As a courtier, if you don't take the emperor seriously, you may be unlucky, and you will be unlucky.

Su Shi's third-class achievements in the system that year were unprecedented and unprecedented, and there was no one to come, and then his old man floated away. didn't take the big old king seriously, and he didn't take the emperor seriously. Don't take the 'law change' plan that the emperor and the eldest king have invested countless efforts in together.

Then he got into a lawsuit.

The matter was not serious, but fortunately, the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty was relatively lenient to Wenchen, and Su Shi did not die in the end. just pulled out the little friends as 'accomplices', including Wang Xu, the captain of the horse, his brother Su Zhe, his disciple Huang Tingjian and others. Then in prison he wrote a letter of repentance, and the matter was over, but the process was thrilling.

This is the beginning and end of the 'Wutai Poetry Case'.

Several times, Su Shi thought that he was going to return to his position, but in the end, he miraculously did not die.

What Li Kui didn't expect was that Fan Chong also had this problem. Fortunately, Fan Chong's fame is far worse than Su Shi back then, and Li Kui doesn't have to worry too much about becoming Fan Chong's 'accomplice'.

But Fan Chong was very casual and excited. On the edge of the table, he asked Li Kui very curiously: "Renjie, what to eat at this state banquet, if it is dragon liver and phoenix marrow, I will take some more home for my family to taste." ”

"Return the dragon liver and phoenix marrow? Dream on! ”

Li Kui remembered the birthday banquet of the Queen Mother he attended before, and said with disgust: "That's what it is, the taste is acceptable, and the meatloaf." It's still cold, not good, and the mutton doesn't taste good when it's cold. The amount is also small, and it is not as valuable as the dim sum you are carrying. ”

Li Kui remembered that Fan Chong had been in the capital, even if his level was too low for the Queen Mother's birthday banquet to attend, but the emperor had not been on his birthday in the past two years!

It's impossible, then Fan Chong doesn't know the process of the Xinglong Festival?

He couldn't help but wonder: "Haven't you participated?" Also asked! ”

"Renjie, you are retaliating, I was a school scholar before, and I was only nine grades. I was only promoted to Shusaro this year, how could such a small official position have the opportunity to participate in the official family's Xinglong Festival? Fan Chong was resentful, and in the face of Li Kui's doubts, he poured bitter water: "The yamen in the imperial city, only those who are above the seventh grade have the opportunity to participate, and the yamen outside the imperial city is from six." Otherwise, all the officials in the capital will come, and the head of the palace will not be able to sit down. ”

"Isn't the book Saro the seventh grade?" Li Kui was skeptical.

He seems to remember that it was the Seventh Rank Official, could it be a mistake.

"Eight pins, it's eight pins! If it weren't for the big official operation this time, how could I have the opportunity to participate in the banquet for such a petty official? ”

Even if Fan Chong has a good relationship with Li Kui, he knows that Li Kui is not used to it, and he has suffered a huge trauma in his heart. Can you still have this friend? Li Kui had been an official in the secretary supervisor before, and it was not for a long time, but Fan Chong didn't think that Li Kui would not know.

Of course, Li Kui's official position in the Secret Pavilion, although he is a subordinate official of the secretary and supervisor, is actually not in the secretary and supervisor. On the contrary, Li Kui laughed heartily: "Don't say that you are not doing as an eight-grade official, no matter how unsatisfactory you are, is it more unsatisfactory than Qian Liao?" ”

"He seems to be in the Ministry of Rites." Fan Chong recalled that the emperor took officials to the Taimiao Temple to pray for blessings, and Qian Liao seemed to be standing next to the sacrifice: "He seems to have a very high status in the Ministry of Rites and is very important. The last time the official family went to the Taimiao Temple to pray for blessings, I saw him standing on the edge of the high platform. Ordinary people definitely can't go up. ”

The hierarchy of officialdom is strict, and it is definitely not to be said. The high platform where the offerings are stored, is basically the ceremony presided over by the officials of the Ministry of Rites. Generally, the presiding officer is Shangshu or Shilang, the emperor recites prayers, and Qian Liao can stand on the high platform, and he must be deeply respected by the big guys.

