Traveling through the harem: the favorite concubine

Chapter 91

When Huang Zongbao returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion, he happened to bump into Huang Wenren who had just returned home. His face froze uncontrollably, and he almost subconsciously thought of an excuse to deal with it.

However, Huang Wenren didn't intend to pursue it, and just asked casually: "Which friend of yours did you go to?"

"Yes, third uncle!"

Huang Zongbao nodded his head and answered obediently. He never admitted that he sat in the teahouse for a long time before going to find Chen Wenhan.

When Huang Wenren heard the words, his face was not angry, and he didn't speak, but he walked into the gate first.

Huang Zongbao glanced at his third uncle's back, hesitated for a moment, and followed.

Huang Wenren did not go to the backyard, but returned to the study in the front yard.

Huang Zongbao followed him into the study, and saw Huang Wenren sitting down on the chair behind the desk. He ran around all day today, but he couldn't help being a little envious, but he still tightened his grip and stood upright. In front of the desk, he stood upright.

"Third Uncle, about that, I asked Brother Wen Han, and he said that he has never been married, but he doesn't want to think about marriage now, he wants to start a family first and then a career."

Huang Zongbao said in a low voice while wrestling his fingers, not looking up at Huang Wenren secretly.

But Huang Wenren's face didn't change much when he heard the words, and he just nodded slightly after hearing this.Then he looked directly at Huang Zongbao and asked about his recent homework, asking him to answer a few questions from time to time.It really made Huang Zongbao overwhelmed, but fortunately he has something in his belly, so he can barely deal with it.

Huang Wenren didn't mention the previous matter until he released Huang Zongbao back.

On the contrary, Huang Zongbao was a little at a loss, and when he was sent away, he was a little worried and looked back at every step.Huang Wenren naturally saw his nephew's careful thinking, but couldn't help but said with a smile: "Okay, I just asked you to ask, you go back and prepare for the palace exam!"

Huang Zongbao looked at Huang Wenren's face to see if he really cared, so he walked out of the study with peace of mind.

After Huang Zongbao left, Huang Wenren sighed slightly with his hands behind his back, feeling a little regretful in his heart, but he also walked out of the study and came to the main courtyard of Mrs. Huang in the backyard.

Seeing Huang Wenren walk in, Mrs. Huang couldn't help but couldn't wait to ask: "Master, what happened to the matter you asked Zong Bao to ask?"

"Zong Bao's friend wants to start a business first and then start a family."

Huang Wenren said something in a light tone, but Mrs. Huang's face was a little contradictory for a moment, and she didn't know whether she should be disappointed or happy.

When Huang Wenren mentioned to her the intention of marrying Chen Wenhan, Mrs. Huang was actually somewhat unhappy.Although I heard Huang Wenren say that the character of the other party looks good, and now that he has passed the general examination, even if he does not perform well in the palace examination, he can still be regarded as having a reputation. With the help of the Huang family, his future will not be too bad.However, the other party was not from an aristocratic family, not even an ordinary wealthy family, no matter how much he thought about marrying his daughter, he felt that he was treating his daughter a little bit badly.

But now she refused, Madam Huang felt a little lost again, just like what Huang Wenren said, regardless of his background, the other party looked like a promising young man no matter how he looked, and his age was suitable for Jing Ting.

But since she had already refused, Mrs. Huang was only slightly entangled in her heart, and she didn't think about it any more. Instead, she said optimistically: "Actually, there are still quite a few families in Beijing who are willing to marry us."

Even if what happened to Huang Jingting earlier caused some stains on her reputation, she is still the daughter of the prime minister's family, and there are still many people who are willing to marry their Huang family as in-laws.

"There is a family. If Jing Ting marries, she will be the Duke's wife immediately. It's just..."

Mrs. Huang hesitated a little. I'm afraid life won't be as easy as Huang Wenren said to find a family like Chen Wenhan who has a shallow family and is willing to make progress.

"Madam are you talking about Ninghou Mansion?"

Huang Wenren filtered through his mind the few companies Mrs. Huang had mentioned in her ear before, frowning to confirm.

