"I'm ......" a man dressed in a black coat walked out of it.

The soldier lit the torch with a fire fold, and the light of the fire illuminated the faces of the comers.

"Lord Wang...... How did you get here? After seeing the person clearly, the soldier asked respectfully.

Standing in front of the two soldiers was none other than Wang Shilang, the second-in-command of the Ministry of Rites.

Wang Shilang rolled up his sleeves and said in a low voice: "I have some things at home, I have to go out and come back before tomorrow morning." ”

The two soldiers had a difficult look on their faces: "Lord Shilang, Lord Shangshu has an order, during the reading period, you are not allowed to go out of the tribute court for half a step." ”

Wang Shilang looked around, and when he saw that there was no one around, he straightened his face and said: "Zhang Dahu, Li Erbiao, you forgot, who brought you up?" ”

"The little one is toothless and unforgettable, and it is an adult's ancient way of hot intestines." The two immediately exchanged words.

"Are the wings stiff now? Don't take me into account? Wang Shilang's face sank.

"This ......" The two glanced at each other, and at the same time arched their hands towards Wang Shilang, "Please be sure to return as soon as possible, otherwise something will happen, and the little one really can't afford it." ”

"It's nature." Wang Shilang wore a cloak, took three steps and made two steps, and accelerated his way outward.

This Wang Shilang, traveling late at night, is naturally not to meet a certain person. He used to be Ouyang Xiu's protégé, and he also had a good friendship with Fan Zhongyan. As soon as the Qingli New Deal came, most of the Fan Party was suppressed, and those who were released were exiled, and those who were demoted were demoted. The conservative forces represented by Pang Ji have risen again, which makes this Wang Shilang heartbroken.

However, as one of the few representatives of the Fan Party, he could not support himself, so he had to keep a low profile and behave with his tail between his legs. Hearing that Fan Zhongyan's protégé entered Beijing for the exam this time, this Wang Shilang was greatly surprised. Fan Lao is fair and honest, and before that, he only recognized one person as his closed disciple, and that was the scholar of Hanlin University in the current dynasty, and now there is another one, and he must also be a dragon and phoenix among people.

Coincidentally, he overheard the conversation between Song Qi and his wife in the tribute courtyard, and he was very uneasy. If Fan Lao's protégé is not good enough, there is no way to fail the exam. However, if you are admitted, but for this reason, you will be screened out, which is really unacceptable.

Wang Shilang, who advocates virtue and has always been on par with Fan Zhongyan, burst out with a sense of cherishing talent at this moment. In order to keep this Fan Dang seedling, he was determined to take a risk and went out of the tribute hospital late at night to look for assistance.

Out of the Tribute Courtyard, the wind and snow outside are getting bigger and bigger. In the dark night, Wang Shilang was also one foot deep and one foot shallow, his movement was very inconvenient, and he walked extremely hard. The weather is cold, and the outside is far less comfortable and warm than the inner hall of this Gongyuan.

A team of soldiers walked by, and Wang Shilang naturally hid in the alley on the side in order to avoid people's eyes. I can only hear the conversation between the soldiers,

"Everyone can be careful, it's the Spring Month marking period, if you encounter any suspicious people who are moving around the Gongyuan, immediately arrest me!"

"Yes!"

Wang Shilang hid aside, secretly complaining, and his heart was a little shaken. Is it worth it to risk being dismissed and investigated to come out and ask for help?

As he walked, the squire was hungry. Late at night, although a few taverns were still open, I was in a hurry and forgot to bring money. And at this critical juncture, he can't reveal that he is the examiner, and he can't help but secretly complain.

Chaimen heard the dog barking, and returned to the people on a snowy night, Wang Shilang endured the discomfort, stumbled and walked in the snowy night.

There was a sparkling light ahead, a cloth shed erected in the open air, and many people lined up.

