Chapter 56 Zongzheng
Chu Zhiyao was full of energy and high spirits. He walked down the seven steps and came to the four people.
He kept holding his fists with his face full of smiles: "My nephew is a little disappointed. My uncle and aunt forgive me. Father, he is accompanying Ninth Uncle to talk... and is being scolded by Ninth Uncle."
"Uncle Jiu..." Chu Minghou shook his head with a smile and looked at Chu Zhiyao: "Yao'er, you have grown up, and you are so handsome that you are not inferior to your father. You are really good, not bad."
When he saw Chu Zhiyao in front of him, it was like seeing King Xuan in his youth, and he felt a sudden intimacy, which was due to the closeness in blood.
"Third uncle, thank you for the prize. Please come in quickly." Chu Zhiyao said with a smile.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Third brother, it's been a hard day today."
"Hey, it's nothing compared to the border. The nine and ten are all here, and Uncle Eighteen is here too," Chu Zhiyao said.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "We are the closest, but we are the last to arrive."
As they walked inside, they crossed the tall threshold of the main entrance and turned around the Fushou Yannian screen wall. They saw a forest of gloomy pine trees in front of them.
Welcome pine, beauty pine, ten thousand-leaf pine...all kinds of pine trees stand proudly under the lights, full of greenery.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head secretly.
Planting pine trees in the front hall, this fourth uncle Prince Xuan is really strange.
These pine trees are extremely pruned and clearly cared for with care.
There are two exquisite pavilions with octagonal eaves and carved beams and paintings among the pine trees.
Carved lanterns illuminate the pavilion brightly and softly. The stove in the pavilion burns red, and the heat is blocked by the surrounding curtains.
Even so, it is still a winter night after all, and it is not suitable for civil servants to be here. Those who stay in the pavilion are all people with profound cultivation.
The two small pavilions were already full of people, chatting and laughing all the time, making it really lively.
Chu Zhiyuan and the four others followed Chu Zhiyao to the front hall. .
The front hall has a thick white felt curtain, covering the scene inside the hall.
What Chu Zhiyuan saw supersensorily was that the front hall was deserted, with only two people talking.
One is a middle-aged man who is as majestic as a lion, and the other is a strong and skinny old man.
The skinny old man was pacing with his hands behind his hands, talking in his mouth, while the middle-aged man, as majestic as a lion, bowed his head and obeyed obediently.
"You said that you can't do anything serious all day long? You have to do this for your birthday. You didn't do this in previous years!"
"..."
"Because of Yao'er? Yao'er is promising, and you think you are capable, so you can't wait to show off?"
"Uncle Nine——!"
"There are so many officials. I didn't notice it. You have made friends with so many ministers without knowing it. You are so good at dancing. It really impresses me!"
"Uncle Jiu misunderstood," the majestic middle-aged man like a lion hurriedly waved his hand: "I also tried to send out posts, but I didn't expect them all to come."
"That's because you have enough face!" The skinny old man sneered: "As soon as the post is posted, all officials of the third rank and above will come to give you gifts. Don't you think it's too ugly?!"
"Uncle Jiu misunderstood, I will not accept their gifts."
"Who knows whether you accept gifts?"
"I will never accept it!"
"If you return the gift, you can win another wave of hearts. This calculation is really good. Fourth child, I didn't realize that you still have this skill. I admire you!"
"Uncle Jiu, please don't bury me."
"I killed you? You killed me!" The skinny old man snorted coldly: "If I had known this, I shouldn't have made this unnecessary trip!"
"Uncle Ninth, you really misunderstood me. I just want them to see that my fourth son is not just a person waiting to die, but also a man of merit to the court!"
"What's the credit? Oh, it's Yao'er. You think you raised a good son, so you deserve a lot of credit!"
"Uncle Nine, isn't it?"
"...Okay, okay, okay, it's a shame that Yao'er doesn't follow you, but follows the emperor!"
