Minister

189

The weather is hot and dry in autumn, Wei Chi is leading Chen Hu and Yiqing to tidy up the study.Because Chen Entropy had too many memorials and was afraid of confusing these important documents with those of Dali Temple, Mr. Wei, who had always been quite confident in his memory ability, had to cautiously open up a new office space for himself.The study room in the main courtyard is very large. In the past, it was mainly a collection of books, but this time it took a lot of time.

A group of people were busy, and a family member came to announce that Wei Qingfeng had come, so Wei Chi poked his head out from the pile of books: "It's him, just invite him in."

Wei Qingfeng was still working as a speech officer, and Wei Chi would come to him every once in a while to exchange ideas about affairs in the court. Wei Chi didn't tell him that he was reading the Memorial of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, but he would give him some air both openly and secretly.

Wei Qingfeng came in and smiled and said, "Teacher, are you going to move?"

"Hey, it's even more chaotic than moving." Wei Chi has been in the capital for almost ten years, and he has collected more and more books of all kinds, gradually filling up the entire study room in the main courtyard. Now it is not easy to move a vacant space .

"The teacher actually wants to read medical books." Wei Qingfeng picked up one.

"Actually, I don't even understand it," Wei Chi said with an embarrassed smile, "There was an old friend who was proficient in medical skills, so I was curious and followed suit, but it turned out to be nothing but rote memorization, which didn't make any sense at all."

Wei Qingfeng didn't understand either, so he put the book back in its original place and waited aside.

"See if there is anything you want to read. I have a lot of books here, so you can borrow them at will." Wei Chi came from the Hanlin Academy and has a lot of research on book collection, while Wei Qingfeng is far behind. Juren's background, except for the common classics, does not have many opportunities to get in touch with so many books.

"It's said that books must be borrowed to read, so students are not polite." Wei Qingfeng also stepped into the pile of books.

A few people rummaged through it, and chatted by the way, and after a while, someone announced that Populus euphratica had come.This may be the commander of Jin Yiwei who has been most favored by civil servants and generals since the establishment of the dynasty. Wei Qingfeng smiled friendly when he heard his name.

Wei Chi "struggled" out of the sea of ​​books: "Hey, it's a rare day off, why don't you go home and see me instead?"

Hu Yanglin seemed to be worried, he hesitated to speak: "Are you moving books?"

Wei Qingfeng knew Hu Yanglin: "What book is Mr. Hu holding?"

Wei Chi took it over and took a look: ""Miscellaneous Notes of Kyushu-Da Cangshan"? Why do you have this book?"

"Ah," Hu Yanglin thought about the wording: "The author of the book that continues with you asked me to bring it to you. She said that her part was finished, but she didn't want this book, so let me bring it to you, saying Keep it if you like it, and give it away if you don’t like it.”

Wei Chi showed embarrassment on his face, obviously he heard the overtones, and because Wei Qingfeng didn't have a good reputation, he put the book aside.Just as he was about to change the subject, Chen Hu found a book in the corner: "My lord, my lord, there is also a book like this here, take a look?"

"Put it together." Wei Chi handed the book over without reading it, "Put it in the bookshelf."

"Is this miscellaneous notes?" Wei Qingfeng was still a little curious.

"It's not miscellaneous notes, it's a novel of ghosts." Wei Chi was afraid that he would borrow it.

"The student really hasn't seen it, can the teacher borrow it generously?"

Hu Yanglin took a step ahead: "Actually, I'm also curious, why don't you let me have a look first?"

Although Hu Yanglin is not an illiterate person, he is basically not interested in other books except the textbooks that he had to read when he was a child.Now Wei Chi understood the meaning better, and said, "It's rare for you to be interested, so I'll give it to you first. Qingfeng, you don't have time to read Miscellaneous Notes. You'd better read this book first." He said, and took a copy. Put it in his hand.Wei Qingfeng lowered his head and saw that it was Zhu Shijie's "Four Elements Jade Mirror", he couldn't help showing embarrassment.

