It was already late at night when I came back from Zhao Shangshu's house.
When she woke up the next morning, Shen Yi felt a lot more energetic. After a long journey on the road, she finally rested.
Ever since, Mr. Shen began to go out to visit friends and maintain the few interpersonal relationships he had in Jiankang.
In fact, to put it bluntly, I just wanted to have dinner with Zhang Jian and others, and pick up some things to see Old Man Gu in Dayifang.
The rest was just drinking with Zhao Jizhou, and there was nothing else to do.
Apart from these people, Shen Yi really didn't have many human contacts in Jiankang.
The main reason is that he doesn't know many people in the officialdom. He doesn't even have a serious government office, and he doesn't have to travel around to make connections.
And because he did not have a specific official position, others could not ask for help from him, so he could be said to be at ease.
Apart from walking around with these people, Shen Yi spent most of the rest of the time at home.
On the one hand, it's because of his personality, but more importantly, it's because he's afraid of death.
He has not forgotten that he was on the assassination list of the Cleansing Department of Northern Qi, and he was ranked very high.
According to Nei Wei, his ranking is even higher than that of Zhongshu's Prime Minister. Apart from some special figures in the Chen Kingdom, only General Zhao Lu and Zhao are ranked in front of him.
As for whether the assassination ranking of General Zhao is true or false, Shen Yi himself is skeptical.
In the blink of an eye, another two days passed, and the time came to the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month in the ninth year of Hongde. On this day, after attending the court meeting, His Majesty the Emperor personally rang a bell, which meant that the entire court of the ninth year of Hongde had come. So far.
Next, except for Zhongshu, who would leave a prime minister on duty every day, all other yamen of the imperial court would basically enter a "shutdown" state.
The imperial court's annual holiday will last for half a month, and it will not be until after the Lantern Festival that His Majesty the Emperor will reopen the court meeting and enter the new year.
And this half month is considered the "New Year".
In the afternoon when the court was resting, the Shen family welcomed their first guest. Zhang Sicheng, who was dressed in a blue jacket, came to the door with a smile while carrying some old wine dug out of his family's wine cellar.
Facing this rare friend, Shen Yi personally welcomed him to the main living room of his home. After the two of them were seated, Shen Yi smiled and asked: "The last time I went to see my brother for a drink, he said he would come to see me soon. , why did it take two or three days to come here?”
"Don't mention it."
Zhang Jian lowered his eyebrows and sighed: "The Qingshui Yamen of Taichang Temple is also very busy. It's the end of the year. All kinds of accounts have to be reconciled, and various sacrificial rituals in the palace have to be presided over. I have been busy for several days. ."
"also…"
He looked at Shen Yi with some envy and said: "Brother, this official position is not comparable to that of Zi Heng. Zi Heng, you can be regarded as a member of the Ministry of War or the Hanlin Academy, so you ignore both sides. I The Prime Minister of Taichang Temple, there is also the Minister of Taichang Temple, the Shaoqing wants to do a favor, and there are various Doctors of Taichang..."
"You have never been in this kind of yamen, so you don't know..."
Zhang Jian couldn't help complaining: "Everyone in the court farts without making a sound, but the sound is so loud that they all think they are some great person!"
"It's very troublesome to deal with these people."
He said in a muffled voice: "If my old man hadn't said that Taichang Temple is a good place for promotion, my brother would have wanted to file a petition to be transferred to a government office. Even if he went to the Ministry of Industry, I would have recognized him."
Seeing his appearance, Shen Yi couldn't help teasing him: "How about I go and tell His Majesty, brother, to assume the identity of Yushitai next year and go to the southeast with me."
"At least I can still do something."
Zhang Jian's eyes lit up and he looked up at Shen Yi. Then his eyes dimmed again and he said helplessly: "I'm afraid it won't work. Among the third generation of my family, I am the only one who is a Jinshi. Every day when I go home, the old man has to ask me A few words about the matters in the court, and I will be very strict with you."
"I'm afraid I can't live without Jiankang."
Mr. Shen lowered his head and took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "With such an old man, you just have to be satisfied. I don't have any more if I want."
"Speak of it."
Shen Yi looked at Zhang Jian and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, the old Xiangguo is also very honest. He has been supporting the stalemate for so many years. It's hard to say anything else. It opens the door to convenience for his own family. One, two, is a bit conspicuous, but Isn’t it easy to arrange a few top three scholars?”
"Those, Zhongshu looks so harmonious."
Zhang Jian looked around and whispered: "Actually, they were fighting fiercely secretly. The old man and Mr. Yang couldn't get along, and they were all focusing on each other's faults."
