The morning fog has not yet cleared.
Because it is the place where the dignitaries live, the sound on the street is not noisy, and there are no hawkers who walk the streets and alleys to sell things, revealing a kind of wealth and purity.
Looking at it row by row, all of them are Xuan He's mansion.
In front of the side door of the General's Mansion, Ji Heng has been waiting for a while.
He was wearing a sky blue long gown that had been washed white, and his hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, looking meticulous. It is clear that he is not yet in his thirties, but there is already a lot of wind and frost on his face.
Both sleeves were hanging down, but when a gust of wind blew, the right sleeve was fluttering with the wind.
No right arm.
Six years ago, when the Dali Temple caught fire, this arm was broken by the beam that fell from his head. If it wasn't for the kindness of the neighbors, he was sent to the Huisheng Hall, and the broken arm was treated in time, I was afraid that his life would be in worry.
But even if he saved his life, so what
Since then, the family has been ruined and the future is ruined.
Ji Heng is a scholar.
I have read books for more than 20 years, just to stand out in the imperial examination field, to become a parent official in the future, and to contribute to this great country and society.
But without his right arm, he has a disability, and he has nothing.
In the past six years, he has seen all the scorching and cool in the world, and returning to Jiangnan from the capital, there is no more scenery in the past. In order to make a living, he went to wandering brothel brothels, writing lyrics and music for famous prostitutes, in order to get food and clothing.
I thought this life would be so busy.
Who would have imagined that when all hope had vanished, that ray of light could still emerge
Except for himself, no one could imagine how he felt when he heard the news of the reform of the imperial examination in the deep alley of Xinghua.
It only rained that day.
There is a little girl who has just left her head, picked apricot flowers, and walked in the alley to sell. Both ends are famous brothels in Qinhuai. The voice was clear and crisp, which attracted many girls in the building to look out.
He was indifferent, like a walking corpse, ready to go to Huayuelou with the new words he wrote.
Unexpectedly, before stepping into the building, the back door opened directly, and the maid next to Miss Yanwan, the first brand of Huayue Building, rushed over with joy and excitement, grabbed him and shouted happily.
"The imperial examination has been reformed! Master Ji, the imperial examination has been reformed, and you can participate in the imperial examination again!"
When he first heard this sentence, he hadn't reacted at all.
I almost thought I was in a dream.
It was not until the maid dragged him, dragged him directly to the front of the building, and called Miss Yan Wan to come out and talk to him, did he know the whole story in a dizzy trance.
It is said on the surface that officials cannot recruit prostitutes, but how many of them can really stand it
As the top brand of Huayuelou, Yanwan has a lot of guests. Jiangnan Xuezheng Ji Boxun was one of them. He stayed at Huayuelou last night and mentioned it to Yan Wan by chance.
Yan Wan asked carefully before knowing the news.
No, he sent Ji Boxun away early in the morning, so he hurriedly called the maid next to him to inform him and tell him the good news.
In the past few years in Jiangnan Huanchang, he still has a lot of good relationships.
A few familiar girls took out their bodies, smiled and gathered enough for him, and arranged a banquet for him to see off, and then they returned to the capital all the way.
As a result, as soon as the ship docked, someone was waiting and wanted to hire him as a husband.
Not only being a gentleman, but also being a gentleman to several women.
Over the years, Ji Heng has been in contact with famous prostitutes in the south of the Yangtze River, but he does not despise women like other men. I was just wondering, what big family would ask him to be a gentleman to their young lady
So when I asked, I got the answer, but I was stunned almost immediately.
The able-bodied man replied with a smile: "At the General's House in Wuwei Town in the capital, I want to teach two young ladies in the house."
General's House!
How could Ji Heng have not heard of it
Six years ago, after the Dali Temple caught fire and burned down most of the street, something happened to the general Xue Kuang. At that time, he felt that the big summer of that year was shrouded in a cloud of clouds.
But at the time it was only heard.
The three words "General's Mansion" entered his ears again, just a few days ago.
Reform of the imperial examination system.
Such a major event, about its cause and effect, has already spread all over the streets!
Who hasn't heard the name of the general's wife
The reason for this restructuring can be facilitated is all on her body.
In order to give General Xue's concubine, who has leg problems, a way to make a living, she boldly approached the emperor and wanted to make a special case for this son and allow him to participate in the imperial examinations.
But where is the exception
This led to an unprecedented debate in the court.
In the end, Gu Juefei, the eldest son of the Gu family, who had lived in seclusion for six years before returning to the court, defied all opinions and even refuted all the ministers who opposed it in the debate.
Including his father, Mrs. Gu.
The reform of the imperial examination system was carried out accordingly.
