At Xinghuaye's house, Ye Qiong put a piece of paper into the incense burner and watched the flames swallow up the paper.

In recent days, rumors about Mr. Zou and Su Qingyi have been very loud in the capital, and at first it was only the students of Guozijian who praised Su Qingyi for his diligence and personal work during the serious illness of Hu Saijiu, and he governed Guozijian very well. After that, I don't know who praised Mr. Zou, and compared Su Qingyi with Mr. Zou, saying that the future life in Shilin is terrifying.

The outer courtyard would send various rumors from Beijing to Ye Qiong for screening every day, and Ye Qiong didn't care about these rumors.

It's just that Su Qingyi is the father of the Su family, the cousin of the long house, and the secretary of the Guozijian, and this rumor is related to the master, Mr. Zou, so Ye Qiong always feels that this matter is weird everywhere.

The rumors related to Su Qingyi, are they related to the vacancy of the position of the prince of the country?

If something happens to the decision of the Guozi Eunuch to be the priest of wine, the matter of the elder brother and Lang Cousin entering the Guozi Prison will also be affected......

Ye Qiong fell into deep thought, but at this time she heard Liuying come in and report: "Girl, Mr. Zou and Mrs. Yu have come to visit, saying that they are coming to borrow a few days. ”

Ye Qiong was stunned, how could Master suddenly visit? How many more days do you want to borrow?

Ye Qiong got up immediately, and as soon as she walked into the living room, she saw Mr. Zou eating with a toothpick and the Ye family's refreshments, his wife Yu sitting on the other side with an apologetic face, the little scholar Chu Feng sitting in the circle chair with his legs suspended and eating candy, and Mr. Zou's two servants were sitting on the small embroidery pier with their hands not knowing where to put them.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong couldn't help but have a smile in her eyes, and said, "Master, if you want to come to live in Ye Mansion, I will naturally welcome you." It's just that next time remember to talk to me first, I'll clean up the yard for you early, and when you come over, you can live more comfortably. ”

Mr. Zou seemed a little embarrassed and embarrassed to answer, but his wife Yu said: "In the past few days, the rumors of the country's sacrificial wine have been rampant, and we can't bear to disturb it. Originally, we planned to go back to Zou's house, but when the carriage arrived at the door of Zou's house, we learned that their family had gone to the hot spring villa outside the city for the winter, and they only came back after the year, so they turned around and came to you. ”

Mr. Zou's beard trembled.

He knew that Ye Fu was going to hold a wedding in the near future, so he should be very busy, and he was originally embarrassed to disturb. However, how could he know that his nephew, who was the chief of the mountain, went to the hot spring villa and didn't give him a message, no, it should be said that such a good thing didn't even call him!

Ye Qiong chuckled and said that it was okay, but when she heard her mother mention the rumors of the country's priest wine, she frowned again, and said to a few people first: "Since you are here, why don't you stay, there is an empty courtyard next door to where my brother lives, although it is a little small, it is very close to the front yard and the side door, and it is also convenient for you to enter and exit." ”

Ye Qiong's afterglow caught a glimpse of Du Juan walking into the living room, and knew that she probably had something to say, so she smiled again and said: "It's almost noon now, and it will take some time for the yard over there to be cleaned up. I went to the kitchen first and watched them prepare a table to come up, and then I was out of company. ”

Mr. Zou and Mr. Yu were uninvited guests, so naturally they didn't say much, just said, "It's good that you're busy."

Ye Qiong retreated, and while walking through the garden of the Ye Mansion towards the big kitchen, she listened to Du Juan's words: "Recently, the rumors in Beijing are very strange, as if someone is manipulating, and they change every day. Yesterday, some people praised Mr. Zou for his profound knowledge and as a model of Shilin, and today some people said that Su Qingyi, the secretary of Guozijian, is the father of the sister-in-law of the Su family, who is rich in five cars and full of sweat cows, saying that if Su Siye had not temporarily taken over the affairs of Guozijian during the period when Hu Xijiu was seriously ill, Guozijian would not be as orderly as it is now. ”

When the cuckoo said this, his expression was a little hesitant, Ye Qiong found this, walked with her to a plum tree, and said, "Say, what else is the news?" ”

Only then did the cuckoo say: "There are still rumors...... said that Su Siye's academic attainments can be compared with Mr. Zou, and even more unique than Mr. Zou in how to teach students, and said that Su Siye is a rare perfect person in the world......"

Ye Qiong was shocked when she heard it, especially when it came to the last sentence of "perfect", the hand that was originally on the flower branch couldn't help but pinch the next flower.

Ye Qiong picked up the plum, flicked the dust on the flower, inserted the plum in her hair, and when she turned around, she had regained her composure between her eyebrows, and asked rhetorically: "I remember, in the rumors a few days ago, in the words of praising the master, is there always one sentence out of ten sentences that wants to be pulled on Su Siye's head?" ”

"Yes." Du Juan nodded and said, "Because the rumors of the past few days also mentioned several other famous Confucians, no one took Su Siye to heart, but they just had a good impression of him." ”

Ye Qiong felt even more strange.

