Cold Food Festival.
There are no fireworks today, only cold food will be eaten, and there are no classes in the Imperial College. The Du family plans to go out to the city for a memorial ceremony, and they have invited Xue Bai a while ago.
Xue Bai actually didn't want to go because the Du sisters didn't go and Lu Fengniang kept asking him to see the Lu family's daughter.
"Do I just want to go?"
Du Wulang arrived at Xue's house early, sat in the study and yawned: "My mother has been planning for a long time, so I have no choice but to go." I also asked the three of them and said that the reexamination was coming soon, and we had to go to Qujiang Literary Society today. If you have time, you can go and look for them."
"Go ahead. I'll go to the teacher's house first."
"Hey, who wrote this?" Du Wulang suddenly looked over, a little surprised. "Did you write it? Your level is even better than mine. What kind of article is this? It's quite interesting."
"Let's go."
Xue Bai was too lazy to talk to Du Wulang, so he packed up his copybook and walked out.
The two walked to the front yard and saw several children of the Xue family packing their carriage and preparing to go to the outskirts of the city together. Du Wulang then stopped and said, "You go to the teacher's house, I'll wait for you here."
"If you are like this, how can you improve your writing and calligraphy?"
"Hey, don't imitate Dr. Zheng's tone. It's rare that I don't have any homework today." Du Wulang walked away and said to Xue Xin, "I have a cat in my yard. Do you want to go see it tonight?"
"What's so good about that? Fifth brother is too childish."
…
The Yan family did not have a funeral today, but Yan Zhenqing went to attend to matters early.
When Xue Bai arrived, Yan Yan was sitting in the lobby wrapped in a thick blanket, yawning and talking to Wei Yun.
"Here you come? I'm going to Yuzhen Temple today. When will brother send me there?"
Xue Bai saw the cunning in her eyes, and suddenly thought of what he had agreed to Li Tengkong in prison, and was stunned.
I don’t know if Yan Yan knew anything before deliberately reminding her.
Wei Yun said: "You child, as a mother, I will go with you. How come your brother always goes to the female Taoist temple?"
"oh."
Yan Yan responded honestly, turned to Xue Bai and asked: "Brother's novel today... No, where is the calligraphy and prose?"
Recently, she not only taught him calligraphy, but also taught him how to write poems.
Xue Bai once didn't know what to write. He thought of Pu Songling's "Wolf" and tried to write it in classical Chinese according to the outline of the story he still remembered. Yan Yan looked at it and said that he had not yet learned parallel prose, so this strange story was just a good way to practice writing, so he asked him to write a strange story every day and send it to him.
He had known that this little girl actually wanted to read a story, but she could always point out problems in choosing words and sentences, which greatly improved his writing skills.
Today, she had just woken up, so it was rare for her to spill the beans.
"Hey, A Chinese Ghost Story."
Yan Yan took the scroll and opened it. She was very interested in today's poem just by looking at the title. But when she pulled the scroll to the end, she shook her head.
"Brother, I only write these words every day. When will I be able to make any progress? Spring has passed. As far as I know, autumn is the time for the Imperial College Examination, right?"
She knew that Xue Bai was smart, but she felt satisfied that such a smart person could not do anything to her.
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Yun lightly knocked him on the head.
"No matter how big or small you are, who taught you to talk like this?"
"Grandma taught me."
Having said that, Yan Yan still took out yesterday's "Painted Skin" and handed it over.
Xue Bai took it and opened it, only to see many more comments on it.
If any character he wrote was too ugly, Yan Yan would cover it with a red pen and rewrite it to make it easier to compare the glyphs. Any grammatical deficiencies are written in beautiful small letters on the side.
For example, he wrote "the door is not bolted" but she changed it to "the door is ajar".
Looking further back, the four words "get married" were changed to "wish Xiu Yan well". On the contrary, Xue Bai was stunned for a moment, feeling Wei Yun's gaze, and he subconsciously lifted the scroll.
Yan Yan proudly put away today's story scroll, raised her head, smiled obediently, and started to give instructions.
"My brother's writing is still too sharp. As the saying goes, there should be a response even if there are setbacks, so that the strokes will be relaxed..."
Xue Bai took note of it carefully, then bowed to Master Xiang and left.
