Mutton meat piled up on a golden plate
Three days later, the imperial decree to appoint Qi Yan, the minister of officials, as the chief examiner of the imperial examination was read out in court by Sijiu in the early court.
Except for Su Ru of the loyalist faction who remained silent, the officials of the other two factions could not afford to kneel down and begged "Nangong Rang" to take his order back.
These ministers were enthusiastic and risked their lives to expound the importance of the chief examiner and put forward many reasons why Qi Yan was not suitable to be the chief examiner.
Qi Yan stepped forward indifferently amid the voices of doubt, and took the imperial decree from Si Jiu.
In an instant, many thoughts flashed in Qi Yan's mind. The order announced by the imperial decree was the highest standard will of all dynasties. The courtier dared to openly resist the decree to prove that the "long-sick" Nangong Rang was gradually losing control of the court situation. On the other hand: I have to say that Nangong Wang's skills have matured a lot in the past three years, and he is still his person in name, but in the face of such a chaotic situation, he can actually be as motionless as a mountain...
It seems that he wants to completely hide his hole card in order to obtain greater benefits.
Qi Yan: "The minister obeys the order and will live up to the emperor's favor." She glanced behind the bead curtain without a trace, how should Nangong Jingnu deal with such a situation
At this moment, a coughing sound came from behind the screen, and Qi Yan's eyes flashed a hint of stunnedness. After a few breaths, Nangong, who was wearing the imperial clothes, came out from behind the screen.
Nangong Rang hadn't appeared in front of courtiers for nearly a year, but his appearance was like a needle in the sea. All the officials in the hall, including Nangong Da who was sitting on the dragon chair, knelt down on the ground, shouting long live.
However, Nangong Rang did not come out, but sat on the Taishi chair and was lifted out by the two inner servants who were separated from the left and right.
It seems that his body has not recovered at all...
Qi Yan frowned slightly, and instantly figured out where the joints of the matter were. It must be the chaos in the court when she made a self-recommendation last time. Nangong Jingnv understood that the examiner's affairs would not be so smooth, so she invited Nangong to let ...
Qi Yan quietly raised her eyes to look at the high position, and saw that Nangong Rang's two feet hanging in the air swayed slightly with the Taishi chair, she knew a little about medical skills, and knew that this was not the performance of a normal person - perhaps Nangong Rang's lower body has been lost perception.
Qi Yan's mood is a bit complicated. In order to help Nangong Jingnv settle the situation, Nangong Rang can actually do this...
I don't know what kind of mood it is, Qi Yan continued to look up under the suspicion of offending Tianwei. The imperial clothes were still solemn and noble, but they were much wider than before, with a pair of hidden gold lines. Long Guang's sleeves are laid flat on his knees, and his chest is embroidered with the unique Kowloon Chaozhu totem of the Wei Kingdom.
Immediately afterward... Four eyes met.
Qi Yan immediately retracted his gaze. She crawled on the ground in fear and sincerity. I didn't expect that Nangong Rang was actually looking at her. There was a dead silence in the hall, and Qi Yan's back broke out in cold sweat.
There was a crunching sound from the superior, and the voice of Eunuch Sijiu, the head of the chamberlain, sounded again: "Your Majesty has a purpose, retreat from the dynasty..."
Only then did the ministers slowly raise their heads, and the figure of Nangong Rang was no longer visible from the high position, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
The ministers looked at each other in dismay, and some were unwilling.
The middle book ordered Xing Jingfu to stand up and say: "This official was young at the beginning of the year. Fortunately, His Majesty's appreciation and trust have made him what he is today. Although Mr. Qi is young, he was born in the top three in the imperial examination after all, and has experience in local governance. Since His Majesty believes in him, column No more doubts if you are a minister."
After a moment of silence, the ministers agreed.
So far, this matter is completely knocked out.
Qi Yan returned to the side hall of the Weiming Palace, and just after changing into her regular clothes, the palace maid reported that Aunt Qiu Ju, the female official in charge beside Her Royal Highness Zhen Zhen, was here.
Qi Yan invited Qiu Ju in, with a delicate food box hanging on the other's arm, and gave a respectful salute: "Slave, see the concubine, the tribute from the north arrived yesterday, and the kitchen chose a lamb to cook. , it was just released, His Highness asked the cook to cut a few plates of the best parts and ask the concubine to taste it."
Qi Yan smiled and said, "I've troubled Sister Qiuju, what is Your Highness doing?"
Qiu Ju handed the food box to the maid next to Qi Yan, and replied, "I guess it's time for your Highness to have lunch, and they're eating."
Qi Yan's eyes were half-closed, and she said in a low voice, "If that's the case, please ask Sister Qiu Ju to bring the food box back."
Qiu Ju: "What is the meaning of the concubine? As soon as the lamb is roasted, Your Highness will first order the cook to cut out your portion, but His Highness has not moved a single chopstick."
Qi Yan hooked the corners of her mouth and replied, "That's why I don't dare to enjoy it alone, so please ask Sister Qiu Ju to bring the food box back. If Sister Qiu Ju thinks that His Highness is not easy to explain, just leave what I just said as it is. Just repeat it without moving.”
Seeing Qi Yan's resolute attitude, Qiu Ju had to go back the same way with the food box. In fact, Nangong Jingnu has not had lunch yet. The matter of delivering mutton to Qi Yan was decided yesterday.
She has been waiting in the side hall of Ganquan Palace all this time. After Nangong asked Shangchao to come back, their father and daughter said something, and Qiu Ju happened to be back when Nangong Jingnv came back.
Nangong Jingnu flipped through the scroll in her hand and asked, "Send it?"
