Jian Qu's face was ashen as he walked out of the main entrance, and he could not even maintain his basic demeanor. He ignored the Lin Mansion housekeeper who sent him out, got on the bullock cart and ordered: "Go back."
He just sat in the car silently and stopped talking.
"I declined politely before, but now I refuse hard. I am just a candidate, but I dare to refuse the invitation of acting marquis. It is simply unreasonable!"
The more he thought about what just happened, the angrier Jian Qu became.
On the way, he also saw Cen Rubai, who was also looking bad. Jian Qu stopped the bullock cart and asked Cen Rubai to get on the cart. When the people came up, the cart started moving again. Jian Qu asked angrily in a low voice: "Is this the person you invited?
They all declined? What on earth is going on with these people? Could it be that the literary society in Daihou Mansion is going through a mountain of swords and a sea of fire?"
When they came out this time, they had received a report that every one of the people who had promised to come had actually declined. Not to mention that there were twenty people attending the cultural meeting, and they were afraid that even ten people would not be able to come.
How to make Jian Qu accept it?
Cen Rubai said with a bad face: "I just got the news. The reason why these people declined is because the Prince of Qi's Palace let out the news, saying that the Prince of Qi was also going to hold a cultural gathering, and the time was exactly the same as our Hou's Palace. Some people
They didn't dare to offend King Qi, so they planned to attend the cultural gathering at Prince Qi's Mansion. Some people didn't want to offend either side, so they simply avoided going out temporarily because they felt unwell or had something urgent to do."
"Finally, there are still a few celebrities who agreed, so that nothing will be lost." Cen Rubai said, looking a little lucky.
Jian Qu gritted his teeth: "Prince Qi's Mansion is hateful! Doesn't the news they released just prove the previous rumors? Even though I originally wanted to come, I don't dare to come now."
Although I was angry at those people for going back on their word, the King of Qi was most to blame for the incident itself.
If it weren't for the King of Qi, those people wouldn't be afraid, and would refuse.
"What should we do now? Are we just going to go back and report back to the Lord?" Thinking of taking charge of this matter, this has become the main responsibility of the ninth-grade clerk of the Hou Mansion. After all, in addition to simple tasks such as sorting out books, the clerk of the Hou Mansion also does a lot of work.
He could also handle some cultural affairs matters, but he couldn't handle them well, so Jian Qu was naturally very frustrated.
Cen Rubai's mood is not much better than Jian Qu's. He is actually more flexible in some aspects, but caring leads to chaos. As an old minister of the East Palace, Cen Rubai really cares about Su Ziji, the son of the prince, no matter in terms of reputation.
, image, so it was naturally difficult to jump out when Dai Hou held a cultural gathering for the first time.
The two of them looked at each other in silence, waiting for the bullock cart to return to the Hou Mansion. They both got out of the cart with some frustration.
"Lord, it seems that things have developed according to your ideas. What should we do next?" In the study, the wild Taoist had received the report and asked Su Ziji.
"We'll have a literary meeting in five days." Su Ziji slowly stopped writing, looked at it for a long time, took a deep breath, and said.
He believes that despite technical limitations, it is impossible to know every move.
But everything is in the eyes of the emperor.
This is enough, I just want the emperor to know so that I can make a clear target.
Five days in the river
A two-story painting boat that can accommodate hundreds of people for fun is moving slowly in the river, and the sound of silk and bamboo can be heard, which is beautiful.
Some of the servants and maids who looked like everyone were coming and going, and there were even boats carrying food and wine, which were transported from the big restaurants in the capital, either cooked on site, or prepared in advance and sent directly up.
The aroma of food filled the air, attracting many passers-by to pay attention to the painted boat.
This section of the river is gentle, there are some commercial streets on the side of the road, and there are many passers-by.
Although it is winter, there is no ice on the river. The sky is beautiful today, the sky is blue, and the bright sunshine is shining on the river. Although the trees on both sides are no longer green and decayed, there is still a beauty of river cruise in winter.
"What's going on? Which literary society is so rich that it rents such a big boat?" A middle-aged man wearing a scholar's robe happened to pass by. Looking at the boat slowly walking on the river, he couldn't help but ask.
Passers-by watching.
A passerby was a small businessman with some spare money. He was looking at the boat with admiration when he heard someone ask him. He replied: "It is said that it is a cultural event organized by the newly naturalized emperor's grandson. Did you know the emperor's grandson? That is, the acting prince! The emperor's grandson loves it."
Before Shi Wen was recognized, he had obtained the first prize in the examination and had always liked to make friends with scholars. No, this is probably because many scholars have gathered in the capital recently, and there have been many literary gatherings. Banquets have also been held to invite some scholars to come and communicate.
"
After finishing speaking, he couldn't help but clicked his tongue: "After all, I am a scholar, even if I am not an official, I still have the opportunity to get close to such a noble person. If I am lucky enough to meet the emperor's grandson, I will laugh out of my dreams!"
After hearing the little businessman's lament, the middle-aged Confucian scholar showed a hint of contempt in his eyes.
"My knowledge is shallow! Given the embarrassing situation of Dai Hou, the scholars who can come are probably poor scholars who have nothing and are simply trying to make a career. As long as they have some foundation and reputation, who will come to this muddy water?"
He looked up at the painted boat again and shook his head slightly: "I didn't expect that Daihou would hold this cultural gathering on the painted boat. Is it to avoid the sharp edge of King Qi?"
"Yes, I'm afraid that this cultural gathering will only be superficial. I heard that the King of Qi has said that the princes from the capital will not be allowed to participate in the cultural gathering of Daihou. I am afraid that all the princes who come here are from other places? I don't know that the princes are at this time.
, how to be angry."
On the boat, Su Ziji, who was being speculated about his mood, stood on the railing on the second floor of the boat with a smile, looking down at the people below.
This painting boat is specially used to hold this kind of banquet. The first and second floors are renovated according to the pattern of a large wine shop or brothel. There is a hall connected on the first floor, with wooden steps next to it, you can go to the second floor, and the second floor is
It consists of a small hall occupying half the size of a boat and several separate rooms.
There were more than forty people coming, and there were about ten tables on the first floor. This was a place for eating and drinking, and an extra small area was opened up at each table, which was a separate table for putting pens, inks, paper, inkstones, music, chess, calligraphy, and paintings.
If someone suddenly becomes inspired to write poems on the way, he or she can just write a few strokes of ink nearby. If someone suddenly wants to play a piece of music, he or she can just get the piano nearby.
These people are raising their glasses one by one and drinking. The atmosphere is quite lively. Except for a few talented people, the gathering scene is not too deserted.
At this time, Jian Qu walked to Su Ziji's side and whispered: "Your Majesty, the first table on the right hand side is wearing a light blue Confucian robe. He is the talented man Zhang Lan. He is in his thirties. Although he comes from a poor family, he has a lot of talent.
He is talented in poetry, has written several good poems, and is somewhat famous among the people from other places who come to Beijing."
"The second table on the left, wearing a sapphire blue Confucian robe, is the talented scholar He Bingzhi who is also somewhat famous. Because of his ability to write articles, he is somewhat famous among the candidates in other places."
"Except for these two talented people, none of them are here. I heard they are all waiting and watching."
"My lord, the students who are talking to Zhang Lan now all have some talents. It's just because their families are poor that they finally came to the capital. They worked hard for food and accommodation, and their clothes are a little shabby. It's not that they are not poor.