The small door of Chengyi's residence opened.
Linton came out with a broom and swept the snow outside the gate to both sides.
Then I changed the rag and bucket and wiped the door.
A neighbor's steward went out early. Seeing him busy, he couldn't help but smile and say hello: "Uncle Dun, it's so early today. Why don't you do all the work yourself and let the young people below do it?"
Linton chuckled: "It's not a troublesome thing."
The steward had an idea: "Hey, I thought about it, my new uncle is coming to pay New Year's greetings today, right?"
Linton was even happier.
The new uncle refers to Duke Fu.
It was decided before the year, and I came to visit on the third day of the new year.
Linton was so excited that he got up at dawn to clean up.
The Duke of Fu must be allowed to see that Bo Chengyi attaches great importance to it, and at the same time, he also attaches great importance to the Holy One. After all, this marriage is the decree given by the emperor, and nothing can be done carelessly.
The steward said congratulations repeatedly.
Linton responded, cleaning up the inside and outside of the door again.
In the uncle's house, Grandma Zeng also directed the ladies in charge.
When Mrs. Chen asked about it, she said, "The servants are all watching. Just don't worry, and let the old lady and the princess rest assured. This is the first New Year's greeting after the marriage, and it must be all thoughtful."
Everything was ready in the mansion. Someone came from the front and announced that Duke Fu had arrived. He had just entered the gate and was greeting his uncle.
Ms. Chen quickly cheered up and said, "I'll report it to Zai Shou Yuan."
In the front yard, Xu Jian and Lin Yu saluted.
On the carriage behind him, boxes of New Year's gifts were loaded down one after another.
From snack boxes to knick-knacks, he had everything he wanted to give his new uncle as a New Year greeting as agreed in the capital.
Lin Yu said: "I'll go see the old lady first, and we'll talk about other things later."
Xu Jian naturally listened to him.
In the Zai Shou Courtyard, little Duan was looking forward to it.
Lin Yunyan sat next to her grandmother, eating sweet glutinous rice porridge and listening to Grandma Ruan's words.
"The old lady got up early. She even applied 30% more oil on her hair than usual. It's shiny."
"This dress was made a year ago. When my aunt came back yesterday, the old lady didn't even bother to wear it. It was just for meeting my new uncle."
"There is also this turquoise forehead wiper on my head. I haven't worn it for a long time. I wiped it carefully last night."
Little Mrs. Duan pointed at Nanny Ruan and laughed and scolded: "Just expose me! This is the first time I meet my grandson-in-law, and I am happy!"
Lin Yunyan also laughed and teased: "You attach so much importance to me, what if you scare the Duke away?"
"Hum!" Xiao Duan said angrily, "He has even been on the battlefield, so he is very brave."
Xu Jian followed Lin Yu into the courtyard and heard the laughter inside.
Lively, joyful, and the warm atmosphere that should exist during the New Year suddenly overflowed. Xu Jian lowered his eyes and couldn't help but curled his lips.
Lifting the curtain, he entered the secondary room and looked at the old lady sitting on the Arhat's bed.
The old lady's mood was written all over her face.
Xu Jian came forward to pay his respects to the new year.
Xiao Duan looked at the young man in front of him.
In her early years, she met the old Duke Xu Mang, and also recognized his wife Guo. The man was handsome and the woman was beautiful, and the only daughter she had had also had outstanding facial features.
She didn't like Liu Jing's personality, but she still wanted to praise him realistically.
Xu Jian, who was born from such a union, really inherited all the advantages and strengths of her parents.
Who doesn't like beautiful children?
She liked it very much.
As Yun Yan is so outstanding, of course my uncle must be able to show off her looks, talents, and character.
Thinking of this, Xiao Duan felt even more sorry for Xu Jian's leg injury.
"I bothered the Duke to take care of the business earlier." Xiao Duan found something to say.
Starting from Laoshi Alley, the two sides chatted smoothly.
Having said that, Xu Jian got up first and followed Lin Yu to the study.
Xiao Duan and Lin Yunyan sighed.
: "The way he talks and behaves is so hard to fault."
Lin Yunyan laughed when she heard this.
She had been sitting aside just now, listening to Xu Jian's serious conversation with her grandmother.
His tone of voice was calmer than before, and his speaking speed was neither fast nor slow.
No matter how grandma listened, she would never be able to detect the slightest bit of yin and yang in it.
When it comes to showing off, Xu Jian is really good at it.
Of course, she's not bad either.
In the other room, Xu Jian and Lin Yu closed the study door.
Xu Jian spoke first, explaining why he deliberately provoked the prince on the first day of the new year.
"My uncle should be able to see that regardless of the prince's talents, his mind is limited to government affairs. He prefers hunting and riding horses."
