Autumn morning, the autumn wind, the dead leaves flying, the night of fish and dragon dance.

Bianjing Imperial Street is the residence of the princes and nobles and the first-class officials. This street is the closest to the two prefectures and not far from the imperial palace, and is an ideal residential area for those officials who want to go to court every day.

At the door of a luxurious mansion, two stone lions were majesticly ahead, reminding everyone of their status as the owner of the mansion.

Suddenly, an official sedan chair slowly fell in front of the stone lion.

Qingzhou Tong sentenced Wang Tong to open the sedan curtain, bent down and walked out of the official sedan chair slowly.

He straightened his waist and looked around, his face showing nostalgia - he had not returned to this flowery Bianjing for several years.

Wang Tong took a sharp breath of the long-lost Bianjing air, and seemed to be able to feel the intoxicating breath in it, and his face showed a burst of envy - he didn't know when he would be able to return to the capital.

He straightened his face and knocked on the door of the mansion.

Through the porter's report, Wang Tong was taken by the servants to the main hall of this mansion.

A slightly wealthy middle-aged man was sitting upright in the hall, with a wide nose and mouth, and a pair of beautiful hair.

Wang Tong stepped forward and saluted respectfully: "The students have come to visit the teacher." ”

Sitting in the hall is the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, Song Qi, the third grade of the official residence, and the second-in-command of the Ministry of Rites.

Song Qi raised the teacup, waved his hand and said, "Sit, sit." Tell me about your experience as an official in Qingzhou. ”

Wang Tong nodded, and reported to his teacher all the main achievements of his three years in Qingzhou, and by the way, he talked about what he had seen and heard about the examination he had presided over.

When Song Yi heard one of the paragraphs, his eyebrows raised slightly, and he said, "So, in the end, Liu Yong, who was substituted for the exam, was acquitted?" ”

"Yes, teacher. Because he and a few other people were specially taken care of by Lord Ouyang Xiu. Ouyang Gong is the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and presides over the provincial examination ceremony every year, setting an example for the world's scholars. Dismissed his face...... Not so good. Wang Tong said.

Yang Liwu fabricated a letter at that time, fabricating the fact that Liu Ming was favored by Ouyang Xiu, so that Wang Correspondence thought it was true. Wang Tong himself was promoted by Ouyang Xiu, so he naturally took special care of the people his boss liked. He believes that he should be in a good sense of proportion.

Clinker, Song Yi frowned when he heard this: "Why do you let this kind of favoritism and fraud go unchecked?" ”

Wang Tong was stunned, thinking to himself what happened to his teacher? On weekdays, Song Itch is a waiter in the Ministry of Rites, even if he has objections, he will complain, and he will never go against Ouyang Xiu, who is a scholar.

"Teacher, this is ......" Wang Tong was asked by Song Itch, and he didn't know how to answer.

"The imperial examination is a national talent ceremony, and it must be handled impartially, understand?" Song itched up and said.

"But the letter of Ouyang Gong ......"

"What about Ouyang Xiu?" Song Yi touched the jade wrench in his hand and said lightly.

Wang Tong was taken aback, thinking to himself how could the teacher be so bold today and dare to stir with the Ministry of Rites.

"I'll tell you the truth......" Song Yi stroked his beard and said slowly, "Ouyang Xiu has been dethroned. The official family has just recently made a decree. ”

"This ......" Wang Tong was taken aback, and immediately asked, "The provincial examination ceremony is about to begin, who will succeed the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites who presides over the examination?" ”

……

In the early morning of the next day, the cold that had not faded was like a knife cutting the skin of pedestrians, but in front of the gatehouse of the Song Mansion, there was already a long queue of visitors.

Most of these visitors, dressed as officials of the Beijing Ministry, carried some gift boxes of snacks, shivering and exhaling hot air, waiting for the concierge to open.

"Brother Zhanda, you're so early...... one of the officials smiled respectfully when he saw an acquaintance in the queue.

The other turned around, a routine smile on his face: "Brother Wang, the early birds have worms." This Ministry of Rites Shangshu Song Qi has just taken office, and I, as an official of the Ministry of Rites, should come to greet me. ”

After hearing this, the official said with a smile: "Brother Zhan Da really knows how to be an official. That Ouyang Xiu was demoted to the local governor, and I don't think this year will be easy. We, the middle and lower-level officials, can only follow the call of the imperial court and follow Lord Song to do a good job. ”

"Isn't it? Brother Wang, I think you are also quite clever. This Lord Song is responsible for presiding over the provincial examination half a month later, and there are still some specific manpower undecided. I think that if Brother Wang, you can serve as the deputy examiner in the provincial examination, and your future will be immeasurable. ”

"Brother Janda ...... I would like to thank you. Another official said with a smile in his eyes, "There are some things that the Buddha said -- you can't say it, you can't say it." ”

In the early morning, in front of the first gate of Song Qi's mansion, I heard the whirring cold wind, mixed with half-truths and half-truths between visiting officials.

