.This high-ranking official is tall and tall, has a dignified appearance, and has three strands of beard. He is about forty years old. He is wearing a gold robe and a Confucian scarf. His belly is slightly protruding, which makes people feel calm and intimidating at first glance.
Don't have any majesty.
Seeing him, the official Huangfu cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I have met Mr. Li, I am so polite." When the official Li caught a glimpse of Chen Jianchen behind him, he couldn't help but asked: "Executive member, who is this?"
Huangfu stepped aside and introduced: "This is a junior student from Jiangzhou Minghua College. His surname is Chen, his name is Jianchen, and his courtesy name is Liuxian. He is an old friend who has forgotten his years."
In fact, it was only the second time that he and Chen Jianchen met, but the introduction was so meticulous to avoid being underestimated by the other party, which would make him lose face.
Sure enough, Li Daguan immediately smiled and said enthusiastically: "So that's it, my friends outside the committee are my friends. Hurry up and invite me in."
Things were in a hurry just now. Chen Jianchen didn't learn the details of Li Yifeng from Xiang'er. Now when he saw him, his first impression was that he had a macho attitude, generous manners, and no leaks. He was definitely not easy to deal with. He immediately said: "No, please
I'm sorry to disturb you, but I ask for your forgiveness." Li Yifeng laughed and waved his hand boldly: "What are you saying about Liu Xian? You and I are both scholars. It is said that all students in the world are classmates, and there is no distinction between them. You are like this
If you say, you'll have to drink as a penalty!" As he said that, he laughed again.
Soon, they entered the Huafang Hall and saw that it was very spacious, with an area of more than three square meters. There were more than ten tables in it, filled with guests, and it was very lively.
Li Yifeng took Huangfu Yuanwai and Chen Jianchen to an empty table and sat down. He asked the servant girl to pour tea and wine. After a few pleasantries, he went to greet the guests elsewhere.
Taking advantage of his free time, Chen Jianchen asked, "Executive officer, are you familiar with Li Daguan?" Mr. Huangfu said with a smile, "It's just business dealings."
Chen Jianchen's heart suddenly brightened, and he understood that Yan Fu Yuan's relationship with Li Yifeng was not that good, so he asked again: "Yan Fu Yuan, this official Li must have taken up his official post?"
Huangfu took a sip of tea outside and said: "No, he was the second-level Jinshi who was elected last year. He could have taken a job in the county, but he shied away." Chen Jianchen immediately understood the meaning of the so-called "shirking".
The meaning is clear. In the Tiantong Dynasty, after passing the imperial examination, you can be appointed as an official by the Ministry of Personnel. However, due to the issue of the ranking of the imperial examination and the reason of your origin, there are many levels of officialdom.
The official positions assigned to general Jinshi are not very good. Most of them are clerks, chief clerks, etc. The better ones are county magistrates and the like, and very few can directly serve as county magistrates.
In this way, some problems of choice arise. For example, after a scholar wins the imperial examination, because he cannot be assigned a good black gauze hat for the time being, he can shirk it and keep his oak-white body to wait for the opportunity.
Of course, this opportunity cannot be waited for, it requires a lot of "activities", a huge "money offensive", etc.
However, Li Yifeng has already won the imperial examination, and he can't escape from being an official no matter what, so everyone calls him a "big official". There are different titles in this world. A scholar who is "Xiangong" and a Jinshi can become a "big official".
", "Master".
As soon as Chen Jianchen no longer struggled with the rigid form of eight-legged essays and was determined to pursue an official career, he had done enough homework on this aspect, so he had a deep understanding of it. After all, the greatest power in the world of mortals comes from power. Only by grasping it can we do better.
You must make great plans and implement your ambitions. Otherwise, if you have no status, no matter how hard you try, it will be difficult to achieve success.
There is a saying: "If you are an official and do not make decisions with the people, it is better to go home and sell sweet potatoes." But if you sell sweet potatoes at home, you are even less likely to make decisions for the people.
That's the truth.
Through Huangfu's answers, Chen Jianchen immediately roughly figured out Li Yifeng's identity and background, as well as his deeper character ambitions.
The imperial officer's eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked: "Master Chen seems to be very curious about Mr. Li!" Chen Jianchen laughed: "Of course, Mr. Li's background as a Jinshi is what our generation is flocking to." He revealed it with a single word.
past.
The imperial officer made a loud noise and said meaningfully: "Young Master, you are deceiving me with your words. I am old and incompetent. I once knew some fortune-telling skills. Although I am a rich and noble person, I will never be obsessed with nostalgia because of this. How can I do that?"
Will you bend your back for the honor of becoming a Jinshi?"
Hearing this sentence, Chen Jianchen's heart was moved: This Yuanwai with mysterious origin is indeed no ordinary person, so he responded: "Yuanwai is over-reputed. As the saying goes, "No one asked after ten years of hard work, and he became famous all over the world in one fell swoop." If you learn well, you will become an official.
This is exactly what we, the scholars, are pursuing.”
Hearing this, Huangfu smiled intriguingly and did not continue to argue.
