Fang Qingzhi observed his words and saw some clues. He knew that his son had always been decisive. Whether he agreed or not, he should make a decision quickly. He shouldn't look like he was in such a difficult situation that he wanted to die, so
There must be something fishy about it.
At this time, Fang Yingwu suppressed his chaotic thoughts. No matter how much he thought at this time, it was useless. He still had to figure out the cause and effect first, otherwise it would be impossible to judge. He asked: "Why did my father suddenly talk about this?"
What happened? Why did Li Dong...Xi Yagong mention these things again?"
Fang Qingzhi replied: "As the saying goes, if your parents tell you what to do, what a matchmaker says, if your father asks for all the daughters from your colleagues in the Hanlin Academy, there will be brothers who are very interested in you."
It turns out that it was his father who went to the Hanlin Academy to recruit a bride, and that was why Li Dongyang responded positively. Fang Yingwu didn't understand why his father became so troubled, but he also vaguely understood.
But it is said that Li Dongyang has always been famous for his love of poetry and prose and his provocation in history. Could it be that he really won the prize this time and won the big prize? But the question came back, should he accept the prize or not?
Fang Yingwu asked in detail: "Did Mr. Xi Ya ever say why he fell in love with me, his son?"
Fang Qingzhi thought about it for a moment, "It seems that I have read your poems and praised them greatly, and also heard about your deeds."
This answer was like asking nothing... Fang Yingwu didn't get what he wanted to know, but he had no choice but to do anything.
Fang Yingwu believed that if he had dealt directly with Li Dongyang, he would probably be able to detect some clues, but his father was still a little worse than him in this regard.
Then it can be assumed that Li Dongyang also took a fancy to his eighteen-year-old status and unlimited future potential. This should be the most likely reason.
Thinking of this, Fang Yingwu felt very proud. He did not have the shame of becoming a time traveler... At the same time, he decided to reveal the situation to his father a little bit. After all, "ugly daughters-in-law always have to meet their parents-in-law", and his marriage was impossible
He completely hid it from his father.
"To tell you the truth from my father, I also have some intentions regarding my son's marriage, but I haven't made an agreement yet and haven't had time to make it clear to my father."
"What?" Fang Qingzhi asked in surprise, and almost shouted, "How dare you make the decision on this matter without your father?"
But Fang Qingzhi already understood very well at this time that asking his son who had grown up independently was no different from farting, so he asked directly: "Whose family are you secretly collaborating with?"
Fang Yingwu replied: "As for whose family...Father will know in the future. This family will not be lower than Xi Yagong. It will not lose the reputation of our Fang family."
Although Fang Qingzhi was full of questions, he just looked at his son and said nothing.
Fang Yingwu added: "But father, don't be too anxious. Since Xi Ya Gong is also very warm and welcoming, we should postpone the decision until after the Spring Festival Competition."
This choice was so important that it would affect his whole life. With Fang Yingwu's decisiveness, it was difficult to make a decision for a while. So he decided to postpone the final choice for a while. Maybe a few months would be the best time.
A few months later, when the test results come out, the situation may change. Changes will lead to change, and many things can only be seen clearly when they change.
In Fang Yingwu's eyes, the biggest variable is of course Liu Mianmian, and since Li Dongyang is willing to propose marriage now, whether he is a Jinshi or not, it probably won't affect Li Dongyang.
If you can't get Jinshi, and there are variables that Liu Mianhua regrets, then you can choose Li Dongyang without hesitation.
Of course, if there is a situation where Liu Mianhua has no regrets regardless of whether he is a Jinshi or not, it will be even more difficult then, even more difficult than now.
Fang Qingzhi stared for a long time. Seeing that his son still refused to reveal who the other potential in-law was, he had no choice but to sigh helplessly and talk about another matter. "It's the end of the year now, and the Hanlin Academy's New Year's Eve banquet is here.
In about half a month, do you want to go?"
Generally, at the end of the year, it is the peak time for all the yamen in the capital to spend public funds on eating and drinking. At this time, each yamen will hold its own banquet, where colleagues of all sizes gather together to have fun, and the Hanlin Academy is no exception.
If it were any other father, he would have decided in one sentence whether to let his son accompany him to such a public banquet, but Fang Qingzhi unknowingly used a question.
Fang Yingwu was stunned. What a noble place the Hanlin Academy was. It was the cradle of the future prime minister. It was a very special yamen. Not just anyone could go there. Was he qualified to attend the official banquet?
Even though his father is an editor at the Seventh Rank Imperial Academy, wouldn't it be completely chaotic if everyone drags his family with him to become familiar with the future prime ministers?
Thinking of this, Fang Yingwu looked at his father with admiration. He could not believe that his father's face and reputation in the Hanlin Academy had reached such a high level.
"The Imperial Academy has its own Hanlin rules! Of course not just any family member can participate, but you can!" Faced with his son's question, Fang Qingzhi, who is a member of the Imperial Academy, was very proud.
"I am proud of my father! With this face, it will be hard for heaven to tolerate him if he is not admitted to the pavilion in the future!" Fang Yingwu raised his arms and shouted in nonsense.
Immediately, Fang Qingzhi's aura weakened and his face turned slightly red: "The rules of our Hanlin Academy are that all rules are based on fame. Family members of young people like you who have been elected can make an exception and follow your father to the Hanlin banquet to see the world.
of."
