On the first day of March, Chen Tianrui sent a complete set of hardcover and customized perfume.
This is Chen Ping's gift for the banquet. The perfume is packed in a special sandalwood box, which makes it look extravagant.
He also changed into a Qingxiangyun brocade straight dress, and added a short jacket outside to keep out the cold, low-key but without losing the style of a scholar.
Luo Li is dressed in black and looks like a guard at first glance, but the dagger is hidden in his arms.
Chen Ping suggested that he change his clothes and not dress up like this for the banquet.
Luo Li said expressionlessly: "You are the only one on the invitation, but I have to go with you."
The implication is that if you want to go to the banquet together, you can only be a follower.
Chen Ping had no choice but to nod, and the two of them left Tianxiang Pavilion and entered the inner city together in Cheng Cheng's carriage.
The roads in the inner city are wide and flat, and the bluestone pavement is very clean. The mansions on the roadside are all owned by dignitaries or their families. It is impossible for ordinary people to live in the inner city. When passing by, you can see soldiers patrolling everywhere.
After a while, the carriage stopped in front of a gate with high steps and majestic eaves. The plaque on the lintel read Cheng Mansion.
At this time, many carriages and horses were parked in front of the door, and several exquisite maids were waiting outside.
And diagonally opposite to the left of this mansion is the majestic and majestic Duke of Wei's mansion.
"Does he have a separate yard?" Chen Ping stepped out of the carriage and looked at Cheng's house, asking in surprise.
"Yes. The Duke's nephew has a good relationship with the palace, so of course he can buy a house on his own. Of course, on the surface it talks about the difference between superiority and inferiority, starting a family and starting a business, etc., but in fact it is just to make it easier for him to live freely.
." Cheng Cheng jumped off the carriage, pointed at the carriages and smiled.
After all, the Duke's Mansion of the State of Wei is a palace granted by the Emperor to a first-class Duke.
This kind of family is powerful and respects dignity, so naturally it will not hold a banquet easily, let alone such a classless gathering.
Cheng Yuanjian was playful by nature, and as he was rich and powerful, he naturally couldn't sit still, so he finally bought another house.
What's more, now that I am older, it is not a problem to stay in the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Wei Guogong was very satisfied with his knowledge and knowledge, so he naturally didn't say anything more, but he paid more and more attention to him from then on.
Chen Ping did not expect that Cheng Yuanjian, a dandy, was actually a person who knew the importance of things.
When a concierge saw the person coming, he immediately ran over and said.
"Young Master Cheng, you are finally here! Our young master has missed you for several years!"
Cheng Cheng threw the gift he brought into the concierge's hand and raised his eyebrows jokingly.
"It's hard for Dacheng to remember me, so why didn't he come out to greet me in person?"
Before he finished speaking, he heard a loud laugh coming from behind the door.
"Who said I didn't? Didn't I just come out right now!"
Chen Ping raised his head and saw an upright-looking young man striding out.
He has bright eyes and high spirits, short and thick eyebrows raised high, red lips and white teeth. He is about in his early twenties.
Wearing a colorful robe, wearing jade rings on his waist, rings on his hands, and deerskin boots on his feet, he is dressed like a playboy.
As soon as he saw Cheng Cheng, his eyes widened in surprise, "Why have you grown so tall?"
"Nonsense," Cheng Cheng was still worried that he would feel strange after not seeing each other for a long time, so he immediately laughed out loud after hearing this, "Aren't you also getting better?"
"That's right!"
Cheng Yuanjian happily stretched out his hands and walked along the stairs.
Cheng Cheng didn't expect him to be so enthusiastic, so he subconsciously stretched out his hands to greet him.
Who would have thought that Cheng Yuanjian passed by him with his hands raised, stepped forward, grabbed Chen Ping's arm, and asked loudly.
"You are Chen Ping, right? I have long heard from Xiao Cheng that you are smart, wise and well-behaved, and it turned out to be true when I saw you today!"
Chen Ping was shocked by this sudden move. Fortunately, it was no longer the time to be a fledgling. He quickly recovered and took a step back, cupping his hands and saying, "What the hell, my senior brother is really complimenting me."
"No more politeness, come on, let's go in quickly."
Cheng Yuanjian was even more familiar than Xie Zhiyuan. He smiled broadly and was about to drag Chen Ping into the house.
Cheng Cheng was left aside, his hands still raised in the air, his expression awkward and stiff, and he cursed in anger.
"Hey, you kid, do you think I'm a loser!? You've learned all the etiquette from a dog's belly. Is there anyone who treats guests like this?"
