Xu Zhen heard horses neighing, and someone was playing a harp.
She walked to the side of the bed and looked down, and saw a red wooden carriage with gilt gold inlaid gems on the roof, hollowed out on all sides, and goose yellow gauze hanging on it, and two maids with double buns were kneeling in the carriage.
After arriving at the entrance of the restaurant, the two walked down with the sandalwood box in their hands, stepped into the restaurant, and called the boss to ask.
After hearing this, the restaurant owner ran up the stairs to call for someone.
The voices of the surrounding guests suddenly became much quieter.
People around asked: "What's wrong?"
The person next to him replied: "The one who made the decree to be an official! It must be some powerful person who lives in the restaurant and has been appreciated by the Holy One!"
"Who? Who is so powerful?!"
"I heard that the teacher who lived in a full moon school yesterday, can't it be that person?"
"It should be!"
A man in a fancy dress walked by.
These few people whispered: "This is it, look, he went downstairs! His appearance is magnificent, it is really unusual!"
But after a while, the owner of the restaurant brought down a slender woman in a light blue skirt with no ladylike demeanor.
Everyone asked after silence: "Could it be this person? Who is this person? It looks too mediocre!"
No one can answer this question.
The court lady took out the bright yellow silk cloth from the sandalwood box and began to read the imperial decree.
Say loudly that Mr. Xu Zhen is extremely intelligent and capable, and he is bestowed with the position of Wailang, a member of the Ministry of Rites of the sixth rank, who will take office three days later.
Not only the surrounding people, but even Xu Zhen herself was shocked.
The Ministry of Rites is the department that is in charge of the imperial examinations and schools across the country. It is in charge of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Ancestral Hall, the Ministry of Hosts and Guests, and the Ministry of Food.
Although Yuanwailang is only a small official, he works in the central government, and his salary is not low, and it is very decent.
Generally speaking, this job is very good. Now it is the officer of the Central Committee of the Imperial Capital. If you say it, you can directly become a successful person in the eyes of your relatives.
When Xu Zhen came to Chang'an, she heard from the old woman that most of the people who were appreciated by the Holy Master would indeed become officials.
She originally thought that she would be a magistrate, or be sent to a place like Taixue as a teaching assistant, but she didn't expect to go directly to the Central Committee, and it was the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture.
Even if it's just a small clerk, it's much more respectable to say it than a magistrate!
The court lady asked Xu Zhen to take the order.
Xu Zhen was very happy, went up to receive the imperial decree, and thanked the maid with a smile.
The maid didn't say much, and turned to leave.
Xu Zhen watched the maids step into the car, and the motorcade left in a mighty manner. The people around immediately got up to congratulate Xu Zhen, and Xu Zhen returned the salute one by one.
There were also enthusiastic people who took out jewelry from the room and wanted to give it to Xu Zhen, but Xu Zhen was too timid to take it.
The people in the next-door market learned that someone had been banned, so they all rushed over. They looked at Xu Zhen's face from the outside, and when they saw Xu Zhen surrounded by the crowd, they all praised: "You don't look amazing, but you have an extraordinary bearing! No wonder you can be banned." !"
Luckily Xu Zhen didn't hear it, otherwise she might have to sigh: The imperial decree's filter bonus is really amazing.
She spent a lot of effort to be courteous to the people around her, and managed to hide in the room.
After a while, the old woman knocked on the door outside.
Xu Zhen opened the door to welcome the old woman in.
When the old woman saw Xu Zhen, she looked bright and told her that the new house was ready, and moved a lot of things for her.
"The new home is ready?" Xu Zhen was pleasantly surprised, "Can I move in now!"
"Of course!" said the old woman.
Xu Zhen was even happier, and felt that today was a day full of good things.
The old woman said again: "The official uniform and seal will arrive tomorrow. It is your first time as an official, and you still have to learn the etiquette in the palace. You don't have to enter the palace for a few days, and an elderly maid will come to teach you."
Xu Zhen nodded: "Since I have become an official, I will take it seriously."
The two sat down and chatted for a while, the old woman ordered lunch, Xu Zhen devoured it all, and Xun Qianchun packed her luggage beside her.
