Outside the Qingfeng Tower in Bianjing, there were many cars and horses parked, and the officials’ servants stood around the cars and horses. When the host’s family went to the Qingfeng Tower, they went to buy some food in the winding alley, or interacted with the people on the street.
The prostitutes laughed.
The second and third floors of Qingfeng Building were all packed with people wearing clothes. The bartender carried the dishes from his shoulders to his wrists and strode up the stairs.
Many officials were leaning on the railings, calling out to friends, and it was very lively.
The tune that talks about the resentment of a young lady in spring is still the most popular tune in Bianjing today, and is heard from every elegant place.
In a private room, Zhang Heng invited Su Shi and other friends of the same year to celebrate his promotion.
Lin Xi held up his lamp and said: "At the beginning, we had a public opinion among my peers that Ziping's talents were unmatched by anyone in a hundred years. Now it seems that the words have been fulfilled."
Zeng Gong smiled and said, "I remember this sentence was said by Zizhan."
Su Shi said with a smile: "It is true that there was such a saying. Back then, Ziping Chengduzhi said that he was the best. I thought it was Duzhi who gave these words to Ziping, but later I didn't know that they were meant for me."
After Su Shi finished speaking, everyone laughed.
Lin Xi also said with a smile: "Their uncle and nephew are so shameless, they actually won a spot each."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Not only that, but also my nephew Zheng! That's three lists in total!"
Everyone laughed.
Su Shi said with a smile: "Now the two nephews are in tandem, each supporting his uncle, so he is always proud of himself wherever he goes!"
Everyone laughed and cursed.
Everyone had a big drink and was very happy.
While talking and laughing, Zhang Heng exchanged notes and everyone walked out of the private room together.
Zhang Yue walked to the private room and saw a group of people climbing up the stairs. The leader was Lu Huiqing, followed by Zeng Bu, Zhang Dun and five or six officials from the Ordinance Department of the Third Division.
It's just not a coincidence.
Zeng Bu couldn't help but be silent when he saw Zeng Gong.
Zeng Bu, Lu Huiqing, and Zhang Dun were all Jinshi in the second year of Jiayou's reign, and they were all in the capital. However, Zhang Heng did not invite them this time, which was somewhat embarrassing.
Even though he couldn't avoid it, Zhang Yue took the initiative to say hello to Lu Huiqing.
When Lu Huiqing saw Zhang Yue, she also smiled and came over to greet him. After that, Zeng Bu and others also came to greet him, but Zhang Dun stood aside haughtily with his hands folded.
Lu Huiqing smiled and said: "It's true that we meet each other everywhere in life. I haven't congratulated you for taking charge of Gou Guozijian."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "I dare not take it seriously. There is no way you can compare with Brother Jifu. You are a noble person and you are so busy now. It is difficult for me to even see you."
Lu Huiqing smiled and said: "Don't talk nonsense. If it were you, I, Lu Huiqing, would have to take the time to see you in my busy schedule."
The two talked about the meeting.
Lu Huiqing smiled and said to Zhang Heng and others: "Everyone, there is a banquet in the Regulations Department today, so you might as well come and talk about it."
Zhang Heng said with a smile: "Thank you, Brother Jifu. It is inconvenient for me to attend the banquet in your company."
Lu Huiqing rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Zi Ping was promoted this time, but we just put the wine here. Why did he forget about our old friends in the same year after being promoted?"
Zhang Yue smiled and Lu Huiqing was really good at guessing it right away. But Zhang Heng didn't invite him, which made Lu Huiqing very dissatisfied.
Zhang Yue glanced at Zeng Bu. He and Zeng Gong went to the banquet respectively. Of course, he and Zhang Dun had not been in contact with each other for the rest of their lives.
Nowadays, the Jinshi scholars in the second year of Jiayou are vaguely divided into two different camps.
Hearing what Lu Huiqing said deliberately, Zhang Heng said: "Jifu is now..."
Seeing Zhang Heng about to have a conflict with Lu Huiqing.
Zhang Yue walked to the middle of the two of them with a smile, took their hands and said: "It's just a casual gathering, Jifu, what do you think if I bring Ziping to your house to apologize someday?"
