"Son-in-law, eat some fruit. This watermelon is so sweet."
"Sir, please have some tea..."
Baozi's maid Hua'er was like a diligent little bee. She brought fruit platters, made tea and poured water. Her diligent figure filled the room.
Well.
It's all about replenishing water...
Zhu Pingan took the teacup, took a sip, and then put it down. He felt the urge to urinate became stronger...
While Zhu Ping'an was struggling with the urge to urinate, Ouyang Zishi and Luo Longwen were drinking by the window in a private room on the second floor of the Wangyue Tower in Beijing. The table was filled with delicious food, and everything that flew, ran, swam, or floated in the sea was served. A jar of the best Dongyang wine was already half drunk.
Outside the window, the amnesty had ended. Emperor Jiajing had already returned to the palace, and the people watching the excitement outside had dispersed. Only some released prisoners and their families were still on the street, kowtowing in the direction of Xiyuan to express their gratitude.
"These ignorant people..."
Ouyang Zishi listened at the window for a while, and angrily put the wine glass in his hand down on the table.
"They are just insignificant beings. Why should Ouyang get angry over them?" Luo Longwen picked up the wine jug and filled it with wine for Ouyang Zishi.
"No, listen to what they are saying." Ouyang Zishi pointed outside the window and motioned Luo Longwen to lean over and listen carefully.
After listening for a while, Luo Longwen's face also fell.
"Brother Luo, you heard it. It's natural for them to thank the emperor." Ouyang Zishi clasped his hands and shook them in the direction of the West Garden, then stretched out his fingers and pointed vigorously in the direction of the Linhuai Marquis' Mansion, shaking his head and cursing angrily, "But why should they thank that Zhu, do you think they have water in their brains! What, the emperor's amnesty is the credit of Zhu Ping'an?! Bullshit, who does he think he is, he is nothing! It's not just Zhu Ping'an who suggested that the emperor grant amnesty! My uncle also suggested that the emperor grant amnesty! These ignorant people just heard that Zhu Ping'an was beaten with a stick in the court for submitting a memorial, so they thought that Zhu Ping'an was beaten for asking the emperor to grant amnesty, so they put all the credit on Zhu Ping'an. Ha! Stupid! Stupid! He Zhu Ping'an suggested that the emperor grant amnesty, that was entirely to save the traitor Yang Jisheng! He Zhu Ping'an was beaten because he violated the emperor's oral order and pleaded for Yang Jisheng! A bunch of ignorant people!"
It is no exaggeration to say that the three words "Zhu Ping'an" have become Ouyang Zishi's curse. Once he hears the three words "Zhu Ping'an", Ouyang Zishi's good mood will be completely ruined. If he hears someone praising Zhu Ping, or good news about Zhu Ping'an, Ouyang Zishi will have a hysterical impulse.
"A bunch of idiots!" Luo Longwen spat forcefully out of the window, sharing the same hatred with Ouyang Zishi.
"Zhu Ping'an did something wrong and was beaten in court, but he is actually praised by these ignorant people! Isn't it infuriating?" Ouyang Zishi picked up the wine glass and drank it in anger, his face distorted by anger and hatred.
"Of course it's infuriating!" Luo Longwen nodded, then patted Ouyang Zishi on the shoulder, and then changed the subject and said sinisterly, "But, Ouyang, don't get angry! I said that Zhu Ping'an will be in big trouble! Zhu Ping'an will be in big trouble!"
"If Zhu Ping'an is to be in bad luck, he will be in bad luck?!" Hearing this, Ouyang Zishi shook his head and sighed heavily, "Brother Luo, please don't comfort me. Although I hate Zhu Ping'an, this villain, I haven't let my hatred blind me. Zhu Ping'an submitted a petition to plead for the traitor Yang Jisheng this time, and although he was beaten with a stick in the court, the first half of his petition advocated not to rescue the solar eclipse, which won the emperor's heart. He also said that the emperor 'served the sky as a father and the sun as a brother, so all the yin retreated and all things were brilliant. Therefore, the sun was bright and the atmosphere was fading. If the eclipse was only one point, it was the same as not eating...', and the emperor was very pleased with his flattery. Therefore, even if he violated the emperor's oral order, the emperor only punished him lightly and only beat him with twenty sticks in the court. With this petition, Zhu Ping'an would not have time to get promoted and make a fortune, so how could he be in bad luck?!"
"Ouyang, you don't believe it?" Luo Longwen knocked on the table.
"Although I really want to believe it, but..." Ouyang Zishi smiled bitterly and shook his head, indicating that he did not believe it.
"Haha, Ouyang, you are still young." Luo Longwen smiled sinisterly, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue.
"Brother Luo, if it weren't for this memorial, I would believe it. However, this little thief Zhu Ping'an is too cunning and shameless. He has no integrity of a scholar at all. He submitted such a flattering memorial, which made the emperor very happy. This memorial is Zhu Ping'an's amulet." Ouyang Zishi was so angry that he pounded the table twice when he finished speaking.
"Haha, so, Ouyang, you are still young." Luo Longwen picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Why do you say that, Brother Luo?" Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zishi frowned and turned his gaze to Luo Longwen.
"Ouyang, you will understand if you listen to what I say. The reason why I said that Zhu Ping'an will suffer a great misfortune is because..." Luo Longwen smiled and was about to explain when he heard a knock on the door.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Who is it? Didn't you say not to disturb us?" Luo Longwen's explanation was interrupted, and he looked up at the door unhappily.
"Lord Luo, it's me, Liu Yanzhi from the Ministry of Personnel." The person outside the door replied.
"Liu Yanzhi? Why is he here?" Ouyang Zishi looked at Luo Longwen in confusion.
"Do you remember the small southeastern county where seven county magistrates died in five years that I told you about? If I'm not mistaken, it should be related to this." Luo Longwen explained to Ouyang Zishi, then stood up and walked to the door, opening it while smiling and greeting him, "Haha, it turns out to be Lord Liu, please come in and have a drink together."
"Lord Luo, you are too polite. Ah, Master Ouyang is here too."
After Liu Yanzhi came in, he found Ouyang Zishi sitting by the window, and hurried forward to greet Ouyang Zishi.
"Lord Luo, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep the position of magistrate of Jingnan County that you asked me to pay attention to a few days ago."
After the greetings, Liu Yanzhi explained his purpose. As Luo Longwen said, he came here for the magistrate of Jingnan County, a small county in the southeast. He originally went to Luo's house to find Luo Longwen, and the housekeeper of Luo's house told Liu Yanzhi that he could come to this restaurant to find Luo Longwen, so Liu Yanzhi came.
"What do you mean?" Luo Longwen asked.
"Today, the county magistrate of Jingnan County came to Beijing and used his connections to get in touch with Doctor Zhang, hoping to negotiate for the position of magistrate of Jingnan County. I heard that Doctor Zhang has already agreed, so I hurried over to inform Lord Luo." Liu Yanzhi explained.