"It's that family, but now that Lord Ning is a concubine, and the family is headed by his mother-in-law, and Lord Ning is three years younger than Jing Ting, so he can't tell what he will be like in the future."

Mrs. Huang would be happy if she simply let her daughter marry into the Duke's Mansion. Even if the in-law relationship in the Duke's Mansion is more complicated, it's not a big problem. Governments, to be honest, are those with only empty shells left.

This Ninghou Mansion is precisely this type. Nowadays, there are many Duke's mansions that have declined like this in the capital, and some of them even disappeared in the capital. They were all sealed when the ancestors fought for the spirit and fought with the founding emperor of the Zhao family in the earliest days.The founding emperor of the Zhao family was generous. When he was entrusted with the feudal title, he not only conferred titles but also did not deprive them of their rights. Therefore, although there are still many dukes' mansions that have survived from generation to generation, many of them are unable to stand up. The bottom heirs are not up to date.

The Ninghou Mansion counted up to three generations. In fact, they were considered high officials in the court. They held some power in their hands, and even kept the duke title that was sealed at the beginning. It's just that the current Lord Ning In his father's generation, Duke Ning had been weak and sick since he was a child. He could not go to the battlefield or make an official career. If he hadn't been supported by a powerful mother, he might have lost his title.When the sons and heirs were together, Mrs. Ning Guogong only gave birth to a daughter, and she could no longer have children. On the contrary, a concubine gave birth to a son, so she was held by Mrs. Ning Guogong under her knees and raised until the Ning Guogong passed away. Later, because he hadn't done any meritorious service, the higher-ups let the child inherit the Ninghou mansion by lowering him to a first class.That child is now Lord Ning.

Of course, there are no elders here to pull these things. For the Huang family, it is nothing. The Huang family can only be said to be a new family, and there are advantages to combining with an old family, which is mutual benefit.

However, one is that the mother-in-law is in charge of the family. If Huang Jingting marries in, it is not her own mother-in-law who will serve her.The second is that Lord Ning is still young, he is still studying in the Imperial College, and he has not had much contact with him, and he is good at the hands of women...

"Ninghou Mansion, you can think about it."

Huang Wenren pondered for a while, and said, "Ninghou Lord, this time he also took part in the test, and his ranking looks good, so it can be seen that he is a progressive person. And now the wife of Ninghou Mansion is not an ordinary woman and child. Back then, Duke Ningguo When she was still alive, Ning Guogong was at the border, and she was a woman who took good care of the Duke's mansion. When Ning Guogong passed away, she supported her weak son to claim the title, and married her son Chen Yin, the daughter of the Lu family, as his wife. Wife, the women from the Lu family have always been famous for their virtuousness, and they can't do anything to treat a concubine harshly."

Generally, the sons who can inherit the title will not take the exam, even if most of them have been arranged to study in the Imperial College since their enlightenment, they have the title of supervising students.This dynasty even banned the imperial examinations for the sons of dukes and marquises for a time, but as the aristocratic families gradually declined, it is true that many descendants of the aristocratic families who could not take the road of joining the army began to embark on the road of official career.Lord Ning has already inherited the title of Marquis. If he has no ambitions, he can live his life richly by relying on this title at home, and he doesn't need to study hard at all.

"Master said so, I am relieved!"

Although Mrs. Huang is not a person without ideas, if Huang Wenren speaks, she will listen to her husband's opinion.Just like when Huang Wenren wanted to pick Chen Wenhan on Huang Jingting, although Mrs. Huang didn't think so, she would never object.

"Madam has been in contact with the Ninghou Mansion a lot in the past few days. It is not necessary to settle this marriage right away. You can see each other carefully. The most important thing is to have a good character."

Huang Wenren warned carefully, and Mrs. Huang also nodded in agreement, but she thought of something again, and said hesitantly: "Master, although you said that you locked Jing Ting until she was engaged, you locked all these things. It's been a while, and I see that Jing Ting is wrong, and she has lost a lot of weight, should I let her out?"

