Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 14

Shanxi has won eight Jinshi this year, and the fellow villagers held a grand banquet in the guild hall, beaming with joy.Reputable fellow countrymen in the capital all went to congratulate, only Wei Xiangshu and Li Zuwang excused themselves.Li Zuwang has been indifferent for a long time, he has long been reluctant to walk around the scene, no one would mind if he didn't go.Wei Xiangshu didn't go, but it made people guess.It turned out that Wei Xiangshu was serving as the president of the examination this year, and there were many Jinshi in Shanxi. He was afraid of causing trouble, so he simply avoided these entertainments.But I didn't expect that the matter of the emperor's selection of the number one scholar, although it was confidential, was passed on.At the banquet, someone talked about this, and the villagers all said that Wei Xiangshu's eyes were yellow, and he just lost the number one scholar Chen Tingjing got.

After Chen Tingjing heard these words, although he didn't know the truth or falsehood, he felt very uncomfortable.When I returned to Li's house late at night, and because I drank a few more glasses of wine, I couldn't help complaining.Mr. Li and Wei Xiangshu had a close relationship, and he knew that Mr. Wei would never intentionally harm anyone.He let Chen Tingjing complain a few words, and then comforted him: "First of all, regardless of whether this matter is groundless or not, in my opinion, it doesn't matter whether you are the number one scholar. As long as you have fame, you will have the opportunity to be promoted. It is up to people to make achievements." I thought to myself, Chen Tingjing is only 21 years old, it may not be a good thing to win the number one prize early.Officials are made through hard work. If you don't reach that age, even if you have great abilities, it will be in vain.If a person gets complacent early, under the watchful eyes of the public, even if there is nothing wrong, people will stare at the problem.But at this time, after all, it is inconvenient to speak too clearly, so I put it all in my stomach.He thought that if there was fate in the future, he would tell him these words slowly.

Chen Tingjing only took a nap on the bed, and got up before dawn.He had to wait outside the Meridian Gate early, and today the Shinke Jinshi will enter the palace to thank him.Mr. Li also got up early, and he asked Tian's mother to prepare some food the day before.There is everything to eat on the occasion of going out to socialize, but just looking at the excitement, if you don't do it well, you will be hungry.Chen Tingjing lived in Li's house these days, and he was regarded as one of his own family, but he was always guilty in his heart.In the past few days, there will inevitably be many visits, so he said that he would live in the guild hall.Mr. Li wanted to keep him, but Chen Tingjing felt that it would be inconvenient to visit here, so he said he would come back after a few days.

Chen Tingjing led Dashun to leave Mr. Li, went out and told Dashun to stay in the guild hall, and hurried to the Meridian Gate by himself.But I saw that the Meridian Gate was already bustling with people, and almost all the new scholars had arrived.The officials of the upper court also arrived early, and many sedan chairs were parked in front of the Meridian Gate, and the lanterns were shining.In Beijing in April, the early morning is very cold.Not long after Chen Tingjing stood, he was already shivering from the cold.The Jinshi had never seen the official world in the capital, and they dared to stand still for fear of losing their dignity, and their bodies became colder and colder.It was not until dawn that officials from the Ministry of Rites led the Jinshi into the palace.At the end of the day, kowtow to thank you, listen to jade sounds, eat a feast of deer crowing, pay respects to Confucius and inscribe your name, and you will be guided by someone in everything you do.If you think about it carefully, everything is like singing and playing on the stage.

Chen Tingjing went out to visit guests, and it lasted more than ten days in a flash.The day finally subsided, and the Ministry of Rites gave permission to go home in March to visit relatives, so Chen Tingjing went back to the Li family to bid farewell.After entering the gate, he saw a big green sedan chair parked inside. After asking, he found out that Mr. Wei Xiangshu had come.When I entered the room, I saw that there was no one in the living room.Just about to ask Dagui, Yueyuan came out of it, her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just cried.It turned out that on the day Jinke released the list, Mr. Li got up early and went to the street, and spent half a day in the cold wind. He felt a little bad that night, but he didn't care much.On the second day, Chen Tingjing wanted to enter the palace to thank him, and the old man got up too early, which added to the cold.As soon as Chen Tingjing left, the old man became ill and had been lingering on the hospital bed for more than ten days.

