Chapter 160 A Young Man Arrives at Xiuwen Hall

Chapter 160 A Young Man Arrives at Xiuwen Hall

Chapter 160 A Young Man Arrives at Xiuwen Hall

After a light rain, the pears in Lihuatang are ripe.

This was what Zhao Duan discovered after he returned to the yamen.

Because the trees had been planted for many years and were bearing abundant fruit, Zhao Duan waved his hand and the secretary led a group of officials to become fruit farmers and pick several large baskets of fruit.

Early that morning, Zhao Duan walked into the dining room.

At a glance, I saw two beauties, one big and one small, sitting at a round table, circling around a bowl of soup.

"Da Lang, come and take a look. I cooked it according to your instructions. I wonder if this is what you called 'rock sugar and snow pear'?"

When Eugene Hua saw him, her eyes lit up and she spoke a little nervously.

"Let me take a look."

Zhao Duan walked over and observed the cut pear, which had changed color while being boiled in sugar water.

Dayu's frosting sugar industry was fairly developed, but the rock sugar contained too many impurities, far inferior to that of later generations, which somewhat affected the appearance.

Zhao Duan picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful and put it into his mouth.

Next to him, two beautiful faces were staring at him, and Eugene Hua felt nervous and expectant.

Zhao Pan's autumn-watery eyes showed his eagerness to try.

"how?"

"Well, it's not bad, the heat is just right," Zhao Duan said with a smile, "You all should try it too."

The two girls were also quite curious about this new dish that they had never heard of before.

The mother and daughter each took a soup spoon, scooped the soup and pear into a bowl, and ate it carefully.

After savoring it for a moment, the mother and daughter's eyes lit up at the same time, and their eyes curved into crescents:

"Oh, it's so sweet..."

"Mom, you're just talking nonsense. I added icing sugar."

"Da Lang's research on the method of eating is really fresh."

"Suck, suck, suck..."

Zhao Duan sat in the main seat, watching the two women eating enthusiastically. He felt as if he was feeding a cat, and his mood became much brighter.

The heavy hairpin that he gave her was inserted horizontally on Eugene Hua's bun. Because it looked like a series of golden "branches" coiled together, Zhao Duan named it "Golden Branches".

The gold flakes at the end swayed, and paired with a dark green long skirt and fair skin, she looked quite noble.

Since it was given to her during the Qiqiao Festival, she has been wearing it all day long and smiling at everyone she meets, as if showing off.

As for Zhao Pan, the girl did not wear the hairpin which was named "Jade Leaf" because of the jade leaves on it. In comparison, the hairpin pales in comparison.

"I have to go out for an important matter today. Where is the basket of pears I want to wash?" Zhao Duan asked.

Eugene Hua immediately ordered someone to bring a full basket of fish with just the right amount of fat and thin fish.

……

After meal.

Zhao Pan returned to the bedroom and saw the girl sitting in front of the dressing mirror.

She opened the drawer and carefully took out the "Jade Leaf" hairpin that was beautifully wrapped in red cloth. Then she looked at herself in the bronze mirror and inserted the hairpin into her hair.

Holding her cheeks, which were a little thin due to growth spurt, in her hands, she looked left and right.

She changed into several sets of clothes, stood up in the room, and turned around slowly, not showing any sign of tiredness.

"It really looks much better." The pretty girl's brows relaxed, her cheeks rosy, her mind wandering far away.

Feeling a little regretful for not wearing it in the morning out of shame, the eldest brother looked at his mother frequently but paid little attention to her.

……

Outside the Zhao family's door, Zhao Duan left the house, but the coachman "Xiao Wang" was not outside today.

He walked straight to the street corner and waited silently.

After a while, a low-key and luxurious carriage drove up from a distance and slowly stopped.

Zhao Duan bent down and picked up a basket of pears, stepped into the carriage, sat down carelessly, and said with a smile:

"Mo Zhaorong, we meet again."

The "female prime minister" was wearing a female official robe, a wingless black gauze on her head, with a cool temperament and a very "neutral beauty". She had a plum blossom makeup on her forehead and looked at him calmly.

