The gathering at Qiyun was originally a welcoming banquet for Cui Xiangxian by Guizhou's Education Minister Wang Haoming. At the same time, it was also an important event for this great scholar of the Central Plains to appear in Guiyang and comment on the scholars of Guiyang. Originally, it was destined to leave behind a good story in Guiyang's scholars, but after being disrupted by the 'unscrupulous' Ye Xiaotian, the entire atmosphere of the banquet changed.
After that, everyone's poems and essays seemed to have lost their flavor. Cui Xiangxian, Wang Haoming and the rest were certainly not interested. When the scholars were talking loudly, they thought of Ye Xiaotian's' cursing the nation 'and the scene of the roasted lamb chef ridiculing them for talking big and boasting, and they felt uncomfortable all over.
The Qiyun banquet ended hastily. Wang Haoming and Cui Xiangxian left in the same carriage.
Sitting in the carriage, he thought of how a fine and elegant banquet was disrupted by Ye Xiaotian, and Cui Xiangxian was filled with hatred and indignation. Wang Haoming comforted him with kind words, "Xiangxian, why take this matter to heart? Your moral essays are famous throughout the world. Arguing with such a vulgar person, others will not laugh at him, but at you."
Cui Xiangxian let out a long sigh and said, "Brother Haoming, if he really is a vulgar person, even if his words are worse, I will not take it to heart. As a scholar, how can I lower myself to the level of such a person? But this Ye Xiaotian has the status of a scholar, he is really the shame of the scholars! "
Wang Haoming smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, he will not be a scholar anymore very soon."
Cui Xiangxian's eyes lit up and said, "Brother Haoming, you mean …?"
Wang Haoming said, "Guiyang's culture and education are not prosperous, especially in Tongren. It is laughable that Zhang Yi has always thought of himself as a romantic, but in five years, there has not been a single scholar. At the beginning of the year, the Tongren Province Professor Li Zhongyin was severely scolded by me, I said that if he does not change, he will be removed from his position as professor. Who would have thought that in just a few months, Tongren would have a scholar like Ye Xiaotian … "
Cui Xiangxian suddenly said, "I am afraid there is something fishy about this."
Wang Haoming laughed coldly, "From what I see, it is not fishy, but there is definitely a problem. For this year's Annual Examinations, I will personally go down to inspect. I won't go anywhere else, but Tongren is the only place I must go, at that time … "
When Cui Xiangxian heard this, he could not help but smile knowingly.
The so-called "Annual Examinations" was the annual reexamination that the Elementary Scholars had to take every year after they had been accepted. This was to prevent scholars from failing and failing in their studies. This was because the scholars were too poor, and even if they were to pass, they would still be stripped of their scholar status during the 'Annual Examinations'. Why?
As for this' Annual Examinations', it was not done by the local officials or examiners, but by the higher education officials. This was also the reason why Li Zhongyin had not been able to become an Elementary Scholar for five years in a row. The local scholars were too uneducated and even if he was able to become an Elementary Scholar, he would still be stripped of his Elementary Scholar title during the Annual Examinations. Why did he have to do this?
When Wang Xuezheng severely criticized Li Zhongyin's achievements, Li Zhongyin had no choice but to resort to trickery for the time being. As long as Ye Xiaotian's talents were not too lacking, he could wait for the people from the School of Education to come for the Annual Examinations, then he could bribe them with some gifts and maybe he could get away with it.
But today, Ye Xiaotian was so arrogant at the Perching Cloud Pavilion, and insulted Cui Xiangxian and the scholars. As the host of the banquet, Wang Xuezheng also felt embarrassed, and could not help but be angry. Usually, he would send people to host the 'Annual Examinations'. Now that he had decided to go to Tongren personally, he was naturally determined to obtain Ye Xiaotian's scholar status. Cui Xiangxian's anger dissipated when he heard this.
After Wang Haoming said this, he suddenly frowned and asked Cui Xiangxian, "Oh yes, the poem that Ye Xiaotian recited just now … what's going on? It's obviously rubbish, why did you praise it so much? "
Cui Xiangxian's old face turned red, and after hesitating for a while, he finally told his good friend the truth, "Ai! Brother Haoming, you don't know, that treacherous thief, Ye Xiaotian, that limerick was not composed by him at all, but by the Tongren magistrate, Zhang Yi. "
Wang Haoming was startled and said, "Ah! Fatty Zhang … "
Cui Xiangxian smiled bitterly, "That's right! When I returned to my hometown, Zhang Yi hosted a banquet for me, and during the banquet, he was very pleased with himself as he recited this rubbish limerick, and even said that it was a new work of his recently. This poem is indeed rubbish, but how do you expect me to answer it? "
Although Cui Xiangxian was the Guizhou Imperial Inspector and School of Education, and was in charge of Guizhou's judicial system, prisons and education, and could be considered to have a high position and power, but compared to the Tixi Zhang family, who were hereditary local tyrants, he was still a lot inferior. Wang Haoming pondered for a long time, and thought that if it was Zhang Yi reciting this poem in front of him, he would probably go against his conscience and praise him a few words. The two couldn't help but look at each other and smile bitterly …
Cui Xiangxian first arrived in Guiyang, and stayed at Wang Haoming's Imperial Inspector's office. The two had just returned from the banquet, and were somewhat drunk. After returning to the magistrate's office, they dispersed and went to their own residences to rest.
