Lin Chen stayed in the room, always thinking about Xiao Yiran in Yanshan Mansion thousands of miles away. Xiao Yiran's smile was always dangling in front of Lin Chen's eyes, and he wanted to go to Yanshan Mansion to see Xiao Yiran for the last time, but when he came to his mother's room and saw his mother's slightly pleading eyes, he had to dispel his thoughts. After waiting for a day, it was difficult to sleep at night.

The next morning, under the persuasion of my mother and Mrs. Wang, I barely ate a few bites of food, and returned to my room under the pretext that I was unwell. There seem to be thousands of words in my heart, and I want to write them down when I pick up the pen, but after thinking about it, who will I write it for? The beautiful woman has passed away, the soul is slim, where else can the letter go? Before I knew it, tears had already wet the letterhead on the table.

"Young Master Cousin, Master, please take the order from the front yard of Young Master Cousin."

The report of the subordinate woke Lin Chen from his sadness, hurriedly wiped the tears on his face, and followed the subordinate to the front yard. Seeing that the incense case had been placed in the courtyard, a person dressed as a eunuch, and an elderly person, Lin Chen knew him, it was the top boss of the aunt, Cui Longhai, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Lin Chen beat his spirits and stepped forward to give Cui Shangshu a salute first, Cui Shangshu stretched out his hand to hug Lin Chen, and said with a smile, I came to see Father-in-law Yu first.

"Lin Chen knocked on his father-in-law."

"Don't dare to be, don't dare to be."

Although he didn't dare to take it seriously, Father-in-law Yu still accepted Lin Chen's salute. Then he said to Cui Shangshu:

"Let's get started."

"Jinshi of Xiabang County, Lin Chen, the new science detective, took the order."

After Lin Chen returned to the incense case, he knelt on the ground, and at the same time, Wang Shilang also knelt next to Lin Chen. Lin Chen has been speculating until now, what the hell will be, if it is the will of the official, it should not be sent directly to the family.

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor's edict said: Xinke Tanhua Lin Chen, filial piety, outstanding learning, good appearance. Although he is not yet a weak crown, he is already five years old. Now the eldest princess Yinghui has reached the end of the year, and she is still waiting to be in the boudoir, so she will marry Lin Chen as his wife, and she will be hired by the Ministry of Rites on an auspicious day. Chin this. ”

Lin Chen's mind was dizzy, he never expected that the holy decree that his aunt asked him to wait at home to receive turned out to be Princess Shang's holy decree. Lin Chen gritted his teeth to hold back the tears that were about to come out of his eyes, and the sadness in his heart was beyond the comprehension of outsiders. What Lin Chen was thinking about at this time was Yanshan Mansion, which was thousands of miles away, and Xiao Yiran, who was waiting to be buried in the coffin. Beloved, the funeral may not be, but he himself was given marriage. Lin Chen was heartbroken with grief for a while, and his body kneeling on the ground was shaky. Seeing this, Wang Shilang hurriedly stretched out his hand to support him, wanting to help him up.

But I heard my father-in-law say:

"Don't be busy, there's a holy decree."

Then he said:

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor's edict said: Xinke explores the flower Lin Chen, is weak and full of poetry and books, and respects filial piety and widowhood at an early age. Be cautious in words and deeds, believe in friends and neighbors, in order to highlight his talent and name, he was specially awarded the five-grade horse captain, and the official Dali commented on the matter. Chin this. ”

After Yu's father-in-law finished reading, he and Cui Shangshu congratulated Lin Chen and Wang Shilang.

"Wang Shilang, please get up with Captain Lin and Ma. The Sprinkle family came early in the morning to preach the decree, although it is hard to say, it is not too much to ask for a cup of wine to drink, right? ”

Cui Shangshu also echoed on the side.

"Father-in-law Yu, Cui Shangshu, please, a cup of wine should be served."

Wang Shilang hurriedly asked the two of them to walk towards the living room, and for Lin Chen's gaffe, Yu Gonggong and Cui Shangshu both saw it. The two didn't know the relationship between Lin Chen and Xiao Yiran, but Lin Chen was so surprised by two holy decrees in succession.

Lin Chen, who was dazed, knew that now whether it was for his aunt or for his mother, who had raised him with hard work, he had to force a smile and deal with it. So, following the three of them, they also came to the living room. Although there was still nearly an hour before lunch time at this time, Wang Shilang had already passed the word and asked the kitchen to prepare wine to entertain Yu and Cui.

During the banquet, Cui Shangshu said:

"Lord Wang, the reason why I want to stay today to ask for a glass of water and wine is because the saint has instructed the two of us to discuss the next appointment and follow-up related matters."

"Yes, when my father-in-law came, the Holy God commanded that he should bring the letter back. The two adults will discuss it later, and the Sprinkle family will report to the saint. ”

Lin Chen has been silent since he came to the living room, and despite his efforts to hide it, the pain caused by Xiao Yiran's death was still seen by Yu and Cui. At first, the two of them just thought that Lin Chen had tears in his eyes because of surprise, but now it seems that there must be something else hidden. Father-in-law Yu then asked:

"Why is the Captain of the Horse depressed?"

Where did Lin Chen dare to say what was on his mind, and he couldn't find a suitable excuse for a while, but Wang Shilang reacted quickly and hurriedly explained for Lin Chen:

"Father-in-law Yu, Master Cui, because Chen'er's mother has been unwell recently, Chen'er serves day and night, and she can't help but be a little tired, and she misses her mother in her heart, so she is so out of shape, and I ask the two adults to forgive me."

"In that case, Captain Horse should not accompany us here, and go and serve my mother."

Cui Shangshu said out loud.