He nodded slightly, indicating that he had met her before.

When his eyes fell on the basket of pears, he couldn't help but frown:
"Envoy Zhao, you should know where you are going today. Why are you carrying this thing?"

Zhao Duan picked up a green pear with a smile and handed it to her:
"This is our own product. Let's take it to quench the thirst of the scholars. Can Zhaorong have a taste too?"

"Haha, no need," Mo Chou declined politely and said indifferently:
"Xiu Wen Pavilion doesn't lack a few pears."

"No, no, the gift is small but the sentiment is great," Zhao Duan smiled, "Besides, the pears produced in the imperial court are the only ones in the world."

Mo Chou didn't respond. While ordering the driver to start, she said with a hint of displeasure:

"Envoy Zhao's house is too far away. Going back and forth would waste too much time."

Zhao Duan's house was bought with the money his grandfather saved up, and it was renovated by his father, but the location is indeed not close to the imperial palace.

After all, housing prices in Beijing are expensive, and not everyone can afford to live in the "inner ring". The few thousand taels in Zhao Duan's hand are not enough to buy a new house.

"Haha, living in Kyoto is not easy. It's not like Mo Zhaorong who has lived in the palace since she was a child and doesn't know the sufferings of the people."

Zhao Duan sat opposite her and smiled slightly.

Will you be short of money? Will you be greedy?

Mo Chou didn't believe what he said at all and said:
"Let's talk business. Today, the Xiuwen Hall will be officially convened. His Majesty has specially ordered me to take you there to see the world. Grand Tutor Dong and His Majesty are both here today. Just watch over the place when you get there. Don't interrupt and delay important matters."

"event?"

Zhao Duan ate his pear and asked curiously:

"On the first day of meeting, shouldn't we exchange pleasantries and get to know each other? What big deal could it be?"

Mo Chou glanced at him:
"Do you think His Majesty has a lot of time? Would he spare the precious time to chat and socialize with a group of scholars?
Your Majesty has more or less known those people before. Grand Tutor Dong has also summoned them to meet more than once, and they have already known some of the rules and regulations.

Today is called the opening ceremony, but it is actually a formal discussion of some important matters of the dynasty."

"for example?"

"For example, the new policy." Mo Chou said seriously:

"During the decades of the previous emperor's reign, he did not exercise strict control over the court. Therefore, when it fell into your Majesty's hands, it was already riddled with holes and accumulated problems. As a result, a new policy must be introduced.

This is also the most important thing since the opening of Xiuwenguan, in addition to helping His Majesty and handling some unimportant memorials. Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty frequently attacked court officials before? "

It was to pave the way for the new policy and clear away obstacles... Zhao Duan understood.

I put away some of my thoughts on traveling.

Therefore, today's opening is more significant than he expected. Is it a gathering of talented scholars offering suggestions and discussing the formulation of new national policies?

"Understood?"

Mo Chou looked at him and sighed:

"That's why I told you not to interrupt.

I don't understand why His Majesty would allow you, a warrior, to attend as an auditor.

Regarding the new policy, anyone who enters the museum and participates in today's discussion must keep their mouths shut and keep it confidential. This is what I want to emphasize to you. Whatever happens in the museum today must not be disclosed."

Zhao Duan was now more serious and said:

"I should know who is in the museum."

"This is the list of admitted scholars." Mo Chou handed over a booklet:
"Anyone who enters the academy, regardless of their previous status, will be awarded the title of 'Bachelor of Literature'. The first batch of people entering the academy will be eight in total, and including Grand Tutor Dong, there will only be nine people."

so little?
Zhao Duan was surprised, but after thinking about it, he was not surprised.

Decisions concerning truly important matters, unless they are made by voting, have always been made by just a few people from ancient times to the present.

He opened the book and saw the first name:
Korean porridge.

The carriage shook.

Mochou explained:
"Among these eight people, the most important ones are the first three. Han Zhou is a top scholar from a poor family. He works as an editor in the Hanlin Academy and is known as the most talented scholar. Not to mention his poetry and prose, which are all minor arts. He is quite intelligent.

