Hypocrites

Shen Yu was sitting on the steps in front of the door, carefully rubbing the wound medicine on the tiger's mouth under the sunlight.Next to it is a low rattan couch leaning against Shen Jin drinking tea.Shen Jin couldn't help but look at his son a few times.

"what is that?"

Shen Yu asked strangely: "Wounding medicine, can't you see it?"

Shen Jin hesitated to speak: "I mean... where did you come from?"

"It was sent from Shinshu this morning."

Shen Jin took a few sips of hot tea, a little unexpectedly: "Your Highness is quite considerate to you."

Shen Yu didn't answer.

Three vigorous young men rushed out of the door in a swarm. They were neatly dressed, with feather fans and scarves, very formal.Shen Yu also patted the hem of his clothes and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Shen Jin asked.

"Take Yanran Mu Jihe to the East and West Market." Song Jun squeezed Shen Jin's shoulders, "Old man, today you have to let Brother Yu go."

Waiting outside the Shen residence was Deng Yang.Song Jun had made good contact with him early on, and wanted to do his best as a landlord.Cui Ji couldn't go the same way because of something.

Everyone is of the same age, and they all have a straight-talking personality, so they get along well soon.

When it comes to the signs of the East and West Markets, it is nothing more than Chen Yutang in the East Market and Xie Ling Pavilion in the West Market, places where even princes and nobles will admire their face.The so-called Xie Ling refers to Shi Ling's quilt, untie her skirt, take off her red shirt, remove her green socks, her face is full of beauty, her nose is fragrant and her nose is cracked, a first-class romantic place.

The four people from the school were a little hesitant, and Shen Yu, who had known the absurd behavior of the prince's children in Chen Yutang's Jieling Pavilion, was even more reluctant to get involved.

Deng Yang made fun of them: "One hall and one hall are not romantic places, but elegant places. If you are fooled by the rouge and gouache on the surface, you can't see the real face, but you won't appreciate the beauty. Don't worry, you are the prince's master. Disciples and disciples, I dare not lead you to crooked ways!"

Compared with Chen Yutang, where Shen Yu had been, Xie Ling Pavilion was a different world.The pavilions are located in the corner of the West City near the outer city, connected to the natural lake. The pavilions rise from the sky near the lake, and bridges are built on all sides to connect with the shore.On the bridge, garden lanterns stand side by side, and they are not lit at night. The autumn wind ripples, the curtains of the pavilions are flying, and there are bursts of music and fragrant wind.

Even the four people who were repulsed couldn't help admiring this wonderful situation.

The maid who led people across the bridge into the pavilion wore a high-necked palace skirt and behaved properly, and she was not as enthusiastic as Chen Yutang.

The lobby on the first floor is only for actors and kabuki performances, and the maids lead the group to the private seats on the third floor.The pavilions are above the lake, and they are in a circular layout, and the water scenery outside the window can be seen everywhere.The window lattice is erected, the lake breeze blows cool, and the osmanthus trees on the bank smoke the west building.

There is no Yingying Yanyan urging wine to throw herself into her arms, but an elegant prostitute playing the guqin behind the screen.

Song Jun praised: "It really is a good place, much more elegant than Chen Yutang."

Shen Yu was surprised: "Have you been to Chen Yutang too?"

"Oh," Song Jun sank comfortably into the soft cushion, "little junior brother, you will know when you reach your senior brother's age. Brothers also want to relax occasionally."

Shen Yu: "..."

Sitting outside the screen, from time to time some officials and husbands pass by, and the maids who greet them are all respectful.It seems that Chen Yutang's guests are more young masters, while the elders all come to know Lingguan.

Shen Yu heard the maids addressing the guests by name, there were quite a few servants, ministers, and even generals, all of whom had high ranks.A few of them were seated in the adjacent private room, and they even talked about the inside story of the palace. They said that the emperor was seriously ill, the imperial hospital was helpless, and the soup and medicine they ate came from the "secret family recipe" of a certain eunuch, which was ridiculous and pitiful.

A few young students in the seat who were not involved in worldly affairs immediately looked at each other in dismay, feeling uneasy and excited about knowing the secrets of the world's first-class.

Deng Yang, on the other hand, was indifferent and calm, and even echoed: "It is not surprising that eunuchs are favored and overstepped the rules."

Only when the guests looked at him with admiration, Deng Yang smiled mysteriously, and told Shen Yu and others: "This is the beauty of Xie Ling Pavilion, where you can find out the news hidden under the surface of the dynasty."

"I don't know who the master is," Deng Yang said, "the only thing that is certain is that the master must have power in the court to protect this building. There has been."

"Brother Deng is not easy." Everyone didn't know what to say, and finally Mu Jihe said, "Even if you were born and raised in Wangcheng, it would be difficult to find this way."

Deng Yang laughed, saying that he would come back after all his money was gone. Only then did several people know that there were relatives in his family who were engaged in business and made a lot of money. It all fell on Deng Yang to open up a way for him, hoping to cultivate an official who would honor his ancestors.

"Brother Yan," Deng Yang said enthusiastically, "I heard from Brother Song that you also plan to become an official in the future, so today I specially brought you to Xie Ling Pavilion to see and see. In this pavilion, I will rub shoulders with you casually." Those who passed by may be some important person in the dynasty, and we have no family background and no ancestors to protect us, so we must come to this kind of place to try our luck!"

Naturally, Yan Ran was very grateful and hurriedly poured wine for him.

