The emperor gave Wang Yue a temporary residence in Beijing.
Wang Yue's eldest son, Wang Chun, and his second son, Wang Shi, were kneeling on the ground with their heads bent to the ground to greet Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing as they passed through the house.
Xiao Jing seems to be used to facing such enthusiasm. He probably often gets this kind of treatment when he goes to other places.
Zhang Zhou, on the other hand, did not like to show inferiority in etiquette. He smiled and said: "Why are you two so polite? Get up and talk."
However, Xiao Jing pulled Zhang Zhou aside and shook his head at Zhang Zhou with a smile, meaning that you don't care about them, just kneel down. You are here on behalf of the emperor, and it is not unfair for them to kneel down. Besides, their boss
Father will probably kneel down when he sees you... That's how this family is.
Wang Mingshan, who was standing behind Zhang Zhou as a bodyguard, was more confused. Why did my father and uncle bow to me?
"Today is not an official edict. I am just here to convey that Wang Yue Wang Zongxian has been granted the title of Marquis of Weining and given the World Certificate!" Zhang Zhou said.
What Zhang Zhou thought was that since people were kneeling to him, he should convey what should be conveyed as soon as possible. Kneeling is valuable, and there is no need to hide such things.
It didn't matter whether he said it sooner or later, not to mention that one of them was half his father-in-law.
"Thank you, Lord, for your grace."
Wang Chun sobbed.
He had been the heir apparent of Weiningbo for several years. He originally had the title to inherit, but then Wang Yue was convicted and the Wang family was displaced... Now Wang Yue has regained the title, skipping the earl and becoming a marquis directly.
He, the eldest son of a royal family who is over fifty years old, is very excited because his father can make a "definite comeback".
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "This is the grace of the Holy One. Of course, it is also due to the bloody struggle of Marquis Weining and the contribution of Mr. Zhang, which cannot be forgotten."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you Mr. Zhang, thank you Eunuch Xiao."
Brothers Wang Chun and Wang Shi kowtowed to Xiao Jing and Zhang Zhou again.
Zhang Zhou smiled bitterly.
I said in my heart that I am not here to ask for bribes, I am simply here to ask for gifts and good luck during the Chinese New Year.
"Please stand up and talk."
With Zhang Zhou's persistence, brothers Wang Chun and Wang Shi were finally helped up this time.
Fortunately, Wang Chun's side was fine. When Wang Shi found that his daughter was looking at him, he still had some strange expressions. Obviously he didn't agree with his father's decision. The Wang family would make a decision when the emperor approached the emperor.
The tradition of kneeling.
"There is one more thing for Wang Qianhu." Zhang Zhou looked at Wang Shi.
Wang Shi was startled at first. The two brothers were both members of the Jinyiwei Qianhu, and they were no different. However, after seeing his brother, he immediately realized that his brother Wang Chun was the successor of Weining Marquis.
It is a thing of the past. This is how military positions were in the Ming Dynasty. Those who were granted high titles and those who were given low titles were automatically relieved of their duties.
Wang Shi almost knelt down again, but Zhang Zhouzhou held him back.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, I can bear it, but I'm afraid your daughter can't stand your repeated kneeling and kowtow.
"Wang Qianhu will see for himself." Zhang Zhou handed over an official document, "From now on, you should also call Wang Qianshi."
After Wang Shi read it, he was very pleased. It was the emperor's edict that promoted him to serve as the commander of the imperial guards. Although he was also a high-ranking official, his official position and status were greatly improved.
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Your Majesty also ordered that there is currently no official vacancy in the court for the Jinyiwei to command the Qianshi, so An Bianbo... is the post of Qianhu left by Zhu Feng, the Jinyiwei who commanded the Qianshi.
Wang Qian is wronged by you."
Zhu Feng was now promoted to Anbian Bo. There was a real shortage of thousands of royal guards left behind by him. The emperor did not intend to give them to anyone else, so he gave them directly to Wang Shi.
