Chapter 58 Cong Ninth Grade is small, but also an official
"Yes, empress!"
When the palace maid heard this, she didn't dare to be negligent. She gently put down the bird's nest in her hand and retreated.
After the palace maid left, Yang Yuhuan actually picked up the copy of "Journey to the West" and read it from the beginning. With such a novel story, reading it again was not enough.
There was a special person at the Lishan Palace to listen to orders. Half an hour later, a father-in-law had already arrived at the Ministry of Rites.
"Master Zhou!"
"What did the empress say?"
Seeing the eunuch, Zhou Yuan asked hurriedly.
After sending the manuscript to the inner palace a few days ago, he has not received any news, and he is extremely worried. He wonders if the imperial concubine likes it.
"The empress likes that manuscript very much, and she has gone to the point of forgetting to sleep and eat. Half an hour ago, the empress finally finished reading the manuscript, and something came from her."
The father-in-law nodded slightly.
Although he is just an accompanying eunuch, he still puts on airs in front of a third-grade official like the Minister of Rites. No other reason is that his wife is the most favored concubine in the world today. As long as it does not involve major political affairs, her wishes are basically the same.
The top also represents the meaning of today’s emperor.
"You say!"
Zhou Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief and couldn't help but thought to himself, "It seems that the taste of the empress is not much different from that of the scribes and scholars in the Western Capital."
These days,
Nearly a thousand copies of "Journey to the West" are arriving in Chang'an every day. They are sold out as soon as they are placed on the shelves of Xuanyang Paper Mill. It is not too popular.
"The empress said that this writer has great talents and should be used by the imperial court."
"For the imperial court's use? I understand."
After hearing this, Zhou Yuan bowed slightly.
Every time a book writer is chosen by the imperial concubine, he will nominate him and then report it to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for canonization and appointment. Generally, the book writers are from the ninth rank. And this matter is appointed by the emperor, basically as long as he will
Send the roster to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and it will be approved quickly.
"Well, our message has been brought here, and we have to go back to the palace to serve the queen."
The eunuch flicked the fly whisk and said again.
"Congratulations, father-in-law!"
........
In front of the official department, looking at the carriage going further and further away, Zhou Yuan's face showed a long-lost smile,
"Although he is a young man from the ninth rank, he is still an official after all. Li Mo can be regarded as having great fortune this time. If he really gets engaged to the Li family later, it won't be too embarrassing..."
After muttering something to himself, Zhou Yuan returned to the lobby of the Etiquette Department.
Regarding the marriage of his three daughters, after thinking about it, he felt that he should not be too anxious, especially when the five kings of the Li family gathered in Chang'an. No matter who his daughter married, it would cause a lot of conflicts.
The best way is to wait until the Li family's birthday party is over before discussing it.
If the Li family is weak, marrying your daughter to the prime minister is still the best choice. If the Five Kings are strong, then marrying your daughter to the Li family.
"Sir, tomorrow is the fifteenth day. Is it okay to send books as a reward..."
After thinking about it, as soon as Zhou Yuan entered the lobby, a civil servant came to greet him.
"Well, tomorrow we will start to register the book writers from all walks of life who are participating in the award. There are many writers participating in the award this time. We will first select a hundred books from them. After discussion with the officials, we will select fifty books from them and send them to the palace.
For the empress to enjoy and read."
When it came to business, Zhou Yuan nodded.
Although Li Mo's "Journey to the West" was a timely success, it is impossible to read a copy over and over again. It must have fresh blood.
This time, the Ministry of Civil Affairs specially prepared five positions for scribes, which shows how much it attaches importance to sending books for appreciation.
"Yes, sir!"
The civil servant bowed.
"By the way, prepare the sedan chair. I have to go to the staff department."
After a pause and some thought, Zhou Yuan said again.
""yes!"
........
Chang'an is prosperous. After decades of development since the emperor moved the capital, it has long been unmatched by the Eastern Capital.
Although there are four major cities in Chang'an, there are still many small markets in the city, which are also chartered by the government. The emperor's feet must be different from other cities.
Southeast corner of the inner city,
In a small tavern, three young men in ordinary clothes were chatting without saying a word.
There are two plates of peanuts and a jar of wine in front of the table for three people.
"Five thousand taels... I don't know what dad thinks of the whole five thousand taels?"
After picking up the wine glass and drinking it down in one gulp, one of the older men said angrily.
"That's it, how many taels of silver did my father give me when I opened the embroidery workshop? It was less than one thousand taels, but now I am spending five thousand taels to hire a martial artist for the sake of face..."
After the older man finished speaking, the man next to him quickly took over.
"Haha, what's even more irritating is that dad actually asked us to prepare in advance, just in case the five uncles asked us to exaggerate our business, but how can we exaggerate? There is no place where my little inn insists on making money every day.
People believe.”
With a wry smile, the man on the far side also said helplessly.
These three are none other than the three young masters from Li Chen's residence, Li Mo's eldest brother, second brother and fourth brother.
In the past few days, everyone in the mansion has been busy with the birthday banquet. It's not that they don't want to help, but in Li Chen's eyes, they can only add to the chaos.
So while others were busy working, the three brothers could only sit here and drink.
"Dad is obsessed with saving face. Wouldn't it be better to give the five thousand taels of silver to my three brothers? As long as I have the money, I can expand the inn, so why bother bragging?"
The second oldest brother, Li Xin, picked up the wine cup and said again.
"Who says it's not...my embroidery workshop has also been short of money recently. The five kings are the five kings after all. It's impossible for them to look down on my father just because of a birthday banquet."
The boss, Li Yuan, nodded.
"Whoever makes our life unhappy will be a disgrace in dad's eyes!"
The fourth child, Li Chang, shook his head and said that this tavern belonged to him. There were not many drinkers on weekdays and most of them were ordinary people. It was pretty good to earn dozens of cash every day.
"Actually, if you ask me... the three of us are not embarrassed. Although we run a small business, at least we can support our family. The real shame should be the third child.
I heard from the servants in the house that my father specially gave the housekeeper two taels of silver before he left, so that the third child could buy a similar outfit.
Think about it... He is so poor, how bad must he be?"
After hearing what Li Chang said, the eldest brother Li Yuan and the second son Li Xin shook their heads together.
"That's right, it's the third child who's so embarrassed. When I had to go to Dongdu, I thought I could make a name for myself... What happened?"
"Well, if you ask me, let's not compare ourselves to each other. Let's think about how to report our family fortune to the five uncles in the future so that we don't look so shabby.
The third child is the third child, and we are us!
No matter how embarrassed he is, as long as the birthday banquet is over, he can return to the Eastern Capital and no one can see him, but we are different..."
Li Chang held the wine cup and looked around the tavern with a sad face.
"How to report... Wait, yes, two brothers, I wonder if this is feasible?"
a moment of silence,
Li Xin's eyes suddenly lit up and he said hurriedly.
