Around midclock, the originally clear sky suddenly became gloomy. A dark cloud surged up from the northwest sky, spreading its teeth and claws, and soon occupied most of the sky. A few flocks of jackdaws circled in the sky, occasionally croaking a few times. The wind dragged dead leaves and grass clippings all over the ground and roamed through all corners of the city with impunity. People hurriedly put away the clothes and quilts that had just been dried in the morning, and burrowed into the halls, or stood under the eaves, anxiously waiting for the sudden heavy rain.

But the rain just doesn't fall.

When the noon bell rang on the drum tower, Tian Xiu and his party rode into the city from the Anyuan Gate in the north of the city.

They are coming back from Xiaoluoyi. After walking forty miles for more than two hours, everyone had a tired look on their faces. None of them dismounted, but sat on the saddle bridge, with wooden faces, took out their waist cards and handed them to the soldiers guarding the city gate for inspection. The soldier also had an indifferent face, took the waist card and shook it in front of his eyes as if he were on business, handed it back without rolling his eyes, and then waved his hand to let them pass like a fly.

After entering the city and walking along the street for two or three neighborhoods, the group gradually became a little more vibrant. Several officials from the Ministry of Industry said to Tian Xiu that it was noon, and even if they returned to the yamen's room, there was no hot tea and rice, so it was better for everyone to disperse first, and it was not too late to go to the yamen when the time came.

Tian Xiu understood what was going on in their hearts. This time, everyone rushed to Xiaoluofang happily, thinking that the Tianyi could be achieved overnight, not to mention anything else, at least to have a good mouth, who knew that the result was empty joy, and finally returned in a huff; No one can feel comfortable in this matter. She thought about it for a while, and then said, "Tomorrow is a rest, simply, you all go back and rest for a while." In this way, I will go back to the yamen to help you sign in. ”

The decision was immediately supported and praised by the overwhelming majority of the people. A few guys who were still depressed just now immediately had some spirits. While saying Tian Xiu's praises, they politely said goodbye to each other, and in a blink of an eye, they went their separate ways. Soon only Tian Xiu and Wang Shaoqing of the Taishi Bureau were left at the crossroads. The two men looked at each other on their horses, and they couldn't help but smile and shake their heads.

"Lord Tian," Wang Shaoqing said, "it's not too early or too late at this time...... Anyway, we are not in a hurry to go to the yamen, or let's go to the front to find a clean wine shop for a drink? ”

Tian Xiu nodded generously. She immediately asked with some confusion, "You're not going back?" ”

Wang Shaoqing let go of the reins and let the mount walk forward slowly, saying, "Where can I afford a house in Beijing?" My home is in Enzhou. Now there are only two relatives around to help. He pursed his lips and laughed self-deprecatingly. I'm not afraid of Tian's jokes, I have been fishing and jumping over the dragon gate for 17 years. After seventeen years of official career, I have been a Beijing official for seventeen years......" At this point, he did not say any more, but sighed.

Tian Xiu could understand his feelings. Firewood and rice are expensive in Beijing, and many officials in Beijing from other places of origin leave their families in their hometowns and rent houses in the capital by themselves. She herself is in the same situation. Think about it, what has she earned in her ten-year career in Huan Hai? Not a single tile! She didn't know how to comfort him, so she had to divert the topic and say, "Who else is in Lord Wang's family?" The parents ...... high-minded, "She stopped talking. She didn't know how many springs and autumns Wang Shaoqing had this year, but looking at his white and black sideburns under his black veil head, it was estimated that he was in his early fifties. At such an age, it seems very inappropriate to consult his parents again......

"They're all alive." Wang Shaoqing grinned and said happily, "The two old men in my family had to go to the field to farm earlier, and they have endured hardships in the field all their lives, and they have lived strong and strong. At the beginning of summer, I received a letter from my eldest son, which said that my father now has to eat three bowls of a meal, which provoked my mother to chase after him and scold, saying that he does not know how to cherish his fortune! ”

Tian Xiu also smiled, she said: "That's the blessing of his old man!" He also said, "Lingtang's spirit is so strong, and it can be blessed!" After a pause, she asked again, "Lord Wang, you just mentioned the eldest prince. How many sons do you have? ”

"Four. There is also a girl who got married six years ago. Wang Shaoqing said. Speaking of his loved ones, his face was filled with pride and satisfaction. "I married in this county, and I am a descendant of a pioneer in my hometown. My son-in-law is very competitive, he has passed the state exam last year, I originally wanted to teach him to come to Beijing to participate in next year's big competition, he said that he wants to study at home for another three years, and then come to the exam after he has done a solid job, so as not to waste money and food. He looked at the street in front of him, as if he had seen his son-in-law, and said approvingly, "A very down-to-earth offspring!" ”

He sighed for a while, and soon changed to a look of indignation that hated iron but not steel, and said: "It's my sons, one is not as competitive as the other, and so far I haven't even been admitted to the show!" In fact, his third and fourth sons were largely illiterate. used to hide it from his family; The year before last, he went home to visit his relatives and only learned about it when he asked about his sons' studies, which made him so angry that he stomped his feet, but he was helpless. He was really embarrassed to expose this matter in front of Tian Xiu, this is an ugly family!

"The imperial examination is sometimes a stroke of luck." Tian Xiu could only comfort Wang Shaoqing like this. In order to prove her words, she also told Li Zhe about it. Li Zhe is a famous genius in Beijing, and he does not lag behind others in all the classic articles of poetry, lyrics, songs, and classics, but he can't even pass the government examination in Pingyuan Mansion, and he is still a famous talent, which just shows that the imperial examination must not only have real talent and learning, but also have good luck?

Wang Shaoqing stopped talking. He himself was born as a scholar, and the rank of the Ministry of Rites that year was more than 210, almost the top 20 from the bottom. He didn't answer Tian Xiu's words either. After staying in the capital for sixteen or seventeen years, Li Zhe and Li Temporary, among the three sons of Pingyuan, are naturally familiar to him. He didn't know Li Zhe, but he had heard of this person and knew some things about this person. He knew that Li Zhe and Tian Xiu had some origins; Li Zhe once studied under Tian Xiu's father, Tian Wang, Tian Dongli, and was very highly regarded by Tian Wang. Not only that, but he also heard some rumors about Li Zhe. It is said that the great calligrapher Huang Bei once said that Li Zhe's knowledge was "quite impressive", which sounded like a eulogy, and Li Zhe's friends and deceased also spread this sentence everywhere. But Wang Shaoqing knew that Huang Bei's original words were "his skills are quite impressive", which means "his way is not advisable", which is completely a heart-wrenching and unpleasant sentence, and it is a shame that those people have the face to say it! Also, a few years ago, Li Zhe seemed to be very close to a woman in the clan, and it seemed that they admired each other, and they gathered together to consult each other about poetry and articles, but in fact, it didn't seem to be the case. As for what is going on inside and what kind of plan Li Zhe has, it will be up to the wise to see the wise. How can outsiders assert this kind of thing without permission......

Wang Shaoqing originally looked down on Li Zhe's personality, and he didn't bother to comment on the length of this person, so he didn't want to continue talking about this topic at all. He thought so in his heart, although the expression on his face did not change much, there was disdain between his eyebrows, and his tone was inevitably a little cold. Fortunately, there was a yarn lamp hanging on the street in front of the conversation, and at a glance you knew that it was a good wine shop. The two of them did not have any extra picking, dismounted in front of the wine shop, and immediately a man greeted him diligently, and a small servant led the horse to drink water and feed, and the two of them entered the wine shop with humility and me......