Chapter 290 : Imperial Street, the Pavilion of the First Scholar
"What's the crowd? The crowd?" The officer didn't react for a moment, and he was stunned before saying, "You mean white body?"
Xu Zizhen said blankly: "Ah, it's Bai Shen."
The officer suddenly became angry: "Bai Shen, why are you kidding me when you go to the official office to name me?"
Xu Zizhen was stunned for a moment, then said with an apologetic smile: "Master Cha, you misunderstood. I'm not here to do roll call. I just want to ask something."
The official also realized that he had made an mistake. He touched the ingot of silver in his sleeve and said humbly: "Tell me earlier...ask, what do you want to know?"
Xu Zizhen came closer and lowered his voice: "I want to ask about someone, where is Mr. Wen Chengyan, the former magistrate of Lanzhou, sent to take office now?"
The official was very happy: "I am just a disciple. If you ask me about the fourth rank of the current dynasty, aren't you still teasing me?"
"I can't get in through this door..."
"Then just wait, I'll go in and find someone who knows and ask you."
This official was quite enthusiastic, and he went in because of the ingot of silver. He came out again after a while, but his face became very ugly. As soon as he came over, he stuffed the silver back to Xu Zizhen: "Hurry up.
Let's go, I can't help you with this matter."
Xu Zizhen was very surprised. He rolled his eyes and stuffed the money back. He added another ingot and said with a smile: "No matter whether you can help or not, there is no reason to return it. Just keep it... Well, if you can
Tell me why?"
The official had obviously just been reprimanded, and his face was still a little green. However, after the money was stuffed back, he finally calmed down a little. He looked around and whispered: "This Mr. Wen you are asking about has probably offended someone above."
Master, I haven’t let it go since I returned to Beijing. I have left it idle.”
Xu Zizhen was surprised: "Then where does he live now?"
The official said: "Where do I know where to go? You'd better leave quickly to save me from being scolded again."
Xu Zizhen had no choice but to leave. He never took this outcome into account. No matter whether Wen Chengyan let it go or was idle, there is no trace of Wen Chengyan's whereabouts at all now. There are millions of people in Bianjing. Where can they find him?
For a while, he had no choice but to go back first and then worry about it slowly. As soon as he returned to the door of the inn, he smelled a scent, and then he remembered that he didn't eat much at noon. In order to get to Bianjing before dark, lunch was just
I bought a few pancakes on the way to satisfy my hunger. When I was thinking about things just now, I didn't feel much about it, but now that I have settled down, I feel a little unbearably hungry.
As soon as Xu Zizhen walked in, he saw Daye and Zhuo Ya having packed up and waiting for him in the lobby. Both of them were already hungry, especially Daye. With his throughput, he might have been hungry all day long.
At this time, Xu Zizhen also figured out that Mr. Wen would not be found for a while, so he would find another way, but he still had to eat when he needed to eat, and finally arrived in Bianjing - others didn't feel it, but Xu Zizhen understood this very well
Well, in this era Bianjing can be regarded as the most prosperous city in the world. I would be sorry if I didn't take a good stroll.
The inn itself also has food, but the shopkeeper enthusiastically recommended a restaurant for them, not far from here, called Zhuangyuan Pavilion. It is said that it was opened by a certain big shot in the previous dynasty.
With his status in the court and the location of the restaurant, Zhuangyuan Pavilion's status in Bianjing is unshakable. More importantly, his name is well chosen. As long as ordinary scholars have a few dollars, they are willing to come and have a meal to make a meal.
color.
After exiting the inn, you turn a corner and you’ll find the Imperial Street in Bianjing City. This was one of the busiest streets in the Song Dynasty. It starts from Xuande Gate of the Imperial Palace in the north, Jingzhou Bridge and Zhuque Gate, and goes straight to Xunmen Gate in the south of the outer city. It is more than ten years long.
It is two hundred paces wide. The whole street is divided into three parts. In the middle is the royal road, which is the road that the royal family usually takes when traveling. Ordinary people are not allowed to step into it. On both sides are excavated ditches with lotuses planted on the banks.
There are peaches, plums, pears, apricots and other trees planted. Now that the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, the flowers are colorful and fragrant everywhere. Just walking here is already a kind of enjoyment.
The two sides of the river ditch are called Royal Corridors, which are areas where people go out and move. There are many shops in the area and they are bustling. Zhuangyuan Pavilion is located in the bustling city, right in the middle of the entire Royal Street. Xu Zizhen saw the huge signboard from a distance.
, the gold characters on the black background are extraordinary. When I walked closer, I found that there was already a lot of traffic outside. It was indeed the first floor of Bianjing. It was really crowded.
The entire Zhuangyuan Pavilion has four floors, but the top floor is not open to the public. It is said that it is only open when the owner is hosting a banquet or when the royal family comes. Even the third floor is not accessible to ordinary people, so there must be someone there.
Only dignitaries with certain strength and status can enter.
The clothes of Xu Zizhen and the other three people were not luxurious, but the waiter here still recognized this. Xu Zizhen's equipment was majestic and his elegant temperament was outstanding. Even Daye, the follower, looked forward to the power, and immediately led the three people into the room.
I walked into a private room facing the street on the second floor and was immediately served tea and menus with a warm and respectful attitude, but it didn't sound like a shop trying to bully customers.
There are many kinds of dishes here, but the prices are naturally not cheap. Xu Zizhen didn't have a chance to spend the money he blackmailed from Jingzhao Mansion, so he ordered a dozen of them and finally ordered a bottle of wine.
The waiter sang as he collected the menu and went down. It didn't take long for the wine to arrive. It had a small mouth and a round belly. It was the authentic daughter's red wine produced in Jiangnan. As soon as the mud seal was opened, a pure aroma of wine floated out, making you want to get drunk.
“Good wine!”
Xu Zizhen immediately praised it, took the wine bowl and started pouring it. As he was pouring it, someone next door sniffed hard and also praised it: "Good wine!"
"Hey, there is someone knowledgeable here." Xu Zizhen laughed and said loudly to the neighbor next door, "Good wine does not belong to separate families, why don't we join in the fun together?"
Soon the door of the private room was pushed open, and standing at the door was a young man with a fair face, a straight figure and a slim waist, and a heroic spirit between his brows that could not be concealed.
The young man was quite familiar with him. He came in and hugged Xu Zizhen with a fist, and said with a smile: "This brother is invited."
Xu Zizhen also stood up and said with a smile: "You're welcome. Since your nose can smell good wine, I should invite you to have a few drinks together."
"Haha, you're welcome, little brother." The young man walked in as he spoke, and bowed to Zhuo Ya seriously first, "Sister-in-law is polite, but little brother is rude!"
Xu Zizhen was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter. Zhuo Ya suddenly blushed and glared at Xu Zizhen angrily, but she still stood up and said in return: "Young Master is wrong, I have nothing to do with this guy."
This guy? The young man was obviously stunned for a moment, but he soon returned to normal. He laughed and said: "I was reckless, I forgive you. I am willing to punish myself!" As he spoke, he raised his neck and saw the wine bowl.
Bottomed out.
"He who doesn't know is not guilty. It doesn't count." Xu Zizhen also poured a bowl to accompany him and said with a smile, "Xu Zizhen, what do you call your brother?"
The young man smiled and said: "My surname is Wu Mingjie, from Yongxing."