On a rare holiday, Wang Bo declined his friend's invitation to go out and decided to spend a day reading in his mansion.
After looking at the study for an hour, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a middle-aged man entered the study excitedly, saying happily: "Zian, good news, great news!"
"Second uncle, what's wrong?" Wang Bo raised his head and asked.
The middle-aged man's name is Wang Fudeng, the younger brother of Wang Bo's father, Wang Fuchou.
"Great victory in the north! Marshal Li, General Xue and Duke Zhou all won the first battle. Marshal Li beheaded 6,000 people and General Xue beheaded 8,000 people. Duke Zhou beheaded 11,000 people and captured Nansu City!"
Wang Bo's eyes lit up, he clapped his hands and said, "That's great, I never thought that Wu Zhangyuan is not only good at solving crimes, but can also shine on the battlefield!"
"I heard that your Majesty planned to promote Duke Zhou to general after hearing the news, but Her Royal Highness the Queen dissuaded him."
Wang Bo stood up and said with a smile: "Second uncle, let's go have a drink and celebrate."
Wang Fudeng responded with a smile, and the uncle and nephew went to the side hall to drink together.
After Wang Fudeng drank a few drinks, he was slightly drunk and said loudly: "My nephew, Duke Zhou's future will be limitless. It is possible to be crowned king of the opposite sex. As long as you can follow him, we will definitely become a member of the Wang family in Taiyuan."
The most prosperous one."
Wang Bo frowned and said displeased: "Second uncle, why do you suddenly talk about this?"
Wang Fudeng glanced at him and said: "I know that you relied on your own ability to pass the imperial examination, so you don't like those of the same clan who rely on their family background to become officials. But after all, we have the same surname and the same origin. Now that you are an official in the court, sooner or later they will be able to
Please help."
Wang Bo sneered and said, "Is that so? I remember when Empress Wu dealt with the Queen Wang family, the other branches of the Wang family in Taiyuan tried their best to distance themselves from the Queen Wang family."
Wang Fudeng was taken aback, glanced around, and scolded: "You are still so outspoken! Who would do this, right? The reason why our Wang family can endure for a long time depends on the four words of being wise and protecting yourself."
!”
Wang Bo snorted and said: "The bright road is to enter the imperial examination and become an official. You can enter the court and become an official just by your birth. Who knows if you have the ability to govern the country?"
Wang Fudeng sighed, knowing that these young people had different ideas from the older generation, so he stopped arguing with him and said: "By the way, Cui of Qinghe and your father have agreed on your marriage. Your father asked me to tell you
.”
"marriage?"
Wang Fudeng smiled and said: "You are lucky. Cui Yixuan plans to marry his granddaughter to you. This matter has been decided. Your father has already taken leave and returned to his hometown to prepare the betrothal gift."
Wang Bo was shocked and said: "Why didn't I know?"
"Cui Yixuan suddenly came to your door. Naturally, your father couldn't refuse. Didn't he immediately write a letter asking me to tell you?"
Wang Bo frowned and said, "Didn't His Majesty issue a ban on marriage? Our Wang family can't marry with the Cui family, right?"
Wang Fudeng smiled and said: "It's just a show. Since the marriage ban was issued, many families of seven surnames and ten families have secretly married, and no one has been punished."
Wang Bo frowned and remained silent.
The Seven Surnames and Ten Families were the ten most aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty. Outstanding members of the family could become officials through their family influence, and everyone in the world was proud to marry these nobles.
In order to suppress the strength of the nobles, Emperor Li Zhi adopted a marriage ban and prohibited them from marrying each other. However, the effect was not good, and it invisibly elevated the status of the ten families.
Wang Fudeng asked strangely: "Why do you look unhappy? You have to know that there are countless people in the world who want to marry the Cui family. Take Xu Jingzong, he used to have a good personal relationship with Cui Yixuan, but when he wanted his grandson Xu Zonghan to marry Cui
When I was a daughter, Cui Yixuan refused to agree to anything."
"Then why did he want to marry his granddaughter to me?" Wang Bo said coldly.
"Of course it's because you are now a new member of the court, but of course, the most important thing is because you were born in the Wang family of Taiyuan. Now you know the benefits of your family background, right?" Wang Fudeng said with a smile.
Wang Bo laughed at himself: "You're just a seventh-grade editor, what kind of upstart do you think you are?"
Wang Fudeng said with a smile: "It is true that you are a seventh-rank editor, but it is also true that you can be admitted to the Zhongshu Province. The Queen wants you to be familiar with the government affairs. Everyone can see that several of your Hanlin Academy editors are likely to participate in the government affairs in the future."
Wang Bo remained silent.
"Why, don't you still believe it? Do you know what happened to your three colleagues recently?"
