Yan Song Mansion.

As the second assistant of the cabinet of the current dynasty to visit the government, according to the etiquette system, the first assistant Yan Song should open the middle door to greet him and accompany him personally.

The reason why I didn't arrive today was mainly because Xu Jie didn't wear court clothes, and only came over as a child's in-laws, saying that he wanted to send something to his granddaughter.

In fact, everyone in the entire Yan Mansion knows that the current cabinet and the Yan Mansion are all decided by the elder of the small cabinet. As for Yan Ge Lao, he is already a dispensable figure, and it doesn't matter if he sees it or not. Moreover, the weather has been cold recently, and Yan Song occasionally feels cold, and he hasn't seen any guests for a few days.

Xiao Yan has lost a mess in Wu Jie recently, with his arrogant temperament, and in the field of poetry that he is best at, you can imagine how big a blow this defeat will be to him.

During these days, Yan Shifan's personality was extremely irritable, and he didn't like anything, and several family members were already served by the family law because they angered the actual head of the Yan Mansion. Even Xu Jie's granddaughter Xu Ting was beaten to the ground because she couldn't cope well.

Although Lao Xu's position is higher than that of Yan Shifan, he still pretends not to take this matter to heart on the surface, and still maintains basic politeness and politeness to the Yan family's father and son.

After entering the mansion today, after the guests and hosts exchanged two sentences, Xu Jie picked up Yan Shifan's long-cherished poetry collection and read it carefully, nodded from time to time, and sighed in a low voice.

In the past, Yan Shifan didn't know how many times he had encountered such compliments, and he was no longer surprised. But today it sounds extremely harsh.

People in the capital all know that he Yan Shifan lost to Wu Jie in the poetry, not to mention, and he was defeated very badly. I have to admit that Wu Jie's poems are really good. Even if he regarded him as an enemy, Yan Shifan had to admit that compared with his own, Wu Jie was undoubtedly heaven and earth, fireflies and Haoyue.

It is not an exaggeration to describe it with the four words of high mountains.

In front of such a cultural giant, even Yan Shifan, who has always been proud, suddenly felt powerless.

What does it mean that you Lao Xu came over early in the morning to read my poetry collection for a long time and said cool words?

The bubbles at the corners of his mouth hurt more and more, and an evil fire suddenly rose in his heart: "Don't look at it, Lord Jifu, Yan Shifan will not use his pen in this life." ”

"Why don't you write it, it's so good." As if awakened by Xiao Ge Lao, Xu Jie was stunned to put the poetry book in his hand and asked rhetorically.

Yan Shifan was even more annoyed, and couldn't help sneering: "No matter how good it is, it can be better than Wu Jie, is Elder Xu Ge here to laugh at Yan Shifan?" ”

"No, no, no." Xu Jie waved his hand and said with a gentle smile: "There is only one Wu Festival in the East Building, but there are thousands of scholars, is it possible that there is Wu Jie's poetry in front of me, and everyone does not write poetry?" You are still paranoid in the East Building, which is not in line with the way of reading people. ”

Yan Shifan was even more angry, and opened his mouth to speak. It's a pity that because the action was too violent, the bubbles at the corners of the mouth were torn, and it suddenly hurt my heart.

At this moment, he completely broke out, stood up with a bang, and stared at Xu Jie viciously: "Xu Xiang, are you teaching me a lesson?" By the way, there is nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace, a few days ago, Yan Shifan disposed of your granddaughter with family law. Xu Xiang was distressed, and came to Xingshi to ask for guilt? ”

As soon as these words were spoken, Xu Ting, who was waiting on the side, trembled, and his face turned blue with fright.

Xu Jie's heart hurt slightly when he saw his granddaughter scared like this. Seeing the green light in Yan Shifan's eyes again, he said in his heart: "This little Yan is a wolf, and he is a difficult one to catch whoever bites him. ”

Xu Jie has always been a deep and forbearant person, and he is not angry, he took a sip of the teacup, smiled and shook his head.

continued to say in a gentle tone: "My Xu family and the Yan family are sons and daughters, and Ting'er married the son of the East Building as a concubine, which is the Xu family." There is a folk saying that the daughter who marries out spills the water. Now, Ting'er is your Xu family, and she is a concubine, you want to fight or kill, and my Xu family has no position to speak, this is the etiquette system. Xu Jie came here today because he had business to discuss with Xiao Ge Lao. ”…,

Hearing Xu Jie's desperate words, Xu Ting's blue face turned pale.

The slender body trembled even more.

How could this situation be concealed from Xu Jie, he was still smiling, but there was a long sigh in his heart, and there was a faint trace of guilt.

