The banquet that night was very lively. It was the first time for Xi Duanhong to participate in such a banquet. He felt very fresh about it. He looked up and saw that the middle-aged man sitting directly above him, who looked like a scholar, was the senior gentleman of the academy - Chen Hou.
This person was also the host of the banquet. Chen Shuli and another man who had never been seen before sat on either side.
Xi Duanhong curiously looked at Gu Ci next to him and said, "We know that Chief Chen, but who is the person on the right? He is on an equal footing with Chief Chen?"
Gu Ci smiled slightly and responded in a low voice: "That person is from the palace, not from the academy. It is said that this banquet was not originally ordered by Mr. Da, but by the palace."
"I see..."
The man stood up and said, "This banquet has officially begun! According to the order of the Holy Empress, the banquet will be held at the same time as a duet and a defense. The topic of the defense is "Monarch and Minister", and the duet is "Qin, Chess, Calligraphy and Painting". You can draw lots later. Decide."
"The defense is in groups of four, and Yadou is also in groups of four. Based on the overall ranking, the winner will receive the only reward of this banquet."
While he was talking, an attendant had already brought the lottery bucket up.
Xi Duanhong looked at the three people around him in confusion, "Are we participating in the defense or the competition?"
Mu Lingchuan was drinking with the young boy beside him. Xi Duanhong looked a little embarrassed when he saw the two of them, "I'm so drunk from the beginning, ugh..."
"It's okay, just reply. I think they are not that drunk."
As harmonious as this place was, the people sitting opposite them were jealous. Xi Duanhong noticed from the beginning of the banquet that the person sitting opposite him was Nan Lian who came to talk to her in the afternoon.
"Miss Xi, it looks like you've been targeted?" Mu Lingchuan came over and was so drunk that he almost fell down, "Have you made your choice? I'm still waiting to 'kill everyone'!"
It's so funny to see him with red cheeks, shaking and unsteady.
"Okay, if that's the case, let's take the answer!"
Seeing Gu Ci get up and go to the front to draw lots, Nan Lian, who was sitting opposite them, also got up and passed over. Mu Lingchuan came to sit next to Xi Duanhong, "Tsk, this girl is really persistent, Duanhong, aren't you? Have a grudge against her?"
Xi Duanhong looked at Mu Lingchuan inexplicably, "Did you sober up so quickly?"
"I am not drunk."
"I don't know why she dislikes me."
The corners of Mu Lingchuan's lips raised, "I'll tell you a secret. Do you want to hear it?"
"What?"
"Her father's position as a fourth-rank minister is not honorable, and he has secretly sent someone to investigate the corruption and bribery."
Xi Duanhong looked at Nan Lian's figure in shock and disbelief, but he couldn't help but be curious and turned back to Mu Lingchuan, "How do you know? If what you said is true, then who are you?" ?”
"Smart girl, the answer is what you think in your heart. If you know it, don't say it. It would be pointless if you say it."
Xi Duanhong looked at Mu Lingchuan with a different expression. She never thought that one day she would come into contact with these people and things that she would never come into contact with in her life.
"Oh, by the way, there is no precedent for a woman to become an official in the court. If you pass the college examination, provincial examination, general examination and finally take the palace examination, if you can get the top three, you can enter the court as an official. Miss Xi, why not give it a try? "
The young boy on the side remained silent, but when he heard Mu Lingchuan trying to recruit Xi Duanhong, he looked over unconsciously. He was also curious about her choice.
"If the girl is ambitious, this young master may be a stepping stone for her."
“…….”.
Just when Xi Duanhong didn't know what to choose, Gu Ci came back with the lottery in his hand, "We have drawn the third game, and our opponent is the group sitting opposite us."
Xi Duanhong looked at Nan Lian sitting opposite him, and then remembered what Mu Lingchuan had just said in his ear. He looked at Nan Lian with a little pity in his eyes. On the contrary, Nan Lian opposite him was provocative. looked at Xi Duanhong.
"Did the examiner just ask for anything?" Mu Lingchuan glanced at the person opposite, "We have to be prepared."
"The defenses will be conducted in order. The order was just arranged by the examiner. Our order is Mu Lingchuan, me, Xi Duanhong and Qingtong,"
"Do you know the person on the other side?"
"Li Ting, Nan Lian, Li Ting, Le Feng."
Xi Duanhong was stunned immediately and looked at Gu Ci in disbelief, "You, you just said that Le Feng is also in their group?"
Gu Ci nodded, "What's wrong? Is that Le Feng someone you know?"
Xi Duanhong nodded and couldn't help showing a bit of embarrassment, "Yes, we met when we first came here, but they were forced to separate after a short time. Ah Feng has the weakest temperament, so it's a pity that they may bully her. ”
The three of them nodded thoughtfully, "Even if this is the case, why not...?"
"Absolutely not," Xi Duanhong immediately interrupted Gu Ci, "How could I not know what the young master means? It doesn't have to be like this."
"It doesn't matter."
Xi Duanhong lowered his head and smiled. It felt so good to be trusted by someone so much.
