Rise From the Humble

"'Two Sleeves Breeze' Yan Maoqing"

"It seems that our gift is too 'heavy', hahaha"

After Zhu Ping'an and the other three came out of Yan's Mansion, they walked a distance, looked at each other, and couldn't help but laugh.

Yan Maoqing is like some modern leaders. He shouts slogans loudly. At the meeting the day before, he made a righteous speech to enforce a clean and honest style. In the evening, he spent public money and took action to send warmth to some women who have fallen behind. went.

After coming out of Yan Maoqing's mansion and teasing Yan Maoqing, Zhu Ping'an separated from Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen and went to pay homage to their room masters. Because their room masters are different, they cannot go together.

Zhu Ping'an's room teacher was Zhou Chengting, the same examiner who highly recommended Zhu Ping'an's exam papers during the marking process. When he paid a visit to the house master Zhou Chengting, Zhu Pingan felt Zhou Chengting's full appreciation for him. Especially after Zhou Chengting communicated with Zhu Pingan on certain issues in the Four Books and Five Classics, he admired Zhu Pingan who was generous in conversation and knowledgeable. Couldn't appreciate it more.

"Has Zihou ever been married? I have a daughter who is thirteen years old. She is beautiful and smart. She is a good match."

After admiring it, Zhou Chengting came up with the idea of ​​​​betrothal his daughter to Zhu Pingan. In his eyes, Zhu Pingan was a piece of jade that would become a national treasure in the future.

"Thank you, Master Fang, for your kindness. It's just that Ping An's blessings are not good enough. I don't dare to wrong the young lady. Before Ping An came to Beijing, the family had arranged for Ping's marriage."

Zhu Ping'an stood up and bowed his head, apologetically thanking the room master Zhou Chengting. Now that I think about it, that engagement contract is not without merit, at least it is an excellent shield.

"It's okay. A promise of a thousand pieces of gold is what a man does. A poor wife will not go to court. What Zi Hou did was what a gentleman did. How could I do something like a villain?" Zhou Chengting's idea of ​​betrothing his daughter to Zhu Ping'an was just a whim. After listening to Zhu Pingan's explanation, I understood it very much, and at the same time I appreciated Zhu Pingan even more.

When he came out of the house of Master Zhou Chengting, the sky was already full of sunset. He thought that Linhuai Hou Mansion had already had dinner at this time, so Zhu Pingan found a restaurant on the street to have dinner, so as not to be hungry when he went back. The stomach may cause trouble to the Hou Mansion.

At this moment, the Hou Mansion was in a state of turmoil. Ever since the day of the birthday banquet, the old lady had never been happy. Her appetite was decreasing day by day, and she simply didn't eat a bite today. In addition, the eldest lady also has a bad temper. Several aunts in the eldest house have been exposed to her anger several times these days. Some of the maids who were serving the old lady said that it was because the most profitable shops in the mansion had lost everything a few days ago. Not only had the shops been taken away, but also the furnishings in the mansion had been taken away by several carts. I used to pay off debts. There are also many maids who are gloating about the misfortune, saying that most of the shops in the mansion were taken from the third master, and they deserve to be taken away by outsiders now.

Li Shu's boudoir had the best atmosphere in the entire Linhuai Marquis Mansion. Baozi's little maid looked at her young lady putting a stack of house deeds and land deeds in a jewelry box and locking them up. Baozi's face was so happy that he was almost dislocated.

"Look how silly you are, this is just the beginning. Send a message to Wang Xiaoer tomorrow, saying that the quails have landed and you can cast the net." Li Shu rolled her eyes and stretched out her delicate hand to click. The little maid placed some buns on her forehead, pursed her lips and said in anger.

Zhu Ping'an didn't know what happened in the Linhuai Marquis Mansion. After eating and paying the bill, Shi Shiran returned to the Linhuai Marquis Mansion alone.

A peaceful night, especially sweet.

