Zhu Ping'an and his two companions were in high spirits, heading towards Xu Jie's residence. On the way, they passed by West Chang'an Street, where there was still a lot of traffic and people in front of Yan's residence. Zhu Ping'an briefly told Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen about the last time he won the first prize and was invited to a banquet by Yan Shifan. He mainly talked about how he was troubled by everyone in Yan's residence and how Comrade Ouyang "showed off his prowess". As for the incident that he accidentally saw Yan Lan, the second lady of Yan's residence, taking a bath, he used the Spring and Autumn style of writing to skip it.
"Haha, no wonder there have been rumors in the capital recently that this year's imperial examination was unfair. Many people said with evidence that the second place winner was far more talented than the first place winner. It turned out that the Yan family played tricks at this banquet. The second place winner, Ouyang Zishi, is Yan Song's nephew. It is normal for the Yan family to do this to make Ouyang Zishi famous!" Zhang Siwei glanced at the busy Yan Mansion and sneered.
"Birds of a feather flock together..." Wang Shizhen was equally disdainful of the Yan family.
"Yes, the deputy chief examiner of this examination, Yan Maoqing, is a core member of Yan's party. I think Yan Maoqing's appointment as the chief examiner of this examination is related to Yan Song. I think he intends to select Ouyang Zishi as the first place. He was too clever to plan, but I didn't expect that you, Zihou, would suddenly appear and take the first place. If the plan fails, I think you will be blamed. I heard that Yan Shifan is not a good person, he is vicious and cunning, and he will do anything to achieve his goal. Zihou, are you okay?"
Zhang Siwei stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then he guessed the whole story clearly, then looked at Zhu Pingan with some concern and asked.
Wang Shizhen took action himself and touched Zhu Ping'an all over to see if he was injured. He was worried that Zhu Ping'an had been plotted against by Yan Shifan and others at the last banquet in Yan's Mansion, either secretly or openly.
"Stop... stop, I'm fine." Zhu Ping'an quickly dodged Wang Shizhen's hands. He got goosebumps from being touched. He didn't have the hobby of picking up soap.
"They want Ouyang Zishi to become famous, and I just satisfy them. It's just an empty title." Zhu Ping'an didn't care about fame at all.
"Alas, Zihou has been wronged. Zihou is a man of quick wit and talent. But when he arrived at the dangerous place of Yan's mansion, he was forced to let Ouyang Zishi take the lead. He has been wronged." Wang Shizhen felt that Zhu Ping'an was trying to comfort them. He sighed and spoke up for Zhu Ping'an.
Well
You guys are really overthinking it. I didn't take it seriously. Zhu Ping'an looked at Wang Shizhen who seemed to feel the same way and didn't know what to say.
The three of them walked from the residence of the cabinet chief Yan Song to the street corner. Then they turned right at the street corner and crossed two streets to Huaishu Hutong. The third house they walked along Huaishu Hutong was the residence of Xu Jie, the Minister of Rites. Xu Jie's residence was just an ordinary official's home. Although it was also magnificent, it was far from Yan Song's residence.
When Zhu Ping'an and the other two arrived in front of Xu Jie's residence, several students were just coming out of Xu's residence. Zhu Ping'an and the other two bowed slightly to them, and they bowed back and nodded as they passed by. These people had just paid a visit to Xu Jie.
When they arrived at the gate of Xu's mansion, Zhu Ping'an and the other two handed their disciple's certificate and greeting gift to the gatekeeper and waited at the door for the gatekeeper to pass on the message.
Not long after, the doorman invited Zhu Ping'an and the other two into the mansion. A man who looked like a steward led Zhu Ping'an and the other two into Xu's mansion, walked around the small garden and through a corridor, they arrived at the front hall of Xu's mansion. The steward stood in front of the hall and invited Zhu Ping'an and the other two to go in on their own.
