Princess Pingning had always been paying attention to her son's behavior, and when she noticed that the three girls from the Sheng family were chatting and laughing, she asked Mrs. Wang to meet the old lady of the Sheng family. They all came to the Sheng family, and the eldest could not be left behind.
Mrs. Wang hurriedly said: "My mother caught a bit of wind and cold on the way to the capital. This disease is the most likely to spread. When my mother is well again, I can ask my young master to pay her respects some other time."
Wind chill?
Seeing Wang's relaxed expression, he knew that his condition was not serious. After Princess Pingning said a few words of concern, she gave Qi's father a look.
Duke Guo of Qi found a suitable opportunity and said to Sheng Hong:
"I was busy chatting with Xiu Jin and almost forgot about the real thing. It's getting late. Xiu Jin, could you please let Bai'er take Heng'er to visit Zhuang Xuexue?"
Sheng Hong patted his thigh lightly and said suddenly:
"Haha, not to mention Jingde, I also forgot that Zhuang Xuexue had sent someone to ask if the young master had arrived." He turned to his eldest son and asked him to take the young master to Zhuang Xuexue's courtyard. .
After Wang Lidong greeted everyone in the hall, he followed the Sheng Changbai brothers out of the hall.
On the way, Sheng Changbai remained silent and continued to maintain his aloof persona, but Sheng Changfeng never stopped talking, saying nice words and compliments. Although Wang Lidong didn't have a good impression of the men of the Sheng family, in order to avoid Embarrassed, I managed to deal with it casually.
After passing a small pond and turning two corners, we entered a small courtyard surrounded by wooden piles.
After looking around, there were two houses in total, plus a small garden of more than ten square meters.
Although the area is not large, it is decorated with great care.
In the small garden, there are rockeries, strange rocks, pools, stone bridges... all kinds of elements of Jiangnan gardens.
Wang Lidong walked to the pond that was three to four square meters in size, looked at the three or four newly grown lotus flowers floating in it, and then looked at the stone bridge that was not much thicker than his own arm. After thinking about it, he still didn't step on it. " This must have been done by Zhuang Xuexuu himself, right?"
Sheng Changbai nodded slightly and said one word: "Yes."
"Can it be arranged in two or three days? These things are not easy to find."
Sheng Changfeng continued: "It took a little half a month to prepare the rockery, flowers and plants. Before coming to the capital, Zhuang Xuexue told his father the request."
"Uncle is really attentive."
When he saw the white-haired Xuexue Zhuang, Wang Lidong saluted: "Sir, I haven't seen you for a few years. You seem to be two years younger."
"Yuanruo has changed a lot in the past few years." Zhuang Xuexue laughed and stroked his beard and said: "My mouth is much sweeter than before. But you should tell your wife this, she will definitely I will be very happy.”
Wang Lidong asked curiously: "Why haven't you seen the master's wife?"
Normally, I would be either playing the piano or busy with Nv Hong.
Zhuang Xuexue said: "I was picked up by your senior sister as soon as I arrived in the capital."
Wang Lidong nodded, and then handed over the gift, which was the same as the one given to the Changbai brothers, a set of four treasures of the study, but with two extra scrolls of paper.
When Xuexue Zhuang saw the three scrolls of paper, his eyes brightened. He quickly picked up one scroll and gently untied the rope, "Chengxintang paper?"
Wang Lidong praised him and said, "Sir, you have a good eye."
“Too expensive!”
The old man said it was precious, but his hands were not slow at all. He moved the things on the coffee table to the two small stools on the side, and then wiped the coffee table carefully. After confirming that there were no stains or water stains, he carefully
Carefully unfold the roll of paper in your hand.
Sheng Changfeng was a little confused and asked his second brother in a low voice,
"Why are you being pedantic? Isn't it just a blank piece of paper? It looks like it was written by Wang Youjun himself."
Sheng Changbai glared at the ignorant third brother, "I didn't hear what the scholar said, this is Chengxintang's paper."
Chengxintang paper was first made in the Southern Tang Dynasty. The Imperial Palace of the Southern Tang Dynasty had a book collection place called "Chengxintang". The special paper refined here was called "Chengxintang paper" and it was the royal paper of the palace.
Chengxintang paper is one of the three treasures of the study of the Southern Tang Dynasty. It is rated as the best paper in the history of Chinese papermaking. It is famous for its skin as egg-like membrane, as hard and clean as jade, thin and smooth.
"Chengxintang, I seem to have heard of it..."