Yan Yan glanced outside and whispered: "Auntie, I want to take several scrolls from my study to Yuzhen Temple."
~~
Back home, Xue Bai put away the scroll first, while Qing Lan had packed the cold food for today.
Du Wulang dug a small tree from somewhere and wanted to plant it in the Xue family's courtyard. Xue Sanniang and Xue Xin were helping. Xue Xin complained from time to time: "Fifth brother, this will affect my sword practice."
"I have never seen an empty courtyard than yours. Where can't I play? This tree has grown and can separate my daughter's boudoir from your east wing."
"When this tree grows up, my sisters and sisters will get married."
"Don't talk nonsense." Xue Sanniang blushed and gave Xue Xin a lesson.
"Let's go." Xue Bai said.
The men rode horses and the women rode in cars, heading east to join the Du family at Jingshanfang, Zhuque Street, and headed south.
Du Wulang and Xue Bai walked side by side and asked, "Is your third sister's maiden name Yunniang?"
"It seems so."
"You don't even know this?"
"I usually just call the rankings."
Since Xue Bai knew that they were not biological sisters, he had always avoided getting too close, which was indeed a bit strange.
Du Wulang saw that he was indeed a self-respecting gentleman, and he was a little admired. He asked, "Hey, have you thought about it? What will you do in a while? My cousin's daughter is very overbearing, and she doesn't look as good as Mrs. Zong."
"Your mother-in-law clearly said that we are all ladies, dignified and decent."
"Of course I should be dignified in front of her." Du Wulang sighed: "I also have to find a way to prevent the Pei family's young lady from falling in love with me."
"Do you have any idea?"
"too difficult."
~~
After sweeping the ceremony, everyone went to the Pei family's home to say goodbye.
Xue Bai came here once when he followed Yan Zhenqing to investigate the case. He came here again today and saw the Pei family's carriage, which made him realize the illustrious family background of the Wenxi Pei family.
Pei Kuan had eight brothers, all of whom were Jinshi, Mingjing, and served as local officials. Their houses in Luoyang are connected together, and they have hundreds of children, all of whom are talented.
According to the information Du Jin asked Xue Bai, "Everyone in the east of Hedong hopes that Pei Kuan will become the prime minister." This means that Pei Kuan has made great contributions in the appointment of Fan Yang Jiedushi, and even the barbarians in the north are grateful for his kindness. It is understandable that the saint was afraid of his prestige and transferred him back to the court, but his refusal to worship the prime minister has made many people dissatisfied.
For a representative of a prominent family in Hedong to achieve such fame and qualifications and enter the court as a border commander but not become the prime minister, it is not a matter of humiliation for him alone.
In Xue Bai's opinion, it was impossible for Pei Kuan to give in even if he was pushed to this point...
It is precisely because of this analysis that when he came today, what he wanted to see most was Pei Kuan.
"Today is the Cold Food Festival. I will treat you all to cold food at noon."
"Mr. Pei is too polite."
"I will introduce you to Mr. Pei. This is Quanzi Du Qi. This is Quanzi's good friend Xue Bai. I also regard him as my nephew."
"Hahaha, I have met Xue Xiaolangzi, and I have also read his manuscripts. His poems are very good."
"Alang, the Lu family is here too..."
Everyone was talking in the front hall of the manor, while Lu Fengniang took the women to the backyard and smiled and whispered to Pei and Lu's young ladies.
Pei Liu Niang and Lu Siniang blushed a little, but they still followed the instructions and looked at each other in the front hall.
They were at the marriageable age for women in the Tang Dynasty, and they were actually very beautiful. If I have to pick some flaws, Pei Liu Niang's neck is slightly tilted forward, and the gap between Lu Siniang's front teeth is a bit wide.
Climbing up to the small attic and standing by the bead curtain, you can see the front hall clearly.
"Those two are the ones."
Pei Liu Niang was attracted by a figure as soon as she climbed the stairs. She looked in the direction pointed by the maid, her eyes lit up, and she said with joy and shame: "Is that Wu Lang of the Du family? I have heard that A Niang has told many stories about him. , running to save his father, running a restaurant, enrolling in the Imperial College, and maintaining the examination room, he is really a heroic young man."
The maid next to her was also delighted and asked, "Are Liu Niang satisfied?"
"Yes." Pei Liuniang immediately lowered her head and responded shyly.