Suddenly, the vermilion lacquer gate of the Song Mansion was pushed open, and Song Qi, dressed in civilian clothes, stood in front of all the officials.

"Lord Song...... The students paid a visit. ”

"My lord, come to ...... with a lowly position"

"Adult ......"

The officials did not expect Song Yi to appear at the door of the mansion in person, and they were a little caught off guard, and bowed in a panic.

Song Qi, who was not tall, looked at everyone and said, "Are you here to embarrass the official?" ”

What do you say......

The other officials looked at each other.

Seeing that everyone didn't speak, Song Qi continued to say in a deep voice: "If it wasn't for the embarrassment of the official, why did you gather at the gate of the official mansion early in the morning?" He clasped his hands into fists and rushed into the sky, "This official is ordered by the imperial court to serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. In the early days of his tenure, he was honestly afraid and did not dare to make a mistake. You people, carrying these gifts, are at the gate of the official mansion, what are you talking about, for fear that others will not know that the official loves to receive gifts? ”

Song Itch said these two sentences very seriously. The visitors turned pale with fright, and knew that they had been slapped on the horse's hooves, so they had to nod their heads in agreement.

After Song Qi reprimanded a few words, his attitude changed and he said gently: "This official is going out to visit friends now, please take care of yourself." Prepare a sedan car! ”

The officials watched Song itch leave, all like frosted eggplants, wilting their heads.

smiled bitterly at each other, ready to leave, and just walked a few steps, they heard a call from behind,

"Everyone, please stay."

Everyone turned around, and an old man in Tsing Yi stood in front of the gate. He looked at the gifts in the hands of those officials and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been a porter in this Song Mansion for many years, and I don't know if some words are useful to you?" ”

"Please." An official said.

The old man in Tsing Yi seemed to be embarrassed and said, "This ......"

A clever official was quick-eyed, and quickly pressed two ingots of silver into the old official's hand, and said, "This old man, we officials are all subordinates of Lord Song, and we are also kind-hearted, and we want to further communicate with the Lord about the issue of the Ministry of Rites. Unexpectedly, I was a little reckless and angered the adults. ”

The old official held the silver in his hand, smiled slightly, and said, "The minds of several adults also know that in fact, as long as the method is improved, the gifts in the hands of the adults can be sent in. ”

"That's the old man. We will give the gift to the elderly. An official said.

"The old man doesn't dare to overstep his bounds," the old official hurriedly excused himself, he pointed to his rear, "Everyone go back, exchange the gifts for rouge jewelry and other women's products, and then send them to the back door of this Song Mansion, and two maids will be responsible for the reception." Lord Song is honest and honest and does not accept gifts. But......" the old official smiled slyly, "and there is no problem in sending some gifts to Mrs. Song......"

In the afternoon of the same day, Song Yi returned to the mansion and just drank tea, but saw a mountain of gifts in the hall. Song Yi frowned, and asked in disgust, "Who put this here?" ”

He stood up and scolded loudly, "You subordinates, it's really the opposite! I just became the secretary of this Ministry of Rites, and before I sat down in my seat, I made this kind of thing! If I let those imperial historians know that I will write en masse, will I still be able to keep this black gauze hat? ”

Song Qi gave an order and asked several of his subordinates to kneel in a row.

"Master...... one of the old officials in Tsing Yi said, "It's not that we are greedy, the master has really wronged our little ......"

"If it's not you, who else can there be? Such a big guts! Song itch scolded.

At this time, with a "whoosh", an embroidered shoe was thrown out of the inner hall and went straight to the center of Song Qi's eyebrows.

"Oops!" Song Qi hurriedly covered his face.

Several officials kneeling on the ground wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh, so they all tensed their faces and forcibly held back.

"It's me!" A female voice came from the inner hall, and then a fat middle-aged woman walked out with her waist in her hand, pointing at Song Itch and scolding, "Tell me about you, you are as timid as a mouse." It's a little bit of a freak out. ”

Seeing this woman, Song Qi's face was extremely embarrassed, and he mouthed at several officials who were kneeling on the ground, and the latter immediately retreated in amusement.

"Madam...... Song Yi covered his face and said bitterly, "I have been a waiter in the Ministry of Rites for so many years, and this time I finally became an ugly daughter-in-law." I've just taken office, so I have to be cautious. ”

"Beware of fart!" Mrs. Song sat on the seat, "You guy, you're a coward!" There is a popular saying in the officialdom - three years of Qing Governor's Mansion, 100,000 snowflakes of silver. You, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, have been for so many years, and this house is still our mother's house. ”

Song Yi was ridiculed for such a while, and he didn't dare to refute, so he had to clench his fists to the sky and say, "Today's officials advocate simplicity and frugality. There are only eight sets of daily clothes, and the meals are also very simple, and the porridge and side dishes are natural. Those of us who are courtiers must follow in the footsteps of the Holy One and be frugal. ”

Song Qi's words are indeed from the heart, and every sentence is reasonable. However, after Mrs. Song heard it, she just sneered, "The Son of Heaven doesn't need those things at all. There are 2,000 eunuchs in the Qinzheng Palace, 1,000 palace maids serving, and 3,000 beauties waiting in the harem. I haven't heard of saving either. ”

"Madam, woe comes from the mouth." Song Qi panicked.