When Chen Tingjing and Yueyuan entered, Mr. Li was whispering to Wei Xiangshu.Seeing him go in, the two stopped talking and just invited him to sit down and drink tea.It was the first time for Chen Tingjing to meet Mr. Wei face to face, but because he was in front of Mr. Li's hospital bed, he didn't care too much about politeness.Chen Tingjing was worried about Mr. Li's illness, so he carefully asked what the doctor said and what medicine he was taking.Mr. Li's voice was very weak, but he said that it would be fine, just sleep for a few days and he would be fine.Wei Xiangshu always looked at Chen Tingjing from time to time, but didn't talk to him.Chen Tingjing was feeling puzzled, Wei Xiangshu said: "Tingjing, you take Yueyuan out to take refuge temporarily, I have something to talk to you later."

Chen Tingjing didn't understand what was going on, so he had to lead Yueyuan out.Yueyuan is not as naughty as usual, she doesn't talk much, and always looks like she wants to cry.

Chen Tingjing asked: "Yueyuan, is your father's illness serious?"

Yueyuan said: "Uncle Wei also invited the imperial physician from the palace, and it's been seven or eight days since he took the imperial physician's medicine, and he still doesn't seem to be recovering."

Chen Tingjing was very worried when he heard this, but he tried to persuade sister Yueyuan, saying that the imperial doctor in the palace would definitely be fine.I also thought that Master Wei only said that he would have something to say later, what exactly was he going to say?He thought that it was said that the emperor originally wanted him to be the No. [-] scholar, but Master Wei made a mistake. Maybe this is true?Mr. Wei may want to make this matter clear.

Chen Tingjing has lived in Li's house for so long, and has never visited the inner courtyard.It's okay now, so I walked casually with Yueyuan, but saw that there were still three courtyards inside, all the houses behind were closed, and cobwebs had already formed on the windows.

Yueyuan said: "Brother, let's not go in. I never dared to come inside. It has not been lived in for many years. There is also a garden at the west end, and I have never been there."

Chen Tingjing asked, "Why don't you go?"

Yueyuan said: "I'm afraid! In such a big yard, it's just me and Dad, as well as Dagui and Tian's mother. I'm not afraid to go outside, there are people outside."

Chen Tingjing wanted to see how beautiful the Li family was supposed to be, but now they are almost gone.Thinking that sister Yueyuan was so pitiful, she said, "Sister Yueyuan is not afraid, from now on my brother will take you to play."

The two walked back while talking, Tian's mother came over and said: "Mr. Chen, Mr. Wei, please go over and talk." Chen Tingjing's chest jumped wildly when he heard this.If Mr. Wei said something about the number one scholar, he didn't know how he would respond.Which scholar does not want to be the number one scholar in high school?Lord Wei is his benefactor, if it is true that Lord Wei ruined his champion, how should he treat Lord Wei?

Mr. Wei was sitting in the living room, and seeing Chen Tingjing leading Yueyuan away, he called Tian's mother, "Take Yueyuan out, I have something to say to Ting Jing." Tian's mother led Yueyuan away.Yueyuan seemed to know that something big was going to happen, she kept looking back at Chen Tingjing, the look in her eyes made people feel distressed.

Chen Tingjing sat down anxiously, Master Wei was not polite, he just said: "Ting Jing, Mr. Li specially asked me to come here, because he wanted me to tell you something important."

Chen Tingjing didn't know what the big deal was, so he said, "Master Wei, please tell me."

