Lantern Day!
Today, the Mo's Village was very lively. The whole village was full of the noise of gongs and drums, which made it seem very festive.
Every year on Lantern Day, a large number of carriages would be parked outside the Mo's Village to take the villagers to Chang 'an for sightseeing. However, this year seemed to be an exception. There were only a few four-wheeled carriages waiting outside.
First, there were not many brides in the Mo's Village this year. Second, the Mo's Village was built more beautiful than Chang 'an, so many villagers who had been to Chang' an often felt it was not so novel. Of course, more importantly, the Mo's Village was still in a difficult period. Naturally, the villagers would not go to Chang 'an, a place where money was flowing like water.
These carriages were Meton's to go back to Chang 'an. Li Yi and others were seeing Meton off.
At this moment, at the entrance of the village, Mrs. Yang came in a hurry with Wu Meiniang. Seeing Meton's carriage, Wu Meiniang was relieved. She bowed and said, "Master, I wish you a happy new year."
Meton looked at Wu Meiniang in surprise and said, "Today is Lantern Day. Don't you stay with your mother at home?"
Wu Meiniang shook her head and said, "I came back with you, so I have to go back to Chang 'an with you. Besides, my mother lives a good life in the Mo's Village. I don't need to worry about her."
Seeing Wu Meiniang's determined face, Meton nodded and said, "I will leave in 15 minutes. You go and say goodbye to your mother."
"Thank you, Master!" Wu Meiniang stood up happily. After all, she was only ten years old. How could she not miss Mrs. Yang?
Wu Meiniang went back to Mrs. Yang happily. However, Mrs. Yang couldn't bear to part with her and couldn't help crying.
"Mother, don't cry. Chang 'an is very close to the Mo's Village. If you miss me, you can come to see me at any time." Wu Meiniang comforted her mother.
Mrs. Yang shook her head, lifted Wu Meiniang's heavy package, and cried, "Every Marquess's daughter in the world has no worries in her life. She doesn't need to read so many books like you. Endure ten years of hard work! "
Madam Yang's life in the Mo Family Village was not bad. Moreover, the beautiful Mo Family Village had the comfort that Chang 'an did not have. She was naturally very satisfied. However, when her daughter came back this time, she read thick books until late at night every day. How could she not feel distressed?
Wu Meiniang shook her head resolutely and said, "Today, I am serving the Great Dao of the ancient sages. How can I say that it is not a blessing? Why are you still crying and acting like a child? "
Right now, she was only a ten year old girl. She was powerless, and she didn't have the looks. The helplessness she felt when she and Madam Yang were chased out of the Martial House was still engraved in her heart. Now, she had finally found the strength and knowledge that belonged to her.
She didn't want to encounter a similar situation again. She didn't want to sit weakly on the ground and cry like her mother without any strength to fight back.
Wu Meiniang waved goodbye to her mother. She turned around, carried the heavy bag, and resolutely stepped onto the carriage.
Meton naturally saw this scene from the side. He couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. He really did not take in the wrong disciple. Although the path of the historical Wu Meiniang had changed, her temperament had probably been stimulated the moment she was chased out of the Martial House.
"Let's go!"
Meton boarded the carriage. The team slowly moved, and quickly headed towards Chang 'an City. Today was the day of the lunar month. He still had one more important thing to do, and that was the annual Yuanri Court Assembly.
The Yuanri Court Assembly was the largest and most ceremonious court assembly that Li Shimin met with the officials. However, it was not the court assembly. Instead, it was the officials who came to have an audience with Li Shimin. Often, the officials would pay homage to Li Shimin. There were even foreign envoys who came to congratulate Li Shimin on the New Year.
In the past, Meton did not have an official position, so he did not need to attend the Yuanri Court Assembly. However, this year, he was a lower sixth rank official. Moreover, he was in charge of the Firearms Division. Naturally, he needed to attend the Yuanri Court Assembly.
The carriage continued forward. After entering the southern city gate, the other carriages all rushed back to the Mo Estate. Meton rode the carriage directly to the Imperial Palace.
When Meton arrived in front of Taiji Palace, he could not help but be stunned. He saw a large number of officials gathered in front of Taiji Palace. There were at least a few hundred people.
"They say that there are as many officials as dogs in the capital! The ancients did not deceive me! " Meton could not help but sigh. Usually, only a few dozen officials would be able to enter Taiji Palace. Most of the other officials would only have the opportunity to enter Taiji Palace once a year.
Moreover, many of them were already in their forties or fifties. Although the secret hair dye technique made all of the officials have black hair, their aged faces could not be deceived! When the young Meton stood in the group, he immediately became very conspicuous. Everyone's attention was focused on him.
"Mo Jiazi!"
When the crowd saw this brash catfish like brother Mo Jiazi, they could not help but have mixed feelings.
Most of the people in the imperial court were disciples of the Confucian school. How could the sudden rise of the Mo family not make them look askance? What they did not expect was that the Mo family would rise so strongly. Especially recently, the Mo family village, the future city, had stunned the entire Chang 'an City. Every person who returned from the Mo family village was full of praise.
The officials in Luoyang could not help but gnash their teeth at Mo Jiazi. However, the Guanlong nobles both hated and loved Mo Jiazi. On one hand, Mo Jiazi's second Edict of Favor made them gnash their teeth in hatred. On the other hand, they needed the Mo family village to increase the grain production technology to get out of the Guanlong nobles' predicament.
The other officials saw Meton for the first time. They could not help but look at Meton with a scrutinizing gaze.
Meton politely greeted them one by one. However, all the officials avoided eye contact instantly. Meton suddenly seemed to be isolated invisibly.
Meton felt sad in his heart. He silently prepared to retreat to the last position. Suddenly, a rough hand pressed against Meton's back. Meton turned around and found it was the Minister of War, Su Lingnong.
Su Lingnong laughed and said, "Mo Jiu, you probably don't know that the Yuanri imperial court is divided according to the rank of the officials. Mo Jiu is already Level Six. Naturally, he should stand in the position of Level Six."
Meton hurriedly bowed and said with gratitude, "Thank you for your guidance, Minister of War."
All the officials isolated Meton. Only the Minister of War, Su Lingnong, was close to him. Obviously, he was taking a great political risk.
Su Lingnong smiled and said, "If you really want to thank me, let the Old Man go to your glass greenhouse to have a look. The vegetables and fruits that grow out of season are beneficial to the country and the people. The Old Man is very eager to see them."
He was a farmer. How could he restrain himself when he suddenly heard that the Mo's Village had a way to grow vegetables out of season in winter?
Meton said without hesitation, "It's not difficult. The Minister of War is a farmer. Who in the world knows farming better than you? After the New Year, I will definitely send craftsmen to build a glass greenhouse in the Su's Mansion for the Minister of War to test the good seeds."
Su Lingnong was the person that Meton admired the most. This person devoted himself to farming and cultivated good seeds for the imperial court all his life. Such a pure person was also an anomaly in the officialdom of the Tang dynasty. What's more, he was the staunchest ally of the Mo's.
"Then the Old Man will accept it!" Su Lingnong said without hesitation.
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