to train Xu Zhongxuan for a period of time, and after a few years, Mr. Zhao resigns and returns to his hometown, and immediately let Xu Zhongxuan go to work as Minister of the Ministry of Officials."

This time Shen Chuo was really surprised, he leaned forward and asked, "Why does Your Majesty value the promotion of Xu Zhongxuan so much?"

No matter how talented Xu Zhongxuan is, he will be able to manage in the officialdom, but without the emperor's promotion all the way, it is absolutely impossible for him to be promoted so quickly.

Zhou Yuanzheng turned his half-drooped eyeballs, and glanced at him, with a meaningful smile on his face: "Nephew seems to be very interested in Xu Zhongxuan?"

Shen Chuo's heart trembled, and then he leaned back, sitting in a more casual posture, and the corners of his lips slightly curled up, revealing a drunken smile, and said with a smile: "Such a legendary figure, who would not care about it?" ? Shen is just an ordinary person, so he naturally wants to know if there is any explosive inside information or the like."

Zhou Yuan was smiling but did not answer. He just picked up the wine glass in front of his hand and took a sip of the wine in it, and then replied with a half-smile: "There is no explosive inside information. Actually, it is very simple to say, but to do it It's hard to get up."

Then he slowly put down the wine glass in his hand, and said slowly: "Because Xu Zhongxuan has always shown the image to the Holy Majesty since he became an official. He is a lonely minister."

Shen Chuo suddenly realized.

Since Xu Zhongxuan became an official, his life has been simple.He is clearly a member of the third rank, but he still lives in a small courtyard and only has two followers around him.Moreover, he acted fairly, even though his uncle had a low official position, even when he was relegated from the capital in the end, he still didn't see him use his power to do something or say a word for his uncle.And most importantly, although he has always gotten along well with all his colleagues, he has no intention of forming a clique.He just treats all his colleagues equally and kindly, no matter how big or small the official position is.

His whole person is like a clean stream, and he walks alone in his official career.As for the emperor, who doesn't hate the word party struggle?Now that the crown prince has not been established, and the two kings are fighting, the courtiers headed by the chief minister Zhou Yuanzheng and the second minister Wu Kaiji are divided into two groups, one group supports King Ning, and the other supports King Liang. How could the emperor not notice it?So he naturally wants to train a person who can compete with the cabinet to restrain them.And Xu Zhongxuan is the best candidate.

Because he is a lone minister and does not belong to any party.Such a person is naturally very well controlled.When the emperor wanted to be promoted, he was promoted, and when he wanted to be suppressed, he was suppressed. There was no need to worry about whether any branches behind him would be affected.

For a while, Shen Chuo didn't know whether to feel lucky or sad for Xu Zhongxuan.

Even though he is in a high position at a young age, he is afraid that he is walking on eggshells every day, and he dare not take a wrong step.

However, Shen Chuo suddenly looked at Zhou Yuanzheng with a half-smile, chuckled lightly, and said, "Could it be that Mr. Zhou just watched Xu Zhongxuan sit up like this and ignored him? How about a snake or an asshole?"

Zhou Yuan just smiled faintly when he heard the words, but didn't make a sound.

But what he thought in his heart was that no matter how much Xu Zhongxuan was relied on by the emperor nowadays, he was just fledgling, there was no gang behind him, and he was alone, so he didn't take it seriously.But this person is a talent, if he can be recruited for his own use, that would be the best.After all, now that the Holy Majesty relies so much on him, if he can say a good word about King Ning in front of the Holy Majesty, it will be better than hundreds of other courtiers.And this is why he still allows Xu Zhongxuan to sit in the university all the way.

Everyone has their own thoughts on a meal.After the meal, Zhou Yuan was returning home in a sedan chair.Not long after he sat down in Shuyuzhai, Zhou Yingying came looking for him.

"Uncle." Zhou Yingying bowed her knees to him, straightened up and said with a smile, "Where did uncle go after finishing his work today? Tell me to wait at home."

Zhou Yuan was taking the glass mirror from the brocade box and putting it on, flipping through the "History of the Song Dynasty" in his hand, he raised his head and smiled gently when he heard this, and asked, "Is Yingying looking for uncle for something?"

Zhou Yingying bit her lips, but before she could speak, her face was covered with a thin layer of blush.

Recently, she invited Jian Yan and Qin Yan to get together a few times in a post, and she really became more and more interested in Qin Yan in her heart.She inquired that he was born as a concubine from a poor family, but he was lonely and arrogant, and his words and deeds were all arrogant and disdainful to bow to anyone, so she liked him even more in her heart.Because he wanted to help him, he thought that Zhou Yuan could support him well.

"Uncle," so she said in a low voice with a shy face, "my niece met a man recently, and his knowledge is naturally excellent. This year's Qiu Wei has already passed the examination. My niece thought, let He wrote an article and came here to show you, how about you give him some pointers? If you can get your advice, it will always be very beneficial to come to the next year's exam."

After all, Zhou Yuanzheng is a fine person, with a pair of eyes that can discern every detail.Now that he saw Zhou Yingying blushing and saying such words again, what else did he not understand?
You have to know how many people want to vote for him through Zhou Yingying these years, Zhou Yingying has never paid attention to it, but today she made an exception and took the initiative to mention such a thing to him.

So Zhou Yuanzheng dropped the "Song History" in his hand, and asked with a smile: "Oh? What kind of background is your friend? How old is he?"

"His, his father is just a small state magistrate. It's just that his own knowledge is excellent. Uncle will know when he sees him sometime later. As for age," Zhou Yingying thought for a while Then he replied, "It seems to be 19 years old."

"19 years old?" Zhou Yuanzheng nodded, "You can pass the provincial examination at the age of 19, but you are indeed a young talent."

Zhou Yingying also nodded in agreement, and said happily: "Yes. Speaking of which, he is Xu Zhongxuan's cousin of Xu Shilang, and he is currently living in Xu's residence."

"Xu Zhongxuan's cousin?" Zhou Yuanzheng asked in a deep voice.Immediately, seeing that the blush on Zhou Yingying's face remained undiminished, Yin asked again with a smile: "Yingying likes him very much?"

Zhou Yingying heard that her face was so red that it was comparable to the glowing red sunset in the sky.

She lowered her head deeply, pursing her lips tightly.Although she didn't admit it, she didn't deny it either.

Zhou Yuanzheng didn't ask any more questions, as he already knew the answer.

"Since that's the case, you can bring him to see me next time when I'm taking a bath. Uncle also really wants to know what kind of man can be caught by Yingying Huiyan."

(End of this chapter)