Outside the Yamen, the atmosphere was generally joyful.
Li Fusu looked back, about to laugh, but saw the expressions of Li Xian and his wife, and was slightly startled:
"Father and mother, what's wrong with you? Why don't you speak?"
"Ah, I was a little distracted just now. It's okay. Liang Han has been promoted and has a bright future. It's obvious to me."
Li Xian looked sad and happy at the same time, waved his hands, sighed and said:
"This is what Liang Han's virtuous nephew deserves, and he is worthy of him."
The rich man couldn't help but relax his shoulders, turned his head and looked at his wife Wei Mei, and continued to murmur:
"Gold will always shine. We should have thought of it a long time ago. With the talents and achievements of Liang Han's nephew, it is only natural that he can be promoted to the capital, be appointed as the imperial censor, and have a bright future. The latent dragon is in the Yuan Dynasty. , soaring into the sky, not empty at all..."
Li Fusu listened and suddenly opened his eyes, thinking clearly about the pros and cons of this matter.
Needless to say, the pros and cons are that he has a bright future and can no longer win over Brother Lianghan to stay with their family.
The sixth-ranking official in the capital does not serve as a censor, but stays in this inhospitable place to wait for them?
"There are experts over there in Luo Jing. They have a sharp eye and can see what Liang Han is capable of."
Li Xian's voice came. He rubbed his tired face, felt a little downcast and murmured:
"That's right, this kind of relic in the wild is like a pearl in the night, how can he hide it secretly..."
When Li Fusu heard this, he felt disappointed in his eyes, but he was also happy from the bottom of his heart that his friend was promoted. He had mixed emotions:
"Father, let's not delay..."
Li Xian turned around and interrupted directly:
"Da Lang, go back to your house now and prepare a heavy gift, plus a hundred taels of gold, as a gift. After the envoy from the capital of God leaves, send the gift to the Meilin Courtyard."
The middle-aged wealthy man ordered with a smile, but could not hide the sad look in his eyes. Wei Mei stretched out her hand and gently covered the back of his hand.
Li Guoer silently listened to the words of the family behind her for a while. She suddenly turned her head and asked the smiling woman in red clothes in front of her:
"Sister Xie is also going to the capital?"
Xie Lingjiang didn't look back or answer, but asked softly:
"How can sister Guo'er keep him now? Have you thought of a way? Do you need my help?"
Li Bao'er bit her lip and was silent for a while. She turned away, stared at the floor tiles next to her, and said unexpectedly:
"In Sister Xie's eyes, is Guo'er such a pure and unscrupulous person?"
"Sister Guo'er, can you also be ashamed?"
Xie Lingjiang nodded, gently caressed the long and narrow sword box at his feet with his soft fingers, lowered his eyes and said:
"If Senior Brother doesn't want to leave, he won't leave at all. If he wants to leave, no matter how white lies, he will leave and won't be able to stay.
"Just like now, how can sister Guo'er keep him?
"Promise to be granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister? Is the eldest brother the kind of person who eats big cakes?
"Besides, with Senior Brother's ability, this weak sixth-grade man's bright future is soaring into the sky, is this difficult?
"If we only talk about pros and cons and not about friendship, why should we just bet on your family?
“Obviously there are more powerful and reliable choices such as Prince Xiang’s Mansion, Prince Wei’s Mansion, and Princess Changle, but the odds of winning both on and off the table are not higher than your family’s?
"No matter what happens, you can remain neutral for the time being and follow whoever wins, or you can climb the mountain alone, accumulate capital, and wait for the future to be won over by the begging of all parties vying for the throne.
“Weighing the pros and cons again, if you fall off your butt and make a lot of money, wouldn’t you be more sophisticated and safe?
"Why do you have to make such a desperate move so early and take such a big risk for nothing?"
Li Guo'er was speechless, and the palm-sized hibiscus face under the snow-white gauze blushed.
The little girl was a little embarrassed.
Xie Lingjiang didn't look back at her. He pressed half of the catkin on the edge of the box, closed his eyes and said:
"So I've already said that there are some things that you don't need to hide from him. Besides, you can hide it for a while, but can you hide it for a lifetime?"