Zhu Ping'an and the other two entered the front hall and saw Xu Jie sitting in the main seat. In Zhu Ping'an's eyes, Xu Jie was a very kind uncle, about 40 years old, very fair. He didn't look tall, and the smile on his face gave people a very kind feeling.
The person sitting in the main seat must be Xu Jie.
"Disciple Zhu Ping'an (Zhang Siwei) (Wang Shizhen) pays homage to the Master."
Zhu Ping'an and the other two entered the front hall, and knelt down as a student paying respect to the master, saying in unison, "Greetings to the master." With both hands respectfully straightened, they presented another full-folded student card. One must kneel when one is inferior to others, and Zhu Ping'an, who was kneeling on the ground, secretly complained about the evil feudal society in his heart, but of course he was still very respectful on the surface.
"You are all the future pillars of the country. No need to be polite. Please stand up quickly." Xu Jie stood up from his seat. He walked to Zhu Ping'an and others and extended his hand to support them.
"Thank you, Master."
After thanking Xu Jie, Zhu Ping'an was the first to stand up, followed by Zhang Siwei, and finally Wang Shizhen.
When he stood up, Zhu Pingan looked around the front hall. In addition to Xu Jie, there were two other people in the front hall. One of them he knew, and the other he met for the first time. The man he knew was the most powerful man in the Ming Dynasty, and it was Yang Jisheng, the elder brother he had met when he first entered the capital. Just like the first time he met him, Yang Jisheng sat there in a dark blue robe, with a righteous aura, like a sharp sword. But at this time, Yang Jisheng seemed to be worried.
When Zhu Ping'an stood up first, Yang Jisheng recognized Zhu Ping'an and was slightly surprised. He nodded slightly to Zhu Ping'an.
Zhu Ping'an also nodded in return.
In addition to Yang Jisheng, there was another person in the front hall. If Yang Jisheng was a sharp sword, then this person was like a city, unfathomable.
In fact, when Zhu Pingan saw Wang Shizhen and Zhang Siwei, he thought they were standard handsome guys, and they could definitely act in idol dramas in modern times. However, compared with the man sitting in the front hall, they were still a little inferior.
This man should be the most handsome man Zhu Ping'an has seen since he came to Daming. The word "beautiful man" is not enough to describe him. His black hair is neatly combed into a bun on top of his head, and is covered in an exquisite white jade crown. He has a high nose, thin lips, slanted eyebrows, deep eyes, impeccable facial features, and a handsome black short beard. The whole person gives people a sense of imposingness. At first glance, he is a man who can accomplish great things, and he has a leadership style.
But I feel that this guy seems to have obsessive-compulsive disorder. He seems to pay great attention to grooming. His hair is combed very neatly, not a single hair is out of place. His clothes also look brand new, and there is not even a wrinkle on his body. You know, this guy is sitting, but there is not a single wrinkle on his body. If this is not obsessive-compulsive disorder, then what is it
The strange thing is that the first impression Zhu Ping'an got from this person was that he was very scheming and unfathomable.
This feeling is very strange. I had this feeling the first time I saw him, but there is nothing I can do. Things are just so strange. The signal that reflected back to my brain the first time I saw this person was like this.
"You are all pillars of talent. Don't stand anymore. Sit down and talk." After Zhu Ping'an and the other two stood up, Xu Jie waved his hand and asked Zhu Ping'an and the others to take a seat.
"Thank you, Master."
Zhu Ping'an and the other two thanked him quickly and sat down on the chair at the bottom of the front hall. Zhu Ping'an sat closest to the man and smelled a faint scent of powder after sitting down. He moved his nose slightly and determined that it was coming from the person next to him.
Uh, no way, it’s ok that he’s just handsome and pays attention to grooming, but he even puts on balm
If it weren't for the fact that this guy had such a majestic and heroic demeanor, Zhu Ping'an would have almost ordered a curry song for gay people in his mind. (To be continued.)