After the four of them finished drinking in a dreary mood, Li Hao and Yan Fu said goodbye and left. As for Gu Tingye in the back, he has been in a state of disbelief and confusion, and Sheng Changbai stayed to accompany him without worry.

When Li Hao and Yan came back, they got into their own carriage and returned home. On the way, Yan Fu asked curiously: "Do you really think that his little Qin lady is doing all this behind his back, but the people in Bianjing City say that Xiao Qin is virtuous, virtuous, generous, and treats Gu Tingye's stepson with great care and maintenance, not like a person who can do such a thing." ”

After hearing this, Li Hao asked rhetorically, "Don't you think this is more strange?" Why is the matter of the official family's inner house spread outside, why are there so many official eunuchs in Bianjing City, only the affairs of his family can be spread in the whole Bianjing City, don't you think it's strange. ”

"And Gu Tingye was originally a gentleman, and he often did cockfighting and lackeying, and he didn't go to prostitution brothels. But it's not that there are people in Bianjing City who are more excessive than Gu Tingye, you see who has a worse reputation than Gu Tingye's, in the final analysis, isn't it still their own bottom of their own family, so if you look at Gu Tingye here, is that little Qin lady really so virtuous and virtuous. ”

After hearing this, Yan Fu said: "It's true, it seems that the matter of this inner house is also dangerous, do you think Gu Tingye can figure it out himself." ”

Li Hao thought at this time that after Minglan mentioned it, Gu Tingye couldn't even see through Manniang's true face. So he said: "Who knows, he has been a good mother in his heart for more than ten years, and suddenly becomes a vicious woman, this hurdle is not so good, maybe he has to deceive himself." But it's not our turn to take care of their family's affairs, so let's think about what to do with our own affairs. ”

After returning to the house, Li Hao simply went back to the room to rest, and Li Hao continued to close the house in the following days, but in the middle of it, he received a letter sent by Sheng Hong, saying that he invited Li Hao to come to the house to celebrate, but Li Hao politely refused, saying that he would visit after taking office.

So the house was closed like this, and on April 16, Ouyang Xiu sent someone to call Li Hao to come over the house to talk about things, and Li Hao went out.

When Li Hao arrived at Ouyang Xiu's mansion and entered the main hall, he saw that Mrs. Xue was not there today, only Ouyang Xiu was sitting in the hall alone, but he was relieved, and sat down after Li Hao saluted.

Ouyang Xiu said: "I have already received the edict here, and I will go to Kaifeng Mansion tomorrow to sit in the court." As for your confession, it has also been sent to the Ministry of Officials, and in two days you can go to the Ministry of Officials to take back your confession and then take office. ”

"So before taking office, I have some words to be specific to you, this Kaifeng Mansion has Qianlong Palace, the hall, the left and right halls, the embassy, the Silu Division, the Gong, the warehouse, the household, the soldier, the law, the six Cao, the left and right military patrol courts, the left and right chamber offices, and the counties and towns in the Kaifeng Prefecture, you and the current judge Cai Zhi divide the left and right halls, he is in charge of life and is responsible for punishment and prison lawsuits, you are in charge of household registration and rent, don't interfere with his actions if there is nothing to do, if there is a problem. Come and talk to me. In addition, the eleventh case of the embassy, which is in charge of the government's dispatch of money and grain taxes and various documents for criminal prisons, is also temporarily in charge of Cai Yi, if you need it, you can go to him to call. The rest of the division, the six Cao, the left and right military patrol courts, and the left and right sides of the office, all perform their duties, if you have something, you can call it below, but don't meddle in it. As for mentioning the official affairs of the counties and towns in Kaifeng Prefecture, there is no need to take care of them, you understand. ”

After hearing this, Li Hao concluded: "What my uncle means, when I am an official, I am staying quietly in the government for the time being, just counting the accounts and documents, and don't worry about the rest for the time being, right." ”

Ouyang Xiu nodded and said: "That's what I mean, after all, you have just entered the imperial examination, and you are in Kaifeng Mansion, which is too eye-catching, so the most important thing at present is to do less and see more, and don't make mistakes." When you are familiar with the affairs in the future, it is natural that you will have the time to show your talents. ”

After Li Hao heard this, he said: "The little nephew understands that he must keep to himself and will not cause trouble for his uncle." ”

Ouyang Xiu agreed: "Although you are young, you have a stable personality, I still believe in you in this." Today is just to remind you again, and then the specific affairs will wait for you to ask your subordinate officers when you take office. But one thing you have to remember is that Xu officials have lived in their positions for a long time, and they are familiar with various government affairs and local people's conditions, so it is natural and easy for you to use them to help you deal with government affairs, but you must not trust them too much. To prevent them from deceiving and misleading you, you need to slowly grasp all kinds of laws and local people's feelings, and the harm of the officials has existed since ancient times, and you must use their ability to eliminate their harm, understand?

After hearing this, Li Hao agreed: "What the little nephew understands, he must remember his uncle's teachings." ”

After Ouyang Xiu heard this, he said, "Okay, I called you here today to talk about this, you can go back now." ”

Hearing this, Li Hao was stunned, and then said, "Uncle, I just came, so I'll let me go back." ”

"Of course, today your uncle and aunt went out to Sanqingguan to burn incense, and I will go out to meet friends soon, I don't have time to keep you, so go back." Ouyang Xiu said.

Li Hao had no choice but to agree: "Okay, uncle." Then he turned and went home.

