The Red Mansions

Chapter 113 Xu Renzhi summoned

A shower in the middle of the night made the air fresh and pleasant in the early morning.

The sky is blue, and it is another sunny day. Birds sing and dance on the branches with a beautiful voice.

The morning breeze is blowing, making people refreshed and full of energy!

In the room, Xue Baochai was arranging Jia Yun's gown thoughtfully, with gentle eyes and affectionate eyes.

Jia Yun looked at Xue Baochai who had been nourished by herself, her childishness and freshness mixed with mature charm, making her even more beautiful.

So he couldn't help but hugged Xue Baochai fiercely and gnawed a few mouthfuls.

"Don't make trouble, you have to go to the Luming Banquet later!" Xue Baochai lowered her head slightly, blushing, and said shyly.

Xiren, Meiren, Ying'er and other women watching from the side covered their mouths and snickered.

Jia Yun laughed and said, "Don't worry, the Luming Banquet will not start until noon, so it's too early to go, and you'll be bored instead."

Xue Baochai rolled her eyes, with all kinds of flair, pursed her lips and said: "You can drink, don't go to the flower shop to hang out, the girls there are not clean, if you are greedy, the girls at home can be used by you, and if you don't have enough, I will give it to you." Buy some!"

"You are really my good wife!" Jia Yun praised.

"Have you heard it? Even if you want to accompany your classmates to the flower shop for a drink, you can't contaminate the girls there. It's disgusting to think about it." Xue Baochai raised her powder fist and lightly hammered Jia Yun's chest, emphasizing again.

Jia Yun nodded and said: "Okay, I will not touch the girls there if I can!"

The sun was shining brightly, and Jia Yun went to the Yamen of Shuntian Prefecture in a carriage.

The next day after the township examination results were released, all provinces held a banquet to entertain the examiners and new imperial examiners, which was called the Luming Banquet.

The Luming Banquet got its name from the royal meal that the emperor entertained the imperial examination students with "deer" as the main dish.

Deer has always been revered as a fairy beast, and its imagery is a rare talent.

The emperor is the son of heaven, and "ming" means a gift from heaven.

Therefore, the imperial meal where the emperor is in the east and the talents are guests is called "Luming Banquet", which means the banquet where the emperor seeks and values ​​talents.

Another theory is that the deer and "Lu" are homophonic. The ancients often used the deer to symbolize the meaning of "Lu" as the hope of being promoted and making a fortune.

But because people are self-effacing and reserved, they don't want to talk about wealth, and because it is different from the Confucianism of self-cultivation, family governance, and world peace, they took such a poetic name as "Luming".

The venue for the Luming Banquet was set up in the government office in Shuntian Prefecture, and in the Chief Secretary's office in other provinces.

At that time, the chief and deputy chief examiners, academic administration, promotion, supervisor, co-examiners and deacons will all have a banquet.

The chief examiner wears court clothes, and together with other officials, first gives a thank-you ceremony, and then enters the banquet one by one.

The new imperial examiners introduced drum music, and sat down after meeting with the chief examiner and other officials.

After the banquet, they sang the chapter of "The Cry of the Deer" and performed the Kuixing dance.

The Luming Banquet was warm and grand, and many common people gathered in front of the Yamen, grabbing the banquet after the banquet was over.

Because in people's eyes, participating in the Luming Banquet is a great honor, and being able to get a share of the pie means that you or your family can also be promoted in high school in the coming year, which is a symbol of auspiciousness.

This behavior of snatching banquets often leads to troubles. The imperial court also stipulated that onlookers are not allowed to snatch banquets.

Shuntian Mansion Yamen, the door is open.

After Jia Yun arrived at the government office, she was greeted by the waiting officials and went straight into the hall.

Thirty or forty new imperial examination candidates have gathered in the hall.

The number of places admitted in the township examination is uniformly stipulated by the imperial court.

Due to the vast territory under the jurisdiction of the northern and southern Zhili, the number of candidates admitted in each township examination is also the largest.

In recent years, it has basically remained at 100 people.

Jiangxi is next with 65.

In other provinces, the number of applicants decreases by five, and Yunnan has the least number of applicants, with only 20 applicants.

Jia Yun was the youngest, just entering the hall, everyone smiled and walked up to him to say hello.

At the age of 17, Jia Yun won the Juren examination and gained a great reputation. It caused a great sensation in the capital yesterday, and it is certain that her reputation will spread far and wide in the future.

