As the organizers of this Fan Lou night banquet, Fan Zhongyan, Yan Shu, and Han Qi were the first to arrive at Fan Lou. As a more military official, Han Qi was not very interested in the people who were going to be present today, so
, as soon as he arrived at Fanlou, he began to arrange things for the guys to do, and made detailed arrangements for the venue. Later, he even went to the kitchen to supervise the chef's cooking.
Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu did not express dissatisfaction with Han Qi's actions. They felt that someone had done all the dirty work, so they would just wait here quietly for the people who would come to the Fan Building.
alright.
So, the two of them went to the best private room on the second floor and closed the door, leaving a gap. They found an excellent angle. Through this door gap, they could clearly see everyone.
The expressions and reactions of the officials who entered the door.
Yan Shu then planned to have a pot of good wine brought over, and he and Fan Zhongyan would drink while waiting. However, Fan Lou’s waiters were all from the royal family, so they naturally felt that the banquet had not started yet, and both of them were
He was the organizer tonight and had to make an important speech. It was inappropriate to drink alcohol at this time, so he suggested to Yan Shu whether he should drink some tea first.
These words angered Yan Shu. After all, he was the prime minister of the dynasty, and he would be lectured by a waiter. However, Fan Zhongyan intervened and said that it didn't matter if he waited until the evening to drink the wine, so he had someone make it.
Bring over the pot of tea.
The two began to taste tea. Yan Shu took a sip, obviously still dissatisfied with the guy's behavior just now, and said: "You really take yourself seriously. Will my drinking a glass of wine affect the evening party?"
Fan Zhongyan said with a smile: "Why do you have to worry about them? Moreover, these people are responsible for the emperor's orders. They will not be able to explain anything if something happens, so we don't need to make things difficult for them."
What Fan Zhongyan said made sense. Yan Shu sighed, then looked at the door on the first floor through the crack in the door, and then said: "Who are you going to question tonight? You must have already made a plan in your mind."
Fan Zhongyan smiled slightly, nodded and said: "This is natural. I think your husband has already made plans. Most of the people I asked here are first-level officials. As you know, when I return to Bianliang this time, I only
I feel that things are different and people have changed, and many people no longer recognize me.”
Yan Shu said to his heart, when you return to Bianliang, how many people want to see you? Just pretend like you don't know anyone here.
On the surface, Yan Shu said: "I think that although today's gathering is divided into upstairs and downstairs, the officials on the second floor may not be able to make any better suggestions than those on the first floor."
Fan Zhongyan said: "This is good. I have always felt that the size of an official position has no absolute relationship with his ability. Some officials who have just entered the court are no worse than those with high authority and senior officials."
"Oh?" After hearing what Fan Zhongyan said, Yan Shu smiled and said, "Master Fan, there is something in his words."
Fan Zhongyan said: "I think Mr. Xianggong should also know who I am talking about. He should be on the list of people we must ask."
"That's right," Yan Shu said, "I just don't know when he will come. I think according to his personality, he should show up before the party starts."
Having said this, Fan Zhongyan glanced at Yan Shu, apparently trying to get some clues from Yan Shu's evaluation of Lu Yao, but obviously, Fan Zhongyan didn't see anything.
So, Fan Zhongyan said: "Speaking of this person, he made a big fuss in the Prime Minister's Mansion a few days ago. Didn't you take the opportunity to ask him about his thoughts on tonight's party?"
Yan Shu said with a smile: "Since there is a banquet tonight, he will tell you about it, why should I bother to ask him that day? What's more, my prime minister's office was very troubled at that time, and I was only thinking about it.
Let’s think about the aftermath.”
Through Fan Zhongyan's questions, Yan Shu felt that this guy must have thought that Lu Yao had made a big fuss in the Prime Minister's Mansion before, and he soon appeared at the opening ceremony of Lu Yao's bank earlier today. In Fan Zhongyan's opinion, said
Maybe Lu Yao revealed some ideas about tonight's banquet to him when he was in the Prime Minister's Mansion, and then got his approval, so he agreed to attend the bank's opening event today. However, Fan Zhongyan did miscalculate this time
Well, Yan Shu really wanted to know some of Lu Yao's opinions from Lu Yao's mouth before. However, Lu Yao's attitude towards tonight's banquet can be said to be tight-lipped, and Yan Shu couldn't follow up, so he really didn't know Lu Yao's attitude towards the banquet tonight.
Yao will say something when he arrives later.