For normal scholars in the world, there is not much difference in the matter of restructuring, it is nothing more than competition for a few more people; but for those with disabilities, it undoubtedly opens a door of hope.
Even if you have a disability, you can go straight to the sky!
Scholars in the world, from now on, are the real "Scholars in the World"!
Whether a person is of a high birth or not and whether he is physically fit or not are no longer the criteria for judging a person. The only thing that can measure them is the word "talent"!
Ji Heng could reject any dignitaries in the capital, but how could he reject the General's Mansion
An edict.
As a result, his life returned to the right track, and when he looked up at the blue sky again, he finally felt that there was some color.
Standing in front of this side door, even the servants guarding on both sides looked at his empty sleeves with strange eyes, and he didn't care at all.
People stand upright on the steps.
The person who communicated has just entered, and now hurried out of the door, sweating on his forehead.
"Master Ji, please, Madam asks you to go to the middle hall first, and she will come later."
It's Pan Quan'er.
He just reported to Lu Jinxi, and when he got a reply, he hurried to invite Ji Heng.
Ji Heng bowed slightly and said thanks, "It's work."
"Please."
How could Pan Quan'er dare to accept his gift? As soon as he was busy dodging it, with a smile on his face, he waved his hand and asked him to go inside first.
The General's Mansion has always been simple and simple.
It lacks the elegance of a scholarly family, but it has a natural atmosphere.
Going around the shadow wall, through the atrium planted with green pines and cypresses in the front yard, we arrived at the hall. The maid had already prepared tea, and when Pan Quan'er led her to sit down, she brought the tea.
Ji Heng is not someone who has never seen the world.
At that time, he was even in the third grade, famous as Xie Yuan in the Jiangnan Examination Room, and he was also invited by many dignitaries and went in and out of many luxurious mansions.
So after sitting down, he didn't look around, and didn't even move the tea on the table.
After about half an hour, there was the sound of small footsteps outside.
It was Lu Jinxi who came.
Ji Heng raised his head and stood up, and immediately saw a woman in a light yellow spring shirt.
She has a gentle half-moon bun on her head, a string of simple pearls on her smooth and full forehead, and dark green peacock jade earrings hanging on her white jade-like earlobes, which are actually glorious and bright.
Qingya is the lotus out of water, and the hibiscus is naturally uncarved.
If she hadn't really dressed up as a woman, Ji Heng might have thought she was the daughter of some family.
"Young Master Ji, it's been a long wait."
With a slightly smiling voice, there is a strange sweet and warm taste, not to mention the slight smile on his face at this moment, there is a gentle and graceful like water.
Ji Heng was stunned for a moment, and then he reacted, and hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Next time, Ji Heng, see Madam."
"Also, please don't hold the ceremony, sir, please take a seat."
It was also the first time that Lu Jinxi saw Ji Heng. Due to the rush of time, he just made some adjustments. Fortunately, the foundation was good, and he was not going out to meet a lover, so it didn't really matter.
She asked Ji Heng to get up, and then took the main seat in the hall.
The maid brought her tea.
She brought it up and asked Ji Heng to use the tea: "This year's new tea has not yet arrived, only last year's Xinyang Maojian, I don't know what you like, sir, so I guess the taste of the Jiangnan area is prepared for you."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
Ji Heng had never had contact with Lu Jinxi. In the past, he had only heard that the general's wife, Mrs. Lu, had a cowardly temperament.
But when I saw it today, I realized that the rumor was untrue.
In front of Mr. Lu, there was not the slightest bit of the tightness that a woman in a deep house should have, and every move, every word and every word showed a calm taste.
It is clear that there is a degree of advance and retreat, and long sleeves are good at dancing.
The other party was so polite to him, but it made him a little flattered.
Ji Heng only had one hand to use.
The tea was served with a cover, so he could only lift the tea cover first, put it aside, and then serve the tea and drink it.
Lu Jinxi glanced at it, and said "unfortunately" in his heart. Looking at Ji Heng's face, although he has a frosty look on his face, he looks like Zhou Zheng, a talented person. Even if he is missing an arm, it will not affect his demeanor.
She remembered what Pan Quan'er had said before, and when she saw the other party took a sip of tea and put down the tea cup, she said, "The situation at the General's Mansion, I must have already said it when Pan Quan'er went to invite you, so I won't say much. To repeat. It is really a blessing for the general's mansion that Ji Gongzi can promise to raise my two incompetent girls, and it is also a blessing that they have cultivated in their eight lifetimes. It's just that Pan Quan'er also said that you came to the general's mansion to thank me. I don't understand this very well, what's the matter?"
"Ma'am did such a big thing, don't you feel the slightest bit?"
Ji Heng didn't expect that she didn't know anything about it, and was a little surprised.
