Lin Mansion
Jian Qu's face was livid as he walked out of the main gate, and he could not even maintain his basic demeanor. He ignored the Lin Mansion housekeeper who sent him out, got on the bullock cart and ordered: "Go back."
Just sit in the car silently and stop talking.
"I declined politely before, but now I refuse hard. It's just a candidate, but he dares to refuse the invitation of acting marquis. It's simply unreasonable!"
The more he thought about what just happened, the angrier Jian Qu became.
On the way, he also saw Cen Rubai, who also had a bad look on his face. Jian Qu stopped the ox cart and asked Cen Rubai to get on the cart. When the people came up, the ox cart started moving again. Jian Qu asked angrily in a low voice: "Is this the person you invited? They all declined? What on earth is going on with these people? Could it be that the literary society in Daihou Mansion is going through a mountain of swords and a sea of fire?"
When they came out this time, they had received a report that every one of the people who had promised to come had actually declined. Not to mention that there would be twenty people attending the cultural gathering, and they were afraid that even ten people would not be able to come together. How to make Jian Qu accept it?
Cen Rubai said with a bad face: "I just got the news. The reason why all these people declined is because the Prince of Qi's Palace let out the news, saying that the Prince of Qi was also going to hold a cultural gathering, and the time was exactly the same as ours. Some people They didn't dare to offend King Qi, so they planned to attend the cultural gathering at Prince Qi's Mansion. Some people didn't want to offend either way, so they simply avoided going out temporarily because they felt unwell or had something urgent to do."
"Finally, there are still a few celebrities who agreed, so that nothing will be lost." Cen Rubai said, looking a little lucky.
Jian Qu gritted his teeth: "Damn Prince Qi's Mansion! Doesn't the news they released just prove the previous rumors? Even though I originally wanted to come, I don't dare to come now."
Although I was angry at those people's betrayal, the King of Qi was most to blame for the incident itself.
If it weren't for the King of Qi, those people wouldn't be afraid, and would refuse.
"What should we do now? Are we just going to go back and report to the Lord?" Thinking of taking charge of this matter, this has become the main responsibility of the ninth-grade clerk of the Hou Mansion. After all, in addition to simple tasks such as sorting out books, the clerk of the Hou Mansion also does a lot of work. He could also handle some cultural affairs matters, but he couldn't handle them well, so Jian Qu was naturally very frustrated.
Cen Rubai's mood is not much better than Jian Qu's. He is actually more flexible in some aspects, but caring leads to chaos. As an old minister of the East Palace, Cen Rubai really cares about Su Ziji, the son of the prince, no matter in terms of reputation. , image, so it is naturally difficult to jump out when Daihou holds a cultural gathering for the first time.
The two of them looked at each other in silence, waiting for the bullock cart to return to the Hou Mansion. They both got out of the cart with some frustration.
"Lord, it seems that things have developed according to your ideas. What should we do next?" In the study, the wild Taoist had received the report and asked Su Ziji.
"There will be a literary meeting in five days." Su Ziji slowly stopped writing, looked at it for a long time, took a deep breath, and said.
He believes that although due to technical limitations, it is impossible to know every move.
But everything is in the eyes of the emperor.
This is enough. I just want the emperor to know about it so that I can make a clear target.
Five days in the river
A two-story painting boat that can accommodate hundreds of people is moving slowly in the river, and the sound of silk and bamboo is heard, which is beautiful.
Some of the servants and maids who looked like everyone were coming and going, and there were even boats carrying food and wine, which were transported from the capital's big restaurants, either cooked on site, or prepared in advance and sent directly.
The aroma of food filled the air, attracting many passers-by to pay attention to the painting boat.
This section of the river is gentle, there are some commercial streets on the side of the road, and there are many passers-by.
Although it is winter, there is no ice on the river. The sky is beautiful today, the sky is as blue as water, and the bright sunshine is shining on the river. Although the trees on both sides are no longer green and decayed, there is still a beauty of river cruise in winter.
"What's going on? Which literary society is so rich that it rents such a big boat?" A middle-aged man wearing a scholar's robe happened to pass by. Looking at the boats slowly walking on the river, he couldn't help but ask. Onlookers.
A passer-by was a small businessman with some spare money. He was looking at the boat with admiration when he heard someone ask him. He replied: "It is said that it is a cultural gathering organized by the newly naturalized emperor's grandson. You know the emperor's grandson, right? He is also the Daihou! The emperor's grandson loves it." Before being recognized as a poet, he had obtained the first prize in the examination and had always liked to make friends with scholars. No, this is probably because many scholars have gathered in the capital recently, and there are many literary gatherings. Banquets have also been held to invite some scholars to come and communicate. "
After finishing speaking, he couldn't help but clicked his tongue: "After all, I am a scholar, even if I am not an official, I still have the opportunity to get close to such a noble person. If I am lucky enough to meet the emperor's grandson, I will laugh out of my dreams!"
After hearing the little businessman's lament, the middle-aged Confucian scholar showed a hint of contempt in his eyes.
"My knowledge is shallow! Given the embarrassing situation of Daihou, the scholars who can come are probably poor scholars who have nothing and are simply trying to make a career. As long as they have some foundation and reputation, who will come to this muddy water?"
He looked up at the painted boat and shook his head slightly: "I didn't expect that Daihou would hold this cultural gathering on the painted boat. Is it to avoid the sharp edge of King Qi?"
"Yes, I'm afraid that this cultural gathering will only be superficial. I heard that the King of Qi has said that the princes from the capital will not be allowed to participate in the cultural gathering of Daihou. I'm afraid they are all the princes from other places who come here? I don't know if the princes are at this time. , how to be angry."
On the boat, Su Ziji, who was being speculated about his mood, stood on the railing on the second floor of the boat with a smile, looking down at the people below.
This painting boat is specially used to hold this kind of banquet. The first and second floors are renovated according to the layout of a large wine shop or brothel. There is a hall connected on the first floor, with wooden steps next to it, you can go to the second floor, and the second floor is It consists of a small hall occupying half the size of a boat and several separate rooms.
There were more than forty people coming, and there were about ten tables on the first floor. This was a place for eating and drinking, and an extra small area was opened up at each table, which was a separate table for putting pens, inks, paper, inkstones, music, chess, calligraphy and paintings. If someone suddenly becomes inspired to write poems on the way, he or she can just write a splash of ink nearby. If someone suddenly wants to play a piece of music, he or she can just get the piano nearby.
These people are all raising their glasses and drinking. The atmosphere is quite lively. Except for a few talented people, the gathering scene is not too deserted.
At this time, Jian Qu walked to Su Ziji's side and whispered: "Your Majesty, on the right hand side of the table, wearing a light blue Confucian robe, is the talented Zhang Lan. He is talented in poetry, has written several good poems, and is somewhat famous among the people from other places who come to Beijing."
"The second table on the left, wearing a sapphire blue Confucian robe, is the talented scholar He Bingzhi who is also somewhat famous. Because he can write well, he is somewhat famous among the candidates in other places."
"Except for these two talented people, none of them are here. I heard they are all waiting and watching."
"My lord, the students who are talking to Zhang Lan now all have some talents. However, they came to the capital with great difficulty because of their poor families. They worked hard for food and accommodation, and their clothes are a bit shabby. It's not that they are not unworthy. Pay attention to this cultural conference.”
