Huaishu Hutong, Xufu looks festive.

A red lantern hung in front of the door, a red carpet was laid out in the front yard, and guests came to congratulate them. A stage was set up in the back garden, and the most famous troupe in the capital was invited, who were performing popular operas.

Due to the completion of the fifteen-year examination of Xu Jie's first product, the emperor gave the python a jade belt and an elixir, and gave the honor to the pillar country, and Enyin's son was Shang Bao Sicheng.

In the event of such a glorious lintel, Mrs. Xu also decided to organize it, and sent a banquet to invite Mrs. Wu of Beijing to come and celebrate.

In fact, there is a certain amount of selfishness in this move.

Xu Fan, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, was born to her predecessor, and Xu Kun is her own son. Seeing that his son was finally able to come out, how unhappy he was as a mother, it should naturally be "show the world".

It is precisely in this way that this is not only to celebrate the grace Xu Jie, but also to create momentum for his son's entry.

Mrs. Xu is over fifty years old, but she is well maintained, her skin is very fair, and she has the delicate face of a Jiangnan woman, which makes her look like she is in her forties.

She is the granddaughter of Zhang Ying, the former secretary of the Criminal Department, and marrying Xu Jie was when Xu Jie was demoted, which was also very helpful for Xu Jie's return to the capital, and her position is extremely stable so far.

After meeting Mrs. Xu in the living room, they were arranged to listen to the play in the back garden, which was a happy scene.

"Mrs. Lin, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, has arrived!"

Wu Qiuyu was naturally invited, but she did not refuse to attend like her mother, but attended the banquet with gifts. With her appearance and gifts, the master of ceremonies also drank her identity.

Mrs. Xu seemed to be in a very good mood today, she was sitting in the hall receiving visitors, following the distinguished guests in the hall to speak, and was amused to laugh several times.

When she learned that Mrs. Lin, who was the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, arrived, Mrs. Huiming, who was sitting with her in the living room, couldn't help but look over, this was the pearl of Wu Shan, the second assistant of the court, and the wife of the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and her eyes couldn't help but have a trace of jealousy and envy.

"The autumn rain gave Mrs. Xu a gift, and today I sent a pair of jade Ruyi, I wish the Xu family a long grace!" Wu Qiuyu came to the hall like a fairy descending to the earth, and looked polite and bowed.

"Good! Good! Mrs. Xu had a smile on her face, and instructed the second daughter-in-law standing next to her: "You bring Qiuyu to your table, and you two will be closer in the future!" ”

"Yes, mother!" Xu Kun's wife, Shen, gave a respectful salute, and then whispered to Wu Qiuyu: "Mrs. Lin, please come here!" ”

This......

The ladies present looked at Mrs. Xu like this, but they were secretly dumbfounded, especially the wife of Hu Song, the left attendant of the military department, and the wife of Qian Bangyan, the left attendant of the criminal department.

Wu Qiuyu's brows furrowed slightly, obviously feeling the contempt from Mrs. Xu. It's just that she has never been the kind of person who has a strong temperament, but she doesn't plan to argue about anything, but calmly follows Xu Kun's wife to the back garden to watch the play.

She is the wife of the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and it is said that she should be able to be in the inner circle, but Mrs. Xu excluded him, and she will not make a big fuss because of this, which will lose his face when it comes out.

Hey?

Seeing that Wu Qiuyu was arranged at this table, the lady who was present was slightly surprised.

After about half a burnt incense, Mrs. Xu led the noble ladies to the first table to sit, and the wedding banquet also began, and the nine-year-old red of the popular Hua Dan performed "Yang Jiajiang" on the stage.

Wu Qiuyu quietly watched the play with the banquet, she is no longer the lively girl she used to be, she has been accustomed to seeing the world with her mother over the years, but she has understood some ways to behave in the world.

The stage was very lively, and the actors on the stage did their best to make Mrs. Xu quite happy, and once asked the servants to throw a pot of happy money on the stage.

This time, I can't just sit in the chief, but I can't even get to the second table, but I fell to the third table, which is simply a naked exclusion.

Wu Qiuyu has never been a calculating character, and he doesn't like to do anything excessive. Even though she knew that the Xu family was deliberately squeezing out her, she didn't think about anything to retaliate, and just left early after the banquet was over.

"I've heard that today the emperor is going to announce the candidates for the three Shangshu and the left servant of the Ministry of Officials!" It was Zhili's wife who spoke to learn from Xu Yi, and she was also among the invitees today, and she took the initiative to stir up the topic at this time.

Xu Yi was directly promoted from the Lianghuai Patrol Salt Imperial History to the Northern Zhili of the Third Grade, which was already indispensable for Xu Jie's promotion. Even if there was a case of impersonation in the autumn of last year, it did not affect Xu's official position, and he was deeply branded with the logo of the Xu Party.

After attracting enough attention from everyone, Xu Yi's wife said mysteriously: "According to the news from the palace, this time the secretary of the ministry will be replaced by Hu Song, the left attendant of the Ministry of War, and the secretary of the household department will be replaced by Qian Bangyan, the left attendant of the criminal department. ”

After hearing this, several ladies at the same table turned their heads thoughtfully to look at Mrs. Hu and Mrs. Qian at the first table.