Zhang Yian chuckled.
"Then Old Man Yang was so arrogant in those years, how many of his children and grandchildren have Jinshi?"
"not even one!"
Zhang Jian snorted: "That Yang Fan also became an official because of his kindness, so he couldn't get any publicity."
Indeed, when two prime ministers are fighting among themselves, there is room for change no matter what happens in the hands of the other party, but if there is cheating in the examination room...
Then no prime minister can withstand the saliva of scholars all over the world.
"I heard that people from Yang Xiang's line are very proud this year."
Shen Yi said softly: "Many people on that side have been promoted and reinstated, and they are very popular."
"That has nothing to do with Old Man Yang."
Zhang Jian curled his lips and said: "This old man is still stuck in Jiankang and is not allowed to return to his hometown. If he stays for one more day, he will be in danger of being liquidated..."
At this point, Zhang Yian lowered his voice and said: "Look, you and I can see the day when the house of this father and son will collapse."
Mr. Shen was thoughtful and was about to say something in response. The maid outside hurried in and saluted Shen Yi: "Sir, the imperial edict has arrived!"
After hearing this, Shen Yi stood up thoughtfully.
Zhang Jian, on the other hand, had a look of astonishment on his face. He frowned and said, "The imperial court is closed for bathing today. Where can I get the imperial edict?"
After Shen Yi stood up, he straightened his clothes and smiled: "In Jiankang City, no one can pretend to preach the imperial edict. Brother, please wait here while I go out and take a look."
After speaking, he looked at Qing'er and said, "Set up an incense table to welcome the imperial edict."
After saying that, Shen Yi bowed his hands to Zhang Jian and strode towards the front yard. At this time, all the young and old of the Shen family had gathered in the front yard. When Shen Yi arrived, everyone kowtowed to the two eunuchs in the inner court.
One of the eunuchs took out a roll of imperial edict from the wooden box held by the other eunuch. After unfolding it, he cleared his throat and spoke slowly: "Gaofeng."
Hearing these two words, Shen Yi understood the content of this imperial edict.
"Shen Yi, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, served the country and made outstanding achievements..."
After a long series of parallel prose, the eunuch who announced the decree glanced at Shen Yi, coughed, and continued: "The edict is given to Shen's mother, Shen Zhuo, for the fifth grade of edict..."
"The wife of the imperial concubine Shen Lu is a fifth-grade imperial concubine..."
Soon, after reciting the imperial edict, the two young eunuchs put the edict back into the box, stepped forward to help Shen Yi up, and bowed respectfully: "Congratulations, Bachelor Shen..."
The eunuch looked at Lu Qingque again, his head lowered even further.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Shen."
Shen Yi put the imperial edict away, then turned around and handed it to Lu Ruoxi. He took out a sealed envelope of silver from his sleeve and handed it into the eunuch's hand. He smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for the Chinese New Year, father-in-law."
The little eunuch took the envelope of silver with both hands, bowed slightly, and said with a smile: "This is the last imperial edict in the ninth year of Hongde. It will be recorded in the history books in the future. Scholar Shen is blessed with the blessing of the Holy Family..."
Shen Yi smiled and said a few words before sending the two young eunuchs away.
After the two young eunuchs left, Shen Zhang could no longer hide his excitement. He stepped forward and pulled his son's clothes, trying to make his voice less trembling: "Yi'er, your mother is also here..."
Seeing him like this, Shen Yi felt a little sad in his heart. He patted his father on the shoulder and said, "Yes, my mother is here too..."
"After the New Year starts, dad will go back to Jiangdu..."
Shen Zhang could no longer hide his excitement: "Dad is going to tell the whole clan and inform the folks!"
"Dad is going back to build your mother's grave..."
Seeing his appearance, Shen Yi wiped his tears with his sleeves and said: "When my younger brother finishes his Chunwei exam, let him go back to Jiangdu with his father to build his mother's grave. This kind of thing should be done as a son... "
After saying this, Shen Yi looked back at Lu Ruoxi, pulled her aside, with a smile on his face: "Madam, she is now a serious lady appointed by the imperial court."
Lu Ruoxi was originally in a very happy mood. When she heard this, she glanced at Shen Yi and hummed, "Wasn't I serious before?"
After saying this, she looked at the imperial edict box in her hand and said with some worry: "Will this affect my husband's career?"
She was worried that if the emperor commended her husband in this way, he would not be promoted.
Master Shen shook his head slightly and said with a smile.