Qiu Ju: "Go back to His Highness, I sent it away, but the concubine asked the slaves to bring it back."
Nangong Jingnu's hands stopped for a moment, and the green jade fingers lifted half of the pages and dropped them back: "What's going on? You didn't follow what Ben Gong said?"
Qiu Ju gave a deep slap in the face: "The servants ordered by His Highness told the concubine without a word, but the maids still insisted that the servants bring the food boxes back, and said... If the servants feel embarrassed, please tell your highness, he Don’t dare to enjoy it alone.”
After two breaths, Nangong Jingnu suddenly laughed. She turned her eyes back to the scroll in her hand again, and after reading the last page, she put the book on the desk, stood up and said, "You can go with this palace."
Qiu Ju: "Yes. Where is His Highness driving, do you need slaves to pass on sedan chairs?"
Nangong Jingnu walked straight ahead: "No need, bring the food box with you."
Qiu Ju: "Yes."
The two masters and servants walked to the side hall, and the palace maid hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "The servant and maid see your Highness."
Nangong Jingnu: "Where's the concubine?"
Palace maid: "Go back to your highness, the concubine is in the dining hall. I ordered my servants to wait here. If your highness comes down, please go directly."
Nangong Jingnu smiled again, and took the food box from Qiu Ju: "You go somewhere else to rest, and Ben Gong will go by himself."
Qiu Ju: "Yes."
Nangong Jingnu: "By the way, call someone with smart legs to go to the wine cellar and bring a jar of kumiss from the north."
Qiu Ju: "Yes."
When Nangong Jingnu came to the dining hall, Qi Yan was sitting alone in the guest seat, and the main seat was empty. There are two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, refreshing side dishes are placed on the periphery, and the center of the table is empty.
Nangong Jingnu put the food box in that position, the size is just right.
Qi Yan raised her hand: "Your Highness, please take your seat."
Nangong Jingnu sat on the main seat: "Is the concubine waiting for someone?"
Qi Yan got up and opened the food box, a fresh aroma of mutton rushed to her face, Qi Yan took a deep breath, and praised: "Paoding's craftsmanship has improved again!"
Nangong Jingnv couldn't help but smile, this person's temperament seemed to have changed a little in the past three years: "You're sure that this palace will come?"
Qi Yan set the plate, put the food box on her lap, raised her eyebrows and asked in astonishment, "If Your Highness doesn't come, wouldn't it be a waste of money for the minister?"
Nangong Jingnv rolled her eyes at Qi Yan: "Poor mouth."
Qi Yan also laughed and said to herself: "In recent years, I have been visiting various counties in Jinzhou. Occasionally, I rolled up my sleeves and trousers and worked in the fields with the farmers. When I was tired, I just sat on the field ridge and listened to it. They tell some folk stories, and if they listen to them too much, they will inevitably get a little dirty, and I hope Your Highness will not blame them."
Nangong Jingnu: "This is the tribute I just paid yesterday. I asked Pao Ding to choose the one with the most tender meat. Let's try it."
Qi Yan: "Thank you, Your Highness." She squeezed the chopsticks in her hands, glanced around with her eyes, and pressed the chopsticks back: "Let's wait."
Nangong Jingnu: "What are you waiting for?"
Qi Yan blinked at Nangong Jingnu: "I'm missing something."
The voice fell, and there was a sound of fine footsteps: "Master Consort."
Qi Yan: "Look, isn't this just waiting?"
Nangong Jingnu's beautiful eyes flashed a trace of surprise: "Come in."
I saw a waiter holding a small jar of wine in his arms, came in panting, knelt down and raised the wine jar above his head: "Brewed the kumiss."
Qi Yan took the wine jar: "Go down."
Servant: "Yes."
Qi Yan patted Kaifeng Mu, took the jug on the table, poured the kumiss, and placed it in front of Nangong Jingnu.
Nangong Jingnu pursed her lips, feeling a little complicated: This person even prepared an empty jug. Not only did he expect that he would come, but also what he would do
Nangong Jingnu: "You..."
Qi Yan: "Didn't Your Highness say it before? This mutton goes well with the kumiss that is unique to the north. He also said that we must get some and put them in the wine cellar in the future."
Nangong Jingnu recalled it for a while, but she lost all impression. Qi Yan said again: "So this minister thought that if there is no wine, it would be a fly in the ointment, so he ordered someone to go to the wine cellar to get it."
Hearing this, Nangong Jingnu finally felt a little better: "Move the chopsticks."
Qi Yan scooped two plates of leek flowers and placed them in front of the two of them. He picked up a piece of mutton and put it in his mouth: "It's really delicious."
Nangong Jingnu picked up the glass and drank it, and also ate a piece of mutton, which seemed to taste the same as usual.
Qi Yan swallowed the meat in his mouth and took another green vegetable, and said, "I have drawn up a book to ask for a leave of absence from the imperial court. What name would your Highness say is better?"
Nangong Jingnu swallowed hard when she answered her lips. After she realized it, cold sweat oozes from her palms, and she turned to look at Qi Yan. The latter's expression was very calm, and his eyes were also calmly looking at Nangong Jingnu.
Nangong Jingnu asked, "Ask for leave? Why does the concubine want to ask for leave?"
The two smiled at each other and said nothing.
The reason for Qi Yan's request to stop the court leave is naturally that he has obtained the position of the chief examiner, and he does not want to have a too rigid relationship with the courtiers, so he simply avoids the edge for a while.
However, the "Nangong Rang" who listened to the government with the curtain behind the curtain can know the reason, but the Nangong Jingnv, who is not allowed to interfere in politics, can't.