Empress Mi Benji

Chapter 41 Longevity Banquet (Xing)
Compared with the moment of rehearsal, the palace is full of flowers at this moment, and the autumn chrysanthemums, white and yellow, are in full bloom throughout Chunhua Palace, like being in a sea of ​​chrysanthemums, with the fragrance of golden osmanthus, and the fragrance of flowers is pleasant.

Officials of all ranks stood row upon row, Zhuang Xun's uniform was very conspicuous in the red official robes, because all those who were not imperial officials sat on the right, imperial officials sat on the left, and Zhuang Xun's seat was on the left.

Zhuang Xun sat down honestly, according to Professor Si Qinmi's way, sitting upright with a natural expression.

At a glance, I couldn't see a single acquaintance until Jiang Xianlai appeared on the stage. The mature and graceful style made everyone's hearts sway. Naturally, this kind of banquet can no longer wear a veil. Showing her true face attracts people's attention, but Zhuang Xun didn't expect her to come Participate in the longevity banquet, because she usually wears a veil because she should be afraid of trouble. .

But Zhuang Xun didn't pay much attention to the beauties. He was a person waiting for the exam, and he was not in the mood to look at beautiful pictures, and he hadn't recovered from the attack just now.

Probably due to the well-trained temperament and the gorgeous clothes on his body, Zhuang Xun also attracted a lot of attention. He looked calm and completely ignored it, which attracted some officials' comments.

All the officials were present, but about one-third of the scholars and Xiaolians were missing due to the attack.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites anxiously ordered all the subordinates to inform the escaped scholars to come back, and then some more came, at least a quarter of which was missing before the Longevity Banquet began.

The candlelight is not as bright as the moon, and the big disk in the sky is so bright that it is especially bright tonight.

Supported by guards of honor, the emperor walked out of Chunhua Palace in a crown suit and supported by people from the left and right palaces.

The man looks haggard, but the prestige on his body made all the officials bow their heads and submit to the kingship.

"Congratulations." As the emperor took his seat, the master of ceremonies began to preside over the banquet.

Zhuang Xun imitated a group of officials and bowed their hands to the emperor: "Long live my emperor."

"Congratulations."

Xia Huan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, left and stood on the high platform, and began to chant the written congratulatory speech, quite a style of holding a meeting and giving speeches by leaders.

Anyway, it is classical Chinese, no matter how long it is, it was finished in more than ten minutes, although Zhuang Xun couldn't understand a long section.

"Just a banquet."

It was time to start eating, and the attendants also brought some stewed meat and fruits. Zhuang Xun prefers cut pears. The stewed beef can only be watched, but not eaten. The emperor will probably ask about it later, because the dipping sauce is not good.

"How can your highness be so poor?" Wearing a twelve-pronged crown, the emperor's eyes saw the vacant space in the square through the pearls and jade, the emperor didn't like to say.

"The carriage was suddenly attacked by thieves on Zhuque Avenue. Now the scholars have escaped. The Ministry of Rites has tried its best to find someone." Xia Huan's tone was calm and he was flustered. He knew the emperor attached great importance to the Longevity Banquet.

"Can't come? Then I won't come here anymore. What kind of people are they? Their filial piety and scholar status have been revoked. Also, there are thieves attacking Suzaku Avenue. Yin Du guards what to eat and is dismissed." The emperor said. In a word, decide how many family's sorrows and joys.

The banquet that had just been lively suddenly became silent.

"Your Majesty, I think it's inappropriate. How can the sick body of an injured person disturb His Majesty? It's for His Majesty's consideration. Besides, the thief's attack is not intentional. I hope His Majesty will forgive you." Yang Zuoxiang stood up and spoke for the scholars. , he is the leader of Qingliu after all.

As for Yin Du's defense, everyone doesn't care about him anymore. For such a big event, dismissal is already the greatest gift.

"Give another stick of incense time, and all those who don't show up will be dismissed from office unless they can't walk." The emperor still listened to the persuasion, or it was not what he wanted to be punished in the first place.

The ministers did not panic, their heirs all came with them.

But the scholars below panicked. They checked to see if their relatives and friends were there, and those who were not showed worried expressions.

There are also some happy faces, probably thinking that the competition is finished, and the probability of success in the selection of officials will increase.

"I'm too lazy to wait for them, let's start." The emperor made a decision and said to the Ministry of Rites.

He looked up at the moon, the bright moon was shining brightly, but the cold light made him feel very comfortable, and his spirit improved a lot.

"Your Majesty, please come up with a question." Xia Huan respectfully handed over the silk.

The emperor looked at all the officials in red clothes, and the scholars sitting in the square, and slowly wrote two words with a pen: "Be a man"

After passing the excerpt, it came to the hands of scholars in the square.

Then the scholars were collectively confused, and everyone was preparing policy discussions, strategies for governing the country, and if Xihe didn't ask such a hot issue, who would understand that suddenly came a "personality"?
However, the literary talent is brilliant, and the talented scholar who has a solid stomach has already begun to write.

To be human, how to be human, what to do, and what to understand.

