Lingxiao Temple occupies a very large area, and it took nearly a year to build it.
The layout inside is based on the design drawings produced by the Ministry of Industry.
In such a realm, it is difficult to find a prosperous place in the city, even in the palace.
It is precisely because of this that the restaurant, which is located next to Lingxiao Temple, seems a bit remote.
Although a dish of grilled beef attracts many diners, compared to the popular restaurants in the city, this place seems much quieter.
Especially the private rooms on the third floor, only a few people can afford to rent them, and even fewer people come here regularly.
When I came here from Wen today, there was only one light on in this private room.
Before I entered, I heard voices inside, and it was him who was talking.
"I told you not to wait for me a long time ago. It's okay for you to insist on waiting. Now you're blaming me for waiting."
Obviously there are people who are very familiar with each other, so they talk so casually.
"Mr. Fang, you are finally here. I told you earlier that you would fall in love with the roasted beef at this restaurant. It seems like I was lying to you."
Inside, a middle-aged man with a beautiful beard stood up with a smile on his face.
He is the newly appointed Zuo Du Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and one of the Xiaojiuqings.
But it can be seen that although his tone is teasing, he actually respects Fang Congwen very much, and there is a hint of intimacy in these words.
Fang Congwen said with a smile: "I have known since I was a child that I love calligraphy and food the most. I used to eat in all the restaurants in the south.
Now you are learning to use this to seduce me."
Fang Congwen said hello to the other two people.
It seems that he has a good relationship with the other two people, but not as close as Zuodu Yushi.
"I used to study in the south, but I shamelessly went to my husband's house many times, thinking hard and hoping that my husband would accept me as his student.
However, Mr. He made a vow early in his life that he would only accept a few in his life. After all, I am not that lucky, but I am lucky to be able to get Mr.'s guidance."
At this point, the other two people started talking, "Who in the entire capital didn't know back then that it wasn't that Brother Fang couldn't get the No. 1 Scholar, but that he didn't want to get the No. 1 Scholar at all."
Mentioning what happened back then, Fang Congwen's old face couldn't help but blush, and he waved his hands quickly and said: "I was just young and ignorant back then, so don't mention it again. If you were in that state of mind now, you would definitely not be so young.
Frivolous."
But these words aroused the curiosity of Zuodu Yushi, "What do you mean by this? I have never known about this."
"I heard that someone thought that the name of Tanhualang was more pleasant, and for the sake of the favor of a certain girl, he specially invited His Majesty to select him as the Tanhualang. Originally, His Majesty had already approved the imperial examination papers."
Hearing what others said, Yushi Zuodu suddenly remembered, "It turns out that Mr. Fang and his wife actually have such a touching past. Hahahaha, they are really affectionate people."
Fang Congwen quickly picked up the chopsticks, sat down, took two chopsticks and put the food in the bowl, "Are you here to eat today? You don't want to eat the food on such a large table, and why don't you go and wait for Chen Zhima?
What about the rotten grain?"
The two elders laughed and raised their glasses together, "The three of us are classmates in the same department. It's rare to get together now, so we should have a drink first."
Fang Congwen casually picked up the wine glass in front of him and yelled: "You people really don't appreciate the food in front of you at all. You should eat these things while they are hot.
How can you taste the original taste of these dishes when you drink like this?"
After saying this, the other three people were stunned for a moment, and then nodded and laughed together: "Yes, yes, it's all us who don't understand elegance and don't understand the uniqueness of these delicacies!"
As they spoke, the three of them also put down their wine glasses, picked up their chopsticks and started eating the food.
After a while, one of them finally said: "Senior brother, you are so attached to this delicious food, but you still gave up your idle life and came to the capital. I admire you."
The expression on Fang Congwen's face slowly became serious. He chewed the food in his mouth carefully and swallowed it, and then took a sip of wine.
"I am the one who really admires you. I know exactly what kind of temperament you two have and what kind of life you really want.
Now, because of my words, you have all come to the capital, which is enough to illustrate your ambition. We are all over the age of sixty. When it comes to this, I am not as good as you."
The two people waved their hands quickly, "If you say that, you are not taking our friendship over the past few years seriously."
It was only then that the Censor of Zuodu realized that the three of them were actually from the same sect.
But before that, he didn't know anything at all, and he only knew that they were Jinshi in the same subject.
At this moment, Yushi Zuodu looked at Fang Congwen with a bit of solemnity in his eyes.
Fang Congwen sighed softly and turned his gaze to Zuodu Yushi, "Linyuan! Do you know why I came to see you today?"
The surname of Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was Zheng, and his first name was Linyuan.
Fang Congwen was half of his teacher, so the names between the two of them were also different from the others.
When Fang Congwen talked to him, he was like a very close elder in the family.
"Although sir didn't say it, the juniors also guessed that the floods in Suzhou and Hangzhou last year were actually not natural disasters but man-made disasters.
By this time, the ins and outs of the case have been almost investigated, and the file has been almost prepared. I think the reason why Mr. Lai called me here today is related to this matter!"
For such a big case, I don't know how many people are involved, and how many people are involved.
The Metropolitan Procuratorate monitors hundreds of officials, so a case like this will definitely fall on him in the end, and not even the Dali Temple can take it away.
At this moment, he saw that the other two people were closer to Fang Congwen than he was to him. He quickly thought of this matter with the Qiao family.
Sure enough, Fang Congwen nodded, "Back then, I said you were smart. Now it seems that it was my loss that I failed to accept you as my student."
Zheng Linyuan said quickly: "I'm surprised by what the teacher said. Although there has never been a formal apprenticeship ceremony, in the students' hearts, the teacher's guidance will be used for life. The teacher is the student's lifelong teacher."
"Okay!" Fang Congwen suddenly said loudly, his eyes suddenly became sharp, "Then, I will tell you to do something.
But the first thing I want to tell you is that you are not allowed to tell anyone about this matter, and you are not allowed to let anyone know about it, even if that person is the current prince!"
Since Zheng Linyuan appeared here, he was actually mentally prepared to a certain extent.
There has been a lot of unrest in the court recently. Who else could feel it earlier than him, the censor Yu Shicha, who oversees all officials?
So he knew it from the beginning, and even guessed what Fang Congwen wanted him to do.
"Sir, don't worry. As long as you give me an order, the student will die without mercy."
"You don't have to die. You just need to know that I will act with no regrets from heaven and earth in my life. Similarly, the things I ask you to do will definitely not make you feel guilty."
With this sentence, what else does Zheng Linyuan dare not do?
The four of them sat down again. This time, Fang Congwen poured a glass of wine solemnly and said to Zheng Linyuan: "Today's glass is my toast to you."
Zheng Linyuan did not refuse, but stood up with the wine glass in hand, "It is also a blessing for students to have such trust from teachers."