Ah Yan"

When he lowered his face and leaned over to her, she realized that she had just called his name, and that their faces were no more than half a foot apart, so close that she could almost count his long eyelashes, which were black, long, and curled.

His warm breath sprayed on her cheeks, and she smelled the faint smell of wine, clear but not intoxicating.

Bang bang bang!

Duanmu Fei felt that her heartbeat was getting faster and faster, faster and faster, making her almost unable to look directly into his eyes, her mind was a mess, and she asked without thinking, "Ah Yan, have you drunk?" ”

As soon as she spoke, she felt that this sentence was very familiar. Strange, where have you heard of it?

Feng Yan's body froze, and the scene from the last time he came here flashed in his mind like a marquee, and finally froze on Duanmu Fei's slightly drunk little face.

Last time, the result of the conversation starting with this sentence was that Zhen Zhen was "drunk".

Feng Yan felt that he had to be careful when he spoke, well, although Zhen Zhen was slightly drunk and cute, but if he "drunk" her every time he came, would Zhen Zhen think that he did it on purpose?

The question is, what exactly did he say last time?

Feng Yan searched hard for his memory, and then Duanmu cleared his throat and said, "I recently brewed pomegranate wine again, will I invite you to drink it next time?" ”

When Feng Yan heard the first half of the sentence, he was relieved, thinking that the topic had passed, but when he heard the second half of the sentence, his heart rose again, and he sighed in his heart: Why is Zhen Zhen not giving up on "drinking"?

But

Pomegranate wine is not intoxicating, a glass should still be okay, right?

Feng Yan's mind was full of thoughts: Well, after they get married in the future, they can have a drink that is "pleasant".

Just thinking about it, the roots of his ears burned.

More than a year to go

Feng Yan let out a "hmm", looking at her eyes, there was a brilliance that was brighter and brighter than the bright moon.

Seeing that he was happy, Duanmu Fei was also infected, and said with a smile: "I'll leave you two no, three altars." ”

The two of them talked happily on the roof, no matter what the topic was, they could happily talk about a few words, time passed in gossip, and when Feng Yan hugged Duanmu Fei off the roof, it was three watches.

On this night, some people had a good night's sleep, some people tossed and turned, some people rejoiced, and some people were sad.

Whether it is Liwei or rectification, after the incident of Chengengong, the effect was immediate, and the officials who lingered in the Qinglou Chu Pavilion immediately became much less, after all, it is not easy to study hard for ten years to be admitted to the Jinshi, and it is even more difficult to climb all the way to Beijing for so many years, and no one wants to ruin their careers for such a trivial matter, besides, where are the women gone? !

However, one wave has not settled, and another wave has risen.

Immediately afterwards, the celebrant set off an uproar without warning, ordering the Ministry of Officials to evaluate the performance of all officials in the capital.

In Dasheng, the performance appraisal of officials is held once every three years, and it was just completed last year.

There was an uproar in Beijing for a while, which attracted a lot of speculation, and everyone was shocked, and they discussed and speculated in private, but they couldn't understand what Cen Yin's intentions were, so many people ran to the ministry to inquire about the news.

Although the Ministry of Officials is responsible for the performance appraisal of officials, everyone knows that over the years, the so-called "performance appraisal" is just a formality, basically not seeking merit, only seeking no fault, as long as there is no major incident, then the performance appraisal can be "middle and upper" or above, and the seniority will go on year after year, even the mediocre officials can always be promoted.

This time, however, the momentum was markedly different.

The officials had no bottom in their hearts, they were worried, and they couldn't help but think nonsense, but the person who was most upset about this was the official Shangshu You Junji.

You Junji looked at the stack of documents he had just gotten from Cen Yin, and read it several times, and he had a splitting headache.

Hey, others look at his high position and power, who knows that his errand is getting more and more difficult, this time, thinking about it with his toes, he also knows that he is estimated to offend a large number of people.

Although the order was issued by Cen Yin, those people didn't dare to go to Cen Yin, so they could only put the account on his head.

You Junji really wanted to mention to Cen Yin whether this performance appraisal should not be so strict, but Cen Yin has always acted arbitrarily, and it is estimated that he can't make sense, so he can only go to Duanmuxian.

The two of them were locked in the study for a long time before they came out.

On the same day, the content of the performance appraisal of the officials was finally announced, and it was like a firecracker, blowing up the entire court.