"Empress Li."
Sheng Changfeng slapped his head,
"It was used by the emperor of the previous dynasty, so this paper is not cheap."
"A shaft is about 500 pieces, so there is a price but no market."
"Hiss! Is it so expensive!" Sheng Changfeng's eyes widened, and a piece of tattered paper cost him more than ten years of pocket money... Suddenly he remembered that there was a scroll of paper in his gift, and he hurriedly said to his second brother, "Just now we
Is this the same paper that you both collected inside?"
Sheng Changbai nodded.
Sent!
Sheng Changfeng was so happy that his mouth burst into tears.
Just two days after arriving in the capital, he discovered that the prices here were ridiculously expensive... He was thinking about how to get some money so that he could invite some second-generation people to have friendship... Now the funds for the activities were secured.
On the way just now, he felt that Wang Lidong was too arrogant and he didn't plan to deal with him again. But now... the Duke's Mansion is so damn rich that he can just give you any gifts, and it costs a thousand dollars... Xiao
Mr. Gong, your friend, I, Chang Feng...are determined!
Xuexue Zhuang studied it for a long time and reluctantly tied the paper up again.
Then I looked at the other three items, Xuanzhou Zhuge brush, Li Tinggui ink, Wuyuan Longwei inkstone... They are all high-quality products, and the total cost is estimated to be seven to eight hundred.
Full of sincerity.
I originally thought that Wang Lidong was preparing to study with him again, so I gave him such a heavy gift. Unexpectedly, he was asking about some relevant experiences after entering the examination room.
After he asked two questions and passed the assessment on the spot, he felt a little bit disappointed that he didn't realize that this student was a good candidate for studying... and then he shared his examination experience with Wang Lidong without any reservation.
.....................
After watching the carriage of Duke Qi's family go away, Sheng Hong and his wife returned to Wei Ruixuan.
After Mrs. Wang ordered a bowl of tea for her officials, she said:
"This time we gave the young father-in-law a meeting gift...Fortunately, the young father-in-law seems to like it quite a lot."
Sheng Hong glanced at his wife, took the tea bowl, and took a sip, "Even if I don't like it, my young master won't show it." Then he complained a little: "What can I say to you! Such an important relative,
You can forget it. Otherwise, I will definitely prepare a better meeting gift."
Mrs. Wang was a little embarrassed, after all, she was a relative here.
But she can't be blamed for this. Growing up, her parents never mentioned to her that she had relatives from such a wealthy family.
"Guardian, this young master is really a talented person. I heard that he is already 13 years old and has not yet made a marriage decision."
Sheng Hong put down the tea bowl in his hand, looked at his wife and said, "What do you mean...?"
Wang crackled her thoughts into the official's ears.
"Let Ru'er be the daughter-in-law of the princess?" Sheng Hong was shocked by his wife's bold idea. He is now a sixth-grade green-robed minor official. And Qi Guogong, in terms of title, is from a first-grade official, but according to the public position , he is currently the Deputy Envoy of the Third Division, and I heard that he will soon be promoted to the position of the Third Division Envoy, the "Supreme Financial Officer" of the Song Dynasty. "The difference between our two families is too..."
The eldest lady said: "Guanren, the Sheng family has been a family for generations. My father-in-law is the Tanhualang, my mother is the only daughter of Marquis Yongyi, and you, Guanren, are two-ranked Jinshi. My father is Ru Lan's maternal ancestor and the former Grand Master. ..." The more he talked about it, the more excited he became, thinking that if his youngest daughter could marry into the Duke's mansion and become the eldest wife of the Duke's mansion... Qi Guogong only has one son, and he has done so many salt and iron envoys. I heard that Nowadays, more than half of the coal in the capital is his family's business, and he earns millions of dollars a year... I don't know if the treasury in the Duke of Qi's house is full...
Sheng Hong saw that his wife's eyes were like gold ingots, and she was speechless. If his family was really that awesome, then his eldest daughter Hua Lan would not marry Yuan Wenshao, the second in command of Zhongqin's house, but He is the eldest son of several Dukes in the capital.
"I heard that in the past two years, there have been many nobles who intend to marry the Duke of Qi, but even Concubine Rong seems to have been rejected. If Hua'er is not married yet, your idea is still possible, but Ru'er... "
When Mrs. Wang thought of her little daughter who was only good at eating, she felt like someone had poured cold water on her head, but she still said unwillingly: "Didn't the princess just praise Ru'er for being honest and well-behaved..."