Lin Chen took this opportunity to apologize to the two of them, then turned around and went back to the backyard, locked himself in the room, and cried bitterly. Soon, the Lin family, who was told by his subordinates, came to Lin Chen's room and gently stroked Lin Chen, who was crying, and didn't know what words to say to comfort his son.

"Chen'er."

It wasn't until Lin Chen gradually suppressed his crying that Lin called softly.

"Mother."

Although Lin Chen stopped crying, his shoulders were still twitching, and his voice was hoarse and choked.

"Chen'er, the matter has come to this, people cannot be resurrected after death, and those who are alive must live well. Since you were a child, your father left our mother and son, and it was not easy for Chen'er to come to this day. Mother is still counting on Chen'er to support the elderly, but don't cry and break your body. Also, our mother and son have been taken care of by the old lady and the old man for many years, and Chen'er also has to do her filial piety to the second elder for her mother. ”

Lin Chen looked at the Lin family silently, and finally could only nod and agree. Seeing that his sensible son was no longer crying, Lin said a few words of comfort and said to Lin Chen:

"Chen'er have a good rest, it is estimated that she will enter the palace in the near future, but don't let the emperor see the unhappiness in Chen'er's heart."

After telling him, Lin turned around and left. Lin Chen looked at his mother's lonely back, and couldn't put down a qiē no matter what, and went to Yanshan Mansion to see Xiao Yiran for the last time. Sitting on the bed, thinking for a long time, I can only helplessly choose to face reality.

As Lin said, three days later, the emperor issued an edict to let Lin Chen enter the palace to see him. Lin Chen was already a lieutenant of the horses, put on his official uniform, and under the leadership of the little eunuch sent by the palace to deliver the decree, he came to the imperial study for the first time. After entering the door, Lin Chen knelt on the ground and shouted long live.

"Get up and speak."

Lin Chen saw Emperor Zhao Guangyi for the first time, stood up, didn't dare to look up, but with the spare light of his eyes, he saw an old man in his fifties, sitting behind the imperial book, wearing a dragon robe, and the sideburns leaking under the crown were already gray.

"In this palace test, I didn't point you as the champion, do you feel wronged?"

The emperor's tone was still relatively gentle.

"Wechen doesn't dare."

"Don't dare? That's still unconvinced. ”

Lin Chen couldn't tell if the emperor was joking or solemn. I had to explain:

"Your Majesty, Weichen is happy and convinced."

"Father, don't be embarrassed for him."

Lin Chen didn't expect that there were other people in the imperial study, because he kept his head down after entering the door, after hearing the voice, he felt a little familiar, and after thinking about it carefully, he knew who the speaker was.

"Haha, it's not a big wedding yet, so I turned my elbow out."

In Lin Chen's mind, the emperor is high, Jinkou Yuyan, he can't imagine that the emperor is also an ordinary father, and he actually talks to Princess Yinghui in such a tone.

"Father."

Listening to Princess Yinghui's coquettish voice, Lin Chen's heart was mixed for a while. It is inevitable to compare Xiao Yiran with Princess Yinghui. To be honest, Lin Chen had seen Princess Yinghui twice in total, once in Tianbo Mansion and once on Xiao Yiran's birthday, in the pavilion in the back garden of Xiao Mansion. Because of the identity of the other party's princess and the difference between men and women, Lin Chen really didn't have a deep impression of Princess Yinghui.

"I have sent you here today, not for anything else. The Captain of the Horse and the Dali Judge are both fictitious, I want to know, what do you think? ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen is not going to do anything, shouldn't you go to the local area to experience a period of time?"

"But what do you really think?"

"Don't dare to deceive Your Majesty."

"Well, it's teachable."

The emperor tapped his finger on the imperial book case and praised it. Lin Chen seemed to hear Princess Yinghui muttering softly, but her voice was too low, and Lin Chen didn't hear what she was saying.

"It's you who say you're talented, and it's you who says you're stupid, which sentence should I listen to?"

Only then did Lin Chen know that Princess Yinghui was muttering that she was a fool just now. Obviously, he didn't want to go to work outside the capital. However, Lin Chen also has his own little abacus, even if he can't catch up with Xiao Yiran's funeral, if he can seek a foreign appointment, he will always have the opportunity to go to Xiao Yiran's cemetery to pay respects.

"Father."

Xu was clearly said by the emperor, and Princess Yinghui couldn't hold her face for a while, and she was coquettish to the emperor.

"Since you want to go to the foreign office, then as you wish, I will let the prime minister choose a place and go back to Hou Zhi."

After hearing this, Lin Chen hurriedly knelt on the ground, and after buttoning his head, he retreated to the outside of the imperial study, only then turned around and was sent out of the palace by the little eunuch who had brought him just now. Back in the house, his mother Lin anxiously asked Lin Chen what happened to entering the palace?

"Mother, the emperor asked the child what official position he wanted to take?"

"Isn't it already the captain of the horse, and there is still a Dali commentator?"

"Mother, that's all a false position, the child told the emperor, I want to be an official in a foreign country for a few years, so I can experience and experience."

"Has the emperor agreed?"

"Promised, let me come back to Hou Zhi."

In the evening, Wang Shilang came back and asked Lin Chen again about how he entered the palace, and after listening, Wang Shilang stroked his beard and said slowly:

"After seeing it, the emperor still values Chen'er a lot."

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang asked puzzledly:

"Just asking for Chen'er's opinion, is it important?"

"Madame doesn't know, since the Eastern Han Dynasty, the horses have never been arranged, especially in the Tang Dynasty. Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, several princesses of Taizu have not had real jobs. Today, it is an exception for the saint to agree to Chen'er to go out as an official. ”