After Fan Ning entered the mansion, he did not go directly to the east courtyard where he lived, but followed Zhu Yuanfeng to the lobby, and he had something to ask Zhu Yuanfeng.

"Does the third grandfather still have a relationship with Zhao Zongshi?"

Zhu Yuanfeng is an important supporter of Zhao Zongshi, providing Zhao Zongshi with a lot of financial support, and the money spent on Zhao Zongshi over the years is at least tens of thousands, and some of the effects are obvious, such as Zhao Zhongzhen spent thousands of dollars to learn riding and archery, otherwise with Zhao Zongshi's royal family's monthly money of 100 yuan, where can he afford such a big high consumption as his son.

Moreover, Zhu Yuanfeng is a civilian, and his relationship with Zhao Zongshi is not eye-catching, and it is for this reason that Zhu Yuanfeng has become a frequent visitor in Zhao Zongshi's mansion.

Zhu Yuanfeng didn't understand why Fan Ning asked about this, he thought for a while and said, "The last time I saw him was two months ago, and I felt that he was in a low mood, so I didn't visit him during this time. ”

"Why are you feeling down?"

"Of course it's for his son!"

Zhu Yuanfeng smiled and said: "After working hard for so many years, but in the end he made a wedding dress for his son, he may be a little unwilling in his heart!" ”

"Grandfather sympathizes with him?"

Zhu Yuanfeng's head immediately shook like a rattle, "I can't understand his mentality, we have struggled all our lives, aren't we just for our children?" But he takes himself very seriously, and is even jealous of his son's achievements, such a person, I don't sympathize with him at all, and even regret supporting him. ”

Fanning was silent for a moment and said, "If the third grandfather is free in the past two days, go and see him, and at the same time persuade him." ”

"Persuade him what?"

"The third grandfather told him that the imperial physician Zhang Hongji is Zhang Yaozuo's person, Zhang Yaozuo has been relatively low-key for more than a year, but it doesn't mean that he gave up, he is hiding next to him like a poisonous snake, and he will strike a fatal blow at any time, I hope he won't let Zhang Yaozuo seize the opportunity again."

Zhu Yuanfeng sighed, "Let me say, he will guess that it was your suggestion, A-Ning, he will hate you, that person is very narrow-minded, I can see through him slowly." ”

Fanning said lightly: "I know he hates me, but I still have to say that I can't let his stupidity ruin the big thing." ”

"Alright! I'm looking for an opportunity to see him in the past two days. ”

At this time, Fan Ning diverted the topic and asked with a smile: "I heard that Zhu Qi went to participate in the Pingjiang Mansion exam, how did he do in the exam?" ”

"I passed the exam, but the results were not too ideal, I didn't even get into the top 20, and I only ranked 34th.

"Is it not ideal?" Fanning asked.

"No, he himself said that he played well, but he can only say that he is still not good at learning, and I am already a little disappointed that he was admitted to the Jinshi."

Fanning smiled: "When he comes back, let him come to see me, and I will help him point him out, maybe it will have an effect." ”

Zhu Yuanfeng was overjoyed, if Fan Ning was willing to point his fingers, his grandson would really be lucky.

..

The East Palace of the Song Dynasty has always been low-key and existing, which is also influenced by the five dynasties, trying to avoid the influence of the prince on the imperial power, so most of the monarchs of the Song Dynasty did not establish a prince, or tried to establish a prince as late as possible, resulting in the new emperors almost never did the prince before ascending the throne, even if they became the prince, it was also when the Son of Heaven was critically ill, and he ascended the throne directly after a few days in the East Palace.

In addition, Song Zhenzong established Zishantang, which is a special place for princes to study, and is subordinate to the secretary province, which virtually empties the East Palace.

It is precisely for these reasons that although the various functional officials of the East Palace are complete, most of them are part-time, there is really no prince in the Song Dynasty, there is nothing to do in the East Palace, and only a dozen full-time officials are also on vacation for many years, and there are even scandals that some officials secretly ran to open shops when they were in the court.

In fact, Fan Ning is also a part-time prince Zhan Shi, and his other position is the deputy commander of the palace, in charge of 20,000 Shenwu troops, Han Qi hinted to him that the prince Zhan is false, and the deputy commander of the palace is real, don't turn the two upside down.

Early the next morning, Fanning came to the East Palace, the East Palace covers a small area, about more than 300 acres, the front is the official office, the back is the place where the prince lives, the official office has Zhan Shifu, the left and right Chunfang, as well as the Chongwen Hall and other official offices.

In fact, the East Palace official office is a miniature version of the imperial court structure, the Zhan Mansion corresponds to the Shangshu Province, the corresponding pavilion of the left and right Chunfang corresponds to the University Scholar Pavilion, and the Zanshan Doctor is equivalent to the Counseling Doctor, etc.

