The ceremony ended and everyone left one after another. After that, it is time to return to the palace. The emperor is in charge of the court, and all officials will pay homage. Then the emperor will entertain all officials at a banquet, and the enthronement ceremony will be over.
The carriage gurgled forward, attracting many passers-by's glances, and soon returned to Jianye City.
"stop!"
The carriage stopped slowly, and Ma Liangzuo inside the carriage bowed and saluted.
"Ma Liang bids you farewell. Please take note of this."
Meng Du said with regret.
"This is a rare opportunity. Sir, don't you really want to go to the palace with us to attend the banquet?"
Ma Liang nodded slightly and smiled.
"As a guest minister of Nan Ming Dynasty, I can indeed enter the palace to attend the banquet, but I would like to enter the court as the number one scholar in the imperial examination and see His Majesty in the future, so I can only say goodbye. Everyone, see you soon!"
"Sir, you have lofty ambitions. See you soon!"
After saying goodbye to everyone, Ma Liang got out of the car neatly and left, and the carriage continued to drive toward the palace.
Wu Tu Gu couldn't help but snorted when he saw Meng Du looking reluctant to leave.
"Chief, this scholar is stubborn. He ignored all your invitations. Why should you feel sorry? He will regret it in the future when he fails to get the first prize in the exam."
When Zhu Rong heard this, his beautiful eyes immediately stared at Wu Tu Gu.
"Brother Ma Liang will definitely be the top pick in high school."
"Oh, that white-faced scholar can only talk a little, but do you know what he is capable of?"
Wu Tu Gu didn't want to say much, but when he saw Zhu Rong talking to the scholar, he sneered a few words out of habit.
Seeing the two of them quarreling with each other again, Meng Du helplessly shook his head and looked at Meng Huo and said.
"Ah Huo, what do you think?"
Meng Huo blinked and replied.
"Dad, Brother Ma is not simple."
"We have asked a lot about the structure of the imperial court along the way, but many scholars only know that the imperial court established the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry to manage domestic affairs. They have no idea what official offices are under them and what their specific responsibilities are. Especially the Chu State. When the king proclaimed himself emperor, many positions and official offices had to be changed. We originally planned to go to the government office after arriving in the capital to find out how to meet the Emperor of Chu and participate in the coronation ceremony. But as soon as Brother Ma heard about our identities, he knew that the priest Taking charge of this matter shows that he is not only concerned about the court system, but also a son of a noble family who has access to this information."
"Also, at the ceremony just now, he explained the meaning of each ceremony to us, which in itself proves his extensive knowledge. He also told the gossip that Princess Wuning likes General Hussar, which shows that the friends he made have different backgrounds. Xiao, this royal family secret must not be known to every family."
"I think Brother Ma will definitely become an important minister of Chu State in the future."
Mengdu stroked his beard, nodded slightly and smiled.
Zhu Rong raised her chin when she heard this, as if she had won. Wu Tu Gu is not good at arguing, he just talks disdainfully.
"Hmph, a white-faced scholar, look how rare you are! What's so great about being eloquent? Being able to fight is the real thing! The armor in the ceremony just now looked quite intimidating, but let me tell you, the Chu people are cowardly and didn't even fight We have fought before, and the mutual market has given us so many benefits. We should fight them and let them give us more benefits!"
Meng Huo nodded.
"Dad, I think Wu Tu Gu is right. We have to fight to know whether the Chu army can do it or not! If we win, maybe the court will hand over the entire south to us and make you the king?" "
"Confused!"
Seeing Meng Huo agree with Qi Jugu's words, Meng Du was so angry that his beard stood up.
"I just wanted to praise you for being smart, but you are still as brave as Wu Tu Gu!"
"Back then, the taxes were heavy and the tribesmen had to unite to resist! But we have been fighting the King of Shu's army for so long, have we won? It was the Chu army that defeated the Shu army, and that led to the situation today. Moreover, now, The imperial court taxes are light, and they build bridges and roads for the tribesmen. The mutual market is fair. The tribesmen now have clothes to wear and meat to eat. Their lives are much better than before. What kind of war do you want to fight? You are not afraid of your tribesmen staying in the middle of the night. I cut you
Dedicate your head to the Chu army? "
"Okay, grandpa, don't be angry, they both have wooden heads."
Zhu Rong patted Meng Du on the back and comforted him softly, while Meng Huo and Wu Tu Gu turned their heads away angrily.
While he was talking, the carriage had already passed through the streets and stopped at the entrance of the palace.
When everyone got off the carriage, they saw the towering palace walls, with groups of black soldiers walking back and forth, heavily guarded.
There was already a guard with a sword waiting at the palace gate. When he saw everyone, he cupped his fists and saluted Mengdu.
"Greetings to Uncle Nan Ming! This is your first visit to the palace. I will lead you to the Xuanzheng Hall to meet the emperor."
"Thank you, young general."
"Don't dare, don't dare, my lord is flattering you. Please come with me."
At the signal of the guards, everyone in Yunnan followed him into the palace gate that could accommodate four carriages traveling side by side.
After passing through the palace gate, the surroundings suddenly opened up, and there was a vast open space, with stone slabs paved in layers extending to the main hall standing in the distance. And further away, there are many such halls.
How big a project is this?
Everyone in Yunnan was slightly shocked, but the guards immediately led them to the palace they saw at first sight.
The place is not difficult to find.
Zhu Rong whispered excitedly.
"This place is much wider than the dancing place in our village! If it were all used for dancing, how many people would it take to fill it?"
Meng Du had a headache, he coughed slightly and said.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense and follow me."
"oh."
A sparse number of ministers walked into the hall one after another. The guard led Meng Du and others to the door of the hall and then said goodbye and left.
Walking into the main hall, the main colors in the hall are green and red. The carpet is made of red Shu brocade, with exquisite patterns embroidered on it. There are elegant scrolls hanging on both sides of the hall, with summaries of the saint's sentences on them, and wind chimes made of blue jade. Swinging in the wind, it makes a pleasant sound.
The maid led Mengdu and others to a table on the right and sat down. Mengdu looked around and saw that it was the familiar face he had seen at the previous ceremony. Looking again, he and others were very close to the emperor's throne, which was raised a few steps in the middle. The princes like them had only placed three tables before.
"Grandpa, when will the party start?"
Zhu Rong was already looking forward to the banquet hosted by the emperor.
Meng Du looked at the three people around him and let out a long sigh. There really was no one who could make him worry free.
