After the four of them finished drinking in a dull mood, Li Hao and Yan Fu took their leave. As for Gu Tingye, who was in disbelief and confusion at the back, Sheng Changbai couldn't feel relieved and stayed with him.
When Li Hao and Yan Fu came out, they got on their carriage and returned home. On the way, Yan Fu asked curiously: "Do you really think that Mrs. Xiao Qin is behind all this? But people in Bianjing say that Mrs. Xiao Qin is virtuous, kind, generous, and generous. He treats Gu Tingye, his stepson, with great care and protection, and he doesn't seem like someone who would do such a thing."
After hearing this, Li Hao asked: "Don't you think this is more strange? Why are the affairs of the official family's inner house so popular outside? Why are there so many officials and family members in Bianjing City, but only his family's affairs can be spread all over Bianjing City? We all know it, don’t you think it’s weird?”
"And it's true that Gu Tingye was originally a dandy. He often did things like cockfighting and lackeys, and he often went to prostitutes and brothels. But it's not like there aren't people in Bianjing who are more outrageous than Gu Tingye. Who's more famous than Gu Tingye? It's not bad, after all, you still have your own family background, so if you look at Gu Tingye again, is that Mrs. Xiao Qin really that virtuous and virtuous?"
After hearing this, Yan Fu said: "It's true. It seems that the matter in the inner house is also dangerous. Do you think Gu Tingye can figure it out himself?"
At this moment, Li Hao thought that after Minglan's suggestion, Gu Tingye couldn't even see through Mannia's true face. So he said: "Who knows, the good mother who has been in his heart for more than ten years will suddenly turn into a vicious woman. This hurdle is not so easy to overcome, and she may be deceiving herself. But their family's It’s not our turn to take care of things, we should just think about what to do with our own affairs.”
After returning to the house, Li Hao simply went back to his room to rest. In the following days, Li Hao continued to stay in seclusion. However, in the meantime, he received a letter from someone sent by Sheng Hong, saying that he invited Li Hao to come to the house to celebrate. Li Hao declined and said he would visit again after he took office.
So the government was closed until April 16. Ouyang Xiu sent someone to call Li Hao to come over to discuss matters, and Li Hao went out.
When Li Hao arrived at Ouyang Xiu's house and entered the main hall, he saw that Mrs. Xue was not there today. Ouyang Xiu was the only one sitting in the hall. He breathed a sigh of relief and waited for Li Hao to bow and sit down.
Ouyang Xiu said: "I have received the imperial decree and will go to Kaifeng Mansion to sit in court tomorrow. As for your petition, it has also been sent to the Ministry of Personnel. In two days, you can go to the Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel to get it back. You can take office just by filing a lawsuit."
"So before I take office, I want to explain something to you in detail. The Kaifeng Mansion has Qianlong Palace, the Office of Affairs, the Left and Right Offices, the Envoy Court, the Director of Records, the Gong, the Cang, the Household, the Bing, the Law, and the Six Cao Cao , the left and right military inspections, the left and right chambers, and the official affairs of the counties and towns in Kaifeng Prefecture. You and the current judge Cai Ju divide the left and right offices. He is in charge of troubles and punishments and prison litigation. You are in charge of the familiar affairs. He is responsible for household registration and rent, and don't interfere with his actions unless there is nothing. If you have any problems, you can come and discuss it with me. In addition, he is responsible for the eleventh case of the Imperial Court, and is responsible for the government's money, grain, taxes, and criminal and prison documents. He is also temporarily in charge of all matters. Cai Zheng is in charge. If necessary, you can call him. The remaining Si Lusi, Liu Cao, the left and right military inspectors, and the left and right chambers all perform their respective duties. If you have anything, you can call him later, but don't Go and get involved. As for the counties under the official jurisdiction of the counties and towns in Kaifeng Prefecture, there is no need to take care of it, you can understand."
After hearing this, Li Hao concluded: "What my uncle meant is that as an official, I will stay quietly in the government office for the time being. I will just keep statistics on the accounts and documents, and don't worry about anything else for the time being, right?"
Ouyang Xiu nodded and said: "That's what I mean. After all, you have just entered the imperial examination and you are in Kaifeng Mansion. You are too eye-catching, so the most important thing now is to do less and see more, and don't make mistakes. I will wait for you in the future Once you become familiar with the affairs, you will naturally have time to show your talents.”
After hearing this, Li Hao said: "My nephew understands that he must behave himself and will not cause trouble to his uncle."
Ouyang Xiu acknowledged and said: "Although you are young, you have a stable character. I still trust you on this point. Today is just to remind you again. You can ask your subordinates for specific matters when you take office. But there are One thing you have to remember is that subordinate officials have been in one position for a long time and are familiar with various government affairs and local people's sentiments. It is natural and easy for you to use them to help you handle government affairs, but you must not trust them too much. You must prevent them from deceiving and misleading you. , this requires you to slowly master various laws and local customs. The harm caused by subordinate officials has existed since ancient times. You have to use their abilities and eliminate their harm. Do you understand?
After hearing this, Li Hao agreed: "My nephew understands and will definitely remember his uncle's teachings."
After hearing this, Ouyang Xiu said: "Okay, I called you here today just to talk about this. You can go back now."
Li Hao was stunned when he heard this, and then said: "Uncle, I just came here, so I asked you to go back."
"Of course, your aunt went out to burn incense at Sanqing Temple today, and I'm going out to meet friends soon. I don't have time to keep you, so go back." Ouyang Xiu said.
Li Hao had no choice but to agree: "Okay, uncle." Then he turned around and returned home.
