first minister

Chapter 41
The dinner party was held in Zheng's house where Zhou Xuexue was temporarily staying.

Cuihua Building specially came to the master chef to take charge of the kitchen to ensure that everyone can eat happily.

But few people who can really come here care about what to eat and how they eat.

But this is a necessary style and decency. This is true of all kinds of behaviors in this world, and they all need to hide their desires and calculations under the high-sounding words and deeds.

Even in brothels with the most straightforward transactions, the girls still need to wear nice clothes to convince the other party to have sex with them.

Xia Jingyun came with the two masters, but they separated at the door.

The two masters have their own circles, and they enter the hall to watch tea and exchange greetings;

Xia Jingyun could only hang out with people of his generation outside.

But the two of them were not worried. After getting in touch with Xia Jingyun, they knew that he had to deal with these small situations. Their real worry was at the dinner party later. Although it was just a guess, there would inevitably be trouble.

Thinking of this, there was a bit of worry between the brows of the two of them.

Xia Jingyun didn't seem to take what the two of them mentioned earlier to heart at all, and happily walked here and there, looking there.

Among the younger generation who came here tonight, some knew him, some didn't, some were hostile, and some admired him, but it didn't matter. He dealt with this kind of superficial youthful spirit as easily as eating and drinking.

After some operations, many people who were originally hostile changed a lot, and began to reflect on their shallowness and misunderstanding.

Then, they chatted about gossip.

"Hey, did you hear that the song Linhua that spread all over the city yesterday has given up the spring red?"

"I know, the poems are really good poems. I heard that the owner of Yicuilou had no good works and couldn't make a name for himself, so he found a few poor scholars to play for free. As a result, one of the scholars was unlucky and was assigned to an old woman who didn't care about it. The scholar refused and was drunk. When he woke up the next morning, he was full of grief and anger. It really made him write such a famous poem!"

Xia Jingyun:.
You are worthy of being scholars, and your compilation is more logical than those rumors in the market.

His face darkened, and he hurried away.

"Hey, isn't that Wen Kui from a few days ago!"

"It's him, he took Wenkui, and now he's Mr. Su's disciple. On an occasion like tonight, no matter how much Mr. Xuezheng is not used to seeing him, he has to hold his nose and invite him!"

"Master Xuezheng, why do you find him uncomfortable?"

"Are you stupid? Who is Master Xuezheng's only disciple? Who lost to him head-on at the literary fair?"

"Hiss! So, he's going to be targeted tonight?"

"Otherwise? I'm even thinking, Mr. Xuezheng left as soon as he left, why did he hold a dinner party in such a big way, maybe it was just for this."

"Impossible, according to what you said, what is the difference between Master Xuezheng and the jealous woman in the village?"

"Ha ha."

"Then do you think Mr. Zheng will win this time?"

"You are not talking nonsense. Apart from writing poems, Mr. Zheng is far ahead of him in everything."

"That's right. The first son of Sishui Prefecture is not bragging."

Xia Jingyun didn't hear these discussions, he was chatting with Zheng Tianyu at the moment.

Zheng Tianyu took Xia Jingyun's arm very enthusiastically, and introduced to a group of sons of dignitaries from the county, county, and even the state, "Gao Yang's literary talent is amazing, his talent is noble, his appearance is majestic, and he has met so late. Everyone, don't underestimate him!"

Regardless of what they thought, a group of young masters hurriedly greeted him.

Xia Jingyun looked at Zheng Tianyu's face with a sincere smile, and felt a little admiration in his heart. Sure enough, there are capable people everywhere!
But how do you know about such a majestic weapon?
He didn't hold back, and returned the salute to everyone. He smiled and said, "I thought Brother Zhongming was the host. Let me introduce him politely. I really didn't expect him to be so enthusiastic. I really admire this attitude. If it were me, facing the person who won me, I wouldn't have such a magnanimity.

As he spoke, he cupped his hands towards Zheng Tianyu, "Young Master Zhongming is indeed a role model for my generation!"

With this bow, the rest of the people had no choice but to follow suit, "Young Master Zhongming is indeed a role model for our generation!"

Zheng Tianyu took a deep look at Xia Jingyun, and then smiled, "It's almost time. Please take your seats."

