Fu Canglu

Chapter 128 childhood sweethearts
July seven.

The No. [-] city in the north, which is located thousands of miles away in the Northern Wei Dynasty, opened its sixteen bronze city gates with great solemnity when the sun first shone, to welcome the tens of thousands of students who had been waiting outside the city in all directions.

Luoyang scholar banquet.

This ancient city, which has been baptized for thousands of years, can be regarded as the oldest cities in the Central Plains. It is extremely magnificent, and the innermost layer of the city is the residence of the highest-ranking figures in the Northern Wei Dynasty.Dragons and tigers occupy the center of the imperial hall, and the four kings are lined up in 32 ranks.

Ninety percent of the entire Luoyang area is shrouded in the prosperity of the world. On July [-]th, Luoyang opened its gates and became the capital of the emperor. There was no gate control.

The very courageous man who stood at the highest point in the Northern Wei Dynasty was not worried about his own safety. He jokingly said that if Luoyang wanted to compete with Qiliang's Jiangnan Road, which was so powerful in the world, if he was reluctant to open the city gate, then the so-called Luoyang scholars in the Northern Wei Dynasty Even if a great talent with amazing literary talent is selected, it may not even occupy a place in the Central Plains Literary Review.

It has to be said that in the past 16 years in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the momentum of selecting talents and selecting officials has become more and more solemn. Even if they were suppressed by Qi Liang in the past 16 years, there are still a few literati who can be called geniuses.

The Luoyang Scholars Banquet was originally a temple event.

It's a pity that where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. The restaurants and gambling houses in Luoyang are already overcrowded at this time.

Wearing a sword and hanging a sword, walking in the rivers and lakes, wherever there is excitement, go wherever there is excitement.

Since the guy from the Northern Wei Dynasty dared not to open the door during the scholar banquet and let them go, he naturally wouldn't worry about the Jianghu people who went to the capital to make trouble in Luoyang.

Luoyang Imperial Capital Peony Garden.

July has already missed the peony blooming season.

But everyone in the world knows that Princess Longque has a back garden where peonies bloom almost in spring, summer, autumn and winter, regardless of seasons.

Yiwei Red Pavilion is located in the midst of all kinds of purple and red.

Yao Huang Wei Zi, extremely magnificent.It's a pity that it lacks one or two points of popularity.

The Princess Longque never came back after leaving Luoyang in April. The Peony Pavilion, which took a lot of manpower to maintain, was naturally desolate and deserted, and no one came to watch it.

It's just not the same this time.

There are two people sitting in the red pavilion.

Among them was a respectful young man.

This young man's facial features are plain, his appearance is not amazing, he can barely be called elegant.Wearing a white sackcloth, the straw sandals are so simple that they can't be more simple, but the crown decoration is meticulously arranged, and the dress is extremely clean.

His back is very straight, he neither raises his head nor bows his head. He looks forward and sits very upright in the peony pavilion.

Chen Wanjuan didn't listen, didn't hear, didn't watch, didn't want to think.

He silently looked at this extraordinary peony garden, surrounded by plants and trees so familiar that he could name them even with his eyes closed.

After three years of traveling, this peony garden has not changed a bit.

After watching this piece of peony, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Thousands of rolls."

A gentle voice sounded in the ear.

The reason why this young man sits extremely straight is not only because of the habit he has developed since he was a child. The father of the champion Hou who had a very strict family education grew up in the world when he was very young, and left behind the sentence "read It is better to walk upright and sit upright than ten thousand volumes of books", which became Chen Wanjuan's words engraved in his heart all his life.

He sat like a straight sword, but all the edges were restrained.

Because beside him sat the majestic mountain at the highest point of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Cao Zhixuan was extremely patient, quietly waiting for this young man with the most distinguished background among the 32 princes of the Northern Wei Dynasty to finish admiring the peonies.

The Emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty said softly: "Go in July, come back in July. Chen Wanjuan, you have been away for three years, and you have to learn the unparalleled Confucianism in the world. Come and tell me, what have you learned?"

Chen Wanjuan smiled and said: "Your Majesty, Wanjuan has not traveled all the way in the Northern Wei Dynasty for three years, but he has really read all the books. What he has learned is miscellaneous. See the Dao. The art of ghosts and gods, the art of geomancy, the art of ink scrolls, the separation and integration of the world, and the leading of the world."

