first minister

Chapter 191 Concubine Shu exploded in anger during the confrontation in the imperial garden

Palace, Royal Garden.

Although all the flowers are withered now, there are still plum blossoms blooming proudly, plus it occupies a large area. For these concubines who live deep in the palace, it is a rare and good place to relax.

Accompanied by Nanny Yuan, Concubine De led the two court ladies and walked slowly.

Although the rumors outside the palace could not reach her ears, her clever mind allowed her to imagine the possible turmoil, and realized that when the news spread, some people would definitely not let go of such an opportunity.

Concubine De couldn't help remembering that when Xia Jingyun entered the palace yesterday and asked about this matter, she deliberately kept it secret, hoping that he would not blame herself when he heard the news.

He was already tired enough, and he had helped himself enough. Speaking of which, he thought that he would take good care of him when he came to the capital, but unexpectedly, he had to rely on him for everything, so why bother him now.

"Hey! Isn't this the Empress Defei!"

A coquettish and exaggerated voice sounded in front, needless to say, that is the only one who dares to talk to Concubine De in the current harem.

Sure enough, Concubine Shu came over twisting her hips, but Concubine De just looked at her calmly when she heard the words.

Concubine Shu seemed to remember something, she bowed her head bitterly, and saluted perfunctorily, "I have seen Concubine De."

The harem has its own dignity, Concubine De is the super-grade imperial concubine who is in charge of the Phoenix seal. After the empress dowager and empress have passed away, all concubines in the six palaces have to salute and greet her when they see her, even Concubine Shu, a noble concubine with a prominent family background, is no exception.

The two court ladies behind them straightened their backs, proud of their lord's prestige.

But Concubine De was serious. In the past, Concubine Shu would hide away in order not to salute her, but today she took the initiative to step forward, so she would naturally have something to say.

So she lightly said a word of courtesy, and then walked away.

But just as she thought, Concubine Shu came here to mock her, how could she let it go so easily.

"Ms. De Concubine is in such a hurry, where are you going? Are you going to ask His Majesty to help you persuade those three old gentlemen?"

If Concubine De went away at this time, she would be running away, so she simply stopped, "I need to ask you for instructions for my work?"

"Oh, Sister De Concubine has wronged my sister!"

Concubine Shu has a face like green tea, and caresses her magnificent chest, "My sister heard that rumors are spreading everywhere in Beijing. My sister is overwhelmed. She wants to ask the three masters of Tushan to be the teacher of Jiaodong County King. Who knows that she is so disgusted by the three old gentlemen. They sent three people in succession, and they didn't even see each other. Shilin Zhongzheng is a laughing stock. My sister is afraid that my sister will not think about it, and I am even more afraid that the Jiaodong County King will not think about it. Why don't you hurry up and comfort my sister!"

Concubine De looked at her affectation calmly, "So, I should thank you?"

"They're all sisters, they should!" Concubine Shu smiled and said, "It's a pity that good things don't go out, and bad things spread far and wide. My sister thought about her sister's love and wanted to ask my father to help stop it. Unfortunately, it was a step too late, and the news spread. It's too late for people to stop me. Sister, don't take it too seriously! It's not a big deal, it's just a big embarrassment.

The so-called master humiliated the minister to death, the two maids lowered their heads, their eyes were a little angry.

But Concubine De knew that the more excited she was in this kind of verbal confrontation, the more she would fail, so she smiled lightly, "Don't worry, you are living a good life. I will be in charge of Fengyin and command the Six Palaces. Why don't you live happily every day?"

Shu Fei looked stagnant, but he did not expect De Fei to be angry. In his breath, his father's teachings were also left behind, and sneered: "Sister rest assured that his father had found someone and went to Tu Shan to go. I thought my Shao Er was almost reaching the famous teacher. When Shi Shao'er worshiped the teacher, he must send a post to his sister, and your sister must come! "

Concubine De was shocked when she heard this vicious plan, if one of the three really became the teacher of Prince Linjiang, compared with the two, the difference in prestige would be huge in an instant.

After all, the world is jointly ruled by the imperial power and the scholar-officials, and the prestige of the pig among the scholars has dropped so much, how will it develop in the future!

