"Master Shou, please don't bother with these guards. They are just rigid and stupid..."
Seeing the chubby middle-aged man smiling and leading the way while complaining about the two stubborn guards, Zhang Shou said nonchalantly, "It's their duty. After all, Princess Yongping is a princess, so they can't be too careful. I can't blame them. In fact, the princess's invitation is too valuable. Outsiders would love to have it. It's a waste to give it to me."
Having said this, without waiting for the chubby middle-aged man to respond, he suddenly asked, "By the way, I haven't asked for your name yet?"
"Well, I'm just an eunuch in the palace, how can I be noble." The chubby middle-aged man narrowed his eyes when he heard the word "honorable official". If his tone just now was just respectful and attentive, now it was a little more warm, "I'm just a small steward who runs errands for Concubine Yu, Master Shou can just call me by my name Chang Ning."
The number of eunuchs in the Ming Palace today is not much compared to the Han, Tang and Song dynasties, and even less than that of the Ming Dynasty in history, with a total of no more than 300 people. But the small number does not mean low power. Although most of the duties are assigned to female officials who must retire from the palace at the age of 40, the Silijian has continued from the founding emperor Taizu to the present. After studying in the inner book hall since childhood, they have selected the most outstanding people to serve the emperor.
What remains are the names of the managers of each palace.
However, due to their small number and the strict prohibition of the use of eunuchs in various royal palaces, eunuchs are relatively rare for the people of the Ming Dynasty. Ordinary officials basically cannot see these people, let alone among the people, who are surrounded by all kinds of demonized rumors.
However, Zhang Shou, who grew up in the countryside, had no chance to inquire about these things. Even when he was with Zhu Ying and those noble children, no one would mention eunuchs, and it was even more impossible for him to ask about this out of excessive curiosity.
Therefore, in line with the principle that this Ming Dynasty is not the same as that Ming Dynasty, he did not know whether he should call the eunuch "gonggong" these days, so he simply said politely: "It turns out to be Chief Steward Chang, thank you for making such a trip just now."
"No trouble, no trouble." Chang Ning smiled, as if he was very satisfied with Zhang Shou's address, and then explained, "Mr. Shou, don't worry. Not everyone who is invited has to come down to write essays. You are different from those ordinary scholars. You can just sit and listen and make your own judgments."
At this time, they were already approaching the meeting place downstairs in Yuehua Building. Zhang Shou was accompanied by Chang Ning, which made him conspicuous. In addition, Deng Xiaodai and Qi Liang followed closely behind him like followers, and Ah Liu had a calm expression. Naturally, many people looked at him.
The scholars who were lucky enough to be invited here naturally had the confidence that they would become famous overnight. In addition, they were not allowed to bring followers. Even if some of them belonged to the same book club or poetry club, they would definitely not want to be subordinate to others in such occasions. Therefore, some people inevitably felt that the three people behind Zhang Shou were particularly eye-catching.
After hearing Chang Ning's words clearly, those who knew him couldn't help but exchange glances with each other in groups of three or four.
He was actually invited to judge. Could he be some newly rising selector? No, judging from his age, he doesn't look like a selector who can comment on the art and contemporary writings of scholars? Then, which famous selector's direct descendant is he