Li Kui said angrily: "He should also be busy in the hall today, and you can ask him when the time comes." ”

Fan Chong's EQ is not high, but his IQ is leveraged, otherwise he would not have been admitted to the Jinshi easily. He heard something in Li Kui's words. Immediately puzzled: "Is there still a hidden secret?" ”

"Qian Liao is in the Catering Department of the Ministry of Rites, mainly managing the sacrifices and banquet food." Li Kui pierced.

Fan Chong couldn't help but tremble when he thought of the daily life of the meal order. It turned out that it was not Qian Liao's high status, and he was deeply favored by the bigwigs of the Ministry of Rites. It's that this guy turned out to be an unlucky guy who managed the sacrifice, Qian Liao didn't look at the high platform of the sacrifice, but he was not as good as the sacrifice. Although the Ministry of Rites is noble, there are also many unlucky eggs. Qian Liao's official is such an unlucky real shortage. Fan Chong shuddered: "If I am allowed to go, I would rather resign." ”

"Why did you resign? I finally got into the Jinshi, and it was a pity to resign. Li Kui said.

"Two adults, can you give us your gift list?"

The eunuch who counted the gifts saw that Li Kui and Fan Chong were chatting in front of him, and he was a little afraid that the officials waiting behind him would be displeased, so he opened his mouth to remind.

Li Kui and Fan Chong handed over the gift list.

"Li Kui, Zhizhou of Anxi Prefecture, a box of assorted pastries!"

"Secretary supervising the book Zuolang Fan Chong, a box of assorted pastries!"

"Two of you, please go inside."

Fan Chong looked at the other party's eyes, as if he knew him, and said curiously: "Father-in-law looks familiar?" ”

"Speaking of which, our family also learned mahjong with two adults. Two years ago, the two adults came to the palace to play mahjong with His Majesty, and that day the slave maid stood behind the other adults and followed the two adults to learn mahjong. Especially after following Master Li to learn how to light a cannon, he can receive kindness wherever he goes in the palace. The eunuch smiled and said, "It's just that Yulu is a little insufficient." ”

Fan Chong remembered that he had won a lot of money that day. And Li Kui seems to have been feeding cards to the next emperor. Thinking of another eunuch who was harmed by mahjong, he couldn't bear it in his heart, and said with a lot of mouth: "Why don't you learn my card skills, isn't it good to kill all sides?" ”

The eunuch smiled bitterly: "Instead of being disgusted everywhere in the palace, it is better to borrow money everywhere, but you can gain the favor of others in the palace." ”

It's the way to survive.

Li Kui secretly bowed his head, feeling that the eunuch's IQ was online, at least he could be a man, and he would definitely have a bright future in the future.

He said with a smile: "My father-in-law is very popular, and he will have a bright future." Say goodbye. ”

"Thank you Lord Li for your auspicious words, and the slave and maid will send you Lord Li!"

The eunuchs in the palace don't take Fan Chong seriously, but they definitely won't take Li Kui seriously.

This is a capable minister who has a lot of weight in the heart of His Majesty the Emperor, and he will be the object of his friendship in the future. Soon after, he was still the emperor's brother-in-law and a relative of the emperor.

Enter the Imperial City.

Smelling the long-lost smell, Li Kui strode through the Taishi Bureau, followed by Tianzhang, Longtu and other pavilions.

Sniffing the slightly dull breath in the air, he muttered, "It's still the smell of decay." ”

"Renjie, why are you walking towards the side hall?"

"The arrangement on the invitation, you said that on such a big day, I dare to walk around casually?"

After Qian Liao's explanation, Li Kui had already seen it. If you don't like the Queen Mother, what can you do?

He is not Xing Shu, the secretary of the Criminal Department, even if the Empress Dowager Xiang also does not want to see Xing Shu, but the problem is that there are a number of second-class members in the imperial court, even if she is unhappy, she can only bear it.

Li Kuiman didn't care and said: "Why do you want to be with the high-ranking officials of the capital, isn't it good for you and my brother to reunite?" ”

When the two of them arrived at the side hall, Li Kui discovered his abruptness. To attend the emperor's birthday party, it is certainly not appropriate to wear regular clothes. There are two side halls of Daqing Palace, one arranges military generals and nobles, and the other arranges civil officials. Of course, the scale is not as good as that of Daqing Palace. But counting the wide cloister in the palace, the place is not small.

The reason why Li Kui felt that it was inappropriate was that he became the only bright red in the green.

Surrounded by green leaves, it is said that he is extraordinary.