Wang Haoming went to the parlor of the rear residence, and ordered a maid to bring him a bowl of hangover soup. As he slowly sipped on it, a sharp-eyed manservant ran in, and whispered a few words into his ear.
Wang Haoming heard this, and frowned slightly, and asked curiously, "Red Maple Lake's Xia family? Didn't we just meet at the banquet? What business does he have to visit again? Quickly invite him in! "
Not long after, a tall old man with a ruddy face rushed in with large strides, and the manservant could not catch up with him even if he ran. The tall old man walked into the parlor, and when he saw Wang Haoming, he cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a loud and loud voice, "Imperial Inspector Wang, I pay my respects to you, and have taken the liberty to disturb you. Please forgive me."
Wang Haoming hurriedly greeted him, "Brother Xia, what are you saying? There is no need to be so polite between us. Quickly, quickly, quickly, please take a seat. Servants, serve tea! "
Wang Haoming ordered a maid to bring a cup of tea for Old Xia's father, and smiled, "I, Brother Xia, and I were just drinking and merrily at the Perching Cloud Pavilion. I wonder what is it that you cannot say in person, and yet you insist on meeting me now?"
Old Xia's father frowned, as if he was in a difficult position, and said, "Imperial Inspector Wang, I, Xia, am an uncouth man, and do not speak in a roundabout manner. I will not speak with you politely. I have come here today for one thing, and that is for our Xia family to obtain a High Scholar this year! "
When Wang Haoming heard this, he was momentarily stunned, and after a long pause, he said, "Brother Xia, your Red Maple Lake's Xia family has never cared much about the imperial examinations, why is it this year …"
Old Xia's father impatiently said, "Isn't that what I care about? Imperial Inspector Wang, you are the governor of this province's education, and it is up to you to decide who gets admitted or not. Just tell me clearly, are you going to give me this quota or not? "
Wang Haoming stammered, "Actually, the Imperial Court has always taken care of the High Scholars, and has always tacitly agreed to give a quota to the High Scholars, to those who wish to learn, but are not knowledgeable enough. But since brother Xia wants a High Scholar quota, you should have mentioned it earlier. Now that the High Scholars have already been informed, if there are any changes … "
Without waiting for him to finish, Old Xia's father glared at him, and said, "The announcement hasn't been made yet, right? Why can't it be changed? Imperial Inspector Wang, you don't need to feel awkward. Just give me a quota, and you don't need to worry about anything else. If any family is unwilling, just tell me, and I will go talk to them! "
Old Xia's father stretched out his fan-like hand, and slammed the table with a 'peng', and shouted, "Damn it, all these years, my Xia family has never asked for a High Scholar quota. This year, I want one. I don't believe that there will be anyone who dares to provoke me!"
Imperial Inspector Wang hurriedly said, "Brother Xia, calm down, calm down. This …. Since Brother Xia has spoken, this year's High Scholar quota, each of the tribe leaders should give up one of their spots. Forget it! I'll agree to your request first. However, I'll have to trouble you to inform the Tribe Leaders. "
Old Xia's anger turned to joy, and he said, "Of course, of course. I will inform them later."
Imperial Inspector Wang had no choice but to order someone to bring a brush and ink. Holding the brush in his hand, he said to Old Xia, "I wonder what the name of the person Brother Xia wishes to choose is? If he has never participated in this year's examinations, then even if I wanted to take care of him, I would not be able to."
Old Xia's father said, "Don't worry, that person has naturally participated in this year's examinations. His surname is Ye, and he is the one who recited a good poem in the Perching Cloud Pavilion today, that Ye Xiaotian! Hahaha, he can be considered talented, right? "
Imperial Inspector Wang was stunned, and his face turned ugly. He had already decided to find a way to take away Ye Xiaotian's Elementary Scholar title, and now he wanted him to become a High Scholar instead? Imperial Inspector Wang hesitated for a while, and then said with some displeasure, "Brother Xia, this Ye Xiaotian … his surname is not Xia!"
