Records of the King of Xin'an County

A few days later, it was the day of the Yan family's birthday banquet.Although Yan Lide was sick and became an official, the sage gave him the vacant post of Prince and Taifu, dismissed the official and made him a special official, which showed that his favor to the Yan family was still undiminished.What's more, Yan Liben succeeded the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and still retained the position of real power.As a result, there was still an endless stream of people who came to celebrate the birthday, and the chariots and horses in front of the gate of Yan Mansion almost blocked the street.The house is also the same as in previous years, full of joy and excitement.

Concubine Pu Yan sat in the car with a calm expression, silently listening to the commotion outside.In fact, the Yan family is no longer comparable to what it was back then.It was once thought that the time when she was expected to become the princess of the Eastern Palace was when the Yan family was at its most prominent.After she was demoted to Junzhou along with Li Tai, the Yan family gradually fell silent and has not recovered yet.Even now, parents, brothers and sisters-in-law probably still have a hard time accepting the reality of impending decline.

They lived a prosperous life and experienced too few ups and downs, so they couldn't accept the fact that life's ups and downs are impermanent.On the contrary, after the nephews have gone through all this grinding, they may still be able to revitalize the Yan family, and they will no longer be so impetuous, follow others' advice, and follow the crowd.It is enough to be a family of calligraphy and painting, or the family of the Ministry of Industry and Supervisors. If you don't have the ability to control the overall situation, you don't have to think about other things, which is justified.

Thinking of this, she ordered her servant to call Li Hui in: "Sanlang, have you had any contact with the Yan family these years? What impression do you have of them? Is there anyone in your generation who you can make friends with?"

Li Hui replied without hesitation: "My child only thinks that Yan Balang can be friends with. However, Balang seems to have a younger brother Shiwulang who is seven or eight years old, and he is always with him. This son is very intelligent and has a stable temperament. If you can worship a famous teacher, you will definitely not be a thing in the pool in time."

Yan lowered her eyes and thought for a moment: "If Balang becomes an official, you and Zixian might as well take care of him. As for the rest of the children, don't bother. Fifteenth Lang needs a famous teacher right now..." She paused, He hesitated, "Sanlang, do you think Mr. Song is willing to accept another disciple?"

"With Mr. Song's disposition, he will not accept disciples in his spare time, he only cares about his eyesight." Li Hui replied, "I will ask Balang and Shiwulang some other day. If Shiwulang is willing to be a teacher, he will go to the Fuji Garden more often. If you walk around, Mr. Song may take a fancy to it. Even if Mr. Song doesn't like it, those old friends of his are also famous scholars who are good at learning, and it's good to worship any one as a teacher."

Only then did Yan feel a little relieved: "Even if there is only one left, it will be revived sooner or later like a big wave of gold rush. I am afraid that my father and grandparents were too impetuous and affected the younger generation. Even a calm and outstanding character I can't find any of my children... Only then will the Yan family truly fall."

"Don't worry, Aniang." Li Hui said in relief, "Balang and Shiwulang will definitely understand Aniang's painstaking efforts."

Yan Shi shook his head, smiled wryly and remained silent.She no longer expects the Yan family to have an awakened elder.At least from the letters her mother Gao sent her over the years, she couldn't see any changes.A few days ago, her younger sister sent a letter to testify, euphemistically asking if there was any change in Li Hui's marriage, or whether she would accept a child into the house or something like that.It can be seen that they are still unwilling to let go of Li Hui's marriage.

After arriving in Yan's mansion, Yan Shifu got out of the car, and several sisters-in-law greeted him with extremely warm smiles.Her expression was still indifferent, and after a few instructions to Li Hui, she went to the inner hall to visit her mother, Mrs. Gao.And Li Hui went directly to see his nominal grandfather Yan Lide.

Although Yan Lide is today's Birthday Lord, he did not come out to greet the guests, but instead excused his physical discomfort and asked Yan Liben to treat the guests on his behalf.Even though he seemed to be still in the family, he had retired after all, and most of the guests naturally didn't come here just for him, but wanted to see the new Minister of Industry, Yan Liben.Yan Lide has been up and down in the officialdom for decades, so he naturally understood the thoughts of these people, so he simply helped them and his younger brother.

When he saw Li Hui, Yan Lide squinted his eyes and looked at him carefully before gently asking him to sit down and talk.His study room is full of painted scrolls, figures, trees, rocks, and animals are all lifelike, like spirits.After Li Hui finished his congratulatory speech, he couldn't help but said: "Grandfather, can you appreciate these paintings carefully?"

"Just look at it." Yan Lide was surprised that he was so interested in these paintings.He didn't pay much attention to this cheap grandson. If the young man in front of him hadn't emerged in the court for more than a year, he probably wouldn't have noticed him for the rest of his life.After all, in his eyes, only Li Xin, the heir of Pu Wang, is outstanding enough in the Pu Palace. He is worthy of being a child raised by the late Emperor and Empress Wende himself.The youngest son of a concubine who grew up in a remote place in Junzhou, how good could he be?Insufficient knowledge and narrow vision meant that he was doomed to have no great prospects in this life—it was just unexpected that his daughter taught this child so well.

Li Huisui looked at each one carefully and was amazed in his heart.Yan Shi is indeed worthy of being a master of Danqing. The scenery, characters and animals outlined are all soft and graceful, with a sense of elegance.It's a pity that these two Yan Gongs prefer to draw figures and animals rather than magnificent landscapes.