Seeing that Zhang Yue had given him enough face, Lu Huiqing's dissatisfaction disappeared immediately, and she smiled and said: "Lu is not a stingy person. If you don't go too far, I will welcome you."
After saying this, Lu Huiqing said hello and everyone left.
Zhang Heng said to Zhang Yue: "Thanks to Du's obstruction, something bad almost happened."
Zhang Heng understood that Lu Huiqing was now deeply trusted by the emperor and Wang Anshi, and there was absolutely no benefit in offending him.
Zhang Yue walked down the stairs from the second floor. When he saw these officials leaving, the restaurant owner and others hurriedly saw them off.
Zhang Yue walked to the door and happened to see someone, so he said to everyone: "I see an acquaintance, please wait for me for a while."
Everyone agreed.
After a few people left, Zhang Yue walked to a wine table on the first floor.
The lobby on the first floor is different from the private rooms on the second and third floors. The people sitting here are ordinary drinkers. No court officials will drink in public, as this will lose their status.
And the geishas who accompany us here are not comparable to those on the second and third floors. Most of them are temporary bartenders.
Zhang Yue now saw his brother Zhang Shi and three or five idlers drinking and bragging.
"elder brother!"
Zhang Yue's voice immediately brought Zhang Shi back to his senses.
"Third brother!"
Zhang Shi was overjoyed.
Then Zhang Shi said to his left and right: "This is my brother now..."
Zhang Shi hesitated whether to reveal Zhang Yue's identity.
Zhang Yue smiled and said to the crowd: "I am Zhang Yue, now Ren Tianzhang Pavilion is waiting to be controlled."
Everyone was stunned, happy, and flattered as they greeted Zhang Yue.
"I've long heard that Mr. Zhang Dalang has a very proud brother... Now I finally get to meet him."
"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you." Zhang Yue said with a smile.
Seeing Zhang Yue about to sit down, Zhang Shi rubbed his hands uneasily and said, "These are all friends I made in Beijing, my brother. It's not serious to drink together now. I guess you are here to have some entertainment, so there is no need."
Take your time for me."
Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Shi, looking both happy and worried at the same time.
As his official position increased, his brother became more and more cautious in front of him, and often looked at his face when he spoke.
"Save it!"
Seeing someone coming to call him, Zhang Yue nodded, immediately raised the wine cup and said: "That's fine, I won't bother you more, but since you are my brother's friend and my Sanlang friend, I will be of use if you can in the future.
Just ask."
“I don’t dare to take it, I don’t dare to take it!”
"What status do we have, how dare we climb so high?"
After speaking, Zhang Yue poured the wine and toasted to them one by one. Zhang Shi looked at Zhang Yue and was so happy that he didn't know what to say.
Zhang Yue resigned from Zhang Shi and came to Qingfeng Tower, but he saw that the atmosphere among everyone was a little strange.
Zhang Yue looked at Zeng Gong, who was looking not far away with a gloomy face. It turned out that Su Shi was talking to a man.
The man's back was turned to him. Zhang Yue asked without seeing the other man's face for a moment: "Who is Brother Zigu?"
Zeng Gong said: "Who else could it be? It's Jiang Zhiqi."
Zeng Gong called him by his first name without politeness.
Jiang Zhiqi, together with Wu Jing and Wang Tao, impeached Ouyang Xiu's censor, who was also released in the second year of Jiayou.
Zeng Gong was the most favored by Ouyang Xiu, so he hated Jiang Zhiqi the most. However, when Su Shi saw Jiang Zhiqi just now, he was not disgusted at all and took the initiative to talk to him.
But it is said that not only Su Shi but also the three Sus were supported by Ouyang Xiu.
Zhang Yue also knew Su Shi, so he explained to Zeng Gong: "Zizhan is like this. There is no one in the world who is not a good person. He has never held a grudge against anyone in his life, and I have never heard him say anything wrong about anyone."
Zeng Gong heard his lips and teeth about to move, but then he remained silent, and then said to everyone: "I'm going to take the first step."
After saying that, Zeng Gong left.
Zhang Yue looked at Su Shi chatting happily with Jiang Zhiqi under the light and didn't know what to say.
