Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 714 New Year's Banquet
Drums and music rang together, and a group of guards came over, lined up on both sides, and then, nearly a hundred eunuchs and maids came slowly, wearing yellow Luogai and feather fans, surrounded by the queen mother and the prince.

Everyone bowed and saluted together, "I wish the Empress Dowager the prosperity and well-being, and long live long live Your Majesty!"

Empress Dowager Cao sat down at the side, and Emperor Zhao Xu stepped forward and said, "Ministers, you are welcome!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Xu picked up a glass of wine and said: "Last year's New Year's meeting, we celebrated the destruction of the old enemy of Xixia, and this year's meeting, we once again celebrated the recovery of Youyan, and the return of Yanshan Mansion to the Central Plains Dynasty. Last year's feats, and looking forward to the new year, the Song army will make new achievements, this first glass of wine, we dedicate to the soldiers who died for the country last year."

Zhao Xu slowly sprinkled the wine in front of the steps, and everyone also sprinkled the wine on the ground.

Then poured a second glass of wine, Zhao Xu raised his glass and said loudly: "For these two glasses of wine, we will respect the Empress Dowager, she is the cornerstone of our Song Dynasty, I wish her good health and longevity, good fortune and Yongze!"

Everyone toasted to Empress Dowager Cao, and Empress Dowager Cao held up the glass and smiled softly: "Thank you officials, thank you ministers, we drank this cup together."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank it all. Zhao Xu filled the third cup and said loudly, "Come on! Let's toast to a new year and a new beginning!"

"cheers!"

Thousands of officials raised their wine glasses and shouted, and they drank all the wine in one gulp. Zhao Xu held up the empty glass and said with a smile: "My dear friends, please enjoy the delicacy and jade liquid to your heart's content, and you will not rest until you are drunk!"

The New Year's banquet started. The Emperor Zhao Xu and the Empress Dowager Cao only had a few drinks before leaving in a hurry. Without the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the ministers chatted and laughed and drank to their heart's content. During the New Year's banquet every year, many ministers drank too much. They were all drunk and sent back by the eunuchs.

Zhu Pei and his family also had lunch and were chatting in the warm pavilion. At this moment, a servant girl ran over in a panic, "Ma'am, the master has been sent back. He seems to have had too many drinks."

Zhu Pei sighed, and came back drunk like last year, she hurried out of the mansion with her family, only to see two eunuchs coming in with her drunken husband, Zhu Pei stepped forward and complained: "How did you drink like this? "

The eunuch smiled wryly and said: "Princess Qi, there are too many ministers who have served Mr. Fan's wine, he really can't stand it!"

"Thank you two father-in-laws, give it to me!"

Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian took over her husband, one left and one right, and Zhu Pei ordered the housekeeper to give the eunuch and the coachman ten taels of silver each, and the eunuch thanked him and left.

"Where shall we help him go?" Ouyang Qian asked.

"Let's go to the study! The smell of Nuan Pavilion is too strong, I guess he will vomit."

Zhu Pei asked Aya to prepare hangover soup again, and the two helped her husband to the study.

"There's no need to be so exaggerated. I just drank a few more glasses and I can walk by myself."

"You're not drunk yet, you can't even speak clearly." Zhu Pei said bitterly.

"My mind is very clear, it's just that my legs don't work."

Fan Ning talked a little too much, so he put his arms around Ouyang Qian again and said, "Sister Qian, I have agreed with my father-in-law that I will go to his house for dinner tomorrow, and you prepare some gifts, so I don't want to worry about it."

"I didn't let you worry about these leisurely thoughts. It's serious for you to drink less."

"I'm happy to know? I feel like I'm back in the old days."

"You drank too much last year and said that you came from 1000 years later. I guess you will say that you came from the Han Dynasty again this year. We have already thought about it for you."

Fan Ning was helped into the study and sat directly on the chair. The charcoal basin was already lit in the study, which was extraordinarily warm.

Fan Ning stood up suddenly, covered his mouth and rushed out the door, rushed to the yard, squatted in the corner and vomited, Zhu Pei and Ouyang Qian supported him and beat his back lightly, Aya came over with hangover soup, Zhu Pei poured the hangover soup Divided into two, one cup was given to Fan Ning to rinse his mouth. After Fan Ning rinsed his mouth, he drank the other cup of hangover sour soup in one gulp. This made him feel much more comfortable. He helped the two wives into the room, and several maidservants came to clean the yard. clean up.

Fan Ning drank another cup of hot tea, shook his head and said, "Cao Shi's son of a bitch brought dozens of generals to pour me wine. This year's war will start, and I will let this bastard be the first to attack the city."

"Husband didn't sleep most of the night last night, why don't you sleep for a while first!"

Fanning nodded, he was indeed a little sleepy.

There was a bed in the study, and the two quickly made the bed for him, helped him lie down, covered the quilt, and then closed the door and left. Before leaving, Zhu Pei opened the window half way carefully. Let the air circulate, otherwise there will be a charcoal fire in the room, which is very dangerous.

The next afternoon, Fan Ning brought Ouyang Qian and Ouyang Qian's two children, Fan Zhen'er and Fan Chu, to Ouyang Mansion.

