Seeing the hosta, Jiaren County Master still didn't understand anything. When his anger subsided a little, he clenched his fists and said fiercely: "Xu Liu Niang, Hu Sanniang, just wait for me."
Early the next morning, there were two men in black in the main house in Jiaren County.
Jiaren County Lord sat on the couch with no expression on his face and said in a very soft voice: "Go to Suzhou and check Xu Liu Niang for me. How did she and Hu Sanniang know each other? What did she do in those days? Check carefully for me. "
Time flies so fast, and in a blink of an eye, it’s the day when the list is announced in spring.
The first place in this provincial examination fell to Ding Mo without any surprise.
After Mrs. Ding learned about it, she immediately organized a banquet.
As for the protagonist, Ding Mo, after getting the news from the boy's office early in the morning, he just put down the pen in his hand calmly, without the excitement that a member should have, and his eyes were as usual.
He took the list of the top ten people in the Spring Festival handed over by the boy, looked at it for a moment, got up from the couch, put on his shoes, and strode to Mrs. Ding's place.
"Shiro."
Mrs. Ding was originally outlining the people she wanted to invite to the banquet. When she heard the curtain move, she raised her head and saw the face of her son who won the first place in the Spring Festival. His usually serious face suddenly smiled like a flower, and his voice was soft when he spoke. A few points.
"Mom, what are you busy with?" Ding Mo smiled politely and reached out to take the paper in Mrs. Ding's hand.
"Why don't we see who should be invited and who should not be invited? There is a lot of knowledge here." Mrs. Ding's face was filled with pride. She could not stop smiling no matter how hard she looked at her son. She only looked at her son with pride.
Ding Mo glanced at it and returned the paper to Mrs. Ding. He sat down and said with a low smile: "Mom, it's just spring now. We haven't gone to the palace examination yet, so there's no need to rush to invite people to have a banquet. Besides, my son is busy preparing for the palace examination, so I have no intention of entertaining these guests.”
"It's okay, leave these to mother, you can just show up when the time comes." Mrs. Ding added a name to the paper while speaking, saying that I will take care of this matter, so don't worry.
Ding Mo naturally nodded in agreement. After sitting for a while, he got up and went back to the study to continue reading. Before leaving, she asked Mrs. Ding's personal maid to find a way to persuade Mrs. Ding to invite fewer people.
At the end of February, Bianjing was shrouded in lush willows, docile and comfortable, like a kitten just out of the cage.
Today is the unveiling of the Spring Festival, and the streets are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Some people were playing the suona, others were setting off firecrackers, and children who didn’t know what spring was like were running around holding sesame seed cakes with their dirty little hands, shouting that it’s Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year.
On this special day, the tender willow color that crowds the streets adds a touch of bright red. Only then did the entire Bianjing officially wake up from the winter.
Although no one from the Xu family participated in this year's imperial examination, Xu Dalang is now preparing for next year's imperial examination, so the family pays more attention to the imperial examination than in previous years.
Xu Gucheng looked at the list of this year's provincial examinations in his study, and from time to time he would say a few words to the brothers Xu Pingyi and Xu Pingqi who were sitting next to him, which could be regarded as a comment on the ease of work this year.
"Father, do you think that in this year's palace examination, can Silang Ding..." Xu Pingyi turned his eyes back from the window and looked at Xu Gucheng and asked.
"It's not necessary." Xu Gucheng only said these two words and said no more, and then asked the two brothers to go back.
After the two left, Xu Gucheng took out Ding Mo's test paper for this year that someone else had copied. After reading it a few times, he shook his head and got up to go to Yingcheng Yuan for lunch.
A few days later, brothers Ye Qingchen, Song Jiao and Song Qi, who had planned to enter the capital in February as early as October last year, finally arrived. The three of them went to their respective mansions in the capital.
Ye Qingchen came to visit Xu's house the next day after placing his luggage.
Because of Mrs. Ye's relationship, the relationship between the Xu family and the Ye family is a bit closer than ordinary families.
After Ye Qingchen saluted, he sat upright on the couch. Although he was taller, his face was more clear-cut, his eyes were still clear, and his temperament was still clear and elegant.
Today he wore a simple and elegant brocade robe with broken branches. Her hair was tied up with dark silk satin, and there were a few broken hairs falling on her smooth forehead.
When Xu Nuo saw Ye Qingchen for the first time, he had only one thought: Ye Qingchen would be second in the imperial examination next year.
With such a young and talented man so respectfully staying at the Xu family this year, I wonder if there will be a chance to have tea together next year.
"Ye Fifteenth Lang, your grandparents and grandparents. How are your father and mother?" Lu asked politely.
Ye Qingchen ignored Xu Nuo's complicated expression and answered Lu with a smile: "Everything is fine. My grandfather seems to be stronger after the Chinese New Year. He is going to Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou when it is warmer."
After Mrs. Lu asked someone to serve Ye Qingchen tea, she continued to ask: "Where is your aunt?"
Ye Qingchen hesitated for a moment, and then said: "My aunt is more smiling than usual. It's just that before departure, my aunt's appetite suddenly became poor. Her face was pale several times when we met. I don't know if she is better now."
After hearing this, Mrs. Lu's expression was stern, and then she asked Ye Qingchen for details. Her expression slowly softened, with a slight smile on her lips.
Ye Qingchen looked at Lu in confusion.
Mrs. Lu smiled gently and explained, "It's not necessarily because you are sick. You should write a letter and ask your family when you have time."
When the words came to her lips, Lu did not say the happy words. After all, sitting opposite was a young man who had not yet reached his prime.
"Yes, I would like to thank Second Madam Xu for her concern." Ye Qingchen replied politely without any unnecessary expression on his face.
Xu Gucheng glanced at Mr. Lu with a doting look, then looked at Ye Qingchen, and said with a smile: "Da Lang, take Ye Fifteenth Lang to the study room in the front yard. The Fourth Lang of the Ji family will come over later, and we will have lunch together." Meal. The three of you will take part in the imperial examination next year, so pay more attention to this year's imperial examination."
"Yes, father."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Xu. I will take my leave now."
The two said goodbye, and their conversation could be vaguely heard in the house.
"This year's imperial examination..."
"Could it be him?"
…
After Xu Gucheng heard this, he turned around and asked Xu Nuo: "Liu Niang, what do you think? You and Ding Jia Si Lang have an intersection, what do you think?"
Xu Nuo opened her eyes wide and looked at Xu Gucheng in disbelief. She didn't expect that Xu Gucheng would ask her this question.
Many people in this era believed that women should only be responsible for major and minor matters in the inner court. They should serve their husbands well and be a good female worker. Everything in the outer court had nothing to do with women.
Xu Nuo knew that her father would tell her something to her mother, but she didn't expect that her father would be willing to ask her these questions now.
He straightened his back a little and answered with a slight smile: "I have always heard people say that Silang Ding is the only one who learns well. I also saw his lyrics at several banquets in Suzhou. It is really eye-catching."
Xu Gucheng nodded after hearing this and motioned for Xu Nuo to continue.
"But his poetry will become more and more interesting when recited." After speaking, Xu Nuo narrowed his eyes, waiting for Xu Gucheng's answer.
By saying this, she had already told Xu Gucheng that she did not think Ding Mo would become the top pick in this year's palace examination.
---
ps: The provincial examination is an examination held by the Ministry of Rites in February and March every year. It is also called Chunwei. The first person is called a member. The examination is held in Gongyuan. (To be continued.)
