Gao Jingshi has always been able to get the news about any major events in the capital. Gao Mo has this in his work in the capital. However, because Gao Jingshi is traveling, the news was slightly delayed this time. The messenger and Gao Jingshi After missing some distance, I discovered that by the time I caught up with Gao Pragmatic, he had already arrived in Xinzheng.
Since Longwen Yayuan was renamed as the Number One Scholar, its regulations have been improved. Zhang's good reputation and high family status naturally have to add everything that should be added.
I won’t go into details about some of the decorations. During the more than half a year since Gao Pingshi was away, the most obvious change was the construction of a new Kuixing Tower.
The Kuixing Tower is also called the Number One Scholar Tower, which is an honor exclusive to the Number One Scholar. However, the shape of the tower is not much different from an ordinary tower, except that the Gao family's tower is a bit larger.
Gao Pingshi took a look under the tower. He estimated that the tower was more than ten feet high, and its location was very conspicuous. It faced Shuangjie River in the south and Yinghe River was facing Xinzheng County. He must have been able to see him at first glance when looking to the north of the county. The Zhuangyuan Tower is really... high-profile.
This Zhuangyuan Tower is tall and majestic with beautiful shape. On the south side of the top floor is a stone plaque inlaid with "Wen Yun Kai Tian". In the three windows on the fifth floor of the tower, there are stone carvings of characters from legendary stories such as "The rising sun", "Kuixing Dou", "Heavenly Official Blessing" and other legends. Image, lifelike.
Among them, the stone carving auspicious pattern "Kuixing Diandou" is in the form of knowing words. There is a Kuixing on the screen. The head of Kuixing statue looks like a ghost, one foot is tilted back, like a big curved hook with the word "Kui", and the left hand is holding an ink fountain. , such as the word "Dou" in the middle of the character "Kui", holding a pen in the right hand and standing on one foot on the head, which means to use the pen to point out the name of the candidate for the examination. This character also forms a cursive character "Kui", which is taken from Kuixingdiandou, single-pointed Aotou means, vivid image, clever spelling.
The so-called "Kuixing" refers to the first four stars in the Big Dipper, namely Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji and Tianquan. It is mainly responsible for literary fortune and articles. In the imperial examination, obtaining a high rank is called "winning the first prize" or "leading the first prize". ", Gao pragmatic is the number one scholar, and is the number one scholar in six titles. He is the "true leader for two hundred years" appointed by the emperor. Therefore, Zhang paid great attention to the image of the word "Kui".
The body of this tower is inlaid with two big characters "Xi Zi" carved in bluestone, which means literally, "Cherish the word".
The ancients believed that writing was sacred and noble and was created by saints. Even the paper with writing on it should not be discarded or defaced at will, but must be burned in the pagoda. Therefore, "respecting the writing paper" can be regarded as a symbol of people's pursuit of studying and becoming an official.
It can be seen that Ms. Zhang is quite satisfied with the honor that her son Gao Pragmatic has brought to her.
But the more she feels her son is glorious, the harder it will be for Gao Pragmatic to convince her.
Under the small pavilion not far from the Zhuangyuan Tower, Gao Pragmatic stood next to his mother Zhang. Mrs. Zhang was sitting on a rosewood chair, squinting her eyes slightly. She didn't know whether she was asleep or awake, but she was probably listening to Gao Pragmatic slowly. Tell me about your experience in Annan.
There are not many people who can make Gao Pragmatic stand "for punishment", but Zhang can obviously do it. Let alone standing, there is no need to argue even if he is punished by kneeling.
Fortunately, although Gao Pragmatic does not have any "martial arts", he is still a person who maintains moderate exercise, so he is not unable to stand up. He talked slowly like this, from afternoon to dusk.
Zhang occasionally asked for details, but mostly just listened silently. Except when Gao Pragmatic and Huang Zhiting were sucked into the underground river by the undercurrent at the bottom of the pool, Zhang's hand that was gently placed was clearly seen suddenly grabbing an armrest. , her expression was basically relaxed.
The clouds are flowing eastward and the sun is setting in the west. Gao Pragmatic finally finished speaking.
It was summer and the sky was still very bright. Mrs. Zhang was not in a hurry to go back to her room. She just got up and walked out of the pavilion slowly, while Gao Pragmatic followed closely.
The maids still watched from a distance, not daring to come unless ordered.
Mrs. Zhang walked up to the wall of the courtyard like a city wall, looked at the water of Shuangjie River, and said slowly: "It sounds like this girl is not bad, but she was born as a chieftain, and now she is also a chieftain, and can even lead troops to fight. , He is really a bit fierce, his temper may be a bit unruly, and he will not be too tame."
Gao pragmatically replied calmly: "It depends on who is right."
Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but laugh and teased: "You mean, I'm still tame to you?"
"That's right." Gao Pingshi was quite polite, but it sounded like a normal answer, and there was no pride in his tone.
Mrs. Zhang looked at her son with some surprise, sighed, and said, "You have talked so much with your mother, do you think you hope to marry her?"
"yes."
"If it's just a concubine, even if she is already married, the mother can still agree to it." Mrs. Zhang sighed again: "But marrying a wife is not that simple."
