When Xiao Guoliang and Sun, as well as Xiao Yiran had dinner, they talked about the conversation with Kou Xiang at noon, and the three of them were a little suspicious of Kou Xiang's statement that Xiao Guoliang would be promoted again in the near future.

This year is the beginning of winter in mid-October, and the weather is still warm after the beginning of winter. As we entered November, the weather took a turn for the worse and suddenly became cold. It began to snow on the ninth day of the new year, and it continued to fall intermittently for half a month.

Xiao Yiran's life has always been lived in a step-by-step manner, learning the piano for an hour in the morning, learning chess and calligraphy and painting with Kou Xiang in the afternoon, and practicing calligraphy for more than half an hour after dinner. For more than a year, Xiao Yiran's piano skills, according to Kou Xiang, said:

"I've already entered the room, I just need to practice more."

Kou Zhun was not in a hurry to go to the capital to prepare for the provincial examination in the spring of next year, since he became Xiao Guoliang's protégé, and knew that his father Kou Xiang was in the Zhizhou Yamen, and after being the daughter of Lord Xiao, he would come to visit Xiao Guoliang every half a month, and by the way, he would ask his father Kou Xiang for peace. After coming and going, Xiao Yiran became familiar with his senior brother.

In Xiao Yiran's memory, especially when he was at his grandmother's house in the countryside when he was a child in his previous life, it was the hit Liu Lanfang's book "Yang Jiajiang", and Xiao Yiran also heard it from beginning to end, and there were many stories about Kou Zhun in it. It's just that after a long time, Xiao Yiran doesn't remember a lot. The most impressive should be the section of "Kou Zhun Back Boots". Not only in the commentary, but also into a script, whether it is Peking Opera or other local dramas, there is this play.

Being able to meet the characters he saw in the history books or heard in the story in real life, Xiao Yiran was still a little surprised in his heart. Knowing that Kou Zhun's career is relatively smooth, and he will worship the prime minister in the future, Xiao Yiran occasionally asks Kou Zhun about his ambitions and plans.

"According to my brother's talent, I will be able to title the gold list in the coming year, so when will my brother spend candles in the cave?"

Although Xiao Yiran is a girl, after all, she is only eight years old and is still a child, so it is not rude to talk to her senior brother like this.

"My mother has been helping me with my family affairs, and I can only obey my parents' orders when I get married."

Kou Zhun has always been polite when he talked to Xiao Yiran, and he did not disrespect Xiao Yiran because of her young age.

"Senior brother might as well describe the appearance of the sister-in-law in his mind, and I will tell my mother when I turn around, so that my mother can also help my brother pay attention."

Xiao Yiran said half-jokingly. Unexpectedly, he was embarrassed to say Kou Zhun.

"Watch out for what?"

It was Kou Xiang who came in from outside, only to hear the second half of Xiao Yiran's words, and asked casually.

"Sir."

Xiao Yiran turned around and bowed to Kou Xiang, and after Kou Xiang stood still, he continued:

"Sir, I just asked my brother what kind of sister-in-law he wants to marry, so that my mother can help me pay attention."

"Hehe, your senior brother is still young, and after the end of the Spring Siege next year, it's not too late to get married."

That's what the child said to his mother.

Kou Zhun answered.

"If you are in the spring of the next year, you will be sent out as an official. But before going to work, the marriage was done. ”

"Yes, father."

"Has your mother been chosen?"

"Some time ago, I heard my mother mention it, saying that it was the Song family."

"The Song family, yes, the Song family is also a scholarly family. When you go home at the beginning of next month, ask the matchmaker to make up your mind, and marry after the spring siege. ”

Xiao Yiran didn't expect that Kou Zhun's marriage was given by Kou Xiang in a few words. It's sad to think about the young men and women at this time. Seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys and girls did not know each other, so they were carried into the cave room, and since then they have been with each other for the rest of their lives. For several days, Xiao Yiran was thinking about this matter. Thinking about it, I thought about my future marriage. Do you have to be arranged like this in your life? I suddenly remembered the poem in the dream in the Xuannu Niangniang Temple: Sanjie competed for a daughter. If you don't guess wrong, you should have something to do with three men in the future. Who could it be? Is there Lin Chen?

Xiao Yiran has always been unforgettable, that little boy with deep eyes.

On November 24, heavy snow began to fall again at night, and it did not fall until around noon. On a snowy day, the yamen had nothing to do, and Xiao Guoliang stayed in the mansion from the morning and talked with Sun. Xiao Yiran learned the piano from Kou Xiang for an hour, and also came to the living room to sit with his father.

Suddenly, the housekeeper Cai Xu came to report:

"Master, there is a servant who asks to see you."

"What?"

"It is said that there is an errand sent by the Ministry of Officials, waiting for the master in the lobby."

"Officials? Knowing it, tell the servant and invite the person to the back hall, and the master will arrive later. ”

"Yes, sir."

After Cai Xu withdrew, Xiao Yiran and Sun both looked at Xiao Guoliang. Xiao Guoliang also looked at the mother and daughter, but Xiao Yiran spoke first:

"Daddy, could it be the promotion that Mr. said?"

"At this time, such weather should be an urgent business, I'll go over and take a look right away."

Xiao Guoliang put on his official uniform and went to the back hall of the mansion, and in less than half an hour, he came back with a happy face. As soon as he entered the door, he shook a piece of paper in his hand and said to the mother and daughter:

"Sure enough, Mr. Kou said that it was the clerk who transferred me to the ministry."

"Officials?"

"It's the servant."

"Daddy, what kind of squire is the servant?"