But at this point, Yan Shu has also made up his mind. Lu Yao's recommendation of Wang Anshi must not be told to Fan Zhongyan now. After all, it is unclear whether he will never return to the Song-Xia border this time.
While Yan Shu was thinking, Fan Zhongyan, who had a keen mind, had already noticed something fishy in Yan Shu's every move. When Yan Shu just said that he had not learned about his attitude tonight from Lu Yao's mouth, his tone was very dull, and his face was dull.
Nothing has changed. It seems that Lu Yao did not have much communication with Yan Shu about today's events. However, Fan Zhongyan dared to say that he knew Yan Shu relatively well. Although he was indeed not a grudge-bearing person, Lu Yao was the general of the Prime Minister's Mansion that day.
There was such a big fuss. If it wasn't for a strong reason, Yan Shu would never have agreed to attend the bank's event at noon today.
And now it seems that Lu Yao must have reached some kind of agreement with Yan Shu last night, so Yan Shu agreed to attend later. However, what Fan Zhongyan didn't understand was that there was nothing better than Song Xia now.
Yan Shu was more interested in relationship matters, but Fan Zhongyan really couldn't figure it out.
"Master Fan, what are you thinking about?" Yan Shu knew that his answer would make Fan Zhongyan a little confused. He saw Fan Zhongyan thinking, so he asked.
Fan Zhongyan also recovered from his daze, and then looked through the crack in the door in the direction of the door, and said: "My lord, I was thinking, since Mr. Xiao Lu is the one we want to question, although it stands to reason that Mr. Xiao Lu
His official position is indeed not too high. When he comes to this building, he should be sitting on the first floor. However, since we both value him so much, why don't we wait until he comes and invite him?
How about coming to the second floor? This will make it easier for us to ask."
Yan Shu heard what Fan Zhongyan said. In fact, he had already had such an idea in his mind, so he said: "This is also a good idea. After all, Lu Yao's official rank is relatively low now, and he can be said to have great fame recently.
, if you sit down there, you may also suffer a lot of criticism.”
"Well, in that case, let's invite him over together when the time comes."
As soon as Fan Zhongyan finished speaking, the door was pushed open. It turned out that Han Qi had already dealt with other matters and returned to the private room. As for the conversation between Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi in front did not listen carefully, but
When the two were talking about Lu Yao, Han Qi happened to return to the door of the room. Of course, he heard Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu's idea of letting Lu Yao sit on the second floor.
Han Qi walked into the room and said, "I would also like him to come to the second floor to see what strategies he can come up with when facing your questions."
Speaking of Han Qi, in fact, his attitude towards Lu Yao has been changing. From the beginning, Han Qi did not think highly of Lu Yao. He only thought that he was a businessman who obtained Zhao Zhen through the lottery station.
However, when it comes to politics and court affairs, Han Qi feels that Lu Yao really has no ability and ability. In his opinion, Lu Yao should just go about his own business. However, at the beginning, Zhao
The job given to Lu Yao by Zhen was also a false position, and he didn't have to go to court every day, so Han Qi didn't take it seriously. At this time, Lu Yao was still a businessman in his mind.
The most direct reason for the change in impression was the new Cuju competition held by Lu Yao later. Han Qi originally thought that this was another weird idea Lu Yao came up with, but later through his own actual contact, Han Qi discovered that this Cuju competition
The competition can indeed improve the physical fitness of the whole people, including the warm-up competition that follows. Han Qi has also heard about it. If Fan Zhongyan hadn't returned to Bianliang and something unexpected happened, Han Qi would actually have wanted to participate in this new Cuju competition in person.
.
Through this competition, Han Qi's attitude towards Lu Yao also improved a lot. Later, Han Qi received news from the emperor that Lu Yao had transformed all his industries, and he himself also transformed from a boss to a boss.
It became a way to collect royalties. Han Qi could naturally see what Lu Yao was thinking. It seemed that this guy was going to concentrate on politics and no longer engage in business matters.
However, this good impression did not last long, because within a few days, Han Qi learned that Lu Yao wanted to open a food court and a hot pot restaurant. However, the news that Han Qi knew was naturally related to Zhao Zhen
There was a bias. Zhao Zhen naturally knew that Lu Yao made these things for the people in the outer city. However, in Han Qi's opinion, Lu Yao felt that he did not make enough money and wanted to return to his old business to make money in the food industry.
Lu Yao's vacillating attitude made Han Qi very angry. Therefore, when he first saw the list of officials invited to today's night banquet, Han Qi had already asked Fan Zhongyan the moment he saw Lu Yao's name.