The aroma of food reached the tip of Wang Shilang's nose, and he sniffed his nose and instinctively stepped forward to get closer. When I got closer, I found that the people in line were all ragged, either homeless or poor. Under the cloth shed, a pot of hot porridge was boiling, and a young woman was scooping porridge for the poor people who had come to queue up, and there were several house-looking people helping beside her.

Wang Shilang couldn't cry or laugh, thinking that no matter how depressed he was, he would not have to line up with the poor to receive the soup that was almsgiving, so he wanted to speed up and walk forward. It's just helpless, the aroma of the porridge is too tempting. Wang Shilang looked down at the cauldron, the hot porridge, with coriander leaves floating and chopped preserved egg slices, looked extremely tempting.

Wang Shilang walked the way the carriage should have walked with two legs, he was already hungry, and his legs were filled with lead, and when he saw this scene, he couldn't help but look at the pot in a daze.

The young woman looked at Wang Shilang standing by the pot, and instructed the people next to her to bring a bowl of hot porridge to Wang Shilang.

"This son, it's cold and snowy, let's have a bowl of porridge to warm up." An old servant smiled and brought the porridge to Wang Shilang.

Wang Shilang came back to his senses, and when he saw this porridge, his face was flushed, and he pointed to the clothes on his body, which meant that he was not poor.

The young woman smiled and said, "Regardless of the poor or the rich, walking on the road in the middle of the night must have a last resort. Seeing each other is fate, if you can pad your stomach and add strength, it can be regarded as a good deed, as long as you don't dislike this porridge is unpalatable......"

Wang Shilang saw that the woman was not only handsome, but also spoke very decently, obviously helping himself, but saving face for himself.

He no longer hesitated, took the hot porridge, drank it in three sips, and only felt that it was delicious, and he had never drunk such a good porridge in his life. ”

After Wang Shilang finished drinking, he put the bowl on the table and saluted: "I am very grateful to have received a bowl of soup porridge from Miss. Dare to ask which house is doing this good deed? ”

The old servant said, "We are from Qingzhou Liufu. ”

Wang Shilang was shocked and asked, "Is that the Liu Ming who obtained the Xie Yuan?" ”

The young woman snorted and said, "You know my husband too?" ”

Wang Shilang's face was joyful, thinking that this was really a coincidence. Travel on a snowy night to save Liu Ming's tribute quota. Halfway through, he got the help of Mrs. Liu Ming. It seems that the Liu Ming family is indeed smart and kind, and their own favor is also worth helping.

Wang Shilang was very determined, but he understood that his identity could not be revealed at this time, so he said with a smile: "I am also a person who is rushing to take the exam in the capital, and I happened to meet your husband, and after chatting a few words, I greatly admired his character. ”

As soon as she heard this, Liu Xing'er was even more happy and said, "My husband happened to go out to do something. This official, if you don't dislike it, you can come to my house and sit down, and when my husband comes back, you can have a good talk. ”

During Liu Ming's stay in Bianjing, Xing'er saw that there were frequent disasters and famines in the surrounding states, and there were many displaced people pouring into Bianjing, so she moved the idea of giving soup porridge to help the victims. The security in Bianjing at night was not bad, and she was giving porridge around Kaifeng Mansion, with seven or eight family members, and she felt that there was no problem.

When Wang Shilang heard Liu Xing'er's invitation, he thought to himself that he was short of time now, and he was about to do something for your husband, how could he stay for a long time? He arched his hand and said, "Thank you, Madame, for your love." There is still something to do next, and it is better to choose a day than to hit the day, and I will definitely pay a return visit in the future. With that, he hurried forward.

After walking another mile, Wang Shilang came to a remote bungalow in the alley and knocked lightly on the door three times.

It didn't take long for there to be movement in the house, the wooden door was gently opened, and a thin old man stood at the door, and when he saw Wang Shilang, his face was surprised, "Why are you here?" ”

Wang Shilang immediately knelt down and said, "Duke Fan, come to visit you ...... from your humble position."