Those officials didn't dare to go to Cen Yin as You Junji thought, and they ran to the cabinet to cry, and the yamen and mansions of several cabinet ministers were about to be stepped on the threshold.

Until, Duanmu Xian, who had been busy for several days, finally took a break, and let so many posts come in, but he was closed to the guests, and he was in a very happy mood.

"Four girls, look at this!" Duanmu Xian threw a stack of official documents to Duanmu Fei as if offering a treasure, and his smile had a hint of schadenfreude.

"Grandfather drinks tea." Duanmufei personally handed the teacup to Duanmuxian's hand and sat down beside Duanmuxian.

The tip of Duanmu Xian's nose moved, and his eyes lit up.

Good tea, really good tea!

Just by smelling the tea, he felt comfortable from head to toe.

Duanmuxian drank tea, while Duanmufei looked at the official document, she saw ten lines at a glance quickly, and smiled with interest.

Duanmuxian hooked his lips, and in front of his granddaughter, he didn't bother to hide his ridicule and disdain.

"Four girls, Lord Cen actually thought of restructuring and evaluating performance, and it's fun to watch now!"

"Hmph, it's time for the court to clean up after raising so many idlers who lead idle days."

He is so busy every day that he only wishes to grow three heads and six arms, and those idlers occupy a place every day and do not work, and they are very idle, and they can save a lot of silver for the imperial court by clearing these idlers.

Duanmu Fei raised his head from the official document and asked casually, "What does grandfather think?" ”

Duanmu Xian stroked his beard, his eyebrows showed appreciation, and said: "In addition to the four items of guarding, government, talent, and year, I also added the eight methods of greed, coolness, inaction, impertuousness, old age, illness, impetuousness, and lack of talent. In my opinion, this reform performance appraisal should not be a whim of Lord Cen on a whim. ”

Duanmu just pursed her lips and smiled. Great minds think alike. This official document should not be from Cen Yin's hand alone.

Yes, if it weren't for the danger of the north, they would have had everything but the east wind.

Duanmu lowered his eyes, and his long eyelashes blocked the different colors at the bottom of his eyes.

Duanmu Xian's gaze fell on the stack of official documents spread flat on the table, his eyes were slightly condensed, and he muttered, "It's just too tight." ”

Duanmu's scarlet eyes flickered, and he asked in a crisp voice: "Grandfather, did Gongzi Cen relax the deadline later?" ”

Her eyes were shining, looking at Duanmu Xian with a smile, that smile was a little cunning, a little smart, like a cute little fox.

Duanmu Xian laughed in a good mood, raised his hand and pointed at Duanmu Fei who was separated from him by his index finger, "You girl, you are smart!" ”

Duanmu raised her eyebrows, meaning, of course she was smart.

"When the cabinet discussed this matter with Lord Cen yesterday, Lord Cen agreed to put the time for performance appraisal half a year later." The corners of Duanmu Xian's mouth flashed with a smile, "Although it is half a year later, if those idlers are still as indulgent as before from now on, they will definitely not be able to pass the performance appraisal." ”

Duanmu pursed his lips and smiled, and lowered his head to drink tea.

The problem of Dasheng officialdom has a long history, equivalent to eighteen years of depression, and it is almost impossible to solve it in a day or two, and it will definitely cause a backlash from those courtiers and lead to turmoil in the court, which is not a wise move.

Cen Yin's move is actually to retreat and attack.

Duanmu smiled so much that his eyes were crooked into crescent moons, as if he had thought of something interesting.

Duanmu Xian was also laughing, squeezing his eyebrows at Duanmu Fei and smiling: "With this guillotine hanging above his head, there are fewer people who want to be lazy."

He sighed a little embarrassed: Great, Dasheng Dynasty is finally not the only one who is working!

Duanmuxian drank and found that the teacup was mostly empty, so he called his little granddaughter with a smile: "Four girls, it's just right, you make another cup of tea for your grandfather before you go out." ”

Duanmu blinked, stood up on the ground, and muttered, "Oh, it's today, I thought it was tomorrow." ”

She almost forgot she was going out today.

Duanmu Fei hurriedly looked at the pot leak, and was anxious, so he hurriedly said: "Grandfather, it's not too early, I can't catch up, I'll make you tea next time."

Before he finished speaking, Duanmu Fei had already run away, leaving only a door curtain shaking in mid-air, and Duanmu Fei's anxious voice came from outside: "Bi Chan, go and prepare a carriage for me." ”

Duanmu Xian shook his head with a smile, his smile was even stronger, and he said in his heart: This girl is almost fourteen years old, and she is still a child!