He still has to go to Cao's house tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow to sit in several Xiangguo residences. This new year, he is doomed to not have much rest time.

The carriage stopped slowly in front of Ouyang Mansion. Ouyang Xiu's eldest son Ouyang Hua and his wife Wu Shi were waiting for Fan Ning and his sister at the door.

Ouyang Hua didn't come from a major, but he got an official position under the influence of his father, so his promotion was relatively slow. He was promoted from the eighth rank to the sixth rank in more than ten years. Now he is a member of the Ministry of Rites, Wailang, in charge of various local examinations, and has quite a lot of power in his hands.

For example, he is responsible for approving the test quotas for each state every year. In terms of controlling the scale, as long as he is a little looser, a certain state will have a few more quotas for the test.

Fan Ning got off the carriage, saw Ouyang Hua and his wife, and said with a smile, "Ah Qian, the elder brother is here!"

Ouyang Qian hurriedly came out with a smile and said, "Brother, sister-in-law, long time no see!"

Wu stepped forward and took Ouyang Qian's arm and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for almost half a year. Last time I invited you here, you said something was wrong and you sealed Princess Pian. I can't invite you anymore?"

"What did sister-in-law say? Last time something really happened."

Ouyang Qian said a few words in the sister-in-law's ear, and Wu said with a smile: "It seems that I misunderstood you, really?"

Fan Zhen'er stepped forward to salute, "Aunt!"

"Hey! I've grown taller again, and I'm going to be as tall as my aunt. I'm going to find my husband's house next year! Is there anyone you like? Tell my aunt, and my aunt will make the decision for you!"

"Auntie, what nonsense are you talking about?" Fan Zhen'er blushed with shame, and held her mother's hand unwillingly.

Ouyang Qian sighed, "My daughter is a hollow radish. Bai Chang is so tall, but she is actually a child. At this age, she still deals with squirrels and hedgehogs all day long."

"Mom, Dad both agree."

Ouyang Qian glared at her and said, "What did your father disagree with? When you are 50 years old, your father will still agree."

"Who is 50 years old?" Fanning asked with a smile beside him.

Ouyang Qian coquettishly said: "Hurry up and go in, women talk, what do you care about so much?"

Ouyang Hua took his nephew Fan Chu's hand to ask questions. Fan Chu was eight years old this year, and he was also a quiet and courteous child.

At this time, Fan Ning found more than a dozen horses tied to the horse post outside the gate of the mansion, and asked, "Are there any guests today?"

Ouyang Hua said apologetically: "There wasn't originally, but a group of my father's students suddenly came to visit us to pay New Year's greetings, so it's not good to postpone it. Sister-in-law, I'm sorry today."

"It doesn't matter, it's a good thing to have a lively New Year's Eve. Everyone remembers their teacher, it's their wish!"

Fan Ning smiled, and asked again: "Has the increase in the Fajie test quota in Yangzhou been approved?"

Ouyang Hua nodded, "It has been approved, and it was sent to Yangzhou years ago. They originally had 35 quotas, but now they have increased to [-] quotas for the test, which is the same as Pingjiang Mansion. Many places are not convinced, saying that the court is biased. .”

"This is the reward that Yangzhou Prefecture School and County School have given to help the imperial court resettle immigrants for a long time. Why are you unconvinced?"

"I've explained it that way too, but I'm just not convinced."

Ouyang Hua shook his head and smiled wryly: "There's no way, even if you tell them 1 reasons, it's useless!"

Everyone walked into the mansion, Wu took Ouyang Qian and the child to the inner house,

Ouyang Hua brought Fan Ning to the lobby. There were more than [-] young people sitting in the lobby, all of whom were students of Ouyang Xiu. Students who are preparing to take the imperial examination the next year, the crowd filled the lobby, talking about it in full swing.

Ouyang Hua walked into the lobby quickly, and whispered something to his father. Ouyang Xiu laughed and said, "It's useless to discuss your views with me. Mr. Fan is here. You can ask Mr. Fan for advice!"

When everyone heard that Fan Ning was coming, they quickly got up and came out to salute, "See Mr. Fan!"

Fan Ning smiled slightly and said, "All the talented people are the disciples of my mentor and the pillars of the Great Song Dynasty. You are welcome, please sit down!"

Everyone sat down one after another, Ouyang Xiu said to Fan Ning with great interest: "We were talking about political reform just now, and you came just in time to pass on some experience to everyone. My mind is a bit dull and I can't keep up with young people."

Fan Ning was also polite, and sat down next to Ouyang Xiu. This seat was always vacant, and it was obviously reserved for him.

Fan Ning smiled slightly: "The scope of the reform is very wide. Which aspect do you focus on?"

At this time, a person said loudly: "Mr. Fan, will the Young Crop Law be implemented again?"

Fan Ning looked at the questioner, saw that he was about 23 or [-] years old, and had a long face, so he asked with a smile, "What's your name, what is your official position?"

The young man bowed and said: "Student Cai Jing, the official is Qiantang County Captain!"

(End of this chapter)