This is still determined by his official position, and the official positions above the fifth rank of the Great Song Dynasty wear a scarlet robe, that is, a red official robe. And the five pins are down, wearing green official robes. As for the third grade or above, it is a purple official robe.

Li Kui looked at it, and in the side hall, he was a five-grade civil official. Rao was mentally prepared, but he was still a little uncomfortable.

Although there are many officials in the capital, there are really not many official positions above the fifth grade in the real yamen.

The subordinate officials of the three provinces of Zhongshu, Menxia and Shangshu do not have many five-grade officials. The sum of the three great yamen is less than 30 people, and there are more than five civil officials.

Each supervisor is a civil official. For example, the secretary is a civil official. But the adjutant is very bad, and some of them are eight-rank officials. For example, Shaofu.

Li Kui has been a young mansion and an eight-grade petty official. Although outside, others politely call him Shaofu. But in fact, the real Shaofu is a four-grade civil official. His Shaofu Cheng.

In addition to these, there are many civil officials above the fifth grade in the six departments. Lang Zhong is the official position of the fourth grade. Plus the left and right waiters, Shangshu. The six departments add up, and there are no more than fifty civil officials who exceed the fifth grade.

The Daqing Hall is the examination room for the imperial examination, and it can arrange 600 examination cases. In other words, there is no problem at all in being able to put at least 600 food tables.

But the civil officials in the capital are more than five ranks, even if they add six rank civil officials, there are more than 200 people, and the number of military generals is not much. The officials who can really enjoy with the Son of Heaven in the Daqing Hall are dissatisfied. But with the addition of honorable nobles, it will be able to fill the seats.

But the officials who are not qualified to go to the Daqing Hall to participate in the state banquet can basically go to the six-rank civil officials. The remaining seven, eight, and nine-grade civil officials can only go to the side hall to stay.

Li Kui stood in the side hall, and he was really conspicuous.

Fortunately, Qian Liao's eyes were sharp, and when he saw an official in a red robe in the palace, he knew that it was Li Kui.

"Renjie, come here!"

Qian Liao came in a hurry, and the day of the state banquet was a rare day of full mobilization for the catering department of the Ministry of Rites. Yuanwailang went to the main hall, and the two seven-grade orders came to the side hall to arrange a state banquet.

Qian Liao has been busy for a long time, his forehead is shiny and sweating, and he came over to say hello. The moment he saw Fan Chong, Qian Liao was also pleasantly surprised and politely said: "Elder Brother Yuan, it's a rare guest!" ”

"Brother Ji Kang, I'm sorry for you!"

Fan Chong is a sentimental person, and when he heard Li Kui talk about what happened to Qian Liao, he was very sympathetic. It's a pity that he couldn't afford to help, so he could only lament. This is a reason for encountering unfortunate things with women, and they have no ability to help, so they have to cry together.

Qian Liao's chubby face suddenly had a realization, and he glanced at Li Kui resentfully.

He secretly said in his heart: "Renjie, you don't know what to do with your broken mouth?" ”

Fortunately, Li Kui is a righteous person, and Li Kui promised to get him out of the sea of suffering, so naturally he is talking about it. Thinking that he would leave the unfortunate place of the Ministry of Rites in the future, Qian Liao's heart was also relieved, and he laughed at himself: "It's all for the imperial court." There is a way to do a line of love......"

Speaking of which, Qian Liao's throat and eyes were a little dry, and he couldn't make it up anymore. The key is that his heart is extraordinarily real, even if he is self-deceiving, he is uncomfortable to accept the pain of often standing with the sacrifice, as if at that moment, he also became a sacrifice, which makes people despair.

Fortunately, he is not the kind of person who likes to complain, thinking about the last time he will serve in the Ministry of Rites, there is a way to have a beginning and an end, and he kept a smile on his face: "The two of you will wait a while, and lead you to the dining table first." ”

As for the future, Qian Liao felt that following Li Kui would definitely be brighter than his future in the Ministry of Rites. Perhaps, in two years, he will be able to wear the scarlet official robe that once made him envious and become one of the five officials.

"Renjie, Brother Qian seems to be enjoying it?"

"Why do you say that?"

"He's fat!"

Looking at the sacrifices all day long, pondering the food, can he not get fat?

But soon, Fan Chong discovered the oddity. His food table seems to be a lot smaller than Li Kui.

It stands to reason that people who attend state banquets and sit in similar places shouldn't use the same food table and utensils?

