There was no sun, but the light was particularly dazzling. Xue Tingxiang half-closed his eyes and looked at the towering flagpoles of fame and fame.
Memories overlapped at this moment—
"Don't think I'm ignorant when I'm young. My father said that Xue Juren is very good, and he's very good at reading. He will become a high-ranking official in the future."
…
"Does the dog want to read?"
"think."
"Why?"
"I want to honor the ancestors for the family, to be the most promising person in the Xue family, and to be a good official in the future, our family will not have to pay taxes..."
…
"What's the matter?" Said after being blocked in the back.
"nothing."
Xue Tingxiang smiled, got off the carriage, and then turned to help his wife and daughter down. A few children in the carriage behind also got off the carriage, as well as Zhao Di and Shen Ping and his wife, all got off the carriage.
At the entrance of the village, the old patriarch asked his son Xue Jinquan to support him, and countless people stood behind him.
There are villagers dressed as peasants, students in student shirts, there are many, many people, everyone is watching here.
"Sir, Ting Yan, you are finally back."
The old patriarch came tremblingly, and Xue Tingxiang stepped forward to support him. The old patriarch is already very old, and ten years are enough for him to lose his eyes, lose his teeth, and have gray hair.
"Cousin."
Xue Tingyan shouted, stopping the people behind the old patriarch who were planning to salute: "I am returning to my hometown today, it is not an official, but Yuqing Village is an ordinary person from the Xue family, so there is no need to salute."
The patriarch Xue Jinquan hurriedly spoke up and told everyone not to salute.
The elder of the old clan burst into tears, wiped his tears and said: "Cousin said that he might not see you again. It's good to be back, it's good to be back."
"Cousin, Ting Xian is not filial. He hasn't been back once in all these years."
"You're busy outside, doing big things, and taking on big responsibilities, so you don't have time to go back to your hometown. I don't blame my cousin, I don't blame my cousin..."
Xue Tingxiang supported the old patriarch all the way to the village, followed by Zhao'er and others, surrounded by countless relatives of the village.
A group of people is mighty, and the scene is extremely rare.
Even the naughty Ru Ningning has a sullen face at the moment, not daring to make a sound.
…
Over the years, Yuqing Village has changed a lot, no longer like a small village, but more like a town.
The wide and straight bluestone road is the main road in the village. There are also some small shops on both sides, selling some groceries, pen, ink, paper, inkstone and other items. Further inside are the houses of the villagers, and the ancestral hall of the Xue family and the Yuqing Academy are at the bottom of the road.
The layout is still the same as before, but the Yuqing Academy is facing forward, the ancestral hall of the Xue family is on the side, and further back is the family of the patriarch Xue, and there is a large mansion occupying the other side.
It was Xue's house. It took up a lot of land. It was repaired a few years ago, but it was always empty. It was said that when Xue Tingxiang returned home, he would have a place to stay.
Xue Tingxiang first went to the ancestral hall to put on incense before going to sit at the old patriarch's house.
He asked about the current situation in the village, the academy, and the villagers who were his elders. Some of these people are still built, and when they are mentioned, they are helped in, and they wipe away tears while talking about the old days. Some of them have died one after another in the past ten years.
After Xue Tingxiang heard about it, he couldn't help sighing and felt a little depressed.
It is worth mentioning that the current leader of Yuqing Academy is Xue Juncai.
Xue Juncai was not bad at reading books, but was delayed by changes at home.
Later, he listened to Xue Tingxiang's words and taught in sociology. After a few years of precipitation, I tried again in the end. Not only did I get admitted as a scholar, but I also won the exam, but I didn't continue to take the test, but devoted myself to teaching in the academy.
Now the Yuqing Academy can be managed entirely by him.
"grown ups."
Xue Jun was about to bow and salute when he was supported by Xue Tingxiang.
"Cousin doesn't need to be so polite."
Xue Juncai didn't insist any longer and straightened up.
He is over thirty years old, and he is no different from ten years ago. Although his temples are gray, his demeanor is calm and steady, and he has a more relaxed temperament.
Time can change people, not only Xue Tingxiang, but also him.
At this time, Xue Juncai finally stood upright in front of Xue Tingxiang, who had been his opponent for many years, who he had looked up to and envied for many years, and was also his brother.
Now, he can finally stand upright in front of the other party, even if he bows down because of the official position, he has no inferiority complex and no self-esteem.
"Is the aunt okay?"
Xue Juncai nodded and said with a smile: "My mother is in good health, and I talked about adults a while ago, but I didn't expect you to come back now."
"I originally planned to let Hong'er come back only once, but the imperial decree came to call me back to Beijing. I thought that this time I would go back to Beijing, I'm afraid it would be difficult if I had more time, so I'll come back and have a look together."