If you want to say who respects etiquette the most in this world, apart from the royal nobles who need a sense of ritual to maintain their authority, they must be scholars who take sages as their teachers and regard themselves as virtuous.

The banquet was set up in the main hall, instead of sitting around the table that is popular nowadays, there are tables and tables, and meals are eaten separately.

Everyone was satisfied, except the guy who served the food.

Xuezheng Song Yanzhi and the county magistrate Zhao Hongfei sat at the head seat together, and more than a dozen dignitaries and great scholars headed by Mr. Yun sat in front of the two sides. They were followed by Zheng Tianyu, Xia Jingyun, Zeng Jimin, Lin Feibai and other people with a family background or reputation. The rest of the invited outstanding students from the state school sat in the second row behind.

Seeing that the personnel were in place, Song Yan smiled and turned his head, "Master Zhao, shall we start?"

Song Yanzhi was the mentor of Zhao Hongfei's immediate boss, the son of the family. Zhao Hongfei, the magistrate of Jiang'an County, did not dare to trust him, "Master Song, you arrange it."

Song Yanzhi looked at Old Master Yun who was sitting first on the left, "Old Master, shall we start?"

Old Master Yun said indifferently: "Old man, you can do as you please."

Song Yanzhi stood up with a smile, looked around, and said in a loud voice: "Everyone is worthy and talented, thanks to His Majesty's sageness, and the virtue of the concubine and empress, we will meet here today. It is really a great blessing for all the sages to arrive, and the young and old to gather together. Come, let's raise wine glasses together, congratulate the country, your majesty, and your empress!"

Everyone stood up together, "Congratulations to the country, congratulations to your majesty, and congratulations to your empress!"

Xia Jingyun silently observed his first banquet in this world, except for the different form, it was not fundamentally different from those banquets he had experienced in the past.

Wherever people gather, there are only three topics of discussion: showing off themselves in oblique ways, belittling others with embellishments, and telling stories about each other.

On occasions like tonight, everyone spoke beautiful words, flattered, complimented, and tested each other, and then silently poured out the wine in their glasses to dilute the contempt, jealousy, or curses hidden in their stomachs.

Naturally, some toasts were welcomed here, and they said with a smile on their faces that the future is boundless and the future can be expected.

Xia Jingyun also smiled and returned his blessings to them, and then rinsed his mouth with wine as well.

After drinking for three rounds and finding a free time, Song Yan, the organizer of the banquet, smiled and said, "Everyone, can you listen to me?"

After everyone reminded each other, the whole hall gradually quieted down. Everyone sat in their seats and looked up.

Su Shidao, who was sitting diagonally across from Mr. Yun, exchanged glances with Mr. Yun silently, each of them being vigilant.

Song Yan said with a straight smile: "Lord Zhao, old lady, all the sages, these professors and outstanding students of state studies will return to the state city tomorrow. It is a pity that they cannot meet the concubine Defei in person and listen to her teachings. However, as people from Sishui state, they also have a lot to say about their visit to the empress. How about letting them talk about it here and think about it?"

coming!

Including Old Master Yun and Su Shidao, many people who had guessed about tonight's events shuddered instantly.

Then before they had any reaction, the fancier immediately stood up, and a great Confucian chuckled: "Your Excellency's words are true, but the sentiments are mixed, there must be a theme, so that everyone can explain it, right?"

Song Yan said with a straight smile, "Students in our state study books of sages and sages. They all take the imperial examinations and serve the country as their own responsibility. In the imperial examinations, there are both poems and essays, as well as policy theories. The previous essay meeting has tested everyone's literary talents. If not, let's see everyone's ability to manage the world and help the people. In front of parents and officials like Mr. Zhao and all the townspeople, I will show my understanding of state affairs."

He glanced at the crowd, glanced at Xia Jingyun's face, and said with a smile: "Why not, let's discuss the impact of the concubine's trip on the country, let's discuss it, and spread it around in the future. It is also a good thing, what do you think?"

"Very good! Very good!"

"As expected of Mr. Xuezheng, this discussion is so high-level and unique, it will definitely be another grand event in the literary world of Sishui Prefecture!"

Those few great Confucianists echoed one after another, teasing and holding hands, and there was a tendency to finalize this matter in a few words.

Song Yan nodded and smiled, "Since there is no objection, then..."

At this moment, a voice interrupted angrily, "I have an opinion!"

(End of this chapter)