While everyone envied him, they also regarded him as a little brother, who took good care of him.

In a short while, all the new imperial examinations this year will arrive.

Jia Yun took a closer look and found that except for him, the youngest people here were all approaching their thirties, and the oldest was nearly sixty years old, with gray hair, which made people feel cold after seeing it.

Of course, there are older ones.

But those are not the Juren who passed the exam this year, but the old Juren who just passed the exam.

Regardless of their official status, anyone can come to the Luming Banquet.

The number of years cannot be too many or too few, and a cycle of 60 years means that the old and the new will alternate and the cycle will continue.

When the auspicious time came, after a series of ceremonies, everyone came to the banquet hall to take their seats amid a burst of drum music.

The banquet was presided over by Yin Jianghuan of Shuntian Prefecture, who is also one of the examiners of this year's rural examination.

When the banquet is in session, everyone sits at separate tables according to ancient rituals. Two or three people share a small case, and Xie Yuan sits at the head of the examiners alone. case.

Deer, chicken, goose, lamb, fish, shrimp and crab shells, seasonal melons and fruits, candied fruit, ginkgo walnuts, etc. are prepared on the table. Because it is near the Double Ninth Festival, there are also some chrysanthemum petals wrapped in sugar silk, and fine wine is naturally indispensable.

According to the rules, Xu Renzhi, governor of Beizhili, gave a speech first, and then a traditional speech began...

Everyone was drowsy, but they had to hold on to their spirits, applaud at the critical moment, and then continue to listen to the cadenced speech.

Half an hour later, Xu Shi ended his speech with unsatisfactory ambitions. Everyone was refreshed, and their eyes lit up when they saw the roasted lamb, roast goose, fried chicken, whole steamed crab and dried venison on the table.

Then Fu Yin, Xuezheng, promotion, supervisor, and co-examination each said a few more words...

Jia Yun looked at the table, if it wasn't for the charcoal stove under the dish, the meat and vegetables would be cold.

It was so hard to get through until the examiner finished speaking, and the new imperial examination people had to line up to meet the chief examiner and take their own examiner as a teacher.

Jiang Fuyin smiled and watched the talented scholars receding gracefully, waved his sleeves, and the bells and drums in front of the court rang... It was time to sing "The Crying of the Deer".

Yoyo Luming, the apple of the wild food, is the origin of the name of this Luming Banquet.

When the deer song rested, Jiang Huan took the wine and made a toast to the three nobles of Zhusheng, and asked everyone to have a banquet.

The banquet started, everyone drank and ate meat, performed the Kuixing dance, and no one cared about their wild behavior.

Kuixing is called Wenquxing, so named because it is the head of the Big Dipper.

Since ancient times, there have been two kinds of Kuixing, one is called Wenkui and the other is called Wukui.

Wen Kui is in charge of civil service examinations, and Wu Kui is in charge of military officer examinations.

The top three champions in the palace examination, the second place, and the third prize are all selected by Wen Kui.

Kuixing dance has different performance styles due to the age of its spread and the relationship between masters and successors. There are schools that focus on freehand brushwork, with stretched movements, elegant dance postures and full of ancient rhyme.

There are also genres that focus on realism, strong action, clear rhythm, and fusion of martial arts skills.

Due to the different content of the programs, the performances also have their own characteristics.

After two or three hours of Luming Banquet, some people were already so drunk that they were taken away by the petty official to rest in the backyard of the yamen. .

Jia Yun was also belching from drinking, feeling a little drowsy.

Jiang Huan, who presided over the banquet, was also flushed from drinking, his eyes were in a trance, and he stood up unsteadily to announce the end of the banquet.

Jia Yun filed out with the crowd and was about to leave home when a small official stopped him, saying that the governor Xu Renzhi had invited him.

Although Jia Yun said that she had many doubts in her heart, Xu Renzhi was also one of her teachers after all, but she didn't dare to neglect, and followed the little official to the backyard of the yamen.

The little official took Jia Yun to a side room and stopped, went in to report, and came out soon, taking Jia Yun in.

In the room, Xu Renzhi, who was nearly sixty years old, was sitting behind the desk, his face glowing red and full of energy.

After the little official stepped back, Jia Yun stepped forward and saluted, "Student Jia Yun, pay your respects to your lord!"

"You should call me teacher." Xu Renzhi said kindly.