"Take the first volume and read it first. These are all skillful and rough. Don't think that Cheng Zhu Neo Confucianism needs to be studied. These books are far better than miscellaneous notes." As he spoke, Wei Chi became serious, and took the book to give He explained: "These books will be moved to my small study in the future. If you want to borrow them, you can borrow them. If I'm not at home, you can ask Yiqing to take them for you. After reading them, we can discuss more."

Wei Qingfeng turned one head into two big ones, and went back first with a stack of books in his arms.Hu Yanglin thought it was Wei Chi's plan to mobilize troops, but he didn't want this nerd to forget about "Kyushu Miscellaneous Notes" and took a copy of "Enlightenment of Mathematical Sciences" in his hand: "Do you want to read it?"

Hu Yanglin turned over a page and returned it to him: "Bring the book I took here."

Only then did Wei Chi remember, and quickly took the "Kyushu Miscellaneous Notes" that had been put away on the bookshelf: "What happened?"

"Cough," Hu Yanglin led Wei Chi to the yard and said the matter concisely: "The princess is a kind-hearted person. She said it was her wishful thinking and she can't blame you. She wrote the ending of this book at random. , I’ll give it back to you, let’s just let it go.”

Wei Chi fell into silence, she didn't expect her many unintentional actions to involve such a debt of love, but she was grateful for Chen Yuxiang's character, and even admired her courage to stop when she had to.

Hu Yanglin stared at Wei Chi's face, but couldn't see any expression on his face, and suddenly felt a sense of loneliness in his heart: "Have you ever had a little affection for the princess?"

Wei Chi shook his head.

Hu Yanglin sighed: "Aside from talking about anything else, I didn't mean to make fun of you. Don't be too quick to get angry. I'm just curious to ask—you, have you never been moved by her?"

After all, you have experienced so much, isn't this love at first sight in the drama, and you are really not tempted at all?

Wei Chi wasn't angry this time, and after thinking about it seriously, he said, "No, really not."

Hu Yanglin smiled wryly: "Compared to Mrs. Qi, what is the difference between the princess? There is no one place where she can catch your eyes?"

"It's not a question of bad or good," Wei Chi said with embarrassment, "Actually, I'm a eccentric person, and it's hard to meet a real match. For example, General Wang, in fact, he really has ulterior motives for me. But for some reason, I am just afraid of him. Her Royal Highness can weigh my situation and wronged herself to protect my family. I am ashamed to compare this kind of love, or to Qi Yuan, she also I can't do this, but, but, I really have respect for the princess, and I have never had other thoughts. Even if loyalty and commitment are put aside, I think I still do." Wei Chi was silent for a long time: "Please help me convey a word to the princess, just say that I am really sorry for her."

Hu Yanglin shook his head: "I don't think she needs sympathy."

Wei Chi thought for a while, and felt that Hu Yanglin was right: "Then,"

"Just don't see each other again." Hu Yanglin patted Wei Chi on the shoulder, and went back without waiting for his answer.

Wei Chi walked back to the study room and put the two books on the top of the bookshelf. She didn't expect that she was about to become a son-in-law, and she also didn't expect that the danger would pass so quickly. At this moment, she suddenly felt a little fuzzy. The appearance of Chen Yuxiang in his memory.Wei Chi's hand paused, wanting to see what kind of ending she wrote for this book, but in the end he held back, thinking that she was already seriously considering marriage, so the ending wouldn't be too bad.

Populus euphratica walked slowly by the moat. In his arms was a silk handkerchief for women, with two small rings wrapped inside, one made of brass and the other made of amber.After Chen Yuxiang asked him to return the book to Wei Chi, he could throw it away, wherever he wanted.From then on, I don't want to see him again, never see him again.

Hu Yanglin wanted to throw this small handkerchief into the moat directly, but he couldn't do it anyway. He almost wanted to let go several times, but he couldn't throw it out in the end.

Standing in a stalemate for a long time, Populus euphratica was helpless when he suddenly felt that there seemed to be a beam of eyes staring at him not far away. Almost intuitively, Populus euphratica raised his head and saw an extremely ordinary man standing on the other side of the river with a bamboo hat, as if waiting for him. people.The other party only showed half of his face, but Hu Yanglin felt that he had seen this person a long time ago, and the familiar aura was inadvertently revealed.

who?Hu Yanglin couldn't help thinking.

