Fu Tianchou, the Minister of War, is going to hold a cultural gathering in the Marquis Mansion, and all the scholars in Jinling City can attend.
Early the next morning, a piece of news came from the Yamen.
The announcement with the official seal was posted at the yamen gate. As several scholars passed by, the news soon spread among the literati circles in Jinling City.
The common people do not care about such things, but scholars are very interested in the cultural gatherings organized by the government.
"Brother Li, have you received the news? Mr. Fu, the Minister of War, is going to hold a literary gathering and invite all the scholars in Jinling City to participate. This is a rare grand event in the literary world."
On this day, Zhu Yu, Wang Ping, Ning Caichen and several other scholars who had worked together in Guo Beicheng all came to the house to pay a visit with the news.
"Master Fu wants to hold a cultural gathering? Why does such a good person want to hold such a grand cultural gathering?"
Li Xiuyuan said a little puzzled.
He rarely goes out these days, and he doesn't know much about what is happening in the city because he is busy with ghosts and gods.
Zhu Yu said with some excitement, "Brother Li, why should you care about why Mr. Fu wants to hold a cultural gathering? I only know that this cultural gathering is one of the few grand cultural gatherings in Jinling City. All the scholars in the city can participate this time.
This is a good opportunity for us to show our talents and make a name for ourselves.”
"That's right. This cultural gathering is unprecedentedly grand. If you miss it, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Wang Ping next to him also nodded repeatedly, looking a little excited.
Li Xiuyuan smiled and said: "Things like cultural gatherings are held several times every year, such as Mid-Autumn Festival literary gatherings, Lantern Festival literary gatherings, Dragon Boat Festival literary gatherings, etc. Why bother so much? Besides, if you want to be famous at the cultural gatherings,
It takes extraordinary talent, how about your poetry?"
Zhu Yu smiled awkwardly; "It's so popular and superficial, it's hard to reach the level of elegance."
He is still self-aware and knows that his poetry and prose are average, so he was lucky enough to be admitted as a scholar this time. Perhaps it was because of his meritorious service in rescuing the victims, which increased his merit and luck, and thus he gained the reputation of being a scholar.
Li Xiuyuan asked again: "How are your calligraphy, chess, and painting skills?"
Wang Ping, who was next to him, coughed twice in embarrassment; "The calligraphy is passable, but there is nothing outstanding about it. As for the chess skills, they are even shallower, and I don't know anything about painting skills."
"If that's the case, then what's the point of becoming famous by participating in a literary conference?" Li Xiuyuan shook his head and smiled.
Don't think that most scholars in ancient times were very talented. For ordinary students, if they can pass the exam to become a scholar, it is already very good. It is impossible to expect to be proficient in everything from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.
The reason why later generations think that ancient scholars were talented.
That's because only talented scholars can leave their names in history and be remembered by future generations. There are countless mediocre scholars who have been buried by history. And in a dynasty, most of the scholars are mediocre people. The real talents are
There are not many talented people, and there are even fewer talented people who can leave their names in history.
A scholar smiled slightly awkwardly and said, "Having said that, you have to go and participate in this grand gathering of literary circles. It's also good to see the world."
"That's true, but if this cultural gathering is held somewhere else, I will definitely participate, but I am not very interested in holding it in the Hou Mansion. To be honest, the young master of the Hou Mansion, Li Liangjin, and I
I have some grievances, and I'm afraid I'll be made things difficult in every possible way if I enter the Marquis' Mansion." Li Xiuyuan shook his head and said, not showing much interest in participating in cultural gatherings.
Zhu Yu said: "Brother Li is overly worried. This is a cultural gathering held by Mr. Fu, and he just borrowed a forest garden in the Hou Mansion. Even if Li Liangjin has a grudge against Brother Li, he will not dare to do anything extraordinary.
Things to come.”
"My grudge against him is extraordinary."
Li Xiuyuan shook his head slightly and said: "You can just go to the Wenhui. I'll just clean up at home. By the way, this time the Wenhui estimates that Master Fu will tell the story about Kai Enke. If nothing else happens, the spring will start tomorrow."
There will be a provincial examination, and you guys have to study hard in your spare time. If you can pass the exam this time, it will be a great honor for your ancestors."
Last time he mentioned this matter, Wang Ping and others knew about it, but today he said it again, some later scholars did not know about it.
"What I'm saying is that if we can go directly from Tongsheng to Juren within a year, this is a rare thing in our dynasty." Everyone became a little excited.