Fan Zhongyan smiled slightly: "Lord Shilang, could it be that you don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing?" ”

Inside the house, Wang Shilang saw that Fan Zhongyan's house was surrounded by four walls, and he was even more guilty, and said: "Fan Gong, I have been busy with political affairs for the past two years, and I have not been able to come to see you, I am really ashamed. ”

Fan Zhongyan said indifferently: "The old man is now a white coat, since he is not in his position, it is better to have less contact with the officials of the imperial court, so as not to cause chaos to the official family." ”

Wang Shilang's face flushed and said: "When Fan Gong said this, the students blamed themselves even more. ”

Fan Zhongyan said: "Squire doesn't have to be like this. I, Fan, am already a village man, and if I still interact with a group of court officials every day, I will be blamed by the court for forming a private party and plotting misdeeds. By the way, why did you come late at night? ”

Wang Shilang stood up and said excitedly: "The student is supported by Fan Gong and Ouyang Gong, and it is unforgettable. I came here today, mainly for Liu Ming, a protégé of Fan Gong......"

"Oh?" Fan Zhongyan's eyes showed attention, "He? ”

Wang Shilang took a breath and told Liu Ming how to give the stove and clothes to others in the tribute courtyard, but Mrs. Song's visit forced Song to tell Song Ming about Liu Ming's downfall.

Fan Zhongyan clenched his hands into fists, the blue tendons on his forehead were prominent, and his whole body trembled slightly: "That Song Itch has also been an official for more than 20 years." The old man looks at his past political achievements, does not seek merit but seeks no fault, and he can be regarded as a reasonable person. How could he make a fool of himself and do such a ridiculous thing? ”

Wang Shilang responded: "The matter is very serious, and the students deeply feel that they must not let Lord Song deal with the past like this. In two days, it will be the day of the provincial trial list, and if it is then, it will be too late. The students implore the adults to immediately entrust the officials of the DPRK and the Central Committee to write to the official family and refer to the Song Itch book! ”

"Oh? What do you think? Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard and looked at Wang Shilang.

Wang Shilang stood up and said indignantly: "My lord, this is not just a case of Song Itch favoritism and public favoritism, but another blow to us by the Pang Party. If a person like Liu Ming can't be holy in the Jinluan Palace, we and other officials of the Ministry of Rites are simply corpses and vegetarians, and they are useless. He took another step forward, bowed down and said, "Fan Gong, you have always been an example for me to learn from, and you are also the current hope of the Great Song Dynasty. Now the imperial court Pang Party dictatorship is rampant, and the government and the opposition are muddy. Just waiting for you to make suggestions to the official family and make deafening words. ”

However, Rao is Wang Shilang was so excited, but Fan Zhongyan sat on the wooden chair, silent, and silent for a long time.

The cold wind penetrated through the gap in the window, blowing the silver whiskers on Fan Zhongyan's cheeks to move slightly.

"Wang Shilang, it's rare that you have such a heart." Fan Zhongyan was silent for a while, and finally spoke, "Wang Shilang, do you really think that Liu Ming is a manufacturable material?" ”

Wang Shilang felt strange, but still replied: "Fan Gong, I read Liu Ming's article below, and it is smooth and magnificent. In the next opinion, whether Liu Ming can enter the Jinluan Palace involves the continuation of the bloodline of the Qingliu faction of the imperial court. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken a huge risk and came here. ”

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "I didn't expect you to come in the starry night for the sake of Fan's students, regardless of the risk, and the old man was really moved." Originally, Fan Mou, as a cloth cloth, should not ask about the affairs of the court. It's just that Song It's just that Song Itchy, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, if he exercises the rights granted by the official family like this, the old man's matter ......" Fan Zhongyan frowned slightly, "It's done!" ”

Wang Shilang was overjoyed and said, "I hope that adults can hurry up, if the provincial test is released once the list is released, it is estimated that it will be too late." ”

Fan Zhongyan smiled slightly, looked at the inner room, beckoned, and said, "Come out." ”