"Oh, it's business, I've been in good health these days, and I haven't been to the cabinet for a while." Seeing Xu Jie's amicable attitude, Yan Shifan was in a much happier mood, and glanced at Xu Ting: "Didn't you hear, I have a military discussion with Xu Xiang, and this is also something you can listen to, and you won't retreat." ”

"Yes, father-in-law." Xu Ting silently exited the door and didn't look up at the two of them from beginning to end. There was a hint of imperceptible resentment in his eyes.

"Say, what's the matter with Xu Xiang?" Waiting for Xu Ting to leave, Yan Shifan sat back in his seat, holding the teacup, and letting the hot tea warm his already cold hands.

Xu Jie: "Three things, one is about the Spring Festival of the New Year, one is about the reconstruction project of Yuxi Palace, and the third is about King Jing. ”

Fortunately, according to the imperial court etiquette system, after the spring examination, the admitted jinshi need to take the palace examination. Although the palace examination is an exam, it is just a formality, so that everyone can make a policy at will, without sealing or transcribing, and will be hand-picked by the emperor's imperial pen on the spot to rank everyone.

The examiner then reads the top three papers.

And this marking officer is usually served by the first assistant, and because the chief examiner of the palace examination is nominally the emperor. The cabinet chief assistant who presided over the palace examination also had no teacher-student relationship with the candidates.

But the chief examiner who presided over the examination is very powerful, and the jinshi he admitted will be directly an official in the future, and the top three will also enter Hanlin, and it is very likely that he will be in a high position in the future. As long as you do the main exam, you can accept a large number of elites as your protégés, and this network makes people drool when you think about it.

Therefore, Yan Shifan discussed it with his father. In this realm, there is no need to choose another exam, and it will be borne by Yan Song. Other room masters, seals, transcriptions, etc., also directly let Yan Dang fill up all the places. In this way, the party will expand its strength and absorb new blood.

This point has been discussed many times by the Yan family's father and son, and it has been operating two months ago.

Originally, this was a big deal, and there was no room for negotiation.

But as soon as Xu Jie came today, he threw out the two terms "Yuxi Palace" and "King Jing", which made Yan Shifan's eyelids jump.

These two cases are two of the party's heart problems, and they can't be said or dared to say.

In order to raise military salaries for Hu Zongxian, Xiao Yan moved nearly one million taels of silver from the Yuxi Palace project, and the Li family's father and son made five greedy inks. This money is the emperor's private money, and if it is passed out, I am afraid that things will be very bad. Who in this world doesn't know that Jiajing is a first-class money-loving person, and he wants his life if he touches his small treasury.

As for King Jing, Yan Dang's ass is even more unclean. In the past, in order to be the minister of the dragon, Yan Dang took the opportunity that Jiajing had not been a prince and wanted to push King Jing to the throne. It's a pity that as soon as this incident came out, public opinion was in an uproar, and King Jing was also driven back to the domain by the important ministers of the court.

However, even after King Jing left Beijing. The father and son of the Yan family still exchanged letters with him and discussed important matters.

Seeing Xu Jie's ancient face, Yan Shifan's heart sank, and he realized that it was not good: Could it be that this old Xu knows something?

However, what kind of character is Yan Shifan, even if he is pinched by the heat, he still looks like a strong point, and asks rhetorically: "Xu Xiang, what happened to King Jing and Yuxi Palace?" ”

Xu Jie didn't rush to answer Yan Shifan's words, so he first picked up a piece of pastry from the plate and put it in his mouth.

…,

He was a little old, and he had lost several big teeth, and he couldn't chew them, so he had to soak them with saliva first, and then slowly squirm his chin.

The voice of the speaker was also indistinct: "Donglou, King Jing has caused a disaster over there." ”

Yan Shifan didn't speak, and looked at Xu Jie's gaze that began to sharpen.

Xu Jie gulped down the tea and sent the snacks: "When King Jing Zhu Zaizhen went to the fiefdom of Lu'an, Hubei, Wan Sui felt sorry for this little son and gave him a lot of property, but he was not satisfied, and he embezzled the local ten thousand hectares of fertile land. Now, the local authorities have sued him. The imperial envoys of the Supervision Yuan also saw the impeachment and demanded that the imperial court deal with it impartially. Hey, this matter involves the blood of the Heavenly Family, and it is not easy to deal with it. ”

When Yan Shifan heard this, his heart was relieved, and he couldn't help but be annoyed: "Xu Xiang, it's just a trivial matter, is it worth discussing in the cabinet?" Just go directly to the Zongren Mansion and let the emperor see it himself. ”

Zongrenfu is an institution specially used by the royal family to deal with the affairs of the imperial family, and most of the prefects Zongzheng are concurrently served by the highly respected princes in the imperial family.