"It's good to come back and live in the village for a while. Now the village has changed a lot, and the academy has also changed a lot. This academy was founded by you back then."
Having said that, Xue Juncai called the two children on the side, and said to Xue Tingxiang: "These are my two children, the eldest is called Bang'er and the youngest is called Juan'er. Quickly call Tang Shu, this is what Dad often tells you, that An uncle who is very good at reading and is also a very good official."
"Uncle."
Xue Tingxiang squinted his sleeves, only to realize that he was not prepared for the meeting ceremony at all, but said with a shameful smile that he would make up for it, and then called his three children to meet Xue Juncai and salute.
Ning Ning and Tai Ge'er were about the same size as Bang Ge'er and Sister Juan, and the four little ones went out to play hand in hand. Xue Yaohong did not leave and stayed by his father's side as the eldest son.
After sitting for a while, Xue Jinquan saw that Xue Tingyan was tired, so he hurriedly told everyone that Mr. Xue came back from a long journey, so he should settle down first, and then dispersed the crowd.
Xue's house is very spacious, with three entrances in the front and back, and the objects inside are all brand-new and spotless.
After settling down, Ningning never left home, and ran around with people every day to play. But for Xue Tingxiang and Zhao'er, they were caught in endless busyness.
I see many people every day, Xue Tingxiang is, so is Zhao'er.
Most of the people Xue Tingxiang met were the villagers he knew. The nearby squires, and even the current magistrate of Xia County, the prefect of Pingyang Prefecture and the generals of the local guardhouse came to visit him in an endless stream.
He was just returning to his hometown, and everyone seemed to know it. It is really poor in the downtown area and no one asks, and the rich have distant relatives in the mountains. Helpless, he can only hang out the sign of going home to worship his ancestors and not seeing outsiders. There are fewer people who come to visit.
Of course, being so busy is not without merit.
For example, the magistrate of Xia County took the initiative to open the door to Xue Yaohong and Wang Wei. He obviously missed the county exam, but he gave them a separate exam.
The questions were the same as those in the county exam. Xue Yaohong and Wang Wei also went to the county government to take the exam.
After the exam, the paper was sent directly to Pingyang Prefecture, and in the name of the magistrate, he was recommended to be sent to this office for the exam.
In fact, this situation is not uncommon. Most of the children of some high-ranking officials have the name of scholars, some are based on real skills, and some are done by people below.
Like this time, it was done by the people below.
Although Xue Tingxiang is helpless, he is not an unreasonable person. It makes no sense that others can go to the back door to support the relationship, so he can't go after he has been sent to the door
He has also read the papers of the two juniors. With his six-yuan and first-rank vision, even if he does not bear the name of Xue Tingxiang, the two of them will have no problem passing the county test.
Time just passed by these trivial matters. People in Yuqing Village thought that Xue Tingxiang would not stay for long, but their family lived in the village.
This year, it was very hot in Beijing, and it was as hot as a steamer before May.
In the cabinet lobby, a group of elders and family members were sweating profusely, accusing them of cramping that day. It's only been a few months, but it's so hot.
Don't look at these cabinet ministers who are decent and prestige, but in fact they are doing errands in the palace, and everything has to follow the rules of the palace. There was no word from the above to send ice to the cabinet to cool off the heat. Even if every family's ice cellar was full of ice, no one dared to bring it into the palace.
Can only boil.
Wu Ge had just returned from the Qianqing Palace, and his body, which seemed cool and dry before because of the air-conditioning in the Qianqing Palace, had long since become steamy due to the exposure to the sun on the way.
However, he had a smile on his face. After entering the cabinet door, he smiled and said to a Shiren who came up to him: "Your Majesty said, let the Ministry of Internal Affairs distribute ice to the cabinet in the afternoon."
Time is enough to change many people, and five years is enough to change Mr. Wu Ge.
He succeeded in his youth, and in middle age he entered the pavilion to worship the vice-chancellor.
Emperor Jiacheng's disgust, Feng Chengbao's re-start, and his agreement to set up the Shibo Division have long been betrayed by many people below.
Only now did he realize how difficult his situation was.
However, since he can climb to the current position step by step, he is naturally not an ordinary person. When he told Fei Qian that following the trend was the trend, he was also moved.
As time passed, there were fewer and fewer ministers who dared to oppose Emperor Jiacheng, and more and more voices were flattering and submissive. Among them, Wu Ge was the most.
Wu Ge Lao became very obedient, and what Emperor Jiacheng said was what he said.
Maybe one or two years, Emperor Jiacheng will not change his opinion, but if it is three years or four years, as always
Every emperor is unavoidable to be stubborn and self-willed. When the once biggest opponent crawls at his feet and sings praises for himself, most of them will be addicted to this sense of accomplishment.
