A few days later, on the wide Qingshui River, an official ship was sailing along with the wind.
Since Mrs. Qian was pregnant with Liujia, the journey to Wangjing was long, and she couldn't bear the bumpy carriage and horses all the way, for fear of inflating the fetus, so Qian Qianli simply pretended to be a public servant, and commandeered an official ship based on his prestige as the prime minister's son. The Qingshui River has always been stable. Although it is a little slow, it is indeed good for my wife.
Qian Chao sat on the side of the boat and tied a fishing line with a bamboo pole. The hook was thrown into the river. As the boat moved in the water, the fishing line drew long ripples on the water.
"Chao'er, you can't catch fish like that. Come here quickly, be careful not to fall into the water." Mrs. Qian said to her son.
"Let him go, it will save him from restlessness."
There was a chair on the deck, and Qian Qianli was sitting on the chair reading a book. There was a teapot on the small table next to him, and the fragrant tea in the teacup was steaming. He is not worried about his son. There is a family member in the house who is familiar with water standing next to Qian Chao. His task is to guard Qian Chao at every step to prevent him from being in danger.
"The hook is biting, the hook is biting, there is a fish, there is a fish!" Suddenly Qian Chao started shouting, and sure enough, the fishing line was straight and the bamboo pole was slightly bent.
"It's such a big fish, I can't pull it up."
Qian Chao tried hard to pull up the biting fish, but he was young and naturally weak. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull the fish out. It looked like the fish was not small. The family members who were ordered to stay by Qian Chao's side immediately took over Qian Chao's fishing rod. He was afraid that the fish would be too big and bring his young master into the water, which would be terrible.
"Hard, hard." Qian Chao, who was standing aside, cheered the big man hard.
"It seems really big!" The family member couldn't pull the fish out even though he tried hard. "Hey!" The family member said fiercely, and with a "pop" sound, a patch of waterweed was brought out by the fishing line, and a circle was drawn in the air and a series of water droplets fell on the deck.
"Haha" Mrs. Qian was the first to laugh, "This is your fish!"
Qian Qianli also closed the book and looked at his son smiling.
Qian Chao kicked the aquatic plants with his feet. After confirming that there were no fish inside, he was very disappointed. He kicked the aquatic plants back into the water, looked up and asked his family members who were helping him fish, "Do we have a net on the boat?"
"Nonsense, this is an official ship, not a fishing boat. Why is there a net? You stay here and don't make any more nonsense." Before the family member could speak, Mrs. Qian spoke first.
As soon as he got on the ship, Qian Chao, who had rarely been on a ship, was very excited. He was wandering up and down the deck, in the passenger cabin and cargo hold, but after setting off, he couldn't get off the ship. No matter how big the official ship was, it only had such a small space, and the ship could not move very well. He was not happy, so Qian Chao, who was always lively and used to it, soon felt bored.
So Qian Qianli put a chessboard on the deck and played with his son with black and white stones. However, Qian Qianli didn't put much effort into his chess skills and soon lost one game after another. He watched his son put one hand in his mouth. He was delivering candied fruit in his pocket, and was using his other hand to eat his big dragon lightly on the chessboard. As an old man, he felt an unknown rage in his heart. He casually slapped his son's forehead twice with explosive chestnuts, and was then pushed by Mrs. Qian who smiled. opened. Mrs. Qian was a well-known and talented woman before she left the court. She was very accomplished in chess, calligraphy and painting, especially chess, for which she was taught by famous masters. However, even so, she could barely survive in front of her son without being defeated miserably.
After boarding the boat, Mrs. Qian watched her husband read, controlled her son's mischief, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the river. She really enjoyed some family happiness. However, what her husband said to her that night was like a big stone weighing on her heart. , so that every time she saw her son's running back, she unconsciously felt a trace of pity in her eyes, hoping that the boat would never reach the dock in Wangjing.
