Chasing King

Ten years later,

the spring breeze brings the fragrance of Huaihua, and the city is full of Li Bai and Taohong, which is the most beautiful may time of the year in Beijing.

Today, the weather is warm, the clouds are light, and the sky is high. The officials of the Manchu Dynasty are very happy. However, it is not only because of the pleasant climate, but also because the emperor finally agreed to reopen the feast under the advice of many officials.

Jingyan is a special imperial lecture for the emperor to lecture on the classics and history. It started in the Han and Tang Dynasties and has been followed up to now. It is a major event in the imperial court to lecture for the emperor, enlighten people and inspire spirit. If it is a diligent master, the feast will be opened day by day and the knowledge will continue day by day.

However, nowadays, most of the saints refuse to hold Sutra feasts on the grounds that the holy bow is slightly ill and Qi is cold in the heat. Sometimes it is rare to hold Sutra feasts three or four times a year. The court officials were very dissatisfied. They wrote to admonish emperor Zhaowu for being lazy and tired of learning, which was against the emperor's way. The Emperor may be annoyed and finally agreed to reopen the feast, but he didn't know how long it would last this time.

After the early Dynasty, the officials moved to Wenhua hall. To reopen the feast, there must be a ceremony. Honglu temple has already prepared everything. On the main hall, there are complete documents and solemn scenes.

All the officials stood in his highness and talked in a low voice.

"Who is the official today? Have you ever heard? "

"It's said that they are two small Hanlin. They are both Jinshi who just graduated last year, and Yan Ge's parents chose them."

"It's of great significance for the emperor to reopen the Sutra feast one year later. Why did he choose two little Hanlin?"

"You don't know something, the emperor said..." Liu An, Minister of the Ministry of officials, leaned over, sighed and whispered, "say "Don't look at the old faces again."

The officials can only smile bitterly.

"Silence --" the eunuch cleared his throat and said, "welcome to the imperial palace."

All the officials knelt down and said, "welcome the emperor."

Surrounded by his attendants, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Ji (Duzhao) stepped into the Wenhua hall and sat on the throne meandering: "flat body."

As soon as the officials got up, they saw emperor Zhaowu covering his face with his sleeves and yawning.

Yan Zilian, the first assistant of the cabinet, stepped out and said, "Your Majesty's return to the banquet is actually an act of virtue and propriety. We are very pleased to set an example for the world."

Emperor Zhaowu laughed twice, but his face was obviously not happy: "now, can Aiqing let me go?"

Yan Zilian respectfully said: "don't give lectures before the emperor's day, and don't give lectures before the feast. If the feast is not abolished for one day, then the holy learning and virtue will be added for one day. If the feast is not abolished for one month, then..."

"All right, all right." Emperor Zhaowu waved his hand impatiently, "let's start now."

Yu Ji, the former eunuch of the imperial court, said in a high voice: "please speak to the official today and write Shen Hexuan in the Imperial Academy."

I saw a thin man, wearing a red lecturing suit, holding Wat in both hands (reading households), solemnly came in. He was just a young man. He was handsome and elegant. There was a sense of righteousness flowing between his eyebrows. At a glance, he felt that he was a magnanimous person.

This man was the new champion of last year, and he was the second outstanding talent in Dasheng's nearly 300 years of history. For thousands of years, no more than ten people have been able to join the three yuan imperial examinations.

As a small compilation, except for the palace examination and the champion ceremony, Shen Hexuan should not have a chance to see the emperor again. However, Shen Hexuan's face was very calm. He was neither flattered by his ability to lecture for the emperor, nor frightened by the sight of the dragon. He just knelt down and saluted.

Emperor Zhaowu was interested. He leaned forward, but also opened the jade crown (reading stream) in front of him. He wanted to have a closer look at Shen Hexuan: "isn't Aiqing the rare talent of Lianzhong Sanyuan?"

Shen Hexuan arched his hand and said solemnly, "it's disrespectful to be a king."

Emperor Zhaowu was stunned. He didn't expect that a little Xiuzhuan was so upright. He put down his jade crown and straightened his posture. Shen Hexuan's eyes became impatient.

Some of the courtiers whispered that Shen Hexuan had the courage to speak up and did not disgrace the spirit of lecturing. Others said that he was rigid and would suffer losses sooner or later.

Shen Hexuan could hear the rustle on both sides, but his eyes didn't blink. But he waited and waited, but didn't wait for the emperor to ask him to straighten up. He frowned, not because he was worried about being punished, but because the current development was not in line with the etiquette.

Yu Ji looked at the emperor quietly, and Emperor Zhaowu said reluctantly, "get up and talk."

Shen Hexuan just got up and went to the lecture. If you are a noble speaker, the emperor will give you a seat. A seven grade official like him can only stand and speak. He holds the file. Today, he talks about the way of a gentleman in the doctrine of the mean. "If you go far, you will be proud of yourself. If you climb high, you will feel inferior."

When he talks about learning, he is full of ups and downs, and has the voice of jade. What he says is not only accessible to the ancient road, but also connected with the modern theory, and there is no lack of his own unique opinions. All officials are convinced of his talent and learning.

But emperor Zhaowu obviously didn't know him that way. He yawned on the Dragon chair. No matter how well Shen Hexuan spoke, it was boring to him.

After Shen Hexuan finished his speech, Emperor Zhaowu gave a few perfunctory compliments. He was disappointed and withdrew.

Yu Ji's voice echoed in the hall: "please speak today, Yan Sikong, editor of the Imperial Academy."Most of the courtiers had not heard of him, so they began to wonder how he could have won such an honor if he had not even entered the top three and was a new scholar?