Gradually slanting westward, the old woman called a few people for help, and walked to her new home with two people and two bags of luggage.
Xu Zhen's new home in Chang'an is also located in a secluded corner, but it has a good view. To the east is the market, and to the south, you can see a vast river and sea.
It is still the time when the boats are painted and the willow branches are swaying. The river is red and green, making people dazzled.
The new home is a bit bigger than Xu Zhen's abbot in Jiangling. After entering the gate, there are green trees on both sides, casting shadows. There is a stone bridge in the middle, and a pool that has not been filled with water below.
There are small buildings, courtyards and stables on both sides.
In the middle is the rectangular main house courtyard, with two ordinary bright pillars in front. After walking in, it is as spacious as the golden hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Although far less prosperous than the imperial palace, Xu Zhen was still shocked.
"This is—" Xu Zhen approached the old woman and asked, "Is this rented? How much is it a month?"
The old woman smiled and said, "Of course I bought it directly, and the deed is already in the house."
Xu Zhen laughed, thanked her and said, "Thank you, you are such a good person."
The old woman was very polite: "Sir, you don't have to be polite. This was made by someone else. That person committed a crime a few days ago. He was not punished because he was talented. He was just demoted to the border and his house was sealed. I thought that my husband would come over, so I hurried I got it from the Holy One."
Go to the border to suffer without enjoying it
This man is really pitiful.
Xu Zhen sighed and said, "It's too miserable. It must have cost a lot of money to build this kind of house."
The old woman said: "Yes, it cost more than three thousand taels, but it's just a mere servant."
Xu Zhen asked, "Corrupted?"
The old woman said: "No way!"
Xu Zhen said: "Hey! It's miserable!"
The old woman took Xu Zhen to the room, and when she walked to the corridor, she said, "But it's also thanks to this person being demoted, otherwise I would not have been able to get this house from the Holy Land for only one thousand taels."
Xu Zhen echoed from the back: "Yes, otherwise, I can't take advantage of it."
As she spoke, she suddenly felt something was wrong.
What is the old woman still talking about.
Xu Zhen followed, and asked in a daze: "Woah, you just said that one thousand taels..."
The old woman clapped her hands: "Oh! I forgot to tell my husband!"
Xu Zhen tried her best to raise her spirits and asked, "What are you going to say?"
The old woman said: "This house costs one thousand taels, so the Holy Majesty has withheld the silver reward before!"
Xu Zhen asked, "What?"
The old woman thought that Xu Zhen really didn't hear clearly, so she repeated the bad news: "This house was bought with the original reward of one thousand taels."
It really is my own one thousand taels!
Xu Zhen's legs went limp, and she almost fainted.
Xun Qianchun came to help her.
The old woman turned around when she heard the movement, and seeing that Xu Zhen seemed to have fallen, she also came to help her.
By the way, I asked Xu Zhen what she had talked with the saint today, and she learned that it was about Confucianism, so she continued to ask carefully, and finally she didn't know what she heard. After a long sigh, she thanked Xu Zhen deeply, and left with her hands behind her back.
Xu Zhen also collapsed on the spot in a daze.
She digested it for a long time, but still couldn't believe it, she turned her head miserable and asked the little beggar: "Xiaochun."
Xun Qianchun was called that for the first time, looked at Xu Zhen, and said nothing.
Xu Zhen asked sadly, "Is my one thousand taels gone?"
Xun Qianchun looked at her and said, "Yes."
Xu Zhen finally accepted.
She held back her tears and said, "I sold both the rabbit lamp and the lantern in a short while. It was too extravagant before."
"No need." Xun Qianchun said with a smile in his eyes, "There will be."
Xu Zhen sighed: "What will it be? What's the use of living in such a luxurious place? It's not that we are poor and can't afford food."
Xun Qianchun looked at Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen grabbed Xun Qianchun's sleeve pitifully: "It's just that you are going to suffer with me."
Xun Qianchun said: "No."
Xu Zhen didn't understand where Xun Qianchun's confidence came from for such an answer.