Wang Bo shook his head. In the Hanlin Academy, Lu Zhaolin had the best relationship with Meng Huailiang. Zhou Xing traveled to Zhongshu Province all day long. Although he was a colleague with the three of them, he had a relatively aloof personality and did not know much about their private affairs.
Wang Fudeng shook his head, drank a glass of wine and said, "You have to take the initiative to learn more about these things in the future. Those three people, like you, are likely to become prime ministers in the future. There is no harm in establishing more friendships."
Wang Bo was very impatient with these lectures and drank a glass of wine with his head down.
Wang Fuden said leisurely: "Let's talk about Lu Zhaolin. Originally, everyone thought he had no origins, but recently I heard that he is a remote branch of the Lu family in Fanyang, and his family is discussing a marriage with the Zheng family in Xingyang."
Wang Bo snorted, knowing that his second uncle was still trying to persuade him to accept the marriage.
Suddenly, he remembered that when he met Lu Zhaolin recently, he always had a sad face, and asked: "What is Lu Zhaolin's attitude?"
Wang Fudeng's eyes flashed and he said: "I guess I agreed. Who would refuse such a thing?"
He hurriedly changed the topic and said: "By the way, I also heard that he had his honors replenished. It is said that several bachelors from Hongwen Hall read his answer sheet and said that he answered very well and fully met the requirements for passing the exam.
The examiner made an oversight."
Wang Bo remembered that Lu Zhaolin's ancient Chang'an ideas had become popular in Chang'an City recently, and nodded: "With his literary talent, he should be ranked first."
Wang Fudeng added: "Because of Meng Huailiang, many people from the Meng family in Xiangyang came to Chang'an. Zhou Xing also obtained an official position as a county magistrate from another county for his father."
Wang Bo said blankly: "...there are still these things."
"Isn't that right? From now on, stop focusing on government affairs and pay more attention to interpersonal relationships. Let's talk about your second uncle and me. I'm afraid you still don't know why I was suddenly transferred to Taichang Temple as a doctor, right?
"
Wang Bo was startled: "Isn't this a normal transfer order from the imperial court?"
Wang Fudeng said angrily: "Of course not. Less than three years after I served as the eighth-grade chief of the provincial governor's office, I was transferred to the capital as the seventh-grade Dr. Taichang. If no one does such a good thing secretly, do you think I can get my turn?
?"
Wang Bo's mind flashed and he blurted out: "It's Cui Yixuan!"
Wang Fudeng smiled and said: "You finally understand. Yes, although he was transferred away from Taichang Temple, he is still very energetic in Taichang Temple. He is behind this matter, so your father can't refuse Cui Yixuan's marriage.
requirements.”
Wang Bo sighed, nodded and said, "I understand."
Wang Fudeng saw that he had been convinced. He was overjoyed and poured a glass of wine for the two of them. He smiled and said, "Don't be upset. I heard that the daughter of the Cui family is extremely beautiful, well-educated, courteous, dignified and elegant. You are the bride's bridal chamber."
You will thank me and your dad that day!"
Wang Bo drank and drank. Although he was a little dissatisfied with the fact that he could not decide on the marriage, he thought that since his father had agreed, he had nothing to say.
After drinking a few more glasses of wine, the housekeeper suddenly came to report that Princess Taiping had asked him to go to the Furong Garden for evaluation.
Although Wang Bo didn't understand what was going to be assessed, he would naturally not disobey Princess Taiping's order.
Immediately left the mansion and took a carriage to the Furong Garden in the southeast direction.
Furong Garden is a royal forbidden garden, covering an extremely large area. It is the first garden in Chang'an and cannot be entered by ordinary people. Only relatives of the emperor are eligible to enter.
When Wang Bo was walking halfway, he suddenly met Zhou Xing's carriage. The two were driving side by side. Wang Bo asked him through the curtain of the carriage: "Brother Zhou, do you know what the princess asked us to do?"
Zhou Xing was indeed well-informed and said with a smile: "Did you know that Her Royal Highness the Princess has established a 'Taiping Academy'?"
"Yeah, I've heard of it."
"You must have heard about the victory of the Martial Arts Academy, right?"
"That's natural."
Zhou Xing smiled and said: "Her Royal Highness the Princess called the female students from Taiping Academy and the students from the Imperial College to Furong Garden, planning to let them compete there."
"Competing with women? Are the students also willing?" Wang Bo said in surprise.
"Since it is the request of Her Highness the Princess, they are naturally willing. The choice of our future colleagues will be decided by the Princess." Zhou Xingruo said meaningfully.
Wang Bo's heart trembled and he thought: "These people are all hoping to win the favor of Her Royal Highness the Princess. When they get the chance to succeed, they will have the opportunity to be recommended by the Princess and enter the Hanlin Academy."
"Then she asked us to come here as an examiner?"
Zhou Xing smiled and said: "Exactly, do you know what the question the princess asked is?"
Wang Bo shook his head.
"Great victory in the north!" Zhou Xing was in high spirits.