"It's still a fifth grade, but the official rank hasn't been promoted."

"Will the spring siege of the coming year be presided over by the Ministry of Officials?"

"Exactly, the provincial test has always been presided over by the servant of the ministry, and I am afraid that my father will preside over the spring siege of the coming year."

"Then aren't all next year's Jinshi all Daddy's protégés?"

Haha, Xiao Guoliang laughed comfortably. Then he shouted to the little guy outside the door:

"Sue sù kitchen banquet, the master wants to invite Mr. Kou to drink."

"Daddy, the boy is going to ask for sir."

Xiao Yiran said and walked out.

Just after the hour, at the beginning of Shen Shi, a sumptuous banquet was set up in the warm pavilion of the Xiao Mansion. There were only Xiao Guoliang and Kou Xiang at the table, although Xiao Yiran did not serve the table, but sat on the side and listened to the two talk.

"The old gentleman is really a miracle."

"Hehe, Lord Xiao was skeptical at the beginning, but now he believes it?"

"Hehe, believe, believe, I don't know if it's believing, it's just admiration."

"It's just a small skill of carving insects, and I don't dare to admire it."

"Sir, is the so-called Qingjian the art of face-to-face that is spread in the streets?"

"Most of the techniques that are circulating in the market are superficial. Most of the real techniques are passed down from generation to generation in various families, and rarely flow outside. ”

"Listen to Mr., the Qingjian technique handed down by Mr. is not passed on?"

"Does Yiran want to learn? If you want to learn, you can make an exception. ”

"Has the gentleman ever passed it on to my brother?"

"It will be passed on, but not yet."

"If the gentleman passes it on to the apprentice, will he violate the family rules?"

"The family rules are also set by people, and now the old man is the head of the family."

"Thank you, sir, then."

After speaking, Xiao Yiran stood up, walked to the table, took the wine jug from the serving girl, poured Kou Xiang full of wine in person, and picked up the wine cup with both hands and handed it to Kou Xiang.

"Lord Xiao, please forgive the old man for being blunt, when you go to the capital, try not to let Ran'er show up, otherwise it will cause twists and turns. Although it is not harmful to the future of adults, it is not conducive to Ran'er's reputation. ”

Kou Xiang drank Xiao Yiran's toast and instructed Xiao Guoliang.

"After the New Year, Ran'er is also nine years old, and it is time to live in the boudoir, and it is not appropriate to show her face."

Although Xiao Yiran was born in such an era that pays attention to the superiority of men and the inferiority of women, women live in simplicity, and are constrained by countless rituals and religions, he still has a soul from the distant future in his bones. Especially the last time he was reborn in the ancient period, as the emperor of the race, he was used to living a free and free life. If it is really like what his father Xiao Guoliang said, confined to a deep mansion and buried in a female celebrity all day long, Xiao Yiran will definitely not be able to adapt. However, it is not appropriate to refute my father and husband at this time.

"When does the gentleman plan to return to Xiabang?"

"The last time Zhun Er was there, I said that the beginning of the lunar month. In the past two days, I passed on the art of Qingjian, and the weather turned clear, so I went back. ”

"Sir, I don't know anything and I want to ask Mr."

"What?"

"Mr. is so talented, why didn't Zhao Song become an official?"

"I have experienced three dynasties as a teacher, and I have seen the changes of the times, and the ups and downs of the sea, and I have long been tired of this. Although the imperial court also sent people to persuade the old man to come out, the old man politely declined. The reason why he traveled was to avoid them. ”

"What does the old gentleman think of Taizu's release of military power from a cup of wine?"

Xiao Guoliang asked Kou Xiang in a low voice.

"First Taizu took away the military power of the generals, and then implemented the strategy of civilian officials as military officials in the garrisons everywhere, which was nothing more than to prevent the repetition of the history of the feudal towns separating one side after another since the end of the Tang Dynasty. However, for everything there is a good and there must be a disadvantage. In the long run, it will definitely make the Song Dynasty strong and weak, and the military equipment will be lax. It is easy for the surrounding areas, especially the Liao Kingdom in the north, and the Western Xia in the west to take advantage of the situation. ”

Xiao Yiran, who was on the side, heard Kou Xiang's talk, not only admired the vision of the former champion. Xiao Yiran, the reborn, naturally knew very well the real reason for the fall of the Song Dynasty. As Kou Xiang analyzed, the result of emphasizing literature over military force directly led to the weakening of the military equipment of the Great Song Dynasty, which was successively defeated by Liao and Western Xia, and the Zhao Song Dynasty, which was unable to return to the heavens by the shame of Jingkang, could only live in the south of the Yangtze River to survive. In the end, it was destroyed by the iron heel of the Mongols.

"Why didn't the gentleman report this idea to the current court?"

Xiao Yiran asked tentatively.

"This policy of emphasizing literature over military force was formulated by Taizu himself, and now the Holy Lord is vigorously pursuing it, but he doesn't think that the words of such an old man as a teacher will be accepted by them, right? Besides, since you don't want to be a leader, you shouldn't interfere in these things. Doing good for himself and helping the world at the same time, the old man still chooses the former. This is a thing that helps the world, let the children do it. ”

"Sir, do you mean to leave this matter to Senior Brother to do?"

Xiao Yiran's seemingly casual sentence is a pun.

Kou Xiang Xu drank a few more glasses of wine, stared at Xiao Yiran with his eyes for a while, and then said lightly:

"It's not something one or two people can do."

Obviously, Kou Xiang's words tacitly acquiesced to Kou Zhun's bright future prospects.