Her spirit had recovered, and she asked Xun Qianchun: "You don't want to chop firewood to make money again, do you? Just study hard. Although I said that you will die of poverty, you still have some savings."
Xun Qianchun said: "There is a monthly salary."
Xu Zhen asked in confusion, "What?"
"Salary." Xun Qianchun said, "From a sixth-rank official, there is nine coins a month, one stone of rice."
Yes, I have become an official!
Xu Zhen remembered this after Xun Qianchun mentioned it.
But the little beggar is too clear. Generally, even if the parents are officials, the children in the family cannot specially learn about salary and the like. Could it be that children in ancient times matured prematurely
Xu Zhen thought that the little beggar's parents had passed away, so she didn't want to ask further questions.
However, Xun Qianchun didn't shy away from it, and continued to say: "My family's salary was once twenty-six per month."
Xu Zhen was shocked: "So many?!"
Xun Qianchun was silent for a moment, then said: "Father was a first-rank official."
Xu Zhen was speechless for a moment.
It wasn't that he was shocked by the official position, but that the little beggar was willing to reveal his father's identity.
This person is obviously still a fugitive. If he has the heart, he will combine the Xun family and Zheng Yipin to inquire casually, and he will immediately know the true identity of the little beggar.
When the time comes to report to the court, you can get a lot of money. Why doesn't this person hide it? Isn't she worried about her life
Or do you trust yourself too much
Xu Zhen hadn't figured it out yet.
Xun Qianchun said: "My father used to save for five years before he could afford a house."
Xu Zhen was a little dazed: "What? You have to save for five years with such a high salary? How much does your family live in?"
Xun Qianchun said: "A house in Chang'an is expensive, one mu costs two thousand guan."
Xu Zhen silently calculated for a while.
She is still a little uncomfortable with the calculations of this superficial dynasty. She vaguely remembers that the income of ordinary people is six per year, that of scholars is twelve per year, and that of officials is a little higher. It is more than one hundred guan, and the money for a guan is one tael.
So I can earn more than one hundred taels a year, which is equivalent to more than ten small beggars...
Xu Zhen suddenly got a little excited, she sat on the ground and held Xun Qianchun's hand and said, "Isn't it a good deal for us to take this house now? Otherwise, we will have to save for more than ten years before we can afford the house."
Xun Qianchun looked at Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen asked: "Is it? Is it?"
Xun Qianchun said, "Yes."
Xu Zhen stood up and cheered, feeling that she had made a lot of money, so she happily went to pack her luggage.
Xun Qianchun also stood up.
Looking at Xu Zhen's happy figure, she faintly smiled, and didn't catch up to say what she originally wanted to say.
In fact, there are other cheap houses in Chang'an. This kind of house with a thousand taels can accommodate more than a dozen people, and it is a bit wasteful to live only the two of them.
She walked forward, ready to clean up with Xu Zhen.
After walking a few steps, I thought again: no matter how big the house is, it's just right for them to live just the two of them.
It was already dark outside the window, Xu Zhen was too lazy to go out to buy food, and she refused to let the little beggar go out alone, so the two could only sit in the luxurious and spacious hall, drinking hot tea and eating white cakes.
In the evening Xu Zhen continued to read to the little beggar.
After reading a few miscellaneous talks, Xu Zhen felt bored, so she told the little beggar about today's face-to-face meeting.
When it was said that the Holy Majesty was angry and almost dragged herself away, Xu Zhen heard the sound of a teacup dropping to the ground, and then saw Xun Qianchun standing up abruptly, throwing herself into her arms, and hugging her waist tightly.
Xu Zhen was at a loss, she raised her hand to stroke the little beggar's back. Guess in my heart, probably because I heard the anger of the Holy One, I recalled the family being exterminated, right
Xu Zhen thought that this future villain was just a child now, and the life and death parting with her parents might still be deeply in her memory, so she couldn't help hugging Xun Qianchun in her arms with distress.
She couldn't continue reading, and it was getting late, so Xu Zhen simply took off her clothes and climbed onto the couch with Xun Qianchun in her arms, preparing to go to bed.
