However, it is impossible for the Queen Mother and Her Majesty to have the opportunity to know that the wine is bad. The royal people, no matter what they eat, will be tasted by the eunuchs in the palace and will only enjoy it after confirming that there is no problem. Ministers do not have such treatment. However, this is the imperial wine rewarded by the Queen Mother, no matter how unpleasant it is, even horse urine has to be drunk.

The crowd watched the miracle and tasted the "five-flavor sake", and the "main course" began to be served.

Shi Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites flicked his red official robe lightly, walked to the hall and saluted to the top of the golden platform, and then turned around, with an extra manuscript in his hand. Strangers come to the court, this is a rare event, Shi Shangshu is in charge of the Ministry of Rites, the master of ceremonies, and the imperial examination, how can he get his role today.

I only listened to Shi Shangshu's words, although the voice was old but not rich, it was summarized in a few words: the Celestial Empire is strong, virtue is the four seas, and strangers come to the court; The king uses virtue, the ministers serve their lives, and the prosperity can be expected.

Some time has passed since the Great Purge, but the ministers are still talking about it. Now although a group of officials have been urgently added to the various departments, everyone is still a little trembling in doing things, lest they will be taken away by Jinyiwei one day. As a veteran of the two dynasties, Shi Shangshu has obviously seen the stakes in this: a court that has lost its sharpness is like a tiger with its sharp teeth removed, although it looks scary, it can only frighten people. Therefore, he took the opportunity of a stranger to come to the court, firstly, to praise the royal merits, and secondly, to cleverly point out that the imperial court now needs to work together, so as to ensure the everlasting foundation.

The Queen Mother had already heard Shi Shangshu's intentions. She also needs a minister to stand up and ease the relationship between the royal family and the ministers. After listening to Shi Shangshu's words, she immediately stroked her hand and praised: "What a king serves with virtue and ministers, Shi Shangshu's words just speak the heart of the mourning family." Enjoy three glasses of wine. ”

Immediately, the eunuch came over with a tray, and after Shi Shangshu thanked the Queen Mother and His Majesty for her grace, he drank the three glasses of wine on the plate one by one. As for what the wine tastes like, I'm afraid only I know.

The Queen Mother paused, and then opened Chrysostom again: "The ministers are working hard, and the mourning family is also clear in their hearts. In this way, a few days ago, His Majesty rewarded some settling-in expenses, and today the mourning family is in charge and will give you another 300,000 taels of silver. ”

Naturally, the ministers thanked the Holy Grace.

Just when Shi Shangshu was making an impassioned speech, Bao'er translated Shi Shangshu's wonderful manuscript to the strangers present. Today, she and Emily are both dressed as talents, wearing ordinary collared robes and scribe hats, but even this still can't hide the beauty and loveliness of the two. Many young officials have inquired about the origin of "them", and even some people on the Inhuman side whispered.

Shi Shangshu is worthy of being an old pedant, his writing is neat, and he rhymes evenly, but he is elegant, and he is afraid that he will not be able to translate without a certain eight-strand literary foundation. Thanks to Bao'er since she was a child, she followed Qian Jin to study books such as "Science" and "Book of Rites", and finally translated the meaning of the manuscript almost the same.

It's just that Dou Mali and others still feel a little strange, and these words have something to do with today's wine club?

The first dish is tasted, and the second dish is ready to appear.

When a stranger comes to the court, the court naturally wants to show the essence of the Celestial Empire: a big country, hundreds of schools, just a dime a dozen can convince you strangers.

Fang Shi, the former editor of the Hanlin Academy, couldn't hold back at this time, he played the crown of his clothes, and got up to ask the Queen Mother to start an academic exchange with a stranger. Since being implicated by Princess Jing, he has borrowed wine every day to kill his sorrows, and he has also complained a lot with his mentor Mei Ruoting. The Mei family couldn't bear to be depressed, so they ran to Renshou Palace to ask for this opportunity to show his face for him, so that he could use it again in the future.

Qian Jin didn't like this Fang Shi. Although there is only one side, this product gives people the impression that it is called a donkey in heat. At the Yangmei Poetry Conference, in order to perform in front of Princess Jing, he used himself as a stepping stone and forced himself to write poems. Although he has fallen into the water today, Qian Jin doesn't want to offend the plum sacrifice wine too much, but it's always okay to add some blockages, right? In addition, today's wine has been a bit of a failure, since today's drinking party, how can there be no good wine? How could his winery business miss such a great opportunity? If you don't advertise it widely, it will be a waste of his experience in two lifetimes.

So, while Fang Shi was tidying up his clothes, Qian Jin had already walked to the front of the hall first, and said: "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, my Da Chen is a state of etiquette, and I have already drunk grape wine to show my respect for strangers. But my aged wine should be based on spirits; When the Inhuman delegation came to the court, it should be entertained with spirits. Wechen had already prepared the wine and was waiting outside the hall. Just wait for the queen mother's order, and you can come in. ”

"Oh? The mourning family has little experience in drinking. The Empress Dowager turned her head sideways and asked Emperor Zao Wou-ki: "Your Majesty, you went to Qian Shi to talk about the house last time...... Ate hot pot and drank spirits. What does it taste like? “

Zhao Wuji smiled awkwardly and said vaguely: "Qian waiter talks about the family's wine...... The taste is not bad. ”

The Queen Mother glanced at Zhao Wouji, as if she hated iron and steel, and then turned to Qian Jin and said, "Since Your Majesty thinks your family's wine is good, then please come in." ”

Qian Jin glanced at Duke Cai, who understood, and led more than 20 eunuchs out of the main hall. After a stick of incense, each eunuch came in with two blue and white porcelain wine jugs in his hands; After probing with a silver needle, each eunuch carefully scooped a spoonful and tasted it, and made sure that it was not poisonous before moving it to the ministers and the Inhuman mission.