"Mother doesn't agree?"
"Whether I agree or not is not the most important thing... Have you ever asked your father what he meant?" Mrs. Zhang shook her head: "Don't think that your father is indifferent to you. All the news about you over the years, He is very concerned about it, but because of some things and situations in the past, he always has a hurdle in his heart that he doesn't want to cross or can't cross."
This was a new situation. Gao Pragmatic was a little confused and asked, "What is my mother referring to?"
"The third uncle used to offer wine for the Imperial College, and he knew many examiners. The examiners from several subjects were all his acquaintances, so he didn't want your father to refer to it. As a result, he wasted nearly ten years... But he is the youngest and has been suffering from childhood problems. His third brother took care of him the most, but he had no way to object, so he could only be unhappy, and his studies were neglected a lot. In the end, he was able to take the exam, and the test of filial piety and integrity was the best."
Gao Jingshi came to understand a little. It seemed that although his father was a good brother, he still felt that it was his third uncle who had delayed his future, but he couldn't say it clearly.
"So, what my mother is saying is that my father has some grudges against Third Uncle. When his son followed Third Uncle to Beijing, he just watched with cold eyes. He even thought that this was a disguised form of compensation given to him by Third Uncle?"
"Maybe, but not necessarily completely." Ms. Zhang shook her head slightly: "His thoughts may be more complicated, but he refuses to say it. Who knows what he really thinks? But no matter what, he must have high hopes for you. , I can guarantee this - he really wants to see you reach a height that he has no chance to reach, in order to... prove something."
Gao Pragmatic has a headache. It sounds like his father has pinned his ambitions on himself, so he hopes to be the best in everything. There is nothing to talk about in exams. Maybe he can't even marry a wife now. There is a comparison mentality.
Sure enough, Mrs. Zhang sighed softly and said: "Your father and my mother got married at that time. He felt regretful because your third aunt was from an official background, but my mother was just a merchant. Fortunately, your uncle gave Zhang The family feud was enough to elevate the family status of the Zhang family in Puzhou, and then your father slowly calmed down."
She turned to look at her son and showed a wry smile: "Do you think your mother's emphasis on family status is just wishful thinking? Alas... Your mother and I have suffered enough back then. If you don't belong to the right family, you will have to suffer countless hardships even if you marry into the family. His cold eyes and ridicule, have you ever thought about this for that Miss Huang?"
Gao Pragmatic was speechless, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
Mrs. Zhang added: "Now, do you know why my mother moved out of Gaolaozhuang and spent such a large sum of money to build this Longwenya Garden for you?"
I didn't know it at first, but now I know that, in addition to leaving a safe haven for the Gao family so that they won't be robbed in case of refugee outbreaks, it seems that the more important thing is to let out a sigh of relief - you looked down on me back then. House, now my son not only has money, but he is also the top pick in the top six titles!
Mrs. Zhang saw that Gao was pragmatic and didn't answer, and then said: "Even if you say that after Miss Huang enters the family, she will probably rarely stay in her hometown in Xinzheng and will not see many family members. But, won't you come back when you get married? Worship your ancestors. Won't you come back? Even if I or your father leave one day, you won't come back? You can only come back, but by then, she, a woman who is used to being a big toast, will be looked down upon and ridiculed by others in your house. Have you thought about what will happen?”
"Also, don't forget that when you were a child, you were known as a child prodigy and were taught by your uncle. Then your third uncle valued you and even took you to the capital to stay with you and give you personal guidance. I haven’t experienced much cynicism. However, if you ask Wuguan and Wuqin, they don’t have your reputation as a child prodigy. They have been ridiculed and ridiculed over the years, saying that they are the sons of Jia people and are full of copper stench... You are in the capital The more money they make, the more ridicule they receive in Xinzheng! It’s just that those people don’t dare to say these things in front of you.”
"The reason why my mother didn't object to your asking Wu Qin to go to Annan this time is largely due to this. After all, Wu Guan has been adopted to the third room, and now he is also an official. This year he will go to the Shangbaosi of the capital to take up the post. , you can get rid of these. But Wuqin and the others have nowhere to go, so if you let Wuqin go to Annan, it will also be a relief for him."
Gao pragmatic frowned and said, "Who said these things?"
"What can you do if you ask me clearly? What can you do if someone has a mouth, doesn't say anything in front of you, and points to you in private? Even the emperor can't help the people of the world say anything, let alone You?" Ms. Zhang sighed: "Born is destiny, but if you work harder, you can change it. But sometimes this change is something that I may not be able to enjoy in my generation... Maybe you men can, just like you Uncle, who dares to laugh at him after he is in high school? But not a woman like Wei Niang. Having a brother like your uncle is already a blessing that has been cultivated for several lifetimes... That brother of Miss Huang, you Do you think there is anyone who can become a Jinshi in high school?"
Huang Zhiting’s two younger brothers? Forget it, the eldest brother doesn’t know anything, does stupid things, and is just a playboy; the younger brother is a bit more honest, but he doesn’t seem to have any special strengths. Even if he becomes a chieftain in the future, he will probably be a "ruler of integrity" ".
Do you expect these two to take Jinshi? I might as well hope that the Red River water flows back.
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