Due to Zhao Zhen's health, the imperial court canceled the court meeting a few years ago, and the imperial court required Baiguan to appear in their respective official offices at one hour, and the hour was half past seven in the morning.

Fan Ning came to the East Palace on time, he showed his letter of appointment to the soldiers guarding the gate, and walked directly into the gate of the East Palace.

The building directly opposite the gate of the East Palace is the Zhan Mansion, the two buildings on the left and right are the left and right Spring Fang, there are Chongwen Hall and other official offices behind it, and the back is the Qinzheng Hall where the prince deals with court affairs, and then to the back is the Muchun Palace, the Ganlu Hall where the prince's concubines live, and so on.

The entire East Palace was deserted, except for the guards standing guard in the distance, there was not a single official in sight, and now the hour had passed, and the other offices had already been busy, but it was terrifyingly deserted here, it was like a holiday.

It wasn't until Fanning walked to the gate of Zhan Shifu that he saw an official running out in a hurry.

"Excuse me, but Fan Zhan?"

The person who came was a very thin middle-aged man, wearing an old official uniform, with pickled cucumbers on his face, and a bitter face, perhaps because Fanning was too young, he didn't dare to confirm it.

"I'm the new Zhan Shi Fanning!"

The middle-aged man hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, "The next official is Zhan Shicheng Zhong Nan, see Lord Zhan Shi!" ”

Zhan Shicheng is the director of the office of Zhan Shifu, from the seventh rank official, this position is relatively transactional, so it is not part-time, but full-time.

"Fu Cheng is exempt!"

Fanning looked behind him again, but there was still no one, and he asked, "What about the other officials?" ”

Zhong Nan smiled bitterly and said, "Other officials are all serving elsewhere, and I am the only one in the Zhan Mansion in normal times. ”

Fan Ning almost turned around and left, what kind of fame, there is only one official in the Zhan Mansion, isn't it a joke?

"Then how many full-time officials like you are in the entire East Palace?"

"There are a total of seven people, one person from each of the left and right Chunfang, and four people are responsible for sorting out the classics and books in the Chongwen Pavilion.

Originally, Fan Ning wanted to ask who went to open the store at the time of the last dynasty, but now he has no thoughts, the East Palace is about to grow grass, isn't it normal to open a store?

"Who are you asking for leave?" Fanning asked again.

"Zhang Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, he is also the prince's guest, he was responsible for the chores of the East Palace before, but now that Fan Zhan is in office, he doesn't care about these things."

Fan Ning had no choice but to walk towards Zhan Shi's mansion, and Zhong Nan introduced him to the situation of the East Palace all the way.

"In addition to the prince's young master, young master, young master, young bao, and prince's guests, there are also Zhan Shi, Tongzhi Zhan Shiyuan, Deputy Zhan Shi, left and right government envoys, Tongzhi left and right government affairs, left and right government deputy envoys, Yude, and Zanshan doctors, these official positions are mainly concurrently held by the old ministers, and Zhan Shifu also has Zhan Shicheng, literature, Zhongshe, orthography, waiting, horse washing, concubine and praise and other officials.

Then there are the left and right Chunfang officials, there are left and right Chunfang orders, and there are scholars, doctors, teaching assistants, school books, orthography and so on."

Fan Ning was dizzy when he heard this, and waved his hand weakly: "Where are these officials?" ”

Zhong Nan was stunned for a moment and said, "They have all official rooms, and there are signs on them." ”

"I'm not talking about houses, I'm talking about people, where are the officials?"

The corners of Zhong Nan's mouth twitched twice, thought about the wording, and said cautiously: "There are three kinds of officials in the East Palace, one is a full-time official, like Lord Fan and the lowly position, and the other is a Jilu official, mainly an official position above the fifth grade, mainly for meritorious ministers who are idle at home, and they receive a monthly salary, they actually have nothing to do with the East Palace, and other official positions below the fifth rank are called default officials." ”

Fanning immediately asked, "What is the default officer?" ”

"It's just that there are only official positions, no officials, and no part-time jobs!"

Fan Ning scolded in his heart, he was cheated by Zhao Zhen, no wonder no one was jealous of his promotion to a third-grade official, it turned out that the root was here, and he was appointed as the crown prince Zhan, it was too late to gloat, who could care about jealousy.

Fan Ning was helpless, and asked again: "What are you doing here for so many years of doing nothing?" ”

"The lower officials just read the newspaper, drink tea, or practice calligraphy, in fact, the villain likes this position very much, cultivates his mind, and has a lot of time to practice calligraphy."

Fan Ning secretly scolded in his heart, he was only twenty-five years old, did he start cultivating his mind?

"Where's my official quarter?" He asked helplessly.

"Just in front, the lower official will bring the adult over."

At this moment, someone outside suddenly shouted: "Where are the officials of the East Palace?" There are still no alive, hurry up and come out one, His Royal Highness King Liang has arrived! ”8)