She seemed to be asking someone, but also seemed to be asking herself.
Li Guo'er was quiet for a while, then asked without raising her head: "In that matter, Sister Xie still blames us a little?"
The girl in red clothes turned her head and said in a serious tone: "Is this called resentment?"
Li Guo'er found that Sister Xie's way of speaking became more and more intriguing, and she didn't know who she learned the "bad" thing from.
Li Guoer lowered his head and sighed softly:
"I don't blame Sister Xie for criticizing. The way we did it at the time was indeed... need to be discussed. But if we mention it now, wouldn't we lose even more points and make everyone feel embarrassed?"
Halfway through Li Guo'er's words, he suddenly found a white jade palm stretched out in front of his eyes.
"Bring me your wallet and borrow it for a while."
Xie Lingjiang was not polite and reached out to ask for:
"My little treasury has been invested in the newly established Baby Care Department. In the past six months, I have tried to stand on my own feet. I haven't asked my father for a loan for a long time, and I am too lazy to go to Xie Zhai in Wuyi Lane."
The girl in red dress, the seventeenth most outstanding and dazzling girl in the clan, has a straight waist, a pretty face, and speaks in an orderly manner:
"After receiving the imperial edict, the eldest brother must entertain the Heavenly Official Envoy and his entourage. It is unavoidable to give gifts and so on. It is a common practice in the official circles of the Zhou Dynasty. The eldest brother must not appear too out of place.
"I know that sister Guo'er has a lot of money. She received a lot from her last birthday gift."
Li Guo'er couldn't help but glance at Xie Lingjiang's profile.
"Sister Xie, this little junior sister, worries more than a good wife. She has thought everything out for him."
While complaining, the little girl with plum blossom makeup lowered her head, took out a bulging embroidered lotus wallet from her sleeve, and silently handed it to Xie Lingjiang in front of her.
The latter glanced sideways at her and put away his purse.
At this moment, there was a commotion at the gate of the county government office, and the crowd naturally separated.
Xie Lingjiang and Li Guoer turned around and saw that it was Luoyang Chiling and his party who were drinking tea in the county government hall. Accompanied by Ouyang Rong, they slowly walked out.
Ouyang Rong and Song Hao walked around, chatting and asking questions, as if they were saying goodbye.
"Master Song, won't you stay a little longer?"
"It still doesn't work. I rushed here this time just for Lianghan's business. Now... things are over, so I'd better go back and do the work as soon as possible."
Song Hao sighed and shook his head, Ouyang Rong nodded peacefully:
"Master Song, walk slowly and pay attention to safety on the road."
The young county magistrate seemed to be just being polite and had no real intention to stay.
Song Hao couldn't help but take another look at him.
Before leaving, the official, Wailang, nodded solemnly:
"Magistrate Ouyang, please stay. I will try my best to bring you the matters you have entrusted."
After a pause, he said again:
"County Magistrate Ouyang, see you later."
"Have a pleasant trip, Mr. Song."
The two of them were polite as usual, said goodbye and left.
However, the melon-eating people around were curious to find that before leaving, Master Song, who was ordered by the gods, turned to look at Ouyang Rong, and his eyes seemed to be mixed with something strange.
The accompanying officials around Mr. Song also looked sideways frequently before leaving, and glanced at Ouyang Rong a few more times. Their expressions were indescribably complicated, and they didn't know why.
Song Hao led a group of accompanying officials to leave one after another.
Ouyang Rong stood at the gate of the county government office and watched.
Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian's family, and county officials such as Diao County Cheng quickly gathered around, most of them enthusiastic.
Diao County Prime Minister came up to him and said cautiously: "Ming Mansion, why is the imperial envoy walking so fast? Is there something urgent?"
The old county magistrate looked back eagerly in the direction where Song Hao left. It seemed that he was going straight to Penglangdu, preparing to leave by boat and return to the business.
Ouyang Rong looked with him and nodded.