In particular, the official department and the household department are the two most valuable scholars, and their identity and status are already above other books.

Wu Qiuyu has a faster source of information, and he already knows about this matter. It's just that she is not interested in this topic, and now she is more concerned about the whereabouts of the Xianggong and whether he will be successfully appointed as the left attendant of the ministry.

The banquet is in full swing, everyone is intoxicated with opera and various gossip, and the atmosphere seems to be very festive.

The housekeeper of the Xu Mansion suddenly hurriedly walked in, walked straight to the first table, and said a word in Mrs. Xu's ear.

After Mrs. Xu heard the news, she immediately stopped the play that was being performed on the stage, and the accompaniment also stopped, but the wonderful opera came to an abrupt end.

All the ladies present turned their heads and saw that the initiator turned out to be Mrs. Xu, and they dared not speak out.

Mrs. Xu met everyone's eyes, but her eyes fell on Mrs. Gao and said gently: "Mrs. Gao, congratulations, Gao Shilang has been promoted to the left waiter of the Ministry of Officials, and please come to the old man's side!" ”

Because he is in the ministry, he is not only at the head of the six ministry, but also can be compared with the criminal department and the Ministry of Works. In particular, Gao Gong is not only a minister, but also a future emperor, and his status has surpassed that of the ordinary minister.

Mrs. Gao was very happy in her heart, thinking that her father-in-law was promoted to the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites or the right waiter of the Ministry of Officials, but she didn't expect it to be the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and her face also showed heartfelt joy, but she stood up and walked towards the first table happily.

Seeing Mrs. Gao sitting in that position so beautifully, Xu Yi's wife said with a slight emotion: "If I can sit there, this life will be worth it!" ”

Several of the ladies present seemed to agree and nodded approvingly, while Mrs. Xu Kun's face showed a bitter look.

Wu Qiuyu's mood immediately became bad, but she called her personal Yahuan and whispered a few words in her ear, and then Yahuan left in a hurry.

Xu Kun's wife noticed this move, but it was not easy to ask, especially Wu Qiuyu's eyes had already fallen on the stage of the restarting performance.

Xu Yi's wife seemed to realize something, and looked at Wu Qiuyu with pity, and said without saying anything: "The left waiter of the Ministry is a tall man, so Lin Shilang ......"

Several ladies at the same table immediately comprehended, but they all looked at Wu Qiuyu with understanding.

"Then my father-in-law may not be as flat as the rumors to the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, so it may be necessary to stay as the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites! Mrs. Xu, I don't know what's wrong with this? Wu Qiuyu couldn't bear it, but immediately responded gently.

This......

Several ladies at the same table couldn't help but be dumbfounded, even if they couldn't be transferred to the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, but the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites was also their unreachable existence, where was the qualification to see other people's jokes?

Xu Yi's wife originally wanted to see Wu Qiuyu's face full of frustration, and even to see Wu Qiuyu's jokes, but when she was asked such a rhetorical question, she was speechless for a while.

The wine table here was silent, but the first table was a different story.

"It seems that the rumors can't be believed, Lin Shilang's youth is too young after all!"

"The emperor is still wise, let him hone a few more years in the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites!"

"Compared with Lin Shilang, it is naturally Gao Shilang who is more qualified for the position of the left Shilang of the Ministry of Officials!"

……

At the first table, I don't know where they got their sense of superiority, especially the wife of Qian Bangyan, the left attendant of the Criminal Department, has the loudest voice, which has already been heard by everyone around.

Mrs. Xu listened to all this, and although she did not participate in the discussion, she did not intend to stop it.

Wu Qiuyu has a very clear bottom line in her heart, and her face is full of frost when she is ordered by her minister, so she said to Xu Kun's wife: "I'm tired of telling Mrs. Xu, I want to send some pastries to the Ministry of Rites, and leave first!" ”

The sound was not small, and the people at the nearby tables heard it, and they also sighed secretly. Seeing Mrs. Xu behaving like this and running away with Wu Qiuyu so angrily, it was really a loss of Mrs. Shoufu's bearing.

"I'll send you!" Xu Kun's wife knew that she was at a loss, but she got up and said.

At this moment, the housekeeper hurriedly walked in and ran to Mrs. Xu to report the news.

Everyone looked over, but the ladies at the first table looked at Wu Qiuyu with a brush, especially Mrs. Qian's eyes widened, and the air seemed to freeze suddenly.

Mrs. Xu was silent for a moment, but said to Wu Qiuyu, who stood up and was about to leave: "Niece Qiuyu, you ...... It's really a good husband to marry! ”

"Mrs. Xu, since I am married, it is appropriate to call me Mrs. Lin! This time, I am also here as Mrs. Lin, not the daughter of the Wu family! Wu Qiuyu realized that things had changed, but he still solemnly stated it.

