In the south of the western capital, it is not a gathering area for the rich in the capital, and most of them are small and medium-sized households in Beijing. Peach Blossom Fang is one of the few quiet places in the south of the city, there is a peach tree in the middle of the street, because it is winter, it does not bloom, but this tree is the oldest tree in this Peach Blossom Fang. It is even rumored that this peach tree was here when the Xijing City was not built.

Surrounding the peach tree is a small courtyard with a plaque on the door, indicating that this is a family with an official position. Yao Lian is thirty-five years old this year, he is middle-aged, and in the eyes of outsiders, as a bachelor of Hanlin Academy, Yao Lian is a great talent and a successful life, but in his own opinion, his official road has been blocked. It all started with that performance eight years ago, but he doesn't regret it.

"Let's eat." The wife put the meal on the table and greeted Yao Lian.

The two were childhood sweethearts, Yao Lian was the top student in high school at the time, and he did not dislike his wife and connected him to Beijing. For eight years, although Yao Lian's official career was hopeless, his wife never gave up, working outside to subsidize the family. It's all because of his share in the Hanlin Academy, and he really can't live in the capital.

Yao Lian put down the book in his hand, and he didn't participate in the last court meeting this year because of a serious illness, but this time he was appointed as the chief examiner of the spring examination by Yan Shixun, the second assistant of the court, which surprised him very much, because he had been outside the officialdom for too long.

The husband and wife were silent, and although the meal was not rich, it was delicious. Yao Lian took a few bites and put down the dishes and chopsticks, looked at his wife and said: "Qiu Niang, now that the New Year has passed, let's go out and buy some things these days, haven't you always wanted a piece of soap from Hualinfang, let's go and see it tomorrow." ”

Chen Qiuniang looked at Yao Lian in surprise, didn't know why he said this, and said with a smile: "What's the matter, the sun is coming out in the west?" ”

"I've suffered you for so many years, and I have suffered in the capital." Yao Lian said.

Chen Qiuniang looked at Yao Lian and frowned: "What's wrong, it's as if it's going to be the future, something happened." After speaking, he put down the bowl and looked at Yao Lian.

Yao Lian shook his head and smiled bitterly: "It's just to care about you." ”

He picked up the bowl and planned to continue eating, but after thinking about it, he put the bowl down and said, "I went to Hanlin Temple yesterday to see a person. ”

"Who?" Chen Qiuniang wondered.

"When the second assistant of the dynasty, Yan Shixun, Lord Yan." Yao Lian said.

"Is there something he has to do with you?"

"It's a big deal." Yao Lian nodded.

Chen Qiuniang's eyes lit up and asked, "But what changes have you made?" ”

Yao Lian looked at his wife with curiosity on her face, nodded and said, "Lord Yan recommended me to be the chief examiner of the spring examination. ”

"That's a good thing, why don't you look happy?" Chen Qiuniang asked.

"It's okay if it's just this, this year's big exam will focus on Yuzhou, which means that I want to go to Yuzhou." Yao Lian looked at Chen Qiuniang with clear eyes.

Chen Qiuniang was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Yao Lian anxiously and said, "Why is this happening?" Don't you know about you and Yuzhou? ”

"That's why I want to go because I know." Yao Lian smiled and said, this time he was voluntary, and the first thing Yan Shixun said when he saw him that day was that he was still not Yao Lian eight years ago. At that time, he replied that until now he still thinks that the greatest calamity of the Great Zhou is not outside, but on the great families in this territory. If you don't pull them out, Da Zhou will only weaken.

Chen Qiuniang knew Yao Lian's temperament, and it could be said that looking at Yao Lian's expression, she knew that she couldn't persuade her to come back. Mu Ran picked up the bowl, Yao Lian felt a little unbearable when he saw this, and opened his mouth to persuade: "You don't have to worry too much, there are still people with you this time, I think they won't be so unscrupulous." ”

"That's the Xue family." Chen Qiuniang smiled bitterly.

"But this time it is Yasukuni Gong who is the deputy examiner, and he will go to Yuzhou with me." Yao Lian said.