The young man paused, and said, "It's no better than Master Guoshi's metaphysics."

Chen Wanjuan thought for a while and added, "It should be regarded as Confucianism and Taoism."

Cao Zhixuan didn't look at this unattractive young man, but turned his eyes to the big red peony garden, and said softly, "I went to practice Confucianism and Taoism for three years, have you ever regretted it?"

Chen Wanjuan shook his head slowly.

Then he smiled wryly and said, "I heard that Lingshan left Luoyang, so I went all the way back from Beiyuan. Unfortunately, luck seemed to be unlucky on the way. Even though I stayed in Yaobeiguan for a longer period of time, I didn't meet her."

Wei Huang silently thought about the information from Senluo Dao. The dragonfinch that he had enshrined in his palm since he was a child was sent all the way to His Royal Highness Qi Liang for a hundred miles, and hit the shadow of Xiguan more than ten miles before the entrance of the Beiguan Gorge. , and then no longer went north, but deliberately turned westward to explore Senluo Road.

Chen Wanjuan laughed at himself that he was unlucky. Since the sparrow was approaching Beiguan, how could he not know that he, who grew up with her in Luoyang and was called a childhood sweetheart, was waiting in Beiguan?
It was done on purpose.

Chen Wanjuan couldn't understand why the sparrow didn't want to see each other. He just rubbed the center of his brow lightly and said, "Your Majesty, Wan Juan's return to Luoyang this time is just to fulfill His Majesty's three-year agreement."

Cao Zhixuan looked at Chen Wanjuan with admiration on his face. This young man, as the only son of the champion Hou and the descendant of the 32-year-old No. [-] Hou, was able to put down the huge family fortune accumulated by his parents, and ran counter to those dandies who wanted to drink and eat in Kyoto. The way of cultivating Confucianism is naturally completely different from those sons and brothers who only know how to drink and have fun corrupting the virtues of their ancestors.

Chen Wanjuan can be regarded as a half-literate man, but he is neither sour nor smelly, and he is not the kind who pretends to be lofty.

Cao Zhixuan nodded, very satisfied with this young man, and said softly: "Wan Juan, I originally intended for you to travel for three years, and after you return to Luoyang, you will be the head of the Scholars Banquet. This is an explanation to Chen Tiansheng, and you will be enshrined in the future. , no problem."

Chen Wanjuan's complexion changed slightly when he heard the four words "Feng Si Jia Jue" from the man who said nothing, but he finally returned to calm.

Everyone knows that the only heirs in the entire Northern Wei Dynasty are the two descendants of the princes whose causes of death are unknown, as for the word Jiajue.

The champion is already the first among the 32 marquises, what more?
Chen Wanjuan just shook his head, smiled and said nothing.

Cao Zhixuan stood up, Chen Wanjuan stood up quickly, and then heard the middle-aged man's unhurried voice.

"I've changed my mind now."

Chen Wanjuan narrowed his eyes.

"After all, Luoyang is a place where scholars are withering. It can't compare with Qi Liang, who is prosperous in literature, let alone compete with Jiangnan Dao, who has produced the top ten monsters in literary criticism." Cao Zhixuan laughed at himself: "I have promoted the scholar banquet for 16 years. There were a few amazing people in the banquet, and they were also elated, but whenever I look back at Qi Liang, whether in terms of quantity or quality, it has steadily surpassed my Northern Wei Dynasty, and the joy in my heart is like being poured over. Bucket of cold water."

"I have to admit that Luoyang is not as good as Lanling City in terms of criticism." Cao Zhixuan frowned slightly, and said with a smile: "So the leader of Luoyang Scholars Banquet is naturally not as good as the number one scholar in Lanling City."

Chen Wanjuan bowed his head respectfully.

"My Luoyang scholar's banquet leader is of course not worthy of you today." Cao Zhixuan said lightly: "Chen Wanjuan, if you have the heart, you will set off tomorrow from Luoyang to Lanling City. I will give you a head." Qingluan, take Qingluan to Lanling City, for Zhen, for Luoyang, and for the Northern Wei Dynasty, to win the first place in the imperial examination of Lanling City, it can be regarded as living up to everyone's expectations."