King Jing's embezzlement of the people's land and property, if he takes the judicial route, there will definitely be a lot of trouble. It's better to transfer to the Zongren Mansion, and turn the big things into small things and small things. With King Jing's favor in Jiajing, it must be a.

However, the matter still needs the nod of the cabinet.

"En, according to the rules, this kind of case should be handled by the cabinet, since the little pavilion elder said so, it is better to transfer it to the Zongren Mansion."

Yan Shifan secretly said in his heart: This Xu Jie, who is sensible.

Then he asked, "What, then, is the second one?" He deliberately didn't mention the words "Yuxi Palace", but he was a little apprehensive in his heart.

Xu Jie ate another piece of dim sum, and his voice was even more vague: "Here's the thing, I see that it's the Spring Festival." For the New Year, naturally you can't be like ordinary people, you have to put up some lights・・・・・・ you have to be colorful, and the concubines have to appreciate something... Also, the Son of Heaven receives the minister・・・・・・ gives a banquet or something, and he needs money... ・・・”

Xu Jie's voice was also low, Yan Shifan sounded very difficult, and asked a few times halfway, and when Xu Jie's finished speaking, he said impatiently: "How Your Majesty wants to spend money is his business, what does it have to do with our cabinet?" ”

"The problem is, Banzai said he doesn't have any money, let's move a little from the household. The household department doesn't do it, saying that your majesty can come up with money for such a big project in Yuxi Palace, why do you now reach out to the treasury, this example can't be opened, this wind can't be long... So, some people want to see the accounts of the Yuxi Palace project... It is said that it is necessary to come up with solid evidence and the theory of the Son of Heaven・・・・・・"

Xiao Yan listened more and more frightened, as an auxiliary minister of the cabinet and a left servant of the Ministry of Industry, no one knew better than him what was going on with the accounts of this Yuxi Palace. That's a bag of messy accounts, a check, even if the fuse is lit, I don't know who it will blow up?

He couldn't help but cry out angrily: "What to check, the account of the Son of Heaven is also a courtier, can you go to check?" Old Xu Ge, what's going on with the people in the household department? How do you govern your subordinates? ”

Originally, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War were the basic plates of the Yan Party, and the father and son of the Yan family single-handedly controlled the financial and military power of the entire Ming Dynasty, and their power was so great that it aroused the vigilance of the ministers. Because of this, there were constantly letters from the imperial envoys and ministers of the ministries requesting that the three departments be separated.

No, the strict party can only sacrifice the household department.

After all, there is nothing to say about the importance of military power, and the Ministry of Industry is their big source of wealth.

So, Xu Ge Lao was in charge of the big stall of the household department.

Fortunately, Xu Jie is a good person, and he also drives and follows the Yan family, which is very obedient and acceptable. …,

Xu Jie, hearing Xiao Yan say this, nodded, took a big sip of tea, and washed the pastry down, and his voice became clear: "Since Donglou said so, let them stop checking." ”

Now that Xu Jie had nodded, Xiao Yan's hanging heart finally fell to the ground, and he snorted in his nose to show that he understood his affection.

However, he had a strong premonition that Old Man Xu would definitely make conditions next.

This man is honest, but he is not stupid. Who is not a top person who can enter the cabinet?

Throwing out such two big favors, will Lao Xu not fight for his own interests?

Yan Shifan: "Xu Xiang continued to say the third case. Chunqiu, what's wrong? ”

Xu Jiedao: "It's a little embarrassing to say this, and it has something to do with Wu Jie. ”

As soon as he heard Wu Jie's name, Yan Shifan was furious: "What's wrong with that guy?" This birdman is so damnable! Angry for a moment, Xiao Yan began to explode.

Xu Jie's face was still calm: "Speaking of which, when Wu Jie participated in the children's examination in Sichuan, he and my protégé named Gao Wentao had the status of teacher and student, so he can be regarded as my disciple." ”

"Hehe, your people are so amazing, you really have a set of tossing people." Yan Shifan sneered.

Xu Jie didn't refute either, and continued: "My protégé specially wrote a letter to the old man for Wu Jie, and asked Xu Jie to take care of it. Therefore, Xu Jie reported the name of Chunyu to Wu Jie. ”

"Reported?" Yan Shifan was stunned for a moment and sat up straight.