In her previous life, Ye Qiong only knew that Su's father was the secretary of the country, but she had never had contact with Su Qingyi, besides, at this time in her previous life, she had served the queen mother in the palace, and she didn't pay attention to who the country's priest was.

This life is different, Su Qingyi is this person, Ye Qiong has seen it once at the apprenticeship banquet where Mr. Zou is his teacher, but I only remember that Hu Zhezhang deliberately embarrassed himself because of the prestige of the red master at that time, Su Qingyi said a few fair words, and he looked like a decent person in this matter, but there was no other impression.

In this rumor, the words are all about the master's inferiority to Su Qingyi, and Su Qingyi is even given the title of "perfect person".

This title is too much for Su Qingyi.

Even Sage Kong didn't dare to say that he was perfect, how did this rumor come out?

Now that the position of the Guozi Priest Wine is empty, Su Qingyi is the person closest to the position of the Guozi Priest Wine, is it the rumor he himself released in order to compete for the position of the Sacrificial Wine, or is there someone with ulterior motives who wants to use this rumor to do something?

Ye Qiong didn't know much about Su Qingyi, but judging from the brief contact between the Su family and the previous one, judging from Su Qingyi's character and ability to manage the entire Guozijian in an orderly manner when Hu Zhezhang was seriously ill, Su Qingyi should not be so stupid and let out such a rumor that he deliberately raised himself too high.

It is important to know that climbing high is easy to fall heavy.

Thinking of this, Ye Qiong said to Du Juan: "Is there anything going on with the sister-in-law in the lobby lately?" In our generation, only the sister-in-law in the lobby has some experience in holding marriages, and there are still some places to discuss in my sister's marriage, so why don't you invite her over these days? ”

The cuckoo was embarrassed: "Girl, Hu Saijiu is dead, and the young grandmother of the long house also has to keep a small gong, and the relatives on our side will not be affected if they are far away from the marriage, but the young grandmother is not good at coming to the door." ”

Ye Qiong was stunned for a moment, but ignored this, and was thinking about whether to make an appointment outside, when she saw a little maid come over with a smile and salute, and reported: "Girl, the young grandmother of the long house came to the door, saying that she had something to say to the girl." ”

Ye Qiong was overjoyed, but she didn't expect that she was thinking about making an appointment with the Su family, and the Su family came to the door by herself, and then she was surprised, the Su family was guarding a small gong, and at this time, it was also for the rumors that the country was supervising the sacrificial wine?

On the other side, the Su family is their own family, because they are wearing filial piety, they only met Mrs. Shen and Xie through the courtyard gate, and then went straight through the Ye Mansion to Ye Qiong's Qionghua Courtyard, and Ye Qiong received the Su family in the Qionghua Courtyard.

Su's expression was a little haggard, and when he saw Ye Qiong, he took her hand and said, "Sister Qiong, have you heard about the priest wine of the prince and my father?" ”

Ye Qiong held Su's hand and felt cold, so she asked the maid to make boiling tea, and then gave her hand stove to Su, comforting: "I just heard about it." Aunt Cousin didn't know that because of this incident, there was a long queue in front of my master, Mr. Zou's mansion, every day, asking him what he thought of Uncle Su or who he was optimistic about as the country's prince of the country. My master and my wife were so disturbed that they brought a family to live with his nephew Zou Shanchang for a few days this morning, but Zou Shanchang's family went to the hot spring village, so they came to me again, and now they are living in the house. ”

Su Shi was surprised when he heard this, and he was a little embarrassed, and said, "It's hard for Mr. Zou." And when I said it, it came from my father. ”

Ye Qiong saw that Su Shi had said the key point, so she followed the conversation and asked in a low voice: "What is going on with this rumor?" The latest I heard it, but I began to say that Uncle Su was perfect. ”

Su Shi let out an "ah", almost didn't even hold the hand stove steady, and when Ye Qiong helped him, Su Shi frowned and said: "To tell the truth, even my father and I don't know, where did this rumor come from, it seems to be the ...... that came out overnight after Hu Xijiu died of illness."

Ye Qiong grasped the key point and asked rhetorically: "Is it after Hu Xijiu died of illness?" ”

Su shook his head and said, "Isn't it after Hu Saijiu died of illness?" At first, my father didn't think about it, didn't take the rumors seriously, and told me that it should be spontaneously spread by the students of Guozijian. But later, this rumor became more and more intense, and compared my father's preparation of Mr. Zou, how could Mr. Zou be compared with my father, my father felt that it was wrong at that time, and privately called a few friends to check together, but there was no result......"

Ye Qiong's brows tightened and loosened.

Su Qingyi has been serving in the Guozijian for several years, and he has his own connections, if Su Qingyi can't find the person who spread this rumor, he can't find out......