It was not surprising that he could see that the size of the table was different. There are four cold dishes on Fan Chong's food table, there are cakes and pastries. But put four plates, and the food table has already occupied half of the place, but what about Li Kui?

Li Kui's dining table also had four plates on it, but it was empty and deserted as if there was nothing to put in it. Especially Fan Chong looked down at the wine jug on his dining table, and his stinginess was not much bigger than his slap, as if the emperor was reluctant to let such a petty official drink comfortably. But Li Kui had a wine urn on the table, which was bigger than his head. They all participated in the emperor's birthday banquet the same, and the gifts they gave were the same, and they were treated differently.

Fan Chong's heart suddenly became sour.

There were already officials talking, and there were frequent toasts.

"Brother Wang, please!"

"Brother Zhou, please!"

Fan Chong felt that he couldn't go too far, picked up the wine glass, saw the wine cup in Li Kui's hand, and was sour again: "Renjie, it's done!" ”

"!" Li Kui took a big gulp, a bowl of wine in his stomach, and suddenly became warm and comfortable.

At the beginning of the banquet, the eunuchs brought hot food to the dining table with food plates.

The most anticipated thing may be the roast mutton, basically the share of each food table is about the same, a plate of lamb is still squeaking and squeaking, and there are freshly baked hot cakes, roll up the roast meat and put it in your mouth, that is called a beauty.

But when it was Li Kui's turn, everyone stared at the two eunuchs, carrying a two-foot-long and one-foot-wide dinner plate, and delivered roast mutton piled up like a hill. Li Kui stretched out his hand to pick up the leg of mutton from the food plate, tore off a large piece of mutton in one bite, and took a sip of wine, full of comfort, and said happily: "Happy!" ”

However, soon he couldn't get up, and found that the officials in the side hall who participated in the Xinglong Festival were all looking at him with blank eyes.

Then they stared at the lamb plate on their own table, cut into mahjong-sized pieces of meat, though the same sizzling hot oil, though just as fragrant. can look at Li Kui's Roshan and look at his share. Suddenly, there was a kind of sourness that was abandoned by the imperial court, and some officials really didn't have much opportunity to eat mutton on weekdays.

is like Fan Chong, if there is no rich woman's dowry to rush to the façade, he can't afford to eat meat. Twenty official salaries a month, and other benefits are only one official robe and two pairs of cloth shoes a year, except for hiring servants, renting a house, and socializing on weekdays, his monthly salary is not enough at all.

The civil officials in the capital, especially the low-grade civil officials, are basically like this.

This is also the reason why Chao Buzhi was unhappy with being an official in the secretary and supervisor and asked to be released, the reason is that the monthly salary of officials in the capital is too small, and it is not enough at all.

Who can make up for it!

Chao Dashao, his family is an official eunuch, and his family has been an official for more than 100 years since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty. And there are also a few Zhengyipin officials like Taifu and Taishi. Will he run out of money? He was just aggrieved in the capital, and he just had to leave first.

But many officials who came out of poor families really don't have money.

Noodles and dishes are possible.

This is also why it is said that the income of civil officials with low grades in the capital is low.

When encountering a rare roast mutton, put it in the restaurant outside, at the price of half a catty, can they afford it?

I finally caught up with the opportunity to not have money, but suddenly found that the sourness of not suffering from widowhood and suffering from unevenness is more important than eating meat. Among the civil officials in the side hall, one is counted as one, and the food is in front, but they have no appetite. And they don't dare to look for Li Kui's theory at all, where is the grade difference? can only find Qian Liao, a petty official of the Ministry of Rites who arranges meals.

"Meal Ling Qian Liao, why does he have so much mutton, why do I wait so little?"

Qian Liao is still angry?

Why do you sit and eat and drink while his feet do not touch the ground?

Faced with the questioning of a petty official like him, Qian Liao snorted coldly: "If you can recover the land of Qingtang for thousands of miles within a year, even if you want to eat beef, the official family may give it to you." ”

Although the civil officials who dared to question the officials of the Ministry of Rites were of low rank, they were very old, and if they were young, they would not dare to come forward at all. In the face of Qian Liao's such an unsympathetic refutation, his face turned pale angrily, and he covered his chest and said angrily: "You, you, you are late in the back, you dare to talk to the old man like this!" ”

The two are entangled and are about to fight.