Chapter Eighteen: The First Talent Competition in Beijing
The two of them arrived at Zuixian Tower, and as soon as they entered the entrance hall, a waiter hurriedly greeted them, greeted them with a smile, and asked them whether to stay in a hotel or to eat. Leng Junyi asked for a private room, and the waiter immediately led the way respectfully.
The two of them entered the private room on the second floor. After being polite and modest, Leng Junyi handed the menu to Xue Meitong and asked her to order. Xue Meitong was not polite, and after looking at it briefly, she ordered.
Several exquisite side dishes. The waiter kept praising Xue Meitong for her good taste, and ordered all the signature dishes of Zuixianlou.
After the waiter served tea and left, Xue Meitong showed her gossipy nature, and asked Leng Junyi curiously with bright eyes, "General Leng, your skills are so good! You are good at martial arts and light kung fu! Thanks to you today, otherwise Mei Mei
Hitomi is about to die under the horse’s hooves!”
Leng Junyi said with a smile: "Miss Mei Tong is so polite! Jun Yi has seen Miss Mei Tong's skills, and I believe that even if Jun Yi doesn't take action, Miss Mei Tong can escape unscathed."
Xuemei Tong felt happy when she heard this, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but raise. She blinked her eyes playfully and asked, "Oh? General Leng thinks so highly of me?"
Leng Junyi replied: "Jun Yi still remembers Miss Mei Tong's marksmanship. How could a woman with such outstanding skills and astute mind rush out to save people without any confidence? What do you think?
Yes, Miss Mei Tong?"
Xue Mei's eyes were stunned, and she heard the hidden meaning in Leng Junyi's words. She lowered her eyes, held the teacup in both hands, and said with a faint smile: "I forgot that General Leng and the Fourth Prince are close friends in life and death. Presumably, the Fourth Prince
I won’t hide anything from you.”
Leng Junyi replied: "Please don't worry about Miss Mei Tong. Jun Yi has no other intentions. Qing Ge admires Miss Mei Tong very much. I have never seen him be so interested in any girl."
Xue Meitong couldn't help but sneer, "Should I feel honored?"
Leng Junyi was startled. He was keenly aware of the wariness and precautions in Xue Meitong's heart. As the saying goes, people with different paths cannot conspire with each other. They each have their own masters, and it is reasonable for Xue Meitong to be wary of him.
The atmosphere seemed a little stiff, and Leng Junyi was thinking about how to break the dull atmosphere at the moment. Xue Meitong picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "General Leng, let's not mention these unhappy things, it will hurt our feelings!"
Since Xue Meitong has taken the initiative to calm down the atmosphere, Leng Junyi naturally followed suit. He said: "Miss Meitong, why don't I just talk about you. Do you plan to stay in Huamanlou for the rest of your life?"
"Huamanlou? No! Of course not!" Xue Meitong objected, "Huamanlou is just my temporary place to stay. Sooner or later I will leave!"
"oh?"
Leng Junyi couldn't help but be a little surprised. Once a secret guard, always a secret guard! But from Xue Meitong's tone, it seems that she doesn't want to be a secret guard all her life?!
"Will the Emperor agree?"
emperor?
Xue Mei Tong was startled, and then she laughed, "General Leng, if one day you want to stay away from the court and retreat to the countryside, what method will you choose?"
Leng Junyi replied: "I will resign to the emperor."
"What if the emperor doesn't approve it?"
Leng Junyi thought for a while and replied seriously: "Jun Yi has never considered this issue. If there comes a day when Jun Yi hates his official career and wants to return to his country, but the emperor does not approve it, I think I will
I will stay here with all my heart and continue to serve the Emperor."
Xue Meitong said: "General Leng, you are a great general. You have lofty ideals and lofty ambitions, but Meitong is just a little girl. All she wants is a happy family and a stable and peaceful life. The life in front of you is not
Mei Tong’s pursuit. One day, Mei Tong will leave.”
Leng Junyi couldn't help but worry, "Miss Mei Tong, have you ever considered whether the emperor would agree?"
"No!" Xue Meitong replied firmly, "Once you are a secret guard, you will always be a secret guard, and you will never be able to leave until you die! Mei Tong still understands this truth."
"so?"
"so,……"
Xue Meitong smiled but said nothing.
Leng Junyi seemed to have some realization.
"It seems that Miss Mei Tong has a plan in mind. Miss Mei Tong is indeed different from ordinary women. She has great aspirations and lofty ambitions..."
"General Leng is laughing!"
The conversation stopped here. The waiter presented the dishes, Xue Meitong made a gesture of invitation, and Leng Junyi quickly returned the favor. The two took up their chopsticks and ate. After taking a few bites of the food, they suddenly heard the sound of a gong.
The street across the street was full of people, cheers, and discussions. Xuemei Tong was curious and looked for a voice. She saw that the street across the street was full of people, and there were many talented people gathered on the temporary stage built with wooden planks.
, a figure like the examiner was saying something loudly.
Xue Meitong was curious and asked the waiter, "What activities are happening outside?"
The waiter replied: "To tell you the story, today is the day of the competition for the number one talent in the capital. The arena is filled with young talents from all over the country. Everyone is eager to try, just to win the title of 'the number one talent in the capital'."
Xue Meitong was very interested. She asked: "The most talented person in the capital? Interesting! Interesting! Waiter, do you know who the leader was last year?"
Mentioning last year's leader, the waiter showed admiration. He said, "Girl, don't you know? Last year's leader was Mu Qingfei, the 'First Prime Minister of the Celestial Dynasty.'"
"Mu Qingfei?"
Xuemei Tong has heard of this name. Mu Qingfei is the youngest prime minister of Feng Yuguo since the founding of the country. He was born in a poor family and has reached his current position on his own. He is diligent and caring for the people, has self-restraint and dedication to the public, and has won the emperor's trust.
, hailed by the common people as "the first prime minister of the heaven"!
She had only heard about it in rumors, but had never been lucky enough to see it with her own eyes. Xue Meitong asked with interest: "Will Mu Qingfei come today?"
The waiter replied: "Prime Minister Mu was the leader last year, so he should come to this year's competition. However, there are also rumors that Prime Minister Mu is busy with government affairs and involved in important matters, so he will not come this year."
"Yeah?"
Xue Meitong couldn't help but feel disappointed when she heard this. She also wanted to see the elegance of the "First Prime Minister of the Celestial Dynasty"!
The competition on the high platform was in full swing, and Xue Meitong watched with interest. This round of competition was divided into three games, the first game was a pair match, the second game was a poem contest, and the third game was a poem, with a time limit of one stick.
Participants must answer the questions drawn by themselves, and then submit them to the judges of famous and talented literati selected by the court and the people. Finally, a total of fifteen people will be selected to enter the finals and the top three will be selected.
, the emperor will personally confer the title of "The No. 1 Talent in the Capital" and serve in the Hanlin Academy.
Therefore, this competition is also a shortcut for literati to lead a career, so it attracts countless literati to rush to sign up for the competition every year. Even if they fail to win the top spot in the end, they can still shine and let those adults remember themselves.