Chen Wanjuan neither nodded nor shook his head.

The emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty smiled, knowing that the so-called seduction by a false name did not have much temptation for this young man who saw through the world.

So Cao Zhixuan narrowed his eyes, and stopped talking about the literary criticism of Qi, Liang, and Northern Wei, but asked, "Wan Juan, do you still have the token that Lingshan gave you back then?"

Chen Wanjuan subconsciously moved his hand to his waist, and touched the bamboo-leaf red flute whose carving traces had been rubbed so that it was invisible, as if it had been a lifetime ago.

"You and Lingshan are predestined. We have known Luoyang Shuge since we were young and gave each other tokens." Cao Zhixuan said with a playful smile, "People in the world only know that the bird in the Northern Wei Dynasty likes peonies, but they don't know why."

Chen Wanjuan touched his nose.

11 years ago, Chen Wanjuan presented Wei Lingshan with a peony poem, which was eloquently written in ten thousand characters and splashed ink, and the world's peonies were engraved with fine brushwork to celebrate the birthday of the little princess Longque.

Afterwards, the Princess Longque, who did not leave Luoyang, had this Peony Pavilion.

He gave her peonies, and she gave them red leaves.

In the past 11 years, their childhood sweethearts have studied calligraphy and seal script, and they have been together with each other, and they have almost thoroughly read the collection of books in Luoyang in the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Chen Wanjuan once asked himself.

Is this considered a childhood sweetheart?
Some kind of unusual emotion has long been planted in this young man's heart, maybe ten years, maybe just one day, Chen Wanjuan has asked himself countless times over the years, but in the end it is not clear whether it is the so-called emotion ?
Until he went south to Beiyuan to invite Beiguan, and waited for Wei Lingshan to fail. Instead, he got the news that the Northern Wei Longque sent Mr. Yi off.

This news is neither good news nor bad news. Chen Wanjuan, who is familiar with Wei Lingshan, is not at all worried that the blockbuster Mr. Yi in Fengting City will successfully capture the heart of a beautiful woman.

Because he knows that Wei Lingshan is completely opposite to the image of a dragon and bird that outsiders think. this point.

On the contrary, Chen Wanjuan could not wait until he had an answer in his heart.

Then he hurried to Luoyang, only looking forward to meeting Wei Lingshan along the way.

At this time, Chen Wanjuan was rubbing the red leaf flute as a keepsake with his fingers, and was a little dazed for a while.

Cao Zhixuan suddenly said: "If you can win the number one scholar in Lanling City, I will be the master and help you arrange this marriage."

"what?"

Chen Wanjuan was suddenly in a daze.

The Emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty smiled and said: "Wei Lingshan really loves peonies very much, because she is the biggest peony in the world. This peony pavilion accommodates all peonies in the world, but there is only one person missing. She will come back one day. "

"The young master Yi who became famous in Fengting City is the young highness of Lanling City who is famous for his literary thinking. He wrote poems in front of the hall at the age of six, which amazed the world. The number one scholar in the palace examination." Cao Zhixuan jokingly said, "Eleven years ago, you could write a ten-thousand-character peony poem for her, why couldn't you win the number one scholar in Lanling City for her 11 years later?"

Chen Wanjuan realized that the red leaf flute in his hand was sweating from his hand.

He was a little dazed.

"I have opened the gate of Luoyang for 16 years, and held a banquet for scholars for 16 years. I have been waiting for a distinguished guest from Qiliang to trample on the Northern Wei Wendao. It is best to humiliate me." Cao Zhixuan He smiled and said: "It's a pity that Qi Liang doesn't even bother to come here to smash the Northern Wei Wendao field."

"This year is different, Qi Liang will definitely send someone." The Northern Wei emperor murmured: "Since the leader of the Northern Wei Dynasty Scholars Banquet can't be kept, why can't I ask you to be the champion of Qi Liang's imperial examination instead?"

"Chen Wanjuan"

Cao Zhixuan's face was full of sternness, and he whispered viciously: "If you still have some ideas, go to Lanling City and let the so-called literary critics of Jiangnan Road experience the Confucianism that you once claimed to be the only one in the world!"

(End of this chapter)