Jia Yun was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly saluted again: "Student Jia Yun, meet the teacher!"

"Well, there's no need to be too polite." Xu Renzhi nodded in satisfaction, and said, "I called you here because I want to ask if you want to take part in the examination next year?"

Jia Yun was at a loss and didn't understand why Xu Renzhi asked this. After all, as long as anyone can think that he won the Juren, no matter whether he can pass the exam or not, he must give it a try.

Although he was puzzled in his heart, he still replied truthfully: "Yes, I will try next year, and the students plan to give it a try next year."

Hearing this, Xu Renzhi stood up, walked around the desk, walked around the room with his hands behind his back, and asked, "Jia Yun, you are only 17 years old, right?"

Jia Yun answered yes, Xu Renzhi nodded and said, "You're too young. My teacher thinks that you should delay for a few more years. Wait until you're older and have more tempering before you take the exam. It will be more beneficial to your future."

Seeing Jia Yun frowning, he continued: "Being a teacher is not drinking nonsense, nor is it jealous of your youth and talent, but really thinking about you."

"As for your biographical history, I also inquired carefully as a teacher. You are from a branch of the Jia family. I heard that you had a big disturbance yesterday. This shows that you are still at odds with the Jia family."

"You may not know that the power of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes occupies half of the court, and the Jia family monopolizes the Four Kings and Eight Dukes. Their disciples and old officials are all over the court and the public, and they have a profound heritage."

"In these years, the current Holy One has also begun to gradually cut off the wings of the four kings and eight princes in the court, so he supported another group of noble forces headed by Prince Zhongshun."

"When two tigers fight, there must be a wound. If you become an official, no matter what your relationship with the Jia family is, others will regard you as a member of the Jia family. In addition, you are young and handsome. People are targeting."

"Therefore, my teacher advises you to temporarily give up becoming an official. While constantly sharpening yourself and improving your background, it will not be too late to take part in the examination and become an official after the battle between the two tigers comes to fruition."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yun shook her head and replied, "I'm afraid I will disappoint the teacher. There will be an exam next year, and students must participate."

"Oh? So sure?" Xu Renzhi frowned displeased.

Jia Yun looked calm, nodded and asked: "May I ask the teacher, even after the two tigers fight to the end, will there be no other tigers to join?"

"Students think that since ancient times, no matter which dynasty or generation, the most indispensable thing in the center of the court is the tiger. If you are afraid of the east and the west, afraid of this and that, how can you talk about making achievements and serving the court?"

Xu Renzhi snorted and said: "Naive, you are so young, you have not even established your life ambitions, once you enter the court as an official, you will definitely do things that harm others and yourself, so you can't wait until you are older and have a more stable personality Re-enter the official?"

Looking at this old thing, Jia Yun was very displeased.

There is a saying that cutting off a person's promotion and fortune is like killing one's parents!
Xu Renzhi was nothing more than his honorary teacher after passing the imperial examinations. He was supposed to talk lightly, but wanted to interfere in his life affairs and hinder his progress. How could there be such a teacher?
Where Jia Yun was also angry, he raised his head, his eyes were piercing, and he said decisively: "It's useless to talk too much, this will be an exam, the student has passed the exam!"

"Asshole, I think of you in every possible way as a teacher, and I have said so much to you, I never thought that you would not listen to it at all." Xu Renzhi was furious.

"You are young, and you don't want to be down-to-earth, steady and far-reaching, and then have a future, but you are too ambitious and eager for quick success. Are there still few geniuses and prodigies in this world? How many do you think are truly successful?"

Jia Yun sneered, cupped her hands and said, "I don't want to bother the teacher about the student's future. If the student has something else to do, let's leave first!"

As he said that, he didn't care what Xu Renzhi's expression was like, and turned around to leave.

Jia Yun originally thought that the teacher was also an important contact, but Xu Renzhi didn't know what kind of nerves he had. He said that he was young, and he was young in the right.

As soon as he arrived at the door, Xu Renzhi shouted loudly behind him: "Wait a minute, how can you promise to be a teacher and not take the exam next year?"

Jia Yun turned her head and smiled, and said, "Since the teacher is so interested in helping the students, the students can simply make a few requests."

Xu Renzhi asked with a dark face, "Tell me, as long as I can do it for my teacher, I will never refuse."

Jia Yun turned around and said, "First, a man should not be powerless for a day, and a student should be an official!"

"Continue!" Xu Renzhi narrowed his eyes and nodded.