In the past few years, although he has not held an official position, he has repeatedly traveled to various prefectures and even the fields to observe and visit. His profound knowledge was appreciated by Master Dong. "

The first talent...

Zhao Duan turned to the second page and saw a familiar name:
Wang You.

Mochou said:

"This is the son of the Minister of Rites. The Wang family is a great family that has existed for hundreds of years in the Dayu Dynasty. It is a distinguished family. Wang You is talented and learned, and his father is a master of calligraphy and painting. However... this person is arrogant and has the temperament of a 'celebrity'. He is proud and has a strong sense of family background."

Please don't offend me? The son of a powerful family?

Alas, it seems that if Zhenbao wants to secure the throne, he also needs to win the support of some of the powerful families... Zhao Duan took note of it silently.

He turned another page and said with a smile:

"This name is weird, Guo Jieyuan? Isn't Jieyuan the title for the first place in the provincial examination?"

Mo Chou cleared his throat and said:

"When his father named him, he regretted that he only came second in the provincial examination that year, so he named him in the hope that his son would pass the provincial examination, and later his wish came true."

Is this so perfunctory... Zhao Duan complained:

"Then should he be named Guo Zhuangyuan, or Guo Prime Minister?"

Mo Chou was silent for a moment, then said:
"His father did want to change his name... Well, that's not important. The point is, this man is very good at dealing with people, always smiles when he sees them, and is a financial expert."

Zhao Duan took note silently and scanned the resumes of the remaining five young talents.

They come from different backgrounds, but they are all elites among the elites among scholars.

There are so many heroes gathered here... I am the only one who is a big lolita... Zhao Duan sighed.

I thought that in their previous life, if these people were not admitted to the world's top universities, they would have been admitted to the genius classes of Peking University or Tsinghua University...

Mo Chou sighed:
"Originally, there was another hermit from Dayu that we wanted to invite in, but unfortunately Master Dong stepped in and failed to invite him."

"hermit?"

"Well, he is a famous scholar who lives in seclusion outside the capital... well, it's normal for a rough warrior like you not to know about it."

Being despised... Zhao Duan shrugged indifferently, and seeing the dull atmosphere, he closed the booklet.

Mo Chou caught a glimpse of this scene and said teasingly:
"Are you ashamed of yourself? You see, these are the real talents. Just reciting a poem is something you can't do even if you practice swordsmanship for a lifetime."

Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and asked:
"Aren't you jealous of me? Are you jealous that I was invited by His Majesty to the Xiuwen Pavilion?"

Mo Chou seemed to have her thoughts exposed, and immediately denied it:

"No. You are just an auditor..."

Zhao Duan laughed and suddenly said:

"Come to think of it, I heard that you have been with His Majesty since you were a child? As a maid? The palace is full of yin energy, come to think of it, have you ever had any serious contact with a few men?"

After a brief pause, Zhao Duan said something shocking:

"I say... you always look at me with displeasure, could it be that you like His Majesty?"

Mo Chou felt as if struck by lightning.

She looked away in panic, her fingers and toes curled up, her cold face suddenly became hot:
"What... nonsense are you talking about? I... I just admire your majesty."

"Really?" Zhao Duan looked skeptical and said seriously:
"In fact, if you have this idea but are too embarrassed to speak up, I can help you convey your thoughts to His Majesty."

"do not want!"

Mo Chou's voice suddenly rose and her eyes widened.

The eunuch driving outside was so frightened that he looked sideways with a terrified expression.

I was thinking, could it be possible that Lord Zhao did something to Miss Mo in the carriage?
……

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Come and have a pear."

Zhao Duan laughed out loud.

Mo Chou's face flushed red and she stared at him angrily, realizing that she had been fooled.

She stared at it for two seconds, snatched the pear, and took a vicious bite, as if she was going to swallow it in one gulp.

At this moment, the carriage began to slow down.

The eunuch pretended not to hear anything and decided to keep what he heard today to himself.

"We have arrived at Xiuwen Pavilion."

Zhao Duan perked up, opened the car curtain, and looked at the building in front of him with some anticipation.

Agree on a new policy?

He really didn't believe that a group of feudal literati could surpass him.

(End of this chapter)