Xu Jie: "It is said that Yan Ge is going to be the great master of this subject. If Wu Jie goes to take the exam, I don't know if Yan Ge will take it or not? ”

Xiao Yan said angrily: "What if you take it or not, it's all transcribed and pasted with your name, before you open it, will you know whose the scroll is?" ”

He then sneered: "It seems that Xu Xiang is worried that I, Yan Shifan, will take this opportunity to brush Wu Jie down, right?" You're also an old man in the field.,Don't you know the rules here.,The imperial court system is as big as a mountain.,That's right.,I want to give this birdman a little color to see, but I also want to have a chance, right? Yan Xiang reported Wu Jie's name, even if he was lucky, you can't help but give face. As for whether he is in the middle or not, it is all up to creation. ”

"Yes, Elder Yan Ge and Elder Xiaoge, you are fair and strict, and you can show it every day, but what will others think?" Xu Jie suddenly laughed, smiling like an old fox: "Who can say exactly what is going on in the field, tens of thousands of candidates, and only a few hundred people were selected in the end, thousands of troops crossed the single-plank bridge, no matter how big the talent was, he didn't dare to boast that he would be stable." Wu Jie may not be able to get into the Jinshi, but if he can't be hit, will others say that Yan Ge Lao deliberately retaliated because of Xiao Ge Lao and Wu Jie's festival? ”

Yan Shifan was stunned: "I won't tell lies in front of you Xu Xiang, yes, I want to take revenge on Wu Jie, but in the imperial examination, even if I have a heart, it is unthinkable." ”

"That's, that's." Xu Jie smiled even more happily, "But others don't think so, the so-called crowd is golden, and the three of them become tigers." In this world, there are not a few people who have no knowledge or chase after the wind, or even have ulterior motives.

Yan Shifan said angrily: "In this way, Wu Jie must also be a jinshi, otherwise my Yan family's father and son will wear shoes and beat sticks and be villains?" If I could decide who would be able to get into the Jinshi, I would have to wait for today, and I would have gone to the examination room in person・・・・・・ "Not having the fame of the Jinshi has always been an eternal pain in his heart."

Having said this, he felt a wave of depression in his heart for no reason.

The matter has fallen into Xu Jie's calculations: "Donglou is right, there is really no way to deal with this matter." Wu Jie is not hit, there is a suspicion of retaliation. But if he does, things will get even more troublesome. ”…,

Yan Shifan was surprised: "Why is it more troublesome to win, why can't I understand this?" ”

Xu Jie touched the beard on his chin and said slowly: "If Wu Jie is really hit, some people say that in order to avoid suspicion, Yan Xiang's father and son took Wu Jie indiscriminately to show their selflessness." In fact, it is to sell fame and reputation. ”

Xiao Yan was furious: "Whether Wu Jiezhong hits or not, it's my father and son's fault." This birdman is dog shit, and as soon as it sticks to it, it stinks? ”

Xu Jie nodded: "Donglou, you are an auxiliary minister of the cabinet, and Yan Ge is always the first assistant of the cabinet, which is directly related to the face of the imperial court." If it caused a controversy in the matter of Chunqiu, it would also be a damage to the reputation of the imperial court. In the past few days, the father and son of Donglou have not been on duty in the cabinet, so I discussed it with Gao Gong and Zhang Taiyue. As for the affairs of King Jing and Yuxi Palace, let's do it according to Yan Ge's wishes. ”

He deliberately bit the two terms King Jing and Yuxi Palace extremely hard.

Yan Shifan suddenly understood that this was Xu Jie's trading with him, and he couldn't bear it anymore, and shouted angrily: "You have all discussed it, and you will talk to me about it." That's it, you have to be the main examiner, just go and be it! ”

In vain, he prides himself on being shrewd and capable, but this matter has been led by Xu Jie's nose from beginning to end, and now, he has completely fallen into his trap.

Yan Dang has been hit several times, it can be said that there is a sporadic talent, and there is no green and yellow, so he Yan Shifan and Hu Zongxian are supported by one mile and one outside, and they urgently need to replenish new blood.

After several years of turmoil in the imperial court, many key positions have been vacated and need to be filled

It's not that Yan Dang doesn't want to take the opportunity to take the position, but he is really a useless talent at hand.

This test is a great opportunity to attract new talents.

But Xu Jie took the two things of this maintenance project and King Jing to make a deal with himself.

Speaking of which, can Yan Shifan not agree?

After sending Xu Jie away, he remembered that Old Man Xu had pretended to sigh before: "I will test the great master of the examination room, that is a troublesome thing in the world." But for the sake of the country's social welfare, the old man could only barely cheer up. ”

"Phew, this old fox!" The bubbles at the corner of Yan Shifan's mouth hurt again: "Everything is because I lost to Wu Jie, this birdman, not killing is not enough to calm the hatred in my heart!" ”

He yelled, tore the manuscript to pieces, and threw it to the ground.