"I am entertaining distinguished guests today," Cheng Yuanjian looked sideways and deliberately said provocatively, "You have been back for so long and you still don't know how to come to me. You have to wait for my invitation before coming. Huh, I think you probably don't like me.
, you feel that I am not as decent as Xie Zhiyuan, do you still want to entertain me well today? I will punish you with three drinks later, and then we will talk about it!"
Cheng Cheng said "Hey", his tone immediately raised, and he chased after Chen Ping and snatched him over.
"You fart! The day I came to the capital, you didn't come to pick me up? You were the first person whose feelings faded!!!"
"Come on, it's not like you don't know that Xie Zhiyuan and I don't see eye to eye. Wouldn't it make him laugh if I got close to him?"
The two sandwiched Chen Ping in the middle, and did not shy away from the attention of others outside the door, and directly started fighting each other.
Cheng Cheng was a little hesitant and nervous when he was in the car just now, but now he finally relaxed slowly.
After a while, the two felt tired of arguing, so they walked into the house holding Chen Ping's hands.
On both sides of the corridor in Cheng Mansion are artificial lakes, rockeries, stacked rocks and lush trees.
After passing through the corridor, the beautiful garden comes into view, and a stage is set up in the patio surrounded by white stones.
The corridors on both sides and the flower hall in the center were already full of people, drinking and drinking in a very lively manner.
Music and laughter were heard one after another. As soon as Chen Ping entered, he saw several young men holding the singer in their arms and talking in their ears. Their hands moved quite widely.
On the other side are probably the candidates taking the exam this time. They are all quite polite and just sit and drink and listen to music.
Luo Li found a seat closer to him and sat down, eating silently while observing his surroundings.
"Everyone!"
Cheng Yuanjian brought Chen Ping and Cheng Cheng to the crowd and shouted loudly: "Our protagonist tonight has arrived."
All the guests came over one after another, and several young people spoke.
"Isn't this Xiao Cheng? He's back!"
"Who is that next to him?"
Just as Cheng Cheng was about to introduce himself, Cheng Yuanjian enthusiastically pushed Chen Ping forward.
"Let me introduce to you, this is my new friend I made today, Chen Ping and Chen Jieyuan!"
As soon as these words came out, the whole courtyard became lively again.
"Chen Ping, isn't he the youngest No. 1 Jieyuan in our reputation?"
"Yes, I heard that he is only eighteen years old."
"I also heard that he is also a master of poetry!"
Chen Ping suddenly became the focus of everyone's discussion. When he saw this, he quickly raised his hands and said humbly: "Don't dare. I am still young and have little talent and knowledge. I have only learned a few words. I am lucky enough to be here. How dare I claim to be the first." p>
"Chen Jieyuan should not be so polite. Dacheng had already said that a distinguished person would be invited today, but I never thought it would be you. No wonder the banquet was so grand today. I heard that even the former imperial chef was invited."
One of them looked at him up and down and said approvingly.
"Yes," the people at the same table also sighed, "we have a lot of Jieyuan in Daiyu, but if Chen Jieyuan still modestly says that he is not talented and has little knowledge, then aren't these guys illiterate?"
Of course, this was just a joke, and everyone laughed along with it.
However, there were a few candidates who were good at examinations and looked at Chen Ping with strange expressions on their faces, but did not say anything.
"That's the distinguished guest invited by my master. Naturally, he is incomparable to others!" Cheng Yuanjian held his head high, very proud.
The eighteen-year-old Jieyuan won the first place in the county examination, government examination, and provincial examination. It is self-evident how important it is.
In this examination, there is a high probability that he will have a place.
"You guys, don't make fun of Chen. There are so many literati and scholars in the world. I am lucky enough to be here. I am already blessed by God."
When Chen Ping heard their praise, he had no choice but to hand it over.
But Cheng Yuanjian seems to have done this intentionally, and has been emphasizing to everyone that today is setting up this banquet specifically for Chen Pingcai.
As this goes on, people's praise becomes louder and louder.
"Mr. Tian, as a minister of the state, please tell me." Cheng Yuanjian asked an official while the iron was hot.
Guozi Si Ye is a sixth-grade imperial official of Guozijian, who is in charge of the teachings and political orders of various schools in Guozijian.
There were several ministers sitting at the same table with him, including Dr. Zhongfeng, who was a fourth-grade civil servant.
Mr. Tian smiled and said: "Hahaha, he is indeed a young talent with a bright future."
Cheng Yuanjian became even more excited after hearing this, and said loudly to everyone.
"In my whole life, I will only obey those who have real ability! I have concluded that Chen Ping will definitely win the first prize in the imperial examination this time. The person who is reputed to be the first in the imperial examination must be him!"
The expression on Chen Ping's face froze, and he was completely stunned.
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