He expressed his dissatisfaction and confusion to Yan Shu. Although Fan Zhongyan had just returned to Bianliang not long ago, he still knew a little about the conflict between Lu Yao and Han Qi, not to mention Yan Shu. In order to make Han Qi accept it, these two
People can only say that the emperor named Lu Yao to participate, because they knew that no matter what other reasons they gave, Han Qi would not be convinced and could only move out of the emperor.
Unexpectedly, the two persuaded Han Qi like this, which made Han Qi even more angry. Although it was hard to disobey the emperor's order, Han Qi accepted the result of Lu Yao's attendance at the banquet. However, the emperor's request made Han Qi even more angry.
I don’t understand. You know, what everyone is discussing tonight is about the major events between Song and Xia. Looking at what Lu Yao has done in the past few months, although it is helpful to the court, none of it is of real significance.
It was a major event in the court. In this case, Han Qi felt that Lu Yao was really not qualified to participate in this night banquet, and he would not be able to express his thoughts at that time.
Therefore, when he just heard Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu discussing whether to invite Lu Yao to the second floor, Han Qi went directly into the room to express his agreement. The reason was also very simple. If he just asked Lu Yao from a distance, he would see
Han Qi still felt a little unsatisfied with the way he spoke in five words. In Han Qi's opinion, let him come to the second floor and answer his questions face to face, so that these senior officials who also exist on the second floor can also see that this second member of the Lu family
The young master is actually a mess when it comes to handling political affairs. As a result, when Lu Yao actually arrives at the court in the future, he will only be looked down upon by others.
Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan did not think as much as Han Qi thought. They still thought highly of Lu Yao. They originally thought that Han Qi would refuse to let Lu Yao come to the second floor, but they did not expect that Han Qi directly agreed. In this way, Lu Yao was
An agreement was reached on the invitation issue.
Next, the three of them were in the private room on the second floor, watching the officials coming in one by one. Some of them Fan Zhongyan still didn't know, and Yan Shu introduced them to him one by one. Of course, most of the officials who were qualified to come to the second floor
Most of them will come to where they are and say hello to them.
Among them, naturally, Han Wenyuan had just come upstairs. Fan Zhongyan saw it. Han Wenyuan communicated with Lu Yao for a while before going upstairs. It’s just strange to say that before Han Wenyuan went upstairs, Cao
The young master of the family also took the initiative to say a few words to Lu Yao, but after Cao Yu went upstairs, he did not come to say hello to them. However, he was the young master of the uncle's family after all, so he did not seem to care about these etiquettes.
Fan Zhongyan could tell that Han Wenyuan and Cao You both wanted Lu Yao to come to the second floor, but judging from the current results, neither of them invited Lu Yao. So Han Wenyuan followed them
When the three of them were greeting each other, Fan Zhongyan asked Han Wenyuan about Lu Yao.
Han Wenyuan told the truth, saying that according to Lu Yao's intention, he probably didn't want to come to the second floor, and the location he chose now was also in a very remote corner on the first floor.
After bidding farewell to Han Wenyuan, Fan Zhongyan looked at Yan Shu and Han Qi and said, "It seems that our Lord Xiao Lu has no intention of coming to the second floor."
"Then let's invite him." Yan Shu acted very proactively. He stood up from the chair and walked downstairs.
Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan looked at each other, then stood up and followed Yan Shu's footsteps.
Then, the previous scene appeared. After Lu Yao and Cao You talked with Han Wenyuan, they sat there leisurely. Then, the three organizers of the night banquet appeared in front of Lu Yao.
Yan Shu, Fan Zhongyan, and Han Qi have announced to the outside world that they are the organizers of this banquet, and the main purpose of this gathering is to see off Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi for their trip tomorrow. Therefore, these three people do not care
Wherever he goes, it can be said that he is the center of attention.
In addition, the current time is only about five minutes before the official start of the night banquet. At this time, basically all the invited officials have arrived at the Fan Tower.
So, Fan Zhongyan and three other people came to a very remote dining table on this floor under the watchful eyes of the officials, found Lu Yao, and extended an invitation to Lu Yao.
Maybe these three organizers didn't think there was anything wrong with their move, but in the eyes of other officials, it was a very unprecedented thing. What kind of official is worthy of inviting these three people together?
As a result, when everyone saw it, it turned out to be Lu Yao, a fifth-rank official who had only served in court twice. Moreover, all officials of this fifth rank knew that it was just a false position. What kind of ability did Lu Yao have to make this person?