Wei Xiangshu let out a long sigh of relief, as if a stone was pressed against his chest, and said, "Mr. Li wants to entrust Yueyuan to you."

After hearing this, Chen Tingjing had no reason to ask, "Mr. Li is still in good health, but he just feels cold occasionally. How did he say this?"

Wei Xiangshu didn't speak for a long time, looked at Chen Tingjing for a long time, and then said: "You didn't understand me. Mr. Li wants you to be his son-in-law in the future!"

Chen Tingjing was taken aback by this, and said: "Master Wei, you know that I already have a wife!"

Wei Xiangshu said: "I know, and Mr. Li also knows. The Li family was originally a big family in the Ming Dynasty, with a thriving population and a wealthy family, but now it has fallen. Mr. Li is a rare person in the world who only cares about his glory. Wealth is worthless, and he doesn't pay attention to the succession of the family, otherwise he would have continued after the death of his wife. Now seeing that his health is getting worse every day, I feel sorry for Yueyuan who has no one to rely on in the future. He knows that you are a family member, but still Wanting to betroth his daughter to you is not because of you as a Jinshi, but also because he has wronged his own daughter. He has spent these days with you and knows that you are a reliable person."

Chen Tingjing burst into tears when he heard this, and said: "Mr. Li has treated me so kindly, I am very grateful. It's just that sister Yueyuan is smart and a woman with a family background, how can she be given such a reputation? The Li family treats me as much as a mountain, even if Mr. Li really has something wrong, I will raise Yueyuan, and find a good family as my younger sister, and I must not let her be wronged!"

While speaking, Li Zuwang came out holding the door frame.Chen Tingjing hurriedly stepped forward to help, and said, "Senior, you should lie down."

Mr. Li sat down, panted for a long time before he said: "Ting Jing, a good man is afraid of illness! I have lived to this age, and I have never said half a word in front of people. I heard what you said just now. I If you close your eyes and go away, I beg you to take Yueyuan with you, and when she grows up, whether you take her as a daughter-in-law or hire someone else is up to you."

Chen Tingjing knelt down and said with tears: "Old man, your body will be fine. You are my benefactor, and sister Yueyuan is also my benefactor. You must not say such things. If something happens to you, I just take my sister with me!"

Wei Xiangshu listened to the two chattering and remained silent for a long time.When the two of them stopped talking, he said: "This is not a word. Ting Jing, if you really want Mr. Li to rest assured, you will admit to this marriage. I will use this old face as a witness."

Chen Tingjing thought about it for a long time, then nodded, and said: "Tingjing just obeys orders, but it's not right for me to fail to tell my parents about this matter in advance. Naturally, I will treat Sister Yueyuan well, but I just feel wronged for her. .”

Mr. Li breathed a sigh of relief, with a slight smile on his face, he said, "I'm relieved if you agree."

Wei Xiangshu said again: "Although this is the case, we can't just say it without proof. We have to make a marriage contract, and we both exchanged eight-character Geng posts." Mr. Li nodded and looked at Chen Tingjing.

Chen Tingjing only said: "I listen to the two seniors."

Chen Tingjing was not in a hurry to go back to Shanxi, and boiled medicine and served tea in front of Mr. Li's bed every day.After all, Yueyuan was young and didn't know much about it. One time, she heard Chen Tingjing call her daddy, and thought it was amusing, she said, "Brother, why do you call my daddy daddy?"

Chen Tingjing blushed and didn't know how to answer.Mr. Li smiled and said: "Silly boy, you call him brother, he calls you sister, you call me father, your brother doesn't call me father anymore?" But he wanted to talk to Yueyuan slowly, and he wanted to be Yueyuan As long as her mother is still there, it is more convenient for her to say these things to her daughter after all.

Tian's mother smiled and said: "In the future, our family will change the rules. We have to call Mr. Chen the master, and the master is the old man."

Yueyuan couldn't understand more and more, she just thought it was fun like a tongue twister.