And Wu Ge old is relying on these, a little bit to stand up again. Maybe many Qingliu would dismiss him, and even scold him with love and hatred, but this does not prevent him from still standing in the center of power.
"Elder Ge wipes the sweat, thank you Elder Ge for thinking about the people below us. The books in the two rooms below remember the great kindness of Elder Ge."
Mr. Wu Ge took the towel and wiped it casually, then put it back on the man's hand, smiling: "What a great kindness, it is convenient for others and myself, Your Majesty remembers that the cabinet is a daily management, and it is inevitable that these trivial things cannot be thought of. I'm just a reminder."
After that, Wu Ge went back to his duty room.
This is Zhong Shusheren of Zhong Qun, and only then did he return to the imperial room with the towel in his hand. When the people in the room saw him come in, although they didn't say anything, there was a half-smile on their faces. The person didn't look at him, but snorted softly.
In the duty room, Mr. Wu Ge sat down after the big case, and Feng Qing came up with tea.
Elder Wu Ge took the tea cup and smashed his mouth before saying: "Today, His Majesty asked Xue Tingxiang, and the Ministry of Officials has not received the report he submitted?"
Feng Qing shook his head.
Wu Ge sneered: "If you have the ability, don't come back for the rest of your life."
…
At the same time, in the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Jiacheng put down the book and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly: "This Xue Tingxiang is angry with me."
Which official received the imperial decree, did not rush back to Beijing overnight, for fear of delaying and attracting suspicion from above. But he was better. First, he returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and now he is living in his old home, as if he did not plan to come back.
What could this be? Naturally, he was angry with Emperor Jiacheng.
As for why he was angry, heaven and earth knew it, Xue Tingxiang knew it, and Emperor Jiacheng also knew it.
To put it bluntly, it's not that he treated others poorly.
Emperor Jiacheng is not without conscience. Xue Tingxiang has been conscientious and conscientious over the years and has done many things for the court. The treasury is abundant, and there is no need to worry about the lack of money for disaster relief, and the lack of silver taels for military expenses.
But he was better, Hong and Bai called people back to Beijing without saying anything, and didn't say how to arrange things after calling back to Beijing, and it was no wonder that the other party would have a feeling of hiding everything.
Zheng Ancheng stepped forward, served a cup of tea first, and then said softly: "How can a courtier be angry with your father, Master Xue shouldn't do it this time."
Emperor Jiacheng waved his hand and said, "Don't blame him, he is young, arrogant, dare to act, dare to act, capable, arrogant, and able to do things. Speaking of which, I should not listen to the words of the old Wu Ge, so I am suspicious. Go to him. If he really has the heart of not being a minister, how can he live in his hometown and not return to Beijing, and he is still young."
Emperor Jiacheng had an almost helpless, but somewhat doting smile on his face.
In the past ten years, although most of the rulers and ministers have been friends, they have different meanings.
To Xu Shoufu, Emperor Jiacheng was respected and trusted; to Lin Miao, Chen Jian and others, Emperor Jiacheng was a matter of course; to elders like Wu Ge, Emperor Jiacheng was condescending, with a playful contempt.
In the life of an emperor, there will be too many courtiers around him, and each courtier has a different role. Probably there can no longer be a courtier in this world who can make Emperor Jiacheng feel so complicated like Xue Tingxiang.
It is a kind of mixed trust, appreciation, jealousy, but full of intimacy. It seems that it used to be a trench in the trenches. That kind of feeling that is not love but seems to be love can probably be remembered for a lifetime.
"Could it be that I am such an incompetent person?" Emperor Jiacheng murmured in a low voice.
The hall was quiet.
This time, Zheng Ancheng did not dare to intervene.
After a long while, Emperor Jiacheng looked up at him and said, "I see you and Mr. Wu Ge getting very close these days?"
Zheng Ancheng's face froze immediately, and he lowered his head and smiled: "Wu Ge is always a cabinet minister, and the slaves are the eunuchs and eunuchs. It is inevitable that there will be an intersection. But if you say that you are close, it is not."
Emperor Jiacheng didn't say anything, it seemed that he just said a word, but this sentence caused a storm in Zheng Ancheng's heart.
This eunuch Sili, who has served Emperor Jiacheng all his life, but has not yet been able to penetrate the heart of the emperor, is an eunuch in charge of Yin.
Emperor Jiacheng's words and deeds, and even a look in his eyes, were enough to make him think about it for a long time.
He shouldn't mix in when he hasn't figured out what His Majesty thinks. At this time, Zheng Ancheng was deeply annoyed.
"Forget it, talented people are arrogant, I am the master of the world, and I should have the capacity to accommodate others and the heart to recruit talents. I will dictate, you will remember, I will send it to the cabinet later, and then send someone to go. Shanxi, call him back to me."