Regardless of Wang Shi's abilities, he was at least Wang Weining's son. Besides, Wang Shi's daughter has now become Zhang Zhou's, serving as Zhang Zhou's concubine and bodyguard. The emperor felt that the Wang family was his own, so of course the position Zhu Feng had left was
Switch in this small circle.
"How virtuous and capable I am, I can't thank you enough..."
Wang Shi immediately shed tears of excitement.
Xiao Jing said: "Wang Qian, you must remember whose kindness it is, and do it with all your heart."
"Yes Yes."
Wang Shi wiped his tears and hurried over to help Xiao Jing sit down. Xiao Jing pushed him slightly and gave him a wink.
It seems to be saying that as soon as I agreed, I felt confused. I didn’t know who the protagonist was today, right?
Only then did Wang Shi go over to help Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou stretched out his hand to block Wang Shi and said with a smile: "Today I am here to deliver a message for Your Majesty. He will leave soon without further disturbance. Wang Qian has to perform his duties and so on. It is better to talk to Eunuch Xiao, he knows better."
Xiao Jing waved his hand and said: "No, our family is accompanying Mr. Zhang to start a fight today. If you want to listen to his teachings, just listen to him."
Wang Chundao said: "You two are on duty, we have prepared a banquet at our house, why don't you... move on."
"No need." Zhang Zhou said, "We still have to go to Uncle Anbian's house...to go to Duke Chengguo's house, so you two won't bother us much. Eunuch Xiao, it's important that we finish our errands quickly."
"yes."
Xiao Jing smiled.
Wang Chun understood what was happening. People here were in a hurry to leave. As the host, of course he had to express his gratitude.
"Come here, bring me a small gift for the two superiors."
Before Wang Yue went to the northwest, he asked his family to prepare a thank-you gift, and even sold the old house in his hometown, just to make it easier to manage things after winning the battle.
At that time, Wang Chun didn't understand his father's actions, but now he admired his father to the point of admiration. His father had simply paved all the roads, so he just had to do as he was told.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "We are just doing business, we don't accept gifts. Isn't it Eunuch Xiao?"
"This is natural." Xiao Jing followed the words and said, "The credit is not our family's fault. Our family deserves it, but Mr. Zhang, you are different."
What he means is that I won't accept this gift for now, and you, Zhang Zhou, can do whatever you want.
Zhang Zhou looked at Wang Mingshan with a smile and said: "Your Wang family has already given me generous gifts, how can I not be satisfied? If I have the opportunity to visit again in the future, especially Wang Qian's affairs, they are all members of my family, so there is no need to be polite."
Only then did Wang Shi think that it would be useful to give his daughter to Zhang Zhou.
At least Zhang Zhou regarded them all as his own. The Wang family was able to flourish this time, thanks to Zhang Zhou's help behind the scenes. The two brothers quickly led the way and laughed with them. They had a nice talk on the way, which probably meant that this kindness should not be forgotten.
, I will give you more gifts later, etc...
After Zhang Zhou got on the carriage and the carriage started to move, he couldn't help but complain: "After coming here, I felt like my face was frozen with laughter. I was afraid that I would have to go to Chengguo Duke's Mansion again and find something to apply on when I got back.
Face."
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "It doesn't matter if you keep a straight face, just let us go and laugh with you."
…
…
At the Duke Cheng's Mansion, the etiquette seemed much more peaceful.
Zhu Fu and Zhu Feng's father and son were not at home. Only Zhu Feng's eldest brother Zhu Lin came to greet him. As the successor of Duke Cheng, Zhu Lin preferred the formal etiquette of courtiers and did not kneel as soon as he came up.
.
"My father and brother-in-law are not at home, so I will accept His Majesty's favor for them."
Zhu Lin was quite polite when speaking, but when he spoke, his breath was obviously not even, as if he had some hidden illness.
Zhang Zhou remembered what Zhu Feng said. His eldest brother actually had a son before, and even a living daughter now. Zhu Fu kept taking concubines for Zhu Lin for the sake of the family. Then the problem came. Duke Cheng Guo
Why did the direct lineage of incense end in Zhu Lin's lineage?