Duanmu Fei is going to ask for Hui Lanyuan today.

Today is the entrance exam for the women's school, and it has nothing to do with Duanmufei, but she accidentally heard from her sister-in-law a few days ago that Mr. Qi got a painting of Saint Qi Daozhi painted by this dynasty as an apprenticeship gift, and gave it to the best one in this exam for the female school.

Duanmu Fei has always liked Qi Daozhi, and her grandfather, Mrs. Chu, and the palace have collected several paintings of Qi Daozhi, and she copied many of them when she was a child.

Qi Daozhi is a madman, not only likes to paint, but also likes to tear and burn paintings, and the paintings he has circulated in the world are all works that satisfy him, and the number is really not much.

Duanmu Fei just thought about it, and felt as if there was a feather scratching in his heart, itchy.

The carriage sped all the way in the direction of Mingxian Street, and Duanmufei couldn't help but pick up the corner of the curtain and looked out.

Two more streets, you will arrive at Hui Lan Yuan, and you should be able to catch the exam.

Duanmufei's eyes were shining, she didn't actually expect to get that painting, she just wanted to take a look, just take a look.

In fact, she had already made three trips to Huilan Garden for that painting, and she had used all the means of coquettishness, begging, etc., but Mr. Qi just didn't let her see it.

Duanmu Fei still didn't give up, since this road didn't work, he simply took a different path and decided to take the entrance exam for women's schools.

She thought about it, she just went through the motions, and after seeing the painting, she didn't think it was like this!

The corners of Duanmufei's lips hooked a sly and cute smile, and at this time, the carriage turned right onto Mingxian Street, and the speed of the carriage slowed down.

Today's Ming Xian Street is not as quiet and solemn as usual, with cars coming and going on the street, and horse-drawn carriages lined up in a long line, noisy and noisy, and it is difficult to walk an inch.

Soon, Duanmu's carriage stopped moving in the traffic.

Bi Chan said hello to Duanmu Fei, and went down to inquire about the news, and after a while, she came back with a smile on her face, and said like a sparrow:

"Fourth girl, today's exam starts, and it will take a quarter of an hour for Hui Lanyuan to open the door, so it's too late."

"These carriages outside are all coming to Huilan Yuan to take the exam, no wonder it is so lively here today."

"The slave maid just stopped by to find someone to chat a few words, and there are many girls who came from other places."

Duanmu Fei listened, and looked out again, it seemed to be more crowded outside, and the voices coming from the wind were sandwiched with dialects of various accents.

Duanmu hooked his lips with interest.

The women's school has been running in Beijing for almost two years, and it has gained some scale and fame in the Gyeonggi area, which is why it has today's lively scene.

After a while, the traffic in front of him finally moved, Hui Lanyuan opened on time, and several porters came out to maintain order and lead the candidates in an orderly manner.

Duanmu Fei waited for another cup of tea in the carriage, and finally entered the door.

Today's Hui Orchid Garden has been carefully arranged, there is a huge bulletin board in the courtyard behind the door, which is pasted with the layout of the Hui Orchid Garden, indicating the location of each place, the surrounding trees, under the eaves are hung with lanterns painted with orchids, and there are some girls wearing orchids on their chests along the way are pointing the way for the candidates.

Bi Chan looked around, and said with great interest: "Girl, the slave maid just heard that for today's entrance exam, the women's school was suspended for a day, and the students came to help, and the people wearing orchids are all female students?" That one is the fifth girl! ”

Duanmu Fei looked at the blue cicada's gaze, and saw Zhang Lan standing upright under a golden laurel tree two or three zhang away, she was wearing a blue and blue embroidered water lotus and butterfly gown, with a lotus green moon skirt underneath, a meniscus bun, and a little emerald butterfly hairpin inserted between the sideburns, which lined the white and pink face elegant and moving.

Zhang Lan, who has reached the end of the line, is slim.

The cute little cousin has grown up, so it is inevitable that she will be "remembered"!

Duanmu pursed his lips and quickened his pace towards Zhang Lan.

Since the last time she learned that Zhang Lan was "in love" by the queen, Duanmu Fei wanted to hand over the post to Zhang's house, but she didn't expect the Zhang family to close the door first, so she never had the opportunity to see Zhang Lan until today.

Zhang Lan didn't see Duanmufei, she was talking to the two girls from Peilan beside her, her eyes were bright, her smile was bright, her speech was not slow, her every move was as if she was measured by a ruler, and her demeanor revealed a kind of famous lady's demeanor.