"Are you satisfied, Fourth Mother?"
"Um."
Lu Siniang also bowed her head and responded.
At this time, the matrons and ladies just climbed up to the attic and asked with a smile: "Have you seen them?"
"Madam, I've seen it all, and Liu Niang said she's satisfied."
Pei Liu Niang looked at Lu Feng Niang again, and her attitude changed; Lu Siniang also secretly looked at Liu Xiangjun.
This happy scene did not last long.
When Lu Siniang whispered, "Xue Lang is more handsome than I thought," Pei Liu Niang was stunned and looked at the person she thought was "Xue Langjun". She felt that even though that face could be called blessed and cute, , should it not be called handsome.
"Sister, are you making a mistake?"
"How could I be wrong? Don't I recognize my aunt's fifth brother? I didn't expect you to be satisfied at first sight. He is a very good person..."
Pei Liu Niang burst into tears immediately.
Fortunately, she didn't feel sad for long. Not long after, Lu Siniang's mother-in-law arrived, took her daughter and left.
"Who asked you to come here to see me? Your grandfather even said that it was the face of Mrs. Guo Guo. She was still my cousin, but she pushed her into the fire pit..."
"Me?" Lu Fengniang asked angrily: "After the royal banquet, who came to tell me first?"
The two sisters-in-law only had a few words of quarrel, and Lu Siniang was already crying.
Pei Liu Niang got the idea and cried out: "Ugh, if the Lu family's sister doesn't want to get married, I won't get married either!"
"Who said I won't get married? I'm going to get married, I have to get married, woo woo..."
~~
Xue Bai had left the front hall and was led by his servants to relieve himself. When he came out, he happened to meet Pei Kuan at the Yimen.
"Mr. Pei."
"How about a cup of cold tea?" Pei Kuan asked with a smile on his hands.
Xue Bai responded: "I don't dare to ask my ears, but I have my wish."
The old and the young sat down in the yard beside each other in a tacit understanding.
Pei Kuan said slowly: "I heard that you also have a teacher named Han Yu?"
Xue Bai responded with a smile: "I thought Mr. Pei wanted to know something more useful."
Pei Kuan didn't expect him to be so straightforward. After pondering for a long time, he asked: "You are too young and have got involved in too many things..."
"The time has come to defeat Li Linfu." Xue Bai didn't wait for him to continue testing and went straight in. "I exposed the water transport matter in front of everyone. The saint did not blame me. Instead, he kept me as a servant and gave me a generous reward. Why?"
Pei Kuan smiled and said, "You are still young."
"Because the saint is dissatisfied with Ge Nu, he has made great achievements and expanded the Qing Palace, which requires a huge amount of money. However, Ge Nu is greedy, and the saint has become suspicious. I have told the East Palace about this matter, does Mr. Pei know?"
Xue Bai was determined that Li Heng would not tell Pei Kuan this.
Li Heng was a son and could tolerate everything. He would not take the initiative to trouble Li Linfu because of Xue Bai's instigation. In particular, the idea of two tax laws that Xue Bai gave Fang Guan could not be used at all.
But Pei Kuan is different. Once he learns of Li Linfu's flaws, he will definitely take action.
However, Pei Kuan was close to the East Palace, and the saint would think that he was the envoy of the East Palace.
really.
Pei Kuan twirled his long beard and pondered, and murmured deliberately: "No wonder... Fang Guan has been planning to 'supervise the construction of Huaqing Palace' recently."
"I told him." Xue Bai said, "He didn't tell Mr. Pei?"
"You're such a jerk." Pei Kuan was still trying to dominate the situation.
"It seems that Dong Gong is forbearing and doesn't plan to seek a position for Mr. Pei? Then Mr. Pei can consider us."
Having said this, Xue Bai was not in a hurry, stopped talking, raised the cold tea on the table and took a sip.
Today, he spoke bluntly, as if he had no words at all.
Because facing Pei Kuan, there is no need to beat around the bush, the interests are clear, and the enemy and ourselves are clear.
In fact, Li Linfu also knew about Pei Kuan's threat to the prime minister. Now that Li Shizhi had been demoted, Pei Kuan must be at the top of the list of enemies in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, and where would Xue Bai be?
Pei Kuan was actually anxious to death, and the more straightforward his words were, the more effective he would be.
really.