"You, you are soft-hearted!"

Huang Wenren sighed, but his mouth was also relieved, "It's fine to let her out, and you can also take her to show the people in Ninghou's Mansion. In this marriage, both parties must be satisfied. Marriage. Just keep an eye on her, don't let her get into trouble again!"

"Master, don't worry."

Mrs. Huang heard Huang Wenren let go, with a smile on her face.

After Huang Jingting was released, she looked thinner and silent. Huang Wenren didn't feel sorry for her daughter. Although she made a mistake first, she was still a child, so she told Huang Madam made her new clothes and jewelry to make her happy.

On the other hand, Huang Zongbao hadn't seen his cousin all this time, because the imperial examination was coming soon, he always stayed in the study in the front yard to review his homework, but he never wandered in the back yard.

It wasn't until Huang Zongbao came back on the day of the palace examination, and when he went to the backyard full of fan playing, that he saw a beautiful girl next to his third aunt.

"Are you Jingting's cousin?"

Huang Zongbao opened his eyes and questioned.He and Huang Jingting had only met each other a few times, and they hadn't seen each other for several years now, so they really didn't recognize each other for a while.

Mrs. Huang was talking to Huang Jingting, but she stopped talking when she heard Huang Zongbao's voice, she just looked at Huang Zongbao and asked carefully: "Zongbao, you are back. The palace exam is over? Did you go well or not!"

"Third Aunt, don't worry, when I come back with the No. [-] Scholar, I will give you honor!"

Huang Zongbao said with a smile, but couldn't help but look at his cousin.

Huang Jingting noticed Huang Zongbao's gaze, and said to Mrs. Huang with a calm face, "Mother, I'm going back to the house first."

"Hey, Jingting, you haven't met your cousin yet? Why don't you say hello to your cousin?"

Only then did Mrs. Huang realize that Huang Jingting was being rude, so she couldn't help but say something.

"Mom, I'm not feeling well."

After all, he straightened his body and walked towards the door.

Huang Zongbao's face was slightly embarrassed, this cousin probably still remembered the thing he bullied her when she was a child, but she was too rude!Just as he was talking, his eyes fell on the little maid who was following behind his cousin.

Why does this face look so familiar...

Huang Zongbao suddenly slapped his fan, suddenly realized, but Mrs. Huang who was standing beside didn't notice this, but said to Huang Zongbao apologetically: "Zongbao, Jingting is spoiled by the family, don't offend her."

"Third aunt, look at what you said, what do I care about with a little girl!"

Huang Zongbao thought silently in his heart, this little girl's film is not only rude, she is simply unreasonable, she wanted to throw away the money and run away when she hurt someone while driving, no wonder she dared to do such a thing in Beijing.

"That's good. The family is looking after her marriage right now. With her temperament, I hope she can restrain herself when she gets married to her husband's family!"

Madam Huang couldn't help shaking her head.When Huang Zongbao heard the words, he just blurted out subconsciously, which unlucky person do you like.

Fortunately, he stopped talking in time, and asked with a smile: "Third Aunt, I don't know which family is so lucky to be favored?"

It's not just luck, it's just bad luck. The third uncle and three aunts have a big enmity with that family, so they raised a bad woman to harm others.

Obviously his three uncles and three aunts are all reasonable people, how could he teach his daughter to look like this.

Mrs. Huang didn't know what Huang Zongbao was thinking, but when she heard Huang Zongbao's question, she smiled and said: "Your third uncle has taken a fancy to the little lord in Ninghou's mansion, by the way, Ninghou lord has also participated in the palace examination today , have you ever been in touch?"

"Third Aunt... I'm busy with exams, so I don't have time to meet people!"

What Huang Zongbao said was really true. Although he looked unscrupulous, he still attached great importance to this imperial examination, and when it came to the palace examination, when he walked into the hall, seeing the solemn environment, his legs softened a little.Of course, Huang Zongbao would never admit that he was too nervous.

After hearing this, Mrs. Huang smiled and nodded his head, but said nothing else, just said with a smile: "Well, Third Aunt will wait for you to come back from the exam for the number one scholar."