"This is also my ability. I have a son who is like my father." There was indescribable pride in his tone.
Chu Zhiyao stopped and turned to look at Chu Minghou awkwardly.
Chu Minghou shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said in a loud voice: "Uncle Nine."
Chu Zhiyuan saw that the two people inside the thick felt curtain turned to look over.
Chu Zhiyao stepped forward and opened the curtain, turning sideways to invite them into the room.
Chu Minghou walked in front, stepped into the hall, clasped his fists and bowed deeply: "My nephew Minghou pays homage to Uncle Nine!"
"Third brother!" The thin old man hurriedly took two steps forward, helped Chu Minghou up, and looked at him. His eyes suddenly turned red when he saw the white hair on his temples.
"Third brother, third sister-in-law." The majestic, lion-like middle-aged man clasped his fists with a smile on his face: "Third sister-in-law is still as charming as ever."
Bai Ningshuang pursed her lips and smiled softly: "Fourth brother, congratulations."
The skinny old man Chu Qingyan took Chu Minghou's hand, with red eyes and long lips: "Minghou, you have aged a lot."
"Uncle Ninth is still as strong as before, unchanged at all." Chu Minghou held his hand and smiled: "You are still so energetic when you scold people."
"Humph, shouldn't he be scolded by the Fourth Brother?" Chu Qingyan took back the moisture in his eyes. The excitement just now seemed to be an illusion, and he looked at Chu Mingqiang sideways: "It looks like a villain will run rampant when he succeeds. It's embarrassing for us. The face of the old Chu family!”
"Ning Shuang has met Uncle Jiu." Bai Ningshuang saluted.
"I've met Uncle Jiu." Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi also saluted.
"Alas..." Chu Qingyan nodded to Bai Ningshuang, looked at Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi with emotion, and sighed: "In the blink of an eye, Bai Ya, you have become a mother, and you still look naughty in front of me. ... Yuan'er is a promising child, and the third child is indeed blessed."
Bai Ningshuang chuckled: "Uncle Jiu, you are the first to say that the prince has a good life."
Chu Qingyan chuckled and said: "The third child married a virtuous wife like you, and has such a well-behaved daughter, and such a promising son. Aren't you satisfied?"
"Giggle..." Bai Ningshuang smiled like a flower: "Uncle Jiu, you really know how to praise people." Chu Minghou smiled and said: "Uncle Jiu, today is the birthday of the fourth brother. It's not too late to teach him that he has waited for today. Don’t spoil everyone’s mood.”
"Okay." Chu Qingyan nodded with a smile. When he turned his head, his face darkened and he glared at Xuan Wang Chu Mingqiang: "Grow some brains!"
"Uncle Ninth is still so partial to Third Brother." Chu Mingqiang muttered a few words and said hurriedly: "Uncle Ninth, Third Brother, let's go and take a seat at the back. Third Sister-in-law and your female relatives are on the other side of the yard, Yao'er, Yao'er!"< br>
Chu Zhiyao hurriedly stepped forward: "Father."
"Take your third aunt and the others to find your mother."
"Yes."
Chu Mingqiang took Chu Qingyan, Chu Minghou and Chu Zhiyuan directly to the east side yard, and soon arrived at the back yard.
……
The east backyard is spacious, with green brick paving and several plum blossoms.
There are eight main rooms and eight east and west wing rooms. The hoods in the front are all open at this time, and every room is very lively.
Chu Minghou and Chu Qingyan entered the central east room of the main room, while Chu Zhiyuan entered the central west room of the main room.
As soon as they entered, they saw Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, Chu Zhichuan and the others.
Seeing him coming, the thirty or so young people gathered around the table stood up and clasped their fists in greeting.
Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists in return and came to Chu Mingxuan, who was seated as host and guest, and said with a smile: "Uncle Eighteen, don't you want to go to the next room?"
"It's so uncomfortable over there that we can't chat together." Chu Mingxuan waved his hand: "It's so lively here, and you know I like to join in the fun."