Chen Jianchen breathed a sigh of relief, found a free moment, said he wanted to walk around and take a look, and then left the table.
Looking at his back, Huangfu looked thoughtful, and suddenly murmured to himself in a low and inaudible voice: "This man has an open-minded character and is free and uninhibited. He is not rigid. He is the best choice."
Na'er, no matter what, dad will invite him back to be your teacher."
When he got outside, Chen Jianchen immediately called Xiang'er over and explained the situation face to face.
Xiang'er is young, but very smart. She also serves people in the walking bird building. She has seen and heard a lot. She has developed a smart and clever character early on. After receiving Chen Jianchen's instructions, she nodded repeatedly.
The two of them pretended to be wandering around, looking for traces of Mr. Lu everywhere. Unexpectedly, they searched for a stick of incense but couldn't find it. They couldn't help but feel a little impatient, especially Xiang'er, who was so anxious that she was about to cry again.
Being out for too long would inevitably lead to suspicion, so Chen Jianchen had no choice but to go back with Xiang'er.
At this time, most of the tables in the atrium of the boat were almost full, and the banquet had been opened early. There were many people, and it was very lively.
Chen Jianchen sat down again and chatted with Huangfu. Suddenly, Xiang'er, who was standing behind him, stretched out her little hand and squeezed his back.
This girl's hands don't know how serious they are, they hurt a lot.
Chen Jianchen turned around slightly and saw Xiang'er quietly making gestures to him. Looking along the gestures, he saw two women coming in at the entrance of the atrium. The first one was full of makeup, wearing gold and silver, and her steps were twisted.
Twisted, she looks like a little girl, but in terms of age, she is the mother of a little girl!
The woman behind her is the real young beauty. She has a voluptuous figure and is dressed very simply. But judging from her figure alone, she is already a rare beauty. It is a pity that her face is covered with a thin veil.
All you can see is a pair of beautiful crescent eyebrows and big eyes as bright as stars under the eyebrows.
From Xiang'er's behavior, Chen Jianchen immediately knew that this girl was his daughter Lu Gongnu!
Chen Jianchen's eyes were burning, and he paid close attention to Lu Gongnu's every move. He saw that after she entered the atrium, her head naturally lowered slightly, and she was holding a guqin in her jade hands.
Sharp weapons should be hidden in this piano!
Chen Jianchen quickly came to a conclusion. It was all because Lu Gongnu had no way to hide the blade anywhere else. The best place to hide the blade was obviously inside the guqin.
It seemed that she had been preparing painstakingly for a long time and came well prepared.
As they walked in, everyone's eyes immediately turned to look at them, and most of them fell on Miss Lu. There were many thoughtful people.
Li Yifeng was the first to stand up, walked forward and said to the leading woman: "Mother Zhang, is this the Miss Lu who came to perform the piano music you mentioned?" The mother Zhang said with a smile: "
Exactly, Miss Lu's piano skills are really unparalleled in the world, and are rare to be heard of in this world!"
Li Yifeng laughed: "Mother Zhang is not exaggerating. If this girl's piano skills are so good, why haven't I heard of her before?" Mother Zhang replied: "Miss Lu is not a local, but passing through Suzhou. She just happened to have no money.
Only then did I condescend to agree to perform a song to earn some money."
Li Yifeng snorted, looked at Mr. Lu and said, "That's true."
Zhang's mother replied: "How can there be any falsehood here..." but was suddenly interrupted by Li Yifeng: "Miss Lu, you answer."
Miss Lu bent over slightly and said, "I don't dare to lie." Her voice was like the first cry of an oriole, which made people's ears soften immediately.
Li Yifeng laughed and said: "Okay, but since you are going to perform, why not lift the veil and let me feast your eyes on it."
There was an immediate response from behind.
Zhang's mother whispered: "Sir, Miss Lu is not on the painted boat, so" "Shut up!" Li Yifeng shouted and said: "Since this little lady can go on the painted boat to perform piano music, she must follow the rules of the painted boat.
If you do things according to the rules above, quickly take off your veil and let me and all the distinguished guests take a look. Hey, little lady, you don’t have to be afraid. I have always been reasonable. If you really look good to me, you are important.
reward."
Lu Gong's daughter lowered her head, black as a cloud, and said: "I have a vulgar appearance, so I don't dare to scare the high officials and all the distinguished guests." Li Yifeng couldn't hear her pushback, and snorted coldly,
She said, "There's so much nonsense. Do you have to wait for me to take action?" He took a step forward, pretending to reach out and pull off the veil on her face.
At the same time, Chen Jianchen clearly saw Lu Gongnu's right hand secretly hiding under the bottom of the guqin, as if she had grasped some sharp weapon, and even her arm was trembling slightly.
She had to wait for Li Yifeng to get close, and then draw out a sharp blade to catch him off guard. At that time, the Dingjiao sword appeared and blood was visible.
"Miss, I finally found you!"
At this critical moment, Xiang'er, who was behind Chen Jianchen, could no longer hold back. She threw Chen Jianchen's instructions out of her mind and rushed up without permission, rushing in front of Mr. Lu.