Shanxi Jinshi won eight of them this year, and the fellow villagers held a banquet in the guild hall and were beaming. The countrymen in the capital all went to congratulate, but only Wei Xiangshu and Li Zuwang excused themselves. Li Zuwang has been indifferent for a long time, and he has long been reluctant to move around the scene, and no one minds if he doesn't go. Wei Xiangshu didn't go, but it made people guess. It turned out that Wei Xiangshu was appointed as the president of the examination this year, and there were many Jinshi in Shanxi, so he was afraid of giving birth to right and wrong, so he simply avoided these entertainments. didn't expect that the emperor's order for the champion, although it was a confidential secret, was rumored to be true. Someone at the banquet said this, and the villagers all said that Wei Xiangshu's eyes were yellow, and he just lost the champion that Chen Tingjing had in his hand.

Chen Tingjing heard these words, although he didn't know whether it was true or false, but he felt very inappropriate in his heart. When I returned to Li's house late at night, I couldn't help but complain because I drank a few more glasses of wine. Mr. Li and Wei Xiangshu have a very close relationship, and they know that Master Wei will never deliberately harm others. He listened to Chen Tingjing complain a few words, and then comforted: "Regardless of whether this matter is groundless or not, in my opinion, it doesn't matter whether it is the champion or not." As long as you have fame, you will have the opportunity to advance, and it is up to people to make meritorious contributions. He thought to himself that Chen Tingjing was only twenty-one years old, and winning the champion early was not necessarily a good thing. The official is made by boiling, and before he reaches that age, even if he has great ability, it is in vain. If people are proud early, they will be stared at if there is no problem. But at this time, it was inconvenient to say too thoroughly, so they were all put in the stomach. He thought that if he had a chance in the future, he would tell him these words slowly.

Chen Tingjing only took a nap in bed and got up before dawn. He had to wait outside the noon gate early, and today the new branch jinshi will enter the palace to thank him. Mr. Li also got up early in the morning, and he asked Tian's mother to prepare some food the day before. There is food on the social scene when you go out, but you just watch the excitement, and if you don't get it right, you will be hungry. Chen Tingjing has lived in the Li family these days, and people have long regarded him as his own family, but he is always sorry in his heart. In the past few days, there will inevitably be many visits, so he said that he would live in the hall. Mr. Li wanted to keep him, but Chen Tingjing felt that it was inconvenient to live here to visit guests, so he only said that he would stay back in a few days.

Chen Tingjing led Dashun to say goodbye to Mr. Li, went out and asked Dashun to stay in the hall, and hurriedly went to the noon gate. But I saw that it was already bustling outside the noon gate, and the new science and technology scholars were almost all there. The officials of the previous dynasty also arrived early, and many sedan chairs were parked in front of the noon gate, and the lanterns were shining. In the capital in April, the morning is very cold. Not long after Chen Tingjing stood up, he was already shivering with cold. The jinshi had never seen the officialdom of the capital, and for fear of losing their dignity, they only dared to stand still, and their bodies became colder and colder. It wasn't until dawn that the officials of the Ministry of Rites led the scholars into the palace. At the end of the day, kowtow to thanksgiving, listen to the jade sound, eat the deer feast, worship the name of Kong, everything should be led, one move and one style, honest and fearful, for fear of being wrong. If you think about it carefully, the piles and piles are like singing and playing on the stage.

Chen Tingjing went back and forth to pay respects to visitors, and it was more than ten days in a flash. The day finally stopped, and the Ministry of Rites allowed him to go home to save his relatives in March, so Chen Tingjing returned to Li's house to resign. When I entered the gate, I saw a green sedan chair parked inside, and when I asked, I knew that Master Wei Xiangshu was coming. When I entered the house, I saw that there was no one in the living room. Just about to ask Dagui, Yueyuan came out of it, her eyes were a little red and swollen, as if she had just cried. It turned out that on the day Jinke released the list, Mr. Li got up early on the street and blew in the cold wind for a long time, and it was a little bad that night, but he didn't care much. On the second day, Chen Tingjing wanted to enter the palace to thank him, but the old man also got up too early, which added to the wind cold. As soon as Chen Tingjing left, the old man couldn't afford to be sick, and he had been in the hospital bed for more than ten days.