On April 19 of the second year of Jiayou, the first day of the first month of the year of Ding You, the imperial calendar said that it is appropriate to marry, banquet, buy a house, open the market, go to work, pray for blessings, and sacrifice, but avoid lawsuits, which is good luck for Li Hao.

So early in the morning, Li Hao took Fu Deng out of his home refreshed, went to the ministry to receive the confession, and then he was able to go to Kaifeng Mansion to take office.

Not only is this good mood, Li Hao looked at the shops and pedestrians on the royal street, and felt a little more lively than before, and looked much more comfortable. This official yamen is on the horse street east of the palace, and when you come out of Li Hao's house, you have to go up to the royal street and walk half a circle around the root of the imperial city to get there.

When Li Hao arrived, he saw that the yamen of the Ministry of Officials was really quite simple, and it seemed that it had not been repaired for a long time. However, there was an endless stream of officials from all walks of life wearing official uniforms below, and when Li Hao approached in a shirt, he was stopped by the official outside the door and said: "This is the government of the ministry, who are you and what are you from?" ”

Seeing this, Li Hao said: "I am a Jinshi in the undergraduate, and I got a notice that I am here to receive the confession today, and please take the trouble to pass it on." After speaking, he handed over his post to the officer.

After the official got it, he looked at it and said, "Then the troublesome lord will wait here for a while, and I will go in and report it immediately." Then he turned and entered the yamen.

Li Hao waited outside for about a stick of incense, and then saw the official who had just entered come out, followed by an official, looking at the official uniform like a six-grade official, and waiting for the person to walk in. I heard the man say: "I didn't think that Li Tanhua came today, so I've been waiting here for a long time." ”

After hearing this, Li Hao replied: "Your Excellency is polite, I didn't wait long here." I'm here to get the confession today, and I'm going to trouble the adult, I don't know what the adult is called. ”

The man replied: "Tanhualang is polite, the official's surname is Chen Mingzhi, and he is the official who is in the examination of the meritorious service." Now please Tanhualang come in with me, and go to the examination department to verify his identity, so that he can return to the court. This is the rule of the imperial court, and please don't be surprised by Tanhualang. ”

Li Hao said: "Where is it, since it is the rules of the imperial court, you should follow it, please Lord Chen first, and I will follow your lordship." ”

Then Li Hao followed Chen Zhi into the yamen of the ministry, and along the way, Li Hao found that there were too many officials waiting in the ministry, and many of them were a little extraordinary. So he asked curiously: "Lord Chen, are these officials you just saw belong to the Ministry of Officials?" ”

After hearing this, Chen Zhi asked with a smile: "Do you feel that there are too many officials in the yamen?" ”

"That's true, it does feel like a lot of people." Li Hao replied.

Chen Zhi explained: "Most of these officials you see are not officials of the Ministry of Officials, but have come to the Ministry of Officials to wait for the vacant officials. But now there are very few good ones, and many people just want to be officials in Bianjing, so there are many officials who have been waiting for vacancies in the ministry, and you see these people. ”

Li Hao listened to it and thought to himself that Da Song was really a serious official, but fortunately he didn't have to be so unlucky.

Just thinking about it, he entered the examination department, and after Chen Zhi invited Li Hao to sit down, he ordered someone to get Li Hao's body and official uniform.

While waiting, Chen Zhi said: "I haven't congratulated Tanhualang yet, so appreciated by the officials, he was first appointed as Tanhua, and then hand-picked as an official in Kaifeng Mansion, which can be described as having a great future and limitless." ”

After hearing this, Li Hao hurriedly said: "What did the adults say, now I am walking on thin ice." Kaifeng Mansion is naturally a good place to go, but the kid can be shallow after all, and he doesn't know where to go. ”

Chen Zhi said: "Tanhualang is too modest, you are the person who the official family looks at, how can you be fake." Even though it is the first time to get involved in officialdom, as long as you put a little effort into it, you will be able to do it smoothly. ”

After hearing this, Li Hao said: "Then thank Lord Chen for his auspicious words." ”

The two were talking and laughing, when they saw that someone had taken Li Hao's body and official uniform. After Chen Zhi took the hand, he confirmed it, then handed the farewell to Li Hao first, and said, "Tanhualang, please confirm again, whether there is any mistake in name, place of origin, and life." ”

Li Hao carefully inspected it and said, "The above introduction is correct. ”

Then Chen Zhi pointed to the official uniform and said: "This is a special official robe according to the record, Tanhualang can take it back to try it, and if it doesn't fit, you can come here to replace it." ”

After hearing this, Li Hao said: "Okay, thank you, Lord Chen, this time I troubled Lord Chen." ”

After hearing this, Chen Zhi said: "Where is this, this is the duty of this official." Today, Tanhualang is going to Kaifeng Mansion to take office, so I will not stay in the future, and if I have time in the future, I will ask Tanhualang to have a drink. Then he arranged for someone to guide Li Hao and sent the official robe out together.

Li Hao said: "Okay, then wait for the adults to meet, and the next official will leave first." Then he went out of the gate of the ministry with the officials.

Fu Deng, who was waiting outside, saw Li Hao coming out, and hurriedly greeted him, and at Li Hao's signal, he first took the official robe and put it into the carriage. Then he said: "Young master, this can be regarded as an official now." ”

Li Hao said with a smile: "I haven't taken office yet, and I won't take office until I take office after I go to Kaifeng Mansion to take office." ”

Then he boarded the carriage and said in high spirits: "Let's go, go to Kaifeng Mansion, this young master is going to be an official official." ”