The paths are sparsely red, and the suburbs are full of green. The trees on the high platform are dark and gloomy. The spring breeze cannot stop the poplar flowers, blowing in the faces of passers-by...
In Lane 23, Linhu, Ande Square, Li Kuo was half-leaning on a wooden bed, staring into the distance in trance. The colorful fallen flowers and catkins flying all over the street seemed to have nothing to do with him.
Even though it had been three days since the battle at the drug store on the outskirts of the city, as long as he closed his eyes for a moment, the young man could see the blood-stained swordsmen in black walking towards him with angry smiles... a slight grin on their lips.
, Li Kuo smiled bitterly in his heart and said, if Uncle Yuan, the steward of the Zhang Mansion, had not sent someone to inform the Jingzhao Mansion, he might have turned into a withered skeleton by now. Li Kuo has been keeping a low profile since he became sensible, and he has always kept a low profile with his mother.
Depend on each other and never get involved in disputes. But sometimes, the more you avoid these annoying worldly things, the more they seem to be possessed, chasing you, chasing you, until your heart is exhausted.
Although Pei Renhua, the prison general of Zuo Jinwu Guard, patted himself on the shoulder with a cheerful face and repeatedly promised that the matter would not be handed over to Jingzhao Mansion, but would be reported directly to Dali Temple. But Li Kuo knew clearly that he had already contacted Chang'an
A big shot in the city made a quarrel, and neither the right minister nor the prince could afford to be offended by a poor scholar like him. Afterwards, the wise and mighty emperor personally bestowed upon himself the eighth-rank official, the minister, to encourage young talents.
Jun "removes harm for the country". But this eighth-grade civil servant is probably as lowly as a worm in Chang'an City, where there are so many powerful people.
While I was thinking about it, I heard the wooden door of the outhouse being pushed open with a "squeak" sound.
"Brother Xiao Qi, I'm here to see you!" Du Jingtian opened the door and walked in carelessly, sitting on the couch and throwing aside the food box he brought.
"Damn it, Xiao Qi, why are you so careless? If you get hurt, who will play with me?" Du Jingtian punched the young man on the chest and complained.
"Hiss!" Li Kuo gasped and subconsciously shrank toward the back wall.
"What's wrong with you? I...I didn't know you were injured here. Did it hurt you?" Du Jingtian was startled and hurriedly leaned forward to check the boy's injuries.
"No, it's nothing." Li Kuo waved his hand magnanimously and said with a smile: "Your brother Xiaoqi won't die so easily, so don't worry about it."
"Still trying to be brave! It's all my fault, Grandpa. I wanted to visit you as soon as you came back, but he said that all the people who came in and out of your house in those days were government officials. We, the common people, came here, but you lost face. You want me
"Brother Xiao Qi won't dislike me. How can those common people's eyes glow green when they see meat and their ancestors!"
Li Kuo laughed out loud, shook his head and said: "Aren't you my little ancestor? Tell me, what good things have you brought to Brother Xiao Qi this time?"
Du Jingtian was overjoyed when he heard this. He moved slightly towards the bed and said with a smile: "I personally cooked black chicken soup for you. It is the most tonic. You were injured just now, so drinking this will just replenish your blood!"
Gently opening the lid of the box, the lady poured the soup into a porcelain bowl and happily served it to Li Kuo.
Li Kuo took a sip, frowned at first, and then said with a smile: "Your black-bone chicken soup really has a unique flavor. Even the imperial chef in the palace can't make it with your special taste!"
The young lady raised her eyebrows and said proudly: "That's natural. Anyone can drink the soup I made. Even that brat Zhang Yanji wanted to drink the soup, but he was punched back by me.
"
Shrugging his shoulders, Du Jingtian sighed: "But what I said is true. Officials are really good. I usually don't believe it. I didn't know the official title until you were given a full eighth-grade official position."
There are so many benefits!”
"Oh? Then I have to listen carefully to the benefits of this official title." Li Kuo chuckled.
The young lady poked her face with her finger and said harmoniously: "You don't know, ever since the news that you were given an official position came back to the teahouse, the whole Tongji Square has been quite lively. Cheng Xiaojiu from the Chengjia Rouge Shop diagonally across from the teahouse.
Do you remember, usually his eyes want to grow to the top of his head? Our "Ah Huang" is always bullied by his "Little Hei". Every time I want to go to him to argue, Grandpa always stops me and says that he has a
We can’t afford to offend our daughter as a concubine after marrying the chief registrar of Wannian County. This time it’s great. He personally bought the best rouge and came to the teahouse to apologize to me. It’s funny to think about his embarrassment!”
"so..."
"This is nothing. Qin San'er, who is dressed in silk clothes next door, eats and drinks a lot on weekdays. Grandpa gritted his teeth and endured it when he saw that his uncle, who was a county captain, was embarrassed. Now you have been given a real eighth-grade gift.