"What? You think these paintings are not good?" Yan Lide was keenly aware of the regret in his eyes, and was immediately displeased.After all, he is an elder, and he is also used to seeing all the mountains and small mountains in the art of painting, so he naturally thinks this is a kind of contempt and doubts about his painting skills.

"Each of these paintings can be handed down from generation to generation. Don't say that you can gain something by looking at it for a while, even if you come to look at it every day, you must have different insights." Li Hui looked at him and explained calmly, "It's just a child. I like landscape painting more. I don’t see my grandfather painting landscapes, so I feel a little regretful. My child’s painting skills are still clumsy. I wanted to ask my grandfather for advice. I wonder if my grandfather has time to teach my child?”

"..." After a moment of silence, Yan Lide sighed softly, "You really like Danqing? Didn't you just listen to your mother's words and come to coax this old man?... No, your mother would not be willing to coax this old man now... Sigh... I'm afraid I don't even want to talk to the old man."

Li Hui smiled slightly, and said without hesitation: "Grandfather's guess is really accurate. My son really thought of learning painting skills from my grandfather after hearing A Niang mention the Yan family's paintings many times. After all, A Niang is my enlightenment teacher. Even A Niang's drawing skills were also taught by my grandfather. Moreover, my uncle also said that if the child is interested in building cities and palaces, he may as well ask his grandfather. The child is now in charge of building the Princess Mansion and the County King's Mansion."

Yan Lide looked at him wistfully, thinking of his daughter who was studying painting at the desk, and his grandchildren who were not interested in serving as a supervisor, he sighed again: "Take down the box behind you, there is Chang'an City in it." , The style map of the Taiji Palace built in the past. If you feel that it is not enough, there are also the style pictures of Pu Wang's Mansion, Jin Wang Mansion, and the palaces of the princesses."

Li Hui's eyes were slightly bright, and he immediately took them out for a closer look.He didn't know anything about construction, but he became very interested in building his own mansion.Therefore, when encountering any puzzlement, he immediately raised his head and asked without any unfamiliarity, as if the old man in front of him was indeed his real grandfather.

After coming and going, the old and the young got along much better.When Yan Balang brought Yan Shiwulang over to greet him, he couldn't help being amazed when he saw this.

Li Hui said with a half-smile: "Aniang is planning to find a suitable husband for Shiwulang, so why not ask my grandfather to be Mr. Danqing?"

Hearing this, Yan Lide was stunned, while Yan Balang and Yan Shiwulang were even more overjoyed.It's not that they don't want to pay homage to a good gentleman, and it's not that the Yan family can't invite a good gentleman.It's just that the brothers and sisters felt that those famous people in Beijing that the family liked were inappropriate, so they delayed instead.The eyes of their aunt Yan, or the eyes of the cousin in front of them, in their opinion, are far more credible than their parents.

"The family tradition of our Yan family is Danqing." Yan Lide coughed, pretending to be serious, "Even if the two of you brothers can worship you, you must not forget to continue honing your painting skills. Your Majesty... Didn't Xuan Qi say that you want to take this old man as your teacher? Draw a painting or a construction style map every month, and give it to the old man for comments when you have time."

"Yes." The three young men agreed in unison, smiling at each other.

And Yan Lide finally felt a little relieved in his heart, and the depression that had been suppressed for many years seemed to be much lighter.

He couldn't help thinking about the matter of declining the sage to let him be the king of Shu or the king of Qi. Fortunately, he refused on the grounds of being sick. So comfortable?Forget it, he has reached his sixtieth year, so he just wants to enjoy the fun of having grandchildren.As for Yan Li's ambition to go further, he really can't restrain it, so let him run into a wall.

At the same moment, Wang Zixian brought Wang Luoniang and Wang Xiangniang to Yan's house for a banquet with the post from Yan Balang.Although he has a low position, he has gradually left an impression in front of the old foxes. Naturally, such a banquet cannot be missed.Moreover, Wang Luoniang and Wang Xiangniang are still young, and they also need to experience slowly in the banquet occasions, so that they can be independent in the future.

Not to mention that he insisted on meeting Yan Lide, but found out that Li Hui and Yan Balang brothers were also there, so they met very happily.It is only said that Wang Luoniang and Wang Xiangniang followed the lady in charge of the Yan family to the inner hall slowly, under the scrutinizing or mocking eyes of many noble ladies, they always had a calm demeanor and a calm expression.

Although the Langya Wang clan is a top-notch noble family, they have long since declined.Even if there is one in Beijing, it is not close to Wang Zixian.The aristocratic daughters of the aristocratic families have backed their pedigrees, so they naturally know that these two young ladies of the Wang family are not from the Wang clan in Changliu Beijing, but they don't look like women from poor families, so they guessed that they came from nowhere A side branch or a small aristocratic family.For this kind of family, many people naturally have contempt, and even when they look at it, it is inevitable that they will bring out a little bit.

However, the Wang family sisters have experienced parting from life and death, so they are naturally different from ordinary little ladies.These meaningful gazes are meaningless to them.The elder brother hoped that they could be familiar with the social life of the family members in Chang'an City, and even make one or two close friends. They naturally understood his painstaking efforts.However, it is obvious that among this group of noble ladies who look down on them, they can't find any close friends, and they have no intention of deliberately making friends with them.

The so-called different ways do not seek each other, the friends they want to make should naturally be as congenial as brother and Prince Xin'an.