Chapter 99. The Book and the Birds of the Nine Palaces.
"Master, this is South Street. Most of them are antique shops. Going further, there is Shufang Road. Most of them are bookstores and book stalls. But the busiest place now is Huiguan Street next to Shufang Road. In the capital,
Most of the guild halls from all over the country were concentrated there, and most of the candidates who went to Beijing to take the exam also lived in the guild hall. In order to make a name for themselves before the examination, many candidates even set up essay contests there, and finally
It’s fun.”
Knowing that Zhao Junchen had never paid attention to this, after getting off the carriage, the two of them walked on foot. Xu Qingyan introduced Zhao Junchen in detail.
Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "We are just strolling around to relax today, there is no need to deliberately join in the fun, just go wherever you go."
While talking, Zhao Junchen saw that an antique shop on the street was quite impressive, and he casually walked towards the shop.
About half an hour later, Zhao Junchen had left South Street, which was full of antique shops. Although he had a lot of money in hand, Zhao Junchen did not spend a penny. He was empty-handed and did not buy anything.
For no other reason, although Zhao Junchen does not attach much importance to the collection of antiques and treasures, due to gifts from subordinate officials, imperial gifts from the emperor, etc., there are still many precious antiques and treasures in the Zhao Mansion. In terms of rarity and value, it is also
It is much higher than those in antique shops. In addition, Zhao Junchen himself has no ability and interest in appreciating antiques. No matter how precious the treasure is, it is a rare treasure in Zhao Junchen's hands, so he just visited it casually, and he was very happy from beginning to end.
No intention of buying.
But when he arrived at Shufang Road, Zhao Junchen's interest became much stronger.
Today's Zhao Junchen's study, although luxurious and noble, is not small in area, but the collection of books in it is really embarrassing. Most of them are just general books such as the Four Books and Five Classics, Historical Records and Spring and Autumn Annals, which can't even fit on a bookshelf.
Zhao Junchen wanted to find a few books to read, but he couldn't find what he wanted to read.
This time when I came to Bookstore Road, I saw countless bookstores and stalls in front of me. Thinking of the embarrassment in his study, Zhao Junchen finally found a place to spend money. Zhao Junchen would visit almost every stall and shop, and he was very interested when he saw
If you want to read a book, you will buy it without negotiating the price.
However, with Zhao Junchen's temperament, although he bought many books, most of them were just casual books such as biographies and miscellanies.
As a result, Zhao Junchen had just visited two bookstores and three bookstalls and bought thirty or forty books of various kinds. Seeing that Xu Qingyan could no longer take any more and his face became more miserable, Zhao Junchen simply spent more.
With some money, the bookstore owners could send all kinds of books they bought directly to Zhao Mansion.
After no longer worrying about transportation, Zhao Junchen became even more lavish when buying books. Later, as long as it was a book that Zhao Junchen had never seen before, he would not read it, or even pay attention to the content in the book, and just bought it.
, just think of it as decorating your own study room.
An hour had passed by the time the bookstore road was finished. Zhao Junchen estimated that he had bought at least four to five hundred books of various types this time.
"If there is no shortage of money, there are some advantages. You can buy it if you want. There is no need to negotiate the price."
Although Zhao Junchen is now one of the richest people in the capital, this is the first time he has experienced the pleasure of squandering money.
While thinking secretly, Zhao Junchen smiled at Xu Qingyan beside him and said: "From now on, you must remember to send people to the book market from time to time. If there are books that are not available in the mansion, buy them directly from the mansion. In this way, I will have more time to do.
Sometimes, there are things to do to pass the time.
Xu Qingyan said: "If you ask me, Master, it would be better for you to come here to search for books in your free time. This way you can relax and relax. If you can find good books, Master, you will be more happy. That is, Master, you can come here next time.
When searching for books, it’s best to bring more people with you. Just now, I was carrying such a thick pile of books by myself, and my arms are still sore.”
As he spoke, Xu Qingyan couldn't help but rub his shoulders. Apparently, the experience of moving books for Zhao Junchen just now made him suffer a lot.
Seeing Xu Qingyan like this, Zhao Junchen shook his head and laughed.
While talking and laughing, Zhao Junchen took Xu Qingyan through Bookstore Road, turned west, and walked towards Guildhall Street.
However, at the intersection of Shufang Road and Huiguan Street, a shop caught Zhao Junchen's attention.
"Rare Bird Pavilion" looked at the shop in front of him and listened to the chirping birds coming from the shop. Zhao Junchen looked slightly surprised and said to Xu Qingyan: "I didn't expect there to be a shop selling birds here."
Xu Qingyan smiled and said: "Master, you don't know that many rare birds are considered rare treasures in the eyes of the dignitaries in the capital, such as thrushes, willow warblers, longevity belts, kingfishers, etc. There are many people there.
There are even people who keep large birds such as peacocks, eagles, and red-crowned cranes in their houses. Sometimes, many rare birds can even be sold for hundreds of taels of silver."
Having said this, Xu Qingyan seemed to be a little more excited and asked: "Master, how about we buy a few for fun?"