The man on the other side seemed to be indifferent, but he began to slowly disappear into the crowd.As the date of the big exam is approaching, the number of people in the capital is increasing day by day, and Hu Yanglin hardly has time to hesitate, just grabbing the things in his hand and running to the other side.

The man obviously quickened his pace, Hu Yanglin was Jin Yiwei after all, he secretly touched the dagger at his waist, and started to approach him methodically through the crowd.

On the other side of the river towards the outside of the city, the population gradually became less and less. Populus euphratica saw that the person walked further and further away, until he walked into a wine shop outside the city, but when Populus euphratica entered, the person disappeared like a magic trick.

The proprietress saw this man came in and didn't order food and drinks, so she came up to greet him.Hu Yanglin ignored her, just flashed his waist badge: "Did you see a person wearing a bamboo hat?"

The proprietress nodded tremblingly, and shook her head again. At this moment, Hu Yanglin saw the bamboo hat on a chair beside him: "Has this person come in?"

"No, no," the proprietress quickly replied: "My family has been selling wine at this door, and I haven't seen anyone coming in. You see, the business is not good, but it is the adults who said that the slave family saw a bamboo hat here, too, Too strange."

Hu Yanglin held the bamboo hat in his hand, looked at this simple bungalow, and was also very puzzled, he didn't know if this person lured him here on purpose, or because he noticed something that he was avoiding.But there was a sense that this man knew himself, that he must be here for something.

Who is he?Why do I feel as if I have seen it somewhere?Hu Yanglin didn't leave immediately. He looked around and recalled earnestly. Generally, as long as the person he has met can't be forgotten by him, but who is this person?

Outside the store, an old man walked by with his trousers rolled up, pulling a cow. Populus euphratica glanced at him and his cow. It was just an ordinary ox, walking slowly with its tail between its legs.

Hu Yanglin turned his head back, still looking at the bamboo hat in his hand, but the cow's tight reins and clamped tail flashed into his mind—that old man just now was not the owner of the cow!Hu Yanglin threw down his bamboo hat and ran out of the store, but the old man and the cow had long since disappeared.

A cow was tied to a tree stump at the corner of this street. The man standing beside him had already changed his attire. He silently watched Populus euphratica disappear into the corner of the street. After thinking for a moment, he walked further along the alley. .

In another small restaurant outside the city, there was a tall young man sitting in the middle, so he couldn't see his face clearly, and a man who seemed to be a servant was sitting opposite him.

"The exam is approaching and the crowds are dense. It is the best time for us to go to Beijing now."

The tall man nodded.

"It's just that you are sure he will come?"

The tall man didn't answer him, but said, "Let's go to the old place of Nuanyuan to have a look."

The man dressed as a servant shook his head: "You can't go, many people recognize you, so let's go for a while, please stay calm."

The tall man thought for a moment and agreed, and then the servant-like man came out and stretched himself.This man looks to be in his early thirties, he looks good, but his skin is much darker than the people in the capital, his face is smiling, he can't tell whether he is a scholar or a businessman, with a copper jug ​​on his waist, he walks out of the restaurant When he picked it up, he took a sip, it seemed to be good wine, his face was black and red, facing the late autumn sun, the man wiped his face and blended into the crowd.

After all, Hu Yanglin didn't find that person, nor could he remember who that person was, but it seemed that Wei Chi was there when he saw him, but he probably didn't make a formal introduction, and didn't know his name.Since he couldn't get an answer, Hu Yanglin could only put him aside for the time being, put his hand into his bosom to touch the handkerchief bag, thinking that he might as well dispose of it before going back.

But I couldn't find it after touching it!

Is it lost?

Hu Yanglin wanted to go back and look for it, but he also thought about what is the use of looking for it?Since this is the case, it is better to let nature take its course, but there is a feeling of loss in my heart, and what happened just now is even more lingering.