When Chen Tingjing and Yueyuan went in, Mr. Li was talking quietly to the book with Wei. Seeing him go in, the two of them didn't say anything, but only invited him to sit down and drink tea. It was the first time that Chen Tingjing had seen Master Wei face-to-face like this, but because he was in front of Mr. Li's bed, he couldn't care too much about being polite. Chen Tingjing was worried about Mr. Li's illness, and carefully asked Lang Zhong what he said and what medicine he was taking. Mr. Li's voice was very weak, but he said that it was okay to get in the way, just sleep for a few days. Wei Xiangshu always looked at Chen Tingjing from time to time, but he didn't talk to him. Chen Tingjing was puzzled, and Wei Xiangshu said: "Tingjing, you lead Yueyuan out to take shelter for a while, I will have something to talk to you later." ”

Chen Tingjing didn't understand what was going on, so he had to lead Yueyuan out. Yueyuan is not as naughty as usual, she doesn't talk much, and she always wants to cry.

Chen Tingjing asked, "Yueyuan, does your father's illness matter?" ”

Yueyuan said: "Uncle Wei also invited the imperial doctor from the palace, and it has been seven or eight days since he took the imperial doctor's medicine, but it is still not good. ”

Chen Tingjing was very worried when he heard this, but he persuaded Yueyuan's sister, only saying that the imperial doctor in the palace was sure that it was okay. I thought that Master Wei only said that he would have something to say later, what did he want to say? I thought that everyone outside said that the emperor originally wanted him to be the champion, but he was yellowed by Lord Wei, maybe this is true? Master Wei may want to make this clear.

Chen Tingjing has lived in Li's house for so long, and he has never been to the courtyard inside. It's okay at this time, so I walked around with Yueyuan casually, but I saw that there were still three courtyards inside, and the houses behind were all closed, and there were already cobwebs on the windows.

Yueyuan said: "Brother, we won't go in, I never dared to come inside, there has been no one in it for many years." There's also a garden at the west end, which I haven't been to either. ”

Chen Tingjing asked, "Why don't you go?" ”

Yueyuan said: "I'm afraid! With such a big yard, just me and my father, as well as Dagui and Tian's mother. I'm not afraid to go outside, there are people outside. ”

Chen Tingjing wanted to see what the Li family should have been, but now there are almost no people. Thinking that this sister Yueyuan was so pitiful, she said: "Sister Yueyuan is not afraid, my brother will take you to play in the future." ”

The two walked back as they talked, and Tian's mother came over and said, "Chen Gongzi, Master Wei, please come over and talk." When Chen Tingjing heard this, his chest jumped wildly. If Master Wei said something about the champion, he didn't know how he would respond. Who doesn't want to be a top student in high school? Lord Wei is his benefactor, if it is really Lord Wei who has lost his champion, what should he do to Lord Wei?

Master Wei was sitting in the guest hall, and when he saw Chen Tingjing leading Yueyuan away, he called Tian's mother: "You take Yueyuan out, I have a list to talk to Tingjing." Tian Ma led Yueyuan away. As if she knew something big was going to happen, Yue Yuan kept looking back at Chen Tingjing, and her eyes made people feel very distressed.