The three of them went downstairs to invite him in person.
However, because Lu Yao was sitting in a relatively remote location, only the officials sitting at the two tables next to him could clearly hear the conversation between Lu Yao and the three of them. Most of the officials on the first and second floors listened.
Unclear.
Lu Yao was flattered by the recognition given to him by Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu, and he immediately rejected their idea of letting Lu Yao go to the second floor.
"You really lift me up," Lu Yao said.
Yan Shu looked at Lu Yao and said: "We all think that your ability is actually worthy of going to the second floor, and we are very interested in the advice you can give to Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi. We still feel that we should have a chat in person.
Better."
Lu Yao continued to shake his head and said: "My lord, whether I am here or going up with you, what I want to say is the same, but if I really go up with you, then I will be resented even more.
It’s a lot, so I might as well not come to this banquet.”
Lu Yao pointed out the consequences that would happen to him after he went upstairs. However, Han Qi on the side did not take it seriously and said: "Master Xiao Lu is usually the most willing to be in the limelight, isn't it?
Have you ever thought that if you reject the three of us now, you won't leave a good impression on them either."
"Isn't this Mr. Han? If you hadn't spoken, I wouldn't have even seen you." Lu Yao first sarcastically mocked Han Qi, who didn't have a good tone when speaking to him. Anyway, this guy is leaving tomorrow. He is irritated today.
It didn't matter if he looked at me for a moment. Lu Yao continued, "I don't think that I will be resented by others if I don't go up with you. On the contrary, I think this is the right decision."
Lu Yao thought in his heart that if he didn't go up with them, he would be considered by others as a person who was ignorant of current affairs in a short period of time. But if he went up, these people would say that he was following the trend. Therefore, he still
It is better to choose a more courageous approach between the two. Moreover, the advice I will give you later can completely reverse the bad impression I have left on everyone.
Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan tried to persuade them a few more times, but Lu Yao was not moved at all, and said that there was not much time left before the banquet officially started, so the three adults should go back upstairs.
The three of them had no choice but to take the overall situation into consideration, so they left the first floor and returned to the center of the aisle on the second floor.
After that, two or three officials sat down at the dining table where Lu Yao was sitting. However, the reason why they sat here was not because of Lu Yao's performance just now, but because they came relatively late and the other tables were already there.
It was full and there was really no room, so I had no choice but to sit at the same table with Lu Yao in this remote corner.
However, they will soon feel how lucky they are to choose this table.
Although these people were at the same dining table as Lu Yao, no one spoke to Lu Yao. Firstly, they were not familiar with each other, and secondly, because Lu Yao's rejection of the three adults just now made these people feel that Lu Yao was indeed
He is a guy who is unkind and has no emotional intelligence. It’s okay if you don’t make friends with people like this.
Second floor.
Cao You's location was next to Han Wenyuan's, so the two of them naturally saw Lu Yao's rejection of these three people.
Cao You walked to Han Wenyuan and said, "I guess you invited him up just now and he rejected it."
Han Wenyuan nodded and said: "I am a soft-spoken person, but it seems that Lu Yao is determined not to come to the second floor. None of these three people asked him."
Cao You said: "If it were me, I wouldn't choose to come to the second floor."
Han Wenyuan glanced at Cao You and didn't answer, but he knew that Cao You must know the reason why Lu Yao couldn't come up. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, feeling that he was still not as good as Cao You in this aspect.
In a blink of an eye, the time has come. Yan Shu, Fan Zhongyan, and Han Qi also signaled, letting everyone focus on them. All the officials on the first floor also raised their heads and stared at the three people at the top of the court.
Originally, when they were chatting, Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi both wanted Yan Shu to deliver the speech at the beginning of the banquet. However, Yan Shu felt that although he was indeed the person with the highest official position among the three, this gathering was also partly for
The purpose of these two people leaving Bianliang tomorrow is to see them off. In addition, Fan Zhongyan has returned to Bianliang not long ago, so the protagonist of today's party should be Fan Zhongyan. Therefore, after Yan Shu's pushback, he finally decided to let Fan Zhongyan make this speech.
times speech.
"Well, I am also from a poor family, so I may never reach that height in my lifetime."
Lu Yao looked at Fan Zhongyan and heard the sigh of an official at the same table.
Indeed, it is very difficult for a child from a poor family to get ahead. This is why Lu Yao wants to enter the court, he wants to change everything.
Lu Yao also set his sights on Fan Zhongyan, wanting to hear what he had to say.