Xie Ling Jiang Su tossed her small purse and tilted her head curiously:
"Senior Brother, don't you invite anyone to come down to dinner? Give some gifts or something? After all, you have come all the way to deliver the good news. Do you think we don't understand the rules? We still need to be careful when sending favors... It's okay, Hua Sell it, wrap it all up and wrap it up with my sister."
The girl in red dress said bluntly.
Li Guo'er: "..."
Ouyang Rong shook his head gently.
Li Xian and Wei Mei looked at each other and turned sideways to take the red cloth bundle from the tray held by the maid behind them. Li Xian and his wife stepped forward and put the bundle and a promotion gift into the hands of the young county magistrate.
Li Xian patted the back of Ouyang Rong's hand, hiding the disappointment in his eyes, and tried his best to smile:
"Congratulations to my nephew, congratulations to my nephew for getting a good job and returning to Luojing. It is a good position to serve as a censor... As an official, if you don't visit the prefectures and counties, you won't consider the province.
"The good nephew of Liang Han has made great achievements in the local dragon city. He has surpassed the talents of his peers by a lot. One step is fast and the next step is fast. He is really prosperous in officialdom. The good nephew of Liang Han seizes the opportunity and can reach the top."
Wei Mei also chimed in and said, "Xiannie Lianghan, please accept it. This is a little bit of my uncle's and aunt's wishes, but it's actually not much."
Ouyang Rong caught the money and gifts and found that they were heavy in his hands. They were very heavy. Is this not much?
"I could have helped my good nephew again."
The woman in the long skirt stopped talking, her slender willow-like eyebrows furrowed, she glanced at the north and said sadly:
"It's a pity that although I was born in the Jingzhao Wei family, I am now a commoner, so I can't harm them."
Wei Mei shook her head and continued:
"However, when my nephew returned to Luojing, he needed money for official duties, building connections, or buying a house and settling down a business. Although, even if we are separated, the friendship is still there. Uncle Qianli has also saved tens of millions of dollars in savings over the years. Don’t be polite to him.”
Li Xian scratched his head, "Listen to Mei Niang, Mei Niang is considerate."
Ouyang Rong nodded when he heard the words, weighed the gold wrapped around him, and put it into his sleeves calmly. The next moment, he suddenly turned his head and asked a rather ambiguous question:
"Even this hundred taels of gold is small money to my uncle and aunt? Does that mean that my uncle's house still has a lot of wealth?"
Li Xian was stunned for a moment, not feeling offended, and nodded in recognition:
"I have saved a lot of gold and silver, and I also get a lot of money from Bao'er's birthday gifts every year, but most of them are antique calligraphy and paintings that need to be sold off. These household expenses are usually managed by Bao'er and her mother, and the money bag belongs to them. .”
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly, thoughtfully.
Before Li Xian and his wife could wonder why they asked this question, Li Dalang and Yan Liulang had already squeezed in.
Li Dalang said with a smile: "When Liang Han arrives in the capital, don't forget to write to us and tell us about the grand scene of Luoyang when all nations come to court."
Yan Liulang rubbed his hands and said excitedly:
"Ming Mansion, here is the imperial edict. Let's take a look at it. I, Liulang, have never seen an edict of this size before.
"I heard that in this kind of edict, there will be a word 'edict' written by the current emperor himself.
"We, the country folk, can't get a glimpse of the emperor's face, but it's good to have a look at the emperor's inscriptions. It's enough to boast to our children and grandchildren."
Ouyang Rong glanced at him, and then at the people gathered outside the door. The atmosphere was joyful, and they all looked at him expectantly.
In front of everyone, the young county magistrate, who was empty-handed today and even missing a memorial in his sleeve, shook his head and said:
"The imperial document is not with me, but with Mr. Song."
Yan Liulang was stunned for a moment, and everyone behind him asked: "Where is Mr. Song... Where is Mr. Song?"
"He's gone." Ouyang Rong said matter-of-factly, "I'm going back to the capital for business."
Diao County Prime Minister was puzzled: "Then why did you take away the imperial edict of the Ming Dynasty? Didn't you appoint the censor of the Ming Dynasty's censor station... eh."