"Honorable? But how could he offend the Xue family for you, it's not a parent. Chen Qiuniang shook her head.

Yao Lian was silent, although the Yasukuni Mansion had a grudge against the Xue family, it was someone else's business, and he was worthless and worthy of help.

"There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, this time the emperor trusted me to hand it over to me, no matter what, I can't live up to the grace of God." Yao Lian said.

Chen Qiuniang had no words, this was Yao Lian's decision, and it was useless to say anything by herself. There was nothing to say for a while, and the two of them had lunch like this. Chen Qiuniang was cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

Yao Lian said: "I'll go and see, you can rest first." With that, he got up and walked towards the door.

Lin Yuan looked at the surrounding scenery, this is a quiet place, it is rare to have such a place in the capital. Yu Shi knocked on the door a few more times at Lin Yuan's signal.

With a "squeak", Yao Lian opened the door a crack, looked at Yu Shi, who was tall and tall, frowned and asked, "Who are you looking for?" ”

"Dare to ask, but Yao Lian, Lord Yao's mansion?" Arch your hand in the world.

Yao Lian looked at Yu Shi, confirmed that he didn't know, and said, "I am, what's the matter with you?" ”

Lin Yuan was already standing behind Yu Shi at this moment, patted Yu Shi's shoulder, Yu Shi stood away, Lin Yuan arched his hand towards Yao Lian and said, "In Xia Lin Yuan, I came to visit Lord Yao." ”

"Lin Yuan?" Yao Lian thought for a while, suddenly widened his eyes, and asked, "But Yasukuni?" ”

"Exactly down there." Lin Yuan nodded in confirmation.

Yao Lian hurriedly opened the door, let Lin Yuan and Yu Shi in, and said, "It's rude." ”

"Lord Yao, I'm the one who bothered you." Lin Yuan said with a smile, motioning to Yu Shi to give the gift, Lin Yuan said: "Be careful, please don't shirk Lord Yao." ”

Yao Lian thanked him and accepted the gift box in his hand. Please take a seat in the middle hall. Looking at the scenery of the small courtyard, Lin Yuan praised: "Lord Yao is leisurely, it is rare to have such a chic courtyard in this Beijing." ”

"The humble house is shabby, but it makes my grandfather laugh." Yao Lian said.

Chen Qiuniang came to the front of the hall at this moment and made a pot of tea for Lin Yuan, and Yao Lian introduced: "This is the Duke of Yasukuni." ”

"I've seen the Duke of Yasukuni, and the woman is polite here." Chen Qiuniang made a blessing to Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan nodded, and Yao Lian motioned for his wife to go down. Looking at Lin Yuan, who was drinking tea, Yao Lian was a little curious about how Lin Yuan came to his house, it stands to reason that he was not familiar with him.

Lin Yuan saw that Yao Lian was a little confused, and after thinking about it for a while, he understood the reason, so he took the lead in speaking: "The national prince would like to congratulate Lord Yao on being the chief examiner of this Spring Festival. ”

When Yao Lian heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then said with a wry smile: "Grandpa, don't be joking, how happy is this." ”

"What? Lord Yao is unwilling to choose talents for the saint? Lin Yuan looked at Yao Lian with a smile.

Yao Lian shook his head and said: "Selecting materials for the country is a big deal, and the lower officials will not shirk it, but when the lower officials are sent to Yuzhou, the taste will change." ”

"What's that saying?" Lin Yuan looked at Yao Lian with a smile, it seems that this person is not as unreasonable as the rumors outside, and sure enough, there are few fuel-efficient lamps that are good at studying.

"Grandpa should know that Xiaguan and the Xue family have a holiday, and in the land of Yuzhou, eight out of ten scholars are from the Xue family, even if Xiaguan is selfless in Dagong, how many people will believe it." Yao Lian said.

"Just be yourself, it doesn't matter what outsiders think, but the Xue family is a problem." Lin Yuan said.

"Sure enough, my grandfather also has some concerns." Yao Lian looked at Lin Yuan with a smile.