Zhuang Xun watched them eagerly writing, because he didn't have pen, ink, paper and inkstone on his desk, and he made it according to the standards of officials.

I can only eat sliced ​​pears in small bites and watch them write articles.

The writing gathers literary energy, forming an inconspicuous dragon in the air.

In the past of the Yu Dynasty, an official who retired from his old age and returned to his hometown.

Now, the ministers in the court.

In the future, the filial and honest scholars who write quickly in the square will all be at the Wanshou Banquet.

Long Shengteng's shadow appeared, and he looked old, but upon closer inspection, he looked somewhat similar to the emperor.

The person who is the fate of a country is also the king.

On the sea of ​​chrysanthemums, the dragon has four claws. It is really a dragon, condensed in shape, and somewhat majestic.

It's a pity that only a few practitioners can see this, and everyone just feels that the atmosphere is depressing.

Zhuang Xun doesn't have any special feelings, but he knows how to read words and deeds. When everyone stops, he stops, and when everyone moves, he moves.

The emperor also seemed to be able to see the soaring dragon, just like him, passing by his favored courtiers from time to time.

And Zhuang Xun felt something flying over his head, and at this moment, he happened to meet the emperor's gaze, and he could see it even though he was twelve miles away.

Majestic but lifeless, I didn't know that I thought it was a corpse, with a sinister feeling, not very human.

Noticing the offense in his eyes, Zhuang Xun lowered his head and took a bite of pear to hide his embarrassment.

"Who is the chief at the end of the left?" In the eyes of the emperor, Zhuang Xun was extraordinary, energetic, dressed in brocade clothes, and his immature face was incompatible with the people around him, making him stand out from the crowd.

"It's Xiaolian, Zhuang Xun, the newcomer to the Yindu Mansion. Your Majesty once asked about his good deeds." Shen Lianzhen guarded the emperor and reminded Zhuang Xun's identity.

The emperor's words caught the attention of all the officials. Except for the scholars who were answering the questions, everyone's eyes were on Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun was a little nervous and clicked on him without thinking, but the more than ten days of training has become muscle memory.

Unhurriedly, he walked out of his seat and saluted the emperor.

"In Xiazhuang inquire, and kowtow to see the Holy One."

"Get up, I've heard that Sanfang's mother and daughter returned, and righteousness saved He Erlang. It's true that there is love and righteousness. Fengzheng has subdued the law and confessed to beating disobedient subordinates, and even sent people to rob and kill evil things. He Erlang can't do it." Return to the original position of Donghua Taoist leader." The emperor looked carefully at Zhuang Xun, he was average in height and appearance, but respectful and polite, elegant in appearance, with a kind of leisure and generosity, in line with his imagination of a sage and gentleman.

"It was just done on the spur of the moment, without much thought." Zhuang Xun said modestly, although it was also true.

At that time, he was first attracted by He Heng's wife, Dong Shi, and then found that He Tan, who actually gave away the appearance of a primary school student, was asking a bit high price, which did not meet the local consumption.

Thanks to Zhuang Xun who just learned to do private work, and there was enough money in the bag, seeing such fair and clean girls in such a place, he couldn't bear it, so he paid some money to send them back.

The next day too.

When I met him on the third day, I said that it was only three things, this was the last time, and I would never give alms if I met him again.

Mrs. Dong knelt down and begged to save He Heng. As long as Zhuang Xun rescued He Heng, he would sell He Tan to him as a maid. Of course he refused. He knew that He Heng was like this because he didn't want to be a blackmailer. Zhuang Xun After listening to the inquiry, he was also very moved, so he spent all his family wealth to treat He Heng for the first time.

"The same goes for burying the daughter of the Qin family? You don't know that she is a traitor? Aren't you afraid of being implicated?" The emperor became interested, and he put himself in Zhuang Xun's situation. He couldn't do it, he couldn't do it at all.

In other words, that is to say, Zhuang Xun ate crabs. After all, who knows what the emperor thinks, if he thinks you sympathize with the pianist, he will kill you together.

"I know, but Xun was white at the time. I didn't feel that I could be paid attention to by the adults. I received the favor of the daughter of the pianist and lived on it. How could I not repay it? Xun also knew that his crime was serious and he should be punished, so I just sent him off. Collecting and repaying the kindness, since it is not against the laws of the country, why not?" Zhuang Xun has already prepared this question.

You ask me if I sympathize with the pianist, I don’t sympathize, their family is not guilty of death, and I only sent wine to collect the body because I wanted to repay the kindness. I did not violate the laws of the state.

"Okay, okay, how can I not repay the favor I received." The emperor laughed heartily, who doesn't like people who know kindness, and he thinks that the officials in the hall are just a bunch of beasts.

It's just that some are good dogs, who can make me happy on weekdays, but they are not human in nature, and it is not easy to see a decent person, so I am very happy.

"I heard that you rejected the ten thousand taels of silver and the beauty from others. Is this true?" The emperor touched the dragon chair and looked at Zhuang Xun with more appreciation.