But thinking about it, after more than twenty days of sailing, they arrived at Wangjing Pier. The family got off the boat and got on the carriage, following the bustling crowd of people in Wangjing, and entered the Prime Minister's Palace.
On the day Qian Qianli and his family arrived, they were taking a break in the court, and Prime Minister Qian Jiangyun was in the palace. Qian Qianli first took his family to visit his father, then visited Qian Jiangyun's wives and concubines in turn, and finally came to the courtyard of his biological mother Cai, where the family was the most relaxed and friendly place.
Mrs. Cai was extremely happy to see her son and daughter-in-law, especially her grandson. She held her beloved in her arms and loved her for a long time. She also asked the serving maid to bring Qian Chao some candied fruits and let him eat them until Qian Qianli gave them away. After Qian Chao went out to play and told him not to get into trouble, the mother, son, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat together and talked.
Mrs. Cai came with her daughter-in-law when she saw that she was pregnant. She knew that her daughter-in-law already knew the purpose of returning to Wangjing this time. Seeing a hint of sadness in her eyes, she comforted Mrs. Qian and said, "You don't have to be too sad, you don't necessarily have to choose." Yes. Besides, it’s not a bad thing if you choose. It’s not like you can’t come back if you choose. I heard that the ancestor also came back after he was chosen. It is said that he even gave his parents a final death. Don’t worry too much. , you will not raise a son in vain. But you still have one in your belly. Don’t leave after this time. Wait until the child is born and then leave when he is older. This is safe. Otherwise, I will go find Qianli My father asked him to find an official position for Qianli in Wangjing. I don’t ask for Qianli’s ability to be great, I just ask that you can come and see me from time to time. "
Qian Qianli and his wife quickly said yes. Qian Qianli said: "Dad, there is no shortage of people to take care of us here. My son has been thinking about this for a long time. He will take his mother to Yuecheng together so that he can take care of him sooner or later."
Mrs. Cai was very happy to hear this, and even said that after her daughter-in-law gave birth, the three generations of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would go back to Yuecheng to live together.
Qian Qianli asked again: "When I come back this time, I don't know when I can see the ancestor again." He still had something in mind to kowtow to the ancestor, so he asked.
Mrs. Cai naturally knew her son's thoughts and said, "You don't have to worry about this. The other rooms that you arrived earlier are the ancestors that adults and children went to meet that night. Your father will definitely come to see you tonight, just wait. "
(Ancestor of the Qian family)
Sure enough, at night, Qian Jiangyun sent people to find Cai, Qian Qianli and his wife, and Qian Chao, and they had a purely family dinner together. There was no one else except these five people. During the dinner, Qian Chao became a master, and he really earned enough face for Qian Qianli. When faced with the questions from his prime minister, Qian Chao did not rush, quoted scriptures, and made witty remarks, which made Qian Jiangyun Laohuai couldn't help but feel relieved. He stroked his beard and laughed.
After the meal, under Qian Qianli's look, Mrs. Qian and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Cai, went back with the help of their maid. Only Qian Jiangyun's ancestors and grandson were left in the hall.
"Let's go, take you to see your ancestors." Qian Jiangyun said, seeming to be very satisfied with Qian Chao, and even reached out to hold Qian Chao's hand and walked in front.
After passing through countless moon gates and turning around several corridors, the three of them finally arrived at a secluded courtyard in the Qian Mansion. There was only a simple hut in the courtyard, and light shone through the house.
Qian Jiangyun stood in front of the hut and even adjusted his robes. Before he could speak, the door opened and someone in the house said, "Come in."
After straightening his clothes, Qian Jiangyun entered the house and bowed, saying, "I have met Lord Gaozu."
Qian Qianli and Qian Chao knelt behind Qian Jiangyun and said together: "Greetings to our ancestors."
The room was simply furnished, with only a table, a futon, and a bed. Sitting on the futon was a thin, black-bearded middle-aged man. The man said, "Get up."