Lin Yuan shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm not an immortal, I'm a mortal, it's inevitable that I will have some scruples, after all, I just lost the face of the Xue family in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but I don't dare to do anything to Xue Yong if I want to come." After speaking, he picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Yao Lian was stunned for a moment, what Lin Yuan said was right, Xue Yong really didn't dare to do anything to Lin Yuan, not to mention that Lin Yuan had military power in his hands, it was the noble hat of the Yasukuni Mansion, and Xue Yong had to think twice about making a stumbling block for Lin Yuan. But what should I do?

Lin Yuan glanced at Yao Lian, and seeing that he was thoughtful, he asked, "Lord Yao, I don't think that this scientific examination will put you and me in Yuzhou just for the main exam." ”

"How?" Yao Lian asked.

"Have you heard anything about Jiangsu and Zhejiang?" Lin Yuan asked.

"I've heard a little."

"Xue Li was removed from the Xue family at a critical juncture, and he was out of the five suits, which was climbing, and it had nothing to do with the Xue family. This led to the fact that the Jiangsu and Zhejiang cases only ended with Xue Li, and the Xue family did not suffer losses. Lin Yuan said.

"This is Xue Yong's style of acting, not surprising." Yao Lian sneered.

"But the case in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is not over, and this grandfather went to Yuzhou this time, not just for the invigilation." Lin Yuan said.

Yao Lian frowned, looked at Lin Yuan, and said, "What do you mean, Grandpa?" ”

Lin Yuan chuckled: "The meaning is literal, the examination room also asks Lord Yao to put more effort into it, and Grandpa Ben has other things to do." ”

"Grandpa is saying that he wants to secretly investigate the Xue family's case?" Yao Lian asked.

Lin Yuan nodded and looked at Yao Lian. Yao Lian thought about it carefully and said, "No problem, the lower official will try his best to drag the Xue family's attention, but there is a little annoyance for the grandfather to pay attention to it, and the lower official can't delay it for too long." ”

"Don't worry, I won't let you carry it alone, just cooperate with me when necessary, but the two of us should not be too close during this period, after all, you Lord Yao is a strange-tempered person outside."

"It's just that there is less communication in the Hanlin Academy, and now it has become a burden." Yao Lian shook his head and smiled.

The two discussed some details again, and agreed to plan well after the New Year, so Lin Yuan got up and said goodbye to Yao Lian. Walking to the door, Lin Yuan suddenly remembered that there was still something to do, and turned around and asked, "Lord Yao, there is still something to ask." ”

"Grandpa, please speak."

"Lord Yao has some news of Mr. Teaching." Lin Yuan asked.

"Mr. Teaching? Grandpa asked, what's the use of this? Yao Lian said curiously.

"Zhuangzi is going to open a church, and it will be built in the spring, but there is still a shortage of teachers at the moment. So ask Lord Yao. Lin Yuan explained.

"This is a good thing, grandpa has to wait for a while, when I ask for news." Yao Lian thought for a while and said.

"Thank you, Lord Yao." Lin Yuan arched his hand.

After sending Lin Yuan away, Chen Qiuniang came out of the wing, looked at Yao Lian and asked, "Why did the Duke of Yasukuni suddenly come to you?" ”

"It's just some official business, after all, he is also the invigilator of this Chunyu examiner, and I want to go to Yuzhou with him, and I have to meet him no matter what." Yao Lian explained.

Chen Qiuniang didn't speak, just nodded, and happened to see the gift brought by Lin Yuan, this is fresh, since Yao Lian became an official in Beijing, no one has given a gift, Chen Qiuniang opened the gift box, and couldn't help but exclaim after just looking at it.

"What's wrong?"

"Yasukuni Gong's gift is really heavy." Chen Qiuniang smiled bitterly and pointed to the gift box.

Yao Lian was a little curious, walked over and took a look, only to see a bottle of wine and a wooden box inside, and asked, "What is this?" ”

"This wine is this year's Yanmen Spring of Huobian Jingshi, and this wooden box contains soap, which seems to be of the highest quality." Chen Qiuniang explained.

Yao Lian shook his head and said, "Zuo is just some things to eat, put them away, this thing may not be anything in Yasukuni." ”

Chen Qiuniang nodded and put away the gift box.