The article written by Huang Zongbao in the palace was being held by Zhao Qingze to observe it. In fact, as soon as the palace examination was over, Zhao Qingze asked someone to find Huang Zongbao's papers. The papers from last time, Also left a deep impression on him.

When noon approached, Zhao Qingze took the paper directly to the back hall, and after finishing his lunch with Ruyi, he flipped through the paper and read it halfway, but couldn't help but pat the small table next to the couch to applaud , but Ruyi was taken aback.

"What did you see?"

Ruyi couldn't help asking, but Zhao Qingze walked Ruyi with a smile, and said, "Do you still remember the nephew Huang Wenren I told you about last time? I asked someone to pull out his paper first, and you also Let's watch together."

Ruyi nodded, and turned her gaze to Zhao Qingze's unfolded paper. Although most of it was written in classical Chinese, Ruyi still understood most of it. The more she read it, the more surprised she felt.

This must be too courageous, and... why does she feel that the person who wrote this paper is a time-traveler like her, of course, he is more courageous than her, and his thinking is much more advanced than her.

The proposition of this palace examination was given by Zhao Qingze, and Ruyi knew about the content of the proposition a few days ago, about corruption.

To be honest, even in Ruyi’s last life, when she was taking the civil service exam, the lecturers who had trained them in the remedial class repeatedly told them that if they encountered such questions, they should not ask questions. If you want to avoid it, don't face it directly. Even if you write about corrupt officials, it can only be said to belong to a small part.

But this Huang Zongbao is really brave. In the paper, he bluntly said that when the water is clear, there will be no fish. He also compared corrupt officials who can do things with honest officials who can't do things. In the end, it is mentioned that tens of millions of scholars seek fame and fame, and all of them are for fame and fortune. If it is better to be an official than to be a landlord, it is better to throw away books as firewood, so it is advocated to improve the treatment of officials.

"Although there are a lot of fallacies, but every sentence is pure and simple, it is much better than those who only know how to talk empty words."

Zhao Qingze was not irritated by the words in this article at all. On the contrary, his eyes showed appreciation. Obviously, Huang Zongbao not only did not disappoint him, but also made him appreciate it even more.

"It seems that the number one scholar has already been selected!" Ruyi said with a smile. Zhao Qingze is not the kind of emperor who sticks to the rules, but a somewhat willful emperor. This kind of paper is probably more to his appetite. I'm afraid this gem In the front, I can't keep up with the answers to the papers in the back.

Zhao Qingze smiled when he heard the words, and answered unexpectedly: "No, I don't intend to give him the champion."

Ruyi looked at Zhao Qingze curiously, but heard him say: "This person is indeed talented, but the article inevitably reveals a bit of complacency and pride, and it will take two more years of training before he can be entrusted with important tasks."

After Ruyi heard this, she didn't know whether to be happy for Huang Zongbao or to sympathize. People who were valued by Zhao Qingze naturally didn't have to worry about their future, but he just loved to toss people so much.

"Then is the emperor going to give him the second place or the top prize?" Ruyi couldn't help but asked again with a smile.

"There is already a candidate for the No. [-] spot. The No. [-] spot is reserved for Princess Anrui's son-in-law. At that time, people will choose one from the noble family's children. As for the third place, I can give it to Huang Zongbao cheaply."

Hearing this, Ruyi couldn't help but sympathize with Huang Zongbao again. If Zhao Qingze hadn't deliberately tormented him, this person should have been the No. 3 pick. Now that he is nominated for No. [-], he can only be wronged and said to be cheap.However, this prospect has always had a different meaning. Although the ranking is low, it is not a bad thing
"Okay, hurry up and pack your things here, the palace examination is over, and it's time for me to fulfill my promise and take you and Aman to the summer resort."

Zhao Qingze touched Ruyi's stomach with a smile, and whispered around her waist.

Ruyi might as well be so fast, so to speak, the Qionglin Banquet will be held at the Mountain Resort by then.

(End of this chapter)