The sunshine in March is warm but not harsh. This kind of sunshine is just suitable for sitting in the breeze yard, bathing in the sun, and enjoying the warm and extremely comfortable feeling.
Lao Zhang is an old man in the Huitong Hall. He took over the job from his father when he was eighteen years old, and he is now forty-seven years old. In his impression, the Huitong Hall has always been an idle office. I have lived here for most of my life, and it was not until these few days that I saw what it means to be lively.
People who are used to leisure, once they get busy, they really feel a bit overwhelmed. Usually, cleaning the yard would take him one day to kill, but now he had to clean it early in the morning, so when he finished sweeping the yard, he already felt backache.
The person responsible for cleaning with him is Lao Wang, who is three years older than him, and is also a handyman in the same house as his stepfather. After sweeping the yard, the two of them sat on the stone steps with their brooms in their arms, basking in the sun while After setting up the Dragon Gate Array, the conversation was naturally about the banquet last night.
Lao Zhang said mysteriously: "Old Wang, have you heard? When the imperial envoy from the capital hosted a banquet for the Prime Minister of Kezhi Kingdom yesterday, he ate hot pot, hehe."
Old Wang curled his lips in disdain: "Mystery, that's all. Do you know what happened after the banquet?"
Lao Zhang asked strangely: "What happened after the banquet?"
Old Wang smiled, looked around, and said in a low voice: "Our ambassador, after the banquet yesterday, sued Guan Shangshu in front of Kezhi's prime minister and imperial envoys, what a shame! Your courage is really too powerful!"
Lao Zhang couldn't believe it and said: "Impossible? The Ministry of Rites is the direct manager of our association. Our ambassador is like a little ant meeting an elephant in front of the master. How dare you sue me The black status of the Minister of Rites?"
The old king said: "I just sued. At that time, the host and guest, Mr. Zheng, was so frightened that he collapsed on the ground. Hey, this man is done. He has worked hard for half his life and finally got to be the host. This must be unlucky. You I don’t know Lord Shangshu’s face at that time, livid and livid, dare to feel that what happened in the dining room last night was all caused by Lord Shangshu’s son..."
While the two were talking, an official walked into the yard with two yamen servants, coughed and said, "Where is Ambassador Ye?"
When the two saw each other, they stood up quickly, Lao Wang nodded and bowed and said: "My lord, please wait a moment, and I will report to you." Lao Zhang picked up the broom, nodded and bowed to the official, and laughed twice. Also quickly slipped away.
Ye Xiaotian hurried to the courtyard after hearing the old Wang's report. The official said arrogantly: "You are Ambassador Ye? I am a member of the Ministry of Rites, and my surname is Fang."
Ye Xiaotian arched his hands and said: "So it's Mr. Fang, disrespect, disrespect."
Fang Yuanwailang said: "Ambassador Ye, please take a step to speak."
Ye Xiaotian hurriedly said: "My lord, please sit inside."
Fang Yuanwailang said indifferently: "No need, let's go here."
Fang Yuan Wai Lang and Ye Xiaotian walked to a corner of the courtyard, Fang Yuan Wai Lang lowered his voice and said, "Ambassador Ye, I am sent by Lord Shang Shu to send you a message."
Fang Yuanwailang said a few words to him in a low voice, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help being surprised.
Fang Yuanwailang said indifferently: "Master Zheng has already been ordered to resign from his post by Lord Shangshu. The young master of the Guan family was punished by the family law last night, and his legs were broken by Lord Shangshu. He was sent back to his hometown in Chenzhou. He will not be allowed to do so again." He stepped into Nanjing to give you an explanation, and I hope you will be satisfied with this kind of treatment."
Ye Xiaotian narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "Master Fang, why do I feel that your tone doesn't sound like an confession, but a threat?"
Fang Yuan Wailang sneered, did not answer, and walked away on his own.
Ye Xiaotian watched his back silently until he disappeared at the gate of the courtyard before returning to his residence. Ye Xiaotian didn't care about Fang Yuanwailang's threat, he would be strong if he had no desires, he didn't want to hang out in Jinling at all, so how could he care about Guan Shangshu's threat.
As soon as Ye Xiaotian returned to his residence, Zhan Ning'er, Hua Yunfei and others surrounded him, and asked with concern: "Brother Xiaotian, who was looking for you just now? Could it be because of what happened last night?"
Ye Xiaotian smiled and said: "Isn't it because of that, Mr. Zheng has been ordered to resign from office, Guan Xiaokun's legs were broken by his father, and he was driven back to his hometown. He is not allowed to step into Jinling from now on. This is enough for this kid I can take it."
Zhan Ning'er frowned, and said worriedly: "Under pressure, Guan Shangshu had to punish his son severely, but Guan Xiaokun is his own flesh and blood after all, if he does this, he will definitely hate you."
Ye Xiaotian said: "It doesn't matter, I don't want to mess around with him, what can he do to me? However, Guan Shangshu sent me a message."
Mao asked anxiously, "What news?"
Ye Xiaotian was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Guan Xiaokun did this at the behest of Uncle Li Guo."
Hua Yunfei and the others looked at each other, and Hua Yunfei couldn't believe it: "How come, why did Uncle Li Guo do this? It can't be that Guan Shangshu has a grudge against you and wants to help you drag a strong enemy into the water, right?"
Ye Xiaotian shook his head and said: "Guan Shangshu is not a weak person, why would he do this? In my opinion, after he learned the truth, he was unwilling to let his stupid son be used by others, so he revealed the truth to me."