Although she is proud of the daughter of the Wu family, she has always been proud of her identity as Mrs. Lin, and this identity can better represent herself and the most prominent Lin family in Lingnan.

Although the ladies of the public ordered to listen to Wu Qiuyu's words seemed imposing, they were reasonable. People are already expensive husbands, but Mrs. Xu still belittles the identity of others so much, and if she doesn't overturn the table, she is already selling a big face to the Xu family.

"Huh...... It's the old body that is not thoughtful! Mrs. Lin, Lin Shilang has been promoted to the head of the household department today, please come and take a seat! Mrs. Xu's attitude changed one hundred and eighty degrees, and she seemed to invite warmly.

Tobe Shangshu?

At this moment, everyone was stunned, and the eyes that looked at Wu Qiuyu obviously became strange. I thought that Lin Haoran could not be promoted to the left waiter of the Ministry of Officials, so he could only stay as the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, but he never expected that he would be directly promoted to the head of the household department.

In terms of future, Lin Haoran was born in the Hanlin Academy, so he was naturally ranked above the Ministry of Crime, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War, and his real power was only inferior to that of the Ministry of Officials.

Thinking of the other party's age advantage, many of the ladies present secretly felt a burst of regret, even if they knew that they would offend Mrs. Xu, they had to scold this Mrs. Lin well.

Wu Qiuyu suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, but responded calmly: "Thank you Mrs. Xu for your kindness!" It's just that I can't sit down at this first table, and I don't care to share the table with people who slander my father-in-law, let alone with people who talk about the emperor. Mrs. Ben has already asked her subordinates to prepare pastries, and she is about to send them to the prime minister, so she will leave the scene first! ”

As he spoke, he gave a salute with a smile, leaving only a dashing back.

This......

The first table of Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Qian looked at Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Qian with complicated eyes, the former lost face on the spot, and the latter was suspected of discussing the emperor in vain.

Mrs. Xu's face was cloudy, and today it was actually her deliberate, but it was for the economic losses suffered by Lin Haoran's mother's family and the Xu family when she cracked down on illicit salt.

It's just that she never thought that since Lin Haoran took another step, she would have to think about it more. After all, she is sixty-three years old, and Lin Haoran is only in her twenties.

Watching Wu Qiuyu leave quietly, the thoughts of the lady who were present could not be calm for a long time, knowing that the sky in the capital had become even more confusing.

When the sky is clear in April, the blue sky and white clouds are still quite beautiful, and this antique imperial city is like a beautiful scenery in the world.

On the way to the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites, Wu Qiuyu's carriage met Lin Haoran, who returned in a sedan chair, and Lin Haoran simply got into Wu Qiuyu's carriage and went home together.

"Xianggong also said in the morning that the concubine can't wear a second-grade bead crown this time, and the result is still so scary!" Wu Qiuyu said resentfully, but in the end, he couldn't help laughing.

Lin Haoran spread his hands and said seriously: "I didn't expect it for my husband, but I calculated it carefully for my husband, and we won't lose anything about it!" ”

"Of course it's not a loss, it's just a little scary every time, and it was like this last time when you were promoted! Xianggong, the concubines all suspect that you are really a goblin! Wu Qiuyu looked at Lin Haoran with a smile, and also made a little joke.

Lin Haoran turned his face away, and said with a serious face: "Could it be that the husband is the most handsome outstanding young man who came back to save the world in hundreds of years, and he wants to tell you that he can't tell you?" ”

Wu Qiuyu snorted, but laughed on the spot, he had already been used to his father-in-law's unorthodox appearance. But when he talked about the fact that he had just participated in the Xu family's wedding banquet, he also depicted the shocking scene vividly.

returned to the Lin Mansion all the way, and the people who learned the news were also overjoyed, as if it was a festival. As the saying goes: "One person has attained the Tao and the chicken dog ascends to heaven", and now they have become Shangshu's domestic slaves, and their identity is beyond the past.

Lin Haoran also distributed wedding money to the servants of the family according to the fine tradition, but warned them to still be as cautious in their words and deeds as before, and not to use their reputation to do evil.

The news of Lin Haoran's promotion to the head of the household department has spread throughout the city of Beijing, but whether it is a Beijing official or a local official in Beijing, they have come to congratulate him with gifts, almost filling the Lingshi Hutong.

Although the status of the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites is noble, the Hubu Shangshu is not only of higher status, but also has more authority, and the treatment he receives naturally has a huge gap.

In this regard, Lin Haoran is also the one who should see and the one who should refuse, and he is already well versed in the rules of the game of officialdom.

The next day, Lin Haoran went to Xiyuan early in the morning to face St. Shaneen, but at the palace gate, he met the new secretary of the Ministry of Shangshu Hu Song and the new Ministry of Officials Zuo Lang Gao Gong.

This time, Jiajing had already left a message to let the three of them go their separate ways, but he directly refused to meet them.

It may have been a bad thing in the past, but it has long been a commonplace thing in this dynasty, even if the elders have not even gotten up to see each other, it is reasonable for them to be rejected.

After the three of them said goodbye, they were busy taking office.