"Serve the wine. Today, the money waiter talks about treats, and all the ministers and foreign guests do not need to be polite. The Queen Mother commanded with a smile.

Some ministers took a sip of the wine glass carefully, and at first they didn't feel anything, but after a while, they felt a line of fire go down their throats and into their stomachs, serving them extremely spicy, but soft in the mouth.

"Good Wine ......"

"Good wine......"

Everyone took their glasses and drank them all, and the voices of praise were endless. There was no reaction from the Inhumans, and they may have been a little unaccustomed to drinking for a while. Moreover, they did not come today for the purpose of drinking. It has been half an hour since they entered the palace, and no one has mentioned this trade matter.

After three rounds of drinking, Fang Shi finally found an opportunity and stepped forward and said: "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, the person who is guilty of the minister's life has been blessed by the Holy Grace to participate in today's cocktail party. Weichen is not talented, but he has some research on science. Wechen asked the Queen Mother and His Majesty for permission to use this to discuss with the strangers. ”

Zhao Wou-Ki asked the Queen Mother what she meant, and after receiving her approval, she immediately waved her sleeves and said: "Science is the foundation of my dynasty, and it happens to communicate with strangers. Quasi-play. ”

Bao'er translated the emperor's meaning to Dou Mari and others. Dou Mali and Shi Huade understand Chen Guohua, so they naturally don't need a translator. The other Inhumans were a little bit more embarrassed, they only knew about navigation and trade, and they knew nothing about these doctrines. After some deliberation, the Inhuman Mission elected Dou Mari to come out and discuss with Fang Shi.

Dou Mali walked out of the table and saluted to the golden platform, turned around and saluted Fang Shi, and said: "This Mr. Fang, contemptible and talented, I am willing to accompany you to the best of your ability." ”

"Well said." Fang Shi made a gesture of please, and then said: "I have been a saint for five thousand years, and if I move out one by one, it will seem that I am bullying you." In this way, the contemptible people have studied under the Guozi Priest Jiumei for more than ten years, and they know a little bit about "Science", and today I will ask for advice or two in this way. ”

After a pause, he said aloud: "Reason, that is, the way of heaven." All the stars and all things in Zhou Tian have a reason, and all the states in the world also have a reason, which is different. Reason, unchanged through the ages, exists to the present day, and is the fundamental law of the operation of all things. We only need to go to human desires and cultivate ourselves, so that we can preserve the principles of heaven and achieve the supreme state of unity between heaven and man. Mr. Dou Mari, what I said is relatively simple, I don't know what you think? ”

Boa translated it from beginning to end.

Dou Mali pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "What Mr. Fang said is the way of heaven, and it is actually slightly similar to my teaching. It's just that we believers believe in the Lord. The Lord created the sun, moon and stars, and created all things in the world out of clay. For the faithful, the Lord is omnipotent. All we need to do is serve the Lord God with sincerity, and we can ascend to heaven after death. ”

Mr. Dou Marik is not right. The way of heaven is unpredictable, and we need to be exhausted in order to achieve the highest state of perfection. But your doctrine ascribes 'reason' to a god, and believing in the Lord God gives you great freedom. To put it mildly, there is a suspicion of conniving at the laziness of the parishioners. If the people were to believe in your teachings, would they still farm? Can you have food if you don't farm? Moreover, your doctrine is to ascend to heaven after death, that is, to attain great freedom; And my 'reason' only needs to be cultivated in this life, so that I can integrate myself into the heavenly principle and achieve the state of unity of reason and desire. ”

The ministers heard Fang Shi's words, and they all bowed their heads in agreement. I have to say that this Fang Shi does have something outstanding in science.

Dou Mali shook his head with a smile, and said after a moment: "Mr. Fang is afraid that he will not know. In the past two hundred years, scholars from Thailand and Western China have gathered, and mathematics, astronomy, navigation, alchemy, literature and art, religion and other disciplines have experienced unprecedented prosperity. Many of these scholars were the Lord's people. If they believe in the Lord, according to your will, can't they accomplish anything? ”

Fang Shi didn't know much about the history of Taixi Kingdom, but Qian Jin knew a little bit. What Dou Marik is talking about should be the Renaissance in their country. However, the great prosperity of this period was opposed to religion.

Any religion is suspected of being foolish, and this is especially true for the Holy See in the Kingdom of Tessie. However, history always moves forward. When the first man to invent the telescope looked to the sky, the theological system of the Holy See was in danger of disintegrating. The pope and his clergy, unwilling to see their position shaken, revised some of the doctrines accordingly, and a relative balance between doctrine and natural science emerged. Take, for example, Dou Marik, who himself was a clergyman, but he was well versed in geometry and mathematics.

Fang Shi didn't know this, and was still thinking about how to deal with it.