You are just being polite, you can't tell them in front of them that your daughter is a fool!
Seeing that his wife was starting to mess around, Sheng Hong got a little tired. After saying that he had official business to deal with, he left Wei Ruixuan...
After walking for a while, he came to Lin Qige, the yard of his concubine Lin Xiaoniang.
When Lin Xiaoniang saw Sheng Hong, she rushed forward enthusiastically, thinking that Cao Cao would be here soon.
"Honglang, please sit down for a moment, and I'll go to the kitchen and cook you some of your favorite side dishes."
Sheng Hong said: "Just fire two at will. Don't work too hard."
Lin Xiaoniang smiled and nodded.
After about a stick of incense, six side dishes were placed on the table. Seeing that they were all his favorites, Sheng Hong looked at Lin Xiaoniang with a gentle look...
Next, the two of them drank a glass of wine and drank together. Sheng Hong couldn't help but kiss and hug each other...
"What?! You want Mo'er to marry into the Duke of Qi's palace?"
The dizzy Sheng Hong woke up instantly and said with a face, "Which serious family would not decide on a concubine before deciding on a eldest wife! Although our Sheng family is a small family, it is also a scholarly family. There is no There is a precedent for a daughter to be a concubine."
Lin Xiaoniang's eyes widened and she said, "Honglang, I didn't say what kind of lady I wanted Mo'er to be. I asked Mo'er to be the young master's wife."
Sheng Hong stared at Xiaoniang Lin in shock, and then put the back of his hand on his concubine's forehead... It seemed a little hot... His pretty face was red... It shouldn't be considered a fever...
Lin Xiaoniang was a little confused by Sheng Hong's operations: "Hong Lang, what's wrong?"
Sheng Hong asked doubtfully: "How could you have such an idea?"
"My young master is a talented person and has a good family background. Now he is a relative of our Sheng family. Mo'er is only three years younger than the young master. I think the two of them are very suitable in every aspect. If we get married... ." Lin Xiaoniang became more and more excited as she talked, and she didn't even notice that Sheng Hong's face was covered with frost.
"That's enough!" Sheng Hong slammed the dining table, pointed at Lin Xiaoniang and said, "I usually see you as a shrewd person. Today I discovered that you are a complete idiot!
You feel?!
What is your identity?! Do you find it useful?!
He actually wanted to have the future Duke of Qi marry a concubine from a sixth-grade official as his eldest wife?!
Are you crazy?"
Seeing that Sheng Hong's face was terribly dark, Lin Xiaoniang knew that this man was really angry, so she hurriedly stepped forward to help him sit down, and asked in a low voice, "Hong Hong, I just asked Mo'er, today the princess is The meeting gifts given to the three girls were the same. This does not prove that the Duke of Qi and the princess did not attach great importance to their legitimate concubines.
Our Mo'er is so well-born, looks so outstanding, and is proficient in poetry, lyrics, and songs, so maybe he will catch the eye of the princess.
My lord... Duke Qi only has a son, the young prince. If Mo'er can marry into the Duke's palace, it will be of great benefit to my lord's official career, Changbai Changfeng and Minglan's marriage in the future..."
Sheng Hong was greatly moved after hearing this, but he calmed down immediately. He was not as self-righteous as Lin Xiaoniang. Even if someone from the Sheng family really married into the Duke of Qi's palace, it could only be Ru Lan.
Unless she is the concubine of the queen's biological sister, Princess Pingning would probably nod her head, as for his Mo Lan... Haha!
If the young prince really gets married, he will definitely become the laughing stock of the capital. It will also make people wonder whether the Duke of Qi has something to do with the Sheng family, or some shameful deeds have happened.
The Sheng family won't get anything good in the end!
"You have also read a lot of books... It is important to know yourself. What you just said is just a joke to me. You are not allowed to mention these stupid things again in the future, otherwise I will not let you go lightly!"
Sheng Hong stood up, flicked his sleeves and walked out.
Lin Xiaoniang grabbed Sheng Hong's arm and said, "For Mo'er, Hong Lang might as well give it a try..."
"Try it? What you said is so easy!" Sheng Hong sneered: "Have you ever heard of any family who took the initiative to propose marriage to their girl's family?
If I came to propose marriage and was rejected by the government, have you ever thought about the consequences?!!
The Sheng family has been completely disgraced! This relative of the Guogong Mansion must also be disgraced!
The entire capital will definitely regard our Sheng family as a joke.