Could it be that Zhu Lin had too many concubines and his body couldn't bear it?
Zhu Lin was also young and not as rigid as the brothers Wang Chun and Wang Shi. After asking Xiao Jing and Zhang Zhou to sit down, he still had two boxes brought up.
Xiao Jing said: "Young Master, what do you mean?"
"I express my feelings, and I hope you two won't take it personally." Zhu Lin is also a showman.
"Since it's your intention, you should also know when and how to express it. We won't go into details and don't embarrass Mr. Zhang." Xiao Jing hinted that Zhu Lin would send the gift later, but at the same time he pushed the matter to Zhang Zhou.
As he was talking, a woman came out accompanied by a maid, but it was Zhu Feng's wife Ning Tong.
When Ning Tong saw the three of them, she bowed.
Xiao Jing was very curious, why did a woman suddenly come out of the Chengguo Duke's mansion? Does it mean that there is no tutor in the Chengguo Duke's house, and there is no rule that women cannot enter the main hall?
Zhu Lin introduced: "This is Shi's sister-in-law, she is Zhijie's wife. Zhijie serves in the border area, and his wife takes care of the affairs of his house."
"It turns out it's Mrs. An Bianbo. I'm disrespectful." Xiao Jing originally wanted to shake his face, but when he heard that she was Zhu Feng's wife, his attitude changed naturally.
Who makes Zhu Feng Zhang Zhou's right-hand man?
Don't look at the monk's face but the Buddha's face. Since Zhang Zhou regarded Zhu Feng as a good friend, Zhu Feng's wife was naturally Zhang Zhou's "one of his own". Even he, the owner of the Dongchang factory, had to give him a little more thin noodles.
…
…
The three of them continued to sit down and talk, while Ning Tong sat at the end and listened.
Zhang Zhou would look at her from time to time, and she would look back at Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you are still pretending to be a lady here. If you were really a lady, how could you look at a strange man without any problem?
I can’t even pretend.
"Eunuch Xiao, Your Majesty has an order." A guard in brocade clothes conveyed the message.
Xiao Jing hurriedly went out. After seeing the envoy, he came back and whispered to Zhang Zhou: "Mr. Zhang, our family has to leave first, but they said that the Ministry of Rites has already written a memorial on the vendature. Please use the inner curtain to yourself."
The investigation involves issues such as curling up, and His Majesty ordered us to go to the inner curtain to supervise the release of the results."
Zhang Zhou asked: "Is there any part involving Bachelor Cheng?"
"Yes." Xiao Jing didn't hide it. "Now that the inner curtain review has ended, only the reexamination is left. Although the inner curtain officer is not allowed to go out yet, there is no need to avoid the investigation. Your Majesty has ordered our family to do as you said.
Give Bachelor Cheng some guidance."
Zhang Zhou nodded.
Logically speaking, the internal interview officer must cut off contact with the outside world before completing the application process.
But after all, it involves questions, and now that the grading work in the inner curtain has come to an end, all that remains is to check the examination papers. Now that there is another review, Xiao Jing has reason to enter the inner curtain to participate in supervision and review the case.
Provide some guidance.
Zhang Zhou knew that this was contrary to history. Because of his participation, the emperor was more involved in the vend project and responded faster, even allowing Dongchang to intervene.
The whole thing actually gave Li Dongyang, Xu Qiong and others a very narrow operating space.
"Mr. Zhang, do you have any other advice?" Xiao Jing was afraid that he would not be able to handle the task, so he specifically asked Zhang Zhou for his advice.
Zhang Zhou said: "I am also a candidate. I should avoid suspicion. How dare I give Eunuch Xiao casual advice?"
"It doesn't matter."
Xiao Jing is smiling.
He almost wanted to say, do you want me to go to you in advance to see if you can pass the test? Or what is your ranking?
Zhang Zhou sighed: "My only hope is that Grand Scholar Li can be merciful and not put me in a paper where I must be deposed because of prejudice. I hope he can be fair in his actions."