Zhongxiucai has been making them happy for a month.
If you succeed in the provincial examination next year, what is this but honoring your ancestors?
Several people tried to persuade Li Xiuyuan again, but Li Xiuyuan still evaded it politely. He didn't have to go to the Marquis's house to make himself miserable. Li Liangjin was now deprived of his literary spirit, and even his pen was taken away by Wen Quxing. It's been so long now.
He must be holding a grudge, how could he send it to his door?
And he doesn't like to participate in cultural gatherings.
Li Xiuyuan's talent and learning can only be considered to be above average. Because of his good memory, he needs to be familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics and memorize various classics. However, this kind of ability can only be brought into play in the examination room. If he wants to show his literary talent, he can only rely on copying.
But the little stuff in my belly that I brought from my mother's womb is for emergency use, so how can I show it off everywhere without restraint?
If you show off everywhere, you will have a reputation, but you will run out of poems and can no longer copy good poems, wouldn't it make people laugh?
Just when Li Xiuyuan entertained his friends and was about to send them off.
Suddenly, a voice sounded outside the house: "Li Xiuyuan, is Li Xiuyuan at the house? It's me, Fu Yuechi. I have something to ask you. Please ask someone to open the door. If you don't open the door, I will climb over the wall and get in."
"Which family has a woman who is so unruly and rude? You must not marry such a woman back home, otherwise there will be no peace in the family." Ning Caichen couldn't help but say.
"Yeah yeah."
Other scholars echoed incessantly.
Li Xiuyuan said quietly: "This is Fu Tianchou, the minister of the Ministry of War, the daughter of Mr. Fu."
"Cough, cough." For a moment, these scholars coughed dryly, feeling extremely embarrassed.
Ning Caichen blushed even more. He didn't expect that this woman had such a special status, and he even accidentally scolded Master Fu.
"Li Xiuyuan, why didn't you open the door and let me wait outside."
Fu Yuechi walked in angrily at this time. She looked around with a somewhat uneasy expression, as if she was afraid there were ghosts nearby, and then ran into the lobby.
"I'm sorry, Miss Fu. I was entertaining friends and I didn't have time to entertain them. Please forgive me if I'm negligent." Li Xiuyuan immediately stood up and gave a salute.
"Wan Sheng, I met Miss Fu."
"Xiaosheng has met Miss Fu."
Wang Ping, Zhu Yu, Ning Caichen and others all saluted.
Seeing so many people in the lobby, Fu Yuechi blushed and felt a little embarrassed. She returned the greeting and said, "Li Xiuyuan, just now I vaguely heard you talking about the cultural gathering outside the door. At this cultural gathering, you
Don’t you want to participate?”
"Miss Fu can actually hear it from such a long distance?" Li Xiuyuan said in surprise.
Fu Yuechi said: "I don't care, you must attend this cultural gathering."
"Why is this?" Li Xiuyuan asked.
"There is no reason. Anyway, you have to participate in this cultural gathering. If you don't participate, my sister and I will not let you go." Fu Yuechi said with a puffed face.
Fu Qingfeng?
Li Xiuyuan's expression moved slightly, but he immediately thought of Nie Xiaoqian, and couldn't help but glance at Ning Caichen next to him.
If Ning Caichen saw Fu Qingfeng, he would definitely think that she was Nie Xiaoqian.
"Miss Fu, I don't want to participate in this cultural gathering for personal reasons. You are forcing yourself to do something difficult." Li Xiuyuan shook his head.
Fu Yuechi said: "If you don't go, I will tell my father that you molested me that night."
"Uu~!"
As soon as these words came out, the other people next to him immediately looked at Li Xiuyuan with strange eyes, and couldn't help sighing at the same time.
"..." Li Xiuyuan said: "Miss Fu, you must be careful what you say. If these words spread, Miss Fu, your reputation will be completely ruined."
You must know that if a woman in ancient times said this, her innocence would be lost, and it would be difficult for her to get married in the future.
To threaten Li Xiuyuan with this is like slapping the enemy and stabbing yourself.
It is no longer as simple as hurting each other.
"Anyway, I don't care." Fu Yuechi said without fear.
It's great to be young and ignorant.
Fearless.
Li Xiuyuan sighed in his heart.
After all, he was offered the job, how could he still refuse?
If you participate, just participate. It's not like hanging yourself. It's just a little trouble. It's not as big of a trouble as Fu Yuechi.