My colleagues will all think that I, Sheng Hong, am following the trend to cling to the powerful, and I think it won’t be long before I am given an order to get out of the capital, and then I will be sent to an unknown corner as a county magistrate!”
Shaking away Lin Xiaoniang, Sheng Hong walked out of Lin Xige angrily. He could still understand the lady's thoughts. After all, there was a slight gap, but after all, Ru'er was a direct descendant. But Mo Lan actually... these years Maybe he was too indulgent towards Lin Xige, and he spoiled her so much that his eyes grew on his forehead!
.............................
Time soon came to the day of the county examination.
Before three o'clock in the morning, the cheap lady entered Wang Lidong's house.
At four o'clock, the family arrived at the gate of the Gongyuan of the Capital, but there were many people who came earlier than them. By this time, hundreds of candidates and their families were already standing at the gate of the Gongyuan.
At five o'clock, Wang Lidong, with his father and mother looking at him with eager eyes, held a half-meter-high special examination basket in each hand, and lined up to enter the Gongyuan of Kaifeng Prefecture.
The disadvantage of being strong has come out. In the past, Qi's mother would have prepared a small basket at most. After all, the front body couldn't carry it. But now he has a lot of strength. Even if he can take the exam today, it takes two days to prepare. food and all kinds of messy objects.
After verifying the candidates' information and passing the body search, Wang Lidong came to a seat number map, which marked the seat number and location of each candidate.
I quickly found his name, his nickname - 'Hong Ba'.
Although it sounds a bit strange, it doesn't matter as long as you're not a bastard.
After a while, Wang Lidong found the seats for the next five exams according to the signs.
Candidates in the capital have an advantage. From the county examination to the general examination, except for the palace examination, which requires entering the palace, the other three stages of the examination are all in the same examination room. At most, they have to change places... The farther away from the capital, the more difficult it is for candidates. It's hard work, like here in Yunnan and Guizhou. According to the road conditions at this time, it will take about three or four months, and you have to pray that you don't encounter the specialty of the Song Dynasty---Jie Dao!
After looking at the dormitory, the width and height were about the same as a telephone booth, and the depth was half a meter longer. There were two grooves on the wall half a meter above the ground and one meter above the ground. This was a place for wooden boards to be placed. The wooden board is used as a bench, and the top one is used as a writing desk. If you want to sleep at night, you can remove the top piece and put it underneath, and they can be used as a bed together.
Wang Lidong first put the two test baskets aside, took out a small broom from a cloth bag, and gave the dormitory a general cleaning. By the way, he checked the construction quality and whether there were any leaks or cracks.
He was quite satisfied with the result and there were no major problems. He thought that the person who built this Gongyuan a few years ago must have been a more honest person and did not cut corners.
When the fish belly turned white on the horizon, the government officials began to distribute the test papers to each dormitory.
Wang Lidong got the test paper, spread it out and looked at it. It was an ordinary thick paper folded book. Each page was separated by red lines, and there was a special place for writing your name on the cover.
After a while, two guards walked past the dormitory holding a wooden board. On the wooden board were the test questions.
On the first day of the county examination, the test consisted of two essays in four letters and one poem in five characters and six rhymes. This level of difficulty was like asking him to find out how many 1 + 1 equals... By about two o'clock in the afternoon, After finally waiting for the fiftieth student to submit the paper, Wang Lidong followed the large group out of the examination room.
According to the regulations of the examination room, after the examination is completed and the papers are handed in, candidates cannot leave the examination room immediately. They must wait until the number of people reaches fifty and the magistrate personally removes the seal on the door before leaving. The magistrate then re-locks and seals the door.
The next day, the second test will be one essay on four books, one essay on sexual theory or the Classic of Filial Piety... The fourth and fifth consecutive exams will mainly test scriptures, poems, scriptures, and concubine essays.
On the third day after the last exam, at the gate of Gongyuan, Buwei looked at the list of those who passed the county exam posted on the bulletin board, and carefully looked down the first name one by one... and found the third name from the bottom.
It belongs to my young master. He hurriedly trotted to the carriage.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, your Majesty has passed."
Qi's mother pushed open the car door, looked at Bu Wei with an excited face, and said happily, "Is he the head of the case?"
Wang Lidong rolled his eyes and said, give him the 'head of the case'? Unless the governor of Kaifeng is crazy, or he doesn't plan to continue to be an official in the Song Dynasty in this life.
"Where does Heng'er rank?"
It took him a long time to say, "Third from the bottom."