After Chen Yuxiang persuaded the Empress Dowager to postpone the marriage, he stopped coming to Chen Entropy to read the memorials for him. Even if he wanted to come, he would usually come at night. The master seemed to be avoiding her too. Chen Entropy wanted to ask why, but he was about to get married now, and he knew a thing or two about some things, so it was difficult to ask these questions.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat taken aback by Chen Yuxiang's sudden change of attitude. She made a special trip to ask Ruyi, but Ruyi had obviously been greeted, so she hesitated and didn't explain why. Let it go, according to Chen Yuxiang's intention, wait until after the big exam.It's just that I don't know if Chen Yuxiang's favorite person can appear in the new science school.

The big exam came as scheduled, and this year's topic is "The Dharma is as big as the heaven and the earth" and "The most important thing is the sage".

These two sentences are from the "Book of Changes", which is not considered tricky as an exam question. Wei Chi showed this question to Qi Yuan: "If you write it, how would you do this article?"

Although Qi Yuan has read a lot, she has not seriously prepared for the imperial examination. After reading for a while, she said: "From these two sentences, I will definitely write that if the Tao of Confucius and Mencius is listed as the precepts of the monarch and ministers, and if it is restrained and applied, the world will prosper." , Monarchs and ministers can seek the way from the sage.”

"And then? Is there any other point of view?"

Qi Yuan thought for a moment: "Could it be that these two sentences have other meanings?"

Wei Chi sighed: "At first I saw that these two sentences were exactly what you thought. Although this topic avoided being tricky, it exposed the intention of the questioner too clearly. Generally, you should avoid this when you write questions. Otherwise, most of the candidates will have similar intentions, and the only differences in writing will be selected."

Qi Yuan nodded: "That's true. Although I haven't paid much attention to the imperial examinations, I seem to understand what you said. But why is this question made like this?"

"It seems that although Lin Xiao has left, Li Qianyang who took over has not done his duty well."

"As the emperor's teacher, don't you offer some advice?"

"It's not as simple as you think," Wei Chi said with a smile: "Only the examiner and the emperor know about this question before the palace examination. I am from Dali Temple, so it is impossible for me to see it. If someone leaks the question, it is a The crime of beheading."

Qi Yuan couldn't help feeling emotional: "When I was young, I heard a play saying that a woman disguised herself as a man to take an exam in order to save her husband, and came back with the top prize. It seems that this is really unbelievable. I think I have read a lot of books. But if you ask me to make an imperial examination article, I will make a fool of myself. Any woman who can be like you can take advantage of the right time, place, and people." After finishing speaking, he picked up a memorial from the desk: "Actually, let me read these things. They all feel that the emperor is really not easy to do, look at these memorials, there are everything in them, how can one person know so much."

"That's why we need a supervisor of ceremonies." Although Wei Chi was chatting with Qi Yuan, she was actually taking a break from her busy schedule. She spent most of the day reading and writing the documents of Dali Temple, and in the evening, she also read the documents assigned by Chen Entropy. The memorial was kept until late at night, and there were so many complicated things in it, as well as the comments from the cabinet, which made her, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, almost collapse.

"Your Majesty is still unwilling to reorganize the Supervisor of Ceremonies?"

Wei Chi shook his head: "Don't look at the emperor's young age, but it's not easy to persuade him. It's probably not possible within this year. I think the emperor is going to pass this big exam first, select and reorganize the ministers of the foreign court, and then Then I took out my hand and arranged for someone to enter the ceremonial supervisor. It’s just that I’m afraid that such an examination question will not select too many talents, and the emperor may be disappointed by then,” Wei Chi said as he took out a memorial: “I’m also afraid that the ceremonial officer will be the last one. Even the prison can't bring out any decent people."

Qi Yuan took a look and couldn't help laughing: "Didn't you do it?"

Wei Chi was helpless: "This Lu Jing! He is a good man, but I really don't know what to say about him. This kind of thing has happened several times. I don't think he is suitable even if he is willing to push him to be a eunuch. I can't complain. Your Majesty, this is really helpless."

"It's a pity that I was brought into trouble and became your book boy." Qi Yuan rubbed her wrists, but it took a lot of effort to move these memorials around.

"The emperor will be on holiday for ten days after his wedding. Then I will make up for you and take you to ride a horse!"

"You don't have to break your promise."

"How is it possible, unless the emperor doesn't get married anymore." With no one else around, Wei Chi secretly made a rebellious joke.

...