"who are you?"
Now that Pei Kuan no longer talks about "fresh young" and "Shu Zi", Xue Bai is not in a hurry and asks calmly: "Mr. Pei is asking about this, does he want to tell the East Palace?"
"You can't trust me?"
"Believe me, Mr. Pei, or I won't come today." Xue Bai was very proud and muttered: "Let's put it this way, a while ago I presented the method of cutting salt to my uncle, and Genu was very vigilant about it and guarded against it. Mr. Pei looks at the current situation again, what would happen if someone could help my uncle?"
This "uncle of the state" is not Yang Zhao, but Yang Guifei's elder brother Yang Wei, who worships Hongluqing and Shangzhuguo.
As expected, Pei Kuan raised his eyebrows, leaned forward, and whispered: "You have a plan?"
Xue Bai smiled but did not answer, lowering his head to drink tea.
"You kid." Pei Kuan sighed: "You still can't trust me."
"Pei Gong once guided me in writing poems, so I have a few small things to remind you." Xue Bai said: "I heard that Pei Gong is close to Yichun Prefect Li Gong?"
When Li Shizhi was mentioned, Pei Kuan's eyes were really sad and he couldn't hide them.
Since he entered the court, he has wanted to recruit Dong Palace to deal with Li Linfu, but Dong Palace has difficulty in protecting itself and has never taken action.
Xue Bai said: "I also learned that there are rumors in Chang'an that Genu had a dream not long ago. He dreamed that a fair-skinned, bearded, tall and elegant man was approaching him and stuck to him, unable to push away. After he woke up, he said to his subordinates, 'He looks like Pei Kuan, it's because Pei Kuan wanted to replace me'!"
Pei Kuan immediately felt a chill running down his spine.
He knew very well that after Yan Tingzhi, Zhang Jiuling, Wei Jian, Huangfu Weiming, Yang Shenjin, Li Shizhi and others, it was his turn.
Trying to calm down, Pei Kuan hid his hands in his sleeves, squeezed them hard, and asked, "Really?"
"Pei Gong asked you like this?"
"Where did you hear that?"
This was what Da Xi Yingying found out in the Youxiang Mansion, but Xue Bai would not tell the truth and only said: "I have my own way."
"What do you want from contacting me?"
Xue Bai pondered and said, "Several of my friends are about to re-examine in the spring. I wonder if Mr. Pei can take action?"
Pei Kuan frowned slightly.
All eight of his brothers have passed the exam, so there is no shortage of connections in this area. Moreover, as an official censor, he actually had more power to supervise the examination than Wang Zhi.
"If I were to make a guess, out of the five Chun Wei disciples, three of them would take the exam, and one of them would probably pass to calm the situation, while the other two would be dismissed and given a light punishment."
"All three of them are extraordinary."
Pei Kuan first twirled his beard and pondered, looking a little embarrassed, but finally smiled casually, stroked his beard and said, "I heard you said before that you plan to take the annual exam this autumn and the provincial exam in the spring?"
"yes."
"You are good at writing poems. If I could host a spring wedding, I would definitely nominate you as the leader."
Since Pei Kuan decided to agree to Xue Bai's request, he might as well make another promise and let the people behind Xue Bai find him the position of prime minister.
But this promise is anything but equitable. For example, if Pei Kuan can help Xue Bai become prime minister, Prime Minister Xue Bai can easily nominate Pei Kuan as the number one scholar.
Upon hearing this, Xue Bai was a little disappointed. He felt that Pei Kuan was not good at political power, had high ambitions and low abilities, and had the same problems as Yang Shenjin of a noble son. He was afraid that it would be difficult for him to survive Li Linfu's criticism.
Now was not the time to be disgusted. He looked happy and said, "Well, thank you very much, Mr. Pei."
Pei Kuan stroked his beard, smiled gracefully, and asked, "When will I be brought to see my uncle?"
"How about we talk about it after the re-examination?"
"That's fine."
This was not the time for a long conversation. The two of them looked at each other and smiled, stood up and walked through the huge Bieye Manor.
I drank two cups of coffee today and kept writing, and I finally caught up with the publishing time~~Thank you to the new leader, I am usually too busy, so I will thank you again at the end of the month~~I feel that the ranking has been falling, please vote and subscribe~~
(End of chapter)