At this moment, although she could still keep her face unchanged, her heart was so confused that she didn't think of the right words to fight back for a moment, which made the two maids behind Concubine Shu let out a piercing sneer.

Yuan Nanny stared coldly, and said in a cold voice, "You don't know how to be superior, you should hit me!"

The maid behind Concubine De was suffocating, and she was about to slap her mouth when she heard the words, Concubine Shu immediately stood in front of her subordinates, "What's the matter? You want to do it when you're out of breath?"

Not far away, some concubines who stopped to watch the play from afar and dared not approach opened their eyes wide, looking at the rare conversation material in the harem.

Just when the sword was on the verge of breaking out, a voice suddenly sounded from far away.

"Empress Concubine De, you are here! It's easy to find this old slave! Empress Shu is here too, this old slave greets you two."

Concubine De and Concubine Shu all turned their heads, and when they saw the person coming, Qi Qi said cordially, "Eunuch Gao, excuse me."

Concubine De squeezed out a forced smile, "Eunuch Gao, why are you looking for me?"

Gao Yi glanced at Concubine Shu nonchalantly, then smiled at Concubine De and said, "The old slave congratulates Concubine De. Just now, Tu Shan sent a letter. The three Confucian scholars were grateful for Concubine De's benevolence and the King of Jiaodong County's desire to learn. They decided to hold a Spring Festival banquet in the Imperial College on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month. They recruited five direct disciples. Regardless of whether they were princes, generals, merchants or pawns, those who were not crowned can sign up. These three have not accepted disciples for many years. Your Majesty I went to invite you personally to no avail, but now that the news has come, His Majesty praises you for doing a great deed for the scholars of the world!"

Concubine De, whose mood had fallen to the bottom, was suddenly filled with surprises.

On the side, Concubine Shu widened her beautiful eyes and blurted out, "How is that possible!"

The smile on Eunuch Gao's face was still respectful and obsequious, "Concubine Shu, there are three gentlemen's personal letters to prove this matter, so it should be true."

Concubine De's face showed a happy smile again, "Thank you, Eunuch Gao, but do I need to go to His Majesty's side to reply to the order?"

"Your Majesty just asked the old slave to inform the empress of this news, and the old slave will leave."

"Eunuch Gao, go slowly."

Eunuch Gao saluted Concubine Shu again, and turned to leave with the two little yellow doors.

Concubine De smiled and turned around, looking at Concubine Shu, "Your sister is right. The three masters of Tu Shan have good knowledge. The key is to have a good eye. They know who is worth teaching and who is not worth paying. When the time comes, I must send an invitation to my sister, and my sister must come."

Concubine Shu stomped her feet resentfully, with an aggrieved expression on her face.

Concubine De suddenly looked at the two maids behind Concubine Shu, "I'm in the harem, I don't know how to be respectful, so clap your hands!"

Nanny Yuan stepped forward directly, slapping her left and right, and slapping her two palms, the two maids were so honest that they didn't even dare to cry.

"Sister, what else can I do?"

Concubine De asked with a smile on purpose.

Concubine Shu gave her a deep look, took a deep breath, her chest was about to explode, she turned and left like a proud peacock.

Concubine De, as if she had just finished a battle, let out a long sigh of relief, turned her head to look outside the palace, and murmured in her heart: brother, is that you?
-
Jiang Anhou Mansion, when Xia Jingyun returned to the mansion, the anxious Wei Yuanzhi and others immediately surrounded him.

"Gao Yang, where have you been?"

"My lord, what should I do in this situation!"

"Yeah, the public opinion in Shilin is like this. It is obvious that someone is fueling the flames and causing trouble secretly. If we can't think of a way, what will happen to the reputation of Jiaodong County King among scholars in the future! How many scholars are willing to vote for us!"

Su Yuanshang and Feng Xiuyun, two insiders, didn't speak, but looked at him nervously, their eyes full of questions.

Xia Jingyun sat down on the main seat without hesitation, picked up tons of tea and drank it down, took a sip, and said leisurely: "I went to Tushan."

!!!

Except for the two insiders, everyone was dumbfounded.

Xia Jingyun continued: "I went to meet the three masters of Tu Shan."