Lin Yu nodded slightly and said, "The prince is young and has not fully recovered his thoughts."
"The Holy Father asked me to follow him to observe the government, and he also wanted me to lead the way," Xu Jian sighed, "It won't work softly, so come on hard, the prince will definitely annoy me.
He has old and new grudges, and he will be annoyed whether I recruit him or not.
Let him know that I have a bad temper, so I won't just follow him, and maybe I will behave better. "
Lin Yu thought.
Xu Jian's words are not unreasonable, but that person is the prince after all.
Having heard the Holy One mention this matter before, Lin Yu secretly hoped that Xu Jian would refuse and not accept such a thankless job.
If you don't want to be idle, it is also feasible to find a yamen to order Mao.
But Xu Jian had already agreed, and it would be even more inappropriate to change his mind.
"I have been thinking these past few days that His Majesty would allow the Crown Prince to oversee the government, but I am not too eager to see any results," Lin Yu sighed. "His Royal Highness is young and not stable enough. Instead of forcing him to do what he wants, it is better to Let him get used to Qianbu Corridor first.
It doesn't have to be a big achievement, it's enough for the Holy One to see his growth.
In a few years, when His Highness becomes more stable, there will be more progress.
However, since you have your own ideas, then do what you want.
You must remember that that person is His Highness the Crown Prince after all.
As ministers, no matter how dignified and eloquent we are in front of the emperor on weekdays, His Highness is the most valued son of the Holy Emperor. "
Xu Jian listened attentively and did not interrupt Lin Yu's words.
Those previous explanations were all true in their antecedents, but all their consequences were nonsense.
He didn't point the prince straight at all.
No matter how many opportunities he was given, Li Shao would not be able to straighten himself out. In the end, he, Lin Yunyan, and the entire Chengyi Mansion would be trapped and desperate.
However, you still have to have reservations in front of your uncle.
At the same time, Xu Jian could also tell from Lin Yu's words that his uncle also considered and retained a lot.
My uncle almost always talked about "goofing around" and "as long as I can do business".
The words "you are young and not stable enough" are all just words of a minister.
After all, Xu Jian was younger than Li Shao when he first entered the battlefield, and he was also younger than Li Shao when he went to court to express his views directly to the late emperor.
Having said that, there are indeed many people who don't suddenly realize it until they are in their weak years.
The prince is still not interested at the moment, and the ministers can only place their hope in the future.
This is why the uncle suggested that he let him "hang out for a few years", and Sangu was there to teach him, so that Li Shao's foundation would be stronger so that he could build a strong building later.
This was also where the Holy One hesitated to make his choice before.
However, Xu Jian "persuaded" the Holy Emperor and directly confirmed Guan Zheng.
If he doesn't mix, Li Shao won't want to mix either.
Just mess around like this, stir up all the messy things in it, and ask the Holy One to see what the mess is.
Although Lin Yu had suggestions, he would not force Xu Jian to follow his suggestions.
Instead, he was enthusiastic and very interested in Xu Jian's thoughts.
"I would like to suggest to your Majesty that we start with the Ministry of Rites' inspection of politics," Xu Jian said clearly. "Scientific examination is the most important part of selecting talents for the imperial court. Although it is Enke,
But all the processes and arrangements are consistent with the three-year exam.
What the uncle said makes sense, and it does not necessarily require His Highness to have a deep understanding. He knows everything inside and outside the examination room.
Arranging all those processes is a matter for the officials below, not for the emperor or the prince.
The prince knew the process and had personal contact with it once. When the next big exam took place two years later, he would understand a lot. "
Lin Yu listened very attentively and nodded from time to time.
It wasn't until the table was set up in the flower hall that I still had more to say.
After leaving the study, the court affairs were no longer mentioned.
Lin Xun and Lin Yao accompanied them, and the lunch was enjoyed by both host and guest.
In the afternoon, when Lin Yunyan took Wan Yue to the flower hall, everything had been tidied up.
The table was removed and replaced with tea and snacks.
Xu Jian sat alone at the table and drank tea slowly.
As for my father and uncles...
Lin Yunyan knew without asking that the two uncles had probably eaten wine and went back to their houses to take a nap. Her father went to the study, leaving her and Xu Jian to have a few words in the flower hall.
Originally, it was supposed to be arranged to take a few steps in the garden to see the plum blossoms, but Lin Yunyan refused directly.
On a cold day, she was not afraid of the wind, but Xu Jian had better forget about her legs being wet and cold.
I didn't get to come to pay New Year's greetings, and it would be painful for a few days when I went back.
Lin Yunyan sat down and said with a smile, "Grandma praises you a lot."
Xu Jian laughed loudly: "You should be praised."
Shameless talk.
Lin Yunyan glared at Xu Jian.