Zhao Junchen glanced at Xu Qingyan with a strange look, then shook his head and sighed: "Why do you know everything when it comes to playing, and I don't see you asking about this at ordinary times. But if I ask you to study more, I don't see that you have any knowledge.
Make progress.”
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan rubbed his head in embarrassment and even though he said that, he looked at the "Rare Bird Pavilion" in front of him. Zhao Junchen thought of a joke he saw in a TV series in his previous life, and his expression changed.
He was walking towards the "Rare Bird Pavilion".
Entering the store, you will soon be greeted by a store clerk.
However, without waiting for the waiter to greet him, Zhao Junchen asked: "Do you have parrots in your store?"
When Zhao Junchen left the "Rare Bird Pavilion", Xu Qingyan on the side was already holding a birdcage in his hand.
However, in the birdcage, it was not the parrot that Zhao Junchen wanted to buy before, but a Jiugong bird.
Zhao Junchen gained a lot of knowledge in the "Rare Bird Pavilion" and realized that although there is an idiom of "parrots imitate people's words" in the world, the most understanding of human nature and the best at imitating human speech is not the parrot, but the Jiugong bird.
Speaking of parrots, the songs of the Jiugong bird are better and more precious, and it can learn more human speech.
"Master, what do you want to teach this Nine Palace Bird?"
After leaving the "Rare Bird Pavilion." Xu Qingyan already knew that Zhao Junchen didn't want to buy a parrot, but just a bird that could learn how to speak human tongue, so he asked curiously.
"May my emperor be in good health and live a long life."
Zhao Junchen said with a smile.
Xu Qingyan couldn't help but be stunned, wondering why Zhao Junchen suddenly said such an irrelevant statement.
But after a moment, Xu Qingyan came to his senses, "May my emperor be in good health and live a long life." These were the words that Zhao Junchen wanted Jiugong Niao to learn.
Xu Qingyan showed admiration and said: "So it turns out that the young master is smart. If this Nine Palace Bird learns this sentence and then presents it to His Majesty, Your Majesty will be happy and he will value the young master even more."
Zhao Junchen shook his head and said with a smile: "I will not take the initiative to present this bird to Your Majesty, but I will let someone accidentally reveal it to His Majesty. At that time, this Nine-Palace Bird will be placed in the Buddhist hall.
The reason why it can say this human saying is because I pray to the Buddha in the Buddhist hall every day. After listening to it for a long time, it will naturally understand it."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan's expression of admiration became more intense, and he praised: "If this is the case, your Majesty will be even more moved when he learns that you pray for him in the Buddhist hall every day. I don't know what your Majesty will do then."
Congratulations to the young master."
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "It's just this kind of kindness or verbal commendation. It doesn't matter. As long as Your Majesty is more at ease with me and stops staring at me so closely, I will be satisfied."
After a pause, Zhao Junchen seemed to remember something and asked again: "By the way, is there a Buddhist temple in our house?"
Xu Qingyan was stunned for a moment, and then said awkwardly: "No, Master, you don't believe this."
Zhao Junchen waved his hand and said with a smile: "It's okay, go back and ask someone to clean up the room, set up a room, invite a monk to the house, and there will be a Buddhist hall."
While talking, the two of them had arrived at Guildhall Street.
Guild halls, which emerged during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, are now the most common in the capital. Most of them are organizational places composed of fellow villagers. They have always been a gathering place for fellow villagers or peers. They are combined with local concepts and feudal forces. In a certain way,
, can be regarded as a regional mutual aid organization.
During each imperial examination in the capital, candidates from all over the country would live in guild halls in various places. Firstly, the price was cheap, secondly, they could help each other, and they could even be used to clinch the position of powerful people.
For example, these days, the Jiangsu Guild Hall often sends messages to the Zhao Mansion, asking Zhao Junchen to go to the Jiangsu Guild Hall to meet those candidates from his hometown. Zhao Junchen knows his intention. After he "recovers", he will naturally "be happy"
Go to".
After all, being of the same generation, same hometown, and the same family, these "three samenesses" were often the only way for officials in ancient dynasties to form cliques. Among them, being from the same hometown was the most important part, and Zhao Junchen naturally would not ignore it.
As Xu Qingyan said, as spring approaches, Huiguan Street is quite lively, and most of the people coming and going are taking exams.
However, when Zhao Junchen saw the excitement, before he had time to wander around, a quarrel suddenly came from not far away, but it attracted Zhao Junchen's attention.
"Xiao Wenxuan, don't go too far. Do you really think we can't defeat you?"
Looking towards the source of the quarrel, the most conspicuous thing is a young scholar, who is sitting on the ground with his eyes blank. The reason why this scholar is conspicuous is because he is wearing mourning clothes!" PS: I actually wrote this today.
Quite a few, probably more than 10,000 words, but some of the later descriptions always make Chongzi feel unsatisfied, and they are being revised. I will upload these today, but there should be three to four updates tomorrow. In addition, the chapters of the previous chapter