Xun Qianchun raised his head from Xu Zhen's embrace, looking at her with burning eyes.
Xu Zhen said, "Close your eyes, it's time to sleep."
Xun Qianchun lowered his eyes.
There was moonlight pouring in from outside, and Xu Zhen realized that the lights in the room had been blown out at some point, and only a faint yellow wick gave off a halo.
Xu Zhen patted Xun Qianchun on the back.
The little beggar's back was petite and soft, not as bone-clear as when it was just picked up.
Xu Zhen said, "Go to sleep."
Xun Qianchun retracted into Xu Zhen's arms.
Xu Zhen smiled and asked, "Why did you suddenly start acting like a baby tonight?"
Xun Qianchun didn't speak.
Xu Zhen asked again: "What's wrong?"
Xun Qianchun felt the slight vibration in Xu Zhen's abdomen when she spoke. After a long silence, she raised her hand to touch Xu Zhen's waist.
Xu Zhen immediately stepped back and shouted, "Damn it! It's so itchy!"
Xun Qianchun looked up at her.
Xu Zhen grabbed Xun Qianchun's hand and said, "Don't touch my waist."
Xun Qianchun responded, and asked after a while: "Why?"
Xu Zhen said, "It's itchy." She touched Xun Qianchun's hand in retaliation, and the coldness of her palm passed to Xun Qianchun through the thin pajamas.
Xun Qianchun remained motionless.
Xu Zhen was shocked, unbelieving, and touched again.
Xun Qianchun said, "It doesn't itch."
Xu Zhen gave up. Looking at Xun Qianchun's calm face, she thought of a theory, and immediately leaned into Xun Qianchun's ear and whispered: "Hey! Do you know that there is a rumor that the kind of cold-hearted people It won't hurt your waist."
She talked and laughed by herself, and the flickering lights hit her side face like swaying flowers.
Xun Qianchun nodded.
Xu Zhen stopped smiling, and asked cautiously: "You know? Why are you nodding, do you think you are that cold-hearted?"
Xun Qianchun continued to nod, and said slowly, "Except for you."
Xu Zhen was stunned, not understanding what Xun Qianchun said.
Xun Qianchun explained: "Besides you, I can be cold-hearted."
The lamp wick in the house was completely extinguished, and with a huff, the house became quiet and dark.
Xu Zhen felt that her hands were gradually warming up, and her ears were also getting warmer for no reason.
In the darkness, she heard Xun Qianchun's soft voice: "Sir, I'm asleep."
Xu Zhen put these five words in her ears to ponder for a while, coughed twice to relieve the throbbing in her heart, and said, "Okay."
When I got up the next day, it was already dawn outside, and the little beggar had gone somewhere.
Xu Zhen lay on the couch, struggled to open her eyes, and looked at the walls, floor, ceiling, cabinets, and decorations in the house for a long time. Thinking that these were bought in exchange for thousands of taels of silver, she felt a little reluctant to stay on the bed and walk for a while.
She dawdled for a while.
When the old woman came with the maid who taught etiquette, she had to get up to be baptized.
The maid stayed in the palace for a long time. She was a female official called the Six Shang Department. She used to take care of the prince, but now she is teaching the court officials rules and etiquette.
This court lady knew a lot, and she told Xu Zhen how to worship, where the Ministry of Rites was, and what it generally does.
Xu Zhen listened without energy.
After the maid finished speaking, she gave Xu Zhen a sign, which was for entering and leaving the palace.
Xu Zhen held the sign in her hand.
The maid said: "Officials of the fourth rank and above need to go to court every day, and Yuanwailang can go directly to the Ministry of Rites without getting up early."
Xu Zhen nodded.
The maid said: "Recently, the minister of the Ministry of Rites and the servant are out, so Yuanwailang can start work tomorrow."
Xu Zhen doesn't really want to go to work: "So soon? Isn't it three days as promised?"
The palace lady beckoned someone to bring up the official uniform and seal and said: "Yuanwailang goes one day earlier, and he can receive an extra day's monthly salary."
Xu Zhen held the sign tightly and said seriously, "I can go now."