I'm afraid that because of the happy event, Mrs. Li's illness is gradually recovering.Yueyuan also gradually understood what was going on, she seemed to have suddenly become an adult, she would blush when she saw Chen Tingjing, and she kept avoiding him.The old man urged Chen Tingjing to go back to Shanxi every day, but Chen Tingjing was still worried, and always said that it would not be too late to leave after some time.Zhang Bang knew what was going on here, so he was not in a hurry to go back, and kept waiting in the guild hall. Anyway, the two made an appointment to go together.

The old man got out of bed and could eat, so he had to let Chen Tingjing go home quickly.Only then did Chen Tingjing make an appointment with Zhang Qian to set off on a certain day.One day, the two went to the Hanlin Academy to bid farewell to Master Wei, and happened to meet Mingzhu outside the Meridian Gate.Mingzhu said hello from afar: "What a coincidence? I met two Jinshi here!"

Chen Tingjing cupped his hands and said, "I've seen Master Mingzhu!"

Zhang Qian also bowed his hands and saluted, but Mingzhu saw Zhang Qian but was unfamiliar.It was only then that Chen Tingjing remembered that the two of them had not met alone, and said, "This is Lord Mingzhu, the imperial guard, and this is Xinke Jinshi Zhang Qian."

Zhang Qian laughed and said, "I'm just a fellow Jinshi!"

But Mingzhu said: "Brother Zhang, don't be too polite. I know, you two are from Shanxi, and you stayed at the Happy Forest Inn a few days ago."

Chen Tingjing smiled and said: "My lord Mingzhu knows everything, he is indeed a person who walks in front of the imperial court."

Mingzhu understands that Chen Tingjing's words are hidden, and she doesn't take it to heart, she said with a smile: "Recently, the emperor granted me the Luan Yi Wei Zhi Zheng, and Suo Etu was also promoted to the third-class guard."

Chen Tingjing quickly congratulated: "Congratulations! Now that you are a member of the fifth rank, you will never be humble again if you are called an adult, right?" After finishing speaking, the three of them burst into laughter.

Mingzhu cupped her hands, turned her head and went to the palace.He walked a few steps, then turned around and said, "Brothers, the happy forest where you two live is really a treasured place of geomantic omen. From now on, those who come to Beijing to catch the exam will probably refuse to live in the guild hall."

Chen Tingjing asked: "How do you say this?"

Mingzhu laughed and said: "Someone counted their fingers. Just those who live in Happy Forest won five Scholars. Even an old boy named Gao Shiqi got the honor of Fengshui."

Zhang Jian said with a smile: "Gao Shiqi and I saw with our own eyes that he was favored by a high-ranking man, and he went to Zhan Shifu's servants not long after."

Mingzhu said: "You are talking about Zu Zeshen. He used to be a supervising student of the Imperial College. He failed the exam twice and was good at gossip about Yin and Yang, so he started a fortune-telling business. The strange thing is that he is so clever. He is very famous in the capital, and he often walks around the houses of princes and ministers. Gao Shiqi really made him see that now he is not only serving as an servant in Zhan Shifu, but Lord Amasoni of Suo'etu will also protect him into the Imperial Prison. He will have a future Even if it’s not Chinese style, some officials do it.”

Hearing this, Chen Tingjing and Zhang Jian stared blankly, only lamenting that everyone has their own destiny.Mingzhu said again: "There is something more amazing!" At this point, Mingzhu stopped, only saying that it was getting late, he had to go to the palace, and he would talk slowly when he had time in the future.It turned out that Mingzhu wanted to say that the emperor praised Gao Shiqi's words, this is a golden mouth and jade teeth, and it might bring him good luck.But in the blink of an eye, he thought that Gao Shiqi was born by Suo'etu, but he himself and Suo'etu were at odds with each other, so he didn't want to raise the good name for Gao Shiqi.

(End of this chapter)