Chen Tingjing sat down in a hurry, and Master Wei was not polite, but said: "Tingjing, Mr. Li specially called me here to ask me to tell you something important. ”

Chen Tingjing didn't know what the big deal was, so he said, "Lord Wei, please tell me." ”

Wei Xiangshu let out a long sigh of relief, as if he was pressing a stone on his chest, and said, "Old Mr. Li wants to entrust Yueyuan to you. ”

Chen Tingjing heard this for no reason, and asked: "Mr. Li's body is still very tough, but he occasionally feels cold, how can he say this?" ”

Wei Xiangshu didn't speak for a long time, looked at Chen Tingjing for a long time, and then said, "You didn't understand what I said." Mr. Li wants you to be his son-in-law in the future! ”

Chen Tingjing was taken aback at this time, and said, "Master Wei, you know, I already have a wife!" ”

Wei Xiangshu said: "I know, and Mr. Li also knows. The Li family was originally a big family in the former Ming Dynasty, with a prosperous family and a wealthy family, but now it is ruined. Mr. Li is a rare person in the world, who only regards glory and wealth as a mustard, and does not pay attention to any inheritance, otherwise he would have continued after losing his wife. Now that he sees that his body is not as good as day by day, he can only pity Yueyuan who will be helpless in the future. He knows that you are a family person, but he still wants to marry his daughter to you, neither Gao Pan you as a jinshi, nor does he feel that he has wronged his own daughter. He has been with you all these days and knows that you are a trustworthy person. ”

Chen Tingjing burst into tears when he heard this, and said, "I am grateful to Mr. Li for treating him so kindly. It's just that Yueyuan's sister is smart and clever, and she is a woman with a family, how can she be so famous? The Li family treats me like a mountain, even if Mr. Li really has three longs and two shorts, I will raise Yueyuan, and it is okay for my sister to find a good family, and I must not let her be wronged! ”

As he was talking, Li Zuwang came out holding on to the door frame. Chen Tingjing hurriedly stepped forward to help him and said, "Senior, you have to lie down." ”

Mr. Li sat down and breathed for a long time before he said, "Tingjing, a good man is afraid of illness!" I've lived to this age, and I've never said half a word in front of people. I heard what you just said. If I close my eyes and go, please take Yueyuan with you, and when she grows up, whether you will be a daughter-in-law or someone else, it will be up to you. ”

Chen Tingjing knelt down and said with tears in his eyes: "Uncle, your body will be fine." You are my benefactor, Sister Yueyuan is also my benefactor, you must not say such things, if you really have something, I will take my sister well! ”

Wei Xiangshu listened to the two of them talking, and he didn't squeak for a long time. It wasn't until they were silent that he said, "It's not a word." Tingjing, if you really want to reassure Mr. Li, you will admit to this family business, and I will use this old face as a witness. ”

Chen Tingjing thought for a long time, then nodded, and said: "Tingjing just obeyed his orders, but this matter was not explained to his parents in advance, which is a little inappropriate." I will naturally treat Yueyuan's sister well, but I just feel wronged for her. ”

Mr. Li breathed a sigh of relief, with a slight smile on his face, and said, "If you agree, I will be relieved." ”

Wei Xiangshu said: "Having said that, you can't talk without evidence. I also had to make a marriage contract, and both of them changed the eight-character Geng post. Mr. Li nodded and looked at Chen Tingjing.

Chen Tingjing only said: "Listen to the two seniors." ”

Chen Tingjing was not in a hurry to go back to Shanxi, and boiled medicine and served tea in front of Mr. Li's bed every day. Yueyuan is young after all, and she doesn't know anything yet, and once heard Chen Tingjing call her father, she felt funny, and said, "Brother, why do you call my father my father?" ”

Chen Tingjing blushed and didn't know how to answer. Mr. Li smiled and said, "Silly boy, you call him brother, he calls you sister, you call me dad, and your brother doesn't call me dad anymore?" "But I want to talk to Yueyuan slowly, and I want Yueyuan and her mother to be still there, and it's more convenient to say these words to my daughter after all.

Tian's mother smiled on the side: "In the future, our family will change the rules, we have to call Chen Gongzi the master, and the old man the old lady." ”

Yueyuan didn't understand it more and more, but she just thought it was as funny as a tongue twister.