On April 19, the second year of Jiayou, the day Bingzi of the Jiachen month of the Dingyou year, the imperial calendar said it was appropriate to marry, entertain, purchase a property, open a market, go to office, pray for blessings, and offer sacrifices, but not to litigate. For Li Hao, it was the best time to go to heaven. Good luck.
So early in the morning, Li Hao felt refreshed and took Fu Deng out of his home, went to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to collect his petition, and then went to Kaifeng Mansion to take up his post.
Not only was he in a good mood, but when Li Hao looked at the shops and passers-by on Yu Street, he felt that it was a bit more lively than before, and he felt much more comfortable. This official office is on Maxing Street to the east of the palace. After leaving Li Hao's house, you have to go up Yu Street and then walk half a circle around the root of the imperial city to get there.
When Li Hao arrived, he saw that the official office was quite shabby, as if it had not been repaired for a long time. However, there was an endless stream of officials from all walks of life wearing official uniforms coming in and out. When Li Hao, wearing a mandarin shirt, approached, he was stopped by the yamen servant outside the door and said: "This is the yamen of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Who are you and what are you doing here?" .”
Seeing this, Li Hao said: "I am a Jinshi in the undergraduate program. I have been informed that I am here to sue today. Please tell me." After that, he handed his post to the Yamen.
After the yamen got it, he glanced at it and said, "Please, sir, please wait here for a while. I will go in and report it immediately." Then he turned around and entered the yamen.
Li Hao waited outside for about a stick of incense when he saw the yamen servant who had just entered come out, accompanied by an official who looked like a sixth-grade official in his official uniform, and waited for others to walk in. Then I heard the man say: "I didn't expect Li Tanhua to come today. I've been waiting here for a long time."
After hearing this, Li Hao replied: "You're welcome, sir. I didn't have to wait long. Today I'm here to receive my petition, and I have to trouble you. I don't know what to call you."
The man replied: "You're welcome, Mr. Tanhua. My surname is Chen Mingzhi, and I'm a doctor in the civil service examination. Now please invite Mr. Tanhua to come in with me. I'll go to the examination department to verify my identity, and then I can sue. This is the imperial court. It’s a rule, please don’t take offense to Tan Hwa Lang.”
Li Hao said: "Where is it? Since it is the rule of the imperial court, you must abide by it. Please go ahead, Mr. Chen, and I will follow you."
Then Li Hao followed Chen Zhi into the official office. Along the way, Li Hao found that there were too many officials waiting in the official office, and the number of them was a bit unusual. So he asked curiously: "Mr. Chen, are these officials I just saw belong to the Ministry of Personnel?"
After hearing this, Chen Zhi asked with a smile: "Do you feel that there are too many officials in the yamen?"
"Indeed, this number does feel a bit too much." Li Hao replied.
Chen Zhi explained: "Most of the officials you see are not officials in the Ministry of Personnel. They come to the Ministry of Personnel to wait for vacancies to be awarded. But now there are very few good ones, and many people just want to work in Bianjing. As an official, many officials have been left waiting for vacancies in the Ministry of Personnel, and you can see these people."
After hearing this, Li Hao thought to himself that the Song Dynasty was indeed a serious arrogant official. Fortunately, he did not have to be so unlucky.
Just as he was thinking about it, he entered the merit examination department. After Chen Zhi asked Li Hao to sit down, he ordered someone to get Li Hao's body suit and official uniform.
While waiting, Chen Zhi said: "I haven't congratulated Tanhua Lang yet. Being so appreciated by the officials, first being appointed as Tanhua, and then being appointed as an official in Kaifeng Mansion, it can be said that the future is bright and limitless."
After hearing this, Li Hao hurriedly said: "What did you say, sir? I am walking on thin ice now. Kaifeng Mansion is naturally a great place to go, but after all, I am only shallow and I don't know where to go."
Chen Zhi said: "Tan Hua Lang is too modest. You are someone who is favored by the officials, so how can your talents be false? Even though it is your first time getting involved in officialdom, as long as you put a little effort, everything will go smoothly."
After hearing this, Li Hao said: "Then I would like to thank Mr. Chen for your kind words."
While the two were chatting and laughing, they saw someone bringing Li Hao's body and official uniform. After Chen Zhi took it, he confirmed it, handed it to Li Hao, and said, "Tanhua Lang, please confirm again whether your name, place of origin, and biography are correct."
After careful inspection, Li Hao said: "The above introduction is correct."
Then Chen Zhi pointed to the official uniform and said: "This is a specially made official robe according to the record. Tanhualang can take it back and try it on. If it doesn't fit, he can come here to replace it."
After hearing this, Li Hao said: "Okay, thank you sir. I'm sorry to trouble Mr. Chen this time."
After hearing this, Chen Zhi said: "What are you talking about? This is my duty. Today Tanhua Lang is going to Kaifeng Mansion to take up his post. Then I will not stay as a guest. If I have time in the future, I will invite Tanhua Lang to have a drink." "Then they arranged for someone to guide Li Hao and sent the official robe out together.
Li Hao said: "Okay, then I will wait for the appointment with you, and I will take my leave first." Then he followed the Yamen servant out of the gate of the Ministry of Personnel.
Fu Deng, who was waiting outside, saw Li Hao coming out and rushed over to greet him. At Li Hao's signal, he first took the official robe and put it into the carriage. Then he said: "Young master, now you can be regarded as an official."
Li Hao said with a smile: "I haven't taken office yet. I won't take office until I take the lawsuit to Kaifeng Mansion to declare my duties."
Then he got on the carriage and said energetically: "Let's go to Kaifeng Mansion. This young master is going to officially become an official."