Xu Jian added: "It seems that this is the first time I have seen her in such a good mood. As soon as I entered Zaishouyuan, I heard bursts of laughter in the room. No wonder the princess misses her."
Hearing this, Lin Yunyan was slightly startled.
Ask Xu Jian to mention it, and she actually remembered it.
In the past, when she and Xu Jian were engaged, the sisters all encountered obstacles that they couldn't overcome, so the atmosphere in the house could not be so relaxed and joyful.
When Xu Jian came to visit, her grandmother certainly paid great attention to her, but thinking about the hardships endured by her eldest sister and the unknown future of her third sister, her smile inevitably had a layer of melancholy.
Nothing like today when he smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits. Read the book
Of course, the clouds at that time were stronger than the violent storm later. How could my grandmother still laugh after the accident in the uncle's house?
When she and Xu Jian recalled the time in her boudoir, especially the time in Yongjia twelve years ago, the words she used most often were "in good spirits", "laughing" and "missing".
Lin Yunyan sighed: "The Duke still remembers it."
Xu Jian said: "I'm just curious."
Lin Yunyan's eyelashes trembled.
She knew the meaning of Xu Jian's words without asking.
He has never experienced "a happy family".
He also doesn’t have that many “family members.”
It wasn't out of indignation or resentment, Xu Jian was more stating a fact.
When this topic came to an end, Xu Jian lowered her voice and talked to Lin Yunyan about the previous conversation in the study.
Lin Yunyan listened, her brows frowning and relaxing, and finally she smiled and shook her head: "Father did his best to make the prince's unconventional temperament so refreshing and refined. Father really considered it carefully."
Xu Jian raised his eyebrows.
If Uncle Chengyi's words can be summarized in this way, why is the summary of the little princess not fresh and refined?
Of course, Xu Jian also agreed with what Lin Yunyan once said that the uncle was a person with an extremely heavy sense of responsibility.
Despite what he said about letting the younger generation "hang out for a few years" and not work hard, he himself had an attitude in the Hanlin Academy of doing more learning and less about government affairs, but his edge has not dimmed.
Xu Jian regarded Bo Chengyi's choice as hiding one's strength and biding one's time.
The uncle must have had his reasons for choosing silence, but he was used to carrying the burden on his shoulders and not telling his family.
Once the sharp blade is unsheathed, all kinds of news brought to them by their uncle in the past are a kind of circumstantial evidence.
And a few months ago, being able to find Wang Liuliu in the huge capital city was also a sign of ability.
However, now is not the time for them and their uncle to be honest with each other.
Lin Yunyan was also thinking about what her father said.
Suddenly hearing Xu Jian speak, she raised her head in surprise.
"What did you do with Yue Niang yesterday?"
Lin Yunyan blinked.
Now that I asked about it, it was indeed important, so I told Xu Jian the whole story.
Now, it was Xu Jian's turn to look surprised.
"I just felt that if I continue to look for Jin Shu's line, I should be able to gain some unexpected results," Lin Yunyan lowered her voice, "But after listening to what you just said, I have thought about a few possibilities.
There is no evidence for Li Shao's bastard affairs. He was too careful. Could Jin Shu have been harmed by him?
He had met Yue Niang, and maybe he was flirting with her. Maybe he just liked Yue Niang and he mistook Jin Shu for Yue Niang? "
After saying that, Lin Yunyan raised her eyes and saw Xu Jian looking at her for a moment.
Those eyes were deep and heavy, only revealing a hint of amusement and a smile.
Lin Yunyan intuitively felt that Xu Jian was not ready to say anything nice, but she still asked, "Am I wrong?"
Xu Jian put down the tea cup and said, "I have many ideas and broad ideas, but..."
When the words came to her lips, Xu Jian clicked her tongue when she saw Lin Yunyan's bright eyes turned sideways, as if she had the ability to tell the truth.
To be honest, the little princess made it clear that she didn't want to hear it.
That's all, change it to something more restrained.
Who said this was Uncle Chengyi's Mansion, the territory of the little princess?
She was so angry that she left the table and walked out. He had to make up some excuse to explain to his uncle.
It's not as easy to compile as "The Prince's Observation of Government". He has rich experience in playing games with the Prince, speaks in an orderly manner.
"But the princess doesn't know enough about the prince's temperament," Xu Jian said in the calmest way, "The prince is noble and thinks highly of himself. He may like Yue Niang, but he doesn't like her.
It's not that he dislikes Yue Niang, he dislikes Liu Xun.
The prince's search for Liu Xun originated from me. He did not want to make a brother, he just wanted to find a follower who had a problem with me.
He is the master and Liu Xun is the servant. If the prince gets involved with a woman who has been a servant for so long, in his mind, she will lose her status.
He might not care if he goes crazy, but he hasn't been that crazy in the past two years. "