Jia Yun frowned, thinking that there was something wrong with this old guy, so she said:

"Secondly, since the teacher has investigated the students, he knows that Jiannei is from the Xue family in Jinling. The Xue family is on the verge of collapse and life is not easy, so Fan asks the teacher to help the Xue family find a backer."

After a pause, he said emphatically, "We need a real backer!"

"Heh!" Xu Renzhi sneered, and asked, "Is there any more? Say it all at once!"

Jia Yun shook her head and said, "As far as these two conditions are concerned, if the teacher can fulfill them before the examination starts next year, then the students can promise not to participate in the examination next year, but only this time!"

Yesterday he heard the news from Zhao Jin that the imperial court will add Enke to obtain scholars in the second half of next year due to the empress dowager's birthday in the next year. If Xu Renzhi can really do the two things he mentioned, he will refuse to take the examination for a year It doesn't matter.

At that time, Zhao Jin said that he had to take the exam himself. Even if he failed the exam, he could continue to take the exam. At the same time, he also advised Jia Yun not to put too much pressure on him. The news came from the head of the mountain.

As for Jia Yun's two requirements, the real difficulty is the second point, which is the matter of the Xue family.

Knowing that the Xue family began to decline because they were on the wrong team, Jia Yun almost said that she would ask the emperor to be her backer.

Because only when the emperor nodded and let the past go, the Xue family would truly be out of danger.

It is very cost-effective to exchange such a big event for postponing the examination for one year.

Of course, Jia Yun thought that it was impossible for Xu Renzhi to meet his two requirements.

Because I really can't talk about friendship with Xu Renzhi, unless Xu Renzhi is a fool, he would go out of his way to help him.

After the conditions were put forward, Jia Yun looked at Xu Renzhi calmly.

After Xu Renzhi stomped his head in the room for a while, he nodded and said, "Forget it, let me fulfill these two conditions first. If you can do it, please keep your word!"

……

After leaving the government office, Jia Yun's good mood suddenly disappeared.

Xu Renzhi strongly prevented him from taking part in the next year's examination, Jia Yun's brain was hurting, and he couldn't figure out why he was like this.

If you say he is jealous of the virtuous and capable, it seems that Xu Renzhi's official voice is very good. Although his temper is a bit grumpy, he is not a narrow-minded person.

Of course, or the rumors were wrong, Xu Renzhi was a hypocrite, he did one thing to his face, but another to his back.

If this is the case, then it makes sense for him to be jealous that he has achieved fame at a young age.

But is a person in such a high position as Xu Renzhi really so small?
Jia Yun was willing to believe that Xu Renzhi had other considerations, but she didn't know what it was.

After returning home, after taking a bath and changing clothes, Jia Yun did not let Xue Baochai and the others accompany her, and went to the garden alone to wander and meditate.

As for Xu Renzhi's motivation and purpose today, if Jia Yun can't figure it out, he won't be in a good mood.

Xu Renzhi was not someone in the Jia family who did not hold real power, but a senior second-rank governor who held a lot of power, with administrative, military, supervisory, and judicial powers in a province.

The governor of Beizhili, also known as the governor of the Gyeonggi region, is responsible for military affairs. He is an official in Beijing, but he is also the top leader of the local government, with great power.

Therefore, of course, Jia Yun had to figure out what Xu Renzhi wanted to do, and what benefits he would gain by not allowing herself to participate in the test, otherwise she would really be in trouble day and night.

After thinking about it all afternoon, it was almost evening, but Jia Yun still couldn't figure it out, mainly because he knew too little about Xu Renzhi.

As for investigating Xu Renzhi, that's fine. Ordinary people who investigate him will commit the crime of beheading.

As for myself, I can go underground and follow every day to monitor Xu Renzhi's every move.

If you do this, it's better to let him disappear physically.

But is it interesting to do so?

He can kill Xu Renzhi, so if he encounters any difficulties in the future, he will kill him randomly. What fun is there in life?
Jia Yun came to this world for pleasure, not to be an executioner.

Therefore, as long as others do not threaten the safety of himself and his family, he will not easily kill.

Stepping home, after dinner, Jia Yun was about to take Xue Baochai to make out, but she stopped her.

"Husband is beyond my expectations. Xiang'er and the others have been with you for so long, and you can resist touching them. Today, my family is not feeling well, so let them accompany you!"

(End of this chapter)