I'm afraid that because of the happy event, Mrs. Li's illness is slowly getting better. Yueyuan also gradually understood what was going on, she seemed to have suddenly become an adult, she blushed when she saw Chen Tingjing, and she always avoided him and didn't see anyone. The old lady urged Chen Tingjing to go back to Shanxi every day, but Chen Tingjing was still relieved, and always said that it would not be too late to leave in a few days. Zhang Wang knew about what was going on here, and he didn't rush back, he kept waiting in the hall, anyway, the two made an appointment to go and come together.

The old lady got out of bed, and he could eat the meal, so he had to let Chen Tingjing go home quickly. Chen Tingjing then made an appointment with Zhang Wang to set off on a certain day. One day, the two went to the Hanlin Academy to bid farewell to Master Wei, and happened to meet Mingzhu outside the noon gate. Mingzhu greeted from afar: "Such a coincidence? I've met two Jinshi here! ”

Chen Tingjing arched his hand and said, "I've seen Lord Mingzhu!" ”

Zhang Wang also gave a salute, but Mingzhu saw Zhang Wang's eyes. Chen Tingjing remembered that the two of them had not met alone, so he said: "This is Lord Mingzhu, the imperial guard, and this is Zhang Wang, the new science and technology jinshi." ”

Zhang Wei smiled: "I'm just a fellow jinshi!" ”

Mingzhu said: "Brother Zhang, don't be polite. I know, you two are fellow villagers in Shanxi, and you both lived in the Happy Forest Inn a few days ago. ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "Lord Mingzhu knows everything in his heart, and he is worthy of being a person who walks in front of the emperor. ”

Mingzhu understood that Chen Tingjing's words were hidden, and he didn't take it to heart, and said with a smile: "Recently, the emperor gave me Luan Yi Wei Zhizheng, and Suo Etu was also promoted to a third-class guard. ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly congratulated: "Congratulations!" Now that you are a member of the five grades, you will never be humble again, right? The three of them burst out laughing.

Mingzhu arched his hand, turned around and went to the palace. He walked a few steps, then turned around and said: "Two brothers, the happy forest where you two live is really a treasure of feng shui, and those who come to Beijing to take the exam in the future are afraid that the guild hall will not go to live." ”

Chen Tingjing asked, "How do you say this?" ”

Mingzhu said with a smile: "Someone has counted with their fingers, just those who live in the Happy Forest have won five Jinshi, and even an old boy named Gao Shiqi has been stained with the light of Feng Shui." ”

Zhang Wang said with a smile: "Gao Shiqi and I saw him call a master in the picture, and it didn't take long for us to go to Zhan Shifu to listen to the errand." ”

Mingzhu said: "You are talking about Zu Zeshen, he was originally a prisoner of the Guozijian, he failed the exam twice, and he was good at yin and yang gossip, so he started a fortune-telling business." The strange thing is that he is clever, he is very famous in this capital, and he often walks around the homes of princes and ministers. Gao Shiqi really let him see it, and now not only is he listening to the errand in Zhan Shifu, but Master Amasoni of Suo Etu has to ensure that he is admitted to the national prison. He will have the status of a prisoner in the future, even if it is not Chinese, the official has done it. ”

Hearing this, Chen Tingjing and Zhang Wang's eyes were stunned, and they only sighed that everyone has their own lives. Mingzhu said again: "There is something more godly!" Speaking of this, Mingzhu stopped, only saying that it was not early, he had to enter the palace, and he would have time to speak slowly in the future. It turned out that Mingzhu wanted to say that the emperor praised Gao Shiqi's words, but this is a golden mouth and jade teeth, and it may bring him good luck. But in a blink of an eye, he thought that Gao Shiqi was from Suo Etu's background, but he himself and Suo Etu were at odds with each other, so he didn't want to promote Gao Shiqi's good name.