This... Fang Yingwu burst into laughter. In the final analysis, it was not because of his father's great reputation, or because of his great achievements...
Of course, in a country that values human relations, it would have been impossible for me to attend the Imperial banquet without my father as a mediator.
When he learned that he could attend the Hanlin banquet, even though he was as calm as Fang Yingwu, he was a little excited. He went back to the house and vented his anger with his concubine before he calmed down.
There is a saying that being a Hanlin Academy does not mean being a prime minister, but most of the prime ministers are from Hanlin Academy. According to Fang Yingwu’s incomplete estimate, based on the development process before time and space, there are about three or four future prime ministers in the Hanlin Academy today.
auxiliary.
And maybe it would be better to have direct contact with Li Dongyang and obtain first-hand judgment through this contact than to listen to unreliable second-hand information from his father.
Without further ado, time passed slowly as Fang Yingwu read. It was mid-December, and Fang Yingwu finally waited for the official banquet of the Hanlin Academy.
This official banquet did not go to a restaurant, probably because the noble Hanlin officials disdained such a tacky banquet. There were only a few simple seats in the lobby of the Hanlin Academy, and the dishes were very crude, but the wine used was the best wine given by the emperor.
Fang Yingwu, still wearing simple and clean clothes, followed his father along the Imperial Street through the right gate of Chang'an and the left gate of Chang'an, and arrived at the Hanlin Academy Office located in the southeast of the imperial city.
Ordinary officials are not allowed to walk this way except when going to court. Although this route is located outside Chengtian Gate and is the outermost gate and street of the imperial city, it is also included in the imperial city. How can idlers be allowed to pass through it? So?
Others can only go in a large circle from the direction of Daming Gate, but Hanlin Academy officials and prime ministers have this privilege.
Along the Royal Street, Fang Qingzhi looked at his son beside him, and felt emotional. He pointed to the road and said: "I remember that when my father won the Jinshi, he walked all the way to Chengtian Gate along this street to worship the emperor."
"Oh, beating horses and marching in the street, and having everyone look at it and worship it, that is really one of the most beautiful things in the world." Fang Yingwu yearned for it very much.
"The one who beats the horse on the street is Sanding Jia, and my father only follows him on the street..." Fang Qingzhi explained gloomily.
Fang Yingwu said with a smile: "Ah? It's just a little bit close."
Fang Qingzhi couldn't help sighing, and then squinted at his son, wondering if this son could meet this expectation?
While the father and son were chatting, suddenly a slave from another family ran over from behind and stopped the father and son. "Is this Fang Hanlin in front of you?"
Fang Qingzhi turned around and replied: "That's right."
Fang Yingwu looked into the distance. A few dozen steps behind him, there was a large red cloth official sedan carried by eight people, surrounded by twenty or thirty people of ceremonial guards. Looking at the style, he looked like a prime minister, Fang Yingwu thought.
road.
The slave from his hometown replied: "My master is Mr. Liu Xianggong, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion. He sent the young man to say hello to Fang Hanlin. I will see you later at the Hanlin banquet."
"Thank you Mr. Liu for your kindness." Fang Qingzhi frowned, still not understanding why Grand Scholar Liu Ji kept showing his kindness.
But Fang Yingwu next to him was stunned. How could Liu Mianhua go? How could Liu Mianhua go? How could Liu Mianhua go?
He could imagine that when he appeared at the Hanlin banquet, he must be a special person. When he became a special person, he would be noticed by others. If he could not have a good face, his father would not bring him here.
And in this case, what will happen when Liu Mianhua and Li Dongyang are both present? If these two people express something to themselves on the spot on a whim, how can I deal with it?
Fang Yingwu was completely unprepared for this situation. He was sweating and hurriedly asked his father: "Why are the prime ministers and ministers joining in the banquet of the Hanlin Academy?"
Fang Qingzhi couldn't understand why his son was so surprised, "What's so surprising about this? The Prime Minister came from the Hanlin Academy and can be regarded as a senior of the Hanlin Academy. Therefore, the elders will attend the Hanlin banquets over the years."
"You old man, didn't you tell me earlier..." Fang Yingwu looked at his father with eyes full of sadness and sadness.
In fact, Fang Yingwu was careless and forgot to consider the special relationship between the Imperial Academy and the Cabinet. Most people regard the Imperial Academy and the Cabinet as two departments. This may or may not be true.
The Hanlin Academy and the Cabinet can actually be regarded as one yamen, just two sets of people and two brands, and then you have me and I have you.
To be more precise, the Hanlin Academy can be regarded as an institution where the cabinet is located in the outer court, while the cabinet is always regarded as the office of the Hanlin Academy in the palace. In the Ming Dynasty Conference, the cabinet is listed under the entry of the Hanlin Academy.
Under such circumstances, how could the elders and Hanlin officials, who were all proud of their Hanlin origins, be allowed to attend the Hanlin official banquet?
Not only Liu Mianmian will go, but also the first assistant Wan'an and the second assistant Liu Jue. This is the most elite circle in the entire Ming Dynasty. (To be continued...)
ps: I just rushed home from the annual meeting. I revised this chapter I wrote during the annual meeting and posted it. I will write another chapter tonight and post it before 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. There will also be an announcement tomorrow... Please listen.