"Fourth girl Duanmu."

When a blue-clothed girl beside Zhang Lan looked towards the gate, she happened to see Duanmufei.

So, Zhang Lan also looked towards Duanmufei, her eyes lit up in an instant, and the corners of her slightly curved mouth restrained herself from maintaining the original curvature, and her demeanor was still so dignified and elegant.

Her little cousin is still so cute. Duanmu Fei felt like eating candy, and his mood became very happy.

After she stepped forward to greet Zhang Lan and the two girls beside her, she smiled and invited Zhang Lan: "Miss Zhang, I haven't seen you for a few days, let's go to my house another day." ”

Zhang Lanying's lips moved slightly, and her eyes showed a little wandering.

Duanmu Fei just pretended not to see it, and continued casually: "My little eight has recently learned a few words." ”

Hachi! Zhang Lan's eyes brightened like jewels, and he suddenly forgot his hesitation and said, "Okay." ”

Her eyes moved, and she endured it, but she still couldn't help asking, "How are Hachi and Tuanzi?" Speaking of Hachi and Danzi, her voice unconsciously softened a little, and the tail finger of pinching the handkerchief trembled lightly twice.

Duanmu Fei noticed Zhang Lan's small movements, and said with a quiet temptation on his face: "Wait until you go to my house and see with your own eyes?" ”

Thinking of the cute little starling and the little fox, Zhang Lan's heart was about to melt.

While the two were talking, there was a sound of messy footsteps from behind, and the respectful voice of the porter: "A few girls, please come inside." ”

Other girls who had come to the exam came in from outside, and the girl in blue smiled and went up to greet her.

The three girls who were welcomed in by the porter were three girls, one of whom was also acquainted with the girl in blue, and said with a smile: "Third girl Qi, don't come unharmed." ”

The third girl Qi looked at the other party's face with a hint of surprise, smiled and bowed slightly with the girl in cuiyi: "Miss Tong, I heard my mother mention that you came to the capital with Lingtang, and you still want to visit the mansion another day, I don't want to meet here by chance." ”

Miss Tong said "Coincidentally" in her mouth, in fact, she knew that she would meet Miss Qi San here today.

This time, she came to the capital with her mother from Zhongzhou, and she said that she was visiting her grandmother, but she actually came to learn from a girl.

Hui Lan Yuan is now famous not only in Beijing, but also in several surrounding states.

In the past, when it came to talented women, except for the once amazing and brilliant girl of the Chu family, the talented women in the north were always a little inferior to those in the south.

However, in the past two years, with the rise of the fame of Hui Lan Yuan, there is a vague parallel posture between the north and the south, and some girls who have studied in Hui Lan Yuan have married into famous families even if they are from ordinary backgrounds and not from noble families.

Therefore, in the last few female school admissions, many people have come, but the three people who founded the women's school are strict, so the enrollment quota for women's schools has always been expensive.

Miss Tong sighed secretly in her heart, and she was not sure about today's exam.

She didn't show any color on her face, and with a smile, she introduced the two girls beside her to Miss Qi San: "Miss Qi San, this is Miss Xie Liu." ”

Miss Tong deliberately paused before introducing another person, "And this is Miss Qu." ”

As soon as Miss Qi heard Miss Xie Liu, she knew that the other party was the Miss Xie Liu from the Chengen Mansion, and hurriedly respectfully blessed Xie Xiangling, "Miss Xie Liu." ”

Xie Xiangling bowed slightly with a faint expression and returned the salute.

Miss Tong was not surprised by the deference of the third girl Qi, after all, Xie Xiangling had been designated by the queen as the future fourth princess, which was almost equivalent to the future crown princess, and even the queen.

If it weren't for the fact that Second Master Xie had been out of Zhongzhou for three years before, he would have been just a girl from a general judge, and I am afraid he would not have had the opportunity to make friends with Xie Xiangling, let alone stand by Xie Xiangling's side at this moment.

The door is getting more and more lively, and the closer you get to it, the more girls arrive at Hui Lan Yuan.

It didn't take long for two more girls to come in, laughing and walking past Xie Xiangling.

"Hey, isn't that the fourth girl Duanmu?"

"I didn't expect the fourth girl of Duanmu to come too, I heard that the fourth girl of Duanmu is no worse than the big girl Chu back then, if she comes to take the exam, there will be one less name today."