Wang Ruoshui, the new left servant of the Ministry of Rites who was also in the circle of scholars, immediately said, "And then? Have you seen it?"

Xia Jingyun smiled, "They are three kind old people."

Wei Yuanzhi didn't care much about the old man and being unkind, he only cared about the result, "What happened in the end? You convinced them? Who among them finally agreed to be the teacher of Linjiang County King?"

Everyone's hearts were filled with enthusiasm. If it could be successful, it would definitely reverse the reputation in an instant!
All eyes were on Xia Jingyun, as if saying [You deserve it]!
Xia Jingyun felt a little regretful, but he also said frankly: "We have fully exchanged views and enhanced our mutual understanding."

Everyone blinked, and Gongsun Jing asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

"It's just that we have a big disagreement. Both sides have their own opinions, and we almost quarreled."

Everyone: .
"Then what should I do!"

"If you can't even go out, can we just sit back and watch?"

"Wang Shilang, you are now the Minister of Rites, can you ask some great scholars to help you talk?"

"My lord, don't you have a good relationship with that old professor of the Imperial College, why don't you ask him for help and talk about it, you can't let it develop like this!"

Su Yuanshang remained silent, and looked at Xia Jingyun with worried eyes, Xia Jingyun nodded, confirming that he was not hiding.

The atmosphere in the room, after experiencing ups and downs like a roller coaster, has now taken a sharp turn, and is more anxious than before.

At least before, I felt that there was still a big move to be made, and there was still hope, but now that the cards are exhausted, there is nothing to do.

"Master! Mr. Gongsun!"

A young man from the Hou's Mansion suddenly ran in quickly, and when he saw the people in the room, he felt a little weak in fright.

Gongsun Jing also felt that there was no way to control his subordinates, and his face was dull, and he scolded: "I'm in a panic, what's the matter! Didn't you see that the discussion is going on!"

The servant hesitated for a moment, then summoned up his courage and said, "There are rumors outside that the Three Great Masters of Tu Shan just sent their disciples to deliver a letter to the Imperial College, and also wrote a letter to scholars all over the world, and posted it outside the Imperial College."

"These three old things are really hateful! It's fine if you don't see them, but you still have to step on them like this!"

"That's right! Let me seize the opportunity to see if I don't take it easy for my empress and King Jiaodong!"

"Don't worry!" The people in the room were cursing, but Xia Jingyun stood up a little excitedly, because this was exactly what he suggested to the three masters of Tu Shan. Could it be that the old three figured it out so quickly?

He looked at the boy, stretched out his hand, "Bring it!"

If you see such news and don't know how to transcribe the details before reporting it, such a person is too embarrassing and can be sent away.

Sure enough, the boy took out a copied paper from his pocket and handed it over.

The crowd quickly gathered around.

". In memory of the benevolent virtue of the concubine, and the heart of Jiaodong County Wang Xiangxue. On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, a spring banquet will be held in the Imperial College to recruit five disciples, regardless of whether they are princes, generals, traffickers or pawns. Those who are not crowned can sign up."

While reading, everyone's eyes widened and finally turned into cheers.

"This letter expressly expresses my gratitude to the Concubine De and the King of Jiaodong County. I don't think anyone dares to say that the Empress is taking her own humiliation and being the laughing stock of the world!"

"More than that, the three masters of Tushan haven't accepted apprentices for many years. It is difficult to be a registered disciple. Now they are accepting direct disciples, and they accept five disciples. Can the scholars in the world not be grateful to the empress and the king of Jiaodong County?"

"The three masters of Tushan have done a good job!"

"How do I remember, Master Wei, you scolded them just now?"

"Ahem, is there? I don't remember!"

"Hahaha, regardless of whether or not the king of Jiaodong County can succeed in apprenticeship in the future, we have passed this calamity!"

"Isn't it? Thanks to the young master for taking action. It must be the young master!"

"Yeah, it has to be Young Master! Young Master, you lied to us just now that there was a quarrel! It made us worry for nothing for so long! This is too bad!"

Xia Jingyun smiled helplessly, "What I said is true."

"Look, you still lied to us!"

In the room, the air is alive.

(End of this chapter)