The soaring air dragon seemed to have a lot of vitality, corresponding to the emperor's mood.

"Yes, I don't want to be controlled by others to cut and harm the people. If someone else gives Xun 1 taels, that is to earn 10 taels from Xun. How can Xun have the heart to exploit the people's 10 taels?" Zhuang Xun replied. In terms of words, since we want to establish a clean image, we must be firm.

I only earn money from corrupt officials!
Many people in the court showed shame, many people especially Qingliu, concentrated in the fourth and fifth ranks, some of them really wanted to be clean and honest officials at the beginning, but in this environment that was either left or right, they couldn't be alone , Those who can do it alone have been relegated to Dao County.

Some people look at Zhuang Xun with the eyes of people who have been there. After all, if you are not in that position, it is so good to say something. Only when you are in that position, the boss asks for it, and the subordinates give it to you. I will send you down if you handle it, and then you will never be able to stand up again.

But would the emperor listen to this? No, because he created this environment, and he was powerless to change it. Zhuang Xun might also degenerate into insects, but at this moment the emperor was willing to believe him.

The emperor nodded, and the beads collided. He was very satisfied with Zhuang Xun's answer, and pondered for a moment.

"The way to be a man, you take the first name." The emperor directly ordered, and the scholars in the square gritted their teeth and wrote articles hard here, but the higher-ups snatched away the first place with their mouths.

A few talents who were quite talented and ready to show their talents were even more dizzy. What does it mean to have a holy family? This is what a holy family is.

But the emperor is the emperor, you still want to interfere with his decision?
Dayu's officialdom understands everything, and if you dare to persuade, the emperor will check if you are not clean if you are not happy.

"I heard that you are proficient in mathematics. I just killed the left servant of the household department a few days ago. You can take over." He said the decision he had already made.

"I have objections. Zhuang Xiaolian is still too young. This position of important minister still needs to be polished. The work of the household department is complicated, and inexperienced people can't understand the key points. Now is a critical time and needs skilled and experienced people. Take over." The first person to stand up against was Guo Xing'an, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, who would like to arrange a nail in his department, or a nail trusted by the emperor.

"I think Han Yang is very experienced, and he is also very experienced in eating money. I remember that Han Yang was recommended by Guo Qing, who are you going to recommend this time?" the emperor said in a strange way.

No matter how thick Guo Xing'an's old face was, he could only quibble when he said this kind of shameless words: "It was recommended by the entire household department. How dare a humble official recommend such a high position as a servant without authorization."

"Are you talking about those people, did they take advantage of Han Yang! Didn't they all say that they were not familiar with Han Yang during the investigation?" The emperor asked back, Guo Xing'an's scalp was numb with his sinister eyes.

"That's because he pretended well, and the humble minister was unfortunately deceived." Guo Xing'an, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, couldn't answer, so he could only shirk responsibility.

Since the rebel army ransacked 20 years ago, the emperor has not been so merciless for a long time. He usually does not offend the river. Why did he suddenly become so aggressive today.

"The next Han Yang also lied to you, how can you explain to me, this time about Han Yang, I also want to give you a chance to take the blame and meritorious deeds, Guo Qing, don't let me down." The emperor said in front of everyone. To put it bluntly, Guo Xing'an can't get rid of the pot of unknown people.

Guo Xing'an was speechless.

"Idiot." Yang Zuoxiang cursed in a low voice, and looked at Lu Buming, Duke Zhen who was still hesitating on the other side.

Seen by Yang Zuoxiang's gaze, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he felt creepy even though it was night.

"I have objections. I don't approve of Zhuang Xun's righteous deed of filial piety. He buried Si Qin Mi not out of favor, but for selfishness." Walking out of the banquet queue, Lu Buying knelt on the corridor.

"?" Zhuang Xun was shocked, how dare this guy say that.

"After the Siqin family absconded, the minister immediately put the Siqin family's daughter under house arrest and waited for the punishment from the Holy One. I found out that Zhuang Xunye was a thief and had an affair with the Siqin family's daughter. .” Lu Buying knelt on the ground and blew himself up.

"How can this kind of person who steals wives and concubines be filial and honest, and how can he become a servant and use private affection for public use." Lu Buming accused.

"There is evidence." The emperor was expressionless. Of course he didn't believe in such things. Are women in your Duke's mansion so easy to steal?
Still a little bit disappointed, Lu Buming's family has been loyal for generations, and Lu Buming's father and uncle died in the rebellion 20 years ago.

"There is an indictment, and there are witnesses." Lu Buying took out a confession.

The attendant at the side handed it over to the emperor, who glanced at it and said, "Zhuang Xun, let's see if it was written by you."

The attendant gave Zhuang Xun the confession again.

Not to mention the handwriting on it, Zhuang Xun took a look at his fingerprints and compared them to himself, it was his own fingerprints.

Almost at the same time, he saw Xu Houde walking up the steps, feeling cold all over his body.

Is this the noble man he found?

　I have a high fever, I don’t know if it’s positive or not, send it, the update may be later tomorrow, sorry
　　
　
(End of this chapter)