"yes. Let's go over and say hello to Miss Duanmu. ”

The two girls didn't seem to see Xie Xiangling at all, and walked directly towards Duanmufei, smiling and saluting her with a blessing, and greeting her with courtesy, that kind of respectful and almost welcoming feeling made Miss Detong frown.

Miss Tong immediately noticed that the corners of Xie Xiangling's lips were slightly tense, and she didn't know if she was happy to be ignored, or if she was very displeased with this Duanmu Fourth Girl.

Miss Tong moved her eyebrows, and asked Miss Qi San curiously, "Miss Qi San, who is that girl?" "She has just arrived in the capital, and she is not familiar with the famous ladies in the capital.

The third girl of Qi glanced at Xie Xiangling quickly, "That's the fourth girl of the Duanmu Shoufu family." ”

There is no impermeable wall in this world, Xie Xiangling seems to have something unpleasant to Duanmu Fei, and the third girl Qi has also heard of it.

Xie Xiangling didn't pay attention to the third girl Qi, she grabbed the handkerchief in her hand, and looked coldly at Duanmu Fei and Zhang Lan a few feet away in front of her, and a faint haze floated in her eyes.

Since being pointed out by the queen as the fourth princess, these days, she is proud of the spring breeze, and many ladies in Beijing have sent greetings to the Cheng'en Mansion.

Three days ago, she also held a small banquet in the house, and also specially posted to Duanmujun and Duanmufei, but neither of the sisters came.

Also. What faces did they have in front of her!

She is the future crown princess, except for the queen's aunt, there will be no one more noble than her!!

Xie Xiangling snorted softly, and added contemptuously after the words of the third girl of Qi: "The noble concubine in the palace is her aunt. ”

The Tong girl was stunned, and then suddenly realized.

I see. Although she has only been in the capital for more than half a month, she has also heard that the eldest prince is fighting for the throne with the fourth prince, and the concubine is the biological mother of the eldest prince, no wonder these people are so flattering to the girl of the concubine's mother's family.

The Tong girl was a little ridiculous in her heart, and shook her head secretly: What about the concubine?! The four princes were raised under the queen's knees, and the four princes must be more noble. These girls are so short-sighted!

"Third Miss Qi, bother us to show the way." Xie Xiangling said again, with a hint of arrogance in his tone.

Miss Qi San smiled gently and politely, and stretched out her hand to make an invitation, "Miss Xie Liu, Miss Tong, Miss Qu, there is still a stick of incense before the first test begins, let me take a few people to the Water Pavilion to sit for a while." ”

Under the guidance of the third girl of Qi, Xie Xiangling and the three of them went to the northeast of Huilan Garden, and walked under the golden laurel tree, not squinting, just as if they didn't see Duanmufei.

Duanmu Fei finally finished dealing with the two girls just now, looked at Zhang Lan with a smile, and wondered how to hook her little cousin to go home with her to play today.

"Miss Zhang, you haven't seen my little eight for a few days, right? It's a lot fatter than before, and when you see it, don't say it, it's always narrow-minded, and it's the most vindictive. ”

"Two days ago, I also painted a picture of Hachi and Tuanzi, the two of them are incompatible on weekdays, and it is rare to play shuttlecock together."

Zhang Lan listened, her eyes became brighter and brighter, and the picture depicted by Duanmufei appeared in her mind, and she really wanted to leave with Duanmufei now.

The two of them talked and listened one by one, and they didn't notice Xie Xiangling at all.

Xie Xiangling saw that neither of them paid attention to him, and no one took the initiative to come over to greet him, and his face became even more ugly.

She glanced at Zhang Lan beside Duanmu Fei with gloomy eyes, and walked faster.

Xie Xiangling naturally recognized Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan is the side concubine pointed out by the queen's aunt to the four princes, she is her wife, and Zhang Lan is a concubine, but Zhang Lan didn't come to salute when she saw her, but she was still talking and laughing with Duanmu Fei, I really don't know the etiquette!

This Zhang family is really different from the Pingyang Hou Zheng family.

Since the flower-viewing banquet in the palace that day, the Zheng family handed over a greeting post to the Cheng'en Mansion, and the Zheng family girl came to the door in person, affectionately called her sister, and gave a heavy gift.

However, Zhang Lan never came, and the Zhang family did not say anything about it.

This Zhang Lan hasn't passed the door yet, so he is so frivolous and doesn't take himself seriously.

Off topic

Xie Liu is here, of course she can't be allowed to come in vain, right?