Old Xia's father said angrily, "Who says he isn't? But … I don't know what medicine my father took, but he insists on giving that scoundrel a High Scholar title. What can I do? "
…
After Ye Xiaotian and Xia Yingying left Nan Ming River and returned to Guiyang City, Yingying brought Xiao Lu and Xiao Wei back to the Xia Mansion. On the way, Yingying was much less cheerful than usual. She had always been carefree, and in reality, there was nothing for her to worry about in the Xia Family. But now, she had begun to learn to think about things.
Career and love can both make a person mature. For women in this era, career did not exist, and the only thing that could affect them the most was love.
For a girl like Yingying, once she likes someone, she will not think too much about those related factors. In the eyes of a girl like her, reason will never prevail over emotion. But this does not mean that she will completely ignore the difficulties she will face. She will also think, if that day really comes, how she will face it, or how she will solve this problem.
Xiao Lu quietly observed Yingying's expression, and whispered to Xiao Wei, "Yingying seems to have something on her mind."
Xiao Wei could not help but say, "How is that possible? Our Yingying never has anything on her mind."
Xiao Lu shook his head and said, "People will always grow up. I think she really has something on her mind. I will ask her later."
When Yingying returned to her residence, she sat on a swing in the garden. She swayed her body from time to time, and bit her lower lip in a daze.
Xiao Lu gently walked to her side and held the swing. Yingying looked up at him, and then slowly lowered her head. Xiao Lu softly said, "Yingying, if you have something on your mind, you might as well tell me."
Yingying shook her head and did not speak. Xiao Lu went around to her, squatted down, and stared at her with a pair of big eyes. After a long stalemate, Yingying finally could not help but say faintly, "Brother Tian … it is … the Venerable of the Gu God Sect."
Xiao Lu gently raised his eyebrows, "The Gu God Sect? That sounds a little familiar … "
Yingying told Xiao Lu about the situation of the Gu God Sect that Ye Xiaotian had told her. Xiao Lu suddenly widened his eyes, "Twenty years? You mean, at most twenty years, he will have to leave you and go to the deep mountains and forests? What's the difference between that and being a monk? "
"Shh!"
Yingying hurriedly looked around and whispered, "Brother Tian is such a smart person. He will definitely come up with a solution. My father didn't approve of me being with him in the first place. If he finds out about this … I'll only tell you this as my best sister. You mustn't tell anyone. "
Xiao Lu hurriedly nodded, "Yes! I understand, I understand! I will not tell anyone. "
After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, in a corner at the end of the winding corridor, Xiao Wei widened her eyes and said, "What? Twenty years? How can that be? Twenty years later, Yingying will only be in her thirties. Am I going to be a widow for him? "
Xiao Lu hurriedly said, "Shh! Keep your voice down. Yingying has given her heart to him. Can you make her change her mind? I'm thinking that there might be a solution to this problem. I'm only telling you this because you're my best sister. Please don't tell anyone else. "
Xiao Wei hurriedly nodded, "Yes! I understand, I understand! I will not tell anyone. "
After the time it took for two sticks of incense to burn, in the rockery and wisteria, Xiao Wei complained to Xiao Fang, the personal maid of Yingying's mother, "You know, Xiao Lu and I are going to marry together with Yingying. But that guy will become a monk in twenty years. What should I do then? "
Xiao Wei pouted and said, "Of course I can't compare with Yingying, but I am the little princess of the Qunnie tribe! It's bad enough that I have to share a husband as a sister, but I can only be his wife for twenty years. Just thinking about it makes me feel depressed. "
Xiao Fang widened her pair of black eyes and said in surprise, "Only twenty years, ah, uh …. You three split it, that's equivalent to each of you being his wife for six or seven years. That's a big loss."
Xiao Wei sighed and said, "Who said it wasn't? But Yingying is stubborn. Even after knowing this, she still likes him. Yingying said he will definitely think of a solution. I don't know if it's true or not. Ai, let's take one step at a time. By the way, I will tell you this as my best sister. You must not tell anyone. "
Xiao Fang hurriedly nodded, "Yes! I understand, I understand! I will not tell anyone. "
After the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, Xiao Ying, Xiao Xue, and Xiao Li, three of Madam Xia's four maids, widened their eyes as they listened to Xiao Fang's vivid and exaggerated explanation of Ye Xiaotian's plan to become a monk twenty years later. After Xiao Fang finished, she reminded them, "I'm telling this to you as my best sisters. Don't tell anyone!"
Xiao Ying, Xiao Xue and Xiao Li nodded like chicks pecking at rice, "I understand! I understand! I will not tell anyone. "
After the time it took for four sticks of incense to burn, Madam Xia found out. Then, Master Xia and Father Xia, who had just returned to report to Laozi, also found out …
From this, Yingying, who was growing up, learned the first lesson of her life: Women, cannot keep secrets!