Nanqi's selection of officials is not based on examinations, but mainly on local elections.Ideally speaking, it is natural that scholars have both ability and political integrity, and are quite prestigious in the local area. Only after entering the "Character Book of Characters" for the assessment of Nan Qi's students will they be recommended by officials.In fact, it is to use money/power/transaction/transaction to dredge the relationship.With no money and no power like Yan Ran, if he wants to just work hard, he will never be able to make his mark.

Then several people talked about their future plans.Song Jun also hopes to become an official in the court one day, but Mu Jihe doesn't care. He prefers to be a free-spirited knight in the rivers and lakes, who can come and go as freely as his master, like the wind.

When it was Shen Yu's turn, Deng Yang said: "Needless to say, Brother Yu, since he has been a student with the crown prince, he will definitely be a minister in the future. Don't forget about wealth and honor!"

Before Shen Yu said anything, suddenly from his angle, he caught a glimpse of a certain figure in the corridor flashing past in the gap covered by the screen.

Shen Yu: "?"

Before he could react, that person appeared in his field of vision again - he walked to the sitting room directly opposite and was about to enter.

This time Shen Yu saw clearly that it was Duan Yanling.

"What's wrong?" Song Jun felt that something was wrong with Shen Yu.

Immediately afterwards, another acquaintance came to the opposite side - Shen Yu's eyes may be too good - it was Lian Zhen.

"It's Duan Yanling and Lian Zhen." Shen Yu said calmly, but what he was thinking in his heart was that when these two people appeared here, there was an eight out of ten that Liang Heng also came, and the three of them were always inseparable when they were having fun.

For some reason, thinking of this, Shen Yu felt a little unhappy.Liang Heng saw that he had learned to behave in recent days. As soon as he was not in front of him, he immediately revealed his true colors, and met his friends again.When slandering Liang Heng, Shen Yu completely forgot that he himself was in this so-called "flower building".

"Who is that person?" Yan Ran asked curiously.

Deng Yang said: "Young Master Prime Minister and Young Master Taiwei, the court has already arranged for them to die when they were born. They have nothing to do all day long. What else can they do if they don't go to flower houses to find girls?"

Mu Jihe snorted coldly, his contempt was beyond words.

It was unusual for the seat opposite to be noisy, and it was also unusual for the maids and hostess to tolerate this group of nobles who could not be offended.Duan Yanling and Lian Zhen walked out of the pavilion within less than half a stick of incense during the banquet, and then there was a commotion from the shore.

Shen Yu looked out from the window and was very surprised. He saw a huge jade stone on the bank of the lake that was taller than one person.

Jade is fixed on the car seat, and the guarding entourage is dressed in the armor of the Southern Army, full of pomp and circumstance.The onlookers were like ants rowing the Yamen, and the halls and pavilions shook like a wave of exclamation.

Duan Yanling and Lian Zhen went straight to the seat of the jade chariot, and it was the owner of it.

Shen Yu suddenly remembered that Duan Yanling once said that he would use a whole piece of Lantian jade to carve a stele, dedicated to His Majesty's birthday celebration.It must be this thing.

Deng Yang, the nephew of a wealthy man, was also greatly shocked when he saw it. Gold is priceless and jade is priceless. If you want such a complete piece of the best, without gold thousand taels and well-connected contacts, you may not be able to find it.

So, does such a precious treasure belong to the Taiwei son or the prime minister?

Shen Yu was the only one who had heard the two bragging, and said: "Duan Yanling's."

"Duan Xiang," Deng Yang was half admiring, half saying something, "Where can I earn so much money and squander it on this prodigal son?"

In order to become an official, Yan Ran paid attention to all the officials in the court, especially Duan Xiang, who was born as a poor peasant like him, and Yan Ran had some admiration: "I heard that the prime minister is a clean and honest official, and his reputation has always been very good. .”

Deng Yang told him the truth: "Compared to the three beetles, anyone can be a good official."

Of course they are the three generals in the doctor's house. Rumor has it that greed is not enough, even turning the East Sea water into gold beads can't satisfy their appetite.

"However," Deng Yang said again, "it is said that those who are capable work harder, and those who work harder get more rewards. Today, he is so sick that he doesn't have the strength to draw a pen. The prime minister devoted himself to the royal family, and earning some money to compensate his family is understandable. Ha ha."

Mu Jihe, who was drinking silently, suddenly said: "An official has a generous salary from the imperial court, and the prime minister is already the ultimate minister with a gold seal and purple ribbon, so why bother wading through muddy waters."

Deng Yang: "Brother Mu, what you said is too naive. Let me ask you, who is more beneficial to the country in terms of official position, an honest mediocre person or a genius who collects money?"

The topic became serious, both Yan Ran and Song Jun restrained their smiles, sat down in a dignified manner unconsciously, and listened attentively.Shen Yu put down his teacup and picked a wine-flavored peanut.

Mu Jihe dismissed Deng Yang's question, and said bluntly: "Why should I choose these two types of people? Those who are officials will be screened by the court. They must be wise men with integrity and virtue."

"Brother Mu, Brother Mu," Deng Yang shouted, "There is no such person in the world!"

Those who are upright and virtuous will make people look up to the mountains and stop their travels. There are quite a few records in "Character Items", but the author of the book is hiding in the deep mountains and old forests. He also had ups and downs in the officialdom, and finally retired in frustration. Most of the characters he admired and praised were not tolerated by officialdom Either be relegated repeatedly, or not be used for life.

Ironically, the reputation of this book is growing day by day, and it has gradually become the benchmark for Nan Qi scholars, and the selection of talents by local officials is mostly based on the records in the book.It is rumored that "Character Items Zao" is worth a thousand dollars, if you want to get the government to expropriate, occupying a place in this book is more effective than giving a gift.

The roster of frustrated officials eventually became a shortcut to success.