The servant is as tall as his uncle. No, he immediately recognized me and gave me three pieces of fine silk to repair the relationship with me. According to seniority, he still has to call me aunt. Haha, laugh to death
Yes, hahaha."
"Oh him..."
"When it comes to Mr. Wang, I just feel relieved. His precious daughter, Wang Ajiao, usually wears colorful clothes, for fear that others will not know that his family is rich. How can a daughter of a great gentleman come to a poor family like us?
Woman, you have become rich this time, and her attitude towards me has become modest and sincere. Didn’t you come to the teahouse yesterday and invite me to go for an outing in Qujiang another day? Let me dry her first, you didn’t see her
I’m so anxious that I’m sweating!”
"..."
"Brother Xiao Qi, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong?" Du Jingtian looked at Li Kuo doubtfully and said in a deep voice.
"No, it's nothing." The young man waved his hand and said with a smile: "It seems that being an official is really good. I will have to keep up my efforts in the future."
"That's pretty much it!" Du Jing sweetly patted Li Kuo, with a look of pride on his face. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. That guy Zhang Yanji asked me to tell you that he will return to the Imperial College when he is almost healed. Although
His grandpa has already said hello to Master Jijiu, but there is no guarantee that those old antiques below will act according to the rules and not be smart!"
"You." The young man grinned slightly and said with a wry smile. "My injury will be fine as long as I don't ride and shoot. Anyway, I am idle. I will move back tomorrow, so I don't need to be criticized."
"Auntie, do you know? I haven't seen her in the past few days."
"My mother went to Zhouzhi to visit my aunt, and she will probably stay for half a month. That's fine. If she is at home and sees me like this, she will miss me."
The two were chatting among themselves when they heard a sound outside the house.
"Brother Kuo'er, I'm here." Before the voice dissipated, Zhang Yanji stumbled into the room, picked up a cup of tea and drank it.
"Drink slowly, be careful not to choke!" Li Kuo shook his head helplessly, and reminded him harmoniously.
Wiping away the water stains on the side of his mouth, Zhang Yanji waved his hand and said: "Brother Kuo'er, I didn't plan to come out originally. Anyway, I told sister Jing Tian what I wanted to say. But this time, this time I am very happy about it.
!”
"I would like to hear what could make our Mr. Zhang so happy." Li Kuo gently held his chin and joked.
Zhang Yanji, however, didn't care at all and continued: "You won the first place in the regular examination. Isn't it a great joy?"
Li Kuo was shocked and said hurriedly: "Don't be joking. Those who took the exam are all top students from various states and counties in the Tang Dynasty. How could I get the first place?"
Zhang Yanji curled his lips and said: "How is it possible? Your talents and learning are so good, you are not inferior to those young masters from aristocratic families. What's more, if you really want to talk about family background, they..."
"Yanji!" The young man interrupted his friend's confession sharply and frowned.
"Okay, okay, if you don't say it, don't say it. But how can the announcement posted in black and white be false? Mr. Chen San, who is known as "a genius from nowhere", ranked second. The eldest grandson of the Pei family in Hedong won the third place. Before and after
Liang Zike went in and out together, and Xiao Ziqiao, who was wearing a pair of trousers, actually didn't get into the top ten!" Zhang Yanji drank another cup of tea and continued: "Now all those first-class nobles have become mute and will no longer make noises.
What nonsense is there about guaranteeing the Jinshi next year? There are three B-levels and one C-level among the first ten, and their people are in trouble."
Li Kuo was a little indifferent and sighed: "I'm afraid things are not as good as you think. The wind will destroy everything. It is not necessarily a good thing to show off one's talents before the scientific examination. Moreover, the scientific examination does not value all talents.
Family background and appearance must be taken into consideration..."
"Why do you care so much! In terms of family status, who can compare with the current Crown Prince? I don't believe that with His Highness's recommendation, you can't compare with the queens of those so-called 'famous families'!"
"What did you say?" The young man looked at his friend in surprise, his eyes full of surprise.
"It's no wonder, you probably don't know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was impressed by your uprightness and courage, and asked His Majesty to report to you as an official of the East Palace. Now, your full official title should be Prince's guest, minister of affairs." Zhang Yanji
He said proudly, as if this honor was bestowed upon him.
"His Royal Highness, what do you mean by this? What do you mean by this!" Li Kuo shook his head and said bitterly. Nowadays in Chang'an, almost no one knows that the East Palace is weak and cannot protect itself. Now that he has the casual position of guest of the prince, although he has no real power
But it has been tied to the East Palace as one body, and both are prosperous and devastated.
As if he could see what his friend was thinking, Zhang Yanji clenched his fists and said in a deep voice: "What are you afraid of? The road has not been broken yet. Since His Highness the Crown Prince values you, you should work hard. In the future, His Highness will achieve great things, and you are the best."