From the perspective of the position of the Guozi Priest Liquor alone, this position seems to be only an official position of the four products, and the official position is not high, but the person who holds this official position is in charge of the highest university in Daliang, and is in charge of the law and teaching examinations of the university. In Daliang, who took the imperial examination, how many people coveted the position of the country's priest and wine, it can be imagined.

It wasn't Su Qingyi's words that released the rumors, but there were too many people behind the possible backs......

Don't talk about others, just talk about the Hu family, Hu Saijiu is not optimistic about Su Qingyi, he has been in the Guozijian for many years, and he must have cultivated and installed his own protégés in the Guozijian. Hu sacrificial wine died of illness, will the Hu family watch the sacrificial wine position fall into the hands of Su Qingyi?

Ye Qiong was still thinking about it, and then she heard Su Shi ask in a low voice, "What did Mr. Zou say?" This matter is an unwarranted disaster for him......"

Unprovoked disaster? Ye Qiong didn't think that this would be a disaster. Of course, she also understood the meaning of Su's words, so she smiled and said, "Master is easy-going, if Aunt Tang wants to meet Master, I can introduce you to him." Well, you're still doing a little bit of work, and it's not easy to get into the table, so just eat with me, and after lunch, I'll take you to meet them. ”

Su Shi naturally nodded yes.

……………………

After lunch, Ye Qiong talked to Mr. Zou and Yu, and after Mr. Zou's approval, he led Su to meet with his master and wife.

Although the Su family is not a big family, it is also a scholarly family that cultivates and reads heirlooms, and has a good family style.

Su stepped forward and saluted one by one according to etiquette, and saw that there was still a Chu Feng beside Mr. Zou, because he did not prepare a meeting gift in advance, he gave Chu Feng the purse containing the silver bill, and said with a smile: "This is my negligence, I did not prepare a meeting gift in advance, don't forget to see the rough purse, I will make up for it later." ”

Before Mr. Zou could speak, Yu Shi had already laughed, grabbed Chu Feng and looked at the purse in his hand. The embroidery of the purse is very good, and the embroidery on it is not the flowers such as plum orchid bamboo chrysanthemum that women generally choose, but two lively red carp, which looks chic and cute.

Yu said with a smile: "Such good embroidery and patterns, it can be seen that he is a beautiful person." ”

Yu said yes, Mr. Zou also looked at the purse, Yu looked at the embroidery, Mr. Zou saw the pattern, he saw at a glance that Su has unusual painting skills, looking at Su's gaze was also kind, and smiled: "Can you paint?" ”

Su Shi smiled: "Yes, my father taught me." When I was a child, I was enlightened, and my father personally held my hand and taught me word by word. ”

Mr. Zou stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, "Don't neglect to teach you knowledge because of your status as a woman, your father is not bad." ”

Su Shi saw that Mr. Zou praised Su Qingyi, and his heart was happy, Ye Qiong saw the opportunity, and Su Shi said the rumors frankly, and when he heard it, Mr. Zou and Yu frowned.

Ye Qiong said: "That rumor, in my opinion, seems to be praising Su Siye, but in fact, it is a killing. It's just that now we don't know who it is that the rumors are going to kill Uncle Su and even drag Master into troubled waters, is it one person or many people? The enemy is in the dark, and I have to let them take the initiative to expose it. ”

Mr. Zou's eyes lit up, and he asked rhetorically: "You mean, follow the trend and lead the snake out of the hole?" ”

Ye Qiong nodded with a smile and said, "Now that they have raised Uncle Su to such a high position, the next step is to pull Uncle Su down fiercely." Once Uncle Su is successfully pulled down according to their plan, it is time for the person behind him to surface. We just need to see who wants to trample Uncle Su to death and covets the position of sacrificial wine. ”

Mr. Zou stroked his palms and smiled: "Good idea!" ”

Su Shi also understood the trick, and asked rhetorically: "So, now we just need to wait and see what happens, and see who will jump out in the end?" ”

"Of course, it's not right to just wait and see." Ye Qiong said with a smile, "Once this person jumps out, he is the one who can sort out a mess of threads, and if he traces down, he will always find more clues." When the time comes, it's time for us to fight back. ”

Mr. Zou said expectantly: "Let me see which one wants to drag me into troubled water!" ”

Speaking of this, Ye Qiong whispered to the Su family again: "This matter may be related to the Hu family. In any case, it is better for the aunt to guard against the eldest aunt. ”

Su Shi was startled, and the eyes of the two met and parted again, and Su Shi couldn't help but cover his hand over his lower abdomen.

Her little day has not come for two months.

Ye Qiong naturally noticed Su's movements, quietly took Su's hand, and said, "It's okay, don't worry." ”

Su's eyes were wet, and he almost wanted to cry.

Ye Qiong's heart was sour, the child before the Su family was killed by the eldest aunt.

Regardless of whether the person behind it is related to the Hu family or not, Su Qingyi's being the prince of the country is the most favorable situation for the Ye family.

Even if it's just for the sake of the cousin and the master who was inexplicably dragged into the game, Ye Qiong will not let the people behind him succeed.