Hua Yunfei was puzzled and said: "But... Big Brother and Uncle Li Guo have no grudges..."
Zhan Ning'er's eyes flashed, and she suddenly said, "Could it be for Yingying?"
Ye Xiaotian said: "After thinking about it, it can only be because of this reason."
Ye Xiaotian sighed, and said: "I know that Uncle Li Guo likes Yingying, a gentle lady, and a gentleman is good-looking, so there is nothing wrong with him. Later, he was able to retreat in spite of difficulties. I still think that although this person is in the company of Guan Xiaokun and Rui Qingxing , most of the time it is those people who take the initiative to curry favor with others, this Uncle Li Guo is indeed a gentleman, I never expected..."
Ye Xiaotian smiled wryly and said: "I never thought that he would hate me so deeply, and even resorted to tricks to frame me. I am a child of common people's parents. I really can't imagine these people who were born with a golden rice spoon What kind of mentality do people have. It's not that I take love away, but that he likes my woman, and my woman doesn't like him, so he holds a grudge and deliberately revenges?"
Ye Xiaotian said to Ning'er: "Ning'er, you are also from a wealthy family, are the men in your family also like this?"
Zhan Ning'er gloated and said: "The men in my family are not like this. Who told you to meet someone who is narrow-minded and used to blame others? Don't you often say that in officialdom, you step on others or others step on you? That's probably the case."
Ye Xiaotian said: "Yingying is really a beauty, she has returned to Hongfeng Lake, and she left me such a big trouble. However, trouble is what I, Ye Xiaotian, are most afraid of! Uncle Li Guo wants to punish me, then Let the horse come over and see whether he can step on me or I can step on him!"
Zhan Ning'er stared at him and said: "He is the uncle of the country, what are you fighting with him?"
Ye Xiaotian raised his chin slightly, and said: "Chicks don't pee, each has its own way. Just wait and see!"
※※※
Tomorrow morning, Lin Shilang will accompany Prime Minister Ke Zhi to go to Beijing. If there is nothing to do today, he will travel to Jinling City with Prime Minister Ke Zhi. Because of his son, Guan Shangshu feels old-fashioned. Taking advantage of his son, he didn't want to see Uncle Li Guo, so he pretended to be unwell and didn't accompany him.
They had dinner together outside, and sent Prime Minister Ke Zhi back to the meeting hall. When they left, Lin Shilang intentionally took a step behind Wei Guogong and Uncle Li Guo, and Ye Xiaotian led Prime Minister Ke Zhi back to the residence to settle down. As soon as he came out, a guard from Beijing rushed over and said in a low voice, "Ambassador Ye, Minister Lin is here to invite you."
Ye Xiaotian was a little surprised, he didn't know what Lin Shilang wanted him to do, Ye Xiaotian hurried to the outside of the Huitong Hall, saw that Lin Shilang had already boarded the car, he couldn't ask the imperial envoy to get off the car, so he boarded the car and looked into the car He cupped his hands and saluted, and said, "My lord servant."
Lin Shilang smiled at him and said, "Come in and sit down, there is no need to be formal."
Ye Xiaotian saw that there were seats on both sides of the car, so he bent down and sat on the side seat. Lin Shilang saw that although his official position was minor, he was calm and composed in front of him, without the embarrassment that a small official would not dare to show when he met a high-ranking official, and he admired him even more in his heart.
For such a small official, Lin Shilang didn't have to go around in circles, and said straight to the point: "I have some understanding of your situation. Ambassador Ye, you are bold and careful, and you have a good sense of order."
Lin Shilang is the second-in-command of the Ministry of Rites in the capital, and his position of authority is extraordinary. Ye Xiaotian really didn't understand how such a big man would be interested in him, so he replied cautiously: "My lord has praised me absurdly. I am a low-ranking official, but with a The word Li, as long as you take advantage of it, you don't care about high or low, any noble person dares to contradict, speaking of it, he is just a stupid young man who doesn't know the heights of the sky and the earth."
Lin Shilang smiled lightly, and said: "Young man, it's okay to be aggressive. I heard that you were not happy in Jinling, but I appreciate you very much. How is it? Would you like to go back to the capital with me?" , I will find a post for you in the Ministry of Rites."
Ye Xiaotian was stunned when he heard this, Lin Shilang was trying to recruit him, he never expected that he could fall into the eyes of this great man and get his favor. Ye Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat. The capital is the place where he grew up. His parents, relatives and friends are all in the capital. If he can return to the capital to be an official...
The hot blood rushed to the top of his head in an instant, making Ye Xiaotian's fair skin slightly flushed with excitement. Lin Shilang twirled his beard and looked at Ye Xiaotian with a smile. From Lin Shilang's point of view, Ye Xiaotian had no reason not to agree to him if he valued him so much.
Ye Xiaotian's mind was full of thoughts, and he quickly weighed the pros and cons in an instant, and the blood that was ignited in his heart gradually cooled down. Ye Xiaotian wanted to make up his mind, looked up at Lin Shilang, Lin Shilang sat calmly, smiled and said: "How?"
Ye Xiaotian bowed to Lin Shilang, gratefully said: "Xiaotian is a small official, and I am really flattered to be so favored by adults."
Lin Shilang stroked his beard and smiled, and waited for Ye Xiaotian to kneel down to thank him in ecstasy, but he heard Ye Xiaotian say again: "It's just that the lower officials are vulgar and shallow, with poor knowledge, the capital is important, the laws are strict, and they have a collection of talents. The lower officials are reckless." , and his qualifications are very low, and he is afraid of disappointing the high expectations of the servant, so... dare not obey orders!"