The next day, Zhu Pingan got up, washed and practiced calligraphy as usual. After breakfast, he continued to study and prepare for the exam. At noon, Zhu Pingan realized that the naughty child had not come recently. In the next few days, the naughty boy didn't come either. Later, Zhu Pingan knew the reason, because there had been a lot of things in the Marquis's house recently, and the Marquis of Linhuai was out on official business and no one restrained the naughty kid. The naughty kid didn't like to study, so he naturally refused to take the initiative to come to Zhu Pingan to suffer.

Reading and practicing calligraphy, and referring to the ancient palace test papers in his memory, Zhu Pingan reviewed and prepared for the test at Linhuai Marquis Mansion with peace of mind.

Time passed quietly as Zhu Pingan splashed ink and scrolled through the scroll, and the day of the palace examination was getting closer and closer.

In the old system, the palace examination was held on the first day of March. During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, in order to mourn the crown prince, the date of the palace examination was changed to March 15, which is still used today.

Today is already March 14th.

On this day, Zhu Pingan was interrupted when he was reviewing his books in Linhuaihou Mansion. The concierge of Linhuaihou Mansion led a man who looked like a steward to Zhu Pingan's courtyard. The man handed the book to Zhu Pingan. A post.

The post was very familiar, the style of Yan's Mansion, and even the content of the post had not changed much. Yan Shifan invited himself to a banquet again, but the location of the banquet changed, from the original Yan's Mansion to a place called Zhuangyuan Building.

"My master said that the palace examination will be held tomorrow. I want to support the young master in the Zhuangyuan Building. He said that there are several number one scholars in the Zhuangyuan Building. This time, I will entertain the young master in the Zhuangyuan Building as a good omen. I wish the young master tomorrow high school. Number one."

After this person who looked like a manager sent the post, he spoke to Zhu Ping'an respectfully. Compared with the attitude of the person who sent the post last time, it was like heaven and earth.

Well

Just give Ouyang Zi Shizhuang a visit, why did you call me? Moreover, there will be an imperial examination tomorrow, and today’s banquet is so sudden. It feels like the Hongmen Banquet. Zhu Pingan took the post and cursed in his heart.

"My master has already arranged a banquet in Zhuangyuan Building, and I hope you will appreciate it." Seeing that Zhu Pingan didn't make a clear statement after taking the post, the steward couldn't help walking up to Zhu Pingan and bowing to the end.

"Thank your master for me, and tell me that I will come to apologize in person someday." Zhu Pingan put the post on the table and said calmly.

A gentleman doesn't build a dangerous wall. Who knows what Yan Shifan's idea is. Anyway, I don't believe that Yan Shifan would want him to win the first prize.

After Zhu Pingan refused, the man in charge had no choice but to give up and leave the Hou Mansion. However, not long after, another person came and sent the invitation again.

"Master Zhu, the sedan chair is already outside the door. I hope you will appreciate it. The master said that the palace examination will be held tomorrow. Today's banquet for the master in the No. 1 Scholar Building is to wish the master the best in high school tomorrow. There is no other meaning. My master appreciates it very much. Young Master, if the Young Master does not come, then my master will have to come to the Marquis Mansion in person to test his strength for the Young Master."

This steward's attitude was better than that of the previous steward, and he conveyed Yan Shifan's wishes to Zhu Pingan.

If I don’t go, Yan Shifan will come!

Damn it, how can you refuse it when you are talking about it. Before the palace examination, the emperor was selecting candidates. It was expected that at this time, Yan Shifan would not and would not dare to go out to the banquet to do anything, after all, there were so many eyes watching him.

However, although this banquet will not be the Hongmen Banquet, Yan Shifan definitely has no good intentions.

Zhu Ping'an packed up the things for the exam and locked them in the cabinet. Then he quietly put a white jade hairpin in his sleeve and told the servants of the Hou Mansion to send a message to the Hou Mansion. Leave a message and say that you are going to Yan Shifan's grand banquet, so there is no need for the government to leave food for you.

After the explanation was completed, Zhu Ping'an followed the person in charge outside the house.