Qian Jiangyun and Qian Qianli stood up and stood in front of the case, but Qian Chao still kneeled there.
"Is this Qianli's child?"
Qian Jiangyun bent down and said, "Exactly, this child's name is Qian Chao."
"Well, kid, come here and let me take a look at you." the middle-aged man said.
Qian Chao did not stand up, but walked to the case on his knees, raised his head and knelt straight to let the ancestor look at it carefully.
After a moment, the middle-aged man nodded, stretched out his hand and said, "Give me your hand."
Qian Chao stretched out his right hand and let the middle-aged man grab it. After a while, he let go and listened to the middle-aged ancestor say to him, "Do you still remember the way you came here?"
"Remember."
"Then go back to your mother. You have nothing to do here."
"Yes" Qian Chao kowtowed respectfully again.
After Qian Chao left, Qian Jiangyun and Qian Qianli both looked at the middle-aged man inquiringly. The middle-aged man asked: "Qianli was the last one to arrive, right?"
"Yes, Chao'er's mother is pregnant. They took the water route, so they were a little slow." Qian Jiangyun replied.
"That is to say, Chao'er is the last child to arrive." Before the middle-aged man could finish speaking, Qian Jiangyun had already knelt down and asked, "Great Master, how is Chao'er?" Upon seeing this, Qian Qianli hurriedly knelt down.
"I have only dabbled in the art of observing people, not proficient in it. In my opinion, those children before Chao'er have little hope. The Qian family is not optimistic about this election. If they can still barely join me, What is eye-catching is this trendy kid. Unfortunately, this kid's qualifications are probably between good and bad. I don't know which senior in the sect will be in charge of this election. Alas, if you can't say it, you will fight. After seeing this old face, maybe there is still some hope.”
Qian Jiangyun seemed to be relieved after hearing this, but Qian Qianli hit the ground with his forehead again.
"I heard that Chao'er was born precocious, just like your two children who died young?" The middle-aged man naturally knew what he meant, so he turned to ask Qian Jiangyun.
"That's right." Qian Jiangyun replied.
"My Chao Chao boy's face is not a sign of longevity. I'm afraid it won't be easy to grow up here." As soon as the middle-aged man said this, Qian Qianli was shocked when he heard it, and he knocked on the floor loudly. .
"Well, it doesn't have to be like this. Even if the trendy kid can't be selected this time, I will work hard to protect this child's safety. This child is born with intelligence, which is rare in the world. Regardless of whether he can be selected or not, Do you understand that the Qian family will have this child in the future?" the middle-aged man asked.
"clear!"
"Just understand. Don't delay here. The messenger from the first election will arrive in a few days. Go ahead."
After the father and son left the courtyard, Qian Jiangyun said to Qian Qianli: "After all, there is still a glimmer of hope. Just spend the next few days with your child." He had already planned that even if he failed in the first election, Qian Chao would still If you stay in Wangjing and study, you will be able to get a good reputation for future promotion.
Qian Qianli naturally knew his father's plan. As he had told his wife before, it was just that she would not be willing to part with it. Chao'er was her heartthrob.
"Chao'er met his ancestors for the first time today. He has a well-founded approach and thoughtful etiquette. Not bad, not bad." Qian Jiangyun said to his son when they parted.
These words made Qian Qianli's heart skip a beat. Yes, he had only told his wife about the first-class selection. Why did this boy behave like he already knew about it today? However, Chao'er was weird and he probably overheard it. Since Eavesdropping, the child probably knew about his premature death. Since the child didn't say anything, his father also wouldn't say anything and just let nature take its course.
A few days passed by in a flash. In the past few days, Qian Chao did not go out to have fun, but stayed in Cai's yard to spend time with his relatives. The other Qian family children from the Prime Minister's Office came to participate in this election. The same is true. The Prime Minister's Office has closed its doors to thank guests for several days. Qian Jiangyun didn't even go to court at home, waiting wholeheartedly for the day of the first election.