The old county magistrate's words stopped abruptly, and his eyes slowly widened like bells, incredulously: "You, you, you, can't you..."
"Why not?" Ouyang Rong looked curious: "If they give me a promotion, do I have to go?"
After a pause:
"But this time it's just right. Someone from Luoyang will deliver the envelope for me on the way. I don't need to trouble Liu Lang and you guys to make a trip."
Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded, looking around.
But I found that the air in front of the county government office was a little quiet.
Li Xian, Li Fusu's family, Diao Xiancheng, Yan Liulang and other county officials, as well as the onlookers... Everyone on the scene looked at him in shock and astonishment, speechless for a moment.
The sixth-grade imperial official and censor, no... no more?
It took a long time to digest.
Xie Lingjiang was the first to speak and said worriedly: "Elder brother, does this count as violating the imperial edict?"
"It doesn't count, it's just an edict."
Li Guo'er looked at Ouyang Rong with complicated eyes and took the lead in explaining:
"The imperial edict is a proposal submitted by the Political Affairs Hall or the Heavenly Official, and signed by His Majesty. It is not a document ordered by the Holy One himself. It is not considered a violation of the Holy Will, but only a reasonable resignation.
"In this regard, this dynasty still has the legacy of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. The sages and celebrities of the imperial court can refuse the imperial edict. However, except for Ding You or Ranji, this dynasty has never heard of anyone rejecting the imperial edict..."
Li Guo'er glanced at Ouyang Rong again, who was calm and composed.
Diao County Cheng looked at Ouyang Rong and sighed:
"You can refuse to be a celebrity, but... what if the higher-ups take it seriously or get angry and don't promote you next time? Isn't it a waste of time? Who dares to give it a try?"
The old county man couldn't help but ask: "Does the Ming Dynasty want to clear up its reputation and raise its reputation or..."
"Stop guessing."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and interrupted everyone's chatter:
"I simply feel that this Shi Yushi is not suitable."
He laughed at everyone and said: "I can't say it. On the second day after taking office, I couldn't help but write advice. The emperor was so angry that he was demoted to Longcheng to meet you all.
"in addition."
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes and said, "I recently found a new 'job', so I can't just leave Jiangnan Road."
The young magistrate waved and left.
Everyone looked at his handsome and slender back with dumbfounded eyes.
Xie Lingjiang looked sideways, and Li Xian's family stood there in a daze.
Everyone is not a fool, so they naturally know the true meaning behind this move.
The meaning is as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold.
This surprise seemed to come... a little too fast.
Li Xian suddenly felt like crying.
Li Fusu lowered his head and rubbed the corners of his eyes, then looked up again to confirm that it was not an illusion.
"Everyone go back."
Ouyang Rong did not look at Li Xian's family and took the lead to leave the gate of the county government office, leaving as everyone watched blankly.
Xie Lingjiang's face returned to calm, he picked up the box and followed his senior brother's footsteps.
Li Xian's family reacted quickly and followed.
After passing the entrance of Meilu Garden, Li Xian and others thought that the young figure in front of them would turn into the door as usual, but unexpectedly, he passed by the entrance of Meilu Garden without squinting, went straight to the residence listed as Su Mansion, and walked in as if there was no one else around.
Xie Lingjiang and Li Xian's family looked at each other.
A few moments later, Ouyang Rong, who was standing in the corridor of Su Mansion with a calm expression, did not go to Yilanxuan or Lixian's study room as the head of the family, but walked to Juxian Courtyard in a familiar way.
The young magistrate walked into Li Fusu's study, picked a chair at the bottom, and sat down calmly. He put his chin on his hand, tapped the armrest with two fingers, lowered his eyes and waited, as if thinking.
After a while, Li Xian's family followed behind and entered the house one after another. Some were unable to control themselves, some were ecstatic, or some were busy pouring tea.
From today on, Luoyang Zhou Ting loses its youngest censor, and Jiangnan Su Mansion gains a weak counselor from a poor family.
(End of chapter)