Chu Zhiting echoed: "That's right. Uncle Eighteen should be here. It's so lively! If you go over there and listen to them talking, you'll fall asleep. It's so boring!"
Chu Mingxuan pulled Chu Zhiyuan to his side and sat down: "Have you met the ninth uncle?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
Chu Mingxuan looked frightened and patted his chest: "Thankfully I came early and escaped the disaster."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "Uncle Eighteen, isn't it?"
"Every time he sees me, he talks about me for a long time, and his head is about to explode." Chu Mingxuan looked like he couldn't look back on the past: "I was afraid that I would run into him if I came late, so I came here early."
< br>
Others also agreed with the same feeling, all with lingering fears.
Only then did Chu Zhiyuan realize that they came so early to avoid the great master Chu Qingyan.
As Da Zongzheng, he is equivalent to the head of Zongzheng Division. He is the most powerful person in the Dajing clan and the most virtuous and respected person.
Chu Qingyan has always been very considerate towards these younger generations, fearing that if they don't follow the right path and don't work hard, he will just tell them and talk about them whenever he sees them.
All the young people present here are from the Mingwu Hall, and Chu Zhiyao specially arranged to sit at a table, so the atmosphere was the most lively and lively.
Chu Mingxuan came over and said with a smile: "Fourth, are you curious? How can men and women meet each other if they sit separately?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "It's not surprising to be separated."
The atmosphere in Da Jing Chao is open, but not to the extent that men and women sit at the same table. The basic rule is that men sit at one table and women sit at one table.
Chu Mingxuan said: "After dinner, we have to listen to operas, watch juggling, and watch fighting. Then we don't sit separately. We can see the princess and the princess and the rich ladies of each family."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, but didn't pay much attention.
——
The food and wine were served quickly, and there were no outsiders here. Chu Mingxuan was the most senior, and Chu Zhiyao came to sit with him personally.
With Chu Mingxuan here, he is the best at creating atmosphere. He doesn't have to worry about the banquet being deserted, and he will soon be full of wine.
While Chu Zhiyao was eating, he smiled and said: "Some guys will come over to toast later, fourth brother, be careful."
Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.
Chu Zhiyao said: "I don't know who said that you want to marry Miss Xiao of Duke An, the most beautiful woman in Yujing. I don't know how many people are thinking about this Miss Xiao."
Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said: "There is no shadow."
"Since it has been spread, there should be no difference." Chu Zhiyao said with a smile: "There will never be a wave without wind."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and did not refute.
Duke An Guo really wanted to marry Xiao Ruoling, so all he had to do was nod his head. As long as he nodded, the marriage was almost done.
As a hereditary and irreplaceable Duke of the state, this generation of Duke An is mediocre, lacking in talent, and acting steadily and conservatively.
Although Prince Qing's palace was in decline, the identity of the prince was there, not to mention that Prince Qing had a good reputation and was an honest and kind man.
The legitimate daughter of Anguo Duke's palace married the prince's son, so she was considered a well-matched match.
Chu Zhiyuan kept holding off because he had never seen it with his own eyes and didn't know what Xiao Ruoling was like.
A true husband will inevitably have an unkind wife and unfilial son. He does not want to get involved in the personal affairs of his children. He just wants to focus on spiritual practice and become a great master as soon as possible.
Therefore, you need a stable backyard where you can practice with peace of mind.
But if your character is not good, then no matter how beautiful you are, you will never marry her. If your character is good enough, you can marry her.
He has been hesitating because it would be beneficial to marry Duke Anguo.
Although the generation of An Guo Gongfu is not strong, it is a hereditary government after all. If they really want to get married, they can also become the support of Prince Qing's Mansion, making the momentum of Prince Qing's Mansion even stronger.
So he remained vague.
I have been looking for an opportunity to see the Supervision Department's files on Anguo Gongfu so that I can have a thorough understanding of Anguo Gongfu.
But the opportunity never came.
(End of chapter)