Just looking up at Lu Jinxi for a moment, he got up and gave Lu Jinxi a bow to the end!
"Mr. Ji!"
Lu Jinxi was a little surprised, and hurriedly asked the left and right to help him up.
"I am a woman in a deep house, how can I deserve such a big gift from you? You are a scholar who came from the imperial examination, and you have a bright future, so don't let me down."
"Madam can afford it." Ji Heng finally smiled slowly, "This matter of the reform of the imperial examination system alone is the first of its kind in my dynasty, which has never been seen before, and has also made countless people with disabilities like Ji have a few degrees. Share hope. Ji Mou can participate in the imperial examination again because you made a statement to the emperor that day. How can Ji Mou not be grateful to his heart?”
... because of this.
Lu Jinxi was a little surprised.
She was stunned for a moment, and then she burst out laughing: "Mr. Ji is thanking the wrong person, as you can see, I'm just a widow in the general's house, and I mentioned this to the emperor from beginning to end. Forget it, how can I deserve such a big gift from you? I really want to thank you, firstly, for the wisdom of today's sage, and secondly, for the current Lifan Hall, Gu Juefei, who has a deep sense of righteousness and overcomes all opinions. Come to thank me, but it's the opposite. ."
"You don't have to be too modest, ma'am."
Ji Heng has hills and valleys on his chest, how could he not know the depth of it? Although he hadn't paid attention to the matter in the court for a long time, he could clearly see the beginning and end of the matter.
"There is a cause to have an effect. You know better than Ji Mou what your wife's role is in this matter. Ji Mou is here today, just to express my gratitude to my wife. All the scholars in the world like me should thank you. ."
If no one mentions something, no one will do it.
If Lu Jinxi didn't go to the emperor for Xue Tingzhi to raise this matter first, and he worked hard on the lobbying of the military attachés, how could this matter be accomplished
Of course he wanted to thank the emperor and Gu Juefei, but Lu Jinxi should also thank him.
The words were not very clear, but Lu Jinxi could understand.
She only stared at Ji Heng for a long time, and finally smiled slowly: "Everyone said that Mr. Ji was famous back then, second only to Gu Juefei. If it weren't for the accident of the Dali Temple fire, the candidate for the third flower of the year is still unknown. . Now that I see it, it's a well-deserved reputation."
"Ma'am, this is ridiculous."
When it comes to Gu Juefei, Ji Heng's expression has changed a bit. He thinks that he is indeed the same year as Gu Juefei, and he recognized him when he was in Jiangnan, but to say that he can compare with him is a fool's dream.
"Master Gu is famous and admired by the world. Although Ji is not bad, he is not as good as him."
have to.
Dare to love is another blow to Gu Juefei.
Lu Jinxi suddenly felt a bit of a toothache, and gave birth to some wayward thoughts, and didn't want to take this Jie Yuan Jiheng's words at all.
It's just that Ji Heng didn't notice it at all.
He even froze for a moment.
I remembered Gu Juefei, and also the fire that burned down most of the street back then, and the dawn after the fire, the figure that stood at the door of Dali Temple and hadn't moved for a long time.
Ji Heng still remembers it to this day.
He stayed beside his parents' already cold bodies, and he couldn't feel the pain in his arms at all. There were officers and soldiers around him, and no one could go out.
But at that time, someone walked in.
The officers and soldiers guarding near Dali Temple, after this person came, walked away automatically, like a receding tide.
Dali Temple Minister Li Shu was full of cold sweat.
He heard someone speak: "Eldest son, the lower official really doesn't know about the fire. Those people, those people, were all killed by poison..."
However, the visitor did not listen to him.
He just took a sullen face and stepped through the scorched ruins step by step, as if he was about to fall if he couldn't stand firm, but he took one step after another, and stood at the door of the Dali Temple Yamen, which had long been burned out.
Then he raised his head, looked inside, and also looked at the mess in this half-street.
There were cries and shouts all around.
There were also the shouts of the officers.
There is also the sound of the burning fire that has not been extinguished, accompanied by the sound of the broken walls collapsing, there is a desolate noise in the cold silence, not like the world, but like hell.
Ji Heng recognized that that person was Gu Juefei.
Later, the Dali Temple fire case was broken down as a reporter accidentally overturned the candlestick, causing the fire. Afterwards, he hanged himself at home the next day and committed suicide.
Li Shu, the minister of Dali Temple, took the blame and resigned, and never entered the dynasty again.
Everyone thought it was a tragic accident.
But now almost six years have passed, and whenever Ji Heng thinks about this, he thinks of Gu Juefei's forbearance and silent back when he was standing in front of the blackened Dali Temple Yamen.
That was no accident.