You should know that those who give lectures at Jingyan are either those who are already in important positions and full of talents, or those who have been selected by the cabinet to serve the emperor or the prince. Shen Hexuan is even three yuan in the middle. It's reasonable to get this opportunity. What's the virtue of this person?

The only explanation is that Yan Zilian is the only one who is appreciated by him. After all, the Emperor didn't attend the palace examination last year, and Yan Zilian did it for him. Therefore, all the Jinshi of this year are his students.

For a moment, I saw a tall man come in, the same dark red court clothes, the same hands with Wat, but not as formal as Shen Hexuan, but a few natural and unrestrained.

Hundred officials are curious, turn to see, how much surprised.

The man was only in his early twenties, but he was as handsome as a crown jade. His white skin seemed to glow with a sound of red clothes, which was full of the demeanor of a scholar.

Emperor Zhaowu became curious again, but when he thought that Shen Hexuan had just denounced sitting posture in public, he just coughed.

Yan Sikong knelt down to make a kowtow and salute three times, and said in a loud voice: "minister, Yan Sikong, meet the emperor."

This is actually the first time Yan Sikong met emperor Zhaowu. Yan Zilian presided over the palace examination, but he didn't go to the number one grand ceremony.

"Aiqing is flat."

Yan Sikong stood up.

"Ai Qing, look up."

Yan Sikong looks up according to his words. He looked at the real dragon emperor sitting on the main hall of Jinluan. His turbid eyes, deficient face and bloated body could not hide the decadence and fatalness even if he was wrapped in the elegant yellow robe.

Yan Sikong held Zhu Wat's hands tightly, and a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.

Without realizing it, Emperor Zhaowu exclaimed, "Ai Qing has the appearance of Pan an."

Yan Sikong respectfully said, "thank you, my Lord. I dare not support myself with my skin."

"What's the first time you've been promoted?"

"My Lord, ninth."

"Ai Qing is really talented and beautiful. Can she be married?"

Yan Zilian tried to clear his throat.

Zhao Wu curled his lips: "OK, let's talk."

Yan Sikong went to the lecture case and opened the prepared file. What he is talking about today is also "the doctrine of the mean", which says that "the way of a gentleman is not far away from a person", and that "if you cut and cut, it's not far away." if you cut and look at it, it's still far away. "

Yan Sikong's voice was clear and came slowly. Although it was not as solemn as Shen Hexuan's, it was also a quotation from ancient and modern times, sometimes adding some interesting words. Slowly, Emperor Zhaowu heard it.

"The way of a gentleman is pure, and the inside and outside are the same. If you look up, you can look at the sky, and if you look down, you can look at the earth. The way of being loyal and forgiving is what you don't want. Don't do it to others. " At this point, he added a funny story, which made emperor Zhaowu laugh and gave him a seat.

Yan Sikong finished, Emperor Zhaowu praised again and again: "Ai Qing is interesting. Where do you hear these allusions, but they are true?"

Yan Sikong said with a smile, "I'm not talented. I like to read some unofficial essays. Your majesty should laugh. But I dare not say anything wrong about the meaning of lectures and the way of Confucius and Mencius."

"Ha ha, good. Good talk." Emperor Zhaowu pointed to Yan Sikong and said to Yan Zilian, "Yan Aiqing, this man is your student."

Yan Zilian bowed himself and said, "it's my student."

"It's good that you chose this man today."

"Thank you, sir. I am very pleased that you can make your majesty feel the pleasure of lecturing. I would like to ask your majesty to restore the feast to Every three days. "

But emperor Zhaowu didn't buy it: "let's discuss it again."

Yan Zilian was not discouraged, but he wanted to say something. Yu Ji, however, received emperor Zhaowu's look and announced in a loud voice: "today's banquet is over. The lunch has been set. Please go to the banquet."

Yan Sikong quietly followed the officials to withdraw from the Wenhua hall. He took a few steps, suddenly quietly turned back and looked at the emperor who was moving. His eyes were extremely sharp.

-

when Yan Sikong was praised by the emperor at the Sutra banquet, he was in the limelight. The officials who wanted to make friends with him could not help but exchanged greetings with him on the way. He was smiling, respectful and skillful.

Luncheon seats are given according to grade. Those who can attend the banquet are at least three or four grade officials. The lowest grade officials here are Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan.

They were at a table farthest from the throne.

After sitting down, Yan Sikong arched his hand and said, "what brother Shen said today makes my younger brother have a new idea. I really benefit a lot."

Shen Hexuan saluted back and said, "I'm flattered. What you're talking about today is allusive and interesting. I'm sorry for you."

When they sat down, they just politely said a few words. During the lunch, they hardly said a word.

Yan Sikong has been chatting with Yang Yue, the left servant of the etiquette Department beside him, while Shen Hexuan is eating wine and food alone.Yan Sikong actually knows that Shen Hexuan doesn't like him. It has nothing to do with Jinshi. What Shen Hexuan doesn't like is his clever words. He envies Shen Hexuan very much. He is pure and decent. Holding a healthy spirit that has not been tarnished, he breaks into this hunhun official arena. I don't know whether he is lucky or unfortunate.

"Ah, did you hear that King Shizi of Jingyuan is going back to Beijing?"

Yan Sikong, stunned, turned his head and asked Yang Yue, who was chatting with his colleagues, "Mr. Yang, what did you just say?"

"Oh, the son of King Jingyuan, I heard that he is going back to Beijing."

"Is that the rumored little wolf king? It's amazing... "

Yan Sikong clenched the wine glass, and her brain became numb.

Feng Ye

A name so far away is as far away as the nightmare of his life, but it is also generally clear.