"What are you afraid of, I married you, a nerd who can only read, which is a blessing that you have cultivated for eight lifetimes. You, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, you are the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and you are not my aunt who is the queen who came here for you. Mrs. Song said confidently, "I'm going to the palace to do activities, which of those concubines in the palace has a low vision?" If you go on this trip, your year's worth will be gone. I still have to open up sources and reduce expenditures, so I have to find some other way out. ”

Although Song Qi is a scholar of the Ministry of Rites and is extremely noble in front of people, but in his own house, he doesn't even dare to breathe. He sat in his seat, holding his face silently.

After Mrs. Song crackled just now, her anger also subsided, and her voice turned softer and said, "Okay, okay." Marry a chicken with a chicken, marry a dog with a dog. After all, I am a member of your Song family, and what I do is also good for the Song family. By the way, I made an appointment with the wife of the Ministry of Industry to play pai gow together, and I left first, and you asked someone to give you a hot dish. With that, he twisted and walked away.

Several servants immediately worked together in the stove room, and soon served four or five hot dishes for stir-frying.

Song Qi glanced up at the dishes on the table, and then lowered his head to smoke his dry tobacco.

"Master, it's time to eat." A subordinate said.

Song Yi frowned, waved his hand angrily and said, "What kind of rice do you use!" I'm full of gas! ”

Several subordinates persuaded for a long time to retreat, and not long after, the old official in Tsing Yi from the concierge walked in.

"Sir...... People are iron, and rice is steel. If you don't eat, if you starve, the 300 officials of the Ministry of Rites and the 30,000 people in the whole country will not be able to have a good year. The old man in Tsing Yi persuaded in a harmonious voice.

Liu Donggua ...... You are the most cunning ......in the whole mansion," Song Qi scolded with a smile, "You guy, you're about to become an old tree spirit." ”

The Liu gatekeeper said with a smile, "My lord, my little nourishment is all due to the support of adults." The adult has just been told by the lady, and it is understandable that he is not happy. But Madame is also for the good of adults, for the sake of our Shangshufu. ”

Song Qi's lips showed a hint of sneer: "You Liu Donggua, but you cut tofu with a thin knife - two sides of light." Neither loses. If you can't make your mood better, you will be punished for kneeling in the antechamber. ”

"Your Excellency...... Aren't you embarrassed? Liu Donggua said bitterly, he howled twice, his eyes rolled around, but he was calculating. He took two steps forward, "Your Excellency...... If you want to relieve boredom, there is indeed a way. ”

"Oh?" Song Qi became interested and wanted to see what else this cunning old official could say in his mouth. He asked, "Tell me about ......?"

"The small one has a way, and it can definitely make the adults happy...... Liu Donggua said in a low voice, "The way to solve the mood is very simple, three words - Golden Boudoir Building." ”

When Song Qi heard this, his face changed, and he said, "As the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, this official presides over the Autumn Ceremony and should be an example for scholars in the world. How can you go to that kind of place? ”

Liu Donggua didn't feel angry when he heard this, and naturally responded, "Adults also have seven emotions and six desires." For the sake of fame, a concubine was not accepted, which is really admirable. However, if you are aggrieved because of this, you are angry and your body is broken, and it affects the autumn ceremony, then the gain outweighs the loss. ”

Song Qi drank while listening to the old official chattering about the wind and snow. As the saying goes, spring is the doctor of flowers, and wine is the color matchmaker. After a few glasses of wine, I couldn't help but feel a little itchy in my heart.

To be honest, I really haven't been nourished by nectar for too long. This tigress in her own family is in charge of everything, and listening to her roar all day long is enough to disappoint her fun, and how can she have the heart to do the things of husband and wife.

In order to divert attention, Song Yi put all his energy into official copywriting. But every late night, the sense of loneliness still grows.

Seeing Song Qi's hesitant face, Liu Donggua guessed eight or nine points in his heart, and said, "My lord, you still don't understand. Prostitute, prostitute, prostitution is purely a meat business, and this prostitute is a prostitute. The four flower fairies of the Golden Boudoir Building, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, blowing, playing and singing, are proficient in everything. How about you let the flower fairy play a song for you, sing a song, and relieve your mood? ”

Song Yi was already excited, he thought to himself that he wouldn't cross the line anyway, and it would be good for someone to play a song for him. He summoned the old official to his side and repeatedly admonished, "This matter needs to be kept secret. ”

Then Liu Donggua naturally nodded yes......

(Song Itch: Brothers, seeing that I am so miserable, don't you come to reward and comfort the old man?) Do you want to be like that? ）